PLATTSBURGH TELLS TRUMP ‘HANDS OFF!’
Photos by Michael Purtell
Plattsburgh protesters gathered in Trinity Park to participate in the “Hands Off” protests against President Donald Trump and his cabinet.
Rainy weather did nothing to deter the spirits of the estimated 850 present, who gathered for over two hours April 5.
The protest was one of over 1,200 demonstrations that spanned the country under the “Hands Off” movement.
Plattsburgh’s protest was organized by the local group, Show Up Plattsburgh.
Read more about the national protests on Page 4.
Author brings autism awareness to campus
BY CHRISTIAN TUFINO Staff Writer
Since 1998, April has been nationally recognized as autism awareness month. Russell Lehmann, motivational speaker and author of “On the Outside Looking In: My Life on the Autism Spectrum,” came to spread awareness to SUNY Plattsburgh through poetry, personal anecdotes and Greek language April 3.
Lehmann begins the presentation with anecdotes from his childhood, outlining the early signs of autism he showed and his struggles with being diagnosed later in his life. He talks about how his peers in school treated him, how the education system failed to support him and his autism, and his experience being homeschooled.
Lehmann told the crowd that even as an adult he still faces many of the problems he faced as a kid with autism. He talked about how his OCD, depression and panic attacks all intersect with his experience as a person with autism.
While Lehmann’s experiences are important to share, he reminded attendees that the conversation is bigger than one individual’s story.
“Everyone on the spectrum shows it differently and is different,” Lehmann said.
One of the aspects of Lehmann’s show was a reading of a poem he wrote to his younger self. In the writing, he described
the struggles he will face throughout his life, but also how he will grow and learn from the experiences to become the adult he is today.
In the presentation, Lehmann also informed the audience about his struggles to find support from the world outside of his immediate family as he became an adult. This forced him to learn to support himself through times where his autism became overwhelming.
“We need to give them control of their
situation, take time to learn about them and really make a safe environment for them to be themselves,” Lehmann said.
Laura Carmichael, director of the Autism Alliance of Northeastern New York, offered reassurance to adults with autism who may be struggling to support themselves that there are resources available through others in similar situations.
“Reach out to other people on the spectrum, find online groups, there are people like Russell who you can follow
or read their books. It’s important to just build each other up,” Carmichael said.
Laci Charette, SUNY Plattsburgh professor in psychology, spoke about how the transition from childhood to adulthood might appear for people with autism, and how people can help themselves or others facing these struggles.
“Transitioning into the community can be a little challenging if you don’t have that support system already, so talk to your family, or maybe school-provided resources like psychologists that can help link you to the greater community,” Charette said.
Lehmann has learned to see both the good and the bad with autism being a part of who he is.
“With autism, I excel at the extraordinary, yet struggle with the simple,” Lehmann said.
At the end of his presentation Lehmann reiterates that he’s had struggles with his autism, but he’s learned to embrace who he is.
“I’m going to try my best, and it might not always work out, but I accept my situation and my struggles,” Lehmann said.
Provided by Darlene Rowe
Russell Lehmann presents his spoken word poem April 3.
Jazz Ensemble at Olive Ridley’s
Photos by Jayne Smith
Drummer Jacob Colton hits a crazy solo at the end of “Groovin’ Hard.” The SUNY Plattsburgh Jazz Ensemble performed at Olive Ridley’s Restaurant on April 9.
Bassist Eli Moore picks along to “Sunny Ray.”
Alto Saxophonist Kevin Alexandrou plays a solo on “Santos.”
Trombonist Timothy Lloyd plays a solo on “Sunny Ray.”
Jazz Ensemble director Michael Lewandowski drums along during “Santos.”
Student Association
SA pushes students to vote
BY ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME Staff Writer
The Student Association Elections took place Thursday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the group has been working hard to ensure students remember to vote.
During the Student Association Senate meeting on April 2, the board brainstormed new ways to get students to participate in picking their new student leaders.
The election was one of the more competitive the Student Association has seen in many years with multiple candidates running for each position. There are over 20 total candidates running for a spot on the senate.
Running for President were Garrett Monette and Charlotte Feliz. Vice President Candidates were Jack Sweet and Mrudangi Purvesh Trivedi.
Running for Treasure were Jana Bar, Arshita Pandey and Christina Gruchy. Running for Coordinator of Student Affairs and Diversity were Elishua Oviedo, Allyson White, Kimolie Heslop and Storme Hutton.
For Coordinator of Arts, the candidates were Grace Pamaka Ebre, Britney Bartley and Virginia Lucchetti.
The board wanted such a competitive race to be broadcast to as many students as possible, so that results can represent as much of the student body as
possible. This was the main topic of discussion at the meeting.
“Talk with your friends, ask your friends to talk with their friends and with others in your classes,” Vice President Sandesh Poudel said.
A goal for the Student Association is to get 20 percent of the student body to vote.
Getting the word out in as many places as possible is important in reaching all students on campus, not just ones that live in dorms.
Senator Charlotte Feliz is looking for methods other than just word of mouth to reach new demographics.
“I am also proposing getting QR codes so we all have them to pass around in all of the academic buildings and food areas, because even if you are an off campus student you will most likely be in one of those common spaces throughout the day,” Feliz said.
The group also talked about working with Chartwells to hand out snacks with the QR codes to students. Senator Jack Sweet’s proposal to ask professors to promote the QR code in classes well received by the other senators.
“We can send an email out to professors and say to encourage students during classes, which would definitely increase the amount of students that are going to be voting,” Sweet said.
It is also suggested that students take the time to learn about their
candidates and vote for the ones that values align with theirs the most. The senate considered ways to make relevant information accessible for voters.
“Creating a bio gives them an idea of why they are running and what their future plans are if they win the election,” Poudel said.
The senate has found great help in spreading notice of the election from a familiar campus tool. Through Cardinal Link, the senate has scouted club events and their time and location. This has given the current board access to this past week’s events, where they could stop by and spread the word about Thursday’s election, and even drop off copies of the QR code.
Student Association Advisor Tyler Hargraves has seen his fair share of elections in his tenure with the SA.
“This is the first competitive election we’ve had in the Student Association in a very long time. Before last year there were seven senators that ran and seven open seats, this year we have 22 senators running for the position,” Hargraves said.
Email ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Plattsburgh takes the Plunge
BY LUCA GROSS Press Republican
Everybody was “freezin’ for a reason,” and that reason was fundraising for Special Olympics New York athletes.
Plattsburgh City Beach echoed with laughter and shivers Saturday after hundreds endured the 37-degree water of Lake Champlain in the name of goodwill.
BODY AND SOUL
According to Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman, the plunge is a “full body and soul” experience.
“The cold will invigorate your body and really captures your breath,” he said.
“And it stays with you for a while.”
Cashman took the plunge alongside City of Plattsburgh Mayor Wendell Hughes and State Assemblyman Billy Jones.
Over 40 teams, consisting of local law enforcement, firefighters, college students, high school students, businesses and nonprofits participated in the plunge and raised over $15,000.
‘IT WAS VERY COLD’
For Tharron Roberts, of Team FCI Ray Brook and a first time plunger, the frigid dip was a shocking and new experience.
“It was very cold,” she said.
email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.
“This is the first and maybe only time I will do this.” Roberts and her teammates Erica Bilodeau and Travis Cayea felt this was something they “needed
to do” to show support for the athletes of the North Country.
“This is something I have always wanted to do,” Cayea said.
“We always try to participate in events like this,” Bilodeau added.
BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
According to Jordynne Oshier, founder of Team True to Form, it’s all about community.
“The big thing is bringing the community together,” she said.
She put the team together “to be able to do something for the community.”
For Victoria LaVarnway, of Team True To Form, the plunge seemed like a fun thing to do while supporting the athletes.
“I did this for the Special Olympics, I think it’s so important to support their team,” she said.
“And I thought it would be a fun thing to do.”
This was the first plunge held in Plattsburgh since 2019.
The Polar Plunge is a major fundraiser for the North Country Region Special Olympic team and the largest fundraising event organized by Special Olympics New York.
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ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME/Cardinal Points
Members of the Student Association Senate speak with Student Association Adviser Tyler Hargraves April 2.
Green Grant looks for next student idea
BY ABIGAIL PASSAFIUME Staff Writer
SUNY Plattsburgh is offering an opportunity to fund members of campus’ ideas to change the world.
The Green Grant is an opportunity for students to receive funding and help implement a sustainability initiative of their design. Up to $8,000 can be awarded to a student with an idea approved for the grant.
Curt Gervich and the Campus Committee for Environmental Responsibility reviews applications and presentations and picks which proposal will have the greatest impact on our campus.
The Green Grant is funded by our student body. Each student pays a $3 green fee, which goes directly to the Green Grant.
“Anyone can apply, including staff and faculty. We just try to have every project involve a student. It is student money, so we really make sure students are the ones writing the proposals, or are at least heavily participating, and that every project has a big student benefit,” Gervich said.
Past projects have been very successful, such as Bike-topia, a student biking group that learns how to repair and care for bikes and teaches the green benefits to choosing a bike instead of a car. Other past projects involve the campus garden, electric vehicle charging stations and guest speakers.
“We look for projects that first have a major environmental impact. Second, we consider student involvement and student benefit. Then, we look at the budget to make sure money is being used effectively,” Gervich said.
The CCER board’s goal is to give back with all the money students are paying for the program, and get students involved in making our campus more environmentally friendly.
Gervich knows that not all proposed ideas are going to be perfect, but student projects deserve to be given a chance.
“Some projects are experiments, and we don’t know if they will be successful or not. Sometimes we even feel a project may be a long shot, but we still fund it because it is student money. So, if a student has an idea, then we should let them try to implement it,” Gervich said.
A project that was worth the try, but was not deemed completely successful was installing a bottle return in buildings around campus. This was supposed to increase the amount of students recycling, but many students did not want to carry their trash to a campus building.
On the other hand, proposals such as Biketopia and the campus garden have been around many years and are still incredibly successful.
The Green Grant is now over 15 years old and a new grant is given each semester. Started in 2008, the grant took a while to get approved and students were open to the idea of extra fees.
“The campus is reluctant to add student activity fees and it doesn’t sound like a lot, it is three bucks, but adding any fee always faces opposition,” Gervich said.
This project will be funding the Sustainability Summit that is happening April 25, 2025. This day is for anyone that is doing sustainability work on campus, to present their projects and celebrate. There are multiple guest speakers, poster sessions and a dinner for anyone interested.
Nation’s protestors assail Trump, Musk
BY DAVE COLLINS Associated Press
Crowds of people angry about the way President Donald Trump is running the country marched and rallied in scores of American cities Saturday in the biggest day of demonstrations yet by an opposition movement trying to regain its momentum after the shock of the Republican’s first weeks in office.
So-called Hands Off! demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The rallies appeared peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.
Thousands of protesters in cities dotting the nation from Midtown Manhattan to Anchorage, Alaska, including at multiple state capitols, assailed Trump and billionaire Elon Musk ‘s actions on government downsizing, the economy, immigration and human rights. On the West Coast, in the shadow of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, protesters held signs with slogans like “Fight the oligarchy.” Protesters chanted as they took to the streets in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, where they marched from Pershing Square to City Hall.
Demonstrators voiced anger over the administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut funding for health programs.
Musk, a Trump adviser who runs Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He
says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign advocacy group, criticized the administration’s treatment of the LBGTQ+ community at the rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where Democratic members of Congress also took the stage.
“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all,” Robinson said. “They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives.”
“We don’t want this America, y’all,” Robinson added. “We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”
In Boston, demonstrators brandished signs such as “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security.”
Mayor Michelle Wu said she does not want her children and others’ to live in a world in which threats and intimidation are government tactics and values like diversity and equality are under attack.
“I refuse to accept that they could grow up in a world where immigrants like their grandma and grandpa are automatically presumed to be criminals,” Wu said.
Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, was one of hundreds who rallied at the Statehouse in Columbus. He said he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Trump.
“He’s tearing this country apart,” Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”
Hundreds of people also demonstrated in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few miles from Trump’s golf course in Jupiter, where he spent the morning at the club’s Senior Club Championship. People lined both sides of PGA Drive, encouraging cars to honk and chanting slogans against Trump.
“They need to keep their hands off of our Social Security,” said Archer Moran of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“The list of what they need to keep their hands off of is too long,” Moran said. “And it’s amazing how soon these protests are happening since he’s taken office.”
The president golfed in Florida Saturday and planned to do so again Sunday, the White House said.
Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump and Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But before Saturday the opposition movement had yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017, which brought thousands of women
to Washington after Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis in 2020. In Charlotte, North Carolina, protesters said they were supporting a variety of causes, from Social Security and education to immigration and women’s reproductive rights.
“Regardless of your party, regardless of who you voted for, what’s going on today, what’s happening today is abhorrent,” said Britt Castillo, 35, of Charlotte. “It’s disgusting, and as broken as our current system might be, the way that the current administration is going about trying to fix things — it is not the way to do it. They’re not listening to the people.”
Among thousands marching through downtown San Jose, California, were Deborah and Douglas Doherty.
Deborah, a graphic designer, is a veteran of the 2017 Women’s March and was nervous that fewer people have turned out against Trump this time. “All the cities need to show up,” she said. “Now people are kind of numb to it, which is itself frightening.”
Associated Press journalists Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, Erik Verduzco in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nicholas Riccardi in San Jose, California, and Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, contributed.
Cardinal Points File Photo.
Students working in the green grant funded campus garden, located by the parking lot outside Moffitt Hall.
JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AP PHOTO
Demonstrators hold up signs during a “Hands Off!” protest against President Donald Trump at the Washington Monument in Washington, Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Bonesteel draws from nature to create
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Arts and Culture Editor
Senior BFA student Noah Bonesteel draws inspiration for his art from the landscape around him, and not only creates traditional landscapes, but ones that draw from ecology, natural history and human history.
Bonesteel confronts issues such as pollution, climate change and habitat destruction in his art. A big impact on his art came from his childhood in rural Averill Park, New York in Rensselaer County.
“My favorite subject matter is trees and roots. I think growing up and learning to appreciate and love the forest is pretty critical in shaping how I think about the world and the art that I’m making,” Bonesteel said.
“Having parents who helped nurture a relationship with me and the woods and the land is all pretty foundational.”
Bonesteel works with several different media in his painting. He uses found objects in his artwork to add depth to his work and he hopes to start finding stuff in the Saranac River for his work to further connect the work to a place.
Bonesteel has experimented with many different types
of media during his art education, and he has found that acrylics allow him to create layers to his painting faster and add texture to his pieces.
“I was using watercolor, charcoal and my colored pencils, and now I’ve been working mostly with acrylic paint,” Bonesteel said. “Recently, I started doing a lot of printmaking, so I’m using an intaglio process and combining a bunch of different processes. It’s sort of a different way of thinking, but also uses the same kind of imagery. It’s just a different way to create an image.”
One of Bonesteel’s favorite works is a composition that he included in one of his BFA shows.
“I did this little painting for my BFA show last year that has Gallic roots and fish and flowers in it. I think that’s my favorite, because it kind of set me on a new path of what I did for a while, and what I’m doing now,” Bonesteel said.
Bonesteel said that he would like to be a professional painter in a few years, with a part time job to pay the bills. He is working to create more paintings and get his art into more shows and residencies. Currently Bonesteel has a couple solo shows and group shows lined up for after graduation.
Stylistically, Bonesteel has taken inspiration from Anselm Kiefer, a German artist who creates landscapes but intertwines poetry, philosophy and mythology into the landscape. He is also inspired by Alexis Rockman, an ecological painter and Pete Russom, a retired professor of art at SUNY Plattsburgh.
Bonesteel’s artistic ideas come naturally from the environment around him in a given moment. His process includes a lot of sketching with pencils as well as charcoal, then after everything is mapped out he paints parts of his vision onto the canvas. He continues this process throughout the creation of his work.
“I feel like once you can start to pick out things within the work, you can make more connections within it, and that’s sort of the goal is to invite the viewer into something, and then hopefully you’ll find more and maybe think about something differently, or relearn something that you hadn’t really considered,” Bonesteel said.
Students to showcase musical education
BY AMY SIEGEL Contributor
The Music Department will host this semester’s Gallery Concert on April 11.
The event is free and open to the public, and will take place in the lobby of the Myers Fine Arts Building and start at noon. Featured performers include Georgia Becker, Reg Sutphen, and Sean Martinez. This concert serves as an opportunity for students to showcase to the public what they have been working on within their applied lessons. These students will perform individually and on piano, while being accompanied by Karen Becker, Chair of the Music Department. Most of the songs performed will be classical, operatic and solo piano pieces, with some leaning more towards theatre to showcase these artists’ ranges.
REG SUTPHEN
Senior Reg Sutphen will be performing two songs, “Der Tod und Das Mädchen” by Franz Shubert and “If He Walked into My Life” from “Mame” composed by Jerry Herman. These are both emotionally charged pieces that showcase the power of music to convey deep human experiences.
Franz Schubert’s work, which translates to “Death and the Maiden,” explores the tension of mortality through a dialogue between Death and a young woman, filled with emotional depth. Whereas, “If He Walked Into My Life” from the musical Mame, is a ballad where the character reflects on how her life would change if a particular
person entered it, blending vulnerability and hope.
The performance is particularly important to Sutphen, because it symbolizes growth. This is their first solo performance at a gallery concert.
“It feels very vulnerable, but I’ve gotten the opportunity to really come out of my shell,” Sutphen said. “I’m so excited to not only show off what I’ve been working on, but hopefully to inspire others who may have been like me. I want other students to be able to see my path and go, wow, I can do that too.”
GEORGIA BECKER
Georgia Becker will be performing for the second time in her college career, her first time performing was in the fall of 2022. Becker will be performing “Come Ready and See Me” by Richard Hundley and “Widmung” by Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann. These songs explore love and devotion in distinct ways. “Come Ready and See Me” offers an intimate portrayal of longing. In contrast, Franz Liszt’s “Widmung,” which translates to “Dedication,” is based on a poem by Robert Schumann and delivers a passionate declaration of love, with complex piano lines and sweeping vocal phrases.
While Hundley’s piece radiates quiet yearning, Liszt’s composition soars with intensity and emotional depth, providing a captivating contrast allowing Becker to show her range.
“I am looking forward to performing with my aunt and getting a performance under my belt before my senior recital
since I am singing both of these songs in my recital.,” Becker said. Her recital will be Sunday April 27.
SEAN MARTINEZ
Sean Martinez will be performing a short piano set of “La fille aux cheveux de lin” and “Clair de lune,” both written by Claude Debussy. Martinez said selecting these songs was an easy decision.
“My thought process for picking these songs was pretty simple. I’ve been working with Dr. Becker over the past year or so and throughout our lessons along with learning skills, I’ve learned two works from Debussy being ‘Clair de lune’ and another song from Debussy called ‘First Arabesque’,” Martinez said.
These two works of Claude Debussy’s are some of his most beloved works. “La fille aux cheveux de lin” or translated, “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” and “Clair de lune” transports listeners into dreamy landscapes.
“La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin,” evokes the image of serenity and captures a youthful innocence. In contrast, “Clair de Lunes,” or “Moonlight,” shimmering harmonies immerses the listener in an atmosphere of calm and reflection.
Both pieces, though distinctly different in mood, make for a captivating exploration of his impressionistic style. Martinez looks forward to playing these pieces because of the juxtaposition of popularity.
“I’d say I’m most looking forward to playing ‘Clair de Lune’ as it’s a very popular piece by Debussy that a lot of people tend to know, along with the captivating
melodies written into the music,” Martinez said. “The other song is just as pretty though, and I’m excited to play it because it’s one of his lesser known works.”
These performances are important because they are carefully worked on by both students and professors. To be able to access private lessons is important to students.
“I didn’t have the privilege of participating in voice lessons, and I had only done choir in my senior year of high school, so working one-on-one with an instructor was completely new to me. In a way, I am proving myself in this performance, and asserting the fact that I’ve worked hard to get here.”
Via the Plattsburgh Music Department
GRANT TERWILLIGER/Cardinal Points Noah Bonesteel in his art studio on campus.
“Across the Water,” Noah Bonesteel
“Evolve State IV,” Noah Bonesteel
ROOM & DOOM
BY GUILIANNA LAURAIN Staff Writer
Keeseville artist, author, beerenthusiast releases book cataloguing
BY ROBIN CAUDELL PRESS-REPUBLICAN
Sketching and craft beers are twin passions of George “Speedy” Arnold of Keeseville.
He twines them in his new book, “51 Breweries I’ve Been To: Volume 1 (Because I’m An Optimist and I’m Still Thirsty) published by Amazon Publishing.
The book is armchair travel to the venues where he’s sipped and sketched in the North Country.
Arnold, an author and/or illustrator of three children’s books, contemplated his next project while perusing 70 sketchbooks, each with 100 pages, over the last 20-plus years.
In his introduction, Arnold, 68, writes:
“Not long ago, while in Vermont, my wife and I stopped at the 14th Star Brewery in St. Albans. After we had a taste, the bartender (Rene) looked at my sketch and said ‘Wow! Do you sketch every brewery that you’ve been to?’ I thought for half a second and said ‘Why yes, I do.’
“‘Then you should go over to Mill River Brewing, they just opened up a little while ago, nice place, too,’ she said. Around the block, and after another taste, I was asked “Wow! Do you sketch every brewery that you’ve been to?” A light bulb went on: time to “drink or get off the bar-stool.”
Right now, Arnold is between 20 and 30 archival ink and colored pencil sketches deep into Volume II.
When asked how long he has sketched?
“Since second-grade math class,” he said.
he said.
“One of the fun things were hiding the owners and brewers names in the grass, trees or bars. Every sketch has some hidden ‘Easter eggs.’ Even somebody that might have been sitting next to me and watching me sketch. They may ask, ‘Oh, what are you doing?’
“I said, ‘I’m sketching for a brewery book. What’s your name, John? Your wife is Peggy?’ And, they made the book.”
Local vineyards and cideries have expressed interest in being sketched, too.
“I thought I would in the next edition, but I think it’s going to be 51 more breweries that I have been to. I have also filled up some interesting things like Keeseville’s first brewery down on North Ausable Street. Some sketches along the way of different places and where is this? I was going to do some sort of travel check-off list and all that, but I decided against that. People can do what they want, visit and check them. I didn’t know what to call it. Whether it was a coffee table book or a beer top book? I’ve had fun with it.”
Provided by Speedy Arnold Valcour Brewing Company is a Craft Beer Brewery that also features an inn and a restaurant. All of this, as well as numerous displayed museum quality historical photographs and artifacts are located in the Old Stone Barracks in Plattsburgh. The “Old Stone Barracks” is the last remaining structure of a proposed quadrangle of early U.S. Army barracks built in Plattsburgh, NY in 1838. Source: goadirondack.com Email ROBIN
The book is available for $25 at Arnold’s Grocery and Likker Lokker, 182, Pleasant St. (Rt. 9N), Keeseville.
“I went to Plattsburgh State and took classes painting and drawing. Sold a bunch of pieces out of the store from time to time. A friend of mine wanted someone to illustrate a book of his about frogs and tadpoles, polliwogs. He asked, ‘Can you illustrate this book?’ He was going to make 20, 30 copies for his kids and grandkids, nieces and nephews. My child’s kindergarten teacher said, ‘Why don’t you find a publisher that will do this and print them up?’ He ended up selling 1,800 copies of ‘Little Brook and the Field,’ which was the first book. Then another friend that I went to grade school with had a butterfly puppet show that she was having down at her farm in
Florida and had me do her book. That one sold and nominated for an award down in Florida.”
Arnold created the elephant book for his daughter, who loves them.
“I did one about the Elephant’s Head at Ausable Chasm and never looked back. I said, oh jeez, why don’t I just do a regular book about beer?”
In Volume I, two pages are devoted to each brewery.
“A little blurb about the product that they have, whether they have a food truck or music, their address and etc.,”
This week you may have some unexpected changes in your life. Expect some turbulence. You are onto a new adventure.
You are working towards your goals and have ambition to succeed. Keep up the fantastic work.
This week you may be feeling strong and grounded. If not, focus on helping yourself attain your goals.
You may be looking towards the future and the big picture of your life. You should focus on the small things in front of you.
This week you should focus on your future. Find what brings you harmony and balance within your life.
This week you may be experiencing abundance in your life. Whether this be health, finances or joy.
This week you may be feeling accomplished as a result of hard work. Surround yourself with people that inspire you and be confident.
Spiritual and material abundance is achievable through work. The universe will lead the way and support your endeavors.
Turn obstacles into opportunities this week. You may be feeling stagnant. Listen to your inner self.
This week you may be able to connect with others more. Notice how you feel around certain people. Examine your current relationships with others.
Take time this week to live in the present. Start creating your future and create goals to better yourself.
You may be fighting between optimism and pessimism this week. Take some time to breathe in your current situation and find what you are thankful for.
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)
CAUDELL news@pressrepublican.com
Women’s Lacrosse
Cardinals stampede over Mustangs
BY EMMA DEO Associate Sports Editor
The Plattsburgh State women’s lacrosse team tallied its first SUNYAC win of the season, downing the Morrisville Mustangs 16-5 on Saturday.
Multiple Cardinals got in on the scoring, with nine players recording points in the matchup. Junior attacker Cynthia Barnosky led the way with seven points off of a career-high six goals and one assist. First-year attacker Ashley O’Hara had a career-high six-point performance with another career-high three goals and three assists.
Junior attacker Erica Dickinson had a multi-goal performance with two goals and an assist. Maggie Maurer, Leah Klotz, Abby Guasconi, Nicole Resnick and Chase Calandra were all able to find the back of the net, while Maurer, Klotz, Guasconi and Resnick each tallied an assist as well.
To round out the scoring, senior midfielder Caitlin Nash finished the day with one assist.
“We were able to really just connect our passes. We were doing really well. We were able to move and get open for each other and work really well together overall,” Nash said.
On the defensive end, junior Lilly Gilroy led the charge with 12 draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Graduate student Mae
Olshansky made three saves in goal for the Cardinals in 60 minutes of action. Plattsburgh won the shot battle 35-17, putting 26 shots on goal while limiting the Mustangs to eight.
The Cardinals also took control of the circle, winning 15 draw controls to Morrisville’s 10, but the Mustangs had a slight advantage on ground balls, 25-24.
Plattsburgh State rises to 3-7,
1-3 with the win and Morrisville falls to 0-6, 0-4 with the loss.
“Our main focus this season has been working on starting how we finish. We’re a little hesitant in the beginning, but we’re working on coming out
Plattsburgh picks up first conference win of season
BY ROSIE SCULCO Staff Writer
After a four game stretch filled with three straight losses, the Plattsburgh State softball team (4-9, 1-1) bounced back in their final game, securing their first conference win of the season.
“It’s their desire, they want to win and communicate with each other. We can do it, we just have to buy into it and compete,” head coach Jessica Miller said.
The Cardinals hosted Vermont State University Castleton (11-7, 1-2) in a double header for their home opener on April 2.
The first game of the series ended in extra innings, favoring the Spartans 5-4.
Plattsburgh had a 3-2 lead until the top of the fifth inning, where the Spartans tied the game at three. Two scoreless innings followed as both teams stranded runners and were unable to score.
A leadoff double for the Spartans put the go-ahead run in scoring position. A single followed, giving Castleton the lead, and a one-out double later in the inning set up a sacrifice fly to put them up 5-3.
Plattsburgh started with a single and a walk in the bottom of the eighth inning. A groundout put the tying run in scoring position, with runners on second and third.
Sophomore catcher Emma Deo followed that up with a sacrifice fly that did not move the runner up from second.
The Cards grounded out next at-bat, giving the Spartans the 5-4 win.
“Castleton had the timely hits and placed the ball where they needed to and when they needed to. We fell short on the
timely hits, but it is something we all reflected on and learned from,” Noll said.
Junior Morgan Ormerod threw eight innings on the mound and gave up four earned runs, taking the loss.
“Mistakes are inevitable, but it’s how you respond to them. I’ve been able to step into a leadership role this year, and pick up my teammates when we are down,” Gwen Noll, Softball
Junior catcher/outfielder Gwen Noll went 1-2 with an RBI triple and walked twice. Deo drove in a run for the Cards and sophomore infielder Sara Isaacs went 3-4 with two RBIs.
Plattsburgh lost the next and final game of the series 3-6. The contest concluded after just five innings due to darkness,
“One of the biggest takeaways from Castleton game one was the importance of starting strong and staying disciplined throughout the entire game, especially in high-pressure situations,” Noll said.
Senior Carly Gemmett tossed 3.2 innings and struck out five, and sophomore Cadey Wheat tossed 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
First-year infielder Meghan Stork finished the second game 1-1 with two runs scored.
Isaacs went 2-3 in the second game with two doubles, while senior pitcher/infielder Sarah Milyko was 1-2 with an RBI and run scored.
“I think as a team we really felt frustrated by how we consistently came close to winning, but just fell short of it, so we had to put our faith in our abilities and we’d come to Potsdam with the fire to win,” senior Mikayla Manalo said.
POTSDAM
The Cards hit the road and headed to Potsdam on April 4 (7-6, 1-1) for their first conference doubleheader of the season. The Cards came out hot to start the series.
strong from the first draw of the game,” Barnosky said.
Softball
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
Junior midfielder Caitlin Nash challenges Union defender in Plattsburgh’s matchup against Union on March 1.
CP archive photo
Senior Sarah Milyko pitches against the Potsdam Bears last season April 6.
Cards find direction in SUNYAC loss
BY ZIAIRE FERRELL & EMMA DEO Staff Writer & Associate Sports Editor
The Plattsburgh men’s lacrosse team pushed through the pouring rain but lost their conference matchup Saturday to SUNY Cortland by a lopsided score of 26-7. Sophomore attacker Dylan Ruland opened the scoring just minutes into the game putting the Cards up 1-0. Soon after, Cortland started swiftly adding points onto the board, putting the Red Dragons up 5-2. Cortland never gave up this lead and finished the quarter with a 7-3 advantage.
Going into the second quarter the Red Dragons held down the field continuing to score over the Cardinals keeping them in the lead with 12 points. Cardinals came back with two points scored by sophomore mid-
fielder/attacker Peter Urso and first-year midfielder
Ethan Francey.
Ending the second quarter with a score of 14-5 leaving the Red Dragons in the lead going into halftime.
“The cohesion as players was much higher, and they were more athletic,” senior face off specialist Jimbo Farrelly said. “They have a history of being a strong, athletic team.”
The third quarter continued defensive highlights from the Cards as Farrelly won the faceoff and picked up the ground ball. Senior long-stick midfielder Kyle Ruland and Urso also had caused turnovers for Plattsburgh.
“Last game was tough, but we’re working on being more aggressive and holding down our defense all throughout the game,” Jab Duval Lapaix wrote in a text.
Cortland’s Sean Kavanugh found the back of the net 11 minutes into the third quarter, keeping the Red Dragons in the lead 15-5.
Cortland continued to dominate throughout the third quarter, finishing with a 20-6 advantage over the Cards.
“There were definitely shifts in momentum throughout the game, but overall we outmatched and undersized the All-Star opponents,” Farrelly said. “But we fought to the end, even though we were still going down, our team responded to the other team’s runs by not giving up and staying in the game and not letting them get any unnecessary goals.”
Cards compete in Game on for Giving
BY JUSTIN RUSHIA Sports Editor
For the ninth consecutive year, the SUNY Plattsburgh College Foundation has partnered with the Cardinal Athletics Department for its annual Game on for Giving contest.
The Cardinal sports teams began competing for donor support and the opportunity to win cash prizes on April 2. In this competition, each athletic and club team at Plattsburgh competes to raise the most money for their respective programs by asking alumni and fans to donate.
“The biggest thing for me, personally, when we started this campaign was to try to re-engage our alumni and have everyone feel a good sense of passion about Cardinal athletics,” Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Howard said.
This year, Karen McGrath, the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at SUNY Plattsburgh, and her siblings are offering a total of $20,000 in cash prizes through the McGrath Family Challenge.
“I give annually to athletics and Game on for Giving,” McGrath said. “But this year is the 20th anniversary of my father’s passing, So I really wanted to do something to
honor some of the values that he instilled in us.”
McGrath’s father had two strokes at the age of 44 when McGrath was only 12. She said his illness had a profound impact on their family.
“What we learned from that experience was that making lifestyle changes and working on things like your nutrition, your physicality and your emotional state can all lead to a stronger, healthier life,” McGrath said.
McGrath wants to help instill these values in students here at Plattsburgh.
“It’s fueled by fans, that’s one of the taglines, but I think it’s really fueled by the commitment of our student-athletes and our coaches,” McGrath said.
The Division III teams will compete for top alumni support, with $2,500 awarded to the team with the most alumni donors. Teams finishing second and third in alumni donors will receive $1,000 and $500 respectively. An additional $1,000 will go to the Division III team with the most overall donors.
Club sports teams are also in the running for donor-based prizes. The team with the most overall donors will earn $500, with second and third place receiving $300 and $200.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
Junior midfielder Tim Keenan tries to get past Cortland defender in the Cardinals SUNYAC loss to the Red Dragons on April 5.
Provided by the Plattsburgh Athletics Department
Plattsburgh athletes
SOFTBALL
Megan Pillus, Softball
Megan Pillus is a junior infielder on the Plattsburgh State softball team. The Spackenkill, New York native started in 33 games last season, tallying 17 hits and smashing her first career home run against Fredonia.
This year, Pillus has started in all 13 games for the Cards so far, posting a .341 batting average with a season-high three hits against SUNY Brockport over spring break. Pillus also had a season high three runs batted in when Plattsburgh battled Potsdam in a SUNYAC showdown April 4.
This question and answer was conducted with Megan over email April 4.
Question: I heard you have a lot of superstitions. What are some of your biggest game-day superstitions?
Answer: Oh boy, we could be here all day if I told you them all. It has become a full-time job.
The longest standings ones are I don’t play with nail polish on and my hair has to be the same every game two small braids into bubbles. I have to do my hair until it is perfect with no bumps. Sometimes it can take three minutes, sometimes it takes thirty, but I won’t play until it’s perfect.
Once I’m on the field, though, they really kick in. I have to wear my pink ribbon in my hair when I am in the field, but I have to take it out when I hit and Morgan Ormerod has to hold it during my at bat. Before every at-bat, I have to do a certain hitting drill five times before the start of the game and then three times before every other at-bat. Then I have to use Morgan Ormerod’s bat to hit, unless I strikeout with it, and then I have to use a different one.
Q: If you could change any rule of softball, what would it be?
A: I think I would steal the banana ball league rules that if a fan catches a fly ball, it counts as an out. We get a fair amount of foul balls at Cardinal Park, and our fans up here in the North Country could really helps us out on the field and get us a few extra outs. I think people would be really into here since we have some very athletic fans even if they don’t realize it.
Q: Softball is big on dugout chants, what’s your favorite one?
A: Our chants are pretty amazing and unique! In terms of a classic, you can never go wrong with our first cheer of every game, our specific Plattsburgh cheer. It gets us all going from the first pitch. But I do have to say I think I have some of the most iconic cheers for when I hit. I really love the cheer “Who’s gonna hit, who’s gonna hit… Meggy Meggy,” and then “Who got a hit, who got a hit…. Meggy Meggy.” It always puts a smile on my face, and I get really excited to hear it when I am at the plate.
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The Cards came out firing as Barnsoky put up her first goal just 30 seconds into the game off a Nash assist. A minute later, the Mustangs tied the game.
O’Hara then recorded two of her three goals in the first quarter, putting Plattsburgh up 3-1.
“The game started with us, how we wanted it to be, but then we finally put our heads together and said let’s get this done,” Barnosky said. Then we started playing together and taking it play by play, starting with the draw and ending with the ball in the back of the net.”
The second quarter was even as both teams notched two goals, with Plattsburgh’s coming from Barnosky and Dickinson, giving them the 5-3 lead heading into halftime.
The Card’s offense came alive in the third quarter as they exploded for seven goals and allowed zero, sending them into the fourth with a dominant 13-3 advantage over Morrisville. Plattsburgh held onto the lead for the rest of the game, heading home with a 16-5 SUNYAC victory.
“I think that win just showed we still have it in us, and we’re hoping to carry that win and that feeling into the game against Oneonta,” Barnosky said.
This game honored Morgan’s Message, which is an organization that pushes to eliminate the
Q: You’re an education major. What is something from the softball field that translates into the classroom?
A: I think in both the classroom as a teacher, and on the softball field, it is important to be able to roll with the punches and adapt.
In the classroom, you walk into something new everyday and plans often go differently than you might expect. On the softball field, we are constantly adapting and trying new things because every game brings something different. I’ve learned how to work with others, how to be a leader, and how to put in the work to make adapting simpler and make it easier to roll with any punches!
Q: What’s your best story from substitute teaching in the Plattsburgh school district?
A: Subbing in the schools makes me laugh everyday because these kids truly do say some of the craziest things. I was teaching a math lesson, and a second grader looked at me and said, “Bruh, I don’t want to do work,” So, I responded, “Bruh, you have to,” and she looked at me shocked and said, “You said bruh to me, that makes you the coolest teacher. Now you are Queen Bruh.” I really don’t know what that means, and if I should be flattered or offended, but it made me laugh either way!
stigma surrounding student-athlete’s struggles with mental health.
The sidewalk outside the fieldhouse was decorated by the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams with inspirational chalk art. The girls also sported special warm-up t-shirts with the Morgan’s Message logo on them, showing others experiencing mental health struggles that they are not alone.
The Cards had another home SUNYAC contest, this time against the Oneonta Red Dragons, on
Tuesday, where they ultimately lost 12-18.
Barnosky led the way for the Cardinals yet again with four goals, with Guasconi tallying the hat trick and O’Hara finding the back of the net twice.
Iohserrio Tabor, Rachel Lamar and Resnick all notched one goal in the loss.
The first quarter was back and forth, with both squads trading the lead, but the Red Dragons took control at the end of the quarter, going up 6-4 and never relinquishing the lead. The Cards did not go
down without a fight, putting up three fourth-quarter goals, but this was not enough as Plattsburgh fell to 3-8, 1-4.
“I think we’re still working on building off of what we’ve been learning and what we’ve been working on all year. Just trying to get to a level that we know we can reach, and keep going up from where we are,” Nash said.
Provided by the Plattsburgh Athletics Department Junior infielder Megan Pillus smiles after getting on base.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
Cynthia Barnosky directs team in Plattsburgh’s matchup against Morrisville.
Noll singled to center field and advanced to second on a wild pitch before stealing third. Manalo then reached base on an error, stealing second, and Noll stole home.
Toleman reached first and Manalo advanced to third on an error by the center fielder. A fielder’s choice allowed Manalo to score, giving Plattsburgh the early lead.
Potsdam quickly answered, scoring three runs of its own to finish the first.
Three scoreless innings of play followed.
“Offensively, we’ve been doing very well, much better with getting the runs across,” Miller said. “It’s just now defensively, we need to just clean up those little mistakes”.
The Cardinal offense came back to life in the top of the fifth inning, scoring five runs
A bunt-single and a stolen-base from Noll, was followed by a single up the middle from Manalo, putting runners on the corners of the diamond.
Noll then scored on a wild pitch as Manalo moved to second.
An RBI single to center field from Toleman brought in Manalo, and a two run RBI double to right field from Pillus added to Plattsburgh’s lead and made the score 6-2.
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Continued from page 8
Pillus then advanced to third on a passed ball, and a ground ball to second led her to score.
After a scoreless top of the sixth for the Cards, Potsdam rallied for six runs in the bottom of the inning, consisting of four singles, a double, two hit by pitches, and a walk to take an 8-7 lead going into the seventh.
“This is where we all felt the most frustrated as a team, it was initially really disheartening when we put up a good fight and put ourselves in a position to win, just to relinquish it,” Manalo said. “But, it only added fuel to the fire”.
Ormerod tossed 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and gave up six earned runs.
Senior midfielder Ely Bruhns was able to record a fourth quarter goal for the Cards but the comeback effort was not enough as Cortland tallied six more goals and headed back west with a 26-7 win over Plattsburgh.
“I would definitely say that we could’ve done a better job to stop their momentum. There were better adjustments we could have done,” Farrelly said. “A better preparation of defense and more preparation physically for the game would’ve possibly helped us fare better against them.”
GAME ON
Continued from page 8
Wheat relieved Ormerod and gave up one earned run, taking the loss.
“Mistakes are inevitable, but it’s how you respond to them. I’ve been able to step into a leadership role this year, and pick up my teammates when we are down,” Noll said.
The Cards finished their week by winning the final game of the series 8-3.
Potsdam scored a run in the top of the first, giving them the advantage until the Cards tied the game in the fourth.
At the top of the fourth, Deo singled to left field, advancing Stork to third and scoring Pillus ultimately tying the game.
A scoreless fifth and sixth
The Cards will look to use their loss against the Red Dragons as motivation for the rest of the season.
“We’re planning to be more disciplined on both ends of the field. We’re working on our defense, staying attentive to their role in the formation and offense, also sticking to the plays and taking more shot attempts,” Lapaix wrote. The Cards are now 0-2 in the conference and 4-5 overall.
“Our focus heading into the rest of the season is being the best team we can possibly be and to defeat our next coming opponents, push each other for success on the field and off the field and to get our Email ZIAIRE FERRELL & EMMA DEO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Bonus incentives are on the table as well. Cardinal Athletics will receive $5,000 from the McGrath foundation if the overall campaign reaches $80,000 and another $2,000 if it hits 1,200 total donors. Recreational Sports will earn $3,000 if its teams raise at least $3,000. Additionally, the first four teams—either Division III or club— to reach 40 alumni donors will each receive $1,000.
“The second objective is to try to raise money wfor our teams,” Howard said. “Whether that means new lockers in a locker room, TVs, or new pieces of equipment, this money can cover some things that normally we wouldn’t be able to cover outside of our budget.”
Currently, the women’s soccer team is in first place, with men’s soccer and women’s hockey right behind them.
“Last year, the money went towards our gray sweatsuits that we used as our travel gear,” head women’s soccer coach Whitney Frary said. “This year, it’s going towards locker room renovations, which hasn’t been done in 25 years.”
Frary credits current student-athlete involvement and having a well-connected alumni network as keys to doing well in the contest.
inning followed, heading into the final inning of regulation.
The Cards rallied for seven runs to take an 8-1 lead in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore outfielder Michelle DeFina began the inning with a double to left field, followed by a throwing error as Milyko was safe at first, and DeFina advanced to third.
A two-RBI double down the left field line from Noll scored DeFina and Milyko.
Back-to-back singles from Plattsburgh scored Noll, and an error allowed Toleman to reach safely as Manalo scored on the play.
A ground out to second from Stork scored Isaacs, and an RBI
double to left center from Deo scored Toleman while Deo scored on an error, making the score 8-1.
“Once we figured out that we have opportunities to answer back to little hiccups in the game, we generated an upward momentum that continuously put us in a good position to win,” Manalo said.
Gemmett recorded a complete game, striking out eight batters in seven innings of work and only allowing three runs for the win in the circle.
Deo was 3-4 in game two with two RBIs and a run scored. Noll, Isaacs and Stork all went 2-4 as Noll drove in two runs and Isaacs and Stork both had an RBI.
The Bears attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh tallying two more to their lone run throughout the game but a fly out to center field handed them the 8-3 loss.
“You’ve got to play free, you just got to go out there and just execute and we were able to finally do that,” Miller said. “All the pieces came together in that seventh inning.”
The Cards will try to carry this momentum in their next SUNYAC double-header matchup against Fredonia (4-10, 2-0) on April 11.
“After battling all week with games and practices, coming out with a strong win was so important for my team,” Noll said. “Beating Potsdam gave us the momentum and confidence boost we need going forward for our next set of games.”
“Throughout the years, this program has had such a great alumni base and huge supporters in the community and everywhere,” Frary said. “Having a connected alumni network is a benefit for us, but you have to keep those relationships going. You can’t just let them die out.”
Every graduating athlete in the women’s soccer class of 2024 made a donation, allowing the team to achieve its goal of 40 alumni donors and 40 staff donors.
“We really tried to jump on those goals quickly,” Frary said. “The team was such a catalyst for that. They went around and asked everybody. They got everyone. So after we got those two, it was just about slowly setting goals every day for our team, for what we wanted to achieve.”
Howard credits the competition as a way for former Plattsburgh students to stay involved with their alma mater.
“I want people when they leave here to not feel like their athletic career is necessarily over,” Howard said. “It’s over in the sense that you’re not still running around the track racing, or you’re not playing hockey in a Plattsburgh uniform, but I want folks leaving here with a great sense of pride and then carrying that pride on for many, many years.”
CP archive photo
Sophomore outfielder Leila Toomey dives for a ground ball in Plattsburgh’s matchup against Canton last season.
EMMA DEO/Cardinal Points
Senior midfielder Ely Bruhns maneuvers past a Cortland defender April
CP file photo
Karen McGrath came to SUNY Plattsburgh in July 2023.
New Minecraft meal at McDonald’s delights palate
BY EMMA DEO Associate Sports Editor
At participating McDonald’s across the nation, customers can purchase the Minecraft Movie Meal, released April 1, in honor of “A Minecraft Movie” released in theaters on April 4.
The meal consists of either a 10 piece McNugget or a Big Mac hamburger, a side of fries, a soft drink and a Minecraft collectible figurine. You can also enjoy the Nether Flame sauce alongside your meal, which is a nod to the Nether Dimension in Minecraft, which is a dangerous land you can travel to through a portal consisting of fire, lava, zombie pigmen and flying, explosive shouting Ghasts.
The Nether Flame sauce was the highlight of the meal for me, as its sweet and spicy chili flavor provided a boost to the classic chicken nugget and fries meal.
McDonald’s McNuggets are undoubtedly the best fast food chicken
nugget option, and the Nether Flame sauce was the perfect addition to an already great taste.
The meal comes in a large golden box, made to look like the gold blocks featured in Minecraft. This elevated the experience, making it feel like so much more than a classic McDonald’s meal.
Some may complain that the meal did not feature any new main food items, but I see this as a good feature of the meal. If you already have something great, why change it? By ordering this meal, I didn’t feel like I was going out on a limb and trying something new, it felt like a familiar thing with a little added flair.
I only had one gripe with my McDonalds Minecraft meal experience — the price. In total, I paid $15.87 for a meal I can usually get for under 10 dollars. I understand that I was paying for the experience, which I very much enjoyed, but an extra $6 is a little
out of my price range as a broke college student.
As for figurine options, you can receive a Big Mac Crystal, Birdie Wings, Fry Helmet, Soda Potion, Zombie Hamburglar or a Grimace Egg, which are all mashups of classic McDonalds items or characters and elements of the Minecraft video game.
I ended up getting the Grimace Egg, which in all honesty, I didn’t really care about, but is now a beloved decoration in the living room of my apartment.
All in all, as a McDonalds lover, it was expected that I would deeply enjoy the McNuggets and french fries combo, but the Nether Flame sauce pushed it to new limits, making for a great fast-food dining experience. I still think that nearly 16 dollars was ridiculous, but it was worth every penny.
Email EMMA DEO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Boredom leads to creativity, allow it to flow and flourish
BY KALIYAH GREEN Staff Writer
Boredom might just be the secret ingredient to creativity. Boredom is often seen as something to be avoided. However, recent research and psychological theories suggest that boredom can play a role in sparking creativity.
When we engage in monotonous activities or let our minds drift, we activate the default mode network in
the brain, which is responsible for self-reflection, problem-solving and generating new ideas.
An experiment conducted by psychologist Sandi Mann found that individuals who completed a boring task prior to solving a creative puzzle performed significantly better than those who plunged head-on into the puzzle. Why? Because boredom gave their minds the freedom to wander and make different possible possibilities beyond the obvious.
Being bored doesn’t mean you have to take a nap to sleep it off. Open up a notebook and start doodling; you might just find a new hobby that you enjoy doing in your free time.
Boredom can provide the mental space needed for creativity to thrive. Some of the most creative breakthroughs come when we’re doing absolutely nothing—washing dishes, waiting in line or simply staring at the ceiling.
‘M3GAN 2.0’ trailer looks terrible awesome
BY KOLIN KRINER Opinion Editor
The “M3GAN 2.0” trailer is terribly ridiculous, and I am loving it.
I am so glad that the creators took a look at “M3GAN,” realized how absolutely insane it was, and decided to drive the levels of insanity off the charts.
The first film was jam-packed with beautifully unwatchable moments, such as her cover of “Titanium,” by David Guetta, and the infamous dance scene.
This second film seems to be upping the weird, showing M3GAN preparing to fight against another doll, who’s sole goal is to destroy anyone involved in her creation.
M3GAN is recruited to take on this new doll, and we are shown scenes of her training to prepare for what will likely, in my opinion, be the fight of the century. It all feels like M3GAN meets “Terminator,” where in both cases the first film is a horror film, then switches genre.
From what it seems, M3GAN is going full comedy and action. I admire that Blumhouse decided to take this route, as it perfectly showcases the clear progression this series should have taken.
I can remember back to when I viewed the first film in theaters, and afterwards I couldn’t stop laughing at how unserious it was.
I fully expect this film to offer the same experience.
The only thing that could make this film releasing any better is a new, hard to watch cover of another song.
The trailer is played over “Oops! …I did it again,” by Britney Spears, and I will be quite literally crying, rolling on the floor, if M3GAN pulls it out as a cover in the movie.
KOLIN KRINER
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
Email
Graphic by Kolin Kriner
Graphic by Cameron Greaves
Phones cause distractions in schools
BY KALIYAH GREEN Staff Writer
As technology continues to evolve, smartphones have become an inseparable part of daily life. In classrooms, however, their role is controversial—are they valuable learning tools or disruptive distractions?
Cell phones can divert attention away from lessons, leading to decreased academic performance. Social media notifications, games and texting are all temptations that can easily sidetrack students during class time.
Banning cellphones can encourage more face-to-face interaction among students. Social skills are crucial for personal and professional development and constant cell phone use can hinder students ability to engage in meaningful conversations.
With the internet at their fingertips, students have more opportunities to cheat during exams or assignments. Banning cellphones can help maintain academic integrity by minimizing the chances of students accessing unauthorized information during assessments.
However, some believe that cellphones can actually help students learn and they can access educational apps or websites, look up information instantly, use calculators, dictionaries, translators and take notes or photos of important material.
Parents also like knowing they can reach their children in case of emergencies, and cellphones can ensure students are able to reach their
parents if something happens at school.
Some students use phones to assist with learning challenges—like speech-to-text tools, reading or reminders for attention and focus.
A study by the London School of Economics found that schools that banned mobile devices saw significant improvements in test scores, especially among low-achieving students.
While it’s true that simply banning phones won’t solve all
Although this may be great, research has shown that students who use their phones during class have lower test scores and overall academic achievement.
BORED
Banning phones can help students more broadly develop healthier habits around technology use and screen time.
classroom engagement issues, removing them is a step in the right direction. Distractions like cellphones make it even harder for students to focus, especially in an age where attention spans are not so great. By eliminating the temptation, educators and students can foster a more focused environment where participation and active listening are more likely to occur.
Schools should set clear boundaries; it encourages students to be more intentional about when and how they use their devices. This not only benefits their academic life but it also makes it easier on the educators.
Teachers can still incorporate controlled, school-provided technology like tablets or computers, but only for educational purposes to ensure students remain on task without distractions. This can allow a balance between using technology as a learning tool and students having access to said technology while still focused on work.
Lastly, enforcing a no-phone policy sets a tone of mutual respect. It shows that the classroom is being productive without access to phones, which is a good practice to prepare for the real world.
Over time, this can shift school culture in a positive direction because it would improve focus. This can help students form a better studying habit and take more responsibility for their learning.
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Our brains crave stimulation and when it doesn’t come from the outside world, it starts generating its own. That’s when the magic happens. We’re so used to scrolling through our phones, whether it’s Instagram or TikTok. We forget how powerful our own thoughts can be when left to wander. It’s in those quiet, unstructured moments that ideas take shape. While boredom can be a powerful trigger for creativity, it’s important to recognize that not all creativity stems from boredom.
Some individuals are naturally imaginative and can generate ideas without needing idle time or mental stillness. These are the ones who seem to come up with something out of nothing—not because they’re bored, but because they have a natural creative drive. In their instance, artistry is more a reflex than a response to tedium. While boredom might be the catalyst for ideas for most, it is not the sole means of innovation. Genius, inquisitiveness and passion can also ignite creativity, even during excitement or high energy levels. Boredom is a tool — but it’s not the only one in the creative toolbox.
The average person spends several hours a day looking at screens, often multitasking between entertainment and communication. As a result, our brains are in a constant state of reaction rather than reflection. Without moments of mental pause, we lose access to the kind of thought patterns that foster originality and problem solving. Creativity requires time and space to wander, two things our modern routines rarely provide.
If you want to reclaim your creativity, you need to intentionally create moments of boredom. That might mean taking a walk without headphones or sitting quietly with a journal. While it may feel uncomfortable at first. Giving your mind time to be still can unlock a powerful inner world of imagination and insight.
Next time you feel that itch of boredom creeping in, don’t reach for your phone—reach for your imagination.
Graphic by Mia Oquendo
Plattsburgh feels in Teal
Photos by Hiram Cowhey
SUNY Plattsburgh’s third annual Teal the Quad event kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month on campus April 2.
UP therapy dog Izzie scores a free shirt.
Members of campus made pins and posters at the event.
Interactive events and resources were hosted in the Warren Ballrooms.
Movie Night rocks campus
Photos by Hiram Cowhey
Vocalist Nick Squillante sings as brother Mike Squillante slaps his six string. The NYC band rebranded in 2019, and used to go by “Running Lights.”
Guitarist and vocalist Mike Squillante in his feels.
Drummer Steve Ranellone joins the brothers on the sticks.
The Squillante brothers catch a vibe during their performance.
The pop/rock trio Movie Night visited SUNY Plattsburgh during their college campus tour Friday, April 4.