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Issue 3

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FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

VOLUME 108 | ISSUE 3

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

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. ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

OFFICE > 3 The Fraternity and Sorority Life office is a workspace dominated by students.

Wellness Week: Talks, games, freebies BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA News & Managing Editor

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 ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points sexually active adults test for STIs Lori Bednarchik and Allison Heard smile as the ballroom fills. once a year, and Sand said it is

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

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

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

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

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

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

OPINION Greek life isn’t diverse enough

SPORTS McDonough wins SUNYAC

ARTS & CULTURE Black business summit

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS Hockey playoffs

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