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OswegoCollegeLife.com

FALL 2019

You are here now. Welcome! Al Roker to Teach at SUNY Oswego Best Kept Secrets of Oswego Hidden gems worth the visit

What a Great Volunteer Gig I Found for Myself this Summer!

New on Campus Prof. Tiffany Deater

Page 25

Life After College Three recent graduates talk about their lives after college — what they say might surprise you

Socializing in the Era of Social Media Ideas for socializing without a screen 1

Fall 2019

Page 6

Big Brother’s Watching Keeping an eye out — Security surveillance being featured in downtown Oswego to thwart vandalism and crime ALSO INSIDE SUNY Oswego University Police now armed with body cameras Page 7

College Life

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One of the longest-running projects in Oswego, the development of a pedestrian area on Water Street, was finished in mid-July. It is named Water Street Square. Photo by Alex Plate.

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New places to eat: Nora’s Kitchen in downtown and the soon-to-be open Taco Bell on the east side.

City on the Rise Oswego’s downtown undergoing a major facelift; new businesses flourish By Alex Plate

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his summer has seen an explosion of new development in the city of Oswego. New businesses, renovations and construction are opening up the downtown area to plenty of new opportunities, some thanks to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. One of the longest-running projects, the development of a pedestrian area on Water Street was finished in mid-July. Officially named Water Street Square, the space replaces what was once a short dead-end street that cut between the Ferris Wheel and Coffee Connection. The new space offers a faster connection between West First and Water streets as well as benches and lights to make the area more comfortable and safer. In the Canal Commons, Kephera Coffee opened in June to serve ethically-sourced, in-house roasted coffee from organic farms. Owner and barista Jessica Spano has had years of experience in the coffee industry

and has brought that knowledge with her to the new cafe. Just down West First Street in the Canal Commons building as well, a new restaurant focused on serving healthy, organic food opened in June. Nora’s Kitchen specializes in breakfast and lunch, served in a clean, bright, modern storefront. Their porridge bowls and their hot sandwiches are highly recommended. They also offer to-go, premade and baked goods. Another relatively new business in downtown Oswego is J&J’s Cafe on West Bridge Street. The cafe opened in the spring of this year and serves baked goods, boba or bubble tea, coffee and tea. Across town, next to the Price Chopper Plaza, the long-awaited Oswego Taco Bell was expected to open in late summer after years of anticipation. Those who travel through downtown Oswego will also note that the

building that once housed the Global Buffet has been demolished, making way for a commercial space and apartment building at West Bridge and First streets. The Children’s Museum of Oswego reopened in celebratory fashion in July after months of renovations and upgrades. The city also completed beautification projects in the center of downtown and at the intersection of Bridge and West First streets. After months of planning, a new Dunkin’ Donuts location is being completed on the west side of the city as well, at the intersection of West First and Utica streets. This location is owned by the same franchise that owns the other Dunkin’ Donuts locations in the city, and has been in the works for nearly two years. Plenty more is planned for the Oswego area, including a water park complex next to the Quality Inn, a business incubator, and the development of a mixed-use plaza downtown. n See related story on page 26

Fall 2019

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Fall 2019

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Khepera Coffee in the Canal Commons in Oswego is a very recent addition to the Oswego business community, having opened this past July. Owner Jessica Spano is shown next to the espresso coffee maker.

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swego has been my home for three years now, and in that time I have gotten to know the city and appreciate what it has to offer. The area has many hidden gems that visitors, students and residents have all fallen in love with. Khepera Coffee in the Canal Commons is a very recent addition to the Oswego business community, having opened this past July. The Canal Commons hosts several businesses along West First Street in downtown Oswego. The owner, Jessica Spano, prides herself on providing expertly brewed, in-house roasted, ethnically sourced coffee, and the central location of the cafe makes it a must visit. Behind Canal Commons is the Oswego River, whose mouth is home to the Port of Oswego Authority. The river divides the city into its eastern and western halves. Along the west side of the river, a path follows the river bank up to Utica Street, and is decorated with local art. Anyone with an hour to spare in the downtown area of the city should wander the path to take advantage of its tranquil and beautiful scenery.

The Rice Creek Field Station is another location with plenty of possibilities. Located outside the city on Thompson road in the town of Oswego, the station is run by SUNY Oswego and offers frequent educational programs on a variety of topics relating to the local biosphere. A long network of trails, along with geocaches and other outdoorsy activities, gives visitors a chance to experience the unique flora and fauna of the Oswego area. The Oswego area is flush with restaurants as well, with plenty of choices available. One of the must-visits is Wonzones Calzones, a calzone restaurant that specifically caters to SUNY Oswego students. Open only during the academic year, Wonzones offers pickup or delivery anywhere in the city and has become a local staple. Maria’s Family Restaurant is a traditional diner on West Second Street, perfect for those weekend breakfasts or a casual lunch. Their fast service, fair prices and cozy atmosphere, along with their

homemade desserts, make Maria’s a great place to visit for a meal with friends or family. Ontario Orchards is a farmer’s market west of SUNY Oswego on state Route 104 West in the town of Oswego. In the fall, apple picking at the orchard is offered, and its wide variety of apples ensures that anyone will find their favorite flavor. Ontario Orchards also has a gift shop, bakery, cider mill, nursery and it even offers Christmas trees for the holiday season. Breitbeck Park is one of the best places in the city to see the lake. Nestled along the shoreline, behind the breakwall that protects the city from the worst of Lake Ontario, the park gives a wide view of the lake, with a trail running along the shoreline. The city recently did some work on the park, and a new set of carved stone stairs lead to the water and the marina. Breitbeck Park is home to plenty of local events during the warmer months as well.

Wonzones Calzones, a calzone restaurant in downtown Oswego that specifically caters to SUNY Oswego students.

Fall 2019

College Life

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Fall 2019

College Life

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tudents taking “Cinema and the Environment,” “Freshman Practicum for Cinema” or “Film Genre” at SUNY Oswego will get to know Tiffany Deater, one of the newer instructors at the school.

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Deater is a Ph.D. candidate in environmental biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, and a recent graduate from Syracuse University, where she studied video art. Teaching at Oswego is somewhat of a homecoming to Deater, who is from Utica. She taught in Kansas for a year and then had the option to teach in New Zealand or return to Central New York. “Before I took this position at SUNY Oswego, I interviewed for a position in New Zealand, but I turned that down in hopes that Oswego would work out,” she said. “That’s how much I like Oswego.” She began teaching at Oswego in fall of 2018. Deater used to camp a lot in Fair Haven and enjoys the campus location on the lake. “I really liked the community,” she said. “I liked the layout of the college. I like the local parks and the change of the seasons here. It felt like a good place to be.” She works as an independent filmmaker/producer, creating wildlife documentaries and experimental videos. Her works have been screened internationally at various film festivals and art exhibitions. Deater is working on obtaining a grant to produce her dissertation. “It’s a documentary film exploring the history of wildlife filmmaking and how we see animals and wildlife through television, movies and film,” Deater said. “How does that influence the way we understand animal

Tiffany Deater, one of the newer instructors at SUNY Oswego. She is a Ph.D. candidate in environmental biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, and a recent graduate from Syracuse University, where she studied video art. Teaching at Oswego is somewhat of a homecoming to Deater, she said. behavior? “I’m hoping to give young people a better sense of what wildlife is really like,” she added. “A lot of people go to zoos and are bored or go to national parks and wonder where the animals are. I want to make movies to portray animals in a more realistic way.” She hopes to complete the project in two years. Deater said she enjoys the enthusiasm and energy of her students when discuss-

ing science fiction, technology, cell phone use and how people form lasting relationships with each other. “We talk about things like why we’re always connected but feel alone,” Deater said. As would be expected for someone making a nature documentary, Deater enjoys backpacking, camping and canoeing. She also likes spending time with her dog, a pug mix. OCT 4th, 5th

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Fall 2019

College Life

Big Brother’s Watching Keeping an eye out — Security surveillance being featured in downtown Oswego to thwart vandalism, crime By Lou Sorendo

ig Brother is watching, but it’s all for the right reasons. A network of security surveillance cameras has been established in downtown Oswego to prevent vandalism and offer more protection to public space and property owners. The city recently completed two major public space improvement projects through the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant the city was awarded in 2016. The $1.5 million “Complete Streets” project has resulted in benches, landscap-

ing, infrastructure improvements and new pedestrian crosswalks along a portion of state Route 104, otherwise known as Bridge Street. Also, a $900,000 project has resulted in improvements to Water Street and construction of a new pocket park — Water Street Square. “We need to protect this investment from being vandalized and destroyed and adding cameras is one way to do just that,” said city of Oswego Mayor William “Billy” Barlow. “We also want our property owners to be confident that they can improve their store fronts

and enhance their curb appeal without worrying about vandalism. “If there is vandalism, we will identify the suspect and hold them accountable to prevent further trouble.” Security cameras have been positioned on West Bridge Street, along the West Riverwalk and in the new Water Street Square, covering public space between West Oneida to West Cayuga Street and the West Riverwalk to West Second Street. The camera system also gives local law enforcement an additional tool to use to follow up on incidents and investigations. Oswego City Police will have the ability to view what’s happening in multiple areas in real time as well as be able to review footage. Twelve of the 26 downtown cameras had already been installed as of Aug. 9, with the balance of the cameras expected to be in place by Labor Day.

Barlow said the city also plans to install some cameras along its river walks and the O&W Railway tunnel on the city’s eastside. The mayor said to also expect cameras along the

Harbor Trail that runs along the base of Breitbeck Park. The project cost is approximately $7,000 for all equipment, with installation being conducted by the city’s technology department.

University Police Now Armed with Body Cameras Video capabilities provide valuable resource for University Police; ensure public safety By Alexander Plate

he New York State University Police Department at SUNY Oswego has had a semester to use its body cameras, and so far, the results have been positive. After purchasing a full set of SafetyVision body cameras in January of this year, University Police Chief John Rossi says they have helped make officers’ jobs safer and given the public a sense of safety and accountability. “The officers like it because it does increase their safety, as well as the public’s safety, when the public knows that their behavior is on camera,” Rossi said.

The cameras were purchased with department funds, according to Rossi. The Oswego County District Attorney’s office is reimbursing the department for part of the purchase with funds seized from raids on drug dealers. The state police commissioner governs the use of body cameras by state police, and there is a detailed policy for officers to follow when using the cameras. “We have a statewide policy that directs officers on the proper usage of the cameras, when they should be recording, and when they

should not be, for privacy purposes,” Rossi said. For example, if someone is not the subject of an investigation or an arrest, and is on private property or in their dorm room while speaking with an officer, they can ask for the camera to be turned off. The cameras have an indicator light that glows green when recording, and officers save their contents to a central server when returning to their docking station at the end of a shift. It is not possible to delete or alter videos or photos taken with the devices, according to its

This past February, University Police at SUNY Oswego issued cameras worn center-of-chest to 17 members of the department’s Patrol Division — such as Officer Eric Martin (pictured) — following training over the winter break. The devices record law enforcement officers’ encounters with citizens, for their mutual benefit. product information website, and Rossi says recordings from his officers will be saved for 60 days. Rossi said the cameras have had profound positive results in other departments, and their adoption will not

slow down or stop. “It’s something that every department will have in the near future, so we figured we may as well get on the bandwagon sooner, rather than later,” Rossi said.

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Jacob Alexander taught the STEM 4 Kids class about plant growth and water purification at SUNY Oswego’s annual KidsTech event last spring, hosted by Oswego Technology Student Association and pre-service Technology Education teachers at SUNY Oswego. College Life has followed his journey at SUNY Oswego since he started in 2016. He is graduating next semester.

Final Year for Sterling Student — Two Student Teaching Jobs Lined Up By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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his begins the final year of college for Jacob Alexander, now a senior technology major at SUNY Oswego. College Life newspaper has featured glimpses of Alexander’s collegiate career in each issue since he was a freshman. “It’s crazy; it’s gone by so fast,” Alexander said. Last year, he rented a house off campus, but he will be living at home in Sterling since he will be student teaching this fall at Wayne Central Middle School in Williamson, near Rochester, and Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville. His parents, Patti and Ron Alexander, “definitely are glad to have me home,” Alexander said. “I’m super excited for it,” Alexander said. “I’ll be doing some classes with my old high school tech teacher, Mr. Michael Malecki, in Baldwinsville. I’m going to be directly teaching, but I’m not sure of the specific subject just yet. I’m very excited about teaching and I think I’ll do very well at it. “I think I’ll learn a lot from the teachers on how to conduct a classroom and present material. I should get a greater understanding

Jacob Alexander was inducted into the International Technology Honors Society Epsilon Pi Tau last spring.

Jacob Alexander as a freshman in fall of 2016. about teaching.” Because of the time obligations of his teaching opportunity, he resigned as president of Team Mini, a school spirit club which clears the ice during Oswego hockey games and launches T-shirts into the crowd via shirt-launching robots. Alexander also resigned as president of Oswego Technology Student Association, but since he won’t be living far from campus he said he

could stop by if the other members need help. “I had a good run for my two years and left both clubs in great hands,” Alexander said. Once he finishes teaching, Alexander will have a few additional classes to take in the spring. He already has a few job offers from schools in the area, but he isn’t sure where he wants to teach yet. “I’m enjoying my time in the tech department and working with my hands every day,” Alexander said. Alexander also enjoys fishing and does that any chance he gets. He also practices martial arts as a third-degree black belt at Kuk Sool Won of Wolcott.

Fall 2019

College Life

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Fall 2019

College Life

Four of Robert Niederhoff ‘s butterflies having just emerged from their chrysalises, dry their wings before preparing for their first flight.

Monarch Rule Threatened Number of factors — including climate change —affecting livelihood of one of nature’s most amazing creatures By Alexander Plate

onarch butterflies are disappearing from Central New York, but Robert Niederhoff, a former biology professor

at SUNY Oneonta, has some ideas on how they can be saved. Niederhoff, who lives in Liverpool, said he remem-

Robert Niederhoff, a former biology professor at SUNY Oneonta who lives in Liverpool, said he remembers being surrounded by nature, and monarch butterflies, when he was growing up in the area. But now, more than 30 years later, he sees fewer of the insects that once populated the region.

bers being surrounded by nature, and monarch butterflies, when he was growing up in the area. But now, more than 30 years later, he and his kids are seeing fewer of the insects that once populated the region. “2008 was when both my kids were old enough that I could take them out and explore nature,” Niederhoff said. “I would see some of the very common white and yellow butterflies, but I don’t think I remember seeing a single monarch.” Niederhoff’s involvement with monarch butterflies comes from a conservation perspective — he said he’s interested in them because they’re a good lightning rod to get people interested in protecting the environment at large. Monarch butterflies rely heavily on the milkweed plant to breed. The female monarchs lay their fertilized eggs on the underside of the

plant’s leaves, which then hatch into caterpillars that eat the leaves. This process is already risky enough for the caterpillars, which are often killed by the liquid latex inside the plant’s leaves. Now, as milkweed is being killed off throughout the region, the butterflies are finding fewer viable options for their eggs. The plant is often seen as a pest and is frequently targeted for removal by homeowners and gardeners. Niederhoff says that application of herbicides has cut deeply into milkweed populations in the region. Neiderhoff said the disappearance of milkweed is an especially large warning sign that humans are tampering too much with the climate. Milkweed is well known to grow easily wherever it takes root and it springs back year after year, growing all the time. Central New York, as well as southern Ontario province, is home to a variety of different species of the milkweed family, which Niederhoff said is misnamed as a weed. “Asclepias is the scientific name for milkweed, so if you want your family and friends to start planting it, call it asclepias instead of milkweed,” Niederhoff said. “Maybe we can change their views on it.” Central New York has seen some drastic effects from climate change, with the average yearly temperature rising by 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC also reports springtime weather comes a week earlier than it has in preceding decades. Niederhoff said the shifting seasons and higher average temperatures are bringing monarch butterflies to the region earlier in the year, which can interrupt their migrations and make breeding harder.

Magnificent migration Monarch butterflies are common throughout the world, but they travel in almost entirely isolated groups called migrations. The migration that comes through Cental New York travels all the way from central Mexico, moving through Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. By the time the migration has reached Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, they are on their second or third generation for the year. This region sees the butterflies for months as they breed their third, fourth and fifth generations before flying all the way back to Mexico on their fifth generation in September. Niederhoff suggests planting milkweed, and suggests that anyone who gardens to keep local varieties of flowers in their gardens, rather than the oftentimes foreign plants found in most chain garden centers. The most common kinds of milkweed plant for New York includes butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa), clasping milkweed (asclepias amplexicaulis) and common milkweed (asclepias syriaca), according to Niederhoff. He also suggests homeowners stop using Roundup and other herbicidal or pesticidal products, including lawn-spray services. Niederhoff says the chemicals from those products often kill more than just what they advertise, and can have long-lasting, harmful effects on the surrounding environment. Bayer, the company that owns the Roundup® brand, has lost multiple lawsuits in recent months over the presence of cancer-causing chemicals in the herbicide. Niederhoff said while he does fervently advocate for efforts to be taken to save the monarch, the issue is really about the entire ecosystem. Monarch butterflies are more like pests than productive members of the insect population, but Neiderhoff says that they hold a special place in the hearts of many people who would otherwise be disinterested in conservation. “Monarchs have more to connect with an audience, more than many other species do,” Niederhoff said. “However, keeping it connected to protecting the environment I think is important. The monarch has definitely been used as an icon [of wider ecological problems] for years.”

Photo taken by Robert Niederhoff in his garden in Liverpool.

Fall 2019 10

College Life

Ways to Make College More Fun 2.

Meet new people.

While it’s easy to stay within the cliques of others who share your major, dorm room and interests, meet people outside your circles. Go with your roommate to an event that doesn’t interest you initially. Or meet up with friends-of-friends. Befriend someone who seems different from you. The experience can be eye opening.

something 3.Try unusual.

Getting out of your rut and attempting a new hobby or activity may surprise you with how much fun it is. Or at least provide your friends with hilarious social media material.

4.Visit downtown By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ou attend college to learn and prepare for your future career. But you should have some fun as well. It helps to destress and that enables you to become a better student. Try these 10 ways to make college more

fun:

Take time to

establish and cultivate friendships. They may not form in the dorm, but you need some tight friendships. Respond to texts and messages, follow through

when you make plans and focus on the other person. (If it’s all about you, you’re just using others. Deep friendships are give-andtake.)

. Students often become wrapped up in campus life to the point where they don’t get away much; however, there’s a whole vibrant downtown are in Oswego waiting for you. Visit its small shops, historic sites, parks and places of entertainment like a tourist.

Go to local events. Check out

your college town’s events calendar and attend a local festival, concert or other

event. You’ll feel like a local in no time.

a college 6.Join club

, team or other extra-curricular group.

7.Give your studies adequate time and attention. While studying and writing papers sounds like the opposite of fun, cramming at the last minute is definitely not fun at all. By planning ahead, you can relax and enjoy your free time, knowing that your grades won’t suffer.

events on 8.Attend campus. Recitals, plays, guest performers, games...the entertainment available on campus never stops. With your student ID, much of this is free r else deeply discounted.

a weekend 9.Take trip with friends. It doesn’t have to be a big getaway, but a road trip with your friends makes memories.

out your 10.Deck dorm room.

As your first home-awayfrom-home, make your space reflect you.

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College Life

Conservative Politics on Campus Newly founded Young Americans for Freedom flex political muscles on SUNY Oswego campus By Maria Pericozzi

oung Americans for Freedom is a new bipartisan conservative organization on campus that does not endorse a political party or candidate, but instead focuses on specific views of a candidate. Tyler Toomey, a junior business major, founded the organization in the spring of 2018.

“With today’s political world, it’s a lot more approachable,” Toomey said. “As a whole, we try to focus on the larger picture and on the values.” A lot of the members are active with another conservative group on campus — the SUNY Oswego College Republicans. Toomey started Young Americans for Free-

dom as another way for students who agree with the party’s values and principles, but don’t identify with the Republican Party. “We share a lot of the same beliefs as Republicans do, with some differences here and there, but there’s not that stigma attached to it of Republican, or Donald Trump or whoever it might be,” Toomey said.

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“We wanted to be able to do that to reach students who maybe don’t like the president but have a lot of the same beliefs and values conservatives share,” he added. Toomey was invited to the White House by President Donald Trump in March to witness the signing of an executive order protecting free speech on college campuses. “It was an honor to be invited to witness such a historic event, and I was proud to represent members of my organization there,” Toomey said. “I hope this executive order is the first step in ensuring college campuses not only allow students to voice conservative views, but I hope they can actively promote conservative views in an effort to expose students to both sides of the political spectrum,” he said. For Young Americans for Freedom, bringing in guest speakers is one of the main events of each semester. Toomey said they bring in guest speakers in order for students to gain a solid understanding and knowledge of relevant topics. Building awareness “We try to expose as many students as we can to that issue,” Toomey said. “Even if they don’t agree with us or the particular speaker, we want them to hear our side and from an someone who is an expert in the field.” Young Americans for Freedom also sends students to conferences all over the country, such as the Conservative Political Action Conference, which was held at the end of February this year. Toomey said it’s the largest conservative conference in the country.

“We saw four days of anybody who is anybody in conservative politics doing speeches, panels and breakout sessions,” Toomey said. Toomey said the conferences are a great network opportunity. Young Americans for Freedom is not funded by the Student Association, and relies on some fundraising and mostly generous donors. “We work with a couple of people locally and alumni as well from the college who are very generous to us and we are very grateful for that,” Toomey said. “Our national organization is great with us as well.” Toomey said in the future it would be great to be funded by the Student Association to take the burden off of fundraising activities. During the last fall semester, they asked the Student Association to fund $500 for a guest speaker for an event that cost the organization $6,000, and they were denied funding. “I don’t want to say there’s any bias in our political views in SA, but it is definitely a real challenge because we see clubs that get things and money, and us getting denied a very small amount. It’s tough,” Toomey said. As a club, Toomey said the overall goal is to expose as many students on campus to their values, beliefs and conservative principles and get students who agree to join the organization. “More importantly, in regards to students that don’t agree with us, we want to be able to have a discussion and share why we believe what we believe, and listen to why they think what they think,” Toomey said. “If we can agree in the end, great, if not, at least both of us are able to better understand the other side.”

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Leaders of Young Americans for Freedom on the SUNY Oswego campus. Tyler Toomey, first on the left, a junior business major, founded the organization in the spring of 2018. He was invited to the White House by President Donald Trump in March to witness the signing of an executive order protecting free speech on college campuses.

Fall 2019 12

College Life

real world...

What Life Really Looks Like After College We talk to three recent graduates about their lives after college — what they say might surprise you By Melissa Stefanec

hen we are in college, most of us prepare ourselves for the next phase in our lives: adulthood. We spend four years preparing for something abstract. None of us know what our post-college years will look like. Yet, we spend so much time and energy composing ourselves for what we think they might look like. Then, when we reach that stage of glorious independence, it looks almost nothing like we imagined. “Life comes at you fast” is an understatement when applied to the first few years of life after college. If you talk to people who have been out of school for a year or two, you discover there’s no way to avoid the sentiment that accompanies this cliche. However, you can adapt how you respond to the changes in your life. If you keep your mind open and your expectations reasonable, the years directly after graduation can be some of the most liberating times of your life. Here, three recent graduates share insights gained in their early to mid 20s. Their humor and wisdom will help you navigate the tumultuous times that often follow graduation.

spend your Saturday night on the couch watching Shark Tank instead of going out. Worst thing about adulting: Fighting your way through Wegman’s at peak “rush hour.” What do you know/understand now that you wish you knew in college? It’s less about where and how you earned your degree and more so what you do with it. I’ve been in rooms with people from all walks of life and all different schools. The ones that stand out from a group are those who take theory and apply it in the real world in new ways. It takes work ethic, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and, above all, a willingness to learn from others. What piece of advice would you give 18-year-old you? Don’t worry so much about what other people in your degree program are doing. Stay in your lane and don’t compare yourself to others. You worked just as hard to be here, and you will get every opportunity you work to earn. What piece of advice would you give 21-year-old you? Leaving the structured collegiate environment is scary, but you’re about to learn some really cool things and meet some really smart people. Things get better.

What you want to share: There’s a saying in my family, though I’m positive it did not originate with us, that if you surround yourself with people who are “smarter than you,” you’ll always strive to be your best. Find people at your workplace or school whose ideas and perspectives you admire; you’ll always be learning and growing that way.

Maggie Gnadt

Gina Decicco

Age: 26 School: SUNY Brockport Major/minor: Double major: English and journalism and broadcasting. Percentage of your net income that goes toward student loans: About 4%. Whom do you live with? Just me and my two cats. Best thing about adulting: Being able to order Chinese food for dinner whenever I want. Worst thing about adulting: 100% stressing about money 24/7. What do you know/understand now that you wish you knew in college? I wish I realized how

amazing it was to have all of my best friends within 5 minutes of me. Having close friendships after college is much harder. What piece of advice would you give 18-year-old you? I would tell myself to be more selfish. College years are about finding yourself (cliched but true) and learning about yourself. What piece of advice would you give 21-year-old you? I’d tell myself to go out more. The last year of college is such an important time to hang out with your friends and suck as much experience out of college as possible. Anything else you want to include: Don’t take your parents for granted and call them more often. You’ll call them 10 times more after you graduate.

Brooke Robinson

Age: 24 School: Ohio University Major/minor: Journalism Percentage of your net income that goes toward student loans: Roughly 10%; although I currently pay the bare minimum. Whom do you live with? One roommate and my dog. Best thing about adulting: Definitely the autonomy. Worst thing about adulting: Bills, regular stress, financial stress, making friends, the societal pressure to get married and start a family as soon as possible. I’ll stop there at the risk of disheartening you too much.

Maggie Gnadt

Age: 23 School: SUNY Oswego Major/minor: Major: public relations; minor: arts and entertainment management. Percentage of your net income that goes toward student loans: My student loans make up about 6% of my monthly take-home pay. Across all my debt obligations, I try to make double the minimum payments wherever possible and am focusing on longterm debt as a credit-building tool that will help me later in life. Whom do you live with? My boyfriend and our two cats. Best thing about adulting: No one judges you if you

13 Fall 2019

Brooke Robinson

What do you know/understand now that you wish you knew in college? You may have a clear-cut path that you envision your life after college, but your actual post-grad life will likely not resemble that path in the slightest, and that’s OK. It’s more interesting that way. Also, there’s no shame in realizing you don’t like the career field you plan to enter. That’s totally normal, and you don’t need to force yourself to work a certain job just because you have a certain degree. What piece of advice would you give 18-year-old you? Your five-year plan is not going to turn out the way you imagined it would, but just keep rolling with the punches and take every opportunity as it comes to you. Try not to worry too much; even the most trying circumstances have a way of working themselves out in the end. What piece of advice would you give 21-year-old you? Live a little. Take some time to relax, put the books away for a couple hours and spend time with people you enjoy being around. You don’t want your only memories from college to be studying and working. What you want to share: No matter what you do, you can never be fully prepared for the real world, so try your best to be adaptable. Although it might seem like you’re the only adult who doesn’t have it together, I promise everyone else is flying by the seat of their pants too. We’re all just doing our best.

College Life

Open For Business By Maria Pericozzi

3.21 Salads

Garden deliciousness comes to downtown Oswego

corresponds with a birthday of a family member, except for one item that is a badge number. In 2013, Anderson had a brain tumor removed and has problems with her shortterm memory. The numbers help trigger her brain into remembering what she needs to. “If you say you want a 5.29, that’s a wedge,” Anderson said. “It’s my mom’s favorite salad and her birth-

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efore Kaitlyn Anderson’s grandfather passed away, he told her she should go into business because she makes the best salads. Last year, Anderson

decided she would open a food truck, honoring her grandfather by naming it after his birthday. She recently opened a location at 81 E. Bridge St. in Oswego. Each item on the menu

day.” She invested around $15,000 in the new location, remodeling for a “feel good” vibe in the location. Paid Time Off & Direct Support, “When it became winter, Build your resume with OCO! I panicked because I didn’t Additional Crisis Intervention, Apply atApply www.oco.org/job-opportunities know what to do with my at www.oco.org/job-opportunities food truck and there goes my rewarding jobs with children, teens, and adults with a rewarding jobs with children, teens, and adults with Benefits Health Services, income,” Anderson said. wide variety of hours, locations, andand opportunities! a wide variety of hours, locations, opportunities!Education & She grew up in Oswego Available for and had been doing odd jobs Direct Support,Direct Support, Paid Time Off & Paid Time Off & before she opened the busiAdditional Crisis Intervention, Crisis Intervention, ness, including cleaning. AfAdditional Benefits Health Services, Prevention ter her brain tumor, AnderHealth Services, Benefits Available for Education & son could not continue her Education & more FT Positions Childcare, & Childcare, Available for education, so she did what Prevention Prevention she could to get by. Anderson FT Positions & more said she had a vision for the & More building when she saw it. Inspiring partnerships and providing services that empower Inspiring partnerships and providing services that empower people, “The building just bepeople, support communities and people, support communities and Change lives! Change lives! came available, and when I support communities and Change lives! @DidYouKnowItsOCO 315-598-4705 walked through it, it had all @DidYouKnowItsOCO the kitchen stuff available,” Anderson said. “It’s a good location and will be great for Harborfest as well. I like the Visit Our businesses around me, too.” Long term, Anderson is hoping to franchise 3.21 Salads. She would love to open Sat.-Sun Sept. 21st & 22nd a location down south, where “At The Farm” her brother lives, and expand

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the business. “It’s a big dream,” Anderson said. 3.21 Salads offers a variety of items, including taco salad and Buffalo chicken which are the most popular choices. The house soup is a dill pickle potato soup because it went over so well, Anderson said. She prides herself on providing fresh ingredients to customers. The strawberry vinaigrette and ginger dressing is made in house.” “Everything is made fresh here,” Anderson said. “I partnered with a hydroponic plant, and the mixed greens, tomatoes and lettuce come with the roots still on it, so it’s that fresh.” Anderson said she is hoping to expand her menu in the future and add new things. She just started offering wraps, which she presses on the grill. She said the location also got cleared for outdoor seating, so she will be putting tables and chairs outside as well.

Bubble tea, many tasty delights come to Port City

lyssa Flynn has brought bubble tea to Oswego by fulfilling her dream of opening J&J Café, 18 W. Bridge St. Bubble tea is a Japa-

nese-based drink with milk, fruit flavoring and tapioca balls or juice bubbles. J&J Café also serves coffee, pie, cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, soup, salad, paninis and breakfast.

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College Life

“A lot of people are asking what bubble tea is,” Flynn said. “I’m the only one as of right now selling it in Oswego.” The tapioca balls and juice bubbles are expensive because they are shipped to Oswego right from Japan. “It’s the price of shipping that gets you,” Flynn said. “Destiny USA is the closest place that sells bubble tea. I’ve had a bunch of people come in and tell me they’re saving on a trip to Destiny by coming here,” she said. One of Flynn’s biggest dreams was to open a café. She spent close to $11,000 making her dream come true in the middle of April when she opened the location. Before that, she spent four months renovating the building. There was no ceiling, no walls, no bathroom and some tiles needed to be replaced. Flynn and her husband Brandon also built the kitchen from scratch. “I hope to stay busy, eat local and shop local,” Flynn said. Before opening the business, Flynn was a full-time mom and decided to open the business for her two children. J&J stands for her two son’s names, Jonathan, who is 5, and Jackson, who is 2. Flynn is from Sodus Point and commutes to Oswego each day. She said she eventually would relocate to Oswego. Until then, she drives 45 minutes each way, bringing baked goods from her mother’s bakery in Sodus Point. She also purchases coffee from Sodus Point, but would like to eventually purchase other brands as well. “I would like to expand eventually and get more employees,” Flynn said. Eventually, Flynn would also like to expand the menu to serve dinner. “We’re a big breakfast family, so we like French toast for dinner,” Flynn said. “So that’s why we really chose to serve breakfast.” Being a business owner is time consuming, Flynn said. “I’m busy and it’s very exhausting,” she said. “But

Before opening J&J Cafe, Alyssa Flynn was a fulltime mom.

15 Fall 2019

I know how to juggle it because I have kids. I’m already able to multitask.” Opening a business is a lot of work, Flynn said. “I give props to whoever has been doing this for many, many years,” she added. Flynn chose Oswego to open the café because she loves the area and didn’t want to be too close to her mom’s bakery while she sold her mom’s baked goods. “With my mom having her bakery too, we wanted to have a little gap between us,” Flynn said.

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College Life

serious business

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster rounded up the highest-paying jobs you can get right now — all boasting six-figure salaries. You’ll notice many of the jobs on the list can be found in health care, with oral and maxillofacial surgeons (specializing in the jaw and face), surgeons, and OB-GYNs topping the list. Beyond health care, you’ll also find that jobs for engineers, executives, pilots and marketing managers can make a lot of money, too. Jobs paying $200K+ Oral and maxillofacial surgeons Median salary: $208,000 per year

The Highest-Paying Jobs You Can Get Right Now You can make six figures working one of these high-paying jobs

o, you’re looking for a way to make a lot of money? Well, unless you’re in line for a big inheritance from a long-lost relative, your best bet lies within the job market. We all know that jobs are not created equal when it comes to making money. There are low-paying jobs and good-paying jobs. Then,

there are highest-paying jobs. Those are the ones we’re most interested in right now. Choosing a lucrative career path can mean having the means to enjoy the finer things in life, like taking luxury vacations, wearing designer clothes and never having to check a price tag. But the road to get there isn’t paved with gold.

What Can Set You Apart from the Competition Internship, volunteer work can add a great deal to a resume, says career coach By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ife experiences students have now can help their future resume stand out. Taeko Kelly, career coach for business at SUNY Oswego, recommends internships “It’s different applied learning experiences of what they’re studying out of the classroom,” Kelly said. “A lot of employers like to keep the talent they’ve found and offer them positions after they graduate.”

Her office can also help connect students with occasional internship type of experiences, such as monthly rather than daily, formal internship. Even short-term projects, like assisting a company for a couple of days, can help. Volunteering on or off campus offers a similar effect. Employers like knowing that students care about others and that they took initiative to give back, whether

Sure, there are high-paying jobs you can get without a college degree, or even with an associate degree, but the highest-paying jobs of all typically require higher education and many years of experience (read: lots of work). If one thing’s for sure, though, it’s that these jobs are definitely worth it. Using data from the regularly for short periods of time, like an hour a week tutoring other students or occasionally for longer spurts, like spending spring break helping at a shelter. Kelly also said that parttime jobs or summer employment can also help promote students’ resume. “It shows you’re working in that industry,” she said. But even non-industry experience can showcase determination, responsibility and people skills. “Employers are impressed anytime they see transferrable skills,” Kelly said. For example, working in retail can help students learn interpersonal skills. Keeping a part-time job throughout the collegiate career shows that students are “in it for the long haul,” Kelly said. In addition to working and interning, experience in clubs and organizations, if

Surgeons Median salary: $208,000 per year Obstetricians and gynecologists Median salary: $208,000 per year Psychiatrists Median salary: $208,000 per year Anesthesiologists Median salary: $208,000 per year Orthodontists Median salary: $208,000 per year Family and general practitioners Median salary: $201,100 per year

Jobs paying $151k–$200K: Internists Median salary: $194,500 per year Chief executives Median salary: $189,600 per year Prosthodontists Median salary: $176,540 per year Pediatricians Median salary: $170,560 per year Nurse anesthetists Median salary: $167,950 per year Dentists Median salary: $151,850 per year Computer and information systems managers Median salary: $142,530 per year Architectural and engineering managers Median salary: $140,760 per year Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers Median salary: $140,340 per year Petroleum engineers Median salary: $137,170 per year Marketing managers Median salary: $134,290 per year Source: www.monster.com

they’re associated with the students’ future career, help them network with people who can connect them to possible employers. Kelly highly recommends students to study abroad, especially for students whose future employment would benefit from knowing more than one language. “Multilingualism is so important,” Kelly said, “as is showing your employer you have the inner strength to go somewhere you don’t know anyone. That shows resilience and determination.” Participating in student government can cultivate leadership abilities, as students collaborate with others, take part in decision making and help their organization represent what students want. “You have to work with people you often disagree with,” Kelly said. “That’s valuable. Sometimes, everyone in the same club has the

Taeko Kelly same values, but in student government, you have all these competing values and wants. Advocacy experience is important.” If you they are not already proficient in typical office software, Kelly said it’s important to learn MS Word, Excel and Adobe. Skills such as website design, grant writing and videography can also come in handy. Many careers use these daily, and even if they don’t, cross training can help a student stand out as a better candidate.

Fall 2019 16

College Life

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Connections, Connections, Connections College is more than going to classes and studying — networking can make a big different in students’ lives after school By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

t may seem like many of the people you know now hold little relevance to your post-college career; however, making a few key connections now can really help you later. Eric Frans, career development coach at SUNY Oswego, said that “many students aren’t thinking about the importance of networking.” Attending college isn’t just about classes. Networking is also important, and not just in the formal sense. You should consider networking beyond the specific networking events or internship. “Networking should be practiced every day,” Frans said. “It doesn’t have to be put in a room where major employers are there. It can be done in classrooms, at events you go to with your peers, and with your professors. Foster that skill of talking with people genuinely interested in the people. When

17 Fall 2019

it gets to the point where it counts, it will come naturally to you.” Some of the most important connections you should make are your own professors. “They have either been in the field they’re teaching in or are extremely knowledgeable,” Frans said. “Forming relationships with professors can take students a long way as they know professionals in the field and past students in the field.” Connect with other students in clubs and orga nizations that relate to your future career. Maybe you’ll become business partEric Frans

ners or give each other important leads. While you may enjoy social media for keeping up with friends and trends, join LinkedIn as your business social media platform. Frans said that it’s “a great way to connect with people that are not in close proximity with you.” LinkedIn isn’t where you comment on your breakfast or post pics of your latest adventure. But by commenting on another’s thought provoking post and updating with your own professional and academic accomplishments and volunteering efforts, you can help build your professional reputation and eventually make connections that can help you. “If they are trying to research about a company they like, connecting with people who work there is important,” Frans said. Also take note of your posting on your personal

social media. Frans said that potential employers use social media to learn more about candidates, so keep it G-rated. While you work during

college, get to know your current boss, who will likely help you get your next job if familiar with your character and career aspirations.

College Life

Tips for Better Papers

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

5.Be a little extra.

1.Plan ahead.

6.But not too extra.

Writing papers the night they’re due usually results in poor results.

2.Give ‘em what they want.

Follow the professor’s directions for formatting, content, annotation and any other parameters. Do not offer a paper in tiny or weird font or light yellow on a gray background. Professors like when you follow the syllabus. Even very poor writers can follow this tip.

3.Read sample papers

. Some professors offer samples of what they like to see. Read these analytically to see how you can follow these good examples. It’s not the topic so much but how it’s handled that matters. Does the professor like lots of statistics? Bullet points? Certain types of sources cited? Slow development or a more direct style?

the professor’s 4.Know background.

If the teacher holds a particular ideology that you plan to destroy in your paper, you had better present a convincing argument. It’s fine to disagree, but you absolutely must know what you’re talking about. Offer your opposing perspective respectfully.

extracurricular

Why You Should Volunteer By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ou may have written well in high school, but college term papers demand a higher level of research and skill. Try these tips to improve your papers.

For example, if the professor wants a minimum of three sources, go for four or five sources. Doubling the paper length or going overboard with sources can backfire. Some teachers will not be happy with excessive papers. Remember: they have to read a lot of them.

7.Set it aside.

If you edit the paper immediately, your brain misses errors. Allow at least a few hours to pass before editing. Then read the paper aloud. Spell check and grammar check cannot catch everything.

8.Get a second opinion.

Ask someone else to read it over. Even if it’s not a formal proofreader, another pair of eyes reading the paper can often find what you miss.

dead weight 9.Avoid phrases and clichés.

“In my opinion” provides one example. The reader knows it’s your opinion because you are the writer.

cademics, extra-curricular organizations, your part-time job: you may feel like you have plenty to do at college, but you should consider volunteering as well. “Students who volunteer get additional experience outside the classroom,” said Catherine Farrell, community service coordinator at SUNY Oswego. “Later on in life, they’ll have more on their resume than classroom experience.” Long before you’re ready for an internship, volunteering can help you learn how to work with others, time management, personal responsibility and many more useful skills. “A lot of interviewers ask about a difficult time applicants had working with coworkers or where they showed leadership,” Farrell said. “This volunteering experience can give them a lot to pull from. Volunteering shows on your resume that you were doing something

before you could have taken an internship.” Farrell added that since volunteering increases students’ social network, volunteering may also help these students find an internship or employment as well. Maybe the leader of the nonprofit they help can tell them about a job opportunity in the desired field or know someone looking for interns. The volunteering venue doesn’t have to be perfectly aligned with what you hope to do someday. If you are interested in volunteering, consider asking at your school’s outreach office. At Ferrell’s, her office can help pair students up with opportunities that last a few hours up to an entire semester. The former makes sense for students who may not have the time to dedicate many hours a week toward volunteering but still want to participate. “Sometimes, different events happen on campus and a department will say,

‘I need three students for Friends and Family weekend or a bunch of high school kids will be visiting campus,’” Farrell said. Anyone who signs up in advance for these kinds of opportunities can receive a weekly email for learning about volunteering openings. It may involve cleaning up and maintenance at Rice Creek, driving older adults who need a ride or helping in other ways both on campus and in the community. “We always have other options that pop up sporadically,” Farrell said. “I will have nonprofits and organizations in the community that ask, ‘Are you interested in doing this with us?’” You could also ask to help in the community at a cause you care about. United Way’s site — www. volunteercny.org — lists many organizations seeking assistance. With so many opportunities available, there’s no reason you shouldn’t lend a hand.

short sentences 10.Use with direct wording.

Using overly complex sentences and flowery language does not improve your writing. Also, don’t stuff papers with nonessential words to pump up your word count. Teachers recognize this tactic.

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College Life

Environmentally Friendly Recycling writing utensils now a craze on SUNY Oswego campus By Maria Pericozzi

UNY Oswego students now have the opportunity to collect used writing utensils for recycling, which is the newest initiative in the campus effort to reduce waste. It all started when Kate Spector, a mathematics specialist with the SUNY Oswego Office of Learning Services, was teaching algebra classes and found that she was going through dry erase markers quickly, almost using a marker each lecture. “I was throwing them into the garbage can constantly and I thought, there’s got to be a better way to do

this,” Spector said. She looked into various programs, including one that Crayola offered, where you can send the markers in a box to be recycled. While this program was useful, it was only available for those teaching kindergarten through 12th grade, so it wasn’t a good fit. She started by putting a box in the tutoring center at SUNY Oswego and would give the markers to a teacher who was participating in the Crayola recycling program. It worked well, but Spector wanted to grow this program throughout campus.

She found TerraCycle, an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. They offer a range of free programs and recycling solutions available for almost every form of waste. “You can put any type of marker and the marker cap, any type of pen and pen cap, and any type of mechanical pencil in the boxes,” Spector said. “The spirit of the program is to recycle plastic, so no wooden pencils go in the box.” Students in professor Daniel Tyron’s Manufac-

Research shows smoking is still allowed in colleges and universities in the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

SurprisingNews: Few U.S. Universities Are Smoke-Free Researchers estimate that only 27% of students and 25% of faculty members are covered by strict school or state smoke-free laws

lthough many restaurants, offices and even apartment buildings are smoke-free, American universities appear to be an exception. By 2017, only one in six had gone completely smokefree or tobacco-free, a new study reveals. “Continued success in increasing the adoption of comprehensive smoke-free and tobacco-free protections at institutions of higher learning will strengthen smoking prevention among nonsmokers, increase quitting among current smokers, and protect youth and young adults from the negative health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke,” said researchers led by physician Kelly Blake of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The research team discovered smoking was still allowed in colleges and

universities in the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Only Iowa at 87%, Arkansas at 62%, North Dakota at 55%, Guam at 67% and the Northern Mariana Islands at 100% had smoke-free policies in more than half of their higher-learning institutions. The researchers estimated that only 27% of students and 25% of faculty members were covered by strict school or state smoke-free laws. For the study, investigators used data from two sources: the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation and the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. The report was published July 2 in the journal Tobacco Control.

Non-smoking policy at SUNY Oswego, CCC SUNY Oswego is a smoke-free campus. According to SUNY Oswego Student Handbook, the campus “is tobacco free and smoke free. Smoking of any kind

go around and check the bins weekly, and bring the utensils to their TerraCycle unit, located in the Campus Center outside of the college store. Once the box is filled, it is sent to TerraCycle for recycling and a new box is sent back. “I’m hoping we can get less utensils in the trash, being sent to landfills and incinerators,” Spector said. She is hoping the start of this program will have an impact on the community. “I’m really hoping people start to think about the things they buy and the things they throw away,” Spector said. “I’m hoping there’s a lot of critical thinking around our procurement and disposal of the items we use.”

turing Systems technology class in the fall created more than 200 boxes that were put up in classrooms all across campus. The students spent time designing boxes that are lightweight and user-friendly. They used wood from the old bleachers in Swetman Gymnasium and have slotted acrylic panels in the front. The boxes are magnetic and attach to each whiteboard. The boxes can hold 15-20 dry erase markers, but can hold more for smaller writing utensils. Over spring break, Spector put up a recycling box in every classroom on campus in addition to some departmental offices and student organizations. “It was really fun to get into the classrooms across campus and set these up,” Spector said. She assembled a team of four of five students who

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and other uses of tobacco products will be prohibited on campus, at extension campuses, at all indoor and outdoor events, college-sponsored programs and activities off campus, in personally owned vehicles parked on campus, and all vehicles and equipment owned, leased or operated by the college and its affiliate organizations. Use of tobacco products other than smoking products and other smoking apparatus such as pipes, hookas and e-cigarettes, etc., is also prohibited.” Smoking is also prohibited at Cayuga Community College. According to the college’s site, Cayuga Community College is a tobacco-free institution and is committed to providing its students, employees and visitors with a safe and healthy environment. No consumption of tobacco or tobacco products is allowed on any college property or in any college facility; this includes all buildings, grounds, sidewalks and streets within the campus proper.”

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living

Top Dorm Tech By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

hile you’re attending college, you should make sure your tech is up-to-date to help you succeed. Get a lightweight laptop. If you’re still lugging around with a beefy laptop, upgrade to a newer, lighter model as you’ll likely want to take notes in class and seek the quiet refuge of the library for research and writing papers. But select a model that has a full-sized keyboard, or else bring along a full-sized keyboard for when you’re writing papers. Your hands will thank you later. Consider a split keyboard. Once you become accustomed to the different feel, you’ll realize why split keyboards are popular

among data entry clerks and writers. The angle of the keys keeps the hands and wrists in a much more natural position than standard keyboards. In addition to Cloud storage, backing up your papers and projects on a physical hard drive can provide an extra layer of protection. If for some reason your computer fails and remote storage is unavailable, you’ll still have your work saved locally. A few thumb drives can make it easy to share files with project partners if they don’t want to use sharing methods like Dropbox. Protect your equipment and expand your outlet capabilities with a surge protector power strip or hub. If you

select a model that includes USB ports, you can charge more devices at a time. Buy noise-cancelling headphones. They’ll help you block out the racket of your dorm so you can study and sleep.

Pick up a small, clip-on solar reading light. Just leave it in a sunny window and you’ll have many hours of personal lighting that won’t disrupt your roommates. Plus, you won’t need batteries or an outlet. Unlike a

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Eat Out for Less. Tips to Keep in Mind You can save as much as 50% off the price of a meal by checking some websites By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ave money while you have fun with your friends with the following tips: • Flex your student ID, military ID, or traveler’s card (such as AAA). Even if they don’t advertise these discounts, ask. • Sign up for the restau-

rant’s texts for daily or weekly deals. • Download the restaurant’s app or visit their website for deals and coupons. • Visit sites such as www.retailmenot.com and www.restaurant.com to help you nab food bargains, or try group buying sites like

www.groupon.com or www. livingsocial.com. • Join the birthday club for a deal like a free appetizer or dessert. • Buy restaurant gift cards for below face value on eBay. • Look for the daily special.

• Loyalty cards and paper coupons are still the norm at some restaurants. For the latter, check local periodicals or tourist booklets. • Order an appetizer. Many cost quite a bit less than a meal. Tell your server you plan to eat it as your meal so it arrives with the rest of your table’s meals. • Skip ice to leave more room for the beverage. • Hydrate with water. For many restaurants, the fountain soda represents their highest profit margin. Ask for a cup of water to distinguish from bottled water. • Share an entree. Ask for two plates and you and your buddy will both save. • Keep your leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. • Not that hungry? Ask for a kid’s meal to reduce portion and cost.

desk lamp, you can clip it anywhere. An external battery pack can be a lifesaver. Choose one that works for your phone, tablet, laptop, headset and portable speaker. You also need a few creature comforts for your dorm. Get a small fan/heater combo. More likely than not, you’ll have a roommate who likes a different room temperature than you. With your own stand-alone unit, you can make your area of the room more comfortable. In addition, a small microwave, mini fridge and other food prepping appliances, like a toaster oven and blender, can help you stay fed when you can’t get out for meals or need a late-night snack.

• Go for breakfast foods or pizza for the most food for the buck. All-you-can-eat buffets provide a good value only if you’re hungry enough to eat your money’s worth. • Skip sides. Appetizers before the meal, alcohol, and dessert ramp up your bill a lot. • If you want to go out but can’t spend much, have a snack beforehand so you won’t need to buy as much. • Fill up on the free chips or bread. Then take home more of your entree to eat later. • Eat more slowly and drink while you eat. You will feel full sooner and won’t feel as tempted to top off the meal with dessert. • Make it breakfast or lunch. Eating before 4 p.m. usually costs less than dinner.

Fall 2019 20

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Cie Herve KOUBI, a high-energy 13-man dance troupe from Algeria and Burkina Faso that will perform in February, is part of a diverse lineup of music, dance, interactive science and more encompassing the upcoming Artswego performing arts season at SUNY Oswego.

Artswego to Serve Up Music, Dance, Science T

his year’s Artswego performing arts season at SUNY Oswego will feature a variety of music plus dance, family-friendly science and more. As with previous seasons, Artswego performers also provide residencies, classroom appearances, community outreach and other ways of tying in with SUNY Oswego’s academic offerings, often in interdisciplinary ways. The 2019-20 lineup incorporates more music than previous years, but “I feel like there’s a diversity of musical events that presents something for everybody,” said Miranda Traudt, SUNY Oswego’s director of arts programming. “Every artist brings something different to the table, and they all have opportunities to engage with our students, our campus and our community.”

21 Fall 2019

The season starts with the musical collaboration of ETHEL + Robert Mirabal presenting “The River” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Waterman Theatre. The concert connects to the theme of Fresh Water for All, the campus-wide Grand Challenge. Mirabal is a three-time Grammy-winning Native American musician and instrument builder partnering with ETHEL, who are billed as “one of America’s most adventurous string quartets” and make a return appearance at the college. This collaboration is inspired by water as the embodiment of spirit and essential to all life on Earth, providing a flow of music, narrative and ritual that evokes timeless Native American traditions through contemporary musical virtuosity. The Mark Lomax Quartet

will present “400: An Afrikan Epic” at 7:30 Sept. 23 in Sheldon Hall ballroom. This concert will be the closing event of the college’s annual multicultural ALANA Student Leadership Conference. The production explores thousands of years of the pre-Colonial era for the continent, the Ma’afa (the 400 years between 1619 and 2019) and Afro-futurism that looks at the next 400 years. Along the way, it celebrates the resilience, brilliance, strength, genius and creativity of a people who continue to endure while offering an inspired view of the future. The quartet is known to combine the fire and passion of John Coltrane’s legendary Classic Quartet of the 1960s with modern sensibilities, crafting a repertoire that includes spirituals, the works of jazz masters, original music and more.

Squonk Opera returns to Oswego with the free outdoor event “Pneumatica” Oct. 4 and 5 during the college’s annual Homecoming Weekend. It is an event about air, made of air and powered by air. The production in the center of campus will feature blowers and fans filling inflatables culminating in creating the 40-foot-tall Lady Pneumatica who incorporates a wind turbine on her head. Air-driven music including bagpipes and an accordion plus other instruments punctuate a presentation that merges art, design, music, poetry, science, math and engineering. “This show incorporates science and technology into the performance and I think has the possibility for a lot of collaboration with courses in those fields,” Traudt said. “It’s an example of the interdisciplinary performances we like to include.” Cie Herve KOUBI, a high-energy 13-man dance troupe from Algeria and Burkina Faso, will stage “What the Day Owes to the Night” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in Waterman Theatre. The production incorporates a dazzling display of backflips, head spins and a transcending emotional intensity. Created by French-Algerian choreographer Herve Koubi, “What the Day Owes to the Night (Ce Que le Jour Doit a la Nuit)” unfolds to a score that includes Johann Sebastian Bach, Hamza El Din, the Kronos Quartet and traditional Sufi music. The Oswego performance will be its first time

at a SUNY school and a rare appearance in New York, Traudt said. SUNY Oswego was a lead institution in making this tour happen, with support from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. A musical homecoming will wrap the season when Diana Preisler of the class of 1996 and her a cappella quartet Blue Jupiter perform “Twisted Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. March 7 in Waterman Theatre. Blue Jupiter’s four soaring and intertwining voices will take attendees through a program including hits from shows such as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Wicked,” “Pippin,” “Porgy and Bess,” “The Sound of Music,” “Chicago” and more. “They’re just going to be so much fun,” Traudt said. “It will also be a great opportunity for our students to hear from somebody who went to SUNY Oswego and is having a successful career.” Preisler and the band are known for their worldwide hit Lifetime TV show “Pitch Slapped” as well as 15 years of global touring. Tickets for each indoor show cost $20 for the general public; $15 for SUNY Oswego faculty, staff and alumni; and $5 for SUNY Oswego students, other students and children. Tickets are available online at tickets.oswego. edu, at any SUNY Oswego box office or by calling 315312-3073.  Submitted by SUNY Oswego’s Office of Communications and Marketing.

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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, Jamie Towle Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Copyright 2019 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

College Life

Autumnal Bliss — and Beyond

Take a break from studies and enjoy community happenings in the area this fall By Lou Sorendo

entral New York is a recreational and cultural Mecca that college populations at SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College can enjoy throughout the months of autumn. Before the winds of Old Man Winter begin to howl, make sure to take in events and activities designed to titillate the senses. Here is a glance at some of the more exciting happenings occurring this late summer and early fall in Oswego County:

City of Oswego Weekly Farmers Market 4:15-8 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 10 West First Street, downtown Oswego This iconic community event features fresh produce, baked goods, arts and crafts and live entertainment. For information, call 315343-7681 Fulton Farmers Market at Canalview Park 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 12 Canalview Center parking lot South Second Street, Fulton The outdoor market features farm fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, herbs, flowers and plants, crafts and occasional entertainment. For information, call 315343-7681. Haunted Oswego Tour Now through Halloween — Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings; the tour begins at the corner of West First and Cayuga streets, Oswego — The 90-minute tour begins near dusk and covers about a mile of Oswego’s most-spookiest haunts. For information, call 315591-0491 Holistic Health & Psychic Fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 Mexico Point Park Friends of Spirit play host to the area’s best massage, holistic, chiropractic, and energy practitioners, as well as artisan crafters,

organic products and foods. The event is free to attend. For information, call 315963-3891. Ontario Orchards Fall Jamboree 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 21-22 Ontario Orchards Farm 15273 Center Road, Sterling Members of the college communities can celebrate the change of seasons with fun for all. Featured at the free event will be live music and entertainment, food and crafts, and U-pick apples and pumpkins. For information, call 315343-6328. 5th annual Oswego Porchfest 1-6 p.m. Sept. 22 Oswego’s historic Westside neighborhoods; West, Franklin and Montcalm parks This is a community-building annual event that features musicians performing on the front porches of homes throughout the westside historic district. For information, visit https://www.oswegoporchfest.com Phoenix Locktoberfest 2019 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 5 State Street, Phoenix This free fall festival on the Oswego Canal features hundreds of vendors, food and beverage garden, kids’ games and activities, two stages with multiple bands, and helicopter rides. For more information, visit @phoenixnylocktoberfest.

Spaced-Out Experience Shineman Planetarium offers an out-of-this-world educational journey

By Lou Sorendo

… 2 … 1 … Liftoff! Who said attending college must be a stuffy and dry experience? The Shineman Planetarium on the SUNY Oswego campus offers the college population and general public the opportunity to disconnect from earth and explore the wonders of the universe. Students, faculty and community members have the opportunity to visit the planetarium on the second floor of the Richard S. Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation. The planetarium holds shows at 7 p.m. every Sunday from September through June. The shows regularly come close to filling the 30 seats available and occasionally reach maximum capacity

of 49. The physics department operates the Spitz digital planetarium with a 24-foot projection dome that has a 180-degree field of view and a built-in surround sound system. The projector includes an 8-inch digital fisheye lens connected to a computer system. The planetarium opened in 2013 with the rest of the Shineman Center. Scott Roby, associate professor in the physics department and planetarium director, said the planetarium is an immersive environment, “so we have the advantage of not only being educational, but also entertaining. “The entertainment factor gets the audience

Fort Ontario Annual Ghost Reveal & Hunt 7-10 p.m., Oct. 19 Fort Ontario Historic Site 1 E. Fourth St., Oswego Paranormal presentations, interactive ghost hunting and guided ghost tours. The cost is $20 per person. For information and required advance registration, call 315-343-4711. Images provided by the Shineman Planetarium.

engaged, then we can teach them about the nature of astronomy, different objects in astronomy, and keep them up to date on the latest discoveries and news.” The system allows operators to pick, choose and modify thousands of objects in the sky, as well as predict and preview future events. With the college’s former planetarium, onlookers could only see the sky from the earth. With the new system, the sky can be shown from anywhere, Roby noted. “We can fly from the earth out to the local universe filled with 80,000 galaxies, and then fly back,” he said. The planetarium is a natural for astronomy classes, but biology, geology, chemistry and philosophy classes have also used the facility for classes. Shows are recommended for children aged 4 and older. An adult must accompany children under 17. No food or drink is permitted in the facility. Parking is free in the commuter lot off Washington Boulevard and the employee lot off Centennial Boulevard across from the Shineman Center. “I may tell them 20 things, and hopefully they remember five or six cool things,” said Roby, noting the exciting and fun environment makes for a terrific learning environment.

Fall 2019 22

Worship

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In the heart of Oswego’s historic westside. West Fifth and Cayuga Streets 10 a.m. Sunday Services 5:30p.m. Wednesday Services: Sept. 18th to Oct. 30th Ice Cream on the Lawn! 5p.m. Aug. 29th Open House & Hymn Singing, 3 - 4p.m. Sept. 15th

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SERVICE TIMES Sunday School - 10 AM Sunday Morning - 11 AM S u n d a y Ev e n i n g - 5 PM We d n e s d a y Ev e n i n g - 7 PM

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The Mark Lomax Quartet

400: An Afrikan Epic

s e i r e S s t r A g n i m r o f r e P

September 23, 2019 Sheldon Hall Ballroom

o g e w s O Y N at SU

Squonk Opera

Pneumatica

October 4 and 5, 2019 Marano Campus Lawn

ETHEL + Robert Mirabal

The River

September 11, 2019 Waterman Theatre Cie Hervé KOUBI

What the Day Owes to the Night February 12, 2020 Waterman Theatre

Blue Jupiter

Twisted Broadway

March 7, 2020 Waterman Theatre

$5 Students of All Ages

$15 SUNY Oswego Faculty, Staff, and Alumni $20 General Public

NBC TODAY’s Al Roker to Teach at SUNY Oswego

UNY Oswego will welcome one of its own into the classroom this fall as Al Roker, national weather anchor on NBC’s TODAY and co-host of the third hour of TODAY, will teach a broadcasting course titled

“Camera Ready: Developing Your On-Air Persona” (BRC 497). Roker, a 1976 SUNY Oswego graduate, will work with fellow SUNY Oswego faculty members: assistant professor of communication

studies, Michael Riecke, former anchor of WSYR-TV “The Morning News” in Syracuse. and adjunct professor of meteorology Vanessa Richards, a 2008 graduate of SUNY Oswego and TV meteorologist for Spectrum

News, CNY. Together, they will help students explore and learn what it takes to stand out from the pack and apply their skills and knowledge to succeed as an on-air personality in today’s competitive media environment. Roker and his co-professors will discuss with students the methods for connecting with an audience through storytelling, personal branding, presentation styles, on-camera appearance and more, with the goal of creating a demo reel. In addition, students will analyze the work of legendary on-air talent in television, radio and digital media as well as examine the characteristics that helped them succeed. “Al Roker has been a loyal ambassador for Oswego throughout his career, generous in sharing his love for the college,” said SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley. “Oswego is honored that he has now chosen to return to the college classroom to share his talent and experiences with the next generation of broadcasters. Al’s unique background in broadcasting as a weather anchor, journalist and renowned television personality provides Oswego students with the ability to explore today’s complex broadcast-

ing and communication environment.” “As a freshman at Oswego, I was working in the campus television studio, while my friends at big private universities never touched a piece of equipment until later in their college careers,” said Roker. “I’m excited about giving back to my alma mater, educating future journalists, and providing Oswego students with many of the same advantages I was given.” A generous supporter of his alma mater, Roker provided SUNY Oswego a gift to name the Al Roker Television Studio, which is operated by the student-run television station (WTOP), and teamed up with Lou Borrelli ’77 to name the annual Media Summit in honor of a mentor, Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell. His live national broadcasts from campus and his frequent on-air “plugs” for Oswego provide exposure for the college, most recently during Rokerthon3 in March 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies from SUNY Oswego and an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York.

Fall 2019 24

College Life

What a Great Volunteer Gig I Found for Myself this Summer! Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse now open for boat tours By Mary Beth Roach

s a deckhand with the H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse, I get to spend Friday afternoons on a pontoon boat on Lake Ontario — meeting people from all over the world, and sharing and learning a lot about the history of Oswego and its harbor. The tours run on Friday and Saturday afternoons, weather permitting, through September. My fascination with the Oswego Lighthouse dates back to the early 1980s, when I moved to the city for work. I moved on to another city a few years later, and ultimately returned to my hometown of Syracuse. But, my fascination continued. Like many of you, I have seen countless photos of the structure at various times of the year. It’s probably the most photographed of all of Oswego’s buildings. I’ve kayaked out there a few times over the years to get a close-up view. It had fallen into a state of disrepair and looked, well, tired. I never would have imagined that the lighthouse would ever be made available for public tours. Apparently, there were many others who have had an even greater fascination with the lighthouse and had a plan. In 2011, the Oswego Lighthouse Development Committee was formed and restoration began. The Maritime Museum acquired a lease from the city of Oswego in 2014, and tours began in 2016. I only learned of the tours earlier this year, but when I learned that they needed volunteers, I quickly

25 Fall 2019

signed up. Guests have included international students, lighthouse aficionados from Canada, visitors from throughout the state, and even a few local residents from Oswego and Fulton who listed a tour of this local iconic landmark on their “bucket list.” While the lighthouse is the ultimate destination of the trip, there is so much for visitors to see and learn about as we pull out into the harbor. The area is such a wonderful blend of history and commerce. Perhaps the harbor is not the bustling center it was back in the day, but still there is a lot going on. We pass the 1927 NYS Derrick Boat 8, one of the last surviving steam-powered floating derricks to have worked on the New York State Barge Canal, and it serves as a reminder of how important steam power was in the United States. The tugboat LT-5 saw action during the Normandy invasion in 1944, as part of Operation Mulberry. On the boat’s stack is a “kill mark” — a white plane with a swastika in the center has been painted on to show that it had shot down a German warplane on June 9, 1944. The Eleanor D, the last commercial fishing vessel on Lake Ontario, was made from scrap metal from World War II, and was purchased by the Cahill family, wellknown fishermen in Oswego. Their former fish market on West First Street was once the oldest commercial establishment in the city. Bill Cahill served as Oswego’s mayor in the 1980s. And the stone building is finding new life, being restored and developed into

market-rate and upscale apartments and restaurant space. As we come into the open harbor, visitors can see the rooftops of the historic Fort Ontario, and just below the fort was the first lighthouse, built in 1822 for $3,500. The Oswego Canal opened in 1928, linking Lake Ontario to the Erie Canal and eventually to the major harbors of New York City and Buffalo. As a result, the Oswego Harbor grew in importance, requiring a more substantial lighthouse. When construction began on the new arrowhead breakwaters at the entrance to the harbor in 1931, a temporary light was placed on the top of the NYS Barge Canal Terminal Elevator. A fourth lighthouse, which sits at the end of the 2,000-foot-long breakwater, was opened in 1934. As visitors approach the lighthouse, they can get a close-up look at the breakwater. Well fortified Black lines run vertical

View of Lake Ontario from the Oswego lighthouse.

in the stone, from where explosives were placed to blast them out of the earth. On the east side of the harbor are concrete pieces, called dolosse, or more informally jacks, because of their resemblance to the jacks we, of a certain age, played with as kids. Their shapes are supposed to break up the waves under water. It was near the breakwater area that a tragedy occurred on Friday, Dec. 4, 1942. The commander of the Oswego Coast Guard Station, along with seven crewmembers from the station and two lighthouse keepers, set out in a boat to relieve Karl Jackson, who had been on duty since Tuesday of that week. A winter storm had prevented the crew from relieving Jackson earlier. But that Friday, the winds had reduced substantially, and the commander felt they could reach the lighthouse safely, which they did. The two lighthouse keepers disembarked, and Jackson came aboard. Then, disaster struck. Waves

Plaque inside the Oswego lighthouse.

smashed the vessel against the crib breaking some of the hull’s planks and killing the engine. The waves then carried the vessel across the harbor entrance and into the east breakwater. Two men in the front were able to break out panes of glass and climbed onto the breakwater. But the other six men were tossed into the churning waters. The two who were able to get to the breakwater were rescued about an hour later, but the other men, including keeper Jackson, died. According to one website, two bodies, including that of Jackson, were located the following April in Henderson Harbor, a good 30 miles from Oswego. Once at the lighthouse, guests take a ramp from the boat to the lighthouse and enter its basement floor. Some climbing is required to reach the upper sections. On the second floor, there’s the radio room, the kitchen and the keepers’ quarters. The third floor housed the signal room, and then a ladder will take you up to the top. The light was converted in 1995 to a solar-powered beacon and updated in 2010. Volunteer guides are situated on each floor to show visitors around and answer questions. Most of the shutters and windows are open on all sides, allowing guests stunning views of the harbor, the city and the lake. The boat ride back from the lighthouse provides better views of the city’s skyline — Bridge Street, spanning Oswego River; the steeple of St. Mary’s Church; Wright’s Landing, which can accommodate more than 220 vessels in its slips; the U.S. Coast Guard Station; Brietbeck Park; and if the wind is just right, there might be a windsurfer or two out there. The volunteers all get manuals containing a great deal of history, But I have to admit, I have also learned so much from the other volunteers, passengers and captains. After spending a few weeks in and around the lighthouse, my fascination hasn’t waned. If anything, it’s piqued my interest in more of its history and its people. For those interested in learning more about this history, or better yet, if you want to volunteer or book a tour, feel free to contact the museum at 315-342-0480. Ticket prices are $20 and include the tour and admission to the museum as well.

College Life

The Children’s Museum of Oswego, 7 W. Bridge St., Oswego, has a renovated look as well as exhibit improvements thanks to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The building in will see façade restoration this fall as part of the project.

Construction continues on the Lake Ontario Water Park, a project of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The facility will be connected to the Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront off East First Street in Oswego. Completion of the project is estimated early in 2021.

The Makeover of Downtown Oswego Downtown Revitalization Initiative transformsOswego’s business hub By Lou Sorendo

s the SUNY Oswego college community returns for the fall semester, downtown Oswego is already making the grade with a significant facelift. Students, faculty and administrators got a taste of things to come this past April when a series of projects associated with the city’s $10 million state-funded Downtown Revitalization Initiative broke ground.

Today, West First and Water streets in the city are featuring improvements that can only enhance the downtown experience for the college population, residents and tourists alike. City of Oswego Mayor William “Billy” Barlow said the DRI is designed to enhance public space and make downtown more enjoyable for everyone. “For the SUNY Oswe-

go community specifically, many of our DRI projects are mixed-use developments that include quality residential living units on upper stories,” Barlow said. “We want to introduce quality units to our downtown because if people live downtown, they typically spend time downtown and help generate more economic activity.” Barlow said the college population deserves quality

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places to live. “Currently, our rental market doesn’t offer some of the quality conditions people are looking for,” he said. “These projects will raise the standards for rental units in the city, place folks in the heart of our downtown, and should generate spin-off economic activity.” Key projects on the west side include the recently completed Water Street Square pocket park between West First and Water streets; improvements to Water Street; state Route 104 Complete Streets; and the construction of three West First Street buildings that will feature commercial and living space. Barlow said the pocket park is a place to offer unique entertainment while also providing an area for people to congregate and spend time downtown. “This area can be a place for small concerts and other entertainment, but can also be a relaxing area to meet friends for coffee, do homework outdoors, or simply hang out,” he said. The state Route 104 Complete Streets project — through crosswalk and safety improvements on West Bridge Street — is designed to help people easily cross the busy thoroughfare and slow traffic as it passes through the core of downtown. Whole new look One of the three major West First Street projects is the skyline-transforming Litatro Building located at the former site of Global Buffet, 189 W. First St. Demolition is finished and the project is under construction,

with completion set for the fall of 2020. The five-story facility will feature a 7,500-squarefoot first floor devoted to commercial interests, while 22 apartments will occupy the other floors. The second is 22 Crossroads at 147-161 W. First St. The four-story, 44,000-squarefoot building will have 32 apartments and about 8,300 square feet of commercial space. Completion of construction is expected in the summer of 2021. The third project is Harborview Square, a 66-unit apartment complex with 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at 68 W. First St. Also under construction at the site are 18 freestanding townhouse-type units. The project is under construction with expected completion in the summer of 2021. Barlow said all the projects with the quality upper-story residential options are specifically targeted to SUNY students looking for a “great” place to live that is centrally located, or SUNY Oswego staff who may be transient and do not want to purchase a house and deal with associated maintenance that comes with home ownership. DRI projects that are complete are the former Cahill building at the foot of West Seneca Street and the Children’s Museum of Oswego, 7 W. Bridge St., which features a renovated look as well as exhibit improvements. The Cahill Landing project features the restoration of the historic 191-year-old Cahill fisheries building into an upscale waterfront residential apartment building. Meanwhile, another core DRI project — the Lake Ontario Water Park — will feature a 16,000-square-foot facility that will be connected to the Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront off East First Street. The project is under construction with completion estimated early in 2021. Also on the east side will be the East Lake Commons, LLC project, located at the former Midtown Plaza at the corner of East First and Cayuga streets. The 88,000-square-foot, six-story mixed-use facility will offer mixed-income apartment units, plus retail, commercial and office space. Other projects included in the state DRI funding are river walk improvements; the establishment of a revolving matching grant fund for small businesses; and façade restoration at the Buckhout-Jones building, home to the CMOO, set for this fall.

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College Life

‘Stepping away from the screen is just what we need to do in order to put ourselves out in the real, tangible world.’

Connection...

Socializing in the Era of Social Media By Melissa Stefanec

hese days, you don’t often hear the word ‘social’ used on its own. We often pair it with media. Even if it’s used on its own, we all know what kind of “social” people are referencing — the virtual kind. However, this is a relatively new development. If you’re into etymology (or, for those of you who haven’t had your morning cold brew yet, the study of how the meaning of words changes over time), make today’s case study the evolution of the word “social.” There was a time when the word had more to do with ancient fraternity than media, but times change. Most of us have drastically changed how we socialize. Today, when it comes to people we don’t work with, a lot of us have more interactions with screens than human beings. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. Other times, it’s a terrible thing. The Paradox I don’t have enough time or energy to debate whether or not social media will spur the collapse of society. However, I have just enough time to discuss an interesting nuance of social media: it’s an unusual form of socializing in that the more I engage

with it, the less connected to humanity I actually feel. Social media isn’t a true way to connect with other human beings, at least those in my closest circle. It takes the edge off loneliness and eases the pain of geographic separation from people I care about. It’s not the same as a phone call or physical presence. We all know and feel that. Yet, we expect more of social media than it’s capable of delivering and end up disappointed. Nonetheless, we are unable to detach from it. I think social media is a good starting point for socialization, but it shouldn’t be the end goal of socializing. Breaking the Habit A recent survey from GlobalWebIndex found many people spend almost two and a half hours a day on social media channels. That’s a lot of time spent pseudo-engaging with your fellow humans. For many us, cruising social media is a habit, one that is easy to feed and hard to avoid. Habits are very important to humans. When we memorize and perform the same tasks over and over again, our brains have to spend less time consciously thinking about those tasks.

This frees up brain power and allows us to focus on other tasks while we are engaging in the habitual one. Our brains love habits, and this makes those habits hard to break. However, humans can be very successful at modifying behaviors. The National Institutes of Health offer the following tips on how to break bad habits: • Avoid tempting situations. • Replace unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones. • Enlist support. Ask friends, family and co-workers to support your efforts to change. • Reward yourself for small steps. This article is going to take a closer look at the third bullet in that list — the one that involves enlisting support. In the case of social media, this means persuading others to socialize without screens. Let’s face it, suggesting to your friends that they slowly step away from their phones might not make you the most popular person at the party. However, stepping away from the screen is just what we need to do in order to put ourselves out in the real, tangible world. So, here are some ideas of how to

engage with people in real life and pull yourself out of a social-media-cruising rut. Ideas for socializing without a screen • Join a club Whether you are into biology, philosophy, photography or LARPing, there is a club out there where you can meet your brethren and make connections. • Join an athletic team Even if you aren’t a star athlete, there are plenty of club sports to join. Playing on a team is a great way to forge real connections with real people. • Watch a live sporting event People love to rally around the home team. Find a friend or two (or 10) and watch the game together. You’ll feel instantly connected. • Go some place with limited data coverage If you go to a location where you can’t access the internet, you can’t engage with social media. Every once in a while, all of us need to escape technology. • Host a game night These things are actually fun. Humans love playing, and games are adult toys.

There are multiple games that incorporate your phone but also require you to interact with people. Those games are a great way to incorporate technology in a healthy way. • Go to a group exercise class If you’re the sort of person who needs an all-encompassing deterrent, try a group class. You’re going to look a little silly if you’re scrolling through Instagram in the middle of yoga. • Take a hike/run/paddle with friends If you’re actively engaging in an activity, you may just forget about social media feeds. Focusing your brain and body on a healthy activity can pay off in a big way. • Volunteer Social media has a way of turning even the best-intentioned people into mild narcissists. Volunteering is a great way to look outside yourself and your circles. When you help others, you feel good. Volunteering can be addictive—in the most wonderful way. • Take in some live theater or an art exhibit Digesting art takes time and attention, so it’s a great way to interact with something that isn’t a screen. You can also bring friends or family along to add an additional level of engagement. • See some live music While you’re there, resist the urge to record large portions of it on your phone or take too many photos. Practice active listening. Put technology off to the side and tune into the music. • Go to the fair If you are the sort of person who needs a little nudging or isn’t sure where to start, attend one of SUNY Oswego’s student involvement fairs. More than 200 registered student organizations attend the fair, and these events are a great way for you to evaluate options before you commit. You can contact thepoint@oswego. edu for more information.

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