Cardinal Points issue 4 - fall 2020

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2020

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

VOLUME 103 - ISSUE 4

Spring 2021 calendar changes with COVID

BY EMMA VALLELUNGA News Editor

Next semester won’t be the same. The concerns of college reopening plans during the coronavirus pandemic has caused the administrative staff at SUNY Plattsburgh to make many changes to the 2021 academic calendar. These decisions were made with

the health and safety of the entire Plattsburgh community in mind, but nothing about spring 2021 is set in stone.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Anne Herzog sent an email to all students addressing the changes last week.

First, the college is not scheduling a spring break.

Based on recommendations from Student Health

and Counseling Center Director Dr. Kathleen Camelo, Herzog said there was too high of a risk, especially with the uncertainty of how COVID-19 will interact with the winter flu season.

“It’s the notion of having people leave campus and go all over the place and come back,” Herzog said. “It was too much of a medical risk.”

Herzog said it wasn’t an

easy decision to make for the president’s cabinet, which took them three weeks to finalize, and she understands how it can be difficult to go without that break.

“I know how important spring break is,” Herzog said. “Everybody looks forward to it. For students, it’s a chance for many of them to go home. For faculty, it’s an important week where

they can catch up on grading and prepare for additional assignments.”

Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success R. Lizzie Wahab said a few concerned parents have called the office regarding the cancelation of spring break. Wahab said she values speaking with the parents to help them understand the college’s reasoning.

“Often, people calling in are looking at [the situation] from one direction,” Wahab said. “My job is to provide multiple directions so that they can understand the context. I haven’t had a parent that called back and said ‘I disagree with you,’ but the sampling has been very small.”

SPRING l A5

Sibley continues to provide child care during pandemic SA approves stipends for members

BY DREW WEMPLE Staff Writer

BY ADEEB CHOWDHURY Staff Writer

Beginning this semester, the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association will pay its senators and council members.

At the senate meeting Sept. 17, SA President Rudaba Ahmed introduced Student Bill 16, which established the SA compensation model and outlined the provision of financial support to the members of the association’s executive and legislative branches. The nine members of the Executive Council shall receive $826 per week for fourteen weeks, and the sixteen senators shall receive $495 per week for the same length of time.

Ahmed said that such a system will compensate leaders for their time and commitment.

PAYMENT l A5

SUNY Plattsburgh’s Child Care Center in Sibley Hall has had to evolve during the pandemic.

Reopening in early June, the center has once again provided a place for children to learn, make friends and develop their everchanging behaviors. But things are different now inside Sibley for the center’s staff, parents and children like never before.

On a normal day at the center, parents would bring their children into Sibley then into the classroom to get their child situated for the day. The children would then be allowed to play freely and take part in structured activities throughout the time they’re there.

For starters, the Center for Disease Control has recommended that parents and families not enter the classroom. The center has also made requests for single and same parent pick-up and drop off times. Children and staff are required to do daily health screenings. Upon arrival, both groups must have their temperatures taken and ISAIAH REED/Cardinal Points must answer several quesA child gets her temperature checked by a staff member at SUNY Plattsburgh’s Child tions concerning recent Care Center in Sibley Hall.

COVID-19 symptoms or

health changes.

Both children and staff have had to make changes in their footwear. Everyone inside the center must have a pair of home shoes and school shoes. Home shoes are to be worn everywhere except inside the classroom and are left at the door of the classroom. School shoes are slipped on before entry and are to be worn strictly inside the classroom.

“There is a slim chance that they would carry those germs on the bottom of their shoes,” Center Director Sally Girard said. “But we still don’t want to take the chance.”

Girard also added that the majority of the activities now take place outside on the playground. The center is also limiting the amount of children per room and area. The maximum number of children allowed in the classroom set by New York state is 15.

Girard stressed how crucial cooperation from parents and staff have been.

“It’s become second nature for them,” Girard said. “Our teachers and parents have just been so supportive.”

CHILDREN l A4

Sports teams hold inperson practices for first time since March

BY FERNANDO ALBA

Editor in chief

Some normalcy came back to SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus with the return of in-person practices for fall sports teams Sept. 14.

While holding practices may be familiar for the returning teams, the sight of them resembles nothing like what they’re used to.

PHASE ONE Under phase one of its Cardinal Athletics and Recreational Sports Reopening Plan, SUNY Plattsburgh is permitting in-person practices for men’s and women’s soccer, tennis, volleyball and cross country but with many stipulations.

Intercollegiate teams are practicing with no more than 10 people at a time, leaving coaches to hold practices multiple times

a day to account for each pod. Everyone is also encouraged to wear masks and social distance when possible. Locker rooms are closed, and equipment cannot be shared between players. Before athletes on campus could start in-person practices, all of them were tested for COVID-19.

The return to play was approved after all of those tests came back negative and review of the guidelines that would be in place.

Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Brian Savard said what exactly would happen in the case an athlete tests positive for COVID-19 isn’t set right now, but they would speak with the Student Health and Counseling Center for guidance.

CARDINALS l A2

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DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points

A women’s volleyball player practices in Memorial Hall with a few of her teammates. Intercollegiate sports at SUNY Plattsburgh have begun phase one of reopening.

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News Editor Emma Vallelunga

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NEWS

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

Sept. 16

A Community Advocate in deFredenburgh Hall reported to University Police about a gathering of about 10 to 15 students in a dorm room, which violated the Cardinal Pledge and Student Conduct regulations. The students involved were later issued interim suspensions by President Enyedi.

Sept. 17

A UP officer identified a student publicly urinating in Lot 25 near Adirondack Hall. The matter will be handled through Student Conduct.

Plattsburgh State Athletics

CARDINALS Continued from page one

Campus COVID-19 Tracker Number of active COVID-19 cases within SUNY Plattsburgh community:

0 Number of recovered COVID-19 cases within SUNY Plattsburgh community:

2

“We would certainly communicate with the health center.” Savard said.

“We would go from there and go off their recommendation. Clearly, anybody who tests positive would follow the campus’ isolation and quarantine protocols.”

One of the reasons behind the 10-person pods is to keep contact to a minimum and reduce the spread of infection if there is a student with the virus, Savard said.

Phase one also included the reopening of the Fitness Center and the return of a number of “low risk” club sports like frisbee, marksmanship, disc golf, golf and fishing.

While teams are practicing, they’re not practicing to compete against other teams. They can’t even compete against each other in intra-team scrimmages under phase one.

Practices among the teams have focused mainly on individual work. But despite the lack of competition, men’s soccer head coach Chris Taylor said it’s still important to offer the student-athlete experience this semester in some capacity for not just students’ physical health but their mental health as well.

“As an athlete, you’re used to having a lot of structure. You’re used to being really busy. You’re used to having practice.

You’re used to having classes and other responsibilities,” he said.

“If you take away all that structure, that can be a real-life changing kind of thing for these athletes.”

A lot of SUNY Plattsburgh athletes have been playing sports since a young age. Having it taken away from them because of COVID-19 last March shook a lot of them, Taylor said.

“Without that structure, they really struggled to kind of find value in their day. I think sports allows them to function in different ways,” he said. “I think it’s really important we do offer an athletic experience because for a lot of them, that’s why they came to Plattsburgh.”

Junior defender Jimmy Alexander has been playing sports for as long as he can remember. The possibility that he wasn’t going to play soccer this semester was unfamiliar to him. Whether there was going to be a season or not, he spent his summer preparing for one anyway.

“It was tough to think about. For so many years I’ve been playing in the fall.

Over the summer, I just spent preparing for [the possibility of a season,]” he said Being a student-athlete has given Alexander discipline, he said, and a busy schedule to keep himself occupied. He appreciates the in-person practices even if they’ve been limited because at least it gives him the structure he’s used to.

Taylor and volleyball head coach Matt Lein both have seen similar sentiments among other athletes. They said they haven’t had trouble motivating their players so far in the early stages. “[The response from athletes] has been great,” Lein said. “They’ve really taken it upon themselves to be self-mo-

tivating, to keep themselves active. They that they feel they’re getting better,” he were really happy [the first week of prac- said. tices] when we were back together havBut practices aren’t a guarantee. So ing structured practices.” for the time being, players are focusing on what they can control — how strongVOLLEYBALL ly the team follows the campus’ health Not all teams were able to adjust and safety protocols, which Alexander smoothly to the new restrictions.Volley- said athletes on campus have taken seball started its in-person practices on riously. the Field House’s outdoor track on the “Nobody wants to blow the chance of field in the middle of the track. having a season,” Alexander said.

“It was definitely interesting,” Lein said about the first three days of practice UNCERTAIN SUMMER the team held outside.

Not many people knew what to “It’s hard because our sport is precise. expect from the fall semester. SUNY It’s hard when all of a sudden you have Plattsburgh’s coaches and its athletic the wind taking the ball everywhere,” he department were no different. The bigsaid. “It makes it difficult for the passer gest challenge for many of them was to read a serve, and it makes it difficult adjusting with all the changes as the for our setters to put it in the right spot pandemic developed over the summer. and for our attackers to be successful.”

“Everything was so uncertain,” Taylor After its first week of practice outside, said. “We went through a range of emothe volleyball team was given the OK to tions. Some weeks, we were certain we move back into Memorial Hall’s gym for were going to have a season, that we practice. were going to play. Other weeks we were Volleyball practices have revolved like, ‘No, there’s no way we’ll even be in around ball control and partner work school.’” with a focus on communication and inTaylor spent his summer communidividual skills, Lein said. With two pods cating with his players even when he of athletes to work with, Lein has been didn’t always have all the information limiting the amount of players on either available to him. side of the net by three. He also has two “Sometimes we didn’t have a lot to sets of balls for each pod and disinfects talk about because we just didn’t know the balls after each practice. [what was happening,] but we were just trying to make sure we were transparent MEN’S SOCCER with the players and that they knew evThe men’s soccer team has been split erything we knew.” into three pods in accordance with the Once they knew there wasn’t going new protocols. Taylor said having the to be inter-conference play, the focus team divided during practices has been was on preparing alternatives so that the toughest adjustment so far. student-athletes could still get an expe“We believe in the protocols for sure, rience they expected, even in a scenario but the best thing about being a part of where there wouldn’t be any practices. our team is the togetherness, the hang“It was a really odd summer. There ing out in the locker rooms together, was a lot of overthinking of all the situacoming out to training all together and tions,” Taylor said. “Hopefully we don’t joking around and having a bit of ban- have another summer like that.” ter and all that,” Taylor said. “Now that The athletic department had to keep we’re in small groups of 10, it’s still up to date constantly with news over there, but it’s on a smaller scale.” the summer Savard said the SUNYAC Being apart also makes it more dif- athletic directors met regularly to evaluficult to integrate the 12 newcomers on ate and reevaluate their possibilities. In the team, Taylor said. But in some ways, June, it even had a plan in place that acTaylor said, it isn’t too bad to have less counted for travel, overnight stays and pressure on the freshmen now that the play with other teams. expectation of them having to be good “At the time, we felt pretty good with right off the bat is gone. [the plan], that it was going to be a conPractices have focused on more tech- servative move,” Savard said. “Then we nical and physical training as well as saw the cases nationwide weren’t getgetting the team tuned to play at a fast ting any better, so really, there was no pace with good technique. Another way for us to hold a fall semester full of challenge for Taylor is getting his play- competition.” ers, who are at varying fitness levels, up to speed.

PHASE TWO “Once guys found out that the season Phase two of SUNY Plattsburgh’s rewasn’t maybe going ahead, I think some opening plan for athletics would include toned down their training a little bit, activities in larger groups that would which is understandable,” Taylor said. continue to adhere with New York State “And so we’ve got a range of different fit- guidelines. It hasn’t been yet approved ness levels within the team, so we’re just by the campus, Savard said. Winter trying to get everyone to their best.” sports also haven’t been approved. The But without the motivation of upcom- NCAA said the earliest practices for ing competition and even though the those sports could start would be Oct. 1, players have been engaged in the early but ultimately, the campus would have going, Taylor said it’ll be a focus for the to give those teams the all-clear — if it coaching staff to keep practices mean- decides to at all. ingful throughout the semester.

“As coaches, we’ve tried to be as creative as possible to make sure that the Email FERNANDO ALBA practices are engaging and stimulating, cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CP Corrections There are no errors to report this week.

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

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News Editor Emma Vallelunga

NEWS

▪

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

This Week in Photos: Sports Photos by Dakota Gilbert & Plattsburgh State Athletics

It’s finally time to play ball. Intercollegiate

DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points

fall sports and some “low risk” club sports are back on campus for in-person practices.

For many athletes, it’s a welcome return of normalcy — even if they can’t play against other teams.

Plattsburgh State Athletics

Men’s and women’s soccer, ten-

nis, volleyball and cross country

all got the OK for in-person prac-

tices Sept. 14. All athletes were

tested for COVID-19 before prac-

ticing. Zero cases were found.

DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points

Coaches and the athletic department faced an uncertain summer before the fall semester. Athletic directors met regularly over the break and even had a plan in place that accounted for travel, overnight stays and play between teams. It was scrapped after the cases in the U.S. kept rising.

Plattsburgh State Athletics

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News Editor Emma Vallelunga

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NEWS

CHILDREN Continued from page one

ISAIAH REED/Cardinal Points

Children at the Child Care Center in Sibley Hall have to leave their “home shoes” in the hallway before entering the room.

Those teachers and parents understand why these protocols and procedures are in place, whereas the children of the center are still trying to put all the pieces together. Girard said that she has heard children coin the phrase, ‘Remember before the germs?’

When the germs arrived in March, the center was shut down. Children were told not to return to the center, and staff were sent home until further notice. The staff were paid for the first two weeks they were off before being furloughed for the remaining weeks. This took a period of adjustment for parents, teachers and children.

Two-year-old Jerry Squires loves to play and socialize with his friends at the center. When he was sent home, he didn’t understand why. His mother Maureen Squires is a professor and chair of the education department at SUNY Plattsburgh. Squires was very worried the center would not reopen.

She relied on the center to take her child while she taught just down the hall in Sibley. She described how difficult of an adjustment it was for Jerry to be yanked out of an environment he and so many other young children had grown accustomed to and be stuck at home.

“He started to associate our home computer with something negative,”

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

Squires said. “It was something that’d take mommy’s attention away, so he’d begin to cry or get upset.”

It was a tough decision for Squires to decide whether she would send Jerry back upon reopening.

“He missed all his friends,” Squires said. “When he came back in June, he was able to socialize safely with his friends again.”

After those seven weeks, the staff returned a week earlier than the children, according to Pebbles Stewart, the lead teacher in the pre-K room. The staff were given a week of prep to “work out the kinks,” she said. Stewart and other teachers have worked tirelessly to keep the center running smoothly and safely.

Stewart, Squires and Girard all believe one change they’d like to see in the center is increased funding. Girard predicted that state funding next fiscal year is likely to be cut by 25%, which is on top of the $90,000 lost in tuition revenue from when the center closed.

Squires was adamant that parents don’t want to lose good day care centers.

Stewart also believes that early childcare centers are seen sometimes as just babysitting.

“We’re so much more than that,” Stewart said. “People need to be aware.”

Email DREW WEMPLE

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Fitness Center reopens for students

BY ASHLEY ST. JOHN Staff Writer

COVID-19 has been affecting many aspects of SUNY Plattsburgh including the Fitness Center located in Memorial Hall. The Fitness Center was given clearance to open Sept. 14.

According to a student digest post, students have to be screened before entering, remain six-feet apart, wear an “acceptable face covering,” meaning no bandanas or neck gaiters and wipe down the machines they use with provided cleaning supplies.

The locker rooms and showers are also unavailable.

Fitness Center Director Matt Salvatore said he’s comfortable with all of the new protocols put into place and thinks that they’re all effective. Salvatore said everyone that has been using the gym has done a good job following the guidelines.

“People understand and go out of their way to protect themselves and others,” Salvatore said.

His only concern is making sure students know how to limit themselves with the restriction of the masks. He said students or anyone exercising should modify the intensity of their workouts

because it will be a different experience.

“I don’t really mind all of the new rules,” senior Erica Goldstein said. “I know that they’re all there to keep us safe.”

Goldstein said she uses the gym a few days a week when she’s able to go. The only thing that bothers her is wearing a mask while exercising.

“It’s just different,” she said. “It’s gonna take some getting used to.”

The fitness center now has modified hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and closed Sundays. It’s also closed 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day for deep cleaning.

Salvatore said the capacity for the Fitness Center is now cut to 33% of what it was, which means only 31 people are allowed to be exercising at a time with two staff members working.

Due to the time restrictions, there’s a higher demand to use the facility.

“We’ve been hitting max [capacity] on a fairly regular basis,” Salvatore said.

“Almost every day from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., we are maxed out.”

Because of this, Goldstein said it’s been a little difficult to get into the gym. Some-

AURELIE WOLF/Cardinal Points

The Fitness Center in Memorial Hall at SUNY Plattsburgh has new rules and regulations for using equipment. times, when she decides to go, she isn’t able to get in and doesn’t really have the time to wait until it’s available.

Salvatore said he is hoping to be able to open the facility to faculty soon, as well as expanding the hours to give members more flexibility for their workouts. They’re just waiting on campus leader-

ship approval.

Outdoor exercise classes such as yoga were approved when the semester started.

These classes are held in the field behind Memorial Hall on weather-permitting days.

Students are expected to bring their own yoga mats because they can’t risk students using the school mats.

Some classes have also been approved to be held in Algonquin Hall due to the group activity room in Memorial Hall being under construction.

Some of the facilities and classes in the Fitness Center have not opened yet, such as the climbing wall and kickboxing classes, because of the higher risk of multiple

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

students sharing equipment like gloves.

“Guidance could change rapidly, so we try to be on our toes for any new changes,” Salvatore said.

Email ASHLEY ST. JOHN

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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NEWS

News Editor Emma Vallelunga

PAYMENT Continued from page one “Far too often, it’s a trade-off,” Ahmed said. “Members have had to choose between their leadership roles and a paying job.”

Such a choice is undeniably a difficult one, especially for university students valuing their duties as a leader but also having to be wary of their financial needs. Ahmed hopes that this compensation model will allow members of the Student Associate to avoid such an ultimatum.

The payments will be distributed in the form of stipends, administered by the College Auxiliary Services as the

SA’s fiduciary agent. The stipends will be processed by the sixth and twelfth weeks of each semester and will be granted upon ensuring that the member has performed their duties thoroughly.

The senators and executive council members then discussed plans for future projects as well as ongoing programs. Ahmed built upon her proposal for increasing career opportunities and awareness in Plattsburgh through a mentorship program with alumni as well as a possible career fair, which she had previously discussed with SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. Ahmed also explored the possibility of using SUNY as a resource to assist SUNY Plattsburgh students in developing their career prospects.

SA Adviser Jacob Avery provided a

wake-up call to the members of the senate, reminding them that times as turbulent as these are an opportunity to step up, work harder and not be lax.

“I know it’s easy to not do your job thoroughly as we’re socially distancing, but it’s far from acceptable,” Avery said.

The senate also approved a series of bylaws that clarified and expanded upon the functions of certain departments. For instance, new financial board members will now have to train with SA Treasurer Ha Nguyen prior to joining and will be referred to as finance officers for the SA.

Email ADEEB CHOWDHURY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

under the threat of COVID-19, but SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi will make the final decision — including this semester’s ceremony.

“No decision has been made about commencement, Continued from page one not about December and not about May,” Herzog said.

“I’m sure that [Enyedi] will make it at an appropriate Wahab said the biggest concern for herself and other point so that people can be informed.”

SUNY Plattsburgh administrators is making sure stuHerzog also said the other changes to spring 2021 dents feel safe during the pandemic. could also change again. It depends on how we all be“We’re trying to continue academic progress as safely have in the remaining weeks of the semester. as possible,” Wahab said. “Being in charge of student “We’re all living through a time that has never been life, I cannot go against such a strong reason for can- [lived] before,” Herzog said. “We don’t have any gameceling spring break, especially when we’re trying to get plan to replicate or duplicate that someone has estabthrough this time together so the students have the time lished as working. We feel very fortunate that we’re still they need to do all those wonderful planned activities doing so well, but that could be eliminated in a very after their academic year.” brief period of time if we let up our commitment and Second, although classes will still begin Jan. 25, the our oversight.” first two weeks of next semester will be fully remote.

Both Herzog and Wahab said they were confident in On-campus students will not be allowed to move into the resilience of SUNY Plattsburgh students so far, reresidence halls until Feb. 5. Students traveling from ferring to the college’s first rounds of pool-testing that high-risk states, as well as international students trav- concluded last week. No positive cases were found from eling from other countries, will be accommodated to all 1,500 on-campus students. Wahab said she believes return to campus and complete their two-week quaran- many students are abiding by social distancing and face tine during remote instruction. covering policies and is proud to be a part of a commu“We wanted to allow ourselves more time and calm- nity that values health and safety in order to achieve ness around the quarantining,” Herzog said. “If stu- academic success. dents are coming back from high-risk states, where they “I believe that if the majority of students are doing already have a higher [risk of] infection, or coming from what we ask them to do, and I feel they are, we’re going other countries, that all requires staffing in terms of to see more of these negative [cases],” Wahab said. “I do bringing food to them and monitoring them in campus believe and pray that their hard work and understandhousing. It’s a lot logistically.” ing of a community safety procedure and public health Lastly, final exam week will be moved to May 1-7 with consciousness will keep us at those very low marks unspring commencement tentatively scheduled for May 8. til we’re ready to go remote.”

However, celebrating with an in-person ceremony will be contingent on multiple factors, such as the number Email EMMA VALLELUNGA of active cases at that time, guidance from the Clinton cp@cardinalpointsonline.com County Health Department, SUNY and New York State.

Herzog said it’s too early to tell the fate of graduation

SPRING

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Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

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FRIDAY, SEPT. 25, 2020

Campus students distraught by unhealthy dining options

BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET Staff Writer

Hungry, hungry students are seeking off-campus food services to supplement for the limited dining options available at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Throughout a student’s busy weekday schedule, there are dining options available at Clinton Dining Hall, Tim Hortons, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Sundowner. Students can shop at Campus Express for snacks, frozen meals and miscellaneous items. Yet, hours have been reduced and weekend options are more limited due to COVID-19 and decreased residents on campus.

Clinton Dining Hall can be expensive for students without the freshman “Anytime Dining” meal plan, a plan where students have unlimited meal swipes and limited retail swipes in the dining halls. Options like Scoops, Subway, Little Al’s and Griddles have been closed permanently. However, Kent Cafe will be opening in October, where students can get pizza and sandwiches.

“I cried for Subway, and I just recently found out they’re closed. It’s heartbreaking,” sophomore Lindsey Braunfotel said. “It was the only thing I ate and it was so good for the weekends.”

As an education major with all inperson classes, Braunfotel finds little time to grab a meal due to long lines, and ends up going to class hungry instead. She has been eating more offcampus food after the limited campus options made her feel “so unhealthy,” and because lunch opportunities are barely available during the weekends.

“Even when going to get soda, you have to wait in a 10-minute line and you’re right up each other’s backs, so you can’t even breathe,” said Braunfotel, about the congestion of students in Clinton Dining hall.

With fewer dining options to choose from, students all congregate in the same places, which leaves little space to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

“My only worry is that I’m not going to use all of my dining dollars or

SAREEM JABBAR/Cardinal Points

meals,” junior Anne-Mae Smith said.

“Because I can make my own stuff, and that would be better than the limited options.”

The nursing major prefers getting in and out of dining areas quickly, but that was not the case with her one and only visit to Clinton Dining hall earlier this semester. Smith eats on-campus for dinner only at the Sundowner. The Sundowner is open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. during the week and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends. The Late Night options are from 8 p.m. to midnight on Sunday to Thursday and 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“I haven’t been eating on-campus too

much,” Smith said. “I usually just have my salads, so I keep stuff in my fridge and make my own food.”

Smith used to go to Clinton Dining’s salad bar for a quick meal, however, that food service is no longer available to students. Clinton Dining is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekdays, and doesn’t open until 9 a.m. on the weekends.

“I think that because [SUNY Plattsburgh] took so much away, I haven’t really been eating on-campus,” sophomore Elizabeth Kocienda said. “If I do ever decide to eat on-campus, I only go to Einstein’s or Halal Shack in Downer.”

Kocienda avoids Clinton Dining due to the lack of diverse food options, especially after the updated limitations from COVID-19, such as no selfservice or salad bar. The dining halls and Sundower’s menu doesn’t vary often, which is redundant for students throughout the semester. Most of these options are deep-fried, and not the healthiest for young bodies. According to Options for Youths, a non-profit public charter school in California, research shows that well-nourished students get better grades and remember more information when eating healthy meals.

“I know a lot of what’s happening with the school is outside of the College Auxiliary Service staff ’s hands, so I know they’re trying to do their best too,” Kocienda said. “Especially with Al’s — that’s been a hard hit on them not being around, so I know some of them miss it just as much as us.”

Kocienda was a frequent customer at Lil Al’s last year due to it being a healthier food option. She enjoyed getting sandwiches and wraps in between classes during the week. The regular workers were personable and Kocienda saw their passion for their job was because of the students, which made her visits better.

The hardworking staff may be pleasant to chat with, but the food isn’t always pleasant to eat.

“I bought a prepackaged yogurt from the Sundowner, and when I opened it there was a moldy strawberry inside,” SUNY Plattsburgh junior Charlie Bagby said. “I checked the expiration date and what they had done was put a new expiration date over the old one.”

Regardless of healthy or unhealthy foods, students pay for expensive meal plans to eat good food. At least, not expired foods. Students do not have time to battle the school for fresh food between their classes, homework, extracurricular activities and work. COVID-19 is no excuse to have poor quality in food products.

UNHEALTHY l A8

Freshmen drink to cope with COVID

BY MATAEO SMITH Contributor

Fall 2020 will probably go down in history as the most uneventful 16 weeks of our lives. Classes are all online, parties are prohibited, the campus express store hasn’t been fully stocked since early March, and worst of all — everyone has a case of the idle hands.

If you’re not familiar with the term, idle hands occur when boredom slowly evolves into mischief like a caterpillar evolves into a butterfly — except butterflies don’t commit arson.

It honestly makes evening strolls around campus interesting.

We all heard about the dumpster fire around Clinton Dining Hall the other week, reported by SUNY Plattsburgh University Police, but did you happen to see the vomit contest near South Catherine Street last weekend? Apparently, two adversaries must race to see who can vomit more in a set amount of time.

The boredom across campus has led to increased binge drinking across the residence halls. Freshman Isaiah Mars hasn’t been drinking a lot since he’s started his college career. He’s been following social distancing guidelines and staying away from dorm social events, Mars said.

However, he explains how his fellow first years are different.

Every night for the past month, small groups of students wearing backpacks wander off into the night. Of course, one can’t be 100% certain they’re on their way to a small party, but the clues are there.

Generally, students don’t walk outside with a backpack at 1 a.m. unless they plan a last-minute study session with friends. However, these specific young adults are what we call backpack kids. Backpack kids are typically freshmen who use a backpack to hide their alcohol from police. Plus, they always wear some kind of headband for some reason.

Campus residents also may see students that walk around with large Chick-Fil-A cups, acting like there’s soda in it.

Nevertheless, freshman are out more often because of

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COVID-19. It’s completely understandable though. Students had been locked in their houses for five months.

The 43 SUNY Plattsburgh freshmen who partied at the beach Aug. 21 and the additional 15 who violated social distancing guidelines last week were just socially starved. They deserved to get suspended, and one can’t be surprised. It’s their first semester of college, which can get pretty crazy normally.

P.S., whoever left chunky orange puke all over the Clinton Dining Hall mens’ bathroom wall last Wednesday — you should be ashamed of yourself.

Everything is so shiny and new for freshman, but COVID-19 is opposed to fun. They should try activities that aren’t felonious, like the guys who skateboard down campus streets late at night. Some have found other ways to pass the time with their peers.

It’s probably why the vending machines in Defredenburgh Hall and Hood Hall are always out of those cheap Trojan condoms.

Plattsburgh may be a small town, but there’s still stuff to do. Why don’t you go pick some apples at a nearby orchard and cook a pie? Whiteface mountain is closed, but there are other places to hike if one has a car.

Let’s just be smart here. With the way SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi is suspending students with the snap of a finger, we may not have any freshmen left on campus at all.

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Opinions Editor Jess Johnson

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

Sagittarius acts childlike

BY ABIGAIL AZADIAN Contributor

JASON PARENT/Cardinal Points

Sagittarians wake up with no regrets about any of their chaotic choices the night before and continue to drink dumb b—h juice without a second thought. They are the friend that has to be baby sat during every night out.

Pisces alike, Sagittarius acts like a child left to wonder. They think deeply about the world, but treat it like their philosophical playground.

This doesn’t make them wiser, it just means they are constantly going through an existential crisis.

Don’t even bring them to a Cancer’s home. Can-

cers work too hard to create a warm, cozy atmosphere for a sloppy Sagittarius to ruin it. Sagittarians are the red wine stain in the white rug.

Sage can’t even cleanse the devil energy they carry around. Scorpios need to rely on the people close to them, and Sagittarians feel like their freedom is threatened anytime people get close to them.

Sagittarius and Geminis are as flaky as croissants, but there’s nothing delicious or soft about either of them.

Actually, they’re flaky like dandruff. Sagittarius makes plans, then vanishes. Poof! Right into thin air, until the day of plan when they cancel.

Ghosting can be put on their resume.

Like Libras, when faced with any commitment, Sagittarius are running out the door and looking for a next to knock in. Aquarians and Sagittarius take the least popular opinion and yell it in every room as they enter, just for attention.

Both signs confuse being the smartest in the room with the loudest.

Fire scorches the Earth, and likewise no Earth signs want anything to do with Sagittarians. Taureans are patient and think about the consequences before making decisions.

Sagittarians live by the principle that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

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‘Lovers Rock’ opens the New York Film Festival

BY CAMERON KAERCHER Staff Writer

Though the current pandemic has been shutting down a lot of opportunities for individuals to come together in person, entertainment venues have been experimenting with virtual events.

The 58th annual New York Film Festival has opened up to the public through online screenings, as well as drive-in screenings for those who live in New York City. While this is far from a traditional platform, the festival remains as lively as ever with world premieres, restorations and talks with some of the most exciting filmmakers working today.

The festival’s opening night, Sept. 17, screening was Steve McQueen’s “Lovers Rock.” Set over the course of one night in 1970s West London, the story captures a small microcosm that forms at a fictional house blues party. At the core, is a romance between Martha, played by Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn, and Franklyn, played by Michael Ward. The supporting cast is rounded out with Samson the DJ, played by Kadeem Ramsay, Martha’s friend Patty, played by Shaniqua Okwok, and “smooth guy” Bammy, played

watching people enjoy themselves.

About halfway through the film, it reaches a transcendental peak as the crowd sings along to “Silly Games” by Janet Kay as the record spins, and long after the song runs out. It is a beautiful celebration of the unifying power music can have within any group.

In a post-screening Q&A session with McQueen and Director of Programming for NYFF Dennis Lim, the director of “Lovers Rock” said he wanted the film to be “about every single sense: taste, smell, sound…” and that it was a “celebration of the black aesthetic.” Those goals are easily achieved, and it may have been exactly what the filmmaker has needed.

McQueen’s previous feature films have dealt with issues such as slavery in “12 Years a Slave”, nymphomania in “Shame”, and the prisoner abuse in Northern Ireland that led to the hunger strike, by Bobby Sands, “Hunger.”

They are all-powerful works that prove McQueen is one of the best filmmakers working today. His heist-thriller “Widows” is criminally underrated, but you ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points can not sit down one afternoon and

by Daniel Francis-Swaby. was to capture a group feeling rather throw one on.

With all those memorable charac- than a specific story. The majority of ters being set up, co-writers Court- the 68-minute runtime is spent walktia Newland and McQueen’s real goal ing through the house party’s location, FILM l A8

‘The Fire Next Time’ exposes U.S. treatment of religion, race

BY MAHPHARAH KHAN Contributor

Religion has become performative. God is used as a weapon to demonize others who do not blindly submit to racist, sexist and misogynistic ideologies.

“If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. If God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him.” James Baldwin thoroughly understood this, as he describes his religious crisis he had at the age of 14 in his essay collection, “The Fire Next Time.”

In his essay, “Down at the Cross,” he discusses how he started preaching at 14-years old, and explains his leaving of the church due to the hypocrisy he saw too often. Hate and hypocrisy have almost become synonymous with Christianity — in other words, the performative nature of Christianity has been perpetuated by Donald Trump and his cult followers. The image that comes to mind is one last from this past June: protestors tear-gassed in D.C. so Trump could safely make his way through the crowd to have a photo-op with his bible in front of a church.

If God is supposed to love everyone, why does Trump show that his love is exclusive?

Baldwin specifically discusses the relationship between religion and race, and how it has created a lethal spiritual environment in the United States.

“As I taught Sunday school, I felt that I was committing a crime in talking about the gentle Jesus, in telling them to reconcile themselves to their misery on earth in order to gain the crown of eternal life,” Baldwin said. “I really mean that there was no love in the church. It was a mask for hatred, and self-hatred and despair.”

Hatred is often veiled by fake declarations of love and sympathy by churches, which is a problem that is more dangerous than it first seems to be. This is especially dangerous, because Christianity has a history of being used as a tool by white supremacists to perpetuate their harmful ideologies. Baldwin conveys that religion taught the black community that their suffering was somehow warranted in order to get into heaven, that suffering is a means to be rewarded later on, and that the racial power dynamic in America is somehow justified.

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Opinions Editor Jess Johnson

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

Editorial

U.S. loses another legend

The world, as crazy and unpredictable as it may seem right now, lost another hero Sept. 18. We know her as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, but she was so much more than that before her appointment by former President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Ginsberg was a strong advocate for gender equality, women’s rights, workers’ rights and the separation of church and state, not just as a justice but throughout her law career.

In many ways, Ginsberg was the first. She wasn’t the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court, but she was the first female member of the Harvard Law Review, as she excelled academically during her time at Cornell University, Harvard University and Columbia University. She was one of eight women in her class of a predominantly and overwhelmingly male profes-

UNHEALTHY Continued from page six Healthy foods on-campus are more expensive and more limited than the cheaper unhealthy foods, like chicken tenders, pizza and pasta.

Bagby feels forced to eat unhealthy options in order to be cost conscious. To save money on their meal plans, students will choose a cheaper

sion in the late 1950s. Because of this, she fought her entire life for gender equality, an issue that she strived to change as she moved up the ranks of our country’s justice system. She was the first to take a strong stand against the system that could have failed her had she not worked hard to be where she was, sitting on a podium in one of the highest positions of our government.

It’s hard to believe there was a time when women weren’t viewed as equals in careers dominated by men. Girls and women need strong role models to achieve their dreams.

Millions of young girls will dream of becoming doctors, scientists and maybe even Supreme Court justices because of women like Ginsberg who stood up for, and even won, the fights they believed in.

It’s unclear whether President Donald Trump will elect another woman to the Supreme Court, or even whether a de-

option, like a burger and fries over a $7 small salad, to have more dining dollars to spend throughout the semester.

Bagby eats off-campus more than before, due to the lack of options for students on the weekends without the Anytime Dining plan.

Campus was never perfect with supplying healthy options for students, but there were more options to eat better. Scoops offered amazing fruit smoothies,

cision will be made before or after this year’s general election. Without another female presence on the Supreme Court, one of the most crucial professions to our justice system will once again be a male majority that may not be sympathetic or understanding to future court cases that put women’s rights before a man’s. Ginsberg left our country’s justice system better than she found it, and there’s no law that says women can’t be anything they set their mind to. One of her most famous quotes, which is now being shared across social media, reads: “When I’m sometimes asked ‘When will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court]?’ and my answer is: ‘When there are nine.’ People are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.”

and had vegan options with plant-based protein. Clinton Dining’s large salad bar provided a healthy and filling meal option, which is a positive change to the typically greasy food choices.

Students losing those healthy options is upsetting.

Eating is a necessity to life.

Students need to eat healthy meals to continue working effectively throughout the semester. If students are living on-campus, they should

not feel the need to find food elsewhere to make-up for the lack of options. Meal plan prices have not been lowered for students in spite of the limited dining options and reduced hours.

So, it’s no wonder students probably are drinking more, when they have nothing to eat to keep them satisfied.

Email OLIVIA BOUSQUET cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

and Aries can actually commit to something because they want people to rely on them. Sagittarians rely on their flighty reputation to evade responsibilities and/or favors people may ask them.

Continued from page seven Sagittarians still have the audacity to expect that people trust them.

Capricorns make the rules, Sagittarius break the rules. If a CapEven if Sagittarians take a minute to think about any their acricorn tries to negotiate with a Sagittarius, don’t waste your time tions, they’ll really say “screw it,” and take another shot of dumb — Sagittarius pouts until they get their way. b—h juice.

Public Service Announcement: everyone needs an emergency exit plan if they are ever caught between two Sagittarians. Again, Email ABIGAIL AZADIAN they will berate somebody with their opinions and call it teaching. cp@cardinalpointsonline.com Leos and Aries may be the only signs to match their energy. Leos

ZODIAC

FILM Continued from page seven This isn’t to say that “Lovers Rock” is devoid of any tension or drama. A threatening group of white men hanging out down the road serves as a glass of cold water to the face through their obscenities. Their presence is then subverted as

RELIGION Continued from page seven Sara Schaff is an English writing professor at SUNY Plattsburgh. She describes Baldwin’s writing as a meshing between beauty and seriousness — the beauty of his writing and the seriousness of his topics. Schaff says that his presence is still felt in modern day situations, even though he died decades ago.

“I feel like when I’m reading him, I’m hearing his voice,” Schaff said. “He died in the 80s but it still feels like he’s talking to us right now. I think he would be incredibly angry with us that we let this keep happening. I feel like he’s with us and urging us to do differently, to be better.”

Baldwin describes his religious and political experiences while also speaking directly to the reader. The urgency in his writing disrupts the false peace that America has so comfortably associated itself with.

“The glorification of one race and the consequent debasement of another – or others – always has been and always will be a recipe for murder. Whoever debases another is debasing himself,” Baldwin said. “That is not a mystical statement but a most realistic one.”

It seems that the white man does not understand or believe this. White people ask, “But why must you make everything about race?”

White people love to forget their own history!

Rather, they refuse to learn it. The white man made everything about race the second he bound the black man and woman by shackles, and set them off for Europe and the Americas.

Ignorance becomes a choice at

the story turns its back on them. This is a party, and they do not deserve any more screen time.

As an opening night event for the New York Film Festival, this is a fantastic film. The performances are naturalistic, the cinematography is lush, and the reggae soundtrack is perfectly curated.

It is a shame it isn’t being screened in theaters, but one should feel lucky to experience a work this well realized.

“Lovers Rock” is one of five films that

a certain point; it is our responsibility to educate ourselves of our history. This means going outside of the classroom: reading, watching and researching beyond what the American education system refuses to discuss.

Race in America goes beyond the discussion of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s. It is immersed in religion and politics, a.k.a. the foundations of the U.S. Marie Alcis is a senior English literature and writing arts major at SUNY Plattsburgh. She talks of patriarchy, and how it exists in many churches — meaning the bible is used to control rather than to incite love.

“I believe there is still hypocrisy in the church. Just like racism, it never really left,” Alcis said. “It changes its form and sometimes people get caught up in it and don’t realize what’s happening. The hypocrisy is still there; it just looks different for certain people.”

This hypocrisy can still be seen in 2020. YouTube channel “Girl Defined” is a conservative Christian channel that is led by sisters Bethany and Kristen, who love to talk about their relationship with God and how religion should be a part of your everyday life. In their “About” section they describe the content of their channel as, “just two sisters striving to be God-defined girls in a culturedefined world.”

They are the perfect example of internalized religious misogyny, and how their hate and homophobia is masked by “loving” words. Their language is not loving or freeing; it is oppressive. They’ve used phrases such as “struggling with sexual sin” and “struggling with same-sex attraction,” and they advertise themselves like they are saviors for girls and the LGBTQ+

makes up the “Small Axe” anthology.

The group of films also tackles structural racism in the police force and the 1970 landmark Mangrove Nine trial. The first installment of “Small Axe,” called “Mangrove,” will premiere on Amazon Prime Nov. 20. If it is half as good as “Lovers Rock,” it will be a must watch.

community — they simply are not.

Their language is harmful and perpetuates harmful notions that have literally killed people for centuries — specifically women because they are their target audience.

“Girl Defined” conveys that nobody is allowed to feel good because God says no. James Baldwin’s discussion about the hypocrisy of Christianity definitely applies to “Girl Defined,” just in a different way — it still manages to successfully show how hateful language and ideologies are still prevalent in religion and politics today.

“He’s criticizing people’s ability to use the idea of God in a way that is harmful. He’s saying, ‘What’s the point of believing in someone who we think is a punishing God?’” Schaff said.

“Girl Defined” preaches about the image of a loving God, but what they are really promoting is an image of God whose love is restricted and punishing if one does not live up to his supposed expectations.

One of the overwhelming problems with Christianity is that Jesus is depicted as a white man with light-brown hair and blue eyes. How is this so when Jesus was from the Middle East?

This means that white Christians have twisted religion to aid them in their racist agendas. White supremacists equate whiteness with morality — a dangerous notion.

The most honest point in “Down at the Cross,” is when Baldwin states that racism exists because white people essentially hate themselves.

“White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they have achieved this – which will not be tomorrow and may very well be never –

Email CAMERON KAERCHER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin explains that white people cannot reinvent themselves without finding power in oppressing another group of people, through religious political ideology. Instead of being angry, Baldwin finds this to be a sad reality; the security of white people is determined by their ability to violate and demean others.

Schaff and Aclis appreciate the incredible writing James Baldwin has gifted us because it has fueled our discussions about race in America, still to this day.

“I really feel like when I read his work or when I hear him, it just feels like he’s still with us,” Schaff said.

Baldwin’s writing is engaging and lively — while reading his work, there is active conversation between us and him.

“I admire his ability to not allow the world to define his blackness for him and his place in the world — he did it for himself. He traveled the world, and he experienced his blackness in different environments and was able to come to his own conclusion,” Alcis said. “His strength to be self and only self without allowing other people to define what self should look like for him — it’s beautiful, a lot of people are not able to do that today.”

James Baldwin’s work is not only entertaining; it is essential.

His ability to beautifully narrate his experiences while confronting problems within American society shows how he will remain an important asset in not only the literary world for young adults, but the world in and of itself.

Email MAHPHARAH KHAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alba Opinions Editor Jess Johnson

News Editor Emma Vallelunga

Graphics Editor Nghi To

FUSE Editor Alana Penny

Multimedia Editor Sareem Jabbar

Photo Editor Audrey Lapinski

Managing Editor Jess Johnson Mataeo Smith Web Editor Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy Advertising: Maureen Provost Peter Taylor Luka Tsiklauri

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

Award Winning

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

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FUSE Editor Alana Penny

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

Hoeffner pushes herself, others to succeed

DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points

Sarah Hoeffner has played tennis since she was 7-years old and learned at summer camp. She was the number one doubles player and played doubles in the all- conference last year.

BY ANGELICA MELARA Staff Writer

The SUNY Plattsburgh nursing program is known to be one of the most time consuming majors on campus, but junior Sarah Hoeffner manages to get her schoolwork done while also being a part of the tennis team.

Her interest in nursing began when she was young.

“My grandparents were very sick when I was growing up, so I saw how the nurses took care of them when they were nearing their end, and it inspired

me,” Hoeffner said. “[The nurses] helped out a lot with them, and they helped out the family too.”

When she was younger and deciding what she wanted to be when she was older, she also decided to start playing tennis. Hoeffner was 7-years old when she started playing tennis.

She played it at a summer camp when she was little, and told her parents she wanted to continue playing it.

Her parents had been confused because the family sport was soccer, but they signed her up, and she’s been playing since.

One of her motivators for tennis is

Serena Williams.

“She’s my favorite tennis player,” Hoeffner said. “I love her. I love everything about her. She’s awesome.”

Hoeffner’s motivator might be Williams, but head women’s tennis coach Karen Waterbury said that Hoeffner is a motivator for the other women on the team.

“She’s a really great person. She’s a good motivator and leader,” Waterbury said. “She’s a hard worker, and she’s very coachable.”

Hoeffner was the number one doubles player, and she managed to go allconference in doubles last year because of her coachability and athleticism, Waterbury said.

Academically, Hoeffner said her friends who are in her major are her motivators. “We all kind of push each other to keep up with nursing and stuff,” Hoeffner said.

“In nursing, she’s become more confident,” Waterbury said. “She’s more confident all around, and her attitude is always positive.”

When Hoeffner was a freshman, she joined the jiu jitsu club. Although it is not happening at the moment because it is a high risk club sport, Hoeffner said she loves it.

“I love martial arts. I like going to kickboxing classes,” Hoeffner said. “I like to stay active, like moving around and all that kind of stuff, so that’s fun.”

At the start of the semester, the tennis team was not allowed to have practices because of the threat of COVID-19.

However, because tennis is a low-risk sport in terms of contact, it has been approved to start practices this week.

“We started practicing, and it’s great to be around everyone, and to keep playing,” Hoeffner said.

To stay active, she has been going on walks around Plattsburgh with her roommates. When there were no practices being held, Hoeffner would do

home workouts, and go on runs to stay in shape. One of her roommates who is also on the team would go with Hoeffner to the tennis court to have one-onone matches.

When it comes to matches, Hoeffner is sure to communicate with her coaches and teammates.

“Last year, when she was in our number one doubles, the player she was playing with was very good, but Sarah was the best person to play with her and to complement her,” Waterbury said. “She really turned it into a team versus two individuals, and it would’ve been really easy to put somebody else in that position, but Sarah is someone who’s going to make sure things click when she’s working with an individual, and she’s going to do the grunt work.”

When she wasn’t playing tennis over quarantine, Hoeffner decided she was going to do the PlattsFitness workouts on Instagram.

“It was so interesting, just making the switch to working out online,” Hoeffner said.

Hoeffner’s nursing schedule has been a bit messed up, but she has adapted to the changes. She still has in-person clinical, with some online classes and a few hybrid classes.

When she finishes school, Hoeffner wants to start working as a registered nurse. She has been looking into becoming a nurse practitioner, and wants to go back to school, but wants to work for a few years first to see how she likes being an RN. Looking into the future, coach Waterbury hopes that Hoeffner continues to enjoy tennis because it is a great sport to continue as a lifelong activity, and that she has a good time and enjoys life.

Email ANGELICA MELARA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Burke leads peers, prepares for future

BY NATALIE ST. DENIS Staff Writer

Dominique Burke, a senior criminal justice major and sociology minor, has been extremely involved at SUNY Plattsburgh since he set foot on campus his freshman year.

Burke sought after Plattsburgh because of his interest in criminal justice. After looking at the curriculum, he saw the diversity within the criminal justice department. Dominique was interested in learning about the thinking behind criminal justice as opposed to a technical approach. He also saw he could pair his degree with a sociology minor. This allowed him to broaden his education to more of a criminology aspect because that is what he really wanted to major in. Getting a broader perspective would allow him to achieve his goal of becoming a police officer.

“I want to see how far I can reach,” Burke said.

Sociology of women was Dominique’s favorite course he has taken at SUNY Plattsburgh.

He said it truly opened his eyes to a different perspective because it not only talked about gender, but class and race too.

If he wasn’t focused on criminal justice and sociology, Burke says he would major in public administration. He would want to pursue an education that would help him work his way toward his goals. Dominique is always looking for ways to learn how to manage people better and be a leader.

The fact that SUNY Plattsburgh also offered many activities for students to get involved in stood out to Dominique. He describes himself as a very musically inclined individual who loves to sing. He grew up participating in gospel choir and concert choir. Once he saw that SUNY Plattsburgh had a gospel choir, he knew he would be able to continue his passion through college.

Following his passion is exactly what he has been doing since. Dominique joined gospel choir freshman year and was elected vice president. His sophomore year, he was elected president. He had to step down from the presidential position his junior year because he didn’t believe he could fulfill that role to the best of his ability due to his busy schedule. He still sings in gospel choir. Burke even

JASON PARENT /Cardinal Points

Dominique Burke is involved in many clubs and activities as well as working as a community advocate in Macomb hall. He is able to maintain a high GPA by always prioritizing school work. participates in another subsection of gospel choir, called the Praise Team, which is a more selective choir.

Dexter Criss, the director of the gospel choir, made a lasting impression on Burke during his four years participating in the choir. Burke said Criss helped him feel inspired, accepted, and that he has a place on campus.

“I felt that my rock was gospel choir,” Burke said.

Burke was able to make lasting friendships through gospel choir as well. Performing with large groups of people was new to him, but made him feel connected to the other members.

“I feel that connection toward gospel choir. It’s helped me want to be more social, make better bonds with people, and break out my shell,” Burke said.

Criss has seen Burke’s passion and growth during gospel choir.

“Dominique’s consistent effort is exemplary to us all. He puts quality time in while in choir practice and delivers strong performances at concerts and events. His God given vocal talent has only improved over the past three years with the choir, ”Criss said.

Burke has expanded his ho-

rizons and involved himself in many other activities on campus. Last year he was the secretary of Club Caribbean and currently dances for their Spicy Island Tings dance team. In the past, he danced for African Unity and participated in the Minor Adjustments Acapella group for a semester.

Not only is Burke extremely involved in extracurricular activities, he has also been a community advocate for Macomb Hall since his junior year.

“I always wanted to be that person who students feel comfortable going to,” Burke said.

Burke believes it is important for a CA to make sure their residents have someone to go to if they have an issue or want to talk about something.

“If you are a CA, that’s probably the best thing you can do to be helpful,” Burke said.

Students have felt comfortable enough to reach out to him.

But Burke also said that there have been some challenges that have come with being a CA. He said he has struggled sometimes to think outside the box and figure out what his residents want.

Being a CA has also challenged him to be more social, allowing him to break out of his shell.

“I’m more comfortable now.

I’m like a different person,” Burke said.

Community Director Rachel Gamache, who has overseen Burke since she began her position last fall said he is a good fit for the CA position.

“Dominique is a caring person, with a calming, yet energetic personality,” Gamache said. “Dom has been able to provide an inviting atmosphere for his residents, which is very impressive given the circumstances this year. I believe the overall quality Dominique has is his ability to make everyone feel like they belong and that he encourages everyone to use their own voice.”

Even though Burke mentioned he struggles with creativity as a CA, Gamache didn’t see this.

“Dom’s song/jingle writing skills are super impressive and this part of his creativity has come into play many times in his role as a CA,” Gamache said.

Burke said it can be difficult at times to manage his busy schedule, but as he has gotten older, he has become better at time management. Regardless of how many activities he fills his days with, Burke always

prioritizes his academics. Because of this, he is able to say that one of his greatest accomplishments during college has been maintaining a place on the Dean’s List, along with keeping his GPA above a 3.4 at all times.

Burke has broken out of his shell a lot, but at heart he is still an independent person.

“For the most part, I kind of do my own thing because I know where I want to be,” Burke said.

But when he is in need of guidance, he turns to his advisers. Burke’s past sociology adviser, Professor Stanley Sabin inspired him to keep on doing what he needed to do to achieve his goals here in college. Burke believes it is important to utilize your advisers as a resource throughout your college journey.

Burke said that he has changed a lot since his freshman year.

“I definitely have become more of a leader,” Burke said.

He attributes this to all the activities he quickly became involved in and the leadership positions associated with them.

“It opens your eyes to see what you are capable of,” he added.

COVID-19 has brought a lot of change to Dominique’s last few years of college, but he remains as involved as he can. Gospel choir is normally made up of students and community members. Now, because of the pandemic, students practice on Fridays and community members on Sundays.

He has also found it difficult as a CA to connect with the residents because they can’t meet face to face. There are also stricter rules he is obligated to enforce. A more challenging one has been making sure any off-campus individuals aren’t in on-campus housing. Regardless, Burke has adjusted to the new changes.

Burke will graduate this semester with a degree in criminal justice and minor in sociology.

Being so actively involved on campus has aided in preparing him for his future career.

“I know his career aspirations of being an officer is the perfect fit for him-- and his experience and diligence towards his CA job will only help him succeed even further,” Gamache said.

Email NATALIE ST. DENIS

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

A10 ▪

FUSE Editor Alana Penny

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FUSE

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

“Nostalgia” I utilized a mirror in this portrait to symbolize nostalgia, as it shows the reflection of the path-like train track behind me.

“Human Nature” this photo was produced with the technique of stacking film negatives.

Student Art Spotlight Taylor Edgar Sophomore psychology major with minors in communication sciences and disorders and art therapy

My name is Taylor Edgar. I am a sophomore psychology major. I am also a communication sciences and disorders minor, as well as an art therapy minor. I’m very passionate about the field of art therapy and how well it complements the field of clinical mental health counseling I want to go into.

“Stepping Stones” I really admired the pattern of these stones and their placement in such a tranquil setting.

“Paint with Light” this photo was produced by slowing the shutter speed to capture the movement of light behind the camera lens.

A11 ▪

OUTSIDE Continued from page twelve “Everyone seems to be more sanitary,” junior environmental science major Jacob LeDuc said. “Throughout the day, people have been using hand sanitizer many times.”

A change the department has implemented this semester is that students can no longer share lab tools and equipment.

“It’s definitely been a lot more hands-on,” environmental science student Abigail Beckman said. “It’s been a lot easier to talk to a teacher directly, which has been really nice.”

Despite the social distancing guidelines, students like Beckman have said that being outside and still being able to learn is beneficial to the curriculum.

“I think students are more comfortable asking questions or giving thoughts than they might be in the classroom,” Fuss said. “The environment is more relaxed.”

Not only have the professors noticed a difference in learning styles, but so have the students.

“My favorite part about the classes is the hands-on experience,” LeDuc said.

“We have done so many cool and fascinating things this semester that I feel are preparing us for our future careers.”

Beckman, LeDuc and Stanton are all currently taking the water quality modeling class with Fuss.

“We’ve done a couple of field trips so far,” Fuss said.

“Both of which were focused on measurements of water quality.”

The main goal of the class is to research how nutrients carry from various agricultural fields to streams and rivers that then feed into Lake Champlain.

Some of the trips have included researching nutrients found in cornfield water runoff and drainage pipes at a local agricultural site. The students also worked closely with scientists from the Miner Institute to learn more about the process.

The class has recently traveled to the Little Chazy River to test the water flow with various measurements and to determine possible pollutants in the water.

“Accurate measurements are important in order to not only know how much water is moving in a river but also a way to figure out how much of a particular nutrient or pollutant is moving with that water,” Fuss said.

Even though the department is still able to conduct

class outside of the classroom, the department is still facing a few challenges.

“Going into the semester, we were a little concerned about how field trips would work,” Fuss said.

Because these classes revolve around the environment, not being able to get to locations for studies would have been a large issue.

“In past semesters, if we went on a field trip and used the school van as transportation, the vans would be filled to almost full capacity,” LeDuc said.

Due to social distancing, only three students are allowed to ride in one vehicle at a time. “[We have] even fewer… students in the van than technically allowed, just to be on the extra safe side,” Fuss said.

The department has used the guidelines provided by SUNY Plattsburgh to ensure students’ health and safety while on field trips.

“I could see a lot more classes, regardless of program, being held outside to make it easier to adhere to safety guidelines and regulations,” Stanton said.

Some classes can be seen congregating outside their respective classrooms to take advantage of the scenery around campus.

“Being outside is definitely an advantage as far as safety,” Beckman said. “So, it definitely gives you a better chance of having class, even if other classes are canceled like it’s safer to be outside.”

The social distancing regulations and mask guidelines have not deterred some students’ love for nature, exploring and being outside.

“I love being able to be outside,” Beckman said.

“I love how hands-on it is.

I think it is easier to learn when you are actually doing what you are being taught.”

Not only have the students felt this way, but so have professors like Fuss.

“I think part of a good education is that they really need to get out and see how things work with real field measurements. You can really notice more stuff around you when you are outside doing something. Luckily, we have been able to do that.”

COVID-19 has changed the way education is delivered to students and may influence the future of learning as we know it. Even with the pandemic, students are still enjoying learning, and finding a place of peace called the great outdoors.

Email ALEXA DUMAS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

Confrontation isn’t new to you, but you should take time to think and analyze your thoughts. There’s more than your perspective to take into account. Take your time to process your thoughts instead of being reckless and impulsive.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

You will probably feel lucky and more appreciated by the people who support you. This could manifest in different ways: acts of service, gifts, affirmation, etc.

Show them you’re grateful for them as well.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

This week you might find yourself overthinking things more than usual (which is already hard for Geminis). There might be tension between your friends and you’ll want to express that. It’s important to see both sides.

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FUSE

FUSE Editor Alana Penny

Friday, Sept. 25, 2020

HANNAH DOWNS/Cardinal Points

Students care for mental health amidst pandemic, health center changes

BY NICKIE HAYES Staff Writer

Last semester, the SUNY Plattsburgh Student Health and Counseling Center made some adjustments.

These changes included cutbacks on supplies and general equipment, and cuts made in different sections of the health center to save money.

The SHCC planned on saving $50,369 with the purposeful vacancy of the mid-level provider position. This position was filled by nurse practitioners who assisted SHCC, and because of this, 650 patients would now have fewer appointment times.

Not much has changed in the Mental Health Center at SHCC this semester, according to Kristina Moquin, a licensed mental health counselor at SUNY Plattsburgh’s SHCC, who provides individual and group therapy along with outreach programs. There was virtually only one change to the counseling side of the SHCC. “We have a phyciatrist that is on campus parttime to see students, and prior to the budget changes, students could see her under their student health fee. But now, students have to pay a $60 fee every appointment they have

CANCER

with her.”

She said that because of the drastically increased pay, she feels that it is affecting some services to students.

Moquin fears that students are being deterred because they cannot see someone in person, but she said the amount of students coming for counseling is about the same as normal.

“There is going to be more issues coming down the pipe, but I just don’t know if it means more [students] will access us or not,” she said.

The SHCC have taken up the common practice of going virtual, doing zoom appointments and/or phone calls, depending on what the student prefers. Although, every day of the week there is one person in the SHCC for emergency purposes.

For increased safety, the SHCC has updated their online systems.

“Right now we updated our electronic record keeping system to a system that has a built-in HIPPA compliant zoom component, so it is much more secure and private then regular zoom,” Moquin said.

Trevor Eichler is a senior broadcast journalism major, with a minor in photography. He is also a Com-

munity Advocate in Wislon at SUNY Plattsburgh. He aims to set an example of how students should go about the changes made at SUNY Plattsburgh to keep the students, faculty, staff, and community safe.

“I’m making the best of it. I’m still having a great time. It’s my senior year I am not going to let COVID-19 get in the way of that,” Eichler said.

For him zoom classes are not a big deal, but that does not mean he does not have additional stress because of it.

“It is a big adjustment, especially me being a senior,” Eichler said. “I’ve gone three years doing something one way, and the last year I have to just change everything up.”

Even with all of the changes students have to go through, Moquin believes that SUNY Plattsburgh students are doing well at adjusting, and choosing the right coping mechanisms in a time like this. She said that she has been inspired by the individuals she has talked to because of how resilient they are.

Eichler believes that his CA team and his other friends are making the right decisions on how to cope with the increased strain on their mental

LIBRA

June 21 - July 22

September 23 - October 22

This week will feel especially exhausting to you. You will feel pulled in directions regarding your friends, significant others, and creative projects. It will be hard for you to voice your boundaries, but it’s important to do so.

Happy Libra Season! There is a big focus on your friends and community this week. you might feel spoiled to have them. Or you might feel like you bring people together despite hardships.

LEO

July 23 - August 22

There’s tension that you want to get rid of that has been building up for a while. You’ll feel it in your daily life and belief systems most likely. Sadly, the tension won’t go away soon, but you might be ready to talk about.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

You’ll most likely want to write about all of your anger and frustrations that have been boiling up for quite some time now. Do what you can to get your mind off it, but don’t destroy bridges.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21

There will be some conflict between yourself, significant other and communication or routines. It might feel impossible to solve so, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to solve everything immediately.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 - December 21

You will probably feel blindsided by someone who has hurt you in the past. Someone is coming out from nowhere to speak with you.

This will cause frustrations to rise up regarding your finances and own fulfillment.

health. He said they are still connected through social media.

However, too much of a good thing is not always great either. He said that because he is now constantly looking at his phone, there is so much information about everything going on in the world popping up. This easily makes him overthink.

“It gets to me because then I think about what my future is going to be like,” he said.

Moquin said that in recent years, mental health has become more destigmatized. She feels that mental health is becoming a more acceptable topic of discussion.

“I am not speaking about this in a political sort of way… but, the fact that the Governor of the state when this pandemic began said any New Yorker that needs it can get free mental health telecounseling, that spoke volumes to me,” she said.

Moquin appreciates that mental health is being looked at on a larger level, and the importance of it is being recognized.

Email NICKIE HAYES

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 19

You feel caught in the middle between your family and work.

Both are overworking you and you need a break. Remember to keep your cool and that nothing is as urgent as it seems like.

AQUARIUS

January 20 - February 18

You might feel some writers’ block this week, but reaching out to those closest to you might relieve some of your stress. It doesn’t have to perfect, but you need something on paper if you want to edit it.

PISCES

February 19 - March 20

Now is a good time to just keep to yourself. You might feel there’s anger in your friends’ voices. Now is a good time to refocus your values and practice them in your life.

Student art spotlight, A10

Environmental science classes continue in person, outdoors Sitting in a classroom, listening to a lecture and having all classes in-person was what students used to expect from a standard semester at SUNY Plattsburgh. The outbreak of COVID-19 has dramatically changed the ways classes are being taught.

Most are online, but the in-person classes call for mandatory face coverings, the cleaning of desks, using hand sanitizer and workspaces six feet away from other students. As this is the new normal on campus, the Environmental Science department is holding its courses outside the classroom.

“We’re feeling lucky that we can still do that, and can even be in person and be outside,” Colin Fuss, assistant professor of environmental science said. “I haven’t really had to alter the plans for the class.”Because the curriculum relates to the environment and being outside to conduct field studies, most of the classes have stayed the same, except to adhere to the social distancing guidelines and mask policies.

“It’s definitely easier to adhere to social distancing and other safety guidelines for outdoor classes,” senior environmental science major Jennifer Stanton said. “It’s been very refreshing for this semester to start heavily outdoors.”

Environmental science courses are smaller and more specialized this semester. Six of them are being held face-toface. Freshwater Ecology, Water Quality Modeling, Forest Ecology and Management, Wildlife Ecology and Management, Agriculture in the Environment and Wetland Ecology are all being held in-person this semester and are taught primarily outside, besides the lectures, which are held in-person.

OUTSIDE l A11

BELLA FRIEDMAN/Cardinal Points