The Oswegonian 2-25-22 by The Oswegonian

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State Singers

Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 VOLUME LXXXVII ISSUE IX SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com

Campus Cuts barber shop is open in MCC Fulton snowman competition The new barber shop location is open on Wednesdays is underway Hayden Wentworth Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com A new barber shop is open in SUNY Oswego’s Marano Campus Center. Master barber John Franko, the owner of Campus Cuts, is excited to have students come in, but he understands the hesitation they may have. “I know all about the whole trying out a barber thing, but I wanna put everybody’s mind at ease. I’ve been cutting hair for 17 years,” Franko said. Franko is hoping to grow

his shop to include walk-in appointments for women to get their hair done, but for now he is just offering men’s cuts. “For me? I only cut men’s hair on Wednesdays, it’s just gonna be kind of just the guy’s type of deal,” Franko said. “But other days of the week we can probably incorporate both, but for now, yeah, Wednesdays is going to be kind of like the barber shop deal.” Campus Cuts opened in the campus center this semester, and since then, Franko has been trying to spread the word about his shop to get students in. “Yeah, really the best way

to spread the word is to just get the good haircut and tell your friends,” Franko said. SUNY Oswego students are starting to discover Campus Cuts and what it offers. Oswego student Marquel Jeffries says that he knew he needed a haircut, but did not want to drive home just to get it. “Just having that same type of barber shop vibes, being able to have a good conversation and come out feeling more confident and better,” Jeffries said. “I think it was an excellent experience.” Campus Cuts will be open on Wednesday for walk-ins between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Image via fultonnny.org The city of Fulton is hosting a snowman building competition this week via Facebook.

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com

Kailee Montross | The Oswegonian Campus Cuts is currently offering barber shop services to the SUNY Oswego community. The facility used to be housed in Hewitt and is now in MCC.

CONTENT

Pictured: Kiana Smith @315texture and client Jalen Frison

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

The second annual snowman building contest has been announced by the city of Fulton Department of Parks and Recreation. All residents within the 13069 area are eligible and the contest is free to enter. Contestants can register online on the city’s website, www.fultonny.org, or on the parks and recreation Facebook page. They can also scan the QR code on the flier which will be distributed to students throughout the school district. Photo entries must be submitted by email to fultonparksandrec@cityoffulton.com no later than Feb. 23. Fulton’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Chris Waldron, said the decision to continue the snowman contest came from the success of the event last year. “We received such an outpouring of support from the Fulton community with our first snowman contest, we had

to make this an annual event,” Waldron said. “Last year, the snowman creations were nothing short of amazing, and we can’t wait to see what the contestants come up with this year.” Winners will be chosen in three categories: Fulton Pride, Biggest and Most Creative. Entries will be posted on Facebook on Feb. 24 to be voted on. Winners will be announced on Feb. 27. Fulton’s Mayor, Deana Michaels, explained the value of establishing light-hearted events throughout the city. “It’s important we continue to provide free family friendly events throughout the city such as this snowman contest,’’ Michaels said. “Chris Waldron and his special events committee are doing an excellent job of creating a calendar of events throughout the year. I look forward to seeing all the creative entries this year. It’s sure to be a fun time.”

See SNOWMAN, A4

Sports

Opinion

Laker Review

News

PLAYOFFS

PARKING

JEEN-YUHS

TRANSPORTATION

Image via William Rogers

Photo via Flickr

Image from Netflix

Michael Gross | The Oswegonian

PAGE 2

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022,

Weekend Forecast

Gonian Social

FRIDAY, FEB. 25 THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 27

Friday

H: 27°

Sunday

Saturday

L: 14 °

H: 30 °

L: 20 °

H: 32°

60%

100%

L: 10 °

The Oswegonian

@TheOswegonian

50%

@GonianSports

@GonianLRO

@the_oswegonian Chance of Precipitation

NEW YORK STATE

WEATHER

Potsdam 20°/3°

FRIDAY, FEB. 25

Oswego 27°/14° Albany 43°/18°

Syracuse 42°/35°

Buffalo 22°/14°

Marisol Guzman, 54, was arrested at 6:42 p.m. on Feb. 15 for petit larceny after an incidient at the Walmart in the City of Oswego.

NYC 59°/28°

Weather forecast provided by Brittney Sparceno from WTOP-10

Extended Forecast Monday

H: 25°

L: 17 °

40%

Catherine Racine, 40, was arrested at 12:33 p.m. on Feb. 18 for petit larceny after she was caught stealing merchandise from the Walmart in the City of Oswego.

Tuesday

H: 33°

MONDAY, FEB. 28 THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 4

Wednesday

L: 20 °

50%

H: 35 °

L: 23 °

Thursday

H: 32°

20%

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Friday

H: 39 °

L: 29 °

Alexandre Hosein, 40, was arrested at 4:39 p.m. on Feb. 23 on an active arrest warrant for criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and petit larceny. Russel Smith Jr., 33, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. on Feb. 28 for aggravated DWI following a vehicle compaint.

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L: 26 °

10%

Chance of Precipitation

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Alexander Snow, 28, was arrested at 4:11 p.m. on Feb. 20 for grand larceny in the fourth degree and petit larceny after he stole a vehicle in the City of Oswego.

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On the Opinion Cover!

NEWS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“One of our characters is going through a big change in her life … change doesn’t have to be so scary, and you don’t have to have your life figured out in order to live it.”

-Saint Fleur

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

State Singers are performing compositions

Songs are originals that are based on Robert Frost poems Planetarium Double Feature Friday, Feb. 25, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Planetarium, SHI 223

A Play Where Nothing Happens Friday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. Tyler Hall Lab Theater

Guided Nature Walk at Rice Creek Saturday, Feb. 26, 11:00 a.m. Rice Creek Field Station

The Food Group at Littlepage Dining Hall Monday, Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Littlepage Dining Hall

Let’s Talk: Drop-In Brief Counseling Monday, Feb. 28, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Penfield Library 211

Hayden Wentworth | The Oswegonian State Singers practice their compositions of poems by Robert Frost, which will be performed and recorded in April.

Hayden Wentworth Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com The SUNY Oswego State Singers are getting a chance to perform original compositions created by Instructor Caryn Patterson based on poems by Robert Frost. “So it’s three short little Robert Frost poems that I set to short little pieces of music and we’re going to perform all three of them, one right after the other,” Patterson said.

The group will be working alongside an advanced recording class in order to have the songs professionally recorded. “We’ll be working and collaborating with the advanced recording class,” Patterson said. “So they will be the ones that are doing the recording.” The State Singers group will be recording the compositions in Tyler Hall in April. An in person debut will follow in early May. “May 1 will be our official world premiere performance. Super ex-

citing,” Patterson said. Mackenzie Shields, a member of State Singers, is excited to perform the songs during her time being in the group. “I think it’s really cool that we’re taking compositions that have never been sung before,” Shields said. “They’ve never been performed, they’ve never been recorded.” Along with the May 1 perforance, State Singers will be performing the compositions on May 5 as well.

Disney College Program Tuesday, March 1, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Virtual

Growth Mindset Workshop Tuesday, March 1, 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Penfield Library, 215

Tina Talks Internships Wednesday, March 2, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lake Effect Cafe

Study & Intern Abroad: Info Session Wednesday, March 2, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Virtual

Trans Support Group Thursday, March 3, 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Mary Walker Health Center Annika Wickham | The Oswegonian

Biological Regionalism Friday, March 4, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m Tyler Art Gallery

Alberto Rey Artist-Led Gallery Tour Friday, March 4, 2:00 p.m. Tyler Art Gallery

Contact our News Editor Sydney Havens at shavens@oswegonian.edu

Junior Naturalist Walk Saturday, March 5, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Rice Creek

Snowman building competition heats up

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

SUNY Oswego theater department presents “A Play Where Nothing Happens”

Image via Blackfriars student production

Sydney Havens | The Oswegonian

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com

FULTON from COVER Previous winners have used this competition as an opportunity to showcase their local pride, but making a creative snowman might not be as easy as it seems. The AccuWeather team has released some of their tips on how to build the best snowman. They say that building technique and weather conditions play a very important role in how a snowman turns out. According to AccuWeather, location is everything. Make sure to start out on a flat surface with about two inches of wet snow for the snowman to sit on. A big patch of snow that can be used to roll the snowman on is also necessary. Not only that, but the ideal temperature

for snowman construction is 30 degrees. At that point, the snow has only a little moisture in it but is still soft enough to shape. If it is too cold, the snow will be too powdery to form correctly. Starting from the bottom up and making the biggest bottom you can roll is a good place to begin. The AccuWeather team states that the balls for the perfect snowman’s figure are three, two and one foot in diameter, respectively. Also, it is important to keep in mind that there are a variety of decorations laying around in the backyard. Buttons, rocks and charcoal can all be used to accessorize a snowman. Adding a scarf or a hat is a great way to finish off the creation. Some even suggest pushing a wooden skewer through the middle of the snowman to keep it standing up right. The final point to keep in mind is that the snowman must be visible from the street. Contestants can contact fultonnny.org with any questions.

RCA grant announcment

Spencer Bates Asst. News Editor sbates@oswegonian.com

Opening on Feb. 24, SUNY Oswego’s Blackfriars student production of “A Play Where Nothing Happens,” will feature common struggles that audience members will be able to relate to. Touting heartfelt special moments over intense sequences of action, the production follows a recent high school graduate and her best friend as they prepare for her transition from high school to college. Claire Bosley, who plays lead character Anna, described how while it may be different from other plays in terms of structure, certain moments make up for it. There’s no big climactic moment,” Bosley said. “But it’s all these beautiful little moments that are being romanticized and presented to the audience as something that is really special.” Described as a coming-ofage production, the characters’ development of their emotions and identities are on full display as the cast is made up of only four members. According to senior Kayla Elfers, the director of the play, this allows

for much more impactful and special moments. “Because there are only four characters, I would say that it makes the work way more intimate and more special during the rehearsal process,” Elfers said. “I think it allows actors to really evolve their character in a more quiet space.” The cast members are also finding the smaller cast size to be working in their favor. The chemistry developed on and off the stage is something that Bosley has been happy about. “I think small casts are great,” Bosley said. “Being able to kind of personally get to know each one of the members of your cast, and have a relationship with each of them, allows you to explore this kind of strong character bond between each of the people in the show, each of the characters that you’re playing.” Other than the heartfelt momets, the relatability of the production is something that is being heavily advertised. Problems that are being dealt with throughout the play are made so that the audience will resonate with the characters and the production as a whole. Senior Jennifer Saint Fleur, the assistant director for the show, describes how easily the concept of the play will be grasped by all.

“We spend our whole lives deciding what we’re going to do and plan out everything,” Saint Fleur said. “One of our characters is going through a big change in her life … change doesn’t have to be so scary, and you don’t have to have your life figured out in order to live it.” Natalie Griffin, who is set to play Anna’s best friend in the production, will be hoping to impress not only the audience but playwright Maizy Broderick Scarpa as well as this will be one of the first times the play will be on stage. “There’s some pressure with that because we want to do it justice, but at the same time it’s a little liberating,” Griffin said. “When you perform something like Shakespeare, the audience and everyone already knows those roles and they know the characters … but with this, they’re brand new, so people can’t really already come in with their own preconceived ideas as to how those characters should be.” The show will premiere on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. with additional shows at the same time the following two days as well as 2:00 p.m. matinees on Feb. 26 and 27. Tickets are available from tickets.oswego.edu, and are free for SUNY Oswego students.

Photo Brief

Blizzard Bucks

Image via Flickr

Dr. Andrew McElwain Visiting Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences The Oswegonian was approached by visiting assistant professor of biological sciences at SUNY Oswego, Dr. Andrew McElwain regarding the Small Grants Program at Rice Creek proposals deadline approaching in the near future. McElwain explains the following about the proposal deadline and program itself below: Scholars, scientists, educators, students and members of the general community are invited to submit proposals for the Rice Creek Associates Small Grants Program by April 11. Approved projects must involve work at SUNY Oswego’s Rice Creek Field Station. Awards are expected to range between $500 and $2,000. Grant recipients need not be affiliated with the college or the field station. RCA has awarded over 100 projects since 1996. The program is intended to support and encourage research, education and public service projects at Rice Creek Field Station. Proposals oriented toward sciences, arts, child education, health and wellness, social sciences and service projects

will be considered. Submissions must be made electronically. For more information and proposal submission guidelines, download the Call for Proposals from the program Web site: https://www.oswego.edu/ricecreek/research-and-academics/ small-grants-program Rice Creek Associates A citizen support group of Rice Creek Field Station, Rice Creek Associates aims to help the field station meet its mission to preserve the area, advance knowledge of ecological processes and disseminate this information to the public. About Rice Creek Field Station Located off Thompson Road south of Lake Ontario and the main SUNY Oswego campus, Rice Creek Field Station properties include varied habitats including open fields, mature forests and wetlands. The property is bisected by Rice Creek and Rice Pond, as well as several walking trails. Facilities include a research lab and office for visiting scientists, an observatory, teaching labs, a classroom, a small library, collection storage, field equipment and the field overall as a natural outdoor laboratory.

Image via Mayor Barlow’s website

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com Mayor Billy Barlow announced another round of the Buy One Get One “Blizzard Bucks” coupon program went on sale on Feb. 17, to incentivize residents to shop locally and support small businesses in Oswego. Two thousand “Blizzard Bucks” certificates went on sale at 4 p.m. They can be purchased at the City of Oswego Visitor’s Center, located at 201 W. First Street. next to Nora’s. Certificates will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Certificates may be purchased with cash only. The visitors center will stay open until 8 p.m. on Feb. 17. If all certificates are not purchased, the visitors

center will re-open the following day at 9 a.m. until they are sold out. The Blizzard Bucks program partners the city government with local businesses to offer store deals and dining discounts. For $25, residents will receive $50 in “Blizzard Bucks” gift cards to be used at participating local retailers and restaurants. This matched funding will be provided by the City of Oswego, using $25,000 in funding from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan. “We are happy to be able to hold another round of the popular Buy One Get One Blizzard Bucks program in February to help businesses and give residents another opportunity at local deals and special discounts,” Barlow said. “February is typically a very slow time

for local business owners, so a mid-winter BOGO round will help to incentivize residents to get out and shop local during a critical time.” Certificates will be valid through Feb. 28. The mayor’s office says that the Blizzard Bucks expire quickly because the Economic Development Office wants to encourage a spending boom at local businesses. Any locally owned small business within the City of Oswego can participate. This program is free for small businesses to participate and requires no monetary investment. Business owners who would like more details about how to participate are encouraged to contact Amy Murphy via email at amurphy@oswegony.org. Any other questions can be answered by calling 315-343-3795.

NEWS SUNY Oswego hosts annual Rail Jam event

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Snow hills were created in the quad for winter activities

John Custodio | The Oswegonian The Rail Jam event provides students with the opportunity to snowboard or ski on campus in the quad during the winter.

John Custodio Managing Editor jcustodio@oswegonian.com The SUNY Oswego Ski and Snowboard Club hosted the 2022 Rail Jam event in the SUNY Oswego Academic Quad on Feb. 18 and are glad to be back after a two-year gap despite unfavorable conditions. Between Hewitt Hall and Lanigan Hall on campus, snow is plowed together and carved into a roughly 60-foot-long hill with rails and ski ramps partially buried in the snow. Skiers and snowboards take turns pushing off at the top of the hill about 20 feet above the ground, and perform tricks by sliding along the rails. While some participate to have some fun, club president Kyle Hansen and treasurer Joe Dolan served as judges in the trick competition, judging skiers and snowboarders with winners receiving prizes such as hats or shirts. The Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corporation (SAVAC) had an ambulance parked close by the ramp in case of injury. Club members were uncertain whether the event would be

able to go on after temperatures around 40 degrees on Feb. 16 and 17 melted snow and turned the plowed piles into ice. “When we got here, it was pretty frozen and chunky but we worked really hard with the shovels and chopped it up,” Dolan said. “It’s looking pretty good now.” Hansen and Dolan said they are glad the event could go on and attribute it to the hard work of club members and help from SUNY Oswego. Hansen said the event could only happen because of the work of the SUNY Oswego grounds and maintenance workers that used bulldozers to move the snow late into the previous night. Club member Clara Tribunella said that the bulldozers became stuck in the snow and ice mixture while moving, but the event could not have occurred without their help. “We can’t thank the grounds crew enough honestly, they went out of their way last night and early this morning to come in and do exactly what we needed them to do to push the snow into our exact areas,” Hansen said. “And push the limits of their machinery.” Club member Maggie Simpson

said she was unable to take part in the 2020 Rail Jam, so she was eager to compete after the event was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19 guidelines for clubs. “I was at the last one in 2020, but I have not participated in one before so this is my first time,” Simpson said. “So I’m very excited.” Simpson said the club had to put all of the rails in and carve the pile throughout the morning before the event and that it was tough because of the ice and wet snow and described the efforts as “a labor of love.” For sophomore Jack Donohue, this was the first Rail Jam he had the opportunity to compete in and won a free snowboard waxing from John and John’s Bike and Skate Shop in Oswego. Donohue said it was a good opportunity to showcase the Oswego Ski and Snowboard Club to the campus. “It was a great event that fostered community involvement and was inclusive to all abilities,” Donohue said. While Rail Jam 2023 has not been officially scheduled, the SUNY Oswego Ski and Snowboard Club would like to continue the tradition for years to come.

John Custodio | The Oswegonian

For 87 years, The Oswegonian has been providing the Oswego State campus with relevant news, sports, entertainment and editorials.

For more photos see back of Laker Review

NEWS Annual Juried Art Exhibition at Tyler Art Gallery

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

SUNY Oswego offers options for transportation Shuttles are being offered for students during spring break

Image via Meghan Fisher "Psychedelic Pizza" (above) painted by Meghan Fisher, an art student, in her second exhibition.

Annika Wickham Chief Copy Editor awickham@oswegonian.com SUNY Oswego’s Tyler Art Gallery showcased a variety of student artwork during the 59th annual Juried Art Exhibition, which was open to the campus community and the public from Feb. 4-20. The event is a SUNY Oswego Art Department tradition, which allows students of any academic year, submit their artwork. As a completely student based show, Ellen Weber, the president of the Student Art Exhibition Committee, said it is a great opportunity for students to showcase their art, especially because it is an annual event. “It’s just something that we have always done,” Weber said. “It’s always been here and it’s a really good chance for students to get their work out there. I know places like knowing that [students] are going and getting their work out there in exhibitions, so this is a good chance for students to show what they are doing.” Each submission is evaluated by an independent juror who then decides which pieces go into the exhibit. This year’s juror was David Owens, a 2015 SUNY Oswego alumnus who is an “award-winning illustrator and freelance art director based in Central New York,” according to NNY 360. Meghan Fisher, a graphic design student at SUNY Oswego, had her painting “Psychedelic Pizza” featured in the show and said though “it was just amazing,” she wished she had submit-

ted her work sooner. “They extended the deadline this year … [and] I have a lot of bodies of work I think could get in so I just applied,” Fisher said. “It ended up working out, but I could have been doing this since freshman year. I’m glad I did it, better late than never. ” Along with having their artwork displayed in a gallery, students also had the chance to win other awards and scholarships, which were listed next to the winning pieces during the exhibition. “There are purchase awards that students can earn,” Weber said. “ The club [Student Art Exhibition Committee] likes to pick a few pieces that go in the permanent collection here in Tyler, the president likes to purchase some awards as well; The gallery director also likes to either buy a few pieces or recognize [some artists].” All students featured in the exhibit were invited to a reception on Feb. 11 with alumni, professors and other members of the campus community who came together to “celebrate art and what people accomplished,” Fisher said. “It just feels good to be accepted and to have your work accepted by people who are very high up,” Fisher said. “I’m all for interpretive art, that’s who I am. I want to make my art to make people think and feel something. I just want to make someone’s day when they look at it.” Tyler Art Gallery will be hosting their next exhibit “Alberto Rey: Oswego Biological Regionalism” from March 3-April 2. For more information, call the gallery at 315-312-2112.

Michael Gross | The Oswegonian SUNY Oswego is offering shuttles the day before residence halls close and the day that they re-open for students without cars.

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com Spring break is nearly three weeks away and SUNY Oswego is helping students prepare for transportation plans. The campus dorms will close on March 12 at 8 a.m. and will reopen on March 20 at noon. The Village will remain open, but guests will not be allowed. Students who intend on staying at The Village over the break should contact Wayne Chapman at wayne.chapman@oswego.edu. The college suggests that students who need to get to Syracuse use the Centro bus. Centro buses run from Oswego to Syracuse making stops along the way in Fulton, Phoenix and Liverpool. Popular stops on this route include the shopping area in Clay, Destiny USA in Syracuse and the Regional Transportation Center where students can connect to other bus and train services. The reduced fair cost for a Centro bus ticket is $2, cash only, each way. Reduced fare requires a valid Oswego student ID and SA sticker. For students traveling long distances without a car, the college suggests connecting through Syracuse and then traveling via bus, train or plane. Hancock International is the closest airport, while the Regional Transportation Center (RTC) is the major departure point for trains and buses. Both hubs are about an hour’s

distance from SUNY Oswego. Shuttles from SUNY Oswego to the Regional Transportation Center (RTC) and Hancock International Airport in Syracuse will be available on March 11. The shuttle will pick students up in front of the Marano Campus Center (MCC) at the following times: - 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Each shuttle costs $10 one way, payable by credit/debit card, cash or check. Payment is due before departure when signing up to reserve a seat. Payment instructions will be emailed after registration. Besides the shuttle, students can also travel to the RTC through the Centro bus system or ridesharing options. Hancock International can be reached through ridesharing or a combination of bus and ridesharing. Prior to leaving the residence halls for break, students are reminded to close and lock the windows, empty their wastebaskets, turn off all lights and alarm clocks, generally clean the room and lock the door. Students will be billed for trash left in the room. Residence hall staff members will check all rooms after the building has been locked to make certain that rooms are secured and that there are no obvious hazards. Once this inspection has been completed, student rooms will not be

entered unless there is a special reason to do so. In such cases, a note will be left informing the residents of the time, date, and reason for entry. Also, the residence halls are patrolled regularly by University Police during the recess period and any unauthorized persons entering, attempting to enter, or found in the building will be subject to arrest. The discovery of the possession of any materials which violate state laws or college regulations may be confiscated and may lead to disciplinary action. When it comes to getting back to campus at the end of break, shuttles from Syracuse (the Regional Transportation Center (RTC) and Hancock International Airport in Syracuse) to SUNY Oswego will be available on March 20. This shuttle will drop students off in front of the Marano Campus Center (MCC). - 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Resident students in need of housing over Spring break can make arrangements by contacting the Office of Residence Life & Housing, 303 Culkin Hall, 315.312.2246. For more information students can visit the break transportation website for the complete schedule and to sign up to secure their seat. Students can also contact (315) 3125522 or email orient@oswego.edu with any questions about shuttles.

Abigail Connolly

aconnolly@ oswegonian.com

OPINION TULLY’S NOT GREAT

Kailee Montross | The Oswegonian

OPINION

VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE IX

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

SPORTS B3

PLAYOFF SEASON

William Rogers | The Oswegonian

SUNY Oswego gyms free for students, great improvement Abigail Connolly Opinion Editor aconnolly@oswegonian.com SUNY Oswego is now offering free gym memberships to students. The memberships allow access to the Glimmerglass and Cooper Fitness Center facilities as well as the numerous group exercise classes throughout the week. Why did it take so long? The fact that there is some way to now afford this as an option for students, after the financial impacts of COVID-19 calls into question why this move was not made sooner. The fitness centers on campus are generally regarded as having more than adequate resources, machines and support, and they do a decent job at promoting health and wellness as well as engaging the campus community. These are incredibly valuable resources on campus as they allow students a space to improve physical and mental health, something that may other-

wise be difficult for studetns to do in the collegiate settting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that students who are physically active are more likely to have better grades, school attendance, memory and classroom behavior. Additional studies confirmed that the higher the physical activity and physical fitness levels are, the better cognitive performance will be. Not only does offering the gyms as a resource keep cups more phsyically

fit, it has the potential to improve class structure and students potential. SUNY Oswego made a fantastic decision in allowing students free access to these facilities. Students who may not have been able to afford the previous fees now have access to a healthy outlet on campus. The only thing to look out for is whether this initiative can be sustained beyond this semester. For the sake of the students, let us hope that it can be.

Kailee Montross | The Oswegonian The fitness centers offer an array of weight and cardio equipement along with exercise classes.

From my desk: The Editor-in-Chief’s column “Fool’s spring” makes appearance, time for the real thing Vitamin D deficiencies, burnout run rampant this season

Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com “Fool’s spring” is known as the time after the first cold snap in winter when temperatures warm up significantly and people start to believe that the coldest part of winter has already passed. It is also put satirically on the list of 12 seasons describing New York’s ever changing weather. It is just plain mean. Between Groundhog’s Day and the first signs of spring showing, you would think the frigid Oswego winter is just about to break. Well, the answer seems to be that it will not and can lead to a never ending seasonal depression that so many students at SUNY Oswego experience this time of year. As the walks to class become laboring through the cold temperatures and treacherous as ice develops on all walkways throughout campus. The lack of sunlight also plays a role, as students can start lacking vitamin D. A New York Times article from 2018 explored how the winter months affect vitamin D levels in the average person. The findings show that sometimes, seasonal fatigue can help explain why you might be sluggish just about this time of year. Studies “consistently The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935 show that vitamin D status drops during the winter, with levels peaking in September and at their lowest in March. So for some people at We want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or any- least part of the year, it may be important to rely on dietary sources of thing regarding the Oswego State community. vitamin D or supplements.” So, do not feel any shame in goEmail all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail ing to a local store and buying vitasubmissions to 139A Campus Center, Oswego N.Y. 13126 min D supplements or continuously having eggs and cereal throughout

the day. These two simple ways to get your levels up, might make the difference between you waking up for your morning class or not. All of my years at SUNY Oswego have shared one common way to start every single winter day, that is orange juice. I always make sure that I am taking in a form of vitamin D to start the day. As for falling for fool’s spring and being naive about the temperatures outside, that is a personal choice. This past week, I decided to treat the near 50-degree temperatures and actual sunshine with a sense of urgency. Realizing that they will not last for long. So, I went outside for a bit and enjoyed this time where I could actually feel my fingers while walking to and from my car, trying to lift my spirits for the next burst of arctic cold. Winter will carry on for a few more weeks before the warmer air moves in for good. It will not be a

trip to Miami Beach but it will make the walk around campus more reasonable. The average highs for the months of March and April for Oswego are 40 and 52 degrees. So, if this is your first Oswego winter, realize that relief is coming soon enough. For winter lovers, realize the chances for snow are beginning to drop as the calendar soon flips to March. The average snowfall for the area is 15 inches in March. Meaning that each and every last burst of snow might be the last for the season. Treat it with urgency, do not make an excuse, get outside and enjoy your favorite precipitation while it lasts. In closing, stock up on vitamin D, run outside whenever the temperature gets above freezing and make the most of your last snowfall opportunities if that is your thing. Oh, one last thing — the wind is not going to go away whatever the temperature is.

THE OSWEGONIAN G UIDELIN ES

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Brandon Ladd | The Oswegonian The ice around Lake Ontario is steadily melting, but “fool’s spring” may keep it around until March.

Gus & Buck

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OPINION

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Murder not Tully’s does not deliver ‘good times’ with tenders honorable or New Oswego location set to open early March, not much to look forward to justified Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com

Photo via Flickr

Ashton Becker Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Qandeel Baloch, a Pakistani model, actress, social media influencer and feminisit activist was murdered by her brother Waseem Azeem in 2016. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2019 and was acquitted of murder on Feb. 14 2022. Qandeel age 26, was found murdered in her home by cause of strangulation shortly after she posted suggestive photos with Muslim Cleric Abdul Qawi to Facebook. Azeem highly disapproved of his sister’s social media content and the following she gained. She was bold, political and relatable to her audience. She often discussed controversial issues such as her rights as a Pakistani woman and her thoughts on reforms. She was even regarded as the first social media celebrity of Pakistan. Her opposition to the cultural norms was admirable to many women and appalling to others. Azeem stated that she was “bringing dishonor” to their family and that “girls are born to stay at home and follow tradition.” Yet, after committing such a gruesome act and publicly announcing his disregard for his sister’s life, he had the unwavering support of his parents.

At the beginning of March, the long-awaited Tully’s Tenders is set to open its doors in Oswego. Their claim to fame is chicken tenders, and these will be the primary menu item. There is only one problem with this — their chicken tenders are dry, unappealing and ultimately just not good. Tully’s uses immaculate marketing when it comes to their tenders. They advertise having “The Best Chicken Tenders on Earth” and they make sure that this motto is spread throughout upstate New York. Their evidence for this claim is that the chicken tenders are fresh, never frozen, non-marinated and allnatural. However, the restaurant neglects to mention that you will be eating more breading than chicken. Due to the overpowering amount of breading, most people are left to either deal with it or spend the entirety of their meal picking off the excess fried coating. The restaurant features three varieties of tenders but still does not offer a grilled version for those who do not like the breading. Beyond just the breading, the tenders are typically dry and overcooked. The chicken breast itself is small, ensuring that customers must eat a lot of tenders

in order to satisfy their hunger. Not only that, but the coating of the tenders is pale-colored and flimsy, rather than crispy as one would expect. This suggests that perhaps the tenders are deepfried for extended periods of time. Even loyal customers have pointed out that the tenders lack the delicious qualities Tully’s claims they have. One Tully’s customer wrote in a Yelp review, “We always enjoyed Tully’s chicken tenders but they have definitely changed. And the change is NOT an improvement. I think Tully’s either uses different frying oil or batter. Besides the different, odd taste,

the size of the tenders are now petite. Is it possible that Tully’s has their tenders sourced from another place ? Tully’s has lost us as customers.” Some fans of the tenders may argue that their love for Tully’s tenders is subjective. Ultimately, one’s like or dislike for the tenders is all up to personal preference. Despite this, there is no denying the fact that the title of “Best Chicken Tenders on Earth” is a hard feat to accomplish. Tully’s markets their tenders on unfounded claims as a means of swaying their customers’ opinions. Not to mention the fact that this restaurant is trying to appeal

to college students, yet their tenders are significantly overpriced. The appetizer portion of tenders is twelve dollars and the full meal will cost you a whopping seventeen dollars. For some college students, the nearly twenty dollars that Tullys expects you to pay for chicken tenders could go much further at another establishment. Tully’s chicken tenders are simply overpriced for the quality of food that is served. Everything from the breading, to the cost of the meal and even the chicken itself leaves room for improvement. Tully’s may have the best marketing on earth, but they certainly do not have the best tenders.

Abigail Connolly | The Oswegonian Tully’s Tenders has a location opening in Oswego on Bridge Street next to FastTrac, with management aiming to open in March.

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

“...the system has failed Qandeel Baloch and many other innocent women who fall victim to murder incited by Five lots, few lots; commuter parking huge issue on campus outdated and sexist Lack of student parking spaces makes traveling to campus difficult for some students customs.” As Odysseus set sail after he are rewarded with the best lot and not return to their cars until 10 John Custodio Parents of Azeem pardoned him for the murder of his sister under Islamic law. A rather shocking and disturbing revelation: Islamic law allows for a murder victim’s family to pardon a convicted killer. Unfortunately, it has become more common as “honor killings” are on the rise. An honor killing is a situation such as this one wherein an individual (typically a woman) is killed by a relative (who disagrees with actions or behaviors associated with the individual) in order to ensure their family maintains their honor. Nearly 1,000 Pakistani women die each year as a result of honor killings. There was a public outcry following the murder of Qandeel Baloch. So much so that three months after her death, lawmakers responded by passing legislation that prevented murderers from walking free after honor killings. Murderers would no longer have the ability to be pardoned. This law was supported by women, activists and lawyers, but looked down upon by those who favor the conservative norms and Patriarchy of Pakistani society. Despite this legislation, the system has failed Qandeel Baloch and many other innocent women who fall victim to murder incited by outdated and sexist customs and a flawed justice system. Waseem Azeem continues to live as a free man. One may wonder what is the purpose of the Pakistani justice system. It is clear that it does not aim to enforce laws, protect its citizens or live up to the standard set by the name itself. Pakistani activists, many of whom took inspiration from Qandeel Baloch, continue pushing for reforms and legislation against honor killings, domestic violence and rape which plague the country.

Managing Editor jcustodio@oswegonian.com

As discussed in an opinion article by Annika Wickham, it has been established in previous arguments that SUNY Oswego is horrendous with communicating to students about parking, and their parking lots are atrocious. However, an even greater horror of the modern college driver exists: commuter parking. According to “SUNY Oswego Parking Guide and Campus Map,” there are five commuter parking lots directly on campus, with two near Laker Hall with a shuttle service. In reality, there are three major lots that I will refer to as “Hewitt,” “Shineman” and “Sheldon,” as the commuter lot near Rich Hall has 20 spots on a good day and the secondary lot by Hewitt is tiny. Hewitt is far and away the worst lot on earth. It is far from any academic building and built diagonally to the Lanigan quad, forcing students to cross the faculty parking lot in front of Culkin Hall. After the dangerous traverse, travelers are greeted not by warmth and beauty but a brutalist windtunnel, struggling in vain next to the vile Tyler Hall. Despite being the art building on campus and adorned with beautiful murals and mosaics, the harsh cement brutalist architecture serves as a reminder that this campus does not want you to win in your struggle to get to class. There is something on the western half of campus that just begs the wanderer to return home, return to bed, return to sleep and return to peace. It all begins with the Hewitt lot, setting the journeyman up for failure.

sacked Troy expecting a peaceful voyage, I expect a pleasant trip to the Shineman lot to attend class. Instead, I am the wanderer harried for years on end much like the king of Ithaca, seeing my destination but having it untimely ripped from my grasp. The Shineman lot is a nightmare, especially in winter when spots are taken up by plow machinery and snowbanks. Arriving for a morning class early does nothing as the spots are already filled by even earlier travelers. The best course is to simply watch people go to their cars and wait as a fanged cat does by a watering hole before pouncing. Even then, people have no respect for the ancient rule of “dibs,” attempting to snatch spots like jackals. If you are in luck, you

possible in winter, with easy access to indoor corridors instead of walking outside. However, should you fail you are cast into a hell deeper than Tartarus: the Sheldon lot. Every late attempt at Shineman risks a rough return to Sheldon and more time wasted if in a rush. The walk to the major halls from Sheldon is the true Odyssey, especially if it is in the winter. Even worse is the return as you see classmates joyously reunited with their mechanical steeds as you must slog along your “via dolorosa.” This walk is your cross to bear for that leisurely stroll from your house to your car, or the stop at Dunkin or the moment to connect your aux cord. For those like myself who may be forced to park at Sheldon at 10 a.m.

p.m., there is no greater demoralizer in the dark. Luckily, I am a tall white man so I feel no true fear, but I cannot imagine how others may feel as they are forced to walk the darkened, windy streets of Oswego to safety. An honest solution would be to swap the lots for commuters and on-campus residents. While some students working off-campus or athletes might use their cars regularly, they still pale in comparison to legitimate commuters. You can walk the extra five minutes once a week to go to Five Points or Walmart if I have to do it multiple times a day. In conclusion, Marco Polo or Sinbad have nothing on the average SUNY Oswego commuter. Fix the lots.

Photo via Flickr Despite having five commuter parking lots, SUNY Oswego campus parking is still a nightmare for most commuting students.

B B33 SPORTS Lakers hold pre-playoff press conference THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Leone, Crittendon, Fedullo talk playoffs in their home gym

MAX ZIEL GYMNASIUM

Michael Gross | The Oswegonian From left to right: Jason Leone, Julien Crittendon, Louis Fedullo at Laker Hall for NCAA Division III press conference on Feb. 23.

Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@oswegonian.com ‘Pack the Ziel’ is the phrase of the week as Oswego State is set to host the final rounds of the SUNYAC playoffs. The Oswego State Lakers held a press conference on Feb. 23. Featuring head coach Jason Leone, and captains Louis Fedullo and Julien Crittendon. The team discussed the mentality of the team heading into their home playoff tournament and what having the home floor advantage will mean for their success. Leone started the conference shedding light on the differences between this year’s team and the Laker team that went to the NCAA tournament in 2019. “Every season takes on its own identity, many of the players that have been influential in our success this year weren’t here for those games,” Leone said. “Our team this year is incredibly unique compared to all the teams that I’ve coached here just because of the depth we have and our athleticism and pace of play so much faster this year. The only thing we draw upon from previous years is knowing how difficult it is to play a team three times a year.” This season has been one of the best regular seasons of Leone’s time here at Oswego State. The Lakers won 23 ball games and 17 of them coming from SUNYAC opponents. Their 17-1 conference record has given them their second first seed spot in three seasons. With the playoffs taking place on their home floor, Crittendon and Fedullo see this as a huge advantage. “We didn’t have a season last year,

just being able to play in this environment in the Ziel is big,” Crittendon said. “I think students getting the 500 free shirts is a great idea. Bringing the Oswego community together is an awesome thing to have and we’re excited. “It’s definitely awesome to be able to host,” Fedullo said. “One of my first years on the team [2019] we were able to host and then we went to Brockport and it was a completely different atmosphere. Winning games in the SUNYAC playoffs is hard enough, and to do it at home makes it easier for us. Winning SUNYAC playoff games is something the Lakers have been used to these past three years. Despite their success this season, one team that had the last laugh on the Lakers are the Hawks of SUNY New Paltz. Just two weeks ago, the two conference opponents went back in forth with the Hawks outlasting the green and gold 64-63 on their floor. With SUNY New Paltz being the Lakers’ only loss of the season in the SUNYAC, it would only make sense that the two will tip-off in saturday’s semi-final game. Leone and the Lakers are aware of the challenge the Hawks present. “They’re the one team that has been able to combat our physicality,” Leone said. “Those guys are able to get in the lane, they are able to make switches. Last time we didn’t execute things. They’re a tough-minded group, we’re going to have to play very well to win.” Crittendon and Fedullo also will not treat this game with any ease. They said that the team needs to stick to their game and that this game should be a good one to watch. “I think we’ll find it to be a very com-

petitive and difficult game,” Crittendon said. “We’re both fighting for something. They beat us last time and we’re coming with an edge in that game. It’s hard to find a blowout in these kinds of games. We have to stick to the team and listen to what coach says and we’ll be fine.” “Them being able to be the only [SUNYAC] team to beat us in the regular season gives us a little more of a competitive edge to the game. They came out and played a really good game against us last time, so we’ll use these next two days to prepare and we’ll be ready for them.” Outside of Oswego State and SUNY New Paltz’s playoff spots, SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Brockport are also coming to lake Ontario. The Lakers were able to sweep both teams with ease this season and will have to win two game threes to win the SUNYAC conference. Leone said that the postseason has an unfamiliar vibe than the 25 games they have played in the past four months. “Playoff basketball has a different make up than regular season games. So if there’s anything I want to harp upon our players is that for every win, the deeper you get into the season it’s harder to get a win.” The Lakers and the rest of the SUNYAC playoff teams will take the floor on Feb. 25-26. At the Max Ziel Gymnasium. Crittendon chimed this weekend’s games as the place to be for the Oswego community. “It’s going to be a great environment,” Crittendon said. “I think we’re a fun team to watch, and it’s something fun to do on a Friday night. It’s a playoff basketball game with high-intensity levels. So why not come and support?”

Bring on the off’s

Swim to Glory

Photos provided by Oswego State Athletics

John Custodio Managing Editor sports@oswegonian.com Oswego State men’s and women’s swim and dive have ended their seasons after a powerful finish at SUNYACs from Feb. 16 to Feb. 19. For over half of the team, this SUNYACs was their final time in the pool as the Lakers are losing 12 graduating seniors. From the men’s team, the Lakers are losing Eric Dzierzgowski, Nate Einstein, Pete Kovalovsky, Sebastian Lasher and Matthew Rolph, with Tomas Rodriguez graduating after the fall 2021 semester. For the women’s team, graduating seniors are Jess Azoulay, Laura Bornheimer, Keaton Maring, Vanessa Moss, Allegra Neglia, Grace Parente and Eva Potvin. After day one, the Lakers were in fifth place out of nine for the men with a score of 31 and sixth place out of nine for the women with a score of 26. The men’s 800 yard freestyle relay team of Erick Zizic, Matt Seyse, Einstein and Rolph secured a solid 28 points while Dzierzgowski scored the remaining three in the three meter dive. The women’s 800 yard freestyle relay team of Maring, Parente, Alexia Lemus and Twyla Nastasia secured the team’s 26 points in sixth place with a time of 8:14.12. Day two had more events for both teams with the 50 yard freestyle, 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard IM, one meter diving, 200 yard freestyle relay and 400 yard medley relay. The women’s team clawed their way to fifth place with a score of 119 while the men leapt to third with a score of 146, led by the men’s 200 yard freestyle relay team of Zach Brown, Seyse, Rolph and Si J Daw scoring 24 points. Daw secured a further 16 points for the Lakers in the 50 yard freestyle. For the women’s team, the 400 yard medley relay brought home 32 points with Neglia, Potvin, Parente and Maring finishing with a time of 4:07.77 for the all-senior foursome. Day three saw the Laker women so-

lidify their spot in fifth while the men slipped down to fourth, with a day of 200 yard freestyle, 100 yard backstroke, 100 yard breaststroke, 100 yard butterfly and 400 yard IM. In the women’s 100 yard butterfly, Parente slid just under the minute mark with a prelim time of 58.98 and a finals time of 59.16, scoring 14 points for the lady Lakers. Other solid swimmers were Neglia, scoring nine points in the 100 yard backstroke and Fion Hon scoring seven points in the 400 yard IM. For the men, Rolph scored 14 points in the 100 yard backstroke while the men’s 200 yard medley relay team of Ajani Isles, Brown, Ray Paull and Daw scored 32 points coming in third with a time of 1:35.91. The end of day four had both the Laker men and women stay in their previous spots, with the men in fourth with 250 points and the women in fifth with 200 points. Brown came in second in the men’s 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 57.02 scoring 17 points, while the women’s 200 yard medley relay of Neglia, Potvin, Parente and Lemus scored 28 points in fifth place. On the final day, Feb. 19, the Lakers ended their SUNYAC tournament with the women in fifth place and a final score of 311, and the men in fourth place with 358 points. SUNY Geneseo topped both rankings, followed by SUNY Cortland in both as well. SUNY New Paltz came in third for the men, followed by the Lakers with SUNY Oneonta close behind. SUNY Potsdam came in sixth, followed by SUNY Brockport and Buffalo State College respectively with SUNY Fredonia bottoming out the men’s tourney. For the women, SUNY Brockport came in third with 399 followed closely by SUNY New Paltz with 394. After the Lakers in fifth came SUNY Oneonta followed by SUNY Fredonia and Buffalo State College, and SUNY Potsdam in last. After SUNYACs and the end of the season, the Lakers may struggle to fill their roster in the fall semester after the 12 seniors graduate in May.

Photos provided by SUNYAC.com The SUNYAC Div. III playoff bracket featuring the top six seeds of the confrence. #1 Geneseo and #2 Oswego receive a first round bye.

Alexander Abramovich Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s hockey team finished up their 20212022 season with a win on the road in Buffalo against Buffalo State. The Lakers ended the season with an impressive 17-6 record and 12-3-1 in conference play, clinched the number two seed in the SUNYAC, and received a firstround bye in the tournament. This weekend, the SUNYAC playoffs run through SUNY Geneseo. With the Knights running the gauntlet, the Lakers will most likely have one home playoff game. The Lakers had a shaky start to their season, losing their first two games of the season against Hobart College and Elmira College followed by a 2-1 win at SUNY Potsdam and a 2-2 tie at SUNY Plattsburgh. The team went on quite a tear from that point on, going 16-4 with big wins over SUNY Cortland, SUNY Plattsburgh on whiteout weekend, and SUNY Brockport. SUNY Geneseo happened to be the Lakers kryptonite this season, losing the first affair 6-1 at home and losing 4-2 on the road against the Knights. The offense really picked up their game as the season went on, after struggling to score at the beginning of their campaign. The team-leading scorer

this year was none other than the captain himself, Travis Broughman. He scored 13 goals and had 16 assists for a total of 29 points this year and was a constant contributor to the Lakers on both ends of the ice. Other big performers this season were forward Alex Dicarlo, who had 13 goals and 12 assists and first-year players Connor Sleeth and Tyler Flack were third and fourth on the team in points. Some late-season heroes were Tommy Cahill, who went on an absolute tear towards the end of the year, with Shane Bull and Rocco Andreacchi playing big roles in the offense as well. The defense was rock solid all season long and made it very easy for goaltender Steven Kozikoski. The first pairing on defense consisted of Ohio State University transfer Ryan Dickinson and freshman Ben Addison and this pair was one that played together all year long, which is extremely impressive because they are both first-year players. Troy Robillard was solid all year long and created many chances due to his aggressiveness when he gets the puck on his stick. Ryan Bunka got better as the season progressed and cemented his role on the second pairing of defense with Robillard, he also led the team in plus/ minus this year. The third pairing of defense does not normally get as much love as the top two

pairs, but Tristan Francis and Quinn Warmuth were extremely efficient and earned the trust of head coach Ed Gosek right away. Kozikoski had a stellar season for the Lakers, one could even say he was their most valuable player. The wizard or Koz went 13-4-1 on the season with an impressive 2.00 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and four shutouts. Kozikoski was elite and was one of the best goalies in all of the SUNYAC, finishing in the top five in all goalie categories. He should be locked and loaded heading into the SUNYAC tournament. The outlook on the SUNYAC tournament is an interesting one, as all of the teams who made it are very close in the talent department. Number three seeded SUNY Plattsburgh will host number six seeded SUNY Brockport, and number four seeded SUNY Cortland will host number five seeded SUNY Fredonia in the first round of the tournament. SUNY Plattsburgh is the favorite over SUNY Brockport, and the SUNY Cortland versus SUNY Fredonia should be extremely interesting because both of these teams are playing their best hockey at the right time. The Lakers will face whoever the highest seed is left after the first round, and SUNY Geneseo will face the lowest seed remaining. The Oswego State men’s hockey team will play on Wednesday, Mar. 2nd, at the Deborah F. Stanley ice arena.

Shore Report

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

SUNYAC Standings

Men’s Basketball Overall Oswego State-1 23-2 Oneonta-2 17-8 Brockport-3 18-7 15-10 New Paltz-4 14-12 Cortland-5 Potsdam-6 12-12 Geneseo-e 11-13 Buffalo State-e Fredonia-e

5-20 3-22 2-23

Plattsburgh-e

Men’s Hockey

Overall 20-0-3-0-1 Geneseo-1 Oswego State-2 17-1-6-0-1 Plattsburgh-3 15-4-7-0-3

Streak W3 W2 W2 L1 L1 L1 L1 L3 L7 L10

Conference 17-1 13-5 12-6 11-7 10-8 10-8 9-9 4-14 3-15 1-17 Conference 12-0-2-0-1 12-0-3-0-1 11-2-4-0-1

Points 37 37 32

9-1-5-1-2 8-0-8-0-0 6-0-8-1-2 4-0-11-0-1 3-1-12-1-0

29 24

Buffalo State-e

14-1-9-1-2 10-0-10-0-1 13-0-10-1-2 5-0-16-0-1 5-1-18-1-0

Morrisville-e

7-1-16-2-2

2-1-14-2-0

Cortland-4 Fredonia-5 Brockport-6 Potsdam-e

Women’s Hockey (NEWHL) Overall

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Oswego Scoreboard Men’s Hockey

Men’s Basketball

0-3 OSW: BUF:

55-104

DiCarlo: 1 goal, 1 assist Bunka: 2 assists, 1 shot Broughman: 1 goal, 6 shots

FRE:

Zack: 2 shots Frazee: 2 shots Glamos: 2 shots

OSW:

Women’s Hockey

BUF: OSW:

Cruzal: 3 shots Schacher: 2 shots Fadeley: 2 shots Hull: 1 goal, 4 shots Bednarik: 1 goal, 8 shots Kennedy: 2 assists

Collins: 11 pts, 4 Rebs Jemison: 8 pts, 4 Rebs Miller: 6 pts, 2 Rebs Simmons: 24 pts, 7 Rebs Crittendon: 12 pts, 4 Rebs Sparks: 11 pts, 6 Rebs

Women’s Basketball

0-2

21 13 9

Conference

68-60 FRE: OSW:

Pitcher: 16 pts, 3 Rebs Park: 12 pts, 5 Rebs Mickley: 12 pts, 6 Rebs Pickett: 19 pts, 16 Rebs Encarnacion: 13 pts, 1 Reb Caivana: 12 pts, 3 Rebs

Upcoming Events Men’s Hockey Wednesday, Mar. 1

Points

Men’s Baseball Saturday, Feb. 26

Plattsburgh

22-2-1

17-0-1

Oswego State

16-7-1

13-4-1

OSW: #2 17-6-1(12-3-1) COR: #4 FRE: #5

Cortland Potsdam Canton Morrisville

17-5-1

12-5-1

Women’s Hockey

Men’s Basketball

9-13-1

7-10-1

13-10-1 6-16-1

7-10-1

4-13-1

Buffalo State

1-23-1

0-18-0

Women's Basketball Cortland-1

New Paltz-2 Geneseo-3

Buffalo State-4

Oneonta-5 Fredonia-6 Brockport-e Potsdam-e Plattsburgh-e Oswego State-e

Overall 20-4 18-6

Conference

16-2 14-4

17-9 14-11 14-12 12-14 12-12

Streak W2 W5 W1 L3 W3 L1 W2

12-12

12-6 11-7 10-8 7-11 7-11 7-11

7-18 5-19

4-14 2-16

L4 L2

COR: 14-9-2 (9-5-2) BUF: 5-18 (3-12)

Women’s Basketball 40

GEN: 17-9 (12-6) FRE: 12-14 (7-11)

33:

Oswego State women’s basketball guard Daniella Caivana played a lot of minutes in her senior season. This season, Caivana played 33 minutes per game. In those minutes she averaged 14.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 25 total steals. She helped to keep the team in close games throughout the season.

7:00 p.m.

COR: 17-5-1 (12-5-1) OSW: 16-7-1 (13-4-1)

OSW: 15-5-1 (10-2-1) SAL: 7-9-1(5-7-0)

SUNYAC Semi-Finals Friday, Feb. 25

7:30 p.m.

NEW: 15-10 (11-7) OSW: 23-2 (17-1)

Laker Athletes of the Week

Zachary Brown

Men’s Swimming and Diving Junior | Sterling, NY

Men’s Basketball

NEWHL Semi-Finals Tuesday, Mar. 1

11:00 a.m./2:30 p.m.

Around the SUNYAC Men’s Hockey

7:00 p.m.

COR: 14-12 (10-8) NEW: 15-10 (11-7)

The Oswego State women’s ice hockey team has won eight straight games heading into the NEWHL playoffs. The Lakers have been lead by points leaders Ariella Haas, Morgan Shines and Kennedy Chyne, as well as Oswego State Lakers women’s Athlete of the Week, Joanna Hiebert. The Lakers hope to continue their stretch of success in the playoffs.

Joanna Hiebert

Women’s Ice Hockey Sophomore | Highland, MI

Zachary Brown, of the men’s swimming & diving team, has been named Oswego State Male Athlete of the Week. Brown earned a place on five all-conference teams at the SUNYAC Championships this weekend. Individually, Brown placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, while recording a season best 57.02 time in the finals. Brown was also a key member of four relay teams that all finished top three in the conference.

Joanna Hiebert, of the women’s hockey team, has been named Oswego State Female Athlete of the Week.While powering the Lakers to their seventh straight win and clinching the two seed in the NEWHL playoffs, Hiebert lowered her goal allowed average to 1.89 on the season. Hiebert held Potsdam scoreless in the third period to assist in the Lakers come from behind 3-2 victory on Friday night. The following night, she played 48 minutes of a shutout victory against Morrisville St.

Oswego State men’s ice hockey goalie Eric Green, recorded his first career shutout. He totaled 20 saves, keeping Buffalo State from finding the back of the net. With the shutout, Green lowered his goals allowed average to 2.15, and now has 88 saves on the season.

Oswego State men’s basketball guard Devin Green shot the ball better than anyone else. During the 20212022 regular season, Green shot 47.4% from the field and 47.4% from three. His consistent shooting helped propel the Lakers success this season. He hopes he can continue his consistency in the playoffs.

47.4:

SPORTS Lakers women’s basketball untie the laces, eyes on future

Pinkerton sets vision for future Laker teams, reflects on rollercoaster season

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Perdek’s Corner Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@oswegonian.com

Photos provided by Oswego State Athletics (#15) Logan Castiglione rising for the mid-range jumpshot in the Max Ziel Gymnasium on Dec. 3. The Lakers close the season 5-19 overall and 2-16 in the SUNYAC.

Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com The Oswego State women’s basketball team fell to SUNY Fredonia, ending their season on a cold streak. The team had lost their past two games after a close 56-52 win over SUNY Oneonta back on Feb. 12 at Dewar Arena. It was at The Lakers most recent matchup on Feb. 19 against SUNY Ferdonia, where they lost by a score of 60-68. In the matchup Diamond Pickett led both teams in scoring with 19 points on top of an incredibly impressive 16 rebounds. She was one of four Lakers who recorded double digit points on the night with Raiven Encarnacion, Danielle Caivana and Shania Iglesias combining for 25 points. Unfortunately, Oswego State scoring came almost exclusively from these four and nowhere else. The Blue Devils held the team to just over 34% shooting and was able to hold onto the victory. The other losses during the downhill streak included a tough one-point loss against SUNY Brockport, a 19-point loss against SUNY New Paltz and a

14-point loss against Buffalo State. A tough stretch of games, all against SUNYAC opponents, Head Coach Sean Pinketon says the losses have taught his players good life lessons. “Life isn’t fair but you have to respond to adversity, you have to respond to things not working out the way that you had planned, or hoped or wanted because of outside factors that you have no control over,” Pinkerton said. This Lakers team did very well in the 2018-2019 season, but faced setbacks as multiple players suffered from serious injuries. The 2020 season was cut short by COVID-19 and it was an uphill battle to get back on track after that. The current season brought its own challenges, with Raiven Encarnacion having to sit out for a month with severe shin splints. According to Pinketon, the team could not catch a break this season. The Lakers faced some hard losses this season, with most games ending on a close score. Pinkerton attributes these narrow losses to consistency. He says the team did improve a lot over the season, but were ultimately held back by their lack of consistency on the offensive

end of the floor. The end of the season meant that the team had to say goodbye to two seniors as well. Encarnacion and Daniella Caivanna were integral members of the team. Pinkerton explained that it was the guidance of these seniors that motivated the rest of the team. “It was a bittersweet moment because we had the opportunity to acknowledge everything that they have done, but at the same time to know that their time is up, is a sad moment,” Pinkerton said. “They are phenomenal kids and kids who have done a lot for the program, the legacy that they have helped build is what we have to honor going forward to continue to get better.” Encarnacion formed a close bond with Pinkerton over her five years on the team. She plans to be his assistant coach for a group of young travel basketball players this summer. Pinkerton described the emotions that were felt by Encarnacion and Caivanna’s teammates when the final buzzer sounded. “They found each other on the floor and hugged and cried for a minute,” Pinkerton said. Despite the hardships this

team has faced over the 20212022 season, their coach stays optimistic. Pinkerton says that these hard lessons teach his players how to persevere, and how to overcome challenges. Pinkerton tries to keep in mind that sometimes some things are out of their control. The Lakers came very close to making it to the SUNYAC championships, but came up short. Regardless, Pinkerton says he’s excited to see the younger players grow, the ones who maybe didn’t have as many opportunities on the court this season. “All of them are talented, it’s a really good young group, seeing how they keep learning and growing is exciting for all of us and it’s something that I look forward to,“ Pinkerton said. The Lakers season is now over, but they are looking forward to improving next year. They finished with a record of 5-19 (2-16 SUNYAC). They began the year 2-4 and had a twogame winning streak at the start of the season. Geneseo and Oneonta will move on to the SUNYAC women’s basketball semifinals after winning first round games on Feb. 22.

The women of Max Ziel Gymnasium have concluded their 2021-2022 season with a record of 5-19. It has been a rough 2021-2022 season for head coach Sean Pinkerton and the Oswego State Lakers. They are a young team containing five upperclassmen and 12 combined sophomore and freshman players. This season, you can give them a pass as multiple players on the roster have never played a college basketball game before, or have only played high school basketball just a season ago. Despite the record being this dissatisfying in my mind for this team, at least there are a couple of bright spots as the Lakers look to build forward in the future. As Pinkerton pointed out to me over the course of the season, he is proud to have started the process with forward Diamond Pickett and guard Shania Iglesias. As a freshman, Iglesias played in all 24 games, averaged nearly 10 points per game and rained in 37 three-pointers from deep. Her contribution was huge and definitely a player the Lakers will need to get even better next year. Pickett is a special talent as well. This season she shot 48% from the field and had one of the best rebounding seasons in program history, nearly doubling the runner up and bringing down 203 rebounds. All in all, Oswego State’s season was not as bad as their record shows which is the case for many teams in college basketball. Of their 19 SUNYAC matchups this year, you can name nine games where they only lost by a deficit of 10 points or less. After the winter break, the team was only losing their close ones from a couple of mental mistakes and down-to-the-wire finales in those games. Now with the season coming to a close, you cannot forget the privilege it must have been for these girls to have a season. Perhaps the team can bounce back in the 2022-2023.

Red Dragons, Lakers to clash in NEWHL playoffs Around the

Oswego State, SUNY Cortland meet for forth time this year, seasons on the line

Photos provided by Oswego State Athletics (#7) Kyleigh Grugin bringing the puck into Morrisville State’s defensive zone in the Lakers’ 2-1 tight victory in Oswego State.

Jack Perdek Sports Editor jperdek@oswegonian.com For the first time in two years, the Oswego State women’s hockey team will take the ice for a playoff game since March 3, 2020. On March 1 the Lakers will host the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on their home ice at 7 p.m. the second and third seeds in the NEWHL (North East Women’s Hockey League) will face off for their fourth game of the season. The Lakers are the beneficiary of the last two match-ups beating the Red Dragons 5-4 in December and 2-1 in January. Head coach Mark Digby knows this game will be a challenge considering the talent SUNY Cortland has in their skaters. He says they are able to put a lot of points up and the goal is to keep the puck out of their defensive zone as much as possible. “They’re probably the most dynamic team in our league,” Digby said. “They have a lot of skill in their forwards.

They play with a lot of confidence and if you can find a way to keep them off the scoreboard then I think you have a chance. They have great goaltending and good coaching, and it will be a heck of a game they have a really good team.” In their last game against the Red Dragons captain of the Lakers, Philomena Teggart was able to put one behind the net along with second-leading scorer Morgan Shines. This season Shines has tallied nine goals, 10 assists and 68 shots on goal this season. She credits her role on this team as being a strong leader and learning from her coaching staff. “I think I was able to evolve quickly because at the beginning of the year more than half the team had never played a game, let alone practice together because of COVID and I realized even though I only got to play one year of college hockey it was more than other players on the team so I needed to step up and be that leader for them,” Shines said. “I also think coach Digby has been a big influence on my improvement, not

only in a hockey sense but with my attitude and leadership mentality which started freshman year and has been going in the right direction ever since.” Shine’s improvement has been part of the key to success on the Laker’s nine-game win streak heading into the postseason. The sophomore from Marengo, Illinois. says she has found a home and a positive environment here at Oswego State. “Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been going in a positive direction off the ice and you can see that it translates to on the ice as well,” Shines said. “When the whole team clicks off the ice, everything on the ice just comes naturally. I think our success comes from inside the locker room and the talk on the bench, the atmosphere is loud and supportive which motivates everyone to do their best for the team. I think we play best when everyone is supporting and moving the puck and from our success, you could say we’re doing it pretty well right now.” Now with the NEWHL playoffs

knocking at the door, Shines and the lakeshow will have to keep their win streak in order to keep their season alive. This first semi-final game will not be the easiest considering that in Oswego State, the Lakers are 12-11-6 against SUNY Cortland. In this case, the game is 50-50 and every play is going to matter. The gameplan from Digby’s perspective is simple, control the puck longer than the team in red and spend more time in their zone. They were able to do this in their regular season finale against Buffalo State. Digby said that this level of play has been consistent during this win streak. “I thought we were able to possess the puck well and I thought we made smart decisions with the puck in the offensive zone,” Digby said. “You look back at our last nine games and at William Smith, I’m not sure how many times we’ve given up more than 20 shots. I think when you have good goaltending and defense you’re gonna have success and I think that’s a mindset thing to be consistent in all three zones.” With the advantage of home ice for the SUNY Cortland game, Digby said the team deserves it because of their hard work and grit this season. “I think it’s a testament to their consistency throughout the course of the season. When you play in a league as good as we do, it’s difficult to take points,” Digby said. “We talked about that earlier on in the year with just the commitment to constancy and earlier on in the year it’s hard to see that sometimes when you get to this point in the year; and you get really close to a tie for second place it makes that Potsdam point in the first half very big.” The Lakers tied SUNY Potsdam on Nov. 7. which ultimately gave them the tying point over the Red Dragons to lock up the second seed in the NEWHL. With all eyes on Tuesdays puck drop, Digby wants the team to view it liek another 60 minutes of Laker hockey. “We just have to take care of business,” Digby said. Not be scoreboard watching, and if we do that we’ll end up in a good place.”

Diamond

Benjamin Diamond Asst. Sport Editor bdiamond@oswegonian.com The Oswego State women’s ice hockey team is looking really good with the season about to wrap up. The Lakers have won nine straight games dating back to Jan. 28. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers are set to play the Cortland Red Dragons at home. Being on a long winning streak heading into the playoffs is sure to give the team a lot of confidence that they can come out on top. But, Cortland is a formidable foe, so each player on the Lakers is going to need to step up. Leaders like Ariella Haas, Morgan Shines and Chyne Kennady need to continue to give their consistent production as they have the entire. I think the trio of Lakers point leaders will continue to thrive in the playoffs as they have a good supporting cast from players like Philomena Teggart, Simone Bednarik and Kyleigh Grugin. All three of these players have also been good at sharing the puck and putting it in the back of the net. We also have to look at the team’s goaltenders who have been a big part of helping the team build this seven-game winning streak. Joanna Hiebert, who has started 15 games, has been the Lakers’ main goalie this season giving head coach Mark Digby very little to worry about when it comes to opponents scoring. Bryn White has also been a good option for Digby in the goalie slot, showing up for Oswego when they need her most. The NEWHL semi-final matchup versus SUNY Cortland is set for March 1 at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena.

Sports MBSK Presser

B3 Photo provided by Michael Gross

SPORTS THE OSWEGONIAN

NEWS Rail Jam

A5 Photo provided by John Custodio

VOLUME LXXXVI ISSUE IX • www.oswegonian.com

Oswego State reaches SUNYAC semis, focused on ‘X’s and O’s’

Lakers take longest break since January to plan for Cortland or Fredonia Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com

The Oswego State men’s hockey team has its longest pause in the schedule since the beginning of January, as the SUNYAC Semifinals loom on the calendar on March 2. The opponent for the Lakers is still to be determined, as the first round of the playoffs is played Feb. 26. The highest seed left standing after the first round will play Oswego State at the Deborah F. Stanley Ice Arena, while the lowest seed has a trip to the Ira S. Wilson Arena in SUNY Geneseo. Oswego State is hoping to keep up its good play as the team is 9-3 overall since New Year’s. The most recent screenshot of the Lakers schedule has been up and down, as the team finished SUNYAC play 2-2, its last four games. This included losses to No. 3 in the country, SUNY Geneseo and a loss on the road to SUNY Fredonia. The team notched wins against Morrisville State and Buffalo State during that stretch. Despite the loss to SUNY Fredonia being against a team lower in the SUNYAC standings, head coach Ed Gosek saw no fault in his team’s effort. “I thought we played extremely well,” Gosek said. “I thought it was one of our better games this year. You can’t let in four goals on eight shots though, you aren’t going to go anywhere. The bottom line is you can’t outshoot someone 46 to 13 and lose 5-4. We played most of the game in their end, bottomline is you still need to win on the scoreboard.” Senior defenseman Tyler Antonucci cited the result to the Blue Devils as a testament to how hard the SUNYAC playoffs will be for each and every team left.

E.I.C. Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com Winter storm Oaklee will not kill the vibe at Max Ziel Gymnasium on Friday night, as the Lakers open up their SUNYAC men’s basketball playoffs at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 against SUNY New Paltz. The only team to beat Oswego State the entire 2021-22 SUNYAC season. For the first time this season, it appears that the excellent custodial staff at Laker Hall will have to pull down the second side of the bleachers in Max Ziel. Instantly allowing for upwards of another 750 seats to be available for those who will be wearing gold proudly. Oswego State Athletics announced that the first 500 students who come to the game will receive a free t-shirt. They also announced that the campus will be providing transportation to the game, in an effort to allow a safe way for students to make it to Laker Hall. Which sits across NY-104. It is about time that the effort is being made to safely get students to the games, allowing the atmosphere to be heightened. Max Ziel is an excellent gym but the normal student without a car does not have an opportunity to make it to games due to the almost 20 minute walk from campus. Any calls for snow Friday are expected to stop early afternoon according to the National Weather Service. Meaning, the roads will be safer for students and bus drivers to use hopefully. Regardless, the Lakers team is an unstoppable force that will treat the new faces in the crowd to a spectacle. This is how you build a program.

William Rogers | The Oswegonian (#17) Asst. captain Josh LeBlanc shoving Fredonia players on his way to the net in the Deborah F. Stanley Center Jan. 29.

“Every opponent we play is going to be tough, we know that,” Antonucci said. “We are prepared for it. I think with the COVID year it helped windle out problems with teams and just growing on what they’ve had. Every team has come back this year and approved, that goes for the top guys and the bottom guys.” The first round bye in the playoffs for the Lakers, leaves a potential of three different teams that could be coming to Oswego State on March 2. This means the team cannot particularly focus on a matchup during practice this week. They instead are waiting to see how the cards fall on Feb. 26 first. Antonucci mentioned how there is no face to the visualization quite yet. “With a faceless opponent right now we are just focused on what we can do,” Antonucci said. “Nothing about who we are going to play. Whoever we are

going to play, we are going to be prepared for. [Next week] we can focus on the X’s and O’s of who we will play. But for now it is tightening up those areas we need to improve on and I think we are doing a good job of that in the practices right now.” The senior continued to mention the theme of this week’s efforts as “good habits” and “good chemistry,” something the team has had at most points this year. The Lakers are still trying to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Oswego State was 196-2 and was featured inside the Top 5 of the USCHO National Rankings for most of the season. Making an at-large bid to the tournament an easy get after losing the automatic bid to SUNY Geneseo. The at-large bid would be a harder ask to receive this year as the team is currently sitting

No. 12 in the rankings. A fringe team for receiving one all season, has been the discussion for many experts that study the matter for NCAA Div. III. Meaning the best way to qualify for the “Big Dance” is to win the SUNYAC, putting more pressure on next week. Gosek put this in perspective, as the college playoffs for hockey are one-and-done. Meaning, a loss at any point ends the Lakers season going forward, barring a potential life rescue in the form of an at-large bid. “This time of year you want to keep playing and keep that mentality,” Gosek said. “It’s a grind. A change for our guys coming from juniors, everything is a three-game or fivegame series, so if you have one bad game it doesn’t end your season. In college, it is one game, survive and advance or you are done.”

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

The Case Zachary Case Sports Writer zcase@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s hockey team will take a weekend off prior to their semifinal matchup in the SUNYAC playoffs this coming March 2 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena. The Lakers went 1-1 last weekend in Buffalo after facing a red-hot Blue Devils Feb. 18. The Oswego State scoring is still up to par after continuing to net goals night in and night out. Players like Tommy Cahill, Connor Sleeth and Tyler Flack continue to improve their offensive game while supporting the puck on the defensive side. Cahill had a four-point weekend with two goals and two assists against the Buffalo area teams. However, the concerns for the Oswego State team are the goaltending heading into the postseason. Steven Kozikoski has been stellar in net all season long. The senior has posted statistics that put him in the top ten nationwide for goals against average and save percentage and he is arguably the second-best goaltender in the SUNYAC conference. Friday night was one of the goaltender’s worst performances while in a green and gold uniform. Kozikoski played 35 minutes in between the pipes before getting pulled for backup Eric Green. The netminder gave up four goals on eight total shots before taking a seat on the bench. Kozikoski’s season statistics have skidded recently as the netminder now posts a 2.00 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. This season, Kozikoski has played a career high twenty games in the 2021-22 season. Green only saw action in eight contests this season and maybe should have seen more ice time to give the starter some needed rest. The team averages 2.1 goals against per game but the offense has still outscored opponents a majority of the contests this season. The Lakers will need to support Kozikoski if the Oswego State men’s hockey team wants to win some hardware at the end of the postseason. The team has a shot to get into the NCAA Division III tournament but the only way in is through the SUNYAC Championship.

Lakers prepped to ‘Pack the Ziel’ for SUNYAC semi-finals Oswego State set to take on forth seed New Paltz on home floor tonight

Spencer Bates Copy Editor sbates@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s basketball team responded with two wins over the span of Feb. 18- 19 after suffering their first SUNYAC loss the previous weekend. Despite pulling off a narrow win following the loss to SUNY New Paltz, the Lakers looked to make a powerful statement with their last two games of the regular season against SUNY Brockport and SUNY Fredonia. Already locked in as the number one seed in the SUNYAC playoffs, the team wanted to truly impose themselves as the best team in the league. For the first game of the weekend, SUNY Brockport entered the Max Ziel Gymnasium on Feb. 18 following a 98-62 win against the Blue Devils of SUNY Fredonia. Four Brockport players recorded double digit points in the outing, with scoring for the Golden Eagles being led by David Grady who had 18. However, in this matchup, Grady was kept quiet, only allowing him to reach eight points in the contest. Meanwhile, the Oswego State offense was efficient with Jamal Achille and Ahkee Anderson both scoring 16 points and leading the team in scoring. Three other players, Devin Green, Julien Crittendon and Christian Simmons all reached the double digit mark for the Lakers. Anderson’s 16 points came completely in the second half of the game, at one point going on a seven point solo scoring run for the Lakers. His impact on the game was obvious and head coach Jason Leone had nothing but positive remarks for his young star. “He was great … [but] he didn’t have his best game last Saturday … [it] just wasn’t his night and it’s the way, as a coach, you want to see a guy respond, especially a fresh-

William Rogers | The Oswegonian (#21) Jordan Brown drives in the lane for the layup, scoring 8 points on the night in the Max Ziel Gymnasium Feb. 19.

man,” Leone said. “So he was really locked in today and that’s the way we know he can play and he was a big key in the victory.” Two of the biggest storylines of the game were depth and points off turnovers. Crittendon and Simmons were clinical for the Lakers as they combined for 23 of the total 31 points scored by bench players. Leone touted his team’s depth as something that sets them apart from others. “That’s certainly a big identity thing for us … the fact that we can run a lot of guys at people and … it’s something we haven’t necessarily had in the past,” Leone said. “This is a very unique feature of this team and I’m really happy we have the number of good players that we do.” Another equally as impressive statistic from the game was the 29 points the Lakers scored off of turnovers. Turning defense into offense is nothing new to Leone’s team as he remains firm that their identity is defense first. “If you look at our state we’re top 10 in the country in a number of defensive categories so … if you look at who we are, it starts with our

defense,” Leone said. “We’re not an overly big team but we’re physical and we’re able to have a lot of different guys guard multiple positions which is very helpful on defense. Sometimes [it] hurts us a little on offense, our lack of size, but that’s where the game starts for us.” However, in the following night’s matchup against SUNY Fredonia there was no such sign of being hurt on offense as the team pulled off a win while recording their second highest point total in a game this season. In their final regular season game, the Lakers demolished the Blue Devils 104-55 keeping their opponents to just under 30% shooting from the field while recording an incredible 51.3% themselves. The Oswego State dominated in points off turnovers and bench points even more so than they did against the Golden Eagles. Scoring 30 points off turnovers and amassing a monumental 62 points from the bench, the team more than doubled the Blue Devils’ scores in each category. Simmons, in his first start of the season, shined in the spotlight. The

senior forward scored 24 points on 90% shooting while draining all three of his three point attempts. Also recording seven rebounds, Simmons and the rest of the squad finished the season the exact way they would have wanted. The Lakers’ matchup against SUNY Fredonia was senior night for the team. Graduate student Brendan Mulson and seniors Simmons, Crittendon, Eric Sanfilippo, Jordan Brown, Hunter Cole and Louis Fedullo were celebrated before the game in which all except Mulson started the game. Announcements were made noting all of the achievements of the seniors including Mulson surpassing the 1000 point mark during his career as a Laker. The college community is being encouraged to come out and support the team through the “Pack the Ziel” movement where the first 500 students with an Oswego State ID to show up will receive a free Oswego Lakers t-shirt. The Lakers will now focus on their upcoming SUNYAC semi-final matchup against SUNY New Paltz at home in the Max Ziel Gymnasium on Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

INSIDE

C2 ‘Uncharted’ flounders C3 ‘Cuphead Show’ revives C4

despite strong leads

classic cartoon style

New Big Thief album explores complex themes

FRIDAY Feb. 25, 2022

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

‘Uncharted:’ yet another average video game film adaptation

Ethan Stinson Laker Review Editor estinson@oswegonian.com

Rating:

Video games have had a notoriously troubled past when being translated to the big screen. Save for rare standouts, video game films are often marred by poor screenplays, generic presentations and a lack of connection to the titles they are adapting. Based on the acclaimed series of the same name, “Uncharted” follows suit with most video game adaptations. Contrary to its title, the action-adventure film mostly treads familiar waters. However, charming performances from its two leads may make the film a worthwhile watch for some viewers. Intended as a prequel to the games, “Uncharted” sees Nathan Drake (Tom Holland, “Spider-Man: No Way Home”), a young pickpocket, embark on the treasure hunt of his dreams after being recruited by deceitful fortune hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg, “Joe Bell”).

“Uncharted” contains a formulaic story which may easily be compared to other adventure films, like the “National Treasure” series. The film finds its characters solving puzzles and dodging traps as they race to find an epic treasure bearing historical roots. A group of villainous rivals also in pursuit of the riches impede on their expedition. For something marketed as a rousing adventure story, the film feels disappointingly anticlimactic. Despite multiple run-ins and skirmishes with the film’s antagonists, Drake, Sullivan and accomplice Chloe Frazer (Sophia Ali, “Grey’s Anatomy”) move past the rest of their quest’s trials with relative ease. Few of the challenges the three face throughout the film pose a significant threat, thereby lessening the impact of the characters’ success whenever they overcome them. Though instances of deception between the three are included in an attempt to spice up the story, their frequent nature and quick resolutions render them redundant rather than meaningful. Though they are described as

Image from Sony Pictures Entertainment via YouTube Tom Holland stars as Nathan Drake in a disappointing adaptation of ‘Uncharted.’

being dangerous and powerful, neither of the film’s villains ever come off that way to the audience. The first, Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas, “Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”) stands as nothing more than a typical, power-hungry antagonist devoid of any personality, character development or intriguing motives. The second, mercenary Jo Braddock (Tati Gabrielle, “The Owl House”) is even less interesting of a villain, representing the trope of a soft-spoken, cold-hearted killer showing little purpose other than to

be a physical threat. The greatest sin committed by “Uncharted” is found in its trailer. In most of its promotional material, a scene that is commonly highlighted is an airplane scene where Holland climbs plummeting cargo while fending off a henchman. Arguably the most exciting moment in the film, the majority of its playout is shown in the film’s multiple trailers. Thus, anyone who has seen these teasers will experience little suspense during the scene, given they will already know what happens

there are in the trailer. The trailer showed a darker version of Doctor Strange standing before the protagonist, but what was not so clear was the Doctor Strange in a different getup, seen earlier in the trailer. Strange is seen in different apparel, with a new hairstyle and pattern before waking up from a dream. Why does this matter? The answer is in the mise en scène. Strange’s hands are not scarred, he has a tablet on his

bed and coffee filtering into test tubes at his side table. This leads fans to believe that this could be a Dr. Strange from a different universe. As if the madness could not get any more spontaneous, the trailer introduces new faces, familiar faces and new familiar faces. Throughout the trailer we see new additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU.) American Chavez, (Xochitl Gomez, “Roped”) and a green minotaur,

prior to watching the actual film. While the film greatly lacks in excitement, Holland and Wahlberg salvage any potential fun through their charming performances. Holland, fresh off his run as the heroic Spider-Man, shows a more mature side as Drake, rather than letting the character come off as a Peter Parker clone like some of his other roles have. Though Wahlberg’s interpretation of Sullivan greatly differs from the grizzled old man depicted in the “Uncharted” games, he still succeeds in giving a likable performance as Drake’s world-weary, reluctant father figure. As they should, the two also show good chemistry working together throughout the film. Despite its ties to the iconic series, “Uncharted” resembles any run-of-the-mill adventure film more than it does a video game adaptation. While Holland and Wahlbergs’ performances and banter may be enough for some viewers to have a good time, others may find themselves disappointed by the film’s underwhelming story and lack of memorable thrills.

‘Doctor Strange’ trailer shows possibilities for upcoming film Aaron Brown Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: Marvel Studios’ second trailer drop for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” leaves infinite room for theories and future possibilities. The trailer provides emotion, high stakes and stunning visuals potentially leaving some fans more excited for it, than the release of “SpiderMan: No Way Home.” While enticing, the visuals provide a lot of insight and references as to what fans can possibly expect will be in this film. The most obvious feature is Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olsen, “Kodachrome”) large role in the film. There is a significant contrast of color between her and Doctor Strange, (Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power is the Dog”) as Wanda’s red chaos separates her from Strange’s blue undertones, most likely representing a difference in their mental state. In addition, the trailer is filled

with many references to the Disney+ show “Wandavision.” Some easter eggs were more noticeable than others, but a subtle one that fans might have missed was the “book of the damned” from “Wandavision.” The trailer shows Strange casting a spell while levitating above the book, to which his magic is now red, similar to Maximoff’s. The madness continues with the endless possibilities of how many Doctor Stranges

Image from Marvel Entertainment via YouTube The trailer for ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ sees Benedict Cumberbatch reprise his role as Doctor Strange.

Rintrah (Adam Hugill, “1917.”) Mordo, (Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”) makes his return from the first film, along with Wong, (Benedict Wong, “Raya and the Last Dragon”) and Christine Palmer, (Rachel McAdams, “Game Night.”) Among the many reveals, Marvel brings in a new and familiar voice. The man is not revealed, but is voiced by Patrick Stewart (X-Men), who played Professor X in the original X-Men franchise. The introduction of Stewart’s Charles Xavier depiction confirms that Marvel is in fact adopting the other storylines of the franchises recently acquired to incorporate in future MCU projects. Stewart amongst other characters can possibly be from separate realities leaving many things up to fan interpretation. “Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” is set to release May 6. The trailer seems to have opened plenty of doors for the MCU, and with the acquisitions of the other Marvel franchises, the studio is sure to have a lot in store for fans down the road.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

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‘The Cuphead Show!’ honors popular game, classic cartoons Lauren Royce Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: If you are nostalgic for the golden age of American animation, look no further than “The Cuphead Show!” by Netflix, freshly released Feb. 18. Based on the 2017 video game “Cuphead” by Studio MDHR, the series follows the misadventures of the game’s main characters Cuphead and his brother, Mugman. Dave Wasson (“Star vs. the Forces of Evil”) is credited with developing the show. Audiences can expect plenty of jazzy tunes to match the rubber hose design as the cup boys fend off the Devil, after a skeeball game gone wrong. Viewers will be delighted by the intricate and buttery animation, regardless of whether they have played the game or not. Those who have played may pick up on themes others might not be able to notice. The series’ voice casting is just right. A few big

name voice actors are present among the cast. Wayne Brady (“Mixed-ish”) is the charismatic character King Dice, whose design pays homage to the late and great Cab Calloway. Jim Conroy (“Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman”) voices Ollie Bulb, a sweet blubbering onion, and two other characters named Jasper and Duke. Grey DeLisle (“Avatar: the Last Airbender”) voices Ms. Chalice, a charming girly chalice who always gets her way. Tru Valentino (“Fast & Furious: Spy Racers”) and Frank Todaro (“Sonny Boy”) voice Cuphead and Mugman, respectively. This gives the pair some rather thick New York City accents. As for the catchy opening theme and other music in the show, prolific composer Ego Plum (“Making Fiends”) has worked his magic once again. In fact, you may forget to hit “skip intro” as you binge your way through. Each episode has music and sound effects that mix well with the design, and it is evident that a lot of care went into creating this series.

Image from Netflix via YouTube The new video game-based series pays homage to the works of classic animators like the Fleischer brothers.

There are 12 episodes in this season, each running just under 11 minutes, which does not sound like much, but the show does not need to have lengthy episodes to accomplish its storytelling. Much like the cartoons of the 1930s, there is a lot of silliness involved. But Cuphead and Mugman have a real journey ahead of them, and the plot exercises continuity well. Despite its looks, it is not quite aimed at toddlers; in fact, it would be a bit much for them to handle. The show and

the game it is based on take heavy influence from art during the era of Fleischer Studios, known for their famous original characters like Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor. According to an interview with the Los Angeles Times, brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer who created “Cuphead” are lifelong fans of this style of animation and it shows. The two are also serving as executive producers for the show. Painted backgrounds with 2D art layered on top is something not

commonly seen in cartoons anymore, but you do not have to know all about stereoscopic animation invented by the Fleischer brothers to enjoy the show. Fans of the video game may notice that not every single character from the game is present in the series, yet. According to an article on Decider, we can expect at least two more seasons of “The Cuphead Show!,” so do not fret. This dynamic brotherly duo deserves a spot on everyone’s watchlist.

‘Wolves At The Gate’ singles hint quality album coming next month Connor LaLone Asst. Laker Review Editor clalone@oswegonian.com

Rating: Since its founding in 2008, Wolves At The Gate (“VxV”) carved out a niche as a heavily Christian metal band. The group’s heavy post-hardcore musical themes are often in stark contrast with its lyrics, creating an interesting and enjoyable dichotomy. Heavy electric guitars that mirror uptempo drums often are accompanied by intense “unclean” vocals, a staple of the metal genre. The group has released three singles from an upcoming album, titled “Eulogies,” which is set to release on March 11. “Peace That Starts the War” begins in a similar manner to tracks like “Relief” and “Step Out to the Water,” from “VxV” and “Captors,” respectively. Slightly hushed vocals from Steve Cobucci reference the

Image from Solid State Records via YouTube Three singles were released Feb. 11 to preview the upcoming album “Eulogies.”

struggle between the Devil and God. These lyrics discuss the concept of redemption and the sacrifice Jesus made for those who believe in Him: “No one can condemn me for a debt or crime that has been paid off, nothing divides or separates.” In several ways, “Peace That Starts the War” feels incredibly similar to past songs, both from a lyrical standpoint and in terms of musical composition,

and is a great exhibition of the band’s unique sound. Perhaps the best of the songs to be released from “Eulogies” to this point, “Lights and Fire” is a tidy combination of the post-hardcore and metal tones that have defined Wolves at The Gate since their formation. Lyrically, it deals with the concept of surrender, letting everything go and placing trust in God. Cobucci showcases his

vocal talents, sustaining notes in the upper limits of his range with a controlled and consistent tone, expertly restraining raw emotion. “Lights and Fire” is upbeat with more of a pop feel than essentially anything the band has released to this point, but retains the abrasive edge one would expect from the group. “Shadows” is the opening track from the yet to be released album, and is the heaviest of the singles released to this point. The track heavily features Nick Detty’s “unclean” vocals. Detty’s ability to scream with such intent and control while maintaining energy throughout an entire track is impressive to say the very least, and “Shadows” successfully blends his verses with choruses from Cobucci. Abishai Collingsworth’s drumming ability is expertly showcased throughout, with trademark heavy metal drum fills and intense bass. While likely an ac-

quired taste, there can be little doubt that Wolves At The Gate possess supreme musical talent and are skilled songwriters. With the release of “Eulogies” in the near future, the dedicated Wolves At The Gate fanbase has reason to believe that they will receive a diverse and high quality album. The selections released thus far display the band’s ability to create first-rate music in several separate, if related, genres, showcasing each member’s unique musical talent. Steve Cobucci and Nick Detty combine their different vocal techniques to create an interesting contrast that is effective in nature. Collingsworth’s steady and technical drumming lays the groundwork for guitars from Cobucci and Joey Alarcon. If the remainder of “Eulogies” stays true to what has been released so far, Wolves At The Gate will reprise its role as the king of Christian hardcore music.

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LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

New Big Thief album showcases complex themes, mixture of genres Mackenzie Shields Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: In their new album “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You,” indie group Big Thief explores relationships, change and nature. The album was released on Feb. 11 and is their first fulllength album since 2019. Big Thief masterfully weaves together complexity and simplicity, veiling complex themes in simpler music and simple themes in heavy layers of music. Big Thief also integrates several genres into its music, including folk, alternative, rock and country. Though the album is fairly lengthy with 20 tracks, the effective use of such a wide range of moods helps make the album feel fresh with each new song. The opening song “Change” introduces one of the album’s primary themes. The song focuses on accepting change for what it is, connecting change in nature, like leaves and butterflies, to human experiences,

like romantic relationships and death. Multiple songs on the album take a reflective, neutral approach to their themes, no matter how dark they may seem on the surface. Frequently, judgment is reserved for the listeners, and the lyrics show a snapshot of the artist’s thoughts: not complete and structured, but reflective and open. The first song which seems to break free from this universe is the title track, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You.” Even the title feels unique, and the rest of the track was consistent with this. With a mysterious guitar opening, the song seems to provide an escape into some fantasy world, and feels hopeful. The instrumentation and build of the song seem ethereal, and are completely gripping. “Red Moon,” a travel song, feels the most accessible. It seems to have universal appeal. It is a bright piece with more harmonies, and the perfect song for a road trip. Themes of travel persist throughout the album. Relationships are disused in several songs, mostly in the

Image from Big Thief via YouTube “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You” explores concepts like nature, change and relationships.

negative. “Little Things” and “Love Love Love” portray dying relationships. In “Little Talks,” the beginning has an upbeat feel, until slowly, the singer faces abandonment and loss. “Love Love Love” looks at a dying relationship, using the word love over and over, wearing it out until it is uncertain whether the singer is even experiencing it all. Nature is the universal theme, connecting each song to the next. It is this theme which allows an album full of different topics to still feel so cohesive. It

is used as both a contrast and a connection to today’s world. It is even brought up against science fiction elements, such as in the song “Simulation Swarm,” one of the album’s singles. One element that makes this album more difficult to enjoy is its vocals. Though full of deep, unique, and metaphorical lyrics, the singer’s annunciation makes them challenging to understand. Though the singer’s voice fits the style perfectly, the words proved themselves difficult to comprehend without a visual reference

to what they were saying. As a whole, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’’ is an exceptional album which examines human nature and our relationship to the world around us. Touching on many themes in a way that still feels cohesive, it provides a great listening experience and has potential to provoke several emotions. Most poignantly, it reestablishes the human connection to nature, something that often feels hopelessly lost in the digital age.

‘Avalon Bay’ series shows strong start with ‘Good Girl Complex’ Gabrielle Kroeger Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: “Good Girl Complex” by Elle Kennedy (“The Deal”) takes place in a beachside town called Avalon Bay. Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is an innocent rich girl who just wants to focus on building her app and growing her business. Her parents are forcing her to go to Garnet College, which is the last thing she wants to do. Cooper Hartley is a local townie who hates the preppy rich kids who invade his town every school year. He gets in a fight with one of the “clones” as he calls them and comes up with a plan to get back at him. When Cooper meets Mac, he plans on using her to get back at the clones, but they soon become friends. Later

Image from Elle Kennedy via Instagram

“Good Girl Complex” is a new adult romance set in the fictional town of Avalon Bay.

on, their friendship turns into something more. “Good Girl Complex” is in the new adult genre, which focuses on characters between the ages of 18 and 23. Many of Kennedy’s books are written for this genre, featuring college students as the main characters. This book is the perfect read for college students who want to see themselves in the characters. This book features the

“good girl/bad boy” trope, showing that Mac and Cooper come from very different backgrounds. Mac has never had an issue paying for anything in her life, where Cooper and his brother sometimes struggle to make ends meet. Kennedy did a great job having the characters discuss their differences and work through any issues they have. Kennedy also does a good job building relation-

ships between characters. When Mac starts hanging around Cooper and his friends more and more, they are not quick to warm up to her because of their distrust of all the other rich kids. Mac slowly builds a friendship with each of Cooper’s friends, and we see her struggle to fit in at times. Throughout the novel, we see Mac struggling to make her parents happy, while also trying to make herself happy. Their expectations of her creates a lot of stress and unhappiness, but as she develops her relationship with Cooper, she works on not caring as much about what they think. She also deals with her ex-boyfriend, who is still trying to control her, despite her leaving him. Kennedy has written many books in the new adult genre. Though all of them are written in their own unique way, “Good Girl

Complex” has some parts that are a bit unoriginal. The book was enjoyable, but predictable at times. There are many books that take place in beachside towns, and they involve a townie falling in love with someone from out of town. There are also many books where the rich girl falls for the poor guy. It would have been nice if Kennedy had included more unique tropes in her novel. “Good Girl Complex” is still a very sweet and enjoyable romance story. It is the first book in the “Avalon Bay” series. By the end of the book, you will be invested in Mac and Cooper’s story, as well as all the side characters. The second book, “Bad Girl Reputation”, comes out Oct. 4, 2022. The novel will focus on Cooper’s brother, Evan, someone we do not hear much about in the first book.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Kanye West documentary 'Jeen-Yuhs' chronicles rapper's rise to fame Brandon Ladd Editor-in-Chief bladd@oswegonian.com

Rating: The new Kanye West (“Donda”) documentary, “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” was released on Netflix on Feb. 16, providing an inside look at the younger years of West’s career as a beats producer and aspiring rapper. The documentary is three parts long. The second and third parts will be released on Feb. 23 and March 2, respectively. The first part starts in 1998 in Chicago at a birthday party. We are introduced to the documentary director and longtime friend of West, Coodie Simmons ("Benji"). Simmons originally wanted to be an entertainer, but soon found his love of videography was better suited for documentary making. So, he started following West and filmed the major moments of his life. The explanation of West’s rise to fame is executed perfectly, as it shows his standing in the hip-hop and rap world as a young producer. This standing is low and he has to constantly keep working at his craft to be considered anything in

this industry. He is gifted and was quickly noticed by rap mogul, JayZ (“Empire State of Mind”). Jay-Z, who owned rap label Roc-A-Fella Records at the time, rapped over several of West’s beats in his 2001 album, “The Blueprint." Still, despite being noticed by one of the most powerful executives in the industry and having infinite connections, West is seen wandering the New York City area trying to find a label that will sign him for a record deal. It is a nostalgic moment, as we are reintroduced to some of West’s best singles of all time as he shows the different labels his songs. The most comical moment was when West and his team decided to storm Roc-A-Fella Records office in New York City to try to get West exposure on his newly developed music, that he had been crafting in a small apartment in Newark, New Jersey. West started playing “All Falls Down,” a song that would eventually go platinum twice and be his first solo Top 10 Billboard song, in random offices throughout the complex. The workers tried to keep working away, but West then started singing. It got awkward and he eventually left. Moments like those kept oc-

Image from Netflix via YouTube "Jeen-Yuhs" reintroduces nostalgic Kanye West (right) fans to the early days of his work as a musician.

curring for West the ensuing year and he travels home at one point to gain perspective from his mother, Donda West, in Chicago. Donda is a powerful figure in West’s life and we are introduced to how much confidence she instilled in her soon-to-be-famous son. This is an amazing look into one of the purest relationships between mother and son that this generation has been allowed to see. The eventual namesake of West’s most recent album is seen as wise yet fun and

smiles every interaction she has. She takes in West’s team and treats them like family. West eventually gets signed by Jay-Z's label and the first part of the documentary comes to a close. One of the last scenes was West getting his big moment on stage in Chicago for a concert, where Jay-Z and his label headlined. He brings West out and allows him to get the crowd going before the two embraced for a moment on stage. Simmons elegantly narrates

through all these moments and provides context to whatever was occurring. His ability to explain feelings and simply talk through the heartbreaking attempts of West to get noticed made these first 90 minutes of the trilogy. This first part of the documentary gave a look into the rise of a soon-to-be successful artist. The downfall of West is nowhere to be seen and makes it emotional to think how different he was before fame.

was featured on the previously unreleased track “Run” from "Red (Taylor’s Version)." Swift also teamed up with Sheeran for “End Game” on her 2017 album, "Reputation." Swift and Sheeran are known for their emotional collaborations and “The Joker And The Queen” was no exception. Fans noticed right away that the two lead actors in the video were none other than Ava Ames and Jack Lewis, the two-child actors featured in Sheeran and Swift’s 2012

duet “Everything Has Changed.” The 2013 video for “Everything Has Changed,” a track from Swift’s 2012 album "Red," follows Sheeran and Swift’s imaginary children, who look very much like the singers, as they fall in love in elementary school. Nearly 10 years later, the same actors reprise their roles, this time as college students at different schools as they take on adulthood. At the beginning of the music video, Ames and Lewis are shown in their hometown and are then shown driving off to college. The cars racing down the tree-lined dirt road seems to nod to the visual influence of Swift’s recently released “All too Well” music video. The lyricism of the song is immaculate as the artists use subtle symbolism to portray the love of two young adults. One example of this would be the chorus in which Swift and Sheeran sing “And I know you could fall for a thousand kings/ And hearts that would give you a diamond ring,” Sheeran sings on the chorus. “When I fold, you see the best in me/The joker and the queen.” As the video continues, the cou-

ple reminisces about their childhoods as they go through college life. By the end of the clip, the pair finally reunites in their hometown, where they originally met. The imagery within the music video successfully evokes emotions in the viewer by showing each actor in their dorm rooms holding the photos of them in elementary school from the “Everything Has Changed” video. Ames and Lewis are also shown at college parties and it is obvious that they are feeling lonely. Everyone around them is smiling, dancing and having fun, but they are each standing alone. This music video serves as the perfect example of a young couple, trying to find their way. Simultaneously, the viewer is left to feel as though Swift and Sheeran are reflecting on their own maturity. The artists are now older and are able to pass down some wisdom to their young fans who have not yet experienced many relationships. Sheeran and Swift proved with this new music video that everything really has changed, perhaps for the better.

Video releases for Sheeran, Swift collaboration 'The Joker and The Queen' Sydney Havens News Editor shavens@oswegonian.com

Rating: On Feb. 18, Ed Sheeran ("Shape of You") and Taylor Swift ("Blank Space") released the official music video to their newest duet, “The Joker And The Queen." The music video was a nostalgic masterpiece that demonstrated the evolution of both Sheeran and Swift. The song, which originally appeared on Sheeran’s 2021 album '"=," marks the fourth collaboration between the pop icons. “Me and Taylor first met and wrote + recorded our first song together in 2012, ten years ago now, I’m so so honored to have her on this song,” Sheeran tweeted after the video premiered. “Not only is she the best singer/songwriter in the world but she’s also a very close friend, I’m very lucky to have her in my life.” Last week, "Swifties" and Sheeran fans were quick to notice that Swift might be joining the singer

for a remix of the "=" track after he shared a photo of a CD booklet showing a blonde woman bearing an eerie resemblance to Swift on a playing card. “Signing some CDs for something coming in a bit, keep an eye out,” Sheeran captioned the photo as fans reacted with excitement in the comments. The pop superstars and longtime friends have collaborated several times in the past. In addition to “Everything Has Changed,” Sheeran

Image from Ed Sheeran via YouTube Jack Lewis (top) and Ava Ames (bottom) star in their second Sheeran-Swift music video.

FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022

Crossword Puzzle

Across

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

1. Swiss mountains 5. Alias abbr. 8. Eve’s home 12. Thailand, formerly 13. Buff 14. Gold fabric 15. Pilots 17. Adjoin 18. Tenacious 20. Laughter syllable 21. Required 25. Flying hero 28. Private school 29. Passing craze 30. Spud 32. Tall tale 33. Ridiculous 35. The I in TGIF 36. Eye part 37. “The Raven” poet 40. Figured

45. Bread topping 48. Clutter clearing event (2 wds.) 49. _____ and void 50. Opposite of NNW 51. She, in Bordeaux 52. Look at amorously 53. “Sex and ____ City” 54. Swindle

Down 1. PDQ’s kin 2. Dwell 3. Couple 4. Shatter 5. Ascended 6. Actor ____ Russell 7. Lack 8. Thrilled 9. Speck 10. Australian bird 11.Butterfly catcher

16. Bind 19. Not far 22. Sub shop 23. Send out 24. Coloring agents 25. Not nearby 26. Example 27. Revise text 28. Ingested 30. Vocalist ____ Turner 31. Critical examiner 34. Actress ____ Kidman 37. Blender setting 38. Aged 39. Alleviates 41. Pocket money 42. Bath powder 43. Jazz great ____ Fitzgerald 44. Think 45. Artist Yoko ____ 46. Haul 47. House wing

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

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb 25, 2022

Shea McCarthy

Jacob Fallat

William Rogers | The Oswegonian