College Life: Fall 2022

Fall 2022

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Get Ready for the New Sheldon Beach A lakefront hotspot near the SUNY Oswego campus that’s a longtime favorite of college students is getting a makeover.

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WHILE YOU WERE GONE… Ticki Tours, Sheldon Beach, Splash Indoor Waterpark and Resort and a new Turkish bakery on the east side are among the many things that took place in Oswego since the spring semester.

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SCOTT LANDERS AIMS TO GUIDE LAKERS BACK TO COLLEGE WORLD SERIES For the past 11 years, Landers has been Oswego State baseball’s head coach and he’s looking to continue the Lakers’ winning ways in the upcoming season.

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6 SCAMS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO AVOID P. 24 College Life is published twice a year by Local News, Inc., publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine. You can find us at 185 E. Seneca St., P.O. Box 276, Oswego, NY 13126. Copyright © 2022 Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

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college life

• Fall 2022

Get Ready for the New and Improved Sheldon Beach B

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lakefront hotspot near t h e SUN Y O s we go campus that’s a longtime favorite of college students is getting a makeover.

The city of Oswego is wrapping up work on a $150,000 project to transform the area known as Sheldon Beach from a vacant gravel lot into a public park complete with restrooms, picnic tables and waterfront access.

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By Ken Sturtz

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SHELDON BEACH PARK

The site is sandwiched on two acres and accessed from Sixth Avenue on the city’s west side. It’s bordered on the east by the 93-acre Oswego Harbor Power (formerly known as the

Oswego Steam Station). The 1,700-megawatt oil- and gasfired plant rarely produces electricity, mostly serving as a backup. The site is flanked on the west by the college campus.

Mayor Billy Barlow said an old building on the cityowned property had collapsed years ago and animals were getting into it. Last fall he went to check it out and see about having a contractor clean it up.

While looking around he

began wondering why a popular piece of city-owned lakefront real estate wasn’t being maintained and utilized.

The site was a public swimming area for decades, staffed by lifeguards and popular with locals and students alike. From there people gain access to the harbor’s breakwater that leads to the lighthouse. Over the years scores of people have become trapped and needed to be rescued.

In 1971, the swimming area was closed when the city leased the land to the adjacent steam plant for parking during a major expansion. When the city tried to reopen the site in the 1980s, it was stymied by the college and a lengthy fight ensued.

An effort to open a swimming area in the early 1990s failed due to a state regulation requiring the slope of swimming areas to be relatively level. The bottom of Sheldon Beach is rocky, jagged and has sudden drop-offs. The county Health Department said the conditions were dangerous and would’ve made it difficult for lifeguards to spot someone in trouble.

Meeting the state regulations would’ve required an expensive project to fill in and level out the bottom of the lake and the city eventually dropped its plans.

Barlow pushed to turn the area into a park, similar to another project in 2019

that created Lakeside Park on the east side at a site that was previously a dead-end road leading to a gravel driveway on the lake. The city has also undertaken revitalization projects at Breitbeck Park and the International Pier.

“It just made sense,” Barlow said. “We have a lot of experience now with reinforcing the shorelines and developing waterfront space in a way that allows people to enjoy it.”

The Sheldon Beach park will not have a swimming area, but the project includes new public restrooms, seating and picnic areas, installation of green space and landscaping, and a walking trail to the waterfront. The street leading to the park will also be repaved.

The project is being paid for from a $1.7 million allotment the city got as part of the American Rescue Plan last year. Construction is expected to finish in mid-September.

Barlow said while that the park project is meant for everyone’s enjoyment, he believes it will have special resonance with college students given the site’s proximity to campus and historic popularity with students.

“It will go a long way toward making SUNY students feel like they have a quality place in the city to visit,” he said. “Now even more students will use it and feel like it’s there for them.”

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• Fall 2022

While You Were Gone…

Ticki Tours, Sheldon Beach, Splash Indoor Waterpark and Resort and a new Turkish bakery on the east side are among the many things that took place in Oswego since the spring semester

By Steve Yablonski

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swego promotes itself as the Port City of Central New York. There have been quite a few changes in the city, especially along its waterfront, since the end of the spring semester.

The city began hosting Sunset Tiki Tours in the harbor in July.

Oswego purchased two pontoon boats outfitted as tiki-huts to troll inside the breakwall and up and down the Oswego River. Based in the city-owned and operated Wright’s Landing Marina, tiki tours – also known as booze cruises – run from July to early September, with licensed captains operating the boat while parties of six cruise throughout the harbor as the sun sets, enjoying drinks, snacks and music. Tours run through Labor Day. A boat with six passengers, costs $200 for a two-hour cruise. Guests on the tours must be 18 years old.

They are responsible for bringing any drinks or food. Alcohol is permitted – for guests 21 and older only.

Breitbeck Improvements The 15-acre Breitbeck Park, located on the shore of Lake Ontario, has seen several enhancements recently.

The old playground was removed and replaced with a new, nautical-themed playground offering safer access and more play objects. It was custom- designed to reflect some of Oswego’s local landmarks while complementing other recent projects and investments made by the city in the park such as a splash pad playground, a mini-golf course, concession stand and installation of scenic overlooks and patio areas.

This spring, the city opened a new adult outdoor fitness court at Breitbeck. It features 30 individual pieces of equipment including push rings, pull rings, push ladders, box jumps, lunge steps and more.

The court is a free, open -to-the-public, outdoor wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout.

Favorites Return The summer of 2022 also saw the return of a couple long-time favorites.

The 4th of July Independence Day Parade and annual Harborfest celebration returned after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parade took place on July 3. It was followed by a

downtown block party along West First Street. The day ended with fireworks launched over the Oswego River.

Harborfest, a free admission outdoor music festival historically attracts approximately 75,000 to Oswego. This year’s event ran from July 28 to 31 — highlighted by the worldclass Grucci fireworks display over the Oswego Harbor.

Tiki tours — also known as booze cruises — started this summer and run through early September. Licensed captains operate the boat while parties of six cruise throughout the harbor as the sun sets, enjoying drinks, snacks and music.

Skate Park Opening Soon For skateboard and in-line skate enthusiasts, the Oswego Department of Public Works is constructing a concrete skate park along the east linear river walk. The 5,000-squarefoot park will feature several ramps, a half pipe, railings, and platforms to allow for plenty of skate space and fixtures for riding. The park area will have lighting and surveillance cameras installed. A nearby, unused building, will be converted into a restroom facility.

The park is expected to be completed and open this October.

Transforming Sheldon Beach Sheldon Beach has been known to locals as the area between the Oswego Steam Station and the SUNY Oswego campus, serving as the entrance to the breakwall. The city is working to transform that area from a vacant, gravel parking lot into an accessible public park area with waterfront access.

The project will consist of a parking area, the installation of green space, a walking trail to the waterfront known as Flat Rock, new public restroom facilities and seating picnic areas. Sixth Avenue leading to the new park will be repaved. (See separate story in this issue of College Life)

A Big Splash in Oswego The Splash Indoor Waterpark and Resort, opening late this year on East First Street, will offer year-round climatecontrolled fun.

Currently under construction, this $6.7 million project is located on the campus of Broadwell Hospitality Group, LLC, next to Clarion Hotel & Suites Riverfront.

The state-of-the-art indoor waterpark will cater to locals and tourists alike. It includes two signature high-energy looping slides, a splash pad with all sorts of water action, topped by a 500-gallon tilt bucket, a 30-person hot tub and a signature retail center.

There will be three levels.

The main floor is the waterpark. The second tier will be a fully-enclosed air-controlled video arcade, featuring all the new most exciting top games that are out there today as well as a full-service bar,

concessions and four private party locations. On the third tier, the Steamers restaurant will flow right on through.

A full-service bar will serve trendy tropical libations and a full concession menu. The food offerings in the park itself will be family-friendly ( just not your traditional sitdown meal).

fancy to make that day... if I have time!” she said.

Tully’s Good Times also opened on Oswego’s westside earlier this year.

Located in the former Friendly’s Ice Cream site on West Bridge Street, the Tully’s Chicken Tender Concept is a grab-and-go style eatery.

There’s room inside for about 40 patrons.

It is smaller than the normal Tully’s restaurant.

The truncated menu includes things like Tully’s hand-breaded fresh chicken tenders (Buf-

Turkish bakery and more Oswego has several new places to eat. A couple newer locations include Tatlim Bakery, 37 E. First St., which opened this spring, bringing a bit of Turkish flavor to the Port City. Owner Sevgi Evren Familo, 29, is an émigré from Istanbul. She has lived in Oswego for eight years.

“For desserts, we serve different flavors of macarons and éclairs, as well as our crispy cream puffs and Turkish desserts, baklava and kadayif and anything else I

falo tenders and Asian tenders), chicken sandwiches, dips and sauces, salads and some desserts.

Other eateries are scheduled to open soon, including a franchise of Popeyes, which will be located on the east side of Oswego.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

Where Are the International Students?

They are coming back … gradually

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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rom spectator events to family reunions, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted, canceled and postponed all kinds of gatherings. It also made attending school challenging for SUNY Oswego’s international students.

“Many international students decided to stay in the US during COVID to finish their studies but the number of new students dropped off severely at first,” s a i d Jo shu a McKeown, associate provost for international education and programs at SUNY Oswego.

In 2020, many international students returned home and some switched to all online classes. Typically, Oswego welcomes more than 250 international students from more than 60 countries every year. The on-campus enrollment of international students in fall 2020 decreased to 121 total.

“It was quite dramatic,” McKeown.

“In fall 2020, we had almost 50 international students studying online instead of on campus,” McKeown said.

“Total enrollment was better because of that but it was not what either the students or we wanted.”

By spring 2022, Oswego began to see more international students return to the school. McKeown noted that 74 new students enrolled, along with additional returning students for a total of 228 international students on campus.

“That semester was the real turnaround,” he added.

While the convenience and flexibility of online classes appeals to many students, from his perspective, McKeown views the lack of international students on campus as detracting from the campus culture.

“We value their diverse cultural perspectives and the contributions they make toward our campus’ goals of global learning for all,” he said. “Classrooms are more vibrant and informed by their global perspectives, residence halls more interesting for their cultural contributions, and our overall enrollment is more robust and sustainable.”

He thinks that attending classes at Oswego is attractive to all students, including international students, for a variety of reasons.

“We have it all: strong academics with the highest accreditations, safe and clean campus environment, a welcoming student body with dedicated staff, and the right mix of rigorous structure and personal freedom to pursue their own dreams,” McKeown said.

At publication, McKeown said he would have no final enrollment figures for the 2022-2023 school year for international students until enrollment week, as many students need considerable time to confirm their student visa appointments and interviews, but “we definitely are seeing a huge rebound from the worst of the pandemic,” he said.

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college life

• Fall 2022

What’s Next for the Oswego Mayor?

EXPIRES: 12/31/22

Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow will finish his term next year and won’t be eligible for re-election because of term limits.

Locals suggest things he should pursue.

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n 2015, Billy Barlow, then 25, defeated Amy Tresidder in the race to become Oswego’s mayor; and in the process he became the youngest mayor in New York state. He began his term in 2016.

He was elected to a second term and has said he will complete his final year and a half as mayor of Oswego Young (Dec. 31, 2023). e New Yst Mayor in This spring, Mayor Barlow said he was “bombarded ork Sta te with messages of encouragement and support” from At 25 ye ars of ag Osweg e, new o talks about hi mayor of opport people all around Central New York inquiring whether s unities and pr challenges, iorities he intended to run for the State Senate.

PROGR He said he was humbled to be in the conversation.

ESS IS SUE IN SIDE However, public service should be about wanting to do something, not be something, he said.

“I want to serve my community in a role where I can be effective. That role, for me, is not in the State Senate. I still have plenty more to do, and projects to complete, in my final year and a half as mayor of Oswego,” he said.

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“I am very excited to see what direction Mayor Barlow’s career will take after his term is up. He has a talent for inspiring people to work together and think in a positive way. He is an expert at getting things done. I wish him well.”

“Mayor Barlow has proven he is a leader and has foresight into the future needs of the community. He will do well in whatever career path he chooses.”

Carol Thompson, Writer, Oswego

Mercedes Niess, H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego, executive director

“Please ignore or override the city charter to allow Billy Barlow to continue another term as mayor of the city of Oswego at $125,000 a year. Billy Barlow and the Common Council have done a super outstanding job. Billy is also a wonderful ambassador for the city and he should continue to develop Oswego as the greatest small city in Central New York. Billy is ‘better than the best.’”

Tom Gillen, Former mayor of Oswego

Tony Leotta, Former Oswego city engineer

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“Just the other day, I was wondering if Mayor Barlow would consider running for the U.S. presidency, when he’s old enough. The whole country could benefit from his energy, vision and skills in orchestrating practical, communitybuilding projects. He could show the world that the American Way can flourish under proper management, for the common good of its people.

That’s true leadership, in my opinion.

Maybe he could fix the country like he fixed Oswego.”

Larry Rapshaw, Teacher, musician, town of Oswego

“I will say I wish him the best in whatever direction he chooses to move in. I’m sure he will find great success.”

Deana Michaels, Fulton mayor

“Although we disagree on most political issues, Mayor Barlow and I both agree on our love of the city of Oswego. I am proud of my record as mayor and our accomplishments of growing our beloved city into the success story it is today. Mayor Barlow continued with additional improvements. As a lifetime resident of Oswego, I am excited as to the potential growth of our wonderful city. Mayor Barlow deserves recognition for his leadership and dedication to the residents of Oswego. I wish him only the best in his future as a leader. He has a bright future in New York politics.”

Recent photo of Mayor Barlow.

“Mayor Barlow has done an excellent job in making his vision of Oswego a reality. He has been the catalyst behind projects that have improved the aesthetics of Oswego’s waterfront, parks, recreation areas, and downtown, making the city more appealing to both community members and visitors. His accomplishments speak for themselves. Billy’s ability to work well with others and bring about positive changes will serve him well.

Whether in the private or public sector, Billy’s future looks quite promising.”

John DeRousie, Public relations, Scriba

“Mayor Barlow has proven to be an outstanding leader over the past eight and a half years—two years as the fifth ward councilor and the last six and a half years as mayor.

I’ve had the privilege of working with him during his time as mayor and have seen how hard he works and how much he cares about this community. With his experience and skill set, he will be successful at whatever the next chapter brings, whether it is in the private sector or in public service. The city of Oswego has seen unprecedented progress and growth during his tenure and he deserves much of the credit because of his exceptional leadership,” Robert Corradino, Oswego Common Council Seventh Ward INSET PHOTO: Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow was on the cover of the February-March 2016 issue of Oswego County Business magazine. When he was elected in 2015 at age 25 he was the youngest mayor in New York state.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

college life

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5 THINGS You May Not Know About Mr. Sheldon Founder of SUNY Oswego was a student at Hamilton College before moving to Oswego The college’s founder, Edward Austin Sheldon, was born Oct. 4, 1823.

Here are five things about him you might not have known.

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By Steve Yablonski

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Edward Austin Sheldon hated high school. But who could blame him when the rote memorization used in education at the time was so uninspiring? Yet this inspired him later in life to look for new educational tactics—eventually the Pestalozzi learner-centered method, which Sheldon adopted and molded into what became the world-renowned “Oswego Method” of active learning used by teachers in training leading classes in primary schools.

Sheldon bought the proper ty at Shady Shore in 1856 and built the house that became home to SUNY Oswego’s presidents. His interest in the variety of trees and flowers drew him to the lakeside parcel. It ultimately decided the college’s current location: When Isaac Poucher, head of what was then known as the Oswego Normal School, was looking for a place to put a new, stateof-the-art education building (now known as Sheldon Hall, which opened in 1913), administrators purchased the founder’s old property and the adjacent acreage.

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Sheldon struggled in college. Going to Hamilton College was very different from life on the farm. At first, he wasn’t sure if he fit in. He worked hard and did well academically, but had to pause his studies due to illness.

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Sheldon spearheaded discussions of the present and future of education at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and Columbian Exposition. Among the most famous world’s fairs for its ushering in of the modern age (and introduction of the first Ferris wheel), its showcases included the World’s Educational Congress, where Sheldon served as president of the professional training of teachers department. At that fair, Oswego earned a medal of honor celebrating its “excellence of equipment, method, and wide usefulness throughout its long history under one principal” as well as “excellence of educational methods and literature, as evidenced by their use in the United States.”

Sheldon came to Oswego in 1847 to help run a nursery. He was learning about botany on a farm in Newburgh when he met a gentleman named J.W.P Allen. Allen was looking for investors for a nursery in the city of Oswego, then booming due to international trade coming through its port. The business didn’t pan out, but Sheldon was moved by the city and its people.

When he discovered how many children in the city were poor and couldn’t read, his passion led him to start a local school — which ultimately drove his desire to find better methods of education (and founding the Oswego Primary Teachers Training School in 1861, which evolved into today’s SUNY Oswego).

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SUNY Oswego’s Michael Riecke

Michael Riecke: Meet SUNY Oswego’s Go-To Broadcasting Professor

By Ken Sturtz

B

e fo r e b e i n g i n t e rviewed for this story Michael Riecke fielded a call from a student who graduated in May and recently started her first job in TV. She wanted to talk through some of the challenges she was encountering.

It was the second call in a week from a former student seeking his advice.

“The mentorship doesn’t end once a student is no longer a student,” he said. “It’s a good feeling that someone out there trusts me enough to call and ask for my opinion long after they’ve left my classroom.”

Riecke is one of the goto professors for students aspiring to a career in broadcasting. He counts former students at just about every TV station in Upstate New York. His students have gone on to work in big cities and small towns and even at TV networks.

Riecke places a special emphasis on mentoring students and is also able to draw on a wealth of practical experience. Before transitioning to teaching he spent nearly a decade working as an award-winning reporter, producer, and anchor.

His passion for journalism was stoked at an early age.

Growing up in northern Pennsylvania, near Binghamton, his parents were loyal local TV news viewers and the TV was always on. As a boy he created his own newspaper with a children’s typewriter and he and his sister often played TV news together. When he received an assignment to write about who he aspired to

be when he grew up, Riecke picked Peter Jennings, the anchor of “World News Tonight” on ABC. He enrolled in Syracuse University and studied broadcast journalism. An internship at the ABC affiliate in Binghamton led to a part-time job.

For several years he commuted to Binghamton in between classes, working weekends and nights.

His junior year he started at NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse. By his senior year he was working full time, mostly weekends and nights. He found himself helping professors with classes, like a teaching assistant. It was a rewarding experience that made him think about teaching.

After college Riecke continued working in Syracuse, becoming a weekend anchor.

He enjoyed TV, but he became interested in teaching. He completed a master’s at Le Moyne College while working full time anchoring the morning news. After earning his master’s Riecke decided to transition into higher education. He served as student media manager at Quinnipiac University where he enjoyed helping students become better content producers. A couple years later he returned to Central New York and eventually became an adjunct at Oswego. He became a full-time professor in 2011.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is getting to know students and mentoring them,” he said.

He frequently advises prospective students to make it a point to make connections with faculty. It can be beneficial to find a professor with similar academic interests and get to know them.

“It’s really hard to do if you only see them in a class here or there,” Riecke said.

Students Riecke gets to know well have usually taken several of his classes or stopped by his office hours occasionally. But he also makes an effort to meet students in less formal settings. He serves as faculty adviser for the student TV station, WTOP-10, and often stops by the station to chat with students and spends time working with the student leadership. He also coordinates Oswego’s Los Angeles program, Hollywood POV. Students often seek him out for advice because besides his professional experience and some occasional freelancing, he stays current with what’s happening in the changing TV industry and what skills employers are looking for.

“One of the things I spend a lot of time on is trying to maintain those industry connections,” Riecke said. “I’m chatting with and engaging with people who work at different levels of the industry on a regular basis.”

Some of those people are former students. Riecke tries to stay in tune to industry trends so he can be a resource for his students, but admits he also does it because he loves the broadcasting industry and remains fascinated by it.

That shows. Each semester when he receives student evaluations one of the most frequent comments has something to do with his energy and passion in the classroom.

“I think sometimes my excitement and passion for the industry wears off on students,” Riecke said. “And that’s always my goal.”

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

college life

9

Meet Your New Professor

A new star at Oswego: Natalia Lewandowska is a new assistant professor of physics

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

E

xpect to see a new face at Oswego this fall, Natalia Lewandowska: Ph.D. and assistant professor of physics.

It is apropos that Lewandowska was born in the same Polish town as astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, as she has worked in astronomy all her career.

She and her family moved to Germany when she was 6.

She dragged her parents to the local planetarium every weekend to explore her interest in astronomy. After she completed her education in Germany, Lewandowska came to the U.S. to participate in a post-doctorate fellowship at Greenbank Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, in 2016.

Oswego’s planetarium attracted Lewandowska to apply for her current position in early 2022.

“I have loved planetariums since I was little,” she said. “I was curious as to how people create shows for them.

I wanted to learn more about it.”

In addition to developing programming for the planetarium for the public and for students, she also teaches

astronomy and physics. Since the digital planetarium has been used since 2013, Oswego has hosted more than 3,200 visitors annually. Between 2013 and 2020, the number of shows rose to 165 yearly on average.

Lewandowska likes how the planetarium makes nature more accessible to people.

“Physics has a stigma of being hard,” she said. “It’s not that hard. Nature is very complex. Physics and the other life sciences are complex. When I decided to study physics, I heard many times, ‘Do you really want to do that? It’s so hard.’ As with everything, there were topics I did like and topics I did not like. I encourage younger generations that if they have that goal, they

should not be scared because they hear physics is hard.”

She hopes to show her students her research on pulsars, very fast and highly magnetized neutron stars, with the planetarium programming.

“I always keep telling my students if you have big dreams, try to make them real in your life,” she said. “I had a big dream when I was a kid.

The journey has been long. On the other hand, I’m so happy that at the age of 10 when I decided what I wanted to be in life, I kept going.

“The younger generation should reach for the stars if they are convinced this is what they should do.”

Lewandowska enjoys photography and traveling.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: New assistant professor of physician Natalia Lewandowska poses on top of the Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma in Spain in 2012, collecting data for her Ph.D. thesis; Professor Lewandowska stands with parts of a 3-meter radio telescope which she was building in June 2022.

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college life

• Fall 2022 LEFT Kestas Bendinskas shows editor Wagner Dotto a package sent from Colorado State to his lab.

Bendinskas has amassed an impressive client list, including University of Denver, a doctor from Puerto Rico, Harvard and others.

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Chemistry Professor Creates Lab to Analyze Stress

He recently set up shop at the Business Expansion Center in Oswego. His client list already includes University of Denver, Colorado State, Harvard and others

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howing me around his new lab and explaining the function of all the high-tech equipment, Kestas Bendinskas was as happy as a seagull with a French fry.

Bendinskas, a distinguished service professor of SUNY Oswego’s chemistry faculty, has added another title to his list: entrepreneur.

Recently, he started Stress Bionalytics, LLC. He hopes to have the company fully staffed and operational by Aug. 1.

The facility, located alongside our offices in the Oswego County Business Expansion Center, 185 E. Seneca St., Oswego, will provide research and development services to private and academic clients predominantly in the sphere of measuring stress biomolecules in “difficult” matrixes, such as hair or nails, he explained.

“I got the keys from the Business Expansion Center on June 16 and I’ve moved in all the equipment that I’ve been accumulating in my garage into this newly painted lab since,” he said with a wave of his hand indicating the equipment precisely arranged on tables around the walls.

“We’ll be able to start

working here [later this month],” he said in early July.

“I am very thankful to Oswego County for being such supportive hosts of this new venture.”

He added that he is excited and “a bit scared” of this new step in his personal development journey.

“I’m 100% sure that it is a win-win-win-win for Oswego County — Oswego students’ success, SUNY Oswego’s chemistry department and all of my clients. I’m also sure that the Oswego County Business Expansion Center is happy to get a new and unique tenant,” he said.

“Our primary target is cortisol. It increases dramatically in concentration when one experiences short-term or chronic stress,” he said.

“The immediate response can be assessed by measuring in saliva, long-term in hair.”

What is cortisol?

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight

situation.

Think of cortisol as nature’s built-in alarm system.

It’s your body’s main stress hormone; working with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation and fear.

Your adrenal glands — triangle-shaped organs at the top of your kidneys — make cortisol.

And how is it measured?

“We extract it from milled hair and measure using a well-known antibody-based technique called ELISA,” he said. “It takes three days. The extraction procedure takes three days because we have to extract it twice — overnight.

But we can process up to 40 samples per day and also stagger samples; our current capacity is about 6,000 samples annually (with one manager and three interns).”

The data is used by medical, sport and psychology specialists who often prefer getting a physiological measure of stress, instead of an opinion about one’s stress, he said.

“That’s where we come in,” Bendinskas said. “A lot of universities, some doctors and even private companies are interested in our services.”

He already has an impressive client list: University of Denver, a veterinarian from Long Island, Colorado State, a doctor from Puerto Rico, Harvard and others.

Taking the next step “I see this as the next step in my personal development,” he said. “It’s challenging to bring one’s knowledge to become a business venture, especially in the highly-competitive biotech field.”

His goal is to establish the company.

“It will be run by the manager, a SUNY-Oswego alumnus,” he said. “I plan to have three interns in 2022; they will get a feel for the industry, the internship credit and salary.

The students will be able to put something of value on their resume.”

Is Bendinskas ready to quit his day job?

“I’m not quitting my day job just yet — I love every minute of it!” he said with a smile.

He was appointed to the faculty in 2003. When he first arrived at SUNY Oswego, “there were snowbanks four yards tall,” he recalled.

“That was during the winter when everything froze; we had icicles everywhere,” he added.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

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11

Cheers: Check Out These Oswego County Breweries

By Ken Sturtz

T

he number of breweries in the state has soared over the last decade to more than 500. New York now has the second most breweries of any state.

The heaviest concentrations are found on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley and in the Finger Lakes.

New York’s breweries tend to be smaller mom-and-pop operations that focus on serving the communities they’re located in and new breweries have been popping up in areas of the state that haven’t previously had them.

That’s the case here in Oswego County. You no longer have to travel to Syracuse or beyond to find a brewery. Here are three breweries operating nearby.

Eleven Brewing Co. at The Cellar Door 17 West Cayuga St., Oswego

6 Acres Farm Brewery 114 Potter Road, Mexico

One of Central New York’s newest farm breweries, Junco opened in April with a taproom in a refurbished dairy barn southwest of the city of Oswego.

The rustic brewery makes small batches with a 1-barrel brewing system and has several hand-crafted ales and lagers on tap and available for take-out. The taproom also includes a small event space that can accommodate as many as 60 people.

Junco is named after the North American snowbird because the owners are themselves snowbirds, heading south for winter. That means the brewery is a seasonal affair, operating from May through the end of October. Junco is open 3-9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

The city of Oswego’s only brewery was established in 2015 on the west side in the renovated basement of the historic Woodruff building. Modern décor and a hole-in-the-wall quality make it a popular place to relax.

The Cellar features a rotating menu of pub fare and a large selection of craft beverages including plenty of pilsners, IPAs and hard ciders. If the food and drinks weren’t enough of a draw, The Cellar holds events just about every night. There are poker nights, movie nights and trivia nights, as well as live music.

The Cellar is open year-round 4-10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

The Behling family operates a fifth-generation orchard in Mexico and New Haven, growing more than 80 varieties of apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries.

In 2019, they started 6 Acres using a 1-barrel system to make more than a dozen varieties of fruit-infused beer such as a shortcake ale called “At the Berry Patch,” and a blonde ale named “Ray of Sunshine.” They supply a few local businesses and, in the fall, sell their beer to the apple-picking crowds that visit their orchard and farm stand. The name comes from the 6 acres of land the family orchard originated on.

Though they still sell their beer in the fall, 6 Acres is in the process of opening a tasting room separate from the orchard and farm stand.

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Linda Lowen, author of “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die” (www.100ThingsSyracuse.com).

The amphitheater is near the New York State Fairgrounds and “hosts concerts with rock, classic rock, country, and metal bands performing in an openair venue with covered ticketed seating and cheaper lawn seats on the grassy slope overlooking the lake.

“Another benefit of lawn seats: you’re close to the food, the beer and beverage tents, the bathrooms and concessions. Many of the biggest names currently touring come through Syracuse to play at the Amp. There’s nothing better than music outdoors especially when the performance coincides with sunset.”

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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hile SUNY Oswego campus offers plenty of fun things to do, you should try to explore offcampus activities and events to experience what the area offers.

If you want to catch a concert, check out St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, one of the area’s biggest venues, according to

outdoors while the weather is warm, try apple picking at Beak & Skiff in Lafayette. The “apple campus” is huge, with wagon rides to the orchard, a large gift shop, bakery, cafe, and (for those 21+), 1911 barn tasting room.

“You can sample hard ciders and other legal beverages,” Lowen noted.

For more harvest fun, Ontario Orchards in Oswego sells local goods, including apples and hosts its annual Fall Jamboree Sept. 17-18.

“Or you can pick apples and pears at Greco Family Farm & Orchards in Oswego,” Lowen added.

In Syracuse, try Salt City Market in downtown, “probably the buzziest spot these days,” Lowen said. Various vendors at the indoor market offer Thai, Burmese, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, Jamaican, and soul food.

“There’s also bubble tea, pies, cakes, and coffee at Salt City Coffee,” Lowen said. “Lots of seating gives you a view of Salina Street, Syracuse’s main

Linda Lowen is author of the book “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die.”

drag. There’s also free parking in the lot behind the building.”

Nearby, check out Parthenon Books, just down the street, which sells Skytop Coffee and baked goods in addition to books.

“They’re Syracuse’s only independent bookstore down-

town, and between the wall murals throughout the store and cafe, it’s a great place to read and sip,” Lowen said.

“It’s open most evenings until 9 p.m.”

Other interesting cafes include Syracuse’s cat cafes, Luna Café, which Lowen described as “a Japanese-themed cafe with Midwestern family recipes and Japanese dishes, as well as bubble teas.”

A visit to their cat room can help if you miss your feline buddy back home. At the CNY Regional Market, Pawsitivitea CNY Café and Cat Lounge, enjoy coffee, tea, baked goods, vegan and gluten-free options along with purring companions.

The Regional Market is also home to the Sunday Flea Market “if you like to thrift and dig through piles of clothes and tables stacked with treasures and trash,” Lowen said.

The year-round market “is a fun place to hunt for vintage finds. It’s best to show up early – like 7 a.m. – because often the vendors pack up by noon.”

college life

12

• Fall 2022

Two Oswego Grads Landed Great Jobs Emma Colling became a news producer in Rochester; Kyaw Klay Jr. fulfilled his dream to become a police officer in Syracuse

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

O

swego students can go far, as evidenced by Emma Colling (’22) and Kyaw Klay Jr (’22).

Colling now works as a news producer for WROC Channel 8 TV in Rochester. A major in cinema, screen studies and broadcasting mass communications, Colling also minored in psychology. With her eye on the future, she worked as a campus videographer during her time at Oswego and gained leadership skills while serving as senior adviser for the Women’s Center. She also participated in a couple internships.

Colling networked on LinkedIn, which is where she spotted the opening.

“I never expected to work in news, but I’ve liked it a lot so far,” she said. “Producing requires a lot of attention to detail and making sure every detail is correct in the script and graphics. The job comes with a big responsibility because you’re broadcasting a show to thousands of people, so the information has to be accurate.”

She likes the variety that

Emma Colling and Kyaw Klay

her job brings her every day.

In addition to the novelty, the fast-paced environment keeps her work interesting.

She hopes to someday operate her own business. She advises current students regarding their dream job to be flexible. “You probably aren’t going to get your dream job right out of college. You may not even get any job right out of college. I never saw myself working in news, but I’m actually really enjoying it.

“Just remember your journey is just beginning,” Colling added. “You also don’t have to just have one dream job. If you’re like me, you may have an interest in lots of different things, and that’s okay. It’s impossible to plan out your entire life. Don’t be afraid to pivot and try something new if you find yourself not liking where you’re at.”

Klay is finishing police academy training with an estimated September 2022

graduation. He plans to join the Syracuse City Police Department for which he is well-prepared with his criminal justice major and double minor in athletic coaching and human development.

“I’ve always wanted to be a police officer ever since I was a teenager,” Klay said.

When he was 9, Klay and his family emigrated to America from a Thai refugee camp.

After his family settled in Syracuse, he developed concerns

about the safety of fellow students. He petitioned the Syracuse City School District to reduce the school bus eligibility distance, as walking to school can be dangerous for students. Klay felt inspired to become a police officer by the officers serving his community.

While keeping up with his studies, Klay took care of his mother, who had cancer, and his younger siblings. His mother died in 2021.

Klay took the civil service exam in May 2021 while a junior at Oswego.

“I enjoy my job because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I enjoy helping others and keeping my community safe.”

He wants to maintain a good reputation in the department and eventually become chief of police.

Klay has served in the Synergy Leadership Internship Program in Syracuse for summer 2019.

“You can be anything you want to be. You just have to work for it,” Klay said. “It’s okay to fail, just don’t give up, then do it again more intelligently.”

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OswegoCollegeLife.com •

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13

5 COOL THINGS YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T DONE YET While at Oswego

By Ken Sturtz

1

Witness the view from atop Chimney Bluffs 7700 Garner Road, Wolcott

One of the most magnificent views on Lake Ontario can be seen at Chimney Bluffs State Park where stunning earthen spires rise as high as 150 feet.

During the last ice age, the glacial advances and retreats that formed the Great Lakes also created thousands of drumlins (elongated, teardrop-shaped hills) south and east of Lake Ontario. At Chimney Bluffs the elements have eroded the hill over time, carving the spires visible today.

2

Go hiking at Rice Creek Field Station 193 Thompson Road, Oswego

Rice Creek is a hidden gem at SUNY Oswego.

The 400-acre site serves as a living laboratory for the college’s science programs and is dedicated to the study, preservation and management of the environment. Features include classrooms, research facilities, and an observatory.

Visitors can explore four nature trails totaling five miles.

In addition to hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and biking is allowed. Each trail features multiple landscapes and habitats (Rice Creek was developed on former farmland) and it’s easy to spot wildlife from the trails. Pop in to the field station before your hike to view the natural history and wildlife displays.

The field station is a mile south of campus. Students can travel from campus to Rice Creek free of charge via the green shuttle.

3

Visit Oswego’s World War II ship that took part in D-Day 1 West First Street, Oswego

One of the few surviving ships to participate in the invasion of Normandy is right here in Oswego under the care of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum.

LT-5, an ocean going tugboat, sailed for England in 1944 as part of the invasion buildup. It joined the fleet of tugs, barges and merchant ships working to establish artificial harbors and keep supplies flowing to the troops on land. On June 9, the tug shot down a German plane. After the war it was used by the Army Corps of Engineers on the Great Lakes.

The maritime museum, which has several other vessels on display and exhibits dedicated to regional maritime history, is worth visiting as well.

4

The bluffs are viewable from the beach, but the real treat is at the top. On a clear day you can see the 700-foot stacks at the steam plant adjacent to SUNY Oswego. There are several gradual trails to the top, but if you’re in a hurry there’s a very short, steep trail accessible from a parking lot at the east end of the park.

Enjoy a movie at the drive-in 2475 Route 48, Minetto

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie under the stars on the big screen and snacking on popcorn from the comfort of your car.

While there were thousands of drive-ins decades ago, their numbers have dwindled and it’s a little more challenging to find one today. Luckily, the Midway Drive-In Theatre is located halfway between Oswego and Fulton. The business has been in the same family for decades and they put on a good show.

Midway is open five nights a week during summer and on weekends in the fall. Look for them to add horror movies to their lineup as Halloween gets closer. Their triple features are a great value and they have a full menu of hot food and snacks at their snack shack.

5

Join a ghost hunt at Fort Ontario 1 East Fourth Street, Oswego

Located on a bluff overlooking the harbor, Fort Ontario State Historic Site has a rich history and is worth a separate visit during the day.

The fort is said to be one of the most haunted locations in the U.S. and ghost sightings of all kinds have been reported there since the 1800s. It was even the subject of an episode of the TV show “Ghost Hunters.”

The Friends of Fort Ontario, working with CNY Ghost Hunters, offers a guided ghost hunt each fall, usually in October. Tickets sell fast so plan ahead. Whether you’re a diehard believer in ghosts or just looking for a fun way to spend the evening it’s worth trying.

14

college life

• Fall 2022

Don’t Miss Taking a Tour to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse The H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego offers tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse by boat.

Tickets are $30 per person, $20 for ages 5-10.The boat can accommodate reservations of up to six people per transit to the station.

Visitors to the lighthouse should plan to spend roughly one hour (including transit) for their experience and the captains reserve the right to cancel or cut short any trip due to weather or safety concerns.

To reserve your ticket, go to The H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s website, https://hlwmm.org

About the Lighthouse’s History

From The H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s website

T

he Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse was built to improve upon and replace the existing lights of Oswego Harbor in 1934. Still an active aid to navigation for Lake Ontario sailors, the lighthouse is representative of the city of Oswego’s rich maritime history, heritage and culture. The lighthouse was built as part of an extensive harbor enlargement project that involved the construction of new arrowhead breakwaters and enlarged anchorage.

Designed by the superintendent of lighthouses, 10th district of Buffalo, in 1932-33, the lighthouse was placed at the end of the new west-arrowhead breakwater nearly a half mile offshore into Lake Ontario which required special engineering to withstand the high winds, heavy surf and destructive ice common to the lake.

The St. Lawrence Seaway, completed in 1969, opened the Port of Oswego Authority to larger ocean-going freighters, which further enhanced the need for continued and reliable aids to navigation. The lantern was automated in 1969 — ending the era of light keeping as a profession in Oswego — and the original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed and placed in the care of the Maritime Museum in 1995.

Today, in partnership with the city of Oswego, the H. Lee White Maritime Museum at Oswego serves as the steward of the iconic and historic station. Since 2012, the all-volunteer crew has worked tirelessly to restore the interior of the station, which was complete in 2020. In 2018, the exterior of the lighthouse was completely renovated above the caisson level.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

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16

college life

• Fall 2022

Lakers playing in the regionals after beating Arcadia to move on to Marietta in the super regionals in the NCAA tournament. Landers is right in the middle where everyone is looking.

Scott Landers Aims to Guide Lakers Back to College World Series

By Steve Yablonski

F

or the past 11 years, Scott Landers has been Oswego State baseball’s head coach and strength and conditioning coordinator. He is looking to continue the Lakers’ winning ways in the upcoming season.

The Windsor (Broome County) native joined the Laker staff after serving as the assistant coach at Le Moyne College for nine seasons.

“The last eight years have been pretty good,” he said.

The Oswego State baseball team’s season ended in May

2022 after a second loss in the Super Regional round against the Marietta Pioneers. The Lakers wound up the season with a record of 33-13.

In July, the American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC named Landers as the Region 3 co-coach of the year for the 2022 season.

“Last season was a good year — but I’d say we have had to reload offensively. Our goals every year are basically the same, get to the post season and win a national championship. I think we’ve been in that position probably since 2017,” he said. “We’ve had the

ability to win a national championship, if things go our way.

We were in the world series in ’17, in the world series in ’18.

We had to reload in ’19 and made the regional. 2020 was a COVID year. In ’21, I thought we were good enough to do it and we just had an unlucky break in the super regional against the team that went to the world series. This past year, I thought we were good enough offensively but we ran into, in the super regional, what I thought was the best, the best team in the country in Marietta. So we didn’t catch a break.”

They had 38 players this past year.

“We have probably around 20 position players and 18 pitchers,” Landers explained.

“Everybody gets playing time, if they’re good enough,” he quipped. “It’s not Little League anymore. The stats usually sort out things.”

“They’re puzzle pieces [when it comes to managing].

The guys play it out, the stats play it out – it gives you a good sense of what moves to make.

It becomes a little easier,” he added.

All of the players have two years extra eligibility due to COVID-19.

“The years right now are really screwed up,” Landers said.

T h ey are a l l o we d 4 0 games a season.

“We’ll start the fall in early September and we’ll start practice for spring usually that last week of January,” he explained.

Scott Landers has been Oswego State baseball’s head coach for 11 years. American Baseball Coaches Association and ATEC named him as the Region 3 Co-Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.

Apps Help Students Stay on Top

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

tay on top of your studies this year with apps to help you study, stay organized and earn your best grades ever.

Many colleges use Blackboard (iOS and Android, free) and SUNY Oswego (www.oswego.edu/ blackboard/home) and Cayuga Community College (https:// cayuga-cc.edu/academics/ online/blackboard) are no exceptions.

These apps are a must because they let you access classes, study materials, watch your grades and more.

Try BookScouter (iOS and Android, free) to help you buy and sell lower-priced used

books from among more than 30 vendors. The app’s search function includes book ISBNs, title, and author so you can make sure you obtain the right edition.

If prefer renting books, download Chegg (iOS and Android, free and added access with purchase), which facilitates renting textbooks, in addition to buying used books.

The app also offers access to live tutors, textbook tips and other features. These aspects may be particularly helpful if you find yourself struggling with a class.

Evernote (iOS and Android, free) can keep your notes much better organized, as it functions as a searchable digital notebook and checklist.

You can synch notes among

Recruiting is a never-ending process.

“We’re looking for some more offense right now while also replenishing our pitching for the future,” he said. “I’ll be back [on campus] before we start our season, probably August 13. We will have our meeting August 15.”

“I’m from Windsor and went to Cortland. When I was done playing at Cortland, I coached there for two years.

And then, one season as the head coach at Broome Community College,” he said.

At Cor tland, Landers helped guide the Red Dragons to two league titles (2000 and 2002) with unblemished 12-0 marks, overall records of 36-9 and 31-11, one regional title and one Division III World Series berth.

At BCC, Landers guided the Hornets to a 22-19 mark and a New York State Regional berth.

He continued his coaching career at Le Moyne.

With the Dolphins, Landers’ primary responsibilities were working with hitters and pitchers, but he also served as the recruiting coordinator and the infield and outfield coach. During his tenure at Le Moyne, five Le Moyne pitchers signed professional baseball contracts. In that same time, four position players were selected in the MLB draft.

Overall, Landers has coached nearly two dozen players that have gone on to play some level of professional baseball.

all your devices, save reference materials and retrieve text from images. In a hybrid world, Evernote keeps it all together.

Microsoft Lens (iOS and Android, free) should be on every student’s phone, since it coverts images to PDF, Word or PowerPoint format. Snap photos of documents, the teacher’s whiteboard notes, fellow student’s notes—whatever—and Lens will let you save, digitize and share your files. Despite its status as a

Microsoft product, it is available for iOS. You have your study guide and notes. But Quizlet (iOS and Android, free) will help you buckle down and tackle memorization. The app can generate custom flashcards or used flashcards other users have created. For access to more tools, try Quizlet Plus ($35.99).

My Study Life (iOS and Android, free) can keep you organized so you do not miss classes, papers, projects tests

and other deadlines. College success hinges on organization, so My Study Life or another organization app can help quite a bit.

Cliffs Notes are a staple for literature classes. CliffsNotes Study Guides (iOS, $1.99) is the digital option that provides summaries, study help and sample tests.

While MS Word provides editing advice, an app may help you take your papers to the next level. Grammarly (iOS and Android and as a desktop app, limited free version, then $29.99/month) helps you spot errors in punctuation, capitalization, spacing, subject-verb agreement and diction. The paid version includes consistency, such as tone, word choice and structure.

Any term paper you write will require references. Find them and cite them correctly with RefME (Android, free).

This app generates perfect citations and automatically creates a bibliography when you enter the URL.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

Want to Lead?

Introducing Integrative Professional Studies

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

O

s w e g o ’s r e c e n t l y launched the integrative professional studies (IPS) degree, which prepares students and professionals for leadership roles in their workplace.

Although it is available to students of the typical college age, the degree particularly targets adult and nonconventional students who want to enhance their careers through training.

The degree “will allow students to focus on topics that best align with their p e rs o n a l o r professional journeys,” stated an Oswego press release.

It “bridges the gap for transfer students and professionals looking to finish their higher education, by maximizing transfer credits and providing enhanced flexibility in how students take classes.”

The five areas of study include: communication skills; data analysis and project management; digital skills, self-management; and social structure and systems. Oswego offers a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in IPS because of the allowed transfer credits.

A lack of soft skills has been cited by hiring agents and employers as a leading educational gap among new workers, made evident during the hiring process and when new hires begin in their new roles. The need also shows when entry-level and mid-level workers seek a higher-level

role. The IPS degrees will help students improve their skills to meet workplace needs.

Students may complete classes online or in person.

Flexible delivery means that more students can access the classes, from freshmen who graduated from high school the previous spring to adult students who have been in the workforce for years—and continue to work while pursuing their IPS program.

The IPS program accepts transfer credits, which can

help students finish sooner. This can make it much easier for adult learners to complete the course while working full-time.

“This program will be tailored to each student, as every single student will work one-on-one with an academic planning coordinator to decide which path is best for them,” said Jill Pippin, dean of the Division of Extended Learning at Oswego, in a statement. “Our program is very innovative, as it allows a customized plan, informed by the skills needed for the future of work, which may include college transfer credits, prior

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

learning assessed for college credit and earned stackable credentials in an individual’s pathway to a degree.”

The IPS program complements Oswego’s new microcredentials program, which helps students improve their marketability during their job search. The microcredentials program can help typically aged students improve their chances of finding employment or hone the skills of a working adult who seeks a higher level of employment or entrance to a different field.

One example is the digital media and communication design credential.

Microcredentials can also apply towards a degree.

To learn more, visit oswego.edu/ ips. To learn more about microcredentials, visit oswego.edu/ micro.

A m y Wallace, one of the first students in the new integrative professional studies program, joined because of flexibility.

Wallace is an example of the type of student the program was built to serve.

Students and professionals use transfer credits and take a variety of flexible classes on their pathway towards earning a degree. Wallace says with the help of her academic planning coordinator, she is well on her way to earning her degree while working fulltime on campus.

“My original target date was to finish in the fall of 2023 but now with all my transfer credits it looks like the spring of 2023,” Wallace noted.

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Myths and Legends Abound at SUNY Oswego

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A

fter more than 160 years, there are plenty of legends, ghost stories and other lore regarding SUNY Oswego.

Anyone who has ever attended college on the shores of Lake Ontario knows how fierce the winds can be. There was a time the wind was so strong, ropes were tied to stretch from building to building so students would not be blown over—or be blown away.

However, it is said that the only place on campus there were ever ropes like this was on the bridge between Seneca and Tyler halls in the early 1970s. The ropes were there as a precaution for construction work being done at the time.

There was an 8-foot wall built around Tyler Hall. Legend has it that it was just an architect’s line around the blueprints. But the construction workers misread it and built a large wall there.

Another legend claims a car was buried on campus.

Actually, during the celebration of the first Earth Day in April of 1970, a Dodge De Soto was filled with garbage and buried somewhere near the entrance to campus at Route 104. This was the students’ way of protesting the excessive pollution of the auto industry at the time.

Spirits are also said to

TOP: A mosaic decorates a section of the wall around the outside of Tyler Hall. The wall was removed as part of the building’s renovations a few years ago; ABOVE: Ropes were supposedly used by SUNY Oswego students to move around the campus during the winter;

inhabit Oswego as well as the college. The spirits of some of the buildings’ namesakes have reportedly made their presence known over the years.

At Fort Ontario, ghost hunters have reported finding evidence of supernatural activity in a few of the buildings. For instance, a blonde girl was seen in the third story window of one of the officers’ quarters.

The third story of the building was used for storage and not accessible by the public. And, the fort was closed at the time.

At the railroad tracks between the fort and Lake Ontario, it is rumored that a Civil War soldier from Fort Ontario had his head shot off by a cannon ball. He is said to walk along the tracks looking for his head. A floating light

moving along the tracks is said to be him or his lantern.

But not everything in Oswego deals with spirits.

In the early 20th century, a legend claims President William Howard Taft had a massive bathtub in the White House—and in Oswego as well.

An Oswego businessman was a friend of President Taft’s and had an extra large bathtub for his husky friend built in his Port City home, in case the president came for a visit.

A discovery in a city home made SUNY Oswego into a “presidential library.” The man reportedly had 10,000 letters written by President Millard Fillmore in the house.

After his death, they were donated to the college. These letters can be found today in Penfield Library on campus.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

O

f course, you should feel excited and interested in your chosen academic path and profession; however, making a good salary makes life easier.

“Consistent with years past, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics current data reveals that top paying jobs are in STEM fields,” said Taeko S. Kelly, assistant director of Career Services at SUNY Oswego.

STEM careers relate to science, technology, engineering and math.

“The future of the economy is in STEM,” said James Brown, the executive director of the STEM Education Coalition in Washington, D.C. on the bureau’s website. “That’s where the jobs of tomorrow will be.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that from 20222030, STEM-based careers will experience 10.5% growth in demand compared with 7.5% growth in non-STEM industries. These figures do not include the self-employed, or owners and partners in unincorporated firms. STEMbased occupations have an annual mean salary of $95,420 compared with $40,120 for non-STEM careers.

The starting wage may be lower and the location of the job and size of the company also make a difference in the salary.

TOP-PAYING JOBS: Full STEM Ahead

TOP- PAYING STEM JOBS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ( ALL SALARIES ARE MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGES ):

PHYSICIAN

$208,000

ORTHODONTIST

$163,220

SURGEON

$208,000

PSYCHIATRIST

$81,040

DENTIST

$163,220

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER

$159,010

ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING MANAGER

$152,350

Because of the skill set and specific aptitude required, working in STEM careers is not for everyone.

“A career in STEM would likely be satisfying to an individual who values logic, independence, discovery, and

intellect and enjoys researching, experimenting, analyzing, and problem-solving,” Kelly said.

Individuals should also cultivate “soft skills” such as communication and interpersonal skills to more effectively

navigate the workplace and improve how they interact with clients, vendors and employers.

STEM-based careers also impart a good deal of job security, as they are nearly all perennially in high demand and

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19

will continue to need workers.

Many of them lend well to entrepreneurship or smallscale practice, which can help STEM workers retain greater independence and flexibility in their career path and personal life. STEM careers vary in degree requirement, from the bachelor’s degree for the architectural and engineering manager to the doctorate for the physician. It is important to compare the cost of the degree with the future salary.

Although not as high paying as STEM careers, consider the careers that are associated with them and support them, such as a physician assistant ($121,530), orthodontic technician ($38,660) or surgical technologist ($48,530), psychiatric technician ($36,230), dental assistant ($38,660), computer support specialist ($57,910), and architect ($80,180). While most do not pay a high wage, these careers offer a high level of demand, room for advancement and a foundation in the industry when considering additional education.

Administrative supports to STEM jobs, such as receptionists, secretaries and office managers, pay less but will stay in demand. Executive roles in STEM-based industries, including STEM companies’ CEO, CFO and COO will both pay well and because of their industry, remain in demand.

Job Market Update: Yes, the Market Is Hot

Hospitality, healthcare, technology and legal services are among top sectors looking for employees

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

re you graduating this December or May? Or perhaps you need a job while attending school?

Taeko S. Kelly, assistant director of Career Services at SUNY Oswego, has good news for you: the job market is hot.

“According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 400,000 jobs were added to the market each month over the past year,” Kelly said.

That figure compared to 180,000 in 2019, and 167,000 in 2020, according to Ziprecruiter.com.

“Despite overall employment still being down to pre-pandemic levels, economists have said that this April showed a record high labor

demand,” Kelly added.

“This checks out with my experience in Career Services working with recruiters and employers. Many have been as eager as ever to recruit our students, sharing with me that they have been struggling to fill their vacancies.”

She said that staffing and recruiting is among the fastest growing industries for entry-level talent. Considering the challenges facing employers in finding employees in current times, it makes sense that this area needs employees. Staffing and recruiting could include many different venues, such as working for a temporary staffing firm, a headhunting company or human resources department.

After nearly two years’ hiatus because of COVID-19, hospitality is back and hotter than ever. Numerous roles in hospitality are open as hotels,

Taeko Kelly

restaurants and places of tourism and entertainment thrive once again. Any new graduates with entry level experience or an internship paired with their degree should have a leg up on other applicants.

Perennial top employers healthcare and biotech will continue to hire plenty of workers. Every baby boomer will be 65 or older by 2030, so more people will need additional healthcare for a long time. Plus, baby boomers working in healthcare are retiring, especially since the pandemic began. The demand for healthcare also extends to biotech fields as consumers want advances in treating diseases, illnesses and injuries to continue.

Like healthcare, technology and IT services continues to advance and require more workers because of an increase in demand, the

number of baby boomer retirees leaving the field and the advances that widen the industry. Any type of work in a technology or IT-related company will need workers for a long time.

Kelly said that legal services represents another industry eager to hire. The International Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Report states that 20% of young attorneys want to leave their profession.

The demand for legal services and by extension their support staff is up.

According to Grand View Research, legal services is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% from 2022-2030. Whether working as an attorney or in an administrative or support role, applicants will find that the legal industry is eager to hire.

20

college life

• Fall 2022

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

oshing as you study can help you stay alter and focused on your work.

A lthough candy,

sugary drinks, caffeinated beverages and salty snacks may seem good choices for energizing you, they lead to an inevitable crash.

When consumed in excess, poor health is the outcome. Fueling your study session with wholesome food can also help support health and avoid gaining weight.

Most people need to work more produce into their diets.

Laurel Sterling, registered dietitian, nutrition and educator with Carlson Laboratories in Canastota, recommends raw carrots, snow peas, broccoli and peppers with hummus.

The veggies offer vitamins and minerals and hummus is rich in protein for supporting muscle and f iber for helping you feel full and improving digestion. Most grocery stores sell pre-washed produce and single-serving hummus, which spares you prep time. In a similar vein, apple slices and almond or

cashew butter—another of Sterling’s favorites—can offer the benefits of vitamins, min-

Study Snacks erals, protein and fiber.

“Try apple slices and mozzarella or cheddar cheese sticks with higher protein, 2% fat or more yogurt or cottage cheese with cut up peaches and berries,” Sterling added.

Selecting snacks that in-

clude produce and protein sources tends to help you feel satisfied longer. This strategy also includes more nutrients.

As another example, Sterling suggested microwaved chicken noodle or bean soups, if they are “healthier versions

with lower sodium.”

You can add a dash of dried seasonings like parsley and poultry seasoning if low-sodium soup tastes a little flat.

If you crave crunchy, turn to what Sterling calls “brain

foods” like walnuts, pumpkin seeds, kale chips, guacamole with tortilla chips and coconut crisps.

Salt-free nuts may be hard to find; however, if you explore the baking aisle, you’ll find sodium-free nuts and a little savings, as these tend to cost less per ounce than nuts from the snacks aisle.

If you love munching popcorn while you study, consider investing in a Presto PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Popper (WalMart, $29.95) so you can whip up a big bowl to crunch without the added fat and sodium of most microwave popcorn varieties.

Sterling also noted that blueberries represent a healthful snack that supports brain health. They are also rich in antioxidants, which can help support your immune system.

Blueberries also help satisfy a sweet tooth, as do raisins, plums, dried apricots, dried apple and natural fruit leather. The shelf stability of dried fruit will save room in your room fridge. Combine your favorite dried fruit with a small handful of nuts and flaked coconut (again, look in the baking aisle) for a satisfying trail mix.

Cool Tech for Your Dorm

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

G

et the tech gear that will help you enjoy your dorm room more.

Fo r l a t e n i g h t studying, you will want an adjustable clip-on reading light. It will direct the light toward your book so it won’t disturb your roommates. Glocusent Mini (Amazon, $19.99) offers 16 LED lights that last for 80 hours on one solar charge.

The blue light filter is easy on the eyes and its five brightness levels ensure the right amount of illumination.

Keep your devices powered while you’re on the go

with Power Bank 26800mAh Portable Charger (Amazon, $35.99). The Power Bank features high speed charging for up to four devices and its 26800mAh battery can charge an iPhone 11 eight times before it will require plugging in.

Bed risers can help dorm dwellers can valuable storage space. But why not incorporate yet another place to charge devices? Hold N’ Storage Bed Risers (Amazon, $46.89) keeps your charging source close so you won’t have to bumble across the room to turn off the alarm or answer texts as the phone charges.

The charger includes two heavy duty, grounded power outlets and two USB ports. The

risers lift your bed 7.5” and hold 1,200 lbs.

To hold all your tech close by your bed, get the JupiterSecret Bedside Caddy (Amazon, $19.95). Think of it as a mini nightstand. It can hold a laptop, tablet, and phone, plus has pouches for essentials like glasses and tissues. The caddy may be hung from a wall by its two grommets or on the bed by tucking its hanging flap between the mattress and box spring.

To fuel your morning, look to the Keurig K-Express Essentials (Wal-Mart, $82).

The single serve coffeemaker won’t gobble up precious dorm room space and it will save you money over buying

coffee. The 36-oz. reservoir means you won’t have to constantly refill it.

Keep healthful snacks and a few treats on hand with the Galanz Mini Fridge (Wal-Mart, $157). Its 3.1-cubit feet size (32.87 inches tall) is as small as a nightstand and includes a small freezer for when you crave your favorite quart or ice for your drink. It comes with a mini ice cube tray. The fridge portion is large enough to hold a two-liter bottle and six cans in the door alone, plus there are two shelves and a drawer in the fridge. Choose from stainless steel or black finish.

Forget ordinary power strips. Clunky cords fill these up quickly because they waste

space. The Pivot Power Genius Power Strip (Amazon, $19.99) pivots at each of its four ports so that you can use every one of them, regardless of the size of your plugs. It’s Alexa-compatible and you can turn two outlets on or off with a phone app or schedule them remotely. The power strip offers 1080 joules of surge protection.

Superdanny Surge Protector Power Strip (Amazon, $29.87) offers a whopping 22 outlets and six USB ports. The 6.5-foot cord will ensure you can place it wherever you need in your room—and maybe share with your roomies.

OswegoCollegeLife.com •

M

ost of us would admit we have too much stuff and in a college dorm room or a small apartment it doesn’t take much for clutter to take over and make your life miserable.

One way to deal with it is the route Syracuse-based comedian and motivational speaker Derrick Tennant took.

He has just seven shirts (one for each day of the week) and fits his belongings into a suitcase. With no home address he lives out of hotels and occasionally stays with friends and family.

It’s part of his philosophy to live simply and love completely. Even if you insist on keeping a permanent address it’s still doable to pare down your belongings in college, reduce the clutter and live a simpler, less stressful life.

Here are some ideas to help.

Realize more stuff doesn’t equal more happiness It’s nice to have stuff, especially really nice stuff.

Unfortunately, American culture tends to broadcast the

message that to be happy you always need more stuff. You certainly don’t have to give away all your possessions to live a simpler life (or be happy), but it helps to mentally give yourself permission to strip some of the material excess in your life and organize what’s left.

Figure out if your real problem is organization Most people have a friend who is comically disorganized. Think: clothes on the back of a chair, mountains of stuff piled on the desk and a textbook in the laundry basket. Ask yourself if your problem is organization, too much stuff or both. If organization is your main issue, reach out to a friend who is particularly well organized and ask them for some advice.

Leave some things at home There’s no reason to take your heavy winter clothing to college months before it snows. And if you know you’ll need dress clothes for a formal event later in the semester don’t bring and store them the whole time. They’ll take up

SUNY Oswego Grad Recognized Ken Sturtz, a former Oswego grad, recognized for work in Oswego County Business, other publications

K

en Sturtz has won multiple awards for stories that appeared in Oswego County Business Magazine, 55 Plus magazine, and In Good Health.

Sturtz, of Mexico, is a regular contributor to all three publications, which are published by Local News, Inc. The Syracuse Press Club’s annual Professional Recognition Awards honor journalists from across Central New York who work in television, radio, print and digital media. This year there were more than 400 entries across 57 categories.

Sturtz won three awards for stories in the business magazine, including f irst place in the Print Special In-

Ken Sturtz

terest category (Investigative Story or Series) for a story highlighting the challeng-

21

Garafolo’s

Follow These Tips to Declutter Your College Dorm or Apartment

By Ken Sturtz

college life

“Famous for our sausage”

-Fresh Subs

valuable space. Think through what you’re packing and leave behind things that you won’t need right away and can return home for.

Pare down clothing Bringing too much clothing is a common problem.

Fashions change as often as the weather and no one wants to be caught flat-footed without their favorite ripped jeans.

As painful as it might be, go through your clothes and try everything on. Whittle things down to what you know you’ll wear and a few extras. Leave the rest at home.

Make decluttering a regular thing and get your roommate on board One of the best ways to keep your dorm room or apartment from becoming a mess in the first place is to make cleaning and organizing it a part of your weekly routine.

One idea is to take an hour each Sunday afternoon to clean and straighten things up so you’re ready for the week.

Find what works best for you.

And if you have roommates, get them involved too so the common areas stay neat.

es many rural communities face in obtaining reliable high-speed internet. He also received second place in that category (Human Interest Feature or Series) for a profile of the director of the New York State Fair. In the Print Non-Daily category (News Feature or Series) he took second place for a story examining the state’s soaring craft beverage industry.

For a story in 55 Plus magazine about an Onondaga Nation craftsman who continues a longstanding tradition of hand-making traditional wooden lacrosse sticks, Sturtz received first place in the Print Special Interest category (News Feature or Series).

Sturtz received second place in the same category for an In Good Health article sharing the story of a young Buffalo woman who learned to embrace her hearing loss.

Local News, Inc. also received honorable mention in the Best Overall Magazine category for the June/July 2021 issue of Oswego County Business Magazine.

Sturtz graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2012.

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college life

• Fall 2022

Student taking a zipline ride. Stock photo by Getty Images

The Experience Economy: Don’t Miss Out on These Exciting CNY Experiences

By Ken Sturtz

Ax Throwing As odd as it might sound, ax throwing can be a lot of fun. No experience is necessary and once you’ve gotten the safety lecture and basic training you might find you’re a natural. Ax throwing is a great activity for groups and can include standard and digital projection targets. Ax Chuckers (axechuckersllc.com) is the only commercial throwing venue in Oswego County. Their indoor throwing facility is located outside Fulton. They even have UV glow nights (think of a bowling party).

Whitewater Rafting You don’t have to travel out West to experience the excitement of whitewater rafting.

Dam releases in the Adirondacks send water surging into the Black River near Watertown. Narrow canyon walls increase the river’s velocity and combine with boulders and ledges to create exhilarating Class IV rapids. The highest flows, and therefore the most intense whitewater, come early in the season, but rafting is still possible into the fall. Several companies take

groups rafting down the river.

Plan on getting wet and being on the water for several hours.

Zip Lining & Mountain Coaster The Outdoor Adventure Center at Greek Peak (greekpeak. net), near Cortland, packs plenty of adrenaline-fueled excitement.

Start with the guided zip line tour, which includes four dual zip lines starting with a beginner line 15 feet off the ground. The highest zip line reaches 65 feet, passing over several creeks. The gravity-fed mountain coaster offers an

GREEN PLANET GROCERY

equally nerve rattling experience, albeit closer to the ground. Individual coasters weave through the trees at speeds up to 30 mph.

There’s even a handbrake that lets riders control the speed of the 5-10-minute ride. The zip lines and coaster offer beautiful views of the fall foliage.

Snowmobiling If you didn’t grow up in a rural area you might be new to snowmobiling. In Central New York it’s one of the most popular winter activities. Speeding along snow-covered trails is a great way to enjoy winter and explore places you might never see otherwise.

New York has more than 10,000 miles of trails and CNY typically gets buried in powder each year.

The New York State Snowmobile Association (nysnowmobiler. com) maintains a list of businesses that rent snowmobiles, but ask around and you might

already know someone with a snowmobile who’d be happy to bring you along.

Charter Fishing Whether it’s Oneida Lake, the Salmon River or Lake Ontario, Oswego County is a fisherman’s paradise. If you’re a novice, it can be a lot of fun to charter a boat with friends for a fishing trip on Lake Ontario.

More than 50 credentialed charter captains operate boats from marinas in Oswego, Mexico Point, Port Ontario, Catfish Creek and Sandy Pond. Their boats are well equipped with all the necessary tackle and gear so you can enjoy the trip. Chinook and Coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout are most common on Lake Ontario. You’ll be amazed at the size of some of the fish your charter captain will help you land.

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OswegoCollegeLife.com •

college life

23

Looks Like Guys Are More Prone to Pack on the ‘Freshman 15’ Freshman boys also saw bigger increases in terms of waist size and overall fat mass than girls

W

hen a high school senior becomes a university freshman, change is the name of the game.

A new school. New friendships. Even new ways of eating.

As healthy, home-cooked meals give way to a campus diet of beer and pizza, student waistlines tend to expand. But new research shows it is the waistlines of boys that expand the most.

“Males and females display different patterns of body weight and body composition changes during first-year university,” explained study author Andrea Josse.

How different? Poll results revealed that girls gained an average of about 4 pounds during their first year at university, said Josse, an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at York University in Toronto.

But among the male firstyear students, weight gains roughly doubled that, hitting an average of about 8 pounds, she said.

Freshman boys also saw bigger increases in terms of

waist size and overall fat mass than girls, Josse added.

And while boys also packed on more lean body mass than girls during their first year at college, in the end they were more likely to end up becoming overweight than girls, the researchers found.

Why? Josse pointed to changing alcohol habits as a possible culprit, noting that while drinking went up across the spectrum, it went up more among boys.

Male students “displayed greater reductions in vegetable intake and greater increases in doughnuts, cakes, fried chicken, beer and liquor, compared to females,” said Josse.

The study included 301 first-year students (229 females and 72 males), aged 17 to 20, who completed the freshman diet survey. Nearly three-quarters lived in a campus residence, while roughly one-quarter lived at home.

Two polls were conducted — one between 2014 and 2015, and one between 2015 and 2016. Each poll was administered at the start of the first year and again towards the end.

Internet Gaming Disorders Common in College

I

s it possible to become addicted to gaming on the internet?

Yes, warns new research that discovered when young people get too hooked it may trigger sleep difficulties, depression, anxiety and, in some cases, even suicidal thoughts.

Phone interviews conducted among nearly 3,000

American college students between 2007 and 2015 revealed that roughly one in 20 had “internet gaming disorder,” a clinical condition defined by the compulsive use of electronics, both online and offline.

“Like with any addiction, to be considered a disorder, internet gaming must cause disturbances in daily life,”

All participants underwent body composition testing to assess overall body weight, body fat percentage and lean body mass.

The investigators found that total caloric intake did not change much over the course

explained study author physician Maurice Ohayon, director of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

One example: “Playing [online] until late in the night, and then having difficulties to get up in the morning to go to class or to work, or simply skipping classes,” Ohayon said.

Ohayon also found that the behavior was linked to a higher-than-normal risk for “feeling unrested when they wake up, being fatigued, feeling depressed, and having social anxiety.”

Does that def initively mean that gaming disorder directly causes poor mental and physical health? No, said Ohayon, who cautioned that not enough is known about the disorder, and “causality cannot be inferred.”

Still, he and his colleague found evidence that “many elements — such as feeling depressed, social anxiety, having very few friends, being unhappy with social life, and suicidal [thoughts] — pointed to social isolation or loneliness among students with internet

of the students’ first year at school.

However, food quality did decline, while alcohol consumption increased, particularly among boys.

gaming disorder.”

The study authors noted that 90% of American households are now connected to the internet, with teens and young adults among its biggest users.

At least 15 hours per week Starting in the late 1990s, researchers began looking into the potential downside of heavy internet use. Back in 2013, that concern prompted the American Psychiatric Association to include internet gaming disorder as an official diagnosis in its updated diagnostic manual.

But what exactly separates excessive internet use from a true addiction remains a matter of debate. “Right now,” Ohayon said, the manual has put internet gaming disorder in the section of diagnoses that need further investigation “because it is a relatively recent problem, and we still have insufficient data.”

That might explain why internet gaming disorder estimates range widely, with prevalence in the United States

pegged as low as less than 1% to as high as more than 9%.

To get a better handle on the true extent of the problem, the team focused on a pool of Stanford University students.

Student interviews lasted about 75 minutes, on average. Internet gaming disorder was diagnosed only if a student reported using the internet and/or an electronic device for at least 15 hours per week and indicated at least five ongoing behavioral issues.

Those included: missing or being late for class; feeling guilty about internet habits; loss of ambition or efficiency; behaving carelessly; having trouble sleeping; increasingly jumping online after feeling argumentative, disappointed or frustrated; going online to “escape” feeling worried; or lying about their internet habits.

The team found that 5.3% of those interviewed had the disorder, with overall risk appearing to be slightly — but not significantly — higher among boys.

The findings were published online recently in the journal Psychiatry Research.

24

college life

• Fall 2022

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6 Scams for College Students to Avoid

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ollege students spend money on tuition payments and school supplies as they prepare for the new year.

However, scammers are taking this opportunity to try to steal some of that money through various schemes and scams.

One tactic that has been used to get a student’s personal information is a phishing email that claims to be from the school’s Financial Department.

Messages via text or email may appear, instructing the student to click on a link provided in the email and log in with a student user name and password.

Don’t do it; doing so could give the user name, password or other personal information to scammers, possibly downloading malware onto the device.

Here are common scams students should be aware: • Fake credit cards — Offers to apply for the first credit card are tempting to many students. Not only could this create credit problems down the road due to unchecked spending, but some of the deals could be phony offers designed to access personal information. Research the offers from the credit card flyers and the banking institutions before applying.

• Too good to be true apartments — It’s hard not to jump on a convenient apartment so close to campus, especially if it advertises affordable rent. It’s tempting to hand

over credit card information online to lock in a great spot, but it’s always worth seeing the apartment in person before a money transfer. This also applies to Craigslist and social media ads from other students looking for roommates.

• ID theft — It’s a good idea to start practicing healthy money habits, and one such habit is regularly checking your credit report for unusual activity and possible ID fraud.

The official government website to do this for free is annualcreditreport.com.

• Scholarship and grant scams — Be wary of phone calls guaranteeing help to reduce loan payments or offering a hefty grant. Search the company’s name online for scam alerts or negative reviews from other consumers.

Read reviews and complaints about the company at BBB. org and contact the school’s financial aid office for advice and help regarding financing your education.

• Online shopping scams — Online purchase scams can be especially effective when set up through social media platforms and apps. Be careful when it comes to toogood-to-be-true offers.

• Awareness of current scams — As tech-savvy as current college students can be, a surprising number of scams reported to BBB’s ScamTracker are from students who learned their lesson too late.

Use BBB’s scam tips to learn the latest trends and read local reports of specific incidents.

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

magine you want a new laptop for classes ($1,200), a new jacket ($275), a few books ($275), and items for your dorm room ($450).

You take out a personal loan for $2,200 at 26.99% interest.

It does not seem like a lot of money but paying it off over two years will cost you $671 just in interest.

This is how credit debt works. Credit debt is like a personal loan with a terrible interest rate.

Unlike a mortgage or an actual personal loan, credit debt uses compounding interest, not simple interest.

Credit card users pay interest on interest on interest, plus the principal (the amount borrowed) until they pay it off.

Compounding interest is why credit card debt is so difficult to pay off. Many credit card holders look at the minimum balance ($119.63 per month in the scenario above) without considering how long it takes to pay it off.

Borrowers also think little of how much interest they pay. Since $119.63 a month is affordable, they continue to use the card and do not realize how much extra they pay for the convenience of getting items now. As a “reward” for paying them so much interest, many credit card companies increase the amount of available credit so card holders can rack up more debt.

Instead of accumulating credit card debt, follow these steps: • Pay with your debit card or cash.

• Only use a credit card if you have the discipline and

dollars to pay off the entire balance when the payment is due. (For credit cards that offer cash back or points towards gift cards, credit cards can benefit you.)

• If you cannot afford something new, buy it used, borrow it, or rent it.

• Look for less expensive versions of what you want.

• Budget your money so you can prioritize your spending. For example, you can wear last year’s jacket instead of buying new (a want) so you can better afford to replace your broken laptop for class (a need).

• Work more hours at your part-time job so you can pay for what you need and want.

• Develop side gigs for extra money, such as tutoring other students, ride sharing apps or delivery services.

• Sell things you no longer need.

• Avoid feeling you must spend money to impress other people. Be yourself—including your financial situation—and remember that true friends will care about you, not how much you can spend.

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is the author of “Kick Your Credit Card to the Curb: How to Get out of Credit Card Debt for Good,” available at Amazon. com. The book shares tips on earning more, spending less and getting out of credit card debt for life.

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26

• Fall 2022

SUNY Oswego’s Faculty Rebecca Burch Earns President’s Award

S

UNY Oswego human development faculty member Rebecca Burch recently earned the campus President’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity for impactful research and overwhelming contributions toward the next generation of researchers.

“She has brought students into her research in all areas; working with them as co-authors on professional publications and paper and poster presentations at professional and local conferences,” wrote Burch’s nominator, fellow

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human development faculty member David Sargeant. “Her contribution of chapters in edited volumes speaks to the widespread importance and interest in her research work.”

Some of Burch’s research has gained widespread media interest. For example, her co-authored study on superheroes having unrealistic proportions led to interviews with global media with a total circulation of more than 163.4 million news hits. More recently, research on flirting on which she was a co-author appeared in 60 global news stories, with the research rat-

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She has brought students into her research in all areas.

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ing among the top 5 percent of outputs scored by Altmetric.

But those studies are just the tip of the iceberg for Burch’s breadth of topics. At the time of the nomination, Burch counted 30 peer reviewed journal articles, 11 book chapters, six book and research reviews and 21 reference entries in print – as well as eight more publications of various types in press plus five under review in a variety of evolutionary psychology topics.

Burch also has provided more than 100 presentations of various types with students

at conferences and other institutions, as well as dozens of solo presentations. She was elected president of the pre-eminent organization in her field, the Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society (NEEPS), where she has been an active organizer and presenter.

Nomination letters focused on the great personal impact that Burch has had upon research assistants who have gone on to notable positions and projects.

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OswegoCollegeLife.com •

Four SUNY Oswego Staff Members Earn Statewide Awards for Achievements

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our SUNY Oswego staff members recently earned awards from statewide organizations for succeeding in a number of ways on behalf of students, the campus, professional organizations and beyond.

SUNY Career Development Organization (SUNYCDO) awards honored three

of those staff members: Tina Cooper, internship coordinator in the experiential courses and engaged learning (EXCEL), received the Career Catalyst Award; Jacqueline Wallace, career coach for education, public and human services for Career Services, received the President’s Award; and Sheila Cooley, associate director of EXCEL, received

the Unsung Hero Award.

In addition, Karen Archibee, an academic planning coordinator with SUNY Oswego Extended Learning and previously in the Office of Admissions, was one of two recipients of the 2022 Inclusion, Access and Success Award from the New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling (NYSACAC).

college life

TOP PHOTO: SUNY Career Development Organization awards honored SUNY Oswego staff members, from left, Tina Cooper, internship coordinator in the experiential and courses and engaged learning (EXCEL), with the Career Catalyst Award; Jacqueline Wallace, career coach for education, public and human services for Career Services, with the President’s Award; and Sheila Cooley, associate director of EXCEL, with the Unsung Hero Award.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Karen Archibee, left, an academic planning coordinator with SUNY Oswego Extended Learning and previously in the Office of Admissions, and Danny Robinson of SUNY Maritime received the 2022 Inclusion, Access and Success Award from the New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling.

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28

college life

• Fall 2022 Over the summer a dozen SUNY Oswego students participated in the Richardson-Bates House Historic Preservation Field School, an archeological dig at a historic home in Oswego.

Dig This: Students Take Part in Archeological Dig in Oswego

By Ken Sturtz

A

passerby glimpsing the group might have noted the shovels, rakes and pickaxes and assumed they were landscapers, but it was history that brought them to this backyard.

Over the summer a dozen SUNY Oswego students participated in the Richardson-Bates House Historic Preservation Field School, an archeological dig at a historic home in Oswego.

The program was the brainchild of anthropology professor and archaeologist Alanna Ossa who had several students doing volunteer work at the Richardson-Bates House. The house is an excellent example of an intact 19 th century Victorian-era home. It was donated to the Oswego County Historical Society with nearly all of the original furnishings and serves as a museum.

One of Ossa’s students wanted to do a ground survey of the property for a capstone project and she agreed to help.

They found several fragments of stoneware and earthenware

in addition to some modern trash and thought they’d find more items if they dug.

The historical society was excited to host a dig. They had a blueprint of the property from the 1920s showing a rubbish heap in the backyard, where items were found during the survey.

Ossa wanted to give students some of the training outside the classroom that’s necessary to do professional archeology. She created a class and set up the field school.

She received funding from the Shineman Foundation and Oswego’s Scholarly and Creative Activity grants as well as an individual donation.

Ossa hoped that if the group could find the old kitchen garbage dump it would provide new insight into the home’s inhabitants.

“We’re asking questions about things that people don’t think to record or talk about,” she said.

Most people don’t keep food diaries and if they do, they often lie about what they eat. So, the best way to learn more was to find the kitchen trash pile and reconstruct the history of the site and

the consumption and discard behaviors of the inhabitants.

Over the summer the students surveyed the grounds again and mapped the areas they planned to dig. They

They were really excited, especially when they were finding pottery because it’s so striking.

cleared away rocks, weeds and a layer of pine needles and dug test holes to choose the most promising spots.

Rhiannon Bonawitz, who graduated in August, served as crew chief for the field school.

She said the students marked

out areas and began digging layers of dirt. The material was sifted through a quarter-inch screen and artifacts were bagged and labeled.

Unlike Bonawitz, the other students had never taken part in a dig. She said they were not expecting to find as much as they did.

“They were really excited, especially when they were finding pottery because it’s so striking,” she said, referring to pieces of blue and white pottery they discovered.

In addition to various ceramics, the students found old nails and pieces of metal. They recovered oysters (popular in the Victorian era) and clam shells (likely from Lake Ontario). From the bones recovered it became apparent the inhabitants had eaten steak, chicken, pig and deer.

“They were actually eating a fair amount of meat, which makes sense because they were rich,” Ossa said.

They also found shotgun pellets and a couple .22-caliber bullets, probably from a hunting trip.

But the most surprising discovery was the stone foundation of a small previously

unknown structure. The 1920s blueprint didn’t show the structure, which was determined to be a privy.

“So, we actually found something completely unexpected,” Ossa said.

The privy was fairly shallow, had cast iron piping and a mechanism for emptying it.

The students found a corroded penny at the bottom, which hasn’t been minted since the 1850s and helped date the structure. Ossa said the privy was probably from before bathrooms were added to the house in the 1870s.

At the end of the field school the students finished washing and organizing the recovered artifacts. Ossa and Bonawtiz are writing a report.

The recovered items will be given to the historical society to display in their collection.

Ossa said the whole experience will be invaluable for students who pursue a career in archeology.

“You need training in how to physically dig and record data and best practices, and the field school does that,” she said. “There’s just a lot of hands-on work that has to be done.”