Issue 4

Page 1

SUNY Plattsburgh’s independent student newspaper since 1997

VOLUME 105 - ISSUE 4

FRIDAY, Oct. 8, 2021

CARDINALPOINTSONLINE.COM

University rep. approved BY KATIE KALLAMNI Staff Writer

In the Student Association Senate meeting Sept. 27, Michael Casey, University Representative candidate, joined via Zoom to speak on his behalf to get approved for the spot as University College Representative of SUNY Student Assembly. Casey is a junior at the SUNY Plattsburgh branch in Queensbury. Casey plans to “move SA forward by giving resources to campuses.” After the discussion, Casey was asked to return on Zoom for the senate Student Association meeting held on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Casey spoke passionately about his efforts with “encouraging students to be involved, specifically through social media.” While Casey is stationed at the Queensbury branch campus, he made it clear that he will, when needed, be at the main campus and as available as possible. When Casey spoke again Wednesday, he answered all questions and concerns raised by the Student Association Board. Senators voted on his approval and with the majority, and he was elected as University College Representative.

ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA/Cardinal Points

Freshman social work major Bryn Fawn decorating a heart at a tent for the 6th annual pride event in downtown Plattsburgh.

Platts hosts annual pride event BY ALEKSANDRA SIDOROVA Contributor

The Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance (ANCGA) hosted its sixth annual LGBTQI+ Pride event Saturday, Oct. 2 at Trinity Park. The event featured live music, tents set up by the event sponsors, raffles and a drag show. The event opened with a performance by local band, Magnificent Desolation. It was followed by speeches from Kelly Metzgar, cofounder of ANCGA and host of the event, SUNY Plattsburgh Senior Kathleen Watt, Plattsburgh City Mayor Christopher Rosenquest and New York State employees Owen Gilbo and Ron Zacchi. The speeches addressed the cancellation of the highly anticipated Pride March from the Kehoe parking lot, on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, to Trinity ELECT l A2 Park. City Council and ANCGA

were unable to reach a favorable agreement on the use of the city streets, despite both mayoral candidates pledging to ensure ANCGA could host the march, a year prior. “Next year, we will continue to support [the work ANGCA does],” Rosenquest said in his speech. “But I also want to remind you that as much as we can celebrate, Pride is protest.” Some visitors were unhappy with this response. “Give us the streets!” a protester called out. Metzgar also addressed the backlash the City Council and Rosenquest faced for the decision. “What happened was unfortunate — yes, it was,” Metzgar said in a speech. “We have to do some things a little better next year — yes, we do, — but I fully support [the Mayor] and the work he did on our behalf.”

The issue was addressed indepth in a post made on ANCGA’s Facebook page Oct. 1, the day before the event. In the post, ANCGA wrote that it would have cost the organization $4,000 paid to City Council to close the city roads and have eight police officers supervise the route. Because the organization had no such funding available, it made the decision to cancel the march, and instead limit the event to its traditional festival portion. “ANCGA will not go back to using the sidewalks,” the post read. “This is an absolute embarrassment for the City of Plattsburgh & ANCGA!” Other speakers, like Gilbo, shared their stories of coming out, struggle and acceptance. “I’m 57 now, and I’m proud of that, because I didn’t think I would get to be 57, and I certainly didn’t think that I’d be a man

at 57 with a really cool goatee,” Gilbo said in his speech. “I think it’s important for us to be visible though, because all the trans boys out there need to know we’re here, and you can get to be old, too.” In her speech, Watt shared the story of her 14-year-old brother Kyle, who, a year ago, still wore bikinis to the beach. She emphasized the importance of respecting gender identities and supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. “It’s not our job to fully understand, because some may never will, but we have to respect it,” she said. “It’s not our job to fully understand, because some may never will, but we have to respect it,” she said. “And I will do everything in my power to make my brother feel as happy and comfortable in this life as I can. So no, mom, this is not a phase, this is who they are.”

PRIDE l A5

Vaccination rates continue to rise BY MIA MORGILLO Associate News Editor

This academic year, students were required to be vaccinated to return to school. However, exemptions were taken into consideration for those who would be fully remote and for health or religious purposes. Although uncommon, with a student vaccination rate of about 96%, unvaccinated students have been approved for the semester. Evaluated by Student Support Services, not every request is approved. “If you are on campus and you’ve been given an exception, it is mandatory that you attend weekly testing,” said President Alexander Enyedi. Unlike last year, this year only those who are unvaccinated require regular testing. For those who are vaccinated, but have been in contact with someone who is positive, it is no longer necessary to quarantine. However, students must get tested if they notice symptoms. Last year, a vaccine for COVID-19 was something hoped and wished for by many students on campus. Cases dipped and spiked throughout last fall semester, with over 85 students testing positive over a two week period at one point. Now, over a month into the semester, positivity rates have stayed significantly

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lower in comparison to last year’s trends. While being vaccinated does provide greater protection from the virus, it does not give complete immunity. COVID-19 policies have been created by a team of campus staff and faculty. This includes the vice presidents of academic affairs and student and enrollment success, as well as the academic deans, Dr. Kathleen Camelo, Chief Patrick Rascoe, and the emergency health and safety group. Vaccinated or not, the health center is available for testing. “If you come to the Health Center for any type of illness, COVID-19 is ruled out first, even if you think you just have an ear infection,” Health Center nurse Monica Lattrell said. However, if a student is nonsymptomatic, they cannot take a rapid test. Fortunately, there are many available options for testing in Plattsburgh outside of the Health Center. For free tests, students can go to Clinton County Health Department, Kinney Drugs and Walgreens, but Champlain Family Health will bill your insurance or expenses out of pocket. One student, senior nursing major Darcy Doelger, did not have an easy time obtaining her COVID-19 test.

OLGA MUKA/Cardinal Points

SUNY Plattsburgh senior Rebecca Block proudly shows her COVID-19 vaccination VACCINE l A2 status on her phone case.

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