Issue 2 - Fall 2023

Coronavirus cases spike on campus

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Editor In Chief

The Student Health and Counseling Center has been grappling with an influx of COVID-19 tests, as it has recorded 115 student cases as of Sept. 11. The numbers have since gone up, though attempts to get recent information were unsuccessful.

Licensed Practical Nurse

Monica Lattrell said the center is “extremely busy” handling the rise in COVID cases in addition to its usual appointments for other medical issues and mental health counseling.

Assistant Director Michelle Trombley said that as of Tuesday, Sept. 19, four non-student campus employees have reported having COVID.

From one person to “everyone,” students know someone who has contracted COVID.

Jojo Clarke, a senior psychology major, said she noticed a number of first-years getting sick. Emily Raphael, a first-year majoring in physics, agreed — eight people in her year had COVID this semester or still have it. Clarke explained it is due to a change in environment and being new to the campus community.

“They’re out in the wild for the first time,” Clarke said. “But also, you have to remember that this is their first year here. They’re not used to this environment, so their bodies are now just adjusting.”

Some students take their own precautions.

“I take my mask, I lift it up and I drink my ginger tea,” Raphael said. “And I get tested.”

Henry Hebb, a sophomore geology major, said he has been washing his hands more frequently. While the college requires students who test positive to isolate, there is no requirement to report a positive COVID test to any department. If students report their test to the Health Center, Lattrell said, it can help them be excused from classes. They can also get over-the-counter medication to help relieve symptoms. Samiya Watkins, a senior psychology major, noted that students can refrain from testing to avoid quarantine.

“I just wish that it was mandatory for you to report it, because now that you don’t have to, you can be walking right next to someone with COVID, and the whole time they think it’s just a cough or the flu,” Clarke said.

Clarke suggested bringing back the community pool testing, as practiced in the 2021-2022 academic year. Clarke, Raphael and Watkins all said they are against going back to masking and online learning.

Campus observes Constitution Day

BY HAYDEN SADLER

for Ethics and Public Life as well as the chair of the political science department on campus.

understand the importance of government education.

SUNY Plattsburgh, in collaboration with schools and speakers across the country, virtually observed Constitution Day Sept. 19 in various keynotes and panels held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While Constitution Day is the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution Sept. 17, 1787, SUNY Plattsburgh and other schools observed it on Sept. 19. Alongside his colleagues, Dr. Daniel Lake played a large part in organizing and facilitating the observance. Lake is the director of the Institute

“As a public institution receiving federal funds, we have to observe it. Congress passed bills, which were signed into law by President Bush in 2004, mandating that all public institutions receiving federal funds observe Constitution Day,” Lake said.

Beyond merely having to observe the day, however, Lake also emphasized the importance of civic education, which he noted the decline in over the last couple decades. Tuesday’s observance provided not only an opportunity to reflect on the past, but also to educate and help people

The Zoom-based observation consisted of conversations across political parties and a variety of high-interest topics such as gun control, the prison system, and polarization of the current political and media climate.

The first event was a keynote from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. featuring guest speaker and Massachusetts State Rep. Natalie Higgins. Higgins discussed the importance of a working education system as well as advocated for political involvement.

tor of SUNY Cortland, and featured guests across party lines. The panel ran from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Suarez asked a range of questions to the panel participants, one among them regarding ways that those in politics can educate or communicate with people who disagree with them. Despite partisan differences, all speakers shared a similar answer: Find common ground, work from a place of understanding and then discuss hard topics where disagreements are likely.

The keynote was followed by an advocacy Q&A panel hosted by John Suarez, service-learning coordina-

The Q&A panel featured Plattsburgh alumnus Adam Saccardi, director of constituent services for U.S. Representative Nick LaLota. Also in attendance were Frederick K. Brewington, a civil rights lawyer in Long Island and Manu Meel, a UC Berkeley grad, now CEO of BridgeUSA. Throughout the panel, discussion remained civil as the assortment of speakers spoke about their careers as well as how they approach similar issues.

From 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., the event consisted of an advocacy workshop, which, in the form of breakout rooms, allowed students to engage with and advocate for ongoing political issues.

Finally, the end of the event was aimed at informing students of the voter registration process. From 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., students were given online help in registering to vote.

SUNY Plattsburgh is poised to engage students in other ways, as the League of Women Voters hosted an informational voter registration table in the ACC on Thursday. With elections fast approaching, students are sure to find all the information they need to participate in the centuriesold tradition of voting.

News Editor Email HAYDEN SADLER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

COVID > 2

Provided by Wikimedia Commons

(Left to right in foreground) George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton sign the Constitution of the United States. “Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States” by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940.

CINARA MARQUIS/Cardinal Points

Student Association

SA Senate swears in newly elected senators

BY HAYDEN SADLER News Editor

The Student Association met in the Angell College Center Wednesday, Sept. 20. The meeting was about 20 minutes long and saw new senators sworn into their positions.

With unanimous approval to amend the agenda in favor of swearing in the new members, the newly elected senators pledged to uphold the standards and values of the SA.

They are Khushi Patil and Shahad Monir, the two with the most votes in the SA's special

Weekly Memes

With both new senators taking their seats, ex officio positions were given to them. As of the meeting, the two will be filling in the roles of senators for Student Services and Academic Affairs. These positions were voted in unanimously.

There were no important announcements from the president. Senators announced they attended various club and campus events throughout the past week.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

CP Corrections

NEWS:

1) In the previous issue's article "Beginner's guide to the Student Association," a photo depicting the members of the first-ever SA Senate is dated to the Cardinal yearbook of the incorrect year. It is actually from the 1964 Cardinal yearbook.

2) In the previous issue’s articles "Campus commemorates 9/11 attacks" and "SA sets up for the fall 2023 semester," Stephen Matthews’ name was spelled wrong.

SPORTS:

1) In a cutline to a photo illustrating the article "Opening meet inspires runners," athlete Ginny Lucchetti's name is misspelled.

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

GOT A NEWS TIP?

Contact the news editor at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.

Continued from page 1

“I think that was really a bad time for us,” Clarke said. “I would much rather everyone be cautious and aware of themselves — that way you can be cautious and aware of people around you.”

Lattrell said the students have been “very responsible,” noting that students test “quite often” and concern themselves with testing after exposure to COVID. As of Sept. 11, the Health Center had gone through nearly 400 tests.

Watkins and Raphael said they had no trust that the people around them would test

for COVID.

“At the same time, I feel like once you feel like your body is shutting down or in a bad place, hopefully you will go to the Health Center, just to make sure,” Raphael said.

The trust that Hebb and sophomore geology major Emmaline Bennett extend to the community depends on the group. Bennett said “you can’t really stop” students from attending parties — hotspots for disease transmission.

To Clarke, the rise in COVID cases is solely an issue of students’ wellbeing, with no effect on learning.

“We’re in a new age,” Clarke said. “You can always ask your teacher for a recorded Zoom or something like that,

or try to get your notes from someone else.”

The Health Center recommends that students receive the new booster shot, which the Food and Drug Administration approved Sept. 11. Lattrell explained that people who get booster shots tend to experience milder symptoms.

Detective Burghy has nothing to report this week.

Active Minds reframes mental health

BY CINARA MARQUIS Contributor

Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health across the United States in order to facilitate a conversation on awareness and destigmatization. With a focus on youth and young adults, the organization utilizes education, research and intervention to advocate for mental health issues and suicide prevention. Active Minds encourages a change in the way we talk about mental health.

“What we do is host meetings where we educate students at SUNY Plattsburgh on what mental health means, types of mental health disorders, support for those with a form of mental health disorder, ways to keep our minds healthy in the midst of stressful times, and more!” Emily Broadway, president of the Active Minds club at SUNY Plattsburgh wrote in an email.

The organization aims to create a lasting transformation in the way that mental health is discussed and treated within all of our systems.

“These changes are in the way we talk about mental health, the way we handle situations regarding the mental health of others or ourselves and the overall value or regard of mental health,” Broadway said.

“It is especially important to address mental health in high school, college and university as most mental illnesses manifest between the ages of 14 and 24.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that one out of every five students deals with some form of a mental health condition, but, due to the stigmatization surrounding mental health, these students fail to reach out for help. When mental health is neglected, it worsens and leads some to suicide — among college students suicide is the second leading cause of death.

“Starting the conversation about mental health to break that stigma is what college students need,” Broadway said. “Suicide is preventable with mental health treatment and intervention, which is why we need to spread awareness now to change this

statistic and stop suicide once and for all.”

Samantha Burke, vice-president of the chapter, wrote, “Everyone experiences their own issues, and everyone has different ways of helping themselves. For example, seeking counseling, talking to a friend, or relaxing and spending time with yourself, etc. Although, what happens if they don’t know how to help themselves? That’s where spreading awareness about mental health issues arises.”

Active Minds hosts activities and group sessions that welcome discussions of struggles, management strategies, intervention skills and signs of worsening mental illness. These meetings are held to support one another and share ideas or experiences that may be beneficial to people in the room.

The most popular meeting topics

educate attendees on how they can use music and art therapy to help those struggling with mental health issues. There are also trivia nights, stress-ball making and writing affirmations. Right before midterms and finals, Active Minds club will host de-stressing meetings where people talk about what is stressing them out while coloring inspiration coloring sheets.

“We provide an open and inclusive space for everyone, no matter what situation they may be in, to let them know that they are not alone, none of us are,” Broadway said.

Alongside these events, the Active Minds club has “worked with various organizations, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through an Out of Darkness Walk here at SUNY Plattsburgh,” Broadway said. “We have

also partnered with the #HealWithIt campaign to host a nature walk to raise awareness of mental health resources and coping mechanisms.”

Broadway first learned about Active Minds at an Involvement Fair in her first semester at SUNY Plattsburgh. She was immediately intrigued.

“As someone who had personally struggled with mental health throughout high school and was never introduced to the conversation surrounding mental health, I wanted to learn more,” Broadway said.

She said that being a part of Active Minds has had a significant impact on her life, teaching her about mental health management and support for herself and others alongside organizational and self-care skills that have helped her adapt to the college environment.

“Active Minds provides a calming space for everyone to come and just relax, share how their classes are going, give advice on what has worked for them and what hasn’t for various courses, and just overall create a supportive environment with people that will advocate for your mental health,” Broadway said.

Burke explained how being in the group helped her break out of her shell.

“I am a very shy person when people get to know me; I don’t socialize as well as others,” Burke said. “However, during that first meeting I went to, it changed my social life here at Plattsburgh.” The group helped improve her mental health, advocacy skills and social skills.

“I love being at the meetings,” she said. “bringing everyone together and talking about our mental health matters.”

For more information, email Active Minds club at @activemindsplattsburgh@gmail.com, or check out their Instagram page @activemindsplattsburgh. To learn more about the national Active Minds organization, visit to https://www.activeminds.org/.

Kiyanna’s Kulture is a biweekly column that highlights different kinds of fashion. Fashion is a tale as old as time and has always been a way of expression and identity. Plattsburgh alumna Kevina Burgess ’22 is this week’s fashion icon. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, before moving to Albany, New York, Burgess has a different background than many of her modeling peers. This factor is what has motivated her to pursue a career in the modeling industry.

A model since 2015, Burgess knows exactly what this line of work entails and how many different shapes it can have.

“The best way to describe modeling is art, and I say that because when I first started modeling, it was a hair show, but it was a part of an actual fashion show,” Burgess said. “It was so powerful, and so anytime I associate modeling with anything, the best way to describe it is art, it’s a masterpiece. Whether it’s the designers you’re showing off, their art or the beauty of you— the model—you’re storytelling.”

Modeling and fashion has always caught Burgess’ attention. From looking in the mirror every day to trying out different kinds of fashion shows, the art behind the glamorous clothes and iconic walks made Burgess feel welcomed even though at the beginning she lacked some of the qualities to be a model.

“I gravitate to modeling because that’s a big part of who I am today. It’s a big portion that allowed me to develop into who I am today,” Burgess said. “I was not confident when I first started modeling. I didn’t think I was beautiful. I didn’t see every representation of myself, and after my experience with the highschool, I wanted that to change.”

While Burgess at some point didn’t believe she had what it takes to be a model, she always believed in positive affirmations.

“The term ‘fake it till you make it’ repeated in my head consistently. Eventually, when you continue to fake something, you’re no longer faking it, it’s you,” Burgess said.

This expression motivated her to be the model and icon that people can aspire to be. Burgess embodies someone who grew up as one person and became a better version.

New York Fashion Week is an event that models, designers and influencers look forward to all year round. From long lines of casting to waiting for callbacks and being measured repeatedly, the pressures of being a model in NYFW are crushing, but worth the wait.

“It was amazing. The vibe was amazing, the models were so friendly, I gained lots of followers, genuine down-to-earth followers,” Burgess said. “But the show itself was very hectic.”

Burgess goes on to mention that although NYFW has its highs and lows, she still managed to escape with good runway shots.

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

Provided by Kevina Burgess

Kevina Burgess walks the runway at New York Fashion Week wearing Mecca Luxury.

Greek Xposure returns to campus

BY NADIA PASCHAL Contributor

Six of Plattsburgh’s multicultural and Black Greek Life organizations came together to participate in the eighth annual Greek Xposure hosted by Lambda Theta Alpha.

The fraternities and sororities involved were Lambda Alpha Upsilon, Phi Beta Sigma Zeta Chi Beta, Lambda Pi Upsilon and Sigma Lambda Upsilon. Members of these organizations gathered to discuss their values, histories, philanthropies and give those in attendance a glimpse into what their sisterhood or brotherhood is like.

Many of the organizations gave a performance after their presentation. Whether it was dancing, strolling or stepping, each member put their all into it. Each organization’s pride was visible throughout their performances.

“Personally, I was in [an] interest since I was a freshman,” Jade Es-

KULTURE

Continued from page 4

tremera, a SUNY Plattsburgh alumna and a sister SLU shared. “So, I was just looking for something to be involved in, you know something that was kind of bigger than myself.”

Her sisters, or “hermanas” chime in and agree that sincerity, loyalty and unity drew them in as well, and that the sisterhood feels authentic.

It is clear that they have established connections within their own organization, yet also have formed other close relationships both within the Greek life community and the rest of campus.

Cesia Arzu, a junior, explained that the cultural representation sparked her interest.

“I am a Latina,” Arzu said. “So anything that has to do with Latin culture, I’m all for it.”

“I think that having a Greek Xposure like this, it kind of helps unify other organizations because you’re working together. You’re seeing them, you’re talking, you’re interacting and

Aside from NYFW, Burgess’ milestones in modeling include appearing on billboards, buses and even all-expense-paid trips. However, despite this, her highschool fashion show is still one of her fondest memories. This first modeling experience

learning how to be intertwined,” Ileini Espino said.

Espino is a sister of Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority Inc., and is involved by holding the positions of vice president, treasurer and chapter orientation adviser.

The showcase allowed these organizations to really shine and reach a larger audience. Ibukunoluwa Arabambi from Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. shared the importance of it “is to give a platform for each participating organization to share to the campus what they have to offer.”

He also shared that if you are interested in joining Greek life you should always remember your reasons for doing it.

“Your why will help you conquer any adversities during your college experience and even once you graduate,” Arabambi said.

Geraly Pion, sister of Lambda Theta Alpha, explained that this event

is what truly inspired Burgess to work toward her dream of being a model and a positive representation for young Black girls and people of color.

“One of the scenes was called ‘Closer to my dreams’ with a young Black girl, a teen or young adult and an adult,” Burgess said. “They were walking down the runway and basically was showing the young Black girl growing up being this amazing model.”

With every move she makes, Burgess walks with her head high and confidence radiating. Burgess is

meant a lot to her sorority.

“We worked really hard to make this event go as smoothly and as engaging as possible,” Pion said. “This was our first event so we didn’t get quite the turnout we thought, but overall this event was still memorable.”

The event didn’t generate a big crowd with many of the multicultural and Black organization members being previous graduates. However, sororities and fraternities are still hosting informationals and are open to meeting new members. For more information contact, FSlife@ plattsburgh.edu.

a humble, ambitious and zealous model who has pushed herself to be an inspiration to others and herself. Burgess encourages others to change the way they speak about their goals and aspirations.

“Whatever I say I am going to, I will do,” Burgess said. “And that’s something everyone should do.”

Email KIYANNA NOEL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CINARA MARQUIS/Cardinal Points

The fraternities and sororities line up on stage in front of the crowd with their brothers and sisters in the Warren Ballrooms at the Angell College Center.

Provided by Kevina Burgess

Kevina Burgess wears Dante Stylings in The Boss Affair Fashion Show in Atlanta.

Provided by Kevina Burgess

Kevina Burgess poses in her photoshoot for her modeling portfolio.

CARDINAL CALENDAR: Sept. 24-30

ALL WEEK: Our Environment, Our Land: Twentieth-Century Inuit Prints and Sculptures - Feinberg Library

SUNDAY 9/24

Group Exercise:

- Pilates with Bella

- Traditional Yoga with Saanvi

- Hardbody with Abigail

Algonquin Hall

5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

All group exercise classes will be held in Algonquin Hall. Please bring water; clean and sanitize any equipment prior to and after use. Cleaner and sanitizer will be provided. Registration required for all group exercise classes. To register, visit: www. IMLeagues.com/plattsburgh.

MONDAY 9/25

Group Exercise events:

- Spin with Okiah

- Yoga with Connie

- Cross Cycle with Connie

-Hardbody with Grace

- Zumba with Kaylynn

Algonquin Hall

9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.

All group exercise classes will be held in Algonquin Hall. Please bring water; clean and sanitize any equipment prior to and after use. Cleaner and sanitizer will be provided. Registration required for all group exercise classes. To register, visit: www. IMLeagues.com/plattsburgh.

TUESDAY 9/26

Group Exercise events:

- Spin with Nina

- Yoga with Nicole

- Pilates with Sophia

- Garba Dance with Mrudangi

Algonquin Hall

noon to 8:45 p.m.

All group exercise classes will be held in Algonquin Hall. Please bring water; clean and sanitize any equipment prior to and after use. Cleaner and sanitizer will be provided. Registration required for all group exercise classes. To register, visit: www.IMLeagues.com/plattsburgh.

WEDNESDAY 9/27

Group Exercise events:

- Kickboxing with Connie

- Yoga with Grace, Jema, and Shawna

- Zumba with Kaylynn

-Spin with Dimitra

Algonquin Hall

noon to 8:45 p.m.

All group exercise classes will be held in Algonquin Hall. Please bring water; clean and sanitize any equipment prior to and after use. Cleaner and sanitizer will be provided. Registration required for all group exercise classes. To register, visit: www.IMLeagues. com/plattsburgh.

THURSDAY 9/28

Group Exercise events:

- Spin with Olivia

- Yoga with Sydney

- Cycle and Core with Connie

- Hardbody with Grace

Algonquin Hall

noon to 8:45 p.m.

All group exercise classes will be held in Algonquin Hall. Please bring water; clean and sanitize any equipment prior to and after use. Cleaner and sanitizer will be provided. Registration required for all group exercise classes. To register, visit: www. IMLeagues.com/plattsburgh.

FRIDAY 9/29

Faculty/Staff Pick-up Soccer

Memorial Hall Field

noon to 1 p.m.

This soccer event invites everyone at all skill levels to go outside and play soccer. For more information, email Dr. Glen Morello at gmore004@plattsburgh.edu.

More information can be found on the SUNY Plattsburgh Calendar of Events. To have an event featured, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 19

The Fortune card represents turning your negatives into positives. Remember to be optimistic about opportunities that come your way.

AQUARIUS

January 20 - February 18

The Ace of Cups card represents feeling passionate and ecstatic. Try to enjoy this feeling of euphoria and happiness.

PISCES

February 19 - March 20

The Time-Space card represents being driven by the future. It’s important to think ahead, but don’t forget to live in the present.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

The Chariot card represents being one with yourself. Continue to work hard toward your goals, but take your time to avoid burnout.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

The Priestess card represents knowing who you are and being comfortable with yourself. Continue being confident with yourself and your skill set.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

The Ace of Worlds card represents being successful in your life. Continue to work toward your success and strive for a better future.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

The Nine of Cups card represents the feeling of fulfillment. You might be feeling successful in your career and feel a sense of accomplishment.

LEO

July 23 - August 22

The Five of Crystals card represents negativity and pessimism. Try to find the balance between an open and narrow mind.

BY KIYANNA NOEL Arts

&

Culture/Managing Editor

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

The Ten of Crystals card represents being stuck in your imagination or delusion. Use these ideas as encouragement to follow your dreams logically.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

The Five of Worlds card represents setbacks and disappointment. Use this devastation to motivate yourself to push for success.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21

The Six of Worlds card represents synergy between you and someone else. By cooperating with someone, you can create something beautiful and life-changing.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 - December 21

The Six of Cups card represents sadness and despair. Allow yourself to feel these emotions, but don’t let this become who you are.

This Week in Photos: Plattsburgh’s

Big Splash

Left: Trash bins collect water dripping from the ceiling in Kehoe Administrative Building Sept. 19.

Right: A maintainence worker repairs the ceiling in Flynt Commons at Angell College Center Sept. 20.

Photos by Aleksandra Sidorova

Right: Debris and water litter the floor in Einstein Bros. Bagels in Hawkins Hall Sept. 14.

Right: Kehoe’s ceiling shows signs of water damage following flooding.

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Plattsburgh Cardinals

men’s soccer continued its rampage over two home matches last week, maintaining its undefeated record of 5-0-1. The Cards fine-tuned its game and eked out a 2-1 win over the non-conference Union Garnet Chargers (2-41) Saturday, Sept. 16 thanks to a last-minute Jack Healy goal. Plattsburgh followed up that performance with a 4-0 shutout of the Potsdam Bears (3-2-1) in both teams’ SUNYAC opener Sept. 20.

The Cardinals are having its best start to a season in the Head Coach Chris Taylor era and are on the road to topping 2016’s 7-0 start. The four-goal Potsdam win is also the strongest conference win since 2016. With 10 games left on the schedule, Plattsburgh is just three wins away from matching last year’s eight.

The win against Union was Plattsburgh’s last nonconference game before the SUNYAC play opened. The Cardinals will play just two more non-SUNYAC games this season — at the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs (2-5-1) Oct. 4 and the regular season finale at home against the St. Lawrence Saints (2-2-2) Oct. 25.

The landscape of the game seemingly changed early

against Union, when the Chargers opened scoring at 6:28 into the game. Union midfielder Aiden Normand sank the teams first shot for Plattsburgh’s quickest opponent goal of the season and the first time this year goalkeeper Teddy Healy allowed a goal before he saved one. Wing Modou Badjie scored the unassisted equalizer from the left side at the 26:34 mark, exactly a minute after he substituted in. The match remained at a stalemate for the next 60 minutes.

At the 86:11 mark, forward Brian Coughlan set up for the

corner kick. He sent the ball in front of the goal where midfielder Frankie Palumbo tapped it with his head, setting up defender Jack Healy to put the ball in for his third career goal.

Heading into Potsdam, Plattsburgh was staring down a Bears team that has beat expectations so far. Potsdam hasn’t recorded a winning season since 2016, yet was heading into Plattsburgh with just one loss.

Nevertheless, the Cardinals beat the Bears by the widest margin in a win this year. After a possession-heavy first

Cards optimistically tie Bears

BY MIKAI BRUCE Associate Sports Editor

Although every game is important, conference games are most consequential in regard to the playoffs. The Plattsburgh Cardinals women’s soccer team had its first SUNYAC game Wednesday, Sept. 20, against the Potsdam Bears. Conference games are where the elite teams separate themselves from the rest

and that is what the Cardinals sought to do.

The Cardinals tied the Bears 0-0. The score is shocking looking at the stats for the second half.

Lauren Haley continued her starting streak to begin the season, and her effort on Wednesday was her second shutout of the year. The first half was slow, as the Cardinals took a mere two shots compared to four shots by the Bears.

half, Plattsburgh exploded scoring in the second.

“If they can’t have it, they can’t really shoot it,” Coughlan said.

Just over 57 minutes into the game, Badjie controlled the ball to the left of the goal. A Potsdam defender slid for control of the ball, taking Badjie with him. Badjie sold the foul, setting up Coughlan for his second penalty kick of the season. And for the second time, Coughlan connected.

MSOC > 9

Cardinals win first SUNYAC matchup

BY MICHAEL PURTELL Staff Writer

Last weekend was a big one for Plattsburgh’s tennis season. Heading into the weekend with a 3-1 record, including one SUNYAC loss, the Cardinals were tasked with facing two conference rivals.

On Friday, Sept. 15, the Cardinals fell in a 1-8 loss to SUNY Cortland (3-2, SUNYAC 3-1). It bounced back the next day, Saturday, Sept. 16th, serving Oswego State (2-3, SUNYAC 2-2) in a 6-3 win. The season standing is 4-2, with a 1-2 SUNYAC record.

In the win, Plattsburgh started strong and left doubles with a 2-1 lead. Upperclassmen Sarah Benowitz and Hallie Hurwitz were able to take doubles #2, and first years Jacklin Mitchell and Ava Carey took doubles #3, both wins with a score of 8-6.

In singles, Oswego State’s Lakers evened out the standings with a victory in singles #3. Plattsburgh answered quickly, winning singles #2 and #4 through excellent play by Benowitz and Carey, respectively.

TEN > 10

These two first half shots came from Zoe Rice and Nora Fitzgerald, showing signs of life in an otherwise drab first half.

The second half was much more fiery than the first half, especially for Plattsburgh, as it recorded a staggering 10 shots compared to just two from Potsdam.

Memorial Hall renovations approaching end

BY KAMIKO CHAMBLE Staff Writer

After many years of Memorial Hall being worked on and renovated, the project is finally coming to an end. The first of three phases of the project started in fall 2019. Phase one alone took three to four years to complete, stunted by COVID-19.

Memorial Hall was first built in 1962, 61 years ago. That’s six full decades without the building ever being renovated, touched or worked on.

“We finally got some great funding from the state to support us,” Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Blaine said.

The new renovations cost exactly $34,841,937 in total. The design alone cost

$3,092,275, then phase one of construction cost $12,450,690; group three of phase one in the project cost $500,000. Phase two of the construction part of it cost

$17,298,972 and group three of phase two cost $1,500,000, according to Chief of Staff of the Office of the President Ken Knelly. Fitness Center Director

Matt Salvatore and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Mike Howard were the biggest driving forces to this project.

“There’s been so many

people who have contributed to make this a reality. Our Director Mike Howard was a big advocate for this project from day one from when we first started during the summer of 2016, he’s been involved behind the scenes every step along the way,” Assistant Director of Athletics Brian Savard said.

The people who use Memorial Hall the most are excited.

“The new gym is a full face lift, we’re getting everything we’ve wanted. We got brand new flooring, we got the new painted lines for the gym with the new branding. We actually just did a rebranding several years ago,” Head Women’s Basketball Coach Ben Sarraf said.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Defender and captain Jack Healy is mobbed by his teammates as he celebrates his lastminute game-winning goal against the Union Garnet Chargers at the Field House Sept. 16.

WSOC > 9

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Nora Fitzgerald (4) splits RPI defenders at the Field House Sept. 9. She had a team-high three shots against Potsdam.

JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points

The Memorial Hall gymnasium got a facelift in the renovations, complete with updated branding. RENO

STANDINGS TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL Oneonta 1-0 7-0 Plattsburgh 1-0 5-0-1 Brockport 1-0 3-2-2 Cortland 0-0 6-1-1 Fredonia 0-0 4-1-3 Geneseo 0-0 5-2-1 Oswego 0-0 0-1-3 New Paltz 0-1 5-1-1 Buffalo St. 0-1 4-1-2 Potsdam 0-1 3-2-1 STATISTICS GOALS # John Hayes, M 4 Brian Coughlan, F 3 Kamba, Badjie 2 ASSISTS # Xavier Kamba, F 3 Frankie Palumbo, M 2 Seven players 1 SAVE PERCENTAGE # Teddy Healy, G .833

STANDINGS TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL Brockport 1-0 7-1 Oneonta 1-0 4-0-2 Geneseo 1-0 5-1-1 Plattsburgh 0-0-1 2-2-2 Potsdam 0-1-1 2-3-1 Cortland 0-0 4-2-1 Oswego 0-0 2-1-2 New Paltz 0-0 4-3-1 Buffalo St. 0-1 5-1-1 Fredonia 0-1 3-1-1 STATISTICS GOALS # Avery Durgan, F 3 Nora Fitzgerald, F 2 Ella Santomassimo, F 2 ASSISTS # Avery Durgan, F 3 Nora Fitzgerald, F 3 Four players 1 SAVE PERCENTAGE # Lauren Haley, G .743 Lily Bailey, G .556

STANDINGS TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL Plattsburgh 0-0 7-2 Cortland 0-0 7-2 New Paltz 0-0 9-3 Buffalo St. 0-0 6-6 Geneseo 0-0 4-6 Brockport 0-0 3-6 Potsdam 0-0 3-6 Oneonta 0-0 2-8 Fredonia 0-0 2-9 Oswego 0-0 1-8 STATISTICS KILLS # Liya Girma, OH 95 Jeannette Ashong, MH 66 Darby Collyear, RS 60

STANDINGS TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL Oneonta 2-0 2-1 New Paltz 1-0 1-0 Cortland 3-1 3-2 Oswego 2-2 2-3 Plattsburgh 1-2 4-2 Geneseo 0-0 2-1 Brockport 0-2 1-4 Fredonia 0-2 0-2 STATISTICS SINGLES # Jacklin Mitchell 5-0 Nicole Svantner 4-2 Ava Carey 3-3 DOUBLES TEAMS # Hurwitz & J. Svantner 3-1 N. & S. Svantner 3-1 Carey & Mitchell 2-4 POINTS # John Hayes, M 8 Xavier Kamba, F 7 Brian Coughlan, F 7 POINTS # Avery Durgan, F 9 Nora Fitzgerald, F 7 Ella Santomassimo, F 5 ATTACK ERRORS # Darby Collyear, RS 46 Liya Girma, OH 43 Iris Mulvey, OH/RS 28 VB ASSISTS # Emma Rivers, S 176 Kyleigh Ganz, S 113 Payton Zophy, OH/L 29 SERVICE ACES # Emma Rivers, S 19 Jeannette Ashong, MH 14 Burke, Zophy 11 DIGS # Payton Zophy, OH/L 179 Liya Girma, OH 108 Emma Rivers, S 59 DOUBLES # Samantha Svantner 3-1 Hallie Hurwitz 4-2 J. Svantner, N. Svantner 3-3 SHOT PERCENTAGE # Brian Coughlan, F .500 Xavier Kamba, F .333 Jack Healy, D .333 SHOT PERCENTAGE # Jillian Bezo, M .500 Avery Durgan, F .300 Claire Bottjer, F .200

Cardinals continue mean streak

This past weekend, the Plattsburgh women’s volleyball took home three wins, sweeping the North Country Classic. The Cardinals took down Hilbert College, SUNY Canton and Wells College. This young team played to its potential and is quickly racking up wins.

The Cardinals traveled to Canton Friday, Sept. 15, where they first played Hilbert College, and won the match in an efficient three sets.

Plattsburgh took a lead against Hilbert college early on in the first set, winning 25-13. However, that wasn’t all for the Cardinals. In the second set, the Cards found Hilbert’s weak spot. Hilbert didn’t protect the deep corners, giving the Cards an opportunity to set up their outer hitters and right side players for a spike.

“They were scrappy, but we were able to find those deep corners. And I think that our offense is doing a really good job of staying aggressive and not being scared to swing at the goal,” Rivers said.

The Cards pulled through with a 25-9 win.

In the third set, Hilbert made the Cardinals fight for its win. With Hilbert standing at 24 points and the Cards at 22, Plattsburgh came back with a kill from Liya Girma and two attack faults from

Continued from page 8

“I think [our communication] is just getting better dayby-day,” Coughlan said. “Modou taking his guy on almost every single play, it just really helps our team.”

Coughlan’s score unclogged Plattsburgh’s offense. Six and a half minutes later, forward Xavier Kamba scored, rebounding a shot from Badjie. Right place, right time. Kamba, a first-year, scored his first SUNYAC goal and now ranks second on the team with seven points.

“We’re always talking to each other,” Kamba said. “Chris, telling me right before I scored, he was like, ‘go, get into the box.’”

Palumbo scored with less than five minutes left for good measure. A senior, it was his first career goal. Jack

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Hilbert. Payton Zophy served next at 24-25, needing just one more point to claim Cardinals victory. Katriana Wagner earned a kill, and Plattsburgh won the set 26-24.

The next day, the Cardinals took on the Canton Kangaroos and won in five sets. This game was back and forth, with the Cards winning the first, third and fifth sets. Plattsburgh took on the first set winning 25-17. The team had a total of 13 kills, five attack errors and 31 attempts.

The Roos came back in the second set, tying 1-1 with the Cards on a 25-18 win. With a tie on the board, the Cardinals put all it had into the third set, taking the lead over the Kangaroos with a 25-15 win.

Canton put up a fight to stay in the game, taking the fourth set 25-23 and tying the game 2-2. Tensions were

Healy, assisted by Danny Perry, scored with less than a minute left. Healy’s goals in back-toback games tie his season high of two. On paper, 4-0 looks a lot better than 2-0.

“These SUNYAC games are hard, they’re a good team. I think, sometimes, when we have a game like that, they’re saying, ‘can we still get to the last 20 still nilnil,’” Taylor said. “It wasn’t a lucky break, we deserved the penalty, but sometimes you just need that opportunity.”

The win helps to cement the Cardinals even more as a legitimate contender in the conference. Under Taylor, Platts-

high with the Cards and the Roos tied 2-2, and both teams worked hard for the final set to win it all. The Cardinals took the win with a score of 16-14, with a cumulative total of 52 kills, 31 attack errors and 171 attempts.

The Cards played Wells College the same day, where it took home another weekend sweep — 3-0. The first set was won 25-21, where the Cards had 11 kills, three errors and 27 attempts. Wells College put up a fight in the second set keeping the score close. The Cards pulled away, leaving Wells College at 23 points and getting three kills from Darby Collyear, Katie Salphine and Girma. The Cardinals ended with a total of 41 kills, 19 errors and 108 attempts.

Collyear is a first-year player and one of the team’s strong right siders. In the

game against Wells College, Collyear had 13 kills out of 41. For Collyear, going from a game where they went to five sets and then going right into a second game was a change.

“That was definitely an adjustment, having to go right into our next game right after that. I think that took us a second to get ready in the moment because we had to be ready to play back to back,” Collyear said. “I feel like we did pretty well with it being a game, right after the next I think we started off playing really great and we finished off just as good so I think we handled that situation pretty well.”

This tournament was a challenge and the team had to focus on the game at hand. “Probably the hardest thing was making sure that we were all staying focused in the moment, making sure that we’re all in the right headspace because in one of the sets, we did go to five sets and I think that with going to five sets like in a game you have to make sure that you’re all locked in and everyone is focused on the set at hand and just focusing on making sure our fundamentals are where they’re supposed to be,” Collyear said.

Head Coach Kelsea Healis was excited to go into this tournament, not only for her team, but to try out new and different lineups.

VB > 10

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

burgh has made the SUNYAC tournament three out of four seasons. It’s now itching for a deep run.

WSOC

Although the game was a tie, there were still plenty of positives to take from this game. The aggressiveness in the second half is what this team will need moving forward in the SUNYAC games to really make its mark.

These 10 shots in the second half came from Allison Brown, Zoe Rice, Nora Fitzgerald, Avery Durgan, Casey Granger, Alexis Patrick and Sally Gilganic. Of course you would like to see some of these shots lead to goals, but it is still a positive sign that it is so aggressive.

“I think that winning would be more of a confidence boost but I think it gave us the tools we will build upon for these next games,” Fitzgerald said.

Even in a tie, members of the team still see light at the end of the tunnel.

“I think that our tenacity and work ethic was amazing and the second half we created a lot of chances, we defi-

then continue its home stretch Wednesday, Sept. 27 when it visits the New Paltz Hawks (51-1, SUNYAC 0-1), the team it beat in the playoffs last season.

BOLEBUCH

COLLIN

nitely had a lot of chances to score and it was really great to see that attacking style that we worked in in practice, shutouts are always good so I think we were really on point defensively as well,” Head Coach Whitney Frary said.

The aggressiveness displayed in the second half is a point of emphasis for this season and its defensive excellence should be good moving forward as well.

The Cardinals play three more SUNYAC games in succession — a true test. It hosts the Brockport Golden Eagles tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23 for its Morgan’s Message Game, a national mental health awareness organization with its own chapter in Plattsburgh. The Cards will then host the New Paltz Hawks Wednesday, Sept. 27, its POTS Awareness Game. Then, to finish the first half of conference play, the Cardinals will visit the rival Oswego Lakers Saturday, Sept. 30.

If the second half of this game was any indicator, the Cardinals will be a force to be reckoned with in its conference games moving forward.

(Left to right) Payton Zophy, Kyleigh Ganz, Maggie Lyon and KC Burke share a laugh mid-set at Memorial Hall Sept. 2.

BY REBEKAH RILEY Staff Writer

Midfielder John Hayes heads a ball in the box at the Field House Sept. 20.

MSOC

Head Coach Whitney Frary prowls the sidelines against RPI at the Field House Sept. 9. Her team currently stands at 2-2-2.

RENO

Continued from page 8

“We got new baskets, new bleachers, new lighting, and the construction workers removed everything that they deemed harmful, so the whole building got a new facelift or the whole gym did at least.”

With the new renovations, Memorial Hall has received a new lobby, a recreational gym, a downstairs changing area, hall of fame area, an athlete-only strength and conditioning room, new doctors office and hydro rooms, new sports medicine suite, a group activity center, locker rooms, new offices, two hot tubs, a 12,000-square foot fitness center and a rock climbing wall. We also got a new weight room that used to be our pool, many people don’t know that our school even had a pool.

All of these new renovations may seem like they only benefit members of Plattsburgh State Athletics, but they benefit our general students just as much.

“Here’s a good one for everyone to know: They're getting a million dollars worth of new equipment in the entire

TEN

Continued from page 8

Benowitz captured her wins with scores of 7-5 and 6-1, and Carey with scores of 6-2 and 6-2.

After Oswego triumphed in singles #5, it was up to Nicole Svantner and Mitchell to earn a match-clinching win for the Cardinals. Both games went to three sets, and ultimately both Cardinals were victorious. Mitchell secured singles #6 with sets of 6-2, 2-6 and 6-3, and Svantner won singles #1 with sets of 6-4, 6-7 (3-7) and 6-1.

Svantner’s win was her first in singles #1, as this weekend marked her first matches played in that position.

“Oswego was a really great win for me personally. I fought really hard for that match. It was one of my best matches I’ve ever played,” Svantner said. “It’s definitely more of a challenge than what I’ve played in the past. Singles #2 is also quite difficult, but I’m up for the challenge and coach also thinks I’m ready to play at the #1 or #2 spot.”

This trust has paid off, as Svantner is currently 4-2 in singles with several strong wins across singles #1 and #2.

Continued from page 9

“I was feeling pretty good about it. I knew it was gonna be a longer weekend but I felt excited for the girls to get to try some new things, kind of try a different lineup, and really start solidifying some things as we're going into conference play,” Healis said.

For the Cardinals volleyball team, conference play starts Sept. 29 and it will first take on SUNY Brockport. Going from pre-conference play to conference play, Healis would like to try out a few more different line ups this weekend at the Morrisville Tri-Match.

“In regards to my lineup, I want to see

building, every part. That’s athletes, the regular student body, so all equipment is going to be brand-spanking new,” Sarraf said.

Regular students now have new athletic opportunities. Sarraf shared that there’s going to be a large space on the second floor, they just haven’t decided what exactly to do with it yet.

There’s room for more clubs in there, new classes, and it will help the school when it is trying to recruit

Mitchell took home a winning match in both meets — including the only win in the Friday loss (6-3 and 7-5) — continuing her dominant start to the season in singles, where she is currently undefeated at 5-0. While immensely proud of her start, this isn’t her first time with such a strong record.

“Throughout my high school career I was undefeated in in-season singles for all three years,” Mitchell said. “I like to be undefeated.”

Mitchell is just as proud of her performances in doubles and said her loss in Cortland helped her and her doubles partner, Carey, learn a lot about college tennis.

“We are the only two freshmen [playing] on the team, and we made a very strong connection through being doubles partners together,” Mitchell said. “Friday was a hard struggle for me and Ava. That helps us sometimes. Being humbled makes us want to do way better than we can do.”

Mitchell’s inspiration from her loss resonates with the team's goals this season. Reeling from missing the SUNYAC final four last year, the returning athletes feel the same way about using their losses to push themselves.

“Our upperclassmen, and I never had a doubt in my mind

a few more things this weekend. But I think we have a pretty good idea of what we're going to be utilizing, especially with our options and with where our girls play the best. So I'm very excited to go into conference play,” Healis said.

Emma Rivers, a senior and one of the team's captains, was looking forward to this tournament, she said she believed it was going to be an amazing weekend for the team.

“I was excited. I knew that it was going to be an easier weekend for us. So that gives us more of an opportunity to run more plays, and some faster offense. I had a feeling that we were going to go 3-0 over the weekend which we did so that was exciting,” Rivers said. For this tourna-

new students or athletes.

“It’s definitely a huge opportunity for athletes and the campus because it is a new space for us to advertise as a campus, it makes us more competitive to recruits for both athletics and non-athletics. Even for the general student population, now having the rec gym allows more time and space for athletes and non-athletes to utilize the space for clubs and things have more availability and time in

that they wouldn’t, have really stepped up to the plate and set an example for our younger players. They came in off such a close loss to make the final four, and they came in this year telling all of our new members ‘this is what we have to do this year. This is our year,’” Head Coach Kelci Henn said.

The Cardinals continue their out-of-conference play today, Sept. 22, at Saint Michael’s College, and then host Farmingdale State for Plattsburgh’s Senior Day Sept. 23. The following week, it will travel to Johnson, Vermont to face Vermont State University-Johnson Sept. 28 and host Mount Saint Mary’s College Sept. 29 for a meet dedicated to Morgan’s Message, a national mental health awareness organization with a SUNY Plattsburgh chapter.

Plattsburgh will play its last home SUNYAC match against the two-time reigning SUNYAC champion New Paltz Hawks Sept. 30. Then, it travels to a tournament in Binghamton, New York, in which the Cardinals face SUNYAC rivals Brockport, Geneseo and Fredonia on Oct. 5, Oct. 6, and Oct. 7, respectively.

ment the game against Canton was the most tiring, not only for the entire team but for Rivers herself. The team played a hard backand-forth game in five sets.

“The hardest was definitely the Canton game. Because I was getting down on myself a little and, I'm really proud of how we were able to pull through that game and not stay in a rut throughout all five sets. We were all physically tired afterwards,” Rivers said.

At the end of the tournament, Zophy and Girma were named SUNYAC Volleyball Athletes of the Week. This is Girma’s first career weekly honor she — was named Offensive Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sept. 16. Girma averaged 3.80 kills per set and currently

4

TEN - The team will celebrate its four seniors tomorrow at home.

0

WSOC - Lauren Haley recorded her second shutout of the season.

3

XC - Ginny Lucchetti, Peter Basile and Erik Kucera PR'd at RPI.

there,” Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Kelsea Healis said. “The general students can use it for basketball, volleyball, whatever they’d like. Our fitness center as well offers a lot to the general student population”.

The final results are expected to be unveiled in spring 2024.

Email KAMIKO CHAMBLE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

95

VB - First-year Liya Girma leads the team in kills by almost 30.

2

MSOC - Sr. Jack Healy tied his season-high in goals in two games.

Senior and captain Jack Healy hasn't missed a minute of play all season. He was rewarded with two goals in two games, including the winner vs. Union.

MIN G A SH SOG

180 2 0 4 2

leads the team in points with 107.5.

Zophy was named Defensive Athlete of the Week this week, claiming her second weekly honor of the season. Zophy also maintained her SUNYAC lead in digs per set with a record of 5.26.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, the Cardinals will be traveling to Morrisville, New York, where it will be playing in the Morrisville Tri-Match. It will play SUNY Morrisville at 1 p.m. Right after, it will be taking on Nazareth University at 3 p.m. This will be the last of the non-conference games before SUNYAC play.

Men's soccer won its last game before SUNYAC play last Saturday. After leveling the game 1-1 early, Jack Healy sank the winner with five minutes left.

UNI 1 0 1

PSU 1 1 — 2

JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points

Memorial Hall's lobby was a focus of the renovations, making the facility accessible to everyone. Students will have access to a brand-new 12,000 square foot fitness center, a massive upgrade.

McDuffie sets Cardinals milestone

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Just 43.8% of NCAA Division III women’s head coaching jobs are held by women. Additionally, 50.3% of assistant positions across NCAA women’s sports are held by women, according to the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport.

SUNY Plattsburgh is above average in this regard — women coach seven out of its nine women’s sports programs. Jordyn Naylon even coaches the men’s cross country team.

Women coaches in men’s sports is something even rarer. Across 415 Division III men’s soccer programs in 2022, there were just seven women coaches. Anna McDuffie became one of those trailblazers by joining the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s soccer staffs this past summer. She's the first woman to ever be employed by the men's program.

McDuffie first became a Cardinal in 2019. Self-admittedly, she didn’t play much. She made the most of it, doing what she could in her role. Then-junior forward Avery Durgan said McDuffie had a drive to see everyone else on the team play better.

“I found that my way of helping the team out was just to give encouragement, cheering the team on and seeing what I saw on the field and bringing that to the players,” McDuffie said. “I realized that this is something I enjoy doing, being able to work with players and try and improve their game as individuals and as a team.”

McDuffie started once over her first three years, recording zero goals and zero assists and missing the 2020 season entirely due to its cancellation.

Head Coach Whitney Frary was hired in 2022, McDuffie’s senior season. McDuffie went into the season with an extra year of eligibility in her pocket, unsure what to do with it. Nev-

ertheless, she was voted a captain by her teammates before the season started.

McDuffie possessed exemplary leadership qualities that exceeded her output on the field.

Behind McDuffie’s captainship, the Cardinals extended its playoff streak to eight straight years. She registered her first career goal in her second-to-last game and her first two career assists in her final game. She took a backseat in its playoff game against Oswego.

“I could tell that she loved the team and she had so much passion for not just the sport, but also the team’s success,” Frary said. “She constantly put them above herself and what she wanted, and I think that’s something, kind of like that selfless leader, is so beneficial for young players to see.”

McDuffie was a fitness and wellness leadership major, minoring in athletic coaching. Her minor was coordinated by Head Men’s Soccer Coach Chris Taylor, who was quickly put on to her wit and potential as a coach.

“She was really impressive in my class. I really enjoyed listening to her ideas and her thought processes,” Taylor said. “We saw a lot of potential there and we need all the help we can get at times, so another set of eyes, another mind is always helpful.”

This spring, McDuffie needed to complete an internship for her studies. It only made sense that she rejoin women’s soccer, but this time, on the sideline. Frary was impressed with her tenure, as McDuffie was a fast learner.

McDuffie was hired in the summer alongside ‘19 Potsdam alumna Sarah Erno. These were major staff moves for both the Frary and Taylor administrations. This is the first time Taylor has had a second assistant since 2018, his first season. Frary’s excited about putting a woman in front of men’s players, calling it “progressive.”

Frary’s first season saw her coaching alongside Goalkeeping Coach Geoff Spear, who has served with both teams since before her hiring. Durgan said McDuffie’s hiring felt like “reassurance” going into the season. Getting two young, female former athletes was a step in the right direction for the locker room.

“I think it’s amazing, and I vouch for women coaching women,” Durgan said. “They all played college soccer, they’ve all been through this. They know how to handle this, they know how to communicate with us, as they were here at some point themselves too. Them just knowing how this all works, it gives us reassurance in knowing that what they’re doing is in our best interest.”

Two assistant coaches make Frary’s job a lot easier. They serve as a medium between the roster and Frary, taking up minor issues and creating better communication between the entities. The dynamic is a lot different this season.

“I think it’s good to hear different perspectives,” senior

forward Tara Bendsak said. “It’s nice knowing that you can go female-to-female.”

Having McDuffie around allows players to work more intimately with coaches. She works as a motivator and can pull players aside for one-onone help. Frary’s given her full range, allowing her to voice her opinion in practice, games and meetings.

“She really wants my insight on things and she feels comfortable talking to me,” McDuffie said. “It’s cool that she actually trusts me on the field.”

The men’s team has taken her in, too. Encouraging the team from the sidelines, building relationships with its members and coming to the away games have been the highlights so far.

“[Taylor] will want my feedback,” McDuffie said. “He’s made me feel very comfortable with sharing my opinion and what I see on the field.”

McDuffie’s former teammates find no issue in being around her in a different capacity, this time with more boundaries and authority. In turn, McDuffie feels a sense

of respect from them.

“It was definitely a hard transition, but she did it and made it seem really well,” Bendsak said. “She is definitely taking things more seriously.”

McDuffie isn’t exclusive, and doesn’t treat the upperclassmen differently. She’s shown no problems helping the first-year players feel comfortable and integrated with the team.

“She makes sure that everyone is equally comfortable,” first-year defender Lia Parker said. “She brings together the team.”

This isn’t a quick stop for McDuffie on her way to a career. Soon, she’ll pursue her masters in athletic training. Frary has faith in her.

“She could be a really phenomenal head coach and I would love to keep mentoring her,” Frary said. “I always think that we need more women in the game, especially in college.”

CARDINAL CLIPS

BY MICHAEL PURTELL & COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Staff Writer & Sports Editor

CROSS-COUNTRY

Both Plattsburgh State cross country teams competed in the RPI Harvest Classic last Saturday, Sept. 16th. In a race featuring six collegiate teams, the Cardinals finished fourth in both competitions. The men finished with a team score of 91, and the women with a team score of 121.

Plattsburgh State finished behind the 11th ranked RPI, Union and Albany. Finishing behind the Cardinals were Hudson Valley Community College, Saint Rose and Russell Sage, who did not have a complete men’s team.

For the men, Plattsburgh’s top finishers were Noah Bonesteel and Graham Richard. The pair finished with overall placements of 30th and 33rd. Bonesteel completed the 8k in 25:46, and Richard was eight seconds behind him with a time of 25:54.

The next group of Plattsburgh runners to cross the finish line did so in rapid succession. Michael Brockway ran a time of 26:41, Erik Kucera finished with 26:47 on the clock, Justin Kumrow came in at 26:56, and Jeremy Gundrum clocked in at 27:02. They finished 52nd,

54th, 55th and 58th respectively.

The Cardinal’s final scoring runner was Peter Basile, who finished 66th with a time of 27:33.

In the Women’s 6k, Marissa Colvin was the first finisher for the Cardinals. She finished in 14th place overall with a time of 22:57. Plattsburgh State’s second finisher was Anya Sloth, who posted a 31st finish at 24:06.

Rounding out the scoring runners for the Cardinals was Ginny Lucchetti in 43rd place with a time of 25:01, Sophia Gambino in 45th place with a time of 25:42, Kayla Grant in 47th with a time of 25:49, Lillian Mroran in 49th with a time of 26:09 and Jaylee Southwell in 50th with a time of 26:19.

Basile, Kucera, and Lucchetti all finished with personal best performances in their events.

The Cardinals’ next stop will be at St. Lawrence University, where it will compete in the Ronald C. Hoffman Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 23.

MODRY

The Los Angeles Kings of the NHL released its training camp roster Sept. 19, and it featured Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s hockey alumnus, defenseman Jacob Modry. Modry was one of

22 defensemen to make the cut. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Jaroslav Modrý, who played for the Kings from 1999 to 2004 and from 2007 to 08. Jacob Modry played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings from 2014-16.

Modry played for the Cardinals in his junior and senior seasons, after transferring from Division I Merrimack College. In both seasons in Plattsburgh, he was named to the All-SUNYAC team, earning first-team honors in his senior season. Also in his final year, Modry earned All-USCHO honorable mention and CCM/ AHCA Third-Team All-America honors. He was a key piece to the team’s 2023 SUNYAC Championship run.

Multiple other Cardinals hockey players have popped up on professional rosters. Modry’s former line-

mate Matt Araujo signed with the SPHL Fayetteville Marksmen after the Cardinals’ NCAA Tournament loss. Women’s hockey’s Sara Krauseneck and Sierra Benjamin really are inseparable — after four seasons and an NCAA Championship together, the two have teamed up in Sweden, playing for Division I Skellefteå AIK.

JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points

Anna McDuffie speaks to her players during a practice at the Field House Sept. 19. She was hired by both Cardinals teams this past summer after four seasons as a player.

DAKOTA GILBERT/Cardinal Points Archives Jacob Modry (4) handles against the Buffalo St. Bengals at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena Nov. 19, 2022.

DEI moves in, students get evicted

BY KIYANNA NOEL Arts & Culture Editor

The H.U.B., located in the Angell College Center, was known as the place for students of color to hang out, study and collaborate exclusively from administration. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office has moved locations from Hawkins Hall to the H.U.B. While many people agree with this decision, I don’t. In making this decision to transform this safe space, DEI changes the narrative as to what the H.U.B. was.

The environment of the H.U.B. used to be freeing, despite the Office of Enrollment and Student Success residing there. It was a place where students didn’t feel forced to interact. When you entered the H.U.B., it used to be vibrant, it used to be

a place where you go when you can’t find your friends in the Sundowner.

Now, you avoid the H.U.B. out of fear that administration is going to corner you about your classes, grades and post-grad career.

I understand that this notion isn’t shared amongst my peers. 23’ Alumna Justice Hall, hosted club meetings in the H.U.B. biweekly. Hall believes that by having DEI move locations, it can encourage students to interact with administration.

“I feel as though DEI moving into the H.U.B. is great for the BIPOC community because it will allow for easier access to DEI, provide students with a more comforting mindset knowing the people who have their backs are in a space where they can feel supported, and overall I be-

lieve it will increase student interactions and bonding,” Hall said.

This argument is not lost on me. I do see that DEI moving can increase student-adviser relationships. However, if DEI wanted to get to know the students better, wouldn’t they reach out individually to each student?

Multicultural Student Success Coach Travis Gorham has recently been added to my list of advisers, yet I have not met or been introduced to him.

Student Hannah Sudla also sees the move from DEI as a move in the right direction. “DEI shifting locations encourages students to take initiative and speak to faculty about ways to improve their grades. This can also help students feel more pressure to do the right thing, know-

ing that someone is always watching to make sure they get the job done,” Sudla said.

This statement solely undermines the difference between college and high school. Advisers who are strictly there to monitor students are no longer advisers, but high school teachers who get graded based on student performances. Colleges are not meant to be a hand-holding experience. Advisers are meant to help students, not hover over them like a helicopter parent who doesn’t believe in boundaries.

As students, we want to know what the college is really trying to accomplish with this move. Regardless of the title, fulfilling the role of DEI should have a clear vision, and this doesn’t seem like one. How will the university help BIPOC students

feel safe? How can they ensure that students aren’t being discriminated against in the classroom or dorms? How will they make BIPOC students feel equally cared for in an environment where they are a gross minority? What do the students want? How did they determine this is what students want?

Decisions like these specifically from a predominantly white institution like SUNY Plattsburgh also feel performative, which causes an entirely different host of problems, but solve none. Performative efforts like these do not do enough to realistically ensure diversity, equity and inclusion. Performative actions like this only maintain a status quo.

Email KIYANNA NOEL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

DANIELA RAYMOND/Cardinal Points

Technology is stealing our attention

BY DANIELA RAYMOND Opinion Editor

In the past century, millions of Americans have been stolen from. Our ability to focus on a screen or anything for more than 10 minutes has been stolen by technology and social media.

Today it is rare to find someone not associated with a mobile cellphone or some other form of technology. Smartphones have become a necessity that stays at the top of the survival pyramid. You’ll almost never find

someone waiting for the bus or train without a phone, scrolling away. This has become a new norm and is even expected. A time when people would exchange compliments or acts of kindness or initiate conversations with strangers has been lost.

The cost of losing productivity isn’t the only downfall of a short attention span. Studies have shown that lack of focus and interruptions also raise stress and anxiety. Throughout the day we are exposed to multiple avenues of information. Notification pings constantly distract you from

your point of focus.

Getting distracted is nothing new. Naturally, our focus is intensified and dulled depending on a list of factors. But the combination of distractions inherent to society today can make a very effective attention drainer.

Today we are essentially living in a room filled with distractions 24/7 due to competing demands and temptations of phones, social media and the internet.

A study of college students found that they can only focus on one task for 65 seconds and office workers for

an average of 3 minutes at a time.

We’ve been made to believe that we as a society are too weak to control our minds long enough to focus. Stay off your phone…just focus and unplug for a day, but are these things really in our control?

No, your attention is not failing you because you are not in control or not strong-willed. Your attention is failing you because it’s been stolen.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The H.U.B. in Angell College Center greets students with a display of flags from around the world and a cartoon drawing on the whiteboard.

Our environment calls for a change in political climate

We have seen too many headlines announcing record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events. Yet, here is another, because we believe the worst thing we can do is to give up the fight.

This year alone, we saw expansive wildfires all across North America, from Canada to Hawaii, resulting in thousands of lives and acres of trees lost and the poorest air quality New York has ever seen. Floods have devastated the globe, from China to Libya, to Nevada’s Black Rock desert. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that the storm and hurricane activity this August was above normal. A major hurricane occurs in August once every two years, but this year, that month brought two. Heavy rainfall has started to turn the Saudi Arabian desert green — a sign that Islamic scripture interprets as the approaching end times.

With presidential elections on the horizon, the New York Times has begun compiling and presenting Republican candidates’ views on issues we currently concern ourselves with — one of them being climate change. A couple have identified climate change as a serious threat and taken measures to address it in their municipalities. Some choose to focus on adapting to consequences of climate change instead of preventing it, others

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We’ve been programmed to think that as long as we can get our work done with these technological distractions, it isn’t really affecting our work, but unfortunately, it is. The “switch-cost effect” explains that if you check your phone while doing work, not only are you losing the 30 seconds it took to check your phone, but

denounce government initiatives to cut down on carbon emissions. There are also a few who choose not to adopt a particular stance on climate change or will not act to address the issue despite acknowledging it. Former President Donald Trump is the only candidate to outright mock and deny climate science.

Democrats are not off the hook, either. President Joe Biden has been vocal about fighting climate change, but it is not lost on us that he approved an oil-drilling project in Alaska, known as the Willow Project.

No one is equal in the face of climate change — it is disadvantaged communities who are and will continue to be affected by climate change the most. The audacity of these politicians to accept and recognize climate change and continue to disregard any action is a personal insult to not only everyone living in this country, but the rest of the world as well. They have no right to fuel the acceleration of climate change with more carbon emissions, oil spills and drilling projects, forcing millions of people away from their homes, and then to complain about immigration. The so-called “American Dream” needs to include climate justice for all, too.

According to NASA, the global temperature is expected to rise by 4.5 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius, if nothing

you’ve also lost the extra time it takes to refocus afterward.

Carnegie Mellon University performed a study where 136 students sat to take a test. Half of the students had their phones and received messages during the exam, while the other half had no phones. The students with their phones performed 20% worse on average. So essentially, we are losing that 20% of brain power during everyday tasks.

We are gradually slipping away from reality, living in a world where we are all alone, even in a

changes. The consequences of climate change extend far beyond summers that will keep breaking records. New York state’s Department of Environmental Conservation describes heavy rainfalls pushing the Great Lakes beyond their banks, dairy prices going up because heatwaves put immense stress on livestock, bugs and other pests sticking around during warmer winters and extreme storms cutting off New York City’s electricity. No skiing, no Stewart’s scoops and no “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” This fight is exhausting because there isn’t one candidate we can fully trust with the future of our planet. There are some successful climate lawsuits, such as Held v. Montana, which this August ruled that plaintiffs have a “fundamental right to a clean and healthful environment,” as per the state’s constitution. The problem is that the federal constitution lacks a clause that might guarantee such a thing — that is, we are at the mercy of old men in power. Will a change in the attitudes of this country’s political actors save the world? No, but we at least deserve the comfort of knowing our leaders are doing everything in their power. Until we get action, we will not stop speaking out. The fight for climate justice can only continue as long as our hope does.

crowd of people. The ability to pay attention is cracking and breaking, and this attention crisis is creating huge ramifications for how we live our lives.

Technology and how it affects people’s attention span isn’t an issue we can fix in one day or even one article. It is critical to strike a balance between embracing technology’s advantages and averting its drawbacks.

Email DANIELA RAYMOND cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

ACP Hall of Fame

Inducted in Fall 2010

All American

Spring 2018, four Marks of Distinction

Spring 2016, five Marks of Distinction

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Spring 2011, four Marks of Distinction

Fall 2010, five Marks of Distinction

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First Class

Spring 2013, three Marks of Distinction

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Distinction

two

three

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Taken from 50 participants

Happy 56% Mad 44%

Plattsburgh’s weather makes me feel...