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Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 VOLUME LXXXVIII ISSUE VII SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com
Walters inspects use of GIFs as modern blackface Samantha Flavell Editor-in-Chief sflavell@oswegonian.com
William Rogers | The Oswegonian
Kelly Walters, established AfricanAmerican designer and researcher, visited Oswego State Oct. 16 to speak on the topic of digital blackface and its prevalence in contemporary use. The main topic of discussion was on how GIFs are now widely used as an overall accepted form of blackface and how using clips from films and TV of overemphasized gestures to characterize African-Americans adds to the overall emotion that they portray. Walters began research on this topic because she felt that, as a designer, it is important to understand how sociopolitical frameworks and shifting technology influence the sounds, symbols and style of black people, according to her event biography on the Oswego State website. “It’s just been this ongoing quest to look more critically at, and collecting a lot of the artifacts,” Walters said. “I try to figure out what those forms will take, or what it needs be shaped into, so that it becomes a larger conversation and so that we can push into looking deeply at looking back at our history but looking at our present at the same time.” Walters began her speaker session by providing a historical context to the use of blackface dating back to Billy Van in 1900, a white male who performed blackface for minstrel shows.
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Media Summit on viral voices Panelists discuss digital advocacy via social media platforms Kassadee Paulo News Editor kpaulo@oswegonian.com The 14th annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit presented the views of professionals regarding the theme viral voices and advocacy in the digital age. Moderated by WNYT-TV news anchor Asa Stackel, a 2012 Oswego State alumnus, a panel of four included Brandi Boatner, social and influencer communications lead, global markets brand communications manager for IBM Corporate Communications, Gina Iliev, health equity coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Jeff Knauss, 2007 Oswego State alumnus and co-founder of Digital Hyve, and Latoya Lee, assistant professor of sociology at Oswego State.
“Our panelists were chosen because they have firsthand experience and in-depth understanding on how social networks and digital mediums can change minds, influence actions and just maybe improve lives in the process,” said Oswego State President Deborah Stanley. During Stackel’s opening remarks, he defined digital advocacy as “an organized effort to influence public reception by digital means, whether by company or individuals.” Lee said the only thing that differentiates traditional movements with digital movements are the tools. Before the birth of social media, ideas could be transferred by handing out flyers. Now, hashtags make it possible to quickly spread ideas and organize gatherings. “We need to interrogate that not necessarily everyone has a voice on
social media,” Lee said. “It also depends on how big you are, whether you have a blue verified check, whether you have enough followers to have a voice.” Knauss said that he believes one of the difficult aspects of social media is the sense that it is an echo chamber, in which algorithms figure out what someone agrees with and likes and feeds more of that type of content to that person. Their views are only reinforced rather than challenged for a balanced approach. Boatner said that the different platforms on Twitter show that different communities feel they need a specific subset to connect with others in their own community. She said there are tons of groups on social media with special interests that will advocate with each other on a certain topic.
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New SA director position remains empty until vote Julia Tilley Asst. News Editor jtilley@oswegonian.com
Julia Tilley | The Oswegonian
Student Association has officially been trying to fill its position for the director of diversity and inclusion since the beginning of the semester. This new position was created by President Omar van Reenen, who held a similar position last year as director of diversity, equity and inclusion. He said he thought it would better help the student body to have two separate positions, so he created the position of director of diversity and inclusion and the director of gender equality and women’s affairs, which is held by Lizeth Ortega. “I saw that we needed someone to tend to women’s issues, sexuality issues. That’s why I took the ‘equity’ part out of [director of diversity and inclusion],” van Reenen said. Oswego State student Jake Small was appointed by van Reenen and served as the interim director of diversity and inclusion over the summer and into October. On Oct. 2, when the senate had to vote on whether Small would be confirmed, several Oswego State students spoke up during public comments to discuss their individual concerns with appointing him to the position. Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian Boatner, Stackel, Iliev, Knauss and Lee (left to right) shared their views on social movements and advocacy in the digital age.
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Darren C. Perry, 22, was arrested at 12:40 a.m. on Oct. 9 for grand larceny, harassment and unlawful imprisonment following an investigation of domestic dispute.
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Joshua A. Holley, 27, was arrested at 9:19 a.m. on Oct. 12 for second-degree criminal content following an incident where he texted the protected party of a stay away order of protection. Kyle M. Perez, 24, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. on Oct.13 for driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle accident.
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Editor-in-Chief | Samantha Flavell Managing Editor | Alexander Gault-Plate News Editor | Kassadee Paulo Opinion Editor | Francesca Miesner Sports Editor | Ben Grieco A&E Editor | Dominic Rizzi Photo Director | Maria Pericozzi Creative Director | Shea McCarthy Multimedia Director | Joey Lioto Chief Copy Editor | Jessica Wickham Copy Editor | Julie Loney Copy Editor | Katie VanRiper Asst. News Editor | Julia Tilley Asst. Sports Editor | Matt Watling Asst. Photo Director | Austin Dearborn Asst. A&E Editor | Brandon Fallat Events & Promotions Coordinator | Cloey Olkowski Ad Manager | Alexis Acevedo Sales Associate | Liz DeMartino Business Manager | Diana Soler Asst. Business Manager | Alexandra Candela Social Media Coordinator | Dominick Lioto Social Media Coordinator | Cole Parzych
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Dustin C. Haynes, 27, was arrested at 9:23 p.m. on Oct. 14 for petit larceny following an investigation by the Oswego Police Department in which he stole merchandise from Wal-Mart in the city of Oswego.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK That’s the thing about women in the workplace: they need us.”
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THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
A3
Cornell University professor invents new apples
Oswego, Mexico apple orchards grow exclusive breeds this season
Community Opening: History of Oswego State Hockey, noon, Saturday, Marano Campus Center Arena
Focus on Faculty: Robert Auler, Piano, 3 p.m., Sunday, Sheldon Hall Ballroom Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian SnapDragon apples have characteristics of Honeycrisp apples, and have a better packing and storage quality for the benefit of the growers.
Kassadee Paulo News Editor kpaulo@oswegonian.com Apple lovers in central New York can crunch into two new breeds of apples developed by a professor at Cornell University that are only available for orchards part of Crunchtime Apple Growers. Two local orchards that grow and sell these new apples, SnapDragon and RubyFrost, are Fruit Valley Orchard in Oswego and Behling Orchards in Mexico, New York. Susan Brown, professor of horticulture at Cornell University, spent the last 11 years developing NY 1 (SnapDragon), which she said took a much shorter time than the typical 20 to 40 years it usually takes to perfect a breed and release it. SnapDragon was bred to have similar attributes as Honeycrisp apples and is better quality to hold up longer. “We often get asked if these apples are GMO,” Brown said. “While Cornell supports GMO research, these apples are from traditional breeding, where two apple trees are crossed and the seeds are then all hybrids of the two parents. They may resemble one parent, or the other, or be a unique combination, just like children in a family, but our families are huge - several thousand.” Brown said NY 2 (RubyFrost) was the result of an experiment of crossing two varieties to prevent browning after cutting the apples. The resulting apple is on the tarter
side, is high in vitamin C, deep burgundy color and good for storage for growers. Both have three traits Brown said she believes are important for consumers: crispiness, juiciness and crunch. “RubyFrost has many diverse fans. It has a little more ‘tang’ or acid and is liked by Empire, Macoun, Cortland and Granny Smith lovers,” Brown said. “Its dense flesh is great for both fresh eating and baking.” After the apples were perfected, Brown offered the breed to every apple grower in New York, along with the opportunity to join Crunchtime Apple Growers in their partnership with Cornell University for the exclusive rights to grow the breed Brown created. “Crunchtime decided that these two apples had so much potential that they wanted to market them,” said Rena Montedaro, Crunchtime Apple Growers vice president of sales and marketing. “They procured the license from Cornell to have exclusive rights, so only Crunchtime Growers can grow SnapDragon and RubyFrost, and they are only grown in the state of New York, but we are sold coast to coast.” Crunchtime Apple Growers consists of 147 apple growers in New York and was launched about six years ago with an open membership for growers to buy into. Growers who are members of Crunchtime benefit from a “higher bid return” of new apples
to replace older varieties that are not as popular anymore, according to Montedoro. “This will help in the further developing of our state’s position in apple growing not only nationally but globally,” said Eric Behling, co-owner of Behling Orchards. “New York is No. 2 in the U.S. in apple production, next to Washington state.” Fruit Valley and Behling Orchards bought into the membership, securing rights to exclusive apple breeds, such as SnapDragon and RubyFrost for this season. Behling said his great-grandfather started growing apples with six acres of land, and then, in 1968, Behling Orchards opened the orchard up for public apple picking, and the orchards now stretch to 200 acres. “SnapDragon matures right after another customer favorite, Honeycrisp…RubyFrost is late maturing and will soon become a favorite, especially during the winter and later months, as it stores very well,” Behling said. “Our family has plans to continue planting and take the time it needs to grow high-quality SnapDragons.” Fruit Valley Orchard is a small, family-owned orchard and greenhouse on Bunkerhill Road in Oswego. It grows a variety of apples, including the two new breeds, plums, peaches and cherries. It also grows apples to be used to make hard cider, vegetables and flowers.
Planetarium Show: Spooky Science, 7 p.m., Sunday, Shineman Center Planetarium
I Am Oz Speaker: Etan Thomas, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Marano Campus Center 132
Zumba Night, 7:30 p.m., Monday, Marano Campus Center 114
Science Today Lecture: Kenny Roffo, 4 p.m., Tuesday, Shineman 132
Yoga Night, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday,
Marano Campus Center 205
It’s on Us Day, 10 a.m., Wednesday, Marano Campus Center
Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian
Fall Career and Internship Fair, 4 p.m., Wednesday, Swetman Gymnasium
SnapDragon apples were ready to be picked in late September, and RubyFrost apples will be available in late October at Fruit Valley Orchard.
Connor Breese and Matthew Zoller from the College Democrats Club requested $180 from Student Association in order to financially back a town hall for Dana Balter. The town hall will be held on Oct. 29 in Marano Campus Center Room 132. They said they want to give students a chance to engage and interact with Oswego’s Democratic candidate before the upcoming election. Because this is a new club, members have not had many chances to fund raise for this event. They also were not able to request a budget, which they will apply for during the upcoming spring semester.
Oswego State students Jack Marcucci and Asya Kadic asked Student Association for money to send two Sigma XI Research Conference students that were invited to attend a national research conference. In order to send Kadic, it would cost a total of $245.50. This would include poster printing, the registration fee, airfare and other transportation. In order to send another student, Bianca Fernandez, it would cost around $545.59 in total. That cost is inclusive of everything Kadic’s is, but is a higher cost because she has not yet received the same grants or scholarships as Kadic. Fernandez is applying for grants and scholarships.
down in the finance committee, as it was not considered an emergency. The bill is about whether or not the organization will receive the additional funding Oswego State student it previously requested. Nicole Barry was con- SA decided the bill will firmed as director of be tabled and revisited next week. graphic design. Nicole Peters, interim director of multicultural and student organizations, was referred to the involvement committee. She will be voted on later in the semester. RES 54.2, an homMarquel Jeffries, interim director of diver- age for professor Brian sity and inclusion, was Hough, passed in the also referred to a com- senate. The bill proposed mittee, and will be vot- having a minute of silence for Hough during ed on next week. the first men’s and women’s hockey games. It passed after senate made two amendments to it: a short biography is given on Hough before the siThe Young Ameri- lence, and all affectcans for Freedom’s ed are honored with bill has not yet been the minute of silence, along with Hough. passed. It was voted
A4 NEWS Interim director of diversity, inclusion opposed Meteorologist Jason Gough Oswego State clubs speak out against voting on Small shares story of sexual abuse THE OSWEGONIAN
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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Students from various clubs on campus, such as different ALANA organizations and the Women’s Center, came forward to say that they felt Small had not attended enough of their events or made himself visible to their club meetings. Some students said that Small would not properly represent them if elected. However, attendance at events is not the main job of the directors, according to van Reenen. “Programming and meeting with clubs aren’t usually what directors do,” van Reenen said. “They are the ones that advocate for the students with administration and faculty, but I’ve emphasized that I want them all on the ground.” Students attending and speaking out at public comment is not a usual occurrence at the weekly Student Association meetings. “I think it’s awesome that students are getting involved and they’re making their voices heard, because it’s what we want,” said current Student Association Senator Jade Laplante. “We want people signing up to be senators. We want people to say, ‘I’m upset about this. I want change to happen.’” Laplante herself became involved in Student Association after being a part of the Equal Pay for Equal Play movement last semester. She was the interim director of athletic affairs over the summer but was not confirmed by the senate for this upcoming semester. Small is no longer in the running to be director of diversity and inclusion for Student Association. On Oct. 16, a new interim director of diversity and inclusion came forward. Marquel Jeffries was appointed by
Shea O’Malley Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com
Julia Tilley | The Oswegonian Omar van Reenen (left) appointed Jake Small as interim director of diversity and inclusion this summer.
van Reenen. Jeffries is a senior and a third-year resident assistant in Cayuga Hall. He is also the vice president of the Black Student Union and said he wants to represent those who have not been represented properly in the past. “I can honestly say that I am very hopeful of this candidate and have worked closely with them during my past three years on the Black Student Union and I know they are going to do a great job,” said Senatorat-large Khalia Hepburn. Based on what students brought up at public comment, some senators have speculated students are more active in Student Association now and want leaders who will make a difference on campus. “People are looking for someone who is going to make a change. A common mistake people make when
they think director of diversity is racial diversity. This position is more than just that,” Hepburn said. “They have to be the voice of the frustrations of not only the racial minorities here on campus, but the LGBTQ community, women, students with disabilities, veterans and more and make sure that they also feel included and heard within the Oswego community. It’s a big role to fill, and the students of Oswego just want to make sure that the person in this position is here for all and not just some.” Jeffries has been referred to the involvement committee, and senators will vote on whether or not he is appointed next week. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done, and I’m proud of the people I appointed, and I’m proud of the people the senators have confirmed,” van Reenen said.
Homecoming Tailgate plans foiled by weather
In support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Oswego State’s Title IX office and the It’s On Oz interns held a forum with guest speaker Jason Gough on Monday, Oct. 15. Gough is a meteorologist and sexual assault survivor who travels the state speaking out against sex crimes and whose story was a featured segment on WNYT news out of Albany called “Breaking the Silence.” His story was also featured in a Times Union news article. Gough detailed a rough childhood coupled with a relative who showered him with attention and gifts. He recounted the abuse lasting three years, stating he could not remember the abuse as a child. However, it began taking a toll on his young life. As a coping mechanism, Gough began pulling out his eyelashes, followed by years of silence and anger. Bullying and lack of teacher intervention escalated his issues. Gough said his “behavior freaked everyone out, but no one looked into it.” Gough attended college at Auburn University in Alabama, living in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he worked for 16 years before moving back Albany. To his surprise, the move brought back a flood of childhood memories and the stark realization that he had been abused as a boy. Struggling with the truth, Gough began telling a few family members. He recalled watching actor Tyler Perry share his own story of abuse on T.V. “It was a real game-changer,” Gough said. “If he could do it, then I could do it.” Gough also shared his struggle with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal thoughts. He referred to the heaviness, “hang-
ing on [him] like a lead vest.” Gough also spoke to the audience about the impact of trauma and effects it can have on one’s future. “Trauma changes the brain; you’re living the abuse as a kid in an adult mindset,” Gough said. “That is very dangerous because you are saying, ‘Well, why didn’t I do something?’ It’s the core of where the guilt and shame are really dug in.” Gough covered the outlying distinction of handling of sexual assault cases in the U.S. “Sexual abuse and sexual assault are treated differently than any other crime,” he said. “Instead of the straightforward investigation and the gathering of evidence, oftentimes the victim is left to ask, ‘What did I do to bring this on?’ after hearing things like, ‘Well, why didn’t you stop it?’ or ‘What were you wearing?’” Gough went on to discuss disclosure as a very powerful thing, making a reference to toxic masculinity. “Many men say, ‘I’m a man. I can handle this.’ That’s garbage,” he said. “The cornerstone of everything from the survivor side is that ‘abuse doesn’t happen to them.’ It’s done to them. That’s a humungous distinction. It’s a simple sentence, but you’re talking on the opposite sides of the spectrum in meaning.” He said that 94 percent of abuse cases are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. He ended the presentation with a Q&A session, imploring the audience to come to victims’ aid. “If someone discloses to you, hear them,” he said. “Your job is to help them get help however you can.” For several years now, Gough has been lobbying the passage of the New York State Child Victims Act, which has not yet been approved in the state Senate.
Alumni return for weekend events, not disappointed Samantha Flavell Editor-in-Chief sflavell@oswegonian.com The Homecoming Tailgate, one of the main events of Oswego State’s fall Homecoming celebration, was cancelled due the inclement weather. The event was coordinated by Oswego State’s Department of Campus Life, who also made the rain call for the tailgate. The event was supposed to be held on Saturday, Oct. 13 and was meant to coincide with three Oswego State athletic games. These included Lakewr volleyball at Union College at noon, men’s soccer against SUNY Fredonia at 1 p.m. and field hockey against St. John Fisher College at 4 p.m. The campus was full of many alumni this past weekend. The first in-person meeting of Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) was held on Friday. While some were disappointed they would not be able to attend the Homecoming Tailgate, others, such as spring ’18 Oswego alumnus and GOLD Leadershp Counsel member Reid Adler, were indifferent on the matter. “I came up for a wedding, so Homecoming weekend was really just an added bonus,” Adler said. The weekend was not a total loss, however. Campus Life worked in collaboration with the Alumni Office to host a number of events. “Other events during Homecoming, which were coordinated by our office, did still take place,” said Laura Kelly, director of Alumni and Parent Relations. “They were very positively received.”
Photo provided by Jim Russell ‘83 Oswego State students, faculty and staff joined together to mark the start of Homecoming week.
The weekend was comprised of events that ran from Friday, Oct. 12 until Sunday, Oct. 14. This included a wide variety of events tailored to different student groups. Green and Gold Day kicked off the weekend on Friday with a photo in the Marano Campus Center Arena. Kelly said this year drew in the largest crowd yet for the photo, though a number was not specified. Other events were more specifically aimed at alumni. Return to Oz - Alumni of Color Reunion ran from Friday until Sunday and drew more than 100 alumni back to campus. This event was comprised of numerous activities for alumni involvement in during their weekend in Oswego. The event that received one of the largest groups for alumni participation was the Scholars Brunch on Saturday. There were approximately 200 guests at the event, including both
scholarship donors and the recipients. The Scholars Brunch, however, was not the only awards event during Homecoming weekend. Saturday, there were seven new inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame, including Joe Carrabs ’04 – ice hockey, Barb Verdoliva Carroll ’93 – soccer, George T. Gelsomin ’78 – golf, Paul Newman ’83 – wrestling, Mark H. Serron ’81 – lacrosse, Sheri A. Smith ’91 – basketball and softball and Gregory Arthur Wilson ’68 – basketball. This event drew around 90 guests, including alumni, student athletes, family and friends. Homecoming weekend is organized to provide fun and relaxing events for students to take advantage of. While the tailgate may have been cancelled due to the weather, both Campus Life and the Alumni Office had a variety of activities planned to still provide guests with an eventfilled weekend.
Shea O’Malley | Maria Pericozzi| The Oswegonian Oswego State Title IX office and It’s On Oz hosted Jason Gough for awareness of sexual violence.
A5 NEWS Oswego State runs for good cause Kelly Walters discusses Fitness Centers donate to Blessings in a Backpack stereotypes in memes, GIFs THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
Stephen Novak Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com On Oct. 12, Cooper and Gilmmerglass Fitness Centers sponsored the Pumpkin Run, an event that invited students to run to raise funds for a good cause. The course was across the Oswego State campus, starting outside of the Marano Campus Center, taking those involved on a circular tour by either walking or running. Employees of Cooper and Glimmerglass Fitness Centers and volunteers from dorms helped create the event. The run had asked all participants to donate $5 to the charity Blessings In A Backpack. The goal of the charity, created by famous Disney star Hilary Duff, is to provide care packages to young children in the U.S. who are unable to afford meals over the weekend. One of the workers hosting the event, Mackenzie Talbot, a junior in wellness management, had helped sign up those who arrived and collected donations. “[It] helps put food in the bellies of those who less fortunate and may not always have regular meals,” Talbot said. A large portion of that participants were members of the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. One sorority sister, Madison Doner, a senior student in journalism, was happy to help work toward a good cause. “For my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon , we have to do a lot of community service, so this is one of our community service events that we are getting in for this semester,” Doner said. Another sister, Sarah Henry, a senior majoring in public relations, said that she was glad the event gave her a chance to get together with her sisters and achieve some physical fitness. “We all came out tonight to get
RESEARCHER from COVER
Stephen Novak | The Oswegonian Every runner made a donation of $5 to benefit Blessings in a Backpack for the Pumpkin Run.
some physical exercise,” Henry said. The sorority had also fully funded those involved in the chapter to attend. Many first-year students in Johnson Hall were called upon to fill their volunteer requirements. Tessa Woodhams, a first-year student majoring in childhood education, said she enjoyed her experience getting involved and the work it goes toward. “I live in Johnson, so Linda LaFevre emailed, and I thought Blessings in a Backpack was a good cause,” Woodhams said. The man behind the event, Brian Wallace, the manager of Cooper and Glimmerglass Fitness Centers, said the run has been a part of the Oswego State campus for nearly 12 years and
goes toward a noteworthy cause. “They’re trying to help these hungry elementary-age students, so we thought it was a good theme,” Wallace said. “Plus it’s very local; It’s here in Oswego.” Outside of volunteers from Johnson Hall, those who work at the fitness centers had a hand in organizing the event. They were supported by the Johnson Hall first-year students, who provided directions to the runners to stop them from getting lost. The event started at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and lasted until 6 p.m. Those who had provided funds to the Blessings in a Backpack charity were then entered into a raffle for a small prize.
George Walker was an AfricanAmerican minstrel performer who refused to use blackface but would act in the lazy and carefree manner in which African-Americans were generally portrayed. His partner, Bert Williams, who was also an African-American male, would use blackface in his performances in 1921 to create a caricature of his race. Walters used Walker and Williams to illustrate the two different relationships to the blackface tradition, one in which it was used as a liberating act and another that viewed it as derogatory and distasteful. “There were white blackface minstrels who were embodying the characteristics of the buffoonery of a black individual,” Walters said. “And through blackface being co-opted by black individuals in that tradition, they were able to push back into that, which is why we have blackface black individuals.” What Walters was most concerned with was how the historical context has influenced contemporary examples of blackface, as well as how some are more accepted over others. Walters used the example of Julianne Hough, who dressed up as the character “Crazy Eyes” from “Orange is the New Black” by saturating her face with bronzer to darken her skin tone. During the open question portion of the event, Oswego State student Natasia Burgess made the comment that memes are just the personification of racial stereotypes. “These memes, they are still characters and still stereotypes that people are obsessed with,” Burgess said. “I believe that is being satirically representative of this obsession that weaves its way from blackface to these memes.” Walters used examples from sitcoms and reality TV shows like “The Real Housewives” and excerpts from news stories like the “Ain’t nobody got
William Rogers | The Oswegonian
time for that” woman, whose clips became viral. Walters also mentioned how memes were being used as substitutions for words. Rather than verbally expressing one’s emotions, it is becoming more common for a GIF displaying that emotion in an exaggerating manner to be used in its place. Walters continually referred to this research as “ongoing” and that, as a designer, this historical context will always be prevalent and never truly ends. Walters also helped to inspire other students to think more about the context of their work and what social factors go into it. Walters had another general artist talk that evening at 6 p.m. to talk about her design in more broad terms. “I would say the presentation inspired me to pursue design that is meaningful and personal to me,” said Oswego State senior Rachel Futterman. “The artist talk in the evening especially reminded me that, even though our education is focused on creating work that follows conventional rules of design and is easily marketable, it is just as important to focus on projects that represent who we are as people and the artistic journey that we go on in relationship to our personal identities.”
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THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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Twitter, hashtags spark discussion, movements Women share stories of Digital advocacy not enough for permanent legal change working in media industry MEDIA from COVER Knauss said that, when the #MeToo movement first spread on Twitter, he liked how social media opened the opportunity to give survivors a voice to share their own story and feel heard, regardless of celebrity status, because of the large number of survivors coming forward. “I do think we all have a voice,” Iliev said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily important if you have 100,000 followers; I think it’s that you said it is really important.” Iliev said she finds digital media interesting because the conversations on social media platforms have already been in motion before the hashtags began, noting how Tarana Burke had been using the phrase “Me Too” 10 years prior to actress Alyssa Milano launching the hashtag movement on Twitter. Lee said movements often emerge in response to an event that upsets a group of people, so they take to social media. Boatner agreed, recounting the video of athlete Ray Rice abusing his girlfriend on surveillance and how it resulted in the domestic violence awareness hashtag movements #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft. Although domestic violence had been a topic that has been talked about for centuries, the hashtags sparked the conversation again. Iliev said that digital advocacy is not enough to truly make a change; one needs to make personal connections and take extra steps to get results, such as personally reaching to out legislators. She said she loves it when people interact with hashtags and show up at marches, but it is difficult to track exactly who is participating unless they take the extra step of making digital and paper meet, and get people to support and follow a movement once it is started. “I think we are in the age of slacktivism, where you just hit that like button and you’ve done your duty for the day,” Lee said. “It’s not just by hitting that like button, but by putting in the actual work.” Lee said the Black Lives Matter movement went beyond social media, and people reached out to their congressmen and pushed for a trial for George Zimmerman after killing Trayvon Martin. Boatner discussed the connection of “Nightmare on Elm Street” and the premise of staying awake to stay alive to our society and the need to “stay woke,” which she said is not a new phrase. Instead, it came from a poem during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1940s about people being aware of their surroundings. “A lot of people in America are
Jessica Wickham Chief Copy Editor jwickham@oswegonian.com
Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian Oswego State President Deborah Stanley introduced the history of the media summit.
asleep,” Boatner said. “You say you want to be ‘woke,’ but you don’t because you don’t take the next step in taking action. For all I know, Elm Street is your personal place of residence.” Knauss agreed and added the importance of self-education and voting, which many people have died just for the right to do. He said it is so easy to have an informed opinion now due to the introduction of the internet. Lee discussed how “black” Twitter responded to a headline in an Associated Press story that was worded in a way that seemed like it was blaming a victim, and how AP changed it. She said this proved that results can occur when you have the numbers. Knauss recounted how he helped the current Syracuse mayor, Ben Walsh, during his campaign reach out and connect to minority groups, which resulted in him winning the vote. “I think social media played a huge role in that, and they actually called him the ‘social media king.’ It was a really great way to engage,” Knauss said. Boatner said digital advocacy speaks to her because she is an advocate for inclusivity and diversity as a woman of color in the corporate world. She said IBM has a mantra that promotes inclusivity: “I believe. I belong. I matter.”
She said the company could not be as successful as it is now without treating diversity with as much importance as innovation. She said she believes the most successful businesses are the ones that take a stand on a topic, noting Nike’s recent campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. “Regardless of what side you are on, none of us can argue that, as a result of the entire campaign, Nike has profited $6 billion,” Boatner said. “When brands address issues that we talk about, it says something about the brand, because…it’s not about what you sell; it’s about who you are as a company.” During the Q&A portion of the event, the panelists gave advice to students on how to best market themselves in person and on social media by presenting professional and communication skills and by living authentically. Beginning in 2005, the media summit was dedicated to professor Lewis B. O’Donnell by Oswego State alumni Al Roker and Louis A. Borrelli Jr., both of whom are successful leaders in the media industry. The event was organized by a committee of students under the support of communication studies department assistant professor Michael Riecke, with the support of various campus departments.
The Women in Media Breakout, part of a series of events for the Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit at Oswego State, brought together three women of color in different media industries to discuss difficulties and triumphs they have faced because of their gender, race and identity. The session, moderated by Student Association President Omar van Reenan, hosted Gina Iliev, health equity coordinator at Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York; Shealene Guerrero, editorial specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine; and Brandi Boatner, social and influencer communications lead and global markets brand communications manager at IBM Corporate Communications. The three women spoke at 11:30 a.m. in Marano Campus Center, tackling topics like workplace discrimination, micro-aggressions and pursuing passions. All three women said that women serve an important role in media industries that is often underappreciated, even when women contribute just as much if not more than men. “That’s the thing about women in the workplace: they need us,” Guerrero said. “We’re a big majority of the brains and the work.” Boatner said she uses her people skills at IBM to change its image from that of a 55-yearold white man to one of diversity to suit the present time, including creating three positions that she currently holds. “I’m not a business person; I’m a communicator,” Boatner said. “The overall reputation [at IBM] is changing as technology is changing.” Iliev became interested in social justice in Syracuse and at Planned Parenthood for a similar reason – to help push for change and create a more diverse workplace. “People of color don’t just show up because you said so,” Ilieve said. Despite positive changes, the women all expressed that there is more that needs to be done. Boatner said she experiences five to seven micro-aggressions per month at her job. “You shouldn’t ever ask a black female if her hair is real,” Boatner said. Iliev said that sexism can exist anywhere, including at Planned Parenthood, which is mostly run by women.
Jessica Wickham | The Oswegonian
“Even at Planned Parenthood, people say all kinds of things to me,” Iliev said. Being proud of one’s identity was another common theme at the event, and Guerrero said exhibiting confidence and acceptance in oneself is often the first step in making society accept minorities. “I’m queer, I’m a woman of color, and I don’t hide myself,” Guerrero said. “You have to be who you are, because if you aren’t, you won’t be comfortable in your position.” Boatner said she is lucky to work at IBM, where she can be her “sassy” self. “I couldn’t imagine working at a company that doesn’t let me be my authentic self,” Boatner said. Later in the event, the speakers took questions from the audience, one about speaking up against mistreatment and another about embodying societal expectations. Guerrero said that fighting injustice is an active effort, but it was hard for her to do at first. “You can take steps to change the course, but for me, I felt like I had limited power,” Guerrero said. “You have to choose your battles.” Boatner said she often has to watch what she says and does so she does not fall into misleading images society has about people of color and women. “I don’t want [to be] the angry black stereotype,” Boatner said. The breakout session served as a way to introduce the women to a small audience of students mostly from media organizations and classes. Boatner and Iliev were panelists at the main event of the Media Summit, held at 3 p.m. in the Waterman Theater at Tyler Hall.
Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian
Jessica Wickham | The Oswegonian
Oswego State students lined up during the Q&A to ask the four panelists questions about topics, such as the culture of “cancelling” others on Twitter.
Guerrero, Boatner and Iliev (left to right) discussed their experiences in terms of their identities.
OPINION KANYE NOT SPOKESMAN
B6 Photo provided by Pixabay
SPORTS THE OSWEGONIAN
SPORTS B3
TRANSFER BOOST
Kyle Hurley | The Oswegonian
VOLUME LXXXVIII ISSUE VII • www.oswegonian.com
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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Matt’s Mind
Golf team hits winter break after tremendous success
Hockey beyond the MCC Ice Arena
Oswego State with potential to make noise at regional, national levels
Matt Watling Asst. Sports Editor mwatling@oswegonian.com As head coach Ed Gosek gears up for the 2018 season, some of his former players are in the midst of their professional hockey seasons. One thing Gosek does extremely well is coach his team in a manner similar to professional franchises. The hard work he instills in all of his players trains them for the long, hard road that is lower-tier professional hockey. These lower-level leagues, such as the East Coast Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League, are full of under-funded teams that pay their players very little and on a weekly basis. Despite the long bus rides and crummy motel rooms, several of Gosek’s former players have continued their hockey career after their time with the Lakers. The most recent graduate to continue their career was Trent Durocher. After the 2017-18 Lakers’ campaign ended prematurely in the first round of the SUNYAC playoffs, Durocher packed up his hockey bag and traveled to North Carolina, where he played for the Fayetteville Marksmen. In his two games played, he did not record a single point. Heading into this season, he was on a professional tryout with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL. His professional tryout was cut short after he did not make the roster; however, Durocher may easily find himself on a roster, as the ECHL and SPHL have long schedules that lead to injuries for their players who play without year-long contracts. Former captain Kenny Neil has had a bit more success in his time after college. After graduating in 2017, he played portions of two seasons with the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the SPHL. In 47 games, he scored 18 goals and 31 points. His performance with the Ice Flyers saw him move overseas to Germany, where he played in the third-tier of the German hockey circuit. In seven games with the Waldkraiburg EHC Lions, he scored six points. Perhaps the most impressive Oswego State alumnus is Eric Selleck, who finished his career with the Lakers back in 2010. For eight seasons, Selleck has bounced around between the AHL and the NHL, the best hockey league in the world. He has played three NHL games, most recently back in 2015 with the Arizona Coyotes. Last season, he played 50 games between the AHL-affiliates of the New York Rangers and Belleville Senators. In those games, he scored seven points and had a combined plus/minus of -16. For this season, Selleck moved to Slovakia to play for HC Banska Bystrica. In his one game this season, he tallied one assist. While all of these players had excellent careers in the green and gold, their careers after Oswego State are fairly impressive. Despite his 306 wins, eight NCAA Div. III Tournament appearances and NCAA Div. III National Championship, Gosek’s greatest accomplishment may be how impactful he has been on the players he has coached. Of the 429 Oswego State players HockeyDB recognized, 26 percent of them have gone on to play elsewhere. This number is a testament to the Lakers’ coaching staff and ability to recruit quality players.
Ben Grieco Sports Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com After a successful fall season, the Oswego State golf team is heading into its winter hiatus until April. All of the tournaments in which the team participated resulted in finishing third place or higher. The Lakers won four tournaments this year, including the Empire 8 Fall Championship and the 21st Oswego Fall Invitational. To finish off the fall portion of the 2018-2019 season, Oswego State came away with a first-place finish at the Nazareth College Invitational. The team beat second-place St. Lawrence University by nine strokes. Heading into the winter break with another victory under the team’s belt helps with confidence, head coach Mike Howard said. “The guys played really well over two days, over two fantastic courses. We’re extremely pleased with that,” Howard said. “Going into the break with a ‘W’ is good for the guys. They’re feeling good about themselves, and rightfully so.” Senior Sean Paul Owen won the tournament after shooting a two-day total of 145. He shot a 74 on the first day, which was plus-two for the Monroe Golf Club, and then shot a one-under 71 at the Irondequoit Country Club. Both courses were new for the Lakers. The team, before this season, had never been to those two courses since it had never participated in the Nazareth
Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian
College Invitational. Howard said not knowing the course was a challenge. “There was one point about halfway through the front-nine that [St. Lawrence] actually overtook us and we were two or three strokes back,” Howard said. “The guys buckled down, and they got the job done and finished off strong.” Owen’s strong efforts not only earned him Oswego State Athlete of the Week ending on Oct. 14, but he was also tabbed the Empire 8 Golfer of the Week. This season, he has
Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian Oswego State will head to the Romney Field House until April 10 for the Keuka Spring Invite.
earned both accolades twice. “It’s cool. Some of my friends, they say ‘congratulations’ and things, which is nice, but it’s just a small award,” Owen said. “Our main focus is winning the conference championship.” Heading into the winter break, the Lakers lead the Empire 8 conference by one stroke. Oswego State was able to overtake St. John Fisher College after shooting a 295 on the second day compared to the Cardinals’ 298. Having the lead is more than what Howard expected coming into the season. “There’s no pressure on us. My goal, heading into the fall, was to be in striking distance,” Howard said. “[St. John Fisher has] won the last 15 out of 17 [championships], whatever it is. The pressure’s going to be on them to keep that hardware. We’re just going to fight them down to the last putt and hope to take that away from them.” The Lakers have an advantage compared to some of the other schools in upstate New York. The golf team uses the Romney Field House during the winter to practice until the spring season starts. The team hits full-swing shots into nets, but players cannot see what the ball flight looks like. Another focus is on the short game, including wedge shots and putting. Howard also plans on getting his team involved with a conditioning program and staying active over the winter. “Once we get into Romney, it’s to use our time wisely in there,” Howard said. “[We want to] work on our short game, our 50-, 60-yard shots, some putting, getting some swings in with the training tools that we have.”
Owen said that the short game is where a team gets a heavy advantage on the course, especially the 50- and 60-yard shots. He said having control of those shots helps give a good look on the putting green, giving a team a large advantage over an opponent. Now in its second season as a part of the Empire 8, the team has a lot to fight for. While independent, the team was Howard said the team was “just playing out the schedule” in the spring. As a part of the conference, the Lakers can get selected for the NCAA Tournament and earn conference awards. Heading into the spring, Howard’s expectations are the same as the beginning of the season. He wants his players to be competitive with each other, especially when only five players can count for the team’s score. “You’ve got to compete amongst guys on your own team. If you’re not playing well, we’ve got to have somebody ready to fill that void,” Howard said. “Mentally, they’ve got to stay focused on what they’re doing and stick to routines.” As for Owen, who is heading into his final semester at Oswego State and as a part of the golf team, has one goal in mind: winning the Empire 8 conference and heading to the NCAA tournament, something that has not been done in his previous three years. “The main thing is to win the Empire 8. That’s really our goal. We want to get to the NCAA tournament,” Owen said. “We haven’t done it my first three years here, so we’re hoping to get it this year.”
Swimming, diving want to improve in SUNYAC finals Holman with high hopes for men’s team after 10-0 season last year Jake Vanderbroek Staff Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are back in the pools for the 2018-2019 season. Wednesday night, the Lakers kicked off their season with a meet against Rochester Institute of Technology. Both the Laker’s teams lost Wednesday, the men by a score of 130-108 and the women by 140-95. On the men’s side, Cameron Ellis took care of his business, winning the men’s 3-meter board with a score of 206.25. The Lakers’ next victory came a few events later, when Alexander Davie captured the 100-yard freestyle in 48.62. Ellis collected another nine team points on the 1-meter board, taking first over the runner-up by more than 25 points (227.35). For the women, Miranda Frascatore (204.50) and Megan Maquet (200.90) combined a total of 13 team points on the women’s side by finishing in first and second place in the 1-meter event, respectively. Oswego State will be featuring six home meets at Laker Pool and six away meets on the road. The Lakers will travel to SUNY Oneonta to take on the Red Dragons at 1 p.m. on Oct. 20. Continuing its tradition since the 2010-11 season, Oswego State opens the season against on Oct. 17 in Rochester. Next, the Lakers return home for four consecutive meets. They start by hosting Wells College for their home opener
at 1 p.m. on Oct. 27. The next three Saturdays, Oswego State plays host to Clarkson University, Alfred State and The College at Brockport. Both the men’s and women’s teams were victorious over all four of their home stand opponents during the 2017-18 season. Oswego State wraps up the calendar year at the Hamilton Invite, which takes place on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The new year brings four remaining regular-season matchups, including meets at home against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons on Jan. 16 and Roberts Wesleyan College on Jan. 26. With the conclusion of the regular season, the SUNYAC Championships will take place from Feb. 20 through Feb. 23 in Buffalo. But this year is a whole different year, as head coach Mike Holman looks for both the men’s and women’s teams to be very competitive heading into SUNYACs. For the men’s side, Holman lost a total of four seniors including Sam Carwile, Brian Greene, Alex Kemper and Luke Snyder. Not only did they lose four seniors, but Holman also lost his best swimmer, Daniel Rodriguez, as he is now swimming at Florida Southern University competing in NCAA Div. II. “He was a great asset to our team,” Holman said. “We just have to move forward and work with our players we have now. We have some great swimmers that are young and talented, and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”
Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian Both the men’s and women’s teams opened up the season on Oct. 17 against RIT with a loss.
Last year, the men’s team finished with an overall record of 10-0 and finished third in in the SUNYAC Championship. However, the expectations are much higher than it was last year. “If we can finish second or come in first, then I call that a great season for the men’s,” Holman said. The men have a bunch of swimmers returning, including junior Ryan Kreuser. Last year, the Newark native recorded his best time of the season in the 200-yard backstroke with a 2:07.92 and picked up a second-place finish against Buffalo State. “We would like to be one of the top two teams in the SUNYAC,” Kreuser said. “We just have to figure out a way to get more guys to place in all events. Person-
ally, I want to get personal records in all of my events this season.” On the women’s side, they finished with an 8-2 record and finished sixth in the SUNYAC Championship. They lost three seniors, including Izzy Quinones, Aran Kilcoyne and Jalen Buckhout. However, they still have Riley Synan, who is the leader on this women’s team. Synan finished second in the 200 yard fly. “For this year’s team, I would like to see the women’s team move up a couple places in the SUNYAC championships,” Holman said. “The girls didn’t have a good meet as a team in the championships. I’d like to see the women’s team adjust this season.”
SPORTS
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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Lakers continue lineage of elite goaltenders, dates back to 2007 With addition of two freshmen, one transfer, Oswego State women’s hockey looks to build off last year
Matt Watling Asst. Sports Editor mwatling@oswegonian.com After the Lakers lost to Plattsburgh State in NEWHL finals, they knew their slim chance to make the NCAA Div. III Women’s Hockey Championship was gone. That was not the expectation for the team, however, as it had to face the prestigious Cardinals, who were nationally ranked throughout the season. As the players packed up their equipment last March, they said goodbye to one of the best goaltenders in program history, Mariah Madrigal. Madrigal ranks in the top five in most statistical categories, such as save percentage and goals against average. From the outside, there were questions galore. Who would replace not only Madrigal, but also the elite goaltenders that she herself had followed? For nearly a decade, the Lakers have had one of the best goaltenders in their conference. This slew of spectacular goaltending starts way back in 2007 with Emi Williams. The Anchorage, Alaska, native was named to the second All-ECAC West team back in 2011 and ended her Laker career with a .921 save percentage. Bridget Smith took her place between the pipes in 2011 and, by the end of her collegiate career, was named captain of the Lakers and set records, like most shutouts in a single season with six. The final key to this quartet of consistent goaltending was Tori Trovato, who holds singleseason records for the best goals against average (1.10) and save percentage (.953). With one goaltender returning from last season, Mikaela Ditonto, head coach Diane Dillon needed to recruit a handful of goalies that were difference-makers, like the ones that came before. Dillon did just that, as she brought in three new goaltenders, transfer junior Rachael Farmer and two freshmen, Hannah Lindey and Cassie Shokar. Farmer should be a familiar name for Oswego
Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian
State supporters, as she played between the pipes for SUNY Cortland the last two seasons. Although these are three new faces, Dillon is extremely confident in her goaltending. “It’s all about defense,” Dillon said. “I think we are going to be very strong in net.” In regards to Farmer, she played on a subpar Red Dragons team for the first two seasons of her collegiate career. As a freshman, she played in just seven games and had a 0-6-0 record. While her record and save percentage of .892 were not great, the team’s save percentage was actually worse than hers, at .891. SUNY Cortland ended the 2016-17 campaign with a record of 3-21-1. Farmer ignored the proverbial sophomore slump last season and posted excellent numbers. On the worst team in the NEWHL, Farmer was in net for seven of SUNY Cortland’s eight wins. She accumulated a save percentage of .902 and goals against of 2.90. While these are nowhere near the stats of Madrigal, with goals
against of 2.17, Farmer faced an average of 28.8 shots per game, over four more per game than Madrigal. In this season, Farmer played 24 games, or 96 percent of SUNY Cortland’s games. This experience is crucial for Farmer heading into her first season with the Lakers. “She was in a position where she logged a ton of ice time in Cortland, a lot of experience,” Dillon said. “But, [she] hasn’t had the team in front of her for the most part over the last couple years to help support her efforts.” Her efforts were phenomenal last season. In eight of Farmer’s 24 starts, she gave up two goals or fewer. In those games, the Red Dragons went 6-2-1. The fact that SUNY Cortland needed its goaltender to dominate in order to win games adds pressure that the Lakers should take off of Farmer this season. “We are hoping here at Oswego State, we’ll have a strong defense in front of [our goalies] where you won’t have to pitch a shutout to win,” Dillon said.
The Lakers hope their better offense and skaters as a whole can propel Farmer to that elite tier of Div. III goalies. “I think you are going to see her blossom quite a bit,” Dillon said. “[She is a] very talented, technically sound goaltender [who is] very quick.” Moving onto the two rookie goaltenders, both played for widely respected hockey academies. Lindey of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, moved to Rochester to play for Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney, an all-female boarding school. At the 2018 Detroit Elite Girls Invitational, Lindey stood on her head for the Selects Academy, who lost three of its four games. Lindey played in two of those games and gave up a single goal in both. Lindey was received practically no help from her skaters, as they failed to score in three games. At 5 foot 7 inches, Lindey is on the taller side of the goaltending spectrum, Farmer is just 5 foot 3 inches, and Madrigal is 5 foot 4 inches. Another one of these taller
goalies is Shokar, who is the tallest goaltender on the Lakers’ roster at a height of 5 foot 8 inches. Shokar played at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. In her only season there, she was second in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League in save percentage (.923) and goals against (1.77). In the season before that, she played for the Greater Vancouver Comets in the Female Midget AAA, the highest level of minor league hockey. In 17 games played, Shokar was second in the league with a goals against average of 1.24. Dillon said while both freshmen are very talented, they bring very different approaches and styles to the net. Despite losing an all-conference goaltender in Madrigal, the net is in good hands, no matter who the starter is. “It is going to be a very interesting decision when we decide who is going to be in net for us,” Dillon said. “It’s going to be tough to score on us.”
Oz Wizards rugby completes first Div. I season with late success After losing to elite teams like Colgate University, Syracuse University, Wizards win last two games
Greg Tavani | The Oswegonian The Oz Wizards bolt away from Syracuse University defense en route to a 45-3 loss.
Mamadou Tall Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com Oswego State’s club rugby, the Oz Wizards, were promoted to Div. I for this season, and the new season in a new division has come with many experiences and challenges. A “reality check,” is how Captain Sam Baker and President Garret Mackenzie described their first season in the more competitive and tougher Div. I.
Baker and Mackenzie spoke on the season in the new division with smiles on their faces, and those smiles seemed to reflect the energy around the team. Before this season, Baker noted the team was in Div. II of club rugby and said the team routinely dominated the opposing squads. “Going up to Div. I was an eyeopener and learning experience for the team,” Baker said. “We went from being used to steamrolling over teams to struggling
to compete against teams.” The Oz Wizards started off its new season in Div. I with a four-game losing streak. Its transition to the new division started rough and was not what the team was accustomed to. Along with the struggles and rough patches of the season, the season has also provided the Oz Wizards with some positive revelations. The lessons learned throughout the eight-game-long season seemed to have helped turn the season around for the Oswego squad. Baker and Mackenzie both said the season helped reinforce the unity amongst the team, and the Oz Wizards are approaching the end of the season with something to prove. They also added that the team as a whole is ready to approach its next season with the same mentality it is ending this one with. In this long season, there have been many highlights and notable games. With the Wizards rugby club being the new kids in town and underdogs, they were able to hand out to some upsets and surprise their opponents. The most notable game, according to Baker and Mackenzie, was their game against SUNY Albany’s rugby club on Oct. 7. The Oz Wizards entered that game as underdogs, and SUNY Albany’s rugby club was unde-
feated. Despite this, the Oz Wizards were able to defeat SUNY Albany by a score of 24-12. Another notable victory for the Wizards of Oswego State was their most recent game against The College at Brockport on Oct. 15. The Oz Wizards defeated the Golden Eagles in a true blowout, with the final score of 44-7. Those two wins signaled the turn around to the poor start Oswego State Wizards had to start off their season. Baker and Mackenzie are eager to say the team’s current
success is nothing short of a full team effort. Every team, according to Baker and Mackenzie, has a standout player, and sophomore Chris Machena is taking that title, nicknamed a “beast.” With about three weeks left in the Wizards’ season, they are trying to finish the season strong. The Wizards’ next important game is on Oct. 27, against The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where the Oz Wizards are looking to continue to turn there season around.
Greg Tavani | The Oswegonian The Oz Wizards bounced back after four consecutive losses, rattling off two victories of their own.
B B33 SPORTS Oswego State addresses depth issues THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct.19, 2018
Photo Brief Field hockey’s SUNYAC drawbacks
Team brings in 12 new players, primarily offensive weapons
Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian
The Oswego State field hockey team started off strong, looking to eclipse the .500 mark for the first time since 1985. The team started off 3-0 this season but suffered a couple setbacks early on. SUNYAC play was not a friend for the team. Oswego State won its first conference matchup on Sept. 22 against The College at Brockport. Behind senior Katie Reynolds’ four-goal performance, tying a Laker record, Oswego State won 4-3. However, that is where the success would end for the Lakers during the rest of their conference matchups. The turmoil all started with 3-0 loss to SUNY Cortland on Sept. 26. For the next three games, which featured contests against SUNY Geneseo, SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Oneonta, had the exact same results: losses. The team would be shutout for those three games, as well. Goaltender Joanna Christman made 57 saves in those four losses, even though she let in 16 goals. The Lakers have not had recent success in SUNYAC play. Dating back to 2015, the Lakers have gone 2-4 in SUNYAC play, including this season after the win against Morrisville State on Oct. 17. Since 2003, Oswego State
has not had a winning record in conference. There has been a mixture of records, ranging from 0-5 to 2-4. The last time there was a winning conference record for the Lakers was in 2002, when they went 3-2 in the SUNYAC. There were no SUNYAC playoffs that season, either. Outside of the SUNYAC this season, Oswego State also suffered a 4-2 loss to Hartwick College on Oct. 9, and then a 4-1 loss to St. John Fisher College on Oct. 13, which also served as senior day for the team. Freshman goaltender Lauren Catalano played in those three games, totaling 19 saves and allowing 10 goals. The suffering would end on Oct. 17 for the Lakers after their second SUNYAC win of the season against Morrisville State. The Mustangs are now 0-6 in the SUNYAC. Oswego State finished its conference at 2-4. Though it has been a common theme for years, Oswego State will now have to wait one more season to attempt to make the SUNYAC playoffs for the first time in program history. The Lakers have three more games, all of which are nonconference. They will take on Keuka College (Oct. 23), St. Lawrence University (Oct. 26) and Union College (Oct. 27).
Kyle Hurley | The Oswegonian The Lakers gained three transfers this season in order to bring a strong, offensive presence to the team that averaged 3.5 goals per game.
Ben Grieco Sports Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com Depth was a problem for the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team last season. To combat the issue, head coach Ed Gosek brought in 12 new players, which include three transfers and nine freshmen. The team lost all but one of its returning players, totaling 34 players on the roster this season. Despite this, the team is still very young. Fifteen of the players are underclassmen, a majority of which are forwards. Even though the team returned two of its top three scorers, Josh Zizek and Michael Gillespie, the team is looking for more of an offensive pop this year – especially from its defense. The team scored one goal in its last three games of the season after averaging 3.9 goals per game in its first 23 games of the season. “When we look and compare our Grade-A, the primary opportunities, in those last three games compared to our opponents, the reality is we just didn’t finish,” Gosek said. “We weren’t out-chanced. We weren’t out-grade-A’d. I can’t say we weren’t outworked or out-disciplined, but you have to find a way to get it done, and we didn’t.” Three of the freshmen, Josh LeBlanc, Robert Clerc and Travis Broughman, all had 30-goal seasons in their last years of junior hockey. LeBlanc and Clerc both came from the Ontario Junior Hockey League, while Broughman came from the Central Canada Hockey League. All three transfers that the team welcomed are forwards. However, those players are strong playmak-
ers. Anthony Passero, who came from Buffalo State, a SUNYAC rival to the Lakers, had 41 assists in two seasons with the Bengals. Derek Brown, from Div. I Niagara University, is also a smart player with passing, senior Devin Campbell said. Campbell played with Brown at Niagara University. “Both [Passero and Brown] are going to be incredible additions for us because they play just an intelligent game that every hockey team can definitely use,” Campbell said. Gosek believes that this class can help some of the issues that the Lakers faced last season, including depth. Last season, the team only had 26 players, which was a problem at the end of last season when faced with injuries and illness. Gosek said he had three players play a lot of minutes at the end of the season, which did not help the team’s performance. The team had 31 players on the 2016-2017 roster. “You recruit for depth. Last year, we were a little tight in many areas,” Gosek said. “I think we addressed those needs this year.” This season, the players have confidence coming into the first exhibition game on Oct. 20 against Nazareth College. Zizek, who is an assistant captain this season, said the players know they all deserve to be on the roster, but they just need the bounces to go their way. “It’s not an excuse. We were kind of a young team last year. We didn’t know what to expect offensively, defensively,” Zizek said. “We’ve just got to stay level-headed and not let your highs get too high or your lows get too low and know that we’re all good enough hockey players.” With the young team last year, the beginning of the season was
crucial for all players. Senior Cameron Berry, also an assistant captain, remembered the first conference weekend being a turning point in the season. He said the tone for the team was set after the weekend against SUNY Fredonia and Buffalo State on Nov. 17 and 18. “That was the weekend where we kind of battled back and found some adversity early on,” Berry said. “We came back and kind of came together as a team.” The season was filled with a lot of personal memories for Gosek, whose wife, Mary, died of ovarian cancer before the season started. Mary was a big supporter of the team and is a primary reason why the TEAL game started at Oswego State five years ago. Gosek said the team was able to overcome some added pressure with the amount of ceremonies it was a part of when traveling to other teams. A lot of those teams, especially in the SUNYAC, honored Mary in some way. “There were a lot of distractions that I felt bad that they had to, not be a part of it, but it was hard on them. I could see it,” Gosek said. “Even though we tried not to talk about things, I couldn’t be prouder of the guys last year.” Out of all of this, all the captains agreed during the press conference on Oct. 8 that the team is ready to come out firing for the regular season, despite any adversities the team may face early on. The true test starts during that exhibition game on Oct. 20. According to Zizek, the team is connected by one concept. “We’re super close. It’s a brotherhood,” Zizek said. “That’s one of the words we have up in our room. I think that’s amazing about Oswego.”
Campus Rec Report: Broomball begins
Champions crowned in intramurals after first round of sports Morgan Meaney Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com As one round of intramural sports winds down, another begins with a super busy week at Campus Recreation. This week, we saw the conclusion of soccer and football, with three soccer teams and one football team earning championship wins. In the men’s competitive soccer league, Tequila Mockingbird fought valiantly for the first win of the week in a close battle with Oxford United (3-2). Later in the week, however, they were unable to continue the streak, as they fell to Scrambled Legz in the championship game (3-1). In the CoRec recreational league, Lets Get Messi and Kick my Balls came into the championship game with equal records for the intramural season, but Lets Get Messi had the upper hand and won the championship in a final score of 2-0. In the men’s competitive football league, the Tittsburgh Feelers and Sheesh! battled it out in the first semifinal of the week, with the Tittsburgh Feelers coming out on top in a final score of 27-6. To secure the final championship spot, FumbleThis defeated Townies 52-8. In the championship game, the Tittsburgh Feelers played an impressive game to defeat FumbleThis in a final score of 47-6 and take home their intramural T-shirts.
Broomball got underway this week, with the first games coming from the CoRec competitive league. Thots N Yatchts and Special Cay started off with a tie in a game that was hard fought until the very end (2-2). Despite an early loss to Australian Monks (3-1) in their first game of the season, Church Group captured their first victory of the season over Special Cay (2-0). After falling to Swiffers, Broom Broom Pow wanted redemption and were able to capture their first win of the season over The Sticks (2-0). Broom, Roasted also put their name on the board with a victory over Broom goes the Dynamite (6-3). In the men’s competitive league, The Long Lizards and the Mighty C’s proved themselves to be a powerful team with wins over Mighty Schmucks (4-1) and Here Comes the Broom (7-0). Also starting this week were the badminton leagues. The badminton open doubles saw some pairs rising to the top early. Yes captured two victories over The Squatches (2-0) and DogeDogeDoge (2-0). Also securing two victories, Cheese & Wood vs. Everyone defeated Badminton? (2-0) and Letsgetit (2-0). Finally, The dirty birdies took home a pair of wins over The Little Birdies (2-1) and DogeDogeDoge (2-0). In the badminton singles (Rec) league, each player captured one victory this week. The dirty birdies defeated Emma K (2-0), but later in the week, Emma K came back with a vengeance and a shutout victory over
Kimberlynn S. Kimberlynn S was able to take home a win this week, though, with a nice victory over Muffin is Love (2-0). The floor hockey league got off to a very exciting start, with the CoRec competitive league getting off the ground with two games this week. Sweepers and Chicks with Sticks showcased their skills with a tie game of 4-4, while Spankfest took home a win over Timid Elks in a close game of 9-7. In the men’s recreational league, Sunnyvale captured an early week victory over The Meat Pendulums (8-4), while Bueller Boys proved they are a force to be reckoned with with a dominating win over Showtime (10-0). The final recap of the week is the intramural basketball league. In the men’s competitive league, there were so many close games that are sure to make the basketball league extra exciting. The Cyclones defeated MAWD in an extremely close game with a final score of 62-61. In another nail-biter game, How’d it Taste took home their first win of the season over No Cap in a final score of 53-52. In the final men’s competitive game of the week, The loud pack took the Downtown69ers in a final score of 66-61. In the men’s recreational league, Flint Tropics defeated Wet wet (47-39), while Facials defeated United Nations (53-47). The final game of the week came from the CoRec competitive league, where Third time’s the charm defeated Peaked in High School in a final score of 85-72.
Shore Report
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
SUNYAC Standings
Men’s Soccer Cortland Brockport New Paltz Oneonta Buffalo State Plattsburgh Geneseo Oswego State Fredonia Potsdam
Women’s Soccer Potsdam Geneseo Plattsburgh Cortland Fredonia Oneonta Oswego State Brockport Buffalo State New Paltz
Field Hockey
Oneonta Cortland New Paltz Geneseo Oswego State Brockport Morrisville
Volleyball
New Paltz Geneseo Fredonia Brockport Oswego State Oneonta Potsdam Cortland Plattsburgh Buffalo State
Overall 12-1-2 11-2-2 10-5-1 9-3-4 8-4-2 6-6-3 6-6-3 5-7-1 4-9-1
W2 L1 W1 W1 W1 L3
0-7-0
4-9-1
L7
Overall
Conference
Streak
11-3-1
4-2-1
L1
10-2-1 10-5-0
7-0-0 4-3-0
W8 W5
8-4-2
4-2-1
W2
7-8-1 7-8-0
3-3-1 3-5-0 2-3-2
T1 W2 W1
2-5-0
L1 L2 L4
6-5-3 6-9-0 4-9-2 2-13-1 Overall
3-4-0 1-6-1
3
2
RIT: 21-3 (4-1) FRE: 16-7 (5-1)
3
0
Steigerwald: 12 kills Smith: 5.5 points, 1 block
STJ: OSW:
O’Flaherty: 13 points, 5 aces Sullivan: 8.5 points, 5 blocks Flohr: 1 point, 11 digs
Women’s Soccer Tuesday, Oct. 16
2 OSW: CAN:
Cullen: 1 goal, 2 SOG Bentham: 1 save
FRE:
Ormsby: 1 goal, 1 SOG Asamoah: 1 goal, 1 SOG Terra: 2 saves
OSW:
Field Hockey Wednesday, Oct. 17
0
Burbidge: 1 goal, 6 SOG Schaffner: 1 goal, 3 SOG Allen: 2 saves Rowe: 1 SOG Wakefield: 17 saves
2
1
4
2
Houseworth: 2 goals Dueber: 12 saves
MOR: OSW:
Reynolds: 2 goals, 5 SOG Conklin: 1 goal, 1 assist Catalano: 2 saves
Upcoming Events Women’s Soccer Friday, Oct. 19
Men’s Soccer Saturday, Oct. 20
@
5-0 3-2
W7
3:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m
BPT: 6-9-0 (2-5-0) OSW: 6-5-3 (2-3-2)
OSW: 5-7-1 (2-5-0) GEN: 6-6-3 (2-4-1)
4-1
8-5
4-2
L1
5-8
2-4
W1
4-11
1-4
L4
1-12
0-6
L9
Conference
Streak
21-4
6-0
W6
17-7
6-0
W1
16-7
5-1
L1
15-9
4-2
W6
14-11
2-4
L2
10-15
2-4
W2
9-14
2-4
L1
9-15
2-4
L1
6-18 3-22
1-5 0-6
L6 L15
Men’s Soccer 3
CAN: 5-5-3 (2-3-1) PLA: 2-9-2 (2-2-0)
4:
Saturday, Oct. 13
@
W3 W1
1
Friday, Oct. 12
Men’s Soccer
Streak
10-5 10-5 9-5
Overall
Volleyball
Conference
Around the SUNYAC
Volleyball
Oswego Scoreboard
Streak W4 W2 L1
Conference 6-1-0 5-0-2 5-2-1 5-1-2 3-3-1 3-3-1 2-4-1 2-5-0 1-6-0
After the 0-0 tie against SUNY Fredonia on Oct. 13, the women’s soccer team completed its fourth double overtime game of the season. Goalie Emma Allen completed all four games. Oswego State is 1-0-3 in those games this season. The only one that did not go to full time was the 3-2 win against against Buffalo State on Oct. 12.
B4
Men’s Hockey Saturday, Oct. 20
Field Hockey Tuesday, Oct. 23
@
@
7:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Exhibition Game
KEU: 5-9 (3-0) OSW: 5-8 (2-4)
Laker Athletes of the Week
Liz Myers
Women’s Soccer Freshman | Monroe
Sean Paul Owen
Golf Senior | Horseheads
HOU: 4-10 (1-5) ONE: 10-5 (5-0)
The freshman Monroe native netted the game-winner in Oswego State’s double-overtime game victory over Buffalo State. That was her third point in the match after she tallied an assist on the first goal of the game. In the 100th minute, she received an aerial pass from Lynsey Roth at the back post. That was her first collegiate goal despite playing in 14 games this season.
For the second time this season, Owen won both Laker and Empire 8 Athlete of the Week. He propelled the Lakers to first place in the Nazareth College Invitational with a two-day score of 145. The most impressive part of this is the fact that this was the first time Owen and the Lakers have ever played at these courses. The Lakers next match will not take place until April 10.
The Oswego State field hockey team ended a six-game losing streak Wednesday, Oct. 17. After winning their first SUNYAC matchup against The College at Brockport, the Lakers lost six straight, including four SUNYAC games.The Lakers beat Morrisville State 4-2, led by Katie Reynolds’ two goals.
While Sean Paul Owen did not play in every match, the senior from the Oswego State golf team shot an average two-day total of 147.5. His efforts led the team to three first-place finishes in the fall, including the lead in the Empire 8 heading into the spring portion of the season.
The men’s hockey team will welcome 12 new faces to the team this season. These new players come from all corners of North America, as far as Alaska. Perhaps the most notable player is Derek Brown, who played at Div. I Niagara University for two seasons. The winger scored 18 points in 66 games.
Field Hockey 3
6:
6
147.5:
1,763:
OPINION
THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
B5
Tinder now for Employees should not have to work while sick Voting hookups, not transportation Mental health days equally important as physical sick days romance inaccessible Alexis Hanna Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com
Photo provided by Pixabay
Nick Baiamonte Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Since its launch, Tinder has grown into a worldwide company, and its interface is different than many of its competitors. It presents one user with pictures of other members, prompting them to either swipe left or right, left being negative and right being positive. The goal is that both users will swipe right on each other, creating a match, which will then allow the users to chat. Tinder’s method of creating matches is pretty lackluster yet is surprisingly effective. Users provide between one and nine photos, their first name and, optionally, a short biography. Then, based on their location and profile, other users swipe. If everything goes well, users will get a match. People take, usually, only a second before swiping left or right on a profile, going through hundreds of profiles at a time. Self-validation is a major reason users choose Tinder. When users receive a notification that someone liked, superliked or matched with them, it acts as a boost to their self-esteems and self-worth. Knowing that other people find you attractive, even if the feelings are not mutual, can be a huge motivator for people to continue using Tinder. The search for love is, of course, another reason Tinder is thriving with over 55 million users. It is, after all, the purpose for which the app was designed. Many users utilize the app to look for a serious relationship. Tinder has devolved from a reputable dating service, to a sex match maker.
Working a job is one of the requirements to sustain a decent, livable life, not only in American society, but all societies. Forty hours per week, sometimes more, is common. Work can mean a plethora of things to different people: day care, medical care, teaching, thinking, singing, writing, physical labor, fast food, retail, etc. Employees are expected to show up every day they are scheduled, work their full shift and go home to their home lives, an aspect that employers do not understand. These are reasonable expectations - show up, work and do well. Unfortunately, people are not perfect, nor invincible. They get sick and depressed. People have family emergencies to tend to. Work should not always have to come first. In the event of college students, students have school on top of working all week. They are even more prone to being sick. A number of employers find it necessary to punish employees for calling in sick or calling in for emergencies. This is absolutely not fair. If any employer’s family member had an emergency or was sick, any working-class employee knows they would be put on extra hours to cover their absence while they recover. It should be the same for employees. Employees should be able to call in sick without question, to a certain extent. An employee who calls in regularly may be susceptible to
question. It should not be disregarded, though, that people get sick and regularly. It is almost impossible not to come under the weather once in a while and need a day of recovery and rest. Some employees decide to work through their sickness, no matter how runny their nose or heavy their head is. Others do not have the strength, will or desire to live through it, taking a day of rest instead of working as normal. Sickness can be defined differently by different people. Some find the common cold to be a travesty bad enough to call in sick for a day, skip class, forget responsibilities and sleep through it with the company of movies and Netflix. Some do not give in until the stomach bug hits them because no one wants to run to the bathroom throwing up all day long. Some, however, experience mental illnesses others do not and will not understand. Mental illness affects one’s mindset
and the way they feel. Mental illnesses can cause so much strain on people’s lives and differently for anyone with them. Some do not want to get up, instead sleeping all day and avoiding any other person. Some feel worse or less badly, but symptoms and effects are definable as a whole only by the individual. Employers should recognize this when it comes to missing work for sicknesses. Sick days should not be reduced only to stomach bug or flu sicknesses. No person deals with any illness the same way as another. Mental illnesses are just that - illnesses. When symptoms flare up and become obvious, those with mental illness may not feel well enough to work, let alone socialize, to the best of their abilities. Sick days should not be regulated by the sickness. Employers need to recognize there are many ways an employee can feel ill.
Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian Employees without health insurance are unable to take sick days due to the inaccessibility of doctors.
SPEAK YOUR MIND, TWITTER! POLLS POSTED EVERY FRIDAY TO @gonianOPN
When users receive a notification that someone liked, super-liked or President Trump invites celebrities to White House matched with them, Kanye West talks about issues he knows nothing about it acts as a boost to Ryan Zalduondo their self-esteems Staff writer opinion@oswegonian.com and self worth. Tinder users, like anyone else, are quick to make assumptions about other people. Many people believe the more attractive a person seems, the more intelligent, socially adept, confident, friendly and trustworthy that person will be. This assumption is not something that was caused by the creation of Tinder, or even something that became prevalent with the rise of internet dating, but is a biological predisposition from which everyone suffers. Studies conducted by Judith Langlois, from the University of Texas at Austin, concluded that infants respond more positively to attractive faces then to unattractive faces. This proves that Tinder is not the sole stimulant for the rise in superficial judgement making; rather, it is serving as a platform for its users to do so. In the last 20 years, technology has quickly taken over society, having an impact on everything from education to dating culture. Online dating has transformed into nothing more than a game, the prize being a quick and easy hookup. Tinder was more so designed for users to quickly judge other members and for the user to get some kind of satisfaction or pleasure from judging people, than as a way for people to meet their soulmate.
The most unlikely meeting of two polarizing celebrities, with now-irreparable reputations, took place in the West Wing last week between Kanye West and President Donald Trump. In accepting an invitation and traveling to the White House for a meeting with Trump to discuss “black issues,” West has done what most would have considered impossible a few years ago: completely tarnish his legacy. West is an icon in the music industry and has paved the way for countless artists in hip-hop over his nearly two-decade career. However, going from the young rapper who claimed President George W. Bush hated black people during a fundraiser to meeting with Trump wearing a “MAGA” hat in a publicity stunt is a reckless way for a celebrity to wield their power and influence. Without taking away from West’s absolute genius in the fields of rapping and producing, this man, who never had any higher education and openly admits he does not read, is not qualified to be an ambassador for all African-American people discussing issues like the opioid crisis with the president of the United States. It is impossible to speak for everyone, but the further a society moves into the era of social media, the more celebrities should not be shamed for coming out and speaking their minds politically. With this in mind, there is a major discrepancy between voicing an opinion and using other celebrities who are also struggling with their popularity to make each other relevant again, regardless of the consequences it has.
Photo provided by Pixabay Kanye West was invited to the White House to speak about issues he is unqualified to discuss.
Both West and Trump, before his presidency, were adored by the public and media alike. Sometimes people should stick to the things that got them to where they are. Trump was elected to office, in part, because he used hateful rhetoric toward just about everyone and every group he could think of to appeal to a base of Republican voters who found truth in what he was saying. Regardless of politics, that is indisputable. West has many accolades throughout his career, but advocating for policy is not one of them, nor should it be. It was wildly inappropriate for Trump and every member of his administration who gave the green light for this meeting to invite West to the White House in an attempt to distract people from the GOP falling behind in the polls for the House in November. West should have the com-
mon sense to realize that his fame could be what it used to be if he just stuck to what made him so popular. As a white male, it is not within the realm of possibility to discuss the feelings of African American people. One would be hard pressed to convince this author that there are not many AfricanAmerican people who feel betrayed by an artist they once considered an idol to be a vocal and proud supporter of a president who has so widely been regarded as racist. The pair, who will forever be married in the eyes of the public by their outrageous use of Twitter, and now this meeting, have completely passed the point of exciting and responsible and are firmly in the territory of damaging any memories people had of the things they have accomplished in the past.
Photo provided by Pixabay
Francesca Miesner Opinion Editor fmiesner@oswegonian.com In the United States, voting in elections is extremely inconvenient and inaccessible. Election Day is the first Tuesday of November. In most states, the polling times begin as the work day is starting and closes a few hours after the work day ends. There is no real reason for that, except to make voting inaccessible to the working class. In other countries, the day to vote is on a day without work, whether it be a Sunday or work is cancelled. This allows for higher voter turnout, and tells those who are voting in their election that every vote matters. Those who complain about the lack of voter turnout in the U.S. have not taken into account that people, especially the middle and lower class, cannot necessarily take time off of work to go and vote. In 30 U.S. states, taking three hours off work to vote is permitted. That is, of course, not entirely protected, especially if their shift does not start before the polls open. If an employee needs to be clocked in at 8a.m., then depending on the commute, they do not have time to stop at the polls before they need to be at work. This allows the government to stop those with retail or fast-food positions to take time to vote. If an employee requests the three hours off from work on Election Day, but another employee does not, the employer could find an excuse to fire the former employee for an irrelevant reason. This causes an even stronger dissuasion to take time off of work to go and vote, especially for the lower class. An easy solution to this would be to make Election Day a national holiday. The U.S. government should give all workers the day off, or at least a few hours, so there is no fear of losing a position. For a few hours on one Tuesday, individuals should be ok about missing out on Starbucks.
If an employee needs to be clocked in at 8 a.m., then depending on the commute, they do not have time to stop at the polls before they need to be at work. The other major issue with our election system is the transportation. Those who do not have a car or cannot afford a bus pass could have a difficult time making their way to the polling place. This is especially true of those who are taking the three hours during their work day to get to the polling location. Depending on the length of the commute, potential voters do not have the time to wait for the bus. If a shuttle service for the polls is impossible due to funding, the simple solution would be to make the polls open on two separate days. Of course, this could lead to more voter fraud, but, in the 2016 election, there were only four recorded and proven cases, so that is not really an issue. By making voting inaccessible to avoid voter fraud in a way, is to tax without representation. This is both unconstitutional and against everything that the U.S. was founded on.
OPINION SICK DAYS
B5 Photo provided by Pixabay
OPINION
VOLUME LXXXVIII ISSUE VII • www.oswegonian.com
“Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”
loyers p m e d l u o Sh rom f s e c n e s b allow a ut a work witho te? doctor’s no “I know a few people might take advantage of that and say they’re sick...but most of the people that are hired are reliable workers.” Joey Bandru, journalism and creative writing, junior “You are always going to have people that abuse the system.”
Sara Costello psychology, senior “There has to be a really good reason, and there has to be proof.”
Greg Tavani cinema and screen studies, senior “They should allow it, but there has to be parameters for it.” Sarah Nehama broadcasting and mass communications, sophomore “If they’re taking one or two sick days over the course of a month, it’s not that bad.”
G UIDELIN ES
Email all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail submissions to 139A Campus Center, Oswego N.Y. 13126 All writers must provide their real name, address, academic year, major and phone number (which will not be published).
B2 Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
Journalism, broadcast or public relations majors are all familiar with the importance of writing. Every class in those programs involves writing in some manner, and many of them focus exclusively on writing. Any professional in the media fields repeatedly stresses how important it is to write. Just this week, media professionals from across the region came to Oswego State for the 14th annual Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, and a common theme in their presentations to classes was their focus on the importance of writing. Something less commonly known to media students is the importance of distinguishing themselves. The School of Communication, Media and the Arts has well over 1,000 students,
yet the media organizations that serve as practice grounds for the school have far fewer students active within them than even half of the school’s student body. Disregarding the stresses that puts on the organizations themselves, which are significant, when a student studying any aspect of media neglects to involve themselves in a media club of some sort, they themselves are disadvantaged. The media job-scape is changing significantly and shrinking. Competition is getting much fiercer, and the distinction between students involved in media organizations and those not is becoming far more important to recruiters. If someone interested in a job does not have a portfolio of work
to present alongside their application, they are unlikely to get that job. Work done for classes, while it may be of quality, really does not show a work ethic or sense of drive. It shows that the applicant was willing to do what was asked of them, but not more. The Oswegonian, WTOP and WNYO are fantastic resources for SCMA students to get involved, build their resumes, develop skills and friendships and learn more about a real newsroom. If a student interested in media, whether it be sports, entertainment or hard news, declines to use the tools and advantages this school offers, they are wasting their time and their money on a degree. Without an established portfolio of work that extends beyond classwork, you are going to end up at Target.
IN THE OFFICE
Pop music takes crown for most relevant Rock n’ roll music died, while being most authentic genre
Rock ‘n’ roll music is dead. The chart numbers are in, and all the hip kids are listening to Drake and Post Malone nowadays. Sorry Kiss, but nobody wants to “Rock and Roll All Nite” with you psycho-demons in hockey pads anymore. Hip-hop has rolled up to town and stolen rock’s spotlight, just like rock did to jazz in the 70s. Well, maybe rock music is not dead, but it certainly has dwindled and may never blossom with the same bombastic and guitar-shredding ferocity that blasted it to the top of the charts. It did in the 50s with Elvis Presley, the 60s with The Beatles or the 80s with the hundreds of hair-bands that continuously fell from the sky. It was an epidemic. For us millennial and Generation-Z kids, hip-hop has been etched in stone as the music we will tell our kids about one day. Little Jimmy will hear the silver-tongued words of Cardi B or Nicki Minaj. Like millennials did when their parents blasted Bon Jovi and Quiet Riot in the minivan on the way to school, they will switch it off and verbally berate and shatter everything we thought was edgy or cool into a million little
Brandon Fallat Asst. Laker Review Editor bfallat@oswegonian.com pieces of expired lyrics and out-of-date autotune. Gone are the days of the true titans of songwriting, like Jim Steinman, who wrote some of the most epic and cinematic rock ‘n’ roll power ballads of all time, such as Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” or “I’d Do Anything for love (But I Won’t Do That).” Pouring one’s heart and soul out onto a piece of paper, with emotionally charged, epic lyrics, accompanied by operatic voices and borderline-deranged instrumentals, is a dated process. Now, as a more techsavvy species, we add engineering to
the songwriting process, concocting a catchy hook, sampling from another, older track and writing the lyrics after the beat has already proven to be ready for the radio or streaming service. Sure, U2 is still making new music, and bands like Journey and ACDC can still bring in masses of people to a show. However, where are all the New Kids on the Block? Where are the ones who Axl Rose and Slash can pass the torch onto? Punk rock had its run with Green Day, as did alternative rock with The Killers or heavy metal with Avenged Sevenfold, but rock, as of now, is dead in the water. And just because a song released last year has guitar in it, does not make it rock music. Think about it. Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine,” Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” are some of the greatest songs ever written, and we may never get songs like them again. That is bittersweet, to say the least. Here is to hoping that Meatloaf makes a comeback with another classic, 12-minute ballad about love, hot rods and leather to balance everything out.
Death penalty never acceptable, justified
Convicts should never die for crimes committed, regardless of severity Francesca Miesner Opinion Editor fmiesner@oswegonian.com
That is, of course, not to say that criminals that rape and murder should eventually be allowed to roam freely among those who did not commit crimes. There should still be life-long sentences in prison for those who committed horrific crimes. Prisoners are more than their crime, and they still deserve to live a life and pay penance for it. The most prevalent argument for the death penalty is that the prison system is already a major cost, and keeping the prisoners alive and healthy is a burden. The idea that the price of keeping someone alive is too much to handle, and therefore, that they should die is so desensitized to the fact that prisoners are, in fact, real people. Many of them have done horrible things, but that does not suddenly make them less human.
Another major concern people have is that if the person committed a murder, they took a life. Their life should be taken as well. In order for a killer to fully repent and feel remorse for what they did, they should be forced to stew in it, think on it and come to terms with what they did. For those who are more vengeful, this concept should provide some peace, knowing that the people who commit the crimes will have to do the time, potentially for the rest of their lives. Too often do murder convicts, including some that are on death row, actually get proven innocent following trial and are released. In some cases, they are proven innocent post-mortem because they were executed before the technology advanced to where it is now. The safest way to avoid unjustified execution is to not execute people, guilty or otherwise.
In loving memory of Chipper
Members of organizations should include their title if their letter addresses an issue pertaining to the organization. For publication, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted by the Tuesday prior to the desired publication date. The Oswegonian reserves the right to edit and reject letters and cannot guarantee that all letters will be published. Opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not always reflect those of The Oswegonian.
10/31/2005 - 08/18/2018 Photo provided by @Knickky_ on Twitter
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GOALIE SITUATION
STAFF EDITORIAL
Last Thursday, Oct. 11, Washington state became the 20th state to ban the death penalty as a punishment for crimes. In many states, the death penalty is Peter Wendler still legal, whether it be through broadcasting and lethal injection, like in Texas, or electrocution, like in Alabama. It communications, is 2018, and people should not be junior electrocuted to death for crimes they have committed. While Washington state has made a step in the right direction, only 20 states have banned The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935 the death penalty. The concept of the death penalty is rather morbid. A person makes a mistake and commits a crime, whether it be due to a mental illness or We want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or anything how they were raised, and they regarding the Oswego State community. have no chance for redemption or growth beyond that decision.
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INSIDE
C2 Neil Armstrong movie C3 Twenty One Pilots’ C5 Breaking down Saul of
captivates audiences
fifth album drops
‘Breaking Bad’
FRIDAY Oct. 19, 2018
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FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
LAKER REVIEW
‘First Man’ provides early competition for Oscar Race
Damien Chazelle provides worthy follow-up to his previous successes
DC an d W Bros. pr arner o duction on “T Flash” p he ushe d back fu rth now eye er, in 2021 re g a lease date.
Image from Universal Pictures via YouTube Neil Armstrong and his fellow astronauts prepare to train for the first manned mission to the moon in Damien Chazelle’s new biopic “First Man.”
Garrick Groover Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com
Houston, we do not have a problem. The film slump known as September is finally over, and October has arrived with its first round of Oscar contenders. One of them is “First Man,” a look into the exploits of Neil Armstrong and the legendary Apollo 11 mission, an accomplishment of human achievement that is recognizable to Americans young and old. Before viewing “First Man,” one cannot brush over the sizable talent found in front of and behind the camera. Award-winning director Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”) helms the biopic, while Josh Singer (“The Post”) pens the screenplay. In terms of star power, “First Man” aims high with the talents of Ryan Gosling (“Blade Runner 2049”) and Claire Foy (“Unsane”). The result is a mesmer-
izing experience that is a fine addition to Chazelle’s impressive filmography, but not without a few issues. The Apollo 11 mission is such an iconic event in American history that it can be difficult to separate the mission’s triumph from the multiple setbacks and issues that happened along the way. “First Man” does not shy away from these setbacks, as the film depicts how close NASA came to cancelling the mission altogether. Men died, money was wasted, and protests were held. Over the course of the film, one may ask, “Was it all worth it?” The performances in “First Man” are of impeccable quality. Everybody knows Neil Armstrong as the first man to walk on the moon, but who is the man behind the legacy? As “First Man” proves, Armstrong is much more than the guy who said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Gosling’s portrayal is reserved, yet cold and
discerning. Armstrong was not a man who sought the spotlight, and the film does an adequate job at representing these aspects of Armstrong’s personality. Foy also does great work as Janet Armstrong, a woman who feels more distant from her husband as the Apollo mission inches closer. From a technical standpoint, “First Man” is a marvel. The majority of the film is shot with handheld cameras, which give the picture a more independent and intimate vibe. Many films in the past have misused handheld footage, such as 2012’s “Alex Cross,” but the shaky cam here adds to the intensity of the launch scenes, which remain the most gripping parts of the movie. “First Man” is a film that should be seen on the biggest screen possible. The moon scenes are a sight to behold and worth the price of admission. It makes audiences believe Chazelle and NASA teamed
up to film on the actual moon. In terms of issues, there are a few. The pacing can feel off, making one feel the Apollo and Gemini missions happened during a single month instead of an entire decade. Outside of Gosling and Foy, none of the supporting players really stand out, which include Kyle Chandler (“Game Night”) and Corey Stoll (“The Seagull”), but, in earnest, they all give ample performances regardless of screen time. “First Man” may be a film about Neil Armstrong, but at its core, it is a testament to human ambition. Not only is the film tense and chaotic, but it is also heartfelt and endearing. Nobody should be surprised if “First Man” becomes a classic alongside the likes of “The Right Stuff” and “Apollo 13.” “First Man” may not sore to the heights of Chazelle’s previous directorial efforts, but it will inspire and captivate audiences nonetheless.
Collider.com announce d which categories cer tain actors would be campaigning for the Aca demy Awards. Olivia Colman will campaign lead actress for the upcoming film “The Favorite.”
As of Oct. 16, “Venom” has ma de $149 million do mestically at the box office, surpassing expectations.
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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‘Bad Times at the El Royale’ injects new life into 2018
Stephen Novak Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com
It is amazing how much setting can contribute to a story, especially one that is seemingly grounded in a fairly lame reality. By expanding on the little things and building on its neo-noir themes, films like “Bad Times at the El Royale” make a great case for the thriller genre in the current market. The atmosphere is its best selling point, as the small-town motel makes a great impression with its sweeping, early 1900s aesthetic and delightful jazz tunes that help set a great stage for the rest of the movie, as well as being an outright fun place to watch. The film follows a seemingly innocuous motel that becomes embroiled in a night of crime and intrigue by following the stories of five strangers, each with their own reasons to be there. The cast works well to ensure that a strong balance between the
mystery of its characters and the power they have in each scene is on full display. Specifically, Cynthia Erivo of Broadway fame as Darlene Sweet and Jeff Bridges (“Kingsman: The Golden Circle”) as Father Flynn pull off an interesting duo, though Erivo’s reserved actions at the outset of the story do not do her justice. Her performance bleeds into the film’s score, using her amazing vocals to provide an enjoyable
view into the time period’s jazz influences. Her singing is backed by a great list of music singles that call back to the same era. Thrilling might be the best word to describe “Bad Times at the El Royale.” Each scene, while some can go on too long, hits a masterful pace between drama and action. Effective use of downtime and contemplation provides room scenes that leave audiences on the edge of their
seats. Though the greater plot takes some time to get going, the moments in between do a great job of entertaining while hinting at the deeper plot. This is due to some very talented writing, smaller details of the characters that make them more endearing and the risks that they find themselves in, all of which help to make sure that audiences will always feel like their favorite character could be at risk.
Image from 20th Century Fox via YouTube Lewis Pullman and Jeff Bridges star as a priest and a bellhop keeping many secrets in “Bad Times at the El Royale.”
The only mark one could hold against the story would be some plot holes or unexplained arcs. Some relatively nuanced characters meet disappointing ends, while other will stampede toward a conclusion. It does not fully spoil the film, but it will leave the viewer with a “Hey wait a minute...” moment when thinking back on it. In the end, a few small plot holes in the road are not enough to stop what amounts to a great thriller. With an intense atmosphere and thrilling scenes, “Bad Times at the El Royale” puts on a good showing. However, it surpasses that by putting its best qualities up front and submerging the viewer in a charming world that grips them with a succession of outright fun scenes that tow the line between humorous and intense. By the time audiences leave that world behind, they will find themselves wanting more when the next cynical cop thriller comes around to bore them. “Bad Times at the El Royale” is, ironically enough, a really good time.
‘Trench’ shows Twenty One Pilots still capable of making music Mary Kate Moylan Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com
On Oct. 5, Twenty One Pilots officially broke its one-yearlong hiatus with the release of “Trench,” the duo’s fifth studio album. The highly anticipated album had many on edge, as singles like “Jumpsuit,” “Nico and the Niners” and “Levitate” had been slowly released over the summer. Following their most recent albums, “Blurryface” and “Vessel,” “Trench” is dedicated to singer Tyler Joseph’s grandfather, who appears on the cover of “Vessel” and passed away recently. The duo’s first single in a year, “Jumpsuit,” leapt to the top of charts with its release in July. The track was originally planned to premiere on various radio stations across the country at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, but was instead released 47 minutes earlier on iTunes and YouTube. The song itself contrasts greatly between Joseph’s hushed vocals
and the bass-heavy riffs, until his voice gradually crescendos into a scream and the track abruptly ends. Such similar traits are also found in past songs like “Trees” and “Car Radio.” In an interview with BBC Radio 1, drummer Josh Dun spoke on “Jumpsuit.” “I would say, me personally, it is kind of like picking up with where Blurryface ended. So, it felt like the first track back to kind of bridge that gap and go from one record to the next,” he said. The song has since received great reviews from the duo’s fans and other critics. Joseph heavily ponders his own mortality in “Morph.” With the first four lines, he deciphers between the denial of “if” one will die compared to “when,” one representing panic, the other acceptance and sorrow. “Morph” is one of the fast beat tracks of “Trench.” Within four minutes and 18 seconds, Joseph addresses the ideas of death and changing into someone unfamiliar. Whether this metamorphosis is just the death of one’s current self or the
ultimate demise is left to interpretation, but Joseph likes to tease with the idea of different personalities. It could also be a defense mechanism/form of disassociating, by “morphing” himself into different personalities like those of a lion or vulture. “on this new album i am a vulture, a lion, and there’s a cheetah in my basement. so stay with me now,” Joseph said in a tweet, clearly referencing “Pet Cheetah.” Joseph also references the animals frequently seen throughout the music videos for “Jumpsuit” and “Levitate” as being vultures, along with the eye of a lion during promotion for the release of the first single. “Pet Cheetah” is another one of Joseph’s attempts at overcoming struggle, this one on the creative end with writer’s block. Developing most of “Trench” in his home studio basement, Joseph had to further develop himself not only as a singersongwriter, but as a producer as well. Many of the tracks within “Trench” are produced by him, as he speaks of isolation and
Image from twenty one pilots via YouTube “My Blood” is one of the many new songs in Twenty One Pilots’ new album “Trench.”
the slow discovery that can break him past this block. When asked about the track, Joseph said, “The rap part was something that I’d written a long time ago but had never had the guts to put into an actual song, and Josh challenged me and said, ‘Come on, just put it in there.’” The rap he referred to was pushed by Dun and referenced a past interview: “I’ve got a pet cheetah down in my basement /
I’ve raised him, and bathed him, and named him Jason / Statham, I’ve trained him to make me these beats / Now my pet cheetah’s quicker in the studio than on his feet.” Overall, Twenty One Pilots’ album “Trench” is quite the success and is a diverse and flowing journey set over the course of its 14 tracks. Devoted fans and first-time listeners alike will not be disappointed.
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LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
Marvel’s loss, DC’s gain as James Gunn jumps ship Brian Trombly Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com
DC and Warner Bros. have confirmed that controversial director James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2”) is set to be the writer for the next “Suicide Squad” film. Gunn, who was most known for his role as director of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, was fired during the summer after some off-color tweets from 2009-2010 resurfaced. It seems like they are willing to work with the edgy director despite his views, and it definitely shows how Warner Bros. and Disney view their respective brands and values. Warner Bros. released a statement saying that Gunn will bring a “completely fresh take to the franchise.” It is notable that the statement, which was made on DC Daily (a DCcentered video podcast), did not mention him directing the film, though initial reports do say it
is likely he will do so. Gunn takes over writing duties from Gavin O’Connor (“The Accountant”), who left the sequel due to frustrations that his script was too similar to “Birds of Prey,” which was fast-tracked by Warner Bros. and is expected to star Margot Robbie, who will reprise her role of Harley Quinn from “Suicide Squad.” This news could also have a huge impact on the potential casting decision that will be made in the future. Dave Bautista, famous for playing Drax the destroyer in both “Guardians of the Galaxy” films and “The Avengers: Infinity War,” has been a huge advocate against Gunn’s firing and is seemingly interested in joining the project, tweeting “Where do I sign up?” after the news broke of Gunn’s involvement. Jared Leto, who played the role of the Joker in the first “Suicide Squad,” is unlikely to reprise his role in the sequel, most likely due to both the negative critical reception his performance in the film gar-
nered and his recasting. Joaquin Phoenix (“Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far On Foot”) is set to portray the character in Todd Phillips’ (“War Dogs”) upcoming standalone “Joker” film. Although neither Bautista or Leto’s future roles in the up-
coming film are official, it will be something to look forward to in the coming months. Overall, the move by Warner Bros. to hire Gunn is a bold one and could end up either elevating the franchise to a new level or failing to meet expectations.
One thing is for certain: the second “Suicide Squad” movie should be drastically different than its predecessor on all accounts. For DC’s sake, the hope is that Gunn’s new approach will make up for its original disappointment.
Image from ScreenJunkies News via YouTube James Gunn, previously Marvel’s golden boy, is now tapped to write the script for and possibly direct “Suicide Squad 2.”
Avalanche Games behind potential ‘Harry Potter’ game
Image from Bethesda Softworks via YouTube “Rage 2” is another upcoming game from Avalanche Games and Bethesda Software.
Stephen Novak Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com On Oct. 2, reddit user VapeThisBro posted a purported leak to the subreddit GamingLeaksAndRumors for a video game set in the beloved universe of “Harry Potter.” The post showed a hand-recorded video of what appeared to be an in-progress trailer, featuring a character
customization system, an open world that takes players outside of the castle and a ton of spells, from one’s typical combat spells like “Stupify” to lesser-known magic like transmutation. The leaker also provided his transcription of what he was told about the new title’s story: “Set in the 19th century (1800s) Wizarding World, this third-person open-world action RPG game centers
around your character with unique abilities who has earned a late acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You are a newly arrived fifth-year student to Hogwarts that demonstrates a latent gift for magic with a unique ability to track and identify remnants of a potent ancient power.” Upon arrival, strange events begin to materialize in the Forbidden Forest, and trouble begins to brew within the castle walls. Together with Professor Elezar Fig, players embark on a journey through both familiar and never-before-seen locations to bring to light the truth behind these mysterious occurrences. On the quest, players will craft potions, master new spells and discover fantastical beasts. They will battle dark wizards, goblins and other supernatural enemies and uncover the truth about their destiny - the fate of the wizarding world lies in their hands. He also added some details on how the players will be able to experience the
wizarding world. Players will be able to choose from up to eight types of wizard classes, explore the school, make meaningful relationships with other students and belong to one of Hogwarts’ four houses, as well as make complex decisions that alter the game world. Those choices can be good or evil in accordance with players’ custom hero, and it is all part of a magic system that creates potential for thousands of possibilities. It seems that, if the game leak can be trusted, it has been inspired by games like “Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor” and “Alien: Isolation,” which leave behind alreadyestablished characters in an effort to break into their own niche of the series. By taking players to unexplored parts of the series canon, it allows the game designers to have more creative freedom. RastaPasta, a YouTuber placed the leaked trailer video on his channel, but at the time of writing, it was
removed by Warner Brothers Entertainment Interactive. This seems to imply the footage (and any other evidence of the leak) is in some way connected to a real product. The game was originally rumored to be developed by RockSteady Studios (the minds behind the critically acclaimed “Batman: Arkhan” series). However, that was denied, instead leaving the speculation toward Avalanche Softworks, who was responsible for various Disney games and spin-offs. The unofficial title of the game is “Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.” The “Harry Potter” franchise has remained in the realm of video games mostly in mobile titles, with mobile and iOS games like “Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery,” but these have left fans of the series with a need for more due to lacking gameplay and a reliance on micro transactions. After these games left a sour taste in the mouths of fans, this is a title they will be eager to keep an eye out for.
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
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Jimmy inches closer to Saul in ‘Better Call Saul’ finale Dominick Lioto Social Media Coordinator dlioto@oswegonian.com One of the first times viewers met Saul Goodman on “Breaking Bad,” Walter White and Jesse Pinkman are forcing him to kneel down in front of a pit with a gun to his head. Saul is panicking. He is pleading for his life, practically begging them. He immediately blurts out, “It wasn’t me! It was Ignacio, he’s the one!” and then assumes the duo are Spanish and rattles off a few of the only phrases he knows how to say. When Jesse tells him to shut up, Saul asks, “Lalo didn’t send you? No Lalo?” and when the realization that these two men have no clue what he is talking about, he is relieved. He is so happy to not be at the hands of whoever “Lalo” is that his first instinct is to now approach this other gun to his head as a deal waiting to be made: “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” That scene is from the eighth episode of the second season of “Breaking Bad.” The episode’s title is “Better Call Saul,” and who would have thought in the fourth season of the spin-off/prequel Lalo would finally be entering the picture? OK, let us slow down. As much fun as it is to connect all the “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” dots and predict where these characters go on their respective journeys to the inevitable, Jimmy McGill (the man Saul Goodman once was) is the show’s heartbeat, even if it is a cold, slow one. Without getting bogged down by specifics and spoilers, let us examine Jimmy. Jimmy, brilliantly played by Bob Odenkirk, is a con man. There is no way around it; he is. Some viewers are so eager to see Saul Goodman but do not realize that when day finally comes, it will come with a price. The day Saul is born is the day Jimmy has to die, metaphorically. As opposed to Saul, there is good in Jimmy. For all the ways he uses people as disposable and for his own benefit, there are times where his moral compass is shown.
Image from AMC via YouTube
Actor Bob Odenkirk first portrayed the now iconic Saul Goodman in 2009, during the second season of the famous show “Breaking Bad.” He wants to help the elderly, he cares about Kim, he has had close friends, and, as complicated as his relationship with his now-deceased brother Chuck was, there were moments of genuine love between them. The opening scene of the season finale subtly showcases this, as the two brothers sing ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” while celebrating Jimmy passing the BAR exam. For every one of these positive moments, there is a gang of negative ones eagerly waiting to beat that positivity out of Jimmy. This season especially shows how every backstab, bad comment or time ignored affected Jimmy and made him more accepting and comfortable with owning who he is: a con man. Chuck’s death especially forces Jimmy to toy with doing the right thing and acting on his own worst impulses. It is nearly impossible to pinpoint when Jimmy McGill dies (He arguably does at the very end of the finale). But that is one of the things the show does masterfully. “Better Call Saul” is a slow-burn drama/crime thriller inside of a character study. We all know who Saul Goodman is in “Breaking Bad,” but to see him travel down the path to get there is heartbreaking. They have taken somebody that is
the definition of a secondary character and crafted a show around him that is arguably better than its predecessor. It is more refined, it uses every beat and moment to marinate the emotions, the visuals and narrative structure are just as captivating, and the emotional peaks are more debilitating. The era of “Breaking Bad” is slowly fading away, and even Kim seems to know a change is coming. She and Jimmy fought hard and used a lot of their resources to get his law license back, and as she thinks he has done this to better himself and his future, she realizes she may have been a part of his latest con. Jimmy does not even realize how much and how quickly he has just upset her - he is too selfish, as well - but this relationship is his last line left to stay connected to society. Society never cared about Jimmy. He has been labeled and boxed away from people that only looked down on him, so why stick around? Why try to stay in their good graces? He is going to prove them right by reaching down and putting on a mask he has always wanted to wear. Jimmy knows this, and this season’s exploration of him has cemented these facts. But who cares? S’all good, man.
Contact: bfallat@oswegonian.com
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Crossword Puzzle
Sudoku Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains 1-9 exactly once.
Down 1. Actor ___ Baldwin 2. Facts 3. Had creditors 4. Type of bean 5. Pension plan (abbr.) 6. Set 7. Eye surface 8. Passed perfectly 9. Restore confidence 10. Tiny amount 11. Printing measures 16. What Moses parted (2 wds.) 19. Brokers 21. Shoplifts 22. Stadium
24. Mideast country 25. Robin’s abode 26. Recipe abbr. 27. Is unwell 28. More selfish 30. Placid 35. Most sensible 39. African country 41. Light tan 43. Dangle 44. Water (Sp.) 45. Brooklyn team 46. Capone and Roker 47. Permit 48. Mouth part 49. “____ Got Sixpence”
Across 1. Excitement 4. Sty resident 7. ___ blanche 12. Ordinance 13. Indignation 14. Atlantic or Pacific 15. Perpetual 17. Peruses 18. West Point student 19. No ifs, ___, or buts 20. Medicinal amount 23. Transgression 26. Labels 29. Prize 31. Royal address 32. Twilight, to a poet 33. Important times 34. Enjoyable 36. Fender damage 37. Compass direction (abbr.) 38. Nome’s state 40. Lions’ lairs 42. Patriot ___ Allen 46. Rocket ___ Cooper 48. Ancestry 50. Ogles 51. ___ League 52. Pecan, e.g. 53. Rooster’s walk 54. Pod vegetable 55. Cooking fuel
For this week’s crossword answers... Go to Oswegonian.com/lreview and click on the Laker Review tab!
LAKER REVIEW
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018
Creative Writing Insecurities By: Kenny Burnham
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Quality Student Housing. 3, 4, 5, 8 bedroom houses. Close to campus. Free washer and dryer. Snow removal and lawn care. 315-952-2902.
Flashback Friday
Words that cut too deep, Does my forehead say loser?
On Oct. 19, 1990, the film classic, “Dances with Wolves” premiered in Washington D.C. Kevin Costner directed and starred in the film, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1991.
Thought I washed it off. Image from YouTube Movies via YouTube
Oswego Cinema 7 Weekend of Oct. 19 - 21 Halloween
11:55 a.m. 2:40 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
8:00 p.m. 10:15 p.m.
The Hate U Give
1 : 0 0 p. m. 4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
Bad Times at the El Royale
11:50 a.m. 3:45 p.m.
7:10 p.m.
10:15 p.m.
First Man
11:40 p.m. 3:40 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
9:50 p.m.
Goosebumps 2: 11:30 a.m. 2:20 p.m. Haunted Halloween
4:35 p.m.
7:20 p.m. 10:30 p.m.
TO SEE ALL SHOWINGS, GO TO OSWEGO CINEMA 7'S WEBSITE