UP cracks down on fire alarm misconduct
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Editor in Chief
Going through dreaded fire drills with droves of other students at the dorms is a universal experience for college students.
SUNY Plattsburgh’s fire drills have been extended by new procedures in response to a less-than-ideal student response to the alarms during a recent fire.
A fire in deFredenburgh hall, contained to a single dorm room, revealed to University Police that 25 students across 21 rooms remained in the building after the fire alarm sounded.
The fire was a result of a disallowed candle, and led to damages in excess of $10,000. At least one student received burns in the blaze.
To try and keep students from putting themselves in danger in the event of a
fire, UP has decided fire drills would now include officers checking all rooms for students who did not participate in the drill.
“We have a responsibility at the campus to enforce the fire code,” UP Chief Patrick Rascoe said. “Part of that is that people have to evacuate in the event of a fire alarm.”
The focus on ensuring students vacate buildings during fire alarms comes from UP, with Rascoe specifically designating his officers to enforce the checks.
“We are primarily in charge of enforcing the Student Conduct manual, however any campus employee can do it, and so can housing,” Rascoe said.
The new procedure involves two officers, standard UP personnel for a fire alarm, reporting to the building where the alarm sounded. One officer checks
the building’s panel and one goes to the site of the alarm, to ensure the fire isn’t at high risk to spread. Once the fire has been confirmed as contained, or in the event of a drill the alarm is silenced, the officers begin clearing all the rooms in the building.
The act adds roughly 30 to 45 minutes to the process of clearing the building for students to reenter.
UP is trying to shorten the process by enlisting the help of Housing and employees such as CA’s and CD’s, Rascoe said.
Rascoe and UP are also not using the room checks to indiscriminately punish students for offenses unrelated to fire violations, in an attempt to respect student privacy.
“It’s an enforcement that is targeted and narrow in scope,” Rascoe said. “We’re not
going to use it to search through drawers and whatever else. When we evacuate people, we’re doing it for the sole purpose of getting people out of there.”
UP will use the checks to identify and issue citations for other fire code violations, like covered smoke detectors, chained extension cords or candles.
Repercussions for fire violations can include probation loss of privileges to reside on campus. The Student Conduct Office adjudicates any related charges. The amount of fire alarms and drills has not increased due to the deFredenburgh fire or the new procedure, Rascoe said.
Academic researchers fear political influence on grants
BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, TERRY CHEA and MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press
President Donald Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in programs receiving federal money has thrown into doubt the future of research Kendra Dahmer has been doing on intestinal parasites in India and Benin. Dahmer, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, has a grant from the National Institutes of Health, the single largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.
The grant is supposed to cover her research through the summer of 2026, but now she wonders if that will be possible. She received diversity-based funding as the first college graduate in her family and a woman in science and, more broadly, she is uncertain how Trump’s anti-DEI executive order could affect support for her areas of study.
“There’s also this aspect of research that funds specific studies in specific populations that are now being deemed DEI,” Dahmer said. “So, like HIV research in Africa may be deemed DEI, malaria research, which also happens in low and middle income countries, may be considered DEI. And these are really important diseases that kill hundreds of thousands of people every year.”
Two days after Trump signed the executive order on DEI on Jan. 21 researchers became even more alarmed when the White House called for a funding freeze to conduct an ideological review of all federal grants and loans. After days of chaos and legal wrangling, two judges intervened and the administration rescinded the freeze. The National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation, which fund a large chunk of research in the country, this week began releasing grants.
But that hasn’t eased the fears of scientists and researchers whose work is funded by feder-
al grants. The NSF said it is still conducting a review of “projects, programs and activities to be compliant with the existing executive orders.” It’s not yet clear what may happen to new and existing NIH grants either.
On Friday night, the NIH announced it was cutting payments toward overhead costs for research institutions that receive its grants, a policy that could leave universities with major budget gaps. Current-
ly, some universities receive 50% or more of the amount of a grant to put toward support staff and other needs, but that would be capped at 15%.
Cardinal Points file photo
Plattsburgh firefighters showcase the aftermath of a simulated dorm room fire at Emergency Preparedness day Sept. 25, 2024.
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TERRY CHEA/AP Photo Kendra Dahmer, a postdoctoral researcher, works in a laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley.
February 7
UP made an arrest in relation to a drug posession charge.
February 8
University Police was notified of harassment at Feinberg library. The incident was closed by investigation.
February 9
University Police was notified of harassment at the Field House. The incident was closed by investigation.
February 11
UP made a juvenile arrest in response to a suspended registration on Beekman St.
February 12
University Police was made aware of an individual in posession of stolen property. An investigation is pending.
Weekly Meme
Student Association
SA swears three new members in senate’s first meeting of spring
BY ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME Staff Writer
The Student Association Senate swore in three new senators to fill vacant seats and approved extra funding for SUNY Plattsburgh Dance Corps at its first meeting of the semester on Feb. 5.
Dominick Andre, Kayla Alonzo and Jack Sweet shared their reasons for accepting their positions as Senators before Student Association President Gooding led them in their oath of office.
Andre, a student in the five-year History Adolescence Education program, learned he liked working with the public after he worked at Wead Public Library in Malone,
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Corrections
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New York for several years before coming to SUNY Plattsburgh.
“This would be my first position in student government. I’ve never done this before, but I also want to make some sort of difference,” Andre said.
Sweet is also an Adolescent Education major with a focus in history, from Glens Falls, New York. He currently works on the New York State Governor’s youth council and has dreams of eventually becoming an academic superintendent.
New senators Andre, Alonzo and Sweet are expected to contribute to develop plans for the Student Association and represent the student body’s interests in upcoming meetings.
The Senate also approved $2000 in extra funding for Dance Corps’ upcoming competition at Cortland High School.
Kaitlyn Ryan, president of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Dance Corps, explained the benefits of attending the competition and the support the extra funding would provide for them in regards to travel and hotel cost.
“Dance Corps attended this competition two years ago. It was a great bonding experience for us—I really felt that it brought the team all together,” Ryan said. The 23 member team will travel from Plattsburgh to Cortland today and will compete tomorrow. The team was unable to attend last year, but in 2023 it placed first with its team hip-hop dance and won a special award for its high energy.
“We are hoping this year, by bringing more dances, that we’ll have a better chance to compete in more categories and bring home more trophies,” Ryan said. President Gooding reminded the Senate about its upcoming tabling opportunity at the involvement fair on Friday, Feb. 7.
“I think it’s really important that we actually be out there and better promote the SA as a whole, especially together,” Gooding said.
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House Republicans mull scholarship taxes; changes to student loan programs
BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Associated Press
As Republicans in Congress look for ways to slash spending, some legislators are floating new taxes on college scholarships, an end to student loan repayment plans and a big hike in taxes on university endowments.
The ideas affecting higher education are among many in circulation among House committees that are exploring ways to cover the cost of extending and expanding tax cuts passed in President Donald Trump’s first term.
The recommendations are still evolving, and it’s unclear how close any of them will get to being implemented. Regardless, advocates across higher education say they are
alarmed to see such proposals gain traction at all with Republicans.
“It’s shocking to me because this amount of cuts is not happening in reaction to like a budget crisis, like a recession.
This really feels different in the sense that it is not something that there is an external push or a need for. So, it feels more ideological in a way,” said Jessica Thompson, a higher education policy
expert with The Institute for College Access and Success.
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Contact editor in chief Michael Purtell at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com or
Smith
JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points
Members of the Student Association listen to reports at the first meeting of the semester Wednesday, Feb 5.
New Plattsburgh partner offers funds for students
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Editor in Chief
Any one student is a thread of connections: Families, clubs and communities all help young people get into position to become a college student. SUNY Plattsburgh’s new partnership with The Contribution Project can help a lucky student give back to the communities that influenced them.
The Contribution Project is open for partner school’s undergraduate students aged 14 to 25 to submit their personal projects for approval to receive $400 towards improving their community, school or neighborhood.
“Your contribution project is not just about changing campuses, it’s about promoting change on a global level,” said Allison Swick-Duttine, Plattsburgh’s Interim Director for the Center of Student Involvement.
THE CONTRIBUTION PROJECT
The Contribution Project was founded in 2019 by Dr. Anthony Burrow, who received the Engaged Scholar Prize from Cornell for helping students engage with learning. Inspired by his success, Burrow created The Contribution Project as a means of continuing to help students engage with learning they were passionate about.
The project quickly grew to include several SUNY schools in its pool of partner programs, in-
GRANTS
Continued from page 1
cluding Binghamton and Stony Brook Universities. This is the first year the partnership comes to Plattsburgh’s campus.
Over the five year existence of the project, the organization’s website boasts more
Universities, which received almost $60 billion for research in the 2023 fiscal year, have been mostly quiet, explaining in statements to their staff and students they are still trying to clarify the implications of the executive order on DEI. Meantime, they are navigating the order’s impact on their own institutional policies supporting underrepresented students.
The University of California said in a statement it is “evaluating recent executive orders issued by President Trump and the subsequent agency guidance to understand their potential impact on our communities.”
Even though there is no clarity on the new policies yet, some projects already have been put on hold amid uncertainty over the future of research touching on issues related to diversity, said Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors.
HOUSE
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Here is a look at possible federal budget cuts that would affect higher education under the Trump administration:
Cutting programs that help students pay off college debt
The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce has suggested several possible ways to overhaul student loan programs. Some would reduce student access to federal aid for college.
On the chopping block potentially are several plans students can opt into to repay their students loans, including the SAVE plan introduced by the Biden administration. That plan doesn’t require borrowers to make payments if they earn less than 225% of the federal poverty line — $32,800 a year for a single person — and prevents interest from adding to balances as long as borrowers make their monthly payments. The SAVE plan was already put on hold after Republicans challenged it. Some plans do not appear to be targeted, including one that caps loan payments based on borrowers’ income level.
Another possible change would give borrowers additional opportunities to recover from defaults. While they currently can rehabilitate their loans just once, allowing them to make a certain
than 850 contributors have been supported in achieving their submitted projects.
Contributions range in scope wildly. Sponsored projects featured on contributionproject. org include a student who pro -
vided her peers with dryer balls in order to reduce the production of microplastics from dryer sheets, installation of bluebird houses in Ithaca, inviting youths impacted by the justice system to Cornell for a day and
Some of the studies already being halted include research on artificial intelligence and how racism can be coded into systems, he said. Other projects Wolfson has heard about getting stopped include research on health equity and studies on the urban literacy rate as it relates to class in places with large concentrations of Black people.
“I think the people who are making these decisions are very clear that they want to create a society that’s based on deep-set inequities that are hard baked and don’t transform whether that’s around race, whether that’s around class, whether that’s around gender,” he said.
The Education Department did not respond to an email message seeking comment.
Threats to funding for research related to DEI could eliminate a lifeline for historically Black colleges and universities, which are already significantly underfunded compared to predominantly white institutions.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest HBCU in the country, has been on a yearslong mission to become one of the first to reach R1 status — a distinction from the Carnegie Foundation that denotes a university as having high
number of consecutive payments to get out of default, the proposal would allow them to go through that process twice. The committee projected the new process could save the government millions of dollars but did not spell out how.
The timing is uncertain on when any of these proposals could surface. They could be considered as soon as this spring in a process known as budget reconciliation that would allow Republicans to squeeze proposals through Congress purely on party-line votes. That would not be easy in the House, where Republicans hold the majority by just a few seats.
An end to tax-free status for scholarships
Scholarships and fellowships have been exempt from taxes as long as they are used for tuition and related expenses. That would change under another proposal that’s up for consideration.
The changes could create new financial burdens for students and families, advocates say.
“There’s been great progress in bringing down the costs of higher education. Adjusted for inflation, public university tuition is less now than it was ten years ago,” said Craig Lindwarm, senior vice president of governmental affairs with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.
“But as we look at some of the proposals that are options, many would increase costs on students and families, and I think (the proposals) are heading in the
direction that most don’t want to see, which is increasing expenses on students and families.”
Increasing taxes on college endowments
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act currently requires some private nonprofit colleges and universities to pay a 1.4% tax on income from their endowments, which raised about $244 million from 58 institutions in 2022. The committee suggests increasing that to a 14% tax and expanding which colleges would have to pay it.
Also being considered among hundreds of other ideas in circulation are fines for colleges and universities that violate students’ rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which protects against discrimination toward students of shared ancestry. Such investigations often have been resolved through settlements calling for training and policy updates. Title VI is currently what is being used to investigate complaints of antisemitism on college campuses across the U.S.
installing a raised bed garden for community use.
PLATTSBURGH CONTRIBUTIONS
The school was contacted over the summer to join the project, Swick-Duttine said. Plattsburgh joins SUNY Morrisville as two new partners to the program to start the 2025 academic year.
Over the first two weeks of submissions being opened, Plattsburgh students have submitted six contributions. The Center of Student Involvement has been in charge of advertising the project to campus, and hopes to see that number rise.
“Student engagement and involvement has been somewhat difficult to capture since the pandemic,” Swick-Duttine said. “All we can do is our best to reach who we can.”
Swick-Duttine believes as the deadline approaches, the project will see more submissions than it did in the first weeks.
“Like anything on a college campus, people tend to wait until the last minute to submit things,” Swick-Duttine said. Students can submit their contribution projects for approval through the online application until Feb. 21.
Email MICHAEL PURTELL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
research activity, but the president’s intervention on federal funding could slow that down, said Joseph Graves, a biology professor. As it is, biology department students have to conduct research in hats and gloves during the winter because of a lack of heat in the old building, he said.
New scrutiny on federal research grants could also hurt students at HBCUs who have federally funded fellowships for research, Graves said. Those scholarships, which could be at risk, allow minority students to pursue opportunities they might not have been able to afford.
The Trump administration’s perception of diversity, equity and inclusion could make HBCUs a target because of its high population of minority students, Graves said.
“They will look at our excellence in doing work that is changing the demography of science, and they will attack it as DEI,” Graves said. “Whatever we do, we’re doing DEI whether they like it or not.”
Contact the ASSOCIATED PRESS apnews.com/contact-us
Weather Watch
Winter storm Jett to hit NY
Winter storm Jett is travelling coast to coast across America this week, with Plattsburgh expected to see severe winter weather starting Saturday and reaching its apex on Sunday.
The Weather Channel has projected the path of Jett to slam New York state with a wintry mix. The southern end of the state, including New York City is projected to see alternating rain and snow. Students planning to travel for the weekend should plan accordingly.
In Plattsburgh, the snow prediction is more consistent, with a low likelihood of rain and a heavy snow advisory. Early estimates show the region could get anywhere between five and 12 inches of snow on Sunday after getting three to five inches on Saturday night.
Temperatures will stay around 20 degrees over the weekend with wind speeds capping out at 10 mph. The weather will be cloudy all weekend, to match the snowy conditions.
Three retired faculty return to Plattsburgh in first exhibit of semester: ‘Shared Terrain’
BY KATIE KEARNEY Staff Writer
SUNY Plattsburgh presented its latest group exhibition to the public on January 28. The Shared Terrain exhibition was created to honor the achievements of recently retired emeriti faculty who dedicated their careers to guiding and inspiring students in the arts.
Diane Fine, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita, uses “Anthology” and “Devotional” to title her prints that were included in the exhibition. The name was thought of while she was in the process of printmaking. While wiping off the excess paint from the print, the word “holy” imprinted onto the rag. She compared the title “Devotional” to artmaking as people in both religion and art are both “looking for something”.
“I already knew I liked the work in the exhibit, but I just thought
that the other artists’ work, and the work all together, really spoke to each other,” Fine said.
Diane Fine has been a printmaker her entire adult life and is involved in collections at the Museum of Art in New York, the New York Public Library and Yale University Art Gallery. Being a Professor at SUNY Plattsburgh allowed her to experience a sense of community with both faculty members and students.
Fine described printmaking as a “communal practice” that allows artists to work together and learn from one another.
“I feel like with my students over the years, I often learn from them,” said Fine. “Even after teaching for as many as three decades I would still have a student do something where I’m like ‘Oh my God, I never thought of doing it that way’,” Fine said.
Fine uses collaboration and printmaking as a way to raise money for Plattsburgh Care,
a local organization that provides necessities to immigrants and others. Fine looks forward to renovating a 19th century church building as a studio for her and other artists to make art moving forward with her career.
Peter Russom, Professor of Art Emeritus, uses his recent trips to the United Kingdom and Eastern Maine as inspiration for his pieces.
“The visual drama of those environments are quite different but I found a common denominator to how I was responding to them,” Russom said. “I am very happy with all of the work from my colleagues, I like the way they relate to each other, there is obviously contrast but there are also some common qualities and that always makes a great show.”
He expressed his interest for others’ interaction with the work. He said that viewers do not always have to get the art,
as it’s “not the point,” but their interaction and ideas are what gives him a sense of whether he is communicating accurately within his pieces.
Russom’s passion for art has not changed throughout his life.
“Teaching was a career but I have always had a life in painting… I was painting before teaching, I was painting while teaching and I am painting when I’m done teaching,” Russom said.
Russom’s passion for painting has not changed, although he has more time in retirement. Both artists separately mentioned the “tremendous” and “beautiful job the Museum Prep, Walter Early did in preparing the show. Each artist mentioned how they admired how he made each artist’s work complement each other.
Susan Lezon, Associate Professor Emerita, used photographs that were taken over
the past 10 years in Egypt while working as an archaeological photographer. For most of her life, she shot photos in black and white. However, in this exhibition, the photos are shot in color which represent “newfound awe of, and appreciation for, the magnificence of color.”
The Shared Terrain exhibition was created to recognize the talented artist and their achievements.This exhibit collectively represents almost 90 years of professional service in the arts and to SUNY Plattsburgh. A reception honoring these emeriti faculty will be held on March 1 in the Burke Gallery. The exhibit runs until March 9.
BIPOC students create own safe spaces for DIY, textured hair care on campus
BY KALIYAH GREEN Staff Writer
For many BIPOC students at College, finding a hairstylist is a necessity. With limited options, student entrepreneurs turn dorms and apartments into spaces for Black hair care.
A GAP IN RESOURCES
Sciria Thompson, a sophomore, brought her love for doing hair to SUNY Plattsburgh, and her business Dolled Up by Rhea is thriving on campus.
”It’s hard to find people to do things the way you would like it. Some students have to go back home to get their hair done,” said Thompson.
Many students resort to diy styles or travel hours to visit a trusted stylist back home. This isn’t always feasible, especially for those without cars or extra funds to spare.
A SAFE SPACE
Students have started organizing informal hair care sessions in response to the lack of BIPOC hair care in the area, offering services such as braiding, twisting and wig installs. These gatherings serve not only as a practical solution but also as a way to build community.
Alisha Sawadogo is a hair stylist at Plattsburgh who grew up styling other people’s hair.
“It started with me just watching my mom do other people’s hair. I grew up with dolls. After that, I began braiding and doing other people’s hair as my business. When I arrived on campus, I was the only person doing wig installations prior to the preceding class; word spread and people started contacting me. I made the decision to establish a place where individuals could come, get their hair done and feel noticed after realizing how many of us were having difficulties,” Alisha Sawadogo said. Sawadogo shared that she understands the struggle so she allows students to borrow hair supplies if they need it.
These student-run services operate on a pay-what-you-can model, ensuring that those who need help can receive it regardless of financial limitations.
“Sometimes I am dealing with students that are unemployed so that can be a challenge, but I accommodate them because it’s a safe space,” Sawadogo said.
Via Plattsburgh Art Department
A promotional poster advertising three pieces of featured artwork in the Shared Terrain Exhibit.
HAIR > 5
Provided by Alisha Sawadogo Hairstyle done by Alisha Sawadogo for a client.
CARDINAL CALENDAR
Feb. 14 - 20
Friday 2/14
Common Roots Mixer & Concert.
The Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir will host a mixer featuring down-home soul food at 5 p.m. followed by a concert with the Gospel Choir.
SATURDAY 2/15
A fashion show celebrating body positivity, while embracing African culture through music, performances, ect.
SATURDAY 2/15
Winter Fest 2025
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Burrrghy Plunge, Fire, Music, Waffles, Hot Chocolate, Games.
Professor tackles phone culture
BY GUILIANNA LAURAIN Staff Writer
Anyone who has ever gotten into an online argument in the comments section of a Reddit post has likely wondered whether social media is making everything worse. That very issue was the focus of a recent event hosted by the Institute for Ethics in Public Life, titled “Did Social Media Break America?”
MONDAY 2/17
Thurgood Marshall: Justice for All
A presentation by Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
MONDAY 2/17 THURSDAY 2/20
Diffusing Tension: A Scent Diffuser Creation Workshop.
4p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Relaford Room in Macomb Hall
Embroidered
Bookmarks with Crafts for a Cause.
Meeting Room 1 in the ACC 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The conversation was inspired by an article published in The Atlantic almost three years ago by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. In “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid,” Haidt argues that social media has essentially torn American society apart. He compares our current state of political polarization and social fragmentation to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where people who once spoke the same language suddenly couldn’t understand each other.
Dr. Daniel Lake, one of the event’s speakers, broke it down for students. Social media is the biggest culprit behind America’s current state of division. Platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram have changed the way we communicate, and not in a good way.
Lake explained that when Facebook first launched, it was just a simple network to connect people. No likes, no shares and no algorithms pushing the most outrageous content to the top of your feed. Over time, social media companies introduced features that rewarded engagement. People engage most with content that triggers strong emotions.
“We’re in a moment where we have a deep level of fragmentation in our society,” Lake said. “And the causal factor is social media.”
HAIR
The discussion highlighted how social media encourages extremism by amplifying the loudest, most radical voices. Those who hold moderate views often get drowned out, while the most divisive content gets rewarded with attention. Instead of uniting people, platforms have created an “us vs. them” mentality, dividing audiences by political beliefs, demographics, and other characteristics.
Lake also tackles the subject of anonymity. There’s a reason people feel the need to be cruel or provocative online–it’s easier to say something extreme when you don’t have to face real-world consequences.
One of the ideas that stood out in Lakes’ argument was that many people feel like they can’t speak freely anymore. Lake mentioned that people are often afraid to express views that don’t perfectly align with those of their in-group, whether that’s on the left or the right. Fear of backlash, whether professional, social, or personal,
keeps people from engaging in real conversations.
People who do speak up often get recruited into extreme ideologies–not because they start out radical–but because they’re constantly fed content that reinforces one perspective. Over time, this leads to an echo chamber effect, where people are only exposed to their own beliefs, making it even harder for people to see eye-to-eye.
Lake touched on potential solutions, such as media literacy education. He argued that students need to be trained in critical thinking, research and how to analyze sources. Learning to fact-check and consider multiple perspectives could help prevent people from falling into the algorithm’s trap.
Email GUILIANNA LAURAIN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
LOOKING AHEAD
Continued from page 4
MORE THAN JUST HAIR
For many students, hair sessions are more than just a place to get their hair styled—it’s a space for connection and belonging. Kayla Alonzo, a sophomore who frequently visits the hair sessions feels a sense of belonging and comfort.
“It’s more than just getting my hair done. Every time I come, I feel like I’m back at home, getting my hair done is therapy to me. We share stories, help each other out and just exist in a space where we don’t have to explain ourselves. It’s a reminder that we belong here, too,” said Alonzo.
In the meantime, Black students continue to rely on each other. Through hosting pop up shops on campus for entrepreneurs to showcase their business. Proving once again that when resources are scarce, the culture will always find a way to thrive.
These student stylists aren’t just braiding, twisting and laying edges; they’re building a sense of community, culture and self expression on campus.
“When you look good you feel good,” said Kayla Alonzo.
Email KALIYAH GREEN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
This week your hard work is being rewarded. You are on your highest path.
This week someone you love may be having a tough time. Offer support and allow them to process their emotions.
This week you should listen to your surroundings and follow your gut to analyze a situation.
You may be feeling a little bit stuck this week. Take it easy, it’s only temporary.
This week you may feel happy, in the moment and fulfilled in all that you do.
The Universe is immense and does not work on your timeline. Realize that there is serenity in waiting for something.
You feel a sense of balance in your life this week. Take a moment to breathe it all in.
Find the inner peace within yourself and go with the flow this week. Everything will be okay.
You may be feeling an emotional weight upon you, just relax and focus on good vibes.
This week you may be thinking about all of the blessings that are in your life. Reflect on the beauty around you.
You feel content and one with the universe and you are merging into who you are meant to be.
This week you may see things naturally fall into place. Everything may feel out of your control, but it’s all for a reason.
Aries (March 21 –April 19)
Cancer (June 21 –July 22)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 –June 20)
(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)
Mystic Night: Royalty in The Wild.
Provided by Sciria Thompson Hairstyle done by Sciria Thompson for a client.
Via Adobe Stock
Women trounce Bears
Forward Molly Riggi jockeys for positioning against a Potsdam Bear in the neutral zone.
Photos by Emma Deo and Hiram Cowhey
Forward Kate Conlon shoots on the Potsdam Bears’ goal at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena on Feb. 7.
Goaltender Jacob Hearne squirts water on his forehead.
Forward Emily Kasprzak (22) and defender Mattie Norton (12) race three Bears for the puck.
Plattsburgh mourns loss of coach Geoff Spear
BY EMMA DEO Associate Sports Editor
When speaking about longtime Plattsburgh soccer goalie coach Geoff Spear, one word is consistently brought to the table: irreplaceable.
Spear died Jan 26. at the age of 63, deeply affecting the Plattsburgh soccer community.
“He could have been the head coach, but he decided not to be. I think the selflessness, the dedication, the loyalty and the drive to essentially give his whole career to the soccer program. That’s something that we’re gonna try and reflect on and make sure that people understand he felt the program was bigger than everybody, and that he was just a part of it,” said men’s soccer head coach Chris Taylor.
Spear worked as an assistant coach for the Plattsburgh State men’s soccer team for 29 seasons, spanning two head coaches. He joined previous head coach Chris Waterbury until his retirement in 2015, when he began coaching alongside Taylor. Spear also joined the Plattsburgh State women’s soccer team to work with its keepers for the last three seasons.
“You know, to put it bluntly, I wouldn’t be here without him,” Taylor said.
Taylor first started working with Spear during his career as a player at Plattsburgh State and then worked with him as an assistant coach post-graduation for two seasons. Taylor then coached at Vassar College and Clarkson University until 2018, when he found himself at the helm of the Plattsburgh State men’s soccer program.
“He was arguably my biggest mentor in coaching, because we
spent the most time together,” Taylor said. “There was a massive age gap, but it didn’t seem to matter. We shared a lot of things in common, so he was a huge father figure to me.”
Plattsburgh State women’s soccer head coach Whitney Frary also had the opportunity to work with Spear, describing him as a mentor but also a close friend.
“He was just so selfless. Drop of the hat, he was going to be there. He was going to give up a Sunday. He was going to give up everything just to be there for our team, for the men’s team, for the youth of the community,” Frary said. “I think that he was such a spectacular human, he’s an irreplaceable person in the program.”
Spear’s coaching philosophy emphasized the basics. He never let his players get too far ahead of
SPEAR > 10
Cards fly around the fieldhouse
BY ROSIE SCULCO Staff Writer
Picture hours of training in your own indoor facility, only being able to compete there once a year. This is the reality for the Plattsburgh State Track and Field team, which hosted its lone meet of the year Tuesday, February 4th.
Notable performers for the women’s team included junior Marissa LeDuc, who took first place in the 55-meter hurdles and also won the high jump. Firstyear sprinter Lexi McDonald won the 55-meter dash. Another first-year athlete, Isabella Scott, won the 300-meter dash.
Sophomore Grace Estus secured victory in the 600-meter dash.
The men’s team saw seven Cardinals emerge
victorious in their events. First-year Thomas Clark kicked off the day for Plattsburgh by winning the 55-meter hurdles. He was followed by Cypress, who won the 55-meter and later also claimed victory in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.64 seconds. Sophomore Ryan Beltran won the 300-meter dash. First-year Joshua Gaboriault secured a win in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.90 seconds.
This competition was extra special for Cardinal Country, as it celebrated 10 seniors for senior day, including Peter Basile, Noah Bonesteel, Alaina Conners, Justin Kumrow, De’Andre Watson, Faris Webber, Sean Ramirez, Denali Rodriguez-Garnica, Sarah Smith and JT Zimmerman.
Cards push to ‘25 playoffs
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Sports Editor
With only four games left in the SUNYAC regular season, the Plattsburgh State men’s basketball team (11-10, 8-6) is on the verge of securing a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. The last time the Cardinals made back-to-back playoff appearances was during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons.
After spending about a month away on winter
break, the Cardinals returned eager and dissatisfied with how they left off before the break after a buzzer-beater loss to the Cortland Red Dragons (12-9, 11-3).
Plattsburgh resumed its season with a non-conference game against VTSU Johnson (7-16, 4-7). The Cards took care of business and started the second half of its season with a convincing 97-72 victory.
“You know, we didn’t feel great about how we
finished up the last game of the fall semester,” head coach Mike Blaine said. “We came out sharp against Vermont State, Johnson in the opener.
Winter break is a unique time for all winter athletes.
While most of their peers spend this period at home enjoying time with friends and family, athletes return almost a month earlier than everyone else. Their only focus when they return: competing.
“There’s no school, and there’s nobody here. It’s
kind of just us. So it’s more bonded. It’s great,” senior forward Ikechukwu Ezike said. “It was just basketball; we didn’t have to worry about anything else.” After its home match against VTSU Johnson, Plattsburgh traveled to Western New York to resume conference play with back-to-back games against Fredonia (6-16, 4-11) and Buffalo St. (7-15, 5-10), where they lost in two close games.
CARDINAL POINTS FILE PHOTO
Geoff Spear stands tall alongside the Cardinals’ bench.
Via Plattsburgh State Athletics
Senior Sarah Smith speeds around the track at the Plattsburgh State Home Meet Feb. 4.
JUSTIN RUSHIA/Cardinal Points
Junior guard Kareem Welch pushes past a Thoroughbred defender at Memorial Hall Nov. 8.
Plattsburgh picks apart Potsdam in season series
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Sports Editor
The Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team (16-5-1, 12-3-1) entered their matchup against the Potsdam Bears (5-12-2, 1-11-2) with renewed determination and focus, eager to seize the opportunity to climb the SUNYAC standings for the chance to host a playoff game following a hard-fought-series split with Cortland (16-3-2, 11-3) the previous weekend.
“We’d love to host one game, if not two,” senior defender Mattie Norton said. “I think it’s a huge thing, kind of just for the mental side of it. It gives one less factor that people have to worry about.”
Head coach Kevin Houle was not in attendance for the first game of the series. The team decided not to comment on his absence.
Former assistant Plattsburgh State women’s hockey coach Danielle Blanchard was on the bench in his place.
“He was there that whole week of practice, and then we talked to him that morning just kind of going over some final critiques, and we knew he’d be watching, of course. He kind of joked about that a little bit; I don’t think it threw us off at all,” graduate student forward Mae Olshansky said. Blanchard coached for the Plattsburgh women’s ice hockey team for six seasons, during which she helped lead the Cardinals to five National Championships. She was inducted into the Plattsburgh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
During Blanchard’s time at Plattsburgh as a player, the women’s hockey team secured its first two national championships in program history during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Blanchard was recognized as an All-American four times throughout her career and earned the title of Most Outstanding Player at the 2007 NCAA Division III Tournament. She was also named the Plattsburgh State Female Athlete
of the Year for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.
Blanchard currently works for the Plattsburgh University Police.
“The team feeling wasn’t any different. It’s just a hockey game,” Norton said. “But we also knew that we had the opportunity to play with Blanchard on our bench, and we know how good she has been for Coach (Houle) and her history with the program, so we knew we were in good hands.”
Plattsburgh started its weekend at home in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, where it handled business and took down Potsdam 3-0.
“They have some pretty talented players on that team,” sophomore goaltender Chloe Lewis said. “It was a good test for us coming off of Cortland.
Just getting those pucks to the net and making smart plays when we needed to.”
Ask an Athlete: Payton Couture, WBB
Payton Couture is a senior guard/forward on the Plattsburgh State women’s basketball team. She has had a standout career, but solidified herself in the history books when she reached the 1000 point milestone Jan. 25 against New Paltz.
The hometown hero hails from Redford, N.Y., and has been a contributor to the team since day one. In her freshman season, Couture led the team in total points with 271, averaging 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Couture kept her foot on the gas the following season, earning 21 starts and putting up a season-high 20 points against Wesleyan as a sophomore.
The accolades began to roll in during her junior season Couture was named to the All-SUNYAC Third Team and was named SUNYAC Athlete of the Week twice. She was second on the team in both points and rebounds, averaging 13 and 6.7 respectively. Couture led the team in assists with 2.6 per game.
Now, twenty games into her senior season, Couture is averaging 13 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, putting up a season-high 24 points against Buffalo State Jan. 11. Couture has started in all 20 contests. She is currently ranked fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds in SUNYAC games with 85.
This question-and-answer was conducted over textwithPaytonFeb.11.
Question: How does it feel to have reached the 1000 point milestone in your senior season?
Answer: Reaching the 1000 point milestone I am very proud of myself. I definitely felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders once I hit it. I was putting a little bit of pressure on myself until I accomplished this. Although the goal seems more of an individual accomplishment it truly is a team accomplishment. I would have never been able to reach this milestone if it wasn’t for the teammates I have
had the past four seasons here at Plattsburgh State.
Q: What’s your favorite part about being local to the Plattsburgh area and competing for Plattsburgh State?
A: My favorite part about being a local athlete here at Plattsburgh State is that my family attends all the home games.
Q: What has been your favorite moment from this season so far?
A: My favorite moment from this season so far
would have to be hitting my 1000th point.
Q: At this point in the season, the team already has more wins than last year as a whole. How does it feel to be making a playoff push this time around?
A: It feels really good making a push for the playoffs. Throughout my entire career here I have never made it. I’m happy that I am getting the chance to do it with this group of girls.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
First-year Kate Conlon flexes toward her teammates after her second period no-look, behind-the-back goal
Cardinals hunt for final playoff spot
BY ZIAIRE FERRELL Staff Writer
With only a few weeks left in the season, Plattsburgh State women’s basketball (12-9, 8-6) is reflecting on the moments that connected them and made them stronger along the way. In spite of a few losses along the way, the team is working to keep a positive mindset and work towards the SUNYAC tournament. In their final stretch towards the tournament, the team captains are committed to helping the team finish strong.
Junior captain Jaden Wilson said she is feeling hopeful about how the rest of the season will unfold.
“Overall we’ve had a pretty good season so far. We’ve had a few tough losses that we let slip away, however we’ve had some exciting big wins as well,” Wilson wrote in a text. “If we finish strong in the next couple of weeks we will position ourselves to make the SUNYAC tournament.”
Wilson believes that the team’s ability to shoot from long range will continue to take them further this season.
Wilson leads the team with 45 made threes this season. The team has splashed 145 baskets from behind the arc in total this season, while limiting their opponents to 109 made threes.
“We have six or seven players who can really shoot from behind the arc, which gives our offense a lot of options,” Wilson wrote. “On top of that, we’re able to adjust to different situations and playstyles, keeping the other team on their toes and making us tough to predict.”
Payton Couture, a senior and fellow captain, said she is looking forward to making a playoff run.
“The team’s performance so far this season has been very good. As I am very proud of this team, I’m hoping that we continue to play well moving forward into the rest of the season,” Couture wrote in a text.
The Cardinals win over Brockport in the beginning of the season was certainly a high point. Plattsburgh was down by double digits heading into the locker room at halftime. The Cardinals were able to pull it together as a team and come out with a win.
For Couture, the game against Brockport meant more than just a win, it was a display of extreme effort.
“It was a huge win for us. We ended up defeating Brockport by working together as a team. Everyone played with such intensity and was feeding off of everyone’s energy allowing us to pull out a huge win,” Couture wrote.
In addition to the team’s accomplishments, Couture reached a personal milestone this season. Couture scored her 1000th career point in the Cardinals’ contest against SUNY New Paltz Jan. 25.
“This accomplishment wasn’t just an individual accomplishment but a team accomplishment. As I would have never been able to get to this milestone without the support and help from my teammates through the last four years,” Couture wrote.
The team has four games left in the regular season, and Wilson and Couture know that the road to the SUNYAC tournament won’t be easy.
“We need to focus on taking it game by game. As everyone in our conference is a threat. The SUNYAC is very competitive and anyone can win on a given day, making every game a challenge,” Couture wrote.
Wilson believes that defense and limiting turnovers will be a key in their success to come.
“We need to increase our defensive intensity and focus on limiting turnovers,” Wilson wrote. “If we continue to shoot with confidence and keep that positive energy flowing, both on the court and from the bench, we’ll be in a great position to finish strong.”
The Cardinals are on the road to Oswego State and Canton Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 respectively. Plattsburgh then takes on Buffalo State Feb. 21 and will celebrate senior day against Fredonia Feb. 22.
Chris Taylor announced as next head coach for Vermont Green F.C.
Chris Taylor has been appointed the new head coach of Vermont Green F.C., a semi-professional soccer club in USL League 2 located in Burlington, Vermont.
Taylor, who has played a crucial role in the club’s development over the past three seasons as an assistant coach, brings a wealth of experience to his new position. Originally from Liverpool, United Kingdom, Taylor moved to the United States in 2007 to pursue his passion for soccer at Plattsburgh State University. During his college career, he set the program record for all-time assists.
In 2018, Taylor assumed head coaching responsibilities for the
Cardinals’ program, where his leadership has already significantly impacted the team’s success and development. Taylor will continue to manage the Cardinals and navigate the NCAA season as he takes on his new role at Vermont Green F.C.
Three Plattsburgh teams set to host youth clinics
SB: Plattsburgh softball will host a clinic on Sunday, February 16, at the Plattsburgh State Field House. This clinic is open to softball players aged nine to 17 who are interested in refining their skills and learning from experienced college coaches and players.
WBB: Plattsburgh women’s basketball will host a multi-
day Spring Development Clinic in April and May. The dates include April 19, April 27, May 3, and May 10. The clinic is open to boys and girls ages five to 14.
The ages will be split into two different sessions, with one age group consisting of five to nine years of age and the other consisting of 10 to 14 years of age. Each session will be focused on player development skills such as ball handling, passing, shooting, and defense, with the sessions being led by Plattsburgh State coaching staff and assisted by Plattsburgh State players.
VB: The Plattsburgh State volleyball team will host a skills clinic on Saturday, March 29, for girls ages nine to 17.
The clinic will take place at Memorial Hall and be split
10 times better than they have been,” Norton said.
Continued from page 9
The Cardinals controlled the Bears throughout the game, scoring one goal in each period. First-year forward Tessa Morris opened the scoring in the first period, followed by fellow firstyear forward Kate Conlon in the second and junior defender Su-An Cho in the third.
“We moved the puck pretty well. We saw a couple of goals where we just had people getting in front, like Conlon,” Olshansky said.
The teams traveled to Potsdam for the second game of the series, where Plattsburgh won decisively with a score of 3-1. Morris opened the scoring for the Cardinals in the first period, followed by senior forward Bridget Orr, who also scored in the first period. Fifth-year forward Ciara Wall rounded out the scoring in the third period.
“We obviously want to win every game. The league is getting better, and the level of hockey is growing. Everybody’s getting
The Cardinals are currently the second seed in SUNYAC with 25 points. The only team ranked ahead of them is Oswego (182-1, 12-1-1), which also has 25 points but has played two fewer games.
Sitting right behind Plattsburgh in the rankings is Cortland. The Cardinals split their series with the Red Dragons the week before their series against Potsdam. Cortland currently has 22 points, but has also played two fewer games than Plattsburgh.
“For us to bounce back and get two big wins on the weekend, to secure more points and secure a better position in the league, it’s just huge,” Norton said Plattsburgh will look to complete its last conference sweep of the season against Canton today at 3 p.m. and Saturday, February 15.
“We’re playing well together. The chemistry is there. Things are flowing well. It’s just refining those little things and being ready for the games ahead,” Norton said.
1000
into two sessions depending on age. One session will be for age groups consisting of nine to 12 years of age, and the other will be for age groups consisting of 13 to 17 years of age.
Softball releases spring schedule
Plattsburgh State softball has announced its 2025 schedule, marking the first season under head coach Jessica Miller. They will start the season at THE Spring Games in Florida from Mar. 16-21, facing Keene State and Worcester State on Mar. 16. Following games against Simpson, Ramapo College, UW-River Falls, Brockport, Framingham State, and Amherst, they will conclude their trip against Middlebury and Salem State.
Upon returning to New York, the Cardinals will host VTSU-Castleton on April 2 and begin SUNYAC play on April 4 against Potsdam. The week continues with home games against Skidmore, Fredonia, and Buffalo State. They will play conference doubleheaders on the road against Clarkson, New Paltz, Oneonta, and Saint Michael’s, before hosting their final home games against Canton and Oswego State on April 25 and 26. The regular season wraps up with games against St. Lawrence, Morrisville, and Cortland on April 30, May 2, and May 3, respectively.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
The Cardinal bench celebrates as senior Payton Couture splashes a three against New Paltz Jan. 25.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
First-year forward Kayson Ruegge races down the ice against Potsdam Feb. 7. Email ZIAIRE
SPEAR
Continued from page 8
themselves, explaining that by doing the little things over and over again, those big moments in the game would come to you. Spear also instilled in his keepers that even if you’re not going to play your best, you must still train your best.
“Every keeper he came in touch with, he made them all-region, all-conference players. He was just so dedicated to making players the best that they could be,” Frary said.
Aside from the soccer field, Spear had a special relationship with his athletes.
“I think an impact that’s a bit more profound, and that you see in our players is the level of care and compassion and the dedication he had to our team,” Frary said.
Senior Plattsburgh women’s soccer goalkeeper Lauren Haley said she saw Spear as a father figure and that she is immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with Spear for four seasons.
“Talking to me now versus my freshman year, my confidence and just who I am as a person has changed so much because of Geoff,” Haley said.
Haley was named to the AllSUNYAC first team in her junior year. Thanks to Spear’s influence, Haley amassed 70 saves
Continued from page 7
and posted a 1.3 goals-against average, allowing only 19 goals in 2023. In her senior season, Haley was also named to the All-SUNYAC third team, starting 15 games in net for the Cardinals. She made 70 saves for the second season in a row, totaling five shutouts.
During Plattsburgh’s home match against Clarkson University this past season, the game was neck-and-neck until disaster struck – the Cardinals
(4-11) and Buffalo St. (7-15, 5-10), where they lost in two close games.
The Cardinals came back the following week ready to make a statement in the conference.
Plattsburgh went on a five-game win streak that expanded over two weeks of play, beating Potsdam (4-17, 4-10), Canton (3-18, 3-11), Oswego (14-7, 104), Oneonta (14-8, 9-6) and New Paltz (15-7, 11-4).
had drawn a penalty. In that moment, Haley was unsettled, knowing that as a keeper, the spotlight was on her.
Spear noticed this from the sidelines and was able to calm Haley with just a look.
“He had a very known presence; he was able to joke around with you, but when he needed to, he could switch on and do that. All he needed was a look,” Haley said.
Senior men’s soccer goal-
“Obviously, we had had a couple of hiccups on the trip out to Western New York, but, after that, we really zeroed in and got ourselves to be much more consistent, and much more in sync with each other,” Blaine said.
As the spring semester approached, the Cardinals gained momentum, positioning themselves for a strong push toward the SUNYAC playoffs.
Plattsburgh struggled to maintain consistency in the following weeks. They went 2-3 in their next five games. However, the quality of their two victories showed glimpses of a potential championship contender.
The Cardinals’ winning streak ended
Continued from page 7
Plattsburgh athletics is known for its strong support amongst fellow athletes. Last year, Plattsburgh State introduced their first-ever Cardinals Supporting Cardinals Team Award which was won by the Men’s basketball team for attending over 45 games as a team to support their fellow cardinals. This is only a small example of how strong the support is rooted.
“I think It’s awesome to see the fans coming out to support, whether you know their friends or family or just casual fans of the sport to be able to showcase our student athletes is paramount,” said Brett Willmott, associate head track and field coach.
Cypress set a new indoor program record in the 55-meter dash at 6.42. His time, upgrading the hand-timed 6.30 of Eric Allen of Plattsburgh State back in 1990.
Today, fully automatic timing provides a more accurate mark, and by conversion standards, Cypress’s time is a new program best.
Cypress has set a new program record for the second time this season. He surpassed his own previous record in the 200-meter dash at the Middlebury Winter Invitational, held on January 18th of this year, improving his time by 0.19 seconds.
One of his secrets is a shared hobby among all people: music.
“A lot of my mental preparation is music. If you don’t do that, you’re kind of crazy,” Cypress said. “If I’m trying to be calm, maybe it’s a prelim, I’ll do something calmer, but if I’m trying to get ahead, if it’s a final, I’ll do something more exciting.”
keeper Teddy Healy also worked with Spear during his tenure at Plattsburgh State. Healy was a four-year starter for the Cardinals, earning Second Team AllSUNYAC honors in 2024. Healy also posted a career-high six shutouts with a .725 save percentage in his senior season.
“As much as he works with us on the field developing skills every day, it’s more of a maturity thing; he really helps you grow as a person,” Healy said.
against the same team it began with, Potsdam, where they narrowly lost 75-77 at home.
Plattsburgh’s next test: a home game against Cortland, whom the Cardinals hadn’t beaten since 2020. Plattsburgh snapped their nine-game losing streak against the Red Dragons with a final score of 70-68.
Junior guard Kareem Welch and firstyear student Nate Pondexter Jr. led the way for Plattsburgh, with Welch scoring 17 points on 62% shooting and Pondexter Jr. scoring 14 points on 67% from the field.
“Obviously, they’re at the top of the conference right now, but we showed that if we can stick with it and stay together, we can right our own ship,” Blaine said. “It was a boost to the confidence, certainly, but I think what it really is, rather than just looking myopically against Cortland — it was a bigger picture opportunity for us because we didn’t play very well in the first half, and we dug ourselves a sizable hole against one of the best teams in the conference,” Blaine said.
The next day, Plattsburgh fell to Morrisville (11-10, 7-7) 80-86.
The Cardinals continued their losewin attern, defeating New Paltz 81-57 before losing a close game to Oneonta 78-82.
“We’re never really out of any games,” Blaine said. “We’ve had some tough losses on the court. I’m not going to downplay that, but really, what it showed us
Cypress focuses not only on improving himself but also on improving the team’s performance as a whole.
Cypress recruited his brother to come to Plattsburgh as an effort to build up the team. However, the theme of building and competing for the team doesn’t end there. In fact, these qualities are evident among the whole team, especially for the senior class.
“Honestly, since I came here, I put my individual goals in the back seat, and I want to try to build up the team,” Cypress said.
Among those ten seniors is Smith, a four-year, three-season competitor from Lake Pleasant, New York, who has earned praise from her coaches.
“Distance races are challenging events when it comes to training and racing. Smith is one who leads by example with her tenacity and effort,” Willmott wrote in a text. “Not only is she a model student in the classroom, she also runs well for us when needed in the clutch. She is an integral part of our team scoring going into SUNYAC Championships in a few weeks.”
Smith finished third at the Cardinal-hosted meet on Tuesday with a mile time of 5.35. She has been recognized by the SUNYAC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll for all three years (2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22). Smith is an example of the student-athletes who represent Cardinal Country while she prioritizes the classroom, trains to win, and appreciates the experience of being a college athlete to the fullest.
“For me, it really created a family. It’s nice because it’s kind of like a tight knit community, and it’s really helpful going throughout your college career,” said Smith.
There is unfinished business for this evolving team, and the future holds bittersweet endings for these seniors. However, it has been established in
Looking back on his time spent with Spear, Healy recalled one moment from his first competition of his firstyear campaign.
“It was my first ever game — not even a real game but a scrimmage,” Healy said. “I can’t tell you exactly what he said, but he gave the best speech of all time. We all still talk about it to this day.”
Spear’s family was also of utmost importance to him, connecting back to his years with the women’s soccer program.
During Haley’s sophomore season, Spear’s daughter Sam was able to play her graduate year with the Plattsburgh State women’s soccer team, under the guidance of her father.
“Seeing her and Geoff’s relationship was really heartwarming, because you knew that, like, he was probably a little bit harder on her than he was anybody else, but it was still her dad out there,” Haley said.
At the division three level, having a goalie coach is uncommon, but having a goalie coach with such a special relationship to his players and fellow coaches is a once in a lifetime experience.
“I feel like anybody in the North Country who has ever put on soccer cleats knows Coach Geoff, which is really special,” Haley said.
Email EMMA DEO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
is that we should never get too low, because we’ve got an opportunity to bring ourselves back into it if we can right the ship quickly and often.”
The top six teams in the conference qualify for the SUNYAC playoffs. The first two seeds receive a first-round bye and earn the opportunity to host a semifinal game. Meanwhile, the third and fourth seeds will host a first-round matchup. Plattsburgh is currently sitting at the fifth seed, with Cortland, New Paltz, Oswego, and Oneonta ahead of them in that order.
“I know it might sound cliche, but we’ve had teams at the bottom of the conference beat teams at the top of the conference, and everything and everyone in between,” Blaine said.
With four games left to play, Plattsburgh still has the opportunity to climb the standings and potentially host a playoff game.
“Hosting a game is very important,” senior forward Jeremiah Smith said. “It’ll be the first one in a while, and we want to do something special with this team.”
Plattsburgh will continue its push to the playoffs, looking to complete its conference sweep against Oswego today at 7:30 p.m.
“We can only afford to look at the game in front of us. And right now, we’re looking at trying to go out to Oswego on Friday night,” Blaine said.
life that sports can create lessons, memories, and relationships that will last a lifetime.
“Just take risks, if you want to do something, go for it. I mean, you only have four years here, so just make the most out of it. Honestly, joining a team is the best thing I could have ever done,” said Smith.
The Cardinals hope to maintain this positive mindset throughout the rest of their indoor season and into the spring outdoor season, including the SUNYAC championship on Friday, February 28th, hosted by Brockport.
CARDINAL POINTS FILE PHOTO
Geoff Spear sports his signature stern look on the sideline of Plattsburgh State game Aug. 31.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points Senior guard/forward Jeremiah Smith looks around a Hawk defender Jan. 25.
Exaggerated, extravagent and unexpected at the Grammys
BY CHRISTIAN TUFINO Staff Writer
Known for its stunning and outlandish fashion, music artists gather annually at the Grammy Awards to showcase their best looks.
In light of the recent fires in Los Angeles it would be understandable if the celebrities arrived at the award show with a limited wardrobe. Basic outfits and little blue heart pins worn on many celebrities were the expectation of viewers across the country.
However, all expectations were subverted. Creativity and personality shone through to give us many gorgeous and exciting outfits.
These are some of the stand out looks from the night:
LADY GAGA
Samuel Lewis puts Lady Gaga in a laced-up leather corset jacket and distressed ball gown skirt, creating a gothic Nosferatu-esque look that brings nostalgia from her bad romance era. Exaggerated shoulder pads and extravagant dresses are consistent with Gaga’s previous looks. With the build up for her seventh studio
album Mayhem, this outfit gives a glance into the themes we can expect from her work.
DOECHII
Doechii arrives at the Grammys wearing a stunning dress from Thom Browne blending the lines between masculinity and femininity. The dress shirt and tie leading into her gown, paired with her exaggerated proportions, create a uniquely polarizing look that challenges gender norms.
JANELLE MONAE
Piotrek Panszczyk and Beckett Fogg create a powerful suit for Janelle Monáe. The navy suit she wears is both simple and impactful. Her exaggerated shoulder padding, unique accessories and decision to go shirtless creates a powerful look that tests gender norms and makes her stand out in the best way possible.
CHRIS GREATTI
Dressed head-to-toe in Ann Demeulemeester, Chris Greatti shows up in a black-and-white suit styled with the brand’s signature drapey silhouette. The long striped suit jacket and pants add character and creativity to the foundation of the outfit. Paired with the distressed black scarf and shirt, Demeulemeestre creates a chaotic look that’s unique to both Greatti and Demeulemeester.
Email CHRISTIAN TUFINO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
BY KOLIN KRINER Opinion Editor
After the mediocrity that was Taylor Swift’s Midnights — which won Album of the year at the 2024 Grammys — I soon realized that the voters of the Grammys simply have no taste.
So when it was time for this year’s Grammys I had a feeling that her painful, somehow more mediocre album, “The Tortured Poets Department”, was going to bring home Album of the Year.
When Taylor Swift won none, however, it filled me with so much genuine joy. She received six nominations and took home an astounding zero awards.
“The world is healing,” I told myself.
Healing from what exactly? The blandness that is Taylor Swift.
Now don’t get me wrong, “Folklore” and “Evermore” are amazing albums, but past that what does she have to offer? A discography that sounds diverse? Vocal fluctuation that brings life to her music? Changes in song structure to spice things up?
No.
Swift does none of these and yet raises herself above the music industry because people would prefer to listen to hot garbage and relatable songs that serve no musical functionality whatsoever.
She is vanilla. Her music is vanilla.
Don’t even get me started on Beyonce winning by the way, Billie Eilish was robbed.
On a good note, however, Charli XCX brought a whole other level of brat, winning three Grammys in Best Recording Package, Best Dance Pop Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album.
This is what I want to see. Music with some zing to it, granting flowers to an Artist who has grown her musical technique and delivered something different, and overall amazing.
The Grammys this year was full of vanilla and spice, and I am ever so thankful we are stepping away from the mildness of the music industry and getting a taste of something with a little kick.
Graphic by Kolin Kriner
‘A Different Man’ bargains the worth of being normal
BY SOPHIA ALBERTIE Staff Writer
A man walks into a bar and he goes completely unrecognized. He sits down and orders a drink, girls eye him up and down. But this is a miracle for our troubled main character.
Sebastian Stan plays Edward, a man born with deformities that have defined him throughout his life. He has a disfigured
jaw, a drooping face and thinning hair. For him, it’s always been “man walks into a bar, and then immediately out of it.” He was the man who flinched at the touch of another human. An actor who moves from audition to audition, always cast as a very specific, unfortunate archetype... until he decided to change everything.
What does the “Cyrano” story look like in the present day? One would
assume after a viewing of the 2024 drama A Different Man that it’s come quite a long way from the”man who hates his appearance and life” trope. Except this isn’t quite what the film is. In fact it’s nothing like anything I’ve ever seen before.
Directed by Aaron Schimberg, this masterfully woven tale of what it means to truly transform follows a man born from insecurity and self-hatred, and what it costs him as he attempts
to change his life from a physical standpoint.
Its extreme moments of pitch black comedy entwined with a universal, resounding truth are bound to leave an audience thinking long after the credits roll. What’s that truth, you may ask?
If you’re looking for a movie about how real change comes from within, you should give this film a watch.
Viewers observe Edward through the 1 hour and 52 minute runtime, and watch helplessly as he thinks he’s changing. After undergoing facial reconstructive surgery, he seems ready to face the world, conquer his fears, and win the affection of Ingrid, played by Renate Reinsive, an aspiring playwright who lives next door. She had taken an interest in Edward’s previous deformities enough to write about them. It isn’t until after Edward transforms, fakes his own death, and changes his name that Ingrid puts out a casting call for men who essentially look like Edward to play his character
Will the all new Edward find what he’s been looking for before it’s too late? Or continue to live a nightmare?
A Different Man gets five stars for its intricate layers of social commentary, candid yet simple storytelling and beautiful cinematography. I can guarantee that once you see it, you won’t see anything like it again.
Subscriptions streamline the art of stealing from students
BY KOLIN KRINER
Opinion Editor
While scrolling through my bank statement for last month, I began to become overwhelmed. As a college student trying to control his finances, the amount I had spent in January made me begin to sweat. The realization hit me; I was drowning in a pool of monthly dues paid to people I don’t even know. That’s the cost of entertainment in our day and age.
As far as I knew, I was paying for only five subscriptions: Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Adobe and Canva Pro. Doesn’t seem like that much, until I
realized five subscriptions was actually 10. This is an issue faced by many, the subscriptions that were long forgotten about.
“On average, $86 per month was the initial amount consumers estimated they spent on subscription services,” according to a 2022 study done by C+R Research. “But upon closer look at their itemized expenses, the average monthly spend for consumers was… at $219.”
College students are increasingly at risk of these forgotten subscriptions. Between entertainment and educational services, these costs begin to quickly add up. For example, I’ve been subscribed to a Chegg ac-
count since I was a first year. I’m a senior now.
A Chegg subscription is $9.99 a month. This means that I have approximately spent nearly $360 across the years on a subscription I haven’t even used.
This is largely due to their automatic nature of securing payments from right inside your pocket without you even knowing.
“Unfortunately, subscriptions can inflict more damage to your finances than other types of purchase since they are set up to charge your credit card automatically,” said Robert Farrington in his Forbes article, “Subscription Overload: Are You Making This Common Budgeting Mistake.”
Although these subscriptions may be forgotten, they can still be found. There are things you can do to prevent this monthly robbery from your wallet.
It is a good idea to regularly review your bank statements, that way you can spot subscriptions you no longer need before they keep taking out money. There are also apps that have been created to help find subscriptions, and even cancel them.
You may not even realize it, but you could have hundreds of dollars stolen from you a year. It’s not too late to stop this though. Take control of your finances and cancel the subscriptions you know you don’t need.
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
Fall 2001, four
Fall 2000, four
of
of Distinction
First Class Spring 2013, three
Email SOPHIE ALBERTIE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Via Wikipedia
Fan made poster for the 2024 A24