SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997
VOLUME 106 - ISSUE 8
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
Student Association presidential, vice presidential election candidates BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Staff Writer
The Student Association is holding its election for its 60th legislation Tuesday, April 19. Two students — Robert Henn and Taiba Azeem — are running for president, and the two candidates for vice president are Mary Stockman and Saran Kaba. As he is not running this election, current SA President Ahmed Metwaly shared advice for the next president of the SA. “Take advice of the people around you. Learn to delegate. Learn when to say no, and do your best not to overstress yourself,” Metwaly said.
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Taiba Azeem is running for president of the Student Association.
Taiba Azeem
Azeem is a sophomore double majoring in sociology and psychology. She was born in India, but has lived in eight countries over the course of her life. Azeem describes herself as a “staunch feminist,” and is the only woman running for president of the SA. “I do not stand when people discriminate others on the basis of anything,” Azeem said. “That’s the one thing I stand for — I want to hear everyone at the table. Everyone.” Azeem has been part of the SA her whole college career, and feels passionately about student involvement in the SA. The focus of her campaign is on adequately representing the student body in the SA and diversifying the board to
include more women and new faces. “I will be sure that I succeeded as president if, after a year, when elections come around, I’ll see people whose names I don’t know on the candidates list,” Azeem said. Azeem’s goals for the campus focus on increasing student involvement, as the campus only has 60 clubs despite boasting over 100 online. Her other goals include implementing gender-neutral bathrooms, ensuring accessibility for students with physical disabilities, and supporting diversity on campus. “Rather than encouraging students to just vote for me, I encourage them to vote, period, because this is their right,” Azeem said. “You are not choosing an Association that you deserve if you don’t vote.”
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Robert Henn is running for president of the Student Association.
Robert Henn
Henn is a sophomore majoring in public relations from Long Island, New York. He said he is a “big fan” of doing things that push him out of his comfort zone. The slogan of Henn’s campaign is “Becoming Cardinal Stronger,” with goals to improve the states of student involvement, accessibility for people with disabilities and resources for student mental health. He also aims to strengthen school spirit. “It’s taking things that are already really good about Plattsburgh and just heightening them even more. I feel like this campus has so much to offer to its students and there’s so many good things about it, but they don’t get rec-
ognized as much as they should,” Henn said. “I basically want campus to feel like everyone’s home away from home.” Henn’s goals for the SA are to make it appear more “approachable” to the student body and extend its outreach. Henn was a member of the SA in his freshman year, but took a break due to experiencing a “rough patch” in his mental health. “The main reason I’m also running is to show students that just because you get knocked down, doesn’t mean you have to stay down,” Henn said. “There’s power in failure. There’s power in falling down, and there’s even more power in getting back up again.”
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Mary Stockman is running for vice president of the Student Association.
Mary Stockman
Stockman is a sophomore double majoring in criminal justice and law and justice, from Buffalo, New York. She is currently senator for campus safety and health for the SA, club president of Rotaract and a community advocate (CA) at Mason Hall. If elected as vice president, Stockman will focus on unifying and representing the student body, as well as connecting it with the SA. She aims to make information about the SA’s location and the senators’ office hours more public and create more opportunities for the SA to listen to student feedback. “We say we listen to the student body right now, but I don’t really know if we do,” Stockman said. “We do, but not to
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the full potential that we could.” Stockman will also work to create programming that involves more students in campus life to ensure “people like being on campus,” including events that take students off campus. Additional concerns are improving the conditions of on-campus quarantine and uniting campus departments to cohesively work together. “I am willing to take the time to listen to anybody who has something to say. I want to fight for the student body in any way possible,” Stockman said. “Obviously, I have things I think should be changed, but there are people who have other opinions on what should be changed, and I want to hear those opinions and work to make what everybody wants how campus should be.”
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Saran Kaba is running for vice president of the Student Association.
Saran Kaba
Kaba is a senior graduating next year and majoring in communication sciences and disorders. She is from the Bronx, New York. Kaba calls herself a reliable, attentive and initiative candidate for vice president of the SA. “I want people to vote for me because they’re confident in me,” Kaba said. “Any issue they have, any concern — I’ll take initiative to that and actually get to a solution to the best of my abilities.” Kaba’s goal is to become someone students can rely on to represent underrepresented students. She will pay special attention to fighting microaggressions on campus from students and professors alike, as well as healing from their effects. Another priority in Kaba’s campaign is
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continuing to move in the direction the SA is currently going in to support student clubs and organizations, sports on campus and student services. Kaba also hopes to position the SA as an organization that is friendly and open to student feedback. She will be hosting gatherings that allow students to speak out about the problems they experience on campus. “If I am selected to be vice president, I want people to feel comfortable to come to me if they have an issue, and I will definitely go and relay that to my president, and we can try to find a solution where we can go to higher-ups or supervisors,” Kaba said. “I want people to feel that they are heard. They are heard, and action is being taken.”
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News Editor Olivia Bousquet
Friday, April 15, 2022
OurBus route proposed, SA waits to speak with admin BY OLIVIA BOUSQUET News & Managing Editor
Detective Burghy has nothing to report this week.
Weekly Meme
The biggest topic of discussion at the Student Association senate meeting April 6 was about a potential service called OurBus, an intercity and commuter busing company. Alexis Zhou, a representative from OurBus, presented via Zoom about the benefits of OurBus. The bus service would be there to serve students, and there would be no affiliation tied to the school. Unlike the shuttle bus, which is funded by the SA, OurBus would not cost anything to the SA. The company just wants busing signs to tell students that the option is available and a website listing. Students would be responsible to pay for their ride, which Zhou said was affordable, but she did not give an average price range. Zhou said that a bus would arrive on Fridays and bring students to Albany, where there is easier access into New York City. Then the bus would bring students back to campus on Sundays. According to Zhou’s presentation, OurBus is the No. 1 app based for intercity transportation. She also said the busing system was “most popular with Cornell students in Ithaca,” and OurBus transports roughly 4,000 students each break. Zhou said all buses have heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Drivers and passengers must be masked while riding. Plattsburgh is isolated from NYC, Albany and Montreal, es-
pecially since Greyhound Busing stopped, according to Zhou. Senators were confused by the proposal because their budget included an approval, but OurBus wasn’t looking for a contract from SA. Senator Carter Mosher was hesitant about saying yes, when school administrators and College Auxiliary Services haven’t heard of the busing system or been approached. Senator Nilay Vaida said she thought having the busing option available was a “good idea for
treasurer who plans to attend. She said 17 other members will be in attendance, and their adviser rented a van using department funds. The senate voted and approved the request of $340. In other SA news, a new senator was elected into the SA. Senator Addhyan Kohli wanted to join because as a freshman, he was looking for more “experience and campus involvement.” He was already volunteering with SA and went to many Activities Coordination Board events, according to Mosher. Kohli wanted to be senator of arts because it’s a passion of his. He was elected into the position with three senators voting no. Then SA President Ahmed Metwaly swore Kohli into the senate. During the senators’ reports and announcements, Mosher announced his resignation from the ACB board. The finance board also made a $340 approval, but it was not said what for. To conclude the meeting, Presidential candidate Robert Henn introduced himself to the senate as a international students,” because running candidate in the SA electhere is not any easy way to travel tion. He also wanted to clear the and many international students air about his former impeachment don’t have cars. from the senate. Henn said it was The senate voted to bring the for his mental health, and Advisor proposal to administration to see Jacob Avery encouraged impeachtheir thoughts on OurBus coming ment because Henn wouldn’t step to campus. down to focus on his mental health. The Historical Association Club Henn said it was best for him, and requested $340 to fund traveling he’s in a better mental place now. expenses. The club has tickets for a Holocaust museum in Montreal Email OLIVIA BOUSQUET April 16. The representative in atcp@cardinalpointsonline.com tendance was the club’s former
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Campus COVID-19 Tracker Students observe Ramadan
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Students break their fast during Ramadan with food in Kent Hall throughout the month of April.
BY LARAIB ASIM Staff Writer
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
In the teaching kitchen of Kent Hall, about 20 students gathered together April 2 at about 7 p.m. to break their first fast of Ramadan, which is a holy month of fasting followed according to the lunar calendar by Muslims. The preparations for this arrangement allows students to get together to celebrate this month and cook meals. Muslims fast, which means abstain from food and drinks, from dawn until sunset every day during this month. The purpose of this practice is to learn patience, develop empathy for those suffering without the necessities in life, such as food, that is often taken for granted and develop a closer, personal relationship with God. In the beginning of April, all the Chief of Diversity Officers throughout the SUNY schools received an email that reminded the officers Ramadan was starting as well as explaining what Ra-
madan is and how important it is that those fasting during Ramadan be well supported. A few days before Ramadan began, the Office of the Provost sent out an email to all faculty members at SUNY Plattsburgh stating that Muslim student’s requests for flexibility during this religious event be respected. A meeting was arranged on Zoom March 25 to discuss the preparations for Ramadan during this semester. The conclusion of the meeting led to the first ever Muslim initiative on campus where students gather together in spirit of the Holy month and celebrate Ramadan. The meeting was arranged by Jacqueline Vogl, the associate vice president of the Global Education Office. Catherine Kelcher, who represented the College Auxiliary Services, Chris Mihalyi, who represented Chartwells, Dr. Richard C. Miller, the interim vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and three students, Sohayla Erroui, Ebtisam Mohammad, Nadish Wostey and Taiba Azeem,
attended the meeting. Vogl, who had emailed students in the beginning of February, asked if they identified as Muslim and would like to engage in a discussion about their beliefs. “I was trying to figure out what we, as an institution, that had affiliated officers could do to support the observance of Ramadan [for Muslim students and faculty],” Vogl said. Erroui and Mohammad, reached out to Vogl prior to the meeting and informed her that they wanted Muslim students to gather together and cook Iftar, the meal taken to break a fast at sunset. The meeting allowed Vogl to facilitate connections for the students to figure out an arrangement for the month of Ramadan. Jim Sherman, the assistant director of Campus Housing and Community Living, offered access to Kent Hall’s first floor kitchen and Moffitt Hall, where the interfaith prayer room is located. Before Ramadan began, Vogl and her husband personally took three students to Burlington,
Vermont to purchase halal meat and spices and other herbs that were inaccessible at Plattsburgh. Halal meat, which means permissible, is consumed by Muslims all year around. It is any meat, except for pork, that has been handled according to the Islamic law. Ever since the Burlington trip, Clinton Dining Hall readily provides students with any raw ingredients that the students request for every Monday, and for additional meal swipes, they offer any ingredients required in the middle of the week. Any additional assistance is offered by the Community Director of Kent Hall: Zeeshan, a Master’s student and a Graduate Assistant of Campus Housing and Community Living. As this month-long event is not sponsored by any particular student club, the Global Education Office has stepped in to finance this endeavor by themselves and through the Plattsburgh College Foundation fund.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022
Pandemic rages, new strains spread BY JESS JOHNSON Opinions/Managing Editor
The pandemic is still happening. As more cases rise, and less mask mandates are put in place state to state, the World Health Organization announced March 22 that BA.2, the Omicron subvarient, had become the dominant form of SARS-CoV-2, overtaking the Delta variant, and is 30% to 50% more contagious than the first subvariant, BA. 1. This means, maybe, we should continue wearing masks, as each mutation of COVID becomes more contagious than the last. According to Scientific American, “BA.2 exploded across Africa, Europe and Asia, and it currently accounts for nearly 55 percent of all new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…Earlier variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, competed for dominance primarily on the basis of how well they infect human cells in high numbers and transit efficiently among people. But Omicron acquired the further advantage of being able to resist immune defenses against the variants that came before, thereby increasing the number of susceptible people in the population.” Across the U.S. many have received the COVID-19 vaccination, whether Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer, with 256.5 million people receiving one dosage and 218.6 million people being fully vaccinated. Almost 100 million have received a booster shot, and the numbers continue to increase day by day. Those who are vaccinated that may test positive, having a “vaccine breakthrough infection” for the virus may be lost in confusion, as to how they could get the virus even after getting the booster. From an outside perspective, it seems Omicron subvariants aren’t helping in the matter of combating COVID-19 with the booster because it’s mutating by resisting immune defenses such as a vaccine, that
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is meant to train our immune systems to create antibodies that fight against COVID-19 infection by imitating that infection. These vaccines help develop immunity to the virus, without contracting COVID-19 first. These lessen the likelihood of contracting COVID-19. However, if a vaccine is targeted at variants we already know of, how can it combat new variants the body has not been introduced to? According to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, “Initial reports show
YNW Melly’s lyrics used in court case BY JEREMY BINNING Staff Writer
South Florida rapper, YNW Melly, is currently facing murder charges in relation to a drive-by shooting that took the life of two of his friends. Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr., also known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy respectively, were both shot multiple times in late October 2018 as they were sitting in the backseat of a car with another YNW associate, YNW Bortlen. Bortlen, born Cortlen Henry, drove his friends to the Memorial Miramar hospital in Miramar, Florida where they were pronounced dead shortly after arriving. Bortlen is also being charged alongside Melly. Born Jamell Demons, Melly rose to stardom with his breakout song, “Murder On My Mind,” which details a vivid interpretation of a murder Melly had done, as portrayed in the music video. One of the chilling lyrics that caught fans attention was “his body dropped down to the floor and he got teardrops in his eyes” which many fans pointed out after he was arrested for being too similar to the actual events that happened with his friends murders. The song was written while Melly was serving a one-year sentence for aggravated assault and possession of a
that receiving only one or two doses of an mRNA vaccine, like the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, does not reduce the likelihood of infection against omicron as much as it does against previous variants. However, receiving a booster greatly helps both prevent the likelihood of infection with the omicron variant and reduces the severity of illness if you do get sick.” So basically, even if someone is vaccinated, they may still get sick with Omi-
cron, but the booster greatly helps the odds of someone not actually contracting Omicron. Symptoms may be mild when vaccinated, such as cold-like symptoms like congestion and a sore throat, but this variant is highly contagious. Reinfections with BA.2 after BA.1 do occur in some people, but most are actually protected from this happening once contacting the first variant. COVID cases have dropped by 35% in the U.S. over the last month. However, times are still uncertain and we may not know if a surge is coming next. Two new variants have evolved from BA.2, and according to the New York Times, “New York has been the national hot spot the last few weeks, officials said.” One of the new variants dodges immunity, and both BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 are now accounting “for more than 70% of new cases in central New York State,” and have risen to above 90% in more than 30 states. Spreading and contracting isn’t nearly over, and levels are rising each day, leaving Americans in a time of uncertainty. We need to remain vigilant, and wear our masks when possible, to prevent spreading the variants more and contracting the illness ourselves. Anyone unvaccinated or unboosted are more likely to pass the virus onto others, and one may not know if the people around them are vaccinated or unvaccinated, as it is their choice. However, we need to protect ourselves, and be courteous of other health as well as our own. The most effective ways to limit the spread is still going to be avoiding large gatherings, wearing masks indoors and keeping distance from others especially in high populated areas. Remember, the pandemic is still going on, even as we slowly move to normalcy. This is a fight we need to work together to combat, and a time for us to put differences aside more than ever. Email JESSICA JOHNSON cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Manson commits cultish murders BY MATTHEW WENDLER Contributor
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firearm. This song came out early in 2017, over a year before the murders. However, prosecutors have used the lyrics to help build their case against him. After the death of his friends, Melly was arrested again in early January 2019 for a probation violation and was credited with time served. In February, he was released and went on to do a couple interviews. In his Billboard interview he explains how close he was with his deceased friends and how hurt he was about their passing, “They were my day one brothers.” Around the same time, his music career be-
gan picking up at a tremendous speed. Daniel Cantwell, a junior majoring in broadcast journalism, felt that he was on his way to becoming one of the top hip-hop artists because of how “unique and raw his music is.” He was seen in Miami with Kanye West in early 2019 before he was arrested recording new music and was also seen with rapper Young Thug. He discussed with Billboard in January 2019 about his upcoming collaboration albums with Tee Grizzley and the late Juice Wrld, although neither project was ever released or marketed. MELLY l A4
High on LSD, a group of hippies sat in a circle, laughing as shadows danced and their minds wandered. A short, bearded man in dirty denim soon stood before them. The laughter stopped as the man began to speak, warning of the impending apocalypse. A ‘race war’ was coming, and the Whites like Charles Manson and his followers were going to lose. They would survive by relocating to a pit within the vast desert where they would hide until the war’s end. When the dust cleared, Manson and his followers would re-emerge to claim the wastes of the world for themselves. It was “Helter Skelter” from that band, The Beatles, who knew the war was coming. They had written the song just to warn Manson and his followers. The group cheered as Manson claimed it was their task to start the war. This was the religion of the Manson Family, whose members thought of Charles Manson as their savior. It was Manson who had brought them all together and provided them the compassion they have scarcely received in life. His followers, mainly consisting of young women, had pledged themselves to
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him and would submit to his commands. They took refuge at Spahn Ranch, an abandoned film lot on the outskirts of Los Angeles once used for old western movies and TV shows. The owner had allowed the Manson family to live there in exchange for work and sex. Manson forbade items such as glasses, books and clocks. He preached they were the reincarnations of the original Christians and that he himself was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. One of Manson’s main interests in life was music. He learned to play guitar while in prison years before forming the Manson Family, and dreamed of getting a recording contract. On March 23, 1969, Manson drove to what he believed was the home
of record producer Terry Melcher at 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon. He met Melcher the previous year and wanted to arrange an audition for a record deal. As he approached the door, Manson was met by an unfamiliar face. He was informed that Melcher no longer lived on the property and that it was being occupied by screen director Roman Polaski and his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate. Melcher actually visited Spahn Ranch to hear Manson perform May 18, 1969. He wasn’t too impressed with the music and left without giving Manson a contract, leaving him enraged. CULT l A4
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Opinions Editor Jess Johnson
Editorial
Brooklyn subway shooting injures many Disclaimer: Article contains strong language and content.
The students at SUNY Plattsburgh stand in solidarity with the five critically injured individuals, the nearly two dozen injured people and those affected in the mass Brooklyn subway shooting April 12. Right before 8:30 a.m., during the shooting, the shooter described as a “heavyset, darkskinned man in a construction vest and helmet,” put on a gas mask, deployed two smoke canisters and began shooting into the crowded subway train, at least 33 times at the crowded N Train of the 36th Street metro station in Sunset Park. Ten people were hit directly by the gunfire, amidst a citywide rise in recent shootings. Suspect Frank R. James, 62, was arrested this past Wednesday in New York’s East Village neighborhood by police, and is being charged with violating terrorist and other violent attacks against a mass transportation system, according to CNN. He faces life imprisonment if convicted. “Breon Peace, US attorney
for the Eastern District of New York, said that James will face multiple counts, including the use of a dangerous weapon to cause death and serious injury to passengers and employees on the New York subway system,” CNN stated. James was found after authorities recovered a U-Haul van in Brooklyn late Tuesday afternoon five blocks from Kings Highway Station, which authorities believe James may have rented in Philadelphia, and the key to the van was found at the scene in the suspect’s belongings. A credit card with his name was also found, linking him to possibly being present at the scene. New York Police officials also sent an emergency alert out Wednesday morning, asking residents for any information about James, offering up to $50,000 in reward money for information on James to find and arrest him during the massive manhunt. After a tip, he was arrested and is now in custody. Regardless of the suspect’s motives, which is currently unknown, this a heinous and scary act against those who were most likely on their routine way to work or school on a normal
MELLY Continued from page A3 Melly was arrested Feb. 13, 2019 after police allege that he shot and killed Williams and Thomas, while Bortlen tried to stage the deaths as a drive-by shooting. More details emerged after his arrest including phone records proving that he was there at the scene of the crime. Autopsy reports suggest that he
CULT Continued from page A3 Melcher wasn’t the only person the Manson family had ‘beef’ with. One of Manson’s followers, Tex Watson, stole money from a drug dealer named Bernard Crowe. Crowe called the ranch and threatened to murder everyone living there. Manson ended up finding where Crowe lived and shot him in his apartment July 1, 1969. Although Crowe survived, Manson left with the belief he had killed him. Later that month July 25, 1969, Manson sent three of his followers, Bobby Beausoleil, Mary Brunner, and Susan Atkins, to the home of Gary Allen Hinman, who had made friends with some of the Manson family members. Manson ordered his followers to convince Hinman to join the family and give him all his assets. When Hinman refused, the cult took him hostage. Manson arrived at the house two days later with a sword. After he found there was no money, Manson slashed Hinman’s ear and ordered for him to be killed. Beausoleil took a knife and stabbed Hinman to death. Using Hinman’s blood, the words “political piggy” were written on the wall. Next to these words was a drawing of a panther paw which was done to frame members of a political group known as the Black Panthers. Beausoleil was arrested Aug. 6, 1969 after police spotted him driving Hinman’s stolen car. The knife he used to kill Hinman was found stashed in the tire well. Following Hinman’s murder, Manson told his followers that Helter Skelter was at hand and they needed to act. Four of Manson’s followers were sent to 10050 Cielo Drive Aug. 8, 1969. The group included Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian. Manson’s instructions were clear: kill everyone inside the house. An eight-and-a-half month pregnant Sharon Tate was home that night with her friends Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger and Wojciech Frykowski. Her husband was away in Europe work-
day, not knowing their safety would be threatened in a matter of minutes. To be carrying a Glock 9-millimeter handgun, ammunition magazines, fireworks and more onto a subway is extremely disturbing, and will affect those who use this transit for transportation immensely, not knowing if their future rides will be masked in violence. Schools in that area were sent into lockdown most of the day. As more and more videos emerge, passengers are seen lying on the ground of the subway platforms, where one would usually be waiting for the next ride to their destination. Subway seats and cars were streaked with blood, and streaks of blood littered the ground as pedestrians called for help. Police and helicopters surrounded the area, and many hopped onto the R train across, to get out of harm’s way. Thankfully, none of the wounded have life-threatening injuries, but authorities claim this isn’t being considered a true act of terrorism. Terrorism is violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ide-
shot both from inside the car. Police argue that the bullets outside the car were staged to mislead detectives on the case. Melly and Bortlen both plead not guilty in March 2019. If convicted, both are looking at life inprisonment with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for Melly. Bortlen was granted house arrest in May 2020, but violated parole after being seen at a strip club. He would again be released on house arrest in may 2020 after it was proven during his hearing for house arrest that he did not commit any other crimes during that time.
ing on a new film. Watson climbed a telephone pole and used his knife to cut the wires connecting to the property. As they walked towards the house, a car could be seen approaching. Steven Parent, age 18, had been there trying to sell a clock radio to the property caretaker. Parent stopped the car in front of the gate and rolled down the window to push the button that would open it. Watson approached the vehicle holding a gun and knife, shouting for Parent to halt. He shot Parent four times, leaving him dead inside the car. The cultists then broke a window screen to get in the house and found Frykowski sleeping on the couch. Watson kicked him in the head to wake him and held his gun at him. Frykowski asked who he was and Watson said, “I’m the devil and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” Everyone in the house was rounded up and taken to the living room. Watson tied Tate and Sebring together by their necks and threw the end of the rope over a ceiling beam. Sebring began to protest, asking them to consider Tate’s pregnancy. In response, Watson shot Sebring and he fell to the floor. Watson then repeatedly kicked Sebring’s face and stabbed him until his death. Folger was taken to a separate room and ordered to hand over her money. Despite doing what they said, she was stabbed seven times. Folger survived and was able to escape out to the pool area. She made it to the front lawn, but Krenwinkel chased after her. Krenwinkel stabbed her again and tackled Folger to the ground. Watson came over and finished her off. Frykowski attempted to break away. He was stabbed by Atkins in the leg four times during his struggle and beaten over the head by Watson with his gun. He was able to get out to the front lawn and attempted to make a run for it. Unfortunately, Watson caught up with him, shooting him twice and then stabbing him to death. Tate was left in the living room, pleading to her captors to spare the life of her baby and offered herself as a hostage. Watson and Atkins stabbed Tate 16 times, killing her and her unborn child. On the front door,
ological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature, according to FBI. gov. Authorities have uncovered James’ YouTube channel, full of long rants, topics ranging from blaming Black women for violence among Black people to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as evidence that whites are genocidal. Whether this was politically or racially motivated, it still was a violent act on innocent individuals. We stand with those affected, and we encourage those who may go to SUNY Plattsburgh to check in with friends that may be in the area of Brooklyn or have family at home that may live in NYC that regularly take the subway. Now is the time to stand together, and take time to reflect on heinous acts that continue to happen due to lack of gun regulation in America. Use your voice. Now is the time to make our government listen, whether through peaceful protest, online posting or even writing ‘a letter to the editor’ to your local paper.
In October 2020, the families of Willams and Thomas filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Melly and Bortlens estate. The complaint revealed that the group of friends had a lot of tension arising over disputes of money and how the funds should be split. The case is currently under trial, with their first court appearance coming this past week April 4.
they used Tate’s blood to write the word “pig.” Even after all this, “Helter Skelter” wasn’t complete. The following night, Manson accompanied six of his followers to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca located at 3301 Waverly Drive in Los Feliz. They tied the couple’s hands behind their backs and placed pillow cases over their heads before stabbing them to death with a bayonet. The word “War” was carved into Leno’s abdomen and the cultists used the couple’s blood to write “Rise” and “Death to pigs” on the wall. Written on the refrigerator door were the words “Helter Skelter.” A week following the murders, police arrived at Spahn Ranch and raided the premises. They arrested Manson and 25 of his followers Aug. 16, 1969. The charges were not related to the killings, but rather automobile theft. Manson and his followers were released days later as the warrants for their arrest were found to be misdated. Ten days after the raid on the ranch, Manson ordered three of his followers to murder Donald Shea, who was one of their own. Manson suspected him of being the one to report the family to the police. The three followers attacked Shea inside his car, hitting him with a pipe and then stabbing him. Shea was then brought down a hill behind the ranch where he was tortured until his death. A little more than a month later, a second raid was done by police at a separate location inhabited by the cult called Barker Ranch. Once again, Manson and 25 of his followers were arrested for automobile theft under a new warrant Oct. 10, 1969. While locked up, Susan Atkins told her cell mates of the events that took place on the night of Tate’s murder. The information was reported to the police, leading to the arrests of those involved in the slayings. Their trial began June 15, 1970. When the first day of testimony occurred July 24, 1970, Manson appeared in court with an X carved on his forehead. He claimed he was too incompetant to defend himself and had X’d himself from the establishment’s world. Many of his female followers did the same thing. Manson attempted to attack
Friday, April 15, 2022
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the judge during trial Oct. 5, 1970, lunging towards him with a pencil. He was restrained before he could try anything and led out of the room. The female defendants began chanting in Latin after he was removed. Manson and the arrested followers were sentenced to death by electric chair March 29, 1971, but their sentences were reduced to life imprisonment in 1972. The Manson family had mainly dispersed after the events of the trial; however, it wouldn’t be the end of their chaos. The body of a Vietnam veteran named James Willet was found by a hiker in the woods Nov. 8, 1972. The man was shot and buried with his hand sticking out from the ground. Willet’s car was found at a home where a few members of the Manson family were living. Police raided the property and found Willet’s wife Lauren Chaville dead and buried in the basement. The couple’s infant daughter was found alive in the house and the occupants of the building were arrested. What was it that made Manson so crazy? While a rough childhood may have played a part, some believe Manson was a victim of Project MK-Ultra. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, a series of secret mind control experiments are believed to have been conducted by the CIA in both the United States and Canada. Much of the experiments involved experimental drugs and psychedelics such as LSD being administered to unknowing individuals, including prisoners. Manson had been in and out of jail numerous times before the formation of his cult. The timeline would match with when the experiments are believed to have taken place and it would explain why Manson became the way he did, but this can’t be proven for sure. Regardless, Manson was a mad man that manipulated his followers, using both drugs and his charms to brainwash them into doing his bidding. He died of cardiac arrest in prison Nov. 15, 2017 at the age of 83. It is possible a greater number of murders have been committed by the Manson family than what is known. Email MATTHEW WENDLER cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
Taken from 100 participants Award Winning
Cardinal Points has received the following awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP): 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 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
RAMADAN Continued from page A2 After setting strict health and cleanliness standards, the students were given permission to cook iftar meals catering toward Muslim students, who are willing to indulge in the communal spirit of the holy month, and non-Muslim students, who are interested in experiencing a unique religious experience. Both Vogl and Michelle St. Onge, the assistant director of GEO, were invited by the students for iftar and were warmly welcomed by all the students. “I hadn’t really considered what it must be like for a large group of people to be depriving themselves of food and water for an entire day until I was in a room full of people who had done that,” St. Onge said. “When you walk through your day, you don’t really think about what everyone else is going through.” She was in awe of the personal challenge that Muslims undergo every day throughout the month, that may not be visible to the other person but present nonetheless. She enjoyed meaningful conversations
NEWS with various students to understand the purpose of fasting, the motivation that drives Muslims and learning the Islamic culture. “It was just really beautiful to me to see so many people of your generation be so embracing of humbling themselves and practicing a faith,” St. Onge said. “Faith practices weaken from generation to generation [here in the United States].” She found it rewarding to view people from the younger generation stay strong to their faith. Later that week, she joined students at another iftar with her husband and learned how Muslims pray to experience the Islamic culture herself. Sohayla Erroui, a Moroccan exchange student at SUNY Plattsburgh, is an active Muslim who had reached out to Vogl since planning for Ramadan began. Her contributions and efforts alongside that of Ebtisam Mohammad, a Ethiopian Muslim in her senior year, was recognized and praised by Vogl. Erroui and Mohammad have been organizing the day to day efforts of gathering students who know how to cook and work alongside them to ensure that iftar has been prepared almost every day. Erroui in particular, dedicates her time to cook almost every day. Sabit Muderis Abdulahi, a Muslim business major who was actively involved in the preparation of iftar
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Friday, April 15, 2022
from the beginning, went with Erroui and Mohammed to Burlington with Vogl to purchase ingredients. They were determined to find a way to form the communal spirit of Ramadan at SUNY Plattsburgh to welcome all international students or domestic, Muslims or non-Muslims. “Ramadan is a month where family and friends come together to celebrate their faith in God,” Mohammad said. “It is a month of giving and kindness and is the month when the Holy Quran was sent to [Muslims].” Mohammad is especially grateful for the GEO’s effort and commitment to listen to their voices and to help them find connections which helped bring their plan to reality. GEO has approached this matter at hand with the perspective of setting up an initiative that can be reinstated every Ramadan from here on. That is why the Muslim Student Association is currently being revived with the efforts of the Muslim students to help organize and arrange future Muslim festivals. This is the implementation of a “process management” strategy that Vogl talked about where the GEO documents any project to ensure that a groundwork has been set for the project to be continued in the future years.
Email LARAIB ASIM
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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News Editor Olivia Bousquet
NEWS
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Friday, April 15, 2022
This Week in Photos: Ramadan Photos By Olga Muka
Above: Students break their fast with iftar Above: Dua Saleem prays after breaking meals catered toward Muslim students. her fast.
Above: Iman and Laraib Asim play Above: Sohayla Erroui pre- Twister in Kent Hall. Below: Students pray together. pares food for Ramadan.
CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022
OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points
Davina Gyedu has three goals and one assist this season.
Cardinals complete comeback BY LIAM SAMPLE Staff Writer
On the road against a conference opponent, The SUNY Plattsburgh women’s lacrosse team’s late game comeback came up short against the Buffalo State Bengals April 9 at Coyer Field, with a final score of 13-8. Coming into this game, Plattsburgh picked up back to back wins, outscoring opponents 29-12 in this stretch. Despite the final outcome of the game, the Cardinals still played strong. In the first five minutes of action, they wasted no time getting on the score
sheet. First year attacker Maddy Garcia set up the team leader in goals, junior Caroline Noia who scored less than 90 seconds into the game. Noia’s great season continues and she moves up to fourteen tallies on the season. Sophomore midfielder Jordan Kowalski scored her own a little over two minutes later to put the Cards up two. This was an unassisted effort for the sophomore. At the end of the first, the Bengals battled back. Sophomore attacker Sarah Fineour scored with 1 minute and 21 seconds and :40 remaining in the quarter to tie the game. She finished the game with four scores,
which was the most of any player for both sides. Buffalo State struck first in the second. Plattsburgh managed to tie it before the midpoint of the quarter, with first year Nicole Resnick scoring her second collegiate goal. The Bengals then caught fire, scoring the next seven goals consecutively to make the score 10-3. This included a pair by both senior attacker Liz Schultheis and first year attacker Sage Running Rabbit. While this was the low point of the game for Plattsburgh, they still finished with a lead in many of the statistical categories. They held a 43-22 advantage in shots and 33-15
in shots on goal. They also lead 27-22 in ground balls and 15-10 in draw controls. A part of Buffalo State’s success is attributed to senior goalie Janae Nelson who made a career high 25 saves, which was one short of tying the single game program record for the school. Without many of her big stops, the results may have been different. For the Cardinals, sophomore Johanna Malone made the start and gave up eight on one save. Junior Lilla Nease played the final 12:30 and made one save while allowing five. Plattsburgh broke up the run with Kowalski and first year attacker Caitlin Nash scoring back
to back goals at the midpoint of the third. This cut the Bengals lead in half to make the score 10-5. They did not stop there, after letting up another opposing goal, senior Emily Caoili scored a pair of her own in a two and a half minute stretch at the end of the third. She now is up to ten scores on the season and extends her goal streak to three games. Kowalski picked up an assist on Caoili’s second, and led the team with four points. In all of her games played this season, she has managed to grab multiple points in each. Of all the goal scorers for both sides, two come from their respective
school’s hockey teams. Running Rabbit appeared in 23 hockey games for the Bengals and finished the year with six points, while Kowalski had one assist in fourteen games for the Cardinals. While she did not score, Nease appeared in seven games in goal for the hockey team, having a 5-1-0 record. Now only up four, Buffalo State scored the dagger to swing the momentum in their favor. Only one minute and 23 seconds into the fourth, first year Tala Abdellatif scored her second of the game to make the score 12-7. WLAX l B3
Cardinals beat Brockport in double header BY MELANIE LANZO Staff Writer
The Plattsburgh women’s softball team took another double win at Cardinal park this past week. They competed in the SUNYAC doubleheader monday continuing their winning streak. They beat Brockport in the first game with a score of 2-0 and then again in the second game with a score of 8-7. This time around junior infielder Kelsy Waite carried the team to a win with her walk - off hit in game two. Although it was a close game, the Cardinals are ready to prove themselves as untouchable, with their next game that has been rescheduled April 12,2022 at 3 p.m. Brockport led the first game strong with one hit and one left on base by the end of the first inning. The pace didn’t pick up until Khristina Maggiacomo did a whole turn and managed to homer to left center field, where toward the end of inning two she faced a solo home run for the team. Towards the 6th inning, Brockport had three hits and three left on base. SUNY Plattsburgh made their way up with Gentile making it to right center, advancing to third and then scoring on a throwing error letting Maggiacomo fly out to inner field. The first game ended
with a score of 0-2, Plattsburgh took the first win thanks to Maggiacomo and four other Cardinal base knocks who struck out five and scattered six hits throughout the first game. The second game started off strong for the Cardinals in the first inning, with Kristen Langdon singling to the right side. With one out in the inning and the go-ahead run a base-hit away from reaching home, Gentile hit the ball into right field allowing Langdon to produce a tying run. Brockport made their first run during the first inning too, thanks to their first baseman Annie Dipirro. Although Brockport played a good game, Plattsburgh made three runs in the forth half of the inning, putting them ahead in the score closer to victory. The final score for the second game was 8-7, with Waite doubling right to the center and Gentile bringing the game home with the final score. “Some things I want to improve on this season is dominating in all my positions on the field,” Julia Golino, a Junior Pitcher for the Cardinals said. “I have a role with pitching, playing 3rd base and hitting and I want to produce for all spots.” OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points
Email MELANIE LANZO Senior Alex Mckearin contributed in a big way, in game one she secured 10 outs. cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Sports Editor Garrett Collins
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CARDINAL SPORTS
Baseball VS. SUNY Oswego April 9 12 p.m. Women’s Lax @ Buffalo State April 9 1 p.m.
Men’s/Women’s Track Red Dragon open April 9 TBA
Softball
Men’s Lax VS. SUNY Oneonta April 9 1 p.m.
Softball VS. Genesseo April 9 2 p.m.
Friday, April 15, 2022
Tennis VS. SUNY New Paltz April 9 10:30 a.m.
School SUNYAC Oneonta 4-0 Cortland 3-1 Fredonia 3-1 Geneseo 3-1 New Paltz 2-2 Plattsburgh 2- 2 Buffalo State 1-3 Oswego 1-3 Broackport 0-2
Record 13-7 11-9 6-14 14-2 15-9 6-10 6-12 5-16 7-7
Baseball
Softball Runs
Claire Palmer Julia Golino Kristen Langdon
Hits
Baseball 10 6 5
Julia Golino kristen Langdon Claire Palmer
19 19 14
Top Averge Kristen Langdon
.373
Men’s Lax Goals
Sephen Knae Zach Gill Micheal Swift
Assists OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points
Sophomore Michael Brockway took fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Zach Gill Micheal Swift Andrew Braverman
Runs
Christian Lent Conner Gonzalski Alex Kornblau
Hits
Kyle Cremin Christian Lent Connor Gonzalski
19 18 14
20 18 16
Top Average Alex Kornblau
.667
Women’s Lax 33 8 8
18 8 6
Goals
Caroline Noja Lindsey Guzzetta Caitlin Nash
Assists
Emily Caoili Caroline Noja Lindsey Guzzetta
School SUNAYC Record Brockport 6-0 18-2 Cortland 6-0 19-6 Oswego 3-0 13-5 Plattsburgh 0-0 10-6 Fredonia 0-6 9-11 New Paltz 0-3 6-12 Oneonta 0-6 6-16
Men’s Lax
School SUNYAC Record Brockport 2-0 7-2 Oswego 2-0 6-2 Cortland 2-0 5-6 Genesseo 2-0 4-5 Potsdam 0-2 3-5 New Paltz 0-2 3-5 Plattsburgh 0-2 2-8 Oneonta 0-2 1-8
Women’s Lax
13 12 9
10 7 3
School SUNYAC Buffalo State 0-2 Geneseo 2-1 Cortland 3-0 New Paltz 1-1 Plattsburgh 1-1 Oneonta 2-1 Brockport 2-0 Fredonia 0-3 Potsdam 1-2 Oswego 1-2
Record 4-4 6-2 6-4 3-5 3-4 4-5 5-3 0-9 5-4 2-8-
OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points
At the Cortland Red Dragon Open, the Cardinals had four men qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament and the team had nine women qualify for the SUNYAC tournament.
Plattsburgh places once again BY JESSICA LANDMAN Staff Writer
The Cardinal’s men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Cortland Red Dragon Open April 4. The women’s team brought back five first place finishers and the men’s team had to first place athletes. Sophomore Logan Van Buren said that the team as a whole competed well overall at the meet. The first event on the track was women’s 400 meter hurdles. Janyll Barber was the only Plattsburgh athlete to compete, but she placed first with a time of 1 minute, 4 seconds and 12 milliseconds. This time earned her not only a SUNYAC qualifying spot, but she also qualified for the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC). This time puts her as fifth in the nation for the 400-meter hurdles. Next was the women’s and men’s 4x100-meter relays. The women competed first with Morgan Thompson, Jessica Landman, Deanna Zoch and Hannah Cluck. They clocked an overall time of 53.62 seconds placing them in second. For the men, Nicholas Anderson, Levi Sochia, Cameron Guiliano and Aidan Masten finished with a time of 47.80 seconds, which put them in fourth place. Following the relay was the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Both the men and women had only one athlete each in this event. Rebecca Block placed second overall with a time of 12:26.30, earning her a SUNYAC qualifying time as well. Micheal Brockway ran a time of 10:18.55, which placed him fourth overall also earning him a SUNYAC qualifying time. `Guiliano clocked a time of 55.83 seconds putting him in 13th place on the men’s side. The athletes in the 1,500-meter faced not only their opponents but the weather as well when it began to hail just after the first heat of the women. Sarah Smith
pushed through, finishing with a final time of 5:20.87 and placing eighth overall. For the men, Van Buren, with a time of 4:12.02 finished just behind Noah Bonesteel, who placed fourth with a time of 4:11.32. Both Kristen Boerke and Kathrine Berge ran their first 100 meter hurdle race of the outdoor season. Berge finished in second with a time of 19.24 and Boerke ran a 19.78 placing her in third. Brexton Montville was the sole Plattsburgh athlete competing in the 100 - meter sprint. He finished with an AARFTC time of 10.99 seconds putting him in first place. Next on the track was the 800 meter race. Smith finished in 13th with a time of 2:39.24. Aislyn McDonough ran both a SUNYAC and AARFTC time of 2:19.09 placing her in first. Bonesteel ran a 2:09.21 and Van Buren finished in 11th with a time of 2:04.95. In the 200-meter sprint, Cluck finished in 12th with a time of 29.63, just behind Zoch who ended with a time of 29.01. Finally, finishing in 10th was Thompson with a time of 28.83. For the men, Anderson finished with a time of 24.92 placing him in 11th, and Montville finished in first with a time of 22.66 seconds. Women’s shot put and men’s hammer throw opened in the field. The Cardinals took a clean sweep of the shot put with Bliss Rhoads taking third with a throw of 10.26 meters, Journey Myricks placed second with a distance of 10.75 meters, and Kaitlyn Bjelko finished first with a distance of 11.02 meters. Spencer Trudo competed in the hammer throw placing seventh with a throw of 33.21 meters. Then Alaina Conners and Bjelko competed in the hammer throw. Conners took 12th with a throw of 32.49 meters and Bjelko threw 38.35 meters earning her sixth. Aidan Tous threw in the men’s shot put with a final distance of 11.87 placing fourth overall. In the women’s javelin throw, Boerke placed ninth with a throw of 16.78 meters and Mikayla Osmer finished fifth
with a huge personal record of 20.55 meters. For the men’s discus throw, Trudo ended in eighth place with a final distance of 31.89 meters. Tous earned a SUNYAC qualifying mark of 36.85 meters landing him in fourth place. The throwing events ended with women’s discus. Conners placed 14th overall with a distance of 21.29 meters and Rhoads placed fifth throwing 31.35 meters. Myricks took first place with a final distance of 35.89 meters. For women’s jumps, starting in the high jump, Berge finished third overall with a height of 1.37 meters and ended in seventh place in the long jump with a final distance of 4.45 meters. Osmer ended in 11th for the long jump with a jump of 3.75 meters. Michaela Schaffer was the sole Cardinal in the triple jump finishing in third place with a distance of 10.33 meters. For the men’s jumps, Anderson finished seventh overall with a final jump of 5.55 meters. Masten jumped a personal record and SUNYAC qualify distance of 6.18 meters earning him first place overall. “The feeling was amazing because I had been working toward that goal for a while and hitting 20-feet overall is a major accomplishment for anyone who long jumps” Masten said Smith and Masten were nominated as the builder of the week for their hard work and team spirit throughout the week and at the meet. “[The next meet] will push me a lot more than before,” Zoch said. “There’s going to be a lot of competition and honestly it’s just another opportunity to get more PR’s.” The men’s and women’s team will compete next weekend at the Southern New Hampshire Penman Relays, however, some select athletes will be traveling to Princeton to compete at the Larry Ellis Invitational. Email JESSICA LANDMAN cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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Sports Editor Garrett Collins
CARDINAL SPORTS
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Friday, April 15, 2022
Provided by Sarah Hoffner
The Cardinals hope to make noise this season after winning six games in a row to end the fall season in 2021. Senior Sarah Hoffner secured two wins over the weekend.
Cardinal tennis back in action BY GARRETT COLLINS Sports Editor
The Cardinals tennis team was busy this past weekend playing three games in two days. This was the first action of the season for these Cardinals. They traveled to Newburgh to take on Mount Saint Mary College to open their spring season. The Cardinals opened up with doubles, Cydney Bond and Sarah Hoffener picked up right where they left off from last season and opened up the season big for the duo winning 8-2. Out of the three Svantner sisters Jacquline made the trip with the team with her partner Alyna Leandry and this
WLAX Continued from page B1
Plattsburgh tried to get back into it, with Nash getting another with just over minutes remaining. Her spectacular first year continues with a pair in this game, as she is third in the team in goals with eleven. This is where Plattsburgh ran out of gas and the opponent scored one more before the end of regulation to put the game away. The game was of extra importance for Buffalo State as it was their senior day, with Schultheis and Nelson commarated for the school. The Bengals move to 5-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference, with Plattsburgh falling to 3-5 overall with the same record within the conference. At this early stage of the season, the SUNYAC remains close, with four wins separating first and last place. Buffalo State host the Oswego Lakers April 13in another critical conference matchup. The Cardinals look to bounce back as they return home to take on the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons on the same day. They follow that with a crucial conference game against a strong opponent in SUNY Geneseo April 16 the road. Email LIAM SAMPLE cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
duo put out a strong showing beating their opponents 8-2. After not feeling much heat, the Cardinals hoped they would get more of that when the singles sets started to come around. They got just that. Bond and Hoffner both beat their opponents within the two sets. It took Alyna Leandry a bit longer to come out with the win, going into extra sets. Two players that stood out during the game were Samantha Svantner and Sarah Benowitz. Svantner and Benowitz both only allowed a combined one point between the both of them. Svantner hasn’t let up more than one point in a singles match since Oct. 22, those
are numbers that she is going to want to continue to have if the Cardinals want to make noise in the SUNYAC. Benowitz, a sophomore who previously was attending Ohio University was an addition over the off season made by the Cardinals — and she did not disappoint. Benowitz started her career as a Cardinal on the right foot winning both of her sets 6-0 already showing that she can be a force come playoff time. The Cardinals won their game vs. Mount Saint Mary’s 9-0 in a complete blow out of their opponents. Later on in the day the Cardinals traveled up to Bard College hoping that the momentum
they created from the first game would help propel them to another victory. During the doubles section of the game the dynamite duos of Hoffner/Bond and Leandry/Svantner, both won their sets like they did earlier in the day. There was another addition to the slate of duo matchups by way of the other two Svantner sisters Samantha and Nicole who won their set 8-1. During the singles slate the Cardinals once again didn’t disappoint winning all of their sets in dominant fashion. Two players that got their first action of the season were Bri Miller and Julia Drolet, who both won their singles matchups. The Cardinals
shut out Bard college 9-0. The weekend, however, wasn’t over for the Cardinals Sunday, when they welcomed New Paltz to town. Whether it was the fatigue of the weekend or just missing a stride to a SUNYAC opponent, but they were ousted by a score of 8-1. The lone winning set came from Bri Miller who won the last singles set of the afternoon. The Cardinals continue the season in Binghamton when they take on a slate of SUNYAC opponents before the playoffs.
Email GARRETT COLLINS
cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
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FUSE
FUSE Editor Sydney Hakes
Friday, April 15, 2022
Kropp attends Plattsburgh on fellowship BY ALANA PENNY Editor in Chief
Whether it’s in government, private sector or nonprofit law, Kael Kropp’s ultimate goal is to make life better for queer youth. Kropp is a senior honors political science major at the University of Alberta, but spent his final semester as an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh. The Global Education Office and Canadian studies program sponsored Kropp to come to SUNY Plattsburgh, through the Killam Fellowship. Each year, two dozen Killam fellows are chosen from Canada and two dozen from the U.S. The Canadian students study in the U.S. for a semester and the U.S. students study in Canada, at one of the participating colleges or universities. He put Plattsburgh on his list of schools that he was interested in because he was impressed by the political science program. “SUNY Plattsburgh has a phenomenal political science department and fantastic faculty composition,” Kropp said. “[SUNY Plattsburgh and University of Alberta are] different institutions, different worlds, different people, but it’s been fantastic,” Kropp said. The honors program is his academic sponsor. In Tracie Guzzio’s four years as honors program director, Kropp was the first Killam Fellow to come to campus. “He has set such a high bar, it’s going to be really funny for all the others that come after we’ll be like, ‘well, they’re no Kael,’” Guzzio said. “He’s really an exceptional student and an exceptional person. We feel really lucky that we can be a part of this sponsorship.” Guzzio said after her first conversation with Kropp she had to remind herself he was still an undergraduate. “He’s very professional and intellectually curious,” she said. “He can hold his own in a conver-
Photo provided by Kael Kropp
Senior Kael Kropp is attending SUNY Plattsburgh on the Killam Fellowship. He’s from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. sation with the professor like you’re equals.” As a part of the Honors Program sponsorship, Guzzio told him he could use the honors center facilities like the lab and study carrel. She said Kropp has connected with the other honors students, immediately fitting into their tight knit community. Nina Serafini met Kropp in the Honors Center. She is there every day for work study and Guzzio told her there was someone she should meet. Kropp was sitting in one of the seminar rooms doing work. “I saw him and I kind of forgot everything that Dr. Guzzio said about him. And I thought, ‘Is this guy like an adjunct professor or something?’” Serafini said. “He looked so formal and very much together. The way that he was speaking, I was just like, ‘oh, my god, he’s so proper.’ And then he made a joke. I think it was about Wordle. And I was like, ‘OK, the way that this guy is talking to a student means that he cannot be an adjunct professor.’” They quickly became
friends outside of school when Serafini invited him to see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a group of friends. “We went to that and then all of a sudden, we were friends and doing stuff every weekend,” Serafini said. Serafini likes to take him to do things he’s never experienced. “We went to Applebee’s. He was amazed by it. We took him to Stewart’s. He loved it,” Serafini said. Serafini remembers a time she was working on a resume and cover letter and Kropp offered to take a look at it for her. He has also mentioned her name to people that could help her reach her career goal of becoming an editor. Guzzio has seen him help other honors students work on their graduate school applications because he just went through that process. “Part of his personality is that he’s willing to do anything for anybody,” Serafini said. “He is extremely intelligent, in all facets of life,
but also he knows when it’s okay to make jokes. He is a very naturally funny person and a very comforting person. He’s an all around male character written by a female.” COVID-19’s hindrance of travel made it difficult for Kropp to get to Plattsburgh, but he was able to come through “concerted fighting.” When Kropp applied to study abroad through the Killam fellowship, University of Alberta was not sending students abroad and had just canceled some 80 students’ trips. He is a part of student governance and the vice president of the faculty of arts, so he was able to talk with people in various offices and figured out how to get students on their trips. He was able to appeal their decision to not send him to Plattsburgh, because he is graduating this spring. He actually already technically graduated from University of Alberta, last week. Kropp likes to be involved anywhere he goes. At University of Alberta,
he is the vice president academic for the organization for art students and interdisciplinary studies. He is also the editor in chief of their faculty journal, Crossings. It is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes the best student work in the fine arts, humanities and social sciences. He has presented the journal at national conferences. At SUNY Plattsburgh he joined the Literature Club. “It’s been fun, a nice little home away from home,” Kropp said. In his limited free time, Kropp plays his guitar, a gift from his parents when he left home. Kropp has also been an active researcher in his department. He was awarded the Roger S. Smith Undergraduate Researcher Award, an award given to University of Alberta students to support their research partnerships with faculty. It provides the researcher with $5,000 intended for 14 weeks of student-led research-based activity, according to the Universi-
ty of Alberta website. The research Kropp did during this time informed his upcoming master’s thesis. “Kael has a unique academic vision, in the sense that he has a comprehensive, wide-ranging, and ambitious set of objectives in his academic work,” John Mcmahon, assistant professor of political science and one of Kropp’s research advisers, said. “He is also very attuned to the way that abstract or theoretical ideas are connected to concrete issues of justice and injustice.” He initially chose political science because he wanted to be a lawyer. “I realized that I need to be researching,” Kropp said. “There are spaces within literature and within scholarship that need to be updated. Especially from the province I come from. So I really closely fell in love with public policy and queer studies within political science.”
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Art event targets student’s stress BY LUCA GROSS Staff Writer
With the semester coming close to the end, and final exams inch closer on the calendar, relieving stress is important and Jamie Ryan, a junior childhood education major with an art minor, wants to help. The Plattsburgh State Art Museum hosted Stress Free Art Day in the lobby gallery of the John Meyers Art Museum Thursday, April 7. This event was free and open to students and the public. Ryan set up this event, with the help of the Art Museum, hoping it helps attendees relieve stress or give them something stress free to do. “I wanted to start doing these events to have stressless activities to do at the end of the day,” Ryan said. “Since we don’t have these activities on campus I think it would be good to incorporate into student life.” There were three tables filled with students and members of the Plattsburgh community. Those who took part were given the opportunity to create little rainbows out of tweed and string. Stress can come from plenty of places, whether it be personal issues, school situations or problems with friends, stress can sneak up on you. As we approach the end of the spring semester, final exams can add onto that stress. There are several ways students can relieve stress, some of the things Ryan does herself include visiting relaxing spots around campus and other easily accessible activities, like going on a walk. “I really like the Saranac Trail. It’s re-
ally relaxing. Journaling or even making voice memos and getting everything out. Maybe hang with a friend. I also like visiting the art museum. Some of the art here is very interesting,” Ryan said. “I really love watercoloring. It’s just very relaxing. You can experiment with the colors and how much water you use. I also like drawing my sketchbook. I’ll go outside and draw a landscape or whatever I see.” These are Ryan’s personal go-to’s, everybody is different and will have something different that will help. Art therapy can be anything that someone uses JOEL GARCIA/Cardinal Points as a creative outlet to relieving stress. “Finding what makes you happy, or Students use a hot glue gun to construct their rainbows. what helps relieve stress at the end of the day. Something like this event, or sewing, knitting, coloring, sculpting. Everyone just has to experiment and find what helps them,” Ryan said. The attendees were hard at work measuring and cutting lengths of strings. One member of a group sitting at one table, Natalia rarely gets involved with art but was having a good time with her friend Stefanie. Ryan plans on continuing to do events, such as this one, where students can come and just make something without the pressure of a grade or limiting time constraint. The rain outside may have made the day gray for some, but the rainbows made by the members of the event is a reminder of the clarity and brightness of what follows a storm. Email LUCA GROSS cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
The event was held in the lobby of Myers.
JOEL GARCIA/Cardinal Points
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FUSE
FUSE Editor Sydney Hakes
OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points Matthew Wendler performs weekly at Coffeehouse.
COFFEE Continued from page B6 “It provides a chill space on campus for students to de-stress during the week,” Jose Nunez said. Normally in Burghy’s Lounge, Coffeehouse will be across the hall in the H.U.B. for the rest of the spring semester. Construction resulted in the change in location, but should be completed before the fall semester. Kimberly Motieram, the director of Coffeehouse, wanted to make something different when taking on Coffeehouse. The event has been around since before her time, but the committee is determined on setting it apart from other Student Association events. The committee members for Coffeehouse, Motieram, Nunez, Kaela Deleon, Deion Frimpong, and Adrian Castillo, come across with a professional passion for Coffeehouse. They attend every week and are consistently coming up with new ideas and
Friday, April 15, 2022
OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points Students do homework while listening to music.
events to keep students interested. “We do game nights, musical bingo, karaoke and have other events in the works,” Deleon said. “We always have music for whoever wants to perform. We want to honor the talent of the students by giving them this place to perform.” With a variety of events, different faces often pass through Coffeehouse. Frimpong recognizes the community benefit of Coffeehouse. “I’ve seen Coffeehouse bring people together, which is really our goal,” Frimpong said. “It’s the power of music that will bring new people in here, which leads to meeting new people. That’s important on a college campus.” While there are students who may only come for certain events, Coffeehouse is often frequented by a crowd of regulars. Cassandra Bray, Bliss Rhoads and Alaina Conners attend weekly. “It’s something different to just break up your week,” Bray, a sophomore, said. “We come here to get away from homework and drink tea and just chill somewhere other than our dorms.”
KROPP Continued from page B4 Guzzio hopes Kropp has opened the door to other Killam Fellows to come to campus. “He’s been an ambassador now for that fellowship,” Guzzio said. “I think he will be a contact for anyone else who wants to apply.” Next year Kropp will begin earning his Master’s degree in political science at the University of British Columbia. He has been named a Joseph Armand Bombardier graduate scholar by the government of Canada. His master’s thesis focuses on youth sexual minority rights and conservative policy approaches, specifically to the gay, straight alliance organizations. It looks at how conservative policy makers approach or defend policy repeals for youth confidentiality rights in gay straight alliances, timebound provisions for estab-
Cozied up in sweatpants and hoodies, the three are there as spectators. Others wait at their tables to go up and perform. With no current sign up sheet, whoever comes ready to perform can, with some limitations on time implemented by the committee if it’s a busy night. Motieram said that might change if they continue with high attendance. “A paint and sip event we did a few weeks ago had over one hundred people attend,” Motieram said. “I think that was our highest number of students at one event this semester.” They often see large numbers. Motieram and her committee members speculated that they average about fifty students a week. For little promotional advertising, it’s one of the more popular SA events. “The SA will always post on their Instagram and we usually put signs up in the ACC,” Deleon said. “Promoting never feels like a job. We’re really all here because we love Coffeehouse.” Besides giving students a place to relax or perform, Motieram mentioned the
benefits of attending Coffeehouse. “There’s really an opportunity here for networking,” Motieram said. “We have music teachers attend, parents have come before and not to mention the other musicians. We had two people end up singing and playing guitar together the other week who didn’t know each other, but knew the same song. That’s the type of opportunity Coffeehouse provides.” Rhoads, a graduate student, gave an inside look at what Coffeehouse provides week to week for her. “It’s relaxing, there’s good music that usually varies and the crowd fluctuates,” Rhoads said. “It can honestly get rowdy here sometimes, but those can be fun nights. There’s also great snacks.” While they are currently working on getting an Instagram account up and running, any questions can be directed to Motieram’s email, kmoti001@plattsburgh.edu. Email SYDNEY HAKES cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
lishing gay, straight alliances and name rights. “I approach it in a very policy sense, and then in a very theoretical component to what kind of undergirds those policy repeals,” Kropp said. “I was a very confused high schooler that was able to benefit from the gay straight alliance and seeing rollbacks to that has really changed the trajectory of my life. Whatever can affect that change, I will do.” He hopes to eventually pursue a combined law degree with a PhD in political science so he can practice what he is researching while still contributing to the scholarly discourse. “Kael is a student who is interested in knowledge first,” Raymond Carman, associate professor of political science, said. “He is interested in learning to know more to better himself, not transactionally for a grade or something like that. He pushes himself very hard and expects perfection from his work.” Email ALANA PENNY cp@cardinalpointsonline.com
BY SYDNEY HAKES
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
TAURUS
April 20 - May 20
GEMINI
May 21 - June 20
CANCER
June 21 - July 22
Learn a little about yourself this week. Introspection will be key to your growth and progression in life. Try some activities you don’t do very often. Read a new book or write in a journal. Lay outside and stare at the sky for a while.
Don’t overload your calendar. We’re leaving winter behind and it’s hard to not want to spend your days with things to do. Take time for yourself by going for a car ride, sitting in the park or on your porch.
LEO
Your mind is caught on something you heard last week. Think about why that’s staying with you and consider how to apply what you heard to your own life. It means something.
VIRGO
You’re prone to falling back into old habits and leaning on people you shouldn’t. Keep moving forward in your career and in your personal life. Eyes forward and head up.
LIBRA
You’re going to be tested with AQUARIUS your reaction to situations. Find January 20 healthy outlets should these flare February 18 up, and take preventive measures against potential restlessness or insomnia by establishing soothing bedtime rituals.
Lose yourself in the music and the moment. Time to lighten up, you’ve been too stressed with personal and professional responsibilities. Jam out alone tonight and focus on yourself.
Keep your heart open to the ones who value you most. The right person might be in front of you and giving you signals.
SCORPIO
This week, there is some excite- PISCES February 19 ment if you’re willing to let March 20 go. Today, you can eliminate unnecessary actions. You can get rid of redundancies that yield little results. Streamline your day.
Skip the lines this week. The universe is here to save you time, so take that time and put it into something fruitful.
July 23 - August 22
August 23 September 22
September 23 October 22
October 23 November 21
You’ll be asked to make several important decisions this week. And as usual, you’ll do this with thoughtful precision. You’re going to be faced with decisions at school or work that will make you question your position there.
SAGITTARIUS
Lose the angsty attitude. Red is not a good shade on you and those around you are noticing that. Take a step back and evaluate your reaction to things you can’t control.
CAPRICORN
Don’t forget to hit the gym this week and spend some time in the sun. Make time for chores like laundry so you don’t fall behind. Keeping yourself and your space clean will keep your mind clear.
November 22 - December 21
December 22 January 19
FELLOWSHIP B4
Weekly event highlights student performers Coffeehouse is bringing the sound of music and the smell of coffee to the halls of the Angell College Center Wednesday nights. Students are invited to perform music, poetry, karaoke or any other type of performance from 8 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday. For those who may not want to take the stage, Coffeehouse provides a chill atmosphere for the audience to listen while drinking coffee or tea and munching on the provided snacks that week. BY SYDNEY HAKES FUSE Editor
COFFEE l B5
ZOE NGUYEN/Cardinal Points