Look Inside: A3 SUNY Oswego professor hired by St. Bonaventure
Friday, April 23, 2021 VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE VI SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com
Hart Hall’s IST course halted SUNY Oswego sees decline in international students
70,270
230
49,669,127
Tomas Rodriguez Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com
CONTENT
Together and apart, two words that altogether reflect just how SUNY Oswego has been able to foster a sense of community for its international student population even during these pandemic times. While international student enrollment has decreased at SUNY Oswego, Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Joshua McKeown said that in the fall, SUNY Oswego housed about 160 international students, which is lower than the usual number by almost 100. “SUNY Oswego is definitely down in its enrollment of international students but not down as far as some of us thought it might be,” McKeown said. “In the fall semester, we had to work really hard to make sure we were following protocols. We did have international students returning in the fall semester and even more in the spring semester, but there were just tremendous campus protocols for quarantines or testing.” But that was not the case for all students. In fact, there were three subdivisions within the SUNY Oswego student
Crossword/Sudoku... C6 Contact Info................ A2 Laker Review.............. C1 News............................. A1 Opinion........................ B1 Sports........................... B3 Student Spotlight.... C6
28
0.64%
193,745
Photo from Flickr SUNY Oswego has seen a dramatic decrease in the enrollment of international students in the past academic year.
*Last updated April 22*
**Positive rate over a seven-day average**
2.673%
SA special election determines next President
population this year, students who were at home in their native countries, students who were elsewhere in the U.S. and students who were on-campus. Among those on-campus were new foreign exchange students. “Those internationals who chose to come to campus told us this was the better option for them than staying in their apartment in Paris or Madrid or wherever they’re from because they knew that the life at SUNY Oswego would be better and richer than what they had where they were,” McKeown said. “Our town, our region, our state, our country are made better because of that diversity and that viewpoint from other countries. To the extent that international students are educated here, many [choose] to stay here and start careers here, start or bring families here. It makes our communities stronger, more entrepreneurial, more vital and more competitive.” While SUNY Oswego relies on local rules and regulations when receiving international students, the case differs if it were to send students abroad. In fact, when it comes to sending students to other countries, SUNY Oswego must be on par with SUNY standards. The most popular study abroad destinations for SUNY Oswego students include Spain, France, Italy and the U.K., which are all labeled “Level
4” per the Centers for Disease C ontrol based on their COVID-19 health risk. That label comes partly due to the fact that the aforementioned nations have not met vaccination thresholds or are still in lockdowns. “Within SUNY we have discussed this, we’re going to have to make sure students preparing to go abroad really understand the risks that they’re taking,” McKeown said. “In the past, there were always risks to traveling abroad, including health risks, but this vivid pointing experience that we’ve all just had, we need students to really verbalize and understand that ‘I may get to my study abroad destination and have to quarantine for 14 days,’ and make sure students understand the potential outcomes of traveling today.” Similar to study abroad programs, international programs on-campus have experienced collateral damage from that shortage in the international student population. The current circumstances have brought Hart Hall’s IST course to a stall. One of the contributing factors, Provost for Undergraduate and Special Programs Rameen Mohammadi said, had to do with running the program in the fall at one-third of its expected capacity.
Opinion
Sports
Laker Review
Oswegonian.com
GRADUATION ANGER
NOVICK’S LEGACY
TAYLOR’S VERSION
VACCINE NECESSITY
B2
Photo from Flickr
See SUNY, A4
B4
The Oswegonian file photo from 2019
Dylan McGlynn Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com It took a bit longer than anticipated, but the SUNY Oswego Student Association has named its next president. Takayla Beckon, winner of SA’s special election, has been declared president of the Student Association for the 2021-22 academic year. Beckon received 90 votes in the special election, which was held from April 8-9. That total represented 62.07% of the overall tally, as Alanna Hill, the opposing candidate, received 37.93%. “First of all, I would love to thank everybody who helped me get here,” Beckon said. “I didn’t get here by myself. I got here because of the people who believed in me.” She said that, as president, her goals include “bringing a vibrant community within the new normal.” She also stated that she hopes to be a point of contact for the student body. “I feel like I can help the students in this position by being a resource,” Beckon said. “If the students need me, I’m there. But I’m also going to have projects of my own, projects with my team and with other faculty members.”
C3
Image from Taylor Swift via YouTube
Beckon said that she hopes to connect with alumni as well, as she desires to involve as many people as possible in her pursuit of “moving the community forward.” The special election was not the first time that the two candidates faced off, however. SA held its initial presidential election from March 1112, but voter participation among the SUNY Oswego student body was startlingly low. Only 79 votes were cast in the original election. That figure was a far cry from the election of 2020, which saw 848 students cast a vote. Even in 2020, 848 was considered low at the time. In the 2019 election, SA saw 1,498 votes in total. Due to the tremendously low turnout, it was decided that the results of the election were unsatisfactory. This led to the establishment of a special election, fronted by SA’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Matthew O’Donnell. “79 people voted in total, and I didn’t like that number,” O’Donnell said. After meeting with SA President Lizeth Ortega-Ramirez and Vice President Asheem Calixte, it was decided that a special election should be held.
See CHIEF, A4
Web
Photo from Flickr
PAGE 2
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
Weekend Forecast
Gonian Social
FRIDAY, APRIL 23 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 25
Friday
H: 55 °
Sunday
Saturday
L: 44 °
H: 58 °
L: 47 °
H: 51 °
10%
0%
L: 35 °
The Oswegonian
@TheOswegonian
@GonianSports
70% @the_oswegonian
@GonianLRO
Chance of Precipitation
NEW YORK STATE
WEATHER FRIDAY, APRIL 23
Potsdam 54°/40°
Oswego 55°/44°
Buffalo 50°/42°
Syracuse 60°/43°
Albany 58°/40°
Seth Baum, 21, was arrested on April 10 at 10:32 p.m. for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and reckless endangerment following a traffic stop in the city of Oswego. Shaday Knight, 20, was arrested on April 12 at 1:42
NYC 64°/49°
Weather forecast provided by weather.com
p.m. for stealing various items from the Oswego Walmart. Knight was fingerprinted and photographed and later released on a appearance ticket.
Extended Forecast Monday
Tuesday
MONDAY, APRIL 26 THROUGH FRIDAY, APRIL 30
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Haylea Solinsky, 21, was arrested on April 12 at 8:26 p.m. for petit larceny after an incident occurring at the Oswego Walmart.
H: 46 °
L: 40 °
H: 62°
L: 52 °
H: 66°
L: 55 °
H: 68 °
L: 50 °
H: 57°
L: 48 °
Dale Demers, 56, was arrested on April 9 at 4:11 p.m. for two separate local law violations for operating a taxi
0%
10%
20%
20%
30%
The Oswegonian BE STAFF HEARD! ADVERTISING Chance of Precipitation
Editor-in-Chief | Ben Grieco Managing Editor | Matt Watling
News Editor | Kylie Annable Opinion Editor | Abigail Connolly Sports Editor | Brandon Ladd Laker Review Editor | Mary Katherine Moylan
Multimedia Editor | William Rogers Creative Director, Photography | Kailee Montross Creative Director, Graphics | Patrick Higgins Chief Copy Editor | Rachel McKenna Copy Editor | Annika Wickham Asst. Sports Editor | Michael Gross Asst. Laker Review Editor | Ethan Stinson Business Manager | John Contrata Advertising Manager | Iyana Armstrong Social Media Coordinator | Caroline Evans Faculty Advisor | Brian Moritz
advertising@oswegonian.com iarmstrong@oswegonian.com Direct: 315.414.1251 Classifieds: 315.312.3601 Ads must be received by the Friday before desired publication date.
CIRCULATION
Circulation Dir. | Jordyn Robinson For drop-off inquiries please call 315.312.3269 1,000 copies across the Oswego State campus and the city of Oswego every other Friday.
CORRECTIONS Call 315.312.3269 to discuss a correction on any story.
139A Marano Campus Center Editor-in-Chief Phone: 315.312.3269 SUNY Oswego Office Phone: 315.312.3600 Oswego, NY 13126 info@oswegonian.com
W W W. O S W E G O N I A N . C O M
We're looking for writers. That could mean you.
Have you ever wanted to... • Express your opinion? • Investigate & report on a story? • Learn how a newspaper operates? • The Oswegonian is read by many 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. on Zoom at the following ID: 993 3033 2785
without proper registration or licensing.
**Blotter information provided by Oswego City Police Department.**
NEWS
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
We have always wanted to provide a typical commencement for our graduates and their families.”
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
-Wayne Westervelt, from A4
SUNY Oswego professor hired by St. Bonaventure
A3
Brian Moritz currently serves as associate professor at SUNY Oswego Annika Wickham Copy Editor awickham@oswegonian.com SUNY Oswego is saying farewell to journalism professor Brian Moritz as he shifts his career from teaching undergraduate students to master’s students at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany. Moritz is an associate professor of digital media production and online journalism and started teaching at SUNY Oswego seven years ago. “From the first time I stepped foot on campus to interview it felt like home.” Moritz said. Moritz was hired just after he graduated from Syracuse University with his Ph.D. in mass communication. He went back to college in 2009 and received his master’s in media studies before going into its doctoral program. Before becoming a professor, Moritz was a sports reporter for the Press and Sun Bulletin in Binghamton, where he also met his wife, Jen. “We kind of come from the same place, we both have a real appreciation for journalism and publications and language and words,” Jen said. “I don’t think we are your normal couple, we
Photo provided by Brian Moritz
are a little weird and we kind of embrace that because we come from such a similar place and are very similar people.” Jen said she fully supported Moritz going back to school because “it was the perfect time to say ‘now or never.’” After Moritz began teaching at SUNY Oswego, Jen said she noticed a positive change in her husband. “He is more confident now in who he is,” Jen said. “Now that he teaches, it has shown him there is something he is really good at, and he can be confident in.” Moritz is starting his new position at St. Bonaventure University as the director of journalism master’s, a completely online master’s program, after the semester ends. He received his undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure in 1999 and said taking this job is “going to be full circle.” “Where I learned how to be a journalist, now I get to teach [there], how cool is that?” Moritz said. Though he is excited about the position, Moritz also said he was not planning on leaving SUNY Oswego. “All the stars just kind of came together with this job, at this time, at this modality,” Moritz said. “It took a dream job like this for me to leave.” Jen said she encouraged Moritz to take the job and knew it was something he could not pass up. “I am so, so thrilled and proud of him,” Jen said. “[But] I am so sad for his students because I know he loves [them] ... It’s a big change, but it is exactly what I think he could have dreamt of.” Dennis Wilkins, a journalism professor at St. Bonaventure, also said he had fully supported
Zoology Talk with Jean Soprano, Bird Rehabilitator, Friday, April 23, 1 p.m., Rice Creek Field Station, 121 Watershed Campus Cleanup, Friday, April 23, 3 p.m., Hewitt Union, 126A Photo provided by Brian Moritz
Moritz in directing the program. “I have wanted him back here [at St. Bonaventure] for a very, very long time,” Wilkins said. “The search committee saw the same thing in Brian that I had known about him and so did the dean.” Wilkins taught Moritz during the first years of his career as a professor and has kept in touch with him over the 26 years since. “Brian is the prototype of what a college professor in a journalism school should be,” Wilkins said. “He is the prototype of what a journalist should be.” After having many different careers in journalism, Moritz said “it gets in your blood” and looks forward to continuing to teach in the field. “I don’t know if [journalism] fits my personality or my personality evolved to fit journalism, but it all meshes perfectly,” Moritz said. With the spring semester ending in three weeks, Moritz is fast approaching his last days as a SUNY Oswego professor. Though he will be missed, Wilkins is very pleased Moritz is joining him at St. Bonaventure in the fall. “Brian’s now one of us, sorry Oswego,” Wilkins said.
Planetarium Zoom Show: “Destination: Mars,” Sunday, April 25, 7 p.m., over Zoom Spring Thrift Sale, Monday, April 26, 9 a.m., Hewitt Union, 126A
Visiting Artist Series: Joel Seah, Thursday, April 27, 7 p.m., over Zoom
Salt City String Quartet, Wednesday, April 28, 7 p.m., over Zoom
Yappy Hour, Friday, April 30, 3 p.m., over Zoom
SUNY Oswego’s Impact Scholar program helps graduate student
SUNY Oswego student, Colleen O’Dell, seeks to promote social, emotional connection among children Sydney Havens Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com While COVID-19 has severely impacted the mental health of many, one graduate student, Colleen O’Dell, is leading a project to tackle the issue among many school children. SUNY Oswego’s Impact Scholar program will help O’Dell with her project that seeks to prompt a social-emotional connection for school children during this time of remote learning. O’Dell is in the mental health counseling program. She said that she saw a real need in schoolbased counselor intervention. This need was made even more important by counselors not having the ability to work with children in a day-to-day school setting. “It’s a wraparound approach supporting primary teachers, primary caregivers and the child,” O’Dell explained a technique called filial therapy. Filial therapy is one way O’Dell wants to aid young students. Rather than working solely with chil-
The Oswegonian file photo from 2020 Mary Walker Health Center, above, provides counseling services among many other services and resources to SUNY Oswego students.
dren, it teaches skills used by therapists to teachers and caregivers. “[This is used] so that they can connect on a deeper level with the children that they’re working with, to increase bonding and buy-in for learning and just to minimize problematic behaviors in the home,” O’Dell said. O’Dell is hopeful that this strategy will be helpful for parents and caregivers, as it may allow them
to engage in therapy while homeschooling. She explained how this should be a positive experience for children because they will benefit from spending more time with their caregivers. This will lead to them feeling more valued, heard and safe enough to allow their caregivers into their world of play. “Perhaps teachers or caregivers may not have had a lot of oppor-
XXX
tunity to engage in a therapeutic level through the virtual platform,” O’Dell said. “We’re hoping to bring people into that world in a supportive and warm environment.” Laura Spenceley, the associate dean of graduate studies, was impressed with her work. She added that it was especially important during COVID-19 when mental and behavioral health of children has greatly wavered.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Colleen’s contributions to the field through her work as an Impact Scholar,” Spenceley said. “Her work reminds us of the importance of adjusting our mental and behavioral interventions to meet the needs of the individual client.” This project is a culmination of work from various SUNY Oswego scholars. Another SUNY Oswego graduate student in the mental health counseling program, Ashlyn Leonard, is working with O’Dell on this project. Leonard said she is excited for the opportunity to learn while helping conduct and publish the research. “This is a completely new area for me, so it’s exciting to see firsthand how much hard work and dedication goes into it,” Leonard said. “I’m also honored to have the opportunity to share skills and support families during this pandemic when so many people, especially children, are feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. I hope to be able to add tools to adults’ tool boxes so they can promote their children’s optimal development during this historically difficult time.”
XXX XXX
XXX
XXX
NEWS
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
A4
Chief Justice recognizes voter SUNY Oswego to offer in-person graduation turnout goals were too lofty With loosening state restrictions, graduates can bring 2 guests Matt Watling Managing Editor mwatling@oswegonian.com
Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian
SA from COVER This was approved by SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley. Beckon had also won the initial race by a wide margin. Despite having to win a second consecutive election, she said this was not a major concern. “I didn’t mind,” Beckon said. “I really didn’t, especially once I found out the numbers [of the first election].” Of the 79 votes in the first election, 60 of them were in favor of Beckon, giving her 76% of the vote. Initially, O’Donnell aimed to mirror the voter turnout from the 2020 election which saw 848 students vote. While the special election did not nearly approach that mark, he said SA still did everything it could to get the word out under the circumstances. “I now realize that goal was not even close to what I should have been thinking of,” O’Donnell said. Regarding the 145-student turnout in the special election, O’Donnell said that the figure, while still not necessarily where he would have liked it to be, was “better.” “Looking into some statistics from other schools, we’re actually around the same percentage of the student population voting,”
O’Donnell said. O’Donnell explained that though he would have wished for a higher voter turnout, he understands that SA had done all that it could do. “I think we did all that we could do,” O’Donnell said. “We did do a lot more publicity this time around … I feel like a lot more people were informed it was happening.” He also made note of some factors that could make a difference in terms of increasing voter turnout for next year. “I think the big thing is just making sure we’re out there,” O’Donnell said. “Tabling, getting the publicity out, things like that.” Naturally, many of SA’s typical activities to increase turnout, namely tabling, were themselves tabled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A return to full campus activity, currently the plan for the fall 2021 semester, should allow SA to resume these activities. While the voter turnout in the special election was low, it was still enough to declare a winner. The results were confirmed during a meeting by the Student Association on April 13, leading to Beckon being officially named the next president of the Student Association. She will succeed OrtegaRamirez as the next president.
SUNY Oswego brings in global programs virtually
SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley announced to graduating seniors that they would be allowed two guests at graduation in an email sent on April 14. Gov. Andrew Cuomo updated guidelines on Monday, April 12, saying that universities may hold ceremonies up to 100 people or with two attendees per student, as long as the number of total people attending does not exceed 50% of the venue’s capacity. While the university could not originally host guests, the administration planned on making quick changes to the commencement ceremonies based on given state restrictions. “We have always wanted to provide a typical commencement for our graduates and their families,” Chief Communication Officer Wayne Westervelt said. “This was something that throughout the pandemic … we have been planning for an in-person commencement based on guidelines and the guidelines loosen up a little, and we took advantage of that.” While the end result of the plan was seven different graduation ceremonies, the university “discussed everything” as Westervelt said, including a potential outdoor event. He added that the campus center was the best option for a variety of reasons, including how accessible it is for live streaming the event to those who cannot attend. The original plan without guests called for seven ceremonies, hosting 150 students or 1,050 students combined. While this seems like a low number, it was determined based on previous graduation attendance. “We did a lot of research with the numbers, we looked at roughly how many candidates for graduation were there. We looked at over the years, roughly 1,100 have chosen to participate and walk … So that’s how we got an estimate number of [participants],” said Westervelt. “If the demand is greater and those seven ceremonies sell out, we will pivot accordingly.” The school administration held to this promise, adding an eighth ceremony planned for Saturday, May 15 from 7-8 p.m. Part of the need stems from decreasing the number of graduates at each ceremony from 150 to 125 in order to bring in 250 guests. With eight ceremonies and only an hour to clean after each one, the custodial and facilities staff at SUNY Oswego will be tested. According to Mitch Fields, the associ-
Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian
ate vice president of facilities services, his department will be up to the task. “From a workload standpoint, it is going to be difficult. But we are going to be working with our staff. Most of these people will be on overtime, and since the pandemic set in, we have been on really strong fiscal constraints,” Fields said. “We have not been allowed to [offer] our staff many overtimes, so this is a welcome opportunity to get some ground with respect to their finances. They count on this overtime.” Fields added that this will not be the work of custodians alone, citing his appreciation for the plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and other teams in his department. The cleaning process can be completed within that hour timeframe as well, according to Fields. On Thursday, April 15, graduating seniors had to reserve their graduation time using the SUNY Oswego tickets website. The website crashed when the tickets opened up at 3 p.m., and it took roughly 40 minutes for students to get into the website to reserve seats after entering a waiting room. The process for many, including Ashley Rodriguez, was hectic and a bit troubling. “It was a bit stressful. I didn’t know what to expect,” Rodriguez said. “With the crash, I wasn’t allowed to get the spot I wanted, but
Photo from Flickr Many remain hopeful for the future of study abroad and global prgorams at SUNY Oswego.
HART from COVER “Not having international students at the levels we used to is a big part of that,” Mohammadi said. “We still don’t have clarity about international students coming next year. I think it was important to pause the IST program for this coming year, and we will revisit it next year.” Holding events such as musical performances or author speeches over Zoom allows for a higher turnout, however, Mohammadi said holding these events virtually cannot replace the cultural transmission that takes place when held in-person. “My colleagues’ intention is to continue to do global programming, and I also want to make sure that Hart Hall continues to be a welcoming place for international students, hoping that they can come,” Mohammadi said. “I was a former international student myself at another university, and I would have loved to have had a building like Hart Hall to live in, to share my culture and to learn about other people’s cultures from all over the world.” While the fate of both study abroad programs and international programs on-campus in the short term may seem unclear, McKeown said the pan-
demic has opened the door to new opportunities, allowing for SUNY Oswego students to complete remote internships with international companies albeit physically located in Oswego. “The pandemic required us to think more creatively and to think so quickly; now we have virtual internships in all the places where we have popular study abroad programs,” McKeown said. “I want to continue these remote internships or experiential opportunities even post-pandemic. There’s no reason a SUNY Oswego student for example couldn’t take four courses on campus but have a fifth course be an internship based in London or in Paris. I think we’re going to see those blends happening more.” Similar to Mohammadi, in spite of the current circumstances, McKeown is hopeful for the future as it relates to study abroad programs and cultural richness for the SUNY Oswego community. “I remember after Sept. 11, 2001, study abroad in a short-term declined a little bit, but it came back stronger than ever,” McKeown said. “There’s something about moments like this that reminds people how important it is to learn about the world. It sort of reminds us that this is a small world, and the more we know about it the better.”
The Oswegonian file photo from 2020 Graduating students at SUNY Oswego will finally see an in-person graduation in May.
I am just happy I am graduating in general and have the opportunity for my parents to see me walk across the stage.” While there were issues, Rodriguez did not hold them against the school, as she said “there is only so much” SUNY Oswego could do given COVID-19 guidelines. SUNY Oswego is one of the few schools able to offer a more “normal” graduation. Across the SUNY system, many schools have selected a virtual graduation. SUNY Oneonta will do just that but will also offer a walk-through graduation, where seniors may accept their diploma and walk across the stage. No guests will be allowed. At SUNY Cortland, students will experience virtually the same ceremonies as SUNY Oneonta. SUNY New Paltz is offering several in-person graduations that will last roughly 30 minutes, according to the school’s website. It will be outside and no guests will be allowed. While these universities share the “SUNY” name, they are all in different positions, as Westervelt said. “They have different needs, and it’s ultimately each institution’s call on what they feel they can deliver [based on] the situation of their campus,” Westervelt said. “At the end of the day for us, as an institution, Oswego feels that this is the right thing for us. It’s the right thing for us to deliver for our students.” A lot of the onus falls on the SUNY Oswego students for the ability to have an in-person graduation. Despite a small spike in COVID-19 cases in the fall, SUNY Oswego has not seen a rise in new COVID-19 cases per day greater than 12 since Feb. 2. Westervelt also gave a nod to Stanley, who has been aggressive and determined to offer students an in-person graduation. In terms of how each hour-long ceremony will go, the final schedule will be worked out in the upcoming weeks. According to Westervelt, Stanley and a student speaker will present a speech, but the largest emphasis will be placed on reading every student’s name. “Provost [Scott] Furlong will present the degree candidate, and President Stanley will confer your degree,” Westervelt said. “But the focus on the ceremony will be reading names and having our graduates cross the stage.”
315-343-6429 176 East 9th Street
OPINION VACCINES VITAL
B2 Photo from Flickr
OPINION
VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE VI
“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”
SPORTS B3
WINNING STREAK
The Oswegonian file photo 2020
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
B1
What good has come out of the past year, in the SUNY Oswego community? Stronger ties
Caring community
We have seen the student body come together over the past year to heal from the amount of turmoil that has occurred. Lifting each other up through times of distress by offering support, spreading awareness and being there for one another have been common themes among students and faculty at SUNY Oswego. The increase stress from pandemic life as well as the number of social justice issue that have arisen have brought the SUNY Oswego community closer together. I am looking forward to seeing these ties continue to grow and for the student body to grow stronger together.
Everyone, in some shape, way or form was impacted by the pandemic. While some may have been dealt a heavier hand, the empathy present last year was almost overwhelming. One could say that some forget that these struggles still continue and that empathy is not always present but the fact remains that I am beyond grateful for the first two and half years that I spent on this campus, interacting with the community, whether it be through jobs, performances in the music department or community service. It is through this abrupt halt to the normalcy of my college career that has made me even more aware of how genuinely lucky I was to seize the vast number of opportunities SUNY Oswego had presented to me.
-Abigail Connolly, Opinion Editor
-Mary Kate Moylan, Laker Review Editor
Rise in empathy The past year has revealed a lot of camaraderie between students and faculty. Everyone has the common ground of dealing with COVID-19 and realizing that it sucks to do classes online, plain and simple. I think a lot of professors are more understanding to mental health problems they probably experienced as well due to basically nothing but bad news for a year. A lot more people are empathetic, realizing that mental health issues are a constant reality for some. -John Custodio, Staff Writer
From my seat: The Editor-in-Chief’s column
The Oswegonian: A Year In Review
Despite turbulence, The Oswegonian not only fought, but won
Ben Grieco Editor‑in‑Chief bgrieco@oswegonian.com
THE OSWEGONIAN
The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935
G UIDELIN ES We want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or any‑ thing regarding the Oswego State community. Email 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).
Well, we made it, did we not? I label this column as a “Year in Review.” In a year where there seems to be an influx of negative news, I want to focus on the positives; what The Oswegonian has done in a unique, always-changing and flat-out chaotic year. There were some bumps along the way, but I somehow made it to my last issue of truly being in charge of this newspaper. Next week, our next Editor-in-Chief, Brandon Ladd, will be taking on most of the duties while I supervise. In my first column of the year, I found a random quote from Alan Watts, “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” Boy, did we join the dance of 2020 — and 2021 for that matter. As students, we were right alongside our classmates as inperson classes were put on pause in mid-September. We had as many questions and concerns as the rest of them. All of us were frustrated when we found out that we would not be able to publish two of our bi-weekly issues. And just like our classmates, we bounced back after the pause. We fought to stay open. We got our tests and some of us have even gotten our vaccines this past semester. We continued to battle our own adversity and publish bi-weekly issues, providing the best news, sports, opinions and entertainment reviews that we possibly could.
I would be lying if I said that I was not concerned when I sat down with our managing editor Matt Watling in July, getting ready for this year. How would our staff members adjust? Will we have enough writers? How much is actually going on that we can cover? I thought we were going to have an extended period of acclimating to a new system. This year’s staff proved me wrong. Every issue, as Editor-in-Chief, I saw improvement. Staff members strived to make their individual sections better each and every week, which meant our writers were better every time they submitted a piece. Editors found ways to change their sections up, building on what previous editors did before. Simply put, this staff wanted to get better week-in and week-out. Numerous friendships, even though we did not have our typical full newsroom, were formed or strengthened. Skills, both relating to journalism and life, were learned by many. I just wish we could have been in the office more often. What would have this year’s office chemistry been like? I can only think it would have been the best of my four years here. On paper, we covered several big stories. During the fall, there were so many press conferences from different COVID-19 announcements, it was hard to keep
track of everything. But every time, we were there. In the spring, we were right there with the latest updates in terms of college athletics, COVID-19 updates, Student Association news and even some things in the city of Oswego. This past year, The Oswegonian has proven what student media is about, “learning while doing.” With all of the big news that came out essentially every week this year, whether it was COVID-19-related or not, staff members quickly learned what it meant to be in a newspaper setting, no matter what their position was. In some ways, student media at SUNY Oswego led the way this year. We all — The Oswegonian, WTOP-10 and WNYO — helped the student body. We worked together and brought a greater community together and kept it informed. So, what is next for The Oswegonian as the semester wraps up? May 7 will be our final issue of the semester. Every position that has been hired for next year by Ladd and the incoming managing editor Abigail Connolly, will do a “takeover week,” where they run the show. And while being at the helm in this crazy year was fun, challenging, stressful and invigorating, I cannot wait to be on the sidelines watching what this staff can do for the final issue and all of next year.
Jennifer Robilotto for The Oswegonian Matt Watling and Ben Grieco (left) stand alongside Brandon Ladd and Abigail Connolly (right) in MCC.
Paris
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.
See web exclusive Opinion articles at www.oswegonian.com/opinion
Photo from @AnnikaWickham via Twitter
B2 OPINION Solidarity Vaccine requirements must-have for return Graduation Normalcy only achieved when necessary measures are taken march demonot worth the cratic display stress THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
John Custodio Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com
Photo from Flickr
Abigail Connolly Opinion Editor aconnolly@oswegonian.com On April 16, SUNY Oswego students rallied together to participate in a Black and Asian Solidarity March in a demonstration against the rise in Black and Asian hate crimes and racism in recent months. These ongoing social issues have become more prevalent in recent months after severe anti-Asian rhetoric emerged following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the racial disputes that have erupted across the U.S. after the murder of George Floyd. For generations, peaceful protests and picketing were ways to rally together with like-minded people and draw attention to social justice issues but unfortunately, this is not the reality today. In elementary school, children in the U.S. learn about the First Amendment, how American citizens have the freedom of worship, speech, press, peaceful assembly and petition of the government. The rose-tinted version of picketing, protesting and petitioning is a far cry from what true history shows us.
“Demonstrations like this march are vital to the continuation of democracy. Citizens must participate and make their voices heard in order for society to progress.” A century ago, while women picketed outside the White House for their right to vote, police would forcibly remove and imprison them for their actions. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and countless others lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The Stonewall Riots in 1969 and Vietnam War protests in the 1970s, including the Kent State University shootings, ended in bloodshed and harm. All the way to today, where Black Lives Matter protests ended in tear gas and rubber bullets, citizens have been persecuted for showing their beliefs and practicing their rights. The act of fighting back against the government is an act protected by the government. Peaceful protests and petitions are ways to draw attention to social justice issues and are an incredible example of democracy in action, without these protests progress would not be made. So why do these protests so often end in violence? While I may not be able to answer this question, I must continue to look at the rose-tinted version. Protests like the Black and Asian Solidarity March on the SUNY Oswego campus called attention to issues that students are passionate about. Participants were able to meet like-minded people and draw attention to social justice issues that they see as problems. Demonstrations like this march are vital to the continuation of democracy. Citizens must participate and make their voices heard in order for society to progress. With constant vigilance, we can better ourselves, our government and our country, but first we must be loud enough to be heard.
Across college campuses, there are discussions about the ethics of whether or not the COVID-19 vaccine should be required to attend in-person classes. This is a no brainer, schools must mandate a vaccine, after over a year of restrictions, shut-downs and the loss of three semesters to COVID-19. There are no good arguments against healthy college students getting vaccinated. Sure, it sucks to get stuck with a needle and experience some potentially rough side effects, but for college students, the side effects like fatigue, headaches and light fevers are probably easier than the day after Parade Day or a typical Sunday morning, especially compared to the full force of COVID-19. It is idiotic to fear the vaccine hangover. Even fears of the vaccine based on it being new or underdeveloped are unfounded and just plain stupid, based off what most people purposefully put into their bodies every day (looking at you, McDonald’s and Puff Bars). A researched, incredibly well-funded vaccine with very transparent information and data is probably not going to make you any more at-risk of being infertile than the birth control you take every day. With Johnson & Johnson being halted due to blood clots in six women out of 6.8 million doses, according to an article by NPR, the vaccine is not some government drone meant to sterilize the population. Colleges already require vaccinations, except in specific extraneous circumstances. SUNY Oswego, according to the Mary Walker Health Center website, requires the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination. While the meningitis vaccine is not required, a student must have it
in writing that they do not have and will not get the vaccine. SUNY Oswego also recommends getting six other vaccinations before attending, like Gardasil and Hepatitis. A vaccination against the virus that has sent every country into a social and economic freefall is a drop in the bucket compared to not only the chemicals people willingly put into their bodies in the forms of drugs, alcohol and regular foods but also compared to the vaccinations 90% of people already have. Unfortunately, even a fully vaccinated campus probably will not mean a 100% “normal” fall semester. While some Oswego spots are slowly returning to their old ways, like the bar The Ferris Wheel, the college probably will not be 100% back until at least the spring and realistically the following fall semester. An increase in on-campus events like hockey games or even a regular gym would be great, but it is not realistic, despite what the current administration says.
One realistic expectation for the fall semester is weekly COVID-19 testing, but that is a good thing. Although it is a bit of a drag going to Lee Hall, especially for those that live off-campus, it caught COVID-19 infections before more people could be infected. Without weekly COVID-19 testing, there is no doubt that SUNY Oswego would be in far worse shape than it is, especially with off-campus partying and how busy local bars are. The COVID-19 vaccine, and SUNY Oswego testing, are not your enemy. Getting vaccinated and requiring a vaccination will not only give a better college experience but more importantly save lives. Based on data from the many researchers focused on COVID-19, vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna have an over 95% success rate in stopping hospitalizations. A tiny prick and a bit of a rough week is a small price to pay for the slowing of COVID-19 and the return to normalcy.
Photo from Flickr Vaccine requirements may be the only way for schools to return to a sense of normalcy.
SPEAK YOUR MIND, TWITTER! POLLS POSTED EVERY WEEK TO @GonianLRO
End is in sight but hesitancy still hinders New York vaccination policy promising for summer COVID-19 cases Brandon Ladd Sports Editor bladd@oswegonian.com I am not a virologist or a statistician. I am a citizen who has followed the trends of COVID-19 for over a year, desperately hoping good trends would stick and bad trends would break. We are about to enter a good trend, at least in New York. The past 13 months has been the equivalent of a boxing fight when it comes to COVID-19. The fight has had different themes throughout the exhausting year which has been our new reality. It is entering its final rounds of this life and death fight, and finally the opposition to COVID-19 is a worthy fighter, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in America. The final rounds of this fight will be a regional battle as well. Nationalism can be removed from the equation. The weekly articles concerning vaccine hesitancy and the allocation of the miracle vaccines will be less meaningful. Herd immunity at this point is not a thing America can achieve, but pockets of the country will get closer than others. The basis of vaccine hesitancy centers around two major groups in the U.S., Republican males and the underserved people of health care “deserts.” The Republican male ideology is that a citizen should be hesitant about being told what to do by their federal government and that it is a personal decision to get the vaccine or not, much to the chagrin of health officials who have stressed the importance to approach herd immunity and not have gaps in protection. The health care “deserts” of America will be convinced easier to take the vaccine but are difficult to reach. That is why the final rounds of this
fight will be a regional fight. For states like New York, it will be easier to get control of COVID-19. The city votes Democrat and is more likely to listen to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has made a push for all to get vaccinated as soon as possible. According to the Bloomberg vaccine data tracker, the numbers of cases in New York has started to turn down, as the number of fully vaccinated New Yorkers approaches one-inthree. This shows the vaccine is overcoming the worrying B.1.526 COVID-19 variant seen in New York City, which most likely originated in Manhattan, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci. That variant is starting to become the dominant strain throughout the entire state. The vaccine will continue to overcome the variant and eventually drop cases to a low level, paired with the seasonal trends seen in New York last summer and herd immunity might be approached. Herd immunity changes by the time of year and how rapidly the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the area can spread. A mark of 60% of vaccinated people might be enough this summer, where 85% vaccinated
might be needed for the winter. This virus does not play by exact rules, and the approach to containing the virus will not be black and white. With that said, different areas of the country will see spikes in COVID-19 due to low vaccine numbers and social mobility. Texas has reopened fully and could be at high risk for a surge if the vaccine numbers do not beat the spread of variants. States like New York could be safe from another surge due to waiting for higher vaccination rates before opening. Finally, the local aspect of the regional COVID-19 battle. If SUNY decides to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all students this fall semester, then herd immunity would be easily reached on campus. The weekly testing could be eliminated, and the level of mobility students could have would be almost unlimited. Policy, demographics and the state of COVID-19 spread will decide how your region is doing in COVID-19. Lucky for New Yorkers, the policy makers and the mindset of residents will make for a much more enjoyable summer.
Photo from Flickr In a visit to vaccination sites, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, supports New Yorkers as they get vaccinated.
Photo from Flickr
Mary Kate Moylan Laker Review Editor mmoylan@oswegonian.com
For the past two semesters, SUNY Oswego, like many other public universities have held virtual graduations due the COVID-19 pandemic. For seniors graduating last spring, many were deflated to have their graduation ceremony stripped from them in an abrupt announcement that students would be finishing up the semester remotely. As the year progressed, classes commenced on campus and vaccinations started to become more widely available, many hoped for an in-person ceremony to commemorate their higher education achievements this May. In a one sentence email sent out to seniors, it was announced by SUNY Oswego in late February that there would be an in-person graduation ceremony held in May. Without any follow-up until approximately a month and a half later, students were then notified as of April 6, that commencement would consist of seven ceremonies over the course of the weekend May 14-16 with one taking place on Friday and three taking place on both Saturday and Sunday. According to an email with the subject “Get Ready for Commencement!” sent out April 9, Friday’s ceremony is “Likely to be dedicated to post Master’s certificate of advanced study, Master’s degree and the graduate certificate candidates,” therefore narrowing the count to six ceremonies for undergraduates. It was shortly announced afterward that students would be allowed to register two guests to be present for their ceremony and that an eighth ceremony would be added. Stated in the April 14 email, there would only be a maximum of 125 participants per ceremony to accomodate guests for the graduates. This would result in an estimated 875 undergraduate participants and a maximum of 1,000 graduates total, a number that does not include any Computer Technology Services personnel or coverage provided by said faculty and WTOP-10 TV necessary in order to stream the events. With approximately 1,500 students eligible for graduation, not only did the school intend on many students opting to forego a ceremony, but it also failed to communicate alternate plans for graduation date and times. The Commencement website extension for May 2021 had crashed and provided a series of difficulties for students trying not only to register a ticket for a ceremony, but also trying to register guests. With the recent transition of turning the Marano Campus Center Arena into a gym and space for students to exercise, they have also not seemed to take into consideration the amount of time and manpower it would take on behalf of custodial and other staff to actually empty the arena, continuously sanitize it and have it all wired and ready for the big weekend. With what could easily be over a week-long process, it is guaranteed that many students would not be happy with the removal of the gym equipment during the last week of classes and finals as an outlet for stress during final exams and projects, especially after its delayed opening on one of two “wellness days” graciously granted by the school in lieu of spring break. This just goes to show, once again, how once again, the school did not consider all students and the importance of physical and mental health. Facts and feelings aside, as one who considered their past four years well spent, it does not negate that especially within the past year what a turbulent college experience this has been. Between having to prepare for a near nonexistent job market, having to deal with shallow attempts at addressing mental health and burnout from academia with negligent behavior toward student wellbeing, a majority of less than understanding professors and an on average over $50,000 spent toward degrees despite scholarships and loans, perhaps many students realize that there is not all that much to celebrate after all.
SPORTS Editor’s Column Leadership in losing
Brandon Ladd Sports Editor bladd@oswegonian.com This may be the first time in a few weeks that Oswego State athletics will have a chance to breathe. The season, which is just a few weeks old, has been filled with exciting play and hectic schedules. The highlight of the season for me, though, is still the amazing play in net of senior men’s lacrosse goalie Kevin O’Donnell. The team has struggled in the early going, winless through the first five games of the season. O’Donnell has faced as many as 50 shots in a game at times this season. The defense in front of him has not put a full game together yet but the amazing fact is that in all these struggles, a leader has emerged. The score was 12-6 Nazareth College on top of Oswego State halfway through the fourth quarter on April 13. O’Donnell seemingly was in a paintball war without any cover from the opposition’s ammunition, facing 55 shots on the day, having to make several saves just to keep Nazareth College’s lead within 10 goals. Nazareth College’s Jon Parinello scored to make the score 13-6, then star attackman, Jon Roth, made the score 14-6 a few minutes later. In between these two goals, O’Donnell sprawled out and tried his hardest to keep the game respectable. Some star goalies would have given up, blamed their defense and potentially asked to be pulled from the game. That is not in O’Donnell’s DNA; he was going to fight and claw against every single shot until the game was over. The defensemen in front of O’Donnell changed several times. Throughout it all, O’Donnell continued to coach and communicate with those in front of him. Good or bad he fought for his teammates, it stands out above all.
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
B3
Baseball riding high on 10-game win streak; 7-1 in SUNYAC
Team coming off pause this past weekend, rebound with early week wins Michael Gross Asst. Sports Editor mgross@oswegonian.com With a 11-1 record nearing the midpoint of the spring season, the Oswego State baseball team has put itself in a prime position for success. One of the biggest reasons has been the stellar cast of arms that head coach Scott Landers has to choose from. The pitching staff has a combined ERA of 5.53, even though that may not be such a gaudy stat, its domination in games does not go unnoticed. The staff has struck out 88 batters, only given up 39 walks and 59 earned runs in 96 innings pitched. Landers has been pleased with pitching this far but highlighted that there are still things they need to work on. “They are getting better and better,” Landers said. “Their stamina is getting better. Their velocity is getting better. We still need to improve on hitby-pitches and walks, but I also think our defense has not helped them out at all. [Although], it is starting to get better and better.” In order to win a SUNYAC title, a team needs to be complete and polished in every aspect. The Lakers have struggled when it comes to the defensive aspect of the game. With 17 errors accounting for 11 unearned runs, this team needs to straighten up in the field if it expects to be at the top of the SUNYAC again. Even though the team has had some defensive struggles, the pitching staff has bailed them out. Led by many of the upperclassmen, Landers is excited about the talents he has on the mound and knows that his group is strong and deep starting with senior Ronald Loomis and junior Anthony Van Fossen. “We have a good core of pitchers,” Landers said. “We have some unproven guys, and we are going to go as far as they take us. Loomis is seasoned, Van Fossen has come on which I expected. If you want to look at our guys from a staff
standpoint, [Van Fossen] is a strike-thrower, and when you get strikes with three different pitches, usually you do not get many big numbers in your stat line … That takes a lot of pressure off our hitting and defense but with those guys, the biggest thing for us is how deep we can go regarding starting pitching.” Run support for pitchers has been critical to keep them afloat, but Landers thinks his team can hit even better than its current combined team average of .335. “I would say the strength of this team right now is the offense,” Landers said. “We are not very good defensively, and we have to get better for the end of the year. The pitchers are coming along, but we have scored runs.” While the Lakers have the third-highest combined batting average in the SUNYAC and are averaging 11.2 runs per game, Landers knows that once his team tweaks the little things, they will be in prime form to take on
any opponent in the conference. “Truthfully, I don’t think we have hit the way we should hit,” Landers said. “We are much more capable of putting up more runs than we have to be honest. Certain things we look at as coaches, offensively, we have [fixed] some things up, but we have to use the barrel a bit more.” Oswego State’s Div. III baseball program does not have a luxurious analytics department to get a closer look at everyone’s swing. Granted, that has not stopped Landers from being able to judge if his hitters are barreling the ball up and producing good hits. Two of the guys sporting the green and gold this season that have had the best at-bats are seniors Ryan Enos and Kyle Lauria. Enos is batting .429 in 42 at-bats and has an On-Base Plus Slugging of 1.130, while Lauria is not too far behind with a .364 average. The two have combined for 37 of the team’s 192 RBI this sea-
son and do not seem to be letting off the gas anytime soon. “You can just look at our top two guys from a hitting perspective, Ryan Enos and Kyle Lauria,” Landers said. “Those averages are pretty staggering right now, and I do not think they have hit to [the level] they are supposed to yet.” As the team eyes down Brockport State on Saturday, who gave the Lakers their biggest test to date this season, Landers is sure that if his guys limit mistakes, they will find more success “We just have to keep getting better every day,” Landers said. “If you look at the stats, our hitting is the best. It is our strength. I would not exclude base running out of that. We can create some havoc on the bases and are starting to make less and less errors. The more aggressively we can run the bases and not make those mistakes, the more runs we can put up.”
The Oswegonian file photo from 2019
Shore Report
KEY x - playoffs clinched e - eliminated from playoffs
LAKER ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
SUNYAC Standings as of April 22
Baseball - West Oswego State
Overall 11-1
Conf. 7-1
Brockport
13-2
7-1
Fredonia
1-10
0-10
Cortland Oneonta
15-3
6-0
9-5
New Paltz
4-8 3-7
4-4 2-8
Baseball - East
Plattsburgh
Softball - West
2-4
M Lacrosse - West
Overall
Conf.
Brockport
6-3 2-3
3-1 2-2
Geneseo
3-3
3-1
Oswego State
0-5
0-4
Oneonta - x
4-1
4-0
Potsdam Plattsburgh
5-3
3-1
1-5
1-3
New Paltz - e
0-5
0-4
Overall
Conf.
Cortland
M Lacrosse - East
W Lacrosse - West
Overall
Conf.
Geneseo
7-4
5-3
Brockport - x
8-2
7-1
Oswego State
5-5
4-4
Geneseo
4-2
4-1
Brockport
4-4
4-4
Oswego State
4-4
Buffalo State
6-8
3-5
Fredonia
2-6
3-3 1-4
Fredonia
4-8
4-4
Buffalo State - e
0-7
0-6
Softball - East
Ryan Enos Baseball Senior | Oriskany Enos is now batting .429 through 12 games in 2021, recording 20 RBI on 21 hits. With a very disciplined bat, Enos has walked five times and has been hit by a pitch 10 times to begin the season. With an OBP of .559, Enos is ranked second on the team and fourth in the SUNYAC.
W Lacrosse - East
Cortland
11-5
8-2
Cortland
8-1
6-0
Oneonta Plattsburgh Potsdam
7-5 6-6 1-3
7-5 5-5 0-2
New Paltz Oneonta Plattsburgh
5-2 4-3 2-5
New Paltz
2-8
2-8
Potsdam - e
5-2 4-3 2-5 3-8
10:
With the sweep over SUNY Fredonia on Tuesday, the baseball team has now won 10 straight games since Saturday, April 3. With an overall record of 11-1, the Lakers look to extend their win streak on Saturday at 12 p.m. when Brockport State comes to play two games at the Laker Baseball Field.
1.529:
Junior Zoe Mennig of the softball team has an On-Base Plus Slugging percentage of 1.529%. This ranks first among her teammates and is also good for the best OPS in the SUNYAC by almost .200. Mennig has 10 regular season games left to keep her stats at record-highs.
.045:
0-7
The men’s lacrosse team has a power play conversion percentage of .045 as a result of being 1-22 on man-advantages. The winless Lakers have not found success on the power play but opponents have, going 6-20 which is good for .300. Facing SUNY Geneseo on Saturday, the Lakers will look to improve on the man-advantage.
Aidan Harrington Men’s Track & Field Freshman | Nesconset Harrington won the 400-meter race at the Cortland Challenge with a time of 57.99. His time now ranks within the top-10 400-meter times in Oswego State track and field history. He also ran a 58.04 in the University at Buffalo Invitational which beat every Div. III runner in the event.
NEWS IMPACT
A3
SCHOLAR
Photo via Kailee Montross
SPORTS
OPINION STUDENT
B2
THE OSWEGONIAN
VOICES
Photo via Flickr
VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE VI • www.oswegonian.com
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
2-time All-American defenseman reflects on abbreviated career as Laker Novick only considered Div. III hockey at Oswego State after juniors, made most of 3 years here
Ben Grieco Editor-in-Chief bgrieco@oswegonian.com Max Novick got a late jump on hockey, starting playing competitively when he was nine or 10 years old. While he started skating at three or four years old on a pond near his backyard, he originally started with tennis and dabbled in soccer. Then, it turned into hockey all the time. “It was definitely a later start than most kids,” Novick said. “I started skating when I was young, so it wasn’t that hard of a transition when I joined a team.” He eventually made his way to the Ontario Junior Hockey League, playing with North York for a few seasons before requesting a trade after he did not get enough playing time in his eyes. Novick found his way to Stouffville, where the Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, native began to flourish under new coaching. The Spirit’s coaching staff “had more belief” in Novick, he said, and developed into the player that the Laker faithful saw at the Marano Campus Center throughout his three seasons. He played 100 games, recording 75 points as an offensive-minded defenseman in his Stouffville career. “Oswego was really the only Div. III school that I was considering. I also thought about playing university hockey [in Canada],” Novick said. “But ultimately, when I went for a visit and saw the fans at a game and saw the whole community plus the rink, as well as meeting the coaching staff, I basically made the decision right then and there.” Oswego State men’s hockey head coach Ed Gosek said Novick’s ceiling was high when he first arrived on campus. From square one, Novick became an “impact player” Gosek said. Coming in from junior hockey, Gos-
The Oswegonian file photo from 2019 Max Novick (20) finished his Oswego State career with 56 points in 79 games.
ek added that Novick was a “special talent” between his skating and puck-moving ability. “Maybe in my heart I have a way of pushing those guys [with special talent] a little more, holding them to a higher standard … It takes a while to see who’s going to have what it takes and who doesn’t,” Gosek said. “But Novick was one hell of an athlete. And he had it.” Every season that Novick played for the Lakers, he was named to an All-SUNYAC team. His freshmen year, he was third team while taking home first team honors his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also named an AHCA Div. III All-American All-East Third Team in his last two seasons. Most recently, he was named to the SUNYAC All-Decade Team, the only current player to be named on the team. He played in 79 games for Oswego State, recording 56 points. He led the team in assists his freshman year and was second in goals for defensemen in the SUNYAC during his sophomore campaign. But now that Novick’s career
abruptly ended, the personal accolades and stats do not matter. “I would trade all of [the individual awards] in just for a championship chance with the guys again,” Novick said. “Personal accolades are nice but aren’t as important to me as winning the SUNYAC with the guys and the different memories that could’ve been created.” Had the 2020-2021 season happened, Novick would have not only been a part of the leadership council, receiving the “A” for his senior year, but he also would have been a part of the team’s strong defensive core between returners and some of the new first-year players. Novick said it was tough not being able to see how the team would have unfolded this year, mentioning that he thought they “had a real crack at it this year.” Now, the question is where Novick would have ended up by the end of his senior year. Gosek thinks, barring an injury, “the odds were pretty good” that he could have been the first three-time AllAmerican in the history of the Oswego State program.
Fallout from SA cutting club sports funding
Association’s debt continues to affect clubs on campus
“Each year, he was climbing. There would be no reason to think he wouldn’t continue that trend,” Gosek said. “When you get [a player like Novick], very rarely does anybody get worse … I’d say his progress was pretty steady.” Gosek compared Novick to a couple other Laker greats, including Bobby Gersatkis but said that there were a lot of similarities to Joe Carrabs, who played 118 games for the Lakers before graduating in 2004. Novick and Carrabs were similar players as offensive defensemen, with the ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone and consistently be a scoring threat whenever they had the puck in the offensive zone. After three years in the green and gold, Gosek said it was enjoyable to watch Novick’s progress as a player, athlete and a person. “Joe was maybe a little more physical than Novi, and Novi maybe had a little bit more of an offensive flair,” Gosek said. “Everyone always says, ‘But geez, how are you going to find another diamond in the rough like that?’ Sometimes guys, like Novick, they’re as good as you thought they would be.” Looking back on his three years playing for the Lakers, Novick said he “can’t talk highly enough about his experience” at Oswego State. Between playing in front of the sold-out crowds at the campus center, plus helping out at numerous events throughout the community, he said “it was an extremely fun experience.” Novick said he was also looking forward to embracing the leadership role, something that was “amazing for a short period of time” before COVID-19 placed too many restrictions on the team. “Everything was really amazing, especially coming from juniors where we didn’t get many fans, to coming to this school where you
get anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 fans a game,” Novick said. “Looking back on it, it was really cool to be a big part of the community. You walk around in the hallways and see different people and realize those are the same people that are watching you play every weekend.” One of those fans and perhaps the most important in Novick’s eyes was his grandmother, Gail Levine-Novick, who passed away in February. In her obituary, her family described her as “truly one of a kind and lived life to its fullest in her own unique way.” Fans could hear her cheering over the other thousands of fans every time Novick’s name was called for the starting lineups or whenever he made a strong play. Not only was she the biggest fan of her grandson, but the entire Oswego State program, as well, with “a whole bunch of sweatshirts and apparel,” Novick said. “She was a huge part of my life. She was a massive supporter of me and hockey. No matter how bad we played, she was always encouraging, and she knew hockey really well,” Novick said. “If she couldn’t make it to the games, she would always watch online and then text me after … She was an amazing part of my life.” Novick said his future after graduation is “undetermined.” He added that the original plan was to play professional hockey following college, but after being off the ice for so long since his senior year was canceled, he said he “can’t say for sure yet.” But if it is not hockey, Novick said he hopes to go into sales or marketing, potentially taking the real estate route down the road. “I know it’s been frustrating for him,” Gosek said. “I just hope he doesn’t hang the skates up and gives it a shot somewhere next year.”
Photo Brief
Softball Treading Water
Photo provided by Alexis Fragapane The Oswego State Student Association’s decision to cut the club sports budget will impact the men’s club hockey team.
Dylan McGlynn Staff Writer sports@oswegonian.com When it comes to colleges nationwide, club sports tend to be an important outlet. A major part of campus life, they allow students to stay active and competitive while also meeting and establishing bonds with new people. In a meeting on March 23, the SUNY Oswego Student Association passed a bill intended to cap funding for club teams at $110,000 for the upcoming year. The bill referenced the association being “cash poor” as one of several reasons for the decision. “We’ve kind of been on this new stride to get our organization back to where it needs to be financially,” said Asheem Calixte, SA’s vice president. “We are an organization that is essentially cash poor, but we’re very asset-rich … we don’t have a lot of cash on hand to say, ‘if an emergency happened, we could pay our bills.’” Previously, the budget was set at $135,000. Both figures include a $20,000 “championship fund” intended to be used for club teams that advance to the championship level of their seasons. This leaves the new working budget for all club teams on campus at $90,000 total. For club sport athletes, the decrease in funding will potentially limit opportunities for them to play and
could also force the athletes to fund a higher percentage of the team themselves. It is another disheartening turn for those who have been unable to compete since COVID-19 initially shut down the campus last March. Sam Chapman, president of the club baseball team, said that continuing competition without significant financial burden can be a big part of why people play club sports. “I think part of the big appeal of [club sports] is it’s something that you don’t have as huge of a commitment as if you were playing on [a NCAA] team or something like that,” Chapman said. “But that you’re still able to do something competitive, and you didn’t have to worry about paying for certain things. That’s maybe the biggest appeal to people … I think budget cuts in any area are usually not a good thing.” Chapman said that as costs rise, they could potentially prevent interested athletes from joining club teams. “If it was a few hundred dollars per person,” Chapman said. “I would be concerned that if everybody had to pitch in for gas, or everybody needed to buy jerseys on their own, that would discourage individual people from [joining the team].” Christopher Timmons, head coach of the ACHA men’s club hockey team, echoed Chapman’s sentiment, as he said this decision will lead to his team to require more financial contribu-
tions from their players. “Essentially, it’s just going to be more of a self-funded program, rather than relying upon SA to cover some of our necessary costs,” Timmons said. He acknowledged that this could potentially burden some players unable to afford the cost, although he also said that most players are already “aware of the costs” coming in. Overall, the decreased funding may render some students unable to commit to the teams, which can potentially cause them to miss out on important college experiences. “I think probably the most important part of being in college is that you find people with similar interests and join some kind of community,” Chapman said. “It would be a shame if people were discouraged from doing things like that.” However, Calixte stressed that he does not believe the cuts will be permanent and said that funding could increase in future years. He cited a combination of COVID-19 and several years of poor budgeting by SA as the major factors in the decrease in funding. “We are not cutting [club sports] because we want to budget in the green anymore. We’re cutting you because we simply just do not have the money for it,” Calixte said. “If we were budgeting properly the past couple years, and we had a lot of money in the reserves, we could still fund that money, or fund [club sports] the same way we did in the past.”
William Rogers | The Oswegonian
Ben Diamond Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com Oswego State softball has gotten off to a mediocre 5-5 start so far this season and 4-4 in SUNYAC play. The Lakers lost their series against SUNY Geneseo, and split series against RIT and Brockport State but recently flipped the script, sweeping Buffalo State on April 14. Leading the way for this team on offense has been junior Zoe Mennig, senior Madelana Wrubel and senior Leah Czerwinski. Mennig has been hot all season long, posting a tremendous .545 batting average, 1.529 on-base plus slugging percentage, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs, with 18 hits in only 33 at-bats. Wrubel has also started this season with a hot bat, batting .344, with 11 hits in 32 at-bats. She also has a .866 OPS and a .417 on-base percentage. She has been a big piece in the lineup, starting all 10 games so far this season and has been a consistent source of offense so far. Czerwinski is batting .320 with eight hits in 25 at-bats. She has five stolen bases in just 10 games played. She also boasts an astounding .414 OBP. Her ability to get on base has helped the team score more and put more pressure on opposing pitchers. On the mound, Oswego State has
been led by the sophomore trio of Madison Hoeflich, Samantha Morgan and Fiona Higgins. So far, Hoeflich has been keeping the runs to a minimum, sporting a 2.66 ERA in 29.0 innings pitched. She also has a relatively low walk and hits per inning at 1.38, having given up 28 hits and walking 12. She has struck out 13 batters, which is second on the team. She is 3-2 on the season. Morgan has had trouble keeping runners off base with her 2.10 WHIP, but most of the runs that have been scored against her have been unearned, lowering her season ERA to 2.80. Of her 14 runs allowed only four of them are earned, typically a sign of poor defense behind her. Higgins has not had the same success as the other two. So far she has a 4.15 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP, giving up 26 runs, 17 of them being earned. In her 28.2 innings pitched, she walked 18 batters and allowed 31 hits. She is looking to turn her season around as the season goes on. Overall the Oswego State softball team has not hit its stride, but as the season goes on, it can turn up the level of play as the rust continues to get shaken off since it had been over 700 days since their last game back in the 2019 season. The Lakers are slated to play SUNY Geneseo Friday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
INSIDE
C2 Clara Tribunella discusses C3 First glimpses at ‘Shadow C4 ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’
senior composition capstone
and Bone’ series thrill fans
reclaims sophomore album
FRIDAY April 23, 2021
C2
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
Clara Tribunella’s composition perfomance set for May 1 over Zoom
Mary Kate Moylan Laker Review Editor mmoylan@oswegonian.com
In years past, many seniors looked forward to their final semester at SUNY Oswego as a way to showcase all that they had accomplished. Whether it is at Quest Day or through senior capstones, it comes to no surprise that things have looked a little different this year. This past Saturday, one of the first performances students shared together on stage was the Oswego Opera, which not only allowed students to sing and perform on stage, but also engaged all of the integral parts necessary to run such a production, including stagehands and the orchestra pit. SUNY Oswego senior Clara Tribunella was fortunate to be one of these students involved. This year, her composition capstone project, as well as the music department as a whole, has looked very different.
Tribunella, a music major with a concentration in audio recording and production, has always been involved in music. Playing the piano since she was seven and starting violin only a year later, it has given her a lot of time to hone in on her craft and eventually take a liking to composition. Having previously written a quartet piece in fall 2019, it wasn’t until the dismissal of in-person classes last spring that Tribunella got the idea to develop her work into a full orchestral piece. “It started off as a quartet for cello, violin, oboe, and bassoon, and then I reached out to [Dr. Juan LaManna] and decided I wanted to do an orchestral piece for my capstone,” Tribunella said. “So, then … I had just basically taken what I had written for that quartet and expanded on that to make it a full orchestral piece but there is no bassoon in it. We don’t have a bassoon player, it’s bass clarinet now.”
After a year of COVID-19 not allowing in-person concerts and shows, Tribunella said she is excited to have the opportunity to see her capstone performed on stage. “I just played in the opera as a violinist and I’m just glad that I could be a part of that,” Tribunella said. “I was ecstatic and it’s funny because before all this happened, I was taking all my violin performance for granted, I was like ‘Oh no, not another concert,’ and now I’m just like, ‘I get to play something somewhere!’” Tribunella’s composition, titled “Vast,” is intended to combine her two loves of music and skiing. “I kind of wrote it about the Beartooth mountain range in Montana which sounds weird, but I’m a big skier and I visited friends for a month in January,” Tribunella said. In the mountains, Tribunella would compose and write scores until the early hours of
the morning before she would then hit the slopes. Intended to capture the experience of this wonderful personal place to her, Tribunella has also said that some associate her piece with the likes of outer space as well. It could not go unsaid that there was much to say about her
the band has been recognized for some similarities to the ‘70s rock band Led Zeppelin (“Stairway Heaven”), thus resulting in mixed amounts of praise and criticism. That was especially the case with “Anthem of the Peaceful Army,” which some criticized due to its supposed lack of original sound. Although “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” shows that the band has made progress as far as finding its own voice, its ‘70s hard rock sound and recurring elements of fantasy and spirituality may gar-
ner similarly skewed responses due to how closely it seems to resemble the works of past artists. On the other end of the spectrum, those who are willing to look past the familiarity of the album’s music and themes may be delighted by the band’s retro sounding compositions, in addition to the brilliant usage of Josh Kiszka’s vocals. In songs such as “Heat Above” and “Broken Bells,” the young singer amazes listeners by reaching notes and octaves that were unattainable by
even Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who Josh Kiszka has often been compared to due to his similar sounding voice. In songs such as “My Way, Soon,” Josh Kiszka’s vocals are not the only elements deserving of praise. Bolstered by the performances of the rest of the band on guitars and the drums, songs such as this provide for a fast-paced, fun hard rock experience which act as a nice palate cleanser between the albums slower and deeper songs, such as “Age of Machine.”
Image from Clara Tribunella via Instagram
mentor and professor, LaManna. Known and adored widely by many music students, his involvement in not only orchestra, opera and organizations like Mu Beta Psi, SUNY Oswego’s National Honorary Musical Fraternity, but also his works in composition have made him a more than reliable and trusted figure on campus. “Juan was like a great help in guiding me,” Tribunella said. “We would have these pretty short meetings but you know, working with somebody who had studied composition and composers for so long, it’s like, he knew what I was thinking while writing it which was very helpful and he would just be able to … guide me in the right direction… without his support, I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it.” Tribunella’s senior performance and capstone are scheduled for Saturday, May 1, and will be available through Zoom.
‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’ shows improvement for Greta Van Fleet Ethan Stinson Asst. Laker Review Editor estinson@oswegonian.com
Rating: Following the mixed reception of its first studio album “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” in 2018, rock band Greta Van Fleet (“When the Curtain Falls”) immediately began composing music for its next album. The band, consisting of brothers Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka on vocals, lead guitar and bass guitar, respectively, as well as Danny Wagner on drums, took inspiration from their experiences while touring, thereby opting to include elements of music from other countries in order to help it develop its own unique sound. Its efforts led to the composition of a second album, “The Battle at Garden’s Gate.” Although it features an elevated version of Greta Van Fleet’s signature ‘70s-esque sound, in addition to showcasing the awe-inducing vocals of Josh Kiszka, the album also proves that the band still has some work to do in terms of developing its own identity. Since the release of its first EP, “Black Smoke Rising,” in 2017,
Image from Greta Van Fleet via YouTube Singer Josh Kiszka’s awe-inducing vocals partially elevate “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” past its derivative nature.
Aside from its sometimes familiar sounds, the only other issue with “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” is the lyrics of its songs. Though the album’s four main singles prove to be memorable for both music and lyrics, the rest of the album’s songs seem to be entertaining only because of their melodies. Given the amount of time and focus that Greta Van Fleet put into its attempts to develop its own distinct sound, the band’s pursuits may have come at the expense of its lyrics, which for many songs seemingly adhere to similar ideas and themes. As a result, many of the songs featured may sound the same to some from a lyrical standpoint, despite being different musically. Given that the band has only produced two studio albums thus far, it is understandable that Greta Van Fleet still has some kinks to work out before it reaches its full potential. Since its formation in 2012, the band has shown a great deal of promise by reviving the classic ‘70s sound that many rock fans have been pining for new bands to produce. As it keeps improving, its subsequent albums could help develop it into a rock heavyweight.
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
C 3 C 3
‘Grishaverse’ comes to life in ‘Shadow and Bone’ television adaptation Caitlin Alicea Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com For the past couple of months, readers have been battling against time to read the Grishaverse books before the upcoming show, “Shadow and Bone.” As of April 23, Netflix has officially released the full eight episodes, and fans are dying to compare the beloved series to the adaptation. Now, for those who know nothing about the world of the Grishaverse, here is some information that can help the show make a little more sense and explain why there’s such high expectations for it. To start off, a familiar face in the movie industry is Eric Heisserer, an American screenwriter and comic book writer. He was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie “Arrival” at the 89th Academy Awards in 2016. “Arrival” was an adaptation from a book as well, which gave fans confidence in his work with adapting “Shadow and Bone.” He is now the creator of “Shadow and Bone” and has taken on the role as executive producer and writer. Shawn Levy, executive producer and director of the highly rated series, “Stranger Things” also works on the show, as well as the author herself, Leigh Bardugo. In the show, there will be three plot lines, two which intertwine with one another. The “Shadow and Bone” plot line takes place in Ravka and the accompanying book series plot line of “Six of Crows” takes place in Ketterdam. The third storyline takes place in Fjerda, however it is said to be very minor at least for the first season. The world of “Shadow and Bone” was
Image from Netflix via YouTube The “Shadow and Bone” television adaptation has brought much excitement to fans of the Grishaverse series written by author Leigh Bardugo.
originally inspired by Tsarist Russia of the early 1800s. The country of Ravka has been torn in two by a swath of darkness called the Shadow Fold. To the northern border, there is Fjerda and to the south, there’s the Shu Han. However, these borders constantly shift depending on who is winning or losing the war. The country has two armies, the First Army and the Second Army. What has really kept the Ravkans safe is the Second Army which consists of people called the Grisha. There are three principal orders when it comes to identifying the Grisha: The Etherialki, who are summoners that can manipulate the elements such as air, fire and water, the Materialki who are Fabrikators that can manipulate any physical material and chemicals and the Corporalki who manipulate the human body. Then we have General Kirigan (also known as The Darkling in the books) played by Ben Barnes, who previously portrayed Billy Russo in “The Punisher” and Prince Caspian in “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” Gen-
eral Kirigan is the commander of the Second Army and is the only person who can control shadow and darkness. The Shadow Fold is a very dangerous strip of darkness that has creatures called the Volcra swarming inside it making it difficult for anyone who goes in to make it out alive. The only way it can be destroyed is by a Sun Summoner that has the possession of pure sunlight. Alina Starkov, played by Jessie Mei Li, reveals herself to be the last hope for Ravka’s survival and is dragged into this world of the royals and powerful Grisha who practice the Small Science of manipulation. Going into the second plot line in Ketterdam, where the audience will be introduced to The Crows. Now in the book, everything that happens in “Six of Crows” happens two years after the events of “Ruin and Rising” (the third and final book to the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy). However, the show has created a new and refreshing way to bring these two groups of characters together in a way where both fans of the books and
new viewers will very much enjoy it. In Ketterdam, Kaz Brekker, leader of the Dregs, is introduced. He is the rising star in the world of criminals and gangs. In his gang, there is Inej, who is also known as the Wrath, and Jesper, who is his sharpshooter. These different gangs want to make money wherever they can get it, which is what makes them so dangerous. Due to the time gap in the books, there was never an encounter between the Dregs, Alina and the other Grisha. In the show, The Crows will go after Alina Starkov after finding out that she exists and this is how they will be brought together. How the story will go from here is unknown although there have been some theories that have come about how this encounter could alter the ending for season one which is only representing book one of “Shadow and Bone.” There have been mixed responses to this discovery. While some feel that this is a really great way to clash with them, others feel that this may be too much of a stretch from the original storyline.
However, it is expected that adaptations must go off a little bit to make it new and exciting instead of it being very obvious. This one in particular is based on a storyline that was originally written for young adults. For it to be successful, the team has to go out of the box to make it comparable to these highly rated shows previously released. Netflix has been successful with fantasy hits such as “The Witcher” and “Cursed,” which are both televised adaptations from books. What has made “Shadow and Bone” stand out to other viewers is the familiarity of people involved in the production such as Heisserer, Levy and David J. Peterson, who constructed the languages for “Thor: The Dark World,” “Doctor Strange” and “Game of Thrones,” in addition to Barnes. On top of that, there are also a lot of new faces of actors and actresses never seen before on screen, and the cast is very much diversified. People’s trailer reactions via Youtube have shown much excitement for the show and their love for the effects. So, who is ready to enter the Shadow Fold?
C4 C 4
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
T-Swizzle makes sizzle with ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ Abigail Connolly Opinion Editor aconnolly@oswegonian.com Few artists have the ability to create an award winning album that revolutionizes the way that the world views country music, even fewer have the ability to do this twice. With the release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift (“evermore”) has managed to do just that. With nine studio albums under her belt, the 31-year-old singer-songwriter has proven time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned with. In 2020 she released two albums a mere five months apart, starred in a Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” as well as a Disney+ special (“Taylor Swift: folklore: the long pond studio sessions”). On April 9, Swift released her latest album, the re-recorded version of her 2009 Grammy, winning album “Fearless.” The 26 song album features the re-recorded original album songs as well as six never-before-heard “From The Vault” songs, “You All Over Me (feat. Maren Morris) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “We Were Happy (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “That’s When (feat. Keith Urban) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Don’t You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” and “Bye Bye Baby (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” as well as piano version of “Forever & Always.” This re-released album comes after an intense legal battle between Swift and her previous record company, Big Machine Records. After the recording company was sold in 2019, a debate over the masters began. Masters refer to the original recordings of songs which give the owner the legal rights and therefore money-making rights to songs. After losing these masters, Swift vowed to rerecord her first six albums in order to retain the rights to her music. While only few instrumental differences and slight pronunciation differences are featured in the re-recorded versions of the songs, the real excitement for most Swifties, the self-given nickname for die-hard Swift fans, lies in the “From The Vault Songs.” “You All Over Me (feat. Maren Morris) (Taylor’s Version) (From
“Peaky Blinders” and “Harr y Potter“ actress, Helen McCro ry, passe d April 16, at age 52 from cance r. Image from Taylor Swift via YouTube Taylor Swift’s “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” gives her work new life with collaborations and exploration into an earlier era.
The Vault)” was the first of the six vault songs fans heard. With a surprise release on March 26, “You All Over Me” returns to Swift’s humble beginnings as a pop/country artist, featuring fiddles and an acoustic guitar. Originally written in 2008, this song was scrapped from the original release of the “Fearless” album but was able to make the cut for the re-release, for good reason. With lyrics like “But like the dollar in your pocket, it’s been spent and traded in / You can’t change where it’s been / Reminds me of me,” Swift describes regret and past experiences with a grace and eloquence that few are able to replicate. When you take into account that this song was originally written when Swift was just 19 years old, it is impossible to not be impressed. Maren Morris’ (“My Church”) contribution to the track adds to the overall depth of the song, as her more raspy vocals perfectly compliment Swift’s, leaving listeners in suspense between the two. The tension created through the vocalizations and harmonization of the women is what ultimately makes this track one to remember. Surprising fans again, Swift released her second “From The Vault” song just a day before the rest of the album was released. “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” again brings listeners right back to the early-2000s Swift era. “Mr. Perfectly Fine” displays Swift’s humanizing quality of feeling bitter after a
breakup. Juxtaposing these first two “From The Vault” tracks was a strategic move on Swift’s part. Showcasing her ability to reach soulful depths with “You All Over Me,” Swift dives into her more playful side with “Mr. Perfectly Fine.” The chorus of “Hello, Mr. Perfectly fine / How’s your heart after breakin’ mine?” is the perfect “pick yourself back up again” breakup anthem that listeners never knew they needed. In recent years, Swift has gained recognition for her bridges, which are generally regarded as the best demonstration of her lyrical abilities. Swift again proves this mode of thinking to be correct with “We Were Happy (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault).” The song features those same acoustic sounds that were heard in “You All Over Me” and the same lilting lyrics and instrumentals. Swift reminisces over memories made with a former flame eventually belting: “Oh, I hate those voices telling me I’m not in love anymore / But they don’t give me choices and that’s what these tears are for” at the bridge. By giving tears a power that the mind does not, Swift demonstrates a heartbreaking emotional realization in such a subtle way it would be a disservice to ignore it. Her ability to weave shared human experiences effortlessly into her lyrics is yet again a testimony to her abilities as an artist and songwriter. Featuring another big country
artist on the track “That’s When (feat. Keith Urban) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” Swift showcases her most compelling return to country. Intertwining Keith Urban’s (“Blue Ain’t Your Color”) rustic, refined voice with Swift’s ballad-oriented performance creates the perfect dynamic between light and dark that is reflected in the lyrics. The song is a narrative between two individuals attempting to reach an understanding on when to reconcile, eventually coming to the understanding that they are ready to reunite “... when, when it’s sunny or storming / Laughing, when I’m crying.” Through sun or storm, they may reunite and who better to depict these lyrical elements than Swift and Urban. Each “From The Vault” song continues Swift’s relevancy, a relevancy that has been continually challenged throughout her career. From the 16 year-old making her start as a country artist, moving through genres, eras and her fair share of hate, Swift proves herself time and time again 15 years later. “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is not only an album of reminisce, it is an album of defiance and strength in an industry that has been less than kind to Swift. To disregard this album in favor of the old would neglect over a decade of growth and struggle. Swift’s “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” truly lives up to its name, unapologetic and entirely hers.
M ar ve l re le as es a ne w trai le r fo r “S ha ngCh i an d th e Le ge nd of th e Te n Ri ng s.”
Actre ss Dakota Johnson annou nced to star in a Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion.”
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
C5
Laker Review makes predictions for Academy Awards results Ethan Stinson Asst. Laker Review Editor estinson@oswegonian.com
Having been delayed by two months, the anticipated 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will take place Sunday. Aside from the delay caused by unprecedented circumstances, this year’s ceremony is notable due to the fact that the eligibility period for films to be considered for nominations was expanded. For the first time since 1934, the pool of films which have been nominated were released in two separate calendar years. Despite experiencing a longer wait between ceremonies, film fans and media publications are still expressing their excitement about Hollywood’s biggest night by making predictions regarding who will win in each of its categories. As such, Laker Review has compiled its own list of nominees who may be the best bet to win some of the night's biggest awards. Best Picture: “Nomadland” Bolstered by the inspired direction of Chloé Zhao (“The Rider”), “Nomadland” has already proven its worth this awards season, having won Best Motion Picture - Drama at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. Featuring a cast of primarily real-life nomads portraying fictionalized versions of themselves, the film pleads a strong case for itself due to its indiestyle pacing, captivating cinematography and its intriguing depiction of how others may interpret the definition of “home.” Although it may be facing tough competitors such as “Minari,” “Nomadland’s” ability to immerse the audience in its characters' world and to help them understand their lifestyles and struggles gives it a special quality which allows for it to have
Rating:
Image from E! News via YouTube The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will air on Sunday after being postponed by two months due to the pandemic with nominations like "Soul" and "Nomadland."
a slight edge over the rest of the competition. Best Director: Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland” Regardless of which film wins Best Picture, Zhao is more than deserving of winning the prestigious award of Best Director for her work on “Nomadland.” Taking on the roles of screenwriter, editor and producer on top of directing the film, she demonstrated an abundance of dedication and talent in developing a visually-arresting and emotionally-involving film. Drawing from the experiences of the nomadic individuals featured in the film, Zhao also developed a great sense of authenticity and honesty which elevate its realist qualities. If she were to win the award, Zhao would also make history, as she would be only the second woman, following Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”), to win the Academy Award for Best Director. Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Following in the footsteps of the late Peter Finch (“Network”) and Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”), Boseman (“Black Panther”) could become one of only a few people to win a posthumous Oscar in an acting category. Nominated for his role as
Levee Green in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” Boseman’s performance left many filmgoers both astounded and heartbroken, given the sheer heart and talent exemplified by the actor. By playing a '20s-era musician who openly vented his frustrations regarding the exploitation of African American artists, Boseman proved that he was only reaching the height of what should have been a long career. Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah” Boseman's fellow “Black Panther” alum Kaluuya also delivered a career-defining performance this Oscar’s season. Portraying real-life activist Fred Hampton, Kaluuya gave what was perhaps the strongest performance in a film filled with talented actors, such as LaKeith Stanfield (“Sorry to Bother You”), who was nominated in the same category for his role in the film. By grasping the audience’s attention each time he appears in the film, Kaluuya delivered a performance which perfectly encapsulates Hampton’s commanding presence. Though his limited screen time may have reduced him to a nomination as a supporting actor, Kaluuya’s powerhouse performance points toward a promising future with more potential nominations down
the line. Best Actress: Frances McDormand, “Nomadland” Playing the role of “Fern” in “Nomadland,” McDormand (“Isle of Dogs'') gave a performance which did wonders in emulating the lives, hardships and mindsets of the real-life nomads whose community she interacted with. Having previously won the award for Best Actress for her roles in “Fargo” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in addition to receiving multiple nominations for Best Supporting Actress, McDormand has established herself as an Oscars darling over the course of her 37-year career. It would be unsurprising if she won the award again, especially after giving such a deserving performance. Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-jung, “Minari” Just by being nominated, Yuh-jung has already made Oscars history by being the first Korean actress to be considered for the Best Supporting Actress award. For her performance as “Soon-ja” in “Minari,” Yuh-jung previously made headlines by winning in the same category at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she was the first Korean woman to receive such an honor. Given the equally warm, funny and haunting nature of her performance, Yuh-jung is more than deserving of the high praise
she has received. Therefore, the prospect of her winning at the Academy Awards is justified. Best Animated Feature: “Soul” Though films from other studios have sometimes broken through to win the award in past years, it has been acknowledged that the Academy seemingly favors films produced by both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios for its Best Animated Feature award. Seeing as the latter has two films, “Onward” and “Soul,” in the running for the prize this year, it seems likely that Pixar will once again experience victory. Considering its mature story, innovative animation, appealing aesthetic and better critical reception, it appears that “Soul” would be the more likely of the two films to win the award. Undoubtedly, this year’s Academy Awards ceremony will prove to be a historymaking event. Aside from how its postponement affected the pool of eligible nominees, it will also be notable due to the racial diversity and representation seen among them; something which past ceremonies have received criticism for lacking. In a night which always proves to be exciting and is filled with surprises, the significant alterations and improvements made by the Academy to the ceremony make it all the more special to anticipate.
C6
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
Crossword Puzzle
Across
Sudoku Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains 1-9 exactly once.
1. “Cry ____ River” (2 wds.) 4. Knot 9. Generation ____ 12. Curve 13. Comic ____ O’Donnell 14. Outback bird 15. Evergreen tree 16. Pungent bulb 17. Cup edge 18. Summer drink (2 wds.) 20. Train terminal (abbr.) 22. Plus 23. Ringo Starr, e.g. 26. Ownership 29. Kind of exam 32. Strike 33. Cozy 34. Go downhill 37. Censored 38. Actress ____ Barkin 42. Links gadget
43. Inspiring wonder 45. Baltic, e.g. 47. Ledger entry 49. Fighter pilot 50. Fedora, e.g. 51. Certain parasite 52. Turner or Koppel 53. Tint 54. Go inside 55. “You there!”
Down
1. “The Godfather” organization 2. Roberts and Clapton 3. Farm units 4. Cavern 5. Naught 6. Korea’s continent 7. River (Sp.) 8. Telescope parts
9. Molded dessert 10. Pierre’s pal 11. Young dog 19. Exhaust 21. Loafer ornaments 23. Alpha’s follower 24. Yankee ____ Gehrig 25. School subject (abbr.) 27. Tool building 28. Mister 29. Certain poem 30. Maroon 31. Stir up 35. Sewing system 36. Seesaw 39. Reluctant 40. Host 41. Impoverished 43. Adjoin 44. Sage 45. Hush! 46. ____ de toilette 48. Age
For this week’s puzzle answers ... Go to Oswegonian.com and click on the Laker Review tab!
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, April 23, 2021
A Lonely Walk Seth Nesbitt
I was walking back to my dorm on a dark and snowy night. It would usually be a 15-minute trip that I often made to see a close friend of mine. This time about halfway through, I stopped. There was no one around. The world didn’t feel real. The snow reminded me of the dandruff that fell off of my older brother’s head. It fell slowly and softly, like each flake was its own little feather dancing through the sky. The silence that filled the air was only interrupted by my sloshy footsteps and quiet breaths. My initial goal was to get back to my dorm as fast as possible, but instead, I just sat down in the snow. The snow wasn’t plowed, because it was the middle of the night. I imagine if I was seen, whoever saw me might have thought that I was a loon. I guess I would usually agree with them, but something about this night convinced me that I needed to stay in it. I just wanted to exist in that moment. It was cold and wet. My legs in the snow were colder than the air that was burning my ears. That didn’t dull the peace that I felt in that moment. The silence, with the falling snow and no one else around. It was breathtaking. The silence fought its way into my mind, and my mind went silent. The quiet of the night and my brain all at once allowed me to just be. I sat there for what felt like an hour of peace before getting up, and finishing the walk.
C7
Shea McCarthy
Jacob Fallat