CARDINAL POINTS ISSUE #10

FRIDAY, MAY 1

SPRING 2026 | ISSUE 10 WHAT’S INSIDE:

Arts & Culture

Photo Page Earth Day Cleanup

Cardinal Creative

Student Association

SA makes Art Acquisition Board a club

BY SIERRA BABBIE Staff Writer

The Student Association passed a bylaw changing the Student Association’s Art Acquisition Board into a separate club and the NAACP chapter at SUNY Plattsburgh was given permanent club status April 22.

Both the executive council and the student senate passed a bylaw that will remove the Art Acquisition Board from student government. Instead, the board will now operate as a permanent club with reduced funds, and its own executive board.

The base level of funding for the board will be changed as well. Previously, the organization received $4500 each semester to purchase two paintings. The new bylaw states that the Art Acquisition Board will be limited to $5000 every academic year and will only be allowed to purchase a single painting.

Vice President Dominick Andre spoke about what led to the new legislation.

“This is a decision that the executive council made due to the nature of our college, due to the nature of the amount of art that we have purchased in the past, and as a way of transitioning us forward,” Andre said.

“The Student Association has decided that the time has come for us to cut our ties with the Art Acquisition Board due to the coordinator of arts’ lack of agency in making decisions and in functioning as a member of the executive council.”

Senator Sami Goodman addressed the Art Acquisition Board’s loss of funding as a result of the bylaw.

“Because we did reduce their budget, if there was a case to be made for the budget to be increased again, they could take that up with the next legislation, the next treasurer, when budget season comes around,” Goodman said.

The bylaw was unanimously approved by the senate.

SUNY Plattsburgh’s NAACP chapter received permanent club status during the meeting. Currently, the club holds weekly meetings on Thursday to share informa-

GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points

Student Association Vice President Dominick Andre presents executive by-law three, separating the Art Acquisition Board from the SA. tion about the organization. Next year, the club is plan- protect yourself, if you’re scared about what’s happenning on rehosting the Black Excellence Awards that ing right now.” were held earlier this semester, and creating a Black SUNY Plattsburgh NAACP was approved as a permaculture showcase. nent club unanimously with one abstention.

President of SUNY Plattsburgh NAACP Justin Thomas spoke about the club’s activities.

“Some events we do are about things that are hapEmail SIERRA BABBIE pening around the world,” Thomas said. “One of our cp@cardinalpointsonline.com events is an informational event about ICE and how to

Editorial Board

“Apex,” unexpectedly good thriller

BY SYDNEY BLAKE Staff Writer

The movie “Apex” was a thrilling and exciting watch. I wasn’t expecting much from a Netflix original, but was impressed.

I was reluctant before watching the film as it sounded similar to other thriller movies where the protagonist is sent into the unknown and hunted, but Director Baltasar Kormákur created something new.

“Apex” follows adrenaline junkie Sasha, played by Charlize Theron, who goes to visit the wilderness of New South Wales in Australia to get over the death of her husband Tommy, played

by Eric Bana. Bana’s character dies early on during a dangerous mountain climb in Norway.

When Sasha goes to Australia to escape her past, she embarks on a dangerous journey through the wilderness. Sasha runs into Ben, played by Taron Egerton, who is quickly revealed to be crazy, hunting her for the remainder of the film.

Theron was a level-headed actor as she adapted and survived harsh environmental conditions without safety gear. Within ten minutes of the film they show Sasha kayaking through crushing waves with huge rocks to then climbing underneath the top of a cliff to hide.

Via Wikimedia Images

Charlize Theron at the 2010 Academy Awards.

During this scene, Theron’s character felt a little too calm for being told she was going to be hunted. I felt the fear she was feeling, and I was satisfied with how she handled every situation and challenge.

This made Egerton’s character a good choice as a counterpart because he had the ability and knowledge of navigating the land, and had a more outgoing and dominant presence compared to Theron’s character. Egerton’s acting made for a realistic psychopath who genuinely freaked me out at times, such as when he prepared himself for the hunt and laughed as he battled back and forth with Sasha.

At one point I was grossed out when Ben showed Sasha how dedicated he was with his ritualistic hunting that he pulls out fake teeth to reveal his razor sharp real teeth, and makes her feel them.

There wasn’t much dialogue, which can leave some films feeling boring or empty, but I felt that the film was stronger in its silence.

While Sasha tries to survive, she keeps having to face Ben, which I saw as symbolic of her trying to escape her husband’s death. This filled the silent scenes with intense emotions and helped me connect to Sasha’s storyline and character.

Although, I wish the movie had gone further into Ben’s past and why he performed rituals.

As a whole, the movie surprised me. I was captivated by the beautiful scenery, while the main character fought for her life. Egerton carried the film with his character’s interesting personality, although I felt that they should have done more with Theron’s character. Overall the film was enjoyable to watch and I’m ranking it a four out of five stars.

Email SYDNEY BLAKE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Editor in Chief Grant Terwilliger

Managing Editor Hiram Cowhey

News Editor Grant Terwilliger

Arts & Culture Editor

Multimedia Editor Anya Kern

Opinion Editor Grant Terwilliger

Web Editor Laura Holtman

Photography Editor Hiram Cowhey

Adam Blanchard

Faculty Adviser Jack Downs

Contact CP cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026

Cardinal Creatives: Reillyquinn Cahill

Cahill addresses mental health with her artwork

BY ADAM BLANCHARD Arts & Culture Editor

Senior Reillyquinn Cahill uses art as a means to raise awareness about the struggles of mental health. She finds passion in advocating for mental health, an issue Cahill has fought with.

Cahill’s art journey started in her first year at South Glens Fall High School after taking a drawing class with art teacher Tom Myott. Originally, Cahill planned to be a veterinarian, but was swayed from her decision by Myott.

“He made me understand that I can be an artist and I can make money through art,” Cahill said.

Around her hometown of South Glens Falls, Cahill has had pieces displayed in shows at SUNY Adirondack and at the Hyde Collection, a small art museum in Glens Falls.

Since then, art has worked its way into every part of Cahill’s life.

Whether it be crocheting at home or sketching during long hikes, Cahill finds comfort in art.

“Even if I don’t bring my painting stuff or my sketching stuff, I’ll always be like, ‘Damn, I wish I did,’” Cahill said.

“It’s hard to ask myself, ‘What do I do outside of art?’ Because everything I do is art.”

Adam Blanchard/Cardinal Points Senior Reillyquinn Cahill next to her work displayed in the 2026 B.A. Art and Design Senior Show in the Myers Lobby Gallery.

Cahill has found painting to be her preferred concentration, using oil paint as her medium. With a minor in art therapy, Cahill found she enjoyed the psychology aspect of the minor and picked up a major in psychology in addition to her art major.

Cahill draws inspiration from post-impressionism, an art movement that emphasized

emotion, natural lighting and symbolic content.

Currently, she is working on a series for grad school focusing on mental health struggles during childhood. Cahill said she tries to emulate what it was like to grow up battling with mental health while not fully understanding what it was at the time.

Cahill works with pictures from her childhood

that she pulls from her parent’s photo albums. She picks photos taken during times where she remembered struggling with her mental health, then brings them into photoshop and gives them fantastical elements. These fantastical aspects are apparent in her piece, “I Get You.” “There were two photos of me from the same day, and I put them to-

gether to make it look like my younger self was having a conversation with herself,” Cahill said. “I like memories and skewing them in a way that I remember them as an adult.”

Cahill interned at the Adirondack Art Association in Essex, New York as a gallery assistant, where she curated shows, interviewed artists ex-

hibiting their work and helped sell pieces.

Although her studies have focused on art, Cahill still finds time to work with animals by volunteering at Tamarack Stables in Morrisonville, New York, helping clean stables, feed horses and assist the owners in any other way needed.

After college, Cahill plans to attend grad school and is deciding between a Master’s degree in psychology and painting or a doctorate in psychology.

After gaining more hands-on experience in psychology by volunteering at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center at Sibley Hall in the future, she hopes to continue to spread awareness about mental health. Cahill said she understands that mental health is a difficult topic that many people don’t want to talk about, but hopes to break the stigma surrounding it.

“I always feel the need to be saying something with my art that people might not necessarily feel comfortable saying with their voice,” Cahill said.

“I want people who have struggled the way that I’ve struggled to feel seen when they see my art.”

Email ADAM BLANCHARD cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Seminar showcase cultivates first-year creativity

BY GRANT HOCHMUTH Arts & Culture Editor

The Warren Ballroom was filled with life as clusters of students moved between rows of posters, their conversations blending into a steady hum of curiosity and excitement. Displays lined the room, each representing a semester’s worth of work from first-year students.

The showcase serves as the culminating project for the Cardinal Foundation Seminar, a first-year requirement designed to help students adjust to college life while engaging with a subject of interest.

Event coordinator Wendy Gordon spoke about the purpose of the event.

“It’s a chance for the students to show off what they’ve been working on for the semester, and a chance for the campus to see what happens in these seminars,” Gordon said.

According to Gordon, each course introduces students to college resources and skills, while also focusing on a specialized topic. The course topics vary, ranging from mythology and family history to storytelling with data, offering students an opportunity to explore different academic interests.

Gordon said she wants the course to encourage students to expand their perspectives.

“I hope it opens them up to the real diversity of experience that’s available to them,” Gordon said.

“Theres a whole broader world of things they could do.”

First-year student Lillyana Vargas Bradshaw exhibited a display made for her seminar “Creative Fandom.” The display invited students to examine the cultural and social impact of their personal interests such as television shows or hobbies like baking and sports.

For the showcase, Bradshaw and her classmates combined individual vision boards into a collaborative mural that reflected a myriad of fandoms and perspectives.

“I feel like it just gave me the opportunity to be creative,” Bradshaw said. “It’s one of those classes where I’m excited to go.”

She said the course allowed her to learn about topics such as diversity, representation and community within fandom spaces while also helping her step outside her comfort zone.

“This course definitely gave me the chance to connect to people over things I may have been shy about,” Bradshaw said. “Some of us connected

Grant Hochmuth/Cardinal Points First-year student Lillyana Vargas Bradshaw beside the “Creative Fandom” seminar’s display.

through our fandoms.”

Across the room, another group of students encouraged participation in a different way. First-year student Luke Buskey-Bouchard presented work from his seminar, “Everybody Has an Opinion,” a discussion based class centered on controversial and thought provoking topics.

His group’s display focused on issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence and gender. The display invited visitors to write their own opin-

ions on sticky notes and add them to posters. The interactive element reflected the core of the course: Open dialogue.

“It allowed me to think more critically and communicate more with my peers,” Buskey-Bouchard said.

Buskey-Bouchard said the class created a space where students could engage with viewpoints in a respectful and constructive way.

“I feel like politics nowadays kind of lacks that appreciation for opinions,” Buskey-Bouch-

ard said. “This class helps everyone understand each other’s perspectives.”

In a room filled with first year students, the event made one thing clear; college is not only about adjusting to a new environment, but discovering new interests, building confidence and learning how to share your voice.

Email GRANT HOCHMUTH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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▪ Arts & Culture Editor Adam Blanchard

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ARTS & CULTURE

Friday, May 1, 2026

A collection of Cahill’s pieces Artwork by Reillyquinn Cahill

“Joy,” 2017, pastel on paper.

“Arena Wrangler,” 2025, oil paint on primed canvas, 24 inches by 36 inches.

“I Get You,” 2025, oil point on primed canvas, 24 inches by 36 inches.

Irony, 2017, Chalk Pastel on paper

BY GRYPHON AKRIDGE-PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Gatherings could put you in contact with people from your past; pleasant memories pave the path for a better future.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

Powerful forces are affecting the events of life. Good news is coming about a job change, move or journey.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Now is a good time to take action on financial or business plans.

An involvement in social events brightens your life.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Stand up for yourself in a dispute; this could be a time of betrayal, misfortune and loss.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Your financial situation is changing for the better. Stress is evaporating.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Unexpected good news helps you move forward with your plans.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

A cycle of completion follows a job well done; listening will help you find out something to better your life.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

A well-earned, restful pause in your life is near. A new love or business success is possible. This is a time for celebration of success.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

A message of love or a proposal may be coming your way.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

You may be awaiting the results from something you started. Focus your energy and willpower to fulfill your desires. However, be certain the end result is what you want.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

You will gain financially from hard work.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

You are building a solid foundation. However, more patience and planning are needed before all the pieces are in place.

▪ Photography Editor Hiram Cowhey

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PHOTO SPREAD

Friday, May 1, 2026

SUNY Plattsburgh cleans up the Saranac River Trail for Earth Day

Haylee Minor, Samantha Ryan, Natalie Sabino and Simon Melgarejo posing with their garbage bags mid clean up April 24.

Ryan and Minor collecting trash in the woods.

HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points

Sabino and Melgarejo stroll along the Saranac River.

HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points

HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points

KIMORA DECOTEAU/Cardinal Points

Melgarejo climbing out of the woods after cleaning up litter.

Minor and Ryan picking up left behind garbage next to the Saranac River.

HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points