College Life - Fall 20

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College Life

OswegoCollegeLife.com

FALL 2020

A Fall Semester Like no Other Special issue of College Life

Stop the Spread: Students Urged to Do Their Part Page11 It’s all in the SUNY Oswego’s “Oswego Forward” plan (ww1.oswego.edu/oswego-forward)

Meet Eric Summers SUNY Oswego’s new interim director of athletics says this will be “a unique and challenging year for college athletics.” Page 6 1

Fall 2020

Good News: November Election Can Be Held Safely, Experts Say Page 14

College Life

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New Semester:

Stress Less (If You Can)

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

G

rades, schedules, finances: college students have plenty to stress about.

Starting a semester with a pandemic yet underway only adds to the reasons to worry.

“With the changes that have come, it’s introduced a lot of uncertainty and difficulty in handling the uncertainty,” said Geoffrey Hopkins, psychiatrist with St. Joseph’s Health.

He added that many students will likely stress about collegiate experience being much different from what they had expected.

“Meeting new people and developing new relationships is one of the prime goals of matriculation,” Hopkins said.

He said that a main way that students can work through this stressor is to find ways to interact with others. Holing up in your dorm room isn’t going to help. Join groups that can meet virtually or that can safely meet while abiding by social distancing parameters.

Accept that you may not spend as much time mingling on campus.

“That’s not necessarily a failure in the journey to adulthood but part of the new normal,” Hopkins said.

“That realization can help reduce anxiety.”

He also suggested parttime employment as a means of getting to know more people.

Hopkins warned against substance use to feel better.

“In the long run, it becomes more of a problem,” Tse he said.

“If you develop anxiety, seek professional help as it’s available via telemedicine,” he said.

Joey T. Tse, director of educational opportunity program and interim director of the office of learning services at SUNY Oswego, said it’s also important to manage your time well, as this can reduce panicked projects and cramming for tests. “It is about developing that habit of doing things on a regular basis,” he said.

Lately, many people have experienced more free-flowing schedules with working and learning at home. Tse advises students to set up

a regular sleep and study schedule for themselves, but not so rigid that it can’t be tweaked as needed.

“Have regular study hours, but not long blocks,” he said. “Do 90 minutes morning, afternoon and evening. If you do that every week, it’s [close to] 35 hours of study time. Anytime you study more than two hours, your brain has shut down, so take a half hour or hour break.”

Turn off electronics while studying to make that time count.

Keep a calendar showing when you need to begin a project or paper and when you should start studying in earnest for a scheduled test.

Ask for help if you notice the material is much harder than you thought it would be. Don’t wait until your grades slip. Seek out a tutor or study group.

Don’t view tutoring as a punishment but as a tool to help you succeed.

“Look at Michael Jordan,” Tse said. “The reason he’s a great player is he found a weakness in his game and did what he could to fix it. Most students don’t reach out for it until it’s too late. There’s no college that doesn’t want you to succeed.”

Fall 2020

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College Life

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

P

lanning much of anything has been hard since the pandemic began, and returning to or starting school offers another example.

As expected, cleaning is ramped up and masks and shields will be everywhere — most of us are used to this — but other changes are slated, including a health questionnaire and COVID-19 test for each student.

“Some things we’re doing will need to be radically different,” said Mike Paestella, assistant director of campus life and student involvement with SUNY Oswego.

He said that many virtual events took place last spring and it’s likely these will continue this fall semester as well.

The Oswego Forward plan (ww1.

Paestella oswego.edu/oswego-forward) welcomes SUNY Oswego

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students based on guidance from the governor’s office and the New York State Department of Health.

Though subject to change, the plan includes directions for the school’s planned blend of online, hybrid and in-person classes — about one-third of each option — to reduce crowd sizes. In addition to arriving early, some students will finish early.

All in-person classes will wrap up by Nov. 25 and the fall term will end Dec. 11.

Most finals will be remote.

The school has canceled breaks and will hold classes on days where the calendar lists holidays.

Students using the meal plan can order online, pick up at the dining hall to take out or dine onsite with social distancing.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the students to our beautiful, engaging campus on the shores of Lake Ontario,” said Deborah F. Stanley, Oswego president, on the school website.

Competitive sports will be suspended. Those planning to participate in the school’s extracurricular activities will be updated by email.

Cayuga Community College Andrew Poole, representing Cayuga Community College (www.cayuga-cc. edu/coronavirus), said that the school “will continue to prioritize students’ health and safety by offering most courses in a distance learning format for the fall 2020 semester.”

At least 85% will be online with no physical presence required.

“While we miss seeing our students on our campuses, this was not a difficult decision,” said Cayuga President Brian Durant. “Above all, we want our students to be healthy and safe, and the best way we can help is to allow them to work and learn from the safety of their homes.”

The Student Life activities, tutoring and mentoring will be mostly virtual and the fall athletics have been cancelled.

To receive emergency news, Cayuga students should sign up for the Rave Alert System at www.cayuga-cc.edu/public-safety/ safety-alerts/index.html.

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College Life

Super Dave’s Roadside Grill on the Road Again

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By Lou Sorendo

W

hile restaurants nationwide have been affected negatively by the coronavirus pandemic, the food truck business is flourishing.

With restaurants either

closed or limited in operation, there are limited options for folks to choose who are itching to not cook at home.

Also, coronavirus guidelines are easier to follow with a food truck because there

aren’t things such as dining areas or capacity limits.

This has been good news for Gary Miller Sr., owner and operator of Super Dave’s Roadside Grill.

His food truck is set up

at the forks of the road in Oswego, site of the former Barilla’s Service Station, 211 W. Bridge St. The native and resident of Oswego adopted the name from the late Dave Agnes,

who was a longtime friend and avid racing fan.

Miller, 55, has worked as a jack of all trades most of his life, and decided now is the time to establish a business and work for himself.

He launched the business last October, and has never looked back.

“My satisfaction comes when people enjoy my food and realize it’s all about quality,” he said.

Miller knows the importance of treating every customer well knowing that word of mouth can make or break a businessperson.

Super’s Dave’s features fresh hamburgers and sausage, Philly cheese steaks, French fries and chicken fingers at competitive prices.

All his ingredients are homemade to add a personal touch, such as his Texas hot sauce.

The cancellation of the annual Harborfest celebration has dimmed the prospects of many vendors such as Miller, but he refuses to let COVID-19 and its ramifications steer him off course.

Later in the fall, he will trek to Florida to set up stakes in the Sunshine State.

“Everything is a risk. It’s all about how far you want to push yourself,” he said.

The forks-of-the-road location means a wealth of lunch activity. “There’s really nothing else at this end of town other than McDonalds,” Miller said.

While he is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., he spends a good portion of time preparing for the next day.

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College Life

Things 2020 Can’t Take Away from You COVID-19, presidential impeachment, racial uprising, loneliness, government mishandlings, economic recession. It’s a new year in school: don’t let those things ruin it

By Melissa Stefanec 2020 will be a year to remember, and mostly for unpleasant reasons.

The annals will demonstrate a year filled with illness, death, racial uprising, loneliness, government mishandlings, economic recession and human ignorance and selfishness. We are in the midst of a global crisis.

In a year with so much conflict and loss, many of us feel robbed — robbed of the expected, the reliable, the earned and the necessary.

At its most dangerous, COVID-19 can take lives. At police brutality’s worst, it can do the same. These are frightening truths in dark times.

It’s a crisis’ ability to destruct that takes such a toll on all of us. That potential and realized destruction makes it hard to be grateful for what we still have.

No matter how well trained we are in gratitude, it’s only human to mourn the loss of what should have/ could have been. When you find yourself in a dark place without a lot of light, here is a list of things 2020 can’t take away from you.

1.Your education

There will be concessions, but no amount of isolation or accommodation can take your education away from you. Make up your mind that you will give your education the bulk of your energy, and don’t look back.

The beautiful 2. views of Lake Ontario and Oswego River

One of the best things about going to school in the Oswego area is the unbridled access to Lake Ontario and the Oswego River. Water has a calming effect on many people. Use your access to

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water to your advantage. It’s a lot easier to put difficult things in perspective when you are staring at something beauteous.

The unfaltering 3. support of your professors

this experience make your relationships stronger. Invite them to engage in a safe way.

Respect each other’s boundaries. Give them the attention they deserve in the safest way possible.

7.Social media

Educators are a resourceful bunch. Professors are going to do everything they can to support their students during this unusual time.

They have one job to do, and that is to teach you. How great is that?

For all its ills, social media is a reliable platform during times of uprising and turmoil. Used properly, it can help us support each, support strangers and connect, other all without physical interaction.

Your right to 4. eat Easy Mac in sweatpants

Your right to 8. exercise and breathe fresh air

Unless there is an istant macaroni and cheese shortage, nothing can take this right away from you, not even a global pandemic.

5.

Your lifelong friends (as long as they stay well)

Sheltering in place has made us recognize how much we value the human connections in our lives.

Now, more than ever, we should be nurturing our lifelong friendships. We may not be able to see each other in person, but our close friends are just a letter, email or virtual meetup away. When you can see someone in person, take advantage of that opportunity and engage safely.

Relish in that connection.

6.

Your family (as long as they stay well)

Whomever you consider your family to be, no matter how far away they are, a family is something you have on your side. Lean on them.

Let them lean on you. Let

Exercise and meditation may be two of the greatest weapons against sadness and indifference. Physical activity elevates our mood and convinces us of how capable we really are.

ability to 9.Your support others

A lot of us feel relatively helpless right now. The best way to stop that feeling is to be a helper. Find someone in your life that could use some support and lend that support. If you can be the best version of yourself 2020, you can persevere in all the years that follow.

Your ability 10. to give back to the community

Don’t let 2020 put an end

to volunteerism and charity.

Many nonprofits have come upon very difficult times. Be the change you want to see in the world and (safely) give your time. Skip a coffee a week and make a $15 donation at the end of the month.

to hone 11.Time a skill

If

there is something you always wanted to get better at, now is the time. Typically, time is in short supply. These days, the days and nights feel a little longer. Capitalize on this opportunity and get really good at something.

Time to learn 12. something new

Similarly, if you’ve always wanted to try something but just couldn’t find the time, now is the time. Try that new thing. Fail at it until you get better. Let 2020 be the year you learned to play guitar or identify 30 kinds of birds. Let 2020 stoke a lifelong passion.

Your ability 13. to embrace conflict without active fire

Right now, much of the world is wildly misaligned on politics and social issues.

People are fired up and not afraid to fire. In 2020, be the person who mediated. Be the person who actively listened and engaged with the other side. Be the person who learns new things, changes old mindsets and inspires others to do the same.

ability 14.Your to befriend

people who are different from you

If you engage with people in a healthy manner, make 2020 the year you became friends with someone with a wildly different background. Empathy is integral to solving tough problems.

Exposing yourself to different perspectives and learning from others will turn unsolvable problems into mere challenges.

Your ability 15. to better your GPA Use this year to give your GPA the bump it deserves. You have the time.

Use it wisely. You won’t be disappointed in yourself.

capacity 16.Your for fun

Ingenuity and adaptable are two skills you should always work to improve. The most successful and happiest among us are those who find solutions when others make excuses and those who keep moving after being knocked down. In that theme, find new and safe ways to have fun this year. Don’t let 2020 rob you of joy. You deserve happiness.

person17.Your al growth

Define what personal growth looks like to you this year. Then, spend time and energy to get there. Character is defined by how you act in times of adversity. Don’t let the dire state of the world diminish your strength of character. Let this adversity build a better you.

College Life

Eric Summers This will be a unique and challenging year for college athletics, says new interim director of athletics at SUNY Oswego Q.: You have served as associate athletic director since June 2014. How does this experience help you in terms of transitioning to your new post?

A.: After six years as associate athletic director, I have a good understanding of SUNY Oswego, the athletic department, and how the school operates. Having that institutional knowledge will make it easier to take over as interim AD; however, there is still a lot to learn.

Q.: Are you interested in pursuing the job without the “interim” part of the title, and what is it going to take to achieve that?

A.: At this point in my career, I am not pursuing an athletic director position, so I will not be pursuing this position on a permanent basis. I am more than happy to help out the department temporarily, but I do like my current position as associate athletic director.

Q.: You coached the crew program at Hamilton College for many years.

How did that experience help in terms of growing your professional career?

A.: Being the rowing coach at Hamilton was a unique experience.

It is one of the few

programs in the country with one head coach for both men and women. We regularly had 40 to 50 athletes on the team and for most of my time there, I had one parttime coach helping me. Now, most coaches like to have a lot of control over their teams and I was no exception.

However, given our numbers, I quickly realized that having a hand in everything going on was not feasible. As a result, I became much better at delegating and giving responsibility to my assistant coaches and captains of the team.

Q.: What do you believe will be the keys to being highly successful in your new post?

A.: This will be a unique and challenging year as we come back after the COVID-19 pandemic shut us down in March. I think the key for me will be to get buyin from the coaches and staff to work within the new reality we are facing. Coaches I know, and I was one, do not like change. However, this year will be all about change, even if temporary. Being able to have the department adapt and work under different rules and constraints will be very important if we are going to be successful this year.

Q.: Besides COVID-19, what do you see as some of the foremost challenges facing athletic directors across the nation at this time?

A.: Budgets are always a concern for athletic departments, especially at the Division III level. Costs

always seem to be rising faster than revenues and it is a challenge to provide a great student-athlete experience with limited means.

Q.: In general terms, how will the new normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic change the playing field when it comes to college athletics?

A.: I think it is too early to tell what lasting impacts COVID-19 will have on college athletics. We still have to go through at least one season to see what will change in terms of practice and play.

However, one area I think may change is the recruiting process. Our coaches tried to be as creative as possible this past spring with their recruit-

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ing and I think there will be more virtual recruiting in the future.

SUNY Oswego recently named Eric Summers interim director of athletics. The 52-year-old New Haven, Connecticut, native was hired as SUNY Oswego’s associate athletic director in June 2014.

Summers, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Colgate University and Master of Business Administration at Syracuse University, leads a 24-sport athletic department.

He resides in Fayetteville with his wife Robin and two sons.

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College Life

A New Face at SUNY Oswego

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you’re a SUNY Oswego student looking for career guidance, Christine Mosich may cross your path.

Newly named the assistant director of career services late last spring, Mosich previously worked as a career development coach at the University of South Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing.

Mosich grew up in Penn Yan, so returning to the Finger Lakes is a homecoming for her, as well as her fiancé, Kyle Barkley, whose parents also live in the area.

Barkley had just transitioned from active duty in the Air Force to the National Guard as a reservist as they moved.

Now he works at L3 Harris Communications in Rochester. The couple makes their home in Liverpool.

Mosich’s education at SUNY Cortland prepared her to teach children; however, as she began student teaching, she started feeling unsure if that’s what she wanted to do. Since New York requires a master’s degree for educators, she began the process to pursue that degree. During

Christine Mosich was recently named assistant director of career services. orientation at Cortland, she talked with a few mentors about what to do. Eventually she decided to earn a master’s in higher education student affairs, which she did at Penn State.

She worked in South Carolina for three years before the opportunity arose to move back to New York.

Getting to know the students and campus culture at Oswego has been tough during the quarantine period of the pandemic, she said.

On her first day on the job last spring, she picked up her computer on campus and didn’t return to the office all summer. Working from the dining room table has challenges.

“Zoom fatigue is a real thing,” Mosich said.

She continued to meet with students all summer online.

“When it comes to career development, I have a unique way of looking at how I help students,” she said. “I’m realistic. Industry and technology are changing daily. I like to help them learn how to manage their own career now so in the future when industries and jobs are eliminated by technology or new jobs are created, they’ll have the skills and competence to do that on their own.”

Mosich enjoys hiking, kayaking and spending time with family — especially since it’s only a 90-minute drive instead of 13 hours. She hopes to find a slow pitch softball league to join.

She also enjoys domestic and international travel. She has been to England, Nicaragua and Australia. She hopes to travel more once restrictions are lifted.

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Fall 2020

College Life ning what rules you deem absolutely necessary. “At a time like this, if there’s something that’s important to you with staying safe, you should be very adamant about expressing that,” University of Central Florida sophomore Natasha Miguelez said. If you need to establish a rule that you absolutely won’t compromise on, speak up and stand your ground. Of course, you’ll also want to ask your roommates to share their own non-negotiables.

6.Hear them out

COVID Conversations: 10 Tips for Setting Guidelines with Roommates

By Natalie Mechem

P

lanning on moving in with a brandnew roommate? Now more than ever, communication with the people you live with is key. Make it your priority to establish a list of house rules for during the pandemic.

Communication doesn’t come easy — especially with someone you just met — but opening up a dialogue from the beginning ensures that both you and your roommate can live comfortably and safely together.

Here are 10 tips for setting social distancing guidelines with roommates

a conver1.Have sation It seems simple but making the decision to have this conversation needs to happen before anything else.

As uncomfortable as talking about COVID-19 can sometimes feel, it plays a significant role in our lives now. We need to open up discussions about the pandemic with the people we live with.

“Everybody should expect to have this conversation with somebody. I think more people are probably worried about it than actually express they are, especially among the college student population,” said Shane Owens, psychologist and assistant director of campus mental health at Farmingdale State College (SUNY) on Long Island. Make it your goal to keep yourself and others safe and move toward

a healthy future for everyone by setting rules for social distancing with your roommates.

2.

Ask them how they’re doing

You want to open a conversation, not an argument. Check in with your roommates. How do they feel about everything that’s going on? Once you start talking about the pandemic, it will feel more natural to move into a dialogue about setting some ground rules.

“Say, ‘I was hoping we could set some guidelines and make sure that we’re both comfortable,’” psychologist and friendship expert Marisa G. Franco said. Show that you care about their needs and they’ll do the same for you.

other 3.Establish rules

People who live together always need to set house rules. You need to establish guidelines regarding your health just like you would with chores, shower times and study schedules. “We’re focused on this thing because it’s right in our face and right in our minds, but it really is just going to be part of the conversation that you have with anyone you’re trying to live with,” psychologist Owens said. If it makes you more comfortable, set your basic rules about things like cleaning, showering and studying before bringing up COVID-19. Then, you can start to set boundaries

regarding COVID-19 safety. Who can come over, if anyone? Which public spaces can you visit? How will you go about sanitizing the apartment?

open to 4.Be compromise

Think of this conversation as a negotiation.

“Your goal here is to work as a team. People who are very successful at handling conflict are thinking about how they can meet the other person’s interests and their own,” friendship expert Franco said. As important as it is to prioritize your own needs, you also want your roommate to live comfortably in your shared space. If you want the living situation to work out for both of you, you need to compromise on certain issues. You might try to compromise on the topic of significant others. Say you don’t want any outside guests visiting the apartment but your roommate wants to invite their boyfriend over.

Can they hang out in your roommate’s room and wear masks in the common room?

Maybe they can agree to spend time together mostly outdoors. Try to come up with a plan that works for both of you, even if it’s not your first choice.

State your 5. non-negotiables

Finding a clean compromise on everything just doesn’t happen and that’s OK. Decide from the begin-

You and your roommates will inevitably disagree on some rules.

When you do, try to show empathy and make an effort to understand why they feel the way they do. “The more you can show care and consideration and the desire to see things from their perspective, the more you can get them to see things from your perspective,” Franco said. If you want your roommate to leave their shoes outside the door but they refuse, ask them why before getting angry. Most likely, they’ll open up to a compromise if you do your best to hear them out from the start.

a pro7.Establish tocol

In case someone violates a rule, you’ll want to establish a set course of action for how to handle it. “My suggestion is that you should be proactive rather than retroactive with all of this. Don’t wait for something to go wrong to be like, ‘This went wrong, let’s talk about it,’” said Franco. Say you and your roommates agree not to go to gatherings of more than three people, but one of them goes to a frat party.

Whether you decide to put a strike system in place or ask your roommate to self-isolate in their room or both, you’ll want to create a plan before something actually happens.

While you can’t force them to do anything, agreeing to a protocol for when something does go wrong prevents confusion and awkward tension when one of you does violate a rule.

open to 8.Be change

Make flexibility a priority and accept that some of your rules will change. You and your roommate might agree to only leave your dorm room to go to class and quickly become too restless in your shared cinderblock cell. Check in with each other frequently and discuss what’s working and what’s not. “It really depends on how the school semester goes. [My roommates and I] will be as flexible as possi-

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ble because our rules could change depending on how things go,” Truman State University senior Chelsey Jeans said. If you feel suppressed or uncomfortable with one of the set guidelines, don’t hesitate to speak up. You should also prepare yourself to listen if your roommate wants to bring up their own concerns.

a writ9.Consider ten contract

It can never hurt to have your rules clearly written out. If you think a written contract might work for you, create a shared Google Doc or stick a printed copy to the fridge. In some situations, having a written reminder of the house rules can make them feel more meaningful.

For others, it might not make much of a difference. Talk to your roommate, ask them what they think about having a hard copy of the house guidelines and decide what works best for you.

Be ready to 10.walk away

If it turns out that you and your roommate’s values differ too much, you might need to consider finding a different living situation.

“Try to compromise at first.

If that doesn’t work out, then try to find a way to switch,” Florida State University sophomore Gabriella Torres said. “It might be hard to do at first, but at the end of the day, you need your safe space so keep on going forward if you can.” No matter how much you like your roommate, not everyone can live with each other. Even if it means you might face a few tough decisions in your future, you should always put safety first.

Natalie Mechem is a junior at Drake University majoring in journalism. This article was previously published on www. collegemagazine.com.

College Life

OswegoCollegeLife.com Call 315-342-8020 to advertise in the fall edition 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.

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health issue,” Auerbach said.

Another study from 2019 also uncovered a similar, troubling trend. Among more than 67,000 U.S. students surveyed in that study, over 20% said they experienced stressful events in the last year that were strongly associated with mental health problems, including harming themselves, having suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide.

But, Auerbach’s team said, previous research has also found that only about 15% to 20% of college students seek help at their school’s counseling center, which may already be struggling to meet rising demand for services. So the study authors suggest that students go online to look for help, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

“University systems are currently working at capacity and counseling centers tend to be cyclical, with students ramping up service use toward the middle of the semester, which often creates a bottleneck,” Auerbach explained.

“Internet-based clinical tools may be helpful in providing treatment to students who are less inclined to pursue services on campus or are waiting to be seen,” he said.

The study authors added that more research is needed to pinpoint which forms of treatment work best for specific disorders.

“Our long-term goal is to develop predictive models to determine which students will respond to different types of interventions,” Auerbach said.

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ore than one in three first-year college students around the world struggle with a mental health disorder, new research suggests.

“The number of students who need treatment for these disorders far exceeds the resources of most counseling centers, resulting in a substantial unmet need,” said study author Randy Auerbach, of Columbia University in New York City.

“Colleges must take a greater urgency in addressing this issue,” he said in a news release from the American Psychological Association.

In the study, researchers analyzed data collected on nearly 14,000 students from 19 colleges in eight countries — Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Spain and the United States.

The students answered questions designed to assess their mental health and identify common disorders, such as major depression, anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

The study, published Sept. 13, 2019, in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, showed that 35% of first-year college students experienced symptoms consistent with at least one mental health issue.

Major depressive disorder was the most common condition among the students, but many were also affected by generalized anxiety disorder.

“The finding that onethird of students from multiple countries screened positive for at least one of six mental health disorders represents a key global mental

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College Life

Has the Pandemic Ended All the Fun? Despite pandemic, getting involved on campus still very important

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

t might seem like more and more of life has become virtual and, because of that, impersonal. But you can still become involved

with your school and feel connected to fellow students — and you should.

Geoffrey Hopkins, psychiatrist at St. Joseph’s

Health, believes that involvement is worthwhile, despite current restrictions on interactions.

“Even with the pre-

cautions, the opportunities allow for growth and development,” Hopkins said.

“You have experiences you otherwise wouldn’t necessar-

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ily have.”

While it may seem the pandemic has ended fun as we know it, take advantage of the opportunities that are still available through your school’s activities director.

It may appear less appealing than engaging the way you’re used to, but it’s still important to become involved.

Mike Paestella, assistant director of campus life/student involvement at SUNY Oswego, said that involvement helps students gain employment.

“Companies are looking for students who’ve grown in inclusivity, who have worked with groups on a short deadline,” he said. “It’s where you get to operationalize what you’ve learned in the classroom. That’s the skillset they want.”

Involvement on campus can help you become a well-rounded person with interests that go outside of your major. You can learn interpersonal skills and organization. Involvement can also help you network with people who could introduce you to great opportunities.

It’s also a great way to relieve stress.

Paestella said the school’s virtual engagement with students expands the audience to include more students.

“If they’re not available to be there, they can still watch the recording,” he said. “We have a lot of infrastructure in place.”

He added that many people have become accustomed to using Zoom and other platforms for months now, making it easier for students to engage with school activities and events as virtual experiences. Paestella said that it’s brought some surprising results.

“A lot of our student leaders have been as engaged or more engaged this summer than almost any year I’ve seen in the past,” he said. “No matter what semester it is, the key is for the student to get involved. You have more time than what you think you have.

“It’s important to reach out to our office. People will say, ‘Wow, there’s a ton going on.’”

Especially if you’re an upperclassman, ask about opportunities as a student leader. Recruit others to join you in an activity or organization. Find ways to serve others and bring value to the campus and community through volunteering. Don’t focus on what you cannot do because of the pandemic, but what’s still available, as well as unique opportunities of involvement and service that the pandemic brings.

Fall 2020 10

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College Life

Stop the Spread: Students Called On to Do Their Part

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hile wearing masks, washing hands frequently, virtual gatherings and distancing yourself 6 feet away may feel second nature by now, arriving on campus will bring more health-related measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

SUNY Oswego’s “Oswego Forward” plan (ww1. oswego.edu/oswego-forward) states that in addition to a pre-arrival screening no

sooner than seven days of arriving on campus, the school requires daily health screenings before leaving a residence, whether the student lives on or off campus.

Anyone not feeling well because of COVID-19 symptoms should self-quarantine and seek health care.

Any student testing positive for COVID-19 should notify SUNY Oswego’s Student Health Services immediately.

In the residence halls,

students may or may not elect to join a Pod. This is a social quarantine group of up to 10 students, which provides a means of family-style socializing without widespread mingling.

Wearing masks that cover the mouth and nose is required except when eating and drinking, alone, and with roommate, or assigned Pod members. The school will provide two free cloth face masks to each students

and other PPE and maintain a supply of replacement masks.

Any student with a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees F. or exhibiting symptoms of fever, chills, cough, breathing difficulties, headache, sore throat, muscle/joint aches, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, nasal congestion/ runny nose or new loss of taste or smell should remain at home or in the dorm if a residential student.

At Cayuga Community College (www.cayuga-cc. edu/coronavirus/index. html), health measures include the expected mask wearing, hygiene and social distancing, as well as daily screening at the one entry point of the campus. (The campus now has one entry point and one exit.) The screening will include a thermal temperature scan and a symptom surveillance system. The dean of students and health services will be notified of any students failing the screening. Students will need to log in and log out of campus daily. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, this measure will enable the school to notify exposed students.

The school will provide disposable masks to anyone

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Wearing masks that cover the mouth and nose is required except when eating and drinking, alone, and with roommate, or assigned Pod members. arriving without their own.

Masks must be work when six feet of social distancing can’t be maintained or while using common areas on campus.

Any students who have tested positive for COVID-19, who have had close contact with someone who is infected or who feel ill, should follow CDC guidance to self-isolate off campus.

Students with questions about COVID-19 policies should check their school’s website or reach out the appropriate school designated representative.

College Life

Internships: In-Person or Virtual

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

nterning is an excellent way to gain real-world experience, practice the skills you’re learning in the classroom and network with people who could help you find great opportunities for your future.

Many degree plans include an internship for this reason and up to a certain

limit, many degree plans award credits for interning.

Depending upon the opportunity, some internships pay the student participant.

Whether it’s part of your degree plan or not, interning can give you an advantage in the application process and help you perform better at your first job.

But will interning still happen considering the pandemic? How can you intern while companies are still trying to limit the number of workers in the building at any time?

Jacqueline Campbell Wallace, ’02 and ’04 SUNY Oswego alumnae, is assistant director of Career Services

Simple Test Shows Which Face Masks Are Best

W

hen it comes to face masks, not all are equally effective, a new study finds.

Duke University researchers developed a way of testing various types of masks to see which did the best job of stopping droplets coming from people’s mouths, preventing spread of

the new coronavirus.

They relied on a makeshift apparatus consisting of a box, a laser, a lens and a cellphone camera.

“We confirmed that when people speak, small droplets get expelled, so disease can be spread by talking, without coughing or sneezing,” said

Martin Fischer, a chemist and physicist at the Durham, North Carolina, campus. “We could also see that some face coverings performed much better than others in blocking expelled particles.”

What masks do the best job? That would be N95 masks without valves, followed by surgical or poly-

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and a career coach for education, public and human services at the school. She said that despite the pandemic, many of the school’s departments have worked out ways to intern and many Wallace companies still want to mentor college interns.

“They have offered project-based internships for those who cannot do a virtual-based or in-person internship,” Wallace said.

While in-person internships will still happen, remote internships are also a going to help businesses accommodate interns who cannot work in-person because of health concerns or because the business management is trying to stay below a certain number of employees to maintain social distancing.

Much of how the student participates in the internship relies up on the type of business and the industry in which the student is involved.

“Some are able to shift to virtual more easily,” Wallace said, “while other are not.”

For example, hands-on

careers may shift toward project-based internships, since the work can’t be performed remotely. Careers that may be done remotely such as those focusing on information will likely reflect that in internships, too.

Of course, internships aren’t just about performing work for a company in a real-world setting. Internships are also important learning experiences for students involved. Their employers integrate the school’s educational objectives as part of the daily schedule to complement what students have learned in the lecture hall.

“The mentoring piece is the most important part and that can be done in person or virtually,” Wallace said.

“They can connect with Zoom for a staff meeting, for example. Students can get some virtual experiences and work with employer virtually.”

While this may at first seem like a second-rate internship when compared with working alongside veterans of the industry, Wallace said that it can provide a different, yet also useful internship compared with more conventional internships.

“The students doing these internships are seeing the world of work as to how we’ve adapted,” she said.

propylene masks.

Handmade cotton masks also stop a lot of droplets from normal speech, researchers said.

But bandanas and neck fleeces like balaclavas didn’t block saliva spray much at all.

“This was just a demonstration — more work is required to investigate variations in masks, speakers, and how people wear them,” Fischer said in a university news release. He added it demonstrates that businesses and others that are providing masks to employees or

patrons could do similar testing.

“If everyone wore a mask, we could stop up to 99% of these droplets before they reach someone else,” said physician Eric Westman, an associate professor of medicine at Duke. “In the absence of a vaccine or antiviral medicine, it’s the one proven way to protect others as well as yourself.”

The report was published online Aug. 7 in the journal Science Advances.

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College Life

They Held Internships, Then Got a Job

work when applying to jobs and show that I am already a dedicated writer and reporter.

“I was also able to familiarize myself with another type of reporting on a number of specific topics, from healthcare to new businesses, and learn how to write for an audience I may not have already been familiar with.”

That experience aided

him in gaining employment with Watertown Daily Times in Watertown covering politics, government and community news beat.

Jacqueline Campbell Wallace, SUNY Oswego’s assistant director of career services and a career coach for education, public and human services, said that in addition to fulfilling degree requirements, recruiters look for experience — and often recruit from their interns.

“It creates a pipeline for employers,” Wallace said.

“They can train them, get immersed in the culture of the organization, and the interns can learn expectations and roles. That could turn into a full-time experience.”

She encourages students to work with the school to find interning opportunities that fit.

“Our office is great at communicating with employers as to what the academic outcomes are to make sure that aligns so they start off for success,” Wallace said. “It helps you take what you’re learning in the classroom and apply it.”

Some interning opportunities have transitioned to virtual experience during the pandemic. Wallace said that the school is helping both interns and employers to make it work.

Peter Baskin, president of Personnel Associates Inc. in Syracuse, said that is because “it’s an industry that will see a lot of retirement in the next few years. Forty percent of the industry will be retiring soon.”

Baskin’s company recruits applicants for various positions in the industry.

He said that anyone with a bachelor’s degree relating to business and possibly liberal arts would do well in the insurance industry in positions like underwriting, claims adjusting and marketing.

Most insurance companies offer on-the-job training so new hires are paid while

they learn the industry. In sales positions, new hires usually take a few months of classes to prepare for an exam to qualify for a license.

Consider consulting.

It may seem implausible that professionals would turn to a new graduate for sage advice; however, you offer insights into the latest information on your industry. Your tech savvy also may give you an edge over people with more industry experience but less technology know-how. The key to successful consulting is skillful marketing so that companies and entrepreneurs know what you have to offer.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

U

nsure about the value of interning?

Two internships helped SUNY Oswego alumnae Sushmita Banerjee find employment in her industry.

A computer science major with a mathematics minor, Banerjee completed an internship in 2017 and 2018 at Ahold Delhaize, an international food retail group that owns numerous grocery store brands. Once she graduated in May 2019, the company hired her as a full-time employee.

Without the internship, she doubts she would have been hired so readily after graduation.

“I could show them I possessed the skills that would benefit their company,” Banerjee said. “I could transition into the job opportunity after graduation because they saw me work and saw my skills.”

The experience also

helped her pinpoint what she wanted to do with her degree: front-end programming of mobile apps.

Banerjee also felt that the internships gave her an edge over other applicants. Many employers in this field want experienced applicants.

“I had real world experience versus the classroom,” she said. “It’s not something a professor can teach you.”

Banerjee now she works for Siemens, Inc. in New Orleans as a building automation engineering assistant, a position she’s sure she would not have if she had not completed her internships and made many important connections during that time.

She believes that in addition to real world experience, internships help students network within their industry in ways that job fairs can’t match.

Banerjee encourages any student to undertake an

internship, especially in fields where experience is required, instead of assuming a graduate program is the only way to go.

“An internship qualifies you and builds your resume,” she said. “It definitely helps someone narrow down their path right after college. You won’t have that struggle period of figuring out what to do with your major.”

A 2020 Oswego grad, Alex Gault-Plate, double majored in journalism and history. He interned at Local News, Inc. in Oswego, a publishing company that publishes Oswego County Business Magazine, In Good Health and College Life, among other periodicals.

“I would say that my internship gave me more experience in professional writing and gave me a sense of working in the professional writing industry,” Gault-Plate said. “I was able to point to specific examples of published

Need a Job in the Spring? This Is the Time to Apply

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

G

raduating this spring?

Congratulations! It’s an exciting time as you look forward to finding a job and finally engaging in your career. But don’t wait; the time to start looking is now, according to Carol Fletcher, president of CL Fletcher in Syracuse.

“You should really get on it ASAP,” she said. “Make your resume and have a meeting with your career services department. Typically, students wait until the first semester is over.”

Research companies for which you would like to work and the industry in general.

“Find out what companies and industries are actively hiring and growing,” Fletcher said. “It’s competitive out there. Don’t hesitate to look to business executives you know and where they see movement in the industry.”

Of course, online searching and communication is essential, but don’t neglect talking with people oneon-one, such as professors,

13 Fall 2020

friends of your parents, and anyone else.

“Talk with as many people as you can,” Fletcher said. “Keep the lines of communication open; it’s critical.”

She said that one example of an industry that’s really hot now is healthcare.

“That’s where we’re seeing the majority of opportunity,” she said. “You don’t have to be a medical provider. Any title at a healthcare organization will be steady.”

Unfortunately, the economy has changed a lot— not only since you were a freshman, but also since 2020 began.

“As soon as you get ready for graduation, the interview style may be different,” said Michelle Jevis, director of HR and staffing at CL Fletcher.

Instead of going to an office to talk, it’s likely going to be Go To Meeting or Zoom interviews.

“Focus on a professional presence with those types of interviews,” Jevis said. “People find themselves lax at

home, like sipping coffee and glancing at their cell phone off to the side.”

If your desired career path isn’t feasible in the spring or you decide it’s not right for you, you have options that will use your education. Jevis said that any industries considered “essential” during the pandemic will likely have openings for graduates, such as companies that have government contracts.

“We see these companies performing very strongly,” Jevis said. “Anyone who’s a supplier of health care industries is strong. Manufacturing is also strong.

As another example, consider the insurance industry. Any additional training required is minimal and the pay and job outlook is good.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the 2019 mean starting wage for insurance sales agents in New York as $69,980. The Bureau further states that the projected growth between 2018 and 2028 is 10%, considered “faster than average.”

Alex Gault-Plate double majored in journalism and history in May. He interned at Local News, Inc. in Oswego and now works as a reporter for The Watertown Daily Times.

Carol Fletcher, president of CL Fletcher in Syracuse, and an assistant, Michelle Jevis.

College Life

Good News: November Election Can Be Held Safely, Experts Say

W

ith the 2020 presidential election less than three months away, new research suggests an election can be held safely if stringent steps are taken to lower COVID-19 infection risk.

The conclusion follows a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigation that looked at what happened in the city of Milwaukee this past April after Wisconsin became the first state to hold an election in the midst of the pandemic.

The bottom line: the election did not appear to

trigger an uptick in cases, hospitalizations or deaths due to COVID-19.

The caveat: the vast majority of voters (68%) cast mail-in absentee ballots. And those who voted in person did so under the watchful eyes of the state National Guard and city health department staff.

According to study author Eva Leidman — an epidemiologist with the CDC’s emergency response and recovery branch in Atlanta — adhering to safety recommendations is critical.

The CDC, said Leidman,

supports safety measures such as “hand-washing, staying home when sick, coughing and sneezing [into the] elbow, and face coverings.”

Environmental cleaning and disinfection are also important, she added, in an effort “to make sure Americans can participate safely in elections.”

Beyond that, a CDC directive issued in late June also advocates a “wide variety of voting options” and longer voting periods, whether that involves weeks of early voting or longer hours on election day. And

Survey: Fauci, Cuomo Top Trump as Reliable Sources on COVID-19

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espite facing continued criticism from the Trump administration,

Dr. Anthony Fauci is still the considered best source for COVID-19 information,

“Famous Since 1984”

an online poll finds.

A growing number of Americans say federal, state

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it warns that “elections with only in-person voting on a single day are higher risk for COVID-19 spread because there will be larger crowds and longer wait times.”

The June directive was issued well after Wisconsin’s April 7 primary elections.

But Leidman and her colleagues found that the voters of Milwaukee seem to have preemptively embraced much of the same thinking.

For example, in recent weeks, President Donald Trump has publicly disparaged the wide-scale use of

and local governments are doing a poor job of responding to the coronavirus pandemic — and a shrinking number see President Donald Trump as a reliable information source.

The survey was conducted June 19-26 by the University of Southern California’s Center for the Digital Future as a follow-up to an April study. The new findings revealed 44% of Americans rely on Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, more than anyone else.

After Fauci, people rely on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (19%); CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta or their local mayor (16%); and coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (15%).

In the June survey, 12% of Americans trusted Trump for reliable pandemic infor-

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absentee ballots, going so far as to float the idea of postponing the upcoming November election based on claims that mail-in votes are vulnerable to massive fraud.

But Milwaukee voters clearly had no such qualms.

Statewide public health messaging strenuously encouraged absentee voting, and the Milwaukee Election Commission found that 68% of Milwaukee voters heeded that call in 2020, up from 4% in 2016.

Similarly, early voting jumped 160%, rising from just under 5% of voters in 2016 to 12% in 2020.

By contrast, while in-person election day voting accounted for 91% of all votes cast in 2016, that figure plummeted to less than 20% in 2020.

mation, down from 20% in April.

Two percent of liberals and 29% of conservatives said they relied on the president, though he was tops among 40% who identified themselves as very conservative.

Fewer had faith in any governmental response to the pandemic.

Forty-three percent said the federal response was poor up from 39% in April.

Eighteen percent called state and local response poor in June up from 14% in April.

In all, 28% called the federal government’s response good or excellent — down from 33% in April.

More than 1,000 people participated in the online poll. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Fall 2020 14

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College Life

New Oswego Alumni Podcast Series Tells Stories Spanning Decades

A

new monthly Oswego Alumni Podcast, a partnership between SUNY Oswego’s Alumni Association and student-run WNYO radio, collects stories and recollections from alumni spanning the decades.

The debut May episode looked back a half-century to the first Earth Day and related topics, with 1970 graduate Ken Froebig and 1972 graduate Greg Loan.

The June episode featured May graduate Mike Russo, a former chief of the Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corps who is now a Long Island emergency medical technician.

The new July episode features a successful alumni couple in 2005 graduate Gabriel Almanzar, supervising art director for “CBS This Morning,” and 2006 graduate Aida Morales-Almanzar, president at Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine.

The Oswego Alumni Podcast is hosted by SUNY Oswego May graduate Carl Neff, the former general manager of WNYO, who speaks with alumni from a diverse range of backgrounds, spanning across several decades, career fields and interests to discuss their experiences at Oswego and life after graduation.

Stephanie Lamb, Oswego Alumni Association senior associate alumni director, said the idea of a podcast featuring Oswego alumni is something the Alumni and Development team has discussed in recent years but the need for new and innovative ways to stay connected with the alumni community and finding willing partners in WNYO made the timing right.

“I had suggested that we connect with WNYO to see if they might be interested in partnering on something,” Lamb said. “We thought that they might have a much better handle on what it would take to pull this off given their experience in broadcasting and radio, and that from our end, we could really play a key role in bringing the alumni to the table to participate.”

Planning sessions with Neff and Jenn Robilotto, who is taking over the GM role, proved very productive.

“Jenn and I thought this was a great idea that could grow into something so much more,” Neff said.

“I then accepted the offer

15 Fall 2020

and worked on building the foundations of the podcast before we went right into interviews. The goal of the podcast is to connect alumni back with Oswego, as well as make current and future students feel more connected to the alumni too.”

Lamb has been recruiting alumni for the podcast, although anybody who wants to nominate an alum or volunteer to be a future guest can email alumni@oswego. edu.

“I feel once the podcast grows, more alumni will just be reaching out to us and we will have tons of interviews to do,” Neff said.

big and Loan chatting about their time at Oswego, including burying of a DeSoto on that first Earth Day to protest environmental pollution, their experiences as college students during the Vietnam War era and other recollections.

For the June edition, Russo discussed “how his time as chief of SAVAC at Oswego prepared him as a first responder during a glob-

al pandemic, as well as what it’s been like to graduate during this unprecedented time,” Lamb said.

“Our alumni have truly done so many amazing things and it’s our honor to be able to provide this additional opportunity for them to tell their stories,” Lamb noted. “My favorite part is by far hearing from our alumni as they each share

their unique experiences as students and as post-grads.

It is an honor to be able to bring their stories to a larger audience of alumni, students and friends and to highlight the incredible alumni at Oswego.”

To hear existing podcasts on Anchor, visit https:// anchor.fm/oswego-alumni-podcast. The podcast is available on Spotify as well.

Across the decades The podcast debuted in May, about a week after the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, with Froe-

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College Life

7 Ideas to Stop You from Drowning in Student Loans And paying off your loan quicker than expected

By Jeremy Biberdorf

I

t’s no secret that attending college is expensive. From class tuition and books to the additional expenses of living on your own, be prepared to spend thousands of dollars a semester during your college career.

Many college students opt for taking out a student loan. So many go this route that you’ve likely heard talk about the student loan debt crisis in the United States.

That’s because the student loan debt hit a record $1.56 trillion in 2020.

That’s a lot of money lent out to students across the country.

Want to avoid drowning in student loans and increasing that statistic?

The following seven ideas may provide you with the help needed to pay back

your student loans and get you closer to being debt-free.

Don’t Delay – Start Paying Your Loan Right Away It’s common for a college graduate to have a grace period with their loan (a set timeframe before monthly payments kick in). As appealing as it seems to use up those payment-free months, you have to start paying that loan eventually so you may as well get it over with.

If you have the income to do so, make those payments as soon as you can to get it paid off quicker.

Use a Payment Plan That Is Best for You You have your choice

of two main methods for paying back your loan: the federal student loan repayments or the income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans.

Spend some time researching and learning about the available payment plans (look at some of these favorites, according to beststudentloans.com). Going with an option that suits your life the most can help make the payment process a bit more bearable.

Should You Refinance Once you are out of college and working, you may want to consider refinancing.

This varies by each graduate’s circumstances. If you have a good credit history

and a stable income, refinancing may be attractive.

If you have multiple private loans at high interest rates, consolidating at a lower rate is likely a good idea.

However, refinancing takes you out of the federal loan system. This is not attractive if you want a payment plan based on your income, which is available in federal programs. You also do not want to look at refinancing if you think you will qualify for loan forgiveness (for example, you work in certain public sector jobs where there are loan forgiveness jobs). If you have a bad credit history, the interest rates are likely to be much less attractive and sticking with existing programs is better for you.

Up Your Monthly Payments Rather than planning to pay the monthly minimum, you may want to consider increasing your payments if you are able to do so. Paying the minimum is a sure way to extend your loan and may cost you more than prepaying.

Although the minimum payment will keep your finances in good standing,

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it’s only tackling a fraction of the loan. A good chunk of that minimum payment goes to the incurred interest, and the remainder goes to the principal of the loan (the actual loaned amount).

Upping your monthly payments even a bit can help pay your loan off quicker without adding more interest to the total.

Make a Budget (and Stick to It) If you don’t have a budget going yet, you should start one right now. Budgeting provides you with a snapshot of your financial situation. It will tell you where all your money is going and if you’re heading down the path to more debt.

Set up a budget that focuses on your student loan. Make a section for your monthly expenses and a smaller bit for luxury spending (you need breaks from school). Track your spending and see where you can make small cuts. Whatever you cut back on can go toward your student loan.

Live Like You’re In Debt If your lifestyle doesn’t reflect how much debt you have, it’s going to take you quite some time to be debtfree. Although it’s fun to party in college, is it coming at the expense of your future financial freedom?

Adjusting your lifestyle to one that has a higher focus on paying back your debt doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. You can still have an enjoyable life; you’re just living within your means. In a few years this will pay off and allow you to more toward securing your financial future and goals like home ownership (if that is what you want),

Never Miss a Payment If you miss or are late on even one payment, it will start to hurt your credit score. This will make it more difficult to refinance and consolidate student loans if you want to do so in future.

It will increase the interest rate you pay on everything from a car to an appliance purchase. Many landlords run credit checks on tenants.

Some employers will check your credit history as well.

This story was previously published by www.NextStepU. com.

ALL SERVICES ARE CONFIDENTIAL Fall 2020 16

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College Life creativity, teaching skills and generously sharing knowledge, said Enrique Zamudio, dean of that college’s School of the Arts.

International impact

Inspirational artist -- SUNY Oswego art professor Juan Perdiguero recently added the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities to his impressive portfolio of accomplishments and awards.

Art Professor Receives Chancellor’s Award

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n addition to being a world-renowned artist, educator and Fulbright Scholar, SUNY Oswego art professor Juan Perdiguero can add another honor: earning the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.

“Highly regarded in his field, Professor Juan Perdiguero has an exceptional national and international reputation for his life-sized drawings done with ink-onphoto-emulsion-paper,” said his nominator, art professor Cynthia Clabough. “His portraits of people and

animals have been described as ‘striking,’ ‘stunning’ and ‘arresting,’ to name a few of the superlatives used.”

Since Perdiguero joined the art faculty in 2002, Clabough said he “continually inspires students and faculty with the depth, complexity and quality of his work,” and exhibiting alongside him since the mid-1990s made Clabough “amazed and humbled by the growth his work has experienced in the past 24 years.”

“Professor Perdiguero is extraordinarily dedicated and passionate about his studio work,” Clabough

noted. “As such, his exhibition record is extensive and supports his stature as an artist to watch on the national and international scene. His work is routinely on display in major cities in the United States and Spain as well as other European countries. … A look at his vita shows a dedicated artist who has been producing quality, noteworthy work for a very long time.”

A Fulbright Scholar who collaborated with Universidad Finis Terrae in Santiago, Chile, in the 2018-19 academic year, Perdiguero made a large impact through his

“During his time, the academic activities that he designed and implemented were highly valued by faculty and students who recognized the extraordinary artistic and academic value of Professor Perdiguero’s knowledge in the field of drawing,” Zamudio wrote. “[H]e proved to be a talented and capable instructor with a wide knowledge, experience and methodological resources who encouraged critical research and analysis to the students he worked with.”

SUNY Oswego art faculty member Lisa Seppi praised Perdiguero’s role in the emergence of “animalia,” a genre imbuing animals with human attributes, as part of an important artistic movement.

“His work, however, challenges the historic conventions of animals in art, rejecting stereotypical portrayals of animals engaged in dynamic action or of humans and animals together wherein the animal’s attributes are transposed onto the human protagonist,” Seppi wrote. “Juan’s images visually compel viewers to probe aspects of their own existence and inner psyche through his surrogate animals.”

Perdiguero has presented some two dozen solo exhibitions, as well as more than 30 exhibitions with other artists.

In 2017, he earned the SUNY Oswego President’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity.

Seppi also celebrated Perdiguero’s drive and continuous strives for self-improvement.

“His tremendous work ethic and his humility are two traits that make Juan an exceptional artist, colleague and educator,” Seppi said. “He willingly shares his experiences and knowledge with his students to help them navigate the difficult journey of becoming an artist — hard work, rejection, conviction, the importance of not only developing your own personal artistic vocabulary but also having something to say, and finally, he dispels myths about talent or artistic genius … you must work at it and you must also have character.”

Perdiguero’s impact across the art and educational fields was additionally underscored by support letters from colleagues who teach at Columbia University, the Art Institute of Chicago, Rhode Island School of Design and Michigan School of Art and Design.

Perdiguero earned a bachelor of fine arts in art conservation and painting and a master of fine arts in drawing from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in his native Spain, as well as a master of fine arts in painting from the University at Buffalo. True to his continuing aim for self-improvement, Perdiguero is on track for earning his Ph.D. in fine arts from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2021.

Physics Professor Gets Syracuse CoE Support for Sodium Ion Battery Research

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UNY Oswego physics faculty member Mohammad Islam was named a Syracuse CoE (Center of Excellence) faculty fellow, an honor that will support his work on developing sodium battery potential.

The SyracuseCoE faculty fellows program supports seed projects that strengthen faculty scholarship in clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality and water resources. The program brings together a diverse community of faculty members from many disciplines. Each faculty member who is involved in a project is appointed as a SyracuseCoE faculty fellow for a threeyear term.

Islam’s submission, “Synthesis of Silicon, Tin

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and Phosphorus Nanoparticles as Anode Materials for High-Performance Sodium Ion Battery for Grid Scale Energy Storage,” continues his research on the sodium ion battery as a promising technology to power the planet while having a more positive impact upon it.

“We need to think about using sources developed out of natural, readily available materials, like sodium,” Islam explained. “We are seeing a need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable technology. Sodium ion batteries can play a key role in transitioning to green technology.”

These batteries would utilize silicon, tin and phosphorus nanoparticle anodes to develop “grid-scale

energy storage systems as an alternative to the current lithium ion batteries,” with the sodium ion battery being a more affordable option due to the abundance of its materials, Islam wrote in his grant application.

“Salt exists on earth in a virtually unlimited supply,” Islam noted, with the research focusing on the safest and most efficient ways of extracting it from this natural sodium chloride form and synthesizing its nanoparticles with tin and phosphorus to create long-lasting, low-cost energy opportunities.

The grant, in large part, would provide stipends for students to work in Islam’s SUNY Oswego lab in researching how to most safely and effectively develop sodi-

SUNY Oswego physics faculty member Mohammad Islam shows off sodium ion batteries in a Shineman Center physics lab. Islam was named a Syracuse CoE (Center of Excellence) faculty fellow, an honor that will support his work on this renewable energy solution. um batteries. In addition to the goals of the project, “this is work that will prepare a student well for a Ph.D.

program or for working in a similar capacity after graduation,” Islam said.

College Life the final draft. Ideally, you should write several drafts with time elapsing between each.

Use editing software, but don’t rely on it solely. Software doesn’t always catch flubs such as these examples of using “add” and “ask,” which are both real words:

2.

Researchers need to add many questions. (This should be “ask.”)

Don’t ask numbers until the end of the equation. (This should be “add.”)

10 Tips for Proofing Papers

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

t may seem tedious combing through your term papers for errors, but don’t think of proofreading as an unnecessary waste of time.

Mistakes in your papers cost

you points off your grade.

Use these tips to earn better grades on your papers.

Don’t edit a paper the same day you complete it. Your eyes will

1.

skip over mistakes or fill in missing words this way.

Instead, plan so that you can set the paper aside at least 24 hours between completing the bulk of the writing and

Microsoft Word’s spell checker skipped right over these uses because they are technically correct; however, they are not the right words for the context. Also, editing software may wrongly flag what is correct. If you’re not sure you have it right, look it up.

Refer often to your professor’s preferred style guide. Some teachers have spelling or capitalization rules that reflect the industry. Others have personal preferences and may count off points for any deviations.

Read the syllabus for your class care-

3.

4.

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fully to ensure you follow any class rules.

Examine any sample term paper excerpts your instructor may provide. These can give you clues as to the preferred rules. (They can also help you write better, so look for traits like the tone, density of quotes and cited sources, style and flow. Does the sample feature short sentences or more complex structure? Is the language descriptive or blunt?)

Check for mistakes by reading the paper aloud or having your computer read it to you.

Try printing your paper and reading it. For some people, this makes a difference.

Also try reading the paper backwards. This tip will help you catch spelling mistakes that the editing software misses.

Ask a friend if you can exchange papers for proofreading.

Hire a proofreader to look over your paper. While your buddy may offer a good first round of proofing, a professional will dig even deeper.

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Addiction

My Drug Addiction, and How to Kick the Tobacco Habit

By Kimberly Blaker

I

woke up this morning and felt the agonizing withdrawal symptoms washing over me. It’s a persistent anxiousness that doesn’t cease until I get my fix.

I slipped on my robe and slippers, poured a cup of coffee, and frantically headed to the garage, where I try to keep the substance from my family. As always, my habit is waiting to greet me.

As I take a hit, a peaceful feeling washes over my body and mind. I can now begin my day feeling alive once again.

Yet as the day wears on, I feel the chemicals drain. Every hour or so, this drug starts calling me, unrelentingly, and I continue to replenish my body with the chemicals I so desperately need.

Every worrisome or sad thought or happy reminiscence drives me to another fix. Even tiredness, hunger, and boredom can be eased through this addiction of mine.

Now, as I lie in bed, I reflect on it. It’s my best friend and my worst enemy. I deliberate on how much it’s costing me, not just financially, but the toll it’s taking on my body.

It’s stealing the rug from under my feet. It’s draining my energy and making my heart race through life.

I can’t catch my breath. My skin is aging, and the substance leaves my body with a repulsive odor. I think about the diseases it puts me at risk for, such as cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. I don’t want to die that way. I want to live a full life.

I tell myself to go to sleep, and tomorrow I’ll start anew. I’ll dry up and go straight. But as I drift closer to sleep, I know tomorrow will go unchanged, for the craving is already creeping in again. I’m dependent in this love-hate relationship. I look forward to my next drag off a cigarette. Nicotine is my life — and will probably be my death.

Three years later

Fortunately, this relationship finally soured and came to a screeching halt. I kicked the habit and slammed the door behind. Through the years, I tried relentlessly to cut my ties with this shadow that seemingly couldn’t be shed; quitting cold turkey, cutting back, New Year resolutions, patches, gum, Zyban. All were temporary at best. But I never gave up.

Today I wake up to the smell of the fresh summer breeze rather than the stench of stale cigarettes that once drenched my body. My skin glows,

and my heart is calm. My midnight cough is long gone. Walking up the stairs doesn’t leave me breathless.

My energy soars, and I look forward to the once dreaded pleasures of life.

Now I can enjoy a vigorous peddle through the park or a spirited hike in the woods. Best of all, the diseases I could almost feel setting in have mostly erased from my body and mind. I now feel an inner peace I could never leave behind.

Ways to Help Quit

If you don’t think you can quit cold turkey, try one of the following nicotine replacement methods or medications, most approved by the FDA for quitting smoking.

• Nicotine Patches: These come in a 16-hour and 24-hour patch and don’t require a prescription. Manufacturers typically suggest eight weeks, though the FDA recommends three to five months.

• Nicotine nasal spray: By prescription only, nasal spray delivers a quick dose of nicotine to the bloodstream. Recommended use is three to six months.

• Nicotine gum: No prescription is required for nicotine gum, which comes in two strengths. It can be used for up to six months, though one to three months is the usual recommendation.

• Nicotine lozenges: These should not be confused with tobacco lozenges. Tobacco lozenges are a form of smokeless tobacco and have not been proven a successful cessation aid. Nicotine lozenges, on the

other hand, have been approved by the FDA for quitting smoking.

• Nicotine inhalers: These can be used for up to six months and are by prescription only.

• eCigarettes: Electronic cigarettes and vaporizers have become the latest success story in helping millions of people to quit smoking.

While useful for quitting smoking, there is much debate on their safety as they have not been around long enough for any conclusive studies.

• Bupropion: An anti-depressant, also known as Zyban, requires a prescription. It doesn’t contain nicotine, yet affects brain chemicals that lead to nicotine cravings.

• Varenicline: Chantix is a drug developed for smoking cessation. Studies have shown a high success rate with Varenicline. Some studies have found it to have higher success rates than Bupropion.

• Hypnosis: This method is useful for some smokers. Ask your doctor to recommend a hypnotist.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance lifestyle writer.

She’s also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at kbcreativedigital.com.

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College Life

Prof. Brad Korbesmeyer Retires After Nearly 30-Year Career

A

fter nearly three decades of teaching, mentoring and helping build stronger writers through SUNY Oswego, Brad Korbesmeyer recently retired from the English and creative writing faculty — with an honor that will carry on his legacy.

“Brad spent 30 years building one of the best playwriting tracks for undergraduates in the country,” said Leigh Wilson, distinguished service professor and chairwoman of English and creative writing. This spring semester, the department announced the annual Brad Korbesmeyer Award for Playwriting will honor an Oswego student who excels in this genre.

“I have been blessed with a great number of students who truly attend class — pay attention to

what we members of the class think and have to share,” Korbesmeyer said.

“Their wanting to be part of a community I’m leading for 55 minutes is heartwarming and gratifying. I’ve also been blessed with students who want to keep me in their lives beyond the classroom and graduation.”

The announcement came during the creative writing program’s 50th annual creative writing contest, held via Zoom with award readings by students during the spring semester. Student winners read excerpts from their work with introductions from creative writing faculty. The audience included current students, their parents, alumni and accepted high school students into Oswego’s creative writing program.

The ceremony featured a

special tribute as 20 alumni who took Korbesmeyer’s playwriting course offered two-minute videos thanking Korbesmeyer, which he described as “overwhelming,” with the renaming of the award something he “will always cherish.”

Teacher and writer Korbesmeyer, who joined the Oswego faculty in 1991 and earned the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003, has taught playwriting, screenwriting and technical writing while remaining a generous and ac-

cessible mentor for decades.

His playwriting work has won numerous awards and recognition. Korbesmeyer’s one-act comedy “Incident at San Bajo” won the Heideman Award from Actors Theatre of Louisville, and had over 80 productions (including as an opera) in the U.S. and Canada.

Korbesmeyer’s theatrical credits include award-winning play “Open Window,” “Spirits,” “Piaf in Vienna” and a puppet theatre adaptation of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” as well as the screenplay “Peace and Quiet.” His

play “Twain’s Last Chapter” received its inaugural reading at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford in 2012, part of Twain’s 177th birthday celebration.

During his time at Oswego, Korbesmeyer has also served as interim dean of graduate studies and associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Korbesmeyer earned a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri — which is honoring him with a piece in its magazine — and a master of fine arts in playwriting from Carnegie Mellon University.

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Brad Korbesmeyer, shown on the stage of Tyler Hall’s Waterman Theatre, recently retired from the SUNY Oswego English and creative writing faculty after nearly three decades of teaching, mentoring and helping build stronger writers.

Are you a Veteran in need of Health Care?

Take advantage of your benefits at minimal to no cost to you!

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To apply for benefits, please visit the clinic, call 315-207-0120 apply online at https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/ For help with determining eligibility, you may also contact Oswego County Veteran Service Agency at 315-591-9100 or the Veterans Service Contact Center at 1-888-823-9656

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