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FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2023

VOLUME 109 | ISSUE 5

Hockey players save teammate’s life BY HAYDEN SADLER News Editor

Sept. 24 was a regular day for Jenna Fireovid, an undeclared first-year from South Carolina. Fireovid has played hockey since 2019 and joined the Hockey Club at SUNY Plattsburgh to play at a non-competitive level while at school. During a scrimmage, Fireovid found herself shorter of breath than normal. “I figured it was just my asthma acting up,” Fireovid said in a text message. She had gone to rest on the bench, and despite her not remembering much of what occurred, she mentioned that fellow players saw her throw her stick and collapse. Zach Coventry is a first-year criminal justice major and Fireovid’s friend. They are in a class together and both play hockey. He has played hockey for about 14 years, since he was 4 years old. Coventry was one of the first to rush over when she collapsed and placed his glove Provided by Jenna Fireovid under her head to help. Luke Zarko, a last-semester Jenna Fireovid plays hockey. She has played the sport since 2019. senior majoring in computer he soon found himself rushing to help Fireovid. Coventry mentioned that when he checked for security, also came to the aid of his teammate. At first, Zarko thought the practice Coventry turned Fireovid onto her side, to ensure a pulse, there was none. had simply exhausted Fireovid and she was lay- nothing got stuck in her throat and stopped her HOCKEY > 2 ing down at the end of practice, he said. However, breathing, and Zarko quickly removed her helmet.

Downtown Trick-or-Treat to return

Provided by Courtney Meisenheimer Plattsburgh’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat event will welcome the community on Oct. 28.

On Saturday Oct. 28, the city of Plattsburgh will be full of spooks, treats and maybe even a few tricks. The fourth annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat event will be held from noon to 2p.m. The City of Plattsburgh is hosting the fourth annual Downtown Trick or Treat event in partnership with Z Group Real Estate, where participants can stop by more than 30 downtown businesses for a treat. This year’s downtown festivities will feature a Downtown Business Storefront decorating contest, with the winner chosen by the public, a dance performance by Center Stage Dance group, free face painting in Trinity park and more surprises to come. Amanda Dagley, manager of Electric Zee, a local radio station, will be set up in Trinity Park DJing a set of spooktacular tunes. Participants do

not have to follow a designated route around downtown, but are asked to obey traffic laws and signals. Zachary Latinville, owner of the Z Group real estate company said, “We look forward to bringing back this beloved community event to downtown Plattsburgh. This event shines a light on the amazing downtown businesses and organizations here in our downtown. With the construction project wrapping up, we are excited to welcome people to downtown Plattsburgh.” The City of Plattsburgh will be transforming Trinity Park into a spooky park. Local businesses and organizations that do not have a downtown storefront can participate in handing out treats. Costumes are not mandatory but are free and no registration is required.

Vigil raises awareness for hazing BY MIKAI BRUCE Associate Sports Editor

Nearly 21 years ago, in March of 2003, Walter Dean Jennings III died after rushing the Psi Epsilon Chi fraternity and being hazed as a part of that process. Jennings died due to hyponatremia, which is the result of drinking too much water. He was held in a hot room for multiple days and he drank so much water that his brain swelled, which ultimately led to his untimely demise. Jennings’ death sent shockwaves through the community and high-

lighted the troubles that come along with hazing. Sept. 28, there was a candlelight vigil in remembrance of not only Jennings, but also dozens of other victims of hazing. Rich Cantwell, the prosecutor who handled the Jennings case spoke at this vigil and he provided many anecdotes about what it was like to handle such a polarizing case. Cantwell mentioned how he seeked the strictest punishment possible when he handled the case and he shared words of gratitude for the turnout this event garnered. Onlookers were invited to grab and light a

candle and join together for a moment of silence for all the victims of hazing. Noah Lewis, a senior history education major, said that holding events such as the vigil is crucial when asked what are some steps he thinks can be taken to end hazing. Awareness is an important step in order to eradicate the culture of hazing because a lot of people don’t even view hazing as a dangerous act. “Nowadays I think everybody realizes this is wrong, it is violent, it is not good, it should not be perpetuated, I think there’s been significant improvement,”

Cantwell said. There has definitely been more awareness towards the dangers of hazing and it is less acceptable in society now than it was in previous years. Disassociating hazing with fraternities is a part of this process. “I think it gets the word out there that people in the community want to make a change and if we keep having these events and spreading awareness about what hazing is and how detrimental it can be to the community and the campus and society, I think it will really get everyone together to understand that

we need to make a change,” Saveria Somma said. The vigil was an example of how a community coming together can be a powerful moment and also a teaching moment. Hazing culture has not yet been eradicated, but there have been many strides made towards that goal and events like these make a future without hazing more possible.

Email MIKAI BRUCE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

ARTS & CULTURE GEO highlights Study Away

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS Clay art day

SPORTS

OPINION

WSOC wins on Senior Day

Intern witnesses McCarthy’s ousting

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page 7

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page 12

▪ News Editor Hayden Sadler

NEWS

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Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Student Association

Oct. 4 University Police received a report and investigated a case of a longboard stolen outside of the Angell College Center.

The Student Association Senate canceled its meeting Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Oct. 5

UP received a report of damaged property near Memorial Hall.

UP weed-whacks

UP filed two reports of cannabis possession by minors. One on Sept. 29th and another on Oct. 6 in DeFredenburgh and Hood Halls respectively.

Weekly Memes

Provided by Jenna Fireovid

Jenna Fireovid gives a thumbs up after receiving medical attention. She was playing hockey when what she believed to be an asthma attack resulted in her losing consciousness.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

HOCKEY Continued from page 1

CP Corrections NEWS: 1) In the previous issue's article "Forbes recognizes Platts online programs," Amelia Lushia's position is unclear. Lushia is a member of the Support Team for the online accounting program as well as an academic adviser for 75 to 120 students. If you see an error in Cardinal Points, email cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

GOT A NEWS TIP? Contact the news editor at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.

“I lay on the ice unconscious and dead,” Fireovid said. As she tried to regain consciousness, she explained that she was worried she’d be unable to pull herself from the dream-like state in which she found herself. “About a minute after I was done with chest compressions, first responders arrived,” Coventry said. He added that after a minute or two, Fireovid still had no pulse. Before paramedics arrived, Coventry and other bystanders took off Fireovid’s equipment so she could be transferred with minimal struggle. “I did not wake up until the paramedics had been there,” Fireovid said. Coventry, Zarko and Fireovid each mentioned that finding an automated external defibrillator was difficult, yet would have helped greatly. “If we knew where an AED was prior,” Zarko said, “it would’ve made the difference if things hadn’t gone our way.” Coventry said there seems to be very little information detailing access to AEDs. “It would have helped if my teammates knew where the AED was and how to use it. That should have been the first source of help,” Fireovid said. “Although it is also

important to know CPR. I was lucky that a few of the boys had been trained and were able to help me out,” she added. Access to AEDs is crucial to the safety of students across campus. Fireovid’s close encounter with death and the difficulty of her peers in finding an AED underscores a serious issue the campus may face in ensuring the availability of such devices beyond merely complying to safety standards. While there may be signage indicating that AEDs are nearby, having more indication as to the exact locations would help save students in the future. Email HAYDEN SADLER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

▪

NEWS

News Editor Hayden Sadler

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The Wellness Zone in the Reference Literature section of Feinberg Library features a full-wall mural, a charging station, seating and other wellness resources.

Library adds Wellness, Sensory zones a water-filled wall decoration that blows bubbles upward as the lights change color. The bubble wall was Feinberg Library made a contribution from the Acchanges to its study spaces cessibility Resources Office. to add the Wellness and A whiteboard filled with Sensory Friendly Zones over students’ doodles, quotes the summer. and messages hangs closer Where once was a dimly lit to the main Reference secsection within the Reference tion on that wall. Below the section on the second floor, whiteboard, a table displays with a few computer desks, a variety of handouts about is a space for students to remanaging stress and buildlax, connect with each other ing good academic habits. and build study habits. On Across from it is a stand its farthest wall, it features a with fidget toys and stress mural of Vincent Van Gogh’s balls. In the middle, four “Starry Night” painted by navy blue bean bag chairs Executive Director of the surround a low round table. Truth, Racial Healing and In the far-left corner, there Transformation Circle David is a coloring station with a Duprey over the course of cork board above it for stuthree days. Duprey spent 22 dents to show off their creations. The space also offers yoga equipment, such as balls and mats. “We talked about how to make this into a space that was more than just come and relax and use a spinner and more of a wellness place where you can actually get strategies on how to do time management and study skills and ways for students to communicate with each other,” Duprey said. Duprey visits the space regularly, and said he sees students there every time — wearing headphones, reading or sometimes sleeping. One of these students could have been Jazmine Maya, a first-year social work major who said she’s napped on the bean bags a few times, before going back to work. Maya visits the Wellness ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points Zone about three Students sometimes leave doodles and messages on the white- times a week beboard in the Wellness Zone. tween her classes. BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Editor in Chief

hours in total painting the piece, which he had interpreted twice before. “For me, it’s a very emotive piece,” Duprey said. “Of course, my interpretation is a little brighter than it is, it’s a little different, but when I look at it, I do feel an escape almost, a sense of joining into my own imagination.” Duprey said he and the previous library director Elin O’Hara-Gonya chose “Starry Night” as a recognizable art piece that tied into the color scheme of the library as well as the wellness aspect of the zone — Van Gogh is known to have struggled with his own mental health. Against the mural are two tan armchairs, and on the wall to the right of them is

Most of the time, she studies, but sometimes she just “chills” listening to music or spending time on her phone. Maya said she likes the dim lighting and the art in the background. She also noted the lower ceilings compared to the rest of the library, making the space small, but not claustrophobic. “I like it, I really do. I think it’s very peaceful,” Maya said. “It’s aesthetic in its own little way. It’s not too much and not too little.” Sydnee Francis, a firstyear majoring in nursing, doesn’t go to the Wellness Zone a lot because her work requires her to be on her laptop. However, when she goes to the library every day, she likes to sit at a table next to the large windows, facing the “Starry Night.” “I think it’s a nice, comfortable, relaxing place if you don’t want to sit at a table or something, or you just want to go over there and read,” Francis said. “It allows you to relax and get your mind off of some things if you’re stressed out about school, just gives you a relaxing place to not be in the traditional library.” Upstairs, in the back of the quiet area with a full view over the Angell College Center’s Amitie Plaza and Yokum Hall, is the Sensory Friendly Zone, marked by a sign above it. It is an area lined with two rows of carrel desk units between bean bag chairs and couches. The fluorescent lights above the desk units stay off, to prevent overstimulation in neurodivergent students, Interim Library Director Joshua Beatty said. There are also no bright colors or decorations. “A lot of the fluorescent bulbs are just not attractive to anyone, so we’ve decided, less lighting in here, a little more direct lighting if people wanted,” Beatty said. “Everything is inten-

tionally a little bit simpler.” A recent study found that fluorescent lights triggered headaches in some students and prevented them from seeing class materials clearly. Another study, from 2021, found 75% of anxiety patients reported that being around fluorescent lights made them uncomfortable and — furthermore — filled them with grim feelings, reminding them of hospitals, schools and overwhelm. Instead, students can adjust the brightness to their own liking with the lamps provided in the carrels. “I really feel like a space like this lets students explore and understand — let them decide how to use what we’ve put here,” Beatty said. “They may wind up using things in unexpected ways, which I personally think is fantastic, because it’s for the students.” Zones that appeal to neurodivergent students are popping up in multiple locations on campus. The library’s Reading Room, to the right from the staircase leading to the third floor, has been slightly refurbished to feature more art pieces, fidget toys, headphones and a closer seating arrangement than before. There is also a cupboard with more supplies, which the Neuro Pride Space uses for its meetings every Friday, Beatty said. Director of the ARO Jennifer Curry said the office set up a Zen Den in the first-floor lounge of Hood Hall and the space shared by ARO, Student Support Services and Cardinal Achievement Program has also been turned into a sensory friendly space, with plans to create a similar space in the ACC.

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The section of the third floor of Feinberg Library with the window wall now has a Sensory Friendly Zone, equipped with carrels, desk lamps and bean bags. The fluorescent lights directly above the zone stay off to make students feel at ease, without the risk of overstimulation.

FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2023

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points Students and staff represent their host countries and universities at on the second floor of the Angell College Center.

GEO hosts annual Study Away Fair

BY KIYANNA NOEL

Arts & Culture/Managing Editor

Pursuing your education at a college or university is a mission in itself, but what about studying in another city, state or even continent? The Global Education Office hosted its annual Study Away Fair Wednesday, Oct. 4, on the second floor of the Angell College Center next to the Warren Ballrooms. There were different tables with flyers, students and staff with multiple kinds of study abroad and what to expect when deciding to study abroad. Along with this was a photo contest for study abroad students to participate and vote on which photo they believe is the best. Senior Coordinator of Study Away Brooke Layhee said the location was per-

fect for this occasion because it allows for more foot traffic and for students who weren’t previously interested to potentially change their minds. “Some students say they’re not going to study away right away, but then are able to see it and maybe pick something up and have a conversation that interests them,” Layhee said. Layhee also noted how studying abroad can change one’s outlook and how it can improve someone’s future endeavors after graduation. “One thing I’ve been saying a lot is that no matter what you’re going to do or what your plans are postgraduation, you’re going to be working with people that are not like you. And I think that a study away experience really helps you to expose yourself to that and

try to see what you like in uncomfortable situations. ‘How do I meet new people? How do I make friends?’ Kind of putting yourself out there to learn more about you. I think it’s really tough after you graduate to live somewhere else for four or five months at a time, so college is a great time to do that,” Layhee said. Junior communication sciences and disorders major Raquel White studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain this spring. White had lots of takeaways from her experience, but her main lesson in studying abroad is to start fresh. “It was an amazing experience. I got to meet really cool people and I just always say it was like a clean slate to start and just learn things about myself that I didn’t know and just

enjoy being in Europe for 5 months,” White said. Senior hospitality management major Marissa Perry studied in Sydney, Australia, acknowledged that this trip helped her connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds from a variety of places. “It was such an amazing experience, honestly. I got to meet people from so many different parts of the world. It was definitely a different learning experience,” Perry said. “I gained so much independence from it too, learned so much about myself that I wouldn’t have learned just staying here and studying in America.” Junior majoring in biomedical sciences, Spanish and psychology Mina Fakir studied in Madrid and Valencia, Spain. “The experience was absolutely incredible,” Fakir

said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I really grew as a person and it opened my eyes to experiencing something new and being open to change.” Study Away programs can help students gain a different perspective on the people and the world around them. From languages to understanding new cultures, studying abroad can change how people feel about themselves and the diverse world we live in. “For me, it’s really that global awareness and global understanding of other people because you have your whole life ahead of you and there’s so much that can happen and change,” Layhee said.

Email KIYANNA NOEL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Provided by Courtney Meisenheimer

City Hall announces art exhibit The City of Plattsburgh is excited to announce that it now hosts a selection of works from the SUNY Plattsburgh Art Museum, and invites the public to view the works Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. During the summer, City staff worked with Plattsburgh State Art Museum staff to find a suitable location for a small collection of works to be exhibited in City Hall. The team worked together to select just over 20 pieces to be hung in City Hall that showcased the City, some dating back as far as the 1970s. Community Engagement Coordinator Courtney Meisenheimer said, “We are proud to highlight the

talented artists that attend SUNY Plattsburgh and are honored to showcase their work for the public to view. We hope that this encourages the public to visit SUNY Plattsburgh’s Art Museum on campus and immerse themselves in more art created by students in our City.” Director of Plattsburgh State Art Museum Tonya Cribb said, “We are excited to share our students’ work and to highlight the amazing accomplishments of our faculty in the Art Department. It is a wonderful opportunity to have the City of Plattsburgh host this work as part of our Museum Without Walls program. We hope that members of the community will trek over to campus to enjoy more

of our permanent art collection and galleries. Admission is always free and we are open six days a week to receive visitors.” This selection of artwork represents Plattsburgh State Art Museum’s dedication to acquiring pieces by students graduating from the SUNY Plattsburgh Art Department. The collection has approximately 300 pieces from former students, many of whom are still making art in the region. The exhibit is located on the main floor or City Hall in the Old Council Chambers room. The accessible entrance is located on the northside of City Hall via the elevator.

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Arts & Culture Editor Kiyanna Noel

ARTS & CULTURE

Banned Books Read-Out

▪

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Feinberg Library staff hosted annual Banned Book Read-Out By Kiyanna Noel A student reads an excerpt from a banned book at the podium while staff and fellow peers listen attentively.

The library set up a section dedicated to banned books for students who are interested. This section is located on the second floor on the right after passing through the detectors.

Bookmarks, stickers and bracelets are available on the nearby desk where the staplers and tape are located, for anyone who would like to have one. The bookmarks and bracelets read “BOOKS UNITE US. CENSORSHIP DIVIDES US.” The stickers read “I read banned books.”

Boutique opens despite construction

Provided by Anna Dickson

EMBER & ROOT modern therapy + counseling, located at 76 Margaret Street, opened a boutique on Sept. 1 amidst the backdrop of a bustling construction site. Despite the dust, gravel and limited foot traffic throughout the summer months, they felt it necessary to introduce these products during the fall seasonal transition as the community prepares for the physical and psychological effects the Winter months can bring to the North Country. A longstanding goal of psychotherapist and owner of EMBER & ROOT Anna Dickson is to share various products that have been an integral part of her self-care and personal wellness, especially throughout her travels and many moves as part of a military family. The boutique also includes home decor, accessories and apparel from makers she has developed a personal relationship with, particularly from the American Southwest. These items bring a sense of “home” to any space, an important component to well-being. “We are so pleased with the turnout, support and excitement over our version of ‘wellness’ and our ability to share this with the community,” Dickson said. “It will only grow from here.” Dickson intends to continue to expand the boutique to include items that she uses and/or recommends within her practice.

“We are starting small,” Dickson said, reflecting on the light infused alcove it currently occupies in the front office area. Store hours are also limited to weekdays, when the practice is actively open to clients. She added, “with a carefully curated mix of wellness products…it is a humble beginning toward a larger vision.” Dickson is a native to the local area and has integrated a variety of local businesses from the Adirondacks to continue to create and share products meaningful to her and her therapy practice. “So far, we have received amazing support from clients, Plattsburgh patrons and the community at large. We are grateful to continue to serve this community and expand in the coming years,” Dickson said. The Wellness Boutique participated in October’s First Friday, offering light fare and drinks at their Sip & Shop event Oct. 6. Additional information about EMBER & ROOT modern therapy + counseling can be found on their website: www. ember-root.com and instagrams: @ember.and.root and @ember.root_wellness_boutique. For additional questions, please contact via email: hello@ ember-root.com or office phone: (518) 569-6008.

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Arts & Culture Editor Kiyanna Noel

▪

ARTS & CULTURE

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

CARDINAL CALENDAR: Oct. 15 - 20 ALL WEEK:

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

Library

Canadian Asylum: Northern Border Migrations Art Exhibit - Burke Gallery and Slatkin Study

SUNDAY 10/15 DEI Jazz Brunch Warren Ballrooms 10 a.m. to noon

A live jazz and performance hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir and the Plattsburgh College Foundation. Students, employees, alumni and community members. are welcome to attend. For more information, register at https://alumni.plattsburgh.edu/s/1603/bp19/interior.aspx? sid=1603&gid=1&pgid=2886&cid=6626 &ecid=6626.

TUESDAY 10/17

THURSDAY 10/19

Group Exercise events: - Spin with Nina - Yoga with Nicole - Pilates with Sophia - Garba Dance with Mrudangi

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.

MONDAY 10/16

WEDNESDAY 10/18

Group Exercise events: - Spin with Okiah - Yoga with Connie - Cross Cycle with Connie - Hardbody with Grace - Zumba with Kaylynn

Group Exercise events: - Kickboxing with Connie - Yoga with Grace, Jema, and Shawna - Zumba with Kaylynn - Spin with Dimitra

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

Algonquin Hall noon to 8:45 p.m.

FRIDAY 10/20 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 Eight of Worlds card represents changing and transforming a part of yourself. Get accustomed to the new you and show the world how you have adapted.

AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18

The Child of Crystals card represents learning new ideas and concepts. Continue to open your mind to different perspectives.

PISCES February 19 - March 20

The Child of Cups card represents being open to feel all emotions. Allow yourself to experience all emotions, even if it is hard.

TAURUS April 20 - May 20

The Seven of Worlds card represents breaking through barriers. Now that you have overcome this situation, stop being stagnant and move on.

GEMINI May 21 - June 20

The Lovers Card represents being united and partnership. Continue to work together and communicate to better your relationship with others.

VIRGO August 23 - September 22

The Seven of Crystals card represents dullness and being drained. Try to get out of the funk you are in by becoming curious of the world around you.

LIBRA September 23 - October 22

The Nine of Cups card represents fulfillment and being successful. Remember hard work pays off and revel in this moment.

CANCER

SCORPIO

June 21 - July 22

October 23 - November 21

The Three of Cups card represents love and expressing yourself. Continue to wear your heart on your sleeve and build the community around you.

The Four of Cups card represents anger and being aggressive. Don’t let this emotion control you, channel it in a healthy manner.

ARIES

LEO

SAGITTARIUS

March 21 - April 19

July 23 - August 22

November 22 - December 21

The Sage of Cups card represents regenerating yourself. Allow yourself time to heal and make a comeback.

The Three of Crystals card represents creativity and uniqueness. Continue to think outside of the box.

The Ace of Cups card represents ecstasy. Enjoy the feeling of paradise and continue to share it with others.

▪ Photography Editor Jayne Smith

▪

PHOTO SPREAD

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

This Week in Photos: Clay Art Day

Photos by Jayne Smith

Right: Student Samiya Watkins proudly shows her clay creation, a snail.

Above: Left to right, Kaliyah Green, Yolina Barton, Naomi Adebayo and Sydney Wise pose together with their works.

Larry Below: Participants work on their clay projects at tables in the H.U.B. October 11.

The event was hosted by Black Onyx: The Black Student Union.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023

WSOC

MSOC

Cardinals impress in Blue Devil win BY JAYSON GASTON Staff Writer

had an opportunity before that, so I was like I really need to get one to make up for that, so, really good,” Fitzgerald said. It was a storybook day for Fitzgerald, who has often been a main source of offense for the Cardinals. “This being my second year, I think this senior class has left a really big imprint on what we want our program to be about, and the culture and everything, so I’m really excited for these 10 seniors. I also think on the field and off the field, they have helped mold Plattsburgh women’s soccer,” Head Coach Whitney Frary said.

It would be tough to imagine a better start for the Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s soccer team. The team remained without a loss through last weekend, culminating in a second conference win over a SUNYAC rival, the Fredonia Blue Devils. The Cardinals defeated the Blue Devils 2-1 on Saturday, Oct. 7, moving its conference record to 2-0-3 and its overall record to 7-0-4. The Blue Devils fell to 5-4-4 overall. The game saw the Cardinals fall behind in the first half. Fredonia came out strong, notching a 16th-minute goal to go up 1-0 early in the game. The Cardinals remained aggressive despite this early deficit, as it got off eight first-half shots to the Blue Devils’ six. The Cardinals held Fredonia scoreless at the start of the second half with junior goalkeeper Teddy Healy contributing two of his six saves to keep the score 1-0. The Cardinals’ offense began to push for a comeback in the second half. In the 64th minute, junior forward Brian Coughlan scored the game-tying goal after beating two defenders. With the game now tied, the Cardinals looked to control the ball as it would give up no shots to the Blue Devils after the 76th minute.

WSOC > 9

MSOC > 10

Provided by Lily Stumm

(Front row, from left to right) Samantha Rachon, Casey Granger, Jessica Landman, Zoe Rice, Katie Stevenson, Tara Bendsak, Sophia Hatziyianis, Kayla Myer, Avery Durgan and Nora Fitzgerald in their Senior Day portrait at the Field House Oct. 7.

Cards win big on Senior Day Fitzgerald goal secures second SUNYAC win

BY MIKAI BRUCE Associate Sports Editor

Senior Day is a joyous yet bittersweet time for any student athlete, and the SUNY Plattsburgh women’s soccer team couldn’t have asked for a better one. Plattsburgh had a staggering 10 seniors to acknowledge on this day and they recognized them by putting red solo cups in a gate in the shape of all the players’ respective numbers along with. The game opened with a ceremony featuring flowers and each player’s family members. The seniors being celebrated were Nora Fitzgerald, Kayla Myers, Avery Durgan, Sophia Hatziyianis, Tara

Bendsak, Katie Stevenson, of people were camped under Zoe Rice, Jessica Landman, tents to keep out of the rain Casey Granger and Saman- but with the cheers and jeers tha Rachon. The seniors were that were heard throughout sent off with a 1-0 win against the game, it seemed that the the Fredonia Blue Devils and rain did not change much. it was none othIt was a cor“I think this er than Fitzgerner kick in the ald who scored senior class has 37th minute the game-winof the game left a really big that changed ning goal. It was an ex- imprint on what the tide. After tremely rainy the ball was we want our day at the Plattsprogram to be launched into burgh Field the air by Rice, about.” House Complex it was Fitzgerand the condiald who got the tions on the first touch, then field were monthe ball found soon-like. This its way back to did not stop the families of her and she knocked it in to the seniors from showing up give Plattsburgh a 1-0 lead. and extending love and sup“Really good, I was obviport though. Multiple groups ously hoping to get one. I

Head Coach Whitney Frary

TEN

Cardinals fall short in Binghamton

Team drops out of playoff race with two SUNYAC losses BY MICHAEL PURTELL Staff Writer

The Plattsburgh State Cardinals (8-6, SUNYAC 2-5) wrapped up its SUNYAC season and were eliminated from postseason contention during a three-game trip to the Binghamton Tennis Center. The matches took place from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, and the Cardinals finished 1-2 over the conference stretch. The Cardinals entered the tournament on a high note with a 7-2 win over the Brockport Golden Eagles (2-8, SUNYAC 1-6) Thursday. The following day, Plattsburgh faced off with the Geneseo Knights (7-3, SUNYAC 5-2) and lost 8-1. The Cardinals then played Fredonia (1-7, SUNYAC 1-6) in a close match, losing 4-5 to close the tournament Saturday.

The conclusion of the Binghamton matches marks the end of the SUNYAC season for the Cardinals. Four seniors draw a close on their collegiate tennis careers: Jacqueline Svantner, Nicole Svantner, Samantha Svantner and Sarah Benowitz. These seniors played through all three of Head Women’s Tennis Coach Kelci Henn’s seasons as head coach, and she had nothing but praise for their influence on the team. “I can absolutely say that all four of the seniors have made this team what it is. Every success that our team has seen is because of those four seniors and the effort that they put in day in and day out,” Henn said. “Their leadership on and off the court for sure has really made the impact on the

team. I mean, our team like I said before, we wouldn’t be who we are without the four of them.” Plattsburgh State saw great success through its firstyear athletes as well. Ava Carey and Jacklin Mitchell both saw starting roles in singles and doubles as COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points partners and Samantha Svantner (front) and Nicole Svantner (back) prepare for a serve were a driving in doubles play against Geneseo at the Binghamton Tennis Center Oct. 6. factor in many of the Cardifeat earned them SUNYAC Mitchell saw a threatening nals’ wins this season. Women’s Tennis Doubles comeback when the Knights Over the three games in Team of the week. pushed the score from 7-3 to Binghamton, the duo was In the #3 doubles match 7-5.7-5, sniffing a win. able to secure wins in all three against Geneseo, Carey and of their doubles contests. This TEN > 10

Friday, Oct. 6: TEN 1-8 LOSS vs. Geneseo *SUNYAC* VB 3-1 WIN vs. Oswego *SUNYAC* Saturday, Oct. 7: TEN 4-5 LOSS vs. Fredonia *SUNYAC* MXC 10th, WXC 5th at James Early Inv. VB 0-3 LOSS vs. Cortland *SUNYAC* MSOC 2-1 WIN @ Fredonia *SUNYAC* WSOC 1-0 WIN vs. Fredonia *SUNYAC* Wednesday, Oct. 11: WSOC 1-1 TIE @ Cortland *SUNYAC* MSOC 0-2 LOSS vs. No. 11 Cortland *SUNYAC* VB 3-1 WIN vs. Potsdam *SUNYAC*

Saturday, Oct. 14: XC @ Connecticut College Inv. at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. MSOC vs. Buffalo St. *SUNYAC* at 1 p.m. (Senior Day) WSOC @ Buffalo St. *SUNYAC* at 1 p.m. MHKY @ VSU-Castleton at 4 p.m. (Exhibition) Tuesday, Oct. 17: VB vs. VSU-Johnson at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18: WSOC vs. Oneonta *SUNYAC* at 3 p.m. MSOC @ Oneonta *SUNYAC* at 3 p.m.

▪ Sports Editor Collin Bolebruch

▪

SPORTS

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Cardinals split home weekend M. SOCCER

BY REBEKAH RILEY

STANDINGS

Staff Writer

TEAM Cortland

SUNYAC OVERALL 5-1-0 11-2-1

Brockport

4-0-2

7-2-4

Oneonta

4-2-0

11-2-0

New Paltz

3-1-2

8-1-3

Plattsburgh

2-1-3

7-1-4

Buffalo St.

3-3-0

8-3-2

Geneseo

2-3-1

6-5-3

Oswego

1-2-3

2-4-6

Fredonia

1-5-1

5-5-4

Potsdam

0-7-0

3-8-1

STATISTICS GOALS John Hayes, M

# 5

Brian Coughlan, F

Jack Healy, D

ASSISTS Xavier Kamba, F

# 3

Frankie Palumbo, M

John Hayes, M POINTS John Hayes, M

2 # 12

Brian Coughlan, F

Kamba, J. Healy

SHOTS ON GOAL John Hayes, M

# 23

Modou Badjie, W

Xavier Kamba, F

SAVES Teddy Healy, G

# 35

Marcial Vasquez, G

W. SOCCER STANDINGS TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL New Paltz - x 4-0-2 8-3-3 Cortland

3-0-3

7-2-4

Brockport

3-1-2

11-2-2

Oswego

2-1-3

5-2-5

Plattsburgh

2-1-3

4-4-4

Geneseo

1-0-5

5-2-6

Fredonia

2-1-4

5-6-2

Potsdam

1-4-2

3-6-2

Oneonta

1-4-1

4-4-3

Buffalo St.

0-4-2

5-5-3

The Plattsburgh Cardinals volleyball team hosted its first home games in over 30 days, playing the Oswego Lakers Friday, Oct. 6. The Cardinals won in four sets, 3-1 earning its first SUNYAC win. The Cards hosted the Cortland Red Dragons and lost in 3 sets, Saturday, Oct. 7. The Lakers won the first set 25-19 in a tough, back and forth game. The Cardinals brought the score to 1819, but four straight Lakers points secured the win. The Cards won the second set 25-21. Plattsburgh was strong right off the bat with a kill from senior Emma Rivers, setting the tone for a dominant set. The third set, the Cards won again 25-17. The Cards started out with two kills, one from sophomore Jeanette Ashong and another from first-year Darby Collyear. The Lakers had an attack error and the Cards led the set 3-0. However, the Lakers fought back and matched the Cards 3-3. First-year Iris Mulvey had three kills on the way to an 11-10 lead. The Lakers scored two points before the Cards came back with four points, two of them from errors made by the Lakers and the other two points were a kill each from sophomores Maggie

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

The Cardinals reconvene after a won point against the Potsdam Bears at home Oct. 11. The Cards have won 2-3 home conference games this year, an improvement from 0-4 last season. Lyon and Ashong. The Lakers were only able to squeeze in three more points before the Cardinals closed them out. The Cardinals won the fourth set 25-18. The Cards started with three points, two of them were errors made by the Lakers and then the third point was from a kill from firstyear Liya Girma. The Lakers scored once before the Cards one-upped them by scoring five points, with a kill from Collyear and two kills from Lyon, then two aces from Girma. The score was 8-1. From there, the game was tit-for-tat, and the

Cards pulled out another win. The Cardinals’ success was not matched the following day. The Red Dragons won the first set 25-22. The Cards were behind the Red Dragons from the beginning. The Cards fought to stay close, and it did, but it never matched the score the Red Dragons put up. The second set, the Cardinals were thrown off its game when the Red Dragons came out guns blazing, winning the set 25-10. The third set, the Red Dragons put an end to the game, winning 25-12.

STATISTICS GOALS Nora Fitzgerald, F

# 5

Avery Durgan, F

Hatziyianis, Santomassimo

ASSISTS Avery Durgan, F

# 4

Nora Fitzgerald, F

Five players

POINTS Nora Fitzgerald, F

# 13

Avery Durgan, F

Hatziyianis, Santomassimo

SHOTS ON GOAL Nora Fitzgerald, F

# 18

Ella Santomassimo, F

Avery Durgan, F

SAVES Lauren Haley, G

# 51

Lily Bailey, G

VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS TEAM New Paltz

SUNYAC OVERALL 4-0 14-5

Cortland

3-0

14-3

Brockport

3-1

7-9

Geneseo

3-1

7-7

Buffalo St.

2-1

12-8

Plattsburgh

2-3

9-7

Fredonia

1-2

3-13

Oswego

1-2

4-11

Oneonta

0-4

3-13

Potsdam

0-5

4-12

STATISTICS KILLS

Liya Girma, OH

157

Darby Collyear, RS

115

Jeannette Ashong. MH ATTACK ERRORS Darby Collyear, RS

107 # 94

Liya Girma, OH

Maggie Lyon, OH ASSISTS Emma Rivers, S

43 # 297

Kyleigh Ganz, S

196

Payton Zophy, OH/L SERVICE ACES Emma Rivers, S

45 # 29

Liya Girma, OH

Jeannette Ashong, MH DIGS Payton Zophy, OH/L

17 # 338

Liya Girma, OH

184

Emma Rivers, S

106

6 Provided by Lily Stumm

Forward Nora Fitzgerald poses with her family. Fitzgerald, once a defender, has nine career goals and 10 assists to her name.

17 20 22

TEAM SUNYAC OVERALL New Paltz - x 7-0 7-0 6-1

7-3

5-2

7-3

Oneonta - x

4-3

6-5

Oswego

2-5

4-6

Plattsburgh

2-5

8-6

Brockport

1-6

2-8

Fredonia

1-6

1-7

Provided by Lily Stumm

Forward Tara Bendsak (17) made her second career start against Fredonia.

STATISTICS (FINAL)

WSOC

SINGLES Jacklin Mitchell

# 10-1

Nicole Svantner

7-6

Continued from page 8

Ava Carey

7-6

DOUBLES TEAMS Hurwitz & J. Svantner

# 8-3

Carey & Mitchell

6-7

S. & N. Svantner

5-6

DOUBLES Hallie Hurwitz

# 9-5

Jacqueline Svantner

8-5

Carey, Mitchell

6-7

These seniors were the embodiment of effort and hard work and the younger players on the team clearly followed their lead. “Ever since I came here, it’s just been fun all the time. I love playing on the field with all the girls. I’m grateful that I get this opportunity, because everyday we go out

5 12

Provided by Lily Stumm

STANDINGS (FINAL)

Geneseo - x

VB > 10

Defender Kayla Myers poses with her family. Myers has started 41 of 44 games in her Plattsburgh career since transferring in 2021.

TENNIS

Cortland - x

Playing at home for the first time this conference season, the Cardinals used the crowd to its advantage. “It definitely does help. Knowing we are playing on our own court, because it is a space that we are always in, it’s a place that we’re comfortable. But I still think that we also do a good job playing away games,” Collyear said. The game against Cortland was not only a tough physical game, but also a big mental challenge for the team.

and we work as hard as we can, it’s just fun,” Myers said. Myers began her collegiate career at Nazareth College but played her other three years here and was an excellent addition to the team throughout her career. “These are times I’ll never forget. I’ll treasure these moments. I’ve been playing soccer my whole life, and to make it to this level and this being my ending is a sad moment, but also a joyful time,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald was a standout player during

24 25 29

her career at Plattsburgh, being named to the All-SUNYAC first team as a defender during her junior year. She contributed both as a scorer and a passer. Senior Day does represent the closing of a door, but it also allows many players to sit back and reflect on their good memories and share those moments with their families, coaches and teammates. Email MIKAI BRUCE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

10 ▪

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SPORTS

Sports Editor Collin Bolebruch

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

TEN Continued from page 8 Through some fantastic teamwork, they were able to secure the win. “It’s definitely a lot of strategizing, me and Ava together,” Mitchell said. “She walks me through it and she knows, like ‘Do your lob game, do your lob game,’ and my lob game sets her up for a good shot. So we definitely worked together to make that happen.” Henn is grateful to them for their work throughout the season, and remains excited to see them grow in upcoming competitions. “Oh my gosh, I could not be more happy and excited to have the both of them on our team,” Henn said. “For them to be put in a starting lineups and maybe playing in spots they normally haven’t: like Jacklin played a little doubles in

7 MSOC - Seven seniors say goodbye on Senior Day vs. Buff St. Oct. 14.

27 MHKY - The Cardinals will start the season with 27 rostered players.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

(Left to right) Sarah Benowitz, Hallie Hurwitz and Kelci Henn discuss the results of doubles play at the Binghamton Tennis Center Oct. 6. highschool but was mainly a singles player, and then Ava was mainly a doubles player — so for her to in turn play both, and do singles and doubles and excel in both, it is just so exciting to see.” The Cardinals head into the offseason looking ahead. The losses have inspired many athletes on the roster to look for ways to refine their game so that they may come back and challenge the top end of the SUNYAC conference and make the Final Four.

“We need to hit more outside of practice, get together out of season, hit more, and work with our coaches on just rallying for longer. These teams don't make as many mistakes as we do, so we need to make less mistakes,” Junior captain Hallie Hurwitz said. Plattsburgh State ends its season with heads held high despite finishing with back-to-back losses. The team knows it took great strides in competing with the top of the conference.

“I'm viewing this season as a success. I mean, it didn't pan out the way we wanted it to. Of course, we wanted to make the Final Four and get there, but while we didn't achieve that, I still think that the drive is still there. The want is still there. The girls are going to come back again, hungry for it again next season,” Henn said.

913 VB - Payton Zophy is on the verge on 1,000 career digs, a milestone.

10 TEN - Jacklin Mitchell won 10 singles matches, the most since 2018.

2 XC - Graham Richard and Marissa Colvin were both named SUNYAC runners of the week.

Email MICHAEL PURTELL cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Liya Girma (4) is blocked by two Potsdam defenders during a 3-1 win Oct. 11. Girma, a firstyear player, has been a significant part of the offense, leading the team in kills with 157.

VB Continued from page 9 “I think it was a really big mental game, because we went in knowing that we were a great team and it was gonna be a good competition. For the first set, we fought really hard and we saw what we could do, and how great we can play against them. But it was like each mistake we would kind of dwell on, so it was hard to get that out of our head,” Ashong said. Head Coach Kelsea Healis knows what to take away from the loss. “They are a scrappy team so I think our offense not being able to find the court was one of our weaknesses of that day” Healis said.

MSOC Continued from page 8 The Cardinals broke the tie in the 83rd minute as junior wing Modou Badjie drew a penalty after being tripped from behind by a Blue Devil. The Cardinals went with Coughlan for the important kick and Coughlan delivered, scoring his second goal of the day and taking the lead for the Cardinals. The Cardinals finished a dramatic game. Cardinals Head Coach Chris Taylor was confident in his team's ability to come

The Cards beat the Potsdam Bears 3-1 Wednesday, Oct. 11. Next, Plattsburgh will be playing the nonconference Vermont State University-Johnson Tuesday, Oct. 17. Having games in the middle of the week is something the team hasn’t done yet this year. “I don't think we’ve had a game in the middle of the week. We’re gonna have classes and stuff and then we’ll have a game. I don't think it should change anything like how we play,” Collyear said. The game against Vermont State University-Johnson is not a SUNYAC game, and with less pressure, the team can use the game to learn. “I feel like because it’s not a conference game, it’ll be nice to play more comfort-

back and eventually close the game. “It might be three of the last four games we’ve gone behind and we’ve come back to at least tie in all of them,” Taylor said. “I think that speaks to the competitive level of the guys, their competitive mindset, because when you fall behind in a game you can make adjustments but ultimately, winning mentality takes over.” Coughlan won SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career. “We just know we gotta stay in every game, compete with every team,” Cough-

ably without having the fear of making mistakes, but still playing to the best of our abilities.” Ashong said. Healis agreed, saying it will help with SUNYAC games going forward. “It gives us a chance to try out a few things that we’re seeing during conference play, but we don't want to risk it during conference play to make a chance or to see some differences, so it's nice to have that opportunity,” Healis said. The Cards will be on the road again, and back to conference play, taking on the Red Dragons of Oneonta Friday, Oct. 20. Then, the Cardinals will play the New Paltz Hawks Saturday, Oct. 21.

Brian Coughlan's two goal game against the Fredonia Blue Devils Oct. 7 propelled the Cardinals to its second SUNYAC win of the season. G 2

A 0

SOG 3

MIN 180

Email REBEKAH RILEY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

lan said. “Just about getting that first goal and then just going from there, not focusing on winning the game right away.” With the win, the Cardinals now have had the best team start in the past 20 years. The team is staying focused and keeping a one-gameat-a-time mentality to close out the year. “I think, to be honest, it’s about one game at a time, one day at a time. We don’t look ahead from day one of preseason, we don’t need to talk about winning, we don’t need to talk about records or playoffs or championships because they’re just outcomes to us,”

Taylor said. The Cardinals took its first loss of the year to the Cortland Red Dragons, 0-2 at home Oct. 11. The nationally-r anked No. 11 Cortland top the SUNYAC with a 11-2-1 overall record. Plattsburgh will host the 8-3-2 Buffalo State Bengals for its Senior Day Oct. 14. Wing Modou Badjie says the team is staying ready for these upcoming conference games. “We’re ready for a fight and hopefully, we’ll come out with a win,” Badjie said. Email JAYSON GASTON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

The Cardinals did its seniors right with its second SUNYAC win of the season. A Nora Fitzgerald goal keeps Plattsburgh alive in the conference.

FRE 0 PSU 1

0 0

— —

0 1

11 ▪

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SPORTS

Sports Editor Collin Bolebruch

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Soccer transfer elevates team's offense Badjie's move to new school ties to immigrant experience BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Modou Badjie found himself in an unfamiliar place last summer, joining Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s soccer, his second college team. In a situation where players could easily fall behind, Modou has thrived as a valuable piece of the team’s offense. This isn’t even the biggest adjustment Modou’s ever had to make. Modou was born in The Gambia to a Jola family, 22 years ago. He’s been playing soccer since he learned how to walk — even when he couldn’t get a ball. “We’d take old socks and we’d roll them up in a ball together,” Modou said. “If it wasn’t big enough, we’d take garbage bags, stuff them up, and make them into soccer balls. We’d play with that.” When Modou was 5 years old, his father, Nfamara, moved to the Hudson Valley in New York. Nfamara was a famous musician in Gambia, and received an opportunity to play overseas. He later founded a rice farm, the first of its kind in its region, and was featured on National Public Radio. He sent whatever money could spare to Gambia to support Modou, his three brothers and the village. Nfamara is a local hero. Modou grew up with his brothers and was raised by his family-like community. He didn’t receive a formal education until he was 10 years old. The closest school was miles away and regularly attending classes was unrealistic. Nfamara moved Modou and two of his brothers to Saugerties, New York when Modou was 11 years old. Modou lived there for a year, while taking fifth grade classes. To accommodate a larger family, the household moved to Kingston, New York, where Modou repeated fifth grade. Modou continued his soccer career, playing through middle school and becoming a standout for the Kingston High School Tigers. A 19-year-old senior, Modou sat out his final

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Head Coach Chris Taylor (right) embraces Modou Badjie (left) following a 2-1 win against Union College Sept. 16. Badjie brings a speed and fluidity to the team Taylor has been looking for. season, not wanting to play younger players. Modou was still a sought-after player. SUNY Ulster Men’s Soccer Coach Jamal Lis-Simmons reached out to Modou’s advisor, looking to add the young wing to his roster. Modou attended other schools’ tryouts, but Ulster, a community college, made the most sense for him. Modou’s first season, 2020, was spoiled by COVID-19. Unable to play, his attention was his studies as a criminal justice major and a full-time job at Taco Bell. He continued working on his craft, playing soccer with a mask on. As soon as he could hit the pitch, Modou came out guns blazing. In his first season, he scored 12 goals to lead the team. His second season, as captain, was much of the same, putting in 11 scores. His fluid play style made him hard to miss on the field. Plattsburgh Cardinals Men’s Head Soccer Coach Chris Taylor discovered Modou by accident. Chris attended Ulster’s game against Herkimer College to scout a Herkimer player. He couldn’t help but marvel at Modou’s skill set. Chris immediately got in contact with Jamal, who put him in touch with Modou.

“I became a little fixated on him,” Chris said. “He was so electric.” Modou was getting to be too big of a fish for the pond that is junior college. Chris and Modou were regularly

Jamal told Chris to get back on the push to recruit Modou. Before anyone knew it, Modou was on a visit to Plattsburgh. Chris showed him around the school and Modou had lunch with the

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Modou Badjie sets up the offense against Oswego Sept. 30. communicating, making sure Modou was still interested in Plattsburgh and putting in effort academically. When Chris came to the realization that Modou may have been considering Division II schools, he thought he lost him. “Chris was a big part of it, because I didn’t really get along with other coaches,” Modou said. “He was, like, the only coach that was texting me, making sure I was doing my school work.”

upperclassmen. A reserved guy, Modou felt welcomed by his future teammates. Over the summer, Modou played for the semi-professional Kingston Stockdale FC in Kingston and Chris assistant coached for Vermont Green FC in Burlington, Vermont. The two teams faced off in a friendly match, and Chris got an even better look at Modou. Modou has incredible pace. He glides across the field, and it never looks like he’s running at his top speed. He plays with

the ball in front of defenders, like it's on a string, making them think they have a chance at it. “He’s gliding past people, and they look like they’re running in slow motion because he’s so graceful,” Chris said. “You’re like, ‘Is he even going full pelt?’” Modou never wants to leave the game, always wanting to leave his all on the field. In two games this season, Modou has drawn penalties to set up game-winning goals for Brian Coughlan. It didn’t take long for Modou to grow close with his new teammates, and he was surprised. “I’m probably the toughest guy to play with,” Modou said. “I get the ball, move the ball. They like going at people.” Over the summer, he moved in with teammates Brian, Teddy Healy, Jack Healy, Dylan Shalvey, John Hayes, Marcial Vasquez, Christian Garner and Frankie Palumbo. The guys go out to eat and host regular FIFA tournaments on off days. Self-admittedly, Modou isn’t very good at virtual soccer. “He was a little bit quiet, but now he’s talking all the time,” Jack said. The usually-quiet Modou is very vocal on the field, making sure transitions are smooth and he’s able to work his magic. Modou has been a great addition to the Cardinals offense so far, racking up five points through 11 contests. He still wants to get better. “His demands of himself are much higher than what we could ever place on him. There’s a lot of respect for him out there for how humble he is,” Chris said. “He’s such a good person. Straight away, people have taken to him.” Modou would like to recognize and dedicate this space to Jeffrey Kiluba, a friend who died while visiting family in the Dominican Republic last week.

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

CARDINAL CLIPS BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

MHKY

Hockey season is upon us. The 202324 Plattsburgh Cardinals men’s ice hockey team announced its final roster Oct. 10 before exhibition play begins tomorrow, Oct. 14, at Vermont State University-Castleton. The reigning SUNYAC champions will look different on the ice this season. Fifteen forwards made this year’s team: sophomore Joshua Belgrave; junior Jagger Benson; sophomore Ryan Bonfield; senior Paul Bryer; senior Ryan Butler; sophomore Colin Callanan; first-year Aaron Catron from Delaware; first-year Tio D’Addario from Quebec, Canada; junior Luk Jirousek; junior Jake Lanyi; senior Thomas Maia; senior Bennett Stockdale; sophomore Riley Sutherland; senior Trey Thomas and graduate student Adam Tretowicz. Nine defensemen will play for the Cardinals: sophomore Spencer Bellina; sophomore transfer Lonan Bulger from the Northwest Territories, Canada via Hobart College in Geneva, New York;

sophomore Brannon Butler; first-year Sam D’Amico from Ontario, Canada; graduate student Ryan Hogg; junior Jack Ring; junior transfer Ryan Poorman from Pennsylvania via Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont; firstyear Simon Singher from Quebec, Canada and senior Kevin Weaver-Vitale. Three goaltenders round out the roster: first-year Dominik Bovan from Bratislava, Slovakia; junior Jacob Hearne and sophomore Eli Shiller. Seven players from last year’s title run will not return to the Cardinals this season. Forward Carson Gallagher, once a transfer arrival to Plattsburgh, transferred to Toronto Metropolitan University and forward Brendan Young transferred to Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Forward Marcus Mitchell graduated and goaltender Kyle Alaverdy spent his eligibility. Forward Mitchell Hale and defenseman Matt Araujo will team up for the professional minor league Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Defenseman Jacob Modry played briefly for the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL in Savannah, Georgia, and recently made the Los Angeles Kings’ training camp roster.

GABE DICKENS/Plattsburgh State Athletics

The 2023-24 Plattsburgh Cardinals men's hockey team's official portrait. Head Coach Steve Moffat returns for his fifth season, joined by returning Assistant Coach Reid Lesswing and Goalie Coach Bill Corbo. Alex Duval has joined the staff as team manager alongside veteran Ryan Knowles. Tretowicz will serve as team captain, wearing the “C”, and Bryer, Hogg and Stockdale as alternative captains, wearing the “A”. Not only will the personnel look different, but so will the uniforms.

Plattsburgh received its first new sweaters since the 2018-19 season, now wearing black on the road and keeping white at home. The black sweater will sport a large front logo that wasn’t present in the 2018-2023 set, omitting numbers on the front, to match women’s hockey. Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

FRIDAY, OCT. 13 , 2023

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

Intern reflects on McCarthy’s ousting BY MARY STOCKMAN Contributor

As a senior criminal justice and law and justice major with a minor in political science, I am currently spending the semester as a congressional intern in the House of Representatives at the SUNY Washington DC Internship Program. My internship is with Representative Brian Higgins (NY-26) who represents Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and if you know anything about me, I am from Buffalo and represent Buffalo any chance I get. I had the privilege to witness history last Tuesday. I was in the House gallery when Kevin McCarthy was voted out of his position as speaker of the House. This is a huge deal. No previous speaker in the history of the United States has been ousted by a vote of the whole. Back in January, the House needed to elect a new speaker because the Republican Party had won the majority in the most recent election. McCarthy (CA-20), who had been the House minority leader when the Democrats were in control, wanted to be speaker of the House, which requires earning. A majority vote among all members of the House would be 218 votes. It took McCarthy 15 rounds to finally achieve the speakership. To finally get enough votes, he had to make some serious concessions to some more far-right Republicans, such as Andy Biggs (AZ-5), Matt Gaetz (FL-1), Bob Good (VA-5) and many more. Some of these concessions include letting the far right help make the rules, enabling for the far right to oust him, making tax increases and new spending easier to block, and

some more. What recently happened that got McCarthy in job trouble — in my opinion, he was always in job trouble — was this continuing resolution that was put in place so that the government would not shut down. In basic terms, a continuing resolution is a temporary spending bill that allows the federal government to remain open long enough for debates to continue over longer-term appropriations. The far-right and more moderate Republicans in the House could not come to an agreement over spending, and so to avoid a shutdown, McCarthy brought up a continuing resolution just hours before midnight, which passed the House, largely with Democratic support, and Senate, then was signed by the president just before midnight, when the shutdown would have occurred. I can tell you, I did not think that there was going to be a continuing resolution. I thought the government was going to shut down and that is terrifying for an intern, especially because it was looking like this shutdown was going to be a few weeks, during which I would not have been allowed to work. So when this continuing resolution happened, I was very happy, but I also knew that it likely meant McCarthy would lose his job because the far-right Republicans in the House were not pleased that he ignored their wishes and made a deal backed largely by Democrats. On Monday, Gaetz went down to the House floor and filed a motion to vacate, which means he filed to have McCarthy removed from his job.

At this point, I was not surprised at all. On Tuesday when the vacancy was on the schedule, my supervisor let me go to watch, so I went to the House gallery to watch history happen. What was interesting was that there was a vote on an appropriation bill. The thing that was weird was the Democrats of the House were voting by written vote. Normally, they vote by electronic device, so this made the voting for this appropriation bill very long. My thought on this is that we’re all getting on the same page. The appropriation bill passed, and then it moved onto the motion to vacate the speaker position, which Gaetz brought up. Representative Thomas Cole (OK-4) brought up the motion to the table, which means to stop the process of holding the vote that was just brought to the floor. So then it went to a vote. Most Republicans voted in favor of tabling the motion, and most Democrats voted against the motion to table, and then there were some far-right Republicans who voted against the motion to table. The motion failed to pass, so then it went to the debate. The two main people who were debating were Gaetz, who was very much against the speaker, and then Cole, who was in favor of the speaker. Each of these representatives had other representatives either in favor or against the speaker. Each of these sides got 30 minutes to debate. To me, this was the crazy part. Most of the people who spoke in favor of the speaker, such as Elise Stefanik, our representative in

Plattsburgh, were saying that he was a great guy and that he did what he had to do to make sure that the government stayed open. Then the opposition would say that the speaker may be a good guy, but he is terrible at his job. It was also funny to see republicans attack Gaetz. Throughout the whole debate, there was a lot of outburst from the Republican Party. Most of the time it was when Gaetz would say something that was not factual or when something was hypocritical. To say the least, this whole debate was a spectacle. After both parties were done debating, it came to the vote on the vacancy. Normally, when they vote, they project the last names of all of the representatives on the wall across the gallery, but for this vote, this did not happen. In this vote, they called out each representative’s last names and they had to stand and say yea or nay. I knew all of the Democrats were going to vote yea, meaning they wanted the speaker position to be vacated. I also knew most Republicans were going to vote nay, to keep McCarthy in his position. In the end, 208 Democrats voted in favor of the speaker position being vacated, 210 Republicans voted for the speaker to keep his position, and 8 Republicans voted in favor of the speaker position being vacated. The final vote was 218 to 210, and the motion passed. When this happened, the whole chamber went quiet for a few moments. Then, reality set in and it got really loud. I was in a state of shock — I could not believe that I had just witnessed history. The walk back to my office was interesting

too, including seeing Representative George Santos in a SpongeBob tie and Gaetz speaking to the press. When I returned to my office, everyone was in shock. We all knew it was coming, but we were able to witness it. I will never forget that. There was a temporary speaker put in place, Representative Patrick McHenry (NC-10), who will only serve until a permanent speaker is selected. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, we do have a speaker. But who knows? When there is no elected speaker, nothing can really happen. There are no committees, no hearings, and no bills are going to be passed until there is an elected speaker. Why is this a problem, you may be asking yourself? The continuing resolution that was passed ends Nov. 17 and if nothing is passed, we are looking at another government shutdown. Also, the worry is that this next speaker race will take a lot more rounds than the last speaker race, which took 15 rounds. Additionally, with a new international crisis unfolding in Israel and Palestine, Congress is not able to function until there is a new speaker elected, which limits our country’s ability to respond. It is going to be interesting to see what happens next. I will try to keep you all updated when I can. But if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me. My email is mstoc005@plattsburgh.edu.

Email MARY STOCKMAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

13 ▪ Opinion Editor Daniela Raymond

‘The Gray Room’: New Ebony Alert BY DANIELA RAYMOND Opinion Editor

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, California will have a specialized alert system and notifications for missing Black people called the “Ebony Alert.” Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB-673 into law to implement the new system Oct. 8. The bill will allow the California Highway Patrol to activate the alert system based on a request from local law enforcement when a Black youth or Black woman has been reported missing according to data by the FBI. Every year, millions of Black youths and women go missing across the United States. These are not the cases that you see taking over headlines, and more than often these cases are not solved. The “Ebony Alert” term was coined based on the “Amber Alert” system. Patrols will be able to use highway signs and reinforce the message to surrounding news outlets to spread information. Black women and children are disproportionately represented in missing case files throughout the U.S. According to data from the National Crime Information Center, last year, more than 130,000 Black children under 18 were reported missing, and currently, there are more than 23,000 open missing persons cases. Policymakers and advocacy groups have been criticizing the Amber Alert system for overlooking Black lives, despite the fact that Black children make up a significant amount of missing people across the country. California Senator Steven Bradford said, “The Ebony Alert will ensure that vital resources and attention are given so we can bring home missing Black children and women in the same way we search for any missing child and missing person.”

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OPINION

CAMERON GREAVES/Cardinal Points

This bill has seen a lot of backlash from the Black community. While many understand the purpose, it seems like the objective may fall short. Despite the bill’s good intentions, the distinction is a way for authorities to decide how fast they want to respond. The alert system that used to be anonymous will now identify Black youth and women, and many feel like this is motive for people to not want to be on high alert or look at all because of the carelessness for Black lives. Critics believe that the new alert will embolden people to ignore the messages. While this theory could be true, the original purpose of the Ebony Alert was not just because Black kids are not being found — they are not even being reported. A majority of minority children are initially classified as runaways and do not receive Amber Alerts. Many missing Black adults are classified as being associated with criminal involvement. As you can see, these issues are systemic, and while we hope to solve the issues entirely, we cannot ignore the fact that missing Black people need to be found. The bill is not meant to

rival the Amber Alert but rather enhance it, highlighting minorities who rarely get attention when they go missing. The new alert will also cover anyone who is 25 or younger as the Amber Alert age cap is 17. Black people who are considered at risk or with mental issues will also now qualify and alerts will be sent out using roadsigns and electronic notifications. The new Ebony Alert legislation has been sponsored by the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference. The Conference President Rick Callender called the legislation “a historic breakthrough, guaranteeing that Black children and young Black women will receive the attention and protection they need when they are reported missing.” Missing Black women and children need to be made a priority. For far too long, their cases have been overlooked and neglected. We see these discrepancies within our government and now it is time to help the people who need it the most.

Email DANIELA RAYMOND cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

A.I. takes away creativity

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Aleksandra Sidorova

Managing Editor Kiyanna Noel

News Editor Hayden Sadler

Arts & Culture Editor

Sports Editor Collin Bolebruch

Assoc. Sports Editor Mikai Bruce

Graphics Editor Cameron Greaves

Opinion Editor Daniela Raymond

Multimedia Editor Jacob Crawford

Photography Editor Jayne Smith

Kiyanna Noel

Public Relations Chair

Web Editor

Kennedy Tavares

Yuki Ouchi

Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy

Contact CP cp@cardinalpointsonline.com 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY

Weekly Poll Taken from 36 participants

Do you believe in using AI?

BY JEREMY BINNING Staff Writer

Ask someone 50 years ago how they pictured the year 2023 would look, and many would probably say flying cars. However, having a machine type your essay for you sounds just as fun. AI, also known as artificial intelligence, has been around since the early 1950s, believe it or not. Although it seems fairly new, the development of this has taken time to produce what is being used today, which has people worried about their future ways of living and working. Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines or software. It is also the field of study in computer science that develops and studies intelligent machines. Michael Eskander, an alumnus of SUNY Plattsburgh, graduated last semester with a bachelor’s in computer science. Eskander noticed the difference in how his classes were compared to how they started when he was a first-year. “I started here in 2018 and the thought of artificial intelligence wasn’t even brought up in any of my computer science classes. Over the years as I was finishing up my senior year it became clear that this was going to change the way school and life in general will be,” Eskander said. Recently, the Writers Guild of America strike ended after both parties came to an agreement over new contract stipulations. One of the arguments within the

Yes 33% No 67% ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

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writers’ community was the worry that artificial intelligence would soon replace human writers. This isn’t just a topic of discussion for writers, but if we came to this level of intelligence in writing screenplays, the question looms of what else can technology replace in mankind. Artificial intelligence was designed to aid humans, not take them over. The power of media is on display as we see conversations arise off of worry based on what billionaires and entrepreneurs like Elon Musk have commented on in regard to AI. “There is some chance that is above zero that AI will kill us all,” Musk said in an interview with NBC News. Jacalyn Samuelson, a

senior majoring in criminal justice, feels that artificial intelligence will do more good than harm. “People love to overreact and make a conversation out of nothing. Truthfully, I think artificial intelligence is needed in the world because it is just another example of positive progression as a human race,” Samuelson said. Many people have argued that the potential dangers of artificial intelligence can come to light as time goes on, but it feels more anticipated as a hope than an actual possibility. In reality, humans have always created technology to help make lives easier, and it never got to the point where it frightened society that this might be the end of us. Sci-fi movies

have clearly done their part in instilling a world where robots overtake humans but as of now, it is continually shown that it is nothing more than the result of an over-imaginative mind. In the over 70-year history of artificial intelligence, we are still merely cracking the surface of the benefits and uses that this technology imposes. There will always be conspiracy theories and people will always voice their outrageous assumptions on Reddit, but the fact of the matter is, time will tell just how much artificial intelligence can be used.

Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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