The Oswegonian 3-6-20

Look Inside: A3 Campus-wide internet outages

Friday, March 6, 2020 VOLUME LXXXV ISSUE V SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com

Quarter 3 course trips postponed

Study abroad office cancels trips due to coronavirus outbreaks

President Stanley discusses coronavirus, task force during SA Colin Hawkins Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com

On Monday March 2, Oswego State President Deborah Stanley sent out an email updating the campus community on the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and how it may affect the college as over 11 cases have been confirmed in New York state.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new form of coronavirus, a type of virus that includes the common cold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, with symptoms potentially developing two to 14 days after exposure, though some patients may show no symptoms at all.

This new virus was first reported in China in late 2019 and has since spread to at least 78 countries with South Korea, Italy and Iran having significant outbreaks according to statistics from the CDC. The World Health Organization announced the name COVID-19 for the disease caused by the virus in February. The name is a shortening of “coronavirus disease 2019,” according to the CDC. “I write to you today to assure you that the health and safety of all members of our campus community, particularly those students currently studying abroad or planning to travel internationally, is of utmost concern for SUNY Oswego,” Stanley wrote in her email. “Please know that Oswego is working together with our campus leaders as well as

See COVID-19, A4

Photo provided by Abby Lombino Students signed up for the quarter three course trips to Italy, Japan, France and Ireland will have their trips postponed until further notice.

Julia Tilley News Editor jtilley@oswegonian.com

CONTENT

On March 2, Oswego State students received an email from President Deborah Stanley, explaining the school’s decision to cancel all international spring break programs due to the recent coronavirus outbreaks.

“I write to you today to to assure you that the health and safety of all members of our campus community, particularly those students currently studying abroad or planning to travel internationally, is of ut-

Calendar...................... A3 Crossword................... C6 Contact Info................ A2 Laker Review.............. C1 News............................. A1 Opinion........................ B5 Sports........................... B1 Sudoku........................ C6

most concern for SUNY Oswego,” the email said.

The spring break trips to Italy, Japan, France and Ireland were all canceled. Students who signed up were told the school would try to reschedule programs to be at the end of May, should there no longer be a threat of the coronavirus abroad.

“Right now our faculty program leaders and my office are in the process of rescheduling these programs to May after graduation. So far all the professors and most of the students can go then, which is great,” Associate Provost for Interna-

tional Education and Programs Joshua McKeown said.

“Thanks to our faculty and students’ flexibility and determination, it looks promising that students will be able to accomplish their travel and earn their credit.”

Students that are not able to attend the trip at a later time will receive full refunds, according to the study abroad office.

“I’m kind of bummed out, because I was so excited,” Leigh McMahon, a student enrolled

Sports

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Laker Review

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NEWHL FINALS

WEINSTEIN CONVICTED

INDY STRIKES AGAIN

WHITEOUT GALLERY

Colin Hawkins | The Oswegonian

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Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

President Deborah Stanley spoke about the coronavirus, or COVID-19, during the last senate meeting.

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THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Weekend Forecast

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 8

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WEATHER FRIDAY, MARCH 6

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The Oswegonian

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NEWS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

It’s been a long day. We’ve been dealing with the coronavirus all day.”

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

-Deborah Stanley, from A4

Internet, Blackboard outages plague campus

A3

Students fall behind, professors push back due dates Euroka Sejour Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com With the recent issues with internet and Blackboard outages occurring throughout the Oswego State campus, many people are being affected.

Students have been having issues logging into Blackboard to complete and submit their homework. In some classes professors have even given extended time on assignments, providing an opportunity for students who did not get a chance to make the deadline due to technical difficulties.

As for staff, simple everyday tasks such as taking attendance has become difficult and more substantial ones like slide presentations or notes have been unable to be accessed during class.

“It messes everyone up,” Elizabeth Phan, a broadcasting student at Oswego State said. Phan ex-

plained that when she was trying to log into Blackboard there was a bulletin saying she could not log in. She said there was a difference in speed when she used her laptop, which is faster compared to when she uses her phone.

On the other hand, wellness management major Lensa Romage did not experience any issues with Blackboard, but her issue was with the slow internet connections.

“It makes things difficult,” Romage said. Romage faces a lot of stress because the slow internet does not allow her to access the spreadsheets and documents she needs to complete her work for class.

Though this issue has been ongoing, faculty and staff are trying to make life as easy as possible for students and keep them updated with the process, not to mention making sure students are aware they have Campus Technology Services as a resource.

The issue itself ranges from the inability to log onto sites like myOswego and Blackboard, instability with the WiFi that could either drop for a certain period of time or take several minutes to load contents.

“These issues were caused by millions of logins instead of the thousands of logins we were used to getting,” Chief Technology Officer Sean Moriarty said. “We are working on it.”

Moriarty also mentioned that CTS is always willing to help those who may be having difficulty.

Scott Furlong, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, released a campus-wide announcement on Feb. 21 acknowledging the systems issues.

Though recently the problems have diminished, CTS is working to make sure that the issues regarding the network and WiFi are resolved. Though it may be an ongoing process.

Maker Madness 1 p.m., Saturday, March 7, Penfield Library

Full Moon Owl Prowl on Snowshoes 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7, Rice Creek Field Station

Time & Priority Management Workshop, 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, Penfield Library 215

Visiting Artist: JeeEun Lee, 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, Marano Campus Center 132

LGBTQ+ awareness and ally workshop, 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, Marano Campus Center 115

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian Internet and Blackboard outages at Oswego State leave students unable to submit class work and pressures professors to push back deadlines.

6 v. 6 Dodgeball League 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, Swetman Gym

Finger Lakes Trio, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, Sheldon Hall Ballroom

Open forum on student fees 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, Marano Campus Center 201

Maple Syrup Story Hour, 11 a.m., Saturday, March 14, Rice Creek Field Station

Beginning last week’s SA Meeting with $14,470 left in the contingency fund, Oswego State President Deborah Stanley spoke as a guest of the senate about the coronavirus, renovations and safety on campus.

Vice President Jerri Howland is leading a task force focused on prevention, preparation and planning for the possibility of an outbreak on campus, Stanley said.

which will be completed by the end of August, Stanley said. One of the largest renovations coming up for the Oswego State campus will be focused on Hewitt Hall.

Stanley also mentioned that it is important, especially for those living on campus, to feel safe and at home at Oswego State. For many students, adequate lighting plays a large role in feeling safe as senators expressed to Stanley that though the lighting efforts have helped, there are still dark corners around Funnelle Hall.

One of five bills debated and voted on Ongoing renovations at the meeting was on campus include Mary a request to fund a Walker and Funnelle Hall, conference in Boston

for the Public Relations Student Society of America. The bill passed to fund PRSSA at $500.

Other clubs such as Fashion at Oswego had their bill, to allocate funds for the FAO annual fashion show largely debated and voted on. The FAO bill amendment to cut their asking price down to just the essentials, that being, $1,350 was proposed by Sen. MaryJay Olalekan and passed by general consent, as did the bill as a whole. The fashion show will go on this year due to the bill passing and will be held in Hewitt Hall on March 27.

One of the last bills to be debated and voted upon was SLEE.55.24 Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Championship Request to come out of the championship fund.

Sen. Mathew Emerick proposed an amendment to grant $3,000 total for both men’s and women’s volleyball.

Sen. Anna Constantini asked that Emerick would round the total up to $3,200 as to allow for an even split among the two teams, to which Emerick agreed. The amendment to give the men’s and women’s volleyball club $3,200 out of the championship fund, passed by general consent, as did the bill.

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

A4

COVID-19 concerns brought to Student activity fee up for re-vote Student Association, discussed Tension between SA and student body may affect decision PRESIDENT from COVER

with SUNY administration and local and state health departments. We are communicating and sharing information – with your health and safety in mind.”

Stanley asked Jerri Howland, vice president of student affairs and enrollment at Oswego State, to create a task force to address prevention and planning concerning COVID-19 at the college.

The task force, chaired by Howland, consists of top campus administrators and personnel representing several major departments on campus, such as health services, campus safety, housing, academic affairs, technology, communication and international education.

The task force met on Wednesday morning and has begun discussions on possible options should an infectious disease like COVID-19 spread to the campus.

“The task force has begun discussions related to prevention, response, contingency plans and adherence to our already present Pandemic Response Plan and infectious disease protocol,” Howland said. “We discussed and will continue to discuss planning for different scenarios including a potential period of restricted activity, if necessary.”

According to the Oswego State Emergency Response Plan document, available on the college website, the section relating to pandemics said the college will operate based on five alert levels and will focus on limiting both social interaction and non-essential functions of the institution.

“Several departments have been identified in the pandemic flu plan as performing essential functions in the event that normal activities at SUNY Oswego are suspended for a crisis period that could last as long as 12 weeks as per health officials,” the Emergency Response Plan said. “Suspension of normal activities may mean that classes, professional and student activities, athletics, conferences and institutes are canceled and that students may be required to leave the campus and return to their homes.”

Stanley attended the Student Association senate meeting on Tuesday to update senators on several projects and details concerning Oswego State, including COVID-19. Though not the focus of the update, Stanley informed senators of some options considered by the college and answered questions.

“It’s been a long day. We’ve been dealing with coronavirus all day,” Stanley said to begin her presentation, in reference to the coordination the college is having with students studying abroad amid the global health emergency.

Oswego State made the decision earlier this week to cancel international trips planned for spring break and is working to ensure the safety of students studying abroad, including the potential to have those students currently studying abroad return to the United States, according to Stanley. There are no plans to send home international students that are attend-

ing Oswego State from abroad, Howland said.

Stanley responded to a senator at the meeting, saying that the college administration is thinking about what to do if COVID-19 spreads to the campus.

“If somebody were to have [COVID-19] on this campus, we would have to assess whether or not they have had the kind of contact that transmits the disease, and we would have to first of all see to it that they had medical attention and that they were quarantined,” Stanley said. “We would also have to determine whether that quarantine would be on-campus or if they could travel home to be quarantined for 14 days.”

Stanley said to SA that the Oswego State student population, which consists primarily of young adults, may be less susceptible to COVID-19 as most of the more than 3,200 reported deaths due to the illness have been from vulnerable populations, like the elderly. Deaths in the United States from COVID-19 rose to 11 by Wednesday night.

“Everyone who has or tests positive to the disease does not get it in such a way that makes them terribly ill,” Stanley said. “As a matter of fact, your demographic, of younger people, does not get very sick with the disease.”

In response to concerns that pandemic protocols could impact student academics, Stanley said to senate that the college would be able to conduct classes online, either through the college’s Blackboard system or email and Google Docs if need be.

“We don’t have any scenario yet where that would be what we choose to do,” Stanley said.

“If we close or if we cancel classes for any length of time, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on getting your degrees on time, or finishing your coursework. So, we’re starting to understand that we could substitute in many ways.”

These plans and potential contingencies are being evaluated by the COVID-19 task force as the situation develops while following recommendations from health agencies like the CDC. “We’re going to be planning for those short-term scenarios or long-term as we need this semester,” Howland said. “With anything that we do, of course we will communicate it to the community right away. But just know that we are planning for all of those scenarios in case the worst happens or in case it doesn’t; small scenario, medium scenario or big one.”

Stanley said the COVID-19 situation is fluid and the college is focused on public health and student welfare while remaining transparent with the campus community. The Oswego State website has a COVID-19 page that will be updated daily, according to Howland, that provides resources and preventative health practices to the Oswego community. These recommendations include frequently washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, only wearing a mask when sick, staying home when sick and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

“We have a lot of people with their eyes on this,” Stanley said.

William Rogers | The Oswegonian Students will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not the student activity fee will be mandatory for the next two years.

Hannah Leonard Asst. News Editor hleonard@oswegonian.com Whether it is Centro, Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the media organizations, including The Oswegonian, Student Association Programming Board or Campus Recreation; most of these organizations and facilities would likely be lost if the student activity fee became voluntary, according to Student Association Vice President Matthew O’Donnell.

Oswego State must follow the guidelines set forth by the SUNY system, one being that every two years the student body votes to either keep the student activity fee mandatory or have it be voluntary.

The $120 student activity fee is attached directly to students’ bills and goes toward SA and the funding of many clubs and organizations on campus O’Donnell said.

The fee helps SA maintain contracts and fund the aforementioned organizations that provide a variety of services, information and entertainment to the Oswego

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State campus.

At 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, Oswego State students will receive an email prompting them to cast their votes regarding both the student activity fee and two SA presidential candidates on Laker Life.

The student activity fee has never been made voluntary to the best of O’Donnell’s knowledge, however he said that the last time the student body voted on this, two years ago, they came the closest they had ever come, with 20% voting to make the fee optional.

O’Donnell expressed that one of his fears is that organizations and clubs may hold grudges based on recent budget cuts, and think, “[SA] cut us last year, do we really want to fund them?”

A member of both the history club and women in STEM, Delaney Krasner said that she was aware of the student activity fee and its purpose, however, she has personally felt the impact of these budget constraints. Krasner said when she was a freshman her clubs were much more active, and students would

only pay for gas for trips. Now club memberships have fallen as out-ofpocket costs rise.

While SA and the organizations and clubs they fund rely on the student activity fee to finance their affairs, it may pose an economic challenge for some students.

“Being someone that comes from a low-income family, we kind of dissect the bill a lot just to see exactly what we are paying for,” Fei Yang (Ryan) Gu, Lieutenant Governor of Circle K International and SA senator, said.

Gu went on to explain that he was not aware of what the fee was for until he arrived at Oswego State and began to get involved on campus. However, he said he feels the enrichment provided by clubs and organizations are vital for the campus in learning how to connect with people, stay informed and simply enjoy studying at Oswego State. “[Oswego State] has a lot of clubs, and club teams and we are pretty [much] one of a kind when it comes to that,” Gu said. “I definitely want future Oswego students to have the opportunity to experience what I am experiencing.”

NEWS Photo Briefs

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

A5

Ski and Snowboarding club hosts annual Rail Jam Whiteout game ends in victory

Alexis Fragapane l The Oswegonian Tom Pemrick l The Oswegonian

The Oswego State’s Ski and Snowboard club hosted their annual Rail Jam in the academic quad earlier in the week, the athletes feared that Rail Jam would not take place due to lack of snow.

Skiers and snowboarders’ fears were alleviated, courtesy of the

plentiful lake-effect snow. Last week’s blizzard also aided Oswego State students as Thursday afternoon, and Friday’s classes were canceled.

The event was held on Feb. 28 in order to give athletes on campus a creative and competitive

outlet to showcase their abilities.

As pictured above, winter athletes ski and board over jumps and rails. The jumps were formed by packing snow as competitors aim to gain elevation. Rails had been placed in the quad earlier that morning by dedicated athletes.

Tuesday night, the Oswego men’s hockey team reigned victorious with a 4-1 win over the Plattsburgh State Cardinals.

Every Whiteout, Laker fans are encouraged to wear white and voice their support for the team. The roped-off line forms hours ahead of time in the Marano Campus Center, with loyal fans camping out until the ice arena doors open. They entertain themselves with crosswords, songs and chants during the wait as the line stretches on east. Tuesday’s attendance was over 2,100 for the sequel to this season’s first Whiteout matchup in early November.

Every year, the #OzWhiteout hashtag circulates as Laker fans take to social media to connect with other fans and express their team pride. T-shirts at the Marano Campus Center store are

mass-produced and printed for fans to purchase ahead of the game, and white and green rally towels are distributed upon entry.

While this spring’s Whiteout may not have drawn quite the crowd as the November matchup, the significance to loyal students, alumni and athletes is the same. The student section is joyful and rises to join arms when “Sweet Caroline” booms between the second and third period. The zamboni drivers round the outer ring of the arena, distributing thumbs ups and fist bumps from the other side of the glass. The unified love for hockey brings smiles to many faces.

Best of luck to head coach Ed Gosek and the team as they take on the SUNY Geneseo Knights this Saturday.

Tom Pemrick l The Oswegonian

Nicole Hube l The Oswegonian

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

A6

New art exhibition held to Students abroad contacted about COVID-19 s ho w c a s e f a c u l t y w o rk Those in Level 3 countries encouraged to return to states early Euroka Sejour Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com After a four-month sabbatical for research, the Oswego State gallery presents Benjamin Entner’s exhibition titled “Mortals and Gods."

The series is held in the gallery in Tyler Hall and is advertised as objects of childhood memory and experience that “translates the artifacts of childhood memory and experience into fragmentary ruins of Greco-Roman sculpture,” according to the event page.

The series portrays several toy heads that have been reimagined into monumental sculptures and presented as if they have been made lifesize. Upon first glance, the exhibit is a reminder of the works during the Greco-Roman period, as it is all white and leaves its viewer space to find its meaning for themselves.

Alicia Blagrove, a student at Oswego State, said it was not like anything she had ever seen.

“The structures were very beautiful,” Blagrove said. “I think that it was interesting,” She said she was intrigued by how some pieces of the artwork were separated body parts and felt that the artworks depicted showed that “the gods were always with us.”

The series aims to draw its viewers into a time and place in their lives that they never thought of as significant.

Entner, the creator of Mortals and Gods, said this was a project

that he had been thinking of doing for about three years. However, the time just did not present itself as he was busy. That was one of the hardest parts of the process for Entner.

“I have taken old action figures and I've scaled them up and transformed them classical sculptures,” Entner said. “A lot of classical sculptures are idealized portraits of gods and heroic persons and mythological characters.”

According to Mike Flanagan, the Tyler Art Gallery director, the process of booking the gallery for Entner’s pieces was rather simple. Although, booking a one person gallery means that there had to be enough pieces to fill up the gallery.

“It’s just a matter of physically filling the space,” Flanagan said.

The largest gallery held contained about 150 pieces of artwork but were comprised of different student artworks shown together.

Entner said he hopes that people who view his gallery can connect to the inner-child that they harbor within them and are able to recall their memories.

Entner remembers his time as a child through these images and is witnessing his own family and loved ones go through those child-like experiences. He said he finds value in these seemingly insignificant experiences.

On Friday March 6, Entner will be giving a short talk at the gallery from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on his latest creation.

“It celebrates playfulness and a return to childhood,” Entner said.

Photo provided by Abby Lombino Oswego State students abroad in low risk areas have not yet been told to return home, although they were informed about the coronavirus.

QUARTER from COVER

Euroka Sejour | The Oswegonian After taking a four month sabbatical for research, faculty member Benjamin Entner created a gallery.

in GLS 100 Global Cities: Dublin, said. “We were going over St. Patrick’s day. We were going to the parade, it’s a huge thing there. I’m bummed out personally. But I understand that it’s for safety, so I’m not going to be mad about it because they’re looking out for us.”

McMahon continued to say that the course will continue, although she is unsure what they will do moving forward.

The final paper was originally going to be about their experiences abroad.

The email that was sent went on to say that students currently abroad in Level 3 countries declared by the CDC, such as Italy and South Korea,

are encouraged to return home.

Other programs have not yet been canceled, but participants are being encouraged to connect with Oswego State to figure out travel arrangements and what may occur, like being quarantined, upon returning to the United States.

“It’s unprecedented in the nearly 19 years I’ve been here at SUNY Oswego. But we have had comparable and challenging experiences on smaller scales,” McKeown said. “I know we are responding properly and handling it confidently.

We have outstanding leadership from our president and senior officials. Our faculty program leaders are dedicated and experienced, and I have a great office team.”

Faith Strohm, an Oswego State student studying in Tours, France,

said there is not a huge concern in her city about the coronavirus.

“Tours is a relatively small city and the people at the institute are young and healthy, so the risk posed by the virus is limited. However, the situation is being taken seriously,” Strohm said. “We were briefed on precautions to take to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus on Monday.”

Strohm is participating in a program through The College at Brockport, so Oswego State has not reached out to her to make arrangements home. However, she received an email from The College at Brockport over a week ago advising students to be cautious, but did not mention them needing to come home early, as of yet. She is supposed to return to the United States on April 25.

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Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian

VOLUME LXXXV ISSUE V • www.oswegonian.com

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

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Junior swimmer travels over Lakers go to No. 1 ranked Plattsburgh State 1,000 miles to join Lakers Cardinals look to repeat for third time as NEWHL champs Brandon Ladd Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com Walker Snowden came to Oswego State from his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida for the opportunity to continue swimming and pursue a degree in meteorology.

He has made the most of both of those opportunities in his almost three years as a Laker.

Snowden had a school-record performance at the SUNYAC Championships Feb. 19 through 22 in Buffalo, becoming the first swimmer in the history of Oswego State to earn six All-Conference performances at the meet. His top performance came in the 100-yard freestyle, where Snowden won with a time of 45.66. It was the only gold medal that Oswego State won for the men’s team at the meet. The 100-yard freestyle is an event that Snowden wants to earn a trip to nationals for next year.

“Obviously, I want to drop time, and represent our school at nationals,” Snowden said. “So, being able to

make a national cut time would be amazing. [I’m] not too far from it this year, especially in the 100 [yard] free.

Only a couple tenths [of a second] away. The invite time was about four tenths faster than my 100 free, so I definitely think I can drop that.”

The 100-yard freestyle was not the only event where Snowden was performing his best the few days at the SUNYAC Championships, as he posted a personal best time nine of the 11 times that he took the pool. He posted a thirdand fourth-place finish in the 50yard freestyle and 100-yard fly finals respectively, as well at the championship meet.

Head coach Mike Holman was impressed with Snowden’s performance at the meet and wants him to just focus on swimming.

“He wanted to break records,” Holman said. “The records in the events he swims were all pretty strong records. I was trying to get him more focused on just swimming, not about trying to break records or anything like that.”

See SUNYAC, B3

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

Neil Boedicker Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com

Playoff hockey continues for another weekend after the Lakers defeated Morrisville State 1-0 this week. The team will travel to Plattsburgh next to take on the No. 1 ranked Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The Cardinals have been dominating opponents throughout the entire season, especially against teams in the NEWHL, going undefeated against conference opponents with a record of 18-0.

Plattsburgh State has a dominant history against Oswego State as it has a record of 37-1-1 since 2007. The last time the Lakers defeated the Cardinals was in 2016 by a score of 3-2. When discussing that game, head coach Diane Dillon reminisced over the historic win.

“It was extremely exciting,” Dillon said. “We took advantage of opportunities. Once we took the lead we played a tough game the rest of the way. It was a monumental win for us. I remember the entire bench being very excited.”

Fast forward to this weekend’s game, associate head coach Mark Digby described Plattsburgh State as a team and how well its organization has led to the all-around success.

“They’re very fast, skilled, organized,” Digby said. “They have the record they have and the playoff success they have for a reason. It’s just a good overall hockey team.”

Due to the ice melting in the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena, last week the Lakers had to wait until Tuesday night to play their NEWHL Semifinal game, while Plattsburgh State was able to face SUNY Cortland as regularly scheduled last Saturday. Oswego State will have a shorter week of practice and preparation, compared to the week the Cardinals have had to prepare. Despite this, senior captain Kate Randazzo does not see this as a disadvantage, since the team has had short practice weeks all season.

“We’ve been playing Wednesdays and Tuesdays while having

Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian The Cardinals defeated SUNY Cortland 3-0 in the NEHWL Semifinals to advance to the finals.

two to three practices before each game,” Randazzo said. “I don’t know how that affects [Plattsburgh], but for us it’s pretty normal.”

Oswego State has shown improvement as a team from its first game against Plattsburgh State, that was a 7-1 loss, to its last matchup in January where it lost by a score of 3-1.

Digby credits the way the team has become so close as a major factor in the team’s improvement this season.

“Over the course of the season, I think each player has really earned a lot of confidence from each of their teammates,” Digby said. “They have earned a lot of trust from each other. I think over the course of a season that can happen and you can have success or it doesn’t happen, and you don’t end up playing in this final game.”

One player that will play a key role in defeating Plattsburgh State this weekend is starting goaltender Rachael Farmer, who has not lost a game as the team’s starter

since Jan. 31 against Morrisville State. Senior Madison Byrne believes that Farmer’s strong play in net is a confidence booster for the entire team.

“When she is playing how she has been playing, it gives us more confidence,” Byrne said. “As a team, we know that we can do more when she is playing as good as she is.”

Digby agreed that strong goaltending will play a key part to defeating Plattsburgh State, but also added that avoiding The Cardinals’ power play is critical.

“We’re going to have to be good in our own end, and when we get chances to score, we’re going to have to be opportunistic,” Digby said. “When you play a team that’s as good as them, you don’t get a ton of looks at the net, so you have to take advantage of them. Also, you’ve got to stay disciplined and make sure you’re not putting yourself in the penalty box too much against them cause their power play is very good.”

Women’s lacrosse must replace key scorers, expectations still high Despite starting season 1-2, Lakers happy with their play in early stages of campaign

Casey Stone | The Oswegonian The Lakers will be without their top three point scorers from last season in Teresa Shattuck, Brigid Regin and Toni Laneve who graduated.

Riley Kennedy Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com Spring is a great time of year when the snow starts to melt, and the sun starts to shine. Lacrosse players go from sweatpants and sweatshirts to game day uniforms.

That is happening in Oswego as the Oswego State Lakers have kicked off their 2020 season.

The women’s lacrosse team started its regular season on Feb. 26, hosting Morrisville State. The Lakers defeated the Mustangs in a rainy contest 13-8. Senior captains Molly Beck and Montana Garrett led the team with three goals each; Beck also added an assist.

The Lakers next matchup, on Feb. 29, was on the road against No. 15 ranked William Smith College.

The Lakers looked to capitalize on a great opportunity but ultimately fell 18-3. Beck led the team again, scor-

ing two out of its three goals on the night. Despite the loss, head coach Britt Howard was pleased with the team’s performance.

“Obviously, the score on Saturday didn’t show it but they are doing all the things that we ask them to do,” Howard said.

On Wednesday, Oswego State hosted Clarkson University. The Golden Knights won their season opener 18-6 against SUNY Potsdam and took down the Lakers 9-5. All five goals for the Lakers came from Garrett and Beck.

This year the Oswego State team looks a little different, missing First Team All-SUNYAC players Teresa Shattuck, Brigid Regin and Danielle Walker. Shattuck graduated Oswego State last year with 333 points, making her the all-time leader in points scored in program history. Other players will need to step up this year without the team’s top three point scorers from last season.

“We have our senior captains, Montana Garrett and Molly Beck, who have done well for us so far,” Howard said. “But I’m also looking for some of our freshman and some of our other seniors to step up into the position ... just hoping people can gain their confidence and really take it onto the field with them.”

The Lakers finished the season last year on a high note finishing 11-5 overall and 6-3 in SUNYAC play.

They fell short to top-seeded SUNY Geneseo 18-5 in the SUNYAC Semifinals. The team graduated eight seniors with four of them making a SUNYAC All-Conference team.

This season, the team returns 14 players to the roster and added four new players to the team. Newcomers to the team include midfielder Sela Wiley, attacker Kiara McKercher and defenders Savannah Connor and Riley Mallett.

“We have a lot of new faces that are helping us out, one of our freshman [that] is going to make a

big difference for us is Sela Wiley,” Beck said.

Wiley has started in both contests for the Lakers and added a goal and an assist against Morrisville State.

The team enters the season as the No. 4 ranked team in the SUNYAC, behind nationally ranked No. 22 SUNY Cortland, No. 23 SUNY Geneseo and defending SUNYAC champions No. 20 The College at Brockport. Aside from facing these three tough teams, the Lakers have a difficult schedule.

“We don’t have an easy game this year, we looked to strengthen our schedule for this year and next year, so everyone is going to be a hard competition,” Howard said. “For the SUNYAC there is always those top three teams Brockport, Geneseo and Cortland who are all ranked in the top 25. They’re good to have within our conference, and hopefully we can play well against them this year.”

Key SUNYAC games to look forward to this season are against The

College at Brockport, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Cortland. The first of those three games start on April 1, when the team hits the road against The College at Brockport. Home games against SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Cortland are on April 15 and April 25 to conclude the regular season. SUNY Geneseo is led by junior attackwoman Hannah Marafioti who won offensive player of the year in the SUNYAC as a sophomore last season. The College at Brockport is headlined by second year graduate student Heather Conklin who is looking to help defend her team’s SUNYAC Championship from last season.

While the Golden Eagles will look to win another SUNYAC title, Oswego State has high expectations of its own.

“We have seen spurts of good things on the field but we need to put it together and work through the kinks that we have seen so far this season,” Howard said. “Hopefully that will push us toward the conference championship.”

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

SPORTS Wrestling ends season, 2 reach nationals Each week, The Oswegonian Sports beat writers give you their thoughts on each team's upcoming week schedule.

Grygas, Gramuglia to compete next weekend in Iowa

Men’s hockey @ Geneseo

Ben Grieco Managing Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com There is only one way to the NCAA Div. III Championship for the Oswego State men’s hockey team: winning the SUNYAC Championship against No. 2 in the nation SUNY Geneseo at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena in Geneseo.

Oswego State has not won the SUNYAC Championship since 2014. The Lakers have not beaten the Knights since February 2018 and have not beaten them on the road since 2015.

Everything that happened during the regular season – the 9-1 loss against SUNY Geneseo in November, the midseason struggles, the goaltender switch to Steven Kozikoski – has led up to this point in the season.

There is no opportunity to fall back on the PairWise rankings like there was last year. Oswego State either takes home the SUNYAC, or goes home empty-handed and has to clean out the locker room.

The Lakers are a much different team since that loss in November. It was shown in the 5-3 loss to SUNY Geneseo in February. But, now it is about the little things especially on the road in the biggest game of the year: SUNY Geneseo has to be the favorite in this game, with the dominant offense, stellar defense and strong goaltending. As the underdog, Oswego State has nothing to lose.

Head coach Ed Gosek summed it up best: “This is it.”

Casey Stone | The Oswegonian Two third-place finishes gives Oswego State a chance to compete at nationals.

Matt Watling Sports Editor mwatling@oswegonian.com After finishing in 11th place out of 18 teams at the NCAA Regionals competition, Oswego State’s wrestling team placed two of its premiere wrestlers in the NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Junior Christian Gramuglia and freshman Charlie Grygas each finished in third place at the Mideast Regionals in Ithaca, giving them each a shot at wrestling for national recognition for the first time in their college careers. While these two really stood out, head coach Mike Howard was very pleased with the full team’s effort.

“Overall as a group we wrestled really hard, the effort was there,” Howard said. “It’s a quality event, competition is very stiff, so our guys performed well.”

The Lakers’ lineup consisted of five freshmen, including Grygas, so the 11th place finish was certainly an accomplishment for such a young team.

Grygas’ path to nationals had only one road block: Rochester Institute of Technology’s Dempsey King, the fifthranked wrestler in the nation, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. On the second day of the regionals meet, King defeated Grygas 6-0 in the semifinals for the 165lbs. weight class. On day one, Grygas won both his matches, an 8-3 victory against Matthew Kline of The College at Brockport, as well as a closer 8-7 win against John Garda from The College of New Jersey. For Grygas, reaching nationals as a freshman is incredibly unusual, and for someone who wrestled all throughout high school it is, “pretty exciting.”

His teammate, Gramuglia, faced a similar path to Cedar Rapids and the national championship. Gramuglia, who wrestles in the 157-lbs. weight class, swept the first day of the tournament by a pinfall and a 10-5 decision in the quarterfinals, defeating Ben Bivar of SUNY Cortland in the latter. The junior would go on to lose in the semifinals but won the consolation semifinals and finals, where he defeated Bivar once more, this time by a 7-5 score.

After failing to place top-three last season in the regionals competition,

Gramuglia finally reached nationals.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Gramuglia said “I’ve worked my whole life to become a college wrestler. I’ve always wanted to go to the national tournament.”

For Gramuglia, this nationals berth may be extra special. Last season, he battled through ailments early in the season and missed a lot of workouts, according to Howard. Gramuglia was able to battle back from the earlyseason mishaps to reach regionals.

While he would reach the second day of competition, Gramuglia would go on to fall in the second match of the day, earning a fifth-place finish. Despite the ailments, Gramuglia was fully healthy to start this season and that has been on full display.

“Last year he had a slow start to the year,” Howard said. “He had skin infections that held him out for a considerable amount of time, so he missed a lot of training. This year that hasn’t been the case, so I think he’s in a good spot. He’s beat some quality kids, so again he is very capable of competing against the best in the country.”

Health and rest are critical in wrestling. It is a contact sport, which may result in lingering injuries or pain for good chunks of the season. Heading into regionals, Oswego State had participated in only two meets since Feb. 5. The Baldwin Wallace Invitational was canceled on Feb. 8. This added rest was extremely helpful for the Lakers, who were then able to practice a bit more.

“We were pretty worn down, so in hindsight, it was probably a blessing,” Howard said. “I think it’s helped [Grygas and Gramuglia] as far as rest and being healthy because [the Baldin Wallace Invitational] is another quality event with some tough competition.

To be able to take that weekend off, you focus a little on staying healty and getting a normal practice in, that was good for us.”

With the NCAA Div. III National Championships coming up on March 13 and 14, both Grygas and Gramuglia are solely focused on their next matches. Despite that, Gramuglia has high hopes for his final competition as a junior.

“Looking at it now, all I want to do is place and become the next All-American on the wall,” Gramuglia said.

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

B2

Each week, The Oswegonian Sports beat writers give you their thoughts on each team's upcoming week schedule.

Women’s hockey @ Plattsburgh

Neil Boedicker Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com The season is winding down for Oswego State as it travels to Plattsburgh on Saturday to take on Plattsburgh State for the NEWHL Championship. The Cardinals have remained the topranked team in the NEWHL the entire regular season with an overall record of 25-1 and a very impressive 18-0 league record.

When speaking to associate head coach Mark Digby, he explained that a major key to winning this weekend’s championship game will be the team’s ability to stay mentally focused and strong. A team can be mentally beat before the puck even drops and it is critical for the Lakers to avoid that.

Oswego State dropped its first game against the Cardinals 7-1.

The very next night, Plattsburgh State won 3-0, scoring all its goals in the first 10 minutes The Lakers will need to take the confidence and momentum that they have built the past month and put it into the best 60 minutes of hockey they will play all season. If they can accomplish this, while only worrying about what they do as a team, it will give them their best chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the program’s history.

Lakers fall in SUNYAC Semifinals, bring back strong core next year Men’s basketball team had strong nonconference season, battled hard in conference

Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian Brandan Gartland (11) is one player that will not be returning for the Lakers, as he will graduate following a stellar four-year career.

Matt Czeitner Copy Editor mczeitner@oswegonian.com The season is over for the Oswego State men’s basketball team. However, there is a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in the future for the Lakers.

Oswego State finished its season with a 19-8 (12-6 SUNYAC) record, making it all the way to the SUNYAC Semifinals, where it fell to The College at Brockport 82-67.

Though the Lakers’ season did not end how they hoped, there were several positives throughout the year from individual players, and the team as a whole to take away from it.

The Lakers began the season 4-0 vs. nonconference opponents and finished their nonconference season going 6-1, something Oswego State head coach Jason Leone was very proud of.

“I thought we did really good going through our nonconference season, with all seven of our games away from [Max] Ziel Gymnasium,” Leone said. “I think the fact that we got through our non-league schedule at 6-1 was an incredible accomplishment.”

Some notable nonconference wins for Oswego State were against Ithaca College, Montclair State University, Moravian College and Nazareth College.

“We beat Ithaca this year, who made the NCAA tournament and won

the Liberty League at 23-5,” Leone said. “We won games against Montclair State and at Moravian College who are two really great programs. In addition, going to Nazareth, who won 21 games this year, and winning a true road game.”

The Lakers also played very well against SUNYAC opponents throughout the season, finishing with a 12-6 SUNYAC record. They defeated several good teams, including SUNY Oneonta. The Lakers took down the Red Dragons on the road 81-76 in a very exciting game. The game also came with some milestones, as Brandan Gartland scored his 1,000th point in the game, and Leone secured his 250th win at Oswego State. The Lakers defeated SUNY Cortland twice

this year, including ending its season in the SUNYAC Quarterfinals.

“In the SUNYAC, going to Oneonta, and winning a road game without two starters was really an impressive win for us,” Leone said. “Beating our rival Cortland two out of three times this year was also great.”

Games vs. The College at Brockport, the SUNYAC Champions, also brought a ton of excitement and competitiveness each time the two met.

The Golden Eagles defeated the Lakers in their first meeting 68-67, but the game came down to the final buzzer as the Golden Eagles snuck out of their home gym with a victory after a blocked shot at the buzzer by Justin Summers. The second meeting was also very similar, as the game went to overtime due to some late game heroics from Colby Moultrie, who hit a 3-pointer late for the Lakers to send the game to overtime. The Golden Eagles, however, left Max Ziel Gymnasium with an 85-80 victory.

There were several individuals who played well for the Lakers this season, and some, like Joe Sullivan and Jeremiah Sparks, were recognized for their play. Sullivan made First Team All-SUNYAC and Sparks made Third Team All-SUNYAC. Sullivan finished the season averaging a team-leading 14.6 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. Sullivan’s play all season was great, and Leone recognized that and credited him for the time he has put into becoming a better player.

“Joe deserves a lot of credit for all the time he put in during the offseason in terms of getting in shape and working on the things we asked him to work on,” Leone said. “He was rewarded by being recognized by the other coaches in the league.”

Sparks finished the season averaging 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Sparks also scored 30 or more points in two contests this season and exceeded 20 points in several games. Sparks did this all as a freshman, something that Leone was very impressed with.

“Jeremiah was named third team All-League which is really tough to do as a freshman in such a competitive conference,” Leone said.

Leone also credited several of his veteran players for their performances this season in terms of both on court skill and leadership.

“I think that we had some really good contributions from our older guys,” Leone said. “I thought Brandan Gartland provided a tremendous amount of leadership as did Tim Marshall. I thought Liam Sanborn played well at the end of the season. He battled through constant injuries over the last two years.”

Looking ahead to next season, the Lakers as of now have 12 players returning. That number will soon change due to recruiting and possible transfers, but the future is bright for the Lakers. The offseason begins as soon as this spring and will end the day the Lakers touch the court for their first game of the 2020-2021 season. Leone is excited, but knows success comes with offseason work, something the Lakers are ready to begin.

“Looking forward to next season, we are going to have to have these young guys really take a step forward with their strength and conditioning,” Leone said. “That is always a focus of ours in the spring and summertime and we’re obviously going to have to add some pieces in recruiting.”

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B B33 SPORTS ‘This is it’: Oswego State takes on Knights at Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Both of their road championships have been at Geneseo; can Lakers repeat with NCAA berth on line?

Ben Grieco Managing Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s hockey team’s last SUNYAC Championship came in 2014, after a back-and-forth game against SUNY Geneseo at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena with a 7-6 win for the Lakers.

By the end of the second period, it was 5-3 Oswego State. At 14:22 of the final regulation period, both teams found themselves in a 6-6 tie after the Knights had “a heck of a comeback,” head coach Ed Gosek said.

After the original shot from Alex Botten hit SUNY Geneseo’s goaltender, Bryan Haude, a hunched-over Shawn Hulshof got the rebound and hit the puck like a baseball with the stick below the crossbar, hitting the back of the net at 19:31. Gosek said referee Dan Murphy “surprisingly” made the signal for the goal.

“It was crazy,” Gosek said. “It was definitely an exciting game for the fans.”

Oswego State has 10 SUNYAC Championships in its history, dating back to its first crown back in 1980.

That season, along with the 1981, 1982 and 1984 championships were all based on who had the best conference record within the SUNYAC. All of the teams were still part of the ECAC West at this point. Starting in 1985 is when the playoffs started to be played at a rink, hosted by the No. 1 team in the SUNYAC. Under the new format, the Lakers’ first SUNYAC championship win came

Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian Oswego State will look to keep its season alive on Saturday in the SUNYAC Championship, as it is the Lakers’ only avenue to the national tournament.

in 1989 as the host team. Oswego State defeated SUNY Geneseo 5-4 to take the crown. The next tournament victory in 1991 came, once again, against the Knights with a 6-2 win in Geneseo.

More championships would come to Oswego State in 2003, 2010 and 2013, all of which were hosted by the Lakers.

But in 2014, Oswego State won that high-scoring affair on the road to claim its most recent SUNYAC Championship. Since that same year, the Knights have not missed the SUNYAC tournament and have hosted the last two seasons, making the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena, SUNY Geneseo’s home ice, a crowded arena.

“Since they’ve gotten better, their atmosphere has improved. They have

their students involved, they’ve got their community involved. The attendance is way up,” Gosek said. “It’s a tough place to play, but it’s also a fun place to play.”

In 2014, Oswego State had also lost to SUNY Geneseo both times during the regular season. There was a 7-4 loss during the first half of the season on the road, followed by a 3-2 loss at home.

Gosek said, following the Lakers’ 4-1 SUNYAC Semifinal victory over Plattsburgh State on Tuesday, sweeping the three-game series over the Cardinals, that it is hard to beat a team three times in one season.

That was apparent in 2014, with Oswego State’s win in the high-scoring

championship game.

SUNY Geneseo nearly swept all three games last season, but a 4-4 tie on Feb. 9, 2018, ended such hopes after the Knights’ win in early December, as well as the 2019 SUNYAC Championship game.

While there have been more setbacks for the Lakers this season compared to other seasons, history sometimes has a funny way of repeating itself.

The Lakers suffered the 9-1 loss to the Knights in November and then a 5-3 loss on Feb. 9 at the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena. The third game is coming up this Saturday in the SUNYAC Championships at “the Ira.” “I would like to think that we are

a better team and more disciplined and playing better hockey than the last time we were there, as well as the last game here when we were against them,” Gosek said. “The nice thing about the playoffs is it’s one game. It doesn’t matter what your record is this Saturday.”

With the implementation of the PairWise system last season, there is no doubt that if Oswego State does not repeat history in Geneseo in the championship game and win it on the road, the Lakers will not make the NCAA Div. III tournament. The Lakers are too far down on the PairWise ranking, sitting at No. 17, for an at-large bid. The SUNYAC’s automatic bid is a must.

“The only way we’re getting in is with a league championship. I personally like that. It takes all the guessing out, where you’re telling the guys that we’ve got to wait [until Selection Monday] to see [if we go to nationals],” Gosek said. “We don’t even talk about it. It just adds to the stress and to the things we can’t control.”

But as Gosek said after the game against Plattsburgh State, “on paper, [the Lakers] shouldn’t win.” Essentially, Oswego State has nothing to lose on Saturday as the underdog against SUNY Geneseo, who is ranked No. 2 in the nation.

“They’re in a situation that they’re getting in either way. [The players] understand they’re not getting in if we don’t win it,” Gosek said. “For us, this is it. … You can’t take back our shortcomings in the beginning of the year. We’ll have a good game on Saturday.”

Club hockey team loses on questionable call SUNYAC champion combines Lakers’ future seems bright with promintent returners passions at Oswego State

Alexis Fragapane | The Oswegonian The club hockey team will lose four seniors this semester once they graduate in May.

Luke Owens Asst. Sports Editor lowens@oswegonian.com Early on in the third period of the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League Championship game, No. 1 seeded Niagara University notched a goal to extend its lead to 3-0 over Oswego State. But even with a three-goal deficit, the Lakers refused to end their season at that moment.

“I think it contributed to the mindset that the game was never out of reach,” head coach Chris Timmons said. “It definitely helped keep faith in our team knowing we did it once that weekend already and that it was possible. As long as we kept the pressure on and kept getting those opportunities, you could feel the floodgates were going to open up eventually and that is what happened in the third.”

Those floodgates did open in the third, as Oswego State came roaring back to tie the game at 3-3 on three unanswered goals. However, a late tripping penalty against the Lakers would result in a power-play goal for the Purple Eagles, sealing an NECHL title with just 16 seconds left in the game.

“Being able to take the day to sit on that loss, our team was robbed,” Timmons said. “If you watch the play, the penalty was called on a breakout attempt from Niagara in which our player tripped them, but the puck still exited the zone and they had possession. The call that was made was one that happens during the first, second or third period early. Not when it’s a 3-3 game in the conference championship with a trip to nationals on the line. If we would have lost in a five-on-five situation at the end of the third or in overtime, it would have been easier to swallow, but

we were completely robbed.”

Coming from behind was a common theme for the weekend tournament, as the Lakers came back from a 4-2 deficit in the third against Rutgers University in the quarterfinals. Andrew Cardi tied the game with 1:12 remaining, sending the Lakers’ bench into euphoria.

In double-overtime, Mike Lemieux scored the game-winning goal, advancing his team to the semifinals.

“The message was pretty simple, we needed to play our game,” Timmons said. “The first two periods, we found ourselves running around a bit and getting caught up in the emotions of a playoff game.

Once we were able to get back our systems, we were able to fight our way back and, in my opinion, dominate the next 60 minutes of play. It was just a matter of time before we found the back of the net at that point.”

The win put Oswego State in the NECHL semifinals, pitting the No. 3 seeded Lakers against No.

2 seeded Rochester Institute of Technology. Oswego State came away with a commanding 3-1 win, with goalie Alex Gallose stopping 24 of 25 shots.

“Alex had an excellent weekend,” Timmons said. “It has been night and day with him in regards to his ability within the pipes. He has grown so much as a player and individual which showed this weekend. He was able to reset after each goal and just come back stronger with some of the saves he was making for us to stay in those tight games. He played a huge role in our success this season and got us as far as he did with his play.”

Although the Lakers season did not end with an NECHL championship and a trip to nationals, it was successful. This was the first time in program history they had reached the title game.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our performance this weekend,” Timmons said. “That weekend was one that really put a spotlight on the identity of our team and what it means to be a Laker. I couldn’t have asked any more from our team in that game.”

As for next year, Oswego State returns a bulk of their team, losing just four seniors. Leading scorer Luke Myers graduates, but secondleading scorer and NECHL Rookie of the Year Braydon Deming, as well as Gallose, will both return. It seems like only a matter of time before Timmons leads the team to the ACHA Div. I National Tournament.

“After seeing the performance and effort this past weekend, there is a bright future for this team going forward with those returners coming back,” Timmons said. “Even though it was a painful experience for our guys this weekend, it is also a learning experience for them.

With being in that situation and knowing how close they were, they know exactly what it is going to take in order to take the next step forward and make it to nationals.”

Alexis Fragapane | The Oswegonian C.J. Walsh (6) recorded seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 29 games played.

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

JUNIOR from B1 Snowden has great enthusiasm for not just swimming, but for most things in his life. He wants to be the guy who the team can turn to for a smile and energy when they need a jolt of it. The swim team has a lot of early practices before classes, having the swimmers wake up well before the sun rises. Add the bitter mornings in Oswego and it is a recipe for lethargic practices. Snowden does not use any of this as an excuse, he is bringing his energy to practice no matter what time it is.

“Those morning practices,” Snowden said. “Those early morning waking up at 5:30. You know just having a smile on your face with some pre-workout or something that will get you through it.

Just knowing you have class the rest of the day. Just know that in the mornings you can expect me to get your energy from.”

Holman sees a progression in Snowden from the day he stepped into the program. Snowden learned from previous teammates, and it is now his turn to be the leader of this team. His times not only lead the team but his work ethic and enthusiasm also help him be a leader.

“I don’t think he came in here with the work ethic he has now,” Holman said. “But there were kids that had that, and I think he learned from that and stepped into that role. You know last year and even more so this year.”

Snowden is spectacular in the pool. But just like many of the other Div. III athletes here at Oswego State, he came to the school for academics as well. The big draw for him was the ability to pursue a degree in meteorology. He is no stranger to the student media organizations at Oswego State. He worked as a reporter in the past and currently as a meteorologist for the student run television sta-

tion, WTOP-10. Finding the right fit for Snowden made his decision to move over 1,250 miles from home an easier one. He even turned down Div. I and Div. II scholarship offers from other schools.

“I knew that out of high school I didn’t want to be done with swimming,” Snowden said. “I knew I wanted it to be a part of my future and I knew I wanted to be a meteorology major. So, I really was just trying to find the key place for both.”

The perfect storm was available for Snowden here at Oswego State. He has bright expectations for both meteorology and swimming moving forward into his senior year this fall.

“I’m focusing on the broadcasting side,” Snowden said. “I’ve been [at WTOP-10] for three semesters now. I used to be a reporter for them as well. I have some internship opportunities that I’m waiting to hear back from with WABC and WNBC, so I’m hopeful for that.

But I think that is the route I want to take, so I can see myself in the future being a broadcaster.”

He ironically used to be called “mental” by Holman due to his overthinking and letting his mind get in the way of his swimming ability as an underclassman.

Snowden credits a book from his mom that allowed him to overcome this setback and has allowed him to control not only the physical aspect of the pool but also the mental aspect. His greatest motivation coming from a Muhammad Ali quote.

“Actually [I came across] a great quote by Muhammad Ali,” Snowden said. “You have to have the mindset that you are the best, so he used to say ‘there are only two greats in the world, that is Great Britain and me.’ That’s what he used to say. So, I kind of had that mindset. If you have that mindset that you can win, you are going to let your body do what it has to do.”

Shore Report

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Playoff Brackets

B4

Oswego Scoreboard

Men’s Hockey

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Hockey Tuesday, March 3

Friday, Feb. 28 No. 1 Geneseo No. 1 Geneseo

No. 3 Buffalo State

82

67

No. 6 Potsdam No. 6 Potsdam

No. 4 Brockport

OSW:

Achille: 19 Pts, 4 Reb Sullivan: 16 Pts, 7 Reb

MOR:

Kennedy: 12 shots, 2 blocks Friesen: 33 saves

BPT:

Collins: 18 Pts, 6 assists Ashley: 18 Pts, 4 Reb Summers: 12 Pts, 4 Reb

OSW:

Stewart: 1 goal, 9 shots Teachout: 1 assist, 17 shots Farmer: 22 saves

Men’s Hockey

No. 5 Platsburgh No. 5 Plattsburgh

1

0

Tuesday, March 3

No. 2 Oswego State

Women’s Lacrosse Wednesday, March 4

No. 2 Oswego State

Women’s Hockey No. 1 Plattsburgh

4

1

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

9

5

PLA:

Pizzo: 1 goal, 1 shot Poreda: 22 saves

CLA:

Smith: 2 goals, 1 assist Roderick: 1 goal, 4 assists Fischer: 8 saves

OSW:

Broughman: 2 goals, 1 block Zizek: 1 goal, 2 assists Kozikoski: 21 saves

OSW:

Garrett: 3 goals, 5 SOG Sanchez: 7 saves

Upcoming Events

No. 1 Plattsburgh

Baseball

No. 4 Cortland

Saturday, March 7

No. 2 Oswego State

Saturday, March 7

Vs.

@

11:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m

OSW: 4-2 (0-0) SAL: 1-0 (0-0)

Women’s Hockey

No. 2 Oswego State

Men’s Lacrosse

Saturday, March 7

OSW: 2-0 (0-0) MOR: 0-1 (0-0)

Men’s Hockey Saturday, March 7

No. 3 Morrisville @

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

Men's Basketball

3:00 p.m.

OSW: 16-6-4 (10-4-4) PLA: 25-1-0 (18-0-0)

No. 3 Oneonta

7:00 p.m.

OSW: 16-9-1 (12-3-1) GEN: 21-3-2 (13-1-2)

Laker Athletes of the Week

No. 2 Potsdam

No. 3 Oneonta

@

No. 2 Potsdam No. 6 Geneseo No. 1 Brockport No. 4 Oswego State No. 4 Oswego State No. 5 Cortland

No. 1 Brockport No. 1 Brockport Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian

Around the SUNYAC Men’s Basketball 75

102

POT: 20-7 (14-4) BPT: 24-3 (17-1)

Men’s Hockey 0

7

POT: 7-17-2 (5-9-2) GEN: 21-3-2 (13-1-2)

4:

After a 6-1 loss last Sunday, March 1, the Oswego State baseball team has now lost four straight games against Salisbury University.

The Sea Gulls are No. 9 in the nation for Div. III. As for the Lakers, they are 4-2 on the season and received three votes in the most recent national poll.

Wrestling

Women’s Lacrosse 14

7

UTI: 2-0 (0-0) NPZ: 1-1 (0-0)

24:

Charlie Grygas Christian Gramuglia

Men’s lacrosse goalie Kevin O’Donnell made 24 saves in the Lakers opening day win over Hartwick College last Sunday, March 1. Oswego State would win the game 10-9 despite being outshot 33-23 on goal. The Lakers defeated Alfred University on Wednesday and are off to a 2-0 start.

Sarah Yensan

Women’s Track and Field Senior | Lockport

Grygas, a freshman from D e l a n s o n , p l a c e d t h i rd i n t h e 165-lbs. weight class during last w e e k e n d ’s N C A A M i d e a s t R e gionals. Gramuglia, a junior from Schenectady, also placed third in the 157-lbs. weight class. Following their efforts, both wrestlers earned a trip to the NCAA Div. III Wrestling Championships in Iowa that take place on March 13 and 14.

The senior once again w as awarded Athlete of the Week after winning the SUNYAC championship for long jump with a leap of 5.66 meters. This was the first time the Lakers earned a SUNYAC title in women’s track and field since the 2011-12 season. Yensan is ranked fifth in the nation for long jump. Next up for Yensan and the Lakers is the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship this weekend.

In 50 all-time NEWHL games, the Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team has never lost a game.

Their one blemish was a tie against Oswego State in 2017-18. Since then, the Cardinals have won 40 straight league games. The Lakers and Cardinals will meet in the NEWHL championship this Saturday.

The last time the Oswego State men’s hockey team defeated SUNY Geneseo on the road was in 2015. This weekend, the Lakers head to the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena looking to win their first SUNYAC championship since 2014. The Knights are coming off of a 7-0 semifinals win over SUNY Potsdam.

50:

2015:

OPINION

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

B5

Administration Coronavirus exposes issues in government Radicalism needs winter Other problems such as job stability, health care apparent should not preparation be feared Francesca Miesner Opinion Editor fmiesner@oswegonian.com

Photo from Pixabay

Francesca Miesner Opinion Editor fmiesner@oswegonian.com This past semester, there have been a large amount of snow storms. This is nothing special for Oswego, but the problem lies in the college’s response to the very real hazard that are these snow storms. Oswego State has had to cancel classes a few times this semester and each time they did, the timing was off.

This past Thursday, classes were canceled after multiple people had already gone to class. Not only did people who live on campus have to traverse in whiteout conditions, but they also waited long enough that people who commute to school, who make up 43% of Oswego State students, according to the college website, may have already made their way to campus. With about 7,000 people going to the school, 43% percent is 3,100 people. Not all 3,100 of them had to drive to campus, but between those who did and the professors, canceling classes after people had already began to commute could have caused some serious accidents.

Some professors have strict attendance policies, which makes skipping class due to inclimate weather conditions something that many students fear.

... if they cancel classes now, when they do not need to, they will be more reluctant to cancel classes in the future ...

Afternoon classes were canceled later that day. However, what made many students surprised was that the campus decided to cancel classes for Friday as well. The forecast implied that the snow would clear up, but Oswego State decided to take precautions and cancel classes just in case. This, in theory, seems like a good thing.

The issue is that if they cancel classes now, when they do not need to, they will be more reluctant to cancel classes in the future, when we actually need it. Of course, the long weekend was helpful to catch up on assignments, but a single day off would have sufficed.

Canceling class is a fine line.

On the one hand, lives could be put at risk if they force students to drive or walk to class in horrible weather. On the other hand, if too many classes are canceled, then students are paying to miss class because of the snow.

Senselessly canceling classes while the weather might not be that bad is equally problematic.

The solution to this problem is a simple one. Classes should be canceled in the early morning the day of, before any classes start. No student who looks out their window and sees a blizzard decides not to check their phones, hoping a class is canceled. Cutting it close to class time is unacceptable when taking into account commuters.

There is a healthy time to cancel classes and which days to cancel them. Oswego State needs to find that balance while keeping the safety and education of their students in mind.

Oswego State President Deborah Stanley sent out an email to students on Monday. As the rumor mill spins and thoughts of the virus spreading to Oswego State grow, she addressed the concerns that many students share: how to avoid COVID-19, more commonly known as the coronavirus.

There have been nine reported and confirmed cases in New York state thus far, so students should take every necessary precaution. With Mary Walker Health Center providing resources and advice on how to stay healthy, Oswego State students have support available to them. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

In other parts of the world, people are substantially less prepared to combat potential illness than Oswego State is.

The United States government has not yet declared coronavirus a national emergency, which is probably because there have only been 11 confirmed deaths in the country thus far, which is relatively low compared to other illnesses. Health officials do not need to declare a national emergency. However, it is clear that there are precautions that our government could take to keep its people safer, but are electing not to. Wide-spread illnesses always attack the poor first.

This is not because they think that the poor should die, but it is instead that governments and people in power do not do all they can to help those who cannot afford it.

Health care prices in the United States are astronomical. Testing for

illnesses, not even treating them, can cost over $1,000 without proper insurance, according to the Miami Herald. People who struggle to pay the bills may be reluctant to get tested for coronavirus, especially if they know how expensive it will be. In New York, we are lucky. Gov. Cuomo told insurance companies that all fees for coronavirus testing must be waived. This is great for people who live in the state, but those who do not are out of luck.

On an institutional level, there is an even greater issue. Those who have lower incomes usually have less secure jobs, whether it be food service, retail or a desk job. These employees are expendable. Because of this, many employers will refuse to give days off of work, regardless of reasoning. Employees are scared of losing their jobs, which in turn may make them more reluctant to skip the doctor’s appointment or

come into work while sick. Their employers may allow them to miss a day of work, but the money that they earned that day may have been the money that they needed for groceries, rent or other necessities. The government needs to step in and make sure that they are not only given the time off they need, but also that the poor are not suffering financially.

Epidemics and pandemics target the poor. Being sick is expensive, but the testing and treatment is even more so. The wealthy that are currently running our country need to focus on those who cannot afford to be sick and support them on an institutional level. If the government allows someone to die because they could not afford health care, then they are implying that it should cost money to live. Money makes the world spin, but it should not decide who should live or die.

Photo from Flickr Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a plan on how to make testing for coronavirus more affordable.

Photo from Flickr

Nathan Beers Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com This election cycle, in debates and in the media, has been filled with accusations and claims that some candidates, primarily Senator Bernie Sanders, are “radical” or “revolutionary.” During the last Democratic debate, the now-dropped-out Pete Buttigieg spoke about his fears that the election would come down to “Donald Trump with his nostalgia for the social order of the 1950s and Bernie Sanders with the revolutionary politics of the 1960s.” This received both applause and boos, but his campaign quickly began to distance itself from the comment. Why? Because that same “revolutionary politics of the 1960s” brought us the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other protections for black and minority voters.

Sanders’ plan to expand medical care to all Americans is not in anyway comparable to Joseph Stalin ...

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

State’s plastic bag ban with long-term effects Other states, countries lead charge to preserve planet’s future Tomas Rodriguez Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com As the new month began, so did a new law that bans the use of plastic bags in the state of New York. This law includes, but is not limited to, single-use plastic bags that shoppers can find in grocery stores, drugstores and boutiques.

While this new law came into effect only in New York, this is a measure that has been in place for some in other parts of the world, such as Europe and a few other states.

When the new law was established several years ago in Spain, it caught everyone by surprise. The effects were not immediate, and the politicians who pushed the law forward at the time were well aware of the positive impact that it would have for today’s society, our planet’s preservation and future overall.

Many shoppers in Europe carry their own personal bags, which they can then use for their groceries. This change is extremely beneficial.

Per several news outlets, states such as Hawaii and California have established similar regulations as well. With the 2020 elections right around the corner, this would be a great cause for politicians to advocate for.

While the world of politics is ruled by the most experienced in the field, it may be time for them to listen to the youth or less experienced, who have a voice as well and advocate for the wellbeing of Earth. People should come to the realization that this is not a question of politics, but rather a question of safety.

Plastic bags are not biodegradable, meaning they do not degrade over time in an organic way. In many cases, they end up in bodies of water, which then negatively effects the ecosystem.

Reiterating this on any form of media does not serve as a wake-up call for consumers.

While having to carry reusable bags all the time may seem somewhat uncomfortable or annoying, society must keep in mind the long-term consequences that their actions have on the environment.

More states should join states like New York, Hawaii and California, as well as other nations, and put their heads together as they work toward saving our planet.

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian Plastic bags have been banned in New York state, leading to positive environmental change.

“Radical” is not a dirty word.

Radicals with a revolutionary fervor fought for the abolition of slavery. Radicals fought for civil rights and for democracy for as long as this country has been around.

When coal-mine owners left their workers in miserable conditions with detestable wages in Harlan County, it was not the “Both Sides Are Right Agreement” in Harlan County, it was the Harlan County War and it was revolutionary for unions and working people around the country. Every major change that we take for granted in this country, that we teach kids to revere as landmarks to human progress, is the result of radical people and movements. From Frederick Douglass and John Brown, to Theodore Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman, radicalism can be a force for overwhelming good.

That is not to say that every radical movement is good; the atrocities committed by the likes of Pol Pot in Cambodia and Mao Zedong in China are in every way reprehensible, but at the same time, Sanders’ plan to expand medical care to all Americans is not in anyway comparable to Joseph Stalin’s starving of the Ukrainians in Holodomor, nor is an attempt to get away from fossil fuels in any way comparable to the horrifying events that led to the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany before World War II, as MSNBC host Chris Matthews so eloquently noted of Sanders’ sweeping victory in Nevada.

As John F. Kennedy once prophetically declared, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” It is time for us, as Americans, to think critically about the issues at hand and the possible solutions to them that each candidate brings to the table. Most importantly, we need to forget the name-calling and divisiveness in the Democratic Party if we are ever going to defeat Donald Trump. Remember to #VoteBlueNoMatterWho. Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.

NEWS HEALTH CONCERNS

A5 Colin Hawkins | The Oswegonian

OPINION

VOLUME LXXXV ISSUE V

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

SPORTS B2

COMING UP SHORT

Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Imagine a world where men and women are paid equally ...

Can you even think of one, or do you believe we are living in one now?

In truth, this world does not exist, even in our own state.

Women in New York still earn only 88% of men’s salaries, and that’s for white women. In New York City, a Latina woman earns 49 cents to every dollar earned by a male counterpart.

The Equal Rights Amendment, approaching its 100th anniversary since it was introduced on

the Congressional floor, would serve as a non-repealable reminder of equal pay legislation.

It’s ratification would raise nondiscrimination based upon sex to a constitutional right. NY 24’s Republican Congressman John Katko voted against extending the deadline for ratification for the ERA, claiming that he has long supported initiatives like equal pay for equal work.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t. In 2014 and 2015, Katko voted to oppose the Paycheck Fairness Act, which contents have re-

duced the wage gap. Congressman Katko does not understand working for women in New York State, and clearly is not willing to either listen or support them.

If Katko won’t support basic gender discrimination legislation, then we need to replace him with someone who will.

Signed,

Helena Buttons

IN THE OFFICE Victims of crimes deserve closure Punishment, in this case, does not fit severity of crime

Rachel McKenna Chief Copy Editor rmckenna@oswegonian.com On Feb. 24, Harvey Weinstein became a convicted sex offender in New York State. After all of the long trials, the photos of him slowly walking into court with his cane, the “I’m innocent” pleas and the stressful stories that the victims had to play over and over in their heads, Weinstein has been convicted. He was found guilty of a criminal sex act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, but was acquitted on the other charges, which were larger and more serious.

Throughout the trial, Wein-

stein kept pleading on how he was innocent and how all of the sexual acts he performed with women were consensual, because they wanted to “further their career.” There were more than 80 women who accused Weinstein of sexual assault and the man still sat in court saying that he was not guilty.

So, now what? Weinstein was charged and America still waits on his sentencing. He could serve up to 29 years in prison all together, but this does not include the trial that awaits him in Los Angeles. I have read many articles that say this is a win for feminists everywhere, and for the #MeToo movement, but I do not buy it.

Weinstein was acquitted of the harshest charges of sexual assault and rape that were brought upon him. Yes, it is still a win that he was charged in general because looking at our criminal justice system’s history, it has a track record of letting rich, powerful white men get away with crimes. However, with the piles of accusations and evidence against him, should he not be serving the rest of his life in prison?

Charges of sexual assault and rape are not something that the criminal justice system takes seriously. They do not take into account what these victims have to put themselves through during the trials, putting their name and face out in the world and in the media. Especially when it comes to someone as famous as Harvey Weinstein.

This should feel like a win, but it still feels like he got away with something. He got away with ruining lives. He got away with making women feel uncomfortable and unsafe in their own skin for years. With the amount of charges he has on him, he should spend the rest of his short life in prison. It still feels like he won.

There are still charges he must face in Los Angeles, and hopefully those punishments will be more severe. But for now, it feels like these women were denied justice. Just because Weinstein is rich, white and famous does not mean he should not have to face the full extent of what he has done. These women deserve better.

THE OSWEGONIAN

The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935

G UIDELIN ES

We want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or anything regarding the Oswego State community.

Email all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail submissions to 139A Campus Center, Oswego N.Y. 13126 All writers must provide their real name, address, academic year, major and phone number (which will not be published).

Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian Harvey Weinstein has finally been convicted of a criminal sex act and rape in the third degree, but his more heinous crimes remain unpunished.

Kiki and Luna

Members of organizations should include their title if their letter addresses an issue pertaining to the organization.

For publication, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted by the Tuesday prior to the desired publication date.

The Oswegonian reserves the right to edit and reject letters and cannot guarantee that all letters will be published.

Opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not always reflect those of The Oswegonian.

See web exclusive Opinion articles at www.oswegonian.com/opinion

Photo provided by @spockykins via Twitter

INSIDE

C2 New ‘Candyman’ remake C3 ‘Impractial Jokers’ try C5 Why ‘Uncharted’ movie

drops first trailer

their hand at film

may be doomed to fail

FRIDAY March 6, 2020

C2

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

‘Candyman’ reboot drops first trailer, Jordan Peele to produce

Lucas Fernandez Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

The original “Candyman,” directed by Bernard Rose, was a subversive and fascinating horror film with a lot of original ideas. It was also one of the few horror movies of its day that featured sympathetic portrayals of both a female protagonist and the African American community, resulting in a new perspective while still maintaining an air of mystery and fear. It was visually engaging, narratively bizarre and overall a noteworthy experience any horror buff would be happy to add to their repertoire. Recently, a trailer for a new “Candyman” dropped, and the internet is abuzz

with excitement. Mainly, this is thanks to the attached producer, Jordan Peele (“Hunters”), who brought audiences “Get Out” and “Us.” With these two films under his belt, Peele has been marked as a new flagship figure in horror, giving a voice to African American audiences that was so sorely lacking.

Considering “Candyman’s” history, combined with the success of Peele’s films, it makes sense to have him involved in the project as a guiding hand for the creative process. It seems that his success has paved the way for a new wave of black horror cinema, something which many would agree is long overdue.

For example, the trailer for the horror film “Antebellum,” a film being produced by Sean

McKittrick (“Get Out”), promises another foray into the terrifying with a focus on the black American experience.

It is interesting to note that the original “Candyman,” “Get Out,” “Candyman” (2020) and “Antebellum” all

draw on themes of historical horrors that have truly preyed upon African Americans over the centuries, including racial prejudices, slavery and economic inequality. This mirrors the tendency of other horror

Image from IGN via YouTube Jordan Peele set to continue developing horror films after success with “Get Out.”

landmarks such as “Halloween,” “Poltergeist” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to dwell on social anxieties affecting middle-class Americans.

The new films tap into a similar wellspring of the audience’s anxieties which has been left untouched by a primarily white audience, creating a new avenue with decades of filmmaking potential. Even if this new “Candyman” doesn’t turn out to be the best, let us not forget that it still is a modern horror film, prone to all the relevant pitfalls which have become so commonplace. It marks a transition point in modern horror media that will likely continue to resound with today’s audiences and generate challenging

Just because ‘Indiana Jones 5’ can happen does not mean it should

Brandon Fallat Laker Review Editor bfallat@oswegonian.com

In Hollywood, nothing ever truly ends. If a beloved film franchise makes a big deal of taking a final bow and closing out an iconic story, one can reasonably assume that within five to 10 years, it will be back with a recycled story and fresh faces to rake in some dough for the studio. Even if each new film does worse and worse, both financially and with fans of the original property, the studio heads will continue to funnel more trash down our throats each year because they know that we are hooked and will see the movie even if it’s awful.

“Terminator,” “Predator,” “Ghostbusters,” “Jaws” and “Alien” are all franchises spawned between the 1970s and 1980s that overstayed their welcome immensely.

Some even had failing reboots released within the past few years. Now, film fans can add “Indiana Jones” to the ever-growing list of never-ending film franchises that diminish the originality and artistic spark of the predecessors with each subsequent cash grab.

While the original “Indiana Jones” trilogy remains both critically acclaimed and beloved by fans to this day, the fourth film in the series, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” is widely considered to be one of the weakest blockbuster films of all time, permanently staining the classic franchise. No one will ever forget the infamous “Nuking the fridge” scene or the God-awful “Shia Labeouf swinging with monkeys” sequence.

However, despite all the criticism of the most recent Indy film, Harrison Ford (“The Call of the Wild”) is still excited about doing another one. It seems that Ford would tarnish his legacy as the iconic adventurer further, rather than ever appear as smuggler Han Solo in another “Star Wars” film. Ford has always had an affinity for Indy and that may be the main reason why a sequel was even green-lit in the first place. Ford must have used all of his popularity garnered from “The Force Awakens” to convince Lucasfilm to move ahead with the film, because why else would anyone green light a 77-year-old Indiana Jones jumping around and fighting bad guys?

In “Kingdom if the Crystal Skull,” Ford was 65 and could barely sell all the swinging and whipping Indy was doing. But now? Twelve years later? This will feel like Liam Neeson in “Taken 3,” when he could no longer sell the action delivered in the original film so the filmmakers had to work around him with “clever” editing and stunt doubles.

Apart from Ford’s age, it is now being reported that director Steven Spielberg (“Ready Player One”) has left the project, and James Mangold (“Ford v. Ferrari”) is in talks to take over. While Mangold is an acclaimed director in his own right, redefining the comic book genre with the Oscar-nominated “Logan,” it truly speaks volumes that the original director who has helmed every “Indiana Jones” film to date, even “Crystal Skull,” has decided to walk away. Perhaps Spielberg was not fond of the script or the direction the project was heading in. This is all very reminiscent of the recent “Lizzie Mcguire” controversy, where original series creator, Terri Minsky (“Andi Mack”), who was also signed up to helm the upcoming reboot for Disney+, left due to the dreaded creative differences.

Now Hilary Duff (“Younger”) is begging Disney to move the show to Hulu so it can go beyond just a PG rating.

Overall, this entire situation feels like Ford against the world, just trying to get another Indy film made, while absolutely no one wants it. Perhaps Ford is taking a page from Sylvester Stallone’s (“Rambo: Last Blood”) book, where he went back to his two iconic characters, Rocky and Rambo, which were both suffering from failed previous entries, “Rocky V” and “Rambo III,” and brought them back to prominence while also sending off his characters in a classy and poetic way.

In “Rocky Balboa,” the Italian Stallion fought his last fight, and in “Rambo,” John Rambo

finally went home. If this is what Ford is attempting to do with Indy, having him go on his last adventure, his swan song, then perhaps this could work. With Mangold directing, who previously sent beloved character Wolverine off with an emotionally stirring finale in “Logan,” “Indiana Jones 5” could work, but it has to be different.

The filmmakers and Ford need to realize that Ford is not 30 years old anymore, Indy cannot do what he used to do, and audiences will see through any stunt double or CGI-face lift in a second.

What they need to do is treat it as his final bow, his goodbye, but with Spielberg leaving, perhaps that isn’t what they’re doing at all. So, get ready for “Kingdom of the

Image from MovieClips via YouTube Harrison Ford still seems eager to reprise his role, even if he’s past his prime.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

C 3 C 3

‘Impractical Jokers’ successfully makes jump to silver screen

Ethan Stinson Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: Since 2011, the comedy troupe “The Tenderloins” has been knocking audiences dead with their irreverent brand of humor through their television series, “Impractical Jokers.” The series, which is set up in a hiddencamera format, displays the foursome, consisting of Joseph “Joe” Gatto, Salvatore “Sal” Vulcano, James “Murr” Murray and Brian “Q” Quinn as they competitively partake in challenges centered around dares and humiliation.

In addition, the loser of the most challenges must be willingly subjected to a punishment, otherwise they will be forced to leave the show. Though it was far from necessary, the announcement of “Impractical Jokers: The Movie” still came with some intrigue, as it was interesting to ponder how it would be able to adapt the series’ structure and comedic style in order to formulate a full-length film. Even if the story left little to

be desired, the film ultimately goes above and beyond in delivering an abundance of laughs as expected, and as such, it stands as an effective comedy.

The film sees the four jokers as they compete for three passes to a party held by singer Paula Abdul (“American Idol”) by participating in a series of challenges on a cross-country road trip. Like the series on which it is based, the challenges are presented in a hidden-camera format in which the jokers interact with unwitting strangers. Similar to films such as “Borat,” though the story is completely fictional, the situations presented happen in real life and are used to further the plot.

For those expecting a riveting and thorough story, “Impractical Jokers: The Movie” will certainly disappoint. Thinly crafted and rather forgettable, the plot as a whole serves no purpose other than to allow for the film to be more than just a drawn out episode of the series. Furthermore, though their comedic chops are front-and-center throughout the film’s entirety, the jokers’ lack of

experience in acting becomes greatly apparent during the scripted portions, which often feel forced.

Just like other films based on reality television such as the “Jackass” film series, the film ultimately should not be judged for its plot or acting, but rather its comedy, the aspect which it was expected to deliver from the get-go. With a bigger budget and the use of locations other than New York City and the surrounding area, some of the challenges and pranks performed by the jokers are shown to be more extravagant, and at times better throughout, than what would normally be seen on the show.

Furthermore, as opposed to repeating the same games and challenge concepts frequently seen on the show, the jokers use their new locations and resources in order to elevate their usual brand of comedy by coming up with creative ideas on the fly as they discover new areas and opportunities during their trip.

In addition, the film also depicts individual challenges for each joker which mostly capitalize

Image from truTV via YouTube The famous prank group compete in hidden-camera challenges in their film debut.

on running jokes from the show, which is a treat for fans familiar with them. Finally, though often unnecessary or cringe worthy, the scripted elements of the film occasionally contribute to its overall humor, often through the use of running gags featuring Murr.

Though the necessity of existence is still somewhat questionable, “Impractical Jokers: The Movie” certainly proves that

bigger can be better in terms of television-to-film adaptations.

Through the aid of a larger budget, the film’s humor prospers and ultimately outperforms its weak plot, while its four leads delight with their typical juvenile antics. Though the film may easily have sufficed as an hour-long television special, it nonetheless makes for an amusing time at the movies for any average moviegoer looking for some laughs.

New Disney CEO should not fire Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy Alex Premo Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com The entertainment world was shocked when it was revealed that Bob Iger, after a 15-year stint as the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, would be stepping down from his position and appointed Bob Chapek, who had previously been the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, as his successor.

Iger had a long list of achievements throughout his career with Disney, most notably the acquisition of Lucasfilm Limited for a sum of over $4 billion in 2012. Even though it was now a product of Disney, George Lucas was able to appoint longtime partner and friend Kathleen Kennedy as the new head of Lucasfilm. At the time of the purchase, Iger had announced that starting in 2015, three new Star Wars films would be made, and Kennedy would be tasked with producing them. In December

2015, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released to both critical and fan acclaim.

Finally, after the prequel trilogy, which many considered a disappointment, fans felt that Star Wars was restored to its former glory. When the next film in the sequel trilogy, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” was released, things started to take a turn. The film garnered great review from critics, but divided the fanbase. Things didn’t get any better this past December when “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” hit theaters, disappointing both audiences and critics alike.

Because of these failures, some have called for Kennedy to be removed from her position. Should Chapek remove her? Absolutely not.

Even though what has become of Lucasfilm and Star Wars is certainly not something that everyone approves of, Kennedy has done nothing wrong. With “The Last Jedi,” Kennedy allowed a filmmaker relatively unfamiliar with big

Image from Geeks + Gamers via YouTube With Bob Iger (right) out, many speculate that Kathleen Kennedy (left) will get the axe.

budget movies to come in and have complete creative control over the film. Whether the results were successful or not, one must respect that Kennedy allowed a writer and director to bring his complete vision to life on screen, which is rare when working for such a large company. With “The Rise of Skywalker,” nobody really knows what happened

behind the scenes.

Even if the speculation is true and there were certain demands and changes made by the higher ups, the more problematic elements in the film were still likely to be caused by poor writing rather than by the producer.

It’s possible changes made

by Kennedy even improved the final product. So, should

she be fired? No. Although the way she has handled the “Star Wars” series has been far from perfect, she has only ever tried to keep fans happy and deliver quality films.

There’s no reason she should be kicked out for that. But should she retire?

Yes. Much in the way that George Lucas and the original Star Wars film helped breathe new life into Hollywood, it’s time for new blood to be brought into Lucasfilm. With “The Mandalorian” becoming the massive success it has been, in part thanks to Baby Yoda, it’s been shown that the true future of the franchise lies in creative new stories being told, not needless continuations of old ones. Even though she probably won’t be fired and retirement isn’t something that happens too often in the film industry, it’s still likely that it won’t be long before Kennedy takes a bow and a new head of Lucasfilm is named.

C4 C 4

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Looking back at Pink Floyd’s iconic ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Alex Kent Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Picture this, it’s 1973 and spring is approaching. March arrives and it’s time to visit the record store for the new Pink Floyd LP. Once “The Dark Side of The Moon” met people’s turntables, the world would never be the same. 47 years later, the album still stands tall as a masterful demonstration of complex musicianship, mature themes and commercial success with

most consecutive weeks on Billboard 200 album chart.

Looking past the iconic art which has become a staple in pop culture, the record brought Pink Floyd to mainstream stardom. Originally, the band was led by Syd Barrett, who was forced to leave because of mental illness.

This period of Floyd was less viable toward the masses, but Barrett’s influence reigned supreme. Roger Waters on bass and vocals, David Gilmour on guitar and side vocals, Richard Wright on the keys

and Nick Mason on percussion, comprised the lineup for Dark Side. Waters saw Barrett’s downfall firsthand and wrote about them with songs like “Brain Damage/Eclipse.”

The band would later expand these themes on their followup album “Wish You Were Here” with the song “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.”

If someone’s never heard this album before, a great suggestion is to listen seamlessly. The record is produced so wonderfully by Alan Parsons, with hidden sounds scattered

Image from Pink Floyd via YouTube Pink Floyd dominated the 1970s with iconic tracks like “Another Brick in the Wall” and “Comfortably Numb,” cementing their legacy.

throughout. Another individual that made her mark was Claire Torry. She wails away on “The Great Gig in The Sky” which ponders what happens as she is dying. A funny story about this song is that she wasn’t sure if her vocals were suitable enough for release, it wasn’t until she went to the store and saw her name in the personnel section for the track; the rest is history.

Going back to Barrett’s replacement, Gilmour’s guitar work is distinctive on all ends.

Nobody else could play with the same feel as him, especially shown on the solos for “Time” and “Money.” Speaking of those songs, the revolutionary idea to disperse natural sounds on the introductions was sublime. For “Time” they recorded clocks at antique stores for an overwhelming effect. This is followed by Mason’s soothingly simplistic, not in a bad way, drum solo. “Money” somehow makes cash registers and coins an instrument, that alone is an incredible accomplishment.

After “Dark Side” Pink Floyd would become a house-

hold name with other masterpieces like “The Wall,” releasing. Still, there’s just something about this album that keeps us talking.

It might even be the mythology, such as if it syncs up with the film “The Wizard of Oz.” Supposedly, if you listen to the album while watching the movie they go together well. The band has completely denounced this notion as someone having too much time on their hands, but it’s nonetheless an interesting experiment.

Vinyl records have recently surpassed CD’s in sales for the first time since the 1980s.

For many classic rock bands, this has enhanced the sound quality of numerous records.

Dark Side in record form might be the most surreal way to spend its 42-minute runtime. It’s going to be awesome seeing what celebrations are done in 2023 when the record turns 50. Some more tips for digesting this album the right way: just “Breathe” calmly because Pink Floyd will provide you with a great “Time.”

International breakdown visits Italy, Colombia, the Netherlands Tomas Rodgriguez Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Following the trend set out by the last international music countdown, this week’s breakdown will feature hits coming from both the European continent and Latin America. While the last few repertoires have consisted of the dance genre in its majority, this week’s excerpt will take a step down from that.

Inaugurating this week’s breakdown is Italian singer and songwriter Francesco Gabbani (“Tra le granite e le granate”). Gabbani’s new single, “Viceversa,” serves as a call to action inviting his mistress to embark on a romantic adventure with him.

In terms of the overall mood and sound, while the tune begins in a somewhat appealing vibe, come the chorus the song turns into a flirtatious letter directed toward Gabbani’s lover, as the songwriter strives to

Image from Sebastian Yara via YouTube Columbian artist Sebastian Yara teams up with Rauw Alejandro to release his latest single “TBT” on spotify.

persuade her that she is the missing puzzle piece in his life. Proof of this can be extrapolated from the chorus, where Gabbani states that “Che sei tu che mi fai stare/ bene quando io sto male e/ viceversa,” which essentially translates to “That it’s you who makes/ me feel good if I feel bad/ and vice versa.” A few weeks ago, another Italian band, Pinguini Tattici Nucleari (“Ringo Starr”) topped that week’s selection for Laker Review. Only time

will unveil whether Gabbani sees the same success as Pinguini Tattici Nucleari did. For now, the Italian solo artist will receive an eight out of 10 for this week’s edition.

The next stop along the journey will transport listeners out of European borders. More specifically, the next excerpt comes from Colombia in the form of Sebastian Yatra (“Un Año”). In his new single, “TBT,” Yatra joins forces with Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro (“Encima De

Mi”) and Colombian Latin Pop ace Manuel Turizo (“Una Lady Como Tu”). By way of its chill melody and beat, the vocalists challenge the song’s direct subject to dare to leave them throughout the tune. The chorus mainly says “Atrévete, vete/ conviértelo en un TBT,” which translated means “Dare to leave/ turn it into a throwback.”

Further, the lyrics tackle the fact that the artist is with someone who she cannot even love.

The Latin pop genre is slowly

peaking the charts worldwide, and this song is a clear sign of that. However, this week the triple threat comprised by Yatra, Alejandro and Turizo will remain as runner-ups as the weekly countdown reaches its end. Hence, this track would earn a nine out of 10.

Wrapping up this week’s countdown is Dutch DJ and record producer Martin Garrix (“High on Life”). Garrix’s most recent work, “Drown,” is the reason why he is earning the top honor this week. This explosive and addictive beat will get listeners playing to this track on repeat. While its sound does not fully ensemble that of electronic music, it could easily attract audiences with different tastes. In terms of the lyrics, Garrix is inciting his lover to drown him in an ocean of her, meaning he wants to spend eternity with her and never leave her side.

All being said, this song would top this week’s breakdown earning a 10 out of 10.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Doomed 'Uncharted' movie to finally start shooting

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Beloved video game series will suffer from mediocre filmmakers

"Hocu s Pocus 2" hires Adam Shankman to direct, original stars may also return for new Disney+ sequel.

Image from PlayStation via YouTube After 10 years and multiple filmmakers dropping out of the project, it appears that "Uncharted" is finally getting a film adaptation, but it does not look promising.

Luis Galarza Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com It has been about 10 years since it was first reported that a seemingly doomed film adaptation of the “Uncharted” video game series was to be made by David O. Russell (“Joy”) and starring Mark Wahlberg (“Instant Family”). However, this project soon fell apart and was completely rewritten by none other than “The ATeam” remake’s Joe Carnahan, whose script has been described as R-rated, something that is completely unnecessary. Anyone who has played the video game knows that it would make for a perfect PG-13 movie. Complete with very mild violence and the occasional curse word, “Uncharted” would fit perfectly in the recent crowd of superhero summer blockbusters for the whole family.

Since Carnahan’s involvement, Tom Holland (“Onward”) has been cast as

what is obviously a younger version of Nathan Drake, already signifying the film’s departure from the video game series. Now granted, the video games do dive into Drake’s past and Holland would be good for that part, but does anyone care to see how Drake got his start? It was interesting in the game for the small role it played and it is perfectly fine for a film to adapt the character rather than the story, but the crew that is now attached doesn’t exactly scream, “Oh, we’ve got this.”

Since Holland’s casting, there have been a wide variety of directors attached, ranging from good, such as Dan Trachtenberg (“10 Cloverfield Lane”) and Travis Knight (“Bumblebee”), to mediocre, such as Shawn Levy (“Stranger Things”) and, most recently, according to an exclusive story from Variety Magazine, Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland: Double Tap”).

Yes, Ruben Fleischer, director of last year’s “Venom” and

other classics such as “30 Minutes or Less,” the movie where Jesse Eisenberg has to deliver a pizza with a bomb vest on or whatever. Now granted, he does have the extremely fun “Zombieland” under his belt, however he has shown no signs to return to that very average level of competence and seems as though he is comfortable staying in the category of “vaguely stylistic but ultimately sloppy” director.

Wahlberg is also back, but this time playing Sully, the mentor and sidekick of Holland’s Drake. Also, Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”) is in it.

Another forgettable video game adaptation in the making. It isn’t that there’s some curse on video game adaptations, it’s just that they seemingly get either the worst or the most uninteresting people to make these things. “Uncharted” can very easily be a fun "Indiana Jones" meets “Pirates of the Carribbean” modern adventure, with an insanely charismatic lead acted by

what could be an unknown in a star making role. But, speaking pessimistically, chances are it won’t be because the studios that don’t realize the potential of these properties. They treat it like another comic book adaptation in which the story can be flipped and rearranged at will, keep hiring the wrong people. Instead we have someone who has not made a good movie in 10 years directing, a script written by a guy who has not made a good movie in 10 years, which is an adaptation that has been in the making for 10 years.

With Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Kong: Skull Island”) and his “Metal Gear Solid” film that has been in the works for years now, at least he has an immense passion for the project and it will come from a genuine place, even if he isn’t necessarily the best filmmaker in the world. Does Fleischer care about “Uncharted?” Does Sony? The answer is most likely a resounding no.

Due to the coronavirus, the James Bond film, "No Time to Die" has been pushed back from an upcoming April release date to November.

First official look at Robert Pattinson's new Batmobile and complete suit revealed in new images.

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FRIDAY, March 6, 2020

Crossword Puzzle

Across

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

1. Rabbits’ kin 6. Fitting 9. Sailor’s drink 12. Suspect’s story 13. “___, humbug!”

14. Right you ___!

15. Famous 16. Wiping out 18. Most cherished 20. Not healthy 21. Recipe abbr.

22. Weapons 25. Positive vote 28. Inedible mushroom 32. Building site 33. “Sesame Street” character 34. Famous boxer 35. Shocking revelation (2. wds.)

37. HST’s party 38. Thin rope

39. Wow! 41. Not pos.

43. Musical works 47. Incident 50. Lagoon’s boundary 51. Filbert, e.g.

52. Our star 53. Greek letter 54. Messy place 55. Sweltering 56. Finance

Down 1. Lend a ____ 2. Balm 3. Actress ___ Hayworth 4. Film critic Roger ___ 5. Dodge 6. Encourage 7. Average 8. Asian language 9. B&O, e.g.

10. Coffeepot 11. Actress ____ Ryan 17. Mattress support 19. Fern “seed” 23. Beauty mark 24. Slender 25. Guinness of “Star Wars” 26. Stringed toy (hyph.)

27. Forever 29. “Raggedy” doll 30. San ___ Padres 31. Love song 36. Keats poems 40. Consumed 42. Jeepers!

43. Dispatched 44. Related 45. Choir singer 46. Cabbage salad 47. Enteric Nervous Systerm (plur.)

48. Place 49. Pair

For this week’s puzzle answers ...

Go to Oswegonian.com and click on the Laker Review tab!

LAKER REVIEW

Photography by Ben Seligson

Final Fantasy 7: Public Demo Square Enix and Disney have a lot in common.

Both made countless beloved stories that would burrow into children’s heads and both are currently having the time of their lives digging those stories back for the sake of turning nostalgia into blood money.

The demo for the remake of “Final Fantasy VII” recently released to the public, just to rub it in the faces of everyone who paid money to play it earlier at PAX East, allowing players to go through the first hour of the game for free to hype up the full release.

It’s surreal to see a game the same age as me, and while 22 years of time has given “Final Fantasy VII” unrestrained love from it’s community, I just ended up with anxiety issues and $36,000 of debt.

Originally, I saw the glossy Hollywood trailer and immediately snarked as all of my friends got excited.

While Cloud Strife looked okay when he was made of 1,997 Legos, now that he’s brought into the modern

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graphics sphere. That giant spikey haircut combined with his body frame makes him look like a matchstick man with a dragon fruit for a head.

The problem was, then I played the demo and I kind of liked it.

Do you realize how embarrassing that is?

I was ready to talk about how changing the combat to a real time experience “would have worked if it wasn’t garbage.” But Cloud actually moves gracefully, and each swing of his sword causes a vibrant little explosion of sparks to fly all over the battlefield. Plus, the way the characters quirkily banter about the fight is just endearing enough to force a smile through the vapid series of emotional white noise usually present in my heart.

The whole city is pretty. They put flashing neon lights everywhere and redid all of the music to make it sound good but still carry that same energetic punch.

Oh God, what have I become?

Even the boss fight at the end was a well-balanced challenge that mixes tactical use of your attacks, magic and dodging in order to win. It wasn’t just a big jerk with a giant health pool created with the express purpose of wasting my time.

Now I have to play the whole thing for an excuse to get angry. I have to go spend $60 in order to find real flaws. To realize that I’ve been played for a fool by the same company that made “The Quiet Man.” But know this “Final Fantasy VII.” Even if I was glued to my seat the whole time, I still resent you for being a product of nebulous corporate greed.

Once I find the self-will to stop playing the demo, I’m going to write something really mean. You’ll see.

Stephen Novak Asst. Laker Review Editor

Image from ACG via YouTube snovak@oswegonian.com

Shea McCarthy

Jacob Fallat