The Oswegonian Sept. 24 2021 by The Oswegonian

Look Inside: A3 COVID-19 concerns, impacts students mental health

Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE II SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com

SUNY Oswego student debuts ‘Clotheslyne’ Open Skate returns to Outsourcing of laundry to debut in October for community Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com ‘Why do laundry yourself if you hate doing it?’ is the question that Clotheslyne is about to ask the residents of Oswego. In October, the startup company Clotheslyne is bringing a service to Oswego that many would not have ever considered before reading this article; a modern-day version of the dry cleaners or laundry mat. Camden Olivero, a current SUNY Oswego student, is the mastermind behind the company. He was able to launch the startup that provides customers with the experience of having their clothes cleaned by a “clotheslyner,” the creative term for the people that are responsible for getting the laundry from the customer, washing it and then returning it within 48 hours. Dry cleaning services have a similar format but this startup is the equivalent of “Uber for laundry” according to Olivero. “Pretty much we are connecting laundry haters to laundry lovers,” Olivero said. “So, people like me at Oswego, when I was there, [I] hated doing my laundry. So I would pay people for them to do it. Then my partner, who I knew from home, told him the idea and ever since then, we have been working on it and developing

it. We launched it in our local area, which is Orange County, and now we want to expand it to different areas.” The startup has already found strong footing in Orange County only two months after the initial launch. Something that was surprising to Olivero, he did not expect such quick growth. “We are basing it off how many downloads we have gotten, how many orders we have gotten and how many customers,” Olivero said. “The biggest thing that is showing that we have a product-market fit is the amount of customers that have placed orders and also placed recurring orders the following week. There are a couple customers who have placed an order almost every week now. So, we felt if the demand [in Orange County] was that strong, it could be strong in a market like Oswego with both the college kids and the people who live locally.” The process for using Clotheslyne includes the customers downloading the app, signing up and placing an order. Then, selecting a pick-up time. Within a day or two, the laundry is returned. The clothes are even folded upon return. Similar to Uber, there is a set amount of ‘clotheslyners’ who are waiting to accept orders. The app has an interface that so many have experienced before with a ride sharing or food delivery company. This is just the laundry version of that ac-

cording to Olivero. There is a fixed cost paid by the customer for each order but Olivero converts this to around $15 to $20 an hour for each of the clotheslyners, before tips. Typically, a load of laundry from washing until folding ranges from two to three hours of work. Oswego is symbolizing two things for Olivero, a community he is comfortable with, but a test for how the product will do in a ‘college town.’ “We felt it would be good for Oswego and other college markets because our two main demographics are college and families,” Olivero said. “We felt college kids would be both great as customers but also as clothelyners. When we did the demographics of Oswego, there was a perfect ratio of college kids to families.” This is not Olivero’s plan for life though, even after a long planning process and now a successful launch of both the app and the service. “We have been happy, we worked on the app for about a year,” Olivero said. “It has been published for about two months now. We are willing to go for as long as we can but the end goal is selling the company eventually. We will probably be running it for the next five to seven years.” Clotheslyne promises on social media that eco-friendly products are used for the entire process.

CONTENT

Photo provided by Clotheslyne The app debuted by the startup company was the result of almost a year of planning, it has been on the appstore for two months.

Calendar...................... A3 Crossword................... C6 Contact Info................ A2 Laker Review.............. C1 News............................. A1 Opinion........................ B1 Sports........................... B3 Sudoku........................ C6

campus with new restrictions

Image from SUNY Oswego via Twitter Carly Sukiel and Jyvana Perez work behind the desk in the ice center, assisting people with Open Skate.

Kylie Annable Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com Recreational ice skating activities have resumed this fall at SUNY Oswego. Open Skate sessions are managed by the Oswego Skate Shop. The Shop operates as a part of the programs provided by the Department of Campus Life. Open Skate sessions take place at the Marano Campus Center Arena and Convocation Center. Participants should enter the arena through the main doors at the lower level of the Marano Campus Center. The SUNY Oswego Skate Shop is located in room 24 of the Marano Campus Center, which is located adjacent to the Open Skate lobby area on the lower level of the Arena and Convocation Center. The next upcoming Open Skate session is scheduled for Sept. 24, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The full Open Skating schedule, as well as more information regarding Open Skate sessions, can be found on the SUNY Oswego website on the Campus Life page. Due to concern about COVID-19, members of the general public will not be allowed to at-

tend Open Skate sessions until further notice. “Because of the ongoing pandemic, only fully vaccinated SUNY Oswego Students, Faculty, and Staff will be allowed to participate in these activities,”the SUNY Oswego website states. “Members of the general public are not able to participate at this time.” Also, in regulation with the SUNY wide Child Protection Policy, all children under the age of 17 have to be accompanied by an adult guardian. This guardian must be 18 years or older and with the child at all times while on campus to attend the program. During regular operating hours, the Skate Shop can be reached by phone at (315) 3122578. The Skate Shop’s manager, Tim Graber, also can be reached by his e-mail, timothy.graber@ oswego.edu, for more questions or concerns regarding SUNY Oswego’s Open Skate program. The SUNY Oswego website says, “The mission of the Skate Shop is to provide a safe, controlled, and enjoyable environment for members of the campus community and general public to participate in ice skating as a recreational activity.”

Sports

Opinion

Laker Review

News

MEDIA DAY

BIO ETHICS CONCERNS

BACK TO ‘86

OSWEGO PORCHFEST

Michael Gross | The Oswegonian

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John Custodio | The Oswegonian

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THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

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Joshua Jock, 37, was arrested on Sept. 20 at 9:55 a.m. for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree after he was found with nine envelopes containing fentanyl, with intention to sell, and a metal knuckle knife. Robert Dawson, 71, was arrested on Sept. 21 at 8:44 p.m. for driving while intoxicated and failure to yield to a right of way which resulted in a motor vehicle accident in the City of Oswego. **Police blotter information is provided by the Oswego City Police Department**

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William Player, 21, was arrested on Sept. 19 at 6:32 p.m. for burglary in the third degree and petit larceny following an incident at the Walmart in the City of Oswego.

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Jeremy Smith, 36, was arrested on Sept. 18 at 2:34 p.m. for one count of harassment in the second degree following an assault with physical contact and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Pretty much we are connecting laundry haters to laundry lovers.”

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sep 24, 2021

-Camden Olivero, from Cover

Student explains struggles with COVID-19

Vaccinated, believes illness would be worse without Tomas Rodriguez Asst. News Editor trodriguez@oswegonian.com

As the deadline to meet the full vaccination status outlined by SUNY Oswego fast approaches, one student is sharing what the battle against COVID-19 was like for him. Lane Russell was looking forward to the return to in-person classes, but all that changed within days after he contracted the virus the weekend after the first week of classes. “I was very excited to get back into classes and unfortunately that first weekend was when I first started to feel sick,” Russell said. When he first started feeling sick, Russell said he stopped going to work and attending his classes in person out of caution. “It was pretty disappointing, I guess you could say,” he said. “I was so excited to finally get back into the rhythm of things, things started to get normal and then things took [a] turn for the worst when I ended up testing positive.”

For Russell, having to quarantine meant he had to take care of everything on his own, as he lives off-campus and away from family. “For me, it was just accepting that ‘you’re going to be alone and not leave your apartment for seven to 10 days,’” Russell said. “I just had to accept that, and that was a little depressing because it’s unfortunate to not be around other people for that long and feel that separation from society.” That sudden transition, he said, was “a hard adjustment to make.” “Having that separation was one of the hardest parts for me,” Russell said. Russell, who had received both shots, said his symptoms were mild. “I feel like I had a very mild case, which was great, because I was still able to focus on things,” Russell said. “The emotions I felt [were] really just that sadness in being separated, and I would say if it wasn’t for talking to relatives or my girlfriend on the phone, it would have been much worse.”

Russell said a lot of those emotions were similar to those he experienced last year when he transferred to Oswego and everything was remote. “Being away from my home, from my family and my friends, I felt a lot of those same emotions that I had, but even a step further because I was trapped in my home,” Russell said, adding that “I couldn’t go outside and experience the world like I could last year. I just felt that isolation even worse.” Now, Russell says he hopes that others won’t have to go through the two-week battle he endured with COVID-19. “Even though I had the full vaccine series, I had both shots, and I still got sick,” Russell said. “Even after all that, I would recommend it to everybody, not just in the sense of ‘there’s punishments at the school level for it,’ but I know that without that my condition would have been worse.” The school has set the Sept. 27 deadline for students to receive the full vaccine series in order to be able to remain on campus.

Open Skate Friday, Sept. 27 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Marano Campus Center

Rice Creek Reflection: Honey Bees Saturday Sept.25, 2:00 p.m. Rice Creek Field Station Stride to SAVE Lives 5k Walk Saturday, Sept. 25 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Breitbeck Park

ALANA: 35th Annual Conference Kenote Speaker, Saul Flores Saturday, Sept. 25 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Sheldon Ballroom ALANA: 11th annual Unity Peace Walk Sunday, Sept. 26 2:00 p.m.

ALANA: Spoken Word Poetry Program and Networking Reception Sunday, Sept. 26 3:00 p.m. - 4:00p.m. Annika Wickham |The Oswegonian

The SUNY Oswego COVID-19 testing center is located in the Poucher Wing of the Marano Campus Center.

HPW Internship Workshop Monday, Sept. 27 6:00 p.m. Richard S. Shineman Center, 183 Note Taking Workshop Monday, Sept. 27 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Virtual

Understanding your Mental Health, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7:00 p.m. Virtual

XXX

Student Association meets at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in Lanigan Hall, Room 103

In the executive statement, SA President, Takayla Beckon spoke on the agenda for the remainder of the semester. Plans for events, such as Oz Got Talent, Oz Olympics, the Know Your Rights Campaign, Leading Ladies Photoshoot, Earth Week and an end of the year Prom were announced. Many of these plans are in partnership with other organizations such as ALANA and hope to involve the greater Oswego community.

The official swearing in of this year’s SA senators took place Tues-

day night. Senators, Fei Yang Gu, Dylan DiCenzi, Samoya Dysdale, Sa’Cora Sneed, Sugarmaa Feyling, Keavon Jimenez, Favoured Joy Oghenekome, Monell Pemberton, Brooke Gingher, Katherine Bablin, Nathalie Monero Ramirez and Thomas Ehrhard vowed to “solemnly preserve, protect and defend” the SA Constitution. The 12 senators will represent the sudent body on committees of finance, involvement and rules and judiciary.

tions and other internal processess. Senator Sugarmaa Feyling was elected and Finance Committee Chair, which focuses on club budgeting processes, the contigency budget council and club fun screening. Senator Thomas Ehrhard was elected as Involvement Committee Chair and will lead the committee focusing on organizing events and assisting other campus organizations with event planning.

Vice President of Student affairs, Dr. Kathleen Kerr, introduced Committee chair elec- herself to SA at her first tions were conducted weekly SA meeting. Dr. for the SA committees. Kerr recently joined the Senator Fei Yang Gue SUNY Oswego faculty was elected as commit- and will act as the faulty tee chair for the Rules advisor for the Student and Judiciary Com- Association. Dr. Kerr mittee, which handles stated that she wishes bylaws, new organiza- to work alongside the

Student Assocition and SA President Takayla Beckon to advocate on behalf of student organizations and improve the value of the organization as a whole. Dan Roberts of Campus Life will assist Dr. Kerr in advising the Studetn Association, stating that SA not benefits the student community and does important work. Roberts will act as a full-time advisor after previously assisting in the advisory position.

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Sixth Oswego ‘Porchfest’ ‘Behind the Mask’ investigates student experience celebrated local musicians International student offers unique pandemic perspective

Image via oswego.edu Onlookers enjoy local artists playing at this year’s Oswego Porchfest in Franklin Square.

John Custodio Opinion Editor jcustodio@oswegonian.com The sixth Oswego Porchfest happened on Sept. 19, featuring 64 local bands and musicians playing on the porches of houses in the historic Franklin Square park and Montcalm park neighborhoods. Sponsored by local businesses like Pathfinder Bank, DuFore’s Diamonds and GJP Italian Eatery, Porchfest is a free event lasting from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with multiple performances at the same time around the west side of the city. Musicians range from smooth jazz and blues to classic rock and pop covers, with at least eight acts performing at the same time. The Oswego Renaissance Association supported the creation of the event after Gerri Millar attended Ithaca’s Porchfest and wanted the same event in Oswego. Oswego Renaissance Association executive director Paul Stewart and his partner Steven Phillips supported the endeavor and offered $1,500 in seed money in 2015. “We’re leveraging about $4 million for the event today,” Phillips said at a concert at 53 W Seneca St., with donations coming from local businesses and sponsors. According to Phillips, this year’s fest drew an estimated 4,000 attendees with more attending every year. Local food trucks were the only vendors, besides an official PorchFest booth selling t-shirts and handing out brochures. Buc Boosters, an Oswego school district nonprofit, sold drinks and food from

two booths, with one outside of Montcalm park and another in Franklin Square park. Cam’s Pizzeria had a booth outside of Montcalm park, and Roberts Family Mobile BBQ had one in Franklin Square park. Many performers had played in previous years, and others like SUNY Oswego alumnae Angela Russell were trying out a new style. “I performed a few years ago but with the Oswego Opera Company,” said Russell. “It’s my first time doing a full set.” Russell performed solo with a guitar, playing covers of Sam Smith and Ella Fitzgerald along with songs that will be released on her upcoming EP. Many SUNY Oswego students and faculty alike were in attendance, with some, like professor Suzanne Beason having hosted performers on her porch and performed in previous years. “It’s just an amazing event and I look forward to it every year,” Beason said. With Beason, Dawn Reidlinger pointed out the diversity of attendees, ranging from young kids to college students to older Oswego residents. “I love that it’s a multi-generational thing,” Reidlinger said. Reidlinger also supported the lack of commercialization, saying she liked how it was just a nice event with no cramped vendors or cheap products. Porchfest should continue next year with no official date yet besides an end of September target time. Interested musicians can apply on the Oswego Porchfest website or contact the Oswego Renaissance Association.

SUNY Oswego athletics department welcomes new director

Image via oswego.edu Wendy McManus was named as SUNY Oswego’s Athletic Director and began her role Aug. 1.

Annika Wickham Chief Copy Editor awickham@oswegonian.com Wendy McManus has been hired by SUNY Oswego as the director of intercollegiate athletics after an almost two year vacancy in the position. McManus, who has worked all over the United States, started her career as a volleyball coach at University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. “I think I just fell into coaching,” McManus said. “I actually wanted to be a forensic psychologist out of college, my bachelor’s is in psychology.” After one semester of assistant coaching, McManus accepted the head volleyball coach position as well as the university’s sports information director. She later moved to work at Texas A&M and was there for five years, before moving to Oklahoma. McManus, who is Canadian, said she then decided to move closer to her family that still lived across the border and ended up at Minot State University in

North Dakota, where she went “full into the business side” of athletics. She was at Minot State for three years before taking her first director of athletics position at Elmhurst University in Illinois. Then, she took the job at SUNY Oswego. Though she is not coaching teams anymore, McManus said her job as director has many similarities. “I still coach but it is more like coaching the coaches rather than the student athletes,” McManus said. “I get the great opportunity of providing them with leadership development, mentorship and all of those things [like] how to handle sticky situations or how to celebrate.” In her position, McManus works in strategic planning, business operations, fiscal management, student athlete welfare and many other aspects of the athletic department. As she has been at SUNY Oswego for less than two months, McManus said she is still working to learn about the specifics of the school and what changes may need to be made. “I want to come in and learn as much as I can, [I want] to be that sponge … so I

Clarissa Karki | The Oswegonian Clarissa Karki of Nepal shares her perspectives as an international student enrolled in SUNY Oswego during COVID-19.

Tomas Rodriguez Asst. News Editor trodriguez@oswegonian.com

“Behind the Mask” is a WNYO podcast now also becoming a column on The Oswegonian that locates international students on campus and alumni living abroad and reports on what their experiences have been like overseas coping with COVID-19. Host and columnist Tomas Rodriguez can be reached with tips at 772-3335501 and on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran. The journey navigating the pandemic has not been easy Clarissa Karki, a Nepal native who just started her degree this fall at SUNY Oswego. As for Nepal, many people lost their jobs during the pandemic, which resulted in food and supply shortages. “In Nepal, it’s pretty much the same. The pandemic is a little bit overwhelming,” Karki said. “The vaccine rates aren’t as high, but I’d say it’s pretty much the same.” Nepal has shared borders with India and China. During the peak of the pandemic, the border shared with China remained closed, said Karki. That was not the case for the border shared with India, she said. “As soon as the virus started getting extremely active in India, the trend followed in Nepal,” Karki said. “The situation was horrible.” That surge caused the councan see maybe where some deficiencies are and where I can make an immediate impact,” McManus said. A major part of McManus’s job is to work directly with all coaches and their athletes to know how best to help them succeed. “Coaches do what they need to do … they are worried about their program … my job is to be concerned with all of them,” McManus said. “I’m really looking from a 30-thousand foot level, where coaches may be looking for from a 10-thousand foot level because that’s what they’re supposed to do; they’re supposed to do what’s best for their program and I’m supposed to do what’s best for the department.” Michael Holman, the head coach for men’s and women’s swimming and diving, said McManus has done a great job of meeting teams and “showing her face” since she arrived in August. “She’s learning all of our sports,” Holman said. “Our histories, our needs, where we are, where we are trying to go, and it’s a lot, it’s 20 plus teams.” Despite COVID-19 restrictions and cancellations making all sports related activities unpredictable over the past year, Holman said McManus has been doing well during this unusual time. “I think she’s done a great job,” Holman said. “She jumped right into a pretty big fire and I think she’s working hard to tackle a lot of different issues.” Though McManus is still taking time to educate herself on the needs of each individual sport, she still has a few goals in mind for all athletic teams. “I want us to be competitive within the SUNYAC conference,” McManus said. “I want us to be competitive regionally and nationally and … most importantly I want us to be the model Division III institution that other schools look up to.” McManus hopes to work with Oswego State athletics to “elevate us as a whole” as she continues to learn the ropes of being a Laker.

try to face bed and ventilator shortages, with hospitals quickly filling with COVID-19 patients. Low-income workers have seen the most impact because they rely on a daily wage system, she said. “It’s still a problem right now,” she said. “The vaccine rates aren’t as high because Nepal doesn’t produce any vaccines and almost all the vaccines that come to Nepal are basically donated by other countries.” Nepal was under lockdown for the first time between March 2020 and July 2020. People were not allowed to leave their homes other than getting their groceries at designated times. One factor leading to high positivity rates has to do with the fact that a significant portion of the Nepalese population is not literate, she explained. “That was a little bit of a problem at first when people really didn’t know it was a very dangerous virus,” Karki said. In addition, Nepal is considered a developing country. A lack of internet access further complicated the situation from one day to the next, she said, where it created a disparate situation between those who could search for COVID-19 updates online and those who could not. That same lack of access to the web led many to lose their jobs from one day to the next, Karki said. On the other hand, there are many Nepal residents who work in India during the day and who could still do so during the pandemic given that the border between both countries remained open, she said.

“There are a lot of Nepalese migrant workers in India and vice versa,” Karki said. “When the government announced the lockdowns in both countries, people wanted to return home to their families, and that is when people just did not get tested.” Due to the large amount of people crossing the border, both nations found it difficult to carry out contact tracing and testing those crossing the border for the virus. “People ran away from quarantine facilities,” Karki said. “They thought it was a prison.” The strictest lockdown measures were enforced for that same reason toward the beginning of the pandemic, she said. Those who skirt the rules and left their homes unlawfully had to do 30 sit-ups in the presence of police. That rule was put in place to avoid locals from evading fines, she said. “That was the most severe form of penalty people were asked to do,” Karki said.

Tomas Rodriguez | The Oswegonian

A5 NEWS Campus vaccine deadline comes closer Annual ‘Suit-Up’ event returns THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Compliance with vaccine mandate must be reached by Monday Career Services revealed project Sept. 22

Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com The deadline for SUNY Oswego students to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 27 will be reached on Monday of next week. This means that all students must comply with the plan that SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley outlined in her Aug. 24 email to students. “With SUNY’s COVID-19 vaccination policy now in place, all SUNY Oswego students who have any physical presence on campus,” Stanley said. “Including students residing offcampus and coming to campus for class, activities, meeting up with friends/professors, or any reason, must complete a full vaccine series (receive two doses for a two-dose series and one dose for a one-dose series) by Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.” The only way to remain enrolled at SUNY Oswego without the full vaccine series was to request a religious or medical ex-

emption by Aug. 27. Even with an exemption those students face the strict guidelines of Stanley’s Sept. 2 email, which outlined that those unvaccinated, exempt or not, will not be allowed to participate in intercollegiate athletics, club or intramural sports, any clubs that participate in high impact activity or use the fitness centers on campus. The campus has done several vaccine clinics since April to help students receive the vaccine on campus and has also listed off all local clinics in the City of Oswego since then as well. This mandate also coincides with another pending deadline for SUNY Oswego and its current policy for masking on campus. The masking policy currently is unvaccinated students must mask up both inside and outside. Vaccinated students must mask inside on campus and are suggested to wear a mask when outside of campus and in crowded inside areas. This was an extension of the

original guidance for the semester, which called for masking only when in a classroom setting for vaccinated students. The spread of the COVID-19 Delta Variant and Oswego County becoming a high spread level county according to the Centers for Disease Control’s county tracker system were reasons for the extension at the time. The original date set for another look at that policy by Stanley and SUNY Oswego’s administration is Sept. 24. Oswego county remains a hotbed for the spread of COVID-19. Yet, the campus has seen a steep decline in COVID-19 cases the past two weeks according to SUNY’s COVID-19 dashboard, with 35 estimated cases for the whole student body. This number has surpassed 100 at the beginning of September. Another step by SUNY Oswego to reach a localized herd immunity level through vaccination while campus activities and the volume of students on campus continue to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Abigail Connolly l The Oswegonian The Compass houses Career Services and allows students to investigate and search for professions.

Annika Wickham Chief Copy Editor awickham@oswegonian.com

Abigail Connolly l The Oswegonian The vaccination requirement approaches, SUNY Oswego is encouraging students and faculty members to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before Sept. 27.

Tully’s Good Times set to open by December

Old Oswego Friendly’s location undergoing renovations

Abigail Connolly l The Oswegonian The former Oswego Friendly’s is being renovated to accomodate a Tully’s Good Times Family Restaurant, set to open in December.

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com

There have been no visual changes to the building at 196 W. Bridge St., but Mayor Billy Barlow assures residents that the long awaited Tully’s Good Times Family Restaurant and Bar will be arriving this December. Oswego residents have been waiting for the new Tully’s restaurant to open in the vacant Friendly’s location since it was announced in April 2021. Barlow said the construction plan has not changed since the announcement.

“The announcement of the Tully’s was when the sale went through from the previous company to the Tully’s company, that’s when we knew they were officially coming,” Barlow said. “Their timeline hasn’t changed all that much … I think they expect to be open by December.” According to Barlow, Core Companies, the construction firm who received the building permit, began construction on the building on Aug. 9. “Everything from their end is still on the originally proposed timeline,” Barlow said. They wanted to start construction in the summer and after talking to them recently, they still plan on a fall opening.”

He added that the firm expects construction to be fast paced. “I think they planned for a three month turnaround,” Barlow said. “It’s a pretty quick turnaround but they are used to projects like this.” This location is a smaller version of a normal Tully’s restaurant. It will feature a “quick service” concept and a drivethru option. These factors contribute to the location’s fast construction time. Since the announcement of the Tully’s sale was released in April, the business has acquired a contractor, building materials and necessary permits. It looks like good times are on the horizon for Oswego residents.

SUNY Oswego Career Services announced on Sept. 22 via email their annual Suit-Up Event in collaboration with JCPenny. The event, which will take place Oct. 1-3, offers students coupon codes and discounts on professional attire from JCPenny, including suits, belts, shoes, ties and slacks. In addition to clothes, students can also buy luggage, shoes, jewelry and handbags using the coupons, according to the email. Some brands that will be included in the sale are Worthington, Liz Claiborne, Ryegrass and Nicole Miller. A full list of apparel and accessories can be seen from the link included in the email. Career Services has also announced many events throughout the semester with two career and internship fairs are planned for October. The first, which is in-person in Marano Campus Center Swetman Gym, is Oct. 13 from four to six p.m. and the second is virtual via Handshake on Oct. 14 from 11 to one p.m. Career Services is also offering two Graduate School Fairs later in the month. The first is scheduled for Oct. 20 from 11 to

one p.m. also in Swetman Gym and the second is Oct 27. From four to seven p.m. and is virtual over Handshake. After COVID-19 shut down most in-person campus activities, Career Services also stresses in the email that they are open for walk in and scheduled appointments face to face. “Open daily for assistance with resumes, cover letters, internship and job searching, graduate school research, and more!” the email states. They also stress that if students are not comfortable with meeting in person, they can make virtual appointments or visit virtual walk-in hours MondayThursday 1-2:30 p.m. and Wednesday-Thursday 7-8 p.m. The Zoom link can be found in the email as well as on their website. The email also shared that Career Services offers professional headshot workshops and opportunities. It encourages students who take advantage of the clothing sale through JCPenny to “update that professional headshot” through LinkedIn Photo Studio, which is available to use via appointment. Career Services is back and open for all programs which can be found on their website. With less restrictions and more events, “It’s never too early or too late to focus on your career planning and development.”

NEWS A6 SUNY Oswego recognized Great Lake Review names fall theme THE OSWEGONIAN

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

for sustainability efforts

'Restoration' reflects on hardships, struggles of virtual year

Brandon Ladd | The Oswegonian The Richard E. Shineman Center houses science classrooms and labs at SUNY Oswego.

Abigail Connolly | The Oswegonian Members of the Great Lake Review Executive Board stand in the Creative Writing Wing in Marano Campus Center before meeting with staff.

John Custodio Opinion Editor jcustodio@oswegonian.com SUNY Oswego has received a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for sustainability efforts. The college joins the silver rating rank alongside SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Geneseo and 250 other colleges and universities. Rating is decided using a point grading scale on a variety of categories including public engagement, curriculum and building sustainability. SUNY Oswego scored especially high in the academics category, receiving a perfect score for Research and Scholarship, and Support for Sustainability Research. Oswego also received a near perfect score in Innovation and Leadership, with the ban on single-use plastics being a leading factor. SUNY Oswego’s low scores were focused on the dining halls and buildings, with sustainable food and beverages being a focal point. According to AASHE’s report, 1.23% of SUNY Oswego’s annual food and beverage expenditures were sustainably or ethically produced.

Kate Spector, SUNY Oswego's sustainability manager, said in an interview for SUNY Oswego News and Events article about the STARS rating, said “It has been an inspirational experience to work with a team of dedicated professionals from across our campus to gauge our progress towards a more sustainable future through the STARS reporting process.” SUNY Oswego’s sustainability department has created many initiatives in the past few years including Tap In, encouraging students to use reusable water bottles and fill up stations around campus to drink local water and to remove plastic bottles from the campus’s waste. The college has also created BikeShare, to lend students bicycles and reduce the carbon footprint from fossil-fuel vehicles. “SUNY Oswego has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Silver Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts,” Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE Executive Director said for the SUNY Oswego News and Events article. The Office of Sustainability at SUNY Oswego is funded by billing students $5 per semester and encourages students to volunteer on projects or intern with the office to get involved.

Brandon Ladd

bladd@oswegonian.com

Abigail Connolly Managing Editor aconnolly@oswegonian.com The Great Lake Review (GLR), SUNY Oswego's literary magazine, announced its fall 2021 theme "Restoration" as the deadline for submissions creeps closer. Since the spring of 1975, GLR has offered a unique opportunity for students to publish literary works. SUNY Oswego students have the opportunity to submit, drama, fiction, non-fiction and poetry writing as well as art to the review every semester for publishing. Editor-in-Chief Emily O'Brien attended SUNY Oswego in part, due to the opportunities GLR presents. "Having a literary journal on campus is very strange, you don't see that at a lot of colleges," O'Brien said. "I am looking forward to passing it on and making sure that the GLR that I leave for the next E-Board is the GLR that I want to leave for them." GLR offers students a place to get creative and learn together. Cam Gordon, GLR Treasurer, has been a member for three semesters and encourages anyone in-

terested in creative writing to get involved. "It looks good on your resume and it's also a great way to learn about the other genres," Gordon said. "For me personally, I was a drama editor two semesters ago and I learned from GLR about playwriting, so it was good to learn that as well." Each semester, GLR selects a theme to reflect the year and place some perspective on submissions. In a Sept. 21 Instagram post, GLR announced the theme "Restoration," defining it as "a bringing back to a former position or condition." Secratary Chris Eastman explained the theme was chosen after they looked at many alternatives because they did not want the theme to be restrictive. "We didn't want to make it sound too specific and after looking at a lot of synonyms, we ended up with "Restoration," Eastman said. "To me, it means going back to normal, going back to better things after they have been poor." The spring 2021 issue "Chaos" reflected a year of virtual meetings and communication struggles. Gordon believes this year is unlike the ones she has seen on campus before.

"Having this experience now, to actually go back to normal, actually going to classes in person, I feel like that all has to do with restoring," Gordon said. "I didn't have a full freshman semester, that was a real struggle." In the past, GLR partnered with River's End Bookstore in downtown Oswego to host a launch party for the release of the issues. With everything put on hold last year, the launch had to go virtual, with a limited number of copies distributed. GLR staff have been working with the bookstore in order to reinstate that launch party. "We are trying to set it up with River's End [Bookstore]. We are trying to find a specific, date and time," Eastman said. "We don't have any confirmation yet, but that is something we hope to resume with the approval from River's End [Bookstore]." The submission deadline for the fall 2021 issue of GLR is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. Submissions should be sent to GLR's Editor-in-Chief, Emily O'Brien at glr@oswego.edu. Those looking to submit may submit up to five pieces in each genre. For more information regarding submissions, visit @greatlakereview on Instagram or email glr@oswego.edu.

Contact:

John Custodio

jcustodio@oswegonian.com

OPINION CANDY TIER LIST

A5 Photo from Flickr

OPINION

VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE II

SPORTS B5

“Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”

FIELD HOCKEY

Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

How has SUNY Oswego handled COVID-19 mandates with college clubs?

Unfortunate necessity

Smart direction

Small price to pay

Personally I think SUNY Oswego has taken the appropriate steps thus far along with complying with SUNY and FDA approvals for nearly two years. As a college student it is unfortunate for authentic time to be taken away; but I understand that the path ahead will hopefully lead to a completely normal semester.

For the past few weeks, I have definitely seen a huge difference in how things are handled when it comes to mask mandates. I do feel as of right now, that it is smart to continue with the masks until we have a good estimate on COVID cases on campus. SUNY Oswego has done a great job with planning activities for students to get involved. While it is not as quick as we all may want it to be, I do think we are heading in the right direction to getting things back to normal. It is nice being able to go to clubs rather than joining through Zoom.

I believe the school has done a good job so far enforcing COVID-19 mandates. For the limited clubs I see in action on a daily basis, each has followed rules, especially with the mask policy, without any issues. Though inconvenient, I feel that wearing masks is only a small price to pay for clubs to be able to function in a “normal” way.

- Jack Perdek, Sports Editor

- Ethan Stinson, Laker Review Editor

- Caitlin Alicea, Assistant Laker Review Editor

From my seat: The Editor-in-Chief’s Column Pride matters, especially in student media organizations Inspiration drawn from Vince Lombardi’s autobiography

Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com I have been frustrated this week, actually furious at times. Looking around, I finally notice what so many others have warned me about, that nobody cares anymore. I laid in bed and stared at my ceiling about this. I even thought about it as I fished and it came to my mind as I ‘topped’ a seven iron on the links. Does character still matter? Does pride still matter? It is a conversation I have had with several broadcasting professors, they ponder the same questions I laid out. Is it a lack of involvement, a lack of interest or just a lack of caring? Maybe I am too coarse in my thinking. Then I saw my staff rise up last week to get the newspaper out in our first full week as a staff. It reminded me of a book I read in senior year of high school titled “When Pride Still Mattered,” it was an autobiography about the life of legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi. The book describes his tireless efforts to instill a belief in his players to strive for perfection and reach excellence. The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935 The thought put a smile on my face as I thought of the staff putting in endless hours to make sure our first newspaWe want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or any- per was a success. We lived up to Lombardi’s expectations, putthing regarding the Oswego State community. ting a team effort before self interests to develop a product that Email all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail was full of pride. submissions to 139A Campus Center, Oswego N.Y. 13126 This is the magic of student media here at SUNY Oswego,

the effort of several students with similar beliefs to produce content that they can have great pride in. Pride still does matter to the journalists, broadcasters and countless other majors that help make the student media experience powerful. In addition to a successful paper, last week Aaron Valentino and I were presented with the New York State Broadcaster Association Most Outstanding college radio show award for our show “WNYO’s Sports Hour.” That award was a sheer display of pride for the product we released four times a week during the academic calendar. This week we reached show 130 as a duo and the resolve is still there. I can think of countless other students here at SUNY Oswego that display that same pride when they release a radio show, television show or article each and every week. It is in their blood to put hours behind the work that they release. That is why I wanted to come to SUNY Oswego as a high school senior

and be a part of this process. Lucky for me, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be in a leadership position at one of the organizations. This allows me to have a fingerprint on everything that the newspaper produces this year but it would not be possible without the effort of the other 16 members of our staff or the other 15 writers that provide articles for us to publish. It is the ultimate group effort. The resolve of last week and the character of each member of the newspaper team, has me firmly believing that pride still matters. It always will and it gives me goosebumps thinking about how universal and timeless the principle of working as a selfless team is. The staff goes on and will do it again week after week. Helping each other out along the way. Elton John did not describe our process in his 1983 hit “I’m Still Standing.” Actually, Sir Elton, we are still standing. Onward we go.

THE OSWEGONIAN G UIDELIN ES

All writers must provide their real name, address, academic year, major and phone number (which will not be published). Members of organizations should include their title if their letter addresses an issue pertaining to the organization.

Photo from Flickr Vince Lombardi’s statue looks on outside of Lombeau Stadium, home of the Green Bay Packers.

Guzma

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 provided by John Custodio

OPINION

GOP must denounce Trump

Image from Flickr

Logan Stolberg Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Former President Donald Trump has spent the last five years tearing apart the Republican Party. His influence is all around the GOP where it has nearly been impossible for governors, congressmen and congresswomen, senators and voters to denounce his pathological lying and his divisive words. I have been disgusted by how people can fear a politician and yet suck up to him for political purposes. This is a very disconcerting thing because this is the political party I am registered with. I have been a Republican since 2016 and I have no desire to change that, but at the same time, I cannot believe what my party has become. It seems like only a small fraction of the Republican Party likes Trump, but a lot of politicians support him. They only support him because they fear that voters and family members will harass them for not supporting Trump. They also feel pressure to support him because he is a narcissist who will relentlessly bully them if they do not do what he says.

“They only support him because they fear that voters and family members will harass them for not supporting Trump.” Voters support Trump because of the positive impact he had on the economy and America, but they are being deceived. These voters will claim that Trump had cut taxes but according to CBS News, Trump gave breaks to the top 1% and not the middle class, who actually saw their taxes rise. The other policies that Trump had implemented were not great either, such as negotiating a deal with the Taliban that involved the withdrawal of troops. Trump drove up the national debt unlike any other president had done before. Republicans should be against big government spending and yet, after Trump promised to lower the federal debt, he only made it worse. According to CNN Business, the national debt rose $7 trillion under Trump’s administration. The national debt has gotten even worse as Joe Biden and the Democrats have continued to raise the national debt with trillions and billions of dollars of spending rather than finding ways to cut the debt. Republicans such as Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are a few of a long list of Republicans who have denounced Trump. Groups like The Bulwark and The Lincoln Project are anti-Trump Republicans who have made it their goal to attack Trump and his followers. More Republicans should follow suit and denounce Trump. More Republicans should follow in the steps of the 17 Republicans from the House and Senate who voted to impeach the former president following the events on Jan. 6. If more members of the GOP can finally stand up to Trump, the Republican Party can finally return to normal.

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Spencer’s Hot Takes: A candy tier list Gov. Hochul Skittles reign supreme, with Whoppers being the absolute worst impresses, fills gap well Spencer Bates Copy Editor sbates@oswegonian.com

Ever since 1847, when Joseph Fry produced the first ever chocolate bar, the world of sweets has developed extravagantly. However, some candies are simply above others. It is with passionate breath that I believe Skittles are the greatest candy ever created. This includes all variations of the hard, fruity candy. The versatility and easy access only helps its case. Also rounding off the top three candies of all time are Reese’s Pieces in second and Nerds in third. Again, accessibility is a key factor in this decision. The reason these candies are above the classics such as Snickers, KitKat and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is due to the fact they do not melt as easily. It is unsettling to sit down and eat one of these candy bars and once you are done you need to wash your hands. I should not have to get messy to enjoy sweets. That brings me to the bottom tier. The worst candies of all time. Sweets that I truly believe in my heart of hearts deserve to be removed from shelves across the world and put into a receptacle where they belong. The title of third worst candy of all time belongs to Tootsie Rolls. To me, there is nearly nothing worse than these solidified pieces of sludge. For one, they melt just as easily as any other candy bar. Also, once you put them in your mouth, it is a fight. Eating Tootsie Rolls is like punishing your jaw for no reason other than pure desire to do so. All of this I could forgive, if the flavor was not so ter-

rible. Every Tootsie Roll I have ever had tasted like they have been sitting in an attic for a minimum of 25 years. There is just nothing pleasing about these terrible pellets. For my second to worst candy of all time I have made the decision to group together any candy that tastes of cinnamon. I refuse to believe there is a human on this planet that eats cinnamon candy for pleasure. Cinnamon candies, like Tootsie Rolls, are punishments for the mouth, not treats. A person should only ever eat a cinnamon candy if they are in any doubt that they have lost all sense of taste. I see no other reason. It is believed in superstitions that if a person is to hang cinnamon sticks above the front door of their home, it will act as a protective charm. I promise, the only thing that you are protecting yourself from when eating cinnamon

candy is enjoyment. This brings me to my least favorite candy of all time. Whoppers. I get shivers any time I even hear the name or see them in a store. They are candy for people who hear TV static and decide they want to know what that would taste like. Whoppers are evil. They lure in unsuspecting candy lovers with a nice chocolate exterior, then trap the eater in a nightmare from the first crunch. If I was ever asked to describe Whoppers to someone who has never had them before, I would tell them it is like if you left packing peanuts in the freezer, took them out, covered them in chocolate and lied to yourself that what you are eating is good. That is all that Whoppers are. Lies. I will not be shaken from where I stand on this list and I challenge anyone to tell me where I am wrong.

Ashley Scott Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com

Image from Tiermaker Spencer’s candy tier list, created using Tiermaker, was a subject of hot debate in the office.

SPEAK YOUR MIND, TWITTER! POLLS POSTED EVERY WEEK TO @GonianLRO

Mammoth de-extinction a waste of money A lack of ethics in genetics research will be animal abuse John Custodio Opinion Editor jcustodio@oswegonian.com De-extinction, the same kind seen in “Jurassic Park,” has long been a dream of geneticists, biologists and dinosaur fanboys everywhere. However, in recent years, legitimate research has been done to attempt to bring back the most iconic species of the ice age: woolly mammoths. Costing millions, if not tens or hundreds of millions, bringing back woolly mammoths would not only be a tremendous waste of money, but an act of abuse towards the animal. According to The Washington Post, startup company Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences announced a plan in mid-September 2021 to create a “cold-resistant elephant with all of the core biological traits of the woolly mammoth”. It has been theorized that woolly mammoths could help fight climate change if released into their original range in Siberia and northern North America by scraping away snow to allow the ground to be frozen instead of insulated, and spread grasses in their droppings. Colossal Laboratories is supported by Harvard genetics professor George Church and would use CRISPR-Cas9 to take sections of DNA recovered from frozen mammoth bodies and splice it into the DNA of Asian elephants, the closest living relative to the mammoths. CRISPR-Cas9 takes specific sections of DNA strands and isolates them so they can be inserted into other DNA strands. With the highest estimates of wild Asian elephant populations being at 40,000, this pipe dream is not

Image from Flickr

only a waste of time and money, but a danger to the entire species. Instead of focusing on bringing back a species that humans might have helped drive to extinction thousands of years ago, those resources should be spent protecting the elephants that are still alive today. Similarly, these mammoths would not survive a year in the wild. Poachers everywhere would make a beeline for the tundra to kill a mammoth. Can you imagine the value put on a mammoth steak? On a tusk? This is hubris at its finest and might just be an excuse to launder some money or eat some elephant meat. Elephants are intelligent animals as well. These mammoths would be the first of their kind back and would be thrust into a life of emotional neglect with no family members like them, no instincts and no idea how to survive. Colossal Laboratories plans to use an artificial womb to grow the baby instead of a surrogate mother. Where do they draw the line

with experimentation on intelligent life? Will geneticists attempt to bring back Australopithecus, a human ancestor from three million years ago? What about Neanderthals from just a few thousand years ago? In bioethics, lines are easily blurred, and it is the duty of those not involved in the research to critique. Money and titles like “Harvard professor” win over many, but bringing back “mammoths” that are just Asian elephants wearing fur coats is a monumental waste of time and money that should be used for better purposes. Instead of spending millions on a pointless dream, the funds should be spent on projects directly impacting climate change like installing wind turbines or helping fight desertification. Seeing a mammoth in person would be incredible, especially as someone with a great interest in natural history, but this research is just another rich white man with a god complex.

Image from Flickr A mammoth calf nicknamed “Yuka” was preserved by the permafrost 39,000 years ago.

After former Gov. Andrew Cuomo tumultuously left office, news regarding the governor has died down. On Aug. 24, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul assumed Cuomo’s former position and yet, not much has been said about her in the news. In an opinion poll for how voters view Hochul thus far, a large percentage have yet to form an opinion. Nonetheless, she is posting a strongly favorable 42% approval rating. Hochul seems determined to show strong leadership with her decisions. As she is the first female governor of New York, on top of the fact she took office following Cuomo, it would be wise for her to show tenacious leadership and stand out, and so far she is doing just that. In one of her first decisions as governor, Hochul made masks a requirement in schools. She also announced that all healthcare workers need to be vaccinated, saying the mandate is not unconstitutional, despite a lawsuit arguing it is because there is no religious exemption. This is a common sense mandate; however, the lawsuit has already been raising her determination by vowing to fight it. It is ridiculous that this lawsuit even exists, but it is clear that Hochul wants to shift the tide with COVID-19. Furthermore, in her first major action, Gov. Hochul signed the “Less is More Act,” which looks to transform the criminal justice system in New York. This act allowed 191 inmates to be released from Rikers Island Correctional Facility. Hochul believes that the prison system needs serious changes, saying most inmates are incarcerated because of parole violations. According to a CBS News article, Rikers Island is in a state of crisis. The article states that lawmakers visited the facility and saw “cockroaches, rotting food and urine on the floor.” Rikers Island is set to close in 2027 due to other facility issues, but it is about time someone works to improve the criminal justice system. Cuomo attempted to do some reforms by releasing non-violent offenders; this caused backlash from New Yorkers. Hochul stated in a press conference that those on parole have the right to adjust back to society, and makes the excellent point that re-incarcerating them for a technical violation creates a never-ending cycle. A major issue with the criminal justice system is that recent releasees cannot adjust back to society. Often, parolees will commit a crime just to go back to jail because it is all they know. It appears that Hochul wants to break this cycle, which is a long time coming. Hochul entered the position with New York a mess between Cuomo’s sexual harassment scandal and COVID-19. The fact that she is choosing to tackle the prison system this early in her term shows that this is an issue she really wants to address. She could have implemented laws revolving around sexual harassment in the workplace, which is what I expected her to do, but she did not. Hochul appears to be a politician that knows exactly what she wants, and she is going to do everything in her power to get what she believes is right accomplished. So far, Gov. Hochul is doing an effective job in her new position.

B B33 SPORTS Volleyball reflects on team chemistry and first half of 2021 season THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, SEPT. 24, 2021

Head coach O’Connell reflects on 6-6 start, upperclassmen experience helping early Logan Stolberg Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State women’s volleyball team began their season in early September and so far, they are having a decent start. They hope to rebound and win on Sept. 24. Coach Jefferson O’Connell has been Oswego State’s women’s volleyball coach since 2012. He has been impressed with how his team and players are performing this season. One player he was surprised by was sophomore Grace Taylor. “She has done a nice job of building our offense,“ O’Connell said. O’Connell had also noted improvement with sophomore Nyah Davis, who he said has learned a lot. He has also seen growth from freshman Nicole Barden. “She has come a long way already,” O’Connell said. One of the team’s best athletes, junior Sydney Chiffriller, is out due to injury. She has had a solid start for the Lakers recording 43 kills and 59 digs in just 23 sets played. O’Connell noted that his previous teams made defense a staple of their game plan and still stresses it to this day. “Defense comes first even when we want to be an offensive team,” O’Connell said. “Giving the girls as much one-on-one time is paramount to our success.” Another vital defender for

this Laker team is senior Dana Carey. She has been on the team for four years and already has had a lot of experiences playing and traveling with her teammates. Carey has even been able to venture far from Oswego in the past. “Going to Wisconsin with our team, we went to a Baseball game there. It was very cool to fly to a different state and just experience that and the volleyball there,” Carey said. Carey envisions some promising team goals for the Lakers this year. These goals include winning some conference games down the stretch and making it to a championship. “I want to make it to the SUNYACS,” Carey said. “I want to be a critical part of the team.” Newcomer Madison Gordon has been on the team for a month and has already proven herself a good offensive and defensive asset. Through 28 games pre-injury, she had 21 kills and 53 digs. Gordon hopes to improve her skills throughout the semester. “I want to become more confident in myself in all areas like passing and hitting,” Gordon said. Gordon has already experienced many exciting things during her first year on the team specifically, hanging out with her teammates. “Traveling and going to a lot of different schools and playing in different areas was fun,”

William Rogers | The Oswegonian Action from the Oswego State Tournament against SUNY Canton Sept.18, Oswego State went 2-1 during play on its home court.

Gordan said. “It has been a really awesome experience, as a freshman when I came here everyone was super friendly and very welcoming.”

William Rogers | The Oswegonian Team celebration after defeating Elmira at the Oswego State Tournament Sept. 17, the team took advantage of fast starts all games.

Perdek’s Corner Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@theoswegonian.com Oswego State tennis is finally piecing together some victories following last week’s losses, and both the men and women are in the win column for the fall. For women’s tennis, getting off to a strong start has been their kryptonite the past 30 seasons. They have not had a winning record since the 19931994 season. With only two wins in eight this year, it will be very difficult for them to make the SUNYAC Championship Finals. The interesting thing about tennis in the SUNYAC is that their seasons span all the way from September to April. The Lakers will have nearly seven months to improve their record in conference matchups. Coming off a 6-3 victory against Sage College, I think they might have a couple more wins down the stretch of this season. Mattie Wallace and Jessica DuPont have been an impressive duo. Men’s tennis is a different story. Right now, they have two matchups in the fall including their 5-4 victory over Alfred University, and a match this Sunday versus St. John Fisher College. Their doubles teams have been solid in their debut outings against Alfred University featuring Anthony Salerno and Austin Davis winning their first matchups. The only trouble with this Lakers squad is improving on their singles gameplay in which Alfred got all of their points. This tennis team is young but a resilient group considering how well they play in duos. Time will tell if they can have their first winning season since 2017. Tennis can be an underrated sport at Oswego State. The difficulty of keeping a competitive rally with some of the top teams in the state is not to go unnoticed. Both of these teams have a window of opportunity to win a championship in 2021, they just have to take it.

Gordon added a team goal for her and her teammates including making it to the SUNYAC championship and beyond by making it to the playoffs. The freshman from Ardsley, New York, has already gotten a feeling of what the team chemistry is looking like between her and her teammates. In light of his promising freshman players, O’Connell could not be more excited for this season partly because they basically had no games last year. “It feels good to feel a sense of normalcy,” O’Connell said. “Not being able to practice at all last season was unpleasant.” O’Connell saw improvement over when they played SUNY Canton and Elmira College earlier this season. Before the tournament in their last defeat, O’Connell saw a couple issues in their defensive scheme. “Cortland did a good job at exposing our court tip defense,” O’Connell said. “They were all over our defensive blocks, our communication was suspect at best.” O’Connell is looking forward to the rest of this season to get

going and has a lot of expectations for the offseason as well. “Once we end our season it is all about recovery,” O’Connell said. “A lot of our new players when they get to us, have not seen our off-speed shots yet.” The Oswego State women’s volleyball team’s next game is against SUNY Fredonia on Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. located at the Max Ziel Gymnasium.

William Rogers | The Oswegonian

Oswego State golf place first in two tournaments

Seniors Ryan Fecco and Joe Marszelak discuss team’s success in the fall Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@theoswegonian.com Learning techniques from fellow teammates is a common habit for seniors Ryan Fecco and Joe Marszelak in the game of golf. This year’s Oswego State men’s golf team is off to a promising start this fall finishing first of seven in the Clarkson University Invitational and first of four in the Utica College Invitational. The key factor for this year’s golf team’s success is the senior leadership of Fecco and Marszelak. Both have been on the team together since Fecco joined as a freshman. Fecco, in his fourth year hitting off the tee, recently earned recognition as Oswego State athlete of the week for Sept. 17. Head coach of the Lakers Michael Howard had high praise for his leading player. “Ryan is very consistent with his game,” Howard said. “He typically gets off the tee well, which puts him in a solid position on his approach shots. He also makes a lot of those two and three foot putts. Ryan is confident in his ability so I think that translates well to the other members of the team.” Fecco’s hard work does not go unnoticed to members of his team as Marzselak worked with him from freshman to senior year at Oswego. “Fecco has been great, he is our number one guy,” Marzselak said. “He just goes out there and goes slow. He’s rather going to win the tournament or go in the top five every time.” Marszelak, who shot a crisp

78 in their nine team Clarkson tournament, referred to his relationship with Fecco as a learning experience. They have both been playing the game for a long time, but there is always room for improvement when playing 18 holes. “Our swings are a little different,” Marszelak said. “But we do play a similar style of game, he has helped me immensely on the golf course, we help each other keep our cool.” Advice and teamwork on the golf course is one of best ways to ensure a low team score for a tournament. In the Lakers’ win at the four team Utica College Invitational Sept. 16, Howard was amazed how low their four active players kept their score. “Overall we did not have any scores in the 90s at Utica,” Howard said. “The guys did a good job, Yahnundasis Country Club is a quality venue and four out of the five guys had never played there before so they did a really nice job on managing the course.” Having previous experience on a golf course is a great advantage for someone as well. Fecco had already chipped off this course before and was able to focus on his strongest part of his game. “Just keeping the ball in play was huge,” Fecco said. “I know my way around that course from playing it in my junior days and a few times in college, so I just knew where to place the ball off the tee to help give myself the best looks I could get.” Defeating the defending champion Utica College was a large stepping stone for Oswego State. Not only did they come in first place but they gained

the confidence of defeating a previous foe. Players like Fecco and Marszelak who are in their final season for the Lakers are just happy to enjoy playing golf again with their college team. With a year taken away from them, enjoying the little things makes the playing experience that much greater. “I told some of the guys on the team that this year finally feels somewhat normal again,” Fecco said. “And I missed that a lot. Not only did I miss not playing on the team when, but I missed hanging out with the guys off of the course as well.” The sky is the limit for Laker Golf this season as they hope to keep improving all the way working toward the 14th Annual Laker

Tournament in May. Right now in the fall season, they will have their sights set on the 23rd Annual Oswego State Fall Invitational Saturday and Sunday. Howard expects that the ceiling for this year’s Laker team will send them to a deep postseason run in spring. If they perform well enough in their fall invitationals they will have a chance to qualify and compete for a title in May. “Ultimately this fall we are looking forward to posting some scores that will put us in contention for the overall Empire 8 Conference Championship in the spring,” Howard said. “In my opinion we have the players who are capable of doing this and we are looking forward to that challenge.”

Joe Marszelak | The Oswegonian Ryan Fecco (left) Joe Marszelak (right) after Utica College Invitational win.

Shore Report

* - Indicates NEWHL Standings #- seed clinched x- playoffs clinched e- eliminated

SUNYAC Standings

Men’s Soccer Oneonta Buffalo State Cortland Brockport

0-0-0 0-0-0

Streak W4 W6 W6 W4 W4 W1 T1 W1 T1

Overall

Conference

Streak

3-2-1

0-0-0

2-5-0 2-3-1 5-2-1 4-2-0 2-2-1 0-5-0 2-1-0 3-1-2 4-2-0

0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0

L2 W1 L2 L1 W2 L5 L1 W1 L1

Overall 4-0-1 6-1-0 6-1-1 4-1-1 5-2-0 5-2-0

Fredonia

New Paltz

Geneseo Plattsburgh Oswego State

3-2-2 3-3-0 1-2-3

Women’s Soccer Brockport Buffalo State Cortland Fredonia Geneseo New Paltz Oneonta

Oswego State

Plattsburgh Potsdam

Conference 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Oswego Scoreboard Field Hockey

Wednesday, Sept. 22

Overall

Conference

7-0

1-0

Oswego

5-2

1-0

Brockport

4-2

0-0

Geneseo

3-3

0-0

New Paltz

5-1

0-0

Morrisville Oneonta

2-4

0-1

1-5

0-1

Overall

Conference

Cortland New Paltz Geneseo Plattsburgh Fredonia Buffalo State Brockport Oneonta Oswego State Potsdam

1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1

Streak W4 L2 L2 L1 L1 L1 W2

9-2 5-6 5-7 6-5 5-7 5-6 8-2 1-9

0-1

6-6

0-1

4-4

0-1

Around the SUNYAC Men’s Soccer 5

FRE: 5-2 (0-0) ALF: 1-5-2 (0-1-0)

Field Hockey 1

ONE: 1-5 (0-1) COR: 7-0 (1-0)

110:

In their third, 110 minute double overtime contest of the season, the Oswego State men’s soccer team got locked in a defensive battle tying Ithaca College 0-0. Lakers goalie Brian Terra had 5 saves keeping the team in the game. Oswego led Ithaca in shots through the entire game 10-8, but were unable to capitalize on them.

Friday, Sept. 17

OSW: MOR:

Mastracco: 2 goals Pagliaroli: 2 assists Scheblein: 3 saves Cummings: 4 shots Haven: 2 shots Dueber: 10 saves

1-3 ELM:

Sauschuck: 7 kills, 2 digs Ryan: 21 assists, 9 digs Hampton: 18 digs, 1 assist

OSW:

Simplicio: 11 kills, 10 digs Bechard: 15 digs, 7 digs Chiffriller: 19 digs, 10 assists

Women’s Tennis

Women’s Soccer

3-6

1-4

Sunday, Sept. 19

SAG:

Cherry: W 6-0, 6-0 Eichen: W 6-4, 6-4

OSW:

Wallace: W 6-0, 6-0 Sperling: W 6-0, 6-0

Monday, Sept. 20

1 goals, 7 shots OSW: Myers: Rhectrovic: 1 assist

KIN:

Keim: 2 goals, 3 shots Weaver: 2 assists, 1 shot

Upcoming Events Women’s Volleyball

Men’s Soccer Saturday, Sept. 24

Streak

Cortland

Women's Volleyball

Women’s Volleyball

5-0

Saturday, Sept, 25

Field Hockey

Volleyball 1

GEN: 5-7 (1-0) ITH: 6-6 (0-0)

80:

The Oswego State golf team finished in first place at the Utica Invitational. They were led by freshman Jake Owens who shot a team best 80. He was followed by juniors Anthony Robinson and Ryan Fecco who both shot an 82. The teams total score for the invitational was a 332, winning by five strokes.

1:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m

BUF 5-6 (1-0) OSW: 6-6 (0-1)

OSW: 1-2-3 (0-0) PLT: 3-3-0(0-0)

Women’s Soccer

Friday, Sept. 24

Saturday, Sept. 25

4:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

OSW: 2-1-0 (0-0) PLT: 3-1-2 (0-0)

POT: 4-2-0 (0-0) OSW: 3-1-2 (0-0)

Laker Athletes of the Week

McKenna Corbin

Ryan Fecco

Volleyball Junior | Kirkwood, NY

Golf Junior | Baldwinsville, New York

Corbin had a great week as the Lakers volleyball squad had a busy week featuring four matches including a weekend tournament. Corbin led the squad in assists in all four matches, totalling 60 on the week to go with eight aces. At the end of the weekend tournament, the Kirkwood native was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Fecco posted the best score at the Elmira College Invitational, as the senior shot 80 (+8) to lead the Oswego golf team to a third-place finish. The day was highlighted by a 38 on the back nine for the Baldwinsville native. Later in the week, Fecco shot an 82 as the Lakers took home first place at the Utica Invitational.

One of Oswego State’s women’s soccer captains Liz Myers has been on a tear to start the season. In the teams last two games Myers has scored three goals. Even though it has been a small sample size so far, Myers looks to continue to be the catalyst for the Lakers. The Lakers have started the season 2-1.

Oswego States women’s tennis took home the 6-3 win over Sage College behind Mattie Wallace and Jessica DuPont’s 8-0 win in doubles. Jenna Wilson and Debora Win were tied 5-5 in doubles before pulling away and winning 8-6. On the season, the Lakers are 2-6 and hope to turn their season around.

SPORTS B5 Women’s soccer finally ready to get back to playing after hiatus THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

McGrane knows what his team needs to do in order to have a successful 2021 season

Photos provided by Oswego State Athletics Liz Myers scored one goal in Oswego State’s 4-1 loss against King’s College, she now has scored three goals in all three contests the Lakers have played this season, the senior has provided leadership as well.

Benjamin Diamond Asst. Sports Editor sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State women’s soccer team started off hot coming into the 2021 season. Unfortunately for them, after only playing two games they had two weeks worth of games cancelled, making them wait longer to get into the flow of the season. Head coach Brian McGrane knows what his players need in order to get back into the flow of playing games. “We just gotta play,” McGrane said. “We lost one-third of our season so we’ve just got to be able to get out here and practice and play games and continue to improve.” When it comes to team leadership, McGrane looks to his captains, seniors Liz Myers and Graisa Madden. To McGrane, these two

Around The Diamond

Benjamin Diamond Asst. Sports Editor sports@oswegonian.com

The Oswego State Lakers women’s volleyball team played in the Oswego State Women’s Invitational in the Max Ziel Gymnasium this past weekend. During the two day tournament, the Lakers found success winning the majority of their games. The Lakers played teams from SUNY Canton, Elmira College and St. John Fisher College. They were able to take home wins versus SUNY Canton and Elmira College before losing to St. John Fisher College. Although the Lakers were able to keep up in the ace column with Cardinals, their downfall came from the lack of digs, losing 39-30 in the category, and lagging behind with kills 4325. Because of this, they lost sets during the game by not being able to keep up with St. John Fisher College’s point production, and in the end, getting swept 3-0. But in the matches between Elmira and SUNY Canton, the Lakers did a much better job in these categories, sliding right on by their opponents. Versus Elmira they had 52 kills to Elmira’s 29, and a very high 63 digs to Elmira’s 50, beating them 3-1. In the SUNY Canton match, the Lakers had an astonishing 19 aces to SUNY Canton’s 4. The 19 aces almost won a whole set for the Lakers which just shows how dominant they were in that match, winning in a 3-0 sweep. The most fun players to follow are Cara Simplicio, Emma Fiorentine and Georgia Farry because of their presence in every game. This tournament has a chance to help boost the Lakers’ confidence as it gets later in the season, and as assistant sports editor, when the Lakers play better it makes writing about them more fun and interesting. From their matches, we can see them start to come together and play above their competition. Even when they lose they have something they can take away from it going forward. The Lakers are 6-6 right now, and hope to improve on their record as they play SUNY Fredonia on Sept. 24, and Buffalo State on Sept. 25.

players rally the team and keep them together. With a strong foundation, the team can easily build up and improve as a team. McGrane also looks to Andrea Hernandez who he has full confidence in to be the voice for the younger players. “[Andrea Hernandez] has been a really good, [soundboard] for the younger players,” McGrane said. “She has also been a very good mentor.” McGrane takes pride in how well balanced his team is, having many good players from newer freshman to veteran seniors. Players like Gillian Groth, Luigina Serrao and Katie Delgrosso are players McGrane thinks will have a large impact on how the team does this season. But he also knows how not playing for an extended period of time can hurt the development of his players, but he

believes that it should not have much of an effect on his players. “A couple freshmen and a couple sophomores have done really well so far,” McGrane said. Serrao has done great for us, Delgrosso has done great for us, same with Groth. All of the sophomores have played the same amount as the freshmen so it’s good to finally see them play. But missing a certain number of games really hurts development, and it asks that younger players have to play up in conference play.” McGrane knows that team chemistry is very important when a team wants to be successful and win together. That is why he appointed captains to help keep the team on one wavelength. One of the captains of the team, Liz Myers understands how important good team chemistry is for a team. So far this season she believes that

the team has been very close, and working well together. “The team chemistry has been very close,” Myers said. “After not being able to meet and play with the freshmen last year, we have made it our goal to be connected on and off the field to ensure our bond is stronger than ever.” During their hiatus, Myers and the rest of the team knew they needed to make sure they were ready when their games resumed. Whether it came to making sure they kept up the chemistry or keeping up with their workout routines, each player wanted to be ready to play when they could play again. “We made sure we kept up with our activities whether it be going for a run or going to the gym or even just doing another type of physical activity,” Myers said. “Whatever we needed to do to be

ready, we wanted it to be done.” After the break, every game is important and McGrane knows that his team needs to play at their best every time they go out on the field. McGrane also takes his schedule one game at time, not focusing too far ahead and worrying about a game that is weeks away. Right now his focus is on the games coming up this week versus Plattsburgh State on Friday and SUNY Potsdam on Saturday. “All of them in conference are important when it comes to seeding and points, no game is more important than the others,” McGrane said. “We are just focused on Plattsburgh and Potsdam this weekend.” McGrane believes his team is ready to continue their season and has high hopes for where they can go.

Testo and DeMichael speak on team’s veteran leadership

As seniors, they know what needs to be done to make sure team chemistry is strong

Will Rogers | The Oswegonian Alyssa DiMichael defending against St. John Fisher College in a 2-3 loss on Sept.18. The senior has four goals and one assists in six games played in 2021 for the Lakers.

Alexander Abramovitch Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com After losing out on a whole season to COVID-19, the Oswego State field hockey team is off to a 4-2 start and looks to continue its early-season success under head coach Heather Moore, senior defenseman Abby Testo and senior Forward Alyssa DeMichael.fTwo veteran leaders for the team, DeMichael and Testo have had their fair share of experience. DeMichael has started in all 37 games throughout her career, while Testo has started in all but one. Field hockey has meant a lot to these two as they have had many fond memories playing for the Lakers the past four years. There are a lot of good moments to reminisce about for these seniors. All the hard work and preparation that goes into the season is something they have been through several times. For Testo, seeing the field hockey team improve from start to finish is one of those accomplishments she got to witness. “Seeing the team grow from our freshman year has been the best part,” Testo said. “It really started our freshman year, our whole class, it’s nice to see us

as seniors and really grow into a good group.” DeMichael scored in her first career game against Wells College on Aug. 31, 2018, while Testo scored her first career goal against Hartwick College on Oct. 9, 2018. From that moment on, the seniors have continued to leave their mark on the team and are certainly going to miss the sport after this season. “Just being together, gamedays and being close, we’re like a family,” DeMichael said. The support the Oswego State fans have given the team over the years sparks their fuel to compete and give every game their all. Having a sense of comfort at the Laker Turf Stadium is something these girls are very excited to have back this fall. “The whole community has your back through everything and it’s nice to have that support system,” Testo said. “Whether it’s on the field or in the classroom, there is always someone looking out for you.” Testo and DeMichael, along with the rest of their senior class, hold a special place in Moore’s heart, as this group was her first recruiting class in command of the Lakers. “It’s been really fun, this is my first recruiting class, so be-

ing able to see them in their first years and then transitioning all the way forward to their last has been awesome,” Moore said. “It’s unfortunate that COVID happened because we lost a whole year, but it’s been fun, they are becoming adults and thinking in different ways now so it’s been really rewarding as they are going into their senior years.” Moore went on to give out some advice to the seniors for what comes next after their field hockey careers. “Continue to be focused, determined, and work hard,” Moore said. “Always have a voice when you are working with your peers.” Both Testo and DeMichael play great roles on this team and Moore praises them and their other senior players on how much they mean to the team. For this group of seniors, taking a moment to soak in an experience that last year’s seniors did not get is something they want to remember. This year they have an opportunity to pick up what those players could not do on the field. “They are a large group, there are seven of them and the fact that they were grateful to have their senior year,” Moore said. “They are excited to show up and change the way that the team has functioned in the past

to what it is now, in a more positive way and distribute that positivity and good vibes all over the place.” Moore continued to hand out praises for Testo, DeMichael and the fellow seniors as far as what they mean to the team. “They are the heart and soul of this team. They have the most experience, they have a variety of positions that they play, so I think the team will miss their impact and leadership,” Moore said. “They will be missed, and hopefully they have done their job, so there are people to fill in their spots.” For the Lakers, this has been their best start to a season since 2018, when they also started 4-2. Both DeMichael and Testo are off to roaring starts. DeMichael, recording four goals and one assist through six games is on her way towards having the best season of her career. She had eight goals and two assists back in 2018, both career highs. Testo has been rock solid on defense for the Lakers and has already matched her career total in assists this season in only five games. The Lakers grabbed a 5-0 victory at Morrisville State and look to keep up their momentum at Elmira College Sept. 24.

Sports Senior Season

B5 Will Rogers | The Oswegonian

SPORTS THE OSWEGONIAN

NEWS GLR Theme

A6 Abigail Connolly | The Oswegonian

VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE II • www.oswegonian.com

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2020

Men’s hockey eager, happy to get back to skating in MCC Ice Arena

Coach Gosek ready to take on SUNYAC with 21 new players sporting the green and gold this season

Michael Gross | The Oswegonian From left to right, Ed Gosek, Josh LeBlanc, Ryan Bunka, and Travis Broughman at Oswego State Media day Sept. 23, all three of which are seniors will be leaned upon this season with new faces around.

Michael Gross Sports Writer mgross@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s hockey team conducted media day on Sept. 22 in the Marano Campus Center. Head Coach Ed Gosek led the charge in answering questions, accompanied by seniors Josh LeBlanc, Ryan Bunka and Travis Broughman. Being away from the game and wheelhouse for so long, it was almost like torture for Gosek. Not being around hockey and his players made him realize just how much he appreciates his Lakers. “From a coaching standpoint it has been 16 months or longer, so we are certainly excited to get started. You don’t learn to fully appreciate something until it is taken away from you,” Gosek said. “We are looking forward to getting on the ice, having fun and [regaining] some type of normalcy. As far as practice everyday, being around the players, getting prepared for games, our staff all feels the same way in getting to do something we love again

and we could not be happier.” The Lakers last contest came on Saturday Mar. 7 at Ira S. Wilson Arena as SUNY Geneseo captured the SUNYAC title by a final score of 4-1. While it is not as fresh in the minds of many fans, it being over eight months ago, the players and coaches who were there use it as fuel for thinking about this season. LeBlanc summed up everyone’s general thoughts on the Knights in five words. “We do not like Geneseo,” Leblanc said. But on a more serious note, when asked what word he would use to describe this team and all that has yet to come, LeBlanc used the word grit. “I would say it is a toss up between hard work and grit,” he said. “In my experience here, this team has always worked as hard as they possibly could so that is the mentality we take into the whole season. We want to be the hardest team to play against. If I had to choose one it would be grit, probably.” But there is still work that needs to be done before the season commences and cer-

tainly before they can match up against SUNY Geneseo. For example, there are 21 new additions to the green and gold this year and it will take time for them to get acclimated to not only college hockey, but Laker hockey as well. For Bunka, he believes that the newcomers already possess the talent needed to perform at the big stage of Division III hockey. “We told them to go ahead and be themselves, they have been in big junior leagues so they are used to the loudness of the arenas,” Bunka said. “I think they are just excited to get out on the ice and play.” Although the goal on everyone’s mind is still a SUNYAC championship, there is a distinct feeling in the air, a certain sense of optimism that surrounds the team, that could make it a reality. “We will have our work cut out for us, in a short period of time, to put the pieces together with the 20 plus guys we have, regarding newcomers and returners,” Gosek said. “[A SUNYAC championship] is one of our goals. Our chemistry, some-

times you can feel it and other years you don’t. It has been a very positive experience so far and we are optimistic with the players we brought in and how they try to be the hardest working team, is something they pride themselves on.” When discussing the excitement around these last few months leading up to packing the wheelhouse, one of the most important factors when hockey returns is the community. Fans all over Oswego County as well as the country, are eager to watch this team play as they cannot wait to get everyone back in the arena. “I think it is all smiles,” Broughman said. “I think it is enjoyable to be back in that locker room with the twentysomething guys we have. We are having fun, hanging out, and trust me when I say it is the best thing ever. I know each of these guys will say the exact same thing.” Gosek added to what his leading point scorer in 2019 talked about, in saying that he is excited and hopeful that all of the students and people in the

community will make their way back to the arena. They have been without Laker hockey for over a year now and the wait will soon come to an end soon. The season is set to begin on Oct. 16, as the Lakers will play host to the Utica Pioneers in an exhibition matchup at the Marano Campus Center. With sights on a SUNYAC championship and more this season, the Lakers are expected to skate out on the ice with talent, grit and a whole lot of love for the game.

William Rogers | The Oswegonian

Women’s hockey have tons of optimism, excitement for 2021 season

Oswego State head coach Mark Digby and his captains are focused on a big start to hockey season Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@theoswegonian.com The build up to have players and fans back at Marano Campus Center Arena has everyone talking about Lakers hockey. Members of the Oswego State women’s ice hockey team are thrilled to get started on the right foot. The hiatus for women’s hockey to return in the Oswego community has been a long and difficult process. Players and coaches have been keeping in touch to the best of their ability along with preparing for the 2021 season. Now, in his first official season as head coach, Mark Digby is ready to get the season going. In the early stages of this year, building chemistry and communicating are huge factors he stresses to his team. “The big thing for us is to continue what our team has been doing the past year,” Digby said. “Any time you have this many new players, communication is a huge part of success.” The Lakers are experiencing a process of acclimating newcomers that is different than previous pre-seasons. This year is special because not only do they have incoming freshmen from this off-season, but they also have recruited seniors from two seasons ago who have never played college hockey before. With all these new skaters joining the team, there is a ton of optimism following the mixture of freshman and veterans on this team. Digby envisions this optimism as a driving factor to shoot the Lakers on a deep season run. “Sometimes when you have all that youthfulness, you have a lot of opti-

mism to go out there and play,” Digby said. “Being able to balance that excitement from the freshman and our veteran’s experiences is going to be a fun atmosphere all season.” Excitement is a major staple of the atmosphere surrounding Digby’s team. Two of his veteran players share his perspective and are stoked to get started as well. One of them being 5th year senior Philomina Teggart. She is a key part of this year’s team considering her leadership role and keeping her new and current teammates in touch. “About every week somebody would be texting,” Teggart said. “We started a team group chat at first, it was getting to know everyone at first which really helped me.” Now that the season is only weeks away, Teggart and company will need every ounce of camaraderie to make a championship run. Her co-captain forward Aislinn McAleer also has good things to say about new players on the ice coming into the locker room. “At the end of day we are college students,” McAleer said. ‘’We have social media so we keep in touch, but after only one month having everyone here I feel like we already know everyone so well.” Looking back at the 2019-2020 season, the Lakers were bested by Plattsburgh State in the North East Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL) championship game. This 1-6 loss resonated with Teggart and McAleer and is an experience they can relay to newcomers. “We knew we could win that game,” Teggart said. “We just did not get that done. We have the talent on the ice and we can go win the league this year.” Winning is something that Digby

and her captains see as a perk to their experience. Just being back to practicing, watching film and being together is enough to get them motivated to have a strong season. “Everybody says they want to win a conference championship,” Digby said. “Knowing what it takes to make that happen is just on a different level of understanding. Right now it is about being the best version of us. We are not trying to compare ourselves to any other team, so far I think we are heading in the right direction.” Two years ago when Digby served as the interim head coach the Lakers finished with a 16-7-4 record. With 10 of their wins coming from the

conference, part of their success stemmed from their now graduated goalie Rachel farmer. Now with three new goalies on the roster, Digby shared that it will be an open competition. “All three of them are preparing to be the starting goalie,” Digby said. “All of which will get opportunities to prove what they can do, we owe it to them to prove what they can or can not do.” New goaltenders along with the nine other fresh faces on the roster will have to adjust to college hockey atmospheres quickly. One thing they have going for them is the excitement and opportunity to play the sport they love. Now a defenseman for the Lakers, Teg-

gart understands the role of those who might not get a lot of time this year. “Even if you are out there for one shift, having someone on the bench can change your whole game,” Teggart said. “Showing them how hard we work really helps with the new players.” Coaches, players and fans will once again be able to experience Laker’s hockey in action at an intersquad scrimmage on Oct. 16 at home. The anticipation for hockey is something students and the community have been awaiting and the players are ready to soak it all in. “It is unreal that we get to play again,” McAleer said. “We are mostly just excited to get back out there and compete.”

Alexis Fragapane | The Oswegonian Team picture of the 2021 Oswego State women’s ice hockey team at the Marano Campus Center Arena, practice for the team starts Oct. 4.

INSIDE

C2 ‘30 for 30’ documentary C3 New Lil Nas X album C4 ‘Hawkeye’ trailer brings

recalls 86’ Mets

features big hits

hope for new series

FRIDAY Sept. 24, 2021

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

‘Once Upon a Time in Queens’ details rise, fall of 80s Mets Connor LaLone Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: “Once Upon a Time in Queens,” directed by Nick Davis (“Ted Williams: ‘The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived’”), is a four-part ESPN “30 for 30” documentary that aired on Sept. 14 and 15. The film features interviews with members of the New York Mets’ 1986 World Series Champion team, such as Keith Hernandez, Lenny Dykstra, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Ron Darling and Mookie Wilson, as well as former Mets manager Davey Johnson and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Calvin Schiraldi. These interviews provide a unique, in depth look into the clubhouse of the ruffian ‘86 Mets. A major focus of the documentary is the way that the success and swagger of the Mets in 1985 and 1986 directly coincided with an atmosphere of confidence and

prosperity within New York City. Interviews with residents, fans and journalists describe how the Mets fleetingly wrestled the attention and support of the city away from the dynastic Yankees. The 1986 Mets perfectly encapsulated the spirit of New York City in the 1980s, and Davis effectively demonstrates the way the Mets captured the hearts of so many. However, “Once Upon a Time in Queens” does not shy away from the nitty-gritty of the 1986 Mets. In their interviews, former players reveal some of the unsavory practices they participated in, including the use of alcohol, amphetamines and cocaine. Gooden and Strawberry discuss the influence that illicit drugs had on their careers, and Davis, as well as executive producer Jimmy Kimmel, do an excellent job of emphasizing what may have been for the New York Mets had Gooden and Strawberry managed to stay clean. The film also discusses the numerous on and off field fights the team

Image from ESPN via YouTube “Once Upon a Time in Queens” exposes Mets fans to highs and lows of their championship year.

found themselves getting into, most notably the infamous extra innings game when future World Series MVP, and former Cincinnati Red, Ray Knight threw punches with Eric Davis, resulting in a benches clearing brawl and numerous ejections. The true focus of Davis’ documentary however is truly to marvel at the incredibly rapid assembly and collapse of what seemed

to be baseball’s next great dynasty. As quickly as the Mets built a championship winning team, it all fell apart, leaving fans asking “what if?” “Once Upon a Time in Queens” accurately describes the process in which a losing team managed to load itself with young talent, add experienced veteran leadership via trade, won a World Series and then collapsed on itself. The highlight of the docu-

delve into generic horror film territory in order to compensate for the potentially suspenseful moments which it squanders. Though some satisfactory moments may present themselves, the film’s acting and dialogue often come off as comedic because of their over-the-top nature. While past horror films such as the “Evil Dead” series have achieved success because of their campy tone and performances, “Malignant’s” apparent desire to be taken seriously

renders its exaggerated performances and writing to seem unintentional rather than stylistic. As a result, fans hoping for a serious, high quality horror film may be disappointed by what they see. However, those satisfied by an ironically funny output may be in for a good time. Despite the laughable deliveries of her castmates, Wallis miraculously derives an amiable performance from the material provided. Portraying a woman who has undergone

mentary is a roughly three minute highlight reel of the greatest moments from the 1986 regular season, which is set to perhaps the most perfect musical embodiment of the 1980s: Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The upbeat and seemingly cheerful song hides a darker message, perfectly symbolic of the behavior and issues that were hidden behind the veil of a seemingly unstoppable Mets team. “Once Upon a Time in Queens” serves as a strong reminder of the extreme highs of the 1986 World Series win for the Mets, and the crushing lows that followed it. The film is representative of not only that era of Mets baseball, but also what that team meant to the city and the way society embraced the “bad boy” image and status of icons like Hernandez, Knight and Dykstra. Fallen idols, Strawberry and Gooden, serve as a haunting reminder of what might have been, a phrase all too familiar to us Mets fans.

‘Malignant’s’ laughable execution squanders unique premise Ethan Stinson Laker Review Editor estinson@oswegonian.com

Rating: Over the course of his career, director James Wan (“Aquaman”) has become a force to be reckoned with in the horror film genre. Through properties such as the “Saw” franchise, Wan has shown a knack for thinking outside the box when crafting stories, as well as demonstrating unique ways to include an abundance of gore in his films. Given the relatively successful track record of Wan’s films, his most recent project, “Malignant,” may come as a disappointment to viewers because of its frequent missteps. “Malignant” follows Madison Lake (Annabelle Wallis, “Boss Level”), a woman who, after experiencing a head injury, sees visions of people being murdered by the same menacing figure. Though she initially dismisses what she witnesses as dreams, Lake soon realizes that these events are, in fact, reality. While it displays elements of originality and unpredict-

ability through both its premise and subsequent twists and turns, “Malignant” ultimately falls short of meeting the high standards set by Wan’s more popular projects. A major factor which keeps the film from reaching its full potential is the early reveal of who the killer is. While their true identity may come as a surprise to viewers, the decision to unmask them early on causes the film to quickly jump the shark. The spoiled mystery also causes it to

Image from Warner Bros. Pictures via YouTube Poor writing, acting and ruined suspense keep “Malignant” from reaching its full potential as a horror film.

significant physical and mental turmoil in a short timespan, the actress salvages some of the film’s wasted emotional and suspenseful potential. One of the movie’s major redeeming qualities is its overabundance of violence and gore. Though neither the killer or his deeds are particularly frightening, their originality and absurdity allow viewers to behold some eye-catching sights. For those able to stomach what they see, the visuals may spark enough interest to help them look past the film’s negative aspects. For less demanding horror fans, “Malignant” may meet expectations for its gory presentation and bizarre concept. However, those hankering for a more sophisticated and bloodcurdling product are better off foregoing it. On the bright side, the film’s unintentionally humorous moments may prompt viewers to appreciate it for ironic reasons and thus frequently revisit it in the future. Otherwise, its inability to fully capitalize on its intriguing ideas will cause it to soon fade into obscurity as an unsatisfactory horror film.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

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New album ‘MONTERO’ promises bright future for Lil Nas X Spencer Bates Copy Editor sbates@oswegonian.com

Rating: Lil Nas X (“Old Town Road”) has struck gold with his new album “MONTERO.” Released on Sept. 17, the project is his first ever studio album. Apart from his “7 EP,” Nas X has always been one to only release singles. However, with this release, the rapper/popstar has proved that he is more than capable of putting together a cohesive project that is successful in making listeners feel just about every emotion under the sun. The album features stunning collaborations with the likes of many of today’s most iconic artists such as Jack Harlow (“What’s Poppin?”), Doja Cat (“Say So”), Megan Thee Stallion (“Savage”), Elton John (“Rocket Man”) and Miley Cyrus (“Angels Like You”). However, Nas X is not reliant on the features for the album to be a hit. Most of the songs are himself singing accompanied by beautifully provoking instrumentals and beats. The rapper’s lyricism is one of the massive highlights on the record. The lyrics “Oh, I reach out

my hand hoping that they’ll see I’m more than what everyone tells me,” from his song “VOID,” as well as, “These gay thoughts would always haunt me. I prayed God would take it from me. It’s hard for you when you’re fightin’ and nobody knows it when you’re silent,” from his song “SUN GOES DOWN,” are some of the best as they show the rapper’s willingness to be vulnerable with his fans and his lack of fear to speak about sensitive topics such as his problems growing up gay and having to hide it in order to feel accepted in society. Mixed with perfect production, “MONTERO” is easily an album one can listen to over and over again and each time find something different to love about it. “MONTERO” opens up with his popular song by the same name which does an excellent job setting the tone for the album. A tone which spells out how while the songs are catchy and that Nas X has really found his confidence as a singer, there are deeper meanings and tales of struggle. Songs such as “INDUSTRY BABY ft. Jack Harlow,” “SCOOP ft. Doja Cat” and “DOLLA SIGN SLIME ft. Megan Thee Stallion” all show the rapper’s ability to write instant clas-

Image from Lil Nas X via YouTube “MONTERO” displays Lil Nas X’s newfound confidence as an artist.

sics that people will be drawn to due to their somewhat simple and confident lyrics. However, there is the flip side with songs like “DEAD RIGHT NOW,” “LOST IN THE CITADEL,” “TALES OF DOMINICA” and “AM I DREAMING ft. Miley Cyrus,” which show that, despite the songs that more people are likely to be drawn to, he is more than capable of driving home a message with his songs and being raw with his past. There is a clear break in the album about 10 songs in, beginning with “TALES OF DOMINICA,” where the mood shifts and Nas X

gets much deeper with what he is singing about. While the first part of the album still has meaning in each song, there is a drastic change that occurs. “THATS WHAT I WANT” is the perfect example of Nas X bringing his two strengths together and making what is easily one of the best songs on the album. An addicting chorus and instrumentals are the perfect pairing for his messages and pleas for someone to love him as he finds himself disliking being alone at night getting in his own head. In the song, the rapper introduces the sounds

of a choir towards the end, creating a beautifully uplifting break in the more rock sound of the song. Someone who Nas X may have learned to use the sounds of a choir from is Kanye West (“DONDA”), who co-produced “INDUSTRY BABY ft. Jack Harlow,” and has been know to use similar sounds in his songs throughout his career. The influences do not stop there. Through listening to the project, it is clear Nas X also took inspiration from Cleveland-born rapper, Kid Cudi (“Man On The Moon III: The Chosen”), especially in the song “SUN GOES DOWN,” which draws similarities to Cudi’s “Soundtrack To My Life.” In recent days, the Cleveland native has been public about his praise for Nas X, as well as his criticism for homophobia in hip-hop. “MONTERO,” simply put, is a brilliant culmination and representation of Nas X’s skills as an artist. With instant classics and hardhitting songs perfectly placed throughout the project, the rapper has proven that he is much more than a producer of catchy singles that are doomed to be criticized by those who remain close-minded. While only being 22 years of age, the sky is the limit for Lil Nas X.

Laker Review recommends novel for Hispanic Heritage Month Caitlin Alicea Asst. Laker Review Editor calicea@oswegonian.com Though Hispanic culture should be celebrated everyday, Hispanic Heritage Month brings special attention to the history and achievements of the Latino community. There are so many great books by Latino authors that go in depth into the struggles of being a person of color and stereotypes that are automatically labeled. Many of these books are also inspired by true stories, making them even more heart wrenching to read. Being able to visulize the story as if looking through someone else’s eyes is what makes a book a great way to escape reality for a while. Interested in reading more about Hispanic culture? Check out authors such as Jennifer De León (“Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From”), Silvia Moreno-Garcia (“Mexican Gothic”), Gabriel García Márquez (“One Hundred

Image from Good Morning America via YouTube “Dominicana” takes inspiration from the experiences of author Angie Cruz’s mother during the 1960s.

Years of Solitude”) and Paola Ramos (“Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity”). For this semester’s Living Writers Series, the class is reading “Dominicana’’ by Angie Cruz in preparation for the author’s visit in October. Living Writers Series is a course designed for students interested in writing and going into publishing to learn about the effort behind the scenes between writ-

ing the book and then deciding to publish. “Dominicana” was the first Good Morning America Book Club pick back when it first launched in Oct. 2019. The book was inspired by Cruz’s mother’s story that takes place in the 1960s. It follows 15-year-old Ana Cancion, who immigrates to New York City from the Dominican Republic. She leaves everything that has been famil-

iar to her in hopes of building a new life for herself and her family. To make that happen, she has to marry Juan, who has enough money to provide for this new life. Soon, she will start to question if she has made the right choice. If not, she will be left wondering if pursuing her dreams would be worth it. This book talks about sacrifice, bravery and picks into the brain of a Latina afraid to be a

disappointment to her family, especially to her mother, but who also wishes to prioritize herself. She is isolated from her family and friends in an unfamiliar home with someone she does not truly love. All she wants is to be the savior her family needs to help them leave the Dominican Republic once and for all and find work in New York. However, she also has dreams she personally wishes to pursue, rather than live the new life she was forced into. This book has readers contemplating along with Cancion on what is the best choice and if personal dreams can be above family in this certain scenario. “Dominicana” is a phenomenal book to read whether or not you are taking Living Writers. It contains pleasant writing, in addition to an even better story to be told. Knowing it is based on Cruz’s mothers story makes it even more precious; a daughter telling her mother’s story and keeping it alive.

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LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

‘Hawkeye’ trailer gives expectations for joyful holiday adventure Ashley Scott Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: On Sept. 13, Marvel Studios released the trailer for the upcoming “Hawkeye” series. Coming to Disney+ this November, the trailer did not disappoint. Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner, “Avengers: Endgame”) is confronted with his past role as an assassin in the typical action-packed Marvel tradition. A new character, Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld, “Charlie’s Angels”) is introduced as a fellow skilled archer. Bishop and Barton work together, and it is alluded that Bishop will be Hawkeye’s protégé. Surprisingly, this trailer has a very comforting, holiday feel to it. The opening scene is Barton with his family during Christmas with festive music playing in various parts of the trailer. Overall it possesses a family-oriented, feel-good demeanor.

There are also some comedic parts of the trailer which adds to the sentiment that this series will have a little something for everyone. This is an unusual route for Marvel as most of the franchise’s works are highly action-packed and are not known for this comforting type of genre. Marvel has produced a lot of unique content that takes a new route on the franchise just this year alone with series like “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and Winter and Soldier” and “Loki.” “WandaVision,” for example, is not like anything Marvel has ever produced and this will hopefully ring true for “Hawkeye” as well. Marvel has done an excellent job building up this series. Fans of the franchise got a taste of what it will be like in the post-credit scenes of “Black Widow,” which caused a lot of excitement and suspense within the fanbase. It is no secret that Marvel produces amazing quality in their works and this trailer is no different. The cinematography, visual and sound effects

Image from Marvel Entertainment via YouTube Hawkeye trailer gives Marvel fans a glimpse of new character, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld.

and overall action do not disappoint. Fans get a glimpse of Barton taken hostage, a car chase and a bunch of cool archery scenes featuring both Barton and Bishop. Renner is not usually praised as highly as his counterparts like Robert Downey Jr. (“Avengers: Endgame”) or Chris Evans (“Avengers: Endgame”), but I know many Marvel fans are excited for the “underdog” character to be getting the spotlight. This is also part of the route Marvel has taken this

year with all the new series bringing secondary characters to the forefront. While Hawkeye is not usually talked about as much as the other Avengers, he had a very well executed character arc. This series feels like it will give a proper sendoff for Barton’s character who is quite literally mentoring the next Hawkeye. Renner is a very skilled actor who plays Barton very well. He has been playing the role for almost a decade, so his acting is sure to be very

well executed. Steinfeld will hopefully be a great addition to the show, and Marvel fans have been talking about the overall theme of mentorship that has followed Barton’s character from the very beginning, as Barton was also a mentor for fellow Avenger Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision”). Marvel knocked it out of the park with this trailer which generates an abundance of excitement for this new series.

men to try and act tough, or “macho,” to be addressed in the film. In the film, Eastwood’s character is shown to be tired and past his prime. Unfortunately, the actor’s performance often shows similar qualities. While he ultimately does his character justice by channeling the grittiness of his past characters, there are moments in which his line delivery, especially when profane, comes off as awkward or unsure. The same may be said for Minett, whose minimal experience acting is made apparent in a slightly amateurish, though respectable, performance. “Cry Macho’s” greatest flaw is its cliché-ridden plot. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the story, its generic beats render it to be less interesting and impactful than past Eastwood films. This comes in part with its lighter tone, which causes the film to wander into familiar territory as it attempts to present itself as inspiration-

al and heartwarming. Though it is nice to see Eastwood acting in a more lighthearted film, its lack of originality and emotional depth makes it difficult to fully appreciate its interesting themes and subversions. As a director, Eastwood’s work on “Cry Macho” may be categorized as competent. By remaining committed to honoring the aspects of his past films which made them great, he succeeds in deriving occasional excitement and emotion from an overall generic plot. Furthermore, the director makes the most of the film’s contemporary setting, presenting scenery and other visuals which help maintain the spirit of classic Western films. While it soon may be time for the Western star to hang up his cowboy hat as an actor, Eastwood’s ability to direct solid films shows some promise for what he might be able to produce through the remainder of his legendary career.

‘Cry Macho’ preserves the spirit of classic Western films Ethan Stinson Laker Review Editor estinson@oswegonian.com

Rating:

Early in his almost 70-year career, Clint Eastwood (“The Mule”) cemented himself as one of the most iconic faces of the Western genre after appearing as “The Man With No Name” in Sergio Leone’s “Dollars Trilogy.” Later on in his career, the actor-director showed he had yet to forget his roots, with 1992’s “Unforgiven” showing audiences an updated, subversive take on both the genre and his traditional antihero archetype. Eastwood once again attempts to relive his past in his newest film, “Cry Macho,” which places the grizzled icon in a setting more contemporary than his past works. Though it achieves only minor success in honoring his legacy, the film shows that an old dog such as Eastwood can still learn new tricks as both an ac-

Image from Cry Macho via YouTube

Clint Eastwood as Mike in Western film, “Cry Macho,” adding to his legendary career.

tor and director. In “Cry Macho,” Eastwood stars as Mike, a retired rodeo star who must travel to Mexico to find his former employer’s teenage son, Rafo (Eduardo Minett, “La rosa de Guadalupe”), and bring him back to the United States. After retrieving the youth, the two bond as they endure a long, challenging journey home. As a neo-Western, the film brings some new elements to the table, given its 70s set-

ting and use of a frail old man as a protagonist. Like past Eastwood characters, Mike is depicted to be a world-weary anti-hero. However, in accordance with the film’s lighter tone, he is shown to have more redeeming qualities and positive morals. Though his more favorable portrayal renders him to be less memorable than characters such as “The Man With No Name,” it does open the door for important themes, such as it being overrated for

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

'They Both Die at the End' slated for television adaptation Caitlin Alicea Asst. Laker Review Editor calicea@oswegonian.com Sept. 5 marked the fourth anniversary of the publication of “They Both Die At The End,” written by Adam Silvera. Fans of the book since its release were thrilled to hear that a television adaptation of it is currently in the works. It was previously in development as a series for HBO Max, but was later taken on by Entertainment One, which acquired U.S. rights for the show this current year. “They Both Die At The End” is a Young Adult Fiction novel that follows two teens, Mateo and Rufus, who are strangers to each other until they both find out that they are going to die in 24 hours. That means 24 hours to make their last day a great one. They both want to make one friend before their time ends. An app, known as the Last Friend, allows the two to meet each other and experience the rest of their lives together. To live a lifetime

Image from Adam Silvera via Twitter "They Both Die at the End" follows teens Mateo and Rufus as they experience their last day alive together.

in a single day. Most readers who’ve enjoyed books such as “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart, “Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston, “All The Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven, and so many more, have enjoyed this book for its plot and its representation of the LGBTQ community. However, there have been some mixed reviews on whether or not

the book really pulls at the heartstrings. Now that the adaptation is being worked on and has been announced officially, new people have become interested in reading it for themselves. With books like “They Both Die At The End,” where the title was confirmed to be a true spoiler for the ending, many question why it is even worth reading it. Well, there is a lot more than just

a book's ending. There is still the exposition, rising action, climax and falling action that all before the ending. What matters in a scenario like this is how the author chooses to give readers an unforgettable story to go along with it. Everyone has a limit to what they can handle emotionally. There are those who get attached too easily and then those who need more than just

loveable characters. Adam Silvera is a wellknown author due to his previous individual works as well as collaborations with other writers such as “More Happy Than Not”, “History is All You Left Me," “What If It’s Us” and so much more. With that being said, due to his popularity with those other books, many were more than happy to jump into this story. Now with the adaptation happening, it has motivated readers to pick up the book again for a refresh while drawing attraction for those looking for a good book to jump into. For those who don’t enjoy reading long books (400+ pages) no worries, this book just hits the limit at 368 pages. It is also a standalone, so it is not a series where there is a need for commitment to the story. While there is not much to be known about the adaptation as of this moment, fans hope to see some major updates coming around the new year 2022.

mxmtoon explores new genre, concept with video game EP Abigail Connolly Managing Editor aconnolly@oswegonian.com

Rating: mxmtoon, the indie pop artist also known as Maia, landed a unique role as an artist, offering her voice for the latest installment in the “Life is Strange” game series, “Life is Strange: True Colors.” Following its release, mxmtoon put out an extended playlist containing the four songs used in it: “in the darkness,” “creep,” “blister in the sun” and “every wave.” This is the first release mxmtoon has made since the release of the studio album “dawn & dusk,” and it did not disappoint. One of the most compelling aspects of mxmtoon as an artist is her range in tone and her unique ability to convey emotion. The first release of the EP came

with a cover of Radiohead’s “creep.” mxmtoon was able to encapsulate the feelings of despair and longing through echoing, rasping vocals and dreamlike

instrumentals. The cover is strong in its own sense, adding elements of her own style while sticking to the basic framework of the original song. Not only was

Image from mxmtoon via YouTube Mxmtoon covers iconic songs in addition to her own compositions for "True Colors."

this song the right decision for a single release, it was something that listeners did not know that they needed to hear. Sticking with themes of longing and trying to find oneself, “blister in the sun” proves to be a subtle anthem for those who know what they want. The chorus “Let me go on/Like I blister in the sun/Let me go on/ Big hands, I know you're the one” expresses the desire to continue towards something without reservation. This follows along with the storyline of the game, as the main character, Alex Chen, attempts to solve the mystery of her brother’s death while going through a journey of self discovery. “Blister in the sun” encapsulates the feelings of wanting to continue living despite hardships and struggles and mxmtoon’s unique talent is showcased

wonderfully through this cover as well. In an interview with Game Rant, a company dedicated to reviews, insight, discussion and analysis of video games, mxmtoon spoke about her contributions with the song “into the darkness.” “I think that I tried to be a friend for her, and I think that's what that song is really about,” mxmtoon said. “It's just about trying to find some hope in the darkness.” Lyrics including “you helped me see the light/The dim fluorescent flicker/In a dark, defeated night” showcase that desire to find hope in darkness and mxmtoon’s imagery is proven to be one of her best lyrical qualities. mxmtoon has shown her worth as a young artist since the beginning of her career and this new chapter is an exciting one for mxmtoon fans.

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Crossword Puzzle

Across

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

1. Spelling event 4. Finale 7. Zodiac sign 12. Poetic work 13. _____ v. Wade 14. Goes up 15. Cost of a plane ticket 17. Love greatly 18. Pigpens 19. Revolt 21. “___ Something About Mary” 23. Ranting speech 26. Vocalist ___ Franklin 28. 2,000 pounds 29. Diner, e.g. 32. Rather or Aykroyd 33. Average grades 34. Battering ____ 35. Captial of the Philippines 37. Dusk’s start time

39. Toronto’s country 43. Door sign 45. Excessice excitement 46. Comic ___ O’ Donnell 48. Ore refinery 50. Exceed 51. Wine (Fr.) 52. Self 53. Laundry appliance 54. Touch lightly 55. Male child

Down

1. Brag 2. Archie Bunker’s wife 3. Spooky 4. Blackboard cleaner 5. Also not 6. Antlered animal 7. Saudi ___ 8. Bus patron 9. Quarantine 10. Always, in verse

11. Wind dir. 16. Wild 20. Cultural 22. Calm 24. Fawn’s mama 25. Naval off. 27. Basker’s desire 29. Mr.’s mate 30. Water (Fr.) 31. Pardon 33. Suez or Erie 35. Falling star 36. Bemoan 38. Insulting 40. Stakes 41. San ___ Padres 42. Baseball great Hank ___ 44. Invitation inits. 46. Singer ___ Stewart 47. “Days of ___ Lives” 49. “Mamma ___!”

For this week’s puzzle answers ... Go to Oswegonian.com and click on the Laker Review tab!

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Sept. 24, 2021

Shea McCarthy

Jacob Fallat