Spring 2022
HOCKEY, HOCKEY, HOCKEY! Under the tutelage of Ed Gosek for 31 years, the Oswego Lakers have become synonymous with SUNY Oswego. We chat with Gosek about his tenure, and what’s on the horizon (spoiler: it’s more hockey). P. 9
college life OswegoCollegeLife.com
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How Did President Stanley Do?
Oswegonian managing editor John Custodio assesses President Stanley’s tenure at the helm of SUNY Oswego.
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FUTURE OF THE OSWEGONIAN
Through social media, editor-in-chief Brandon Ladd wants to get more eyes on the Oswegonian website.
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VALENTINE’S DAY IS UPON US!
Single? Taken? Somewhere in between? Here’s how to celebrate Valentine’s Day regardless of your relationship status, and how to do it without breaking the bank.
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VETERAN THEATER PROFESSOR TO RETIRE
Kitty Macey, designer of more than 100 productions at Oswego as well as other venues, is retiring after nearly a half-century of service. We chat with her about what’s next.
Want to intern with Local News, Inc? Here’s how! We’re actively looking for a digital editor to help us better manage our sites. Interested? Send the editor an email at editor@cnybusinessmag.com or call 315-342-8020.
WE’RE ALL SICK OF HEARING ABOUT IT, SO THERE ARE NO COVID STORIES IN THIS ISSUE. WE PROMISE! 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. Editor and Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Contributing Writers: John Custodio, Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Melissa Stefanec, Steve Yablonski • Advertising: Peggy Kain, Richard Annal • Art and Design: Joey Sweener • Office Manager: Kate Honebein
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college life
LEADERSHIP
• Spring 2022
Mary C. Toale Is SUNY Oswegoʼs New Boss She will serve as officer-in-charge until a permanent president is appointed
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ince Jan. 1 SUNY Oswego has a new person in charge. Mary C. Toale has been nominated officer-in-charge and will provide continuing leadership to the college upon the retirement of long-serving President Deborah F. Stanley, who was recently appointed interim chancellor of the State University of New York. Toale will serve while the college searches for a permanent president. SUNY Oswegoʼs presidential search committee, led by College Council Chairman James McMahon, has already begun a national search for a permanent president for the campus and is working with SUNY and Academic Search to actively network and recruit prospective candidates.
About Mary C. Toale Mary C. Toale joined SUNY Oswego in 2014 to create and launch the strategic communication graduate program. Her commitment to teaching and learning began early and led to her undergraduate degree in secondary mathematics education at West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC). Her interest in pursuing graduate degrees led to her masterʼs degree in communication theory and research and doctoral degree in instructional communication at West Virginia Univer-
sity. Toale has been in higher education for more than 25 years, having spent the past 20 years as a faculty member at SUNY Oswego, WVWC and Baldwin Wallace University, where she also served in leadership roles. Toale has served SUNY Oswego in a number of leadership roles since her arrival in 2014, most recently as deputy to the president, affirmative action officer and campus safety monitor. She also serves as the liaison to the SUNY employee relations and general counselʼs offices. She previously served as co-officer-in-charge for enrollment management, acting vice president for student affairs, interim dean of graduate studies, chairwoman of the department of communication studies and a faculty fellow in the presidentʼs office. She is also a SUNY SAIL Institute fellow working closely with the SAIL team to develop and launch departmental chair development programming. To a l e h a s pu bl i sh e d scholarly work as well as presented numerous scholarly and pedagogical topics at state, regional and national conferences; served on editorial review boards for state, regional and national peer-reviewed scholarly journals; and served as a communication consultant for local news outlets and working professionals. She also served
as one of 30 faculty on the National Communication Associationʼs Lumina Grant project to create learning outcomes in communication and served as a member of the National Faculty Advisory Board for Lambda Pi Eta. In 2016, the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) named Toale a distinguished teaching fellow in recognition of her excellence in teaching and in 2017 ECA named her a recipient of the distinguished service award for her service to the field of communication. In 2007, Toale received the Baldwin Wallace University Strosacker Award for excellence in teaching. “I have been extremely fortunate to work closely with President Stanley, the dedicated members of our presidentʼs council, administrators, faculty, staff and students across our campus,” said Toale. “As a first-generation Pell grant recipient, I love SUNY Oswegoʼs mission and learner-centered focus. I am looking forward to the continued partnerships as the SUNY Oswego community searches for our next president.”
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SUNY Oswego celebrated its continuing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion with a Dec. 9 ribbon-cutting to mark the official location of the recently established Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformative Practice. Pictured at the ribbon-cutting are SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (second from left) with staff from the Institute and members of the campus community.
President Stanley: Dedication to Connection Cements Her as an Excellent Leader By John Custodio
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eborah F. Stanley has ended her 26 years as president of the State Un ive rs i t y o f New York at Oswego and assumed the role of interim chancellor of the SUNY system after Jim Malatrasʼ resignation. As a SUNY Oswego student, Iʼm extremely proud of Stanley and her accomplishments during her presidency and even before, allowing the college to thrive in difficult times and improving many aspects of the school. Stanley, during her time as president, always seemed approachable, often sending emails about times students could stop by for a drop-in lunch and discuss whatever topics of concern they had. Showing a connection to students and being accessible is an important characteristic of a college president, as there is often a divide between administration and students. Presidents especially may seem inaccessible and aloof to the problems of everyday students. Stanleyʼs dedication to connection cements her as an excellent leader. Stanley also established numerous excellent programs for students and alumni. As a student who has constantly been on financial aid and loans, Stanleyʼs addition of the “Oswego guarantee,” which guarantees stable room, board and tuition, accessible courses and a $300 “return on investment” if a student graduates with a four-year
degree in four years shows the college is dedicated to helping students. While $300 isnʼt a lot in the total cost of college, it does show that Stanley didnʼt just want students for the money, unlike other public or private colleges. By giving students that little incentive, it shows that SUNY Oswego and Stanley donʼt want to force students into extra semesters for their tuition money. Under Stanleyʼs presidency, many academic and residence buildings like Rich Hall. Lakeside dining and residence halls were renovated, keeping SUNY Oswego updated and on the forefront of college technologies. As a prospective student, the quality of the residence areas and academic buildings was an important factor and SUNY Oswego, under Stanley, certainly impressed. She was also greatly involved in campus life, from smaller club events to grand events like the annual ALANA peace walk. As previously discussed, engagement and a connection from administration to students, especially student organizations, is incredibly important. For a diverse campus like SUNY Oswego, Stanleyʼs dedication to inclusion through events like the ALANA peace walk and the painting of the words “BLACK LIVES MATTER” across the roadway in front of Sheldon Hall in the summer of 2020 showed how important a diverse campus is to Stanley. For an old town like Oswe-
go, connections to the college are extremely important. Stanley recognized this and worked closely with the town to keep relations good. Stanley worked so hard the city of Oswego and Mayor Billy Barlow declared Oct. 1 “Deborah F. Stanley Day” in Oswego. As a student living off campus, I understand how difficult it can be to have college students living next door to families and people who have lived in Oswego their entire lives. Stanley navigated the relationship between city and college excellently. She was a fantastic president, communicating clearly and constantly with students and always being approachable. She recognized the importance of her position and her duty to help students succeed, establishing programs and starting renovations to help those in need. Students, alumni, faculty and residents of Oswego all expressed gratitude and praised Stanley for an excellent presidency. I cannot agree more. I am excited to see what she will accomplish in her role as interim president of the SUNY system. John Custodio of Lake George is a senior majoring in journalism, minor biology. He is currently managing editor at The Oswegonian.
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PRINT MEDIA
• Spring 2022
Ben Grieco works at his desk. The former editor-in-chief of The Oswegonian became editor of The Pall-Times on Jan. 10.
From Oswegonian to Palladium-Times Former editor-in-chief of The Oswegonian now top editor at The Palladium-Times. By Steve Yablonski
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ven before the ink had dried on his SUNY Oswego diploma last year, Ben Grieco was covering sports for The Palladium-Times. Fast forward six months and heʼs now the new editor at the Oswego newspaper. He started his new job Jan. 10, marked by “a software issue.”
“We try to get the paper in by 5 oʼclock; but when the editor screws up the software on his first day, itʼs a little later,” he quipped. “You push it to 6 oʼclock. But we try for 5, 5:30 most days.” So the first day went a little “wonky,” other than that, things were good, he added. “We finished up a little later than we would have wanted. But the good thing is we got the paper out,” he said.
He had been at the paper for six months as the sports editor before getting his promotion in January. “Iʼm not from here. Iʼm from Weedsport, just a hop, skip and a jump from Oswego,” he said. Grieco, 23, graduated from SUNY Oswego in May 2021 with a degree in journalism. While at The Oswegonian, the collegeʼs student-run newspaper, he served as the editor-in-chief during his senior year. “We were at the height of the pandemic. News was changing ever y hour, it seemed. We had to adjust our own structure and I had to maintain a healthy and strong relationship with the school to keep us operational,” he said. “Last year, I was editor-in-chief; it wasnʼt exactly the way I expected the year to be. I had to schedule when people could go in and out of the office. We were limited to two people in the office at any time. I had to create a schedule on a Google spreadsheet. Iʼve heard that they are back to normal over there. Thatʼs a positive,” he said. “For here [at the Palladium-Times], weʼre pretty spread out just for safety reasons obviously. Whenever we go anywhere weʼre all masked up,” he said. He will be writing more news now. Dylan McGlynn, a
reporter, will be handling the bulk of sports. “Iʼll still try to get to some games when Iʼm available, because I canʼt fully give that up yet. I will be heavily covering Oswego State menʼs and womenʼs hockey, what I would like to think is my bread and butter,” Grieco said. “Thatʼs the thing Iʼm most passionate about.” Going from sports editor, where he only did sports pages to now “helping layout most of the news pages, the cover and editing everyoneʼs copy whenever those stories come in, thatʼs been a pretty big change,” he said. “Iʼm still covering college events, womenʼs hockey. Thatʼs my big thing. Iʼll still have other stories throughout the week.” “We have three reporters, including the sports editor and our newsroom manager, who will be leaving in a couple of weeks for a new job,” he said. “Weʼre going down to just about five in the newsroom, including Mike LeBoeuf our Fulton editor. Hopefully we can bring in a sixth person again.” The biggest change for Grieco was going from sports to the editor in five or six months, he said. “I didnʼt have any expectations to the point of walking into here. I didnʼt know … I knew they covered the high schools, the college a little bit. Didnʼt know what they
Novelis Gift Funds Scholarships for SUNY Oswego Students
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ovelis, an industrial aluminum company in Oswego, donated $150,000 to SUNY Oswego to endow two scholarships for SUNY Oswego students with financial need. Representatives from Novelis came to the campus Dec. 9 to announce the gift and meet with college President Deborah Stanley, who retired at the end of December. “This gift strengthens the connections between our two anchor institutions in Oswego County and beyond,” Stanley said. “These scholarships will have a deep and resounding effect on SUNY Oswego students by helping them cover the cost of college, and provide secondary benefits, resulting in the creation of a well-educated work force for our region. We feel fortunate to have a corporate partner—a neighbor—who shares in and supports our mission of contributing to the common
good.” “Novelis and SUNY Oswego share a resolute commitment to Oswego County and to the people who live, work and learn here,” said Jeff Cruse, plant manager, Novelis Oswego. “The Novelis Path Forward Scholarships will provide opportunities for students to grow their knowledge, pursue their passions and give strength to our community. We are proud to make higher education more accessible for students, helping to build brighter futures together.” The first Novelis Path Forward Scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each will be awarded to two incoming students with financial need in fall 2022. Approximately 87% of SUNY Oswego students receive some form of financial aid to cover the $7,070 annual tuition, plus room and board costs of nearly $15,000, for in-state residents. Nearly one-third of Oswego students
covered during the summer. Didnʼt think Iʼd be excited to go to a Little league game. The police and firefighters play and their departments show up, itʼs a big deal,” he said. His goals include finding better stories, “not letting them come to us.” Thatʼs hopefully a culture shift he can get in motion in the coming month or so, he said. “We also want to help better inform our readers, more social media posts, breaking news on our website — that way itʼs not old news by the time The Pall-Times comes around the next day,” he explained.
Stuck in Oswego “That was the joke with a lot of my friends. We all graduated together. ʻWell, Ben is the one that got stuck in Oswego,ʼ they said,” Grieco said. “If you would have asked an 18-year-old me if after four years of college if Iʼd be staying here for however many more years …I donʼt think I expected to stay here,” he continued. “But I like it. Itʼs good to be here and experience a different side of Oswego instead of just being stuck on campus all day. I get to see the city a little bit. Get to know people and still get a little bit of that campus environment. I donʼt think I ever would have imagined that Iʼd be staying here.”
SCHOLARSHIPS
Gathering in SUNY Oswego’s Culkin Hall to celebrate the establishment of the Novelis Path Forward Scholarships, are (from left) Jeff Cruse, Novelis Oswego plant manager; Scott Furlong, SUNY Oswego provost and vice president for academic affairs; Deborah Stanley, SUNY Oswego president (now retired); Kristin Croyle, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Marianne Hromalik, associate professor and chairwoman of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Andrew Quinn, Novelis director of human resources; and Antonio Chagas, Novelis engineer and member of the college engineering advisory board.
are the first in their family to attend college, and 41% of Lakers receive Pell Grants intended for students with exceptional need. Privately funded scholarships enable students to focus more on schoolwork and extracurricular activities and
less about their budget. SUNY Oswego offers more than 635 privately funded scholarships valued at more than $1.4 million every year to its students. “On behalf of the students who benefit from the Novelis Path Forward Scholarships, I want to thank Novelis for
helping us bridge the financial gap for students so that they can pursue their higher education goals, change the course of their lives and often the lives of their families and cross the threshold into a world of new opportunities,” Stanley said.
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The most recent issues of The Oswegonian published before the Christmas break. “The plan going forward is to use social media as a way to direct traffic to our website, instead of relying on students to pick up physical print copies,” says Brandon Ladd, editor-in-chief.
Future of The Oswegonian Campus paper reflects current media trends: shrinking circulation, more online readers By Steve Yablonski
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he Oswegonian is SUNY Oswegoʼs only independent, nonprofit, student-run newspaper. It has served the campus and Oswego community since 1935. Despite decreasing readership of the print version, it is picking up readers online. Readers of The Oswegonian include more than 10,000 students, faculty and staff at the collegeʼs Oswego campus as well as more than 18,000 residents in the city of Oswego. In print, The Oswegonian freely distributes 1,000 copies on Fridays throughout the academic year. It serves a broader audience online. The paper is thinner than in the past because of the current trends in news and readership, according to Brandon Ladd, editor-in-chief. “This has progressively happened and has resulted in the Oswegonian being a 20page paper now compared to
1,000 copies are printed weekly, compared to almost 1,500 five years ago as more readers go online
a thicker paper in the previous decades,” he said. A big reason for this is the inability to find consistent writers due to other mediums of news presenting students with opportunities to produce news in ways other than print, he added. “My fear is this will continue getting worse as time goes on and fewer students come to SUNY Oswego with journalism experience in print,” he said. To increase readership this year, they have focused on making sure the news is hyper-local and tailored toward the student. “This has meant doing more stories on various campus events instead of doing hard investigative news,” Ladd explained. “The plan going forward is to use social media as a way to direct traffic to our website, instead of relying on students to pick up physical print copies. The news cycle is faster than it once was, meaning that the website has to be used frequently and some stories have to be online due
Brandon Ladd is the editor-in-chief of The Oswegonian.
to the print edition being just once a week.” This year, 1,000 copies are printed weekly on Friday mornings, compared to almost 1,500 five years ago. Not all copies are picked up and views to the website “easily outnumber print editions,” Ladd said. The type of articles that interest todayʼs readers are the sports stories that recap recent games and allow for the coaches to be heard through postgame quotes and opinion
articles. Opinion articles are popular among friends and allow writers to write about topics that interest the common college student. “Major campus news gets traffic, but has to be quite important to do so,” Ladd said. “An example would be the name change of the ice arena at SUNY Oswego this past semester. This was a controversial topic and had a stir surrounding it.”
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• Spring 2022
Valentineʼs Day is for Everyone Hate the date? Still single? You can still celebrate—see our suggestions By Melissa Stefanec
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ou know that quiet voice inside your head? Itʼs the one you (usually) listen to. Use that voice to say something to yourself. Say it in an even tone and with conviction. “There is no right or wrong way to do Valentineʼs Day.” Donʼt believe me? Let history be your persuader. According to history.com, there are currently 12 Saint Valentines, and the most recent one was canonized in 1988. Although there are a dozen saints with this name, they all have the same heavenly duties after
For the person who is in a couple where neither ❤ partner cares about V-Day: Order out. Scan the menu for something unhealthy and indulgent, then
indulge together. After that, scheme about creative ways to work the calories off. Hiking in the cold at Sterling Nature Center or group Pilates perhaps?
For the person who is in a couple where only ❤ you care about V-Day: If either one of us wants to have a Happy Valentineʼs Day, youʼre going
to need to try some common ground. Here is my recommendation: each person puts four things they want to do in a cup. The only rule is that thing must not take more than two hours. Then, trade cups and draw one item from your partnerʼs cup. Your partner does the same. Now, you are both on the hook to do those things. It will be a good exercise in empathy and compromise, two skills you need if youʼre going to make it as a couple.
For the person who is in a couple where only ❤ your partner cares about V-Day: Please play the cup game cited above. Remember, the words of the day are empathy and compromise.
For the person who is in a couple but hates ❤ forced expressions of love: Set aside 10 minutes for the love interest in your life. Dig deep down into
your soul and find all the positive feelings you have about your partner. Write those feelings down on a square sheet of paper. Fold that paper into an origami star. In less than it takes to order and receive a coffee, you have a sentimental gift for someone you care about. If this seems like overkill to you, it might be time for some introspection.
❤ For the person who is single and cynical: From approximately Feb. 7 through Feb. 15, keep your mouth shut about all love or love-hate subjects. You can silently self-affirm your choice to be single. You can revel in the fact you donʼt have to do anything you donʼt want to do AND no one is going to make you feel guilty for it. Just donʼt throw it in other peopleʼs faces or be negative about it. Buy yourself a luxurious beverage of your liking and toast to doing whatʼs right for you. Just keep the dialogue internal.
❤ For the person who is coupled and hating it: Itʼs a conundrum as old as Valentineʼs Day itself; when you arenʼt feeling it anymore, do you dump someone before or after Valentineʼs Day? There is no good answer. Youʼre a jerk either way. The best time to dump someone is when you know you have no interest in being with them. So, stop reading this article and do that jerk thing. The only thing jerkier than dumping someone on Valentineʼs Day is stringing them along and tangling them in your web of lies.
For the person in couple where both of you ❤ love-love-love love: Why keep your Valentineʼs Day celebration to just one day? If there can be 12
❤ For the person who is coupled and loving it: If you love being in a couple and your partner does too, and you are both relatively neutral on celebrating Valentineʼs Day, do a little a something to celebrate. Life is crazy and its demands are endless. What can it hurt to slow down and reflect on the beauty that is love?
Saint Valentines, then you can celebrate the 12 days of love. Each of you choose six things you would love to do with the other. Then, choose a timeframe and get as much loving in as possible. Be obnoxious. Annoy others with your love. Itʼs the (almost) fortnight of your love! ❤ For the person who is single and loving it: Congratulations, you are loving you right now. Thatʼs fabulous. Thatʼs worth celebrating. Whatever your favorite solo activity is, do that thing. Celebrate you. Feed your soul. Buy a little something for yourself. ❤ For the person who is single and hating it: Itʼs your day to play Vampus, a character I just invented as the Valentineʼs equivalent of Christmasʼ Krampus. Buy a bag of snack-size Valentineʼs Day candy. Then, sneak around campus and stealthily throw pieces of it at people who are displaying affection for one another. People might get mad, but they will simmer down when they see a peanut butter cup. Meanwhile, you get your holiday-related angst out by throwing small, hard objects at lovers.
I Valentineʼs Day on a Budget By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
they die. Not only are they the patron saints of engaged couples and happy marriages, they are also responsible for interventions regarding beekeeping, epilepsy, the plague, fainting and traveling. If there is more to being a Saint Valentine than love, surely there is more than one way to celebrate Valentineʼs Day. So, if you donʼt have plans yet, donʼt despair. I have a list of ideas with options to cater to any status, agenda or persuasion. Because, after all, “there is no right or wrong way to do Valentineʼs Day.”
For the person who doesn’t like other people ❤ all that much: If you are one of these people, embrace yourself. Forget Valentineʼs Day is even a
thing. Get up, go to class, eat, do your work, recreate in some way and go to sleep. Tune out the Valentineʼs Day noise, keep your head down and keep living and loving quality time with yourself. ————— Remember, “there is no right or wrong way to do Valentineʼs Day.” Whether your jam is avoiding eye contact, throwing candy, slow dancing to love ballads, taking yourself on a date or doing coupleʼs jujitsu, do what feels right to you. After all, if you donʼt embrace and enjoy who you are, no one elseʼs embrace will compensate for that. As the patron saint of beekeeping might suggest, “there is no sting like a day without love.”
f you are low on cash, it may seem like celebrating Valentineʼs with your sweetheart is out of reach. But you do have many affordable options for enjoying time together.
not open on Valentineʼs, so it works for early birds), and Oswego (www.oswego.edu/ campus-life/open-recreational-ice-skating, $1 admission for students, $3 for the public, $3 skate rental).
❤ GO ICE SKATING: Whatʼs more romantic than gliding on the ice side by side? A skating date, followed by hot chocolate would warm anyoneʼs heart. Check out the rinks in Syracuse (http://syrgov. net/Parks/iceSkating.html $5 admission, $5 skate rental), Auburn (www.auburnny. gov/parks-recreation-department/pages/casey-park, $5 admission and rental, but
❤ SHARE A DESSERT: Pick up a made-to-order, extra-special treat to split with your sweetie. In Oswego, order from A-Bientôt-Pastry-Shop (on Facebook) or Chelleʼs Bake Shop (www.facebook. com/ChellesBakeShop). In Auburn, try Cameronʼs Bakery (www.cameronsbakery.com) or XL Cookie Company (www. facebook.com/XLCOOKIECO). Keep in mind that these
bakeries may not have dine-in options because of the pandemic, so order in advance. ❤ GO OUT TO BREAKFAST OR TO LUNCH: Typically, the earlier in the day you eat out, the lower the cost. If you select the right venue, thereʼs no reason it cannot spark romance. The “right” venue largely depends on your Valentineʼs taste. Some people like a cozy little eatery; others prefer something with more exotic ambiance and fare. Sharing an appetizer or a dessert can be both romantic and money-saving, especially (continued on next page)
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if you select a more expensive restaurant. ❤ GO TO THE MOVIES: While tickets plus concessions can add up, if you attend a matinee, you can save more than $2 a ticket. Keep in mind that any premium seating or sound add-ons may mean a higher ticket cost. Ask about a military discount if you are serving or are a veteran. In Auburn, thereʼs Auburn Movieplex (https://rochestertheatermanagement.com, select “Auburn”). In Oswego, check out Zurich Cinemas (http:// oswego.zurichcinemas.com). Syracuse has many cinema options, too. ❤ GO ON A SLEIGH RIDE: Snuggle up together for a cozy, 20-minute horse-drawn ride through Highland Forest in Fabius (http://events.onondagacountyparks.com/view/128/horsedrawn-sleighrides, $8 each, weekends only, by reservation only). Bring along a warm blanket for two and something hot to drink. If thereʼs not enough snow, the park offers wagon rides. ❤ GO SNOWSHOEING/ HIKING: Get into nature hand in hand on a sparkly winterʼs day. Rice Creek Field Station provides five miles of trails right on SUNY Oswegoʼs campus (https://www.oswego.edu/rice-creek/). Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville (https://www.onondagacountyparks.com/parks/ beaver-lake-nature-center) includes more than seven miles of trails and a gift shop and educational building. Bring along a Thermos of cocoa to warm up. Hour-long snowshoe rentals are $5. Admission is $5 per car; free for veterans and active-duty military members. Find Onondaga County Parks at www. onondagacountyparks.com/ parks. In Cayuga County, visit Sterling Nature Preserve (https://www.cayugacounty. us/Facilities/Facility/Details/ Sterling-Preserve-3) or Selkirk Shores State Park (https:// p a r k s . n y. g o v / p a r k s / 8 4 / bird-conservation-areas. aspx). ❤ CHECK YOUR CAMPUS CALENDAR AND COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDARS: You might be able to find an event to enjoy together for little to no money. Look at CNY Winter Guide (www.cnywinter. com/events-calendar), SUNY Oswego (https://calendar. oswego.edu), Auburn (www. auburnny.gov/parks-recreation-department/pages/music-events-calendars) and Cayuga Community College (www.cayuga-cc.edu/students/events).
ABOVE Lynn Kistner, travel agent with Canalview Travel Service, Inc. in Fulton LEFT Skyline of Myrtle Beach, a favorite spring break destination for college students.
Hot Places for Spring Break Daytona, Myrtle Beach, Cancun? How about South Padres Island, Texas? By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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here do you want to spend spring break? If you want to get away from it all, Lynn Kistner, travel agent with Canalview Travel Service, Inc. in Fulton, has a few ideas of great places to go. If you want to snag good deals — and warm up for a few days — she recommends Cancun, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. “The prices are lower and the resorts are nice,” Kistner said. “You have to be careful as a lot of resorts donʼt accept ʻspring breakers.ʼ You have to find a resort that will accept college student-aged people. Confirm this before making plans.” In the U.S., check out
South Padres Island, Texas (www.sopadre.com). Kistner lauded both the resorts and beaches at this venue. The coastal town offers nightlife, fishing, nature excursions, bike rentals and more. Check the “Spring Break” tab on the tourist website. “Daytona Beach is a classic party place,” she added. “Theyʼre usually having concerts and thereʼs a lot of activities going on for college students. In addition to 23 miles of white sand beaches, Daytona Beach (www.daytonabeach. com) offers nature trails and parks, auto and motorcycle racing, golfing, waterfront dining and arts and culture. “South Beach Miami is more of a high-end vacation, if money is not an issue,” Kistner said. “There are a lot
of night clubs and activities.” South Beach Miami (www. visitflorida.com/places-togo/southeast/south-beach) provides abundant nightlife, against a backdrop of historic Art Deco architecture and waterside dining. Enjoy tennis, golf, biking and of course, the beach. If you donʼt want to fly, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (www.myrtlebeach.com) may be an option. Catch a show at the Carolina Opry, enjoy animal interactions like Ripleyʼs Aquarium and Alligator Adventure, or explore the Grand Strand by kayak or paddleboard. Since you will be traveling in April, the weather in South Carolina may still be iffy. Speaking of iffy, the entire concept of traveling for spring
Spring Break Close to Home — in New York By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
S
pending spring break in New York offers a few advantages. • Less travel time means more time for fun. Why blow a couple days of your spring break traveling? • Staying close costs less for travel. Though you may find some great airfare rates, a tank of gas will always beat it. • You support the stateʼs economy. Show New York a little love by spending your spring break dollars here. • More friends can go. Maybe Cancun is out of reach for some of your friends but
traveling in-state would work. If you get more friends to go with you, you can score better deals on tickets for attractions and perhaps some unique accommodations that require a group. Lynn Kistner, travel agent with Canalview Travel Service, Inc. in Fulton, recommends New York City. “It is always fun,” Kistner said. “There is always plenty to do and things to see.” With endless night life, cultural offerings like Broadway, numerous museums, and landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building and
Times Square, you will have lots to fill your days in the Big Apple (https://visitnewyork. com). Donʼt want to drive in the city? Park your car at the Amtrak station in Poughkeepsie for the week and take the train into the city, where public transportation is both highly accessible and inexpensive. Even with the cost of the train tickets (up to $40 each way) and parking at the train station (about $45), this option will save you a bundle on parking at your hotel, which can cost around $80 per day, and the cost of parking at the various places you want to visit for the week. Kistner is also a fan of Western New York. In addition to the obvious attraction
break is still a big question because of COVID-19. Booking online may be quick and easy; however, travelers have no support if the pandemic changes their plans. “At this point, I wouldnʼt book on the internet but seek a travel professional to navigate the COVID details youʼll need,” Kistner said. “Itʼs a lot more involved now than it used to be. You have to stay up to date on all the protocols and with each country, itʼs different. A travel agent will make sure youʼre within all the requirements. “There are certain dates that you have to do certain things by to make sure your trip will be successful, whether COIVID testing or staying at a hotel that requires it or forms you have to have for different countries.” Whether you book it yourself or use a travel agent, make sure you understand any cancelation policies and create a back-up plan in case your original plan must change. Each attraction you want to experience may have specific COVID guidelines, so understand these before you book. Check your venueʼs social media pages frequently for any COVID updates. of Niagara Falls (www.niagarafallsusa.com), explore the many cultural offerings of Buffalo (www.visitbuffaloniagara.com), the city that invented Buffalo wings (they even have a “Buffalo Wings Trail”) hosts festivals, live performances and other events. For winter buffs, head up to Lake Placid (www.lakeplacid.com/). Even if itʼs unseasonably warm, you can check out the Olympic facilities throughout the area and zipline over an Olympic ski jump, glide down a mountain coaster and learn about Olympic history. While traveling within New York will provide less of a learning curve on current COVID-19 requirements, the places you want to visit may have their own requirements, so check out their social media pages while you make your plans.
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college life
REPRESENTATION
• Spring 2022
The Studentsʼ Voice Takayla Beckon, president of Student Association, continues to advocate for others By Steve Yablonski
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akayla Beckon was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and Syracuse, New York. She is currently a senior at SUNY Oswego, majoring in psychology and minoring in African American studies and health science. Ever since a young age, sheʼs been motivated to help others. “Have I always been an activist? According to my mother, Yolanda Beckon, yes, I have always been an activist,” Beckon said. “When I was younger, both of my parents were very keen on keeping me active and in dance. While attending Liverpool High School, I was constantly advocating for the students I worked with on the dance team, along with people in my classes. When students were having problems at home or mental challenges, I would do everything I could to get them the help they needed.” “Surprisingly,” Beckon noted, she became involved with Student Association through the start of the 2021 election process. “I was unsure of the Student Associationʼs role in regards to the students, until I met with former president Lizeth Ortega Ramirez,” Beckon explained. “Former president Ortega made me realize the work I was doing from my sophomore year into my junior year with many other student leaders resembled the responsibilities of Student Association.” And now, Beckon is president of the organization. The Student Association is the student government on campus; the voice of the students on campus. It is not only a government organization that funds organizations, but advocates for the needs and the wants of the student body, Beckon
pointed out. The organization distributes $1.4 million, funded by the students, to various organizations, clubs, departments and off-campus services. Student television station WTOP, Centro bus to Syracuse and SAPB programs are some large examples of where the money goes.
A lot of support “Fellow students, alumni and faculty joined me and supported me on this journey to becoming president of SA by sharing many of their experiences and values such as: flexibility, empathy, entrepreneurship, adaptability, critical thinking, collaboration, history, resilience, love, being true to yourself, thinking bigger and last but not least, remaining true to the people you serve,” Beckon said. “The support of the student body, my mentors, my family and my ancestors helped awaken an individual who is now the president of the Student Association to be the best she can be with the joint effort of her team for the enrichment of the Oswego community as whole,” she continued. The alumni and faculty include: Joyce Boadu, Natasia Burgess, Fadi Gaye, Tyrone Clarke, Temitope Kayode, MaʼQusi Modeste, Shaniah Irvingʼs, Esebio Omar Van Reenen, Mabel Munoz, Karla Ortiz, Alajah Brooks Dr. Kenneth Marshall, Rodman King, Tekhara Watson, Jayvana Perez, Samuel Roy Holden, members within SUNY Oswego Counseling Center and “loads of organizations, student leaders, many more dimensions of the SUNY Oswego family,” she said. In the fall semester, the Student Association had its first successful event of the year, “Oz Got Talent.” The spearhead of this event was the chief of staff of the Student
Takayla Beckon, president of Student Association, relaxes as she sits overlooking Toledo, Spain.
SUNY Oswego Student Association distributes $1.4 million, funded by the students, to various organizations, clubs, departments and off-campus services.
Association, Tristan Caruana. “Chief Tristan Caruana and his team worked swiftly to bring forth many talents that are embedded in the SUNY Oswego community,” Beckon said. “In addition, Nsikak Ekong, who is now an alumnus, proposed a new student organization registration process to our senate, which would enable our students to start making new organizations.” The president said Student Association is currently committed to working with Campus Life, the administration and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Transformation to bring flags back on campus, black hair care into our stores, bridge the connection between SUNY Oswego and the city of Oswego and upgrade the campus in regards to the resources for the overall wellness of the SUNY Oswego community. According to the SA webpage: An important organization such as this needs input and work from those around it. That is where students can step in. There are various
ways to get involved in this organization. All members of Oswegoʼs student body are encouraged to apply for the many various positions available. “I am currently in Spain, volunteering for a hostel that is partnered with an organization whose mission is to help people around the world,” Beckon said. “I made a commitment to the Student Association and to Study Abroad. So I created my own opportunity in response to Study Abroad being canceled for SUNY schools.” What motivates her to do what she does? “The past, the present and future generations to come motivates me do everything I do and always aim for more!” she said. For more information, email the president at sa.president@oswego.edu or stop into The Point in the Campus Center at any time. To join and stay up to date with current SA related events: lakerlife.oswego.edu/ organization/SA.
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SPORTS
OswegoCollegeLife.com •
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9
Ed Gosek celebrated his 350th win as the head coach in December against Nazareth College.
The goalie for the Oswego Lakers team, ready to make a save.
Laker Menʼs Hockey Coach: ʻIʼve Been Very Blessedʼ After more than three decades at the helm, Ed Gosek has no plans of slowing down By Steve Yablonski
Y
ouʼd think that anyone who has worked 31 years in the same 24/7 job would be burned out. Anyone, that is, who isnʼt Ed Gosek. “This isnʼt a job. My God, I am so blessed and fortunate to do something that I love. I donʼt even look at it as work. Iʼm here until 7, 8 at night. I go home and do more recruiting and call kids, watch video. We already skated this morning at 7 over at the fort rink,” Gosek said in an early December 2021 interview. “Itʼs a full-time, seven days a week 24/7 project.” Gosek has been at the college with the hockey program for 31 years, 19 as the head coach. He was six years with Don Unger, seven years with George Roll; 13 years as an assistant coach. “And now, I am starting my 19th year as head coach,” he said. “I enjoy what I do. I am still passionate about it, still love the interaction with the college guys, trying to help them through life. Itʼs been an enjoyable career.” He attributes the programʼs longevity to “recruiting the best players that we can, that are also good students and good athletes.” Itʼs a lot of work, he said. “You practice all day. But when you are passionate about something, you do whatever it takes. You spend a lot of time on the road recruiting,” he said. “Iʼm very lucky. Iʼve had good assistant
coaches. We have great support from the administration, weʼre very fortunate for that. It helps with recruiting.”
Hockey town “Itʼs a fun place to play. Oswego is a hockey town; itʼs a natural fit for the program. [The Marano Campus Center Arena] is right in the middle of campus,” he said. Success starts with recruiting and developing players over the four years, he explained. And, the teamʼs record supports that philosophy. They have been in the league finals “I donʼt even know how many years,” Gosek said. “Been in the Final Four four or five times; won the national championship in 2007.” Gosekʼs team won the only team national championship in Laker history. His 2007 squad defeated Middlebury College in overtime to hoist ABOUT THE LAKERS Head Coach: Ed Gosek Overall/Oswego Record: 348-111-31 (18th season) Assistant Coaches: Jon Whitelaw, Mike Gray Athletic Director: Sue Viscomi Home Arena: Marano Campus Center Arena Dimensions: 200x85 Built: 2006 Capacity: 3,000 Ticket info: 315-312-3073
The Lakers is a young team this season: 21 of the 28 members are new to the program. the Division III title. “It was nice winning the national championship. But I take more pride in the consistency of our program, being there year in and year out,” he said. “You do things the right way. You donʼt take shortcuts. We want to win, but itʼs not win at all costs,” he added. “Weʼre not going to compromise the integrity of our program or myself just to be successful.”
Impressed with progress The Lakers is a young team this season; 21 of the 28 members are new to the program. “We are continuing to improve each game. We sit in second place in our league [as of early December]. I think weʼre just scratching the surface. Itʼs been on an upward trajectory since the beginning of the year,” he said. “We get better with each and every game. Iʼm really impressed by the way the players are progressing. Itʼs all positive” The Lakers have had players go on to minor pro leagues.
Theyʼve had two players who have left already this season to go play in a Southern Pro League, one in Fayetteville, North Carolina and one in Knoxville, Tennessee. “Weʼve had one go on to the Florida Panthers in the NHL. But no one in the NHL recently,” Gosek said. “We have a lot of guys playing in Europe. Weʼve got guys playing in the American League, the East Coast League…we have had quite a bit of success in that regard; helping players move on and continue their career.”
Community Support The hockey team and other Laker teams is big into community service. “I take great pride in that,” Gosek said. “We give back to the community and the community has been a big supporter of us. We have more than 1,200 season ticket holders [in an arena that can hold 3,000] and usually have a full house at our home games.” They had a benefit game in Rochester [Nazareth Flyers] to help fight cancer Dec 11. The Lakers skated to a 6-5 overtime win; it was career win number 350 for Gosek. The annual teddy bear toss game was held earlier in Oswego. “That was nice. It was a good turnout for the United Way and Toys for Tots,” Gosek said. “That was really nice.” “The sportʼs been very good to me. So has the college; I hate to see [president] Deborah Stanley go. Sheʼs been very good to me and the program,” Gosek explained. “She is a big hockey supporter, and all athletics. Her and her husband, Mike, are at most home games. Theyʼve been very supportive. Itʼs been a very enjoyable part of my life. The friendships that Iʼve made with the players; itʼs a lot of
players over 31 years, all the kids that you come in contact with and their families, all the people that you meet.”
Memories and goals Some of the coachʼs best memories include the Lakersʼ big rivalry games over in Romney Fieldhouse vs. Plattsburg, many other games at Romney, the first game at the Campus Center rink, their 50th anniversary year “was great. That was special here at the rink.” “Really, the memories here are of a lot of good people, a lot of good times with our players,” he added. He is looking forward to “another shot at a championship and going to more Final Fours.” “To say my life is boring would be so very off the mark. Itʼs one large extended family, yes it is. And when you lose a loved one like I did and you have, itʼs very nice to have all those people call, check in on you and support you, care about you,” he said. “Extended family, we always refer to our team as family. How you treat each other, the friendships that you make, thatʼs a huge part of Laker hockey — itʼs a family.” So, even after more than three decades on the job, any chance of slowing down? “Oh, hell no! Iʼm 60 years old and I love what I do,” the coach replied without hesitation. “When itʼs not fun and you canʼt put your heart and soul into it, then itʼs time to get out. But right now, I really enjoy the group that we have. I think they have a high potential level. So, weʼll see. When itʼs not fun to come here any more… I donʼt know when that might be. I still enjoy it. I still have the energy to do it. I think the wisdom you gain by doing this more than 31 years... Iʼve been very blessed.”
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college life
GRADUATION
• Spring 2022
Meet Some Graduating Seniors
Jake Johnson
Rachel Graf
Jess Forza
ake Johnson of Warrensburg, near Lake George, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in broadcasting and mass communication and a minor in sports studies. He wants to move to a southern state and call games on television or radio for a minor league sports team. He is keeping his options open for now.
achel Graf, from Walworth, near Rochester, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science with a double major of business administration and graphic design. Graf has worked for Wegmanʼs Food Markets for three years and interned with their management internship in the summer of 2021. She will be a service team leader following graduation.
ess Forza, from Riverhead, Long Island, will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts double majoring in English and creative writing, with a minor in journalism. Forza hopes to blend her writing and journalism skills with her passion for equestrianism by working at a professional horse-riding venue as a sports journalist.
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R
Emily Koenig
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mily Koenig, from Seaford on Long Island, plans to pursue her M.B.A. after graduating with her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a minor in athletic coaching. Koenig is interning with Northwest Mutual in Manhattan as a recruiting coordinator and would like to continue her internship throughout graduate school. She would like to go into event planning and project management.
Liam Morgenstern
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iam Morgenstern of Chatham, near Albany, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in cinema and screen studies with a photography minor. As a photographer following graduation, Morgenstern wants to tour with bands and be their personal photographer. He is already the personal photographer of the bands Citrus Maxima and No New Friends.
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Rhiannon Bonawitz
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hiannon Bonawitz, from Clifton Springs, plans to go to graduate school in the United Kingdom for funerary archaeology and is considering pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field. She will graduate from SUNY Oswego with a Bachelor of Arts in archaeology with minors in geology and Native American studies. She wants to work in bio-archaeological research and excavation.
GRADUATION
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11
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college life
SERIOUS BUSINESS
• Spring 2022
Social Media Matters Be careful about the information you share online: experts By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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eeping up with friends, informing you of news and events, sharing your opinions and experiences, enlightening you with new ideas: social media was intended to do all these things and more. But social media should not keep you from finding a job. Unfortunately, it can do just that if you post carelessly. “Social media has killed more deals than you can imagine, based on what theyʼve found on the internet,” said Carol R. Fletcher, principal at C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc. in Syracuse. She advises applicants to take care when getting social online. “Do not put anything not professional on there,” she said. “People dig. Make sure everything on social media is positive and portrays the way you want to present yourself. If thereʼs anything at all bad, get it off.” In addition to the information itself, the notion that the poster purposefully published the information
speaks volumes. This could include memes, quotes, news, and videos and pictures of you engaging in reckless or questionable activity. If your grandmother would disapprove of it (unless your gram is very freewheeling), get it off your account. Of course, this cannot stop your friends from reposting their pictures of you. “You have to be cautious when people take your picture and put it out there,” Fletcher said. “Itʼs a small world.” References to drugs, tobacco use, alcohol, promiscuity, and partying are all on the taboo list. While it may seem humorous now, some of these types of references may be seen as derogatory by someone who does not know you well, like a hiring agent. This person must make a decision to move you along the hiring process or cull you based upon these snap judgments. Whether or not itʼs fair does not matter. It is the reality of the hiring process. You should also be very careful about expressing any extreme views or opinions. If
you can think of any possibility of people disagreeing with you, get that off your social media. Killing your social media presence is not necessary and can backfire. Hiring agents may wonder what you are hiding and why you lack an online presence. Plus, you can use social media to promote yourself. In addition to starting a professional page on LinkedIn (and, as applicable, other social media platforms), you should post only things
Oswego Approves Allowing Marijuana Dispensaries They’re zoned for the eastern section of the city; there currently aren’t any By Steve Yablonski
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he Port City opted in to allow adult-use marijuana dispensaries and on-site consumption lounges, according to a listing by the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
About a dozen other communities around the county have also opted in. They included the condition that prohibits a dispensary or the consumption within 1,800 feet of a school, church or any public gathering areas within the community. However, donʼt expect
to find a dispensary around Oswego anytime soon. Currently, there are no local dispensaries. The closest is MedMens in North Syracuse. “Yes, we will allow dispensaries, in the allowable areas, which are only out east in the commercial district,” Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow
that show you in a good light. “Talk about activities, whether you hike, walk or golf,” Fletcher said as example. “Pick things that are positive about you. Any volunteer work is tremendous. It shows youʼre well-rounded. Youʼre not just a recluse.” Keep the mood of your posts light, upbeat and positive. Perhaps a hiring agent will see something that resonates personally or that clicks with the company culture. If
your posts are harmless but rub the recruiter the wrong way, do not think of it as a missed opportunity but more as sparing you from an uncomfortable employment experience: working for a company where you do not fit in. If you want to keep what you have posted on your account, ramp up your privacy settings and begin a new, more positive account that is less private and that is intended to promote your job search.
said. Dispensaries will be restricted to the east side of the Port City, according to current zoning provisions. “Nobody has applied for a license, yet,” the mayor noted. “I donʼt believe there will be any recreational dispensaries any time soon in the Oswego area. I donʼt think they have the legislation and taxation mapped out as of yet,” said James Gaffney of The Organic Earthling in Oswego. The business carries synthetic-free vitamins, minerals, organic supplements and more. “As for medicinal or legal recreational, we may not see
dispensaries until late 2022 or possibly 2023,” Gaffney said. “I donʼt think we will be getting our license due to the extreme cost of a dispensary license! I heard it will be near $25k.” If someone applies for a license to open a dispensary, it doesnʼt guarantee they will be approved. New York will tightly regulate marijuana as it does liquor. Lawmakers had until the end of 2021 to decide if they wanted to opt out on allowing the sale of marijuana in a dispensary in their community. A municipality which opted out may opt in later.
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SERIOUS BUSINESS
OswegoCollegeLife.com •
college life
Occupation
New Jobs Projected
Median Pay Per Year
Occupation
Growth Rate
Home health and personal care aides
1,129,900
$27,080
Motion picture projectionists
70%
Cooks, restaurant
563,500
$28,800
Wind turbine service technicians
68%
Fast food and counter workers
517,500
$23,860
Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
62%
Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
409,500
$110,140
Nurse practitioners
52%
Waiters and waitresses
407,600
$23,740
Solar photovoltaic installers
52%
Registered nurses
276,800
$75,330
Cooks, restaurant
49%
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
255,800
$31,120
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
46%
General and operations managers
226,300
$103,650
Costume attendants
44%
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
190,800
$34,570
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
39%
Passenger vehicle drivers, except bus drivers, transit and intercity
180,600
$32,320
Model makers, wood
39%
Table 2: Fastest Growing Occupations, 2020–2030; Dept. of Labor
Table 1: Sept. 2021 Occupational Outlook; Bureau of Labor Statistics
Hottest Jobs in 2022 By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
O
ther than personal enrichment, most people attend college to prepare for a future career. The top-hiring jobs as reflected by the September 2021 Occupational Outlook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects many hands-on jobs that likely had been left vacant or have increased in number because of COVID-19 affected fluctua-
tions in the market (Table 1). The Department of Laborʼs Fastest Growing Occupations between 2020 and 2030 offers a more long-sighted list, which is likely less affected by COVID-19 influences (Table 2). The trends of both lists imply the growth in technology-based careers (software developers and software qual-
How to (Actually) Save on Textbooks By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
ity assurance analysts and testers), alternative energy (wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers), and healthcare/ aging needs (home health and personal care aides, registered nurses and exercise trainers and group fitness instructors). While your career may not directly align with any of these trends, you could add a minor or additional training that would allow you to segue into a career that is growing rapidly. Or you could continue in your educational path but
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13
f your parents feel that the cost of textbooks is unduly high, theyʼre not imagining things. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost has increased 1,041% since 1977. The average student spent about $1,200 on textbooks and supplies in 2021. Part of the reason is that few companies print textbooks. Their shared corner on the market means little competition. The books are expensive to print because of their limited shelf life. While classic literature books may last longer, books in areas pertaining to medicine, science and history change as more discoveries are made and more history is written. Most books update about ev-
seek experience that could help you find employment in that area. If you are studying accounting, you could intern at a healthcare or technology company, for example. You could also try to find summer work in a top industry, even if it is not in your desired type of career, to demonstrate your interest in that industry. The experience in those industries could help you find work in that industry in your chosen career more readily. Of course, changing your major can help you find work in a “hot” career; however,
the further along in your schooling that you are, the more challenging it can be to switch, as fewer credits will apply to the new major. If you change early on, it is likely that many of your classes are general education core credits and could count towards most other majors. If you feel unsure about how to transfer your education to a future career, talk with your schoolʼs guidance counselor about what you can do to improve your ability to get hired.
ery two to three years. Instead of simply paying the full price, you have options. If you want printed books, ask students in your program who are a year ahead of you. They may have books they want to sell or rent to you. Renting ensures they can keep texts they may want later while saving you money. Used books are a savings but make sure that the titles are the same printing that your professors require. A subsequent edition may not include the same material or may have variations in page numbering, making it a pain to complete reading assignments. Look for textbooks at www.bookscouter.com (or on their app for iOS and An-
droid) or www.chegg.com, along with good olʼ Amazon and eBay. You could also share a book and its cost with a trusted classmate, especially if you are already friends and live near each other. Keep in mind that you will need to be flexible about the use of the book and plan study times to accommodate each other. See if you could borrow texts you need from the library. This may work for some classes involving literature, for example. If the cost is way past your budget, ask your professors for help. They may know of other ways for you to obtain access to the books you need to succeed.
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college life
SERIOUS BUSINESS
• Spring 2022
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Get Your Resume to Stand Out Don’t get too creative. Choose a light, plain background with dark, easy-to-read font By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
W
hile you should have a professional social media page such as LinkedIn, you should also develop a resume to post, attach and
upload. Make yours stand out by avoiding common resume mistakes. Do not get “creative.” Instead, choose a light, plain background with dark, easyto-read font at 12-point size. Going fancy can make it difficult for resume-reading software to scan your resume. A resume with odd fonts, low contrast colors and busy backgrounds challenging both human and software readers. (Designerʼs Note: Google Fonts is your friend! We use the “Source” family of fonts in College Life, which are all very legible. fonts.google.com) Because you want hiring agents to reach you, include your contact information: your first and last names, phone number, email, postal address, and social media. Make this easy to find, such as centered at the top. “Be responsive when they contact you,” said Carol R. Fletcher, president at C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc. in Syracuse. Ghosting hiring agents is a sure-fire way of turning away potential opportunities. “Have your voicemail cleared out,” she said. “If people canʼt get you and the voicemail is full, they wonʼt be able to connect with you.” The hiring agent may not want to use text or social media. Forcing them to jump through more hoops to find you is a needless hassle. You should also record a professional-sounding
voicemail. Record a concise message without unwanted background sound. You might say, “You have reached [your name] at [your number]. Please leave a message. Thank you for calling me.” This is not the time to get cute or try to be funny. “Donʼt make it, ʻYo, man. Drop it,ʼ” Fletcher said. Use a professional email address. Fletcher advises including the work history in chronological order. Use bullet points, not verbose paragraphs. “Start with the most recent at the top and work your way back,” Fletcher said. “Always put the date of your graduation. If you donʼt put it in, it raises a question if youʼve graduated.” The hiring agent may want someone who is available right away. Use active voice. Employment in high school or parttime while in college might seem pointless to include but it does show that you have some real-world experience and hints that you have a work ethic. In addition to work history, include your GPA if it is 3.0 or higher and any associations or organizations pertinent to the position, company or industry. If you have taken any special classes, completed an internship, led a group or volunteered, this is all important to mention, especially since you likely have a very short employment history. Do not include general interests or hobbies that do not relate to the company. If you are applying for a job in accounting, no one cares that you have a golden retriever. But it may be worthwhile to mention in the
interview if youʼre fostering puppies for a seeing eye dog program, as that shows you stick with a task and like to give back. Always keep in mind why employers would care to have that information and do not waste space on information that does not matter. The “Objectives” line is passe because itʼs obvious: you want a job. “References available upon request” and character references are also outdated. Most hiring agents can easily look up past employers and will search your name online to judge your character. Keep the document to one page. While this somewhat stems from the old days of paper resumes, this rule can also help you stick with the important information the hiring agent wants instead of rambling about things that donʼt matter. Never, ever lie or inflate facts. They will find out. Once you finish the resume, comb it for mistakes. Check the grammar, spelling, capitalization, diction, punctuation, facts and overall layout. Do not use a term repetitively or employ trite phrases. Many of these mistakes sneak right past proofreading software. Read it aloud. Have a writing-savvy friend look it over. Seek any on-campus resources to help you. Set aside your resume for a day or two and then look at it again. You may be surprised by the number of mistakes you have missed. Tailor the resume to the employer to demonstrate that you are not sending them out in machine-gun style. Targeted resumes show that you know each company well and want to work there.
ACTIVISM
OswegoCollegeLife.com •
Nicolle Aponte, under the leadership of criminal justice professor Omara Rivera-Vazquez, participated in an action project that saw Aponte educating to 30 Spanishspeaking students on human trafficking.
Putting Classroom Lesson to Use in the ʻReal Worldʼ ‘Nicolle’ Aponte: ‘SUNY Oswego opened the doors of education for me’ By Steve Yablonski
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dissa Cuevas “Nicolle” Aponte enrolled in CRJ300 online, intrigued by the SUNY Oswego courseʼs content. “Itʼs been a couple years since Iʼve been working in the field of human
trafficking. I started volunteering back when I was in the Dominican Republic,” Aponte said. She wrote an essay about how she wanted to focus her career in human trafficking back at her community college. Thatʼs been her career focus ever since, she added.
“I was born and raised in a humble household in the south of the Dominican Republic. I learned English when I was 17 years old and started law school at the same time,” Aponte said. “[In 2016] when I was 19, I came to the U.S. to start an associateʼs degree in Tompkins Cortland
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Community College.” “I have to say that I struggled a bit because my English level was not that high. However, I got to graduate in one year with honors,” she added. Because she was an international student, she did not have many chances to keep studying. “I worked with juveniles in the meantime,” she said. She teaches ESL and science for unaccompanied minors in a shelter. The students, 12-18, come from Central America. “In 2019, I was granted residency and with that came the chance of going back to school,” she said. She enrolled in SUNY Oswego because “it was the college that recognized most of my classes from the Dominican Republic.” She had applied to multiple schools and her education in law did not count. “So, it is fair to say that SUNY Oswego opened the doors of education for me,” she said. She currently lives and works in Dutchess County and attends SUNY Oswego remotely. Aponte started in May 2021 as a criminal justice senior and is scheduled to graduate in May 2022. She will have a bachelorʼs in criminal justice, “thanks to SUNY Oswego accepting my hardearned credits from the Dominican Republic,” she said. While in SUNY Oswego, her advisor, Melissa Semione, walked her through every step she needed to take to achieve the goal of graduating in a year. “She approached me as holistically as a person and not only as a student. I am currently going through divorce, work full-time and have a toddler at home. I am happy that I will be meeting her in person in May,” Aponte said. During her second semester in Oswego, she took “one of the most important classes of this year, to me, CRJ300 human trafficking.” “I have been working with this population for many years now, so it made sense.
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During this class, I worked on a project to educate and create awareness of human trafficking in my community,” she said. It was near the end of the semester that students were assigned action projects by Omara Rivera-Vazquez. The project required students to take action and bring information about human trafficking to the community. “Dr. Rivera gave us options for the project, but also left one open,” Aponte said. “According to what Iʼve learned in class, the students I work with are at great risk of human trafficking. I decided if there is someone that needs this information, itʼs right here where Iʼm working. Aponte took her action project and lesson to 30 students, ranging in age from 13 to 17, and taught the class in Spanish. “ The students I work with, they speak Spanish, but some are still not that literate in Spanish because their native languages are still Mayan dialects,” Aponte explained. She had to simplify the United Nations definition of human trafficking in order for students to understand the concepts. “I am very proud of myself for this project. I have mentioned to my human trafficking teacher that I would like to get started in a career focused on the prosecution, detention or any other way of combating human trafficking,” she said. “Unfortunately, I am not a citizen yet, and this is a requirement to work for state or federal agencies. I am hoping to get my citizenship in the next two to three years.” In the meantime, she is looking to pursue a law degree or masters in international criminal justice. “I have a lot to thank SUNY Oswego. I do feel that my school has prepared me for a big future,” Aponte said. “My inspirations right now are my family in the Dominican Republic and my son, Matteo. I also consider my adviser as my support when school and work get hard.”
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college life
CAMPUS LIFE
• Spring 2022
A scene from Blood Relations depicting the Lizzy Borden story.
Performers from one of the Renaissance Madrigal dinner performances.
Veteran Theater Professor to Retire
wanting to do hair and makeup. She went to New York City, got her cosmetology license. She got a position working on Phantom of the Opera;doing hair, because you canʼt do both hair and makeup in the union. She wound up being on “Law and Order SVU” for quite some time. Her husband is a director and sheʼs been doing a lot of his films,” she continued. There have been “quite a few; thatʼs just a sample of them,” Macey said.
Kitty Macey has designed more than 100 productions at Oswego as well as other venues By Steve Yablonski
A
fter nearly a half century of service, Kitty Macey will be stepping down at the end of the spring 2022 semester. Macey is professor of costume and makeup design at SUNY Oswego. She has designed more than 100 productions at Oswego as well as for Syracuse Opera, Oswego Opera Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera Workshop, Bronx Opera and in Munich. Her designs for live performance in Renaissance faires have appeared in Upstate New York and Maryland. “Iʼve been at the college for 45 years, since the fall of 1977. Itʼs been a while,” she said. “[President] Deborah Stanley and I both came at the same time. I was joking with her during her retirement party. I said, ʻwe came in the same time, but you get to leave a whole semester earlier.ʼ Sheʼs had a lot to deal with this whole COVID stuff.” Production-wise, Macey
was doing around five full productions a year when she first started. “It was about the first 20some years, I was doing a lot of productions; at least five a year and I did some stuff on the side, too. It bumped itself down to four a year right about 2000 or so. Then, because of COVID-19, weʼre at three,” she said. “Now, I donʼt know whatʼs going to happen.” “I did Syracuse Opera for a while, in the early years. I did Glimmerglass Opera for a summer. I did some stuff in Germany when I went on sabbatical, again, operetta. I did some stuff there for a friend who was teaching in Munich,” she added. “Itʼs been an interesting time for me.” She said she has many memories. “There are so many of them. Iʼve had so many good students whoʼve gone on to have wonderful careers,” she said. One, Ann Emo, is chairwoman of the Buffalo State College theater department. She is a costume designer. “She worked in New York
Favorite productions Kitty Macey, professor of costume and makeup design, is retiring after 45 years working at SUNY Oswego. She has designed more than 100 productions.
City for some time before moving further in state, shall we say,” Macey said. “And then there is Nanci Vaeth whoʼs been out working in Seattle with Seattle Opera. Another one has been doing a lot of film work, was also a wardrobe supervisor on Broadway. He just got done working on a project with Martin Scorsese. He is now back in New York City to do some live production work on costumes. Heʼs all over the place.” “Thereʼs Liz Martinelli, she graduated from here
“I really liked ʻGodspell,ʼ that was one of the last shows [former professor] John Mincher did. The design was so good,” Macey recalled. “There were so many others, itʼs hard to say. I really liked ʻBlood Relations.ʼ It was a student show; it was really good. Itʼs all about Lizzy Borden and whether or not she did what she did. Itʼs a really good play. I had a good time doing that. I have a good time with the student directors. I really enjoyed ʻDiary of Anne Frankʼ that I did with a visiting professor. “And, all the stuff I did with (former professor) Mark Cole. We did ʻMidsummer Nightʼs Dream.ʼ It was really cool; it was like a modern version of ʻA Midsummer Nightʼs Dream.ʼ I really enjoyed the idea of the collaboration as-
pect of things.” She and Cole, with Julie Pretzat-Merchant (the dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts), did a Renaissance Madrigal dinner, “for more than 10 years. We kept doing that, by the seat of our pants. That was a lot of fun.” A lot of productions are tougher to do than some of the others. “Musicals. Musicals are not easy. They are not easy ones to do, to be honest with you,” she said. “There are just so many different variations that have to go into the musical: bigger casts, more things to do.”
Plans after retirement? “Iʼm not sure. I just want to relax for a little bit and then [husband] Michael and I talked about traveling a little bit and maybe…I donʼt know. Iʼll figure it out,” she said. “Thereʼs a lot to keep me occupied. Iʼm still working on the novel that Iʼve been working on. I think Iʼll still be in theater, whatever I do, in some way, shape or form. I enjoy costuming; I enjoy makeup, doing hair. Itʼs been a good time.”
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LEFT A native of Red Hook, near Kingston, Miranda Traudt studied art history at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She completed two master’s degrees at Syracuse University: art history and museum studies.
Lifelong Arts Enthusiast at the Helm of ARTSwego, Oswegoʼs Arts Funding Program By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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iranda Traudt, d i re c t o r o f ar t s programming for SUNY Oswego, has always loved the arts and has always envisioned herself involved in art somehow. The schoolʼs ARTSwego fulfills her need to connect to the arts and helps the students and community experience top-tier culture as well. ARTSwego brings worldclass performing artists for extended stays on campus to share their art and relate to students and campus visitors through workshops and seminars. The program is a dream come true for Traudt. A native of Red Hook, near Kingston, she studied art history at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She completed two masterʼs degrees at Syracuse Univer-
sity: art history and museum studies. Initially, she worked at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn as an administrative coordinator in 2011 and eventually became the programming director. “They have a ton of programming,” Traudt said. By 2013, she returned to SU to direct programming at Point of Contact, a contemporary art gallery focused on Latin America. Four years later, she transitioned to SUNY Oswego as the director of arts programming. Traudt likes that ARTSwego brings to campus performers that would likely otherwise be inaccessible to many in the community. “Students who come to ARTSwego because itʼs a fantastic opportunity,” she said. “They can work with guest
performers and students can work with artists from all over the world. We try to keep them on campus for as long as they can stay. Some are world-renowned and at their highest professional level. Itʼs fantastic for the community as we are bringing artists to put on extremely high production shows at ridiculously low-cost ticket prices.” For students of any age and of any college, tickets are $5 to attend these events. Since the pandemic began, Traudt has felt challenged to continue bringing this fine arts opportunity to Oswego. Like others in her field, she has juggled rescheduling, cancelling, going to a virtual format and re-negotiation of contracts. This past fall, live shows returned to campus with the
expected policies to protect the artists and attendees. “Itʼs wonderful and a great opportunity,” Traudt said. “With a virtual event, you miss something compared with a live performance.” In addition to ARTSwego, Traudt is part of a committee that votes on campus art projects funded by student art fees. She also teaches courses in an arts management and music business: essential for students who want to make a living with their art. Traudt promotes on-campus arts events and tries to boost engagement in the community, too. “What really drew me to the position is the chance to work in all capacities of the arts,” she said. “One of the things Iʼm most directly involved in is hiring artists and
I get to help in the exhibitions like sculptures or one-off arts events. I have a breadth and ability to make connections across campus and use different peopleʼs ideas for bigger projects that are harder to achieve when youʼre a fulltime faculty member. I always thought Iʼd work in a gallery or museum, but I love working in higher education, teaching and nurturing our future leaders. Doing that within a college setting is appealing to me.” She hopes to continue to build back the schoolʼs in-person programming this spring and make the arts programming more impactful for students and area residents. Traudt enjoys visiting museums and attending live arts performances. An outdoors enthusiast, she also likes gardening and hiking. Before the pandemic began, she traveled extensively— including Central Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. “It motivates and inspires me,” she said. “We visit museums, galleries and performances, and eat the local foods. We want to be as global as possible at ARTSwego. She hopes to dust off her passport soon. Traudt lives in Weedsport with her partner and daughter. CHECK OUT NEW EVENTS View upcoming ARTSwego events at ww1.oswego.edu/ artswego as information becomes available. Past performers have included artists as diverse as vocalists Nick Ziobro and Julia Goodwin; internationally acclaimed artist Craig Walsh; Red Sky; and Latin jazz ensemble Mambo Kings.
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• Spring 2022
SUNY Oswego senior physics major Lauren Samson (left) earned the Top Presenter Award at the 2021 Sigma Xi Student Research Conference in November. Working with mentor and physics professor Carolina Ilie (right), Samson has enjoyed a lot of opportunities for research and professional development while in college.
Lauren Samsonʼs Physics Journey She hopes more women will be encouraged to enter the field By Steve Yablonski
L
auren Samson won a national award at the Sigma Xi scientific research conference for some innovative research on uranium and ground water. The SUNY Oswego senior is considering a career in the physics field after graduate school. Has SUNY Oswego prepared her for her next step? “I would say fairly well. The coursework has a wide range of topics, as well as enough depth to give a good foundation before specializing in research [or] grad school,” she said. “Different professors throughout my time here at Oswego have made it a point to have stu-
dents do projects and present them. So, Iʼve had a bit of practice before going and presenting at conferences.” In addition, the graduating seniors of the physics department all know each other quite well and have formed a research group of sorts, she added. “I will be doing research with a fellow senior next semester. Others have grouped up to do their senior research,” Samson said. “The group mimics and prepares us for the typical graduate ʻgroupʼ commonly seen especially for students working on their Ph.D., and as science is still very much about networking and people skills, this is a great starting point for (hopefully) a lifetime of working closely with colleagues.”
Hopefully this concept [adding ‘groups’ of molecules onto peptide proteins] could be picked up by water treatment groups to be used for its intended purpose: testing for uranium.
She said sheʼd most likely be pursuing a job in the physics industry or a related field after finishing grad school, most likely with a Ph.D. However, because of her continued work in her subfield of choice, materials science, “I could take up a job in chemistry or engineering as well,” she added. They did this Sigma Xi research as a proof of concept to see if the usage of the peptide (biological material) was feasible, she said. “Due to the inherent properties of the peptide (itʼs considered a self-assembled monolayer, SAM, kind of like a designer molecule), we can add or remove different parts and chains of the molecule to tailor it better for our needs,” she explained. “Specifically,
we were looking into adding more ʻgroupsʼ onto the molecule, with the understanding that we would be adding more sites for the uranium to bind to (kind of like adding more parking spaces to a parking lot), allowing a greater binding potential and overall better testing material, formally known as a biosensor.” “With this note aside, hopefully this concept could be picked up by the government or water treatment groups to be used for its intended purpose: testing for uranium, cheaply and with little harm to the environment, since the peptides that the biosensor are composed of are natural; found commonly within our own bodies,” she said.
OswegoCollegeLife.com •
Local influence “The first teacher who influenced me and set me upon my current path? My [Oswego] high school physics teacher, Tom Altman. I unfortunately didnʼt get to make holograms in his class. We were able to make ʻStar Warsʼ lightsaber pictures with his lasers, through!” she said. The next professor who helped her along her journey would be Shashi Kanbur. “See, originally, I wanted to be an astronomy major. When I decided that I wanted to attend SUNY Oswego, confirmed my attendance here, I had to face the issue of finding a different major to study, since Oswego only has the astronomy minor,” she said. “So, I spoke with Dr. Kanbur, who is well known for his astronomy research and was head of the physics department at the time. He convinced me that I should take the physics major and astronomy minor, not only to add more depth and much needed background to my astronomy knowledge (being more in line with an astrophysics degree; better job potential), but also to give me a wider knowledge base in case my ʻplan Aʼ with astronomy didnʼt work out.” And that really became her driving force and motto throughout her college career: jack of all trades. “It also allowed my mind to wander and explore more of what the science world had to offer, including giving me enough knowledge to discuss topics with great detail with colleagues and friends from other disciplines like chemistry, but also led me to discovering the wonderful idea of working in materials science, a crossroads between physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, engineering and even computer science, one of the very few cross-discipline subjects,” she said.
A wonderful adviser “This leads me neatly along to working with my wonderful and current adviser, Dr. Carolina Ilie, who a friend of mine introduced me to. She helped me apply to my REU out in Nebraska, where I did the peptide uranium research, and has continued supporting [and] working with me for both my senior research as well as with the group from Nebraska remotely. “Sheʼs a great hardworking mother of two and a wonderful professor. Itʼs a delight to have her as a professor. She not only shows that she cares for her students, but actively tailors her material to make it fun and interesting for students, even seemingly abstract theory classes. I have a massive amount of respect for her, doing all that she does while still caring for her
family, especially since her husband is also a professor here at Oswego,” she said. Does Samson consider herself a role model? “Previously, I would have said no. A part of me still does. After all, Iʼm just a simple college student doing the best work that I can and studying hard,” she said. “Iʼm no master and I couldnʼt do my research without help from both of my advisers and the graduate group, who all were extremely understanding and helpful, really fostering my excitement and confidence, especially since my adviser at Nebraska really pushes his students toward working on new topics in order to broaden their knowledge and skill base.” However, a few recent events come to mind that seem to suggest the latter, she admitted. “Not long after news about my conference win, a friend and I sat in on an introductory physics lab review session. The professor there introduced me to the students, many of which were women, and allowed a short Q&A session. All of the questions were wonderful,” she said. “It brought me great joy to see these young physicists asking such great, intuitive questions about my research and the research process as a whole.” Another situation that comes to mind, she noted, is at a conference she attended a few months ago. It was by and for women in the physical sciences. “I had quite a few attendees come up to me praising my work and my ability to explain my complex topics in a way they could understand,” she said. “The women I sat and chatted with for the remainder of the conference, many of which expressed their nervousness [and] anxiety at presenting, I felt I was able to help them relax, become more confident not only giving my presentation,
but also by offering words of advice from things I had learned at previous conferences, as telling some silly stories about my own embarrassing moments.” Samson would like to see more women, not only in physics, but also in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] as well. For physics, especially theoretical and computational (computer modeling) and mathematical or abstract physics, it really takes a lot of hard work and dedication to getting the degree. It also could be a personal sacrifice, as with long hours and a lot of travel to conferences (maybe not so much anymore with the increasing popularity of virtual meetings). It can be hard to raise a family, she said. “But if you have an interest, and possibly are looking for a challenging, but rewarding, subject of study with a lot of applications [and] job opportunities, this is a great field of study. I also think that the tendency of science to be very people-oriented, which is often overlooked by prospective students, could be a great atmosphere for women, especially more so as more and more female scientists begin working in the field,” she said.
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• Spring 2022
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