Exhibitions arts gallery opens on campus.
Women’s hockey knocked out of postseason.
Trump begins process dissolving DOE
SUNY Plattsburgh braces for unpredictable changes.
BY JOHN CHURCH Contributor
After an eventful start to his second stint as President, Donald Trump and his administration now aim to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE).
While nothing can be set in stone without Congressional approval, if the move passes, many high school and college students nationwide could take the brunt of the impact.
What does this mean for SUNY Plattsburgh?
The executive order to plan the DOE’s dismantling was announced on March 21. Ultimately, the signed order wants to shift student loan management to the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Trump’s blueprint is to diminish federal bureaucracy in public education, yet uncertainty remains about whether the move will reduce the availability of financial aid, accessibility programs, and funding for public universities and schools.
In cities like Chicago, New York and Boston, civil servants for the DOE are being terminated from their work.
The initial plan was to lay off over 1,300 employees. So far, many of those cuts have come to fruition.
President Trump has labeled the department as “overrun by radicals, zealots, and Marxists,” framing its elimination as a step toward increased state control over education.
Linda MacMahon, United States Secretary of Education, assured that Pell Grants, student financial aid, and loan
SMITH/Cardinal Points
management will continue under different federal agencies.
Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life Dr. Daniel Lake expressed concerns about the long-term implications of dismantling the Education Department, particularly for marginalized student populations.
“Efforts to support students from disadvantaged populations,” “Both racial and ethnic minorities, as well as poor students in general, are being destroyed as part of the war on DEI,”
’Dr. Lake wrote in an email. “The result will be less access to higher education for Black, Latino/-a, and Indigenous students.”
There are some palpable concerns for public schools, but the sentiment
is that as long as education decisions are made at the local and state levels, Cardinals will be safe.
Todd Moravec, Director of Student Financial Services at SUNY Plattsburgh, emphasized that no disruptions to financial aid disbursement will occur anytime soon, but it’s important to stay vigilant.
“If something were to change — and this is sort of a worst-case scenario — and Pell Grants were cut, that would have a huge impact,” Moravec said. “But that’s not been discussed.”
‘Trade war’ disrupts Plattsburgh, Canadians
BY CHRISTIAN TUFINO Staff Writer
The trade war between Canada and the United States, set off by President Donald Trump’s tariffs of up to 25% on Canadian goods, leaves Canadian citizens living in Plattsburgh in an awkward situation. Whether it be for a weekend trip or immigration to the United States, Canadian citizens often go to Plattsburgh as it is located
directly next to the Canadian border. This makes the relationship between both countries very important to Plattsburgh’s population.
Many residents of Plattsburgh and students attending SUNY Plattsburgh often visit Canada Montreal. SUNY Plattsburgh is also attended by many Canadian students wanting to study in America.
Isaiah Collins, a Canadian cultural exchange student funded by the United
States, has experienced the effects of these tariffs in his day-to-day interactions.
“I was talking to someone and the topic of where I’m from came up, I said ‘Canada,’ then he patted me on my shoulder and said ‘I want you to know there are a lot of Americans supporting Canada,’ but that wouldn’t even have be a conversation a few months ago,” Collins said.
TIA DUFOUR via Creative Commons
President Donald Trump waves to the press after a flight in 2019.
March 21
University Police investigated a possession of cannabis charge at Moffit Hall. The case was closed by investigation.
March 22
UP made an adult arrest at Mason Hall on the charges of criminal obstruction of breathing, fourth degree criminal mischief and third degree attempted assault.
Student Association
BY ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME Staff Writer
Beauty Bar club was approved for provisional status and the American Marketing Association’s request for $1,400 for their trip to the American Marketing Association 2025 Conference in New Orleans was approved at the Student Association Senate meeting March 12.
Beauty Bar is set to begin planning and hosting events after receiving its permanent status. The club’s purpose is to teach students on campus how to care for themselves better, feel better, and learn beauty tricks.
The club is open to everyone and will focus on inclusivity by covering care of different hair, body and skin types.
“We can all learn and gain skills together. We could go through steps and help each other learn how to do new beauty tools,” said Thalia Surprise, president of the Beauty Bar club.
The club also plans on doing events such as fundraisers and game nights for supplies such as mannequins to practice on. The club will pursue collaborations with other clubs such as K.I.N.K.S and Her Campus magazine to reach a wider audience and gain engagement as the club is in its early days.
The club is unique because participants will perform cosmetics on themselves. In New York state, cosmetics involving electronics like hair cuts and ironing are illegal to perform on others without a license. The club will be free to join and you will be able to follow steps from a professional and get advice or help from others in the group.
A ‘90s themed fundraising event with raffles, prizes and awards is what the club will focus its initial funds on.
The American Marketing Association was given $1,400 toward its four day trip to New Orleans from April 2.
“Each year we attend this conference and get to make an impression on marketing professionals from all over the United States,” Riley Godfrey said, a member of the American Marketing Association and a first time trip attendee.
Seven students ranging in age and experience will be attending the conference to connect with hundreds of other like minded students and professionals, compete in competitions, attend keynote speakers and have the chance to earn awards
and recognitions for their knowledge and work.
“This trip opens up a lot of opportunities. Honestly students don’t get to travel often and see a new city. There are also job opportunities,” Godfrey said.
The students attending have been working on a case study related to Adobe Express and will be able to present it during a case study competition.
“We all worked really really hard to do this. Many of us going on this trip are graduating, so if there is a chance to get a job opportunity or even just expanding our networking, this could be really important,” Godfrey said.
All were in favor of approving $1,400 to the American Marketing Association’s annual conference trip.
Newly elected senator, Kaliyah Green, was sworn in, filling the vacant spot on the Senate.
“Being part of the student government allows for direct influence on policies, initiatives and overall campus experience. This opportunity also allows me to build my resume which can stand out to employees and academics,” Green said.
Kaliyah Green is a senior public relations major who has been involved with numerous clubs and organizations through her time at SUNY Plattsburgh. For her last semester, joining the senate was
a new experience that she wanted to try.
“I have interned before with the SA and I just felt like it was my moment to join like minded people and it’s interesting to see the inner-workings of the student government, “ Green said.
The new senator followed President Gooding in her oath of office and officially joined the board. Green will serve the rest of the semester as a member of the Student Association Senate.
Student Association applications will no longer be accepted. Five executive positions and 16 senator positions remain available. Voting will take place on April 10.
Kaliyah Green is a staff writer for Cardinal Points. Her involvement in the SA has no bearing on Cardinal Point’s coverage of the organization.
CAMERON GRAVES/
ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME/
Plattsburgh to participate in Polar Plunge
BY LUCIA GROSS Press Republican
The Plattsburgh Polar Plunge will return to Plattsburgh for the first time since 2019 this April as a major fundraiser for the North Country region Special Olympic team.
The Polar Plunge is the largest fundraising event for Special Olympics New York.
“We are very excited to be back in Plattsburgh, I think we had over 200 plungers last time we were here, and we are almost at 200 plungers for this event,” Chris Hughes, Director of Development and Impact, Special Olympics New York, said.
The plunge this year will take place at noon on Saturday, April 5, at Plattsburgh City Beach.
According to Hughes, the money raised during the plunge goes toward the athletes expenses’ during the Special Olympics, including travel and food.
“All at no cost to the athlete, their families or caregivers,” he said.
It is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, schools and businesses to support Special Olympics New York athletes by jumping into frigid bodies of water across New York State.
Registration will be open from 10 a.m. to noon before the plunge. Plungers can start or join a team at any point before the noon deadline at the event or online.
All team members must raise a minimum of $25 to participate in the plunge.
The fundraiser has currently $8,998.01 raised of a $25,000 goal.
According to Hope Land, who has been coaching for almost four years, coaching has been an “amazing” experience for her and something she “couldn’t be more proud” of.
“The community should rally behind this team. They have such a tenacity and love for the game, they go above and beyond and really put 100% in,” she said.
This will be her first time taking the plunge.
Team members shared some of their favorite aspects of being on the team.
According to Stew Darrah — a North Country team member who finds it all fun — his favorite part of the team is everybody working together.
“We all work together,” he said.
Solan Rabideau-Morse and Hunter Combs, both teammates, agreed with Stew.
“It is very enjoyable,” Rabideau-Morse said. “Just being around everyone.”
Combs said his favorite aspect was making friends with everyone.
“I am very proud to be a part of the team,” Combs said.
“Now, what they said is they’re not going to impact the core functions that give direct assistance to students; they’ve said that. But, if, say, Title IX is impacted it could affect assistance. We have to stay monitoring that because those things have an impact not just in Plattsburgh, but around the country.”
New York State has maintained strong support for students of different socioeconomic, gender, sex, racial, accessibility, and orientation backgrounds.
People like Jennifer Curry, ADA Compliance/504 Coordinator at SUNY Plattsburgh, remain confident in Plattsburgh’s ability to maintain and fund programs.
“SUNY Plattsburgh has and will continue to make supporting students with disabilities a priority,” Curry said. “And ensure that there is access for all students who are navigating their higher education goals.”
Yet, the financial and bureaucratic impacts on the Accessibility and Resource Office remain unclear. Because of heightened uncertainty, not much can be said at the moment Curry said.
Khalil appears in court
BY SARA CLINE Associated Press
Detained Columbia University student activist Mahmoud Khalil appeared briefly Friday in immigration court at a remote Louisiana detention center as his lawyers fight in multiple venues to try to free him.
Khalil, 30, a legal U.S. resident with no criminal record, sat alone next to an empty chair through a brief court session that dealt only with scheduling. His lawyer participated via video.
Khalil swayed back and forth in his chair as he waited for the proceeding to begin in a windowless courtroom inside an isolated, low-slung Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention complex.
Ringed by two rows of tall barbed-wire fences and surrounded by pine forests, the facility is near the small town of Jena, roughly 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Louisiana’s capital, Baton Rouge.
Khalil smiled at two observers as they came into the room, where just 13 people ultimately gathered, including the judge, attorneys and court staff. Two journalists and a total of four other observers attended.
By video, lawyer Marc Van Der Hout said he’d just started representing Khalil and needed more time to speak to him, get records and delve into the case. An immigration judge set a fuller hearing for April 8
Khalil’s lawyers also have gone to federal court to challenge his detention and potential deportation, which looms as his wife, a U.S. citizen, is
Continued from page 1
expecting their first child.
A federal judge in New York ruled Wednesday that Khalil can contest the legality of his detention but that the case should be moved to a New Jersey federal court.
The Columbia University graduate student was detained by federal immigration agents on March 8 as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on what he calls antisemitic and “anti-American” campus protests. Khalil served as a spokesperson and negotiator last year for pro-Palestinian demonstrators who opposed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Protesters, some of them Jewish, say it’s not antisemitic or anti-American to criticize Israeli military actions and advocate for Palestinian human rights and territorial claims.
However, some Jewish students have said the demonstrations didn’t just criticize Israel’s government but launched into rhetoric and behavior that made Jews feel unwelcome or outright unsafe on the Ivy League campus. A Columbia task force on antisemitism found “serious and pervasive” problems at the university.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has asserted that Khalil organized disruptive protests that harassed Jewish students and “distributed pro-Hamas propaganda.” Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and attacked Israel in October 2023, is designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.
The U.S. government is seeking to deport Khalil under a rarely used statute that allows
The relationship between Canada and the United States was, until recently, a cordial one where support for one another was implied and didn’t have to be said out loud according to Collins.
Andrew Lang, Director of the Global Education Office, has seen the effect of Trump’s first administration on international students enrollment and isn’t optimistic about the rest of his second term.
“There was a sharp decrease in international student enrollment in the US under the first President Trump term. We got some of those numbers back in the past years, but it’ll be interesting to see if we keep those numbers or if they’ll continue to fall again, but I’m expecting that there will be some sort of negative impact on international students enrollment,” Lang said.
People on both sides of the border are looking for ways to support Canada and its economy.
“There are people in grocery stores asking if these products are made in Canada. There’s a
As far as Plattsburgh State’s administration is concerned, they remain steadfast in their commitment to providing a high-quality, state-endorsed education despite potential federal changes.
The President’s Office and Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing for the Office of the President, Heather Haskins, echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing a mission to provide broad educational access to people in New York.
“From our founding, SUNY’s mission has been ‘to provide to the people of New York educational services of the highest quality, with the broadest possible access, fully representative of all segments of the population.’ We will continue to follow the law and review new federal policies that may impact our campus community as they arise.”
For the Student Association, not much was said about direct causes to Plattsburgh students. Since the SA is funded independently of the Education Department, not much worry is to be had.
“The Student Association is funded by the SA fee and not the Department of Education, so the clubs and resources provided by the SA wouldn’t be affected,” President Kalema Gooding said.
While university leadership remains committed to ensuring student support,
for removing noncitizens who pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
Khalil, an Algerian citizen who was born in Syria to a Palestinian family, has said in a statement that his detention reflects “anti-Palestinian racism” in the U.S. Before his detention by the government, he said that a Columbia disciplinary investigation was scapegoating him for being an identifiable figure at the protests.
Columbia now is contending with broader pressure to address the Trump administration’s assertions of antisemitism, including demands for unprecedented levels of government control over the private university if it wants to continue receiving federal grants for research and other purposes.
Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ap.org/contact-us/ TED
big rally to ask how we are going to react to this recession,” Collins said.
Canadians have been showing empathy towards Americans as well, under the assumption Trump’s leadership is not representative of the average American’s thoughts on Canada.
“There was a big international education conference in Toronto recently and I heard a lot of people from the US who were there were pleasantly surprised by the fact that Canadians were going out of their way to say ‘Hey you’re welcomed here, we don’t hate you, and we’ll help collaborate the best we can,’” Lang said
The relationship is not yet beyond repair. Space is left for optimism for the future of the countries’ partnership.
“As with anything that changes our normal way of life, I think we have to wait, see, feel and be open minded to learn a little bit and see what we can do to learn from this experience,” Lang said.
it remains unclear how federal policy shifts may impact SUNY Plattsburgh’s budget and aid in the long run.
The Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the Education Department is still in its early stages.
Significant legal and legislative hurdles lie ahead, but only Congress has the power to fully dissolve the department it founded back in 1979.
However, the White House is already making cuts and restructuring efforts to the DOE. For students at SUNY Plattsburgh, the key takeaway is to stay informed and prepared.
Moravec advises students to not let it impact their financial aid applications. Nothing is being said about it, so the advice is to apply on time and take proactive steps to secure funding.
“Our operations and direct financial aid have not been impacted,” he said. “We continue to award financial aid for this year, and for next year, we will continue to disperse financial aid, so don’t make any harsh decisions about your future based on concerns or worries for things that are uncertain at this time.”
Faculty and administrators are closely monitoring developments to assess potential impacts on students’ accessibility services and funding streams.
With uncertainty surrounding the fu-
ture of federal student aid, advocacy and awareness will be crucial in ensuring students’ financial security.
As the DOE situation unfolds, SUNY Plattsburgh’s administration and student body will need to stay engaged in discussions about the future of higher education funding in New York and beyond.
United States Secretary of Education Linda McMahon says that despite $1 trillion in agency spending by the DOE, American test scores in schools have remained flat.
Ultimately, the country’s eyes and ears fall on the shoulders of Washington. If Trump and his cabinet successfully push their order through Congress, federal and state funding of schools could change.
At the moment, whether those decisions go private or remain in public hands, nobody is any the wiser what to say will happen.
“Our higher education system is still solid,” Lake said. “But the hostility of the current administration and its attacks on universities are going to undermine that given time.”
JAYNE
SHAFFREY/AP file photo Mahmoud Khalil April 29, 2024.
Reflections exhibit kicks off in Myers
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER
Arts and Culture Editor
Renowned photographer Terrence A. Reese, A.K.A TAR, brought his Reflections exhibit to SUNY Plattsburgh’s Burke Gallery on March 25 and hosted an art lecture on March 26.
Reese has been working on Reflections for 30 years. His series has been in museums across the country, including the Smithsonian Institute and the Louvre.
Every museum exhibit starts with an artist reaching out to a museum director. Art exhibits are scheduled years in advance making it difficult to work in accepted exhibits in a timely manner. Sometimes luck plays a role in whether an exhibit is organized or not.
“When artists reach out to me and I’m interested in their work, but I can’t quite get them in right away, I hang on to their work. It just happened to work out where I reached out to Terrence and asked him if the exhibit schedule would work for him. Thankfully he was available,” Museum Director Tonya Cribb said.
According to Cribb, it is important to have artwork that connects with current events and the audience of students in many different majors and backgrounds.
Reese first started his reflections project amid frustration in his mentor Andrew Collins studio while Collins was cooking ginseng. Reese stepped in front of a mirror and was hit with inspiration for a photograph.
“Fear is your greatest advantage, when you’re so afraid that you’re gonna fail step forward,” Reese said. “I could see his reflection in the mirror, and I turned around. I said, ‘Holy, if I get you in the mirror, it’ll be a reflection of your life. I’ll be back tomorrow with 10,000 watts of power’.” Reese quickly built his portfolio by asking each person he photographed for five more people to photograph. He went on to photograph famous individuals such as musician Richie Havens, photographer Gordon Parks, artist Lois Mailou Jones and has taken
pictures for many famous musical artists such as A Tribe called Quest, Billy Joel, Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, BB King and many others.
Reese said he seeks to teach others through his work and finds that there’s so much you can learn by observing how a person lives.
Reese was born in Chicago and graduated from Southern Illinois University. He then moved to New York City to pursue photography full time.
Creating visual pieces that tell a story about popular figures in culture is a passion of Reese’s.
He not only features intricate environmental photos in his work, but accompanies it with personal, written memoirs of the photography sessions.
Every photo has a mirror hidden in the photo with the subject of the photograph within the mirror making his work a sort of an I spy. He looks to teach viewers that when you are passionate about something you have to keep it going.
“You can’t stop because you can’t go back, you have to forge forward and be,” Reese said. “All
you create will outlive you, so this will represent you long after you’re gone, and this is what I enjoy about it the most.”
Reese is a multimedia artist and has written books amassing the wisdom he has learned throughout his life. He said he has a passion for helping people and is looking to make his next project more inclusive.
The exhibit allows students of all majors and backgrounds to find something that resonates with them from the exhibit.
Cribb changes up the type of media in the museum from season to season and diversifies the subject matter of the exhibits. Reflections is about historical African American figures in 20th century history.
The reflections exhibit will be on display in the Burke gallery from March 25 to August 1.
Email GRANT TERWILLIGER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Theatre Major reflects on ‘End Days’
BY REG SUTPHEN
As the audience enters the Hartman Theater, they are greeted by a sound that takes them into the early 2000’s: alternative rock. It is a Saturday night on March 8, coincidentally on the day of the ever-popular St. Platty’s Day.
The lights dim and the pre-show announcement begins. We are introduced to six characters played by five actors: Nelson Steinberg, played by Kamani Tucker; Arthur Stein, played by Will Quilla; Sylvia Stein, played by Kelly Maloney; Rachel Stein, played by Lillian Faulkner; and Jesus, as well as Stephen Hawking, both played by Ethan Witt.
We quickly learn that this is not your average dysfunctional family. It is revealed that Arthur was working in one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks. This gives us context to each character’s behavior: Arthur is experiencing survivor’s guilt, Sylvia feels over-protective and Rachel feels numb to the world. Through his oversharing tendencies, we also learn that Nelson has his own traumatic home life and becomes attached to the Stein family.
The actors had a heavy task: playing characters with deep-seated trauma presented in different ways. When certain characters revealed their haunting past, they would have a light focused on them, and the rest of the lights on the stage slowly dimmed. This helped each actor show a clear connection between
what the character went through and their current behavior, fully immersing the audience into the world of the play.
Though dialogue and stage directions help, the actors must come up with their own conscious choices while playing the characters. Tucker does this well, showcasing Nelson’s naive but excitable personality with facial expressions and upbeat body language.
Quilla as Arthur, the depressed father, plays an opposite character, complete with sarcastic, unenthusiastic comments and a thousand-yard stare that sets the tone for the show.
Rachel, played by Faulkner, comes across as a nihilistic goth with a colorful vocabulary. She gives the most dynamic performance, utilizing different vocal inflections and volumes as the show continues. In contrast, Maloney as Sylvia makes a different choice, giving us a subtle, less bold performance as the Stein matriarch.
Tying it all together is Witt’s dual performance as Jesus Christ, only able to be seen by Sylvia and having little dialogue and a hallucinatory version of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking
visible only to an inebriated Rachel. Playing two characters with a stark contrast between themselves is no easy feat, and Witt proved he was able to do so.
As Jesus, he utilized body language and gave the character a lighthearted, comedic tone. On the other side as Stephen Hawking, he could not use body language due to Hawking famously being paralyzed. Additionally, he uses a machine to speak, eliminating any opportunity for vocal inflection. Witt spoke out loud rather than using a device, but still applied a robotic tone, making a believable impression of the late physicist.
“End Days” is an important story to tell, showing the complexities of family dynamics in the wake of traumatic events. While it deals with the subject of September 11, the same concept can be applied to today’s world, with a constant barrage of unprecedented events occurring daily.
Seeing a family navigate through their struggles and ultimately come together provides comfort to many in a time of darkness. These characters helped convince the audience that there is still a chance to come together in a divided world, and that taking things one day at a time is necessary to move forward.
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points Michael Brockway studying a piece from Reflections.
Op-Ed
THOMAS WOLOSZ/Provided by Reg Sutphen
From left to right: Lillian Faulkner, Will Quilla, Kamani Tucker, Ethan Witt and Kelly Maloney during a performance of ‘End Days.’
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points
Artist Terrence A. Reese talks to SUNY Plattsburgh students about his art pieces on March 27.
PAVA colors wall with mural in ACC
BY MICHAEL PURTELL Editor in Chief
Campus can always use more color, and there is no better group to bring it to life than the Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts.
PAVA hosted one of many mural nights in the Career Development Center, where the club members congregated to paint on a newly built blank wall Wednesday, March 27.
“I walked in and I was like, ‘Your wall is looking a little bland,’” Andreas-Jonathan Shuler, president of PAVA said.
The wall bore a simple sketch prior to the meeting, outlining the club’s idea before committing the more permanent paint to the canvas. The piece read “Explore your possibilities,” a fitting message for the Career Development Center.
The room quickly became a nest of Plattsburgh’s student artists. As the group prepared to paint, the room grew covered in old jars of paint which PAVA members were clawing open, despite the fight put up by the dried paint that sealed the jars.
A table was set up, covered in a tarp and used as a color-mixing station. Plastic cups covered the surface as painters mixed pigments in the pong-like setup.
The goal of the project was simple, said Shuler.
“We just have a good time making art.”
The mural-painting sessions have helped PAVA carve out an identity on campus. The club was one of the longest tenured student organizations on campus, but recent history has led to the club folding and needing revitalization, Shuler said.
PAVA returned to Plattsburgh after the COVID-19 pandemic had caused the club to stop meeting, and ever since the club has grown, thanks to the efforts of the current members.
Plattsburgh student Max Alexander is one of the recent additions to the club, and said the mission of the club has helped its comeback.
“We want to get more students involved with the arts here at Plattsburgh,” Alexander wrote in a text. “This includes giving students the chance to create art, meet new people, talk with professors of the art programs to
review existing work and help students realize that art is for everyone and anybody can enjoy it.”
The organization of the Mural Night helps convey the accessibility of art, as club members block out the colors clearly so that anyone — art experience or no — can show up and participate in the creation of the public piece.
“We like to get everyone comfortable, provide food and drinks, have fun conversations and have a chance to make new friends,” Alexander said. “It’s really lowkey and super fun.”
PAVA created several murals on campus last year, and the one done in the Career Development Center is just the latest in what has become a series done by the club.
The club has hosted a plethora of events in recent
history, and will look to continue creating an environment for all students to participate in the visual arts.
“Minus campus beneficial events, we’ve gotten students the chance to get their art critiqued, paintn-sips and large collaborative paintings too,” Alexander wrote. “One of my favorite things we’ve done was work on a three canvas spread painting for the counseling center.”
The club meets on the first and third Thursday of every month, and is open to all students.
This week you may be feeling more balanced and in harmony with yourself. Reflect on the love around you.
You may be facing some obstacles and conflict this week. Do not give up. Everything will pass.
This week you may be feeling extra charitable and generous, not only physically but also emotionally.
This week you may be receiving a fresh start. New opportunities and success are coming your way.
You may be receiving good news or a proposal this week. Appreciate the world around you.
You may be feeling inspired this week to create a vision or to lead a project. Make the most of it.
This week you are hoping for a sense of stability and control in your life. Let go of what is not yours.
This week you may be working hard towards your goals. Persevere and you will achieve your goal.
Everything is a balance, there will be ups and downs. This is the nature of life. Relax and go with the flow.
You may be receiving mental clarity and a new start this week. Take some time to work towards your passion.
This week you may be feeling overwhelmed by decision making. Take time to reflect on yourself.
This week you may be feeling free of obstacles and working towards your goals. Keep up the great work.
Aries (March 21 –April 19)
Cancer (June 21 –July 22)
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 –June 20)
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 –Nov. 21)
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 –March 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 –Dec. 21)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 –Jan. 19)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 –Feb. 18)
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points Styx Williams and Max Alexander painting the mural in the CDC March 27.
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points Vice president of PAVA Hunter Martin and Andreas-Jonathan Shuler mixing paint.
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points A member of PAVA carefully paints.
Cards lose in pre-season games
Photos by Emma Deo
Senior midfielder Donald Woods attempts to lose a Clarkson defender March 12. The men’s lacrosse team lost 4-18. Woods started in the game and recorded one goal on four shots in his time on the field.
Senior midfielder Caitlin Nash cuts into Union’s attack area March 1 at the Field House. The women’s lacrosse team lost 4-19.
Senior Maddy Garcia has started all eight games so far this season. She’s recorded nine goals after notching 15 last season.
Senior long-stick midfielder Kyle Ruland cradles the ball. He recorded one ground ball in the loss.
Senior midfielder Nicole Resnick gets a defender on the ground as she runs downfield. Resnick has two goals in seven games so far this season.
Plattsburgh loses in First-Round of NCAA tournament to Elmira
BY EMMA DEO Associate Sports Editor
The Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team’s road to the NCAA championship ended in the first round of the tournament with a 1-0 loss to the Elmira Soaring Eagles.
Despite the final score, the Cardinals dominated control of the ice from the face-off final buzzer, outshooting Elmira 40-17 and winning 44 out of 65 face-offs.
Graduate student forward Mae Olshansky led the Cards with six shots on goal in her final game at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, while three players had five shots.
Plattsburgh State will also graduate fifth-year forward Ciara Wall, senior forward Bridget Orr and senior defender Mattie Norton after this season.
“I think we controlled a lot of the game. We were in their zone a ton. We gave them some opportunities every once in a while, but I honestly think their goaltending and their defensive play really stuck out to us,” Norton said.
Plattsburgh finished their season 20-7-1, 14-3-1, and Elmira (21-8-1, 14-3-1) ultimately fell to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons 4-1 in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
The Cards came out hot, bombarding the Soaring Eagles’ first-year goalie Sara Sevcikova with 15 shots in the first period, including the first seven of the game, but Plattsburgh could not find the back of the net.
Plattsburgh’s best look of the period came from Wall, where she found herself open in the slot and tried to send the puck topshelf, but it hit the bottom of the upper pipe and came back out
onto the ice.
“For some reason, the puck wasn’t bouncing the way we needed it to, and sometimes that’s just the way the game happens,” Norton said.
Plattsburgh had the power play opportunity at the 11:14 mark
of the first period but could not convert even with the extra skater. Immediately after, the Cards committed a minor tripping penalty, giving Elmira the advantage.
Senior Elmira forward Erika Goleniak took control of a rebound to put the Soaring Eagles up 1-0.
“I think it was a little bit of luck. It was one of those things where we get tied up in front, can’t shift back to the other side defensively and a rebound bounced in for them in the right spot at the right time,” Norton said.
Defense has been the key for Plattsburgh State all season. This was the fourth short-handed goal the Cardinals allowed in 72 total chances this year.
Cardinals migrate south for spring break
BY ROSIE SCULCO Staff Writer
The Plattsburgh State softball team headed to Hancock Park in Clermont, Florida for a ten game series that began on March 16.
Despite the challenges of playing on the road, the Plattsburgh State softball team (3-6) is focused on the future, bringing their experience and determination into their upcoming home opener.
The Cards started off the week strong in a matchup against Keene State (6-4), defeating them 3-2.
“I think that game was just staying within ourselves, trusting what we can do and going out to execute,” head coach Jessica Miller said. “I said a lot throughout the week: “We had seven weeks to get to where we’re at, trust that you can do it.”
The victory was Miller’s first career win as head coach.
First-year Bella Toleman scored two runs and an RBI, while junior Megan Pillus and sophomore Michelle DeFina each had a base hit and RBI. Another score came from first-year Meghan Stork.
Senior pitcher Carly Gemmett threw her third career complete game for the Cards, allowing two runs as she struck out 13. Gemmett added six walks and allowed two hits as she led the Cardinals to the win.
“Carly was able to build a lot of confidence through that game,” Miller said.
Gemmett earned her second straight SUNYAC Pitcher of the Week honor as she struck out 35 batters in 22 innings (11.7 K/7) and finished the week with a one-hit shutout over Salem State, striking out 12, allowing two walks.
Gemmett is in her second year with the Cards. She transferred from Hudson Valley Community College, earning First-Team All-Conference and NJCAA All-Region 3 Second-Team honors while ranking fifth in NJCAA with 195 strikeouts.
“Both coaches are so incredibly supportive. As a team, we are all determined to have a successful season. Everyone encourages the person next to them, and I find that to be so inspiring for us,” Gemmett said.
Wednesday, April 2
HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points
The Elmira Soaring Eagles surround senior defender Mattie Norton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 15.
Softball
SOFT > 10
CP archive photo
Junior Morgan Ormerod pitching to a Potsdam Bear last season at home.
Cardinal Points awards Burghies to winter standouts.
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Sports Editor
With the conclusion of the 2024-2025 winter sports season, it’s time for the Cardinal Points Burghies. These awards honor stand-out and teams across six categories, highlighting their exceptional performances in the Winter 2024-2025 season.
The awards include:
Most Valuable Cardinal (MVC): Awarded to the athlete whose performance, leadership and impact drove their team’s success.
Rookie of the Season: Recognizing a first-year athlete who made an immediate, standout impact on their team.
Most Improved Cardinal (MIC): Awarded to an athlete who showed outstanding growth from last season, refining their skills and performance.
Senior Achievement: Celebrating a senior whose leadership, dedication and talent left a lasting mark on their respected team.
Best Coaching Staff: Recognizing coaches who provided exceptional leadership, strategy and led their team to a successful season.
Game of the Season: Awarded to the team who played the best game all season.
MVC: Charles Cypress
During the 2024-2025 indoor track and field season, Cypress established himself as one of the greatest sprinters in the program’s history. Throughout the season, the junior sprinter set school records in the 60-meter dash, the 200-meter dash (twice), and the 55-meter dash. He also tied his 60m record on two occasions.
Cypress concluded his 2024-2025 campaign by winning the SUNYAC 60m dash with a time of 6.83 March 1. He capped off his remarkable 2024-2025 campaign by competing at regionals, where he achieved a personal best and broke his own school record in the 200m dash for the last time that season.
Most Improved Cardinal: Chloe Lewis
Lewis had an outstanding 2024-2025 campaign for the Cardinals. The sophomore went from being the backup in 2023-2024 to the full-time starter for the na-
tionally ranked Plattsburgh women’s hockey team.
She started all 28 games and led the conference with a goals-against average of 0.89, which ranked third in the NCAA DIII. She also finished second in the SUNYAC for save percentage with an impressive .953, a top-ten mark nationally. Additionally, she ranked second in the SUNYAC for win percentage, achieving a .732 win rate with a record of 20 wins, seven losses, and one tie.
Notably, she recorded 11 shutouts, including a standout performance against Nazareth on January 5, where she made 16 saves and earned the Norwich East-West Classic Tournament MVP award.
In the post-season, Lewis achieved shutouts against both Cortland and Oswego in the SUNYAC Tournament, making 37 saves and earning the SUNYAC Tournament MVP award.
Rookie of the Season: Tyler Ramm
Ramm couldn’t have asked for a much better start to his career as a Plattsburgh Cardinal.
The first-year forward appeared in all 28 games of the season, tying for the team lead with 11 goals and adding five assists for a total of 16 points. He led the team with a .314 shooting percentage on 35 shots and recorded four power-play goals. Additionally, he tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals.
Ramm had a goal in four consecutive games from February 8 to February 21, which included his third two-goal performance against Fredonia on February 15. During this streak, he was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Week on Feb. 17.
Senior Achievement: Kevin Weaver-Vitale
During his five years as a Cardinal, graduate student defender Weaver-Vitale played a key role in keeping the Plattsburgh men’s hockey team among the top competitors in the SUNYAC and the nation. He earned All-SUNYAC First Team honors during his graduate seasons and Second Team honors in his senior season.
As co-captain, he led the team with 27 points, including 20 assists and seven goals. He boasted the highest plus-minus rating at +13 and blocked 25 shots throughout the season. In his final year, Weaver-Vitale was named SUNYAC Athlete of the Week twice.
“There was a good, positive energy throughout the whole game, which was the most disappointing and heartbreaking part of it,” Mattie Norton, Women’s Hockey
During the playoffs, he recorded two assists against Potsdam and two more in the SUNYAC semifinals against Cortland, helping the team make the SUNYAC Championship. Weaver-Vitale will continue his hockey career with the SPHL team, the Huntsville Havoc.
Best Coaching Staff: Women’s Hockey
Head coach Kevin Houle and assistant coach Emma Killeen led the Cardinals to their first-ever SUNYAC Championship and their thirteenth overall conference title during the 2024-2025 season.
The Cards finished their regular season 20-7-1 and won the SUNYAC championship against the Oswego Lakers. Houle achieved the prestigious milestone of 500 career wins and finished the season with 517 wins. He holds the record for the most wins of any coach in Plattsburgh history.
Houle holds the highest career win percentage in all of NCAA women’s hockey.
Game of the Season: WHKY vs. OswegoSUNYAC Championship
After a successful regular season, finishing with a record of 20-7-1, the Plattsburgh women’s hockey team advanced to the SUNYAC Championship against the Oswego Lakers. They took their spot by shutting out the Cortland Red Dragons in the semi-finals. In the finals, the Cardinals defeated the Lakers by a score of 2-0.
Junior forward Molli Riggi and first-year forward Tessa Morris both scored for Plattsburgh, assisted by Sydnee Francis and Emily Kasprzak, respectively.
Lewis was named the SUNYAC Tournament MVP after achieving shutouts in both of the Cardinals’ playoff games. She was joined on the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team by Morris, Riggi, and senior defender Mattie Norton.
Email JUSTIN RUSHIA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Compiled by Justin Rushia
Kaelen Clarkson, Baseball
Kaelen Clarkson is a 6’3” junior left-handed pitcher who has quickly established himself as one of the Cardinals’ top arms this season.
This is Clarkson’s first season with the Cardinals after transferring from SUNY Jefferson, where he played on the baseball team for two seasons. During his sophomore year, he earned NJCAA Region 3 First Team All-Conference honors and was a finalist for the Jefferson Community College Male Athlete of the Year. He pitched 31.2 innings that season, finishing with a 5.40 ERA and 27 strikeouts.
The left is an individual studies major and loves to hunt, fish, snowmobile and study history in his free time.
Clarkson has started four games for Plattsburgh this season, the most of any pitcher on the roster. The junior transfer also has recorded 11 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched this season.
This question and answer was conducted with Kaelen over email on March 25.
Question: What do you think will make Plattsburgh a scary team to play this season?
WHKY
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Answer: I think our team can be scary to play this year once we get our offense, defense and pitching all working together consistently.
Q: How does Plattsburgh baseball compare to baseball at SUNY Jefferson?
A: Plattsburgh baseball and Jefferson have a lot of similarities but
“We relied on our penalty kill a lot, and they’ve done great for us all year, so we can’t blame them or anything like that,” Olshansky said. “It was just that when Elmira got their opportunity, they capitalized on it.”
The Cards were unable to find the equalizer, but Plattsburgh kept its foot on the gas pedal. It continued to outshoot the Soaring Eagles in the second and third periods, 14-5 and 11-5, respectively, but the Elmira goaltender posted a 40-save shutout.
The Cards were only shutout on four other occasions in the 20242025 season, while Plattsburgh won via shutout 11 times.
“In between periods, we were saying we’re not nervous, we’re getting chances, one’s gonna go in, we’re peppering this goalie, one’s gotta go in,” Olshansky said.
Sophomore goalie Chloe Lewis stood on her head for the remainder of the matchup, finishing the game with one goal allowed and 16 saves. Junior forward Molly Riggi was also dominant for the Cards, winning 17 of 21 faceoff attempts.
“There was a good, positive energy throughout the whole game, which was the most disappointing and heartbreaking part of it,” Norton said.
The shots did not stop coming from Plattsburgh State, even in the last few minutes. The Cards were able to use a timeout with less than a minute to go, with Olshansky and Wall taking shots in the final few seconds, but Sevcikova saved everything that came her way, and the Soaring Eagles held on for the 1-0 win.
“Our defensive zone, in general, was locked down for the entire postseason. I mean, in three games, we only gave up one goal; you can’t really ask for anything better than that,” Olshansky said.
THE FINAL FOUR
The Soaring Eagles will face off against the defending national champions of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, who are coming
What was your reaction to this situation?
A: On our aborted takeoff, everyone was a little worried and scared but mostly confused. We didn’t fully learn what happened until our second flight had landed.
Q: If you could face one MLB player, who would it be and why?
A: If I could face one MLB player, I’d probably pick Vladdy Jr. As a Canadian and lifelong Blue Jays fan, I’d love to face my team’s best player.
Q: What other pitcher on the team do you think you could take yard in a live at-bat and why?
also a lot of differences. I’d say the biggest similarity is that on both teams, everyone is hard working and dedicated to our goals as a team.
Q: While returning home from the Florida tournament, I heard that the baseball team was on the Southwest plane that tried to take off from the taxiway.
A: I think I could take just about anybody on our team yard because even though I’ve been a PO (pitcher only) since I was 16, I hit a ball over 400 ft in pitcher’s batting practice in travel ball.
COWHEY/Cardinal Points Junior forward Molli Riggi getting hit into the boards by an Elmira player.
off of a perfect 2023-24 season, where they went 31-0-0. It was a record breaking season, as it marked the most single-season wins in Division III women’s ice hockey history. There has only been one other perfect season in Division III women’s ice hockey, which belonged to the Middlebury College Panthers. This was also the University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ first national title.
The Falcons are currently on a nine game win streak and will next take on the Augsburg Auggies in the NCAA semifinals March 28.
In their last matchup, the Falcons took down the Auggies 2-1 in an overtime shootout after finishing regulation tied 4-4.
On the other side of the bracket, Middlebury will battle the Amherst College Mammoths on March 28 in another semifinal matchup. To advance, Middlebury defeated the Nazareth University Golden Flyers 1-0 and Amherst dominated Colby College 4-1.
The NCAA championship game is set for Sunday, March 30 at 3:00 p.m. in River Falls, Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin-River Falls serves as the first predetermined host of the Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship.
HIRAM
Provided by Kaelen Clarkson
Kaelen Clarkson pitching for SUNY Jefferson.
Willmott teaches new Cards how to fly
BY ZIAIRE FERRELL & EMMA DEO Staff Writer & Associate Sports Editor
After graduating from Plattsburgh State in 1995, head strength and conditioning coach Brett Willmott simply could not stay away.
Willmott serves as the associate head track and field coach at Plattsburgh State, while working with each team as a strength and conditioning coach year-round.
Willmott’s love of coaching began at a young age as both of his parents were educators. His mother was a second grade teacher and his father was a physical education teacher who coached at Elba Central School in western New York. Willmott said that attending Plattsburgh State expanded his love for the sport and led him to come back and become a coach.
Willmott has been back at Plattsburgh State for four years, and said that the team has seen tremendous growth in that time period.
“This is a tribute to our junior/senior leadership and success. With that, it is something that more incoming athletes desire. They all have a love for the sport and eagerness to aspire to SUNYAC, regional, or NCAA levels,” Willmott wrote in an email.
Willmott’s coaching journey did not begin here. He began his career as an assistant at Plattsburgh State from 1996 to 1999 and then transitioned into the head coach position for the SUNY New Paltz cross country and track and field teams until 2003. At SUNY New Paltz, Willmott coached nine SUNYAC champions.
Beginning in 2000, Willmott began working with the U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team as a strength, conditioning and push coach, seeing some of his athletes compete with
SOFT
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The ten-game series quickly turned into nine when a tornado warning canceled the second game of the tournament against Worcester State University (5-4) on March 16.
The Cards struggled through the next two days, ultimately getting run-ruled three games in a row.
Plattsburgh faced Simpson College (15-1), losing 1-10, and Ramapo College (10-1) on March 17, losing 0-8, in five innings for both games.
Plattsburgh faced the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (117) on March 18, losing 3-11 in six innings of play.
“We did not get the timely hits we needed to. We left 67 runners on base throughout nine games, where we only scored 30 runs. We look at it as a positive and a negative because we put the runners on, we just couldn’t get them in,” Miller said.
The Cards almost broke the losing streak when they faced SUNY Brockport (6-4), but ultimately lost 3-5 in 8 innings of play.
Against Brockport, Plattsburgh put up 12 hits; however, they left 15 runners on base in the eighth inning.
Pillus was 3-4 with an RBI, while sophomore Sara Isaacs was 2-5 with a double and an RBI for Plattsburgh.
Gemmett went 7.1 innings for Plattsburgh State, allowing
Team USA at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Willmott also spent nine years at the Division I level as the associate head coach of the University of Vermont Catamounts track and field squad. During his tenure in Burlington, his student-athletes broke 50 school records, won 22 individual conference championships, and earned 123 All-America East honors.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Willmott also led the cross country and track and field programs at SUNY Potsdam and Oneonta. As head coach at Oneonta, he led his runners to their first-ever NCAA championship appearance.
As a runner, Willmott said he was always in the middle of the pack. This helped him recognize how athletes’ different skill levels contribute to a team’s success.
“I tend to focus on the learning progression or teaching model per event…For example, if a hurdler has a key performance indicator that we are working toward, and misses it, we can then go back to the hurdle race, identify the correction needed and address the key piece in practice,” Willmott wrote.
Willmott said coaching a team at this level comes with many challenges like mentoring athletes who are building skill and are important contributors to the program, honing in the
skills of team members who are moderately capable and motivated to becoming successful and tending to members who are high scorers on the team.
Willmott said that it is important to utilize the team’s setbacks as a way to launch his players to keep going. He said a point of emphasis for his team is that human performance can be challenged as long as it is well planned.
“Loving the sport is important, but success comes down to how well athletes take care of themselves,” Willmott wrote.
Willmott said that his goals for the years to come at Plattsburgh State are to push the team to greater heights, help -
four earned runs while tying her career high with 13 strikeouts.
Junior captain Morgan Ormerord finished the game for Plattsburgh, tallying two outs.
A 1-0 score held until the top of the sixth inning. Brockport took the lead as they tripled in a run and came around to score on a sacrifice fly.
The Brockport lead was short-lived.
Junior Gywneth Noll drove in sophomore Leila Toomey to tie the game. The Cards were unable to take the lead in the inning, and left two runners on base.
A scoreless seventh inning would send the game into extra innings, and Brockport wasted no time taking the lead. A Golden Eagle stole third and came around to score on a bunt single to start the inning. A single
followed to put runners on the corners for Brockport.
A sacrifice fly, followed by a single, put the Golden Eagles up 5-2. The eighth inning started with an international tiebreaker, meaning the last batted out from the previous inning starts on second base.
Toomey was placed on second.
Plattsburgh did not go down without a fight. Isaacs singled up the middle to score one run, putting the go-ahead run on a base, but a game-ending flyout to centerfield gave this game to Brockport.
“We want to carry over the timely hits to drive in runs, as well as to continue our strong defense,” Gemmett said.
The Cards picked up one more loss to Amherst College (8-4) on
March 20 before snapping their losing streak.
After a 13-6 loss that same day, Plattsburgh defeated Westminster College (3-15), scoring nine runs to Westminster’s five.
In the fifth inning of the game, Plattsburgh’s offense exploded, scoring six runs on five hits to take a comfortable lead.
Sophomore Alyssa Hemingway gave Plattsburgh the lead with an RBI double and after a walk, Toomey singled home a run to put the Cards up 5-3.
Noll followed with a two-run single, and Manalo followed with an RBI double to put the team up 8-3. Isaacs scored Noll with a sacrifice fly, giving Plattsburgh a 9-3 lead.
“We can take a lot away from that game. We always want to
ing more athletes qualify for SUNYACs, regionals, and the NCAA championships.
When the spikes come off, Willmott said his primary goal is to ensure all athletes leave the program with valuable lessons about discipline, resilience and personal growth.
“We want to build on what we’ve accomplished and keep raising the bar,” Willmott wrote.
Email ZIAIRE FERRELL & EMMA DEO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
score first and often. If we continue our season like how we played against Westminster, I don’t think that other teams will be able to stop us,” Gemmett said.
Plattsburgh gained one more tough loss to Middlebury College (13-3) on March 21 with a final score of 4-6.
Before heading home, the Cards sealed the tournament with a 1-0 win over Salem State University (7-7).
Gemmett allowed one hit over seven innings while walking two and striking out 12 in the circle.
Isaacs went 3-3 with a run scored, while Toleman had an RBI double. Stork and sophomore Emma Deo each had hits as well for the Cards.
The Cards will see action next at home against Vermont State University Castleton on April 2 for a doubleheader.
“Our focus is to keep building on what we’ve already accomplished so far. Our team chemistry has gotten so much stronger since our Florida trip, and we will definitely continue to build on that,” Gemmett said.
Emma Deo mentioned in the story is the associate sports editor for Cardinal Points. Her involvement does not affect coverage of the team.
JUSTIN RUSHIA/Cardinal Points
Brett Willmott coaches junior sprinters Charles Cypress (left) and Jordan Williams (Right) at Plattsburgh High-School.
CP archive photo
Sophomore outfielder Michelle DeFina slides into home plate at home against the Potsdam Bears.
Critics aren’t bananas for horror film ‘The Monkey’
BY SOPHIA ALBERTIE Staff Writer
Have you ever heard of a movie that’s so bad it’s good? If you have, get ready for a movie that’s just bad.
“The Monkey,” released in 2025 and directed by Oz Perkins, is a horror/comedy that spans a short-but-sweet one hour and 38 minute runtime.
Over this length, viewers are put into the story of estranged twin brothers, Hal and Bill (both played by Theo James), as they tackle a cursed toy monkey who
seems to act as a hand of fate, killing whoever it pleases with one foul swoop of the paw. Will the wretched childs play prevail, or will the bond of these two brothers save their world?
Perkins is perhaps best known for his 2024 horror film “Longlegs,” which became the highest grossing independent film of that year, reaching 126 million worldwide on a budget of less than 10 million.
Now, Perkins has taken on the ambitious role of bringing one of Stephen King’s short stories to life in this tongue-in-cheek bloodbath about life and loss. Based on the
concept alone, it should’ve worked.
Unfortunately, the trailer for the movie provided more shock value than any of the scenes.
With a predictable, unimaginative script and backstory given to our main characters, it’s impossible to not be left with questions concerning major plot holes in the story.
For example, a sibling rivalry is established very early on in the film between the twins, and it seems to come out of nowhere and stay prominent for no reason.
MOVIE > 12
First-gen students face unique struggles on college campuses
BY KALIYAH GREEN Staff Writer
Most first-generation college students have to blaze a trail where none existed before.
This means navigating a daunting maze of applications without the help of an experienced individual while also carrying the heavy weight of your family’s hopes and the fear of letting them down.
resources and often have to work while attending school to support their families or themselves. Many come from a low-income background and must juggle the daunting responsibilities of financing their education.
In a recent study at the Pell Institute, 91% of students that carry student loans were first-generation college students, with 78% concerned with their longterm financial impact.
Burghy lost to a not so great dane, Damien
BY KOLIN KRINER Opinion Editor
A bird that should fly above the competition got shot down by a dog and now I have a problem with UAlbany — and Instagram.
Burghy, the bright pride and joy of SUNY Plattsburgh losing to a boring, bleak and lame great dane named Damien was probably the worst thing to happen to me this semester.
SUNY Mascot Madness is a yearly battle between mascots across the SUNY System to determine which mascot is the champion.
Plattsburgh won the web vote, but of course we can’t have nice things. Around the corner UAlbany pulled a carpet from under our feet and won the social media voting, causing us to fall out of our chance of entering the final four for this year’s SUNY Mascot Madness. The score ended up being 15,688 for Burghy, and 16,146 for Damien.
Damien is ugly, can I just say? A solid two going against the ten that is our beloved mascot, left to the demise of a school with a student population nearly three times the size of our own.
I also can’t forget to mention the fact that Damien’s ears are clipped. It’s 2025 UAlbany, do better.
Burghy has charisma and so much life. Damien is a plain dog. This hit harder than the 2024 election and I am trying my best not to push for a recount of the votes.
At least it was a close race. I’d say we’re the underdog, although I don’t want the term “dog” used in reference to Burghy in any way given the circumstances. The margins were close, but it unfortunately wasn’t enough.
I ask you, students of SUNY Plattsburgh, to join me in voting against UAlbany during the final four round. Ensure that Damien has the same fate we do, simply as a punishment to UAlbany for crushing Burghy’s dreams of being the champion we all know he could — and should — have been.
Email KOLIN KRINER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Awards
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 Marks of Distinction
Fall 2000, four Marks of Distinction
First Class
Spring 2013, three Marks of Distinction
Fall 2012, three Marks of Distinction
Fall 2011, three Marks of Distinction
Spring 2010, two Marks of Distinction
Spring 2008, three Marks of Distinction
Spring 2007, one Mark of Distinction
Fall 2007, three Marks of Distinction
Pacemaker Recognition
Fall 2010, Honorable Mention 2006-2007, Newspaper Finalist
Kolin Kriner
Graphic by Kolin Kriner
MOVIE
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When harboring a demonic toy monkey that is capable of killing anyone it wants, one must ask themselves: Is any other small inconvenience really that serious?
And yes, the kills are imaginative, but if it’s hard to care about the characters or even the central conflict
A good slasher moment isn’t even enough to keep this flick afloat. The slashing itself was mediocre at best, considering the crazy marketing done for this film months before release. Even the most “sick and twisted” parts lacked confidence.
Perkins’ attempts at campy comedy also fall flat when sandwiched between his vapid backdrop of gore, setting up one-liners so cheesy that they don’t even belong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This combination makes for an unsatisfying ending, which might be unintentionally on theme — since the whole movie is about swift and unexpected death.
The Monkey gets a 1.5/5, and all stars come from the potential it could’ve had if Perkins wrote and directed it more seriously like he did with “Longlegs” or “The Black Coat’s Daughter.” Don’t waste your time with this movie.
Continued from page 11
“Financial pressure is truly a real thing, especially when trying to juggle school and work because, as a college student, it’s hard work,” said Kaniah Williams, a first-generation college student at SUNY Plattsburgh. “It’s pretty difficult to focus on trying to make money and go to college and maintain good grades when I also have to maintain paying for tuition.”
ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS
Email SOPHIA ALBERTIE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Transitioning to the rigor of college coursework can be
tough for some students, especially if their high school experience didn’t fully prepare them for higher education. The shift includes adapting to more stringent deadlines and managing a heavier workload.
Additionally, the focus on critical thinking, research and self driven learning can be overwhelming. According to Academic Obstacles of First-Generation Students at Research Universities, due to family and work demands, first generation students tend not to be as academically engaged as their non-first-generation counterparts.
Overcoming these obstacles requires seeking campus resources, such as tutoring or academic advising and building ef-
fective study habits. Developing resilience and time management skills is crucial to thriving in a rigorous academic environment.
CULTURAL DISCONNECT
Some students struggle to fit in as they balance their cultural or familial expectations with the new academic and social environment of college. Students tend not to participate in high impact educational practices as frequently as traditional students despite evidence that they benefit from participation on par or even.
According to EBSCO, one-third of first generation college students come from diverse backgrounds. Some students feel torn between their upbringing and
newfound independence. However, finding cultural representation organizations can deepen the sense of belonging, supportive mentors or like minded friends can ease the transition as well.
Navigating this path often requires academic resilience and emotional strength, as students must juggle financial hardships, cultural expectations and a lack of familiarity with college life because of family members not having the experience to pass down.
VIA Adobe Stock