Arts and Culture
Reverend English visits campus
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Student Association
SA approves Cardinal Samba Club
BY GRANT TERWILLIGER Editor in Chief
The Student Association approved the Cardinal Samba Club for provisional status, approved two new senators, and approved funds to Beauty Bar for an upcoming event.
The Cardinal Samba club was represented by SUNY Plattsburgh student Eva Donahue. Donahue first played Samba music in high school and found that a lot of students would be interested in joining a club for Samba music and dancing at Plattsburgh.
āSamba is a music that comes from Brazil. It brings in culture and rhythm,ā Donahue said. āThe initial goal is just to bring people in, long term Iād love to do performances.ā
The club currently has four E-board members and has an interest from students in the music department.
The Student Association approved the Cardinal Samba club for provisional status in a 14 to one vote.
Senators Sami Goodman and Amanuel Adefris were approved as senators for the SA.
Goodman served last semester on the finance board for the SA. Goodman is a junior education major and has a minor in biology and theater. Goodman also served as the College Theater Association treasurer.
āI was considering joining last spring, however I wasnāt sure if I could commit time to it. This semester Iām taking less classes so this is something that I can commit to,ā Goodman said. āIām very detail oriented, and I care about studentsā rights.ā
The Student Association approved Goodman as a senator in an 11 to two vote.
Adefris is a senior finance and economics major and has served as both a secretary for the CEO club as well as an E-board member for the American Marketing Association.
āThe reason I would like to join is because Iāve wanted to be part of the SA for a long time but I never really had the opportunity to have other obligations. I am also joining the finance board as well and this would be a good opportunity to give back,ā Adefris said.
The Student Association approved Adefris as a senator in a unanimous vote.
The club Beauty Bar asked the SA for $500 for upcoming events such as an eyelash event, a nail event and a DIY phone case event.
Dominique Darby was one of the representatives for Beauty Bar. Darby is a psychology major and the treasurer for the club. Beauty bar is a newer club at Plattsburgh and does not have a fixed budget yet.
āYeah that is actually a challenge because some events donāt need a budget but some do and have to come out of our pockets,ā Darby said.
According to Darby, 15 to 20 people come to each event. The Student Association approved Beauty Bar for $500 for their events in a 13 to two vote.
Calls for Winter Olympics in NY Reignite
BY CARLY NEWTON Press Republican
As the winter Olympics continue in Milan and Cortina, Italy, back on U.S. soil, local officials continue to advocate the gamesā return to New York and Lake Placid.
The Olympics were last hosted in Lake Placid in 1980 when the famous Miracle on Ice menās hockey game took place between the United States and Soviet Union.
Former Assemblymember Billy Jones, now the vice president for Strategic Initiatives and Workforce Development at Clinton Community College, has been the biggest voice in support of the gamesā long-awaited return.
Jones, along with his former colleague Robert Carroll, of Brooklyn, previously wrote an opinion piece titled āBring the Winter Olympics to NYC and Lake Placidā and ran it in newspapers across the state, including the Press-Republican on Dec. 9, 2025.
In that piece, they called for the creation of an exploratory committee to examine the feasibility of hosting the future Winter Olympics jointly in the Lake Placid region and New York City, pointing to this yearās games as proof it can be done.
āWe highlighted the upcoming games in Milan and Cortina, (which) successfully united a global metropolitan center with a historic alpine region,ā Jones said in a statement this week.
āAs the Winter Olympics enters its second week in Italy, and the dual-region model has proven to be successful, the case for exploring a Lake Placid and NYC Olympics partnership should be explored now more than ever. We have been in the brainstorming and conceptual stages of planning this for over two years. This is an idea that has gained traction and support from many NYC, Lake Placid and North Country partners.ā
When asked about the possibility of seeing the Winter Olympics return, Assemblymember Mi-
chael Cashman (D-Plattsburgh) said last week he supported the idea, adding it would be a wonderful opportunity for the area.
Cashman said realistically, however, it would look and feel different than it did in 1980 if it were to come to fruition.
āBut one of the things that it provides is not only national and local pride, it also provides us an opportunity to get infrastructure that is critically needed here in the North Country,ā he said.
āThe state and the nation would see significant investments here. It would make sure that weāre seeing broadband. It would make sure that weāre seeing other water and wastewater development infrastructure that would be critically needed.
āAnd donāt forget that itās not just Lake Placid, it is a partnership with New York City, so it would expand or open the aperture of the games but really leverage the historic investments in Lake Placid and, also, the story of Miracle.ā
Email Grant Terwilliger cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
The earliest the games could return to New York, if the state is chosen as a future location, would be 2038.
Currently, the Winter Olympics are set to be held in the French Alps in 2030 and in Utah in 2034.
āGreat ideas take time, just like any nation, and locality thatās looking to host a game. Itās not going to happen next year, thereās a process
by which this goes through,ā Cashman said.
āI was just down at the Empire State Games, too, (and) Lake Placid has continued that legacy of highlighting some of the best athletes to take the national and international stage.ā
KIMORA DECUTEAU/Cardinal Points
The Student Association Senate meets for their weekly meeting on Feb. 11.
Provided
The Olympic Center in Lake Placid will be lit up in red, white and blue to support Team USA and the Olympic spirit Feb. 5-22.
Reverend English calls for unity Assistant to MLK visits campus for Black History Month
BY GRANT HOCHMUTH Staff Writer
At a time where it can feel easier to argue than connect, building community across differences feels impossible. February challenges that notion through Black History Month, a time to celebrate Black achievements and reflect on the past that has shaped society.
That notion moved off the page and into the ACC Ballroom as the campus came together to hear the words of Reverend Ronald English, who served as assistant minister to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event aimed to connect the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement to the issues society is facing today.
Among those in attendance was history Professor Gary Kroll, who said the event offered more than just a lesson on the past.
āWe are living in a moment in which we are seeing many Americans who wish to reverse the legacy of the ā50s and ā60s and a lot of other work thatās been since then,ā Kroll said. āThat was a victory right? And to see that victory become something odious, something that needs to be reversed, its demoralizing and disheartening and I want students to understand that the movement to reverse the ā60s canāt be toleratedā
The event also featured performances from the SUNY Plattsburgh Gospel Choir and student pianist Robert Sims. Sims reflected on his experience following the event.
āFor me, this event was showing what black excellence is and showing how we listen to music and how we can perform music,ā Sims said. āTo show our goals, and how meaningful and impactful it is.ā
For Dexter Criss, the artistic director of the gospel choir, the music is more than a performance, itās a connection to the people.
āThe last song really showed some pent up emotions some students have,ā Criss said. āI think all students, but especially students of color. That song āLet Their Voices Singā means so much to so many kids who grew
up in the black community.ā
For many in the room, Englishās speech served as an emotional and intellectually charged center point of their evenings. After the program, English reflected on what advice he would give young people who might feel trapped in this system of division.
āOne of the greatest phrases that explains our situation now is, āWhen it is darkest, we see the stars,ā and therefore, the dark moments are not all that bad because really, creation came out of chaos,ā English said. āEven in this time of Trumpism, because
it means we get another opportunity of proving history in terms of how out of chaos comes cosmos.ā
Connecting the lessons of the evening to the larger idea of Black History Month, English shared his perspective on the celebration of reflection.
āWe have a long memory, and thatās part of the jubilation that you have from the excitement,ā English said. āAnd that kind of ignites our mind and our spirit and our body to move against some situation that we often see and then get to understand our own ability to change.ā
As the applause faded and the music lingered in the air, Englishās message held strong. Remembering the past is only meaningful if it inspires action in the present. For English and those in attendance, Black History Month serves as a celebration and a challenge: To reflect, connect and to keep love inside your heart.
You are in a strong position to carry your dreams and your desires to success.
There is hope, success and everything you hope for within the future.
You are in an emotional time in your life. Be sure you think through decisions twice.
There is something important missing. However, at this time, it is unclear what it is.
There will be an opportunity to move away from what can be an unproductive emotional situation; the mental fog is lifting.
Bring forth your willpower to cope with what could be an emotionally trying event.
Success and prosperity are bound; whatever you begin or straighten out now will last for years.
A difficult cycle in life is approaching, but you have the strength to handle it.
Unforeseen obstacles appear in your path, and gossip could cause harm.
You may need to think clearly and quickly to make timely decisions.
Great awareness of messages from your dreams is possible.
You may need to cut losses to break away from a negative situation.
Aries (March 21 āApril 19)
Cancer (June 21 āJuly 22)
Taurus (April 20 ā May 20)
Gemini (May 21 āJune 20)
Leo (July 23 ā Aug. 22)
Libra (Sept. 23 ā Oct. 22)
Scorpio (Oct. 23 āNov. 21)
Virgo (Aug. 23 ā Sept. 22)
Pisces (Feb. 19 āMarch 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 ā Dec. 21)
Capricorn (Dec. 22 āJan. 19)
Aquarius (Jan. 20 āFeb. 18)
BY GRYPHON AKRIDGE-PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER
GRANT HOCHMUTH/Cardinal Points
Reverend Ronald English addresses the crowd during his reflection of MLKās life and work.
Plattsburgh leaps and bounds
BY SASHA LALICH
Micheal Slominski prepares for his jump.
Faris Webber takes a running start.
Slominski builds up his momentum.
Webber mid jump.
The parking system needs to change
BY SYDNEY BLAKE Staff Writer
Getting to class at SUNY
Plattsburgh can be a hassle as students rack up parking tickets, fight for spots and run late to class because of the little options given to students.
As a senior, I have dealt with both on campus and off-campus parking. I had originally thought that getting a parking pass would make driving and getting to class easier, especially with the freezing weather conditions. I was quickly proven wrong.
If a student wants a parking pass they must pay $30 a year for the registration fee, and then pay $76 a semester for the actual parking pass itself. This is a process that repeats itself each semester a student wants a pass. Without a pass you can rack up tickets and possibly have your car towed.
When I was a freshman, I lived in Whiteface and was excited about the fact that first years could have their car on campus. Unfortunately, the closest spot I could find was lot 18.
This was behind the āhigh rises,ā the tall buildings by
Clinton dining hall. There are plenty of spots available in lot 18, but with so many on campus students, there is never a good spot that is close enough.
Lot 18 is very packed at all times, making it difficult to find a spot thatās close to the buildings. Iād have to race to find a spot, and when I did get a close one, Iād avoid driving my car in case someone took my space while I was gone.
The walk from that particular lot to my dorm was five to ten minutes and when I would get groceries it would become multiple trips back and forth. During the winter, it was an almost painful walk to my car with the freezing winds hitting my face no matter how bundled I was.
Other students would complain about the inconvenient distance and the act of having to walk in the treacherous cold, but what really bothered everyone in my building was that there was an empty lot right behind our building that some faculty and staff would park in.
A few people from my building and I decided that we would park on Sanborn Ave, which was past
the staff parking lot behind Whiteface. This walk would only be 5 minutes or less, but weād still race to get a good spot closer to the dorm.
This same pattern continued into my years of being an off-campus student as I am still hurrying to find spots on my way to classes. With the majority of my classes being in Hawkins and Ward, the only parking lot available was lot 3.
The worst one.
Lot 3 is a very small space thatās only able to hold a couple dozen cars, this is ironic as itās the main off campus parking lot next to three busy academic buildings. The traffic flow becomes congested multiple times a day, as people camp out spots waiting for people to leave class so that they can take their space. The mess of cars trying to get in and out turns into an unsafe situation for students if accidents occur.
It doesnāt matter what time you leave, itās never easy finding parking. Normally the lot is always packed and you have no choice but to find street parking nearby. Then you have to hike from all the way down the block just to
arrive to class stressed, late and exhausted from trying to get a spot.
All this to say, What am I paying for? Why should I pay $182 a year if Iām not even given the accessibility to parking lots that are supposed to be available with my pass. I am annoyed that the faculty and staff lots have a plethora of free spaces not being used.
As a student who cares about being on time for class and doesnāt want to get sick from the harsh weather, I am hoping for a change with the parking system here. The system already in place can become chaotic and distract from classes. With change, there is a possibility of a more comfortable and safe parking experience. In theory, this means less students mispark, get tickets, or have a freezing trek to class.
Actor hot, performances not
BY SOPHIE ALBERTIE Opinions Editor
The movie could be goodāor Jacob Elordi could just be in it.
This is what the most recent adaptation of āWuthering Heightsā prompted my mom to regale to me over the phone this past weekend. My mom, who dragged my dad to the theatres to see the film, thinks that director Emerald Fennel is a visionary. Fennel, who previously directed the 2023 dramedy āSaltburnā, seems to have made Elordi her muse. So far itās worked in her favor, amassing a large female audience with their fingers on the box office trigger. Itās a hit.
However, letās be real for a second and admit to ourselves that itās not about the director.
I myself am an avid viewer of Elordiās movies because the impact he seems to have on the modern day indie film is fascinating. Everything from Euphoria to Frankenstein to Elvis.
My research has been conducive to this conclusion, so hereās what my hot take boils down to:
Something doesnāt sit right with me about him being everywhere and convincing us that he has range.
This is very much a āwhatever you say beautifulā situation. Heās eye candy. A glistening iceberg with nothing below the surface. When it comes to his performances and acting abilities, Elordi is three kids in a trenchcoat.
For films with a fluffier or more fun consensus, this bodes well for the brand. I would even argue that a gaudy, uber-romantic mov- ie like the new Wuthering Heights should be the only genre of film Elordi immerses himself in. It makes the audience feel like acting is his true calling, and everyone is going to watch anyway. Maybe thatās enough to make the movie good.
One thingās for certain: the soundtrack is amazing.
Email SOPHIE ALBERTIE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
āSend Helpā a bloody good time
BY SOPHIE ALBERTIE Opinions Editor
Resentment turns into romance on a deserted island, until thereās trouble in paradise.
Youāve just read the gist of Sam Raimiās newest 2026 blockbuster āSend Help,ā a gory laugh out loud squeal-fest of the highest degree. When the eccentric Linda Liddle, played by Rachel McAdams, gets stranded on a remote location with her longtime crush Bradley Preston, disgruntlement ensues. The two characters could not be any more different. Liddleās arrogant coworker Preston, played by Dylan OāBrien, soon realizes he must work with her for the two of them to have any chance of es-
cape. This means that the usual hierarchy of the office they both work in will be completely flipped upside down. On a normal day, Preston is Liddleās boss. On this island thereās no cell signal, limited supplies, and a strained relationship built entirely on one sided obsession. No respect. No way out. This is a seriously weird
movie, but that weirdness results in a fantastic viewing experience. McAdams transforms into the poorly socialized Liddle and her quirks are equal parts awkward and hilarious. Itās clear she has a few screws loose; a beautiful contrast to OāBrienās straight laced misogyny. Preston is such a jerk that viewers canāt help rooting for Liddleās unconventional actions
and outrageous behaviors. McAdams lights a fire, builds a stick fort and ultimately steals the show with her performance. Rating objectively, this is a three out of five stars. There is nothing that hasnāt been seen before in this movie, unless you were to count a couple unforgettable moments. However, the overall viewing experience breaks the enjoyment scale. Go with friends to a theatre and have fun. Itās a perfect way to spend a Friday night, you will be screaming with joy, disbelief and terror. You wonāt regret it.
Email SOPHIE ALBERTIE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
HIRAM COWHEY/Cardinal Points
SUNY Plattsburghās parking lot 3 next to Hawkins and Ausable hall.
SOPHIE ALBERTIE