Issuu

Man in the Moon

Downtown candy shop provides city with treats

Friday, Sept. 20, 2013

•

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF OSWEGO STATE UNIVERSITY • www.oswegonian.com

VOLUME LXXIX ISSUE III

MONEY MATTERS

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

Oswego State mirrors nation-wide trend with tuition increases Ryan Deffenbaugh Editor-in-Chief rdeffenbaugh@oswegonian.com

aclyn Hart, an Oswego State juniorbroadcasting major, said she was driven since she was young to go to college by her mother, who was able to receive a bachelor’s degree from Siena College and a master’s degree from Union College. Hart said her mother was able to pay her own way through college by working and earning multiple scholarships. “Because my mom went through her college experience alone she has made it a point to not let any of her children have to do that,” Hart said. But even with the support of her parents, Hart said she expects to find herself with $65,000 in debt before she graduates. “I don’t feel that my education has suffered due to the high cost of college, because I feel that I made the most cost-friendly decision without sacrificing the value of high education,” Hart said. “With that being said, I do feel that I’m at a disadvantage after I leave college. The debt that I will be in after I leave some-

times seems like it’s not worth it.” academic year: $13,297 for public schools and Washington Post. Hart’s story is similar to those of many $31,395 for private. The severity of the increas Oswego State has not been able to college students and recent graduates. While es becomes clear. elude the rising costs either. The average total U.S. culture has traditionally stressed the im That data is adjusted for inflation, a expenses for an in-state Oswego State student portance of a college education, living on campus was $21,511 for ” The original premise was that it’s good for the whole population to the recent increase in tuition the 2012-2013 academic year, acand, subsequently, amount of cording to Department of Educahave educated people in our midst. And that has waned and what student debt, has left more stution data. That is an increase of has really resided in people’s consciousness is that it’s a good, it’s dents questioning if college is 2.5 percent from the year before worth the cost than ever before. and a 10.7 percent increase from something you buy, and I think that’s an unfortunate perspective.” the 2008-2009 academic year. - Deborah Stanley, Climbing Tuition One of the factors driving the increase has been a cut Oswego State president The average cost of tuition, in state funding to all SUNY for both public and private universities, has schools, beginning during the height of the fiskyrocketed around the country over the last measure that, as pointed out by the Washingnancial crisis in 2007, along with a state budget several decades, forcing students to consider if ton Post’s data blog, Wonkblog, many concrisis in that year and the year following. the benefits still outweigh the costs. sider unfair given that college tuition can be a Oswego State President Deborah Stanley The Department of Education started driver of inflation itself. If the numbers are not said that the overall attitude toward public tracking tuition data from universities in 1965, adjusted for inflation, the Wonkblog reports, funding of education has shifted. at which point the average tuition (includaverage college tuition increased 297 percent “The original premise was that it’s good for ing fees, room and board) for a full academic from September 1990 to September 2012, the the whole population to have educated people year at a public university (adjusted into 2009life span of recent Oswego State graduates. By in our midst,” Stanley said. 2010 dollars) was $6,592, while a full year at comparison, healthcare costs, another indusa private university cost students an average try in which rising costs have driven governof $13,233. Compare that number to what the ment intervention, have increased 152 percent See TUITION, A4 average college student paid for 2010-2011 over the same period of time, according to the

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

Proposed presidential plan’s effects monitored by Oswego State Seamus Lyman News Editor slyman@oswegonian.com

CONTENT

Photo provided by White House President Obama signs tuition-focused legislation from Oval Office

Calendar...........................C2 Classified..........................C7 Crossword.........................C6 Contact Info......................A2 Laker Review.....................C1 News.................................A1 Opinion............................B5 Sports...............................B1 Sudoku.............................C6

President Barack Obama unveiled a proposal for changes to higher education in a series of speeches over this summer. He outlined student loan plans and how he sees colleges improving the learning experience as a whole. Should parts of the program be adopted, Oswego State would likely see changes including students receiving more help from the government in regards to postgraduation concerns. The plan outlines how to make college more affordable and “a better bargain for the middle class,” according to the White House fact sheet on Obama’s plan. There has been

a 250 percent increase in college prices over the past 30 years, while incomes for families have only increased 16 percent. The White House fact sheet also states that the average borrower graduates with $26,000 in debt and that only 58 percent of students who entered college in 2004 graduated with a four-year degree within six years. This number, according to The White House, helps contribute to students graduating with more debt. The longer students attend college, the more they end up paying. Obama’s plan intends to combat increasing college costs, in turn making college

more affordable for Americans. He also plans on holding colleges accountable for their results and providing students and their families with information on schools they are interested in so they can more easily determine which school provides the best bang for a student’s buck. This information will come from a new rating system put out by the White House, and will allow Congress to provide students with financial aid based on college performance. Furthermore, Obama seeks to open doors to all institutions for new technological advances in higher education teaching. The plan is also set out to

Sports

Opinion

Laker Review

VOLLEYBALL SPLITS

MAGIC RETURNS

INSIDIOUS TERRIFIES

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

Photo provided by Flickr

Photo provided by Gaurdian.com

expand the Pay As You Earn program to all borrowers who need it. By 2015, the plan is set to provide ratings based on three main things: -Access: the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants. -Affordability: the average tuition, scholarships and loan debt. -Outcomes: graduation and transfer rates, graduate earnings and advanced degrees of college graduates.

See OBAMA, A4

Oswegonian.com DRIVE-IN THEATER

WEB Photo provided by Dan Rounds

PAGE 2

THE OSWEGONIAN ADVERTISING

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Deffenbaugh Managing Editor Collin Leadbeater

advertising@oswegonian.com akingston@oswegonian.com Direct: 585.506.8457 Classifieds: 315.312.3601

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

HEARD!

CIRCULATION

Asst. News Editor | Luke Parsnow Asst. Sports Editor | Andrew Pugliese Asst. A&E Editor | Ronel Puello

3,500 copies across the Oswego State campus and the City of Oswego every Friday

• Classes available in: Oswego, Downtown Syracuse & Online

• Take Classes Year Round, Full or Part-Time • A flexible program, set to your needs, at an affordable price

Ads must be received by the Friday before desired publication date

Chief Copy Editor | Amanda Bintz Copy Editor | Daniel O’Connor Copy Editor | Olga Reyes Copy Editor | Shanna Fuld

// MBA

• AACSB-accredited and provides the tools necessary to meet YOUR career goals!

WWW.OSWEGO.EDU/MBA • (315) 312-2911

We’re looking for writers. That could mean you. Have you ever wanted to...

• Express your opinion?

CORRECTIONS Call 315.312.3600 to discuss a correction on any story.

Editor-at-Large | Aimee Hirsch Faculty Adviser | Arvind Diddi 139A Campus Center SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126

Office Phone: 315.312.3600 Office Fax: 315.312.3542 info@oswegonian.com

W W W. O S W E G O N I A N . C O M

• Investigate & report on a story? • Learn how a newspaper operates? The Oswegonian is read by 3,500 people in the region, including local residents and your fellow students. Write for us — and let your voice be heard.

Join us to learn more.

When: Every Friday at 3 p.m. Where: 139A in the Campus Center across from the WTOP studio.

SUNY BRIEFS THIS WEEK ON THE WEB A weekly list of what to check out on oswegonian.com

Buffalo State Buffalo State recently opened its new technology building, an 87,000 squarefeet state-of-the-art facility, part of the college’s group of construction and improvement projects through 2016 that total nearly $350 million. The new building houses a state-of-the-art fabric printer and a 3D printer that students and researchers can use to produce working models or prototypes. The building is the center for engineering technology, computer information systems and fashion and textile technology, three popular departments within the school of the professions. The facility is the latest example of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s innovation agenda because of its smart-grid laboratories with cutting-edge equipment. The College at Brockport The College at Brockport hosted a naturalization ceremony on campus on Sept. 17 in part to celebrate the 226th anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. This is a tradition at Brockport, coordinated by the American Democracy Project initiative, where people are officially declared U.S. citizens. This year, the Honorable Jonathan W. Feldman granted citizenship to 80 people, including a senior international business manager, once they took the Oath of Allegiance.

Video: Listen to Oswego State students discuss the precautions they take in order to keep their belongings safe from dorm thefts.

Photo gallery: Look at all of the action from the Oswego State volleyball tournament this past weekend.

GonianSocial Follow us on social media for daily updates

Coming soon: Check out the best places to catch a sunset both on the Oswego State campus and in the City of Oswego.

Like our page on Facebook for campus updates

WEEKEND WEATHER Forecast by Andrew Janiszeski | Graphics by Devon Nitz

Friday

Saturday

Fine Student Homes

NOW BOOKING 2014-2015 11 1/2 month and 10 month lease options avaiable Starting at $299* per person Call: 315-963-8286 cell 315-593-0707 oﬃce message *Ask about our aﬀordable ONE-PRICE OPTION which includes: heat, electricity, public water/sewer, cable, road runner, garbage removal, and more!

Student Housing 3, 4, 6, and 8 Bedroom Apartments available for 2014/2015 school year, near Downtown or Campus.

The Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit is making its return for the ninth consecutive year. This year we are proud to announce that the summit, moderated by Steve Levy, will be hosting alumnus Jay Beberman and Donna Goldsmith, along with Brian Bedol. The event will be taking place Wednesday, Nov. 6 in Waterman Theater. To fit this year’s theme of “Get In the Game,” these panelists were selected for their experience in the sports industry. Beberman works as sports managing editor of Bloomberg. Goldsmith is the former chief operating Officer of WWE and the current general manager at LeadDog Marketing Group in addition to being a member of the Super Bowl Host Committee. Bedol is a highly praised entrepreneur as he is founder of the sports television channels Classic Sports Network and College Sports Television, now known as ESPN Classic and CBS Sports Network. In addition to these confirmed panelists and perhaps one or two more, career connectors will also be coming to talk about their experience in the industry. For more information about the Summit and its panelists check out the newly launched Media Summit website,www. mediasummit.org.

Includes: Snow Removal, Garbage Removal, Lawn Care, and Washer/Dryer.

Contact: (315) 532-1338 or (315) 952-2902

High: 80

Low: 65

Sunday

High: 63

Low: 51

High: 71

Low: 55

A more active weather period is in store for Central New York this weekend. Summer will make a quick and modest return on Friday. High temperatures under sunny skies combining with a southerly down slope flow will reach the low to mid 80’s. But by Saturday morning, rain will be on our doorstep. Saturday looks to be quite wet, and due to extensive cloud cover and precipitation, high temperatures will only be around 70. It will remain mostly cloudy through Saturday night, although some clearing is possible with temperatures bottoming out around 50. Finally, as autumn begins on Sunday, there will be some partial sunshine to go around with autumn-like air as high pressure moves in at the surface. Highs will be in the lower 60’s and that air mass should hang around through much of next week.

Any Purchase $5 or More 1 coupon per visit

50 West Bridge Street Oswego, NY 13126

343-7722 Large wine collection!

Any Purchase $25 or More 1 coupon per visit

Mary Jean’s brings 35 years of alteration, tailoring, and stitching experience to Oswego and surrounding counties 122 West Second Street, Oswego, NY 13126 315-343-5066 M-F 10-6 pm

Contact maryjean@maryjeans.com

NEWS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We have to keep up and offer our students the best so that they can go out and compete once they leave here, but we do have to worry about that front door. That threshold has to be low enough for people to believe that they can aspire to come.” -President of Oswego State Deborah Stanley on access of the college

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

From The Lighthouse: Man in the Moon Candies Local candy store provides community with home-made sweets; makes candy from family recipes from over 80 years ago

Ryan Deffenbaugh | The Oswegonian

Man in the Moon Candies has been using the same candy recipes for almost 80 years, when the candy was sold on West Seneca Street in 1935.

The candy store features special sweets for specific seasons. This fall there will be pumpkin-themed candies in the store.

Amanda Bintz Chief Copy Editor abintz@oswegonian.com Man in the Moon Candies, located at 203 W. 1st St. in the Canal Commons, is the place to go in Oswego if you’re looking for delicious treats with a personal touch. Inside, the shop is as adorably quaint as its name suggests. From horse-head lollipops to a milk chocolate miniature of Fort Ontario, to gummy animals skewered on kebobs, every piece of candy in the shop looks as delicious as it does cute. Judging by its success since it opened in 2007, the confections sold at Man in the Moon don’t just look delicious. Amy Lear, owner of Man in the Moon Candies, comes from a long line of candy-makers and chocolatiers. According to the store’s website, Lear’s grandparents sold candy on West Seneca Street back in 1935, and many of the recipes she uses to make candy today are the same ones her family has been using for almost 80 years.

As it is a store inspired by family, it’s fitting that the candy-making at Man in the Moon is a collaborative effort. Alyssa Estus, an employee of Man in the Moon Candies and an Oswego State student, said that Lear, the head candy-maker Gretchen Hanley and the employees often team up to make the candy together. “I’m really good at kebobs, the little gummy kebobs,” Estus said. “Recently I helped make our handmade caramel with cinnamon, covered in chocolate.” Chocolate-covered cinnamon caramels are just one of the many seasonal items that Man in the Moon Candies is putting out this fall. They also have solid milk and dark chocolate leaves decorated in fall colors with truffles in the center and various pumpkin-themed items, like pumpkinflavored truffles and pumpkin-flavored sponge candy. Sponge candy, which originated in Buffalo, is one of the most popular items sold at Man in the Moon Candies. Though it was

unfamiliar at first, many Oswego residents are now hooked on this regional treat. Estus described it as “like a crunchy malted milk ball, but with a lot more flavor.” “It’s so popular in the holiday season that we can’t take reserve orders on it,” Estus said. “It flies off the shelves.” Other popular products at Man in the Moon are the homemade fudge, particularly the sea salt caramel flavor, the caramel, which is one of Lear’s specialties, and the truffles, which come in flavors as varied as cappuccino, key lime, and mint. Man in the Moon Candies is an astonishing little place, but the most surprising thing about it is that it hasn’t yet been discovered by the majority of Oswego State students. “Whenever students walk in the door, they’re like ‘I had no idea this place was here,’” Estus said. “We just had two freshmen students come in and they were floored that this place existed.” Man in the Moon Candies has some-

thing for every type of candy-lover out there. Whether you prefer something gummy or something crunchy, something simple or something decadent, something classic or even something you’ve never seen before, you’ll find it at Man in the Moon Candies. “Pretty much anything you could want, there’s a really good chance we have it,” Estus said. “And if we don’t have it, come back in a week and we might have it.” Man in the Moon Candies is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and, until the end of October, the store will stay

open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays because of the Oswego Farmers’ Market on West First Street. The store’s weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Estus urges students to find time in between their classes or on the weekend to come into town and visit the store, and the other shops in the Canal Commons, while the weather is still nice. “When it’s so beautiful out, it’s nice to come with a bunch of friends, get a cup of coffee at Taste the World, and walk around here in the Commons.”

Open 12 Months

Ryan Deffenbaugh | The Oswegonian Man in the Moon Candies offers a variety of sweets for the community and even stays open later for the Oswego Farmers’ Market on Thursdays.

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

President Obama’s college affordability plan, Oswego State Higher education plan sets out to make college more afforadable for the middle class, a reality for everyone OBAMA from COVER Pell Grants are based on financial needs, costs to attend school, the student’s enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and whether he or she will be attending for a full year or not. The grants are not repaid. The maximum amount for a Pell Grant in 2011-2012 was $5,550, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Oswego State President Deborah Stanley said she does not fully agree that tying funding to certain indicators helps everyone. “If funding is attached to something, you will learn how to maximize funding, and it could be that those students that are most at risk, who need the most services, will not be served, because they would be a detriment to the university,” Stanley said. Stanley also felt that focusing heavily on the outcomes could hinder the access aspect of the plan. “What he is doing, somewhat what he is doing, is to incent institutions to leave out the people who need the most help,” Stanley said. “And so the population that I believe President Obama wants to help could be hurt by his program and that would be terrible, and I think an unintended consequence for him.” By 2018, Obama wants student aid to be based on the new system of ratings, which will be set up by 2015. While it is expected to take some time to develop the ratings in full, students at higher-performing colleges could receive larger Pell Grants and more affordable student loans under the plan. The grants also see changes under the plan. Students will receive them sporadically through a semester rather than in a lump sum if their school has higher dropout rates, resulting in less grants wasted. Obama also wants to push states into higher education reforms with a $1 billion Race to the Top funding program. He intends to reshape the federal-state funding partnership that forces states to put more funding into higher education.

The White House cites declining state funding as “the biggest reason for rising tuition at public institutions.” This program focuses on performance, rather than just enrollment rates and seat time, rewarding colleges with higher graduation rates and other measures of their value. From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, New York state has cut spending per student in higher education by 14.7 percent since 2008. Compared to other states, this is relatively low, with just North Carolina, Alaska, Wyoming and North Dakota decreasing funding by less. The president will propose legislation reinforcing and improving academic progress requirements for student aid programs. Students who receive financial aid will be required to complete a certain percent of their classes before funding is continued. This, according to the administration, would help students complete studies on time. Obama also plans to promote innovation and competition among higher education institutes. The plan discusses three-year accelerated degrees, Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and “flipped” or “hybrid” classes. Obama wants the government to be a catalyst in the growth in these types of learning approaches. The plan calls for awarding credits based on learning rather than the typical seat time. According to the White House, this is already in existence. Western Governors University, a competency-based online university, serves more than 40,000 students at about $6,000 per year for most degrees with an average time to bachelor’s in just 30 months. Southern New Hampshire University and the University of Wisconsin are also using similar types of programs. The use of technology to redesign courses is also called for by Obama. MOOCs and other courses that integrate online platforms or blend in-person and online experiences “can accelerate the pace of student learning.” The fact sheet cites The National Center for Academic Transformation for showing the effectiveness of the use of technology in academics. It has shown that

learning outcomes for students improve while the average costs are reduced nearly 40 percent. A number of colleges have already begun introducing technology to redesign classrooms, including Carnegie Mellon University, Arizona State University and the University of Maryland. New York also has the Open SUNY initiative, which brings together online classes from every program in the SUNY system, providing students with the opportunity to finish college more quickly. Stanley said the college is still looking into online education options. “Online education, we are exploring whether or not that will actually keep costs down: whether its a supplement to in-class, synchronous mode education,” Stanley said. “So there’s a matter of things we are looking at to reduce the costs and keep the price tags as low as possible.” As for improving quality and outcomes of colleges, the plan calls for providing students with the information they need. The new college ratings system will allow incoming students to evaluate the value they are getting by attending a specific college. Already available in this regard is the president’s College Scorecard. Specific colleges can be searched by name. Colleges are categorized by the following: degrees and majors, occupations, zip codes, sizes, scholarship award opportunities, states, campus settings, regions and distance education. While the scorecard does not yet display average earnings and jobs for Oswego State, it does list several other factors. The typical cost to attend Oswego State is $13,818 according to the scorecard, which also states a 7.7 percent increase from 2007 to 2009. The graduation rate, according to the scorecard, is 54.7 percent for the college, which is shown to be at the border for medium and high, compared to a national average of 58 percent. This is also over a six-year period for bachelor’s degrees with full-time students. The scorecard also shows that 29.2 percent transferred out of Oswego State. There have been concerns that the plan can

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

cause some to view colleges as a business, not a place for higher learning. “If you consider colleges a factory who send out students to get jobs, then the ones who are the best are the ones who send students to Wall Street and they’re making six figures straight out of college, so they rank the highest,” Julie Blissert, director of public affairs for Oswego State, said. “But what about colleges that put out a lot of teachers and counselors and social workers, aren’t they doing a good job too? Even though those professions pay a lot less.” Students who graduated from Oswego State defaulted on 7.6 percent of loans within three years of beginning repayment, an amount lower than the national average, which is 13.4 percent. Oswego State students and families borrowed on average $19,476 in federal loans for undergraduate studies. The repayment over a 10-year time is estimated at $224.13 per month on the scorecard. Compared nationally, this is shown to be in the higher end of the middle range on the scorecard. Humbert said that the school follows up with students to remind them of their debt in hopes to avoid student defaults.

“Students get out and they buy a car, maybe a mortgage, and suddenly they’re in trouble,” Humbert said. “And so we try to be a little bit more intentional about working with our students and developing programs for the web and programmatic things in person, where students can really understand what it means to take on that debt.” Stanley said the school also is sure to keep in contact with alumni. “We have more programs to keep in touch with alumni than ever before, and so we know more about them and we can follow them,” Stanley said. Humbert thinks that Oswego State is already meeting the standard Obama is encouraging. “Anything the president wants us to be committed to, Oswego is already committed to,” Humbert said. “Whether it’s student success, affordability or access, we are already committed to those things. So I believe that any indicator they come up with to test those things, since we’re already making efforts, we would be OK. Our students wouldn’t suffer.”

Deal between SUNY, New York state creates consistent $300 tuition hike for 2 more years TUITION from COVER “And that has waned and what has really resided in people’s consciousness is that it’s a good, it’s something you buy, and I think that’s an unfortunate perspective.” It’s a perspective that, Stanley said, has led to more people encouraging students to pay for their education with less state assistance. “What you see is that the price tag of higher education has been more on the student, or moving to the student, rather than the state,” Stanley said. “Though we still do get some significant tax payer support.” Between 2007 and 2011, the ratio of core institutional revenue provided by the state against that derived from tuition and fees has continually shifted to rely more on student tuition. According to data provided in Oswego State’s 2012 Self-Study, the school received 58 percent of its revenue from tuition and fees and the other 42 percent from taxpayer support during the 2007-2008 academic year. In 20102011, the school received 69 percent of its revenue from tuition and fees and 31 percent from taxpayer support. Oswego State received $24.4 million in taxpayer funds for the 2007-2008 academic year and $15.8 million for the 2013-2014 academic year, according to data provided by the Oswego State budget office. While Oswego State is able to dictate its room and board fees, tuition is set by SUNY after being approved by state legislature. Per semester tuition for Oswego State has increased $2,370 over the last 10 years, rising 42 percent from the 2002-2003 academic year to the 2012-2013 academic year, according to Oswego State budget office data. Oswego State is currently in year three of a five-year plan called the Rational Tuition Plan, which increases tuition by $300 each academic year. According to Oswego State VP of Administration and Finance Nicholas Lyons, the plan came after the state cut funding to SUNY schools and asked each school to cut their budgets. “The tuition stayed constant, but the amount of support the state gave us diminished,” Lyons said. “We were asked to cut our budgets, and we’ve done that. Now, we lost considerable moneys over that time, and that’s when the rational tuition plan was negotiated with the governor.” The Rational Tuition Plan also provided Oswego State students with a respite from the sudden price fluctuations under the previous system, according to Lyons. “We’ve always felt that a rational tuition plan that just depended on a very small cost of living increase year to year was a much fairer way to do it than to go, say, six years without a tuition increase then suddenly have to raise it ten percent because you need to catch up on all these costs,” Lyons said. As with all tuition increases, the planned $300 tuition raise across all SUNY schools will first have to be approved by state legislature for each of the remaining years. With the plan set to expire after that period, Oswego State administration is unable to say with certainty what tuition increases or

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

decreases await SUNY schools following the plan’s expiration. “Every year is uncertain,” Stanley said. “This plan was a five year plan, thereafter there’s no plan to increase tuition. Whether it is increased after that, legislature will have to be involved and that will be highly political. We’re hoping they won’t rip away state money, because we don’t advance that way.” Room and board has been increasing as well. The room and board for students entering the 2012-2013 academic year was, on average, $12,510, according to Department of Education data. The amount is an increase of 1.6 percent from the year before, and a 13.1 percent increase from the 2009-2010 total. The average 2012-2013 academic year costs for an Oswego State student for room and board was pricier than most SUNY counterparts. SUNY Plattsburgh, The College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo all have average room and board rates between $10,000 and $11,000, while SUNY Cortland comes in slightly higher, though still lower than Oswego State, with an average room and board rate of $11,430, according to Department of Education data. “Our rates are high when you look at the others,” Lyons said, “but the Oswego Guarantee freezes both room and meal plan rates for five years, so what you’re seeing on those rates is our highest amount.” The Oswego Guarantee allows Oswego State students to pay the same room and board rate as they did their first semester for up to five years of living on campus. Under the policy, current freshmen will pay the $12,510 listed as the 2012-2013 rates for the entirety of their time living on campus, while sophomores, juniors and seniors will continue to pay their respective freshman year rates. The policy is one that Julie Blissert, director of public affairs for Oswego State, said was unique to the school at the time. It came as a result of the fluctuating tuition. “We had mid-year tuition increases that we didn’t know what they would be,” Blissert said. “So we thought, well the one thing we can control is room and board, and we can moderate the unpredictable tuition with very controllable room and board.” Lyons said the school has plans to stop the

increases for the next two years. “It’s a matter of competition; if you charge too much, people will go someplace else,” Lyons said. “So we decided for the next two years to not have any increases.” Stanley said her concern is keeping tuition to the point that it can be in the middle range of state universities in the Northeast. “The tuition increases are making us whole in many ways. We are stabilizing what we can offer students and making up for the state reductions,” Stanley said. “In some respects, moving SUNY tuition to a mean, so we’re not high, we’re not low. We are moving to a mean.” Paying for it all Despite the rapid increases in tuition around the country, college enrollment has continued to rise. Between 2000 and 2010, total national enrollment in degree-granting institutions increased 37 percent, according to the Department of Education data. The increase is often attributed to the recent economic recession, which sent many out of the labor force and into higher education to gain skills and degrees. The current economy has also dictated a college degree to be imperative to financial security. A recent study by The Hamilton Project found that, in 2010, 88 percent of 23 to 24-year-olds in the U.S. with a college degree were employed, while 64 percent of those with only high school degrees were employed. Men and women in the sample with college degrees also out-earned those with only a high school diploma by an average of $276 per week. With a college education edging more and more toward becoming an absolute necessity, the trick for college-aged students and their families becomes paying for it all. With the average tuition costs making it difficult for potential students to pay their own way, they have turned increasingly to taking out loans. The total volume of college loans dispersed doubled from $55.7 billion (in 2011 dollars) in 2001-2002 to $113.4 billion in 2011-2012, according College Board data. According to the Project on Student Loan Debt, two-thirds of college seniors who graduated in 2011 had student loan debt, with an average total of $26,600 per borrower.

Seventy-four percent of Oswego State 2011 graduates had some sort of debt, with an average of $26,123 per borrower, according to the project’s data, putting the school close to average nationally and slightly above the average for New York state public and private fouryear non-profit universities, which had an average of 60 percent of 2011 graduates carrying debt at an average of $25,851 per student. Many Oswego State students are also able to receive grant or scholarship aid. Department of Education data shows that 72 percent of Oswego State students received grant or scholarship aid in some form, with an average of $5,685 per student. “I do believe places like Oswego are still the best value,” said Mark Humbert, the director of financial aid at Oswego State. “We provide a great education at a very good price. Not that it’s not difficult to pay it for families, we’re not saying that, but it’s still a good investment.” Stanley said that public institutions such as SUNY still provide a better overall value than a private school. “You will still find that, by and large, if you attend an independent, private institution,” Stanley said, “most students will have more debt and will pay a higher price over the time of their education than they will at a public institution.” Despite paying a lower bottom line, many Oswego State students have been required to take out loans that affect their lives beyond graduation. Amanda Servadio, who graduated in 2011 with a wellness management degree, said she at times has trouble understanding her loans and fears they will continue to get worse. “I did not want to have the additional loans that going to a private school would force me to have, and I thought I was making a smart choice about my education,” said Servadio, who began working at an entry-level position following college. “I thought Oswego was a school that had a lot to offer at a much more affordable price than a private school. It’s unfortunate that SUNY schools are becoming more expensive too.” Ensuring that students understand the loans they are taking out has become a priority for Oswego State administration in recent years. More attention has been driven to the issue following the increase in the number of students taking on debt, as well as an increase in the amount of attention being paid to how students handle their debt upon graduation. Cohort default rates, which measure how often students from a university default on their student loans, have increasingly been used to meaure how a university’s students fare upon graduation. President Barack Obama uses cohort default rates as a metric in his college scorecard, which rates a college’s value using multiple variables. Oswego State’s three-year official cohort default rates, which tracks how many 2009 graduates default on their loans within three years, is 7.6 percent, according to Department of Education data. This falls below the national average of 13.6 percent, as well as the state average of 10.9 percent, but is higher

than those of several similarly-sized SUNYs. The number is higher than SUNY Plattsburgh’s three-year rate of 4.4 percent, SUNY Potsdam’s 6.3 percent, SUNY Cortland’s 3.4 percent, The College at Brockport’s 2.6 percent and around even with SUNY Oneonta’s 7.2 percent. “There are certainly those at SUNY who do a little better than us,” Humbert said. “I would consider us as the better middle of the pack in that regard.” Humbert said the school is currently looking into working with a company, iGrad, that provides students with information and programs to better understand their loans. Humbert said the program can help students manage their finances while in school as well as after graduation. “There’s a lot of training that can go on, a lot of resources we do offer, things like this that help students to say, ‘Hey there are resources you should be considering,’” Humbert said. “Have we done a good enough job of that? No, because if our default rate was zero, I’d tell you we did a perfect job. We’re not there, and neither is anyone else. But we’re working at that, and we want to get better at that.” ‘An access mission’

A chief concern among government, SUNY officials, and students alike is the possibility of rising tuition costs pricing out the lower income and middle class families, which have traditionally been able to use SUNY schools as a way to afford a college education. “Our mission is an access mission,” Stanley said. “We will always have to give additional and differential aid to those individuals that can’t afford it, so we have to look at needs in order to meet that access mission.” As a part of this, SUNY uses a tuition credit policy that covers the cost of any tuition increase for students receiving maximum TAP benefits that had previously covered the entire cost of tuition. Stanley said a part of ensuring the school’s price tag is low enough to provide all students access is being as efficient as possible with funds and resources, including consortium deals with companies, exploring the possibility of online classes to save students money and sharing resources with other SUNY institutions. “We are always looking to be as efficient and cost effective as we possibly can,” Stanley said. “It doesn’t make any sense for a public institution to not be efficient and cost effective.” Stanley said the most important thing for the school is to maintain a balance between a lower price and a competitive education. “Access is two-pronged, it’s keeping the threshold low enough so that people will come and aspire to education,” Stanley said. “But then it is also parity. We must provide the same type of education everyone else can provide, especially the private universities, or it’s not access. If what we offer here is something less, something not as good, then it’s a problem, I think, and it’s widening the gap in our society between the haves and have nots.”

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Premier Living Suites increases prices $500 after just 1 year Raise in fees expected to compete with costs for living off campus in Oswego, students forced to sign lease by Tuesday Shannon Stewart Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com

Despite already being known as a more expensive option for off-campus housing, the Premier Living Suites have increased their cost for the 2014-2015 school year. Last year, PLS sparked a lot of interest in students who were looking to live off campus. So much interest that a waiting list for the 2014-2015 school year was created shortly after all 18 apartments were filled for this year. The building’s owners, Greg and Patrick Furlong, along with building manager Naomi Himes, have offered many incentives for their residents. For $9,490 per person, each apartment is completely furnished. Each bedroom has a 26-inch flat screen television and there is a 40-inch screen television in the living room. Each apartment has two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a patio equipped with patio furniture. The first 20 students who signed a lease received a free iPad 2 upon moving in. Rachel Birmingham, junior and PLS resident, said the fact that she only had to bring kitchen supplies and bedroom and bathroom necessities made moving a lot easier. “My housemates and I were able to save a lot of money,” Birmingham said. “I have a friend who spent $1,000 on her bedroom furniture alone.” All utilities, cable and Internet are included in rent. Every apartment has its own washer and dryer. Tenants receive a care package each semester, which includes cleaning supplies and some snacks. They even give students a Swiffer Wet-Jet and a vacuum. One of the most attractive parts of the building is the massive finished basement. A free gym and aerobics room are popular spots for students who like to maintain their fitness. “I personally love the fact that there is a gym here and that it is open 24 hours. It motivates me,” junior resident Taylor Delgado said. “With all of the equipment they have given us, I could get a full body workout every day if I wanted to. I’m definitely happy with everything it has to offer.” Six televisions hang on the wall with plush couches for lounge area. Two dart boards, a ping pong table, an air hockey table, a foosball table and a pool table are provided for entertainment. A community room is available for students to rent out if a group or club would like to meet there. The suites even provide an ATM and a vending

Shannon Stewart | The Oswegonian The Premier Living Suites, which opened for students this summer, is already asking students to sign leases for next year, which add $500 to their current leases in order to compete with other off-campus alternatives.

machine for the residents. Residents said the most impressive part of the building is the game room and movie theater room. Equipped with six televisions and chairs, the game room is full of Xboxes, Play-Stations and Wiis. A large array of games is provided. Through the game room is the movie theater. With a television screen that spans the majority of the wall, the movie theater provides entertainment for 30 people at a time. Just like the video games, movies are provided. However, if a student has a request for a game or movie, he or she has to simply fill out a request form, and Himes will purchase it for the building. Junior resident Lily Choi said the movie theater and game room were really convenient.

“We have so much right here,” Choi said. “It’s especially nice when people come over. There’s always something to do, something to keep us entertained.” Continental breakfast is provided for each resident Monday through Friday. Students can choose from Dunkin Donuts muffins and donuts, bagels, English muffins and fresh fruits from C’s Farms. Every Monday, pizza is provided for the building, as well as dinner from different restaurants every Friday. The study room in the basement acts as a library for students who wish to have a quiet space to do their homework. Two Apple desktop computers and two PCs are provided in the computer lab. There is free printing, copying and scanning for students.

“I was expecting this place to be nice,” Birmingham said, “but it blew my expectations out of the water. It is amazing.” While many people already consider the suites to be an expensive living option, the price for next year has increased to $9,990 per person. According to Himes, rent is increasing because cost of the suites is competing with the cost of on campus living. “We’re still trying to provide less expensive housing than on campus,” Himes said. “But we need to stay competitive.” There are three payment options for students this year, which will remain the same for next year. Residents may pay their rent in full, monthly, or by semester. Himes says the option to pay by semester is the most popular.

There are 71 students that live in the building. All apartments have four bedrooms, except for one on the first floor, which has three. There are parking spots for each student with a vehicle, as well as visitors. For those students without vehicles, a bus stop has been placed right at the end of the driveway. Because the suites are in high demand, current residents must resign their leases by Tuesday. Birmingham says she would absolutely live in the apartment complex again next year. “Even though it’s a couple hundred dollars more expensive, it’s totally worth it,” Birmingham said. “The environment we have is better than anyone else I know.”

Novelty ice creams no longer provided in dining halls Shanna Fuld Copy Editor news@oswegonian.com Some students love having ice cream at their fingertips in the dining hall - or at least last year they did. This year, students returned to school to find all the ice cream freezers removed. Craig Traub, director of resident dining for Auxiliary Services, said the novelty ice cream bars, such as the chocolate éclairs or the King Cones, had little to no nutritional value. Oswego State’s dietitian looked through the ingredients and noticed that some could not even be pronounced and others were totally lacking any type of nutritional benefit to the body. Student comment cards as well as surveys conducted every April are responsible for the alteration. “I read every comment card that comes in after they were answered by the managers of each dining hall,” Traub said. The biggest complaint from students is the lack of healthy items. Because of this, Traub worked to introduce more fresh fruits. “I was walking through dining centers and the students told me they really appreciate the fresh fruits,” Traub said. Dining halls have fresh raspberries, blackberries and blueberries due to the push for fresh, healthy choices. Traub also mentioned that vegetables like the green beans and squash are fresh and locally grown. And that fresh produce is not cheap. Traub said he and his team are looking for a “win-win.” One change made to help ease the transition is serving ice cream sundaes twice a week, which used to be provided once a week on Sunday evenings. The ice cream comes from Perry’s, which is a semi-local ice cream brand located in Akron, N.Y. In fact, much of Oswego State’s produce is locally grown and Oswego State is a buyer from local farms and family-owned businesses. Students have mixed feelings about the change. At least one student is already missing the ice cream.

“I feel as though in the long-run, it is healthier, but it doesn’t satisfy my nightly cravings,” sophomore Maggie Finnegan said. But other students don’t feel as impacted and plan to take advantage of other options. “It really doesn’t matter to me,” sophomore Christopher McNeil said. “I don’t really care for the novelty ice creams. I’d much rather prefer the creamery ice cream, and since it’s open so frequently it shouldn’t matter.” In addition to serving sundaes, Oswego State also serves cakes, cookies, bars, donuts

and muffins, all homemade. A set of bakers come in at 4 a.m. right to the Oswego State bake shop and begin to bake desserts for the day, as well as pastries and other doughy goods needed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The daily fresh baked goods are trucked over to each dining hall by 6 a.m. for breakfast, 10 a.m. for lunch and 2 p.m. for dinner. For now, students at Oswego State will have to satisfy their sweet tooth with fresh-baked cakes, like a German chocolate cake (Traub’s favorite), or hold in their ice cream desires for those two nights of ice cream bliss per week.

Seamus Lyman | The Oswegonian

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Feeling Left Out?

Come*to*one*of*our*InformaIon*Sessions*or*stop*by*an*InformaIon* Table*to*ďŹ nd*out*how*you*can*see*the*world*and*earn*credit*too!* Date%

Event%

Time%

Thursday,*October*10**

Info*Session*

4pm;5pm*

Campus*Center*133*

Tuesday,*October*15*

Info*Table*

10am;2pm*

Campus*Center*(by*the*Point)*

Tuesday,*October*22*

Info*Session*

3pm;4pm*

Campus*Center*133*

Thursday,*October*24*

Info*Table*

10am;2pm*

Campus*Center*(by*the*Point)*

Wednesday,*November*6*

Info*Table*

10am;*2pm*

Campus*Center*(by*the*Point)*

Thursday,*November*7*

Info*Session*

1pm;2pm*

Campus*Center*133*

Wednesday,*November*13*

Info*Table*

10am;2pm*

Campus*Center*(by*the*Point)*

Wednesday,*November*13*

Info*Session*

4pm;5pm*

Campus*Center*133*

EDUCATION ABROAD

Loca/on%

SPORTS

OPINION Putin

THE OSWEGONIAN

xxx

• www.oswegonian.com

VOLUME LXXIX ISSUE III

Oswego State

SCOREBOARD Volleyball

Wednesday, Sept. 18

3 0

Women’s Tennis Tuesday, Sept. 17

8 1

Women’s Soccer Sunday, Sept. 15

3 0

Volleyball

Saturday, Sept. 14

3 0

UPCOMING MATCHES

SPORTS WIAZRDS IMPROVE

B3 PHOTO PROVIDED BY REID ADLER

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Oswego State improves to 4-2 in 2013 following home wins against Utica, Alfred State Torrin Kearns Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Lakers won a pair of home games this weekend against Utica College and Alfred State College by scores of 3-2 and 3-0 respectively. The Lakers performed strongly in the second halves of both games, increasing their record to 4-2. With these two victories, the Lakers have already matched their home win total from last season. Senior forward Nikki Liadka scored two more goals, giving her eight in just six games this season. The Lakers dominated Alfred State in the second half on Saturday, scoring twice and keeping the ball almost exclusively in Alfred State’s half of the field en route to a commanding 3-0 win. Liadka’s goal in the 61st minute was the capstone of a 15-minute spell of suffocating pressure that Oswego State placed on Alfred State, which created multiple scoring chances, including Liadka’s goal. Liadka scored from the top of the 18yard box, calmly slotting home a pass from junior Georgia Traynor. “She’s been great,” head coach Brain McGrane said, referring to Liadka’s redhot start this season. “I don’t know how to explain it. When you’re a goal scorer, you’re a goal-scorer.” In what was a relatively uneventful first half, freshman Erin Harding scored what would be the game-winning goal. She attempted a chip from the top left of the box that Alfred State goalie, sophomore Krista DeCarlo, misread. It was the freshman forward’s first goal of her collegiate career.

See SOCCER, B2

Photo provided by Sports Information Senior Nikki Liadka heads towards the ball with time winding down during Oswego State’s 3-2 victory against visiting Utica College Friday evening.

McGrane leads Oswego State hosts home tournament women’s soccer Volleyball defeats Marywood, Wells; remains at .500 after 12 games to fast start in 2013 season Torrin Kearns Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com

Senior Sabrina Sutton took charge in the final match of the night, killing seven attempts. Freshman Lauren Edwards finished with a team-high 18 assists, while sophomore Rachel Ruggaber (15) and senior Meaghan Puff (10) each tallied double-digit digs. Despite the victory against Marywood, Oswego State dropped its following match against St. Lawrence in a 3-2 loss on Saturday. After taking what was thought to be a commanding 2-0 lead, the Lakers dropped the next three sets. The final game of the match proved to be most intense. The score was tied 15-15 in the fifth and final set before St. Lawrence took two straight points to win the match. Ruggaber dug 21 St. Lawrence attempts, while junior Stephanie Bailey led the team with 13 kills. Edwards finished with a game-high 32 assists.

Brian McGrane is a busy man, with papers, books and other assorted documents sitting on top of his desk, yet he would not have it any other way. “It’s awesome,” McGrane said, without a moment’s hesitation. McGrane is entering his seventh year of coaching women’s soccer at Oswego State. He has been through both highs and lows throughout his coaching tenure, but has ultimately enjoyed his time coaching the Lakers. He has watched five of his players receive all-conference honors on 10 different occasions and presided over an ECAC Championship in 2011, the capstone to the program’s first winning season in over 10 years. On the flip side, the Lakers have been victorious in only 14 of the 57 games they have played against conference opponents under McGrane, which translates to a .245 winning percentage. McGrane knows that number needs to improve moving forward. “We have not won enough games in conference to be satisfied,” he said. McGrane maintains that there is more to being a successful team than simply wins and losses. “Off the field, our team does the right things,” McGrane said. “We’re active in the community, with various camps and clinics. We do a lot of Special Olympictype projects. Our GPA is always really good.” When McGrane came to Oswego State in 2007, he was faced with the daunting task of rebuilding a program that hit rock bottom after going 1-15 the previous season,which was the team’s eighth losing year in a row. McGrane took on the challenge with open arms. “It was tough in one sense because you know you’re inheriting a team that was 1-15,” McGrane said. “But on the positive side, if you win more than one game, you’ve done a better job than the previous year.”

See VOLLEYBALL, B2

See SOCCER, B4

Field Hockey Friday, Sept. 20 @

Location: Drake Field Time: 4 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Friday, Sept. 20 vs.

Women’s Volleyball Saturday, Sept. 21 vs.

Location: Max Ziel Gymnaisum Time: 10 a.m.

Men’s Soccer Saturday, Sept. 21 @

Location: South Athletic Field Time: 2 p.m.

Women’s soccer wins two at home

* green indicates home games

Location: Laker Field Time: 4 p.m.

TO 2-0

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Members of the Oswego State volleyball team come together in celebration after a successful point in the Oswego State Tournament last weekend.

Steven Cordero Staff Writer sports@oswegonian.com Despite dropping its first match in straight sets, Oswego State won two of the next three matches to go .500 in the Oswego State Tournament, the first fullscale competition held at Max Ziel Gymnasium this season. In the first match on Friday, Oswego State fell to visiting SUNYIT despite three close sets. The Lakers dropped the first two games by three points each before losing an intense final set, 30-28. Neither team could break off a large run in any of the sets, as they constantly exchanged points. In the end, Oswego State’s effort fell just short. The Lakers used an incredible comeback to defeat Marywood University in their second game on Friday night after falling behind, two sets to none.

Oswego State won the final three sets of the match and emerged victorious, 3-2. Both squads went back and forth in the first game, needing extra points to decide the winner. After several deuces, the Lakers lost 29-27. Marywood carried its momentum into the second set and earned a 25-13 win to take a 2-0 lead. Oswego State did not waver and continued to put pressure on Marywood in the third game, outscoring the opposition 7-2 to end the set en route to a 25-22 win. The Lakers continued their comeback as they cruised in the fourth game to a 2515 victory. In the deciding game, Oswego State jumped out to an early lead and held on for the 15-9 win to complete the incredible comeback. “Coming back from 0-2 down against Marywood was a real confidence builder going forward,” head coach J.J. O’ Connell said of his team’s comeback win.

Blue Line Oswego State

COMING UP

Quote of the Week “When I came back inside, I told them that it was probably my last haircut there.” -women’s soccer head coach Brian McGrane

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Lakers rule weekend with offense

Field Hockey The Oswego State field hockey team (1-2) is back in action on Friday afternoon. The Lakers have a 4 p.m. start against Morrisville State (0-6) as they look to build on their first win of the season at Nazareth on Sept. 7. Last season, these squads met at South Athletic Field in Oswego and the hosts took the contest, 4-0. The Mustangs and Lakers have -44 and -9 goal differentials respectively.

Men’s Soccer The Lakers (0-3-1) are riding a three-game losing streak and will look to break it at Wells College (4-1-1) on Saturday afternoon. Just their second away match of 2013, Oswego State faces a tough test against the Express. Wells just had their four-game win streak snapped at Alfred, 2-0. The Saxons defeated the Lakers, 1-0, earlier this season.

Cross Country Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams are headed to Houghton College this Saturday for the Highlanders’ annual invitational. Early in the 2013 campaign each squad has two solid performances in the books. The men have two fourth place finishes at SUNYIT and in their home meet, while the women won at SUNYIT meet and took fourth at home.

Athletes of the Week

Photo provided by Sports Information

Junior Tia Segretto avoids Alfred State defenders during Oswego State’s 3-0 win at Laker Field on Sunday.

Sophomore Bailey Waterbury fights for possession of the ball with and Alfred State defender.

SOCCER, from B1 Even with Harding’s goal, the Lakers struggled to create chances and maintain pressure in the first half. “We were a little slow, a little sluggish,” McGrane said of the first 45 minutes. Junior Tia Segretto scored the third goal of the game at 75:07, which all but shut the door on any chances of an Alfred State comeback. DeCarlo parried a shot from sophomore Jill Keevil, but left an open rebound in front that Segretto put home. On Friday, Segretto, Liadka and Keevil all scored in the second half to erase a 1-0 deficit and secure a 3-2 win against Utica College. Segretto tapped in the tying goal in the 50th minuteafter controlling a missed shot from the wing by junior Bri Dolan.

The Lakers took the lead in the 70th minute when sophomore Bailey Waterbury sent a perfect ball straight to Liadka’s feet. Liadka turned on a defender, blasted a shot and scored to give the Lakers the lead. Keevil slotted home a rebound, after another Dolan shot, to double the Lakers’ lead in the 72nd minute. Utica junior Alana Fitzpatrick scored on a scramble in front of the net in the 79th minute, but the Lakers held on for the win. The Lakers squandered a golden opportunity to score early as Liadka missed a wide open net with the Utica goalkeeper, freshman Jamie Enders, out of the play. This allowed Pioneers’ senior forward Sarah Southwell to score off a feed in front of the net six minutes later to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

The weather was not doing the Lakers any favors, as they struggled to push the ball up the wet field against the typical Oswego wind. Despite the weather conditions, the Lakers were able to dominate play after Southwell’s early goal, forcing Enders to flag down numerous crosses. “I think it helped them a little bit,” McGrane said of the poor weather. “But I thought after the first 20 to 25 minutes we were fine.” Waterbury believes that the weather did not have too much of an impact. “Honestly, this was a mild day for Oswego weather,” Waterbury said. “We expected the ball to skip and our goalies knew to be ready.” In the first half, sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Glasshagel made a pair of key

stops, both from short range, to keep the Lakers in the game. Senior Emily Varonier, coming off an injury, made her return after replacing Glasshagel at the start of the second half. Each goalie gave up one goal in the Laker’s 3-2 victory. After six games thus far, Oswego State has seen a breakout performance by Liadka, who leads the team with eight goals and 16 points. Segretto is second on the team with 13 points after tallying three goals and two assists to start the season. The Lakers (4-2) will play the final game of their current home stand against D’Youville College (3-1-2) on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. before heading off to SUNY New Paltz (1-3-2) the following week to begin conference play.

Lakers take 2 of 4 in tournament VOLLEYBALL, from B1 SABRINA SUTTON Volleyball Senior, Fulton, N.Y.

The senior helped the Lakers to a 2-2 finish in the Oswego State Tournament, earning her a spot on the All-Tournament team. In the home tournament, Sutton led the Lakers with seven kills against SUNYIT and continued her strong play against Marywood, Wells and St. Lawrence. The outside hitter had a season high 4 aces in a close 3-2 loss to St. Lawrence. She also had with three kills, four digs and an assist in the Lakers 3-0 win over Wells.

In the final match of the tournament, the Lakers swept Wells College in straight sets, 2518, 25-16 and 25-20. Freshman Megan Russell killed a gamehigh 11 attempts, but had the full support of her teammates en route to the win. Freshman Kim Cassa and sophomores Kelsey Dillion and Emily Wasler all had four kills, while Sutton and freshman Sarah Meredith added three each. Meredith led the team with 15 digs in the contest while Edwards had the team-high 17 assists. The Lakers ended their home tournament on a strong note with the win against Wells. “I felt like our team played some good defense and put ourselves in the position to be in every match this past weekend,” O’Connell said. “We just need some continued improvement on finishing off matches with aggressive play.” The team defeated Utica College in straight sets on Wednesday and is preparing to host the Oswego State Fall Classic this weekend. The Lakers will play four games spanning between Friday and Saturday, with the first game slated to begin at 5 p.m. on Friday.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Freshman Meaghan Roefs follows through on an overhead hit during Oswego State’s loss to SUNYIT in the Oswego State Tournament on Friday afternoon.

OSWEGO STATE MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK RAINED OUT This past week both Oswego State men’s athletic events were postponed due to weather. Over the course of the week, the men’s golf team was postponed on Thursday at the Keuka Fall Invitational and men’s tennis was rained out at Cazenovia on Saturday. These circumstances leave the cross country team’s Damian Archie as the men’s athlete of the week for a second straight week.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Junior Stephanie Bailey prepares to strike the ball during the Lakers matchup with SUNYIT on Friday.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Freshman Megan Russell sets her sights on the ball during the Oswego State Tournament on Friday.

SPORTS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

B33

Oswego State defeats Hamilton at home Wizards defeat Exiles 27-7 in playoff rematch, improve to 2-0 in 2013

Photo provided by Reid Adler Members of the Hamilton College and Oswego State men’s rugby scrum packs battle for possession during Saturday’s match won by the Wizards.

Andrew Pugliese Asst. Sports Editor apugliese@oswegonian.com After splitting the season series with the Hamilton Exiles in 2012, the Oswego State men’s rugby team came to the Hidden Fields this past Saturday with a determination to win, which proved crucial in the victory effort. The Wizards kicked off to the Exiles to start the game, but it was not long before they forced a couple lineouts, the latter gaining possession. Once Oswego State had possession it kept play in the offensive third of the pitch. The Exiles struggled with the high-pressure situation and the Wizards were able to strike first when senior fly half Joey Weisansal put a penalty goal through for three points. The moments directly following the Wizards’ penalty goal produced Hamilton’s first chance to move the ball up the field in their preferred style: punting. However, the opportunity was squandered by a miskick and Oswego State’s domination would leave the Exiles’ chances to punt few and far between. Senior captain and outside center Tyrell Moore attributed the Wizards’ success on possession control to their practice and preparation during the week. “We got to the fly half and the inside center really fast, put pressure on them,” Moore said. “That’s what we practiced all week, we executed pretty well out here.

Weisansal continued the Wizards’ scoring with a try and conversion around the midway point of the half, giving the home squad a 10-0 advantage. Hamilton picked up its play following the Oswego State score. Their ball movement was helped by the impressive strength show by the Hamilton front lines on the rucks, allowing for quick restarts after tackles. In the final minutes of the half, Oswego State regained its control by putting together a drive that, while unfruitful, pushed the Exiles’ defense right up against their try line. The second 40 minutes started out with balanced play, but when Hamilton left the roll in on a scrum too far outside the packs, the Wizards picked up the ball and moved upfield. The ball reached Moore, who switched the field and ran the ball about 50 meters before tossing it back to Weisansal, who made the try but missed the ensuing conversion. His try increased the hosts’ lead to 15-0. Oswego State regained the ball off the kickoff and used a combination of size and quickness to move the ball. Some quick ruck victories made stopping their momentum near impossible. Senior end wing and captain Nick Holz gave the home crowd its third try of the afternoon to cheer for at the tail end of the Wizards’ impressive drive.

Joey Weisansal missed his second consecutive conversion, but Oswego State had the match well in hand. After the Wizards’ fourth score, it appeared they had found their dominance from the game’s early minutes. The Wizards’ final score followed a bizarre exchange that ended with the official awarding the hosts a penalty try. Weisansal capped the score with his second conversion of the game. Although the game was far out of hand, Hamilton put in one final push to end the Wizards’ hopes for a shutout. A combination of two breakaway runs finally put the Exiles on the board. The latter break down the side was continued to the center of the pitch where junior flanker Tim Cowan broke across the try line. Senior fly half Will Marsdan tacked on the conversion, bringing the match to its resting score line of 27-7. At the end of the game, Moore was pleased with his squad’s overall energy. “We wanted it more than them, plain and simple,” Moore said. “We wanted the W. We weren’t going down to this team again,” Moore said, referring to the Wizards loss to the Exiles last season. With two victories under its belt, Oswego State heads to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this weekend for its third match of the 2013 season before its championship rematch against Colgate University.

Captain with lofty goals in final season Torriente hopes for third championship appearance with Wizards

Photo provided by Reid Adler Senior flanker Julian Torriente (center) brushes off Exile defenders as he pushes up field during the Wizards game on Saturday at Gilman Pitch.

Andrew Pugliese Asst. Sports Editor apugliese@oswegonian.com Oswego State men’s rugby captain Julian Torriente does not describe his fellow Wizards as teammates, but rather as his brothers. “Those that bleed with me shall forever be my brother,” Torriente said a quote William Shakespeare that has become a rugby adage. Shakespeare’s quote strikes right to the core of how Torriente feels about his teammates. “That’s what I get from this team everyday I see them,” Torriente said. “Those are my best friends and I hope they’ll continue to be my best friends until I die.” Four years ago when Torriente, a native of the Hudson Valley, entered the Campus Center Ice Arena for the Student Involvement Fair, he had a lot of free

time, but did not know how to spend it until he found rugby. A football player and wrestler in high school, Torriente had some of the skills and physical attributes found in rugby players, but knew nothing about the sport. He just showed up to practice and fell in love. For a newcomer, the flanker was a part of an action-packed season his freshman year. The Wizards’ season ran from the beginning of the fall semester all the way to the Division III men’s club rugby national championship in the spring. Although the team fell short in the season’s final match it was “an amazing ride” for Torriente. Now a senior, Torriente still remembers how accepting his teammates were, and wants to continue the tradition of supporting one another both on and off the field.

However, while he wants to mentor the players coming in, a state championship before his graduation in December is in the forefront of Torriente’s mind. “I want the freshmen coming in now to say, ‘man when we won the state championship we had Julian Torriente leading us, we had Tyrell Moore leading us and those are the kind of guys that we need leading us as we want to keep moving forward,’” Torriente said. A risk management and insurance major, Torriente feels that being a part of the rugby team, especially as a captain, has helped him prepare for his future. In job interviews, Torriente is asked whether he has any managerial experience and is able to turn to rugby. The fact that he is a part of getting 40 guys to daily practice when they could be off doing anything else is something he feels is special.

Photos provided by Reid Adler From top to bottom: Joey Weisansal, John Konrad and Nick Holz. The Wizards are 2-0 this season

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Campus Recreational Sports Report

B34

McGrane hopeful in 2013 SOCCER, from B1

Allison Martin | The Oswegonian Students pose for a picture on the court after taking part in free lessons and a Tennis Tournament hosted by Campus Recreation on tursday, Sept. 12.

Ross Bentley Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State intramural season is in full swing as the competition on campus continues to heat up. In the Co-Rec Competitive Beach Volleyball intramural league, 12 teams have been competing, and in the early going Volleybrawlers, Rack City and The Gypsies have set themselves apart from the competition, each going 5-1 in their first six contests. In some of this week’s key games, The Gypsies took down The Revolution three games to zero, Kiss My Ace battled through a tough contest from We Always Get it Up to take it 2-1, Volleybrawlers swept Young Rackets 3-0 and Team Saget defeated Sets on the Beach 2-1. Over on the pitch, the standings in all four divisions are beginning to take shape. In the Co-Rec Competitive division, Ball Busters have proven to be the team to beat. They have defeated all three other teams in the division and have yet to surrender a goal over their first three games.

In Co-Rec Competitive, The Fat and the Furious is 2-0 after knocking off Townies Elite and Freshman FC thus far this season. In perhaps the most intense game of the season to date in the men’s recreational division, The Futbol Jedis notched their second victory of the season with a comefrom-behind 4-3 win over Dome Kids, due in part to a multiple goal effort from Thomas Adelmeyer. Meanwhile, there were several competitive games in the men’s competitive league this week as Eskimo Brother and Tornadoes played to a 2-2 draw, Team Swagger and Townies tied 3-3 and Free Mustache Rides took down Team Phoenix 2-0 in a low-scoring game. In softball, Rolltiders and Son’s of Pitches have shined early on in the men’s competitive division, each going 3-0 to start the year. Son’s of Pitches were challenged this week by a tough Dirty Mike and the Boys team, but managed to scrape by with a close 6-4 victory.

In other contests in the division, Flying Dutchmen had a 13-run fifth inning, capped by a three-run homer by Dylan Montana and a grand slam by Mike Schmitt en route to their 25-11 victory over Team USA. The Guild also had a 13-run inning to knock off Ball So Hard, 20-7. In the Co-Rec recreational league, WTOP and the Athletes are the only teams to start off 2-0 after two wins over The Bulldogs. Funnelle All-Stars and RIP C Boys also have two wins after going 2-1 in their first three matchups. Meanwhile, Oswego State, The Fitness Center, and Lifestyles put on the annual OMazing Race event across campus this past Saturday. The event tested teams of two in seven different events including an obstacle course, mud pit, mile run, brain teasers, a swimming event, puzzle and tire pull that tested their physical and mental endurance and strength. Team Aca-Awesome took home the win along with two $100 gift cards to Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Women’s Division, while Da Bears won the same prize in the Open Division.

The new coach quickly set about changing the culture of the team. McGrane schedules practices later in the day so there will be fewer class conflicts. He also organizes fun activities, such as games off the field to build team chemistry and allow his team to have fun. “The biggest thing for the players was that they needed to start enjoying soccer,” McGrane said. His desire to make things fun for his players has not gone unnoticed. “Coach McGrane has put in a tremendous amount of work and passion into building the program,” senior goalkeeper Emily Varonier said via email. “I think he has done an amazing job on building this program and the team and will continue to do so.” Coaching at Oswego State has been a sort of homecoming for McGrane, a Syracuse native. He has family that lives in Oswego, and he played against the Lakers as an all-American midfielder for rival SUNY Plattsburgh. “When I was able to move close to home and be part of this program, this institution, it was a no-brainer to accept,” McGrane said. McGrane had plenty of coaching experience before arriving at Oswego State. He worked as an assistant at his alma mater as well as assisting at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College in North Carolina.

In 2006, he became the head coach of the Elmira women’s soccer team. It was an experience he refers to as “interesting,” though he will not go into any detail. “There were just a lot of rules and regulations, a lot of purple,” McGrane said, a reference to Elmira’s purple and gold color scheme. McGrane was in Elmira at a barber shop when he heard that the Oswego State coaching job was his. “I saw the 315 (area code) number come up on my phone, so I told the barber that it was important and I needed to take it,” he said. “When I came back inside, I told them that it was probably my last haircut there.” McGrane has a simple philosophy on coaching: work hard and enjoy the opportunity. “I want to instill a work ethic that’s stronger than that of the opponents, while also maintaining the enjoyment of the game,” he said. “From practices, to odyssey, to just hanging out in my office shooting the breeze, I want (my players) to feel like they can come to me and talk about anything.” McGrane has been using that philosophy for seven years, and believes the team is finally ready to take the next step towards reaching their championship aspirations. “This may be the best team I’ve had in the seven years I’ve worked here,” McGrane said. “With this team, I’d like to compete for a SUNYAC title.”

Photo provided by Sports Information Women’s soccer head coach Brian McGrane is looking to compete for a SUNYAC title in his seventh season.

CALL (315)-773-6437 !

COLLEGE HOUSING!

PLSUITES.COM

OPINION APPLE UNVEILS NEW MODELS

B?5 Photo provided by Apple

OPINION

VOLUME LXXIX ISSUE III • www.oswegonian.com

Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press... -First Amendment

the OswegONIaN The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935

gUIDeLINes

We want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or anything regarding the Oswego State community. E-mail all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail submissions to 139A Campus Center, Oswego N.Y. 13126 All writers must provide their real name, address, academic year, major and phone number (which will not be published). Members of organizations should include their title if their letter addresses an issue pertaining to the organization. For publication, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted by the Tuesday prior to the desired publication date. The Oswegonian reserves the right to edit and reject letters and cannot guarantee that all letters will be published. Opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not always reﬂect those of The Oswegonian.

VOX POP “The Voice of the People”

How long do you think you’ll be in debt? “Probably a while, at least three years if I get a good job.” Scott Hinckley freshman, childhood education major

“Possibly seven to 10 years.” Ashley McCarthy freshman, biology major

“15 years.” Brook Radley senior, psychology major

“I will be in debt for 10 years according to my possible salary based on the job I want.” Angie Delgado freshman, tesol major

“I hope it’s six years.” Bryan Kastelan senior, film major

WIZARDS IMPROVE

TO 2-0

Photo provided by Reid Adler

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

staFF eDItORIaL

ARE LOANS WORTH DEBT?

Whether they attend a public or private institution, the majority of college students in the United States have one thing in common: they’re in a lot of debt. We do not know about you, but we sure feel buried from the debt. Ignorance really is bliss when it comes to paying for a college education. Debt is not something to be taken lightly, but most of us have no other choice. If you come from an average middle class American family, even if you were a master at those scholarship application essays, chances are you still had to take out loans when you enrolled in your first year of college. Another thing we college students have in common, with the exception of business majors, perhaps, is that we truly do not understand the magnitude of the loans we take out. Trying to figure out if all college loans were worth it is basically asking yourself, was college worth it? For most students college was the logical next

step. Most careers require bachelor degrees nowadays, but is it worth an average debt amount of $26,000? College is not only about school. It is friends, new experiences and a new town to call home. It is where you start networking for your future career with professors and students alike. It is living on your own and relying on yourself for the first time. Most importantly, it is a place where you can learn that you are interested in things you would never have even known about if you had not come to college. College professors cannot teach you everything, but going to college can teach you things about yourself that you would have never discovered if you went straight into the workforce. Accepting a college loan is a little bit like selling your soul to the devil. When you sign off on the money they are giving you, you are making a promise that it will be paid back, no matter what plus interest. If one of us took out loans for school

and was hit by a bus and killed on the first day before even going to any classes, our parents would still have to pay those loans back. Now that is a seriously wicked deal. That is not the only evil in the higher education system. Loans are simply frustrating. There is a large amount of people who make large profits from our pursuit of higher education, all under the olive branch of giving aid and education to those who need it. It is truly a sad thing when a college senior is counting the months from May to see when he or she has to start paying his or her loans, at his or her own graduation. It has become a financial impossibility for students to pay for college on their own, but at the same time, the benefits of college have not lessened. They’ve increased. So as we all struggle with our loan payments after graduation, the only thing that will comfort us is that bachelor’s degree hanging up on the wall. The main question is how far it will take us.

IN the OFFICe

Loans become more than numbers

Aimee Hirsch Editor-at-Large ahirsch@oswegonian.com Student loan debt must be one of those things that doesn’t hit you until senior year. I’ve been at Oswego State for three entire years and before my fourth and final year began this August, I was mostly concerned with doing well in classes, building a resume and making professional connections. But now, like a train too fast to stop, it’s hit me: I’m $80,000 in the hole and in just a few months, that debt is going to feel a lot more real. I almost can’t believe it’s happened. “80 grand… that was quick,” I’ve thought more than once. While I do not regret spending my four years here, and getting myself into severe debt, I can’t help but feel depressed about it. I’m starting to realize now, four years too late,

that college is a serious financial decision I decided to take on. I wish someone had shaken me by the shoulders back in senior year of high school and put it all into perspective for me then. But I also know I wouldn’t have listened. In high school, college didn’t seem like an option, it just seemed like the next step and I didn’t work hard all throughout high school to not take that step, that $80,000 step. I’m glad I came to Oswego State. I can’t imagine my life without it. The choice to come to college isn’t what depresses me; although I do wish it is made clearer to high school students that college is a choice. What depresses me is that, despite all my efforts to get an education affordably, I still find myself leaving here $80,000 in debt. I have worked hard in school all my life and for that, I was rewarded. Oswego State offered me the Presidential (“full”) Scholarship, which was a large part of why I ended up here. I considered big, fancy, expensive, four-year private schools with all the prominence and sophistication I always dreamed of in high school, when all I wanted was to tout a cool college hoodie with a respected name on the front of it. But when those acceptance

letters came rolling in and Oswego State offered me the best financial package (by a long shot), I was proud to call myself a Laker. I was also proud of my decision to attend a state school. I felt practical, financially responsible and for maybe the first time ever, like an adult. I chose the most affordable school and the one that gave me a full scholarship (which turns out not to be full, since tuition has increased and the scholarship has not). I also worked hard during my years here and earned additional scholarships every year through Oswego’s generous foundation scholarships. Yet here I am, graduating in May and this $80,000 debt is looming over me. I always thought I made all the right decisions, like going to the most affordable school and working hard to earn scholarships. Now, I just feel exasperated and frustrated. My outlook is more dismal than ever. I feel like a pawn in the student loan system. I’ve done everything a person in my situation could do. I guess what depresses me is that if your parents can’t pay for your education and you don’t qualify for need-based aid, it’s nearly impossible to go to a four-year school, even a state school, without ending up in a mountain of debt. Now that is disheartening.

Lance Armstrong returns bronze medal Issack Cintron Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Alright, serious question right now. What more can we possibly say about Lance Armstrong? The man who was once considered “the greatest thing on two wheels” has been stripped of that moniker, along with his seven Tour de France titles, and has been branded “the greatest liar on two legs.” In public opinion, Lance Armstrong is less than a man. These accusations occurred following his scathing interview on Oprah in which he not only admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs throughout his career, but also lied, ruining many other competitors’ careers and lives. Armstrong has been all but thrown in his coffin. However before the rest of the world closed it on him, he decided to take the initiative and surrender his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The announcement was made via Armstrong’s Twitter on

Thursday afternoon: @lancearmstrong: “The 2000 Bronze is back in possession of @usolympics and will be in Switzerland asap to @olympics.” Well sure, it is just a bronze medal. Many could just speculate that the medal didn’t mean much to him and that he could afford to make like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and give it away now. But maybe, just maybe, Armstrong does feel a degree of guilt and his surrendering of the medal is his way of showing his remorse. Yes, Armstrong really has no clear shot of making it back into the hearts of the public. But this gesture could prove to be a model for other athletes who are either under suspicion or have been caught using banned PEDs. A prime example would be Milwaukee Brewers’ slugger Ryan Braun who was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season back in August. In the aftermath of this suspension, many baseball fans, analysts, writers and even players called for Braun to vacate his 2011 MVP award (the year in which he was first caught for taking PEDs), and even more so,

Tip of the hat... ◊...to Nikki Liadka for her amazing point total through six games. ◊...to Man in the Moon candy shop for having chocolate covered everything.

see web exclusive Opinion articles at www.oswegonian.com/opinion

SPORTS

◊...to J.K. for bringing joy back to the lives of all Harry Potter fans.

to physically hand it over to his runner-up, Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For Braun it could be a lot worse. He could be Alex Rodriguez, or even worse, he could be Lance Armstrong. Reports have stated, however, that Braun has reached out to Milwaukee Brewers season ticket holders and personally apologized directly. This might be a start for Braun. A suggestion for his “exoneration list;” paying off Aaron Rodgers’ Twitter bet from over a year ago: @toddsutton: “@AaronRodgers12 you really believe he didn’t use PED’s???? #delusional” @AaronRodgers12: “@toddsutton ya I’d put my salary next year on it. #ponyup #exonerated” One could hope that Lance Armstrong is on the road to redemption with this gesture. One could also hope that many athletes will follow Armstrong’s example and make the simple gestures that show remorse. In order to get respect, you have to give it first. Armstrong definitely earned some respect back, but to get more he has to prove more.

◊...to Premier Living Suites for raising their prices already. ◊...to SAPB for scheduling the fall concert on the same night as the ALANA Fashion Show. ◊...to the Cleveland Browns for being the Browns once again.

Wag of the ﬁnger...

OPINION

Loans remain big concern Alumnus gives future graduates hope for life after Oswego State Tim James Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com I graduated from Oswego State in May, started an internship that paid $15 hr in June which ended in August, and in October I’ll be starting a full-time job in the field I studied for. I took out about $40,000 of federal loans during my three years in school since I had zero financial help from my parents. I’ll be paying about $300 a month for my student loans come November, which will be a little less than 10% of my income. I’ve budgeted for this and by making smart decisions that saved me a lot of money on housing expenses, I don’t anticipate having any problems paying back my loans. For me, the system worked. That being said, if I had not found a job that paid a middle-class salary so soon, I would have been in a boatload of trouble. The salary I was offered was above-average and the time it took me to find a job was below-average. Because of this, I consider myself somewhat lucky. I have friends that graduated before me with a higher GPA than me that have yet to find a job in their field and are being crushed by student loan payments. My advice: 1. Your major matters. Some people have a passion for a certain subject and absolutely can’t do anything else with their career without being miserable. If that’s you, then be prepared to work very hard and go through some hard times before being successful. Majors like art, music, journalism, psychology, anthropology or religious studies will likely never lead to a high-paying career. If you are prepared to suffer for your art, so to speak, go ahead and pursue these degrees, but don’t expect life to be easy. I have tremendous respect for those that know what they’re getting into and go for it anyway because they have a passion for a certain subject, but don’t pursue a lowpaying major and expect a high-paying job. You’ll have to find your life’s fulfillment

from things other than money and there is nothing wrong with that. If you are open to more than one option, you should strongly consider which majors will be more financially successful and which ones won’t. Degrees involving science and mathematics are generally good bets. Instead of psychology, perhaps you could major in behavioral economics. Instead of business administration, try majoring in finance or in risk management and insurance. Research your major, see what career paths are possible and see what people earn with that major. Some majors sound flashy but have terrible prospects, while some majors sound terrible but are actually pretty decent. For example, a philosophy degree can often provide better results than a degree in civil engineering. 2. Minimize your costs. If mom and dad are willing to pay for your whole education, then I am absolutely happy for you. But if you are part of the cohort whose parents are either unable or unwilling to pay for school, you have to find ways to minimize costs. Private school really is not an option for you unless they offer you a full-ride or close to a full-ride. Unfortunately, you also don’t have the luxury of spending six semesters deciding on your major and another six semesters actually completing that major. You have to complete your degree in four years or less if possible if you don’t want to get crushed by debt. Moving off campus can sometimes save a lot of money too. Avoid private loans whenever possible. 3. Network, network, network. I know you have heard this before but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey), about 70 percent of all jobs are filled directly or indirectly as a result of networking. About 40 percent of all jobs filled aren’t even advertised. Just having an employee’s recommendation can go a long way sometimes. Sometimes things might fall into your lap, but most of the time you have to aggressively seek out the right person with the right opportunity for you. If your uncle works in the industry you want to work in,

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

hang out with him and his colleagues and find out who his friends are. Don’t stay on campus 24/7 and expect a job to come find you. Talk to professors that still have connections to the “real world” and get connections that way. Impress the professor and then ask him or her to recommend you for a position at a company he or she has influence with (not all professors have influence, so first find a professor who does). 4. Be flexible. The job you will be working at after graduation likely did not exist when you started college. Create a fiveyear plan and be prepared to completely rework it often. Separate which things are important to you because you actually want them and which things are important to you because they fit in the plan. If your plan is too specific and rigid, you may miss out on amazing opportunities along the way. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities and you may be surprised what you find. Be prepared to start at the ground level when you get out of school. Be prepared for the unexpected. It’s still a rough world out there for college graduates, but keep in mind that it’s even rougher for those that didn’t get a college degree. If you are determined to make college a good investment, it can still be one. Fortunately for me, it turned out to be a great investment.

the oswegonian FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Big money schools may not be worth it Kimberlyn Bailey Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com I’ve returned from the other side. Like many state college students, I’ve wondered of the lives lived by our counterparts in those charmingly quaint private liberal arts colleges. But I did more than just wonder. I enrolled, I attended and now, I’ve returned. As someone who has lived in Oswego most of her life, I went off to Le Moyne College, expecting Hogwarts. No longer would I be taking Oswego State classes like “Ethics I.” Its equivalent at Le Moyne, called “Great Traditions in Ethics,” promised that, “Integral to this course is a study of these questions in the light of the great traditions of ethical thinking as they have come to light in the various wisdom literatures.” I pictured myself reading these “wisdom literatures” in the (almost naughty-sounding) Honors Penthouse, which occupies the top floor of Le Moyne’s most impressive building and serves as a 24/7 lounge to the elites of this private college who have the key. And I had the key. If all that wasn’t enough to convince me that I had upgraded, then this would: a 700 percent upgrade in price. So why would I, so clearly smitten with the idea of an elite education, return from this intellectual paradise on a hill? With experience at Oswego State, it had become clear by the end of the year that I was paying for the content of a state college education dressed up in the robes of prestige. Places like Le Moyne are good at taking the ordinary and packaging it so that it appears special. Admittedly, it is the task of every university to vividly render to its students who they might ideally be. But if the

A couple of days ago, America was slapped in the face by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He gave his opinion on President Obama’s speech about his plans to take action in Syria over dictator Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons against its own people, and it wasn’t in our favor. In his speech, Obama spoke of America’s tendency to react at such atrocities with steady haste and determination, concluding, “That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional. With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth.” The next day, The New York Times published an editorial made by Putin stating, “I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is ‘what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.’ It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.” These two comments alone have caused an uproar of feedback from all across the United States. Differing opinions on the matter are being pushed back and forth, yet few seem to be interested in the underlying meaning of President Obama’s speech. Is it the so-called “American exceptionalism” that we are meant to be focusing on, or the horrific acts of cruelty committed in Syria that we should rather be discussing? While Putin has made a plausible point in his post, bringing to light the risk in involvement with the conflicts of Syria, it seems that a great deal of his speech seemed to center around his critique on America’s actions rath-

Photo provided by Flickr er than the long-term effect getting involved might have on America or Syria. If Putin had perhaps chosen to confront the American people and politicians with his concern of safety and success in such a conflict, rather than focusing more on a single comment made by Obama in his speech, the American people might have reacted more positively to his editorial. Considering what Putin was most likely trying to get across by stating, “It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional,” he may have had a reasonable point. Do we, as Americans, assume we are meant to solve all the world’s problems as some sort of superpower-run country? The United States has always prided itself in its ability to fight for peace and democracy across the nations, but there may come a point where we cross the line. America has problems of its own. It does not have the ability to swoop down and save every single country that is facing turmoil. After already facing over 10 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, it seems unsurprising that opposition toward taking action in Syria is quite strong throughout our country. Yet where

does Russia have a place in telling our government how it should be run? While Putin went on to state that interacting with Syrian forces would be an offense against international law, he is absolutely contradicting the acts of his own country. Recently, Russia has passed a law that prohibits the passing of propaganda relating to homosexual or transsexual relations to minors. This specific law has been attacked by several different international organizations, including the United Nations, as it violates the international human rights law. Therefore, where does Putin find himself in a place where he can criticize America and its government on its behavior when it comes to obeying international laws, when Putin seems to make light of such laws when it comes to the rights of his own Russian citizens? Also, in reference to his accusations made against the American government and its apparent plan to take action without permission from the Security Council, Obama made it quite clear throughout his speech that he had no intentions of taking action without receiving consent from Congress beforehand. The entire situation involving Syria and its use of chemical weapons is an unfortunate dilemma in itself, but it is unnecessary to bring an entirely different argument into play based on one comment made at the closing of a speech. While America may not exactly be in the right place to enter such hazardous circumstances after its long battle on the war over terrorism, bringing up how Americans consider themselves and how the American government is run only brings more conflict into an already complicated scenario. It was not in Putin’s place to judge the actions of the United States and I believe America will make the right decision in the end when it comes to not only its own citizens and nation, but also that of Syria’s.

New iPhones give tech-savy, frugal consumers choices Karly Babcock Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com The big news this week is that Apple is releasing two new phones: the iPhone 5C and the 5S. Apple has been criticized from many fronts on their decision to release two different phones at the same time with such a high price difference. I think Apple has made a good business move in providing people with two choices for upgrading. In essence, Apple’s choices cater to two types of people. The first group includes those who want the best of the best, the top of the line, and are tech lovers. Those kinds of people can buy the 5S. The second group is those upgrading

because they need a new phone rather than want a new phone or those that simply want a new phone but are keeping their wallets in mind. These individuals can buy the 5C. There is no doubt that the 5C is far better than the 5. The money-conscientious person will be completely satisfied with the 5C, but if money isn’t an issue, why not go with the 5S? The 5S far surpasses the 5 and the 5C; it is clearly the better and faster phone. The iPhone 5S offers better security, including the much desired finger print sensor. It provides a better camera and flash than both the 5 and the 5C and has more capabilities than the others. And this is just the general overview, not the nitty-gritty about the better pixels, iOS, chip, frequency bands, etc.

that makes the technology lovers go crazy. If you are concerned about the limited color choices in the 5S, don’t worry; the beautiful colors of the 5C will disappear under phone covers anyway. Overall, I respect Apples’ choice in releasing the two phones to cater to a wider demographic. Whether you decide to buy the 5C or the 5S depends on the kind of person you are and what you want. Apple has put it in the customer’s hands to make the decision. A word of advice to those who are buying one of the new releases: take advantage of your options by knowing as much as you can. Make sure you do your homework and learn all the details about your phone before making such a big purchase.

amount of self-congratulations given does not reflect how much is actually deserved, only pomposity and inflated egos will result. The honors theses I read, for example, were only noteworthy for showcasing the type of writing that results from four years of being pumped full of jargon and self-importance. If I hadn’t experienced a different college atmosphere, I too could have been convinced that enrollment in private college was an induction into an elite club. Right now, instead of writing this, I could have been starting my own honors thesis with enough subtitles, jargon and off-therails verbosity to fill a lecture hall. Thankfully, my vastly different experience at Oswego State let me take a hard look at what Le Moyne was actually trying to teach me: how to bluff insightful intelligence. I’m in no position to claim this is true of all private colleges, but I would not be surprised if it were. I’ve come back to Oswego State with a number of things I’d rather not have: a lot of debt, reams of paperwork to properly rematriculate and a slight bitterness toward my whole Le Moyne experience. But I’ve also come back with a valuable insight that can’t be faked and the conclusion that, for me, the grass is greener on the Oswego State side. As far as colleges go, we’ve got a decent one. The professors in my departments speak clearly, as they always have, with the goal to teach us rather than impress us. The new Shineman Center isn’t just for show. I have been given the keycard to operate multi-million dollar lab equipment to do research that simply doesn’t happen at Le Moyne. All together, it finally feels like I’ve upgraded everything—but the price.

Steve Radford | The Oswegonian

Potter universe makes big-screen return

President Putin writes editorial concerning Syrian conflict Elizabeth Cascio Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com

Amanda Bintz Chief Copy Editor abintz@oswegonian.com On Sept. 13, J.K. Rowling made an announcement that longtime Harry Potter fans have long been waiting for: she’s once again going to be writing in the Harry Potter universe, and this time it is something completely new. Rowling is working on the screenplay for a film about the magizoologist Newt Scamander, best known as the author of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Set 70 years before Harry’s time in jazz age New York, the story will not only give fans a look into the life of Newt Scamander, but a whole new perspective on the wizarding world we know and love. Even before the news was confirmed, my Twitter and Facebook feeds were flooded with happy statuses in all-caps. All day, my Potter friends texted me and came up to me between classes to ask if I had heard. Fans everywhere are as excited for this new movie as Hagrid was when Norbert hatched, when Colin Creevey found out he was going to be in the same house as Harry Potter and when Oliver Wood won the Quidditch Cup combined. Except for the fans worried this new installment will not be good enough. It’s fair to be worried, but expecting that the story of Newt Scamander will be better than, or even as good as, the story of Harry Potter is setting the bar too high. I’m sure Rowling will do a fantastic job making us care about Newt, but we will never care about him as much as we care about Harry. There’s just no topping Harry Potter—Rowling has said that herself. Harry Potter defined the childhood of a generation. This Newt Scamander film is just that—a film about Newt Scamander. Approaching this spinoff with the mindset that if it’s not as good as Harry Potter, it’s no good at all, sets you up for disappointment before the first trailer even comes out. No, this film won’t have anything near to what the eight Harry Potter films had going for them, but it’s got something else instead. As a bigger fan of the Potter books than the Potter movies, I’m excited about this new installment because it can’t be ruined for me by the book. When I sat in theaters for the other movies, there were always 300 to 900 pages worth of preconceived notions clouding my vision. The movies were a mixed bag

for book fans. I’ll never say no to a Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family, but I have enough problems with the movies to mar my enjoyment of most of them. Sir Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore was too angry, Bonnie Wright’s Ginny was too boring, I can’t believe they cut out the Quidditch World Cup, where was Peeves the whole entire time, why on Earth did they burn down the Burrow—I could go on. But this time, there is no book. I won’t have to go into this movie with any idea of what the story should be like because no one knows the story of Newt Scamander, at least not in its entirety, except Rowling herself. We know he was a Hufflepuff, we know he wrote “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” we know he became headmaster of Hogwarts and we know Luna married his grandson, but we don’t know much more than that. I can’t speak for other book fans, but I walked into every new Potter movie with my fingers crossed. Now, we can all see a movie about the wizarding world with our minds as blank slates. I’m sure some Potter fans, emphasis on the ‘Potter,’ are wondering why they should care about a story set in the wizarding world that isn’t centered on Harry Potter. Maybe you’d never heard of Newt Scamander before the new movie was announced, or maybe your response was, “The guy who wrote ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?’ So what?” While you may not care about this new character yet, every Potter fan should be excited about this new installment for a few big reasons. First, Hufflepuffs get a new character to represent their house, which they haven’t really had since Cedric Diggory died (RIP). Second, since the story is set in New York, we will, hopefully, finally learn about American wizarding schools. Third, Dumbledore was friends with Scamander, and, in fact, wrote the introduction to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” so we’re almost guaranteed an appearance by a young Albus. Last, and biggest of them all, we should be excited about this story because Rowling is excited about it. Perhaps you would have preferred a story about Dumbledore’s youth or the Marauders at Hogwarts, but out of all the things she could have written about in the Harry Potter universe, Rowling got excited enough to write about this. Give Newt a chance, if for no other reason than that the last time Rowling got excited about a story, an odd little idea about a school for wizards and a boy named Harry Potter, it turned out alright.

INSIDE

Poet speaks on experiences in Lebanon

COVER: ‘Insidious’ returns C5 MGMT’s junior album suffers from lack of cohesion with character development

FRIDAY Sept. 20, 2013

Laker Review The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Events Calendar Friday, Sept. 20 through Friday, Sept. 27

Fall Concert: Walk the moon Date: Saturday, Sept. 21 Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Location: South Lawn, between Cooper and Campus Center Tickets: Free Alana Fashion SHow Date: Saturday, Sept. 21 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Waterman Theater, Tyler Hall Black Student Union/ Gospel Choir BBQ Date: Sunday, Sept. 22 Time: 12:30-5:30 p.m. Location: Quad between Penfield and Hewitt (Rain venue- Activity Court, Campus Center) International coffee hour Date: Monday, Sept. 23 Time: 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Location: Campus Center 255 Film Screening: “The Greens” Date: Monday, Sept. 23 Time: 7-9:30 p.m. Location: Room 222, Sheldon Hall Speaker: Timothy egan Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25 Time: 3-4:30 p.m. Location: Auditorium, Campus Center

Laker Review

Gloria Estefan honors classics with new twist Anne Johnson Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com

On Sept. 10, Gloria Estefan released her new album “The Standards.” “The Standards” is an album Estefan said she has been waiting to do. It is her take on classic hits like “Good Morning Heartache,” “You Made Me Love You,” and “Sonrie.” ”The Standards” certainly lives up to its name. Estefan’s vocals are powerful and the songs are hauntingly beautiful. “Good Morning Heartache,” the first track on the album, is a ballad and perhaps the most moving out of the 13 songs of the album. It was also Estefan’s first choice many years ago when she made the decision to record “The Standards.” Having performed “Good Morning Heartache” on The Tonight Show, she was familiar with the tune. She also met Ervin Drake, the original artist, and learned the true

story behind the song. Drake wrote the song when he was in love with a young woman who both felt they were too young to commit solely to each other. Thankfully for Drake, his story did not end in heartbreak. He later ended up marrying the young woman he had fallen in love with. “You Made Me Love You,” the 12th track on “The Standard,” is a remake of the original Judy Garland song. Estefan adds her own twist to the song by turning the tune into a more upbeat song rather than Garland’s melancholy, but still beautiful original. “Sonrie” is one of the Spanish songs on the album. It is actually a remake of Charlie Chaplin’s English song “Smile” but Estefan and Laura Pausini, who is featured in “Sonrie,” decided to sing the song in Spanish instead. They said they were inspired by the Michael Jackson and Natalie Cole remake in 1995. All of the songs are welldone, but also very different from Estefan’s other celebrated

“the era of the dust bowl” Date: Saturday, Sept. 21 Time: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Location: Tyler Art Gallery, Tyler Hall “what Have we done?” Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25 Time: 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Location: Oswego State Downtown, 186 W. First St. Artist Jude Lewis Speaks Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25 Time: 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Location: Auditorium, Campus Center

Cover image provided by impawards.com

Photo provided by broadwayworld.com Estefan honors timeless hits, while forging a new path musically.

works. While Estefan is known for songs like “Conga,” “Get on Your Feet,” and “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” on “The Standards” she sings much less fast-paced songs. They are not original tracks by Estefan, but they are songs that place her

in a different light. The mood of the album is very calm and soothing—definitely not the type heard in a club. “The Standards” is a must-have for any Estefan fan. It breathes new life into amazing classics and reveals a completely different side of Gloria Estefan.

day in the Campus Center. Her poems are rich in symbolism and ornate language, with many references to Lebanese history and mythology. Her short stories are typically of a genre she likes to call “fantastic,” a technique that bends the laws of rationality while falling just short of the surrealism you would find with Kafka or Gogol. Her story, “They Won’t Miss Me This Afternoon,” for example, is written from the perspective of a cat. In this story, she wanted to talk about the changes Lebanon underwent throughout 12 years of civil war without any ethnic or religious bias and she used this animal free of a social class as her platform. Habra’s poetry falls under the category of creative non-fiction. It’s impossible to just summarize an author’s total poetic output, but hers runs the gamut of subjects involving love, lust and loss to Western Mediterranean cultural landmarks and landscapes and to the effects war

can have on a country and its people. She does this in a style that is highly personalized and descriptive. Though highly aware of the impact that war and political unrest has had on her native land, her writing is not limited to political considerations. Her writing is uniquely hers. She was wary of naming names of her inspirations for fear that readers might be compelled to compare her works with theirs. She is not trying to follow in the footsteps of any particular author or genre, only use her vast love of language and literature to talk about the experiences that matter to her. Aside from her personal creative writing endeavors, her latest interest is the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, to whom her most recently published book of non-fiction pays credit. To those unfamiliar with her work, her website, hedyhabra. com provides writing samples and a biography which details a life that is in many ways as interesting and compelling as her body of work. W

Author Hedy Habra gives poetry reading

Art Exhibits

“Ebb and Flow” Date: Thursday, Sept. 26 Time: 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Location: Tyler Art Gallery, Tyler Hall

‘

Eric Muldoon | The Oswegonian Habra’s work is often fantastical, but also relates to the world around her.

Devin Flynn Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com Arab author Hedy Habra

read from her book of poems, “Tea in Heliopolis” and her book of short stories, “The Flying Carpet” on Wednes-

Laker Review

Photo provided by facebook.com

‘Direct Hit!’ releases concept album Lee Carlson Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com

While Direct Hit! is known for their catchy brand of grit infused pop punk, they would probably be the last band anyone would expect to make a concept album. Most surprising, the concept actually works. It seems that in 2013 more and more punk bands are pushing the m envelope with their songwriting. Between Off With Their Heads’ “Home,” and Captain, We’re Sinking’s “The Future is Canceled,” it seems that these “orgcore,” and “beard and beers” bands are breaking the mold and proving they can create albums with a sense of

purpose accompanied by great songwriting. Direct Hit! may have just solidified that previous statement with their latest effort, “Brainless God.” Punk can be a difficult genre to tackle as far as songwriting goes. If bands do too much, people won’t listen; if bands keep things the same it will just blend in with the rest of the bands. “Brainless God,” Direct Hit! takes basic punk chords and hooks and throws them in the middle of a church choir. The melody in the first track “On & On” sounds like it came straight from a hymn in church and is repeated in other tracks “Heaven is a Black Hole,” and “A Message to the Angels Pt. II.” It gives the record some clarity and flow and if you put lyrical content aside, the concept is still there. The concept behind “Brainless

God,” is a ode to the apocalypse and the religion that is proclaiming it. Lyrically, it’s very straight forward with very few instances of metaphor or symbolism; but the most important aspect is that it is still a Direct Hit! record. What that means is that this album is fun, a lot of fun. The production is much cleaner than their previous releases, but the more polished production allows the listener to fully take in the story that is being told. Direct Hit! took a big gamble putting out a concept album in the punk community. Aside from few exceptions (See: The Lawrence Arms’ “The Greatest Story Ever Told”) concept albums in any genre can be a tough feat to tackle. Direct Hit! has managed to put out one the best albums this year, and that’s saying a lot.

Photo provided by redscare.net With songs such as “Heaven Is A Black Hole” and “A Message To The Angels Pt. II,” Direct Hit! succeeds in its goal to create a bridge between the themes of a religious concept album and punk rock rhythms.

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Laker Review

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ expands plot, provides intense scares Bryan Wood Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

“Insidious: Chapter 2” opens immediately after the events of the first film. The day after confronting the spirit troubling their family, Josh (Patrick Wilson, “The Conjuring”) and Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne, “The Internship”) tries to put the events behind them. They move into Josh’s mother Lorraine’s (Barbara Hershey, TV’s “Once Upon a Time”) house with their kids because the police are investigating their house. It is not long before Lorraine and Renai start having supernatural experiences again. Josh refuses to acknowledge these events, in hopes that his family can move on. As things get worse Lorraine approaches her friend Carl (Steve Coulter, “The Conjuring”), a spiritualist, for help. The truth of what has been

terrorizing the family comes out as the plot unfolds. This forces Josh, with Carl’s help, to travel through the spirit world to face his past and conquer his demons. The film builds on its predecessor perfectly. There are numerous call-backs to the original for fans to enjoy, that do not alienate new audiences. Several things that were left unanswered or unexplained are addressed. Every character from the original returns, and the few additions to the cast do not feel out of place. The plot may be a bit confusing for newcomers at first, but by the end all elements are explained, leaving the film strong as a standalone in the series. There are some confusing elements regarding the rules of the spirit world, and toward the end there are a few plot holes, but, these are small inconsistencies that most viewers will not pick up on. This sequel does diverge somewhat from the first film. Returning fans will not be disappointed by the new developments, however,

as the changes fit in the context of the series and make for a stronger plot. The family dynamic is explored further than it was in the first and is handled well. The use of new locations, including a condemned hospital, Lorraine’s house where Josh grew up and a séance room add variety. These locations allow for intense visuals that would not be possible in the original house. A difference from the original that can be distracting is the new reliance on flashbacks. These scenes are often given little build-up and can be jarring. Despite this, they work to strengthen the film by giving important plot details and do not feel out of place, as they serve a purpose by the end. This film stands out among other horror films of recent years. Building off the prior film, it steps up the scares quickly. There are no “jump scares” to ruin the mood and each scene has a payoff. The film gives hints to what is happening before revealing everything at the end, but does not rely on peri-

Photo provided by theguardian.com Previous cast members return in “Insidious: Chapter 2” and develop their characters and storytelling.

ods of long exposition. The movie takes an effective show-don’t-tell approach that encourages the audience to make guesses about the truth before the reveal. The serious atmosphere is broken up by moments of comic relief that provide respite, but are thankfully brief enough to not completely ruin the mood. The acting is superb as well. No character feels out of place and the film uses each to its

advantage. “Insidious: Chapter 2” is a fresh take on the haunting genre. Expanding on unique concepts such as a spirit world and astral projection, this sequel follows up on them to their full potential. Viewers can expect a smartlycrafted horror film that provides well-developed characters, real scares and excellent story.

Despite De Niro’s effort ‘Family’ experiences rise, falls in quality

Photo provided by impawards.com Violence is the source of most of the humor in Robert De Niro’s new film “The Family.”

Maureen DiCosimo Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

“The Family,” Robert De Niro’s latest film, is a strange mix of dark humor, violence and suspense. It seemed as though it wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be. It tried to do a little of everything and got none of it right. The film is definitely a black comedy, with much of the humor deriving from the more violent situations. Ultimately, however, “The Family” cannot settle on one tone, creating a sloppy and chaotic feel. “The Family” stars De Niro (“Silver Linings Playbook”) as Giovanni Manzoni, the patriarch of the family. This is a role De Niro is very comfortable in and can play with minimal effort, yet he also seems to have a lot of fun in the role. Joining De Niro are Tommy Lee Jones (“Lincoln”), Michelle Pfeiffer (“Dark Shadows”), Dianna Agron (“Glee”) and John D’Leo (“Wanderlust”). The cast plays well off each other, and the brightest spots in the film are the interactions between De Niro and Jones, with their antagonistic and reluctant friendship. The film is about Manzoni, an ex-mafia boss who ratted out his friends and was put in

the witness protection program. The Manzoni family, a group of violent psychopaths, is relocated by the FBI to Normandy, France, where they try to adapt to their new surroundings. The scenes between the family are an overall highlight, and it’s a shame they are few and far between. Pfeiffer does well as the matriarch of the family. She displayed good chemistry with De Niro, although her accent is a bit inconsistent and sometimes disappears altogether. While the main premise of this film is intriguing, it falls apart during the second act. The family separates as the kids go off to school and the parents stay home. It becomes a mess of subplots, with the father writing his memoirs, trying to fix the water in the new house and being invited to a movie screening. The memoirs are the most relevant to the story, as they provide background information about the family and their mob ties while adding insight into the character of Giovanni. The other two subplots thrown in are underdeveloped and add little to the story other than moments of violence. There are also subplots with

the children at school, as the daughter develops a crush on a teacher and the son gets into trouble. The son’s plotline is infinitely more intriguing, yet the daughter ’s is the one that gets more attention. While the messy second act does provide some laughs and enjoyable moments, the third act is where the movie picks back up. The action scenes especially were well-shot, adding to the suspense. While there is quite a bit of violence, it never felt over the top. When it was overdone, it was for comedic effect. There were also a few clever smash cuts that added humor. Director Luc Besson (“The Lady”) made several interesting and welldone choices for these parts. Ultimately, the biggest problem with “The Family” is its sloppy middle, which drags. There are only a few laughs to get you through it. The film could have shaved half an hour off and cut out some of the moreM tedious subplots, making the film more cohesive, rather than the chaotic mess it is. It has some fine acting, some laughs and enjoyable moments, but “The Family” could have been so much more.

Laker Review

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Rising Student Artists: Ryan Dadey embraces love theme in EP Justine Polonski Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com When Ryan Dadey first came to Oswego State, he was a business administration major who happened to play guitar. Now he is known for his musical talents across campus. Music is a big part of Dadey’s life while he’s been studying in business, but recently it has become an even bigger part: his EP, “Unspoken Words – Demo,” was released on Sept. 3. Music has always been about making a difference for Dadey. When he first got into music he was making a difference for his family by singing for them. “It’s hard to describe why I started getting into music,” Dadey said. “At about 5 years old I started performing for family and friends. Family was the only thing I knew at that point in my life, and well, I wanted to do anything to make them happy. One way to do that was to perform for them.” “They’re really the reason I work as hard as I do in anything. My family would give up everything for me in order to help me have a successful future. Wheth-

er it is in music or not, my only goal is to help them live the life they deserve.” Dadey said he writes to make people happy. This is where the passion lies with him: not just with the music itself, but with the happiness that it causes. Dadey wants people that love to realize that love is out there. A typical topic for Dadey’s original songs is love, and this theme runs throughout his EP. “I’m not that guy that tries to be corny and sappy with music, but I love to write thinking about the love that is out there but not yet found, basically,” Dadey said. And the reasoning behind why Dadey writes a lot about love ties back into his family. “That is because of my parent’s relationship,” Dadey said. “They are still as in love as they were 34 years ago. It gives people hope.” In fact, Dadey wrote on song, called “Summer Dreams” on his four-song EP about the type of love that his parents have. All four of the songs have some sort of connection to love, which fits in with Dadey’s perception of the world and with the reasoning behind what keeps him making music. Dadey’s EP was supposed to

make a difference, as he always tries to do with his music. “The goal was to record this EP and then sell it for charity, but things fell through because of the costs associated with recording,” Dadey said. “I was lucky enough to find someone as driven as Connor Thuotte to help me produce this EP. His wasn’t like a normal studio. He was all about getting the best product out that we could of my music, and it was out of a dorm room in Oswego.” Dadey has not thought too much about what the future holds for him musically, but he knows that he wants to continue to make a difference. “I honestly just see myself taking everything as it comes to me,” Dadey said. “I don’t really know what my future brings. No one does. All I know is that if I can continue to make a difference, I will continue to write music.” Dadey sees himself as a normal guy, but continues to do his best to try to make a difference in any way he can, while still staying down to earth. “I just wanna make a difference - it’s just tough for a normal guy like me,” Dadey said. “I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to

Photo provided by Ryan Dadey Business Administration major, Ryan Dadey hopes to send positive message about love with his music.

have thousands of dollars put into production of one song, or have a million dollar studio to record in. So I guess I kind of just wanted to take a leap of faith like I did when I first started playing guitar, and see what people think.” Dadey won the “Central Lake’s

Got Talent,” show last semester, which earned his music even more recognition. He is studying abroad in London for the fall semester, so he won’t be playing on campus for a while, but “Unspoken Words – Demo,” is available now on iTunes.

MGMT leaves listeners confused with complex, aimless sounds

Photo provided by discogs.com MGMT’s self-titled album fails due to overproduction that becomes hard to listen to.

Ronel Puello Asst. A&E Editor rpuello@oswegonian.com New York-based art rock duo MGMT has apparently doubled down on the psychedelia that it

channeled on its extremely divisive sophomore album “Congratulations” and created the musical

equivalent of a bad trip on their new self-titled album, “MGMT.” Though laden with the group’s trademark acid mysticism and distorted guitar hooks, the album comes off as jumbled and discordant to the point of annoyance, and will surely be the subject of spirited debate among the band’s devoted followers for years to come. This was not always the case for Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, whose first EP, “Time to Pretend,” and debut album, “Oracular Spectacular,” received near-universal acclaim and skyrocketed the duo into fame, the main stages at Bonaroo and Coachella and even earned them several Grammy nominations. Their second album, “Congratulations,” was criticized for being intentionally difficult to listen to and alienating the fan base that had fallen in love with the band’s DIY brand of kaleidoscopic pop-rock. With “MGMT,” VanWyngarden and Goldwasser seem to be consciously deviat-

ing even further from what made them successful in the first place. “MGMT” is not nearly as playful or accessible as its predecessors. It can feel like a chore just getting through some of the tracks; almost unimaginable in their “Kids” days. The second half of the album is a blur, having no tracks that stand out at all because they are so sonically dense. VanWyngarden and Goldwasser come off as a bunch of kids rapidly pushing buttons, trying to fill every track with as much sound as they can. The only tracks that do stand out are ones that harken back to previous works like “Flash Delirium” and “Congartulations” and the band’s forebearers in the psychedelic rock genre. Both singles on the album, “Alien Days” and “Your Life is a Lie,” are the albums’ high points, if only because they do not inundate you in layers of sound and distortion. The drum hooks of “Mystery Disease” and the jangly guitar on “Introspection” show that the band is not a one-

trick pony and still has some rock credibility. The influence of the Beatles, the Who, Donovan, and many others are readily felt on those tracks in particular. Some will still lament the death of ‘pop MGMT.’ Aside from “Alien Days” and “Your Life Is A Lie,” there’s very little here that would entice the fans who never bothered with listening to “Congratulations.” But no one needs MGMT to churn out lazy copies of “Kids” or “Time to Pretend” for a paycheck. Even though this album can be daunting and even unrewarding to listen to, one has to credit VanWyngarden and Goldwasser for not taking the easy way out and trying to “make it up” to their fans or to appease their record label by making the most radio-friendly record guaranteed to win awards. MGMT stuck to their creative guns, as it were, and expanded their vision without compromising it for anyone. That alone should be worthy of a listen, though it will not be an easy one for most.

Laker Review

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

Comics & Games

ON THIS

DATE

1519– Magellan sets sail from Spain with 270 men on his mission to circumnavigate the globe. 1881– Chester A. Arthur is inaugurated as the 21st President of the United States. 1921 – KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, started a daily radio newscast., one of the first in the U.S. 1946– The first Cannes Film Festival premiered. The original premier was delayed due to WWII.

Cre ati ve Writing

Master Massimo the Macaroni Monster By Julia Nuzzo

Down Difficulty: Moderate

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains 1-9 exactly once.

Solution to this week’s Sudoku puzzle

Crossword Puzzle

Across

By David Owens

1. Mail 5. Historic times 9. Dally 12. Continually 13. The ___ Star State 14. Everything 15. Teamster’s rig 16. In the ___ (until then) 18. Horses’ gaits 20. Not fine 21. Confederate general 22. Ripped 23. Pierre’s buddy 25. Adolescents 30. Carson’s successor 32. Rogue 33. Responsibility 34. Respected leader 37. Jo ____ Messina 38. Caps 39. Billfold item 41. Mother _______ 44. Actress _____ Keaton 47. Musical comedy 50. Divisible by two 51. Card game 52. MGM’s symbol 53. Twine 54. Drama division 55. Glasgow native Puzzle provided by boatloadpuzzles.com 56. Greek god of love

To be continued..

Sudoku

Before there was man, there was wheat. In the evolution of human society, we have an innate desire—no—need to eat macaroni. The importance of this staple food has kept impoverished humans alive for millennia. Pasta is the food of the people. Something that can be used fresh or dry and still maintain the same tummy satisfaction is a rare commodity in this world. We, as a people, should feel indebted to this great food product, also known as noodles. Now, where would that wonderful wheat durum product be without an accompaniment of some kind? Are we to believe that bland boiling water is all it takes to stimulate the complex and unique taste possibilities of macaroni? Of course not. We create the best life source for this magical gluten-rich product with

the use of the tears of the heartiest, most full-bodied and flavorful people. During the bi-annual Moaning Macaroni Meetings, tears are produced from the rawest and hungriest bellies of starving people all over the world. This naturally-flavored H2O comes from his people. Once the majestic macaroni is placed into the steel volcano, Mount Massimo, the saltiness of the tears enters the pores of the pasta. He is brought to life. He arises. Wild angel hair flows in the mighty sky. His orecchiette are small but they are hearty. He is able to hear the tiniest concerns from all of his people.

1.Annoying person 2.Ended 3.Pasta ingredient 4.Corny 5.Shade tree 6.____ v. Wade 7.Large boa 8.Spanish

9. 10. 11. 17. 19. 22. 23. 24.

Dragon’s home Gifts to charity Joy Ballroom dance Put down Athletic groups Gore and Roker Ran across

26. Walking on air 27. Try 28. Feel regret 29. Wind direction 31. Different one 35. Artists’ stands 35. Indicative agreement 40. Female relative

For this week’s crossword answers go to:

Oswegonian.com/lreview

41. Roman garment 42. Grand 43. Tenant’s monthly bill 45. Infamous emperor 46. Purposes 48. Extremely 49. Army insect

CLASSIFIEDS

13-’14 4 & 5 Bedroom Houses For Rent. Established, well cared for. Walking distance to campus. Washer/dryer, lawn care, garbage/snow removal, and cable included. Off-street parking. 591-4062. Exceptional 3 and 4 bedroom homes, enormous rooms, well insulated, Great locations! 591-3077. Nice clean large 5 or 6 bedroom house. All utilities included, lots of parking and snow plowing provided 591-3077. Awesome 7-8 bedroom. 2 full bathrooms, double living room. Lots of parking 591-3077.

Nice, Clean Large Homes. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Bedrooms. Full time Management. Call 591-3077. Snowplowing.

Big Bright 4 bedroom Victorian with fireplace. Huge rooms, excellent location. 591-3077.

Comfortable, Clean above average Houses and Apartments. Snowplowing, plenty of parking with all utilities included. Call now for best selection 591-3077.

Gianormous 6 bedroom house. Dishwasher. Very nice home. Close to nightlife. 591-3077.

NICE, Clean, 5 bedroom house. Convenient location. Double living room. 591-3077. Outstanding FOUR bedroom Victorian. Large rooms, dishwasher, nice porch. ALL utilities included & snowplowing. 591-3077.

Available 2013-2014. Newly remodeled 1 & 2 BR apartments. Prime location. Free garbage, lawn, and snow removal. 591-2253 3-8 bedroom. Available June 1, 2014. 315-532-1338

Horoscopes Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19): You may be feeling down early in the week, but by the time Wednesday rolls around, your mood will be up again. You have a good feeling about the weekend, but be cautious. A carefree attitude will do you no good.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20): You’ve been especially stubborn this week and it’s making everyone around you sour. Try to let go of those things that seem important, but probably aren’t. You can’t make things right until you learn to loosen up.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21): This is a week for romance, Gemini. Take that special someone out to a place that they love. It can be simple and that will be enough for them.

Enjoy a good conversation and remember to listen. Your love life will thank you later.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22):

Family is on your mind lately, and for good reason. Put some time aside for your family and loved ones. If it seems like there isn’t enough time in your week, maybe you need to rethink your priorities and free up some time to spend with those important people in your life.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): Don’t allow your ego to take over this weekend. It’s not cute and those around you will find it to be a big turn-off. Play it cool and try not to dominate the conversation. People around you will take notice, and they’ll be happy that you did.

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2013

lassifieds

Contact:Selena Ferguson

classifieds@oswegonian.com

Phone: 315.312.3600

FOR RENT: 3-7 bedroom houses. Above average Student housing, very homey. Coinless washer/dryer, garbage service, lawn care & snow removal availible. Nice sized bedrooms. Utilities included in some. Reputable landlord with many references. Call John Luber 315-5292475 BEFORE 9 pm. Eaglesmere Management. Fine student homes. Now booking 2014-2015. 1-11 bedrooms house AND apartments. Starting at $299 p/p. Please call or e-mail (not texting). 315-963-8286 cell. 315593-0707 office. NEWA616@ gmail.com $ave thousands of dollars from the dorms or the village on campus. Spend the savings on a car or spring break. Call 591-3077 for a great selection of houses. Check out our Homes. Many include fireplaces, dishwashers, large decks and large rooms. Close to night life and Campus. Heat, electric & hot water included. Call 591-3077. Massive 8 bedroom. BEST location. 2 full Baths. Fireplace, very nice. 591-3077

EXTRA LARGE HOMES. 2014-2015. 5-11 bedroom models to choose from. Please call (no texting). 315-963-8286 or 315-593-0707

BIG Bright Beautiful 3-4 bedroom-massive bedrooms! Excellent location. ALL utilities included 591-3077.

Newly remodeled, spacious 3 & 4 bed1-5 Bedroom quality college housing room Houses. Free lawn care, snow/garavailable for the 2014-2015 year. Utilities bage removal. On premises washer/dryer. included, off-street parking, garbage and Partial or all utilities 342-6764 snow removal, flat Screen TVs, discounts www.mbrancatoproperties.com . at local businesses and lawn care! Call 315-773-6437! Check out furlong- Available 2014-15, 4 bedroom houses. West-side. Free washer/dryer, off-street properties.com ! parking, rent includes snow, garbage, Newly built 1 & 2 bedroom apts. Free lawn care and water. Lease and security. Call 529-1015. lawn care, garbage/snow removal. On premises washer/dryer. Partial or all Housing 2014-2015! Luxury 4 bedutilities. 342-6764 room apartments includes EVERYwww.mbrancatoproperties.com. THING! Student Discount Card, Wi-Fi, and cable, washer, dryer, dishwasher, free Large Room in house on west side. parking, garbage and snow removal, Kitchen, laundry and bathroom fitness center, movie theater, recreprivileges. Cable, Parking, lawn care, ation hall, game room, semester care snow removal, utilities, and garbage package, free food, and so much more! Walking distance from campus! Preincluded. Call for info. Ask for Deborah. mier Living Suites! 315-343-2776. Call 315PREMIER or 315-773-6437! Affordable off-campus housE-mail info@plsuites.com ing. Great locations. 1-8 bedVisit www.PLSuites.com! room houses. Starting At $340/ month pp. Utilities included Huge Bedrooms 3,4,5,6 Bedrooms and larger to 8 Bedroom. optional. 315-591-2735. www. Very close to oswegostudenthousing.com downtown and campus plenty of www.dunsmoorstudenthousparking with or without utilities. ing.com Call 591-3077.

BY Aimee Hirsch Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22): Break out of your shell and do something bold this week. Your energy is high now and it’s time to take advantage. When the right timing mixes with the right people, the results will astound you.

Libra (Sep. 23 - Oct. 23):

Work is really piling up lately. Don’t forget to balance it with social responsibilities. You’ll also need an inner balance to feel at peace. Don’t neglect yourself and your needs. You need to make yourself happy first.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 21): This week is going to be rough, Scorpio, so brace yourself. Your brazen attitude is not going to make things any better, so try to lay low and let problems

work themselves out. By the end of the week things will turn around.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Don’t be afraid to take a chance this week. That special person you’ve had your eye on won’t be there forever. Brush off that social anxiety and do the unexpected. You may be surprised at the outcome.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Money is tight. Your latest business venture isn’t going how you planned, but keep your head up, Capricorn. Things can turn around, but your finances will only recover if you have a positive attitude.

you can’t stay cool. Chances like these don’t come around too often, but you can make the most of it if you relax and focus.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20):

This week is all about leadership. Grab the bull by the horns Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): and show them what you’re made of. You have a strong A great opportunity has present- personality and that’s all to your ed itself and that stresses you out. advantage. Just don’t forget that Remember to relax. You can’t take people respect you when you lead by example. advantage of an opportunity if