Issue 3

Greek life leaders fight for office space

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News & Managing Editor

A student petition gathered more than 1,300 signatures in protest of the university’s decision to move the Fraternity and Sorority Life offices. Administration still isn’t swayed, but student leaders aren’t giving up.

On Feb. 15, Director of Fraternity and Sorority

Life Allison Swick-Duttine learned the office would be moving to the site of Quake Productions, also known as WQKE Radio, in the corner of the recently renovated Burghy’s Den. After Fraternity and Sorority Life moves, the space will become the office of

the new vice president of Enrollment and Student Success, who is yet to be hired, according to Chief of Staff Ken Knelly, but is expected to start work in July.

The move is “disappointing” to Swick-Duttine as students use the space daily. Most disappointed, although “not surprised,” are the student leaders fighting to keep their space.

President of the Inter-Sorority Association Emma Peer and President of the Inter-Fraternity Council Deren Purisic created a petition that gathered more than 1,300 signatures from students, alumni, family and friends.

“Not that I don’t believe in our mission or what it

stands for, but on a campus of 4,000 students, seeing a number like that is ‘woah,’” Peer said. “It’s definitely a much bigger reaction than I expected, but it makes me really happy that people want to help us and that they do see our value.”

The Fraternity and Sorority Life office’s current location, the space between the Alumni Conference Room and Cardinal Lounge on the second floor of the Angell College Center, is highly accessible to students, regardless of whether they are involved in Greek life, Peer and Purisic said.

Wellness Week: Talks, games, freebies

BY

Wellness Week is shaping up to be an event steadily hosted every semester. This Wellness Week, from Feb. 27 to March 3, highlighted the resources available to students in regards to their mental, physical and sexual wellbeing through talks, walk-ins, games and a fair full of freebies.

The Student Health and Counseling Center held a three-hour walk-in session for sexually transmitted infections testing. Students can request testing for STIs such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, hepatitis A and B and more by calling the SHCC. Nine students attended the walk-in session, which is a turnout the center is “happy” about, Assistant Director for Medical Services Susan Sand said. The Center for Disease Control recommends that sexually active adults test for STIs once a year, and Sand said it is

important to test because some diseases can be present without any symptoms showing.

Continuing the theme of safe and healthy sexual encounters were two sessions about consent Wednesday, March 1. The first, at noon, focused on basic Title IX regulations and information about New York state’s “Enough is Enough” law with Casey Belrose, Enough is Enough Coordinator at Planned Parenthood of the North Country.

“Enough is Enough” is the nickname of Article 129-B, which regulates policies on sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking across all colleges and universities in New York. The law, in part, requires all colleges to use the same definition of consent in their policies: “Affirmative consent is a knowing, voluntary, and mutual decision among all participants to engage in sexual activity.”

“My hope is that none of this is new or shocking to anybody,” Belrose said after describing the conditions under which consent can be given.

Six people attended Belrose’s session, including two community advocates, Joe LaPeter and David Batista. Both took notes on their phones during the event, which they attended for professional development. LaPeter said it’s a “good idea” to be familiar with consent, and as a CA in Wilson Hall — a first-year dorm — he wants to be confident that the information he gives his residents is complete, correct

and current.

Batista, a CA in deFredenburgh, said learning more about consent would make him, as someone responsible for informing his residents, more valuable to them. Belrose’s presentation prompted Batista to research laws similar to “Enough is Enough” in other states.

The second presentation at 7 p.m. in the Warren Ballrooms at Angell College Center— “Wanna Make Out?” — featured Lori Bednarchik, a professional speaker on sexual communication. The event saw a turnout of more than 250, as Chair of the Consortium and Community Director of deFredenburgh, Hood and Kent Halls Zane Bazzano estimated based on sign-ins online and on paper. Attendance was so high that extra chairs were brought in, and some students sat on the floor. The majority of attendees were Greek life members.

Bednarchik explained the requirements for consent, including that it should not only be clear but also enthusiastic, and spoke about consent in situations familiar to students, emphasizing that consent is, in itself, “sexy.” At the end of the program, attendees participated in an activity where they evaluated consent in various situations, raising a red, yellow or green card in response to the prompt. Some situations saw all three colors raised, and the room came alive with discussion.

WELLNESS > 2

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The Fraternity and Sorority Life office is a workspace dominated by students.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News & Managing Editor

OFFICE > 3

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points Lori Bednarchik and Allison Heard smile as the ballroom fills.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

More than 250 students attended Bednarchik’s program “Wanna Make Out?”

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The room came alive with discussion as disagreements began to show.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

Although consent isn’t clear-cut, there are some situations where there is no dispute.

Feb. 23

Something was stolen from Kent Cafe’s Starbucks. Investigation is still pending.

A student in Wilson Hall reported their laundry stolen. A similar incident happened last week in deFredenburgh Hall.

A student reported their Apple watch stolen from the Memorial Hall Fitness Center.

Feb. 25

A Hood Hall resident reported their laundry was taken out of the laundry room.

The lock to Room 345 in Mason Hall was reported to have been damaged.

Weekly Meme

Student Association Coverage

SA grants clubs $4,000 for 24-person trip to NYC

BY HAYDEN SADLER Staff Writer

Members of the Student Association recently approved two clubs’ trip to New York City and voted on the statuses of the Cooking Club and Her Campus.

The SA met Wednesday to discuss club funding requests and club status approvals. The Senate first discussed the Student Managed Investment Fund’s as well as the Accounting and Finance Association’s requests for funding for their trip to New York City. Also discussed was the approval of provisional status for the Cooking Club and permanent club status to Her Campus.

The Accounting and Finance Association and the Student Managed Investment Fund each requested $2,000 to fund their trip to New York City. The clubs will be visiting the New York Stock Exchange and attending networking events. The senate approved the

Burghy’s Blurbs

Ticket site breaks

SUNY Plattsburgh’s ticketing system has been taken offline until further notice, TJ Myers, director and chief information officer of Information Technology Services, stated in a campuswide email Feb. 24. The third-party vendor AudienceView experienced a security breach that potentially threatened the data of anyone who purchased tickets from tickets.plattsburgh.edu between Feb. 17 and 21.

Until the system comes back online, tickets for campus events can be purchased at the Angell College Center Information Window.

Disability Awareness Month

March is Disability Awareness Month. The Accessibility Resources Office will be hosting a tie dye workshop March 10, a fidget workshop March 24 and a Lunch and Learn event March 30. Additionally, students are invited to wear colors corresponding to the awareness of certain disabilities. Contact the Accessibility Resources Office at ARO@plattsburgh.edu to learn more.

CP Corrections

NEWS:

1) In the previous issue’s article “Pantry asks for donations” Michele Carpentier’s quote “We can take anything they can give us,” “they” does not refer to students, but instead anyone willing to donate.

2) In the same article, one of Carpentier’s titles is mistakenly identified as “assistant vice principal of Student Affairs.” Carpentier’s title is actually assistant vice president for Enrollment and Student Success.

3) The photograph accompanying the aforementioned article is not the food shelf, but instead a giveaway table for items the food shelf does not carry on a regular basis.

SPORTS:

1) In the previous issue, there was a typo in the WBB section of the Scoreboard: Oneonta was listed twice. Oneonta holds 3 seed and Geneseo holds 4.

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

requests for both clubs unanimously, granting the two clubs $4,000 combined. The trip will last two nights and three days, and it is expected that 12 people from each club will attend for a total of 24 students. Funding will cover a place to stay as well as the cost of transportation. The clubs will be transporting themselves down to the city in vans.

cooking safely and efficiently. The club plans on using Kent Hall’s kitchen as well as space in Yokum sometimes in order to educate interested students.

The club aims to work with Chartwells, SUNY Plattsburgh’s dining and catering provider, to ensure access to ingredients and supplies for cooking.

The club will hold meetings every other week, and prospective members

is a big moment for the group focusing on empowering women and encouraging body positivity through writing. Her Campus is an online publication with more than 400 chapters in 11 countries. It has a wide variety of blog articles on the website, published and contributed by students at SUNY Plattsburgh. The publication covers a wide range of topics such as entertainment, academics and mental health.

The senate also unanimously approved Cooking Club’s request for provisional club status. Cooking Club representatives promise to teach students about

WELLNESS

Continued from page 1

Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Allison Heard attended both events. At Bednarchik’s session, she spoke about the importance of education and awareness in preventing sexual violence, stating the goal of her division is to “work ourselves out of a job.”

SUNY Plattsburgh, like any other college or university in New York, is required to mandate consent training for athletes, Greek life members, first-years and transfer students and provide other students opportunities to learn about consent, such as Belrose’s and Bednarchik’s presentations. Students were able to learn about health resources on- and off-campus as well as get a variety of freebies

will have to attend the first meeting and take a quiz to assess their knowledge of food safety.

Her Campus receiving permanent club status

at the Wellness Fair in the Warren Ballrooms Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Freebies included treats, coloring pages, lip balm, keychains, stickers, skincare masks, sleeping masks and stress balls, which students could get from tables set up by Planned Parenthood, SHCC, Chartwells’ Resident Dietician Sarah Yandow, the Student Assistance Program, University Police and more.

Today, March 3, students can attend a Speed Friending event hosted by mental health counselors Fran Francis and Inga Karpenko at 3 p.m. in the Warren Ballrooms. The event aims to help students with social anxiety through exposure therapy. Students will have two minutes to discuss an assigned question or topic with someone new. The questions are designed to be answered without thinking “too much about it,” Francis said.

“It’s low-pressure, it’s low-stakes,”

Senators reported attending Mardis Gras at Clinton Dining Hall earlier that week and had many positive comments about the Chartwells event. The meeting concluded with the approval of both club status requests as well as funding being granted to the Accounting and Finance Association and Student Managed Investment Fund’s trip.

Email HAYDEN SADLER

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Francis said.

The recently established Wellness Consortium planned this Wellness Week’s events with a focus on areas that members thought needed the most attention. Bazzano said his goal is to host Wellness Week, complete with a Wellness Fair, every semester. Wellness Weeks in previous semesters did not have a Wellness Fair, but saw visits from therapy dogs and therapy donkeys. Bazzano co-founded the Wellness Consortium with Director of Campus Housing and Community Living Jim Sherman. The Consortium comprises departments such as Housing, Student Health and Counseling, Athletics, Fraternity and Sorority Life and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, with more departments showing interest.

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

BRYN FAWN/Cardinal Points

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points Sandesh Poudel, on the bike, listens to Brionna Prosser.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points Mental health counselor Fran Francis juggles stress balls.

OFFICE

Continued from page 1

The office is home to Project HELP, which connects students with opportunities to volunteer in the local community, but can also give interested students information about how to join Greek Life organizations.

“When they [administration] walk in there — if they even walk in there — they don’t see that it’s a bunch of students,”

Peer said.“The director of Greek Life, she has a cubicle in the back, and you don’t really see her. You talk to us, you get to know us, we help you, and I think it’s really unfortunate that they would so easily and so willingly just strip away a student resource like that.”

Vice President for

DEI Allison Heard said evicting Fraternity and Sorority Life is a “choice, not a necessity.”

Heard was offered Fraternity and Sorority Life’s

office space as well as the Quake Productions studio, but she refused. Instead, Heard chose to “reclaim” the space in the H.U.B. where ESS is now — a decision based on months of gathering student feedback.

“I would work in a dungeon if students wanted me to,” Heard said.

Similarly, Swick-Duttine said, “If students didn’t care, we’d move.”

But neither students, nor Swick-Duttine were consulted in making the decision to move the office. Moreover, the news was sudden to SwickDuttine, as the office had recently installed tables and chairs recycled from the Flynt Commons in its lounge and arranged for the room to be reservable for student use.

“I think administration is slowly trying to colonize student involvement,” Purisic said.

“They’re just slowly taking up more and more student spaces.”

Swick-Duttine said the new space won’t be able to serve the office’s needs

unless it is renovated. According to Peer, Fraternity and Sorority Life has 11 staff members, while ESS has four. If Fraternity and Sorority Life moves to Quake Productions’ studio, it is unclear where the radio will go. However, the club is “working on it,” according to Quake Productions President Garrett Jones.

The Fraternity and So -

to a different space within the same area of the Angell College Center. The space will be similar in size to what they have now. They have moved within the student center before. This is a high demand building with adjustments that take place from time to time. Fraternity and Sorority Life is important to this campus and we value what they provide.”

can work and three empty rooms, each potentially their own office or space for the Cardinal Cupboard.

“If it’s not good enough for them, why is it good enough for me?” Heard asked. “If the radio is good enough for Greek Life, why isn’t it good enough for the VP?”

Peer and Purisic met with Dean of Students Stephen Matthews and Interim Vice President of ESS Cori Jackson, who encouraged the two to “stop fighting it,” as Purisic explained. Today, March 3, they will speak with Enyedi.

“It wasn’t actually what I thought they were like. I thought they would be more supportive of us,” Purisic said.

Peer said it is “interesting” that administrative figures would discourage students from applying the primary idea they learn in school and college — standing up for what they believe in.

rority Life office moved four times in 25 years, Swick-Duttine said. Before it moved to its current location around five years ago, it occupied the space where the Center for Student Involvement is, adjacent to the H.U.B. Enyedi references this fact in a statement to ABC22 & FOX44, a Vermont news source:

“This is a planned move

Finding space for administrative offices is not an issue, Heard said, as the former Title IX and ESS offices both stand vacant on the sixth floor of Kehoe. Heard’s current office in Hawkins Hall is “cozy” and “treated us well”: it sees student traffic and is close to Enyedi’s office. It has an office with a meeting room next-door, a seating space where an assistant

“[Matthews] basically, in better terms, said that we were wasting our time and we’re essentially wasting our terms on something that was kind of a done deal, but I don’t see it as a waste of our terms to fight for something that affects us and our entire community for the foreseeable future,” Peer said.

Purisic said he sees administration in a new light: promises of supporting students are not delivered on.

“In a way, I feel like they should almost be proud, like, aren’t you proud that your students care so much about the school that they go to?” Peer said. “Isn’t that a source of pride for you that we came to this college these shy, young little beings and we’re turning into these mature, professional humans who fight for what they believe in, who work towards common goals?” Jackson “doesn’t want to talk about” the Fraternity and Sorority Life office, Administrative Assistant Lyndsey Lafountain said.

Email

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

“I don’t see it as a waste of our terms to fight for something that affects us and our entire community for the foreseeable future,” Peer said.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

The area outside of the Fraternity and Sorority Life offices is decorated with flags and displays representing the Greek life organizations at SUNY Plattburgh.

ALEKSANDRA

Cardinal Points

WQKE, now known as The Quake, is looking for a place to relocate to.

Realities of Greek life at Plattsburgh

BY BRYN FAWN Opinions Editor & PR Chair

Greek life is one of the staples of the “college experience,” or as so many believe to be the case. Highschoolers look forward to the day they get to pledge or rush and join their own little circle on campus.

Yet, for SUNY Plattsburgh, Greek life could be leagues better.

Greek life pushes away poorer students. Applying to a fraternity or sorority may cost money, and most organizations charge dues which can cost $2,000 or more. That doesn’t account for rent if a member lives in the organization’s building.

Thousands of students have taken out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of loans, burying them in debt, and adding on a few more thousands of dollars each year or even each semester may be impossible for poorer students.

Greek life also has the issue of being overwhelmingly white, not just at SUNY Plattsburgh, but nationwide. On social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, fraternities and sororities share their rushes to the online public and most of the participants are white or at the very least white-passing.

Alpha Epsilon Phi, SUNY Plattsburgh’s largest sorority and Greek life organization, has photos of their members on their national Instagram. A majority of members included in photos are white.

Alpha Epsilon Phi members who were tabling at the Angell College Center Feb. 21 declined to be interviewed.

While there are many Greek organizations on campus that

are focused on diversity, those groups still make up the minority of all Greek life. At least three groups, Theta Nu Xi, Sigma Iota Alpha and Omega Phi Beta, have become dormant in recent years. Another group, Lambda Pi Upsilon, has a measly three members currently. This leads to questions about maintaining diversity within Greek life.

Greek life is also often divided along the gender binary. Fraternities are for men, while sororities are for women. There have been some cases of coed organizations across the country. Yet often, this leaves transgender and non-binary individuals at a loss, for fear of discrimination.

“Brotherhood” and “sisterhood” are large selling points of joining an organization, but what about those who don’t identify as a “brother” or “sister?” Of course, being off the binary does not entail that they cannot label themselves as a brother or sister, but the idea of uniformity can push out queer individuals.

There are no queer-specific Greek life organizations on Plattsburgh’s campus, although many organizations don’t turn away queer members.

Uniformity is also a large problem, as it can create an echo-chamber or hive mentality. Members are encouraged to spend money to purchase shirts, pants, hats, blankets and more with their insignias of their specific organization on the item.

SUNY Plattsburgh skews toward having more sororities and female Greek life members than men.

From SUNY Plattsburgh’s GPA

report of spring 2022: “16% of SUNY Plattsburgh full-time undergraduates are affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. 17% of women and 13% of men.”

Men in fraternities were sta-

Novel challenges reader’s viewpoint

BY ALEXA DUMAS Web Editor

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”

Out of the blue, Janie Crawford made an unexpected return to Eatonville, Florida. Janie was seen as a respected person within the town, as her second husband was the mayor, but when she moved away to follow her younger third husband, the people of Eatonville thought she’d never return.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” depicts a woman’s journey of self-discovery as she navigates her feelings of love and desire.

The novel starts with Janie’s return, which leads her to Janie’s close friend Pheoby. Janie begins to tell Pheoby her life’s story, which starts on a plantation in Georgia where Janie lived with her grandmother, Nanny.

Janie reflects on her life being filled with trauma, as her mother was the product of rape, and Janie learns that she was as well. Janie’s mother, Leafy, left to chase addiction, which left Janie in the care of Nanny.

As Nanny starts to get older, she marries Janie off to her first husband, Logan Killicks. His financial stability impresses Nanny, however, Janie feels unloved by the older man.

Janie leaves Logan for Jody Starks, a businessman who shows her love for the first time. After Janie runs off with Jody, they land in Eatonville where Jody becomes mayor. Janie is set up as the clerk of the general store that Jody owns, and their relationship deteriorates

as he becomes more controlling of her.

They soon separate, leaving Janie’s last words to Jody on his deathbed 20 years later.

Janie’s third husband, Tea Cake, is 12 years younger than her, so she believes his attraction to her is only due to the property Janie gained after Jody’s death.

This ends up not being the case, as Tea Cake shows Janie more love than her previous husbands.

tistically more likely to have their GPA drop, which is another draw-back from Greek life. Parties become a central point of Greek life, which fuels the stereotype. Disciplinary actions

have been taken against organizations, as they are held responsible for breaking the terms they agree with SUNY Plattsburgh.

Son severs, stews

mother’s head in pot

BY BRYN FAWN Opinions Editor & PR Chair

Parents nurture and guide their children. They assist them into adulthood, where they then leave the nest and make their own family. However, trust and love are something so easily taken advantage of.

Joel Guy Jr. was born in 1988, with a good upbringing. He grew up with two sisters. Everything Guy could ever want was provided to him by his parents. He had electronics, games and plenty of enriching toys.

Guy graduated from Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in 2006, but never used his degree. He never obtained a job and instead remained living

with his parents. His two sisters, however, grew up and moved out, having their own families. Guy’s parents provided everything he needed, even now as an adult with a degree.

Guy was described as abrasive and a loner, but was doted on by his mother, Lisa Guy.

Yet, Lisa and Joel wanted to retire. They had done their time with the 9-5 toil, and made plans to shift to their golden years. Lisa and Joel sold their home in Knoxville, Tennessee, purchasing a new home in Surgoinsville, Tennessee.

However, with retiring, Lisa and Joel could never afford to continue to pay for their son. They informed Guy of this, tell-

ing him he needed to find employment and a place to live.

Lisa and Joel planned to have one last family gathering in the childhood home for their children. It would be Thanksgiving of 2016. Guy, his sisters and his parents gathered and had a lovely dinner.

If only they were aware of the horrors to come.

Only two days later would Hell become a reality for the Guy family. Guy would murder and mutilate both of his parents Nov. 26.

Guy attacked his father first, ambushing him from behind with a knife. The attack took place upstairs, in the home’s fitness room.

ALEXA DUMAS/Cardinal Points

MARCEL GIBBS/Cardinal Points

ROLDNARDY NORELUS/Cardinal Points

Tensions heat up in Israel

The Israel-Palestine conflict has been raging on for decades, beginning in 1948. Many Jewish individuals began to migrate to the Middle East, declaring Palestine as Zion, or a nation state for Jewish individuals and a safe haven. Palestinians did not want their home taken from them, and thus the two have been hostile since.

Palestinians have been displaced from their homes and towns, and as of late have been victims of attacks. The Israel Defense Forces declared the recent attack on Palestinians as “actions of terror” after a weekend of brutality, Feb. 27.

A fire engine was stoned by 50 Israeli individuals, and Palestinians were injured in the attack. A shooting followed days later, killing one 27 year old man. On Sunday, two Israelites were shot.

Talks of peace were held Feb. 26 between Israelis and Palestinians, monitored by Egypt, the U.S. and Jordan. However, this upset Israeli settlers.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted: “The building and authorisation in

RACE

Continued from page 4

Although Janie has already established a strong sense of self, Tea Cake shows her nothing but support. They soon run off, this time to Jacksonville, Florida.

Janie and Tea Cake’s lives turn on a head in Jacksonville, as a flood destroys the town and Tea Cake is soon bit by a rabid dog. As the days progress, changes in Tea Cake start to occur, putting Janie’s life

Judea and Samaria will continue according to the original planning and building schedule, with no change. There is not and will not be any freeze.”

This has put the U.S. in a tight squeeze as tensions rise in China, Ukraine is still in war, and Palestinians may continue to die. President Joe Biden has not shown much indication of future steps that will be taken.

at risk.

Janie must debate how to move forward, but she knows a hard decision must be made.

Published in 1937, Zora Neale Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” places the reader into not only Janie Crawford’s complex life, but into the first self-governing all-Black town of Eatonville, Florida. This historical aspect of the novel comes as no surprise, as Hurston was not only a novelist, but a folklorist and anthropologist. Her studies influenced

Jordan Canaan, a senior and sister of Sigma Delta Tau, believes there is a great level of diversity with Greek life on campus, especially with the “multicultural” fraternities and sororities.

Canaan shared that Sigma Delta Tau specifically offers a payment plan for those who cannot pay dues fully upfront.

“[Sigma Delta Tau’s] dues are usually around $200 for our sorority, and you can break that up throughout weeks and months and just send them what you have until the end of the due date,” Canaan said. “We make it available to anyone and everyone because dues are our last priority. We just want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable when dealing with the money situation.”

Canaan also admitted Sigma Delta Tau is open to anyone who is interested in joining.

“[Sigma Delta Tau] honestly wants

Continued from page 4

Guy knew he would be unable to overpower his father, thus attacking him from behind. Police found evidence of a struggle, with blood on the wall, torn curtains and a knocked over fitness machine.

Joel lost the battle and his life.

Lisa was not home at the time. She was at Walmart, grocery shopping. When Lisa returned home, Joel was already dead, unbeknownst to her. She placed the groceries in the foyer, to be put away at a later time, and headed upstairs.

Guy then killed his mother, stabbing her several times. Lisa’s autopsy later revealed Guy had severed nine of her ribs.

What occurred next was truly diabolical. Guy dismembered his parents, cutting off his father’s hands at the wrists, leaving them in the fitness room. He disarticulated his parents’ arms and legs, separating the bones from the joints. His father had

One distinction should be made before fully discussing Palestine and Israel. Not all Jewish individuals support Israel, even though those that fight for “Zion” are Jewish.

Grouping all Jewish individuals with these attacks is closedminded and ignorant.

Palestinians have been residing on the land for centuries, and do not deserve to be killed for it. Palestinians deserve protection and resources and the government at hand is using its

not only the novel’s setting of Eatonville, but the use of colloquial language as well.

The dialogue within the novel is spelled phonetically, which is the way the speaker would pronounce it. This style of writing makes the novel unique, while some have cited it as a reason why the novel can be difficult to read.

Even though the novel expresses a message of self-love and identity, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” was challenged in 1997.

Parents in Brentsville, Virginia, urged the

resources to push them out and even kill them.

The American Friends Service Committee shares five ways to assist Palestine: “Organize in your community to show solidarity with Gaza, take action by contacting public officials and the media, learn more and lift up Palestinian voices, hold corporations accountable for their role in violating the rights of Palestinians in Gaza,” and to donate to the AFSC.

The AFSC also provides more resources so you can be better informed on the situation currently and remain up-to-date.

Even though Gaza is across the world, it does not mean that SUNY Plattsburgh students cannot do anything. We have voices, and it is not new to campus for students to hold political protests. While the campus administration cannot make change, we can contact our local officials in Plattsburgh and in our home towns.

There is much to be done, and it appears the bloodshed won’t end soon.

novel to be banned from their child’s advanced English classes due to sexual explicitness, but this challenge was soon overturned. This was almost sixty years after the novel’s publication.

Racism, being antimale, depicting abuse and rape, as well as being sexually explicit have all been reasons why “Their Eyes Were Watching God” has been banned or challenged in the United States.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is an American classic. Although censorship lies within its history, Hur-

anyone that we can get,” Canaan stated.

“We just love a personality that feels connected to our sorority, no matter who you are or who you identify as.”

ReGina Sutphen, a Black sophomore music and theatre major, is not a part of Greek life.

“I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the concept,” Sutphen said. “ It feels very cliquey and exclusive, a lot of people treat it that way too. Maybe for some it adds to the college experience, but it does almost nothing for me.”

Sutphen feels they are not “cool enough” to partake in Greek life and their events.

Sutphen also feels that on campus, Greek life isn’t diverse.

“Right now, I’m not seeing diversity,” Sutphen said. “I’m seeing giant groups of white men and white women in these organizations. I am aware of Black fraternities and Black sororities, and I know we have some on campus, but the overwhelming majority is cishet, able-bodied white men and women.”

Sutphen also identifies as queer, and feels that there is not enough of a push

been stabbed at least 42 times, his mother at least 31.

Guy decapitated his mother, but he did not cut off her head. It was found in her autopsy that her head was broken off from the rest of her body. He then placed it in a pot, leaving it to boil on the stovetop.

Guy then went to Walmart himself, purchasing chemicals and medical supplies as he had been injured in the scuffle with his father.

A wellness check was made by police, after Lisa’s coworkers grew worried when she did not show up for work, her last day before retirement. What the police found was recorded by bodycams.

The first thing police noticed was how bizarre the home appeared. A “for sale” sign was in the front lawn, but groceries were obviously laid out on a counter and even on the floor.

They also noticed a strong chemical stench emitting from the home and a lot of heat.

When they entered the house, a dog could be heard whining upstairs. They discov-

ston’s novel should be remembered as a true journey of facing adversity, and overcoming it to find oneself. Hurston’s novel is masterfully written, and it is unlike any other story about identity and independence, especially for a Black woman in the early 20th century.

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” should be on everyone’s mustread list.

for inclusivity towards queer individuals for Greek life on campus. Sutphen does not feel that they could join an organization due to being queer.

“I’d consider it if they explicitly mentioned supporting queer voices, but using vague words in the mission statement, like just saying “diversity” is not enough for me.” Sutphen said. They also said they feel that they “wouldn’t belong.”

Sutphen shared how they believe Greek life is ignorant to its inherently discriminatory ways.

“If the people in these organizations were to realize [Greek life pushes minorities away,] and devote themselves to making a change within this community, I would be more open to it,” Sutphen stated. “At the moment, all I see is a group of white people partying every weekend and doing community service that they don’t really want to do.”

ered the thermostat had been set to 90 degrees. They found a table with Lisa and Joel’s wallets, sledgehammer and guns on top. Then they discovered the pot that had Lisa’s head stewing.

Police then went upstairs, discovering the dog locked in a bedroom. Police could not rescue the dog immediately, as they had to sweep the home to ensure the threat was gone. The dog did end up surviving, however.

In the bathroom, the police found two large blue storage tubs. Inside were the bodies of Lisa and Joel in a bath of a homemade acidic solution. Police then found several chemicals, and Lisa’s clothing that had been cut off.

Police were unsure of the motive or perpetrator. That is, until they found Guy’s left-behind notebook. It detailed tools he wished to use, why he had increased the heat of the home — to quicken decomposition — and why he had to murder both of his parents.

Guy was arrested three days

later. He pleaded not guilty, but requested to be given the death penalty if he was found guilty in the trial. The trial took place over four days. Guy was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abuse of a corpse. He was sentenced to life in prison, where he resides today. His motive for murder? Money. He would have gained $500,000 in life insurance from his mother had he not been so messy in the murder. Guy never wanted to work a day in his life and was enraged his parents were taking that away from him. He had been coddled by his mother, which was her downfall. If he had been forced to become an adult, join the “real world,” perhaps Lisa and Joel Guy would be alive today.

This edition of Cardinal Sins has been turned into a webepisode and can be seen on our Youtube Channel.

ACP Hall of Fame

Inducted in Fall 2010

All American

Spring 2018, four Marks of Distinction

Spring 2016, five Marks of Distinction

Spring 2014, four Marks of Distinction

Spring 2012, four Marks of Distinction

Spring 2011, four

CARDINALS

hockey sweeps semifinals

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

The SUNYAC men’s hockey championship and the NEWHL title game will both feature the Plattsburgh Cardinals. Plattsburgh advanced in the playoffs following a doubleheader featuring two Cardinal wins at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena Feb. 25. For the first time since 2017, both teams have won its semifinal matchup and are one game away from being crowned conference champions.

WOMEN

The No. 2 women’s team (24-2, NEWHL 17-1) beat the No. 24 Canton Kangaroos (14-10-2, NEWHL 8-9-1) 7-1 in the NEWHL Tournament semifinals. Plattsburgh remains the unbeaten team in NEWHL playoff history and will return to the championship game for a chance at reclaiming its title. It was the highest-attended game all season with 475 fans.

“We’re getting good contributions and good play from our top four lines and our D as well,” Head Coach Kevin Houle said. “It’s good to see that type of production.”

Cho’s goal was the first of her collegiate career.

Last week, Krauseneck credited the young defensive group, including Cho, for helping the offense by being trustworthy.

“Especially being young, there’s obviously going to be a little bit of doubt if they are able to play well or able to bring the puck down. I think trust is a big part of it,” Cho said. “Knowing that [Krauseneck] trusts us, all the younger players, it’s very comforting to say the least.”

Forwards Carson Gallagher (28), Joshua Belgrave (10) and Trey Thomas

onship berth under Head Coach Steve Moffat. The team beat Geneseo 5-1

No Cardinal struck twice, as all seven goals were scored by different players. Goal-scorers were forwards Sara Krauseneck, Holly Schmelzer, Bridget Orr, Lily Stumm and Mae Olshansky and defensemen Sierra Benjamin and Su-An Cho, a firstyear student.

Forwards Riley Calhoun and Ciara Wall totaled two assists each. Cho, Benjamin and Stumm each had an assist in addition to their goals. Benjamin and Cho spent their time on the ice effectively, as both recorded a plus-minus of plus-five.

Ashley Davis started in the net and saved 17 of 18 shots, good for a 0.964 save percentage. Plattsburgh dominated in shot totals with 66 to Canton’s 18.

McDonough takes gold at SUNYACs

BY NICHOLAS COUSINS Contributor

The SUNYAC playoffs have arrived for SUNY Plattsburgh’s track and field team. Both squads brought the speed down south over the weekend as there were multiple highplacing performances.

The women placed first in the 800m run with a time of 2:16.37, Michaela Schaffer placed fourth in the triple jump with a score of 10.70, Rebecca Christie placed fourth place and Libby Daly placed eighth in the high jump with individual scores of 1.52 and 1:42. Kaitlyn Bjelko placed fourth in the shot put with a score of 12.27. Jessica Landman, Marissa LeDuc, Aislyn McDonough and Morgan Thompson placed fifth in the 4x4 run with a time of 4:21.80. LeDuc placed fifth and Katie Berge placed ninth in pentathlons with respective scores of 2738 and 2033 points, and lastly, Virginia Lucchetti, Morgan Thompson, Natalia Castro and Sarah Smith placed fifth in the distance media relay with a time of 13:26.39.

McDonough also won the gold medal for Plattsburgh in the 800m run and won her first conference championship in the process.

The men placed second in the 60m run with a time of 7:02, Aidan Tous placed eighth in the shot put with a score of 12.91, Justin Kumrow placed seventh in the mile run with a time of 4:20.00, Noah Bonesteel placed

Cardinal Points Archive

Runner Aislyn McDonough captured gold in the 800 meters event at the SUNYAC Championships Feb. 25 with the top time, 2:16.37.

seventh in the 3k run with a time of 8:47.15, Brexton Montville placed seventh in the 200m run with a score of 22.65 and Charles Cypress, Stephen Fleury, Nick Gelsomino and Logan Van Buren sixth place in the 4x4 run with a time of 3:35.54.

Montville also took the silver medal for Plattsburgh in the 60m run. What a way to represent Plattsburgh before Regionals.

Landman said competition in the SUNYACs is a feeling that you can’t find anywhere else.

“It felt great to lay everything

out on the line and show what we’ve worked so hard for. Everyone is so supportive in the sport which makes you want to go harder to improve,” Landman said.

The senior runner, who joined the team last year, made a great leap this year where she recorded

her best times in runs. Improving her running time by more than a minute, Landman was able to go from a time of 63-62 seconds to 62 overall in the 400m.

WHKY postseason

SUNYAC SCHEDULE

Semifinals

BASE

Cardinals primed for postseason

BY MIKAI BRUCE Staff Writer

The SUNY Plattsburgh baseball team is looking to make some noise this season and they have the talent to do so. With a clean slate, the Cardinals will be looking to bring a baseball title to the school.

The season is already underway with some nonconference games that are of little consequence for the playoff picture. The Cardinals currently stand at 1-1 after splitting a double header with Maritime College Feb. 26. Last season ended for the Cardinals with a quick trip to the SUNYAC playoffs, and this

season the expectations have not wavered.

“Expectations: make a return trip to the SUNYAC playoffs. Hopefully have a long run in the SUNYAC playoffs,” Head Coach Sam Quinn-Loeb said.

These expectations do not come without the players to back it up.

“I’m excited to see Kyle Cremin, Alex Kornblau, Conner Gonzalski, Andrew Veit, Chris Santic and Sean Malamud play this year,” Quinn-Loeb said.

Cremin is a sophomore third baseman, Kornblau is a junior infielder, Gonzalski is a senior outfielder, Veit is a senior shortstop and right handed pitcher, Santic is a ju-

nior left-handed pitcher and Malamud is a graduate student right-handed pitcher. The coach is excited about a lot of guys in their bullpen and believes in their ability to control the game from the pitching position. He also has a belief in the experience that this team has, which is important to playoff success. This team has a mixture of young talent and older, more experienced players that are needed to gut out tough wins. It is this combination that really enables teams to succeed, along with a coach like QuinnLoeb. Last season, he led the team to its first playoff berth in a decade.

“I expect us to be a legit contender to win the SUNYAC this year, that starts with making a playoff run again. Guys like Nick Cergol, Christian Ott and Sean Malamud will be key players for us as the season goes on,” pitcher Tyler Kohn said.

He highlighted Malamud like his coach did, so this leads to expectations for a standout season from Malamud. Both the players and the coaches share the same beliefs, so this will surely be wonderful for the team dynamic. A cohesive unit is important when you have championship aspirations.

“I expect us to do some damage and definitely build off of last year's suc-

RECREATIONAL & INTRAMURAL

cess,” Malamud said. “It’s tough to really say who will have the biggest impact because there’s a lot of dogs on this squad. Overall, it’ll take a collective team effort all season and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be one of the top teams in our conference.”

Malamud has such a high belief in the talent on this roster that he simply couldn’t choose specific players to highlight. It is clear that there are high hopes for this season and an extra level of comfortability with the roster. The Cardinals anticipate a second-straight playoff trip.

Email MIKAI BRUCE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

MEMORIAL ATHLETIC GYM TO CLOSE MARCH 6 FOR RENOVATIONS, REOPEN IN AUGUST.

RECREATION GYM ON SECOND FLOOR WILL HOST ALL GYM EVENTS.

Friday, March 3: Cheerleading showcase at Memorial Hall 7-9 p.m.

Sunday, March 5: Intramural basketball playoffs at Memorial Hall 3-5 p.m.

Monday, March 6: Intramural basketball playoffs at Memorial Hall 7-9 p.m.

Tuesday, March 7: CoRec pickup indoor soccer at Memorial Hall 6-8 p.m. Intramural basketball championship at Memorial Hall 8-9 p.m.

Thursday, March 9: CoRec pickup indoor soccer at Memorial Hall 6-8 p.m.

INDOOR

MHKY VS. GENESEO

Continued from page 6

When it comes to anything in life, there is always room for improvement, even when at the highest peak. Montville was disappointed in his second place performance, but he still appreciated the trial.

“I’m grateful for the experience and ultimately tried my best, which is all the coaches ask for in any situation. In sports, you either win or lose and learn, and I’m definitely going to learn from this,” Montville said.

MCDONOUGH

HOCKEY

Continued from page 6

Last Saturday’s matchup was the fourth time the Cardinals have faced the Kangaroos this season. Canton started goaltender Sierna Alvarez in all four games. Alvarez is one of the best goalies in the conference, finishing top-five in goalsagainst average, save percentage, saves and win percentage in each of the last two seasons.

#

Ashley Davis, G 0.964

Alvarez has been a problem for Plattsburgh in the games they’ve faced her. In its three regular-season matchups, Alvarez averaged 42.7 saves, 2.19 goals against average and a 0.922 save percentage. The Cardinals got just one goal past her on Jan. 20. After Plattsburgh’s most recent regular-season game against Canton, Houle named Alvarez as one of the team’s strengths. She was named NEWHL Goaltender of the Year Feb. 28.

Krauseneck pointed to starting games hot as something the team could improve on. She said, though, that the experience makes the team better in its ability to come from behind. Houle agreed, but said the team would rather not be behind in the first place.

Plattsburgh forgot about both of these precedents on Saturday. The Cardinals struck first when Wall hit forward Nicole Unsworth on the left side, who then hit Olshansky in the slot for a goal. Just five minutes into the game, Plattsburgh had a lead that wouldn’t be responded to.

“She’s a top goalie and she played great tonight, but we were able to get to her early,” Houle said.

Montville, another senior runner, has been on the team since his first year and does not lack

“That takes a little wind out of their sails.”

The Cardinals finished the first period with two more scores after Krauseneck put one in from the slot and Schmelzer from the left circle. Schmelzer later left the game with a lower body injury and her status for next week’s game was undisclosed.

Plattsburgh’s commanding 3-0 lead proved insurmountable. After the Cardinals scored in the second period, the Kangaroos scored its first. Plattsburgh immediately responded with another. Canton drowned in Plattsburgh’s shot volume.

“The first shift sets the tone and that’s something that coach had mentioned in the locker room before,” Krauseneck said. “Taking over helped us out from the start, and then just retaining throughout the entire first period and then eventually through the whole game.”

The Cardinals stay at home next week for the NEWHL Championship. The No. 11 Cortland Red Dragons (20-6, NEWHL 14-4) come to the Ronnie B. with something no other NEWHL team can say: it beat Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh lost its firstever NEWHL game to Cortland 0-1 Dec. 2, 2022. Since the conference’s inception in 2017, no other team can make that claim. The Cardinals have beaten the Red Dragons twice since that game, but the loss makes Cortland a less-than-ideal matchup for the conference title March 4 at 3 p.m.

“They’ve become a quick rival, for sure, and we know that they don’t like us. Most teams come in, everyone wants to beat us,” Krauseneck said. “We know it's going to be a game that we have to grind out.”

in confidence or discipline. He knows he and his teammates must maintain focus for the AARTFC Championships coming up.

The SUNYAC competitions give Plattsburgh’s athletes a chance to go up against other athletes from conference opponents including Geneseo, Brockport, Cortland, Buffalo, Fredonia, Oswego and Oneonta. With Plattsburgh women placing sixth overall and Plattsburgh men placing seventh, it is no secret that the competition is real and intense.

Nevertheless, Head Coach Andrew Krug said he was pleased with his team's performances and the overall outcomes of the event. He wants the team now to focus on mak-

The Cards have won every NEWHL title game and nothing points to now being the end of its run. The team has its strongest record since 2019-20 and a dominant win against Canton primes Plattsburgh for another strong conference championship appearance.

MEN

The No. 6 men’s team (195-2, SUNYAC 12-3-1) won 5-1 against the No. 14 Geneseo Knights (18-6-2, SUNYAC 11-4-1), punching its ticket to its first SUNYAC Championship under Head Coach Steve Moffat.

Five different Cardinals scored goals, including forwards Bennett Stockdale, Brendan Young, Jake Lanyi, Luk Jirousek and Carson Gallagher. Young and Jirousek both added assists for a team-leading two points.

Defenseman Jacob Modry tallied two blocks and a plus-minus of plus-three. The teams were almost deadlocked in shot totals, as Plattsburgh had 44 to Geneseo’s 42.

“Both teams are good defensively, really good offensively,” Moffat said. “We create chances, they create chances. It was a very good hockey game that could have went either way.”

First-year Eli Shiller got the look in the goal, saving 41 shots, a career high. In Plattsburgh’s two games this season against Geneseo, in which it went 1-0-1, Jacob Hearne started at goalie. Hearne’s season high also came against the Knights, when he saved 35 shots in a 2-2 tie Nov. 12, 2022.

“Hearne, he stood on his head both times we played them before,” Shiller said. “He’s a great goalie, I think I’m a great goalie. I think we

ing adjustments for regionals. Krug is also thinking longterm with understanding the importance of continuing to build momentum for the outdoor season. The new season will include additional events, including javelin, hammer, discus and the steeplechase. Year in and year out it is a goal to raise the team performance and continue to be sharper in the small details that are necessary to win against their conference rivals in future competitions. The goal of constant improvement is a point of emphasis for SUNY Plattsburgh, and it always has been.

could have him in net, me in net, it doesn’t matter.”

Plattsburgh’s victory ends Geneseo’s five-year streak as SUNYAC Champions. Over its last 10 matchups, the Cardinals are 3-5-3 against the Knights. This win was extra sweet.

"Last year, we had a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths," Jirousek said. “They’ve had it for the last four years. We’re not fans of them, so sending them home felt that much sweeter. They’re a fun team to play against.”

The crowd was the largest it had ever been this season, with 1,700 fans in attendance. It was also the most animated it had been. With every Knight slammed into the glass, the crowd popped. Fans harped on Geneseo goalie Matt Petizian and chants started.

“The crowd was unbelievable,” Young said. “It was probably the coolest experience playing in front of that crowd.”

Scoring opened 10 minutes into the first period, when forward Colin Callanan forced a turnover and passed it to Stockdale, waiting in the left circle. Stockdale shot a missile into the back of the net on Petizian’s glove side. Plattsburgh controlled the puck in the first period.

Plattsburgh struck again 10 minutes into the second period. Defenseman Matt Araujo got the puck to Jirousek in Geneseo territory before Jirousek passed it to Young on the right side. Young skated down the goal line and put it between Patizian’s legs to go up 2-0.

Geneseo responded two minutes later with a score of its own, ending the period 2-1 Plattsburgh.

Jirousek sealed the game with a dagger five min-

utes into the third period.

Jirousek took the puck from a Knight before missing a shot. Young rebounded the puck, getting it to Jirousek who struck paydirt in the face of Patizian.

“I tried going short side. I didn’t expect that one to pop right in front of him, but it did,” Jirousek said.

“Younger took a stick and then it was just, ‘puck’s right there, goalie’s off to the side.’ Pretty easy tapin there.”

The Cardinals advanced to face the rival No. 12 Oswego Lakers (17-8-1, SUNYAC 12-4) in the SUNYAC Championship March 4 at 7 p.m in Oswego. The Lakers have been the Cardinals’ kryptonite this season, being the only SUNYAC team Plattsburgh has a losing record against at 1-2. Moffat called the upcoming game a “big challenge.”

“We’re just going to go into Oswego ready to go,” Young said. “We know what we’re up against. We know what it’s like to play in their rink.”

Oswego also handed Plattsburgh its biggest loss all season when it won 5-1 Nov. 4, 2022. The Cardinals returned the favor Jan. 20 when it won 6-1. Over its last 10 matchups, the Lakers hold a 8-2-1 advantage. Plattsburgh isn’t phased by its history and is excited at the prospect of beating Oswego at home.

“This has been a two-year process, kind of. We started it last year and we had a really good team last year and we didn’t get to where we wanted to. And this year we kind of just built on that,” Moffat said. “It’s a credit to the guys. They come in and they work every day.”

Aislyn

Jones finishes college, reflects on journey

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Sports Editor

Myles Jones played his last game for Plattsburgh’s men’s basketball team Feb. 18. He’s 24 years old and is about to graduate with an English degree. Before the game started, the team held a ceremony for seniors. Jones stood in front of the crowd with his father Rick Jones, his stepmother Dionne Jones and his brother Roddy Jones. Two other seniors joined him: Sheriff Conteh and Erik Salo. Myles Jones isn’t like his colleagues.

Salo played three seasons for the Cardinals, holding down the post and leading the team in rebounds in two of them. Conteh played for two years and has one of the most recognizable faces on campus. Jones hasn’t been on campus for a full academic year yet. He transferred from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia before the start of the fall semester. Plattsburgh is the fifth college he’s attended.

Jones grew up in a single-parent household with his mother, Dafrine Jones, in Alexandria, Virginia. His uncle, Myron Brooks, introduced Myles Jones to the sport when Jones was five. One day, Brooks visited the household with a gift for him: a portable basketball hoop he bought from Walmart. From then on, Jones hasn’t put down the ball.

In sixth grade, Jones’ stepfather, Lynden Forbes, was deported to The Bahamas. He lived with his father in Gainesville, Virginia for the next two years due to financial issues in the family.

Jones played on basketball teams through middle school and often played one-on-one with his brother. It wasn’t until he reached late middle school that he started to find his love for the game and get recognition for his ability.

“We played hundreds, maybe thousands of games,” Roddy Jones said. “One day, he beat me and I never played him again. At that point, I knew he was special.”

Before high school, Myles Jones was able to move back in with his mother and Forbes re-entered the United States. He attended Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia using a family friend’s address. Forbes drove him from Alexandria to school every day, an almost hour-long drive.

Jones was selected for the varsity basketball team as a firstyear at a school with almost 3,000 students. He didn’t play much that year, but earning playing time gave him a sense of motivation that he hadn’t previously had for the game.

He received a participation letter at the end of the season, but not a jacket like other players. He described it as “humiliating,” and it fueled his upcoming season. He said that moment sparked his drive to be a better player. Roddy Jones described him as the hardest worker he had ever met.

Myles Jones realized there was a legitimate chance for him to play at a higher level after a successful sophomore season. He decided to transfer to a school that would give him a better chance at being recognized by a college program— Blue Ridge School in St. George, Virginia.

Blue Ridge is a private, all-boys boarding school with a reputation for its boys’ basketball program. The school is consistently ranked highly across Virginia teams. It was No. 4 the year before Jones arrived. There, Jones learned under Head Coach Cade Lemcke.

Dionne Jones said her stepson

was so scared, he cried when he got to Blue Ridge. She credited his teammates’ and school’s support for helping him adapt to the environment. Rick Jones said Lemcke was a leader of men.

Myles Jones played in just 10 games in his first year, sitting below future NCAA Division I and NBA players on the depth chart. Though he didn’t play much, Jones’ season was productive. Lemcke noticed Jones’ determination early on.

Jones credited his mother’s side of the family for his competitiveness. Dafrine Jones instilled a toughness in Myles Jones that made him want to do better. Outside of basketball, he also lettered in football and track and field.

During his high school career, Jones also played AAU basketball. He was coached by Chris Rhone in both 16u and 17u competition. Rhone said Jones “knew his role,” which led to team success.

“He’s a very loyal, very loyal person. Hard-nosed kid. Very determined,” Rhone said. “He’s just a great kid. Great personality, hard worker. I think he’s going to be successful in life.”

During Jones’ second season at Blue Ridge, his mother developed cancer. She was put into hospice care while he was at school. Jones remembered his brother being at her side as her condition worsened while he was still playing basketball.

Jones came home for Christmas break and returned to the team for a game Jan. 6, 2017. His father and brother drove five hours to the game and brought Jones back in a snowstorm. His mother died Jan. 7. Jones said it happened quickly for him.

“It’s tough to this day,” Jones said. “Every single monumental moment you have in life, and not even only with basketball, you go to a wedding and everybody’s dancing with their mom. The little things like that, I don’t have that. Like Senior Day, my dad’s out there, my stepmom’s out there, my brother’s out there, mom’s not there.”

Rick Jones and Lemcke coordinated to have the team visit Myles Jones at home. Myles Jones’ father said some colleagues from work would be visiting the house. The team bus pulled into the driveway, making a loud beeping noise, and Jones was still none the wiser. Rick Jones knew it meant a lot to his son.

“We just went to spend time with him in his home and just be able to not only take his mind off everything going on but also let him know that he has 12 brothers and coaching staff that were there for him,” Lemcke said. “We were thankful that we had the ability to do that.”

Jones returned to the team soon after. Blue Ridge finished the season 8-2 for an overall record of 303. Jones and Blue Ridge won five straight games in the playoffs and beat Miller School of Albemarle in the state championship.

Dionne Jones and Myles Jones’ stepsister, Cayla Williams, said he focused on basketball to deal with his grief. Dionne Jones believed the team environment helped him. Williams said basketball became a “coping mechanism.”

Headed into his final season, Myles Jones was named a team captain. Lemcke put trust into Jones on account of his immense leadership skills.

“Whatever it was, he was always ready to compete and always wanted to beat the other person,” Lemcke said. “He excelled in that environment and really helped us win.”

Jones’ senior season of 11 points per game, efficient shooting and tough defense earned him multiple opportunities at the collegiate level. His 6’2” frame got him Division I visits. In his high school years, he faced

elite talent in future NBA AllStars Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Olympic gold medalist Keldon Johnson.

“He would always come in and guard the best player on the other team and could hit open shots, and you just knew he was going to fight,” Lemcke said. “He would never be satisfied, was always fighting, always striving to get more, to do more or prove this or prove that.”

He eventually decided to attend Tusculum University, a Division II basketball program in Tennessee, on a full-ride scholarship. He majored in business and minored in journalism. Rick Jones remembered his son breaking down because his mother wasn’t there to see him sign his letter of intent.

Tusculum Head Coach J.T. Burton said Jones personified leadership and resilience.

“Some of us coaches get a little hard because all we think about is winning and losing,” Burton said. “One thing he taught me is to understand what kids are going through and help them get through it.”

Burton related his experience with Jones back to his own, as he lost his father at a young age.

Jones played 20 games in his first season at Tusculum, averaging 1.4 points per game. Though he was living his dream of playing college basketball, Jones felt out of place. The passing of his mother was still looming over his head.

“I don’t know if, mentally, he was ready for everything that was going to come at him,” Rick Jones said. “[Tusculum] kind of lost him. It just was not going to work.”

After a difficult year at Tusculum, Myles Jones felt burned out from basketball. He had difficulty adjusting to the college lifestyle, didn’t get time to grieve his mother’s death and couldn’t get behind Burton’s coaching style. Jones made a vow to be done with basketball.

After departing from the team, Jones transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University. At VCU, he watched former colleagues play, knowing he still had gas in the tank. He watched other people play and played recreationally, but never for the team. Roddy Jones said one of the best things Myles Jones could have done was to just be a “regular student.”

“It allowed him to see through a different lens, watching people play,” Rick Jones said. “It gave him the ability to really see how much he loved it. He couldn’t say, ‘I hate it,’ anymore. He found out what he really feels. He loves it.”

Myles Jones was invited to a game of pickup with former Blue Ridge teammates Darius McGhee and Chris Rogers. He played, even beating them in some games. The matchups were filmed.

The videos were distributed to basketball schools and Jones accepted a scholarship offer from Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina. At his new school, he studied information systems security. Jones beat his burnout by leaning into his talent.

It was hard for him to accept he wasn’t playing, knowing he could have a role on a team. Rick Jones described Myles Jones as having a “chip on his shoulder,” knowing his son hasn’t gotten what he thinks he deserves.

Despite having a basketball scholarship, Jones didn’t play a single game for Limestone. He contracted COVID-19 before the season started and he believed the NCAA failed to clear his eligibility waiver after transferring schools.

Limestone played Tusculum that year, as both teams play in the South Atlantic Conference’s Mountain Division. At the game, a former Tusculum teammate told Jones he overheard a Limestone coach say Jones’ waiver was never submitted to the NCAA by the school.

Jones, who anticipated playing at Limestone, was disappointed by the news. He still wanted to play. Before the next season, Jones transferred to his fourth college, Covenant College, to play basketball and study computer science. Covenant is a Division III school and he had only Division II experience.

At Covenant, Jones had his most success as a college player so far. He started 10 of 25 games played and averaged 7.9 points per game and shot 36 percent from the three point line. The team finished with an 18-7 record including a 10-2 record in conference play. The team lost in the USA South Championship.

Above all else, Jones valued graduating on time. He wasn’t able to at Limestone, so he began his search for his fifth and final college. When Jones’ name entered the transfer portal, Plattsburgh men’s basketball’s Head Coach Mike Blaine took notice.

Blaine was previously employed at four different colleges in the DMV area. He took note of Jones when he played at Blue Ridge and is a good friend of Lemcke. Blaine was interested in bringing Jones to Plattsburgh, so he reached out to Jones’ former coach. In return, he got a “glowing recommendation.”

Jones has family ties to Syracuse and SUNY Plattsburgh offered him the chance to get a degree. He couldn’t pass on the opportunity, telling his girlfriend Hannah Browne he wanted to leave an impact on the program he joined.

The year before Jones arrived, the program had an all-time low season, finishing with a 2-23 overall record. Blaine attributed the lack of success to an absence of experience in the roster, claiming not many players on the 2021-22 roster had collegiate experience. He wanted someone who was “veteran savvy.” Jones fit the bill.

“He tried to be very, very coachable,” Blaine said. “He really tried to buy into what we were accomplishing.”

Jones worked hard over the summer to become a better player. Roddy Jones said Myles Jones counted every shot he took over the summer before the 2022-23 season and it added up to be more than 50,000.

a game or take charges before.

“I’m pretty sure half the team could say that Myles has always been a mentor. He’s always been a leader, stopping fights,” teammate Jalin Pitts said. “He’s been like a brother to me all the time. Every time I messed up, I had a terrible practice, he’s always been able to pick me up.”

Pitts said Jones is good at stepping up and managing personalities. Jones is there to encourage players and keep them focused on practice. Pitts believed Jones’ leadership eventually translated to team success.

A few weeks into the season, Browne’s brother was shot during a robbery in Virginia. He survived, and Browne said getting the phone call from her mother was something out of a movie. Browne texted Jones, who was at practice at the time.

Jones was there for Browne in the weeks coming, dedicating sleepless nights to be on the phone with her and became her shoulder to cry on. She said he “handled it perfectly.”

“He was just the most supportive and was genuinely concerned. I feel like because I was hurting, he took that hurt onto himself,” Browne said. “He felt like he was carrying a burden with me.”

Roddy and Dionne Jones both described Myles Jones as a caring, giving person. Dionne Jones said despite his “Kobe” side of toughness, he has a soft side and gives from his heart.

Jones finished the season with an average of 8.8 points per game and as one of the team’s top shooters and defenders. He was assigned to guard top conference opponents, like Brockport’s Mekhi Beckett and Cortland’s Austin Grunder. The team was eliminated from the playoffs in the final week of regular season play with a 10-15 record, a far cry from last season’s finish.

“I think the challenge of this year was different than the past few years. I’ve been blessed to be on two really, really good teams. This year, coming into a team that had won two games the past year, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Jones said. He minimized his role in games to give the team a better chance at winning games. “All those things, I think, led to a better and more successful year. I hope it rubs off and they continue to keep doing the same things next year.”

Jones tied his career high of 24 points in his last game. He’s now less than three months away from graduating.

Jones joined his fifth new roster in six years. Despite being a senior, he was the new guy on the team. Jones is supposed to be a leader of a locker room full of strangers. Teammate Sheriff Conteh said Jones didn’t speak up much at first.

It didn’t take long for Jones to adjust. Salo remembered Jones being excited to join the team. Jones carried experience with him and was ready to be a team player. His ability to accept criticism and adjust to a new environment made the transition easier.

“As a team, as we went through adversity, we sat down with each other and picked each other’s brains. He was very vocal,” Conteh said. “Him giving his input helped us a lot as a team.”

Jones soon became one of the regular vets. Blaine said Jones tried to help the younger players see the bigger picture. Jones’ hard work and dedication to the team’s ultimate goal of winning rubbed off on his underclassmen. He took pride in taking a back seat in games to have a better chance of winning, saying he had never done things like take five shots in

“It’s a blessing to be able to be there for him right now. I’m the first person in my family to graduate college and he saw me graduate,” Roddy Jones said. “I feel able to give him knowledge, strength and to keep telling him, ‘Get through it, get through it, get through it.’”

Rick Jones said if it was up to him, he’d have gone to one school but the most important thing for him is that his son graduates. He didn’t get the chance to get a degree himself and now he’s going to see his son finally walk across the stage in May.

Jones mentioned multiple paths for his future. He’s working to get his certification to work in information technology. He wants to use his English degree to become a teacher so he can become a basketball coach easier. Jones could also seek a roster spot in a league overseas, specifically in Finland. No matter where he goes or what he does, Browne said she believes basketball is a big part of his future.

“I think a lot about a story is perspective. One could say my story is sad,” Jones said. “But I think my story is definitely positive.”

“He would never be satisfied, was always fighting, always striving to get more, to do more or prove this or prove that.”

Myles Jones

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

BSU’s Masquerade Black Ball results

BY KIYANNA NOEL Arts & Culture Editor

Black Onyx: The Black Student Union hosted their eighth annual Mr. and Mrs. BSU Pageant Feb 25 in the Warren Ballrooms at the Angell College Center.

Hosted by David Harris and Samuel Atuahene, the doors were open at 6 p.m. but the event itself did not start until 7:45 p.m.

The first performer of the evening was student Evans D’Pulpit playing several Rihanna songs on the piano while salads were served by Chartwells.

To kick off the show, Harris and Atuahene introduced judges, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Allison Heard, Multicultural Student Success Coach Travis Gorham and Educational Opportunity Program Counselor Arlis Garcia.

Contestants were then welcomed to the stage four at a

time to introduce themselves to the audience and the judges.

The first group was Rashad Nicholas, Nochamy Bamba , Michael Gaines and Ohemaa Owusu-Poku.

In their introductions, each contestant was given the opportunity to introduce themselves and explained their social movements.

Nicholas’ movement was the underlying mental health of Black men in today’s society.

“The social movement that I’m doing is mental health for Black men. That’s a topic that’s not really talked about a lot mainly because for men, it’s hard for us to open up about our feelings. Personally, it was always hard for me at a young age to deal with it,” Nicholas said. Throughout his speech, Nicholas explained the pressures he faces in his family and how his mental health played a big role in either keeping him motivat-

ed or stagnant.

Bamba spoke about her experience in the dance world in New York City. She explained how her dream was to be a dancer and how she was constantly rejected by dance companies because of her skin color. Bamba’s social movement was “inequality and racism within Black dancers.”

Gaines’ social movement was Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder within the Black community. He elaborated on how he lives with PTSD in his day to day life.

“I chose this movement because it resonated with me,” Gaines said. “Despite having PTSD, I honestly believe that I always have room to grow and live this life the best way I can.”

Owusu-Poku’s social movement was the Anti-Apartheid Movement. In her introduction, she explained how Nelson Mandela could turn a “no” into a “yes” and how she turned around and did the same thing

when it came to her education.

The next four contestants to present their social movements were Michael Johnson, Sydney Wise, Jaherah Seales and graduate-student Ayesha Abdallah.

Johnson introduces himself by

Preview: “Something For The Fish”

BY SUZANNE TRACY Contributor

Storms and shapeshifters — that is whatthe audience can expect seeing a staged reading of “Something for the Fish” by Brooklyn-based playwright, actor and songwriter Emily Krause, put on by SUNY Plattsburgh’s Theater Department. The show runs March 2 at Krinovitz Recital Hall in Hawkins Hall at 7 p.m. and March 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Chapter One Coffee. This staged reading is free and open to the public.

Those taking the time to come and see this production won’t see a typical play being put on. It is something completely different and unique.

“They [students] will act,” Director Shawna Mefferd Kelty said, “but many of the stage directions that are often enacted by actors or turned into design elements by designers will be read aloud, which gives the audience a chance to imagine, to have the image painted for them through the words of the play.”

This production, with its lack of flash or big set piec-

es, will be a lot calmer and more focused on words.

Mefferd Kelty emphasized this, saying, “Staged readings put the focus on the playwright, their words and the world they have created. We hear their words and are invited in as audience and performers to imagine the world of the play that arises out of those words.”

“Something for the Fish” was written to focus

on the undeniable power of climate change and what grief can do to a person. The show also focuses on the fact that sometimes people don’t notice the change, whether in the climate or in people.

First-year Leo Greer, majoring in English and writing arts and minoring in gender and women’s studies, says their audition was so much better than they had realized. Greer plays

the part of William.

“I decided to audition for ‘Something for the Fish’ because I saw the flyer and my Gender Women’s Studies and theater professors suggested I audition,” Greer said. “I was so excited, I had spent years fearing auditions of any kind.”

This type of production allows the actors to feel more comfortable. This audition can be a

lot less frightening or rigorous for students who do not have typical theater experience. Greer said a staged reading can help allow everyone to feel included.

Adding to the audition process, Jessica Rigby, a senior majoring in theater and playing Pat in the production, said: “There is a little less pressure with a staged reading since we don’t have to memorize. This also allows it to be more accessible to performers who can’t commit to the massive time commitment that a large production becomes.”

This audition process and production has already attracted a handful of students with broad knowledge and skill sets.

In the future, more may come forward due to the calmer requirements for auditioning and time restraints that aren’t as strict as a normal production.

For more information contact Mefferd Kelty at smeff001@plattsburgh. edu.

explaining how he was born in a dance studio. Being born into dance, he quickly learned what he wanted inequality in the entertainment industry.

> 10

Campus Summit

BY JEREMY BINNING Staff Writer

Her Campus, an online publication, hosted Black Business Summit Feb. 23 in the Cardinal Lounge. The purpose of the event was to shed light on the small Black businesses that are on campus. Businesses from clothing to tote bags were showcased along with the creators involved with these products.

Michael Johnson, the creator of Malosi Apparel, was one of the six Black business owners that used the event to highlight their brand. Johnson released the first line from the brand in the summer of 2021.

“The feeling I want people to have when they wear Malosi is to feel strong, stylish and encouraged,” he explains.

The brand recently hit the runway as a part of the Mystic Night Fashion Show. Models from the House of Divinity club modeled his new line of shirts as well as other apparel.

MASQUERADE

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

Ohemaa Owusu-Poku, Michael Gaines and Nochamy Bamba stand on stage under purple lights. Her

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

Contestant Michael Johnson gives his introduction to the audience and explaining why he chose his social movement of inequality in the entertainment industry.

SYDNEY HAKES/Cardinal Points Actors rehearsing before the official stage reading.

SUMMIT

Continued from page 9

Other clothing brands included Zuwa Boutique, created by Abieyuwa Uzamere, and Sante by Jessica Asantentewaa-Mensah.

Uzamere created Zuwa Boutique, a women’s luxury brand, during the pandemic with the help of her sister. The goal was to “create a luxury brand for all shapes and sizes.” She incorporates her Nigerian roots into the brand by

using Nigerian names to name her products. For example, the “ADA” bag got its name from the Igbo language which means “first” and it was named that because it was the brand’s first bag released.

Sante has been in business for the last two years, starting in January 2021. The word “Sante” comes from the French and means “health” and is part of the reason AsantentewaaMensah created the brand.

“I created the brand around my mental health due to a lot of things that

MASQUERADE

Continued from page 9

Wise’s introduction explained how she loves being a Black woman and how growing up she found herself questioning who she is as a Black woman. Her social justice movement was about understanding Dr. Umar’s school and how it is the beginning for Black people to build a community of their own as a way of uplifting each other and coming together. The school is designed as an institue for Black students to be taught by Black teachers and learning about their heritage.

Seales began his speech by explaining the meaning behind his name and what he represents as an individual. The social movement he represents is prison reform. Based on his own personal experience in the prison system, Seales showed passion throughout his introduction and explained what the system not only did to him but the people around him.

“Along this journey, I’ve seen a lot of people that I’ve grown up with, people

happened to me in the past,” AsantentewaaMensah said. Asantentewaa-Mensah said she wants to use her brand to “uplift people in regards to their mental health through words or slang that people can relate to.”

Sante is one of the many brands in the summit that created their line for more than just fashion. Each creator has a message behind their work and is using their brand to promote awareness of their cause.

Fashion isn’t the only

that I look up to and people that I represent be imprisoned and be lost amongst themselves, whether it be to prison or the system,” Seales said. “So, tonight I’m running for Mr. BSU, but tonight I want to represent win, lose or draw. I want to spread the message of the reform of Black imprisonment, especially of Black men.”

Abdallah’s social movement was the systemic inequity of African Americans being under-treated for pain in the medical system. She began her introduction by telling a story of how a patient had to beg for treatment because some doctors thought she was exaggerating her pain and it ended up being a serious medical issue.

After each contestant gave their introduction, the first four returned with three questions to be answered geared toward what being a Black person means to them and why they chose the inspirational role model they did. Following this, the second group of contestants returned to do the same.

Afterward, there was a brief intermission followed by a spoken word performance by poet Fanta Ballo and D’Pulpit accompanying on the piano. Ballo started out in the

thing young Black business owners on campus can create. Content creator Jesujuwon Odeyemi, DatGuyJ, attended the summit to promote his YouTube channel. His YouTube channel focuses on street interviews where he goes around Plattsburgh and New York City asking random people questions on whatever topic he has for that video. His humorous approach makes it hard not to be entertained by some of his outrageous questions.

Also included in the

summit was hairstylist Jakira Barrett. Barrett runs a hair braiding business called Jenuine Beauti for Black men and women by providing services of braids, locs and cornrows.

The goal of her business is to help support the BIPOC community in Plattsburgh, being one of the few hair braiders on campus.

The event had a successful turnout, to say the least. Each small Black business owner involved came together to put on an amazing summit and all brands should definitely

back of the room before making her way to the front, being sure to make eye contact with the audience as she went. As she spoke, she used her hands to mimic her feelings and represent a connection not only with her words, but with the audience. Ballo’s words and heart was shown on the stage in many ways. The audience seemed captivated by her love poem.

The talent portion of the fashion show created a strong reaction from the audience. People cheered for their friends more than they ate the food that was presented to them.

Nicholas, Bamba and Johnson did dance routines. Gaines did a spoken word piece about Trayvon Martin. Abdallah lip synched a skit about learning where Black features originate from and what they represent. Wise read a poem she wrote called “courage”. Owusu-Poku sang two songs and Seales rapped to a song that kept him going while he was incarcerated, accompanied by D’Pulpit’s piano playing.

While each performance was special in their own way, three of them had a more powerful impact. Owusu-Poku’s voice was heard so clearly and efficiently, and

see numbers in their next drops. The biggest takeaway could be not that there are so many businesses around campus, but the fact that there are these creative people that are sitting right next to you in class. More should definitely be in store following the success of the summit and keep an eye out for these creative brands for the future.

Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

everyone gravitated toward her. Nicholas’ routine was crisp, clear and he kept his and the audience’s energy up throughout his performance. Seales’ performance was powerful from the way he dressed to his animated speech. He wore an orange jumpsuit and shed tears as the words really connected with him.

While the judges left the room to deliberate their choice, the audience was instructed to vote for their favorites on a Google form. During this there was a performance by High Voltage, which didn’t receive much reaction from the crowd.

The results were in: Nicholas became Mr. BSU and Owusu-Pokubecame Mrs. BSU.

The runners-up were Wise and Seales. The two fan favorites from the voting polls were Seales and Owusu-Poku.

After the winners were announced, Nicholas’ and Owusu-Poku’s mentors were welcomed to the stage to say how it was working with the contestants and thank everyone for showing their support.

Email KIYANNA NOEL

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

Contestant Jaherah Seales locks arms with friends as he performs an emotional song about being incarcerated.

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

Angelina Rodriguez, president of BSU, stands with her mentee, Rashad Nicholas, winner of Mr. BSU.

KIYANNA NOEL/Cardinal Points

Brenda Gabriel and Zanaeja Dandy present their mentee Ohemaa Owusu-Poku as Mrs. BSU.

CALENDAR March 5 - 10

ALL WEEK: Conscientious Collectors exhibition - Myers Fine Arts Building

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

Public Ice Skating

Admission: $3, free for students

Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Career: Baltimore City Schools

Session

Literature Club Weekly Meeting Wilson Commons 7 - 8 p.m.

SA Executive Council Meeting Alumni Conference Room 9:30 - 10:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 3/8 THURSDAY 3/9

Career: Deutsche Bank Recruitment session

Mr. Aephine Warren Ballrooms

SA Senate Meeting Alumni Conference Room

- 11:30 p.m.

Career: City Year Teaching Info

Career: SUNY Oneonta Nutrition

Career: Schluter Systems Emplyer Site Visit

Healing Beyond Violence Support Group

LGBTQ+ Resource Committee Meeting ACC Meeting Room 8 3 - 4 p.m.

Career: Aflac Internship Info Session

Neuro Pride Space Relaford Room in Macomb Hall 12:30-2 p.m.

Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir Rehearsals 300 Myers Fine Arts Building 5 -6 p.m.

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 Child of Cups card represents being open to all emotions. Don’t tame your emotions and allow yourself to feel freely.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

The Ace of Crystals card represents seeing a silver lining. Now that you’ve been enlightened, don’t ignore the facts.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22

The Seven of Worlds card represents having the willpower to break out of stagnancy. Continue to persevere and motivate yourself

AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18

The Man of Wands card represents wearing a mask to protect yourself from harm. Stop performing for others and free yourself from the wall you’ve built.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

The Sage of Wands card represents enlightening others with your knowledge. Your wisdom deserves to be shared even if some people won’t listen.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

The Nine of Crystals card represents being narrow-minded. It’s good to stay focused, but there’s nothing wrong with a distraction occasionally.

PISCES

February 19 - March 20

The Five of Cups card represents feeling disappointed. Accept things as they are and let go of resentment.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

The Ten of Wands card represents internal growth and expanding personal knowledge. It’s time to branch out and challenge yourself.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21

The Two of Wands card represents staying true to yourself. Continue to be your authentic self and see things as they are.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

The Moon card represents transitioning into a new phase. Remember things are in your control, so do things intentionally.

LEO

July 23 - August 22

The Sage of Crystals card represents knowing different perspectives. Be open to giving advice when others ask you.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 - December 21

The Eight of Wands card represents bringing and keeping things together. It’s hard to be the person to resolve all problems, try not to get overwhelmed.

This Week in Photos: Hockey playoffs

Photos by Jayne Smith

BURGHY hits the ice

ABOVE: The women’s team fistbumps the crew on their way out to the ice.

LEFT: Forward Carson Gallagher eyes the spot as he awaits the puck to be dropped.

RIGHT: Defenseman Sierra Benjamin scans the ice, attempting to set up the offense.

BELOW: Forward Colin Callanan (17) chirps at referee during a stoppage of play.