Issue 4

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

FRIDAY, March 12, 2021

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

VOLUME 104 - ISSUE 4

SA rejects bill for $95 fee

BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Associate FUSE Editor

The SA meeting March 4 saw the student representatives reject a bill that would set the SA fee at $95 for the 2021-22 school year, higher than the 2020-21 fee of $55.

The SA mandatory fee was $105 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was lowered to $55 for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, a cut of over 47%. This was done to provide relief to students struggling with financial distress due to pandemic complications, as well as adjusting to the new reality that club activity had dramatically decreased.

The reduced fee left little room in the budget for new activities from clubs and organizations.

However, more on-campus activity is expected for the next school year.

For this reason, SA Treasurer Saugat Gautam introduced a bill that would set the upcoming SA fee to $95.

Audrey Lapinksi/Cardinal Points The SUNY Plattsburgh “Feed a Cardinal” campaign aims to raise funds for the campus food shelf purposed with assisting students who may not have enough food.

Support Services host ‘Feed a Cardinal’

BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinions Editor

SUNY Plattsburgh is hosting the “Feed a Cardinal” campaign to raise money for the food pantry to go to helping food insecure students. The money will go toward supporting the food pantry on campus and the “surprise snacks’’ being delivered to students in quarantine. The campaign will go through March 31.

The food pantry has been around for about a decade on campus and is run by Student Support Services. At its start, staff FEE l A2 members would take students, who were food in-

secure, grocery shopping.

Michele Carpentier, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and Director of Special Programs, explained how she witnessed it has “grown from there to what is now a full fledged food pantry.”

The food pantry is accessible for any food insecure student on or off-campus through an online ordering system in the Plattsburgh Portal. Students can order at the beginning of the week and pick up their items on Friday. Prior to COVID-19, students could just stop by and grab the items they need.

Students come to SUNY Plattsburgh to study. This is important to the other

tier that the “Feed a Cardinal” campaign supports as well. Anika Fullum and Rosy Hearns are in charge of the “surprise snack bags” being delivered to students abiding by quarantine rules.

“We kind of started this at the beginning. Anika had the really good idea to start delivering the surprise snack bags and then we started bringing other people involved in the process (sic) and it kind of just took off from there with lots of people donating food and snacks and everything,” Hearns said.

When students arrive to get their orders, there is a table set up with items set to expire soon or other do-

nated items that they can take as needed.

At the end of the fall semester, they were delivering the snacks two to three times per week.

They receive a list of the room numbers of students in isolation or quarantine, where they drop the bag, knock and dash away.

Fullum goes to Sam’s Club to purchase snacks like Cheez It, chips, cookies, candy and Rice Krispies Treats.

“I think everyone really enjoys a surprise, especially when that surprise is food,” Fullum said.

The “surprise snack bag” idea has become an important pick-me-up for students in these trying

times.

“I think it speaks to the sense of community that is very unique to SUNY Plattsburgh. [In] Cardinal Country, we care about each other. Especially with everyone being so distanced, that to do some little part where we’re building those connections. I think that’s important and then we’re also supporting those students who have limited access, with the food shelf,” Fullum said.

The food pantry inventories the items they already have from donations, such as boxes of pasta and cans of vegetables.

PANTRY l A2

DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points SUNY Plattsburgh women’s ice hockey junior defense Hannah Rose practices in the field house to prepare for the resumption of her season which was announced by Athletics Director Mike Howard via email Feb. 23. The competitions will begin March 20 ending the year-long hiatus of college athletics given the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic March 13, 2020.

Athletes begin practicing for new competition

BY JOHANNA WEEKS Staff Writer

After many months of uncertainty for student-athletes, SUNY Plattsburgh announced the return of 2021 spring sports on Feb. 23. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals will begin competitions March 20. The teams competing this season are baseball, softball, track and field, women’s tennis and women’s and men’s lacrosse.

The first upcoming competition will

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feature the women’s lacrosse team versus SUNY Cortland. Coaches are safely preparing their athletes for competition.

Practices are in 10-person ‘pods’ and will continue for two weeks, until they can return to full team gatherings.

Athletes are required to wear a mask during practices, but during competition they are allowed to remove them unless players on the bench. Social distancing will be practiced, equipment is limited and cleaned after each use, overnight stays are no longer permitted and the

number of games will be limited. These changes have impacted coaches and players.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity we’re going to have, especially for our upperclassmen. We have some fifth year students coming back to play since their season got cut short,” Head Baseball Coach Kris Dorrey said. “But, I’m really excited for all our student athletes that get to compete.”

Dorrey expressed his feelings about their previous season being cut off and

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stated that it was unlike any other circumstance he had witnessed in his 25 years of coaching.

“Last spring was the one of the most difficult meetings I’ve ever had with a baseball team, to go down to our locker rooms and tell our guys, especially those seniors that didn’t have the opportunity to come back, that their season was over and we were done,” Dorrey said.

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@CardinalPoints

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NEWS

Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith

Friday, March 12, 2021

Feb. 28 Three students were found in possession of marijuana in a car on George angel drive near the storage untis. They have been referred to Student Conduct.

March 3 A UP officer found a non-student with the possession of marijuana in Lot 13. the marijuana was seized and person was removed from campus.

March 4

NGHI TO/Cardinal Points

Three werre found smoking of marijuana in a parked vehicle in Lot 18. The marijuana smoking bong was seized and all students were referred to Student Conduct.

BY JOHN CHURCH

Business etiquette series offers advice

Contributor

March 4

Business etiquette is an essential skill to have in a business environment. Etiquette is built on communication, which fosters healthy and successful working environMarch 4 ments. This also promotes University Police recieved a report of larceny of a individual success to anywet floor sign in the Angell College Center. The sign one willing to learn.

“We do talk a lot about was recovered and the will be recieving judicial marketing,” Kelly Byrnes, charges. president of SUNY Plattsburgh’s American Marketing Association, said.

“But, we also talk to students about interviews, applying for jobs and different topics like that.”

Luckily for students, the Plattsburgh American Marketing Association has created a business etiquette series to teach students about global culture, business travel, networking and dining etiquette. Students will be able to learn more about business etiquette by attending upcoming meetings on March 11 and 18.

The meetings will have guest faculty speakers,

A UP officer encountered a student in open possession of a marijuana smoking bong in Lot 18. the students was subsequently found in possession of marijuana, and they were referred to Student Conduct.

Campus COVID-19 Tracker

Total number of

positive COVID-19

cases over the past 14

82

days:

student information, and advice and tips to prepare them before graduation.

The first event was held March 4. Guest speaker Lise Heroux, from SUNY Plattsburgh’s Marketing Department, spoke to students about global culture and business travel.

The meeting was online and students left the online meeting knowing how to greet people, tip, build goodwill and keep things professional.

Regardless of a student’s major, they’ll be able to bring that knowledge and information to real life situations.

“The March 11 meeting will feature guest speaker, Dr. Nancy Church,” Byrnes said. “She will be discussing cocktail party etiquette and the art of conversation and small talk. This meeting is a lot about networking; what to say, what not to say, topics to stay away from. I think anywhere in any industry, students can take a piece of this information and apply it to their lives.”

The March 11 meeting

FEE Number of active COVID-19 cases:

Number of students and employees in qurantine:

Number of COVID-19 tests by the Student Health Center since

45 52 28,973

Aug. 15, 2020:

CP Corrections In Issue 3, the article “African Unity says active during COVID” refers to the club’s president as Tiemoko instead of his prefered name, Moko Soumano.

If you see an error in Cardinal Points, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Continued from page one “Things will probably, and hopefully, be looking different next year,” Gautam said. “We’ll be having more activities among clubs and organizations, so we need a bigger budget in order to have the resources to accommodate that.”

The contents of the bill laid out what the upcoming SA budget would look like given varying fee amounts. If the fee continued to be set at $55, as it is now, there will be a budget cut of $493,000 for the year, which would handicap the SA’s ability to meet the operation costs of maintaining the shuttle and Feinberg library.

If the fee is set at around $80 or $85, as some representatives have previously suggested, the resulting budget cut would be approximately $243,000 – a reduction that would

will be held over zoom.

The meetings are open to all SUNY Plattsburgh students. Students can find more information about the meetings on Plattsburgh AMA’s Instagram page.

On March 18, John Parmelee, from the hospitality department, will be teaching students how to dine like a professional.

“People don’t necessarily know that there’s an art to the way we eat,” Byrnes said. “There’s a certain way that you have to act at dinner. Especially in a professional setting when you’re with your boss or your colleagues. You have to know little things like what to do with your napkin or your fork.”

Parmelee will give students hands-on experience to help them dine like a professional. The meeting will be in person, but as of now, the AMA is still figuring out the final steps in planning the event. The association wants to ensure that the event is as safe as possible for students and they are confi-

still significantly impact funding for clubs and organizations, according to the bill.

It was also said that bringing the fee back to the original amount of $105 would still lead to a budget cut of $90,000, due to declining enrollment numbers at SUNY Plattsburgh. However, returning to the pre-COVID fee would be unfair as the pandemic conditions and its lingering effects on students’ abilities and finances are not expected to disappear anytime soon. Hence, the bill proposed a SA fee of $95.

“It’s right in the middle ground between $85 and $105,” Gautam said. “It seems like a fair number given the circumstances.”

Gautam stressed that this fee, though higher than the current amount, would be able to much more effectively accommodate an increase in student activity and a gradual return to normalcy. However, the proposal proved controversial.

“I don’t really see why the SA fee needs to be raised just yet,” Senator Faozia Faria said. “It might just create

PANTRY Continued from page one Some students used their remaining Cardinal Cash in May to buy cases of water to donate to the pantry.

Once the staff takes an inventory of the donations, they figure out what items they are missing. “Feed a Cardinal” campaign money is used to fill in those gaps. Students are encouraged to use the money they do have to purchase the perishable food items they need and then utilize the food pantry for their nonperishable needs.

The pantry recently put in a grant for a refrigerator that can supply more fresh foods like milk and eggs.

Additionally, a freezer was donated by the library staff, who raised money from their own pockets to

dent that they can deliver.

“Now there’s going to be COVID protocols and there will be limited capacity.”

Antonella Angulo Madueno, vice president of SUNY Plattsburgh’s AMA chapter, said. “We’re planning on having the third event at the ACC on campus in one of the conference rooms. It’s hard, but we’re trying our best.”

Students are required to wear a mask, wash their hands and learn how to dine like a professional from six-feet apart.

“Essentially, we’re going to have 10 meals that students can come and eat,” Byrnes said. “However, we’re still in the process of getting catering and things like that because it’s going to be in person. But, we’re still planning on having the event, and I don’t see any problems popping up.

We’ll keep students updated as we get closer to the event.”

BUSINESS l A5

more complications for students.”

Others agreed the higher fee may not be what the Plattsburgh community needs presently, pointing to the expected reluctance among students to pay more than they currently are.

The bill failed to obtain the minimum of nine votes needed to pass, as only four senators voted in favor of it.

“I think some of the senators really misunderstood the bill and why it is necessary,” Gautam said, addressing his bill’s rejection. “It’s important to see that we’re going to be facing new responsibilities next year, and we’re going to need the budget and resources to do our job.”

He also pointed out a deeper issue resulting from the SA’s decision to reject the bill.

“We need a SA fee to function,” Gautam said. “Without this bill, there is no established fee for next year. Without a fee, there is no budget. Without a budget, there may be no SA.” Email ADEEB CHOWDHURY

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

purchase it for the food pantry. Personal care items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash and feminine care products are also supplied.

Ensuring students are receiving a decent nutrition is important to the food pantry. Students living offcampus are often trying to save money, so they may not have that extra money to spend on nutritious food. The food pantry gives these students the opportunity to “stretch their dollar,” Carpentier said.

“People that don’t have time to focus on their studies because they’re worried about where their next meal is coming from are not going to be efficient students,” Carpentier said.

To support either cause, visit bit.ly/feedacardinal through the end of March.

Email NATALIE ST. DENIS

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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NEWS

Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith

Friday, March 12, 2021

This Week in Photos: Sports Photos By Olga Muka & Dakota Gilbert

Freshman Forward Jordan Kowalski getting ready to shoot during practice.

Spring sports begin practicing after getting the OK to compete.

Freshman Hannah Cluck runs laps for Tack and Field practice.

Levi Sochia and Billy Gagnon train for upcoming season.

Women’s softball player Alexa Murray throwing in the fieldhouse.

Junior Forward Taylor Whitney defends goal during women’s ice hockey practice.

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Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith

SPORTS Continued from page one “To see 22-year-old kids cry because they got something taken away from them — that’s a sad thing.”

This season is really important for all the athletes, who got their season cut short last year from the pandemic. Many student-athletes are starting fresh this season from not having access to practices, gyms and their teammates.

“They didn’t get to end on their own terms they kind of got it yanked out from under them all the sudden, I don’t ever want to have to do that again. It was a terrible thing,” Dorrey said.

The baseball team has 40 teammates, but this season, they are travelling with only 24 instead of the whole team.

In previous years, SUNY Plattsburgh baseball would travel for a two-day conference at Cortland. However, they are now

waking up at 6 a.m. to play and leave from Cortland in one day.

With no spring break, there will be no competition and travel either. According to Dorey, those trips were important for developing camaraderie.

“I think they’ll still develop that bond that they’re in this together and they’re going to be able to have those memories and challenge each other,” Dorrey said.

According to Erik Matz, a SUNY Plattsburgh business administration and marketing major and an outfield baseball player, being told he couldn’t play last year was a problem. He’d never experienced a season being cut short, which was an awful new feeling.

“It means everything to me.

I’m a senior – this is my last year,” Matz said. “I love the sport of baseball. I love the team work, and the work ethic. I’ve learned a lot going through the program and from my teammates. The season could be cut tomorrow, but I’m not going to think like that. I’m so excited to play baseball again. It’s a big thing for me to step on the field again.”

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NEWS “Our players are ecstatic that we can get back to some sense of normalcy and have the ability to play this season. Our program can’t thank President Enyedi and Director of Athletics Mike Howard enough for allowing us the opportunity to play this season,” Men’s Lacrosse head Coach Andrew Hauk said.

Hauk explained how his team will adapt to the changes made this season by practicing in pods for two weeks while maintaining social distancing requirements until they are allowed full team practices. The pods allowed the team to “focus more on the fundamentals and on skill” before starting the dynamics of a full team practice. Hauk said that the team has gotten better through the heavily skilled-based practicing through strong “work ethic, tough mentality and team chemistry.” He expressed that ending the season last year was a helpless feeling and he felt bad for seniors across the country who did not get to end on their own terms.

“We’re anxious to play our first game, we haven’t played in

a while, but it’s a lot of built up excitement and energy to play.”

Zach Gill, a SUNY Plattsburgh childhood and special education major, and a lacrosse player, said. “Just being able to play games is important enough to everybody. It’s all about going up against other teams.”

The Head Coach of the Track and Field team, Nicholas Jones, is excited to begin practicing with his athletes.

“I feel that it is important for them to get back to training and competing for their physical and mental health. The key will be continuing to do it in a safe manner.” Jones said. “The athletes are grateful for the opportunity and have been a huge part of keeping everyone safe so far.”

For SUNY Plattsburgh nursing major and tennis player Cydney Bond, losing her season was disappointing. While playing is a passion, she is happy her family and teammates are healthy.

Masks and social distancing seem minor to Bond, as long as she can get herself back on the tennis court.

Friday, March 12, 2021

“Tennis is a lifelong sport, so in the future I hope to continue to play and utilize all the lessons it’s taught me,” Bond said. “I feel ecstatic about being able to practice in person again.”

SUNY Plattsburgh’s softball team will be playing less games than normal this season due to the pandemic. The conference was split into East and West divisions to keep the travel distances shorter.

“It was heartbreaking not only to me, but more importantly, my athletes,” Head Softball Coach Samantha Van Dorn said. “This is why my team is beyond grateful to get the opportunity to get on this field this season.”

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals are ready to get back into action this season. Coaches and players are prepared to adapt to the changes made by COVID-19 restrictions. They are grateful and excited about the decision to resume spring sports.

Email JOHANNA WEEKS

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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Co-News Editors Olivia Bousquet & Mataeo Smith

BUSINESS Continued from page two The etiquette series meetings are typically 45 minutes to an hour long, and students can expect about 20 other attendees. Speakers will go through a quick series of PowerPoint slides to show students essential tips and tricks that will come in handy in the future.

Before the meeting ends, students are given the opportunity to ask the guest speakers any additional questions that they might have.

“This series has been around for a few decades and every year we have really positive feedback,” Byrnes said. “It’s definitely something we’re looking to continue. This etiquette series will prepare students for critical situations in their lives, no matter the environment.

NEWS

Whether students have attended a meeting before or if it’s their first time, they will always take something away from each event.”

Just like every other club or sport on campus, the AMA has been affected by COVID-19. The organization has been running the series since 1989. However, the AMA is still like a tradition to Madueno.

“We actually do the business etiquette series every year,” Madueno said.

“Since it happens every year we don’t want to break tradition. Around this time of year we usually have this conference in New Orleans, and it would teach students how to behave and how to network. That’s why there’s travel etiquette and dining etiquette. It’s extremely important because not only business students are traveling for work – we all want to make an impression.”

Ever since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business world has changed drastically. Things are a lot

different now, especially in the working world, and students will need to learn to adjust. The business etiquette series will help prepare students for their future.

“Sometimes the required business courses don’t tell us everything we need to know, like how to type up a resume,” Madueno said. “When I came to AMA sophomore year, they taught me to be more professional, and I learned how to behave properly. It’s pretty nice. It keeps you busy and it gives you so much to learn. I wasn’t scared when it came to my next job interview. I knew what to do and what to say. It helped a lot.”

While COVID-19 has caused meeting numbers to drop slightly, the AMA is going strong and it’s members highly encourage students to attend.

“Before AMA, I was clueless. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say,” Madueno said. “I know because I joined AMA that my resume will look impressive to future employers. It was

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Friday, March 12, 2021

a good step for me. I’m definitely glad I joined. It’s a huge confidence builder, especially when you join as an underclassmen. I definitely encourage other students to attend our meetings.”

Students can get more information by contacting SUNY Plattsburgh’s AMA over email, amaplattsburgh@gmail. com. Students can also go to @plattsburghama on Instagram to get more information on upcoming events.

“Things have been tough with every club with getting [students] there, students are on zoom all day for classes,” Byrnes said. “So, it’s understandable why they don’t want to come to meetings after school. We’ve been working hard. There are so many steps and guidelines to go through, but we’re doing good and we hope the students en-

Email JOHN CHURCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021

Students reflect on shutdown anniversary

BY ALEXA DUMAS Opinions Editor

The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic has caused a change from normal life, especially in education. On March 16, 2020, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that all schools were to be closed for two weeks. A year later, no one could have predicted that schools would still be struggling with the effects of the pandemic.

The initial shutdown came as a surprise to students, leaving some concerned about not returning back to campus for the remainder of the semester.

“When I found out the school wasn’t reopening for the rest of the year, I was nervous,” Senior biomedical science major Michelle Simmons said. “I lived on campus and I wasn’t really sure what that meant for me. I later decided, along with my parents, it was best if I went home for the remainder of the semester.”

While some had their concerns, others were confused about the magnitude of the pandemic and the start of the lockdown.

“I was saddened at the decision about closing campuses,” Junior communications sciences and disorders major Kristen Boerke said. “However, the feeling I had toward it was more confusion. I wasn’t confused as to why the campus was not reopening; that made sense to me. We

ELARA MARTIN/Cardinal Points

were living in a global pandemic. It was more the confusion of how this is going to work? Online classes, no sports, back living at home and for most of us, in quarantine.”

SUNY Plattsburgh students last spring could never have predicted that the pandemic would still be persisting a year later, let alone restricting the first year of college for the incoming Class of 2024.

Without the closure from completing high school, students found that the transition to college was challenging.

“This is not how I pictured my first year of college at all,” First-year student general and special childhood education major Makaila Maier said. “The college experience has been different, but I wouldn’t know the difference. I was underprepared for college.”

However, students who made the return back to campus in the fall found that the struggles of the online transition made them able to adjust to academic challenges that stood in the way. Boerke, who is a member of the track and field team, wasn’t able to participate in her sport.

“I think I was able to adjust to online learning,” Boerke said. “It made me a stronger learner because

I had to change the way I study and make sure I meet due dates. It gave me a greater appreciation for school and for sports.

It showed me that I took some things for granted, and it is pushing me to be a better student and athlete.”

With the emergence of virtual learning, along with the limitations of attending in-person classes, this year’s freshmen didn’t know what SUNY Platts-

burgh was like before the COVID-19 restrictions. The bustling campus full of life is missed among students.

“I love club fairs, and I attended one during my open house tour,” said Maier. “I am somebody who wants to be involved, so meeting everybody from organizations and seeing what they do is a lot of fun.

I think that is what I missed out on, and I look forward to the day when they bring the club fair back.”

Not only are the freshmen on campus struggling to piece together what normal campus life should resemble, but seniors have tried to make the best out of their final semester at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Simmons, who is on the women’s volleyball team, struggles with the loss of her senior season.

“Not being able to play was one of the more difficult things I had to cope with just because your senior year is supposed to be your year,” Simmons said.

“Playing in games and being around my teammates more is something I miss.

I still see them but overall, you don’t really get to see them as much as you usually would during the season. I’m used to seeing them every day for at least two hours, and on the weekends you are on a bus together traveling to your match.”

ANNIVERSARY l A8

Vaccinations become new hope

BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Associate Opinions Editor

The world is seeing a dim, but visible light at the end of the long COVID-19 pandemic tunnel. Vaccines for the virus are now available for eligible individuals in phase 1a and phase 1b groups. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 92 million doses have been administered to Americans.

But, how has the vaccine been affecting those fortunate enough to have received it already? Some individuals have barely felt any discomfort, while others have been left bedridden.

James Faraci, a senior biomedical sciences and biochemistry major, received his first Pfizer dose Dec. 19. He then received his final dose Jan. 9. Luckily for him, receiving the vaccine was relatively easy, as he works in the emergency department in the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y. Hospital staff were able to vaccinate him right on their grounds.

“At the time I got it there was only I think like 8,000 people vaccinated across the country so there wasn’t much to go off of,” Faraci said.

Faraci was a little surprised after his second dose when he experienced a 101 degree fever, nausea, vomiting, achiness and a lack of energy. He hadn’t had any other immune responses to other vaccines in the past.

Despite his immune response, he feels good about having the vaccine now.

“I feel a lot more confident. I was able to go into work and not be as scared to enter rooms with COVID patients and then have to come home to my somewhat elderly parents and family members. It was a big sigh of relief and a good step forward,” Faraci said.

Emma Bryant, a sophomore nursing major, shares this optimistic feeling.

“I feel a little better about it. I’m excited to see what the future holds, since it has just been kind of COVID related for the past year. So, it gives me hope for the future,” Bryant said.

Bryant is scheduled to receive her second dose of the Moderna vaccine on March 11. After getting the first dose at

ELARA MARTIN/Cardinal Points

the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital where she works toward her nursing degree, she experienced the “COVID rash” or “COVID arm.” The CDC said this rash located on the arm where the shot was administered shouldn’t prevent one from getting the second dose.

Both youth and adults alike want to be out of the current situation we are in. Now that younger individuals are beginning to get vaccinated, it has been interesting to see how they react to the vaccine compared to adults.

Scott Reznick, an assistant professor in the English department, received the

last of his Pfizer vaccine Feb. 11. The only symptom he experienced was a mildly sore arm after his first dose. He brought up a reasonable concern regarding equity distribution of the vaccine, which made him a little hesitant to get it. But ultimately, he followed the CDC guidelines of getting the vaccine when he was given the opportunity to.

“I feel blessed in some ways to have been able to get it,” Reznick said.

Getting vaccinated is an opportunity everyone should jump at once they are given the chance, especially now.

“This is an unprecedented thing that

we are facing and vaccines have worked to eradicate disease in the past,” Reznick said. “It seems to me a moral and social responsibility to care for the well-being and health of your fellow citizens and human beings.”

Students who are eligible can register to receive their vaccine at a clinic hosted by the Clinton County Health Department, located in Clinton Community College Gymnasium.

Email NATALIE ST. DENIS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas

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CARDINAL VOICE

Friday, March 12, 2021

‘Sound of Metal’ depicts deafness

BY CAMERON KAERCHER Contributor

Australian singer-songwriter Sia’s directorial debut, “Music,” has rightfully been disdained months before its release earlier this year.

Through the poor casting of a neurotypical actress, Maddie Ziegler, to portray a character with autism, and the dangerous misuse of restraint shown in the film, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network called on Sia to outright cancel the film.

The film was not abandoned. It can be found on iTunes to buy or rent, and it somehow ended up with two Golden Globe nominations.

The film doesn’t deserve publicity, but it serves as an example of how to totally mishandle representing those with disabilities in mass media.

There is another, far more deserving, film to discuss. That film is Darius Marder’s “Sound of Metal.”

Riz Ahmed stars as Ruben, a heavy metal drummer who tours the country with his girlfriend, Lou, played by Olivia Cooke. They are not household names, but the duo is facing an even bigger challenge, Ruben’s hearing is deteriorating.

Ruben is in denial and tries to soldier on, but Lou realizes that he needs help.

They stop touring and go to a rural shelter for those with hearing loss. It is run

by Joe, played by Paul Raci, a recovering alcoholic who lost his hearing in the Vietnam War. The film does not romanticize hearing loss or make it quirky— and it understands the anger of its protagonist.

However, the film is not about that anger. It is about acceptance. Joe holds the key message of the film; “Everybody here shares in the belief that being deaf is not a handicap. Not something to fix.”

ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points

REPRESENTATION l A8

Greta Van Fleet creates familiar sound

BY HALES PASSINO Staff Writer

Add Greta Van Fleet to your playlist.

GVF is a modernized blast from the past. They have been a prominent part of the new age music scene since 2017 with the release of their first hard rock single “Highway Tune.” The Michigan fourpiece consists of brothers Josh, Jake, Sam Kiska and Danny Wagner.

In 2017, they released two EP’s, “Black Smoke Rising” and “From the Fires.” Their first studio album “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” was released in October 2018 and was critically acclaimed.

Fans look forward to the band’s second studio album, “The Battle at Garden’s Gate,” which will release in April 2021. So far, three singles from it, “My Way, Soon,” “Age of Machine” and “Heat Above” have been released. These three songs all offer the continued sci-fi expression

and ‘70s rock vibe.

Here are four GVF songs that stumble into the dimensions of an experimental, bonafide classic rock-like sound.

“Safari Song” is the second single off their EP “Black Smoke Rising.”

To some, this tune starts off sounding much like the intro to the popular 1990s television series “Friends.” The original version of the song had more percussion in it, as mentioned by Sam Kiska.

In comes the thunderous drumming from Wagner followed by Josh’s powerhouse of a scream. The lyrics are exuberantly catchy and upbeat, expressing a passionate take on a relationship with a girl.

“Oh mama when you give your lovin,’ when you give your love, you drive me crazy,” sang Josh.

HANNAH DOWNS/Cardinal Points “Brave New World’’ is the ninth track from GVF’s “Brave New World” is a first studio album “Anthem test song when reading the lyrics out loud. nod to the Aldous Huxley of the Peaceful Army.” In a “Kill fear, the power of novel of the same name. way, “Brave New World’’ lies,” sang Josh.

“For we The 1932 novel pertains feels much like a dark prowill not be hypnotized.”

to the fear and dangers of technology. The song displays a deeper, dystopian tone in comparison to their other work.

Josh’s vocals move at a much slower tempo in this one. Overall, the sound is haunting, yet enticing.

“Watching Over,” the fourth track and second single from “Anthem of the Peaceful Army,” incorporates a psychedelic feel with astounding guitar work. This jam is rather mid-tempo and the lyrics are heavy as they allude to the severity of climate change. It’s essentially a response to society ignoring the issues at hand and illustrates the band’s hope for future generations.

“And it’s our demise with the water rising and the air so thin, still the children smiling, can we see no sin,” sang Josh.

GVF is often accused of ripping off Led Zeppelin.

They started to turn heads and gain attraction after covering Zeppelin’s rough classic “Whole Lotta

Love” back in 2015. While comparing both versions of the song, there aren’t many differences.

Criticism rolled in not too long after the release of their first single, “Highway Tune,” from their debut EP “Black Smoke Rising.” This is mainly due to the wailing vocals and distinct phrases like “Oh mama,” from Josh that remind many of Zeppelin’s lead singer Robert Plant.

Though they may have been a large influence on them, it’s easier to just sit back and appreciate GVF’s ability to cultivate a sound many bands strive for today. Revel in it.

Everyone will sound like someone at one point or another, and that’s a universal truth.

However, these guys bring their own refreshing dynamic and flair as a retro-rock act among today’s music scene.

You can’t beat that.

Email HALES PASSINO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Golden Globes criticized, lack of diversity

BY CARLY NEWTON Staff Writer

The acting community recently shared posts on social media to call out the Golden Globes before its premiere, bearing the tag, #TimesUpGlobes. The hashtag was meant to bring attention to the voting panel of the Golden Globes due to their lack of diversity.

Along with Mr. Potato Head and Dr. Seuss, the Golden Globes are in hot water with the public and have received media attention in the past couple of weeks.

The Golden Globes awards are voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Out of 87 journalists in the HFPA, not a single member is Black.

The lack of diversity on the panel has since caused outrage across Hollywood and the public.

Actress Jane Fonda called attention to the HFPA panel when she made her speech during the Golden Globes broadcast by saying Hollywood has been afraid to tackle its diversity problem.

“We are a community of storytellers, but there’s a story we’ve been afraid to see and hear about ourselves in this industry. A story about which voices we respect and elevate and which we tune NGHI TO/Cardinal Points out. A story about who’s kept out of the

rooms where decisions are made,” Fonda said during the broadcast.

Fonda continued by saying Hollywood needs to make sure everyone has a seat at the table.

The vice-president of the HFPA, Helen Hoehne, also made a statement during the Golden Globes to address the controversy surrounding the HFPA’s panel.

“We recognize we have our own work to do. Just like in film and television, black representation is vital. We must have Black journalists in our organization,” Hoehne said.

If it was so “vital,” why didn’t the HFPA hire a Black member last summer when they had the chance?

In an article published by the Los Angeles Times, it was revealed that the then-president of the HFPA proposed a vote to hire a black diversity consultant. HFPA members voted against it and now they are most likely regretting that decision.

Dan Levy, best known for his role as David in “Schitt’s Creek,” spoke out against the HFPA panel as well. After winning two awards for Schitt’s Creek, Levy used his platform to address and call attention to the need for diversity in the industry.

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CARDINAL VOICE

Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas

Friday, March 12, 2021

Editorial

ELARA MARTIN/Cardinal Points

Equality Act must pass Since the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the Democratic congress has been trying to pass multiple bills to end discrimination and sexism in public affairs. Passing the Equality Act in the Senate will be not only a win for the LGBTQ community, but a win for Biden since the act was a priority in his first 100 days.

The United States House of Representatives passed the Equality Act on Feb. 25, which bans the discrimination of Americans based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The act is an amendment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which ends discrimination on the basis of race.

The legislature aims to end

the stigma that members of the LGBTQ+ face while applying for jobs, renting and buying homes and accommodating public spaces such as gender specific restrooms.

Discrimination against many minorities would still occur without these protections, despite the growing number of progessive voters in the United States.

The Equality Act first passed in the House of Representatives back in 2019, but with the Trump administration in office, the Republican senate shut the bill down. Even today, many Republicans fear what would happen if the bill becomes law, as it could cause concern in religious organiza-

ANNIVERSARY Continued from page six Optimism is what drives many students on campus to continue to work hard among the various challenges the pandemic has presented to students, especially on the collegiate level.

While focusing on negative situations may be the easiest way to cope with the current situation, remaining positive and staying safe is beneficial for student’s mental health.

“I feel like we have to be optimistic because the alternative is upsetting,” Boerke said. “In the future, I think we will see college go back to where it was before the pandemic. For peo-

REPRESENTATION Continued from page seven Usually, sound engineers discuss elements of audio with directors before filming starts. This film’s sound needed far more work.

Becker and Marder started to work together two years before filming began, and a year before Riz Ahmed had been cast. In an interview with Deadline, Becker explained their goal for the film’s sound, “was based on the fact that the film had to be an experience, and everything needed to be very physical.”

Becker’s physical audio process started with using a different type of microphone. These

contact microphones act similar to stethoscopes, which capture the internal noise of the human body. The sound design feels like you are experiencing Ruben’s hearing deterioration alongside him.

Cinematic sound design hasn’t felt this exciting in a long time.

When it comes to the stars on screen, there is no shortage of phenomenal acting.

Riz Ahmed’s performance has rightfully been receiving nominations and awards, left and right, with too many to mention here. To prepare for the role, he learned American Sign Language, and took drum les-

DIVERSITY Continued from page seven Accord to an article published by Gay Times magazine, Levy stated, “In the spirit of inclusion, I hope this time next year this ceremony reflects the true breadth and diversity of film and television being made today, because there is so much more to be celebrated.”

The truth is the HFPA only made this statement because their lack of diversity was exposed to the rest of the world. If they truly believed what they were saying, then the HFPA would have

tions and the inclusion of the transgender community in athletics, especially those who identify as women.

Evening the playing field has always been up for debate, but the change must happen.

The final vote of the Equality Act was 224-206, as the Democratic representatives and three Republican representatives secured the victory.

The act will face the Senate in the coming weeks.

Democratic Senate majority leader Charles Shumer stated during a press conference that he would use his power to ensure the Equality Act made it through the Senate.

“Now, with Democrats in the majority, the Senate will have

the opportunity to act on this critical civil rights legislation. I will use my power as Majority Leader to put it on the floor, and let’s see where everybody stands,” Shumer said. “I’m hopeful that, just like in the House, the Equality Act will get Republican votes and pass the Senate with bipartisan support.

And of course, we now have an ally in the White House with President Biden, who’s promised to make the Equality Act a priority.”

The Equality Act finally has a chance to become law.

Discriminatory laws will soon become a thing of the past, and equal rights will be on the horizon.

ple who don’t have a positive outlook, try to see the good in the situation because the pandemic has hit everyone in a different way. We have to make the best of it.”

After a year of adapting to the new normal, students at SUNY Plattsburgh have had to say goodbye to aspects of campus life that they love to keep others safe. It is important to remember that the pandemic has affected every single student, not just the incoming freshmen who are not having the usual college experience or the seniors who are missing out on their graduation.

We are all in this together. Stay cardinal strong.

Email ALEXA DUMAS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

sons for six months. His intensity on stage is then perfectly contrasted by his vulnerability the morning after.

Then there is Paul Raci, as Joe, hands down the best performance of the year. His accolades have been coming in from film critic polls across the country, but he hasn’t broken through to the industry awards. If he isn’t nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, the studio will have failed Raci as a professional for not giving him enough publicity. While he is not deaf, he is a child of deaf adults (CODA). He has been acting since the early ‘90s and is even in an ASL Black Sabbath tribute band.

He sings lead vocals while signing along for deaf audiences.

On March 9, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations were announced and “Sound of Metal” was mentioned four times. Riz Ahmed and Paul Raci were both nominated for their phenomenal performances. The film was also nominated for Best Editing and Sound.

Films that are as poorly researched and cast as “Music” create pain for those who the filmmakers think they are trying to prop up. “Sound of Metal” is a resounding work that does not come from a place of pride. It comes from a sincere place that is not only empathetic in itself but inspires empathy in the viewer.

Email CAMERON KAERCHER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

already had Black members on their staff. They wouldn’t have to be pressured into doing so.

It’s now clear that if the HFPA hires a Black member, it will be due to the backlash they have faced. The HFPA have had plenty of time to avoid making a spectacle of themselves and have refused to fix the situation before they got called out for it.

For the sake of representing the diversity of Hollywood, the HPFA needs to rectify this situation and get with the times. In 2021, a situation like this is no longer acceptable and should be resolved soon.

Email CARLY NEWTON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

Taken from 100 participants

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Jess Johnson

Managing Editor Alana Penny

Co-News Editor Olivia Bousquet

Co-News Editor Mataeo Smith

Opinions Editor Alexa Dumas

FUSE Editor Alana Penny

Graphics Editor Nghi To

Photo Editor Audrey Lapinski

Multimedia Editor Sareem Jabbar

Associate Opinions Editor Natalie St. Denis

Associate Graphics Editor Sareem Jabbar

Associate FUSE Editor Adeeb Chowdhury

Public Relations Chair Heaven Longo

Web Editor Jason Smith

Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy Advertising: Maureen Provost

Contact CP: Editorial Board: 518.564.2174 Advertising: 518.564.3173 Fax: 518.564.6397 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY 12901 cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Award Winning

Cardinal Points has received the following awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP): ACP Hall of Fame Inducted in Fall 2010 All American Spring 2018, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2016, five Marks of Distinction Spring 2014, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2012, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2011, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2010, five Marks of Distinction Fall 2009, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2009, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2008, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2005, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2004, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2003, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2002, four Marks of Distinction Pacemaker Recognition Fall 2010, Honorable Mention 2006-2007, Newspaper Finalist

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FUSE Editor Alana Penny

▪ Friday, March. 12, 2021

FUSE

Sidney empowers communities with projects

BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Associate FUSE Editor

If one were to ask what has driven her lifelong passion for storytelling and visual arts, Querida Sidney’s response would be clear and confident; her belief that the simple act of telling a story can be a radical tool for transforming the world.

Having grown up in the Bronx, Sidney recalled being quite a busy and studious child. Much of her time was split between after-school tutoring and club activities at the Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, as well as involvement in various organizations such as Step Up and Girls, Inc. She also strived to keep herself surrounded by people who shared her mindset and passion for social engagement.

An event that had profound ramifications on Sidney’s perspective in life while growing up was the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

“My family is from Haiti, so the earthquake and its effects were deeply important to us,” Sidney said.

“Seeing the destruction it caused and the efforts to help rebuild, it really taught me to appreciate life and keep striving to achieve what I want, no matter the setbacks.”

This lifelong ambition to learn and create has driven much of her involvement in various activities. In the summer of 2016, before senior year of high school, Sidney began an internship at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. This was a pivotal chapter in her life. It awakened her love for visual art.

Though she had always been a visual person, working at the Apollo Theater opened her eyes to what visual expression could truly accomplish and the truly boundless opportunities for creativity

that came with it.

“One event I absolutely loved being a part of at the Apollo was the Women of the World Festival in May 2017,” Sidney said. “We hosted guests like actress Gabourey Sidibe, and a major theme for that year was about how society is always on women’s backs, with certain beauty standards and social pressure. It’s so important to have people speak out against that.”

Sidney is currently on the Apollo Theater’s leadership board as the lead video editor. In addition, her role as a stagehand has allowed her to work alongside various celebrities, such as Lady Gaga.

Before officially enrolling in SUNY Plattsburgh, Sidney had visited the campus twice in high school. Both times, she had received a chance to interact with students in the communications department and got a feel for how things worked at Plattsburgh.

“As soon as I officially started attending Plattsburgh, I already became very hands-on and active,” Sidney said. “I worked with others on a bunch of different projects and art pieces on campus.

Some projects we did included commercials for made-up products as well as a short documentary about the Black Lives Matter movement.”

Sidney started out as a TV and video production major and then added audio radio studies at the beginning of her second semester. Her interest in media production and determination to excel in this field was noted by Dominique Lewis, the former President of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Lewis has worked with and observed many of Sidney’s projects in media production.

“Querida’s dedication to media is very inspiring,” Lewis said. “She knows exactly what she wants out of life and is a very deter-

AUDREY LAPINSKI/Cardinal Points

Querida Sydney plans to pursue freelance photography and videography, create short and feature films and do humanitarian work. She believes her work can help educate the public about marginalized countries and groups. mined person.”

During sophomore and junior year, Sidney worked at WARP Radio as a radio show host as well as human resources co-director.

Later, she was promoted to General Manager, which she said pushed her out of her comfort zone.

“At first, I felt a little challenged because I was not used to being in a position of leadership,” Sidney said. “But I soon started noticing that a lot of people were really looking up to me and relying on me to get things done. That motivated me to keep working and pushing myself. The whole experience really validated my belief in my leadership skills.”

Professor Timothy Clukey, who worked with Sidney at WARP Radio, lauded her charisma and self-motivation as key driving forces behind her success.

“Querida’s infectious smile and organizational skills promote a persona that other students want to work with—because

she gets things done,” Clukey said. “It is easy to recognize the elements of future success that are a part of her character.”

Sidney has also been spending time writing short films and is planning on progressing onto feature films in the near future. The films she has written are typically centered around dramatic, mysterious and historical themes.

Some of Sidney’s inspirations in the field of media and creativity include Michael Jackson, because his music videos—or short films, as he called them— all had an important message for audiences.

Also, Issa Rae, whose innovation and originality had propelled her from hosting a YouTube channel to having her own HBO show, and Mara Brock Akil, creator of famed shows “Girlfriends” and “The Game.” However, Sidney emphasizes that in her eyes, inspiration can come from every aspect of life.

“For me, inspiration can

come from just about anywhere,” Sidney said. “I can find the motivation to create from all sorts of things, like even the Instagram explore page.”

Sidney’s ambitions for the future are diverse. She plans to do freelance photography and videography for QAS Productions and is determined to create short and feature films, some of which she would like to submit to major film festivals such as Tribeca. Her goals also include participating in humanitarian work and supporting communities that would benefit from her help.

“One of the most important things we can do to empower certain countries and communities is to change how we portray them,” Sidney said.

“That’s what I hope my work in media can achieve.

I want to portray Haiti and other nations in a way that is more positive and uplifting, and encourages the world to be more active in supporting and helping

them.”

Sidney also believes her work can help educate people about countries and people groups that are often marginalized in the formal education system, as well as inspire viewers to do research on their own.

She pointed to the fact that learning about Black history is optional in Utah, as an example of the school system’s failure in properly teaching students about diverse groups, narratives, and cultures. Sidney believes this is why media creators have a special responsibility to ensure their work can help educate and empower people.

“Above all, I want to be able to share my thoughts freely and openly,” Sidney said. “No matter what, I want to share my truth.”

Email ADEEB CHOWDHURY

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Boerke balances studies, track and field

BY JONAS WARD Staff Writer

Kristen Boerke, a junior communication sciences and disorders major, is a student athlete on the track and field team and an aspiring speech pathologist.

“I wanted a university that had a great communication sciences and disorders program, a track team I could participate on, and most importantly a university that would offer me a great overall education,” Boerke said. “The location of SUNY Plattsburgh was also a factor in my decision. The surrounding landscapes are beautiful and it’s a great place to hike, ski and explore.”

For Boerke, The pandemic has hindered the track and field team in the beginning. The team now is able to participate together after a hiatus.

“Typically the entire team is at practice, however, due to current restrictions there are a limited number of people at practice,” Boerke said. “So practicing with the entire team is definitely something I am looking forward to in the future. If anything, the pandemic has made me realize how truly grateful I am that I have track and field in my life and how much I have missed my team. The time off has given me a deeper appreciaOLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points tion for the sport and more motivation to be a better When Kristen Boerke isn’t practicing or studying, she athlete in the upcoming seasons.” enjoys exploring the outdoors. She hikes, does yoga, Boerke appreciates that she made the Dean’s List this plays piano, goes to the gym, walks her dog and spends spring semester. She tries to do her best in her studies time with friends. and keep up with track and field at the same time.

“I am very excited about getting on the Dean’s Outside of her studies and the track and field team, List,”Boerke said. “It is a goal I strive to work toward Boerke likes to spend her time doing things she loves. every semester.”

This is especially apparent during the pandemic. Apart

from college activities, she loves the outdoors and the Adirondack area.

“Other than running and being on the track and field team, in my free time I like to hike, do yoga, go to the gym, walk my dog, play piano and hang out with my friends.” Boerke said.

Nicholas Jones, the head track and field coach, has known Boerke since her senior year of highschool. He believes that Boerke is a fantastic athlete who has been advancing extraordinarily.

“Kristen is a preliminary pentathlete, which is an athlete that competes in multiple events,” Jones said.

“She stands out in many different events and contributes to the team in many different ways.”

Jones believes that Boerke is a good role model for her teammates. He believes that she has been very impactful towards the team and also her friends.

“Kristen was able to join our team and make an immediate impact her first year,” Jones said. “She has been named captain this year. She also has been a tremendous source of positive energy for her teammates during these difficult times.”

Aislyn Mcdonough, is a good friend of Boerke and believes she is a fantastic example of a leader who works hard, and passionately, around her teammates.

“Kristen embodies exactly what you could ask for from a captain,” Mcdonough said. “She shows her determination through her hard work, always brings a positive energy to the environment, and leads with passion.”

Email JONAS WARD

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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FUSE Editor Alana Penny

FUSE

Student Art Spotlight

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Friday, March 12, 2021

Caitlin Daley Senior BFA art major concentrating in graphic design and sculpture Hi! I’m Caitlin. I am a Senior BFA student with a concentration in graphic design and sculpture. I am also the President of the Plattsburgh Association of Visual Arts (PAVA) and the Art Director for DoNorth magazine. I love working with different color combinations and cool textures. Using these materials and different methods of creating work has allowed me to express my thoughts and emotions that can’t be described by words.

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FUSE Editor Alana Penny

FUSE

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Friday, March 12, 2021

Art, music, theater Review: Music professors adapt to courses reinvent COVID restrictions showcase

BY BACH H. DO Contributor

While everyone has had to adjust to the pandemic, the arts — because of the hands-on nature of the disciplines — might be more affected than most. The Art, Music and Theater faculty have had to adjust their teaching environments to create a safe space while maintaining the quality of education for the students.

“It has made teaching different,” Sue Lezon, chair of the art department, said.“Teaching via Zoom made a huge difference in our teaching styles. When a professor looks at a student’s art project on Zoom, the artistic frame is quite different compared to looking at it directly in class. Art is a ‘hands-on’ discipline.”

Lezon expressed great gratitude and joy to the students and faculty who have been extremely responsible. Even though there are a lot of protocols, “The result is very rewarding”, she said.

Lezon also believes that we, as a campus, have mastered our teaching adaptation to the pandemic. She believes that even if the pandemic is still around in Fall 2021, we could still face it.

Dr. Karen Becker, the chair of the Music department, said the quality of her department’s teaching has not changed at all. Even though there are many more safety protocols to follow, which might be overwhelming for everyone, the faculty and students are committed to their passion for music. They take everyone’s safety seriously. She also expressed her pride in our university because not many schools could afford to stay open like us.

“Thanks to the fact that we have respected the mask policy and social distancing, we have been able to make it this far,” Becker said. “It has been extremely difficult to support stu-

dents’ live performances. However, the Music department created a virtual performance called Fall 2020 Music Extravaganza. I’m very hopeful and optimistic about the future”, Becker said. “I believe in our community.”

She is planning on doing a “Karen Becker and Friends” performance by the end of April 2021.

“If there are spring sports, why can we not have spring music?” Becker said.

Becker said the music department will try its best to have the Fall 2021 semester as “normal” as possible, but is confident that we would still thrive even if the pandemic were still around.

Erika Guay, Associate Professor of Theater, said the biggest challenge has been not being able to plan.

Usually, the Theater department would have the Fall 2021 semester fully planned out already. Guay said another challenge for the theater students is the lack of audience interaction. “You don’t get to talk to or hear from your audience,” Guay said. “Usually, you can see them laugh or cry but now it’s just the camera.”

With that said, helping students to adjust to a new norm is also a big challenge for the theater faculty. On the bright side, Guay said that while technology is a big challenge to traditional theatrical education, the faculty are constantly helping each other every day.

“It is impossible to recreate the program online,” Guay said. “But the support we have for each other has helped a lot in our teaching.”

For now, the Theater department is waiting for new guidelines because New York state has allowed limited live performances to resume in April. Their plan is to get back to traditional performance as quickly but safely as possible.

Email BACH H. DO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Weekly Tarot Reading NGHI TO/Cardinal Points

BY RIVER ASHE Staff Writer

This week’s reading comes from the Native Journey Tarot by Willow Rayne, Kandace Lynne and Megan Green. This deck is absolutely gorgeous and, according to their website, “leads you on a mind-blowing adventure through native lands and shamanic practices.”

Instead of pentacles, wands, swords and cups, it uses stones, vessels, feathers and arrows.

This is a non-standard tarot and can be found online or on Etsy. All card meanings have been interpreted from the guidebook sold with the cards.

Aquarius (Jan. 20—Feb. 18) drew the Child of Arrows. This week, you are going to need to look carefully at any problems that arise. Try to think through your decisions and make sure you are making the choice that is right for you. The guidebook said, “There is always so much going on that sometimes we need to just balance our thoughts and ideas with the practical realities.”

Pisces (Feb. 19—March 20) drew The Seer. You should pay attention to your inner voice this week. Something in your subconscious will be trying to tell you something and you just need to work hard to listen to it. “This is the time to trust your instinct,” Rayne, Lynne and Green wrote.

Aries (March 21—April 19) pulled Raindance. This card represents patience and balance. Something in your life this week will seem like it’s stuck or at a standstill, but it is simply in stasis and requires time. Don’t be discouraged when you have to wait.

“The idea now is to do what it takes to find balance in yourself,” the guidebook said.

Taurus (April 20—May 20) drew Panchamama. This week will be a good one for starting something new, especially something that needs to be nurtured or cared for. Don’t be afraid of new beginnings. As the creators of the deck wrote, “Panchamama is the mother earth of the tarot.”

Gemini (May 21—June 20) drew the Two of Feathers. This week, you will be called on to make a choice. This card represents drastic options, like going away from home or making a career change. Whatever the situation, do not jump in blindly. “The Two of Feathers is a card of duality and decision making and can signify a time when you have two paths to choose from, the guidebook said.

Cancer (June 21—July 22) drew the Three of Arrows. Something this week is going to cause you a lot of grief and sadness. You will feel like nothing will get better. Know that you are not alone and that you will heal. “Just remember that grief and pain can sometimes bring wonderful change, but for this to happen you have to let go of the past,” Rayne, Lynne and Green wrote.

Leo (July 23—Aug. 22) drew the Chief of Arrows. You will need to use logic to make your way through this week and draw on your own intellect. Beware of falling into a purely instinct-driven situation. The guidebook said, “Plan ideas carefully, seek out any weakness, and organize your thoughts logically.”

Virgo (Aug. 23—Sept. 22) drew the One of Stone. You will be given a chance to begin something new this week that you have been waiting for. Prosperity is in your future, should you choose to accept this new beginning. “Don’t let opportunities pass you by,” said the deck creators.

Libra (Sept. 23—Oct. 22) drew Pure of Heart. You are encouraged to jump into a new beginning this week. This is a time to be spontaneous and take risks that you normally wouldn’t. “This is your journey, so get out and own it!” Rayne, Lynne and Green wrote.

Scorpio (Oct. 23—Nov. 21) drew the Nine of Arrows. This week is going to be stressful and anxiety-inducing, so be aware of your mental health and be sure to only take on what you can handle.

You may feel significant amounts of mental distress. “Don’t be afraid to seek out some help if you need to and pay attention to your breathing,” the guidebook said.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) drew the Chief of Feathers. You will find yourself motivating to others and in a position to be a leader this week. Don’t concern yourself with what others think of you and focus on obliterating your own obstacles. The creators of this deck wrote, “You have the self-confidence to pull off whatever you set out to do.”

Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) drew the Seven of Vessels. You will need to think with your heart this week, but avoid unrealistic expectations and make your decisions carefully.

Though your head cannot lead, don’t ignore it completely. “Sometimes when dreams mix with fantasies, it can produce a heavy dose of wishful thinking, the guidebook said.

Email RIVER ASHE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

BY SARAH APPLE Contributor

Those studying or pursuing a career in music have been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current times have forced us all to adapt to the “new normal” at a rapid pace. At SUNY Plattsburgh, music students and staff have refused to allow the pandemic to hold them back. They continue to work to come up with alternative, COVIDsafe performances and rehearsals. As a result of their efforts, the Department of Music released their virtual Music Extravaganza on multiple streaming platforms Nov. 23.

The Fall 2020 Music Extravaganza is unlike any concert the Department of Music has produced in the past. Under normal circumstances, music students from the many different branches of the department gather together each semester to perform at various concerts in which they are given the opportunity to showcase their talents and hard work. With the current COVID safety guidelines, holding a public concert is simply impossible. Rather than canceling the event entirely, each branch of the department created its own socially-distanced contribution to the event. All of which were strategically combined to create a concert consisting of three performance groups, four soloists, and a special performance by a graduating senior.

The event opened with a lively and energetic performance of “You’re All I Need” by the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir under the direction of Dexter Criss. Clad in masks specifically designed for singers, each member of the choir is shown via videos they took of themselves on their phones, tablets, or other devices, giving a unique perspective that not even a live and inperson performance could provide. Right from the start, associate artistic director Andrea Ogle is dancing and letting the music flow through her veins, donning a grin that is visible even with her mask. What makes the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir so special is their genuine love and passion for what they do, whether it be through movement, laughter, or even the tones of their voices, there’s no hiding how much fun they are having. Seeing each member of the choir as they sing and dance really allows one to become fully immersed in the music— you can almost feel their energy coming through the screen.

The setting changes at the end of the gospel choir’s performance and we are taken to the stage on which pianist Bach Do performs the first movement of J.S. Bach’s Italian Concerto.

Transitioning from the exuberant choral performance to a piano soloist could be difficult for most, but Do executes the transition flawlessly and breathes life into the piano as if it were a part of himself. Although the piece is not as upbeat as “You’re All I Need”, Do is no stranger to mesmerizing his audience through his passionate piano playing. Just through his body language and mannerisms alone, his passion for music is clear to the eye and the ear.

Following Do’s brilliant performance, Lucas Smith takes the same stage to perform two vocal solos. Gracing the stage with a confident smile, Smith performs his rendition of John Dowland’s “Come Again.” Though it may be soft, Smith’s magnificent voice carries a unique power that few vocalists are capable of. Without wasting a second, Smith smoothly transitions into his next piece, “Sebben, crudele” by Italian composer Antonio Caldara. If singing in your native language is a challenge, singing in a language completely foreign to you is nearly impossible— but not for Smith. Smith performs Caldara’s piece so smoothly, it is impossible to know that he doesn’t speak the language at all.

The next performance by the symphonic band, under the direction of Daniel Gordon, is unlike any band performance most have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The band takes the “stage” via a Zoom call with each performer in what appears to be their own living rooms. If that wasn’t already strange enough, they are all wearing masks— and they do not remove them when Gordon raises his baton to begin conducting their first piece, John Cage’s “4’33.””

Upon first watching the performance, it was a bit confusing. Fully expecting to see the masks being removed followed by the sounds of the band’s instruments flowing together, there is nothing but silence. I began to wonder if maybe the video had frozen after about a minute of this, only for Gordon to signal the musicians to put their instruments down and end the movement.

Just a moment later the second movement begins in the same fashion as the first, and before I knew it, they had reached the end of the third and final movement. Gordon stands and takes a bow, then directs the band to do the same.

After rewatching the band’s performance a second time, the significance of the piece became apparent. Cage’s “4’33”” is, as the name suggests, four minutes and thirty-three seconds of complete silence. In regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, this piece perfectly represents how the music industry has been silenced. With a much smaller band than usual, the symphonic band at Plattsburgh State was incredibly limited in their instrumentation, thus making it near

NGHI TO/Cardinal Points

impossible to not only perform safely but to find pieces that worked with the instruments they had.

This brings us to the band’s next piece, another composition by Cage, “Living Room Music.”

This piece is performed by the band simply tapping on objects in their living rooms.

The third piece performed by the band is an original piece composed by Daniel Gordon himself, titled “COVID-19 Lament.”

As all of the performers in the Music Extravaganza had to get creative with their performances, Gordon took his creativity to a new level and composed this original piece specifically for the band’s instrumentation at the time.

“I was really pleased with how we put our heads together to come up with a creative and effective solution,” Gordon said in regard to the band’s obscure performance.

To bring their performance to a close, the symphonic band performs Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music”. Reich’s piece is composed purely of claps which, when brought together, are a representation of an audience’s applause— and boy, did they earn that applause.

George Hearn takes us back to the actual stage with an energetic performance of L. van Beethoven’s Sonata Op.31 no. 2 “Tempest” Movement I, Largo-Allegro. Right from the start, Hearn’s performance is utterly mesmerizing.

With rapid dynamic changes and a fast tempo, Hearn seems to embody Beethoven’s spirit and uncanny musical ability.

Not many can successfully pull off a performance of “I Feel Pretty” (West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim, but Miranda Velez does so almost effortlessly. With a huge grin and expressive hand movements, Velez’s performance bleeds confidence and enthusiasm. Like Smith, Velez also performs an Italian piece, Giacomo Carissimi’s “Vittoria”.

With this piece, Velez is able to show off her expansive vocal range, shocking the audience with her impressive upper register and breath control.

The second to last performance comes from the Plattsburgh State Concert Choir, under the direction of Timothy Morningstar. The choir performs “Ave Verum Corpus KV. 618” by W.A. Mozart in a somewhat unconventional way: each member of the chorus individually recorded their part and they were all combined at the end to create the final product. Without this knowledge, it is nearly impossible to tell that the choir was not in the same room. Their voices blend together seamlessly, creating an almost-angelic-sounding piece.

Finally, the show comes to a close with the grand finale: senior Jill Chase’s senior recital.

Chase, an experienced vocalist and actress, performs ten songs from multiple different musicals, beginning with Alan Menken’s “Watch What Happens” from the popular musical Newsies. Simply from watching Chase’s performance, it is clear that she is a natural-born performer. Although she is on the stage alone, she performs with such energy and expression that it almost seems like she is singing to or with another person. This energy doesn’t falter for even a second throughout her entire recital, and if anything, it grows stronger when she graces the stage with her two guest performers Mason Barber and Caleb Eugley.

Overall, SUNY Plattsburgh’s Fall 2020 Music Extravaganza was exhilarating.

During a very uncertain and confusing time in which we have seen many musical events canceled, the musicians at Plattsburgh State prove that there is nothing that can hold them back.

Email SARAH APPLE

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Student art spotlight, A10

Nutrition Association helps feed students said. “The conference was a great way to network, listen to various topics presented Staff Writer by nutrition professionals, see different ideas and samples of new nutrition products for hospitals and consumers, and also The Student Nutrition Association is recognize nutrition research presented by a group of about 10 to 15 students and either undergraduate and graduate stufaculty that meets bi-weekly on Wednesdents of many nutrition programs across days at noon. The group rotates through New York State.” different activities like hosting guest speakThe association has attended the coners, nutrition themed bingo and trivia and ference for the past few years and holds playing ice breaker games. The pandemic fundraisers to raise money for the trip. has affected the association just like other Although upsetting for the group that they groups but that hasn’t stopped them from won’t be able to go physically, they will be continuing on. virtually attending the conference.

Erin Wiggins, a member of the associaAside from the conference, the association, is responsible for communicating tion has accomplished a lot since forming with the club advisor, club officers and shortly after the nutrition program was others involved in the community. She also introduced to SUNY Plattsburgh. The helps plan events and meetings throughassociation is responsible for the stuout the semester. dent pantry located in Macomb Hall that “The pandemic has impacted our annual provides the “Students Helping Students” trip to the NYSAND conference,” Wiggins

BY JEREMY BINNING

food drive.

“There are many students at Plattsburgh State that do not have easily accessible transportation and also do not have meal plans on campus. Subsequently, a great number of students are left skipping meals and going hungry,” Wiggins said.

The drive has been going on for about two years now and food is donated. The association will start accepting donations of non-perishable food items in the ACC on March 15 through March 31 from 11a.m. to 1p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Student Nutrition Association has intrigued students from all around campus such as Skylar Ebalarosa, an undergraduate student. Recently hearing about their upcoming food drive, Ebalarosa has been planning on donating a few canned goods and such to the drive when they open up for donations in the coming weeks.

“I feel like what they’re doing is for an

extremely great cause because I know that there are a lot of college students who struggle with putting food on the table for themselves because they don’t have enough money to eat enough everyday,” Ebalarosa said. “So, I’m going to try and set aside some food items to donate when the donations open up.”

The Student Nutrition Association has been a positive influence on campus since its arrival and has been focused on improving the lives of students. From their informational meetings with guest speakers, to events they hold that bring students together, they aim to help create a friendly environment for the campus community.

Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

SAREEM JABBAR/Cardinal Points