STUDENT ASSOCIATION
Sweeping cuts announced to club funding as Student Association finalizes annual budget. Story on Page 2.
Take Back the Night unites 3 organizations
BY CHRISTIAN TUFINO Staff Writer
Title IX, with the help of Crafts for a Cause and Omega Phi Beta, provided support for survivors of sexual assault and spread awareness of sexual assault prevention at its Take Back the Night event through food, community activities and a walk on the Saranac Trail on April 30.
Title IX is a campus resource that provides support and education to prevent and assist in instances of sex discrimination, harassment and violence on campus. It serves all students and faculty, and the Take Back the Night serves to show their support for sexual assault victims not just for an event, but at all times.
Information tables were set up by the fire pit in the Angell College Center Courtyard. The stands offered resources for people in need or for those who want to learn more about what help is available for them on campus and in the greater community.
Emily Stanley, certified rape crisis counselor involved with sexual assault services on campus, manned one of the tables, providing students the chance to meet face-to-face with someone who’d be available to help in a crisis.
“We have a hotline for people who are in need of services and there’s someone on call 24/7, even if they just need someone to speak to,” Stanley said.
In addition to the hotline, campus has many resources students might not know about for dealing with crisis situations.
“We do counseling, we can also go with people in they need to go get a forensic rape exam or go to the court or police,” Stanley said. “We just want to be here to show our support.”
The event hosted light-hearted activities and treats as well prior to the walk. Tables filled with brownies, s’mores, hot cocoa and chips lined the back walls near the entrance next to the market. Crafts for a Cause provided materials to make affirmation bracelets and provided shirts people to wear.
Erin Noel, Crafts for a Cause member, said she enjoyed working with Title IX and Omega Phi Beta to bring awareness to an important issue.
“I think it’s a great cause and I’m happy to be co-oping with a new group on campus, and I feel like it’s important to bring awareness to the topic as well as bring people together for an important cause,” Noel said.
Kim Irland, Title IX coordinator, worked closely with student organizations for this years Take Back the Night event to bring a sense of power to the students.
“We really wanted to engage students in the development of the event and create a sense of ownership around this being students taking back the night,” Irland said.
After around half an hour of people showing up for the event they were gathered around the fire pit to hear a speech given by Maiah Vega-Reyes, Omega Phi Beta president.
In her speech she told of the origins of the event, which started in 1975 because
of an assault on a woman walking home alone that led to other women marching the streets chanting “take back the night.” This served as a moment for women to reclaim their right to live free from fear and take back the space they were forced out of by predators. Everyone in attendance was handed blank pieces of paper that they wrote negative thoughts on. They took those pieces of paper and threw them in the fire pit as a symbol of letting go of negativity. After the burning ceremony, the attendees gathered near the stairs entering the ACC where the 1.3 mile walk around the Saranac Trail would start.
Peer counseling course comes to Plattsburgh
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Editor in Chief
College can be a tumultuous time for many young adults’ mental health.
Following the example of surrounding SUNY’s, Plattsburgh State will be introducing a new way of tackling student struggles: Peer counseling.
In the fall, Plattsburgh will host its first ever peer counseling training class. Up to 10 students will get the opportunity to train to become counselors for their peers on campus, and then will be able to meet professionally to help others tackle the stresses of college life.
The class and program combo will be coordinated by Shelby Bourgeois, a mental health counselor who was hired to bring this experience to campus. The two-time Plattsburgh alumni found her passion for working at a college setting after spending four years at Paul Smith’s college, and is using that passion to bring this program to Plattsburgh.
Bourgeois’ program is something that
came from SUNY sister-school Potsdam, who has been working with Plattsburgh to help get the program off the ground, Bourgeois said.
“Potsdam has had this program on campus for a minute now, and a lot of other schools have been doing it as well,” Bourgeois said. “This is because research is showing that it is very positive for students on campus to give and receive that peer support.”
The first step prospective student-counselors would take is the class, which received enough student interest to be officially held next semester. The class will focus on sharpening hands on skills so that students will be as prepared as possible for real life counseling situations.
“It’s going to be a lot of practicing and role playing,” Bourgeois said. “Obviously we’ll be getting them the knowledge to know how to sit with somebody and listen while keeping an eye out for safety concerns and knowing when to refer.”
Provided by Shelby Bourgeois
The tabling setup advertises the course to the student body.
HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points
Student participants ready for the Take Back the Night walk by making signs in support of Sexual Assault survivors in the ACC courtyard April 30.
Student Association
BY ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME Staff Writer
The Student Association approved the 2025-2026 budget, which included discussion of a 20% budget cut in club budgets and some executive budgets at the joint meeting with the executive board and the senate April 30.
Each year, the Student Association reworks their budget in order to make sure student money goes where it is needed to go so that clubs — and more importantly all of the students — are supported through campus activities.
Each student gives money towards the Student Association in order to have activities on campus. Currently the SUNY Plattsburgh fee is at the maximum it can be of $125. SUNY policy determines the max any SUNY Student Association can charge.
“The Finance Board decided that a 20% decrease rather than a 25% decrease would be the most fair thing to do,” Student Association Treasurer Sydney Wise said.
The finance board decided due to unused funds this year to cut club budgets across the board by 20%, as well as the Student Association special purpose fund and student affairs board budgets which haven’t been used this past year.
The finance board decided to add $5,000 in additional allocations to provide more support to clubs with specific events that need the extra funding.
”Now, our additional funding allocation has increased, so we can provide for the needs of clubs that way even more than we did in previous years,” Student Association Vice President-Elect Jack Sweet wrote in an email.
The total budget for 2022-2023 was $1,104,455. The total budget for 2023-2024 was $1,050,047. This past year the budget was $813,241. The proposed budget for 2025-2026 year is at $780,829. This is about a 29% decrease from 2022-2023. The decrease is due to the previous budgets relying more from the cash from the COVID-19 reserves and the adjustment of the student association fee over past years.
“Those who didn’t submit a budget, we looked through what they have previously spent. If they have a lot of money, we just use our best judgment on what the club will need in the future,” Wise said.
Student clubs get the opportunity to submit budgets to the financial board. Many clubs submitted the same number from the previous year or higher. The board decided cutting all by 20% was the most fair thing to do. Clubs that did not submit budgets will be getting budgets based on last years and this year’s cost. Clubs that are not active will not be getting a budget. The average cost of club budgets for the 2025-2026 year is $1,269.
“Really though, this encourages clubs to work together and in-
teract more with the community. Fundraising and creating revenue within clubs is something that will develop from this, and in doing so strengthens our already amazing student body. We are hoping for this to be a temporary measure of course, and are at the present brainstorming ideas for alternate sources of funding for the next budget,” Sweet said.
With the approval of the budget, clubs will be made aware of the decrease in budget allocated club funding.
ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME/Cardinal Points
The joint Student Association executive board and senate meeting April 30.
ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME/Cardinal Points
The SA goes over the budgets of years passed April 30.
Photos from Take Back the Night
By Hiram Cowhey
Once students complete the course with a passing grade, they’ll take the internship the following semester which allows them to accept clients and meet with students. It is a position students will be eligible for as long as they are enrolled at Plattsburgh.
The program is a one year commitment at minimum, making it a unique opportunity. It’s also an exclusive opportunity. With just 10 slots, if interest surges the course could be hard to make it into. Eight slots have been filled so far.
The small class size is due to Bourgeois being the sole instructor running the course. It is extra important that every enrolled student is getting acute attention and hands-on experience, as they will be expected to assist their peers afterwards, Bourgeois said.
“We’re really hoping to get the max number of students,” Bourgeois said. “The more students we can get through the course the more slots will be available for counseling.”
The class is intentionally available for students of any background, not just students in counseling fields of study.
All a participant needs to participate is the will to learn how to properly counsel.
“I think really the biggest component
is having somebody who feels like they have a shared experience. And so if we limit it to just, let’s say, psychology or social work majors, it kind of ostracizes students of other majors on campus from helping students who share their experiences,” Bourgeois said. “Anyone trying to get more involved on campus is welcome to apply.”
The experience for counselors has proven to be successful on other campuses, Bourgeois said. Student counselors report feelings of gratitude for being able to give back to their campus communities.
For students who sought out help from peer counselors, the research has shown success for them as well.
“It allows them to have a connection with somebody more relatable than a professional counselor to talk through things such as academic stress or maybe things they don’t feel comfortable going to counseling for,” Bourgeois said. “It allows them a third party and breaks down some of the barriers that come with approaching a professional counseling office.”
Graphic by CAMERON GREAVES
A participant offers their negative thoughts to the fire during the burning ceremony.
A collection of signs created at Take Back the Night.
A student holds up the free shirts offered prior to the walk.
A student smiles moments before walking the Saranac trail.
Modeling club fashions optimism
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Arts and Culture Editor
SUNY Plattsburgh’s modeling club, House of Divinity — also known as H.O.D. — helps students find community and a sense of confidence through modeling.
Sophomore secretary Isabella Patrocinio and Senior treasurer Jason Smith are members of the H.O.D. board. The club’s goal is to allow students to find a sense of community and belonging while also learning to love their appearance.
The organization recently put on their spring showcase titled Heavenly Garden which was themed around spring. The process of planning the events can be lengthy as they have to agree on a common theme and the logistics of the show.
“It was a lot of thinking and a lot of ideas being shown. So we were all really like, ‘Oh my God, what are we gonna wear? What are we gonna
do with the decorations? What is the theme going to be?’ And when we came up with Heavenly Garden, it was perfect,” Patrocinio said.
Patrocinio has been a part of the club since freshman year and Smith has been a part of the club for one semester. H.O.D. was started about three to four years ago.
Smith is also the president of the club Kinks on campus, this has allowed for an increased collaboration between the two clubs. During their last show Kinks helped with hair styling. They have also collaborated in the past with the Black Student Union and African Unity.
Smith said that he feels the club allows students the opportunity to model as well as learn important life skills.
“I’m an inner city kid, so we didn’t really have many opportunities to model, but even simple things such as walking around with confidence, or just being comfortable speaking, or just being in your own skin. I’ve best taken these skills and applied them
to some other clubs, and even my life as I try to get myself ready for life post grad,” Smith said.
In the future the club is looking forward to doing more photo shoots and bringing more student clothing designers into the spotlight and helping promote their brands. The club is also looking forward to branching out and spreading their message and their show to the local community.
H.O.D. is spreading body positivity and an inclusive space where students can express themselves through modeling and find a sense of peace.
“It’s really about just having people feel comfortable in their own skin.
Literally, that’s our mission statement, “Patrocinio said. “We just want everybody to feel welcome and at peace when we’re all together like we say we are family and we treat each other like family.”
The club holds modeling auditions at the beginning of every semester and has meetings on Tuesdays
and Thursdays. The club also has a performance during the spring semester where they add additional practices for models.
“You can just come and join and learn. And that’s what I did. I learned, and I felt so confident after day three, I was really at peace,” Patrocinio said. “It’s honestly refreshing to help other people, because I was once like that too. I was very nervous about modeling. I didn’t know a thing about modeling.”
The club allows members to have a sense of community and belonging on campus, and it also helps people find comfort in themselves. The club collaborates with many different organizations on campus as well as individuals.
Email GRANT TERWILLIGER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
10 Minute Play Fest delivers quick shows
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Arts and Culture Editor
Students participated in fully student run theater performances as part of the 10 Minute Play Fest at Chapter One and The Strand Center for the Arts on May 1.
Students in Associate Professor of Theatre Shawna Mefferd Kelty’s Theatre 416 class researched, scheduled and directed 10-minute performances on the theme of inclusive community. The students had one month to prepare.
Mefferd Kelty wanted the students to experience directing a play when all of the technical equipment and tricks disappear and the actors are forced to make their performances fit the stage.
“I had a theatre company that was nomadic. We didn’t have a home for years, and we purposefully didn’t want one. So we put theater in all sorts of places and I wanted them to have that experience of how to tell a story when all the tricks that we use go away,” Mefferd Kelty said.
Senior Nick Bernadot was the director of the play “Can Superman Smash the
Klan?” by Sarah Bowden which was performed in Chapter One. Walker Alan was the director of “Dirty Dishes” by Eric Braman which was performed at the Strand Center for the Arts.
The other plays that were performed were “Matriarchy” by Robin Berl, “Spoons” by France Violet Jones, “Mimo” by Luis Roberto Herrera, “As the Crow Flies” by Zach Hancock and “Honest Lesson in Self Defense” by Patricia Lynn. Bernadot’s play was not his first choice, but it was one that he had thought about for a while and had been interested in in the past.
“I was looking at pictures, just to see if there was anything about the radio adventure or whatnot. And I noticed a couple of comic panels. I was like, ‘it’s very interesting.’ Quite a few of them have a similar style. And then I noticed in my Amazon wish list, I had the comic of Superman smashing the klan for years, and I never realized,” Bernadot said.
Provided by Isabella Patrocinio
This semester’s members of the House of Divinity club on campus.
Provided by Shauna Mefferd Kelty Ryan Lassey (left) and Mireena Fleury performing in the Strand.
Collection spotlight: Medicine Buddha
BY MADISON LYON Contributor
The earliest sculptural art related to Buddhism typically depicted events of the Buddha’s life. This stone relief, “Medicine Buddha,” is a naturalistic sculpture of the Buddha in a seated Dihyana position on a pedestal, holding a bowl in his lap, perhaps symbolizing the mixing of medicine.
The Buddha is depicted wearing a sanghati, a robe traditionally worn by Buddhist monks, and sitting beneath a canopy of flowers with three attendants to his right. Two of the attendants represent Western ideas in depicting a naturalistic approach to the human form, nodding to Greek or Roman classical traditions.
The third figure kneeling to the right of the Buddha represents an ascetic,
someone who dedicates their life to spirituality and denies themselves of worldly pleasures.
Sculptural art made in Gandhara from this time period served as an expression of religious faith in Buddhism. During the era in which this sculpture was made, the Gandhara region served as an active trade route, attracting a variety of visitors with diverse backgrounds. Thus, the majority of Gandharan art is influenced by a convergence of cultural styles reflected in sculpture such as this.
This and other artworks from the museum collection are currently on display in the Myers Building, room 232. If you are interested in participating in selecting the next round of objects for these cases, please contact Kara Jefts at kara.jefts@ plattsburgh.edu to express your interest.
This display will change with each academic year, with new selections curated over the summer. All members of the campus community are welcome to participate.
RIGHT - Unknown artist, Medicine Buddha, ca. 3-4 th century, Gandharan gray schist relief, Student Association purchase, Plattsburgh State Art Museum collection, P122000.1
Sculptor adorns buildings
BY GUILIANNA LAURAIN Staff Writer
Sculptor Amanda Browder visited SUNY Plattsburgh to talk about her colorful, building-sized fabric installations and the people who helped make them happen. The event, held in Yokum Hall, on Tuesday, April 29, was part of the college’s spring Visual Artist Series and brought together students, artists and community members curious about her bold, collaborative work.
Browder, who’s based in Brooklyn, has created more than 25 large-scale installations around the world. She doesn’t do it alone, each project is made with the help of local volunteers, many of whom have never touched a sewing machine before. Over the years, she’s worked with over 5,000 people, hosting public sewing sessions in schools, libraries and even churches.
“Public sewing gigs are a way to get institutions, specifically art institutions, to get outside of their space and move out to the community,” Browder said.
She said her goal is to make art feel welcoming, accessible and fun, especially in places that don’t normally see themselves as part of the contemporary art world.
She shared stories from her recent project “Razzle Dazzle” in Sioux City, Iowa, which wrapped six buildings in bright patterned fabric. It took over 600 volunteers and 90 public sewing days to pull off.
Browder recalled a woman who donated fabric anonymously and later recognized it during a sewing day. It had belonged to her grandmother and had been used to make a childhood costume.
“So another part of these projects are the stories, the very specific, heartfelt moments that come from fabric, and the nostalgia that we kind of see through pattern and textile design,” Browder said.
Like many artists, Browder had to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of her in-progress projects had to hit pause for more than a year. She found creative ways to keep people connected.
“I was like, ‘Let’s have a meeting on Zoom like everybody’s doing. We’ll all wear our fabric masks,
which everybody was doing.’ And then I said, ‘Hold up your favorite piece of fabric’ and we made this virtual quilt,” Browder said Browder made it clear that her art is never just about her, it’s about the ‘we’ behind each piece. The students and community members in the room walked away with a look at how art can truly bring people together stitch by stitch.
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This production was not the first time that Bernadot has directed. Bernadot is a theater major and film studies minor who has been working in the theater department during his time at Plattsburgh.
Directing and creating a theater or film project allows for a lot of room for adjustment to fit specifications.
“The thing about directing, especially when it comes to film and theater, is you always discover something new,” Bernadot said. “Either it works or it doesn’t work. That’s the beauty of creation.”
Scheduling was an issue that many of the directors ran into when they were creating their productions. Walker held a few rehearsals a week for a month making sure that everyone could practice and perform the best that they possibly could. Walker chose his play as a result of the themes within the play
“I thought it would be better to communicate individual days where it all works so it’s certain that everyone will be there,” Walker said. “I think any work with any kind of queer themes is something I connect to.”
Communication and organization is one of the most important parts of directing any production. You are directing the show you are in charge of what happens, when it happens and how it happens. Mefferd Kelty teaches her class the importance of every aspect of being a director and putting on a play.
“I think communication might be the number one skill set a director has to have, and it’s not just communicating with actors. It’s communicating with your stage manager, communicating with the production manager, communicating with the design team, communicating with your faculty to let them know that you changed rehearsal,” Mefferd Kelty said.
This week you may be completing a journey of some sort. Be true to yourself, new beginnings are on the horizon.
week you may be either feeling a sense of abundance or a lack of abundance. Make sure that you are communicating and making the right decisions.
Have faith in yourself this week and be yourself. Have a sense of hope and enjoy life.
This week you may be experiencing abundance in your life. Whether this be health, finances or joy.
This week you may be very busy and be facing some issues. All will be well. Take your time.
This week you may find abundance in your life. You have a strong foundation and will feel stability.
This week you may be feeling stressed when it comes to making decisions. Reflect on your options.
You may be experiencing an obstacle in your life. Look towards the future, positive things are on their way. Remember to reflect.
Email GRANT TERWILLIGERcp@cardinalpointsonline.com
This week you may be very busy and be facing some issues. All will be well. Take your time.
This week you may be feeling growth in your life regarding finances. Keep up the good work.
You may be finishing a big project soon. Focus on getting ahead and enjoying the moment.
You could be having some frustrations with yourself this week or you may feel growth. Remember to take care of yourself.
Aries (March 21 –April 19)
Cancer (June 21 –July 22)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 –June 20)
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 –Nov. 21)
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 –March 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 –Dec. 21)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 –Jan. 19)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 –Feb. 18)
This
Email MADISON LYON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Created by Amanda Browder Browder’s large-scale fabric installation.
Cards have best SUNYAC finish since ‘06
BY ZIAIRE FERRELL Staff Writer
At the 2025 SUNYAC Outdoor Championships in Cortland, the Plattsburgh States men’s and women’s track and field teams made a splash with a weekend full of notable performances, personal bests, and moments of camaraderie.
The women’s team finished sixth overall with strong performances in the 400 meter race and the men placed fourth, their best finish since 2006.
At Plattsburgh, junior Grace Yarkosky maintained her legacy by earning gold in the 400-meter dash in 57.89 seconds and leading the 4x400-meter relay team, featuring first-years Isabella Scott, Emma Mahoney and Brianna Wise, to a championship victory in 4:03.45.
“Going into the SUNYACs as a freshman was truly was an exciting experience,” Scott said
“The anticipation surrounding the championship was palpable, and it felt as though every team shared in that excitement. I knew that in the events I participated in, the competition was tough with many sprinters holding close times to each other. The pressure to perform well was intense but it ultimately helped me achieve the personal bests I was looking for all season,” Scott said.
After winning the indoor SUNYAC this year, it was the group’s second SUNYAC title. The women continue to show determination and grit as they progress on.
“Mid-distance races are all about trusting your training, being willing to take risks and knowing that you will most definitely be hurting by the end of the race,” Yarkosky said. “In the last few hundred meters of the 400 and the 800, it comes down to who is most willing and able to experience the discomfort and still execute.”
Additionally, Scott placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles and won gold in the 400-meter hurdles with an over-
all time of 1:06.00. She was one of the team’s leading scorers with 24 points from her contributions.
“My primary event in track is the 400 meter hurdles. What I love about this race is how precise one can get with breaking down the race strategy. I am able to know how many steps I need in between which hurdle, which leg is going to lead/trail, and more,” Scott said.
“Every meet leading up to SUNYACs I am able to work with Coach Willmont to decipher and tweak my technique which helps me learn new performance knowledge. Going into finals for the 400 hurdles the only plan I had was to push it as hard as I could and trust my body knew what it was supposed to do and in real time this laid out the path to a new
personal best and a result place I was extremely excited about,” Scott said.
The Cardinals’ success was fueled by a spirit that transcended well beyond the rack.
“The atmosphere at this year’s SUNYAC Championships was supportive, encouraging, and exciting across the entire team,” Yarkosky said. “Whether it be racing up to one another after setting a PR or standing around the track and cheering each other on during the race, being able to feed off of our teammates energy can be a game changer to push just a little more during the race.”
Among the women’s achievements were Ellie LeRoy’s seventh-place steeplechase finish, Grace Estus’s SUNYAC Elite 20 Award for academic merit, and
“We worked all season to make it back to the playoffs, and now that we have, I think we have to remember that we aren’t done yet and it’s up to us how much longer our season is going to go.”
Megan
Pillus, Softball
Marissa Colvin’s silver in the 5,000-meter run (18:28.84). With a time of 55.28 seconds, the 4x100-meter relay team finished eighth as well.
“In the past two years I’ve been on the team, the atmosphere has only grown more supportive and connected,” Yarkosky said. “The distance crew, the throwers, the jumpers, and the sprinters have grown together as athletes and as people, and it is evident in the energy brought to practice and competition.”
The men’s team started off day one with the men obtaining awards and breaking records.
Plattsburgh looks to future after shaky 2025 season
BY EMMA DEO Associate Sports Editor
Under new leadership, the Plattsburgh State Cardinals’ women’s lacrosse team is looking to soar to new heights next season.
The Cards finished this season 3-12, 1-8, missing the SUNYAC playoff tournament following a five game losing skid to finish the year.
Junior attacker Cynthia Barnosky led the squad in goals with 33, points with 50, assists with 17 and shots on goal with 61. Junior defender Lillian Gilroy earned All-SUNYAC Third Team plaudits after leading the team in draw controls, ground balls and caused turnovers. Gilroy ranked fourth in the conference with 98 draw controls, sixth with 42 ground balls and 11th with 23 caused turnovers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what this new coach brings to the women’s lacrosse program and to see what we can do next year,” Barnosky said.
Head coach Kelly Wall concluded her fourth season at the helm of Plattsburgh women’s lacrosse in 2025. Throughout her career, Wall holds a 19-40 overall record, becoming the program’s all-time wins leader in 2023. The team set a program record for wins in a single season in the same year with seven.
Wall and assistant coach Josh Walker, who was with the team for the past two seasons, will not be returning to coach the Cardinals in 2026.
Aside from the team’s record, there were many successes for Plattsburgh women’s lacrosse in 2025. Gilroy broke her own record for draw controls in a single season, earning her 62nd in their battle against Cortland. Barnosky set the career points program record as she accumulated 130 points in her three years as a Cardinal. In her first season with the lacrosse team, graduate student Mae Olshansky shattered the record for saves in a single game, stopping 18 shots in the team’s contest against the Potsdam Bears.
“I think the team is excited for next year. I think we have a lot of good kids coming in, a couple goalies that have had more than just a year’s experience and some
height finally coming in. So I think they’re excited with who’s coming in and then what we can do next year,” Wall said. Plattsburgh earned their lone conference win in a 16-5 decision over SUNY Morrisville on April 5. Barnosky led the way for the Cards with a career-high six goals and one assist. First-year Ashley O’Hara had a career-high three goals. Senior midfielder Caitlin Nash said she is proud of the team and how they were able to come together and stay positive through any adversity they faced.
“Being able to be a part of a newer program was really awesome and was what drew me to come to Plattsburgh in the first place, watching it grow into what it is now, I know we can only go up from here,” Nash said. “I know there’s a lot more building that’s going to continue and just to help lay any bit of that foundation was really awesome. I’m proud of what I did here and what my class has done, and hopefully it’ll just keep going up.”
WLAX
Provided by the Plattsburgh Athletics Department
Junior defender Lilly Gilroy jars the ball loose from a Castleton attacker Feb 26.
JUSTIN RUSHIA/Cardinal Points
First-year Isabella Scott competing in the 110m hurdles at the SUNYAC Championships on May 2.
SOFTBALL
Ciara Wall, Women’s Hockey
Few student-athletes have left a mark on Plattsburgh State women’s hockey quite like fifth-year forward Ciara Wall. After transferring in from the University of New Hampshire her junior season, Wall cemented herself as a consistent offensive presence, leading the SUNYAC Champion Cardinals in both points (17) and assists (11) during the 2024–25 season and also served as the team’s assistant captain.
W. LACROSSE
A two-time SUNYAC All-Conference Second Team honoree and former NEWHL All-Tournament selection, Wall built her career at Plattsburgh on clutch performances—netting multiple game-winning and power-play goals while tallying 70 career points in the process.
This year, the Plattsburgh fifthyear participated in the Boston Marathon on April 21.
This question and answer was conducted with Ciara over text April 30.
Question: What sparked you to run the Boston Marathon?
Answer: Growing up in Boston, running the Boston Marathon is something I have always dreamed of doing. This year, I ran in memory of Krystle Campbell, who tragically lost her life in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The 2013 Boston Marathon affected so many people in Boston and across the world.
Living through that is something I will never forget. My mom is a nurse at Tufts Medical Center, which is located right at the finish line where the bombs exploded. My mom and her hospital took care of and saved so many of the bombing victims. Our very close family friend, Richard Donohue, was shot during the manhunt to capture the bombers. Running this Marathon meant the world to me, I was able to honor Krystle, my Mom and many others that my family knew who were greatly affected by the bombings. This was the most important and most emotional thing I have ever done.
Q: How did hockey season prepare you for this?
A: During my hockey season, I was not able to run and train for the marathon. When my hockey
T&F
Continued from page 8
SUNY Plattsburgh Isiah Ritter took home a second place medal in the long jump which highlights one of his personal best performances.
Junior Charles Cypress set a personal record of 10.67 in the 100-meter dash.
“Running that time in the 100 was kind of like a sigh of relief,” said junior Charles Cypress.
“Throughout the season I haven’t been running good times, so running a PR in the 100 was something I had been waiting to do, and I’m glad that I ran it when it counted.”
The success of the men’s track and field team was also aided by Jordan Williams, who also hit a personal best in the 100 meter-dash. The success of the team highlights their closeknit family.
“I think our team is a very fun and supportive environment. We are always playing around and dancing, especially the sprints/jumps/ throws crew and I think that helps us keep a good mindset,” Cypress said.
“On the first day there were so many personal
season ended, I was able to focus on my running. I only had about a month to train for the marathon but because of hockey I was already in very good shape and my stamina level was already high. This allowed me to easily transition into my marathon training.
Q: What kind of mental preparation went into training for a marathon?
A: For me, running is a mental battle just as much as it is a physical one. I am very hard on myself, but through it all, my parents never stopped believing in me, and didn’t let me doubt myself. What carried me through my training was constantly returning to why I was doing this- for Krystle, for my mom, for Boston. Thinking of this every day as I trained helped me push myself to do my best. All of the training I went through was so worth it in the end.
Q: How did it feel crossing the finish line?
A: Crossing the finish line is something that will stay with me forever. The second I turned the corner onto Boylston Street, where the finish line is located, I couldn’t stop crying. The energy of the crowd, and seeing my parents watching me on the sidelines, was the best feeling I ever had.
I was so emotional thinking of all of the work I had put in, and everything I was running in honor of. Every emotion hit me at once, and crossing the finish line was more than I ever dreamed it would be.
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
bests and people heading to finals, so the morale was high and I think it was a great way to set us up for day two.”
On day two of the SUNYAC championship the team continued to push forward earning them fourth place overall.
The excitement filled the air as the boys continued on making tremendous efforts made by the hands of, junior Samuel Van Auken , senior Faris Webber and first-year Jackson Hooper.
Samuel Van Auken with his personal best in the 10l run with the time of 32:27:30. Weber earned second place in the decathlon, and Jackson Hooper won a silver medal in high jump.
The Cardinals’ fourthplace finish served the team as a symbol of growth.
“I think this obviously means that the team is showing growth and improvement. Like I said earlier I have always wanted to share success,” Cypress expressed.
“Since I got on the team I have always wanted to have a successful relay, and to have a successful team finish. I came from a high school where these were big goals of ours and so team success has always been on my mind. With the recruiting class that we have coming in, I have high hopes for an even higher finish next year.”
As the Cardinals train for regionals and beyond, their results at
SUNYACs represent not only athletic excellence but also a team culture based on resilience, joy and mutual respect.
“My hope going into next season is to lead by example and help to push my teammates in practice just as they push me. SUNYACs was a prime example of what this team is capable of when we put the work in and support each other, and I am very excited to see where this continued effort leads us next season,” Yarkosky said.
Email EMMA DEO
Provided by Ciara Wall Wall celebrates as she crosses the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
JUSTIN RUSHIA/Cardinal Points
Sophomore sprinter Ryan Beltran beginning his lap around the track at SUNYACs.
Managing editor says goodbye after 2+ years
BY JAYNE SMITH Managing and Photo Editor
I am not a journalism student. But when I first toured SUNY Plattsburgh in 2019, I toured the journalism department. I met the faculty, learned about its programs and visited for the first time the Cardinal Points office.
For entirely unrelated reasons I lost interest in studying journalism over the next year, and instead pursued other areas of study. After switching from a history major to sociology during my second semester, I began taking photography courses and shooting for fun in my free time.
It wasn’t until the end of my third semester that my very good friend Aleksandra Sidorova, the then news editor, encouraged me to join up and fill the newspaper’s need of a photography editor. I saw it as an opportunity to hone my skills as a photographer, get my name published and be involved in something my friends were already doing. It turned out to be so much more to me.
Mine is not a name you see attached to articles often. This is, in fact, only my third and final story for the newspaper. Even still, my face has come to be somewhat recognizable — I’m that curly-haired girl you may have seen with a camera at campus and community events, often paired with a reporter.
Despite being less of a reporter than others at Cardinal Points, I feel like I’ve been able to engage with the community on a higher level. Having had the opportunity to share my skills to tell the stories of SUNY Plattsburgh’s community has made working on the newspaper for five semesters without a doubt the most rewarding experience of my academic career.
My most valued takeaway has been getting to know so many incredible people by working with them on the newspaper. Spending long, late hours putting our hearts into our pages truly is a communal endeavor. It takes cooperation to make it work. It’s a kind of hectic harmony that’s never not messy, but that’s the beauty of it. Being a part
Lillian Murray
PR Chair reflects on her Plattsburgh experience
BY LILLIAN MURRAY Public Relations Chair
When I first came to SUNY Plattsburgh, I was completely lost. I had no idea what I wanted to do, no sense of direction. I wasn’t driven, I wasn’t focused — I was just trying to get by. When I left high school I had a record of eight different teachers who told my mom I was a distraction. And, truthfully, they weren’t wrong — I didn’t know where to put all my energy.
By the time I reached my junior year, I had changed my major four times. I was exhausted, uncertain, and starting to feel like maybe college just wasn’t for me. Then I met Professor Colleen Lemza.
She introduced me to the public relations department and placed me in a nonprofit organization called Shine On! It was the first time I felt like I was doing something that mattered. I started showing up and being proud of the work I was doing. Public relations work was not just a class that I had to pass, it was work that I wanted to be the best in the class.
Colleen wasn’t just my academic advisor, she became a mentor and confidant. She made time to talk with me regularly, not just about schoolwork, but about life and about how I was doing. She cared about my success in and out of the classroom. When she placed me into a third grade classroom to teach social and emotional learning, I realized that she did this to
show me that my “disruptive” energy could actually be something impactful. It could be used to help others and make a difference.
Colleen never got mad at me, as other teachers had. She taught me how to channel my energy into projects that were productive and something to be proud of.
Colleen Lemza has been so much more than an academic advisor. She’s been a mentor, a cheerleader and a safe place. I genuinely don’t know who I would be today without her. I owe so much of my growth and success to Professor Lemza.
My senior year, Colleen urged me to join the Cardinal Points publication. I was nervous, as I had never been a public relations chair, and I did not know anyone besides the opinions editor, Kolin Kriner. Both Colleen and Kolin encouraged — basically forced — me into taking the position, and I am so thankful that they did.
Although I was only in Cardinal Points for a semester, it has impacted my experience and my life greatly. The work I did made me feel fulfilled, I felt like representing and doing outreach for the school paper was an important asset for all SUNY Plattsburgh students. I am so thankful that I had the push from Colleen and Kolin, as I would not trade this experience for anything.
LILLIAN MURRAY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
of that kind of project bolsters your sense of fellowship.
At this point most of my closest friends are people I met or got to know better through Cardinal Points, and I love it. I will always cherish the moments and bonds I made in that newsroom.
For the spring 2025 semester, I had the honor of being elected managing editor. I had never seriously considered taking on a leadership position like that, but four semesters with Cardinal Points made me confident I could handle it.
And I did — working alongside Michael Purtell, Editor in Chief and friend, I grew into my new responsibilities. It has been uniquely rewarding and transformative.
I don’t know what Cardinal Points will look like next year. I wish the best to the editors of the future, and hope against hope that the newspaper sees higher involvement from the community it serves.
In an age where unprecedented changes are being made to restrict public education, international students are having their legal status removed without due
process, collegiate journalism is more important than ever. It is crucial for students to stay informed, and for students’ voices to be amplified.
SUNY Plattsburgh, I will miss you, but I don’t know if I would have missed you as much had it not been for Cardinal Points. I hope you treasure your newspaper, because it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Email JAYNE
Opinion editor looks to the future, appreciates past
BY KOLIN KRINER Opinion Editor
Freshman year I never expected my life would take a turn for what I believe to be the better. I was 17, unsure of where I wanted to end up. I switched my major nine times that semester, the anxiety of the future eating at my gut.
Right before sophomore year, I joined the public relations major solely because I thought the name sounded cool. This ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made.
I owe a lot of this to Colleen Lemza, my academic adviser. She made college feel like real life. She was tough at times, but I am so thankful for that, because it made the work I was doing feel impactful, not just a random assignment attached to a lecture.
She pushed me to do the most I could with what was offered to me, which has now developed into me graduating with four internships and several practicums on my resume. One of these was Cardinal Points.
The following semester, I decided to pick up Cardinal Points as an elective credit to write movie reviews for the opinion section of the paper. Little did I know the paper would become part of my life for nearly half my college career.
The semester after I became the public relations chair to further compliment my degree. This position gave me a look into the newsroom. Here I got to really know the impact the paper had, but not just the paper itself, but the editor faces behind it.
Fast forward to this semester. I decided to pick up a double major in journalism and took on the role as the opinion editor. Design was satisfying, but what really made the experience great was the friends I made with my fellow editors.
We were put in a position to grow close as we would work together for hours a week to produce something great.
Cardinal Points was a small portion of my college experience as a whole, but in reality it has been one of the best parts of it. I became friends with my coworkers, and so many memories have been made behind the door of 118 Ward Hall.
If it wasn’t for a random decision I made my freshman year, so many of my favorite memories would have never existed. Journalism has become something very important to me. It’s the foundation of information and without it the world would be in shambles.
Jack Downs has done an amazing job teaching me this importance in the classroom setting, and my fellow editors Michael Purtell, Lillian Mur-
ray, Grant Terwilliger, Justin Rushia, Emma Deo and Jayne Smith taught me that what makes a great newsroom is the people within.
I am excited for the next chapter in my life. I will be attending Colorado State University to pursue my masters in student affairs in higher education to continue the legacy Cardinal Points has taught me to make student voices heard. It may have taken 10 majors to find where I belong, but the journey is more important than the destination.
Web editor shares impact of exploring new things
BY ANKITA MANE Web Editor
Hi, I’m Ankita. I’m a senior majoring in computer science, and I’ll be graduating next semester. As I get closer to the end of my time at SUNY Plattsburgh, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the people, experiences and memories that made my college life so special. One of the most surprising and exciting parts of my journey was joining Cardinal Points.
Even though I only worked at Cardinal Points for one semester, it was a really meaningful experience. I got to see what goes into making a newspaper from writing and editing to layout and deadlines. It was a fast-paced and
sometimes stressful environment, but it taught me so much. I learned how to communicate better, work under pressure, and be part of a team. I also met so many kind and talented people who welcomed me, supported me, and made the newsroom feel like a fun and creative space.
Coming from a computer science background, journalism was totally new to me, but I’m really glad I stepped into this different world. It helped me grow and showed me new ways to tell stories and connect with others.
As I look back on my three years at Plattsburgh I feel thankful. There were challenges along the way, but I learned how to face them. I had moments of stress and self-doubt, but
I also had many moments of joy, excitement and success. I made great friends, had fun at campus events, worked on projects I was proud of and had professors who guided me and believed in me.
Plattsburgh truly became my second home. I’ll miss walking around campus, studying late in the library, hanging out with friends and even the cold winters. Most of all, I’ll miss the sense of community here.
Thank you to everyone who made this journey so special and thank you to Cardinal Points for giving me a chance to explore something new.
Ankita Mane
Email ANKITA MANE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
KOLIN KRINER
Kolin Kriner
SMITH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Jayne Smith