Collegian Cayuga Community College Auburn & Fulton, New York
cayugacollegian@gmail.com
Vol. 65 Issue 18
CAYUGABRIEFS
CAYUGA BASEBALL SPARTANS TAKE THE FIELD IN CORTLANDVILLE
CHECK OUT PHI THETA KAPPA CLUB ON CAMPUS
By Aidan Crandall, staff writer
By Kaitlyn Diego, associate editor
PHOTO BY AIDAN CRANDALL
Looking for a club that gives back to the community, while building life skills you will have forever? Phi Theta Kappa is the club for you! This group of students participate in various activities around the community, such as Habitat for Humanity and The Color Run. It is not too late to sign up! Accepted students will be inducted on April 24, at 6:30 PM in the Student Lounge. If you’re interested in being inducted, and need an induction form, please contact coordinator Sheila Myers at sheila.myers@ cayuga-cc.edu. Hope to see you there!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! VOCAL PERFORMANCE On Monday, April 29th at 11:00 A.M., students of Applied Vocal Lessons will be performing their solos at a recital in M157. Students will perform pop, classical, and musical theatre style solos, including selections from Newsies and Hamilton.
April 9, 2019
Cayuga freshman Brandon Fasce of Auburn is at the plate for CCC in Saturday’s double header against Genesee Community College. The teams split wins.
Saturday’s Cayuga double-header baseball games were the tale of two very different stories. The first game ended in a 10-run rule smacking of Genesee only to see the second game feature little offense from the Spartans. Game one was one-sided the entire time; Cayuga gave up the Cougar’s lone run in the top half of the first, but answered with three in the bottom frame. After that, the offense was a juggernaut, scoring 10 more runs and gaining a total of 13 hits, putting an exclamation point on the first game. The second game was a complete 180, with only two runs on three hits and some defensive lapses. There was little action until the third inning when Genesee scored three runs, two coming off of a ground rule double with bases loaded and another on a pass ball. That was how most of the second game went; Cayuga would wake up after most of the damage was done in each inning. The team’s next game is an away game at Herkimer on April 9th, but their next home game is scheduled for Thursday, April 11th. Unfortunately that game most likely will not be at Falcon Park.
FALCON PARK NOT FINISHED; CORRECTION: CCC EXPECT OPENING AT APRIL’S END WEB SITE LED TO Here are some photos of progress of turf project at Falcon Park…a facility upgrade arrangement made between the College and
City of Auburn. Anticipated completion date is end of April. Very exciting time to be a Spartan! —Pete Liddell, CCC Athletic Director
OPENER CONFUSION
The Cayuga Collegian apologizes for the error in the last edition proclaiming Saturday, April 8th as the home opener in the newly-renovated Falcon Park. The staff was led to believe the game would be taking place at Falcon Park because of the listing on the Cayuga Community College Athletic website schedule. Also contributions to the main article by Aidan Crandall were supplied by CCC publicist Andrew Poole. We are sorry about the errors, but ask the question — ‘How are students to know where to go to cheer on their college’s team if the athletic website is not kept up-to-date?’
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PHOTO BY AIDAN CRANDALL
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CALLING ALL VOLUNTERS!! Members of PTK helping at the Habitat for Humanity with Kip Coeper, coordinator of the volunteers for Habitat for Humanity. Join PTK on the 26th of April to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. For more information, email sheila.meyers@cayuga-cc.edu.
Cayuga Spartan Baseball player, freshman Sam Jenkins of East Syracuse is at the plate against Genesee Community College.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER OF CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LOOKING BACK ON MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE
OPINIONS HOW I SEE IT... Megan Swartwood EDITOR-IN-CHIEF I have suffered from acne for the past six years of my life. I was the first one in my grade with it and it was embarrassing to me. People would sometimes make fun of it, not all the time, but when someone did, it really upset me. When I started growing older and it became more of a problem, my mom started to research things I could use that would help it go away. I found one product that seemed to help, but for some reason after using it for months I became allergic to an ingredient that it contained, benzoyl peroxide, that made my face red, itchy, and have blisters. I remember having to miss school and explaining to my friends and teachers what had happened. The allergic reaction happened two more times. We were then on the search again for a new product, without benzoyl peroxide. I could say that I have tried at least 20 different face washes and skin care lines that claimed to work, and nothing did. One even gave me an allergic reaction worse that the benzoyl peroxide and I don’t even know why. I couldn’t move my face it was so dry and wrinkles of dry skin and blisters
My first year of college is almost to an end. With about five weeks left, I have been able to reflect back to what college is really like. When I first started way back in August, I would have never expected to have all the opportunities which have opened up for me. I have found that it only goes UP in life; the opportunities, the experiences, and the adventures along the way. However, with every adventure comes a challenge. My biggest challenge came this second semes-
started forming on my face. I hated going out in public. I saw people around me with perfect skin and it made me so upset. I finally visited a dermatologist and she recommended medicine that would clear my acne. I don’t remember what it was called, but I had to take it twice a day and it worked wonders for about two months. Then I noticed that my arms and legs started to turn orange. I cried my eyes out. The only thing that worked had to turn me orange! Apparently this was a side effect of the medicine and only happened in the 1% of people who take it. I was furious. I went back to the dermatologist and she said my last options were Accutane or Spironolactone. Since Spironolactone had many less worse side effects and wouldn’t dry out my face like crazy, I chose to take it. For the first three months, I saw some improvements but not much. I was beginning to give up when I finally saw results at the end of three and a half months. I still have some acne here and there, but I am so thankful that I am finally free from my acne. After so many years of hiding my face, I have so much more confidence in myself. I was finally able to wear no makeup for the first time in years. If you are suffering from acne, I understand. It is not the most pleasant thing in the world. But if you have access to a dermatologist, please visit one. Most importantly, don’t lose hope. There will be something out there that will help you. Finally, if you know someone who has acne, don’t just assume that they don’t take care of themselves or that they don’t wash their face. Don’t make fun of them because I have been there and it is horrible. Treat everyone with respect, regardless of what their skin looks like.
UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY REGISTER FOR TELCOM 212 BROADCAST JOURNALISM
Megan Swartwood Kaitlyn Diego Marc Baan Aiden Crandall Hannah Stevens
I S Y O U R P A S S I O N ?
There is no doubt that you already know that your education is important for your future. Unfortunately, many students do not know what they want to focus the degree on. In this new series, will be interviewing many advisers and chairpersons of the countless departments you as students can study to help you find your future passions.
Are you interested in finding out about human behavior or about how to get started helping people in your community? If so, then walk this way. A valuable person to get to know on campus is Professor Eric Zizza. Aside from being chairperson of several departments here at Cayuga Community College, he can help you with your work toward a rewarding career. Professor Zizza works closely with students who want to study in the countless fields that are in Human Development and Aid Departments. He will not only help youselect your classes here at the college, he will also help you with everything you will need to take the next step in your future education. “I work with multiple four-year colleges in the SUNY network and beyond. Once you are ready to graduate from Cayuga, come see me and I will help you with all of the paper work to transfer to the right four-year college for your career,” said Zizza. With a smile on his face, Professor Zizza shared this story. “A student let me know his
time at Cayuga was life-altering. He really enjoyed his instructors and the courses he was taking. He completed his degree and is now at the University of Nevada working toward his master’s degree in clinical psychology,” said Zizza. Professor Eric Zizza is the perfect person for this role at the college. As the chairperson of Behavioral/Social Science, Teacher Education, Physical Education, Business and Criminal Justice, the professor’s programs are just as varied as his past. He understands how hard it is to choose a path because he was once there too. Just like you, Zizza says at one time, he was not sure of what his future educational plans would be. “As an undergrad student at Colgate University, I was not really sure what I saw myself doing long-term,” said Zizza. It was the advice he got from one of his professors that led him to take advantage of internships in the business field which brought him to the YMCA. At the YMCA, Professor Zizza says he had a realization. “It was there that I realized that I wanted to work with and help people.” After completing his master’s degree, he was hired as the Transfer Counselor here at Cayuga Community College. Once here at Cayuga, Zizza says he took his next opportunity. When a teaching position opened in the Psychology, Zizza says he jumped on it. “I never set out to become a teacher, but I quickly found being in the classroom a welcoming challenge and very rewarding.” Zizza wants to remind students he is here to help you make a career out of all opportunities available to you. If you have any questions for Professor Zizza you can email him at – zizza@cayuga-cc.edu Remember your future is yours and the whole staff here at Cayuga Community College are here to help you reach yours.
By Kaitlyn Diego, associate editor
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITOR STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER
EMAIL THE CAYUGA COLLEGIAN AT CAYUGACOLLEGIAN@GMAIL.COM
FACULTY ADVISOR
EMAIL THE COLLEGIAN AT CAYUGACOLLEGIAN@GMAIL.COM PAGE TWO
W H A T
Police Chief gives report on Cayuga’s Inside Government program
YOUR NAME COULD BE HERE!!
Mary G. Merritt
Kaitlyn Diego
better. It is not always the easiest, especially when you’re hurt, but you get stronger as a person with these challenges. Within this first year, I learned that time flies. I never believed it before, but just like that, I am almost moving into my sophomore year of college. Its nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. I have changed my career path several times within this year, which is a very scary thing in all honesty, but it has been made official that I am continuing my education to become a school psychologist. My biggest piece of advice for incoming college students; the time goes too quickly! Take advantage of the opportunities given to you, and make the most of this experience, because in the end, everything will be worth it.
OVERDOSES SPIKE IN AUBURN
Learn story-telling skills with hands-on, interactive instruction presented by former television news executive/news producer/ reporter, Prof. Mary G. Merritt
The Cayuga Collegian welcomes letters from its readers. Submissions must be emailed to cayugacollegian@gmail. com. Submissions must include your name, address and daytime phone number. All letters to the editor do not reflect the viewpoint of the Collegian office, its staff or advisor. All letters are simply the opinions of the writers themselves. All letters may be edited for content or length.
ter, specifically. With a super crazy schedule, in and out of school, the stress level shoots through the roof. I was okay the first half, but as we are coming to a close of the semester, I have been in a panic. With an unexpected injury that formed recently, I didn’t know what I ASSOCIATE EDITOR was going to do, or how I was supposed SPORTS EDITOR to make it through, but I learned like I said before, it’s all apart of this journey through life. If anything, these setbacks are just pushing me to be
Recently in our community, where drug overdoses have spiked, Auburn’s Police Department set out to find what they can do to stop these incidents. Auburn Police Department Chief, Shawn Butler, appeared recently on the public service program Inside Government with Guy Cosentino. The program is produced by Cayuga Community College’s Telcom program with a student production crew. Butler says that he hasn’t seen a spike like this in a very long time. It causes a lot of concerns because the weekly overdoses are usually very rare around here. He says police officers, along with teachers, parents, friends, etc. are trying to raise awareness to prevent these type of situations from happening. President of the Heroin Epidemic Action League, Lon Fricano, recently said in an interview that these spikes do happen every so often. Even though the officers stated they are unaware of what exactly spiked these overdoses, it is believed that heroin was the leading cause yet again. Fricano and Butler both said it is still such a big issue to face, and needs to be resolved. They said students in schools need the right information before they go out into the world with these drugs. They says they are pushing for more education to be provided to make sure our next generation doesn’t get caught up in the trap of taking drugs. At the young age of 20, Nick Campagnola, of Auburn, passed away in December of 2015 because of a heroin overdose. His family
Auburn Police Chief Shawn Butler briefs Inside Government host Guy Cosentino on the drug overdose spike in Auburn. created and runs a program known as Nick’s Ride 4 Friends to help people struggling with drugs. Fundraisers and events are held annually to not only remember him as a person, but to spread awareness in the community they are here to support anyone who needs it. “There is a very bad batch of heroin going around in Auburn.” This was a Facebook post on their page from Wednesday, March 20, 2019. It was not only getting the awareness out there, but it is also reminding people there is help available. Cayuga Community College offers NARCAN training to students a few times a year. The classes train students about this kind of medication that can reverse an opioid overdose very rapidly. It is asked that if you, or someone you know happens to be in this struggle, please reach out for help, because it is available for all.
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SPARTAN SOFTBALL SCORES APRIL 6 WIN V. NIAGARA CC 7 - 6 APRIL 6 LOSS V. NIAGARA CC 11 - 7
SPARTAN SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
SPARTAN SPORTS
APRIL 13 FINGER LAKES CC 1:00 PM APRIL 13 FINGER LAKES CC 3:00 PM APRIL 16 BROOME CC 3:00 PM Herman Avenue Softball Complex APRIL 16 BROOME CC 5:00 PM Herman Avenue Softball Complex APRIL 20 ERIE CC 1:00 PM APRIL 20 ERIE CC 3:00 PM APRIL 23 ONONDAGA CC 3:00 PM APRIL 23 ONONDAGA CC 5:00 PM
CCC SOFTBALL SEASON BEGINS New Cayuga Community College Softball Coaches Chris Amoia and David Plish believe they’re building the foundation to grow the Spartans’ softball team for this season and beyond. Veteran coaches with more than 30 years’ experience in fastpitch softball, Amoia, Plish and Assistant Coach Nick Bashta are confident they can get the Spartans’ program rolling after the college didn’t field a softball team in 2018. “We have some talented players. About half of our roster is experienced from playing pretty extensive travel softball. Some other players don’t have quite the same level of experience,” said Amoia. “We’re excited for the season to start, and to see where we are in comparison to the other teams in our conference.”
The Spartans’ season began with the team traveling to Lackawanna College for a doubleheader on March 16, where they suffered two losses. Several other games on their schedule were postponed because of bad weather. Amoia and Plish are confident that their current roster will be ready to compete against a busy schedule that features more than 30
games in less than two months. “We’ve coached travel ball in the area for a long time, so we’re familiar with the rosters on some of the teams we’ll be playing. We feel like we can be competitive and win some games,” said Plish. “There are some other teams that make the national tournaments every year, and those games will be harder. But we’re doing everything we can to get ready for the season.” Cayuga’s softball team features two returning players, Elizabeth Plish (catcher, infielder) and outfielder Keirstan Bozeat, and strong starting pitchers Deanna Shackelton, Kyra Cotrill, and Shelby Koch. Deanna and her sister Kaylee Shackelton (shortstop) will provide key leadership for the upcoming season, said Amoia. “They excelled as starters at West Genesee High School, and both have years of experience playing competitive travel softball,” said Amoia of the Shackeltons. “I think that experience is going to be big for us this season.” As the Spartans return to the field in 2019, they’ll also have a new stadium to call home. Once field construction is complete, the softball team will play its home contests at Falcon Park, the home of the Auburn Doubledays. Construction of the new turf field started in the fall of 2018, and is continuing. Spartans home games will be played at the Herman Avenue softball fields in Auburn until Falcon Park is complete. “Falcon Park will be huge for us,” said Amoia. “That was something we didn’t have before, our own home stadium, and now we do. I think that’s going to be a huge help for recruiting, and it’s a great opportunity for players, to have the chance to compete on a fantastic field.”
CCC SPARTAN GOLFERS ABOVE PAR AS A TEAM, COACH SAYS Coach Steve Leary believes his Cayuga Community College golfers have the right mix of talent and experience for the team to reach the regional tournament in 2019. The Spartans return with only one golfer from the 2018 men’s team, but feature an impressive array of first-year talent that could see them place several players in the regionals, said Leary, including the mandated five players to compete as a team. “I believe we have the right combination, in our mental and physical approach to the game, to have most of our team reach regionals. That’s the goal. Some of it will depend on the weather and how our new players transition to college golf,” he said. “But we’re excited to get started and to compete.” Lone returning Spartan and 2019 captain Ryan Chalupnicki finished the 2018 season on a high note, finishing 16th out of 45 players in the regional tournament. Leary called Chalupnicki a “grinder” whose strength is keeping a level head on the course. “Golf is a very tough mental game. He’s able to let each shot go, and not get too high or too low as the round plays out,” said Leary. “That makes him effective on the course, and his experience will really help the rest of our team.” The remainder of the men’s team is filled
with first-year players showing the potential for strong seasons, including Hunter Hubel, who has an extensive tournament background. Along with Hubel, Christian Ryan, John Rice and Matt Micglire all come to Cayuga with considerable experience, said Leary, while fellow first-year player Cody Helmer has showed a solid game this spring. This year’s team also features Port Byron High School graduate EJ Townsend, who reached the state qualifiers in 2018 and was named the Auburn Citizen’s 2018 Boys Golfer of the Year. Leary said Jenna Fields, the lone member of Cayuga’s women’s golf team, has a strong game and should put together a good season. The first-year player out of Skaneateles High School will compete as an individual in tournaments this season. “Jenna’s distance off the tee is really impressive. She’s got a solid golf game and a lot of potential for this season and the future,” said Leary. The Spartans are scheduled to hit the links in the Spartan Invitational at Highland Park Golf Club in Auburn on April 12. Subsequent tournaments run through April and early May before the regional tournaments, which are scheduled for May 13-14 at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville.
CAYUGA STUDENTS PUSH ALBANY FOR HEALTHCARE REFORMS home the point of us being a local school, and addressing needs at a local level.” Lobbying on Advocacy Day, of course, gave the trio the opportunity to carry the flag for occupational therapy, and it was a challenge they took up with gusto. Arriving prepared after weeks of research, the students met with the New York State Occupational Therapy Association to review lobbying points before meeting with Assemblyman Barclay. All three students said the meeting with Assemblyman Barclay went well. They discussed reductions in insurance copays, increasing the early intervention budget to help occupational therapy professionals work with children, and other important issues. Thorpe said advocating for healthcare reforms was a perfect illustration of what occupational therapy practitioners do most days in their profession: Advocating for their clients to get the services they need and deserve. “Occupational therapy is so much more than preparing, developing and assisting individuals to get a job,” she said. “We look at everything that an individual occupies their time with. That means we help individuals with cooking, schoolwork, leisure activities and so much more.” Meyers said the three students, all of whom were already committed to full-time fieldwork this semester before going to Advocacy Day, were great examples of the dedication of occupational therapy practitioners. “I am very proud of the advocacy efforts made by Christina, David and Margaret. I believe each one has a bright future in the occupational therapy profession,” said Meyers. The trio returned from Albany eager to share their experience with other students in Cayuga’s OTA program. O’Brien said he was hopeful that more students would be able to attend Advocacy Day in the future. They also returned knowing the importance of persistence in advocacy, and that they would need to continue calling for reforms they support in the years ahead. “All of this showed that putting in a short amount of time can make a big difference to our profession and for the needs of our future clients,” said Thorpe. “This is the reason that advocating conCayuga Community College students Margaret Thorpe, Christina Cacciola tinuously is helpful. Maybe next year, or the year after, our voices and David O’Brien participated in Advocacy Day in Albany in March, and will make a difference.” spoke with Assemblyman Will Barclay about several healthcare reforms.
Three students in the inaugural cohort of Cayuga Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program participated in Advocacy Day in March when they lobbied state legislators in Albany for a series of healthcare reforms. Cayuga students Christina Cacciola, David O’Brien, and Margaret Thorpe met with State Assemblyman Will Barclay to discuss potential healthcare changes, including insurance, workers compensation and Medicaid reforms. The students were just three of thousands of healthcare advocates meeting with legislators. Even in a crowd that size, though, the students were confident their message was heard. “We went into it knowing how passionate we were, and that we were going to take the time to get legislators to understand our viewpoint. We didn’t want to leave feeling like Margaret set up the meeting and nothing came of it,” said Cacciola. “We were confident the three of us would push our points across, and we did.” This year marked the first time Cacciola, O’Brien and Thorpe had participated in Advocacy Day, which they first learned of from Cayuga OTA Director Joan Meyers. The three considered trying to schedule a meeting with Governor Andrew Cuomo or Congressman John Katko, before deciding to meet with Assemblyman Barclay. Meeting with a local representative was important, said O’Brien. “Assemblyman Barclay represents our area and community on a more local level than Governor Cuomo or Congressman Katko. We wanted to raise awareness of OTA, but also for our community college,” said O’Brien. “We thought talking with Assemblyman Barclay in particular would really bring
FALL 2018
2019 SPARTAN GOLF TEAM ROSTER NO. NAME
CL.
Coty Abraham David Butler Ryan Chalupnicki Bayley Raponi Brady Slimmer
Sophomore Sophomore Sophomore Junior Sophomore
HOME TOWN Port Byron, NY Port Byron, NY Auburn, NY Fulton, NY Oswego, NY
SERVING THE STUDENTS OF CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR MORE THAN 65 YEARS!
PAGE THREE
Urban Legends
In this edition of “Our Shadow World” we are going to head to the west coast of the United States, California to be exact, to investigate the urban legend surrounding the creature known as the Nightcrawler. The Nightcrawler, (AKA the Fresno Alien, named after the area in California they were first recorded), are small creatures only measuring between two to four feet in height. They are reported to be colored pure white and have extremely long legs and no arms.
effects and video taping. In both cases, the experts have stated that the original film has NOT been tampered with and that the cameras indeed caught an unknown thing on film.
COLLEGIAN WORD SEARCH
The Unites States of America
In this 2011 recording image capture, there appears to be two Nightcrawlers visible. At this time, they have only been seen at night and have only been recorded on CCTV security cameras positioned around people’s homes in the Fresno, Yellowstone area. Their first appearance was reported in 2007 and again in 2011. To date there has only been three recordings that have emerged on-line with the most striking one showing up in 2011. In this 2011 recording, there appears to be two Nightcrawlers visible. From viewing the 2011 recording captured from outside Yellowstone National Park, one can clearly see what looks to be an all too familiar image of a young Nightcrawler walking behind what looks like an adult Nightcrawler. The images are very similar the movements of a child walking behind its mother at the mall. The original 2007 Nightcrawler recording, (taken from a security camera positioned in the front yard of a home), and 2011 Yellowstone recording are the only two that have been analyzed by experts in visual
Researchers believe these wood carvings we created by Native Tribes to depict the Nightcrawlers. When you investigate the Nightcrawler story a bit deeper, that’s when things get interesting. Pictures that surfaced from an undisclosed source in Florida show that native tribes once erected wood carved statues that look strangely like the image of the Nightcrawlers seen on the CCTV recordings. Some believe that the Nightcrawlers are forest creatures or spirits that want nothing more than to co-exist with humans and help us protect and keep this planet clean. This is a weird world where new species are discovered every day. We do not and might not ever know what the Nightcrawlers are. If I where you, and you where walking around in the woods at night and see a Nightcrawler walking toward you, don’t panic. Show it respect and get a good video clip of the creature to show the world.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER OF CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE