Issue 11

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

Student campaign promotes mental health

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News & Managing Editor

Sixteen SUNY Plattsburgh students have dedicated themselves to leaving no member of the Plattsburgh community behind. They believe no one should have to struggle with mental health alone, or simply “deal with it.”

A student-run campaign promoting mental health awareness called #HealWithIt has been reaching out to every club, organization and department on campus, encouraging them to pledge support for self-care.

The #HealWithIt team also hosts meetings every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Posts showcasing community members’ palms painted bright green have been filling the campaign’s Instagram account. So far, #HealWithIt has reached about 60 campus entities in the past six weeks it’s been active. The group said its hope is that the photographs taken will eventually be compiled into a mural to be displayed at the Angell College Center.

One of the trickiest populations to reach has been studentathletes, according to Rachel La-

Mar, one of the students part of the campaign. LaMar, an athlete herself, said athletes’ schedules are full with games, practice, class and road trips for away games, making it “super hard” for them to participate in extracurricular activities or attend consistent meetings.

According to a survey published in March by Healthy Minds Network, “one of the nation’s premier organizations” researching mental health in adolescents and young adults, 44% of college students experience depression, 37% experi-

Students present sports medicine research in NYC

and do nothing, nothing will click.”

ence anxiety and 15% have felt suicidal — an all-time high. The National Collegiate Athletic Association published a study in May 2022 in which 38% of female college athletes and 22% of their male counterparts “reported feeling mentally exhausted constantly or most every day.”

LaMar has also been the force behind the founding of SUNY Plattsburgh’s chapter of Morgan’s Message, an organization dedicated to supporting studentathletes’ mental health. LaMar said it “really made sense” to combine her work as a Mor-

gan’s Message ambassador with #HealWithIt. As such, she is able to provide students with the mental health resources she receives from Morgan’s Message as well as those on campus.

“It’s also been nice to be going out to the clubs and classrooms and introducing myself to other students and kind of getting my name out there,” LaMar said. “I do want to be a face that people recognize because I do have access to a ton of resources that I can point people in the right direction to, or just help out when needed.”

Four SUNY Plattsburgh students presented research at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Greater New York Conference April 22.

Three seniors — Eden Cormie, Nicole Hayes and Gabriela Herrera — and sophomore Koree Stillwell traveled to New York City together with their adviser Andreas Stamatis and Assistant Professor of Exercise and Nutrition Cody Dulaney. Stamatis selected the students based on their “exceptional” academic performance. He especially focused on seniors to instill within them the skills needed to “sell” their ideas and work in a team. He also said he wanted to expose them to new experiences, including collaborating with other universities in the United States or abroad and engaging in friendly competition.

“This is advice I give to all my advisees in general — get exposed to things. That’s the only solution if you don’t know what you want to do, and maybe something clicks,” Stamatis said. “However, if you stay at home

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News & Managing Editor NYC > 2

To prepare for the conference, Stamatis met with the students once a week for trial runs. The standards for conference presentations are different from those of class presentations: no aids like index cards are allowed and the target audience is not peers but professionals in the field, who will certainly ask questions, expecting “airtight” answers prepared in advance.

“You have to persuade these people in three minutes that this is the most significant, most innovative thing that they’ve ever judged,” Stamatis said.

Cormie and Hayes said Stamatis is a harsh critic, but means well and has successfully prepared them for the conference.

“He can be very critical, and he will interrupt you during your presentation. He’s tough, but it was helpful, especially during that first, initial presentation,” Hayes said. “He just wanted to make sure that we were putting our best foot out there.”

Outside of her meetings with Stamatis, Hayes practiced her presentation “every single day.”

ROLDNARDY NORELUS/Cardinal Points

Campus takes on AI

BY JESSE TAYLOR Staff Writer

Artificial intelligence has become popular recently with the introduction of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that can generate responses based on prompts, released in November last year. But what are the implications of an AI that can tell you the answer to virtually everything? SUNY Plattsburgh’s Institute of Ethics in Public

Life sought out to answer these questions.

Members of the Institute of Ethics in Public Life held a discussion over Zoom about generative AI April 26. The group opened with Delbert Hart, professor of computer science, explaining how exactly generative AI such as ChatGPT work. Hart explained that AI programs are fed large amounts of data that is then used to recognize patterns or improve its performance.

Additionally, there exists a wide variety of AI that can perform different tasks. AI, such as DALL-E and Midjourney, are able to create images using the data that is fed to them while others, like ChatGPT, are able to formulate responses to virtually any question. However, the introduction of AI has also raised concerns about the potential pitfalls of this technology.

Provided by the #HealWithIt Team

Amy Ryan’s BIO101 General Biology I class poses, showing the palms of their hands painted bright green as a symbol of their pledge in support of self-care.

April 22

A student reported their bicycle stolen at Angell College Center. Investigation is still pending.

April 28

A student at MacDonough Hall reported a stolen bicycle.

A former student filed a harassment charge against another person after an argument at MacDonough's parking lot.

University Police responded to a domestic dispute between students at Hood Hall.

Weekly Meme

Student Association Coverage

SA elects new secretary

BY HAYDEN SADLER Staff Writer

The Student Association Senate voted in a new secretary and nominated recipients for awards at its upcoming Student Association Banquet. The Senate also approved funds to a single club request at its meeting April 26.

Burghy’s Blurbs

New VP of Enrollment and Student

Success named

Karen McGrath will join SUNY Plattsburgh as the new vice president of Enrollment and Student Success from July 1, College President Alexander Enyedi announced in a campus-wide email Tuesday, May 2. The same email states she is currently in a similar position at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.

McGrath will be succeeding Cori Jackson, who has been in the role for the past 18 months.

CP Corrections

ARTS & CULTURE:

1) In the previous issue's article "Plattsburgh students win 5 awards at AMA's," the American Marketing Association club was said to have placed among the top 20 chapters. The club actually placed top 20 in the Wall Street Journal Collegiate Case competition.

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

TIP?

Contact the news editor at cp@cardinalpointsonline.com.

The Senate unanimously approved the appointment of Saanvi Moryani as secretary of the Student Association. Moryani explained that her time at SUNY Plattsburgh has taught her valuable organizational skills that more than qualify her for her new position. Crafts for a Cause was in need of $650 in additional funds for their upcoming

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finals week craft stations. There will be four different stations, each with multiple kinds of crafts to engage with. Funds granted to the group would also cover the cost of catering provided by Chartwells. The request for additional funds was approved.

The SA Memorial Scholarship Committee needed two senate members to help coordinate its award process. The committee will assist Senate Adviser Steven Matthews and check applications for the Memorial Scholarship worth $1,000 to be received in installments of $500 per semester. No elected officials will be eligible for the award.

Senators Dipekshya Karki, Dhruv Shah and Shanthan Channapareddy all put their names forward to join the committee.

The senate also discussed its upcoming special awards, which honor students, staff and faculty. Each of the awards is granted to an individual

Hayes said she usually struggles with her hands and legs shaking during presentations, but with practice and breathing exercises she learned from her counselor on campus, she managed to overcome this challenge when the time came to present at the conference.

“I was really proud of myself for that,” Hayes said.

Cormie said agreeing to present research at the conference was a “leap of faith.”

“Andreas believed in me, and that was a really big thing for me,” Cormie said. “If you asked me two years ago if I would have done this, maybe even a year ago, I would have said, ‘Absolutely not. Like, I’m not going to New York City with a bunch of people I don’t know to present research — that’s terrifying.’”

The research Cormie presented investigated how mood can affect the ability of concussed patients to perform cognitive tasks, such as reading, remembering and problemsolving. The better the patient’s mood, the better they are able to perform, the study found. Cormie chose the topic because she had seen her friends and family, including her brother, experience concussions as a result of sports injuries.

Although Cormie is unsure of the career path she will take after graduating, the conference exposed her to the psychological aspect of sports medicine. Cormie called the experience “once-in-a-lifetime.”

Hayes presented research about sleep efficiency — the ratio of how much time in bed is spent sleeping — in relation to diet. Through a self-reported questionnaire, the study found that the longer the time between the last meal of the

that embodies the spirit and values associated with the nomination.

One of the awards is the William D. Laundry Award, which is granted to a single faculty member who embodies Laundry’s commitment to the service of students on campus. Other awards will be presented after the nominations are made.

Next on the agenda was approval of a resolution to honor Michelle Carpentier’s 36 years of service to students on campus. The vote was unanimous and shows support in return for everything Carpentier has done for the students.

cess of the Cardinal Sustainability Summit April 21. Senator Aissatou Lo also announced the success of her sustainability resolution presentation at the summit. Senator Liza Ali announced the change of WQKE Radio’s name to Quake Productions. Senator William Donlon talked about making posters for the upcoming Mentalist event that will be held Wednesday, May 10. Posters publicizing the event can be found in the ACC.

Senator Endalkachew Abebe announced the suc-

day and going to bed, the less efficient sleep is. As a fitness and wellness leadership major with a concentration in nutrition, this topic stood out to her most.

The research Herrera presented examined how screen time affects males’ mental work, such as analyzing information and retaining it. The study found that the more screen time the participants had, the less mental work they did. These findings are especially applicable in the rise of online learning prompted by COVID-19, Herrera said.

Herrera has known “from the beginning” that she wanted to become an occupational therapist, and the research published with her name as conference proceedings was a boost to her resume. Herrera will start Stony Brook University’s occupational therapy master’s program June 21.

Stillwell said going to the conference is not an experience many sophomores get to have. Her presentation was the only clinical case study at the conference, too. It examined the case of a 16-year-old female amateur basketball player who experienced an anterior cruciate ligament tear — a knee injury. The case study found that the subject sought to get her knee examined too early and got misdiagnosed as a result. She also returned to the sport too early and suffered an even worse injury. These findings can guide those who care for athletes’ injuries toward better diagnosis and treatment.

To Stillwell, the topic was “right up my alley” as a young female basketball player herself.

“This could even happen to me,” Stillwell said. “It’s so easy to get injured playing sports, even when there is no contact.”

Not only did the students gain experience presenting, but they also enjoyed the usual benefits of conferences, such as networking and

learning from experts in the field.

This year’s conference focused on mental health, which the students found relatable or helpful to apply in their presentations and future work.

“We got to hear some guest speakers beforehand, and a lot of them, they were speaking about anxiety. I know me and the other girls that were in the same boat as me were also anxious leading up to the time we were going to present,” Herrera said. “We found ourselves really needing to hear these speeches before presenting.”

The students said the trip made for a “great bonding experience” between peers and professors alike. While Hayes said she would have been uncomfortable traveling with only her professors, Herrera said such experiences allow students to get to know their professors outside of classroom settings, which can be beneficial for learning and getting opportunities.

“They might have other opportunities to present to you if you have a closer relationship to them, maybe,” Herrera said. “I just think it makes it easier to learn when you’re close with someone and it’s more comfortable for you to go to them for adviser questions.”

The trip was funded with a $1,500 grant from College Auxiliary Services. Students said they didn’t need to pay a penny for the trip. Stamatis has been going to ACSM’s conferences with students for at least the past five years, establishing SUNY Plattsburgh’s presence and growing the college’s brand.

“They really know us now, and they’re like, ‘Oh, the Plattsburgh people,’” Stamatis said. “Yeah, we’re here. Get ready.”

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

Provided by Andreas Stamatis

Eden Cormie, Koree Stillwell, Andreas Stamatis, Nickie Hayes and Gabriela Herrera pose at ACSM's Greater New York Conference. Stillwell's presentation got first place in a competition of clinical case studies.

Continued from page 1

Kevin McCullen, associate professor of computer science, said that “people are starting to treat it like some kind of Greek oracle,” asking the program all kinds of answers and treating the answers as if they are the utter truth. However, ChatGPT is perfectly capable of giving the wrong answers, as the speakers pointed out.

If the datasets given to AI to generate responses are inaccurate, then the answers it gives will be inaccurate as well. Many of these programs use open-source websites for data, such as Stack Overflow and Reddit. In fact, the group brought up that Reddit is making claims against ChatGPT for getting so much of its data from Reddit.

However, it is unknown where ChatGPT sources all of the data it uses. Lonnie Fairchild, professor emerita of computer science at SUNY Plattsburgh, pointed out that we don’t know how many networks are in ChatGPT.

“We are being asked to trust things that we don’t know anything about,”

Fairchild said. Tom Moran, founder of the Institute of Ethics in Public Life, brought up the idea that enemies of the United States may acquire this technology.

“We worry that adversaries might acquire the technology, and it’s funny that’s very analogous to the dilemma that has existed since the creation of atomic weapons,” Moran said.

As of now, AI is unrecognized by the government as causing further issues.

Another question that was brought up was whether ChatGPT actually has intelligence. One of the many fears that opponents of AI, such as business magnate Elon Musk, point out is that AI may one day reach humanity’s intelligence and even surpass it. However, ChatGPT has been trained only on text.

For AI to be able to reach that kind of intelligence means that it has to be given the ability by programmers to do so. It is possible that someday in the future programmers will give an AI the ability to become intelligent, but as of now, that still remains to be seen.

Email JESSE TAYLOR cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

#HEAL

Michelle Ouellette, associate professor of public relations and the campaign’s supervisor, said #HealWithIt originates from a campaign with the same name and green hand symbol that SUNY Plattsburgh students entered in a Public Relations Student Society of America competition in 2017. Now, it is being revived with $40,000 from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Some of

the 16 students behind the campaign are volunteers and some are in Ouellette’s event planning class or the social work department, while others were hired by the college to come up with creative ways to connect students to its mental health resources.

One of #HealWithIt’s main messages is that self-care like mindful eating, physical exercise and social interaction should be as intuitive as treating physical ailments.

get help — we believe that anyone who is hurting mentally and emotionally should also have access to the support they need,” the #HealWithIt for Mental Health page on the SUNY Plattsburgh website reads. It turns out that painting palms green attracts curious students to the campaign, and at least one student — Jonah Gray — has asked to apply the bright paint to his foot.

applying clings to campus mirrors, tabling at the ACC and planning a Self-Care Summit for tomorrow, May 6. The timing of the summit coincides with the approach of finals week, and May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

“should know where to go” to get the support they need on campus.

“I love helping people,” Poddar said. “I love it so much.”

“I feel like that was something that really gave me this mental peace, and it made me feel good about myself, trying to help people who need it,” Moryani said.

“We encourage those who are hurting physically to go to a doctor and

Other ways #HealWithIt has been making itself known include giving out freebies like stickers, badges, cards and T-shirts,

Programming for the summit will span from noon to 7 p.m. Students intentionally planned events corresponding with each of the eight pillars of wellness identified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, vocational and financial. The pillars reflect that every aspect of life can impact one’s mental health.

Anannya Poddar, an international student from India, said she resonates with the emotional pillar of wellness most. She said she is still in culture shock since she arrived in Plattsburgh in January and finds it important to be emotionally healthy while facing extreme changes in her diet and education. While Poddar takes care of her mental health by speaking to her counselor back home, she thinks everyone

Poddar said that when she returns to India for the summer, she “would love” to bring with her the knowledge she has gained working for #HealWithIt, in hopes of helping her friends. According to Poddar, conversations around mental health in India are less public than they are in the United States.

Poddar, as a biomedical sciences major, was interested in working on #HealWithIt because mental health falls under healthcare. Additionally, she has noticed others, including her roommate, miss class due to poor mental health, and choose to sleep all day due to stress.

“It breaks my heart, too, because I’m living with that person,” Poddar said.

Continued from page 1 Email

Poddar introduced #HealWithIt to her friend, Saanvi Moryani. Moryani has been an advocate for mental health since high school, when she did community outreach for a variety of underprivileged communities in Jamaica.

Moryani sees support for mental health as a “basic need that people should have access to.” Instead of focusing on a certain population, like LaMar, she prioritizes inclusivity. She said the group planned the events for the self-care summit in a way that would allow anyone to participate, regardless of their age or ability. For example, those who can’t participate in dance or yoga can practice meditation, and there will also be programming for children’s self-care at Sibley Hall from 1 to 4 p.m.

The students behind the campaign, Ouellette and Wellness Coordinator Zane Bazzano said the plan is for #HealWithIt to become a more

permanent entity, such as a club or campus organization, next semester.

Provided by the #HealWithIt Team Sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority pose with their palms painted #HealWithIt’s signature green.

Provided by the #HealWithIt Team

Members of PFunk, the ultimate frisbee club, pose after pledging their support for #HealWithIt. They are Derek “Tarzan” Ferguson, Tanner Sokol, Jonah “Moby Flick” Gray, Brian “Sausage Party” Muller, Miguel “Mr. Clean” Diaz and Sasha Baker.

Provided by the #HealWithIt Team

A graduate education class poses with their palms painted green.

Misogyny on the upturn

BY BRYN FAWN Opinions Editor & PR Chair

In a society permeated in violence, from mass shootings to instances of abuse, how often could a victim be right beside you?

All students were emailed several times to take the SUNY Sexual Violence Prevalence Campus Climate Survey. The survey is so victims can be heard and to better understand how students know their resources on campus.

There was also STOP Domestic Violence held April 28. It was an information session on interpersonal and domestic violence hosted by Brianna Reeves from Behavioral Health Services North. The session was recorded, and those interested to see the video should email Andrew Christy, Assistant Professor of Psychology, at achri021@ plattsburgh.edu.

Now the tides are turning again, as self-proclaimed misogynists and incels — involuntary celibates — swarm the mainstream media and spread their hateful dogma against women and those assigned female at birth. Andrew Tate, one of these self-identified misogynists, is the figurehead for this new movement. While he is currently incarcerated in Romania, clips of his hatred are still circulated online and other “selfhelp” figures have tried to fill his shoes online.

“I’m not a rapist, but I like the

idea of just being able to do what I want,” Tate said in a video. “I like being free.”

Tate encourages his fans to reupload his clips and videos, oversaturating his market. This gives

a better chance for his dogma to be exposed to young men with malleable minds.

The “alpha male” and “sigma male” thought process have also grown in popularity ever

‘Drama’ encapsulates queer youth experience

BY ALEXA DUMAS Web Editor

“It’s one thing to dream it…and another thing to actually build it.”

Middle school often helps shape adolescents and who they are. Drama club is the only activity that gets Callie through one of the most awkward times in a person’s life.

After her mother took her to a production of the musical “Les Miserables,” Callie became obsessed with the art of the stage. This inspired her to join her school’s stage crew.

Raina Telgemeier’s 2012 graphic novel, “Drama,” has a double meaning as it focuses on the dramatic arts and the dramatic life of a middle school student.

From the start of the graphic novel, Callie is overenthusiastic about her role in creating a set for the spring production of “Moon Over Mississippi.”

She wants the stage to be extravagant and Broadway-worthy, but the stage crew budget won’t allow her actions to be followed through, to her dismay. She tries to push

the boundaries of this limitation in order to create a beautiful set for the production of her dreams.

Although Callie yearns to craft an amazing set, other obstacles in her life start to intervene. In the first few scenes of the graphic novel, Callie develops a crush on a boy named Greg and kisses him. However, when she meets twins named Jus-

DUMAS/Cardinal Points

tin and Jesse, her feelings start to become muddled. Justin loves musical theater as much as Callie, and Jesse is a mellow character who wants to be present but not perceived.

As the graphic novel progresses, Callie starts dividing her time between stage crew and the twins.

since COVID-19 forced people to socially isolate. These schools of thought assign attributes to men and boil women down to nothing but objects to breed with and desire. “Alpha males”

dominate socially and easily take women when they want, while “sigmas” are the “underdogs” who are still appealing.

Mutilating murderer gains infamy for crimes

BY BRYN FAWN Opinions Editor & PR Chair

Albert Fish is infamous in the true crime landscape. He checks all the boxes of an interesting and devastating case: kinks, mutilation and the involvement of children. Any true crime fanatic will instantly recognize his name in conversation.

Fish was born in 1870 in Washington D.C. His parents had an unusual age gap of 43 years, and the Fish family suffered from mental ailments. Medicine in the late 1800s for mental health care was almost nonexistent.

Fish was gay, which further ostracized him in society. He had a boyfriend as early as 12 years old. This was also when he began to develop his uncanny fetishes like his enjoyment of urine or voyeurism. He had a few flings with other men, but the relationships went nowhere.

Fish moved to New York City as a young adult and became a prostitute. This was when his violent behavior began. He molested and raped children, little boys being his preference. He continued this behavior, even after confrontation from his mother. She had arranged a marriage for him, to a

woman six years younger than him. The two had six children together, but Fish never ceased his predatory behavior. Then in 1898, he began working as a house painter. This is when he discovered a new fascination, castration and genital mutilation. His boyfriend he had at the time brought him to a museum which sparked Fish’s interest. There he saw a bisection of a penis, which had Fish grow curious on mutilation.

ALEXA

ROLDNARDY NORELUS/Cardinal Points

ROLDNARDY NORELUS/Cardinal Points

Transgender individuals under legal attack

Transgender individuals have existed in society since the dawn of humanity. They walk among us, and are no different from anyone else.

In recent years, younger generations have seized the freedom to express their true selves. Unfortunately, this trend in individual public expression has become a conservative talking point.

This “boom” has caused conservatives to grow anxious and ramp up their fight against transgender rights. This fight not only affects transgender individuals though, as many of these talking points are also used to restrict and confine women, especially with abortion.

Conservatives argue children are castrating and mutilating themselves in the name of gender liberation, when that is not true. Children, under the guide of medical professionals and permission of their legal guardians, may take hormone blockers. These blockers simply delay puberty.

If the child is transgender, they may pursue hormone replacement therapy, oth-

Continued

Fish indulged himself in his new interest, tying up a man and attempting to castrate him. Luckily, the man was able to flee. Fish, a masochist, often injured himself or placed himself in situations to be injured. He frequented brothels in order to be beaten and whipped. He also stuck needles in his crotch.

It has been documented he had 29 needles in his pelvic region, which can be seen in an infamous X-Ray.

Fish confessed to three murders, but the exact number of his victims is unknown. His most infamous killing was of a little girl, Grace Budd. Fish found himself with the Budd family under a false name, Frank Howard, under the pretense of working for them. Fish slowly gained the family’s trust.

Fish requested to take Budd to a birth-

erwise they will undergo puberty, just at a later time than their peers. Not just transgender children and adults utilize this care. Women with endocrine disorders also use estrogen, testosterone or other hormone replacement therapies to regulate their bodies. Many cisgender individuals have endocrine complications requiring hormone medication.

Transgender adults can seek any medical treatment they think is best, whether that is cosmetic or affirming surgery or HRT. Adults can legally change their name and sex on their own, without any legal meddling from others. Children, as always, need intervention from their legal guardians.

Yet, Republican lawmakers have banned transgender individuals from participating in sports or banning HRT and other gender-affirming care.

The Trevor Project, a queer suicide prevention organization, states that 86% of transgender youth reported their mental health has declined. Almost half have seriously considered suicide.

Indiana and Idaho have restricted gender-affirming care for minors, while Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia lawmakers push to make this care illegal for adults as well. Alongside this, lawmakers are attempting to hold doctors liable for providing this treatment, which has caused

her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms. Cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. I did not fuck her tho I could of had I wished. She died a virgin.”

several doctors to drop gender-affirming care entirely. “A lot of the bills are aimed at creating not only fear in the community, but also making anti-trans sentiment part of the general conversation,” Simon Willis, co-president of PFLAG Houston — an organization that hosts queer support groups, told Vox. America flaunts freedom of speech and expressing ourselves how we see fit. However, legislators are suppressing transgender individuals and preventing them from expressing themselves.

the police to two other murders: Bill Gaffney and Francis X. McDonnel. He boasted about murdering and assaulting others, and police believed he may have had a part in other deaths, but there was no concrete evidence leading to Fish.

execution would be the “thrill of [his] life.” Fish entered the chamber at 11:06 p.m. and was pronounced dead three minutes later.

His final words were “I don’t even know why I am here.”

day party, and was given permission. Budd was never seen again.

Budd’s family had no idea what had happened to their daughter, until they received a mysterious letter seven years later.

The letter was anonymous and had gruesome details of what happened to their daughter.

“I made up my mind to eat [Budd,]” Fish wrote. “On the pretense of taking her to a party. You said yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. How she did kick — bite and scratch. I choked her to death, then cut

Kliden, a research council in Norway, stated, “One key finding is that misogynist online communities have increased in numbers and become more extreme in the past decade.” College is the most common place for assault to occur statistically. According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, college women are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted than robbed, and 23% of queer college students have been sexually assaulted.

Fish is a documented compulsive liar, and while he admitted to his lawyer he did in fact rape Budd, it is uncertain what truly happened to Budd. The police soon connected the letter to Fish and he was promptly arrested.

Fish confessed to

Fish later pleaded innocent by reason of insanity. He alleged he heard voices that told him to assault and kill children. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Fish was executed Jan. 16, 1936 by electric chair. Fish stated the

Fish later inspired the infamous Hannibal Lecter, although Lecter’s crimes seem tame compared to Fish’s. Lecter never harmed children, but he did consume his victims. The movie he is most recognized by, “Silence of the Lambs,” has the main character, Buffalo Bill, as a gay transvestite which only pulls more inspirations from Fish’s non-heternormative life.

This edition of Cardinal Sins has been turned into a video episode which can be seen on our Youtube channel.

It is inexcusable how students still need to walk on campus and worry about their peers, feel the need to carry a personal defense tool or for bathrooms to have static-clings with instructions on what to do after being assaulted. College is designed to be a place of education and learning, not a hunting ground for predators.

According to RAINN, out of 1,000 cases of rape, only 310 are reported to the police. From that 310, only 50 are arrested. In the end, statistically, only 25 of the perpetrators face jail time. Furthermore, only 20% of college women report the crime.

University Police and Title IX are

up “Drama.” The inclusion of characters like Justin can make readers in the LGBT community feel understood.

the appropriate departments to turn to in the event of an assault, but it’s not always easy. Society has crafted stigma around victims, often blaming them for the assault. This is why the #MeToo movement took off on Twitter, as victims stood together to speak out against their assailants.

It’s appalling how these lines of thinking have not only exploded in popularity, but are seen as acceptable by men, especially online.

seventh on the list.

Callie and Greg also share some awkward interactions, as their kiss left feelings unsettled between them. Callie starts to develop feelings for Jesse, as their time together starts to increase throughout the novel.

Although Callie has feelings for Greg, she learns that Justin feels the same. Justin comes out to Callie as gay. This scene can be empowering for young readers who decide to pick

Later in the graphic novel, the school drama production is about to be put on. However, during the middle of opening night, drama ensues and the lead actress runs off stage and won’t go on for the second act. In an act of desperation, Jesse saves the day by putting on the lead’s costume and pretends to be the heroine in order to save the show: this means that Jesse must kiss the lead actor, West. “Drama” is not just filled with vibrant colors and an

enticing plot, Telgemeier’s graphic novel has faced censorship since its publication in 2012. From 2015 to 2020, “Drama” has been banned or challenged due to sexually explicit content, inclusion of LGBT characters, offensive viewpoints, being inappropriate for the intended age group, and going against family morals and values.

Telgemeier’s graphic novel was also a part of the American Library Association’s top 10 banned books in 2014, 2016, and 2017. “Drama” is also a part of the ALA’s top 100 banned books of the past decade, where it is featured

Censoring graphic novels like “Drama” conveys to middle school students that their experiences in discovering their interests, sexuality, and other notable aspects of their identity are invalid.

“Drama” should be celebrated for pushing the boundaries of what adolescents read during their middle school years, rather than barring it from a young reader.

Photo

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Plattsburgh’s men’s lacrosse program has undergone more than its share of change over the last four years. During that time, men’s lax has been overseen by three different head coaches: Joe May, Andrew Hauk and Darry Thornton.

May led the team to its first SUNYAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. Since May’s departure after the 2020 season, the program, facing the aftermath of COVID-19, has yet to win more than four games in a season. Frequent staff turnover can stunt team culture, too.

This year’s senior class is made up of Michael Gresser, Robby Martin, Séan Ronan, Michael Swift, Gustav Rugg, James Schulze, Julian Pigliavento and captains Jack Brien and Owen Lorenzetti. These nine Cardinals have learned through their time at Plattsburgh that one of the most important things they have is each other.

“It’s just always been about the guys. We’re a tight-knit group all the way from the seniors to the freshmen,” Rugg said. “It’s been great. I think we left a great imprint and now, they’re going to carry it on for us.”

cap off season with Senior Day

Brien thinks the turnover has helped the roster grow closer.

“When we came in as freshmen, I feel like it was really separated between the upperclassmen and the underclassmen. This year’s seniors, we really just wanted to bring the guys together,” Brien said. “We’re a real family unit, a tight-knit group because of the coaching changes. I know we had a rough year, but I’m just glad we did it together because this is my family and I love these guys.”

The team completed the 2023 season last weekend, April 29, losing to the top dog Cortland Red Dragons by a score of 9-20. As the last home game of the season, the team recognized Senior Day, giving the team’s oldest players recognition for their hard work and dedication to the program.

At the beginning of the season, Thornton said this was the game he was looking forward to most. Players, like Lorenzetti, have expressed that in the past, Senior Days have been lackluster. In turn, Lorenzetti said, the seniors didn’t feel acknowledged and it was discouraging to younger players like himself. He’s happy with what he got this year.

“We got our emotions out yesterday after the last practice. This was just a fun day with the boys. That’s all it was, and I’ll cherish it forever,” Lorenzetti said.

Thornton entered the position last summer with a player-forward approach.

At the start of the semester, he emphasized setting seniors up for life beyond the sport and making sure his athletes make smart decisions. Brien said Thornton has taken on a unique role.

“[Thornton] loves the guys. He loves the sport. He treats us like we’re his sons, he always takes care of us,” Brien said. “We all really

appreciate that he made today about us.”

On Senior Day, the departing players received their flowers, metaphorically and literally. Seniors got special player introductions, highlighting their time with the team. They walked with their choice of family or friends through a tunnel of teammates to centerfield, where they were handed bouquets of flowers and had their photos taken. The team, their parents and Thornton coordinated the ceremony.

“It’s the best group of young men I’ve ever coached. It took us a while

to get things going lacrosse-wise. They bought in a lot sooner than a lot of programs I’ve been at before and it just makes my job easier,” Thornton said. “Senior Day is representative of them, those nine guys. If it wasn’t for those nine guys and the stuff they’ve done with the program, I don’t think the program would be where it’s at today.”

The players shared a common appreciation for each other: “the boys” or “the guys.” Ronan and Lorenzetti both looked back at “chirping,” or taunting, with the boys during games

and the fun they had on the field. Through big changes and game results, the boys had each other and what they made of it.

“I’m just going to remember the guys on the team. Obviously it was a rough season, we didn’t get as many Ws as we thought, but I’m just going to remember going through all the shitty moments,” Brien said. “Everything with the guys I’m going to remember, good or bad.”

Cardinals complete fifth season as team

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

When SUNY Plattsburgh hired Mike Howard as director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation in 2016, it had 17 varsity athletic programs. Howard knew he wanted to expand on that figure. He looked to Cardinals men’s lacrosse, which hadn’t missed the SUNYAC tournament since 2012, and knew one potential team made the most sense: women’s lacrosse.

The SUNYAC, the athletic conference 17 Plattsburgh sports compete in, has supported women’s lacrosse since 1997. SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oneonta both have programs dating back to the 1970s, and the seven other conference members — SUNY Brockport, SUNY Buffalo State, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Potsdam — have

RESULTS:

Friday, April 28: BASE

had teams since the 1990s.

Plattsburgh, which played its inaugural season in 2019, is the newcomer by 20 years. Cardinals women’s lacrosse’s

foundation was built by Brockport Golden Eagles. Two of the most important figures in the creation and development of the team, former Head Coach

UPCOMING:

Julia Decker and current Head Coach Kelly Wall, were once stars for the SUNYAC rival.

Decker was Brockport’s third all-time leading goal scorer

when she graduated in 2009. After putting the stick down, she immediately made the jump to coaching. Decker stayed in the SUNYAC, becoming an assistant coach at Geneseo from 2010 to 2011.

Two seasons and a SUNYAC tournament berth later, Decker took on the task of running Hilbert College’s club program in 2012. Decker coached the team in the year leading up to the foundation of a varsity program, an experience that helped her land the Plattsburgh job five years later.

Decker served as assistant coach at Fresno State from 2013 to 2014, earning Division I experience. She landed her first head coaching gig in 2015, leading Division II Fort Lewis through the 2017 season. Before becoming a Cardinal, Decker already had a diverse resume.

“I know we had a rough year, but I’m just glad we did it together,”

Jack Brien said.

team had custom posters made for the departing seniors, featuring it on the perimeter fence. Head Coach Darry Thornton and team

ZOE NGUYEN/Contributor

Emily Caoili, Kelly Wall, Julia Decker and Lindsay Guzzetta have all been monumental figures in Platts WLAX.

years because of the amazing friendships I made.”

and Wall for keeping the team on track.

ence, COVID stunted the team’s development.

BASEBALL

There was a gap of almost two years between Decker’s hiring at Plattsburgh and the program’s first season. Howard said landing Decker was “really lucky” for the program. She ran a club team during the 2017-18 academic year, recruiting players and building a coaching staff. Decker remembers practices where just five or six students showed up.

SOFTBALL

Decker built a staff of three other coaches, including Wall. Though Decker never played with Wall as Golden Eagles, their Brockport connection is what brought them together. Brockport Head Coach Stephen Wagner reached out to Decker with a “glowing” recommendation of Wall, who had just finished her career under Wagner as the all-time goal scorer. Wall’s assistant job at Plattsburgh was her first coaching experience.

Decker and Wall were tasked with the unique challenge of pitching a program to new recruits with nothing to fall back on. There were no winning seasons, no championships, no All-Americans — they couldn’t even say the team had won a game before. Decker pitched a vision and the opportunity to be a part of history, spending “a lot of time” on the road visiting recruits.

MEN'S LAX

The first Cardinals team finished the season 2-15 and without a conference win. The record doesn’t reflect the team’s success.

“I think they did a great job in overcoming a lot of obstacles that were in the way because nobody really knew how to handle it,”

“[It] turned into a little bit of a longer process,” Howard said. “Losing that year or so of recruiting time, I think, set the program back

head coach, 2022, Wall led the team to a 5-9 record, missing the SUNYAC tournament by just one win. The team started to gain traction and respect in the conference, and most importantly, started to develop team culture.

“I’m really most proud to look back to freshman year and what the team was to what it is now, with the atmosphere and how close we all are,” Noia said. “Hopefully, every year when new players come in, they’re able to look back at what the team was and how we’re able to improve every year.”

The 2023 Cardinals built off the previous season, finishing the season 7-8 and resetting the win record. A mid-season conference slide left the team, again, one win outside of playoffs, but Wall knows SUNYAC teams don’t look at Plattsburgh like they used to.

WOMEN'S LAX

“We wanted to build it into a championship program. Obviously, that’s something that takes time, but I was determined to just start by developing team culture,” Decker said. “I think it was important to just focus on that process.”

Headed into the inaugural 2019 season, Plattsburgh boasted a roster of 21 players, including walk-on upperclassmen and brandnew recruits. To succeed, it was important for the athletes to buy into what Decker was selling.

Emily Caoili, a member of the inaugural team, finished her career atop the all-time points list. She didn’t plan on playing college lacrosse, but Plattsburgh convinced her to join the team. With no upperclassmen to look up to or a team structure to follow, Caoili said everyone had to start from scratch.

“We were all in the same boat and I think we all knew it was going to take time to build something solid,” Caoili wrote in a text. “Even though we didn’t win as many games as we would have wanted to that year, it was still one of my favorite

“It was cool to see everything come to fruition for us, to go from those low-attended club practices and not really having that commitment to our first year where we had a team full of people,” Decker said. “All those firsts that came with that year, it was really exciting, and something to be celebrated.”

The Cardinals opened 2020, its second season, hot. It won its first four games, doubling the previous season’s win total at 4-0. Plattsburgh’s season ended there. With a little more than a week left until conference play, the season was canceled because of COVID-19. The team, still attempting to establish itself, didn’t know what was going to happen.

Wall said the hiatus “took a toll” on the players. Former player Allie Vangas credited the team and its structure for being back and ready to play.

“When it came to actually getting back on the field, it wasn’t too hard, because they all meshed well and knew how each other played,” Vangas said. “I think, if we didn’t have that teamwork, it probably would have been [difficult].”

Midfielder Lindsay Guzzetta pointed to Decker

Guzzetta said. “They just tried their best and did the best they could with what they were dealt.”

Like other spring sports, women’s lacrosse played an abbreviated schedule in 2021. Prior to the season, Wall took a leave from coaching. The team played just eight games, playing Cortland, New Paltz, Oneonta and Potsdam twice each. The Cardinals swept the Bears, earning its first two SUNYAC wins. Plattsburgh finished the year 2-6.

Three seasons into the program’s existence,

more than other programs.”

After the 2021 season, Decker took a hiatus from coaching.

“Those two years were definitely a struggle and I think that’s what led me to want to step away and take a break from coaching,” Decker said. “I’m really proud of the progress the program has made and it still holds a very near and dear place in my heart.”

Wall found out through a conversation with Decker that the position in Plattsburgh was vacant. Decker encouraged Wall to apply for the position. Wall’s familiarity with the program was a contributing factor to her eventual hiring.

Wall, handed the reins and reunited with the team, was ready to see hard work turn into wins. Midfielder Emma McLaughlin, then a junior, thought the hardships brought a different kind of hunger to the team.

“It’s been amazing to see their growth from the beginning to now, to where teams are actually having to scout us. They’re nervous about us,” Wall said. “It’s only going to get harder for other teams to play us. We’re not just going to roll over and be an easy win.”

With the Cardinals’ season over, the team said goodbye to the 2023 senior class. This year’s seniors included some crucial players, like all-time points leader Guzzetta and alltime ground ball leader McLaughlin. Guzzetta thinks the program is headed in the right direction.

“This was the best team that we’ve had and we’re all very close now. It just feels like a better culture than what we came into,” Guzzetta said. “For years going forward, everybody will already have a set team culture.”

Wall has confidence in the younger players to step up next season. The team is still working toward its goal of making the playoffs, and this year was an important step of the process. Returning players like scorer Cynthia Barnosky, ground ball scooper Caitlin Nash, captain Janey Adams and the goalie duo of Johanna Malone and Lilla Nease have big shoes to fill.

Plattsburgh had only played a full slate of games once. Midfielder Caroline Noia said it felt like two years were taken away from the team. Between quarantining, lack of diverse competition and little playing experi-

“Coming back the following season, people were way more excited to play and finally have a full season of lacrosse,” McLaughlin said. “I honestly think that [2020] season boosted our confidence because we finished 4-0.”

In her first season as

RECREATIONAL & INTRAMURAL

“I’m excited to see what they’re going to do now that seniors are gone. I think there’s a lot of potential in this group right here. I’m not nervous at all about what they can do,” Wall said. “They have to bail themselves out. They have to do the work.”

JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points

The 2023 Cardinals ended the season with seven wins, the program's most ever.

JAYNE SMITH/Cardinal Points

Kelly Wall is winningest head coach in program history.

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Gymnastics

Field hockey

New York State of Mind

By Collin Bolebruch

CARDINAL CLIPS

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH

BASEBALL

Cardinals baseball (1220, SUNYAC 4-11) played a three-game series against the top-seeded Cortland Red Dragons (27-9, SUNYAC 16-2) last weekend. The Cards were swept, losing 1-10 April 27 and 2-15 and 2-6 April 28. Plattsburgh was scheduled to play a doubleheader against the SUNY Canton Kangaroos April 30 and a single game against the Middlebury Panthers May 2, but all three home games were canceled due to inclement weather.

Plattsburgh was eliminated from SUNYAC playoff contention. The Cards made the playoffs last season for the first time in a decade, but this year, it was the last team to be eliminated from the postseason. The Cardinals play a final series, facing the Fredonia Blue Devils (6-25, SUNYAC 1-14) and will celebrate Senior Day.

TRACK & FIELD

Plattsburgh’s men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams competed in its final regular season event before the SUNYAC Championships. The Cards placed first in 17 events at the St. Lawrence Intercollegiate

Athletics Twilight Meeting

April 29. Both the men’s and women’s team placed second overall against three other opponents.

Janyll Barber set the program record in the 100-meter hurdles for the third time this season, finishing with a time of 15.23. She finished in first place.

Other first-place finishes included Barber in the 400m hurdles (1:02.72);

Kaitlyn Bjelko in the shot put (11.53m) and hammer throw (18.16m);

Noah Bonesteel in the 1,500m run (3:59.12);

Becca Christie in the high jump (1.53m); the team of Bonesteel, Nick Gelsomino, Justin Kumrow and Logan Van Buren in the 4x400m relay (3:42.08); Thomas Gilbo in the pole vault (2.45m);

Cameron Giuliano in the high jump (1.65m); Erik Kucera in the 3,000m steeplechase (10:01.25);

Ginny Lucchetti in the 3,000m steeplechase (12:58.99); Aidan Masten in the long jump (6.2m);

Aislyn McDonough in the 800m run (2:23.89);

Brexton Montville in the 100m dash (11.01); Jasmine Piper in the discus throw (35.72m); Sarah Smith in the 5,000m run (19:41.49); and Emily Stritzl in the pole vault (2.3m) and the javelin

throw (24.41m).

Three Cardinals qualified for the AARTFC Championships, including Barber in the 100 and 400m hurdles, Bonesteel in the 1,500m run and Montville in the 100m dash.

Twenty-one Cardinals qualified for the SUNYAC Championships, including Barber in the 100 and 400m hurdles, Bjelko in the shot put and hammer throw, Christie in the high jump, Marissa Colvin in the 5,000m run (19:50.48), Charles Cypress in the 100m dash (11.14) and the 200m dash (22.72), Mikyala Khadijah in the 100m hurdles (17.71), Erik Kumrow in the 800m run, Ginny Lucchetti in the 3,000m steeplechase, Aiden Masten in the long jump, McDonough in the 800m run, Jasmine Piper in the discus throw and the hammer throw (35.55m), Smith in the 5,000m run, Morgan Thompson in the 400m dash (1:04.43), Aiden Tous in the shot put (13.06m) and the discus throw (36.65), Spencer Trudo in the hammer throw (37.98m), Logan Van Buren in the 800m dash (1:58.37), Jordan Williams in the 100m dash (11.19) and Deanna Zoch in the 100m dash (13.58).

The Cardinals compete in the SUNYAC Championships today, May 5 and tomorrow, May 6.

SOFTBALL

Plattsburgh softball (208, SUNYAC 9-5) beat the Oneonta Red Dragons (1419-1, SUNYAC 7-7) twice last Friday, April 28 in a doubleheader. The Cardinals won the first game 7-5 and the second game 9-6. The Cards were slated to play the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers May 2 in a home doubleheader, but both games were canceled for inclement weather.

Plattsburgh, which had already qualified for the playoffs, held off the Red Dragons from securing a lower seed. The Cardinals are currently fourth in the conference standings. With no home series left, the Cards are on the road for a doubleheader against the Geneseo Knights (17-14-1, SUNYAC 8-6) today, May 5 and a doubleheader against the Brockport Golden Eagles (5-23, SUNYAC 2-12) tomorrow, May 6. Both teams stand below Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC rankings, making this weekend a strong opportunity for the Cards to crawl up the playoff seeding.

TENNIS

Cardinal Nicole Svantner was named to the SUNYAC 2023 Women’s Tennis All-Conference Second Team for singles yesterday, May 4. Plattsburgh’s regular season ended in the fall 2022 semester.

Svantner finished the season 7-3 overall in singles play and 3-3 in the conference.

VOLLEYBALL

Cardinals volleyball held its first team banquet, celebrating the previous season, which ended in October 2022.

Head Coach Kelsea Healis presented players with awards, voted on by the players, for accomplishments during the season and named next season’s captains April 29 at the Plattsburgh Brewing Company.

Defensive specialist/ libero Lily White was presented with the Academic Achievement Award for her academic excellence during the season, the only award not determined by a team vote. White studies childhood education with a concentration in STEM and minors in coaching, earning a 4.0 GPA for the fall 2022 semester.

Setter/right side Kyleigh Ganz was named Rookie of the Year after a success-

ful first season with the team. Ganz led the team in service aces with 34, was second in assists with 304 and finished third in points with 150. She will serve as junior captain this upcoming season.

Setter Emma Rivers earned Teammate of the Year and will be a team captain for the 2023 season. Rivers certainly helped out her teammates last season, leading the team in assists with 345 and assists per set with 4.11.

Outside hitter Payton Zophy went home with Most Valuable Player and will be the team’s other captain. Zophy was the team leader in digs with 236 and digs per set with 4.07. She was also third in points per set with 1.94, second in kills per set with 1.5 and second in service aces per set with 0.4.

Though no regular season games were played this semester, the team did participate in a scrimmage in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. April 22. The Cardinals played against the hosting Skidmore Thoroughbreds, the Union College Dutchmen, the Russell Sage Gators and the SUNY Delhi Broncos.

Sports Editor

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Celeste Considine and Peppy Efstathiou leap through the air in unison during a duet.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Bella Lambert is lifted up by her fellow Dance Corps members.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points

Evan Field Hoffman and Bella Lambert share the stage, singing a duet.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Steph Appollo and Emily Esposito shimmy during a group number.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points Kaylee Burke and Kaylynn Ryan shake hands during a hip-hop number.

COLLIN BOLEBRUCH/Cardinal Points PSU Dance Corps performed numbers at the Strand Center for the Arts April 28.

Morningstar directs ‘The Sprig of Thyme’

BY JACOB COLTON Contributor

As the Plattsburgh weather begins to warm up and another semester comes to a close, the Plattsburgh State Concert Choir holds their end-of-semester performance. Led by Adjunct Lecturer and Choral Director Timothy Morningstar, “The Sprig of Thyme” will be held in Giltz Auditorium in Hawkins Hall at 7:30 p.m. May 12 and will be free to attend.

What makes this different from usual concerts is the addition of extra instrumentation. During previous events, the

only other instrument besides voice would be a piano played by Plattsburgh alumnus, Ryan Mahony. Occasionally, a second instrument would be involved, such as first-year Luke Gerhardt joining them on bongos last winter. This time, the group is going all-out as they will be joined by a small group of strings and woodwinds, played by professional musicians from the North County. Another difference between previous concerts is the single multi-movement work that constitutes the whole evening. While the group will be singing 11 songs, not everyone in the

choir and orchestra will be performing them. Some pieces will be from the sopranos, others will be the tenors. There will also be two features by sopranos Charlotte Stevens and Olivia Sorrell, both of which were featured in the Spring Gallery Concert a few weeks prior.

“I felt that this was the perfect time to do a larger multimovement piece,” Morningstar said. “As I searched for repertoire which would showcase the talents of the singers in the choir, I found a wonderful setting of English folk songs by the [20th century] British composer John Rutter.” Morningstars’ claims also

go with how the ensembles and music programs on campus have grown over the past years. To go from only a handful of students singing over a computer screen to performing a 30-minute piece with an orchestra is progress the music department is happy to see.

Rutter’s music is a collection of 17th century English folk songs that he rearranged in the early 1990s.

According to Rutter’s website, the piece “offers a selection of traditional songs of the British Isles, drawing together long-standing favourites as ‘Willow Song’ and ‘The Miller

of Dee’ with lesser known gems as ‘O Can Ye Sew Cushions’ and ‘The Sprig of Thyme.’”

Songs like “The Kneel Row” give the image of the village of Sandgate looking over the River Tyne. Other songs like “The Willow Tree” warn young people of false lovers. There is even a fully a capella piece as embodied as the aforementioned “Willow Song.”

For more information on the concert, email Morningstar at mornintp@plattsburgh.edu.

Email JACOB COLTON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Charlotte Stevens performs at Krinovitz

BY SIENA PACHECO Contributor

Soprano Charlotte Stevens took to the stage in Krinovitz Recital Hall in Hawkins Hall in front of Plattsburgh community members, SUNY students of all degrees and majors, and faculty and staff April 23 at 2 p.m.

Stevens put together the program herself with guidance from her voice professor, Pamela Lavin. She prepared a set of music consisting of eight pieces of three different types of music: Italian songs, German songs and Broadway tunes. By doing so, Stevens was able to show off her vocal versatility.

The lights dimmed in the house, and Stevens took center stage followed by SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus, pianist Ryan Mahony.

Stevens began her first set with the performance of the Italian song “Batti Batti,” featured in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni.”

Stevens sang this upbeat aria as her high notes bloomed throughout the venue.

Despite the stage lights shutting off midway through the song, Stevens did not miss a beat and performed with immense composure. Stevens sang from memory, while Mahony had sheet music in front of him and continued to play despite being in the dark. A few seconds longer, and they might have had to pause the performance until the technical glitch was resolved.

No performer ever expects a technical glitch from their crew, but both Stevens and Mahony continued. To end the first set of Italian songs, Stevens chose to sing “Lasciatemi morire,” another Italian song featured in Claudio Monteverdi’s opera “Ariane.” This short piece was a great contrast from the first song, and Stevens sang through the quick melodic runs gracefully.

Stevens then began her second set of pieces, consisting of only German songs. She began by singing “Standchen,” meaning “serenade,” by Franz Schubert. Her pronunciation was perfect, and the audience could follow along with the translation provided in the program. This made it clear that Stevens forgot a few words in the piece. However, she covered it with a gentle

smile for the audience and was able to find her spot back in the music quickly. Next, she sang “Zueignung,” meaning “dedication,” by Richard Strauss.

It was during this song that Stevens looked most comfortable on stage, and this clearly reflected in her voice. The song featured her dramatic range of both high and low notes as her voice rang, causing a dramatic applause upon

its end. This set of music was finished with “Vie Melodie,” meaning “like melody,” by Johannes Brahms. Stevens concluded her performance with her final set of music, Broadway tunes, to be sung in English. “Pulled” from “The Addams Family” began the section. Stevens’ acting ability came to light and had the audience laughing at her dramatic version of this song. She started off the song with a stern face, portraying the character of Wednesday Addams. She looked as though she was enjoying herself on stage throughout this piece.

The next song, “The Anonymous Ones” from “Dear Evan Hansen,” showed Stevens’ ability to connect with the audience. Her performance left some of the audience members in tears. She finished the concert with “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” from “Songs for a New World.” She sang this song in her powerful chest voice, with elegant flips to her higher range when needed. Upon Mahony’s striking of the last chord, the audience rose to their feet quickly, giving Stevens a standing ovation.

The concert lasted just over 30 minutes. Audience members were excited to see Stevens as she exited the stage door shortly after her bow. Camryn Lincoln, a community member and friend of Stevens, said that her performance “was an amazing display of musicality and discipline — proof that hard work pays off.”

Stevens has been at SUNY Plattsburgh for the past two years. Adjunct Lecturer and Choral Director Timothy Morningstar said, “It was wonderful to see the enormous growth that Charlotte has made over the past two years here. She sang beautifully with emotion, which clearly moved the audience.”

SYDNEY HAKES/Cardinal Points

SYDNEY HAKES/Cardinal Points

Champlain Valley Voices sing at Giltz

BY SIENA PACHECO Contributor

Champlain Valley Voices, a community ensemble based in Plattsburgh, is presenting “Broadway Stage and Screen,” a choral concert at Giltz Auditorium in Hawkins Hall. Consisting of about 45 community singers, this concert will feature selections from popular musicals, including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sweeney Todd.”

The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7, under the direction of Timothy Morningstar and accompanied by pianist and SUNY Plattsburgh alumnus Ryan Mahony. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children. SUNY Plattsburgh students will get in free with a student ID. Champlain Valley Voices is excited to bring a concert of dynamic and sophisticated choral arrangements to the area.

The organization is unique in that the ensemble doesn’t require an audition to join; they just require a love of music and

a willingness to learn.

“This is a performance you will not want to miss,” Valerie Bruhn, president of Champlain Valley Voices, said.

The concert is being presented as the organization’s spring performance, highlighting the dedication of the group of singers who aspire to bring high-quality music to the North Country.

With a history of performances, this concert will focus only on Broadway and Disney songs.

A switch in repertoire and genres of music encourages audience members to hear a joy-filled afternoon that includes some of Broadway’s most classic songs.

“The chorus is excited for the change in routine from doing traditional chorus pieces,” LeAnn Yelton, a member of the board and a featured soloist in the upcoming concert, said.

While these arrangements are difficult, Yelton said “it is quite the thrill for them to perform a high caliber of music.”

The program will feature both the chorus as a whole and soloist performances.

The music set list consists of a “Phantom of the Opera Medley” and “Les Miserables Medley,” both arranged by Ed Lojeski. “Sondheim! A Choral Celebration” and “Disney Dazzle! Medley,” were both arranged by Mac Huff.

This concert follows “our highly successful performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in December,” Morningstar said. “I am delighted to conduct a concert of contemporary Broadway music.”

This electric program has music for everyone in the chorus and for the audience. Morningstar decided to change up the genre of music to diversify the group’s appreciation of music and bring something new and different to the North Country.

Weaved in between the choral pieces, Mo Raville will perform “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story” and “If I Loved You” from “Oklahoma!” In addition, Yelton will be performing the solos “Children Will Listen” from “Into the Woods” and “Journey to the Past” from “Anastasia.”

“I am excited for another community organization to be showcasing some mu-

sical theater,” Yelton said. “The choir has a wide range of genre abilities, and I think this concert will highlight that.”

Raville, a soprano, has returned to the Plattsburgh area after studying music at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Yelton is a mezzo-soprano, who studied at SUNY Plattsburgh. Both Raville and Yelton were the featured female soloists in the December 2022 performance of Handel’s “Messiah.”

The Plattsburgh community will get direct insight into the many talented members of the community and a front-row seat to some of Broadway’s most famous pieces.

“These are very sophisticated arrangements of popular musical theater repertoire, which will have something for everyone in the audience,” Morningstar said. Additional information can be found on the Champlain Valley Voices website at champlainvalleyvoices.org.

Email SIENA PACHECO cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Daniel Lake hosts panel talk in Yokum

BY KIYANNA NOEL Arts & Culture Editor

Art is a way of expression and remembrance. When we think of different centuries and time periods, the types of art vary and change drastically.

However, when it comes to displaying pieces of art and the importation of art where does society draw the line?

Associate Professor of Political Science Daniel Lake hosted a panelist discussion about art history called Who Owns The Past May 3 in Yokum 205. The panelists were Museum Director Tonya Cribb, Professor Emerita of Art Karen Blough, Assistant Professor of Archaeology Justin Lowry and activist for Mohawk people Emily Kasennisaks Cecilia Stacey.

The discussion started with Cribb explaining the history of museums. Cribb’s presentation showed images of how museums came about and how they modified as time went on.

Cribb’s elaboration was made to put the museum profession into perspective and show the different laws associated with art expression and protection.

Following Cribb’s presentation, Blough spoke about how art keeps us connected, but at what cost is it of importance for museums to hold on to art and different societal artifacts.

“It’s important to understand that most art, while it may be beautiful to look at, was not created as an object whose primary

purpose was aesthetic. In fact, art from cultures as diverse as, say, Greece in the fifth century B.C.E., and beneath in the 16th century of the Common Era, reflects a complex set of societal circumstances involving power structures, religious beliefs of institutions,” said Blough. “And so while their visual, intellectual and emotional appeal is often universal. One argument that is sometimes asserted against repatriation for keys aren’t objects are vehicles of communication about cultural values of specific places, and the people who live there. And when they fulfill this function particularly well, people develop strong

attachments to them, they become essential in the literal sense of the word essential components of cultural identity. Problems can arise when such objects are removed from their original context and displayed elsewhere in the inauthentic environment. That is the museum”

After Blough explained this concept of the meaning of art, Lowry explained the archaeological side of art and exhibitions.

“Part of one of the reasons why I think what we do with these objects about understanding humanities through the physical remainders of society, part of the reasons why it’s important I

think fundamentally important is because it tells the stories of the voiceless.”

Understanding that these pieces are more than just objects to cultures, but remembering the history of them is what makes them significant. Lowry explained that many of these artifacts are seen as “trash” initially and that the value itself comes from the people connected to it.

“The objects themselves carry no inherent value. It’s like what Karen was talking about earlier, the inherent value is in their context, in how they fit into lives and what they tells about who humans are and what they are and

what they mean,” Lowry said.

The concept of museums holding on to art pieces and artifacts that belong to different nations is becoming increasingly controversial. Many people have started to question the motives of museums and nations who are withholding priceless parts of other countries’ history.

Lowry dissected the arguments of why Western European countries and the United States may or may not want to keep these pieces in their collections. He explained that the concept of having these pieces for educational purposes is outdated and how these pieces create a sense of greed.

“It’s really become a slideshow of objects rather than an understanding of fundamental objects, ” Lowry said.

An open minded conversation was the hopeful solution discussed by the panelists. While a conversation may bring about some type of conclusion, the resentment may not be resolved in one sitting about why these countries need these artifacts and timely pieces.

“The seed has been planted, but we need to feed it for it to grow,” said Stacey. “So I think we all understand to some degree about the complications, the unethical acts and behaviors that are going on and unless we foster some kind of change, it’s just going to stay as a seed. ”

SYDNEY HAKES/Cardinal Points

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

From left to right Daniel Lake, Tonya Cribb, Karen Blough, Emily Kasennisacks Cecilia Stacey and Justin Lowry pose at the end of panel event.

CALENDAR May 7 - May 12

ALL WEEK: Conscientious Collectors exhibition - Myers Fine Arts Building

Origins: The Evolution of an Artist and His Craft exhibition - Rockwell Kent Gallery, Feinberg

BFA Senior Art Exhibit- Myers Fine Arts Building

SUNDAY 5/7

Group Exercise:

- 30MinSpin with Kristina

- Traditional Yoga with Saanvi

- 15MinMeditation with Saanvi

Algonquin Hall

6 - 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 5/8

Group Exercise events:

- Bootcamp with Connie

- HIIT/Core with Lauren

- 30MinSpin with Jasmine

- Hardbody with Grace

- Zumba with Kaylynn

Algonquin Hall

noon - 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 5/9

Group Exercise events:

- 30MinSpin with Nina

- Yoga with Sylvie

- Cross Cycle with Connie

Algonquin Hall

noon - 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.

WEDNESDAY 5/10

Group Exercise events:

- Kickboxing with Jillian

- Yoga with Nicole

- 30MinSpin with Dimitra

- Hardbody with Connie

- Zumba with Kaylynn

Algonquin Hall

noon - 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 5/11

Group Exercise events:

- Yoga with Shawna

Algonquin Hall

noon - 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.

FRIDAY 5/12

Neuro Pride Space

Relaford Room ground level Macomb

12:30 - 2 p.m.

Take a break from the neuro-typical world in a space made by neurodivergent students for neurodivergent students.

Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir Rehearsals

300 Myers Fine Arts Building

5 - 6 p.m.

Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir rehearsals for spring semester. Open to students, faculty, staff and the public. Opportunities to perform with the band and Praise Dance and Step Team as well. For more information email gospelchoir@plattsburgh.edu.

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

BY KIYANNA NOEL Arts

Culture Editor

CAPRICORN December 22 - January 19

The Hermit card represents perfection and persistence. Continue to be self-sufficient and independent.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

The Ace of Worlds card represents the feeling of success and accomplishment. Continue to be organized and create a stable plan for your goals.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

The Five of Worlds card represents experiencing a setback or being devastated. Don’t let this setback stop you from achieving your aspirations.

AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18

The Tower card represents different levels of your mental health. Acknowledge the new changes in your mentality, but don’t let your emotions control you.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

The Four of Crystals card represents using logic to solve problems. Continue to think logically and realistically.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

The Ten of Wands card represents growth and expanding your knowledge. Continue to learn more about things that interest you.

PISCES February 19 - March 20

The Eight of Cups card represents being stagnant and feeling stuck. Try to get yourself out of the rut you are in by doing things you love.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

The Magician card represents using your strengths to find your aspirations. Continue to discover what you are passionate about.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21

The Eight of Worlds card represents change and adapting to a new situation. Allow yourself to transform in order to better handle challenges.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

The Fortune card represents getting out the energy you put in. Maximize your opportunities by applying more effort.

LEO

July 23 - August 22

The Ten of Cups card represents feelings of passion and lust. Try to verbally express your wants and be confident in your capabilities.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 - December 21

The Death card represents endings and beginnings. A cycle or situation may come to an end, but it’s probably

for the best.

&

This Week in Photos: Spring Carnival

College Auxiliary Services, the Student Association and Chartwells collaborated to present the second annual Spring Carnival.

The theme for this year’s carnival was Aliens vs. Cowboys.

The carnival was held on the Wilson Hall Patio behind Clinton Dining Hall from 4 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, May 3.

Fun activities included mechanical bull riding, axe throwing, inflatable spaceship laser tag, carnival games and an assortment of fair food favorites.

Photos by Jayne Smith