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Cardinal Points Issue 9 Spring 2024

Page 1

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

WHAT’S INSIDE:

SPRING 2024 | ISSUE 9

A&C

SPORTS

NEWS

‘Mad Ones’ musical explores grief

TnT tournament sees huge turnout

SA election results on page 2

‘BROUGHT ME BACK TO LIFE’ ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

Cole Kachejian, a graduating senior, stands next to the poster promoting the showing of his film, “Paused: A Cancer Documentary.”

Senior premieres ‘Paused: A Cancer Documentary’ BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News + Managing Editor

When Cole Kachejian was diagnosed with leukemia in late 2021, he had no guarantee he would make it to where he is today. The graduating senior is showing the Plattsburgh community his struggle with cancer at the screening of his film, “Paused: A Cancer Documentary,” at 5 p.m. tomorrow, April 27, in Yokum 200. The event will also raise money for charity and accept food donations for the Cardinal Cupboard.

“I knew I wanted this to be more than just a premiere,” Kachejian said. “I wanted it to be as proactive as it can and give back to the community, because now I have the power to give back. If I have the power to do something, if I have the wisdom to do something, if I have the experience to do something, you’re damn well sure I’m going to do something.”

New York, for winter break, not knowing it would be a year until he returned to college. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia — cancer of the blood and bone marrow — Dec. 22, 2021. Life went on for everyone else, but Kachejian’s was put on hold as he found himself bound to his home or hospitals, unable to see his friends and sometimes unable to move or even talk. To BREATH BY BREATH keep himself busy, he started Kachejian thought he was filming his journey. simply sick with the flu when Combining his two majors he went home to Smithtown, in TV-video production and

psychology, Kachejian focused “Paused” on his journey as a cancer patient from both physical and mental perspectives, the latter of which he said people seldom consider. “It was not being able to see my friends and continue my studies and do all the things I wanted with these young years of my life in college that truly tore me down and almost made me lose myself,” Kachejian said. “It was through my passions that I not only found myself again, but I reinvented myself into someone much

stronger than I was before my diagnosis.” The documentary gave Kachejian purpose, hope and something to look forward to doing every day. He also found comfort in the mantra “Day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath.” “It felt like I never stopped doing what I love, like I was right back into that, and it made me so happy that I didn’t want to stop,” Kachejian said. PAUSED > 3

Young people UP deploys avoid voting therapy dogs BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Press-Republican

The lineup for the upcoming presidential election of current President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump discourages some young people from voting at all. Voters 18 to 35 said they found candidates unrelatable due to their age. Issues important to them included reproductive and LGBT+ rights and the U.S.’ involvement in international politics. Some brace themselves for both outcomes. “It is so bad,” SUNY Plattsburgh graduate student Angel Martinez,

25, said of the BidenTrump tossup. “I’m not terrified of a Trump presidency because I’ve survived it already.” Martinez said part of them thinks they wouldn’t vote at all. “The change of a singular vote and the fact that, I think, regardless of who came into presidency, because of the way they both navigate political and social issues, the everyday life wouldn’t change,” Martinez said. “There would still be disparity and a lack of trickle-down to my world or the world of the people that I care about and love.” VOTERS > 3

BY BRIONNE THOMPSON Staff Writer

At SUNY Plattsburgh’s University Police station, the police officers are incorporating therapy dogs in their work. UP officers Nate Yeager, Lauren Dube and Christina Bedard went to an animal shelter in Chadum, New York, to each find a dog they were comfortable with having on their team. “We are trying to bridge the gap between us and the community to be more approachable,” Yeager said. The first dog, named Izzie, was first seen on

campus being trained in a fire drill. Izzie is a 5-month-old black labrador puppy. Yeager felt drawn to Izzie and adopted her March 18. He described her as a calm and quiet dog. “It hasn’t been hard to train her. I’m just learning how to communicate with her,” Yeager said. Therapy dogs can bring a sense of community and appreciation within the police force. “The mood has definitely been lifted in here, and we are more excited to see the dogs every day at work,” Yeager said.

Provided by Christina Bedard

University Police Officer Christina Bedard holds DOGS > 2 Caamp, one of UP’s three therapy dogs.


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