Issue 6

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

VOLUME 106 - ISSUE 6

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

Black Solidarity Day joins calendar

BY LARAIB ASIM Staff Writer

SUNY Plattsburgh has officially added Black Solidarity Day to the academic calendar to be celebrated annually as a teach-in day on the first Monday of every November. SUNY will mark the first celebration of this event on campus Nov. 7, 2022.

Dr. Carlos Russell, an activist, ambassador and professor at SUNY Old Westbury and at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York (BCCUNY), was the reason Black Solidarity Day was founded in 1969. He was inspired by Douglas Turner Ward’s play “Day of Absence,” in which Black citizens of a fictional Southern town vanish, revealing to the town’s white residents their dependence on Black people.

Ahmed Metwaly, the president of the Student Association, said the bill was introduced to the Senate and after it had passed, it went to the President’s office, from there the Student Association set up meetings to discuss further details.

The bill in reference is the 59th Legislation’s 2nd Resolution written by Shiyiheeim Nartey-Tokoli, the former treasurer of the Student Association, and re-submitted by Mac-Olivier Lalanne, a senator of the Student Association.

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The bill states, “A Resolution: To request that SUNY Plattsburgh’s Administration recognize Black Solidarity Day as a holiday, and thus a day of Diversity and Inclusion to be celebrated annu-

ally on our campus. That SUNY Plattsburgh allow students to observe the day needed to get educated on the meaning of diversity and the history of Black Solidarity Day.” The Student Associa-

tion has been trying to add this day into the calendar for a long time.

The first time the resolution was proposed and passed was during the 56th Legislation and then again during the 57th

Legislation and has finally been approved by the faculty during the 59th Legislation.

“A big part of what we have been doing specifically for this year is trying to rebuild as the Student

Association and as a campus [community] because of COVID,” Metwaly said.

“So that [Black Solidarity Day] was one of the things that came into our radar that we wanted to try and do again.”

Ohemaa Owusu-Poku, who is a part of the Student Association Executive Board and the Coordinator of Student Affairs and Diversity, thanked the other members of the Student Association for their dedication and applauded students for their appreciation and willingness to learn about Black culture. This allows the Association to succeed in their efforts of raising awareness of Black and other communities.

“Me, along with Ohemma and Ahmed, really tried to make things work for the Black Solidarity Day because of its impact toward the black community,” LaLanne said. “[Black people] contributed a lot more in society than what other people think.”

According to Metwaly, the main issue that arose was that no one knew what students would do during the day. Dr. Raymond Carmen, an associate professor of political science, talked about how the college came up with a meaningful way to celebrate Black Solidarity Day.

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Support group offered

BY BRYN FAWN Contributor

functioned as director of student conduct. Now, his responsibilities center around student involvement: campus life, student-run events, seeking student input for further campus development and organizing communication with parents to keep them updated on major campus events. He also supervises and coordinates Housing and Community Living, the Student Health Center and the Center for Student Involvement. He said working together with all departments helps to “pool resources and potentially have bigger and better events” on campus.

Jacqueline Vogl, the director of GEO, and Inga Karpenko, a licensed mental health counselor on campus, are both concerned with the mental health of international students. Together, Vogl and Karpenko have utilized their resources to form a support group dedicated to assisting international students.

However, no one has attended since the first session March 9.

Karpenko held a support group meeting March 23 in the H.U.B. inside the Angell College Center, but no one attended the event.

Karpenko has held weekly sessions since March 9 in the H.U.B.. Karpenko also said she had been trying to form a group since the Fall 2021 semester.

Karpenko, through GEO, has been attempting to spread awareness for the group by reaching out to international students on what times and dates work best for them. Karpenko received no response.

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SUPPORT l A5

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Students can visit Cori Jackson, Steve Matthews and Dr. Michele Carpentier in their new location in the H.U.B. with any questions.

Student services move to ACC

BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Staff Writer

Interim Vice President of Enrollment and Student Success Cori Jackson, Dean of Students Steve Matthews and Director of Special Programs Dr. Michele Carpentier moved their offices to the space surrounding the H.U.B. at Angell College Center to streamline student access to support services.

The process started in January, a week before the semester started, and was completed a month ago.

Jackson, Matthews and Carpentier have been working together at SUNY Plattsburgh for 30 years and plan to retire together in 2023. To-

gether, they approached President Alexander Enyedi with the idea of moving their offices to ACC. Jackson has many responsibilities — overseeing administrative processes, the Global Education Office, the Career Development Center, University Police and special programs. Her predecessor, R. Lizzie Wahab, worked on the 6th floor of Kehoe. Support services have become more accessible and inviting as ACC is the center of student activity on campus and closes at midnight, as opposed to 5 p.m. in Kehoe.

“I’m not a big fan of Kehoe anyway. I think it’s kind of intimidating for students,” Jackson said.

Students walk into the Office for

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Student Success with any problem ranging from academics and campus involvement to personal finances, and Jackson and Matthews help them find the resources they need to solve it. Jackson said having walk-in offices at the H.U.B. was the “best model to serve students.”

“For students, if they have a problem and they don’t know where to go, and they walk into this space, one of us should be able to get you to the right person,” Jackson said. “We don’t send you running around campus trying to figure out how to solve problems.”

Matthews is filling in a new role as Dean of Students. He held that title earlier in his career at SUNY Plattsburgh, but the role

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NEWS

News Editor Olivia Bousquet

Friday, April 1, 2022

SA funds Black Onyx pageant event, $2,600

BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET News & Managing Editor

March 26 University Police were assisting Plattsburgh Police with a complaint when they observed an individual damaging a road sign on Clinton at Marion Streets.

The individual was taken into custody for criminal mischief and released on an appearance ticket.

March 26

Dorm staff at Moffitt Hall reported to UP an altercation the occurred the evening of March 25 and threatened conduct between to individuals. Judicial referrals have been filed.

March 27

A student came into University Police to report an incident of criminal mischief in Macomb Hall. The investigation is still open.

March 29

An on-campus student reported fraud to UP. The investigation is still open.

March 30

A student was found in possession of marijuana under the age of 21 at Mason Hall. A judicial referral was filed.

March 30

A traffic stop for an expired inspection sticker on Rugar Street led to UP discovering a suspended driver. The driver was ticketed and released.

Weekly Meme

ALEXA DUMAS/Cardinal Points

Campus COVID-19 Number of positive COVID-19 cases within SUNY Plattsburgh community:

5 CP Corrections There are no errors to report this week.

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

The Student Association held its weekly meeting March 23, but without much to discuss on the agenda.

The biggest financial request for the meeting was from Black Onyx for its eighth annual pageant. The two representative members of the club requested $50 toward meeting refreshments and $2,550 for the pageant.

The Masquerade pageant is $7 for SA members and $8 for non-SA members. The doors to the Angell College Center ballrooms open at 6:30 p.m. April 1. Winners of the pageant will receive a financial prize from the club, and there will be $25 prizes for audience members to potentially win.

According to the representatives, the club has been promoting the event for a month and expect a good turnout, but didn’t have specific numbers of people that purchased tickets at the time. The SA senate unanimously voted on the approval of $2,600 for the event.

At the SA meeting before Spring Break, the senate tabled a financial decision to the meeting after break. The Council for Exceptional Children requested $575 to help pay for conference travel expenses.

The president and treasurer of the

SOLIDARITY Continued from page A1 “When the resolution was passed, I met with officers of the Student Association and I met with the provost and we talked and then I brought it to my executive committee of the Faculty Senate, and we had these conversations about what we could do,” Carmen said.

“We have a history on this campus of social justice teach-ins. Since I’ve been here in 2014 we have had two [social justice teach-ins], one in 2016 and one in 2019.”

The Faculty Senate decided that students will be encouraged to partake in a social justice teach-in to discuss diversity and inclusion.

This is different from the usual purpose of the day, which is to follow a 24-hour moratorium to reiterate the importance of Black people’s lives.

The SA had originally requested the day be celebrated according to its original purpose as stated in the 59th Legislation.

The intended purpose would be to “Resolved, that it is required that no tests, quizzes, or graded material of any kind should be issued or due on Black Solidarity Day, and

SERVICES Continued from page A1 “Our mission is to help all of our students be successful, and each student has a different measure of what that is for them, so it takes getting to know the students,” Matthews said.

Interacting with students and being involved in campus life is important to Matthews’ job.

“If we’re going to be student-centered and interacting with students as much as we can, the last place that we should be stuck is in an administration building,” Matthews said. “Students aren’t going to wander there. We want to be [at ACC] where students see us — they know we’re accessible because students see us every day — and they’re not afraid to interact with us.”

Involving himself in student life is also Matthews’ favorite part of his job, he said. He attends community events, such as Coffeehouse, SA meetings, theatre productions and sports games to support student activities.

“It’s showing the stu-

club said the Albany conference is for students that will have mock parent-teacher conferences, book discussions and presentations. All members of its board will be presenting for the conference from April 8 to April 9.

The event was tabled because “the treasurer did not attend and the public relations chair could not speak confidently on their budget,” according to the previous Cardinal

of the $575 request to help cover conference expenses.

In other SA news, senators reported what they individually worked on throughout the week. Senator Mac-Olivier Lalanne discussed making tampons more available to students on campus and will be following up with more details soon.

Senator Carter Mosher noted that the Bamboo Novelty event was postponed because supplies for the event are in a shortage. However, he hopes to reschedule the event for the future.

Senator Meklit Mulualem said the finance board approved of two additional allocations for two club events, which events were not specified. The first event was for $2,600, and the second was for $165.

Senator Osamuyimen OmorogbeAkpata noted that advertising for the election would begin March 24, which is when candidates can start campaigning to the student body.

To end the meeting with an advisor report, it was announced that Points article. While the treasurer Steve Matthews would be the new was present, no budgetary ques- advisor in the Fall 2022 semester, tions were asked to the CEC board and he will be attending SA meetmembers. It was noted that the re- ings for the rest of the semester quested money was based on hotel when possible. pricing in the area and 25 cents per Email OLIVIA BOUSQUET mile for gas. cp@cardinalpointsonline.com The senate voted and approved that students who are participating in Black Solidarity Day should notify their professors beforehand, and that these students will not be held accountable for absence on Black Solidarity Day.” However, according to Carmen, the professors had a right to decide whether students would be given a leave of absence or whether they could give assignments or tests on that day. Therefore, to avoid any confusion among students, which could lead to them being penalized, faculty changed the plan to a teach-in day.

“Everybody was on board with it.

I haven’t heard anyone detest it or go against it, and say ‘I don’t want any class or anything,’” OwusuPoku said about the SA’s response.

“So I feel like we are heading in the right direction. I do appreciate Dr. Carmen and the rest of the faculty senate for bringing that [idea] up.”

Details regarding the plans of the event to be hosted during the teach-in are still underway.

“One of the things we want to do is have people talk about activism and ways for students to be active and engaged to agitate for social change,” Carmen said.

The last two social justice teachins involved three faculty members

dents that what they do matters and that they matter,” Matthews said.

Carpentier oversees special programs — Student Support Services (SSS), Student Accessibility Services (SAS), Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and others — as well as the student emergency assistance fund and the food pantry housed in ACC. Carpentier reported that in the month since she moved to ACC from Macomb Hall, the amount of food going out of the pantry tripled.

“I think part of that is it’s just more convenient for students who aren’t necessarily special program students, but still need assistance,” Carpentier said.

“It’s just easier for them to come get it here than it would be for them to go to Macomb Hall.”

Carpentier said the dorm setting made the offices located in Macomb seem less accessible to students who do not live there or qualify for special programs, whereas at ACC, support services are available to all students.

“What we try to do in this office is make sure that students who for some reason can’t fit into one of those

in charge of organizing everything.

This time things will be planned differently.

“We want the student association to be involved in terms of coming up with workshop and panel ideas and getting the word out,” Carmen said.

“The provost office could be involved with the office of Diversity and Inclusion, so we wanted it to be more institutionalized and have a much broader institutional support.”

Owusu-Poku talked about how during the process of fighting for recognition of such an important day, she remembered something that a student had said during a speakout. “ ‘The people of color and the BIPOC community is used as a statistic. They can write on the website that we are diverse but [the point is] how are we appreciated?’ And so as the process of having Black Solidarity Day was in motion, it became less about Black people and more about the diverse people all around,” Owusu-Poku said.

She encourages students to participate Nov. 7 and “expect to be inspired.”

special categories can still get the services they need to be successful, so that’s why they look similar in many ways,” Carpentier said. “Students still need things even if they don’t get into a special program, so we kind of serve the other students, who would have fallen through the cracks otherwise.”

To avoid stigma, the food shelf is free access and available when the ACC is open.

“We don’t want people to feel like, ‘Oh, I got to sign up.’ We don’t want them to feel that it’s welfare,” Carpentier said.

“What stigmatizes things like that is when you have to sign up for it.”

The food shelf will be getting a new name in the fall semester, something “cute and funky” — Carpentier did not disclose what it will be — to further battle the stigma associated with relying on it. A change in name will also reflect that there is more to the shelf than just food: it also offers personal hygiene products like toothpaste, shampoo and pads and tampons. Carpentier hopes to be able to offer more fresh fruits and vegetables on the shelf in the future as well.

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Email LARAIB ASIM

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

“We don’t want [students] to be struggling here,” Carpentier said.

“The only struggle you should be having is academics, getting as smart as you can get — that should be the struggle.”

Carpentier’s only concern regarding the food shelf is funding. The food shelf costs between $700 and $1,000 to operate each week. It is primarily funded by alumni donations and benefits from athletics fundraisers, donations from students and the catering company Chartwells, as well as community suppliers such as churches. The annual “Feed a Cardinal” fundraising campaign is coming up later in the semester, too.

“I don’t believe in budgets, and I don’t believe in ‘technical.’ I believe in getting the job done, and the chips fall where they may,” Carpentier said. “I’m not a person who spends a lot of time worrying about the rules — that’s [Jackson’s] job.

I figure out how to make the rules work for the person in front of me — that’s my job.”

Email ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

Abortion legislation lacks morality

BY JESS JOHNSON Opinions/Managing Editor

Abortion laws, once again but not surprising, are spiraling out of control.

The main problem within this legislation is that it is enacted by a white, male supremacy run institution. According to representwomen. org, a non-partisan organization, women only make up 27% of congress and 31% of state legislators. In a system that was set up to fail women and ignore their rights consistently, it almost seems impossible to enact legislation that protects us, and doesn’t take away our fundamental rights outside of politics.

Women’s rights to their bodies should not be a political issue. Women should have control over something growing inside them, as many may not have the financial and mental stability to support a child. Having a child takes an extreme toll on a woman’s body, including hormones, swelling of vocal chords, swelling and pain of the feet, loosening joints, chloasma or melasma, swollen genitals, stretch marks, gastrointestinal issues and more. Cis gender men have never had to experience this, as this is a unique symptomatic experience of every woman that becomes pregnant.

How can one have a say over something they do not understand?

Their body, their choice.

At this point, women are most likely tired of having

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to repeat themselves.

This past week, Kentucky passed legislation that would make abortion illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy and grants no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

Those who may not have the financial or institutional accessibility to find out if they have been impregnated by a rape earlier than the time stamp, are directly impacted by this law. The previous week, Arizona passed similar legislation, and March 31, Governor Doug Ducey signed the law into effect.

Center for Arizona Policy

President Cathi Herrod, said during discussions, “this bill strikes an appropriate balance for the health and safety of the mother as well as the life of the unborn child.”

This is not okay.

Whether a woman considers the fetus a living child, should be up to thier discretion. To live with a baby in their belly for months that they did not want, nor ask for, is a violation of morality and crosses the line of humanity. Having offspring induced by a rape, and having no option

out of having the child even in the second trimester, is not okay. Between 16 weeks and 20 weeks, a woman can feel a baby moving. There is most likely a small time frame between 14 and 16 weeks where a woman may feel nothing at all.

So why does it matter?

It’s the beginning of the second trimester, when a baby may not be fully developed.

Usually, a woman may be able to see the gender as early as 14 weeks by ultrasound, as during the first trimester, the baby’s body structure and organs begin

to develop. However, it is still early enough to where, quite honestly, it should be a woman’s choice whether they want the development to continue to give birth to a living, breathing life.

Even after giving birth, a woman may give up that child, and it instead ends up in a system designed to fail them. According to imprintnews.org, an independent daily news outlet focused on the nation’s child welfare and youth justice systems, more than 38,000 kids moved through the foster care system last

year, 82% of whom are Black or Latino. Many of these children that are put in the system were most likely born in poverty ridden areas, or from parents that were financially, emotionally, or psychologically unable to take care of them at the time. Again, in a system that is embedded and structured in failing different minority groups, these numbers are concerning.

We need to stop bringing children into this world, if we are not ready to properly care for them. It’s hard to do that, when there are now so many restrictions on birth control, and now the ability to even obtain a safe abortion. Eventually, women may not be able to even take preventive measures such as birth control to prevent pregnancies they may not want, as restrictions become worse and worse. At the end of the day, it is always the woman’s choice of what they want to do with their body, and their future.

The institution that was built to give everyone a voice, continues to silence those who do not fit the mold of the typical white, cisgender man. The way we can continue change, is by peaceful protesting, by educating those who do not understand, and by demanding justice for those who have been silenced. It is time for change, and as more legislation is being enacted, now is the time to act.

Email JESSICA JOHNSON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Smollett takes stand, alleged hate-crime incident

BY JEREMY BINNING Staff Writer

Recently, Empire actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail and a $145,000 fine for lying to the police about being the victim of a hate crime. He was recently released this past week pending an appeal. Many have expressed outrage over Smollett’s case as he was looked down upon for lying about the attack.

Many worried over how this could affect real victims when they report a hate crime that really did happen. Many people struggle with coming out and reporting crimes, such as harassment, largely due to institutions not believing their stories.

There have been many cases of people creating false police reports for a plethora of reasons, however that shouldn’t be the reason for excluding everyone trying to get their story out.

Jonathan Benjamin, a senior majoring in sociology, feels that Smollett sent a damaging blow to victims who have been affected by hate crimes.

“It was disappointing to hear that he lied about the attack because I was someone who was supporting hime when the news first came out,” Jonathan said. “There are people who struggle daily, some who haven’t even told another soul about their abuse, who have to go through the emotional and mental damage of what was brought on them. For him to lie about the attack and play victim is just sickening.”

Originally, Smollett was seen as a hero and had celebrities from all over sending their love and condolences after the alleged attack. There were countless rallies set up by members of the LGBTQIA+ showing their support for the Empire actor. However as months went by in the investigation, the Chicago Police department would name Smollett a person of interest and later charged him, after the two alleged attackers were brought in for questioning.

Oba and Abel Osundairo are brothers from Nigeria who knew Smollett after being casted as extras for the show. The two were brought in for questioning after they were seen close by following the at-

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tack due to surveillance footage from an apartment complex around the place of the alleged attack.

After being questioned, police would then go on to charge Smollett for filing a false police report, a class 4 felony. He surrendered into police custody in late February 2019 and would then be released from Empire following his arrest. Christina Bonne-Annee, a senior majoring in communications, feels that Smollett was “too messy” with the way he tried to orchestrate this attack.

“He did a bad job lying and for the police to be able to uncover it so quick was embarrassing on his part,” Bonne-Annee said.

Police released footage of the Osundairo brothers buying the supplies for the attack at a store and revealed Smollett wrote them a check for $3500, claiming it was for the brothers help of him getting in shape for his latest music video.

Phone records would also indicate countless calls made to the brothers cell phones, prior to the attack.

The case had an emergency hearing in March 2019 and all charges were dropped.

However that wasn’t the end of this as the Chicago Police Department would then request for Smollett to pay them for the overtime work they spent on the case, believing that he was still lying although

the case was dropped. The city of Chicago would then sue Smollett for three times the original amount the police department had requested, $130,000, according to BBC.com. Smollett would then be charged on 6 counts of lying to the police in February of 2020. His trial began in late November of that year and in December, would be found guilty of all counts. Smollett was sentenced in early March of 2022, three years after the first police report was reported.

Email JEREMY BINNING cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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CARDINAL VOICE

Opinions Editor Jess Johnson

Editorial

Climate restoration calls for action There is no Planet B. This is all we have. Therefore, we need to begin to protect it, not with just legislation proposed, but with non-performative activism and practicing sustainability in our everyday lives.

In 2021, the United Nations released a report that warned that the changes in environment caused by human activity are irreversible, putting billions of us at risk, and warned that we are in a code red for humanity. At this current rate, our climate will be between 2.1° and 3.9° warmer by 2100.

Communities would hardly be able to function, and the climate would be unbearably difficult to survive in.

We will most likely experience more natural disasters, extreme heating and drought, a shortage of crops and food, and a decrease in species that have lived on this planet for thousands of years.

“The world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F).

Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible.

Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements,”

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stated this past February in the summary for policymakers of the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group II report, ‘Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.’

Although in 2017, according to a report released by the Carbon Disclosure project, 100 companies are directly linked to 71% of total greenhouse emissions since 1998, there are still things we can do on an individual level to slow the damages being made on our ozone layer. As in the U.S., in 2018, from a released report, ‘U.S. Leads in Greenhouse Gas Reductions, but some States Are Falling Behind,’ from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, our country accounts for only about five% of global population, but is responsible

for 30% of global energy use and 28% of carbon emissions.

Our ozone layer is depleting. Our planet is dying. It will not take long before we make our home inhabitable. To slow human-caused global warming, those who can afford a solar and wind energy change in energy usage would help immensely, even if it is a small change. It will emit less heat trapping gasses in the atmosphere. Support local businesses that use and promote sustainable practices, use reusable bags, and start composting food and reusing simple things to lessen the amount of trash we build. Bike instead of drive, and recognize that we have a voice. Change starts with us.

This is not the future we want for our children and future generations. This is still

happening, day by day, among all the other issues we need to continue tackling. Continue activism and continue pushing for change in the institution that governs us. President Biden has introduced his plan for cutting emissions March 28; a $5.8 trillion budget request for fiscal year 2023, including nearly $45 billion for several federal agencies to tackle climate change. However, it outlines little of directly decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants. It may be hard to keep practicing activism when it feels like voices are not being listened to. Stay resilient.

The institution that is supposed to protect us needs to step up.

According to climate.gov, “Stabilizing global temperature near its current level requires eliminating all emissions of heat-trapping gasses or, equivalently, achieving a carbonneutral society in which people remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as they emit.

Achieving this goal will require substantial societal changes in energy technologies and infrastructure that go beyond the collective actions of individuals and households to reduce emissions.”

Friday, April 1, 2022

Editorial Board Editor in Chief Alana Penny News Editor Olivia Bousquet

Managing Editors Olivia Bousquet & Jess Johnson Opinions Editor Jess Johnson

Sports Editor Garrett Collins Graphics Editor Zoe Nguyen

FUSE Editor Sydney Hakes Photo Editor Olga Muka

Web Editor Alexa Dumas Public Relations Chair Erica Haley Faculty Adviser Shawn Murphy

Contact CP: Editorial Board: 518.564.2174 Advertising: 518.564.3173 Fax: 518.564.6397 118 Ward Hall SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY 12901 cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Farmhouse murders shake town

BY MATTHEW WENDLER Contributor

It was a cold day in late Mar. 1922 and a winter storm from the night before had caused snow to cover the ground. Andreas Gruber was the owner of the old Hinterkaifeck farmstead in the small town of Wangen, Germany. The farm was set in a rural location surrounded by woodland and was inhabited by Gruber’s family. In the early morning, Gruber found the door to the farm’s machine room open.

It’s lock had been broken and a trail of footprints could be seen in the snow leading to the door.

Gruber followed the tracks and noticed they had come from out of the woods. There were no footprints found heading away from the property.

Gruber asked his family about the footprints, but none of them claimed to have wandered in that area. Fearing of a possible intruder, Gruber searched the property, but was unable to locate anyone. Following the discovery, the Gruber family began to hear strange noises coming from the attic, but they were unable to find a cause. Some of their belongings had been moved around different areas of the farm, a pair of house keys went missing, and a newspaper the family didn’t read was found inside the house. Andres confided in his neighbor Lorenz Schliteenbauer with this information. Schliteenbauer offered him a gun for protection, but Andres refused.

A new maid by the name of Maria Baumgartner started working for the Grubers Mar. 31, 1922. The family’s previous maid had quit six months earlier, leaving under the belief the farm was haunted after claiming to hear noises coming from the walls and the attic.

Residents of the town stopped hearing from the Grubers following the day Baumgartner was hired. Both a mail man and a repair man had stopped by the farm, but neither were met with any greeting.

Locals also noticed the family didn’t attend Sunday mass as usual. Despite these details, a few individuals close to the farm noticed smoke rising out of the Gruber’s chimney.

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Schlittenbauer sent his sons to check on the Grubers Apr. 4, 1922. When they returned, Schlittenbauer was informed they hadn’t seen anyone there.

Schlittenbauer rounded up a group of men and went over to the property to investigate. Inside the barn they found four bodies, buried under hay and piled one on top of each other.

Andreas Gruber, age 63, his wife Cäzilia Gruber, age 72, their daughter Viktoria Gabriel, age 35, and her daughter Cäzilia Gabriel, age 7, were quickly identified as the deceased. They had all been murdered.

The men went to check inside the house and discovered two more bodies. Viktoria’s other child Josef Gabriel, age 2, was found beaten to death in his bassinet. In another room, Baumgarter, age 46, was found lying in her bed, dead like the others.

Police investigated the farmstead Apr. 5 and were able to rule out robbery as a motivation after large sums of money were found to have remained on the property. They noticed the cows had been recently milked and that the animals had been well fed. A low supply of food was present in the kitchen as well.

The details served as indication that the murderer continued to live on the farm after slaughtering the family. The murders are believed to have taken place Mar. 31, 1922.

An autopsy was performed

inside the barn during the investigation. It was found that each victim had sustained several skull and facial wounds, many of which appeared to be star-shaped. Two of the victims were also found to have been strangled along with the blunt force trauma. The bodies were decapitated postmortem by the district court physician and the heads were sent away for further analysis, which was a common practice used at the time. The heads; however, had eventually gone missing.

Many of the locals grew suspicious of Schlittenbauer.

It was known that he wanted to marry Viktoria, whom he started seeing after the death of his first wife. Schlittenbauer believed Josef was his son, but was denied access to the child.

It is rumored; however, that Andreas was actually Josef’s biological father. Viktoria and Andreas were once arrested after it was discovered they had an incestial relationship, causing many locals to disapprove of the family.

Despite all of this, Schlittenbauer was forced to pay alimony. It is theorized he murdered the family because of all this; however, this is unlikely as he had his own family to attend to. The murderer had stayed at the farm for days and his family would have been able to vouch for his whereabouts.

One other suspect people have theorized was Karl Gabri-

el, who was Viktoria’s husband believed to have been killed by a mine explosion in 1914 during World War I. It is theorized Gabriel actually survived the incident and found out about Josef’s birth in his absence.

While it explains a motive, the idea seems very far-fetched as there is no evidence to support that Gabriel survived his time at war. One thing that refutes this theory is that there have been a few soldiers who fought alongside Gabriel that claimed to have witnessed him die.

It’s possible the person who murdered the Grubers had no connection to the family at all as there is no evidence to disprove this. Whether or not there was a true motive for taking the Gruber’s lives is unknown.

The farmstead was torn down a year following the murders. During its destruction, a mattock was discovered, covered in dry blood. The mattock found was constructed

by Andres himself and would have been left in a tool shed.

It was instead found hidden in the attic and is presumed to be the murder weapon. A monument dedicated to the victims was erected in Hinterkaifeck’s place. One hundred years have passed since the day of the murders and the case still remains unsolved.

Email MATTHEW WENDLER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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 Marks of Distinction Fall 2010, five Marks of Distinction Fall 2009, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2009, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2008, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2005, four Marks of Distinction Spring 2004, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2003, four Marks of Distinction Fall 2002, four Marks of Distinction Pacemaker Recognition Fall 2010, Honorable Mention 2006-2007, Newspaper Finalist

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News Editor Olivia Bousquet

NEWS

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Friday, April 1, 2022

ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points

SUPPORT Continued from page A1 Karpenko said that she hopes the group will provide a “safe environment [for students] to talk about their issues, to voice what they need in order to feel more comfortable.”

According to Vogl, international students make up 5% of SUNY Plattsburgh’s campus. Also, the top three nations international students derive from are: India, specifically Indian citizens, Japan and Ethiopia.

This goes against the national trend, as according to Statista, the top three nations are China, India and South Korea. Vogl also said SUNY Plattsburgh has zero Ukrainian students and only two Russian students. “[GEO] thought [a support group] was an excellent idea,” Vogl said about how having an international mental health counselor could help hesitant students. “If a student did actually have an issue that they felt needed individual attention they would know [Karpenko] and it would be easier to move into direct assistance.”

Vogl then proceeded to clarify on how different experiences and cultures can make it more difficult to assist international students.

“Historically there’s a bit of a renaissance and a stigma in some countries, not in all, for international students who are experiencing stress [or other difficulties] and would benefit from counseling who are hesitant to reach out in that way,” Vogl said.

However, Vogl said domestic and international stu-

dents at their core may not have different issues.

“I think [international students’] needs are similar [to domestic students’] although they’re culturally flavored. I think they’re culturally flavored by their culture, religion, linguistic patterns or history,” Vogl said.

Vogl said she has not received any feedback personally from international students, and she claimed to have made attempts to reach out.

Karpenko also said GEO and the counseling center on campus provide resources for international students.

“We have crisis clinicians available everyday so if someone has extreme anxiety or finds themselves that they can’t function that day, they can have themselves seen that same day,” Karpenko said. “We don’t have much of a wait list; we can basically schedule [students] the next week. The doors are open.”

Karpenko noted the support group is open to all international students and is not just for students affected by the Ukraine invasion.

“There has been increased stress from students whose origin is from Russia or Ukraine,” Karpenko said. “I hope that they will receive this information and really take this opportunity to come in here and process.”

Karpenko is Russian herself, and began working for SUNY Plattsburgh in October 2021.

Karpenko said she would assist those having anxiety and “fear of the future” and if a student is unable to make it to the support group meetings they can schedule a session with the Health Center.

President Enyedi sent out an email March 7 to the campus stating that lights in the front of Hawkins Hall will be yellow and blue to stand with Ukraine.

He hasn’t said anything else about it since this email.

Enyedi shared resources for those involved, but did not specifically highlight any involved groups, in a previous email released the day of the invasion. According to an Open Doors report, for the 2021 to 2022 academic year, there were 4,805 Russian international students alone in America. Enyedi didn’t comment on Russian international students in his email.

Karpenko also said that the situation could use more attention from Enyedi.

“I think it would be a great idea if the president could look into maybe opening a discussion for the entire campus about the political situation right now,” Karpenko said.

“We have done no more and no less than other [campuses],” Vogl said in regards to SUNY Plattsburgh’s efforts on the Ukraine invasion.

She was glad to see the Student Association hold an event March 30 in response to the war. Vogl said most campuses have informed their students and have “waited for students to rise up.”

Vogl’s hope for the future of the support group is a “better outcome immediately” and that more students will be comfortable enough to reach out for assistance when necessary.

Those interested in the support group can contact Inga Karpenko at ikarp002@plattsburgh.edu or contact the counseling center on campus at healthcenter@plattsburgh.edu or call (518) 564-2187.

Email BRYN FAWN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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News Editor Olivia Bousquet

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NEWS

Friday, April 1, 2022

This Week in Photos: Color Run Photos By Olga Muka

Above: AEPhi held a color run March 26 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Terry Gordon Bike Path.

Above: Colleen Alva gives a thumbsup with blue paint on her face.

Above: AEPhi sorority sister Deliana Ortiz smiles after completing the run.

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2022

Owen Lorenzetti (12) has scored five goals from 26 shots so far this season. The Cardinals are 2-6 thus far this season.

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

Men’s lax falls to Clarkson

BY COLLIN BOLEBRUCH Staff Writer

Sometimes a game is left up to chance, and sometimes you just get dominated.

Wednesday, the Plattsburgh Cardinals (2-5) lost to the home team Clarkson Golden Knights (8-1) by a score of 5-19. The loss is the Cardinals’ last game before in-conference play begins, also known as the second season.

For SUNY Plattsburgh, the

game was highlighted by a career-high 23 saves by senior goalie Christian Bassi, who was in the goal for the entirety of the matchup. Other leaders included three points by midfielder Stephen Kane, one assist each from midfielders Ely Bruhns and Zach Gill and two caused turnovers each from defender Justin Rocovich and long-stick midfielder Justin Pigliavento.

“That was definitely nice, having a really good game,”Bassi

said. “I was definitely seeing the ball well, but there’s a lot of stuff defensively we need to fix.”

For Clarkson, midfielder Bryan Penney and attacker Thomas Fiebich led in points with four each, Fiebech had the most assists with four and defender Connor Borchardt led in caused turnovers with two.

Clarkson used multiple goalies, but Jacob Mattice had five saves, the most of the group.

When looking at the team

statistics, it’s clear why the Golden Knights won. They led by a significant margin in multiple categories. Plattsburgh rarely even got the opportunity to score, having 21 shots to Clarkson’s 67. They also fell behind in faceoffs with four wins to the Golden Knights’ 23, turnovers with 21 to their 15 and ground balls with 22 to their 51.

“It’s just possessions, we weren’t getting possessions.

Clarkson had a dominant fa-

ceoff guy [Matthew Hanson] and he was really able to really just dominate the game, and quite honestly, they just outworked us,” Head Coach Andrew Hauk said.

He also credited the win to Clarkson “stringing goals together” allowing them to “get confidence.” Plattsburgh’s inability to get stops also contributed to the loss.

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Clarkson spoils Cardinals home opener

BY LIAM SAMPLE Staff Writer

The Plattsburgh State women’s lacrosse team lost a tough non-conference battle to the Clarkson University Golden Knights by a score of 18-5 Tuesday, March 22 at the Field House.

The Cardinals have now lost back to back games, bringing them to a 1-4 record. Clarkson has been rolling to begin their season, starting it on a six-game win streak, which they extended with this win.

It was a slow start to the game, with the Golden Knights leading by two at the 10 minute, 3-second mark of the first. Plattsburgh tried to get back into it.

With possession in the offensive zone, junior midfielder Caroline Noia showed off her shiftiness, taking the ball from the near side through defenders to the far side. While in motion, she sent a beautiful pass over two opposing sticks to sophomore Fiona Fitzgerald, who moved to her right and beat the

keeper to get the Cards on the board with 8:03 left in the first. This was her second score of the season.

Now down 4-1, Noia scored one of her own with 3:07 remaining in the first.

In Clarkson’s zone again, the junior created a lengthy possession where she attempted to make moves to break the defenders in front of her. After cutting to the inside to find space, she took a long shot to cut the deficit in half for the second time in the quarter. This goal came under a minute after a timeout.

From this goal, it was all Clarkson. The team scored 14 unanswered, including three more before the end of the first, six in the second, three in the third, and one to start the fourth. Junior Julia Lavarnway had six points on four goals and two assists, with sophomore Madelynn Barnum matching that point total on five goals and an assist. The sophomore has 25 goals in the first five games of the season for the team lead.

WLAX l B2

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

The Cardinals women’s lacrosse team lost their opening home game to the Clarkson Golden Knights, 15 -8.

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CARDINAL SPORTS

Sports Editor Garrett Collins

Baseball V.S. SUNY Canton April 1 2 p.m.

Men’s/Women’s Track Saints ice Breaker open April 2 TBA

Women’s Lax V.S. SUNY Fredonia April 2 12 p.m.

Men’s Lax V.S. SUNY Oswego April 2

Softball V.S. New Paltz April 2 2 p.m.

Tennis @ Mount Saint Mary’s College April 2 12 p.m.

Friday, April 1, 2022

Men’s Hockey

School SUNYAC Oswego 11-0-2-1 Plattsburgh 11-2-4-1 Genesseo 10-0-2-1 Cortland 7-1-5-2 Fredonia 7-0-0-0 Brockport 6-7-1-2 Potsdam 3-0-11 Buffalo State 3-1-10 Morrisville 2-1-12

Record 16-5-1 15-7-3 18-3-1 12-9-2 9-9-1 13-9-2 4-16-1 5-16 7-14-12

Baseball

Men’s Hockey Goals

Bennet Stockdale Joey Mancuso Carson Gallagher

Assists

Baseball 14 13 9

Bennet Stockdale Joey Mancuso Jacob Modry

14 14 14

Save Percentage Jacob Hearne

.905

Men’s Lax Goals

Sephen Knae Zach Gill Donald Woods

Assists OLGA MUKA /Cardinal Points

Zach Gill Micheal Swift Andrew Braverman

Runs

Christian Lent Conner Gonzalski Mike Rasquin

Hits

Kyle Cremin Christian Lent Alex Kornblau

12 11 9

14 13 11

Top Average Alex Kornblau

.688

Women’s Lax 29 8 6

14 8 6

Goals

Caroline Noja Lindsey Guzzetta Emily Caoili

Assists

Caroline Noja Lindsey Guzzetta Maddy Garcia

Mikayla Osmer took third in jumping at the St. Lawrence open.

School SUNAYC Record Brockport 3-0 13-2 Cortland 3-0 16-6 Oswego 0-0 10-3 Fredonia 0-3 9-8 Plattsburgh 0-0 5-6 New Paltz 0-0 5-9 Oneonta 0-3 6-13

Men’s Lax

School SUNYAC Record Brockport 1-0 6-2 Genesseo 1-0 3-5 Cortland 1-0 3-6 Oswego 0-0 4-2 Potsdam 0-0 3-3 Plattsburgh 0-1 2-6 New Paltz 0-1 1-6 Oneonta 0-1 1-7

Women’s Lax

10 10 7

7 7 2

School SUNYAC Buffalo State 0-1 Geneseo 1-0 Cortland 2-0 New Paltz 1-0 Plattsburgh 0-1 Oneonta 0-1 Brockport 0-0 Fredonia 0-1 Potsdam 0-1 Oswego 1-0

Record 3-3 5-1 4-4 3-4 2-4 2-5 3-2 0-6 3-3 2-6

Track, field opens outdoor season

BY JESSICA LANDMAN Staff Writer

Men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to St. Lawrence University to compete at the Saint Ice Breaker meet March 26, their first meet of the 2022 outdoor season.

“It’s different running outside because you have to deal with weather conditions as well as the track being larger and a different shape which could affect races,” athlete Micheal Brockway said.

The men’s team finished in fourth place with a total of 70 points and the women finished third out of five teams with 101 points.

“I think the first meet went well. It was our first time throwing in a real circle since last year so it was definitely a rust buster,” thrower Kaitlyn Bjelko said. “It showed the potential, though, that this season has in store for me, and our entire team as a whole.”

The meet opened with the 100-meter preliminary races. The first heat of the race had two Cardinal athletes, Morgan Thompson who ran in 14 minutes, 7 second

earning her ninth and a place in the final race. In the second heat was Hannah Cluck who finished in 13th with a time of 14.75 seconds. Deanna Zoch ran in the third and final heat of the preliminary race. She ended with a time of 14.02 seconds and also qualified for finals in eighth place. The men’s team had four sprinters in the 100-meter preliminary race. Cody Monnat finished in ninth place with a time of 11.90 seconds followed closely by Nicolas Anderson in 10th with a time of 11.92 seconds. The second heat had Levi Sochia who ran a 12.51. In the final heat was Brexton Montville who walked away with first place after running a 11.02.

The next event was the women’s and men’s 1500 meter race. Emma Ginnane finished her four laps in 5:55.13, just behind Kristen Thomas who finished with a time of 5:40.87. Rebecca Block ended with a time of 5:16.19 earning her sixth place. On the men’s side, six Plattsburgh athletes competed in this race. In the first heat was Peter Basile, finishing in 28th with a time of 4:51.24. Another close race ensued between Sean Grady, who finished with a time of 4:45.81, who beat Denali Rodriguez-Garnica, who took 25th place, by just

two seconds. Liam Gildea finished with an overall time of 4:34.79. Logan Van Buren ran in the second heat along with Noah Bonesteel. Van Buren finished in sixth place with a 4:19.92 and Bonesteel finished in second place overall with a time of 4:13.85.

This was followed by the 400-meter dash. Madison Myer was the only Cardinal to run in this race. She finished in fifth place with a time of 1:18.55. The men’s team had two competing athletes. Ethan Hodge ended with a time of 1:01.39 following Thomas McDonough who finished with a time of 59.84 earning him eighth place.

After that was the 100 meter sprint final race. Three women qualified for this race by finishing top nine in the preliminary race. Thompson finished in eighth place with a time of 13.85 followed by Zoch who placed ninth overall with a time of 13.87. Landman finished with a time of 13.22 earning her second place overall.

Monnat finished in eighth place running a time of 11.84 seconds. Montville ended in first place running clocking in at 10.93 seconds.

MLAX Continued from page B1

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points Justin Duval Lapaix (48) went 1-3 in his first action as a Cardinal in a win v.s. Canton.

“Defensively we’re not too bad, we’re doing good,”Bassi said. “It’s just that we’re kind of getting beat and then when we get deep we’re not communicating well enough to fix what just happened. We just need to communicate better and do kind of like the little things to get over that hump.”

Clarkson’s landslide of scoring started early, and it did not relent. At 10:15 in the first quarter, Kane tied the game 1-1, but the next time Plattsburgh saw a goal it was already down 1-9. The half ended 2-12. Plattsburgh scored once in the third quarter, but its last two goals came in the last half of the fourth quarter.

T&F l B3

After recovering from this game, Plattsburgh will face their first SUNYAC opponent of the year in the Cortland Red Dragons (2-5). Despite being conference opponents, the two teams have not faced off since 2019, when Cortland won 6-15.

Plattsburgh is looking forward to this “second season” with optimism, hoping to gain an advantage in the standings with a positive conference record.

“We’re just focused on the game-togame,” Hauk said. “We take care of business in conference play. It’s that the guys still believe that if they just change what we’re doing and we’re able to focus on us and work to what our goals are, then the goals are still attainable.”

Email COLLIN BOLEBRUCH cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

WLAX Continued from page B1 This was the Golden Knights best defensive showing this season, allowing their least amount of goals of the season to this point. Senior Sydney Christiansen played the first 42:08 as keeper, allowing two and saving five. She was replaced by fellow senior Laura Wing, who gave up three.

For the Cardinals, sophomore Johanna Malone made the start. She was pulled after 23:33 of play due to giving up twelve on five saves. Her replacement was senior Alexa Cassidy, who stopped six and allowed the same amount.

Plattsburgh found some life in the fourth, scoring three straight to finish the game.

First year Rachel Lamar started the late rally with her first collegiate goal. With distance to the goal and space in front of her, she took off. After getting to the goalie’s left, she fired a shot to make the score 18-3. This came with 11:34 remaining in the game.

In the final three minutes of play, Noia and first year Maddy Garcia both tallied scores.

Garcia moves to four goals in her first five collegiate games, while Noia finished the game with four points on two goals and two assists, leading the team in points.

Plattsburgh finished trailing 38-17 in shots, but did force 16 Clarkson turnovers throughout the game.

“Although our team lost, it was a great game to watch in terms of seeing how much our program has grown skillswise from the first year, ” senior attacker Allie Vangas said. “In the first period, we were only down 4-2 to a team that is 5-0. The girls did a great job when it came to controlling the ball in midfield and causing turnovers as well.”

The Cardinals travel to Cortland to take on the No. 24 Red Dragons Saturday, March 26 in Plattsburgh’s 2022 SUNYAC opener. They have a tough opponent in Cortland, who is nationally ranked, but has had a rough start to the season with a 2-4 record.

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

Email LIAM SAMPLE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

Kate Kennedy (21) and her teammate Emily Caoili (7) are top both top ten on their team in goals with 10 and 4.

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Sports Editor Garrett Collins

▪

CARDINAL SPORTS

Friday, April 1, 2022

OLGA MUKA /Cardinal Points

The Plattsbugrh Cardinals placed 4th in the Saint Ice Breaker Open.

T&F Continued from page B2 Heat one of the 800-meter run had four competing Cardinals. Mikayla Osmer ran a 3:29.20, while Kristen Boerke had a 3:08.13. Not far ahead was Natalia Castro, who finished with a 2:53.99. Ginanne ended in ninth place with a time of 2:52.78. In the second heat of this race was Thomas who finished with a 2:53.20, Block finishing in seventh with a 2:37.38, and Janyll Barber who got second place with a final time of 2:33.80. The men’s team had six athletes in the race. The first heat consisted of Basile coming in just three seconds behind 18th place Rodriguez-Garnica who finished with a time of 2:21.28.

Grady, who ran a 2:20.86, and Van Buren, who ran a 2:13.52, in the second heat of the race. In the third and final heat was Gildea with a time of 2:12.84 and Noah Bonesteel who earned seventh place finishing with a 2:08.84.

The next race was the 200 meter sprint. Castro and Myer were in the first heat with a 32.42 and a 34.65. In the second heat was Cluck who finished with a time of 30.82 earning her 12th place. In the final heat was Thompson running a 29.01, and Landman finishing in second with a time of 27.63. The men’s team had three athletes, all in separate heats, competing in the 200 meter. The first runner was Hodge who finished with a 26.48 followed by Sochia with a 25.28.

Anderson ran in the final heat finishing in eighth place with a time of 24.59.

This was followed by the 5,000 meter race. Coming in second place was Justin Kumrow with a final time of 17:06.21 and earning first place was Michael Brockway finishing with a time of 16:22.47. The final event on the track was the men’s 4x400 meter relay. Gildea, Grady, RodriguezGarnica, and Bonesteel finished with an overall time of 3:54.84 placing the team in third place.

Long jump opened the jumping events at St. Lawrence. Representing the wom-

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

Aiden Tous looks to capitalize on his 10th place finish in the SUNYAC qualifier in the winter.

en’s team was Osmer, jumping 3.75 meters; Kathrine Berge, landing 4.07 meters; Boerke, with a distance of 4.18; Micheala Schaffer, jumping 4.75 meters; and Barber, who jumped 5.20 meters setting a meet record and earning first place. Aiden Masten competed for the men’s team, jumping 6.01 meters and placing fourth overall. Masten also earned fifth place in high jump with a height of 1.57 meters.

Osmer placed third and Berge placed second, both jumping a height of 1.32 meters.

For the women’s discus, Megan Thornton threw 19.40 meters, Alaina Conners got a distance of 20.14, Bliss Rhoads threw 27.80 meters placing her in third, and Journey Myricks threw 33.11 meters earning her third place. On the men’s side, Spencer Trudo threw 25.04 and Aiden Tous threw a distance of 34.62 placing him in sixth. For the shot put event, Berge threw 5.24, Osmer threw 5.89, Boerke threw 6.15 meters, Thornton threw 8.42 meters, Rhoads landed seventh place with 9.84 meters and Myricks finished in fourth throwing a distance

of 11.03 meters tying with Beljeko. For the men’s team, Tous threw 12.07 giving him fourth place as well. In the women’s hammer throw Thornton threw 27.01, Connors threw 28.80, Bjelko earned sixth place with 35.18 meters, and Myricks placed fifth after throwing 35.20 meters.

Tous threw 34.08 landing him in eighth place and Trudo finished in seventh place with 34.45 meters. Three women also competed in the javelin throw. Elizabeth Kocienda ended in seventh place with 18.78 meters, Bjelko threw 26.97 meters just behind Rhoads who finished in fourth place with 27.53 meters.

The new distance coach, Jordyn Naylong, said that at the next meet she is expecting more athletes working on their race plans and trusting themselves more. The men’s and women’s team both compete at St. Lawrence University again next weekend, at the Saints Broken Open meet.

Email JESSICA LANDMAN

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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FUSE

FUSE Editor Sydney Hakes

Junior Shelby Disla creating her poem from an old book.

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

Friday, April 1, 2022

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

Senior Jacob Walcott creates his poem from a children’s book.

Poetry provides creative expression

BY LUCA GROSS Staff Writer

Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the Plattsburgh Association of Black Journalists hosted “Blacked Out Poetry” Thursday, March 24 in the HUB at the Angell College Center.

The name of the event is a play on words. Those who attended were given books and a marker with the opportunity to create a poem by crossing out words that will not be used and leaving the rest. Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity were inspired by another chapter of their organiza-

tion to host this event. ”The goal of Blacked Out Poetry was to create a space where students could use a fun and creative form of poetry to express themselves and realize the power of words,” David Harris, member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, said.

Poetry is typically written fresh from scratch, escaping the mind onto the paper. However, this exercise was more similar to carving out a poem that was already there.

There was a range of books that students were given the opportunity to use as the base foundation for their poems, one

student used a children’s book about the Titanic, a book about acting and others, both fiction and non-fiction.

Each chose whatever page they wanted and got to work.

The group worked on their poems separately, but together.

Some felt theirs made no sense, others seemed to find it immediately within the paragraphs.

Defacing books and plagiarizing others’ work is often frowned upon in the academic world, but this exercise offered an unorthodox approach to an already relaxing medium. Poetry is a way to speak not what is on your mind, but what is in your heart,

how you feel may not always be easy to articulate.

“I resonated with my poem,” Harris said. “It was about the long journey of humanity. How it’s not easy and sometimes it is lonely, however one must overcome their obstacles to elevate and grow.”

Each poem was read aloud by the group. All were obviously different, the books they once were had no correlation to each other, but each had one thing in common, meaning.

“Words connect people emotionally,” Harris said. “Hearing from another person and knowing that person resonates with

you allows you to find comfort because you know you are not alone. They allow us to grieve and feel inspired as well as laugh.”

Poetry is not defined by what order words are used, but how those words can sound when read aloud. A whole journey can fit on a page through just one poem. Poems can mean everything, or nothing at all, either way it is coming from someone’s truth. Someone can mean one thing and the reader may receive a different meaning.

Email LUCA GROSS

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

STAR Continued from page B6 The magazine publishes yearly, in the spring semester. The submission deadline is April 8, and publication will be May 13.

Submissions and questions can be sent to their email, northstarmagazine22@ gmail.com. More information and submission guidelines can be found on their Instagram, plattsburghnorthstar2022.

“There’s a different theme every year that will be taken into consideration when the editors are reviewing submissions,” Sarah Boncore, the managing editor of North Star, said. “It doesn’t have to be obvious, but the theme should be a jumping off point and hopefully inspire the writing or art.”

The theme this year is “Stepping Stones to Healing,” an idea broad enough to have a different interpretation for most individuals.

To Boncore, the theme made her think of the transition students have had to go through as a result of COVID-19.

“As students, we all had this shared experience of going through a pandemic at this specific moment in our lives,” Boncore said. “A big idea behind North Star is expressing how it is to be a student at SUNY Plattsburgh. For me, reflecting on our theme of healing, I can say that we’re not there yet, but we’re getting better.”

North Star is undergoing a big change in 2022 by transitioning into a fully online journal. Editor-in-Chief Caroline Miner points out many benefits in this new format.

“One of the biggest benefits is the availability of being able to accept more work,” Miner said. “Not only in quantity, but the opportunity for things like podcasts that couldn’t be published in a physical magazine.”

Miner and Boncore both mentioned the accessibility of the magazine being fully online, along with the ability to archive past publications in one location.

SYDNEY HAKES/Cardinal Points

The 2021 edition of North Star Literary and Art Magazine sits on a table in the Wilson Commons in Champlain Valley Hall.

Miner, a senior double majoring in English literature and English writing arts, while also pursuing the professional writing certificate, has an undeniable passion for North Star when she talks about it.

“North Star is a place of love,” Miner said. “It’s a vulnerable act to submit your art or writing to a publication, but there is power in being heard and seen.

North Star can be a place for students to kindle their passions while putting themselves out there.”

North Star accepts all forms of writing, from fiction, drama and poetry, to nonfiction and composition. River Ashe, a senior double major in English literature and English writing arts, has submitted to North Star for the past three years.

“One of my professors suggested I submit some poems in 2020,” Ashe said.

“I was afraid of rejection and also had some performance anxiety. But two of

my poems were accepted, and seeing them published was awesome. There was a big sense of pride and also selfappreciation for putting myself out there despite my hesitation.”

While two of Ashe’s poems were accepted, two were also denied. Ashe mentions that they weren’t discouraged by that, and it was a good lesson in accepting rejection.

“For people who are thinking about submitting, but might be nervous, all I can say is just go for it,” Ashe said. “If you do get denied, it doesn’t mean your work is bad, it could have just not fit the theme. Either way, your work was read by the editors and was appreciated.”

Ashe, who was also the managing editor in 2021, stressed that submitting writing in a publication like North Star is the perfect place to get comfortable when many writers and artists will have

to do so in the future. They also mentioned the positives of potentially gaining a publishing credit.

“This could be something to put on a resume that future employers will see,” Ashe said. “It could be the one thing that sets you apart in the career field.”

Miner hopes to see more submissions before April 8. She stresses that even if writing or art needs some more work, the editing team is there to help.

“North Star is a platform to give a voice to students,” Miner said. “Art and writing show the humanity of people, and when it’s by students, edited by students and for students, we often find that many of our lives may run similarly.”

Email SYDNEY HAKES

cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

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FUSE

FUSE Editor Sydney Hakes

Friday, April 1, 2022

Barber belts for senior recital

BY DANIEL TRUAX Contributor

The world is slowly welcoming live events again and the spring 2022 semester is no exception to that. April 3, in the Hartman Theatre at 4 p.m., one event will display the talent and dedication of Mason Barber, one of the seniors in the music program.

Barber will be accompanied by Dr. Karen Becker, the chair of music at SUNY Plattsburgh.

The senior recitals are performances that show the culmination of years of studies. After semesters of hard work, this performance allows them to display their musical ability. For Barber, this began extremely early.

Barber’s interest in music began at an extremely early age, starting in preschool. In sixth grade, he began private vocal lessons with Pamela Lavin, in order to hone his technique to a higher level. These private lessons allowed him to “find his voice.” By taking private lessons, he was able to find a style that was completely his own.

“The overall theme of the concert is the progression and transformation of myself,” Barber said.

The music not only spans his beginnings to where he is, but also represents a timeline for musical theater. His repertoire comes both from his time with Lavin as well as some from his work with Timothy Morningstar.

Even though recitals can be seen as a serious venture, Barber wants his performance to be a more intimate experience.

“I believe that the performance is being called ‘An Evening with Mason Barber,’ which I believe lends its way to be more intimate,” Barber said.

During his performance, he will talk about how he has evolved as a musician and as a performer. Being a dual major in both theater and music, his performance draws from both backgrounds.

“I wanted to showcase both of my majors and how I blend them together,” Barber said. With his pieces drawing from the “American Songbook” and musical theater, they lend themselves to giving a performance rather than plainly sung.

He hopes that the performance will show how he has grown as a musician as well as the progression he made in order to find his voice. This skill is more abstract, and developing that can take several years. Barber hopes he can demonstrate that with his performance.

Barber’s influence can be seen from his time at SUNY Plattsburgh. Aurélie Wolf, a fellow member of the Concert Choir, is inspired by Barber.

“Mason’s sense of humor and optimism inspires everyone not to be ashamed to be themselves,” Wolf said.

His dedication not only is in his performance, but making his peers feel welcome in any environment.

He is proud that this performance even exists in the first place.

“I never thought that I would be able to present my talent in a solo performance, let alone 10 songs that showcase my range,” Barber said.

He is grateful for everyone that has helped him along his musical journey.

Being a performer requires sheer determination and dedication to the craft. This will culminate in his senior recital, which will show his growth as a musician during his time in Plattsburgh.

The event is free to attend.

Email DANIEL TRUAX cp@cardinalpointsonline.com

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points Barber sits in the Hartman Theatre, where his performance will take place April 3.

Jess Johnson

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

TAURUS

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GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

LEO

You are evolving as you grow, but release what is no longer serving a purpose in that rebirth. Whatever is leaving, something better is being sent from the universe to fill that space. Let go of old behaviors.

SAGITTARIUS

Confront self - destructive thoughts and behaviors, as you may be trapped in a toxic relationship. Release yourself from any bonds that are causing toxicity, and stop self-sabotaging.

The negative after effects are not worth it.

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Affirm the stability around you, and remember the universe will always provide anything needed. Do not just focus on financial aspects, as giving to others brings prosperity in your life. It’s okay to wait in a relationship to make investments: don’t be hasty. Plan carefully.

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Reconnect to your inner child.

Spend time with old friends and family, and become present in the moment, tapping into youthful joy and creating harmony within yourself. Also consider taking home a new partner to meet the family.

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Step into your power, and allow new opportunities, as they are protected. Own it, and you will see the dynamics in romantic relationships shift. Work on selfesteem and self-worth. Focus on manifesting dreams into a reality.

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POETRY B4

North Star accepts submissions

BY SYDNEY HAKES FUSE Editor

Founded in 1994, North Star is a student-run publication that features all forms of writing, visual art and more recently, podcasts. They accept submissions from all SUNY Plattsburgh students, including fully virtual students and those studying at the Queensbury campus.

It’s the last week for students to submit their writing, art and other forms of creation to be in the 2022 edition of North Star Literary and Art Magazine.

STAR l B4

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