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College Life

OswegoCollegeLife.com FALL 2017

Sororities, Fraternities. Should You Join?

Turnkey Businesses to Run From Your Dorm

tips on how to keep your online past from taking a bite out of your reallife future

A Diverse Campus Number of international students on the rise at Oswego

While You Were Out …

Does Oswego smell like skunk? Five things you missed over the break...

How Working in College Works for You 1 Fall 2017

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Free Tuition More than 325 students at SUNY Oswego have submitted applications for the tuition-free program also known as Excelsior. Experts say it’s not easy to qualify for it. Newer students most likely to benefit

Matt Liptak: ‘If I Had to Do it Over Again’

New $20 Million Student Housing Project Taking Shape

Massive housing project just 500 feet west of SUNY Oswego will feature 84 townhouses and 320 beds within 11 buildings. Model unit to be ready in mid September. Occupancy starts next year.

College Life

While You Were Out …

5 things you missed over the summer By Lou Sorendo

uch can happen between spring commencement and beginning of the fall semester. We at College Life felt it important to fill you in on some of the more dramatic occurrences that happened while you were soaking up the sun. Remember: Knowledge is power.

1 Skunks Stink in the Port City

College community members who reside off campus may want to know that skunks are making an effort to take over the Port City. “There’s an invasion of skunks in the city,” said one Oswego Common Councilor recently. The city is expected to hire an outside trapper — at a cost of $8,000 — to help control the situation. In the meantime, if you happen to run into the striped mammal known for spraying liquid of a vile nature, turn and run the other way unless you want to be quarantined for a lengthy period of time.

One consolation: They are nocturnal. Another upside is they are known to live under porches, so if you are short on rent, it’s only right that they pay their fair share. However, they may raise a stink about it.

2 Sex for Rent

Several women allege an Oswego landlord — Douglas

Waterbury — demanded sex in exchange for lower rents and maintenance work at his properties over the past five years. The women and CNY Fair Housing sued Waterbury in federal court recently, claiming he used his position to sexually harass them starting in 2012, according to published reports. These types of situations make managed student housing — a concept that is being introduced with the new Lakeside Commons being constructed near campus — a solid alternative for students.

New Student Housing

Local landlord Douglas Waterbury.

Lakeside Commons is a $20 million project that will feature 84 townhouses along with a two-story clubhouse. It’s being built next to the campus on the west side. The trend is revolutionizing the student housing industry and is expected to raise the bar in terms of offering quality, safe housing for

students. The 144,000 squarefoot complex will feature 320 beds within 11 buildings. Floor plan types include four bedrooms-four baths, two bedrooms-two baths and six bedroom-six baths. There will also be a 9,000 squarefoot two-story clubhouse. Rent ranges from about $825 to $875 depending on the floor plan, and the package includes Internet and cable. Construction will be complete in June of 2018 and first occupancy by students will be in August of 2018, according to Jeffrey Smetana, vice president of NDG. See story in this issue.

$10 Million for Oswego The city of Oswego has been awarded $10 million as part of a state-based Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The goal of the initiative is to transform local neighborhoods and create vibrant communities for residents and students to live, work and study. Perhaps the most significant project on the DRI radar for the college community involves making the city more biker and walker friendly. City of Oswego Mayor William “Billy” Barlow said

he is looking forward to having better control of the ambience of downtown and creating an enjoyable, comfortable atmosphere. Barlow is excited about the “Complete Streets” component of the project, which emphasizes the importance of designing lane striping, bicycle lanes, signage, crosswalks, pedestrian control signals, bus pull-outs, curb cuts, ramps and traffic calming measures to make experiencing the city more enjoyable.

New Hotel In terms of hospitality options for visiting parents, a new Home2 Suites by Hilton has opened on the city’s east side. Home2 Suites is targeting extended-stay guests — five-plus nights — such as individuals requiring a long-term stay due to various reasons that include relocation or home renovations, long-term training and consultation projects, construction projects, and power plant shut downs.  In addition, Home2 Suites is looking for transient-stay guests as well — one to four nights— such as the travelers associated with corporate business and government, as well as leisure guests coming in for a weekend event. Of course, the hotel welcomes students and their families.

Fall 2017 2

College Life

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Catching Up with Jacob Alexander

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n the last issue of College Life, Jacob Alexander discussed his first completed year of college. Now he begins his sophomore year at SUNY Oswego, majoring in technology education. He’s preparing to teach woodworking and run a furniture-making store after graduation. A resident of Sterling, Alexander commutes to campus daily, but hasn’t found off-campus living as an impediment to making friends. Though he attended a small high school, simply “being friendly and open” has helped him “meet lots of friends and new people and enjoy the college life,” he said. “It has flown by. It’s crazy thinking I have only three years left.” Making so many new friends all at once felt much different from his high school experience, where he had known many classmates since elementary school. The academic rigors of college are also different. “It’s more challenging in college,” Alexander said. “I thought high school was pretty easy. Now that I’m in college, it’s definitely more difficult courses.” He anticipates the fall semester to challenge him further; however, he hopes that planning his schedule better should help him allot plenty of study time between classes. Most of his courses will relate to his major and that should help him succeed since he feels comfortable with technology. In addition to his classes, Alexander plans to learn about technology with his peers as part of Oswego Technology Student Association (OSTA), an organization he joined his first year. “It’s been very fun,” he said. “I’m glad I joined it.” He’s serving as vice-president for the 2017-2018 school year. OSTA takes an annual trip to TEECA East, the annual eastern regional conference of the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association Virginia Beach, among other activities. Alexander looks forward to serving a group that discusses his main interests. To paraphrase the idiom, “All studying and no play

makes Jacob a dull boy” so Alexander makes time to have some fun, too. Last year, he participated in Team Mini, which clears the rink and drums up school spirit during hockey games. This year, he serves in an organizational role as president of the group. “I thought this semester went well,” Alexander said. “I had a pretty good GPA. I think next year will have a lot in store for me.” Alexander is the son of

Jacob Alexander Patti and Ron Alexander. He has an older sister, Kaitlin, and younger sisters, Meadow and Lilly.

Natalie and Collene (left to right, back row), and Lindsey Kregel, Jacob Alexander and Elizabeth Conrad enjoyed working on Team Mini to promote hockey games.

From left, Margaret (no last name given), Natalie Buck, Brooke, Lindsey Kregel, Jordan and Collene Waters. Jacob Alexander is shown in front of the group.

Jacob Alexander, far right, has made quite a few friends on campus, including (from left) Amanda, Collene Waters, Natalie Buck, Lindsey Kregel. They are shown with Al Roker, the “Today” show weatherman who made an appearance at his alma mater in March. Photos courtesy Jacob Alexander

Fall 2017 4

College Life

places to see The Renaissance Festival is a one-of-a-kind event in CNY. It’s just 30 minutes away in Sterling.

Farmers Market in downtown Oswego. Get fresh produce — and a feel for the city.

Why Leaving Campus Is Good for the Soul By Melissa Stefanec

f you currently call SUNY Oswego your home, I want to pose a question to you — When is the last time you ventured off campus? I’m not referring to a ride to buy groceries or dorm supplies or a late-night run downtown to enjoy nightlife. When is the last time you engaged with a business or a place that wasn’t on the campus during daylight hours? If you haven’t ever done this, or haven’t done it in a long time, you should consider enjoying what Oswego at large has to offer you. In this article, I have included a list of places to visit in the city of Oswego and some surrounding communities. Even if you don’t have a vehicle or know someone with a vehicle, the bus lines run to a lot of these places. There are also ride-sharing or vehicle-sharing options available to students. There are even bicycle options. If you want to immerse yourself in the community, there are means to do it, Exploring the community you are part of is crucial to students, community residents and the local economy. It’s also a chance to meet new people, learn stuff you wouldn’t otherwise be privy to and enjoy yourself. Leaving campus also gives you a chance to support small businesses and broaden your horizons. Here are some ideas for where to go when venturing off campus. Get some friends

5 Fall 2017

Bev’s: Enjoy a great ice cream with beautiful views of Lake Ontario.

theater, antique shops, a brick and mortar independent bookstore, a used bookstore, a tea company, a comic book shop, a music shop, and a plethora of other businesses. The buses run right into the heart of the city, so even if you lack transportation, you can still get yourself downtown and into the community.

Sterling Nature Center

together and make a some memories.

Fair Haven Beach State Park

The rocky shores of Lake Ontario are beautiful, but Fair Haven Beach State Park has an additional two things — tall bluffs and a sandy beach. You can rent kayaks and paddle boats and take them into the lagoon and nearby creek. You can also walk on numerous hiking trails or the pier. Beach life is just about 12 miles away in Fair Haven. The village also has many unique shops, as well as a cidery and a cookie company.

The Renaissance Festival

This event is held on weekends during the summer and located in Sterling, which is about 10 miles from SUNY Oswego. The festival features performers who act as though they are living in the 1500s. There is theater,

games, costumes, artisans, foods and performances that harken back to the Renaissance. If you are in Oswego in summer and early fall, consider making a stop at this one-of-a-kind attraction.

Rudy’s and Bev’s

Considering you could almost throw a proverbial rock from new campus and hit Bev’s side wall (please do not throw real rocks at Bev’s), there is almost no excuse to not hit up Bev’s for ice cream and Rudy’s for drive-in delights. There is a wide rocky beach and plenty of seating at the places. These two long-time attractions are must for anyone who has called Oswego a home.

Downtown Oswego

Downtown Oswego may be known for its nightlife, but it has so much to offer during daylight hours. There are many restaurants, coffee shops, a candy shop, a movie

This gem is located about 10 miles from SUNY Oswego. This center is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, but it also offers plenty of hiking trails. There is a building onsite where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the region. There is also a heron rookery that offers a glance back to the prehistoric ages. If you haven’t been to a rookery and you like the outdoors and unusual sites, visiting this place needs to be on your bucket list.

Breitbeck Park

This park is located within walking distance of SUNY Oswego. It’s a public park located on the shores of Lake Ontario. There is plenty of space for outdoor games, and the lighthouse and the pier can be seen and reached from this area. The shoreline is free of trees and offers a panoramic view of some of the best sunsets you will likely lay eyes on.

Ontario Orchards

This local business is for the lover of all things food. Located about six miles from the college on Route 104 West, it offers a huge selection of fresh-picked produce, local cheeses and sauces, and bakery items. There is also an onsite barbecue food truck that serves fresh homemade fare. Ontario Orchards also sells its own apple cider and

local apples.

Historic Sites

Oswego has a rich history and is therefore home to many historic sites. Without ever leaving the Oswego limits, you can visit Fort Ontario, the Richardson-Bates House, the Oswego Railroad Museum, the H. Lee White Marine Museum or the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. Even if you aren’t a history buff, it’s great to learn something about how the place you live in came to be.

Salmon River Falls

If you have transportation and want to take a little drive, Salmon River Falls is a beautiful spectacle to behold. The falls are listed under NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Unique Area. There are 112 acres of land, which are home to a scenic gorge and 110-foot waterfall. Besides a waterfall, there is hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, wildlife viewing and fishing at the area.

Oswego Speedway

If you are into loud, fast cars and the spectacle of racing, this east-side attraction can scratch that itch. During season, there are races every week. On Labor Day weekend, the track is home to Budweiser International Classic Weekend.

Farmers Market

Throughout the summer and into the fall, there is a farmers market on West First Street in Oswego. The market boasts lots of fresh-grown and fresh-made goodies. There are also vendors, crafters and wineries present. Attending the farmers market is a great way to boost the local economy and give back to small businesses.

College Life

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Virtual Oswego: The City With No Snow

Visitors looking for information about Oswego online: all about sunsets and fishing, nothing about snow By Matthew Liptak

Online @ OswegoCollegeLife.com

ull disclosure: I don’t live in Oswego. The editors at College Life newspaper (which you’re now readin) decided to assign me the unique task of looking into how this Lake Ontario community appears to others who don’t live here and are reaching out to it via the World Wide Web. One of the main findings: The Port City has none of the white stuff online that embraces it during the winter months in the real world. I looked up the term “Oswego, NY” on Google, Bing and Yahoo. The top five websites returned on all of those search engines turned out to be the same: 1. The city of Oswego website—oswegony.org 2. Oswego NY’s entry in Wikipedia 3. SUNY Oswego’s website, Oswego.edu 4. Oswego NY on Mapquest 5. Facebook’s “Things to do” page for Oswego That is the order for the Google results I got when I submitted “Oswego NY.” It was just a few of the first entries for results that Google said totaled 1,740,000 links. That came back to me in just .8 seconds. These sites do a good job of painting a positive picture of Oswego. The city’s page even has a warm and fuzzy video featuring some Oswego neighbors, mostly couples

and families, explaining what they like about living there. The video was filmed in the summer where the neighbors and their neighborhoods look warm and inviting. Not a trace of lake effect to be found. On visitoswegony.com, a top 10 result in the search, the website calls the city a premier lakeside destination with “small town charm” and “nautical ambiance.” This tourism site skillfully points out the attractions of Oswego — everything from Harborfest, to Fort Ontario, to the amazing lakeside sunsets visitors can enjoy. There is a lot to admire about the city. It does a lot with a little, and the residents are working on doing even more. They want their city to live up to that standard of being a premier lake destination. I wonder though, if Oswego can be all it can be, if it ignores the community’s very real winter in the virtual world. On the visitoswegony. com website under festivals it only lists Harborfest and the Pumpkinfest. Wintertime Oswego is apparently festless. There was a term in the military used by troops when they were sent over to the tough terrains like Afghanistan and Iraq. It was “Embrace the suck.” To translate, that means learning to embrace the hard parts of the

situation in order to persevere and overcome them. Oswego shouldn’t be afraid to show its three months (some say six) of winter to the rest of the world. It is certainly part of the reality of every day living in Upstate and often especially Oswego. Other areas that have embraced the adversity of their environment have been able to profit immensely from it. The Adirondacks, for example, turned its barren winterscape into a snowmobiling mecca and a place for many intrepid souls to come climb the mountains in the winter. Can Oswego do something similar? Sure, the city is an often bucolic small town with lots of things to do in the summer months. It represents itself well online for that half of the year. But what about Oswego in the wintertime? There must be ways to feature the visceral, awesome beauty of the area in wintertime rather than just ignore it. My findings: it’s summer all year long in cyber-Oswego. If the city chose to show its snow-packed underbelly to the rest of the world wide web it could “embrace the suck” and maybe show that the suck isn’t suck at all. It could be turned into a winter wonderland that would become a tourist spot for all four seasons.

Fall 2017 6

–Comic Book Resources

College Life

social media

What Happens in Social Media Stays in Social Media Eight tips on how to keep your online past from taking a bite out of your real-life future By Melissa Stefanec

here was a time when you could do or say something insensitive, questionable or downright stupid without it haunting you for years to come. It was a time when your poor choices, wordings and decisions weren’t digitally documented for your progeny to use against you 20 years from now. It was a time when misinformed rants, nights of ill decisions and sidesteps in morality lived on only in the memories of a few witnesses. That revered time is over. In the age of internet and social media, almost nothing is private, and almost everything lives in infamy. There has never been a better time to be mindful of your digital trail. There are times when documenting the “here and now” can affect your future and best-laid plans. Many social media sites have privacy settings to keep the general public from scrutinizing your every online move. However, some sites are available to everyone, and you should be especially prudent about what you post to them. Even if you have privacy settings on your social media accounts, you never know which one of your friends or followers knows someone important (and when or how that important person might play into your life). Posting something that seems foolish or harmless now can make or break you down the road. To tidy up your digital trail, consider refraining for the following actions:

Badmouthing your current employer

If you are courting a prospective employer, it’s probably safe to assume that his or her turnoffs include employees that badmouth

7 Fall 2017

their company. One errant hashtag and your future employer can locate the time you bashed your college employer on a public forum. No one wants to hire an angry and jaded worker, so keep rants about your employer off the Internet.

posting pictures of yourself or your friends when you are half in the bag. Your family doesn’t want to see this. Your future employers don’t want to see this. In a few days, you probably won’t want to see this. If you absolutely must post such pics, post them of yourself and leave the tagging out.

Ranting about how much you hate ____ Do you hate a certain political party? A certain restaurant? A certain organization? A person? That’s great. We all have a shortlist for these sorts of things. Keep that shortlist somewhere it can’t be read by others. Projecting hate is bad no matter where you do it. Projecting it into the abyss that is the internet is self-involved and potentially dangerous.

Posting unsavory status updates If you find yourself hesitating or second-guessing posting something due to its content, listen to that little voice of reason. Wait a little while, and see if you still want to post it later. Not every thought or action is suitable for the internet and infamy, so practice self-censoring whenever you can.

Badmouthing your current job Please see above. In addition, don’t rant via an online forum that you are too good for a job or about how much you hate your current job responsibilities. Prospective employers don’t want to become part of this pattern.

Airing tiffs with friends, partners or family If you have to vent about relationship woes, don’t do it online. This is just plain tacky. Telling your side of the story to people who like you and support you doesn’t make you right. Doing so just shines on a light on your need for validation from a biased crowd. Leave your private relationships private.

Posting inebriated pics Taking pictures when you are a little tipsy is likely a pastime as old as the camera itself. However, do not post these pics online. Absolutely nothing can be gained from

Posting the 102nd selfie Selfies are fun and a great way to get attention, right? Yes and no. The occasional selfie can be cute and attractive, but post too many and you risk the chance of seeming shallow or self involved. Keep the selfies to a minimum. Your friends, potential partners, family and prospective employers all thank you.

Boasting questionable affiliations In college, some affiliations seem like a really great idea. You look down the road and don’t care how that affiliation will be judged, because, right now, you are proud of it. If an affiliation is something that could call your character into question down the road, it might be better to leave it off your digital trail. About the author: Melissa Stefanec is a SUNY Oswego alumnus who thinks she knows something about life. Feel free to indulge in, enjoy or disregard her writing.

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Sororities, Fraternities: Should You Join?

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ovies portray sororities and fraternities as collegiate groups game for rowdy parties, brutal hazing rituals and a general disregard for campus rules. But that’s certainly not the case at SUNY Oswego, according to Nicole R. Morse, student involvement adviser at the college. She shared a few benefits to joining sororities and fraternities and how they benefit both the campus and the neighborhood. SUNY Oswego’s sororities and fraternities are known as “communities” on campus. Morse listed four “pillars of excellence” among the campus communities: academic excellence, civic engagement, leadership in organizations and positive relationships (see sidebar). Morse said that at the national level, the four pillars are similar, and the local communities are assessed annually through the accreditation process. At SUNY Oswego, five governing counsels oversee the communities. The communities include ethnically-based organizations, service-oriented

groups and honors organizations. Students may join in their second semester as long as they have a minimum 2.25 or higher GPA (some communities set the bar a little higher). “The number one reason people join is friendship, belonging and camaraderie,” Morse said. She believes that students enjoy both gaining respect and expressing their voice in the community through their affiliation. Students like to feel like they’re useful and belong. “That sense of home is very powerful,” Morse said. “That same sense of community is often seen in our sports teams. Students still trying to find that sense of identity of where they belong and a group of people where they’re heard. Greek life is a place where they can grow as professionals and citizens.” She added that learning about and developing a sense of philanthropy can help students become better citizens as they start their careers. About 10 to 11 percent of

SUNY Oswego students are part of a sorority or fraternity, amounting to about 770. Though hazing appears in national headlines, Morse said those are “extreme exceptions to what an ordered community is like. “There are hundreds of thousands of active members in any semester nationwide. If you take the hazing cases that lead to injury, that is a very small percentage of the numbers we see.” She added that most communities that have Greek members include hazing education and intervention to make the group’s leaders are ethical. Because of news stories, Morse doesn’t dismiss parents’ concerns, but assures them that her office screens the pledging process to ensure students are safe and that the leaders of the communities demonstrate good judgment. Talking with members of different communities can help freshmen determine where they best fit in and the integrity of its student leaders.

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Academic excellence. “They use self-governance and relationships to make sure all of their members not only have good GPAs, but also are connected to networks of alumni; that they understand how to have an interview, write and review a resume, and connect with each other so people are set up and prepared for interviews and are ready.”

Civic Engagement. “Each member of a fraternal organization has to volunteer at least five hours each semester. We see a lot of people that pick up trash, help with a fund drive, maintain trails, walk and groom animals at an animal shelter, or visit a nursing home to offer a beauty day, have a dance, or write cards. They’ve done backpack drives, book drives, volunteer reading at an elementary school. The neighborhood where they live is changed by them. They take the mission seriously and go above and beyond what our community deems the minimum. They raise money for St. Baldrick’s or multiple sclerosis or a national fund. One raised $20,000 as a community to go to different organizations. They also raise awareness and provide educational events.”

Leadership in organizations. “They learn leadership skills participating in planning leadership events. It focuses on developing leadership abilities and on what will make you a more participatory citizen in the world.”

Positive relationships. “We foster friendships and inter-connectivity in our community. They have to learn how to work with other entities, building a social circle of understanding.”

Fall 2017 8

College Life scholarships at sites like www.scholarship.com and www.unigo.com. At SUNY Oswego, you may qualify for the Excelsior Scholarship. • Did you participate in an extracurricular group or activity during high school or previous years of college? These groups may offer scholarships. • Ask your campus financial aid office for further ideas.

Key to obtaining funds

Funding Easy ways to get additional scholarships

By Deborah J. Sergeant

ou may have snapped some scholarships already; however, it’s still possible to nab some more money to help out with your schooling this year and more likely for next year. Try these ideas. • Search online for status-based scholarships, such as “scholarships for women”

or by your race to see what’s available. • See what your parttime or summer job offers. Local offices of a larger company are your best bet. • Many civic organizations (Rotary Club, Kiwanis or Lions Club, among others) offer scholarships to the children of their members or for

community members who have done something remarkable. Research what the groups in your town offer. • Are you attending your parent’s school? Alumni scholarships help many students who follow in their parent’s footsteps. Other scholarships offered through organizations associated with a school can help as well. For SUNY Oswego, check http://alumni.oswego.edu; for Cayuga Community College, visit www. cayuga-cc.edu/giving/scholarships/awards-and-grants. • Look up statewide

For greater scholarship success, keep these tips in mind: • You must carefully read the scholarship guidelines before applying. • Fill out any forms and complete any essays on time. • Use your most compelling writing for the essay. This isn’t a time to under-sell yourself. But don’t write glowing things that aren’t true. • Don’t use your name and unrelated background

information in the essay. Some scholarships are “blind” gifts, so stating your name could disqualify you. • Focus what makes you uniquely qualified. • If there’s a prompt for the essay, don’t use that to open your essay. • Proofread your essay and form to ensure you’ve got it right. • Most scholarships require a certain GPA to qualify. • Don’t expect those granting scholarships to slip you through for consideration if you don’t really qualify. For example, if “community service” is key and you barely took out your family’s trash, don’t expect to go to the top of the list. • Submit information in the grantor’s preferred method. • Don’t submit only to large scholarships. Winning several small ones is just as good, plus your chances of winning may be greater.

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College Life

‘If I Had to Do it Over Again’

passion of mine after I took a high school class. I wouldn’t normally advise you to disregard the advice of your father, but in my case business just didn’t motivate me. I found my mind driftBy Matthew Liptak ing off in micro and macroeconomics classes. To make matters worse, my he first time I went to REM. college freshman. I had newmind didn’t seem to quite college was in the fall It was the best of times found freedom. Through the be what it should be either. of 1989. Tienanmen that quite suddenly turned school’s orientation program I had trouble focusing on Square had just happened. into the worst of times. I made new connections. textbooks, would read and The Berlin Wall was about to I had taken a major that Through my dorm I ran into reread passages in them and fall, and so were the iron fists people regularly who were didn’t interest me as much also started to adopt other of Mike Tyson. The world as I thought it would. My to become fast friends. We repetitive behaviors. was changing, and so was I. dad had convinced me to go shared nights in each other’s Looking back now, I I hit the campus of East dorm rooms, eating food that into business because there wonder how much pain I Stroudsburg University, were more career options in was bad for us, watching could have saved myself if I just north of Philly, with all it than in journalism, which Chris Farley on SNL and told the younger me to go get the enthusiasm of a typical had become a burgeoning listening to the latest from help. I had undiagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder — or OCD. But then again, back in ‘89-‘90 there wasn’t a lot of good therapy for that anxiety disorder. OCD was something that would ravage my life in the years to come, “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME2 SUITES OSWEGO” but back then I was just “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME2 SUITES OSWEGO” • Brand New, All-Suites Hilton brand Hotel • Indoor Heated Saline Pool dealing with the tip of the  Brand New, Hilton (Fitness brand Hotel • Fully loaded Kitchens with Fridge/Freezer, • All-Suites Spin2 Cycle Facility & iceberg. 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I ran into a half-dozen of my You can call 7777 on Campus or 315-342-1600 college friends that day and they were all happy to see 24 hours a day/7 days a week me. My dad marveled at all An advocate is available on campus in the these friends I seemed to Mary Walker Health Center to assist you have. I was surprised, too. It was a bright spot in a dark semester. ALL SERVICES ARE CONFIDENTIAL When I went into the administration office finally to fill out the exit paperwork they offered me one last lifeline. They offered to get me counseling if I stayed on campus. I politely declined and sadly got in the car and headed north to my homeWe specialize in Organic and All-Natural town. Products, Including: Show valid I wonder now how my life might be different if I had • Thousands of Grocery items, From Quick Snacks to Fully Prepared Meals SUNY Oswego or taken that opportunity to get • Vegetarian and Vegan Food Selections Cayuga C.C. 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Five colleges later, here I am…

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Norwich, N.Y. The next year I enrolled at SUNY Morrisville and spent two years studying the subject I was to come to love — journalism. But OCD wasn’t done with me yet, and I spent much of my time there isolated and off campus, though I did manage to focus enough to get on the Dean’s List, and take home a 3.0. There would be three more colleges after Morrisville before I got my Bachelors of Arts at the age of 36. By the time I spent my last years of study at Buffalo State, the world had changed much more. And so had I. My parents were gone by then, but I made our dream come true. I got my bachelor’s in communication studies and had a ball while I was on campus. They were the college years I wished for back in ‘89, but it took me almost 20 years to get there. Someone said, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” That certainly was the case with my academic life after high school. For most of us, life isn’t really a straight line, but a winding road with lots of ups and downs. It’s how we get up when we fall that will determine if we get to see the great views from the mountaintop.

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Matt Liptak is a lifelong learner who attended five colleges in his academic career: East Stroudsburg University (1989-1990), SUNY Morrisville (19901992), Utica College (19921993), Tompkins Community College (2004), and Buffalo State College (2005-2007). He graduated from SUNY Morrisville with an AAS in journalism technology, and from Buffalo State with a BA in communication studies. Don’t give up!

Fall 2017 10

College Life

work

How Working in College Works for You By Melissa Stefanec

lot of students tend to shy away from having a job while college classes are in session. Some people think having a job will distract students from their studies. Some people think students can’t handle the pressures of work and classes. I am here to advise against that wisdom. Although this is an opinion piece, there is plenty of peer-reviewed scientific evidence that supports my advice (you can check out studies in the Journal of College Student Retention, the Journal of Human Resources, the NASPA Journal, the Journal of Labor Economics, or the National Center for Education Statistics). I worked throughout college, and I firmly believe it benefited my GPA and overall life skills. It helped me in a number of ways, which I will share here. Organization

Working while classes were in session forced me to be very organized. If I didn’t want to miss a class deadline or a work shift, I had to find mechanisms to keep track of my responsibilities. Fast-forward many years later and, surprise, I needed to develop those skills. Between being a full-time employee, a moonlighter and a mom to two young kids, I need organizational skills like I need air and water. Developing those skills while I was young has been integral to my current mental wellbeing.

Prioritization Working in college made me practice prioritization. It made me differentiate my needs from my wants (e.g., I wanted to go to the lake and watch the sunset, but I needed to be at work to keep my job and my paycheck). Anyone who has held a “real, grown-up job” knows the importance of being able to prioritize tasks. Most employers expect a lot of their

11 Fall 2017

employees, and knowing how to break your day down and do it well will mean great things for your sanity, promotability and salary.

Grade point average (GPA) When I look back at myself and my friends during college, there was definitely a trend where those of us with jobs had higher GPAs. I know it forced me to do things like manage my time and stay committed to a task — two things that work well in the professional world and the academic world.

Networking Working gave me chance to start networking while I was in college. In fact, I am still a paid, freelance employee for the publisher of this newspaper, whom I coincidentally started working for as an intern during my college days. If you can get an entry- or college-level job in your intended field of work while you are in classes, that only makes your networking more valuable.

Budgeting When you are living solely off student loans or money from your parents, finances are far more abstract than when you are living off your own paycheck. Student loans can seem like they are something else than real money. Handouts inevitably involve less prudent spending by their recipient. When you earn your own paycheck, it has a way of making you weigh and track your expenditures. It’s great practice for the road ahead.

Resume building As someone who currently reviews resumes of potential job candidates and conducts interviews of applicants, I can tell you that everyone is pleased to see a solid job history on a resume, even if those jobs aren’t nec-

essarily in the line of work the individual is applying for. Seeing that someone held a job for a month and half each summer at college isn’t nearly as impressive as someone who held down a year-round job. Seeing that someone held a year-round job tells me that person is likely a hard worker, good at prioritizing and ready to take on challenges.

Fewer loans If you are taking home a paycheck while classes are in session, it stands to reason you should have to take out fewer student loans. Taking out $500 less each semester might not seem like a lot, but you have to look at the whole picture. Assuming you are in school for eight semesters, that totals $4,000. Assuming a 4.5 percent interest rate and repayment plan of 10 years, you just saved yourself $975 in interest over the repayment of the loan. Perhaps, even more impressive, not taking those extra $4,000 takes about $41 off your monthly payments. That may not sound like a lot, but many people are counting

almost every dollar in their early post-college days. Private loans can add even more interest and dollars to your bottom line, so taking out fewer private loans in even more advantageous. The take-home message is, fewer loans are better, and you won’t regret taking on less debt.

Dollar signs Most of us are broke or almost so in college. Very few people have a bunch of money to be throwing around. However, I knew people that literally had no money when they were in college. If they wanted a snack, they only got one from the dining hall. If they wanted to buy a new shirt, they didn’t. Although I was hardly rolling in the proverbial dough in college, I had enough to treat myself to a little something every now and again. This gave me a sense of pride.

Words of caution When reading the studies that say working during college is beneficial, one

thing becomes abundantly clear: working too many hours in college is detrimental. Everyone has a different capacity, but most sources recommend students work about 15 to 20 hours per week. I was in a financial position that required me to work more than that for many of my college days, so I can say from experience working too many hours isn’t a good thing. But too much of anything isn’t a good thing, so keep to moderation in all things, even how many hours you work.

What are you waiting for? Looking back, I have never regretted working during college. It helped me establish work ethic, life skills, study strategies and a lot of other valuable skills. It even allowed me to have a little more fun in college. After all, I had prioritized and strategized my workload well enough to leave myself actual free time, and I had a little bit of money to enjoy during that time. My current self is totally high-fiving my college self right now.

College Life

A Diverse Campus

Number of international students on the rise at Oswego By Deborah J. Sergeant

f it seems the number of international students at SUNY Oswego has gone up over the years, you are correct. About 15 years ago, the school boasted just over 70 students from other nations. By the 2016-2017 school year, that number jumped to 225, an increase of 221 percent. Numbers for the 2017-2018 have not been finalized.

“We achieved the highest number of degree seeking international students in our history and the highest number of countries represented,” said Joshua S. McKeown, Ph.D., associate provost and director for International Education and Programs at SUNY Oswego. He added that the school’s 34 different represented countries means that

SUNY Oswego has never been more diverse — a trend the school has worked to achieve through its office of International Student and Scholar Services and International Language and Education Center. These help students adjust to life in the US, including fluency in English. The school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information

System (SEVIS) Administration provides assistance with federal immigration regulations, international student orientation, cultural adjustment support, campus programs and events and advocacy for international students also help make the transition smoother. So why is it important to attract international students? Regardless of the industry, businesses must think globally to succeed. “There are also stiff challenges and fierce competition, whether an Oswego graduate works and lives abroad or in the USA,” McKeown added. “So having a keen understanding of cul-

Joshua S. McKeown, Ph.D., associate provost and director for International Education and Programs at SUNY Oswego tural impacts on the workplace, coupled with a diverse global network of classmates, friends and faculty, helps frame all Oswego students’ educational and career pathways in a more sophisticated and effective way.” That classmate from across the sea may offer a perspective unlike what domestic students have previously considered. The memories shared by an international roommate may help a local better understand a different culture. Living and learning amid America’s cultural differences — and, for some, discussing these experiences when they go back home — can also help people in other lands learn about the US in a more personal way. McKewon believes that fostering a welcoming environment for international students has always been part of SUNY Oswego’s history, along with the school’s “deep roots and legacies here in Upstate New York,” he said. At present, he doesn’t view the new administration in Washington as having any effect on the number of international students. “Our overall international student population is reasonable for our campus size and character,” McKeown said. SUNY Oswego doesn’t overly rely on their numbers, which McKeown said is “a great testament to the vision of our campus leadership and the effectiveness of our enrollment management and admissions functions.” He hopes that any international perception that the United States is less hospitable to foreigners does not apply to SUNY Oswego. “We at SUNY Oswego most definitely are welcoming and embracing of a culturally diverse student body because it is essential to our educational quality and reflective of our values,” McKeown said. “So I have great confidence that our institution will continue to enroll a high quality and diverse international student population.”

Fall 2017 12

College Life

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10 Ways to Meet People on Campus It’s not really hard. Just get involved By Deborah J. Sergeant

eeting new friends represents one of the more fun — and, at times, challenging — aspects of college. If you’re introverted, it may feel like your freshman year of high school. Here’s how you can meet some people and make friends on campus. Join a club or extra-curricular activity. Select something in which you have genuine interest, not just something you think will look good on your future resume. That way you can befriend like-minded collegians.

Find common ground. If you hear someone in line at the bookstore gripe or rave about something and you agree, strike up a conversation. The commonality may lead to acquaintance and friendship.

Chat up your roommates. Despite the roommate horror stories you may have heard, many college students find deep friendship among their roommates. Stay open-minded and give them a chance. View your differences as opportunities to learn. Volunteer. Just as with joining a club, volunteering can bring people across your path who feel the same as you do if you choose a cause important to you. Volunteering also shows your caring, giving side and gives others a peek at what’s important to you.

13 Fall 2017

Take part in a study group. While you may have less in common with members of a study group, you may cross paths with people you may not otherwise meet. Sometimes people with little in common still “click” as friends.

Hang around public places. Holing up in your room won’t bring many potential friends to you.

Stay approachable. Get your eyes off your phone and your ear buds out of your ears so more people will want to talk with you. If you’re constantly plugged in, many people will skip right over you.

Tag along. Even if you’re not close to anyone in the group, accept invitations

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to socialize. You may meet someone else who becomes a close friend in time.

Take time to have some fun. Of course you’re at college to hit the books, but part of the experience is learning to network and make friends. Attend events and socialize. Few people make friends at the library.

10.

Be friendly. As simple as it sounds, reaching out to befriend someone may result in a great friendship. Many other people want to make friends, too.

Written test Nov. 19, 2017 Applications MUST be postmarked to Civil Service no later than Oct. 5, 2017 Contact University Police for more information or follow us @NYSUniversityPolice and @NYSUniversityPD

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College Life

Units on the 7.4-acre parcel are available to any full-time college student, Smetana said. Purcell Construction, based in Watertown, is in charge of construction. NBT Bank and the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency provided financial assistance for the project that is expected to create eight jobs.

Just like home

Rendering of the new housing development being built next to SUNY Oswego. The project, Lakeside Commons, will feature 84 townhouses and 320 beds within 11 buildings. Model unit will be ready mid-September. Occupancy by students will be in August 2018.

New $20 Million Student Housing Project Taking Shape Massive housing project just 500 feet west of SUNY Oswego will feature 84 townhouses and 320 beds within 11 buildings. Model unit to be ready mid-September By Lou Sorendo

hen one thinks of student housing, it’s easy to reflect back on the 1978 classic comedy, National Lampoon’s “Animal House.” There, members of the famed Zeta Beta Tau fraternity did not prioritize living in a chaos-free environment. Today’s student housing options, however, are anything but hilarious. Lakeside Commons is a new student-housing complex being constructed adjacent to the SUNY Oswego campus. It is located about 500 feet west of the college’s main entrance on state Route 104 West. The Newman Development Group of Vestal and Morgan Communities of Rochester jointly own the $20 million project. NDG’s own student housing management group — NDG Student Living — will manage Lakeside Commons. Managed student housing properties are becoming immensely popular across the nation, and are slowly

emerging in the Northeast as well. Jerry Wojenski, executive vice president and chief operating officer of NDG’s Student Living, will oversee the leasing and management of the property. He said student housing has blossomed into one of the fastest growing industries in the apartment rental sector. “The industry used to be kind of obscure back in the early 2000s. Not many people or investors knew about it,” he said. “When someone had the idea to build student apartments and went to a lender, the bank would come back and ask, ‘Have you seen “Animal House”?’ There’s what kind of stereotype has been associated with it.” However, over time, student-housing operators such as NDG have proven to bankers and investors that student housing is an excellent investment. “Students do not tear up their apartments and keep them up, sometimes better than adults do in traditional,

Rent at Lakeside Commons will range from about $825 to $875 depending on the floor plan. Student will be charge per bed and will not be responsible for his or her roommate’s rent conventional apartments,” Wojenski said. The 144,000 square-foot complex will feature 84 townhouses and 320 beds within 11 buildings. Floor plan types include four bedrooms-four baths, two bedrooms-two baths and six bedroom-six baths. There will also be a 9,000 squarefoot two-story clubhouse. The clubhouse will include a fitness center, a common area with a fireplace, computer lounge, study rooms, game room, management offices and an outdoor

fire pit. It opens in mid-September and will include the management/leasing office, clubhouse amenities and a model unit. Construction will be complete in June of 2018 and first occupancy by students will be in August of 2018, according to Jeffrey Smetana, vice president of NDG. Smetana said the project fills a significant need in the market for quality, off-campus student housing and complements the college’s efforts to continue its advances in academic competiveness and enrollment growth. “The college is elevating its academic standing every year. Each class is more competitive than the previous one, and they are drawing more kids from the New York metro area,” Wojenski said. “They are focusing on their STEM facilities and getting more math and science students. These are the type of students who really want to live close to campus. We give them the benefit of being off campus, but still right there very close by.”

Wojenski said the SUNY Oswego market hasn’t seen what will be a true purpose-built housing endeavor. “It’s designed for students from the ground up,” Wojenski said. “Everything from common area spaces to living room units will be designed around a person who is attending a four-year university.” For example, its clubhouse has amenities that one may find in market-rate apartment complexes in other cities, but “it’s geared more to a younger generation, or ‘Generation Z’ that is going to college now,” Wojenski said. Generation Z is the demographic cohort after the Generation X. Birth years range from the mid-1900s to the mid-2000s. A large study area with private conference rooms for students will be featured. Computers and free printing will be available, as well as smart and white boards for students to do group work and individual studies. There is bed-to-bath parity, meaning students do not have to share bathroom facilities. They also have plenty of space to study inside their rooms, Wojenski noted. “We provide them with all furniture, so they don’t have to go and buy furniture or pull a couch down an alleyway to their house. All that is provided for them as well as utilities. It is all-inclusive living,” he added. “You come in and pay a single price, and we basically provide you with the tools and accommodations you need to succeed in college,” Wojenski said. Prices vary depending on what floor plan is chosen. “We charge per bed, which is also unique to student housing because you are not responsible for your roommate’s rent. You are only responsible for your own,” he added. Each student has his or her own lease and lease liability. Rent ranges from about $825 to $875 depending on the floor plan, and the package includes internet and cable.

Fall 2017 14

College Life

Swell Stuff for Your Dorm By Deborah J. Sergeant

ost dormitories come with the basic necessities — a bed, desk and chair. Cozy up your room with a few accessories that will make your dorm life more comfortable and fun. • Seating. Unless you want to sit only on a hard, non-upholstered chair (the only kind your dorm probably provides), bring along a cushy chair. Keep in mind the space constraints of your dorm and select something that won’t gobble up floor space. Bean bag chairs or micro bead seats are good examples. For some people, large pillows — in addition to their bed pillow — can be placed against the wall to turn their bed into a sort-of couch. • Window treatments. You may get basic blinds, but a swag or sheer panel can add panache to your otherwise drab windows and reduce sound in your room. • Fabric wall hangings, like a tapestry or throw with an appealing design, also muffle racket. But also bring some photos from home, special posters, removable wall stickers or framed art to personalize your space. • Throw rugs. Many dorms are tiled. But even with typical low-pile carpeting, a shag throw rug can make your floor cozier and cut down on echoes, too. • Lighting. Whether you study in bed or at the desk, a personal lamp can help you see better. Clip-on lamps offer the most versatility. Additional lighting such as a floor lamp and patio lights can brighten your room, too. • Power strip. With roommates vying for outlets, you’ll need a power strip with a surge protector. • Kitchen gear. A small microwave, coffee pot, hot plate and mini fridge (make sure these are allowed) can make your dorm feel more like home. In addition, a place setting of microwavable dishes, a small pot and some flatware will come in handy.

• Wastebasket, shower caddy, closed organizer, desk organizer. These items will help corral clutter in your room. • Layered bedding. Some roommates like it hot. Others like it cold. With layered bedding, you’re prepared. • Bed curtains. Whether window curtains, shower curtains or actual bed curtains, a large, grommeted fabric panel to hang around your bed can give you a sense of privacy for studying and sleeping. • Bedside furniture. You’ll need a spot for your phone and alarm clock, so choose a small bookcase or table with storage underneath. Since space is limited, maximize what you have. • Houseplants. You give them carbon dioxide, they give you oxygen. Plus, they look good, too. Check your school’s policy on what appliances and furniture you’re permitted to bring, how to hang items on the walls, and what items the dorm includes.

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15 Fall 2017

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community

The 7 West Team completing a cheer after a successful mentoring session at the Oswego Middle School. Photo courtesy of SUNY Oswego.

Making a Difference, the Mentor-Scholar Way Mentor-scholar program offers Oswego County youth and college students a chance to change each other’s lives. More than 100 SUNY Oswego students have participated By Melissa Stefanec

n general we assume the people around us shared similar experiences as we did growing up. However, as we get older, we discover that is hardly the case. We’ve come to realize everyone is raised differently and confronts different blessings and obstacles along the way. We begin to grasp that some people face a lot more obstacles than others. When confronted with this reality,

some people shrug it off and keep moving. Others want to help wherever they can. They want to take their experiences and blessings and use them to change another person’s life and, in that process, reshape their own. These are the sort of people who become mentor-scholars at SUNY Oswego. SUNY Oswego’s mentor-scholar program takes students from the college

and pairs them with middle school and high school students at several schools throughout Oswego County. College students offer their mentorees academic and social support throughout the entire school year.

The fine print The mentor-scholar program is led by Scott Ball,

coordinator, and Andrew Buchmann, assistant coordinator. The program is part of SUNY Oswego’s Center for Instruction and Technical Innovation. It started in 2011 after a needs assessment conducted by the United Way of Greater Oswego County in 2010 identified a need for such a service. According to Ball, the assessment identified that unstable family structures were leading to a poor view of education among families and children in some Oswego County households. This, in turn, was leading to poor graduation rates. Obstacles such as homelessness, hunger, divorce and drug abuse in some Oswego County households were having a very negative impact on children. The mentor-scholar program was started to help address the difficulties that arose from these issues while simultaneously giving SUNY Oswego students a chance to grow personally and professionally. “It was the perfect synergy,” said Ball. Since 2011, the program has taken off. During the 2016 to 2017 school year, the program put 138 mentors into Oswego County classrooms. There are five to 15 mentors at each school site, including at the Oswego Middle School, Oswego High School, Fulton Junior High School, Red Creek Middle School, Red Creek High School and CiTi (formerly BOCES).

What a mentor does Mentors arrive onsite around 2:15 p.m. two days per week and gather in a room at the site. Each mentor is assigned to a team,

Meet a Student Mentor

SUNY Oswego students Hannah O’Brien and Evelyn Zevallos have worked as team leads at Oswego High School in 2016. O’Brien said the program has helped her in many ways. “It gives you instant and great connections with people on campus,” she says.

n the fall of 2014, Hannah O’Brien transferred to SUNY Oswego. She grew up in Marcellus, near Syracuse, and had what many people would consider a typical middle-class childhood. When she transferred to SUNY Oswego, she wanted to meet people and get involved. She attended a campus involvement fair and learned about the mentor-scholar program there. She was quick to apply and become a mentor, and eventually a team lead at Oswego High School. In the fall 2017 semester, she will be the program’s first graduate assistant. Her first mentoree was a student who was getting into trouble at school. He was having problems making

connections with his peers. Throughout the course of a school year, O’Brien worked to develop his social skills and build his confidence. By the end of the year, she says he was making friends with everyone in the program and joking around. The mentor-mentoree did more than build confidence with peers, they also worked together to raise his grades. This student had a mentor pushing him and supporting him throughout the year. “The students that have the most success academically are the ones that make connections with people,” said O’Brien. “His eyes would light up when he told me he got a B on a test.” O’Brien said the program has helped her in many

For more information on the program visit www.oswego.edu/ mentor-scholar/ or email Ball at scott. ball@oswego.edu or call 315-312-3812. and each team has a team lead. The mentor-to-student ratio is one to one. The team lead is someone who was a mentor the year before and is promoted to the role. Accompanying the mentors is a district personnel member. From 2:15 to 3 p.m. the mentor and mentoree focus on academics. From 3 to 3:20 p.m. everyone plays games, crafts, participates in spoken word activities or participates in a similar activity. From 3:20 to 3:45, the group does a closure activity. Then, the mentorees leave, and mentors do a round-up with district personnel. Mentors do more than coach students through homework. They help students navigate other obstacles such as bullying and organization. Mentors work with students to see what is holding them back from becoming productive students. Each student has different obstacles and different strengths, and mentors work within those parameters to help students thrive. “They talk about issues that occurred during the week and address them,” said Ball. “Some students might be gifted academically but not at organization. Some students might struggle be-

continued next page ways. First, she gained connections with students and faculty throughout the campus. “It gives you instant and great connections with people on campus,” she said. “You can be in any major and find success and get something out of this program.” Being a mentor gave her more than just professional skills and great resume fodder. She said she gained perspective. She realized not everyone has the same life experience. She and her fellow mentors work with students to lift the academic weight by making school a priority. She said when students work with their mentors to complete academic work, they are better suited to go home and face the challenges that await them there.

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College Life

haviorally and socially.” It’s the job of the mentor, and that mentor’s supporting team, to help each student address issues, define what success looks like and help each student achieve that version of success.

How to become a mentor-scholar Anyone, regardless of class year, major or GPA can become a mentor-scholar. Students who are interested in the program fill out an application. Ball and Buchmann review applicants and select students for interviews. If a student is selected, he or she is assigned to a site for an entire school year. “We want individuals to have a big heart and who want to make an impact,” said Ball. “We have a lot of students that say they want to be a mentor because they had a mentor and want to give back.” Transportation to a mentor’s assigned school can be coordinated; a student doesn’t need independent transportation to be part of the program. However, the student does have to be available to mentor during certain hours. One schedule operates on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the other operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to accommodate student’s schedules. Mentors arrive at their assigned location around 2:15 and finish up around 4 p.m. two days a week for the entire school year. Because of the time commitment, mentors who participate in the program do get one course credit. Student mentors receive specialized training on becoming a productive mentor. They are also coached by their team leads, Ball and Buchmann and district personnel.

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College Life

Serious Business

Credit Cards: The Curse in Your Wallet By Deborah J. Sergeant

uy now-pay later. It sounds like an easy way to get what you want now; however, buying on credit can easily rack up debt you cannot handle. Even worse, many students graduate with a pile of tuition debt and make only an entry-level salary once they land a job. Do your future self a huge favor by avoiding credit card debt. Here’s how. • Understand how credit works. Credit card debt accrues interest differently from a car loan or student loan debt (both have “simple interest”). As you accumulate interest, you’ll pay interest on the interest. The minimum payment is usually enticingly low and affordable so it will take a long, long time to pay off your debt. • Use credit only if you have a legitimate emergency. Do you really need that new

phone, outing or clothing? Charging for things you cannot afford is a surefire way to rack up credit card debt you cannot handle. • Open checking and savings accounts. Many online banks require little to open an account and even offer a small bonus ($5 or so). By setting aside some money, you should be able to cover most minor emergencies and a few wants now and then. • Don’t open numerous accounts. It exposes you to temptation and can lower your credit score, since you could give in to that temptation. Many stores like to offer a discount if you open a store card. If you want the deal, go for it and then cancel the card after you pay off the charge and before you accumulate interest — or subsequent purchases. • Pay off balances ASAP. Should you bite off more than you can chew, get that

balance down as fast as you can by paying more than the minimum payment. Take on a temp job, sell off some stuff or borrow from your folks to pay it off. • Consider a balance transfer. If you owe a substantial amount of credit card debt that you cannot repay within a few months, balance transfer can help you dig your way out of debt. But you have to exercise some newfound self-discipline to make it work. Open a new credit card that offers zero percent interest for a year or more. In the meantime, do not use credit. Divide the amount you owe by the number of months you have to pay it off. Pay a little more than that per month. This plan works because you pay no interest during that grace period; however, if you don’t pay off the balance, that interest rate will skyrocket.

Turnkey Businesses to Run From Your Dorm By Deborah J. Sergeant

aybe you’re not the next Mark Zuckerberg. That’s OK. You can still run a business from your dorm to earn some money for school expenses and build experience in business. Instead of doing all the work to build a new idea, brand recognition, sales program and products, a turnkey business is all set to go. Direct selling to other

students can provide an easy way to build a business based on word-of-mouth. • Young Living (www. youngliving.com) requires a $160 starter kit that reps need to get the business rolling. Plus, they receive free shipping and discounts on shipping. Essential oils are a hot trend now, which makes Young Living an easy way to make money from the dorm.

Plus, the tiny bottles are easy to store for reps to keep popular oils in stock. • Avon (www.avon. com), offering cosmetics, skincare products and gifts, requires one of the lowest starting kit costs around — $25 — and reps that meet sales goals keep 40 percent of sales. Plus it’s hard to knock its name recognition. Representatives don’t need to store

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stock, as representatives supply customers on demand. • Kaeser & Blair (https://kaeser-blair.com) sells promotional products which many student groups may want to boost interest in their endeavors. The $85 start-up cost is pretty reasonable. The company also refunds the $85 after representatives sell $1,500 in merchandise. Companies constantly need promotional products (such as notepads, cups, banners and apparel) imprinted with logos and taglines. According to the website, representatives who make one sale per week make an average of $157. • Scentsy (www.thrivingcandlebusiness.com) sells flameless candle melts, wax warmers and accessories. Consultants may start for $99 and can earn 20 to 36 percent

commission. Once you select a direct sales business, try these tips for success: • While you may plan to market your business on social media, word-of-mouth and print can also provide great leads. • Samples can generate buzz. • Leave business cards or flyers available in your room if people stop by while you’re out. Look for places on campus that you can leave a stack as well, such as common areas or bulletin boards. • Use the resources the company offers for building your business. • Whenever possible, use your company’s products, not only to show them to others, but also because it can help boost your sales.

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College Life — For Students at SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College — is published twice a year by Local News, Inc. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. Phone: 315-342-8020. Email: wdotto@twcny.rr.com Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Sales: Peggy Kain, Ashley Slattery Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Copyright 2017 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Meet CNY’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Owner of Saving Face Barbershop named ‘Young Entrepreneur of Year’ — has been cutting hair since age 12. Got advice from SUNY Oswego business expert By Matthew Liptak

nthony Nappa, 27, likes to joke that he is an overnight success — it just took two decades. Although he is a young 20-something, the barber and business owner has years of cutting hair and business savvy under his belt. He started cutting hair when he was a 12-year-old boy.

19 Fall 2017

It was this year though that the U.S. Small Business Administration named him the Syracuse district’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He was recommended by the Small Business De-

velopment Center at SUNY Oswego. Nappa said the award is one of the highlights of his career. “It was a great honor,” he said. “I never could really imagine that I ever would be a recipient of such a prestigious award. I just have to defer the credit to the people I have surrounding me, my mentors, friends, everybody here. It’s just not a singular effort. It feels great to accept it, but this wasn’t a single-man effort.” Nappa’s business — Saving Face Barbershop —has two locations — the original at 4300 W. Genesee St., Syracuse, and one he runs in Manlius with business partner Taylor Horsman. Nappa expects to continue to grow and even has hopes to develop a franchise eventually. “I’ve always been an ambitious person,” he said. “I want to grow big. I want to make this business scalable. I have great people here” that have resulted in a second location. “Growing with people is huge. People are your biggest asset in business, that’s for sure. I have a great foundation here — great guys that show up every day and go above

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and beyond. That’s why we’re able to grow.” He invested about $8,000 to start his original shop when he opened in 2009. He moved that to another location on West Genesee and invested $20,000 in 2011. Between the shop on West Genesee Street and the newer one in Manlius, there are 12 barbers that are all private contractors. “We essentially rent the chairs,” he said. “We have different models, different pay structures, but everyone’s essentially 1099 [contractors]. It works well. There are a couple of different models.” Nappa thinks of Saving Face’s model as somewhat revolutionary, providing a man cave away from home where younger and middle-aged men can come and share in some “guy time” and be entertained too. There is a pool table and flat screen TVs. The shop is exclusive to men and charges $19 for a standard cut. But there are a lot of variables to that.

Getting crazy “We do hair designs,” said Nappa, noting it is a form of artwork to “create something crazy” with a client’s hair. “We can put in any sort of logo. With the Super Bowl we did a bunch of Patriots’ and Falcons’ logos. If somebody wants some freehand design in his hair, we can do that as well. Prices on those vary.” Saving Face offers shaving too. Nappa has come a long way since he was a kid cutting his own hair as well as his friends’ hair at home. He became an apprentice barber with a shop in Cicero at 17, and that’s when he realized there could be a future for him in the business. “After I was working for

a while at the barbershop, making money and really seeing the fruits of the effort I made, I got to a point where I saw people make a living doing this,” he said. But it’s not all about the bottom line for Saving Face. Nappa gives back to the community, too. He puts on the “Barber-Q”, where food, prizes and haircuts raise money for local charities each summer. “We do free haircuts,” he said. “We give out free food, drinks, live entertainment, music, and raffles. All tips that we raise go to charity. That serves as a great form of advertising. We get a lot of press on that.” Nappa wants his to be a scalable model that can catch on and spread. He wants to be franchising in five years. “We’re putting systems and controls in place where I don’t have to be here,” he said. “It’s designed oftentimes to depend on people. You have to be here to cut hair. I’m trying to design a system, like plug and play, almost like a franchise model. I’m trying to put together a model where I can pick and train the right people and just put them into place and tell them to do this for me until it’s proven effective. That’s something I’m continuing to work on.” Until then, he is happy with his two shops and is continuing to cut hair. “You give the person confidence,” he said. “Someone walks in and they’re down on their luck or just not feeling good about themselves. You give them a great haircut and you see that they’re noticeably thrilled. It’s just a great feeling — very rewarding because you’ve just instilled some confidence in that person that they didn’t have before seeing you. “We have that ability. We’re almost in the business of selling confidence and it’s a great feeling.”

College Life

nursing moms

Lactating on Campus: It Happens SUNY Oswego invests in infrastructure to make the campus more accommodating for mothers. Eleven campus buildings have dedicated lactation rooms — and more underway this fall

By Melissa Stefanec

fter Selena Miller had her first child, she returned to work at her office job at SUNY Oswego and decided to keep breastfeeding. That was three and a half years ago, and there were some obstacles to overcome. Being away from her child during the day meant she would have to pump her breastmilk throughout the workday. However complicated that may sound, the biggest of her obstacles wasn’t pumping the milk, but finding a secure and sanitary place to do it. Miller, an office assistant for the department of curriculum and instruction at SUNY Oswego, did what she had to

do to get food for her child. Although she said her co-workers and superiors were extremely supportive of her making time to pump, it was very difficult to find adequate facilities. She pumped in empty offices and hoped no one would enter them. She washed her pumping supplies in bathroom sinks. She carried on the best she could, but thought how easy it would be for her to become discouraged and unmotivated about pumping. “I was pretty determined to do what I had needed to do,” said Miller. “But, I can see how someone else may be deterred and not feel like they are being included.” Miller now has a second

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child, and she is having an entirely different pumping experience. That’s because, starting during the fall 2016 semester, dedicated lactation spaces started popping up around campus. The rooms are meant to cater to nursing moms who are employees or students at SUNY Oswego. In cases where the college’s facilities are open to the general public, the rooms are also intended to be used by nursing moms who are visiting campus. The rooms are equipped for pumping, but they could also be used by a mother to nurse her baby. It should be noted that a mother can nurse a child anywhere she has a legal right to be, but these rooms offer a quiet and secluded area for mothers seeking one. Linda Paris, planning coordinator at SUNY Oswego’s facilities services department, is now in charge of the effort to roll out lactation spaces across the campus. So far, 11 buildings have dedicated lactation rooms. Three more buildings are set to receive them this fall, and three buildings are currently being rehabilitated and will include a dedicated space. “We will continuously expand our lactation rooms until we reach our goal of having a room in each building on campus,” said Paris. “SUNY Oswego is really on the forefront for how many lactation rooms we have in a small area.”

Inside a lactation space For those people who might never set foot in a lactation room, one should imagine something pretty basic. Each room has an electrical outlet, a flat work surface and two types of seating (so a mom can determine what is most comfortable to her). Each room has a lock on the door that clearly displays when the room is occupied, so a mother doesn’t have to worry about people knocking

Selena Miller sits in a lactation room is Hewitt Hall. I can lock the door and know I am not going to be interrupted, she says. I know these rooms matter to those that need them and that’s good.” Photo courtesy of Jeff Rea, SUNY Oswego. or entering the room while she is pumping. Some of the newer rooms are slated to have sinks. It may not sound like much, but to a mother who needs to make food for her child, these simple accommodations mean a lot. For women like Paris, who was a nursing mother on campus before the rooms were set up, these rooms mean a lot less pumping in cars, cubbies and closets. They mean less hiding and more comfort. “It’s a dedicated space; it’s not a found space,” said Paris. “There is so much support around the campus.”

Starting a conversation Not only are these rooms making life easier for nursing moms on campus, they are also shedding a little light on something that is often overlooked by college students — many people breastfeed their children. According to Paris, the presence of the rooms and the associated media attention the rooms have received is starting to get breastfeeding and pumping out in the open. Each room has a small sign with a logo of a woman breastfeeding a child, which puts that image out where anyone can see it. “It’s the awareness of thinking of breastmilk as a food and not just a bodily fluid,” said Paris. “That conversation is starting to happen.”

Making lives easier Paris is still nursing her youngest child, and having these rooms means she doesn’t need to worry about leaving her own building for meetings. She knows she can find a clean and safe place to pump in most of the buildings on campus. “That was a real blessing,” said Paris. For Miller, it’s the little things these rooms offer that mean so much to her and her family. “I can lock the door and know I am not going to be interrupted,” said Miller. “I know these rooms matter to those that need them and that’s good.”

Fall 2017 20

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3 Things Every College Student Should Remember

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Studies come first College isn’t just about academics, it’s also about growing as a person. College has a lot to offer and you should enjoy it. But when it comes down to brass tacks, you’re there to hit the books. It’s your job to learn about the field you have chosen so you can, hopefully, get a good career started in it when you come out of college. There are a lot of distractions in college — beer, babes and other b words I’m sure. Job No. 1, though, is learning. If you don’t pass those tests, do that homework, read those chapters, you’re not going to graduate. You’re not going to have your stuff together and be ready for the world when you get out. Make sure your priorities are straight.

Get involved There’s usually a ton of opportunity to get involved in cool stuff on campus, whether it’s clubs, sports, seminars or outings. Try them! You can make some great friends through clubs where you have a shared interest. If there’s something you are interested in that you think might interest others, be brave, and start a club yourself. College friends might turn into life-long relationships. Campus is a community that you are an important part of. It needs you to make a difference to sustain itself. There’s really nothing like the experience of college life. You are learning to make your own choices.

21 Fall 2017

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Get help when you Need it (and you’ll need it!) College offers a lot, but it expects a lot, too. There’ll be new relationships with

professors, fellow students, roommates. As a growing adult you’re just learning to navigate your way through adult relationships. You’re learning to navigate your way through pages and pages of academic material. You’re learning about yourself and what you want for your future. None of this is necessarily easy. Whether it’s academics, relationships or your internal life, there will be times when you’re not up to the challenge by yourself. That’s why there are tutors available. That’s why there are counselors and pastoral care available. Don’t hesitate

to reach out to them when you think you need some help. Don’t be too proud or shy to reach out for help. Nobody expects you to have all the answers. The college years might be some of the best days of your life. A successful college career means keeping your focus on the bottom line — academics — but it’s also about learning as a young adult how to forge a balance between work and play, between your own relationship with yourself, and the one you have with others. If you work hard, and give yourself room to grow in the campus

environment, you’ll come out in a few years with more knowledge about yourself, your field, and be ready to change the world!

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College Life

Free Tuition Plan Already in Place in NYS

Excelsior Scholarship: More than 325 students at Oswego State have submitted applications for the tuition-free program. By Lou Sorendo

here’s no such thing as a free lunch. But how about college tuition?

The Excelsior Scholarship is designed to make college accessible to thousands of working and middle class students. “There is no child who will go to sleep tonight and say, ‘I have great dreams, but I don’t believe I’ll be able to get a college education because my parents can’t afford it. With this program, every child will have the opportunity that education provides,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo while touting the program. The governor’s office announced that more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York state. The new program begins this fall. Excelsior, commonly defined as “ever upward,” will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019. While it is the nation’s first accessible college program, there are limitations in terms of who can take advantage of its benefits. Only 5 percent of currently enrolled undergraduate students across all SUNY and CUNY schools would qualify for the scholarship, because they don’t meet the requirements, according to an article in the Watertown Daily Times. According to the Times’ article, the 30-credits-peryear requirement, put in place to encourage on-time degree completion, significantly reduces the number of eligible students. Trisha House of SUNY Oswego’s financial aid office said returning students who didn’t accrue 30 credit hours per year since they started can’t take advantage of the

Excelsior Scholarship this year. House said typically, students in their freshman year take only 12 credit hours per semester, and would have to “overload” the next year to meet criteria. “They are allowing a catch-up year, but of course, that won’t help seniors because this is their last year,” she said. Applicants who first entered college as a freshman student in 2015-16 and who have earned 54 credits, or who first entered college as a freshman student in 201617 academic year and who earned 24 credits, can make up those six credits in 201718. Students who successfully earn 36 credits in the 2017-18 academic year can become eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. House said the scholarship is tailored more toward incoming freshmen and perhaps sophomores. “It’s tougher for juniors and seniors [to meet criteria guidelines],” she said.

Stopgap measure Meanwhile, lower-income students are already plugging into financial aid mechanisms such as the state Tuition Assistance Program and the federal Pell Grant. As a result, about 20 percent of students from SUNY and CUNY already pay no tuition, so they are not eligible for the Excelsior program. The application deadline has passed, but SUNY Oswego financial aid workers are still going through the verification process with state officials. “We are still getting lists of who qualifies and who doesn’t,” House said. “We have to verify their credits and things like that.” “We do get a lot of questions on it,” she added. She said awards are still being made, so an overall amount of how many students are getting the Excelsior Scholarship is unavailable

heading into the fall semester. House said the program really serves as a stopgap for students who are not eligible for TAP and Pell. House said. “Students who don’t get any TAP or Pell will receive a full tuition credit for $6,470, whereas students who have a lower estimated financial contribution and are receiving maximum TAP and Pell amounts of approximately $11,000 per year will not get any Excelsior funds. “It really affects middle-income students.” “If any other type of scholarship is eligible to be used toward tuition in any way, shape or form, it will be taken away from the Excelsior award,” House added. In order to apply, students must be residents of New York state; attend a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year degree program; take 30 credits per calendar year (including January and summer sessions); and plan to live and work in New York following graduation for the length of time they participate in the scholarship program. Also, a student who is a state resident and whose family household adjusted gross income (as filed on its 2015 federal tax returns) does not exceed $100,000 for the 2017-18 academic will be able to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition free. To be considered a state resident for purposes of receiving the award, a student must have resided in the state for 12 continuous months prior to the term for which the award is being sought.

Strict criteria

House said a recent listing included 325 students who were being put through the verification process. “We are still getting calls from people who didn’t know there was an application process. They just thought it was automatic and there was no tuition charge, or that it was ongoing and there was no cutoff date,” she said. “There are some people who missed out on it this year because they weren’t aware.” SUNY Oswego featured a program for returning students who met the criteria and emailed them to apply for the program before the application process began “so they wouldn’t miss out on it,” she noted. “Of course, we had no way of doing that for new students,” she added.

Applying for Tuitionfree Program In order to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship, students must have their Free Application for Federal Student Aid and TAP applications successfully filed before they apply for the Excelsior Scholarship. After they apply,

they will need to download their Student Aid Report to verify that they filed their FAFSA. In addition, if the student is returning or took college credit courses in high school, he or she needs to upload those transcripts as well. SUNY Oswego will have the number of students who plugged into Excelsior Scholarships at the end of the fall semester. “What we have to do is qualify how many credits students received just like we do with TAP. We will determine whether or not they get to keep the estimated award that they were given at the beginning of the semester, and that will happen at the end of the semester,” House said. SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley said the Excelsior Scholarship expands access to many more deserving students. “SUNY Oswego has a long-standing commitment to higher education access, college completion and cost predictability and we look forward to further expanding our support of students and their families as a result of the Excelsior Scholarship,” she added.

Fall 2017 22

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College Now the Place to Try Pot: Study Undergrads experimenting in record numbers, same spike not seen among those who skip university life

here may be new meaning to the term “higher” education: College has become a major setting for first-time pot use, new research contends. Undergrads are experimenting with marijuana in record numbers. And those who never tried pot are 51 percent more likely to experiment with the drug while on campus than those who don’t go to college, said study author Richard Miech. He’s a research professor with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. College students were 17 percent to 22 percent more likely to try pot for the first time than those who did not get a higher education from the 1970s through the 2000s, according to the study. “First-time marijuana use is at the highest level

23 Fall 2017

in college students than it has been in three decades,” Miech said. “These days if you’re in college, about one in five students will become first-time marijuana users. If you don’t go to college, your chances are more like one in 10,” he said. Miech and his colleagues based their findings on data from an ongoing survey of American students and young adults funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. The researchers used data from the survey between 1977 and 2015 to analyze young adults 19 to 22 who never used marijuana in high school, comparing college kids against those who didn’t continue their education. The researchers found

that college has been steadily increasing as the place for first-time marijuana use. The researchers have a couple of theories why college kids are more likely to experiment with pot these days. “We find that college seems to promote substance abuse, like binge drinking,” Miech said. “Binge drinking is much more common among college students than their same-age peers.” The trend of marijuana legalization also likely has increased college students’ interest in trying pot, he added. “I think they are sending a signal to everybody that marijuana is safe,” Miech said. “It’s like alcohol, without the hangover.” However, high school marijuana use has been on

decline since states began legalizing pot, said Miech and Sean Clarkin, executive vice president of research and external relations for the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. “What I’m tempted to

infer from this is that what may be happening is that kids are starting marijuana use later,” holding off until college experimentation that might have taken place in high school during previous decades, Clarkin said.

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