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Friday, Feb. 13, 2015

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THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF OSWEGO STATE UNIVERSITY • www.oswegonian.com

VOLUME LXXXI ISSUE II SINCE 1935

SA vice president resigns, Kranz steps up Experienced senator, committee chair takes office unexpectedly JoAnn DeLauter Asst. News Editor jdelauter@oswegonian.com Jillian Kranz, the Student Association Rules and Judiciary Committee chair, became the new SA vice president at the beginning of this semester. “It was a seamless transition,” SA President Tucker Sholtes said. “As soon as the semester started, Jillian hit the ground running with it.”

Former SA Vice President Neely Laufer, unexpectedly did not return to Oswego State this semester due to personal reasons, leaving her position open this semester. Now that Kranz has taken the position, Laufer seems to offer nothing but her support. “Jill was always very involved in SA, and I think she makes a great new vice president,” Laufer said. According to the SA Constitution, the chair of the Rules and Judiciary Committee, otherwise known as the pro tempore, is

responsible for taking the place of the vice president when the vice president is unable to run the senate meetings. Last semester, Kranz was the pro tempore and therefore was the next in line to step up to the vice president position. “It worked out perfectly because Jillian had already run a senate meeting last semester when Neely had something to attend to at home,” Sholtes said. David Armelino | The Oswegonian

See VICE PRESIDENT, A5

Arielle Schunk | The Oswegonian

Former SA Vice President Neely Laufer (left) has left office and Jillian Krantz (right) has replaced her.

Oswego State ranks No. 2 in drug arrests Administration credits strong law enforcement Kyan Peffer Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com

Lily Choi | The Oswegonian

SUNY presses state for bigger budget Luke Parsnow News Editor lparsnow@oswegonian.com

CONTENT

SUNY leaders asked for a bigger budget in their testimonies to the New York State Assembly Committees on Ways & Means and Higher Education and Senate Committees on Finance and Higher Education in Albany last Tuesday. In November, the SUNY Board of Trustees sent a request to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature to increase SUNY’s state aid by 17.5 percent. In his budget, Cuomo proposed a 1.7 percent increase, up to $3.4 billion annually. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher requested more funding be put into increasing the number of SUNY graduates, continue a $300-a-year tuition increase and repair buildings at SUNY’s 64 statewide campuses.

Calendar...........................C2 Classified..........................C7 Crossword.........................C6 Contact Info......................A2 Laker Review.....................C1 News.................................A1 Opinion............................B5 Sports...............................B1 Sudoku.............................C6

KEEP CALM AND

LIVE IN THE

VILLAGE

“While New York has made great strides in rebuilding its support, I cannot stress enough the need for greater investment,” Zimpher said in her testimony. According to the Chancellor’s Office, the key component of SUNY’s request is an investment fund for all campuses that will help SUNY graduate 150,000 students a year by 2020, known as NYSUNY 2020. Currently, about 93,000 college students graduate from SUNY schools annually. “For every 100 ninth graders in New York, an average of 23 go to college and complete their degree on time, and in our upstate urban centers, the average drops to an abysmal 16—it’s a completely unacceptable rate of student success,” Zimpher said in her testimony. “SUNY has spent the last five years figuring out what we can do to educate more of these students and help

See DRUGS, A4

ResLife begins new housing selection rule Pre-registration process will now include face-to-face meetings

Sarah Guidone Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com This year when students begin the room selection process for housing next year, they will notice a new step. Students now wishing to live anywhere on campus will have to complete mandatory in-person, pre-registration. Marie Driscoll Germain, the associate director of Residence Life and Housing, believes adding this step to the housing selection will help eliminate any confusion students may be having. “We wanted face-to-face communication with students to explain the process completely and answer their questions

See BUDGET, A5

See HOUSING, A5

Photo provided by Matthew Bishop When students move back into residential housing in August, they will have completed mandatory in-person meetings.

Sports

Opinion

Laker Review

Oswegonian.com

RIVALRY REVAMPED

VACCINES IMPORTANT

GRAMMY AWARDS

SA VP TRANSITION

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

Photo provided by Stephen Depolo

VILLAGE Room Selection STEP 1: COMPLETE! MANDATORY IN-PERSON PRE-REGISTRATION

2: log into myOswego.oswego.edu ACCEPT terms of The Village Housing Agreement 2015-2016 STEP

New data from Project Know and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education ranked Oswego State at No. 2 for drug-related arrests nationwide. Oswego State ranked only behind SUNY New Paltz, with approximately 12 narcotics arrests made for every 1,000 students in 2013, as opposed to the approximately 14 per 1,000 students made at SUNY New Paltz. Project Know is an organization that actively works to educate and combat drug and alcohol abuse in communities across the United States. According to the organization’s mission statement, “ProjectKnow.com aims to inform parents and family members of those struggling with addiction, as well as addicts and alcoholics themselves, about the op-

tions available for treating addiction.” Each year, the organization ranks colleges by their number of drug and alcoholrelated arrests and university disciplinary actions per 1,000 students on campus. The study itself derives its data from reporting mandated by federal law from every postsecondary institution nationwide under the Clery Act, which includes statistics of arrests for a variety of civil and criminal offenses. Clery Act reporting is published annually and is available online at Oswego State’s website. Individuals may also receive a free copy at University Police. Project Know released a similar study last year, which ranked Oswego State at No. 3. In fact, SUNY schools occupy four of the top 10 positions for drug arrests nationwide, and every school in the top 50 is a public university. However, Oswego

COMPLETE!

AND PAY a $100 Housing Deposit ....................................................Feb. 3-10

STEP

C5 Photo provided by grammy.com

WEB Arielle Schunk | The Oswegonian

3: log into myHousing.oswego.edu

SUBMIT Housing Preferences (including requesting and confirming housemates) • Village Squatters Lottery & Village Resident Lottery participants ONLY .....................................................Feb. 5 – 18 • All other Village Room Selection participants ..........Feb. 19 – 26

STEP

4: log into myHousing.oswego.edu

Choose from available space (according to lottery) 4a: Village Squatters Lottery ............................................... Feb.17 4b: Village Resident Lottery ............................................... Feb. 18 4c: Village Majority Lottery ........................................Feb. 24 – 26 4d: Village General Lottery .........................................Feb. 24 – 26

More at: www. oswego. edu/reslife

PAGE 2

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W W W. O S W E G O N I A N . C O M

Sarah Baker, 24, was arrested on Feb. 2 at 7:55 p.m. at 106 E. 10th St. for menacing in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

Andrew Magnemi, 23, was arrested on Feb. 4 at 11:42 p.m. at the corner of West Oneida Street and West Fourth Street for two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, after being found in possession of controlled substances he intended to sell.

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THIS WEEK ON THE WEB A weekly list of what to check out on Oswegonian.com

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Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

Watch: This week’s Vox Pop in which we ask students their opinions on Oswego State being ranked No. 2 in drug arrests.

Lily Choi | The Oswegonian

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Shaun Gauthier, 27, was arrested on Feb. 4 at 7:15 a.m. at Mexico Point Drive when an investigation showed he was in possession of a fully functional methamphetamine lab and more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil. He was also in possession of a shotgun and rifle after having been convicted of a felony. Courtney Lavalley, 26, was arrested on Feb. 4 at 7:15 a.m. at Mexico Point Drive when an investigation showed that she was in possession of a fully functional methamphetamine lab and more than two ounces of methamphetamine oil.

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Austin Gilbert, 19, was arrested on Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at 158 Engles Road on a court summons for endangering the welfare of a child, petit larceny and harassment in the second degree.

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THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Check out The Lighthouse for things to do around Oswego.

Like our page on Facebook for campus updates Follow us @TheOswegonian and @OswegonianSport for live news and game updates

WEEKEND WEATHER Weather by Andrew Janiszeski | Graphics by Devon Nitz

Friday

Saturday

Samantha Perez, 24, was arrested on Feb. 5 at 5:02 p.m. at the corner of East Fourth Street and East Oneida Street for conspiracy in the fourth degree and criminal possession in the seventh degree. Omar Bellamy, 30, was arrested on Feb. 5 at 5:02 p.m. at the corner of East Fourth Street and East Oneida Street when an investigation showed that he was in possession of approximately 6.6 grams of crack cocaine concealed on his person with intent to sell. Demetrius Williams, 27, was arrested on Feb. 5 at 5:02 p.m. at the corner of East Fourth Street and East Oneida Street when an investigation showed that he was in possession of approximately 5.9 grams of crack cocaine concealed on his person with intent to sell.

High: 10

Low: 4

Sunday

Patrick Kostoroski, 43, was arrested on Feb. 6 at 9:33 p.m. at the corner of State Route 104 and George Street for operating a motor vehicle with a revoked driver’s license. Kegan Storjohann, 22, was arrested on Feb. 7 at 1:58 a.m. at the corner of West Bridge Street and West Third Street for an open container violation.

High: 0

Low: -6

High: 26

Low: -1

The main weather story this weekend is the brutal arctic cold which will envelop the entire region. Prior to this, an arctic front will cross the region on Thursday with a burst of heavy snow and much colder air in its wake. Temperatures will dive below zero by Friday morning with wind chills as low as -25 degrees. Friday will be brutally cold with snow showers. Temperatures warm briefly on Saturday to the lower 20s ahead of a vigorous storm system entering the Great Lakes region, which will produce several inches of snow by Saturday evening. Potentially record cold air will enter the region by Sunday morning. Sunday’s high is likely to be sub-zero with wind chills as low as -30 degrees, potentially one of the coldest days in decades. Only slight improvement is expected for Monday.

NEWS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK I hope that everyone will understand that it was quite a quick turnaround to take this position on and I am doing the best I can all the time and I am learning constantly. I have great time management skills and I hope to make the biggest difference that I can while I am here. ”

-- Jillian Kranz, SA vice president

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Gillibrand persists fight on sexual assault

Senators commend Obama budget, press campus safety legislation

The Agenda

Our weekly list of what to do in Oswego Wear Red Day, raising funds for fighting heart disease, Friday in front of The Point, Room 131 at 12:15 p.m. Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Stevenson University, Friday in the Marano Campus Center Arena at 7 p.m. Photo provided by Claire McCaskill’s Office Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) [left] and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) [right] present their bill on sexual assault in front of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism.

Recently, U.S Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (DNY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) praised a national initiative in President Barack Obama’s budget to put more than $30 million in new resources to combat campus sexual assault. That amount would help fund an additional 200 full-time staff at the Department of Education’s Office, which investigates and enforces sexual assault laws at colleges and universities, according to Gillibrand’s office. “This budget request would finally provide the resources needed to properly investigate sexual assault complaints and put more cops on the beat to raise accountability on college and university campuses for accurately reporting statistics to the federal government,” Gillibrand said in a statement. As a former courtroom prosecutor of sex crimes, McCaskill knows all too well the ramifications of sexual assault. The senator hopes the appraisal will encourage victims to report the sex-crimes to local authorities. “These additional resources are a terrific step in ensuring that as more survivors come out of the shadows to report these crimes, schools and law enforcement have the tools they need to help empower students and bring perpetrators to justice,” McCaskill said. Gillibrand has been an advocate for college sexual assault prevention measures for some time. In summer of 2014, Gillibrand and McCaskill proposed the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, the federal bill hopes to provide sexual assault survivors with an increased amount of support services in the future. The appraisal requires academic institutions to be proactive about reporting acts of sexual violence in the college community. While the legislative proposal is pending systematic approval, sexual assault continues to be a strong topic in the SUNY system alone. In a 2013 to 2014 report by the Associated Press, 238

cases of sexual violence and assault occurred at SUNY campuses. According to the study, Oswego State was identified as having three different departments where sexual harassment or discrimination had occurred. An increase in sexual assault cases throughout the U.S. has resulted in a heightened communal regard for campus safety. Lisa Evaneski, Oswego State’s associate dean of students and Title IX coordinator, supports the legislative initiative. She stated that the university provides student survivors with an existential amount of crisis-related services. Evaneski explained that the sexual assault policy would be most valuable to colleges outside of the campus community. “I hope that if it passes, that there will be programs to assist campuses like ours to further improve what we are doing,” Evaneski said. “We have worked closely with external victim advocate groups to develop our current and future policies and have been given feedback and structure by the Office of Civil Rights as well.” Mary McCune, the program director of the Oswego State Women’s Center, approves of the senator’s appraisal and said that the college has imposed policies to fight against acts of sexual violence. “I do think that heightened attention to this matter at the federal level is bringing about change in the way that campuses deal with sexual assault,” McCune said. “The new SUNY-wide policy regarding affirmative consent is a positive step as is the development of a uniform sexual assault policy for all SUNY campuses. The fact that SUNY Oswego has a victim support advocate on campus is an important step taken locally.” Despite the protective measures Oswego State has taken to establish campus-wide safety, some students feel marginalized by acts of sexual violence on campus. This academic year alone, there have been several sexual assault incidents that occurred on and off campus that involved Oswego State students. “Sexual harassment is a very big thing on our campus and it needs to be stopped,” said sophomore and English major Lindsay Karback. “It makes me sad being a female

that people are disregarded. People need to be taken seriously and I think this will help it move along.” Junior and public relations major Tiziana Vecchio, explained that sexual violence is a critical issue that needs to be treated properly on campus. “This is a serious issue that needs to be taken more seriously,” Vecchio said.“We have all this media and information going around [about] sexual assault on college campuses, but there is so much more that can be done. I think it is great that the senator is putting money into sexual assault cases because we could all benefit from it.” Junior and finance major Michael Potter,lives off campus but is still aware of the sexual assault crimes due to the SUNY alert system. Potter said that the plan would improve the security of students in the college. “Thirty million dollars will go a long way,” Potter said. “People’s lives are at stake. People aren’t replaceable. The school is supposed to protect all these kids, whether they are off campus or on campus.” In a class research project, senior Raeann Mariella highlighted that during a span of one year, Oswego State recorded two sexual assault cases. She said that the small amount of cases reported is not nearly close to the amount of unreported sex-crimes that occur throughout the campus. “It is so hidden and undercover that it should be more investigated,” Mariella said. “People are scared to talk about it but it needs to be talked about. It’s a lot bigger than people realize. It happens often but it’s not reported. Even when it is reported, I’m not sure if the school handles it right.” Freshman Brittany Morgan is not too familiar with the severity of sex-crimes on campus, but explained that students should receive justice for the acts of violence committed to them. She said that students do not attend college to be taken advantage of sexually. Gillibrand’s bill will be re-introduced to the newly installed senate in the coming months.

The Student Association held its 13th meeting of the academic year Tuesday evening. The number of senators needed to make quorum was satisfied. One new student, Alex Sharpsteen, was sworn in as a senator and took the oath of office on the SA constitution. The minutes from last meeting and the agenda for the current meeting were both approved. There were two guests to the senate. Julie McCarthy, a representative from the Oswego State chapter of the National Broadcasting Society, requested about $800 from SA to help pay for two students to attend the National Broadcasting Society Convention in Atlanta on March 24. This request includes admissions into the convention, hotel and transportation. Sen. Alex George volunteered to write up a bill for the proposal. Brian Clyne discussed the uses of the personal safety app, Oswego Guardian. He presented the different benefits in getting the app to SA and the features it offers. The app allows the user to program a “guardian” that will be notified in an emergency. It also allows the user to call

University Police or 911 by holding down a button on the app. He wanted to speak to the senate in order to encourage them to use and promote the app. There was no public comment. In executive reports, SA Vice President Jillian Kranz wanted updates on when the committees were meeting and emphasized the importance of meeting every week. She also updated the senate on upcoming elections for SA next year. As of now, no one is running for SA president and vice president but SA plans to send out petitions and advertisements soon. Director of Student Affairs Chris Romita said he has been working with Career Services and hopes to get post cards sent out to sophomores in higher standing so that parents can start the conversation and let them know what the school has to offer. Also, he informed the senate that there are four seats available to attend the faculty assembly this semester allowing senators to vote and provide feedback for the faculty. Ryan Hopf, President Tucker Sholtes’s chief of staff, is working to finalize the SA apparel as well as the price for the end of

February. He mentioned to the senate that Oswego State is doing a Lip Dub to represent all of the student organizations on February 20th and that SA should also be involved. It was agreed that a skit should be planned in future meetings. Senior Kristopher Knowlton was elected as the new chief justice and freshman Ivana Citera was elected the new associate justice. In committee reports, meeting times were discussed for the future meetings of this semester. Sharpsteen decided to join the Rule and Judiciary Committee. The roles of solicitor general and attorney general were discussed and Kranz said she would bring information back next meeting to the senate to see how they would properly go about electing people into these two positions. Sholtes updated the senate on the spring concert. Although he was not able to disclose what acts would be performing, he said contracts were being sent this week. He said the CTS agreement, including the 4-year computer replacement cycle, is still being negotiated. He also stated the he is working alongside WTOP-10 to see what is needed to get an

Tatyana Bellamy-Walker Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com

Men’s Basketball vs. SUNY Plattsburgh, Saturday at the Max Ziel Gymnasium in Laker Hall at 2 p.m.

Global Engagement Hour: “Did Charlie Hebdo Abuse Its Freedom of Speech?” Monday in the Marano Campus Center, Room 220 at 12:30 p.m. “Mardi Gras: Bringing N’awlins to New York,” Tuesday in the Activity Court in Marano Campus Center at 8 p.m.

Housing Fair, Wednesday in front of The Point and in the Marano Campus Center Auditorium at 10 a.m.

Movie: “Lola Rennt,” a German film,Wednesday in the Marano Campus Center Auditorium, Room 132 at 7 p.m. Concert: British vocal ensemble Voice, Wednesday in the Sheldon Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Art exhibition opening: “Apartheid and Identity: Race, Place, Being,” Thursday at the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in Syracuse at 5 p.m Buy a heart-shaped pizza at Cam’s Pizzeria for your special someone this weekend.

update in its studio. The updates might save SA money in the long run and reduce its future budget. Sholtes said he has been talking to some individuals involved in Bike Share, an oncampus organization, located in the basement of Hewitt Union that repairs bikes for free. They offer student bike repair services while also giving students who are interested training on how to fix bikes. Sholtes talked to them about positioning themselves to still fall into contract with SA. As of now, they do not have enough funding to keep up with student demands. Tucker revealed his support in Bike Share and his desire to build them up to be an on-campus bike shop. Sholtes also announced to senate that Saturday, Feb. 20 is the Diversity and Inclusion Conference in Oneonta. He emphasized his interest in having Oswego State students attend and go through the training. It would only cost $15 a person and include meals throughout the day. There were no hall council reports. In special orders, the SA Conflict of Interest Policy from last meeting was approved by senate.

In general orders, the senate amended the philosophy club’s original request for $300 for pizza. The amendment to the bill reduced the price from $300 for pizza to $100 for promotions. There was a debate between senators about whether the money was worth providing. The senate eventually went to a vote and the bill did not pass. Five senators voted yes, two senators voted no and six senators abstained to vote. The Oswego film club requested $810 for the promotion, trophies, event programs and decorations for the Mixed Emotion Film Club on Feb. 28 in the Marano Campus Center. While in debate, the senators discussed what a great turn out this event usually receives. The bill went into a vote and passed. New legislation included the Students for Global Change benefit for the Big Cat Sanctuary. This included $263 for water, raffles, magnets, T-shirts and decorations to help them put on a dodgeball tournament on April 24 to fundraise for the Big Cat Rescue. The bill was moved to the Finance Committee. SA meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Lanigan 102. All meetings are open to the public.

NEWS

Discount cards help students, businesses Offers include low prices at stores, improve relationship with communty

David Armeilno | The Oswegonian Cards were recently issued to Oswego State students and will be valid for student use until Jan. 20, 2016. Discounts are also available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Nick Costanzo Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com A deal between the Oswego State Student Association and local businesses has created a discount card for students to use while they attend Oswego State. The program for the cards, which began on Feb. 2, offers student discount cards in physical copies and through the College Discounts app on iPhones and Androids. The cards include discounts at local stores including Hanabi Sushi, Fajita Grill, Lighthouse Lanes, Monro Muffler Brake & Service, Kampai and many more. The cards are valid at a large range of locations in Oswego with many different deals available, such as 10 percent off at Burger King and a free dessert at McDonald’s with the purchase of a value meal. To receive the discount, students present the card to the cashier when they make the purchase. After downloading the app, students first need to scroll down the list of colleges and find Oswego State. After selecting that, students need to find the coupon desired for use and present it to the cashier.

An email sent to the student body from SA President Tucker Sholtes said the cards “are free for all students who pay the SA fee.” Cards issued this semester are valid until Jan. 20, 2016 at which point Sholtes said “new cards will be purchased.” “The idea was originally proposed because my friend at another SUNY school showed me his discount card that his campus provides him and I thought that it would be a great opportunity to bring to our campus,” said Emily Nassir, an SA senator who originally proposed the legislative bill that implemented the student discount cards. Nassir also said the cards are intended to “bring the campus closer to the Oswego community.” She said the program has been successful so far and she fully intends for the program to continue next year. Nassir is happy with the service being provided as a result. Nassir added that “local businesses are thrilled to have more students coming by,” and mentioned the program added more perks to being a student at Oswego State. Senior William Affourtit said he was going to use the card and app, mostly at Fajita Grill. When asked about how he heard of

the cards, he replied that he “saw the name of the app and downloaded it immediately” after reading the email from Sholtes. Affourtit mentioned that he got the physical card soon after. He said he would “definitely” keep getting the cards and keep the app if he was not graduating in May and that he would have loved to have these when he was a freshman. Although Affourtit said he had not yet used his card, he said he was going to use it more in the weeks and months to come. He added that he was probably going to use the app more than the card, citing its convenience as well as its “very simple and easy to use” interface. Sophomore Sam Watkins said he wants to get a card but does not have the time to go to the box office to pick one up and that he does not go into town enough to justify it. The physical student discount cards are available for free at the box office in the Marano Campus Center, provided you have paid the SA fee. Each student can only collect one card. The College Discounts app is currently available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for free.

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Area schools top campus drug arrest list DRUGS from COVER State’s rate of drug arrests actually declined slightly from 2012 to 2013, with eight fewer drug arrests made last year, down from 116 in 2012 to 108 in 2013. As private institutions across the country typically handle drug violations through their student conduct policies, they do not appear on Project Know’s report, which calculates only arrests. For example, Ithaca College made only five drug arrests in 2013, compared to Oswego State’s 108. But Ithaca issued 181 drug-related university disciplinary actions, as compared to Oswego State’s 44. The reason for this disparity is apparent, considering Oswego State has a dedicated University Police force on its campus. “If you look at a cross section of colleges’ and universities’ reports, I think you’ll see a trend,” said Oswego State’s Director of Public Affairs Julie Blissert. “Some institutions report that they address drug use on campus predominantly through the law enforcement system and others report that they address drug use on campus predominantly through enforcement of their student conduct policies. At Oswego and at many SUNY campuses -- and it appears to be common especially at public institutions nationally, if you look at the Project Know rankings -- we report that we address drug use on campus predominantly through the law enforcement system.” This reporting can be misleading, as Blissert noted, because “in all cases where students are arrested by SUNY Oswego’s University Police, students also face charges under our code of student conduct.” Blissert added that these numbers are not “double-counted,” even though students face both criminal proceedings and college disciplinary action if arrested on campus. While private institutions may have a higher rate of drug disciplinary action, Project Know’s report only factors for arrests. This may have inflated Oswego State’s ranking, as well as the rankings of many SUNY schools; as SUNY police commissioner Bruce McBride said in a statement relating to the statistical frequency of SUNY drug arrests. “The health and safety of our students is a top priority for SUNY, and I am concerned that the SUNY numbers are not a true reflection of the amount of drug use happening on our campuses in comparison to others nationwide,” McBride said. “On each of these campuses, for example, we are fortunate to have University Police forces exclusively patrolling the campus,

while many other public and private institutions rely solely on local law enforcement agencies. Having a dedicated, community-oriented police department located right on campus likely results in our officers discovering or being called to incidents of recreational drug use more frequently.” Despite the heavy police presence on Oswego State’s campus, rates of drug arrests do not appear to have declined significantly in recent years. The number of arrests has remained relatively consistent over the last three years, with 104 made in 2011, 116 in 2012, and 108 in 2013, according to Oswego State’s Clery report. However, it is worth noting that most drug arrests (88 out of every 100) are violations – possession of a small amount (25 grams or fewer) of marijuana. Clery Act reporting does not factor in instances of Oswego State students being arrested off campus. This reporting also does not discriminate between arrests made on students and non-students, and thus it is unclear how many instances of non-student drug arrests occur on campus. “Obviously, Oswego being No. 2 in the country is very concerning, but I can understand why we might considering we have actual police on our campus … Many schools, especially private ones, don’t really have that,” Oswego State junior Branden Crosier said. Oswego State has garnered a reputation as a party school, appearing on a number of “Best Party School” lists as well as being featured frequently on Twitter’s “USA Party Stories” previously known as “SUNY Party Stories.” However, some students do not believe that this is indicative of a chronic drug issue on campus. As sophomore Danielle Harsch said when asked about how she felt about the school’s ranking. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve risen to No. 2, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are a school with an extreme drug problem,” Harsch said. “If it is based off of arrests, then compared to other schools it shows that the college, Oswego [State], cares about the problem and is actively working to fix it.” Oswego State has implemented a number of programs to prevent student drug use. The Alcohol and Other Drug Committee, a part of the Lifestyles Center “offers alternative programming like open mic and zen meditation to give students other opportunities. There are also peer educators that get information out to the general student population on AOD issues as well as other health and wellness issues. Also, if a student feels they are in need of services regarding drugs or alcohol, there are many programs and professionals to help the student.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! Premier Living Suites

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, February 7th, 2015 Sunday, February 15th, 2015 Noon-3PM 247 West Utica Street

NEWS

SUNY, students testify to state legislature Education advocates’ budget proposal differs Cuomo’s amount

BUDGET from COVER them succeed through college and into their career, and we are ready to bring ‘what works’ to scale. Increased investment in SUNY can and will lead to a higher degree of success for all of New York’s students.” Since NYSUNY 2020 was first enacted, SUNY campuses have used additional revenue generated by rational tuition to grow and expand student services, including the hiring of 520 net new instructional staff. NYSUNY 2020 allows the colleges to increase tuition by $300 a year over five years. This measure gives SUNY the independence to increase tuition without having to battle the state legislature every year over its request. Student tuition has been in many different conversations that involve the budget this year. “For far too long, the state has depended on students for the bulk of SUNY funding. Students, through tuition and fees, account for approximately 63 percent of SUNY’s funding,” said Frederick E. Kowal, president of United

University Professions. Recently, Gov. Cuomo proposed a student loan forgiveness plan in his State of the State Address in which the state would cover two years of a New York state college graduate’s loans if they earned less than $50,000 a year. The governor’s $142 billion budget also includes $200 million a year to repair some of the aging buildings at SUNY schools. Zimpher and college presidents are asking for the aid to be tripled to $600 million a year over the next five years, saying in their testimonies that nearly half of SUNY’s buildings were built between 40 and 50 years ago. “This level of investment will ensure that we can continue to keep our students, faculty and staff warm, safe and dry,” Zimpher said. Several hundred SUNY college students, including representatives of the SUNY Student Assembly, were also present at the hearing and made their own testimonies. “We are here today, not asking for a handout. Instead, we are here to request that the state strengthen its partnership with SUNY and continue the mutually beneficial trend

that it has in years past,” said Lori Mould, president and trustee at SUNY Empire State College. “Let’s make SUNY synonymous with success. Let’s invest in our state’s future, not flat-line it. We the students of SUNY are asking you to stand by our side, continue to expand our partnership, and to help us reach even higher levels of accomplishment.” Also included in the SUNY’s post-executive budget request is a rational funding plan for community colleges, starting with an increase in base aid funding of $250 per student; a restoration of approximately $5.3 million in funding provided by the 2014-15 state budget for university-wide programs including education opportunity programs (EOP), Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) labs and child care as well as the Graduation Achievement and Placement (GAP) program at the community colleges; a restoration of the $7.6 million in support provided in 2014-15 State Budget for State-operated campus salary costs; and a restoration of $18.5 million in 2014-15 funding for SUNY’s three teaching hospitals.

Students find opportunity at Job-A-Rama

Event offers jobs, internships, volunteer work from college departments

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

SA president expects smooth transition Hopefully this will be an opportunity for [Kranz] to be more engaged within the position and there is always room for improvement” - Tucker Sholtes, SA president

VICE PRESIDENT from COVER Not knowing she was going to accept the job or not, Kranz reached out to Sholtes once she found out the position was available. Kranz said the vacant position came as a surprise, but after having a conversation with Sholtes, Kranz realized was very interested in taking the position. “I definitely thought I was most qualified for the job just because of the time I had in senate and the many roles I have taken on since I got here,” Kranz said. “So I was hoping that I can continue to grow and learn to each new role I take on. I took the leap and I just took the job.” During the same day, which was the first day of classes, Kranz was sworn into the vice presidency on the SA Constitution. According to Kranz, Laufer did everything she could to help her start the vice presidency where she left off and Laufer gave her everything so she knew exactly how to take on the position. “I really worked [with Neely], bringing in speakers to senate so that the senators know what is going on on-campus and can spread that to their constituents and to their friends so they know all the cool things we have going on,” Kranz said. With her new position, Kranz looks

forward to making some changes like the way the senate is run and the amount of time it takes to get the clubs and organizations the money they need. Originally, that process was two to three weeks but she really wants to cut it down to a one to two week turn around. “I hope that everyone will understand that it was quite a quick turnaround to take this position on and I am doing the best I can all the time and I am learning constantly,” Kranz said. “I have great time management skills and I hope to make the biggest difference that I can while I am here.” Sholtes looks forward to this new semester in SA and has great confidence in the change Kranz will bring to the senate. “Hopefully this will be an opportunity for [Kranz] to be more engaged within the position and there is always room for improvement, so it would be great to see more engagement between the vice president and the senate, aside from the senate meetings,” Sholtes said. “I think it proposes a lot of opportunities to moving some agenda items into the senator’s hands rather than the director working on different infinitives. There has already been some great things that they have begun to work on and seeing what steps can we take to make it a more unified group. I think we are going to have a great semester.”

Housing selection confuses some HOUSING from COVER

JoAnn DeLauter | The Oswegonian Various Oswego State departments and organizations provide information on work opportunities around the campus. This event is put on by Oswego State Career Services.

Emma Hanlon Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com New employment opportunities became available to hundreds of Oswego State students at the Job-A-Rama event held in the Marano Campus Center on Wednesday. Job-A-Rama, an event organized by the Career Services, was held in the Swetman Gymnasium for students seeking on-campus employment and service learning opportunities for this summer and upcoming fall semester. The 20 participating departments offered internships, work-study positions and leadership positions, as well as part-time on-campus employment and community service opportunities. Participating departments included the Admissions Office, the Alumni Office, Campus Recreation, Campus Technology Services, the Fitness Centers, Intercollegiate Sports, The Lifestyles Center, Office of Learning Services, Residence Life and Housing. The 5-year-old event was directed by Jackie Wallace, assistant director of Career Services. Wallace said that, on average, 400 to 500 students and 25 to 30 tables of employers attend Job-A-Rama each year. Job-A-Rama does not only assist students, but also departments looking to employ. Through career fairs on campus, Wallace said, students are able to gain experience and skill sets which are useable after they graduate. Gary Morris, director of Career Services at Oswego State explained that JobA-Rama is an opportunity for students to “make connections with our faculty and staff, enhancing their networking capabilities.” Wallace said Job-A-Rama is an opportunity for both students and employers alike. Faculty want great students to work with them whether they are conducting research or helping students im-

JoAnn DeLauter | The Oswegonian Students question organization opportunities from over 30 departments set up in the Swetman Gymnasium.

prove their resumes. “It tends to be a win-win scenario for everyone involved,” Wallace said. Kendra Bowman, a senior and volunteer worker in the Resource Center at the Compass, helped people sign in at the front. “Personally, I think it is those looking to get more involved on campus,” Bowman said. “Even freshmen can get better campus involvement and experience through career fairs like Job-A-Rama.” Sophomore Rachel Bortin attended Job-A-Rama in order to “find more jobs available on campus.” “I’m interested in athletic jobs, such as working as a referee during recreational sports or working at hockey or basketball games,” Bortin said. She would be working with the Division III Intercollegiate office and was hoping to be an usher or scoreboard and PA announcer. Job-A-Rama is one of many events held by Career Services for students looking to further their professional careers. The next event held by Career Services is the Exploring Majors workshop on March 4.

before they obligated themselves to anything,” Germain said. “Online can be great; however, with an admittedly complicated process, we felt face-to-face contact was needed.” In the old system, the whole process was online. Many people have complained that the housing process is complicated, so in order to eliminate confusion, they are establishing this new in-person pre-registration to help go over the process in a clearer manner. “Since adding Village Room Selection to the process, we’ve had increasing complaints from students and parents that the process is complicated and hard to understand,” Germain said. “The things that make the process complicated exist in order to maintain fairness, as well as give students priority consistent with the rest of the room selection process. After last year’s process, we decided to add an in-person step to hopefully help students understand the process better.” To start the housing process, students are given a form that outlines critical information about the process, Germain explained. “Residence Life and Housing professional staff members go over the information on the form with students in small groups,” Germain said. “Students are required to initial several places on the form, indicating that they have received the information. Then, they ‘check

out’ with a staff member individually. The staff member makes sure the student has initialed that they received the information. The student then signs the form; the staff member initials the form and gives the student one copy of the signed form.” Students feel this new mandatory in-person pre-registration will be more of an inconvenience than help. Xochitl Santamaria is currently a sophomore and is not sure of any true benefits in having the in-person pre-registration. “I do not think it is a bad idea to have an in-person registration. However, I attended the pre-registration for the Village and I don’t think it was very helpful, informative or really beneficial,” Santamaria said. “The information we received seemed to be available online. I can see how some students might find this as an inconvenience because we all have busy schedules.” Kim Abbondondolo is a junior this year and she plans to live on campus her senior year. She feels after living on campus for three years that it is unfair she now has to meet in person prior to the housing selection. “I don’t think that having mandatory inperson registration to live on campus is very necessary,” Abbondondolo said. “I want my room selection process to be fast and easy and I believe this is an inconvenience to students and makes the process much more difficult.” The in-person meetings will continue as the housing process proceeds from the Vil-

2015-2016

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13 2015

DO NOT

PARTICIPATE in ROOM SELECTION as a BACK-UP PLAN! If you complete Steps 1 and 2 of the Village Room Selection process and are successful in securing a room in The Village, you will be obligated to live in The Village next year according to the terms of The Village Housing Agreement.

KEEP CALM AND LIVE IN The

VILLAGE

We’re here to help...

2015-16

ROOM SELECTION

Lily Choi | The Oswegonian

ASK…

Step 1: COMPLETED

315-312-2246

Step 2:

E-MAIL…

reslife@oswego.edu

...4 more days...

LIKE… www.facebook.com/ reslifeOswego

Log into myOswego.oswego.edu

FOLLOW…

www.twitter.com/ oswegoReslife

• ACCEPT terms of The Village Housing Agreement 2015-2016 and • PAY the $100 Housing Deposit

VILLAGE ROOM SELECTION www.oswego.edu/reslife/housing_assignments/villageRoomSelection

STEP : IN PERSON at The Village COMMONS building

D PRE-REGISTRATION (MANDATORY) E T E L P M O C Every student who wants to live in the Village must PREREGISTER. Housemate GROUPS are encouraged to attend together. ................................................Feb. 3 & 4, noon - 7pm

2 …4

more days…

STEP : Log into myHousing.oswego.edu SUBMIT Housing Preferences (including requesting and confirming housemates) • Village Squatters Lottery & Village Resident Lottery participants ONLY..................................................Feb. 5 – 18 • All other Village Room Selection participants.....Feb. 19 – 26

STEP : Log into myOswego.oswego.edu

STEP : Log into myHousing.oswego.edu

ACCEPT terms of The Village Housing Agreement 2015-2016 & PAY a $100 Housing Deposit ..............................Feb. 3 – 10

Choose from available space (according to lottery)

IMPORTANT about Step 2: Step 1 (Pre-Registration) is a MANDATORY In-Person Process.

• DO NOT complete Step 2 if you have not completed Step 1. • Students who complete Step 2 but do not complete Step 1 WILL NOT be allowed to participate in Village Room Selection.

• 4a:Village Squatters Lottery........................................Feb. 17 Lottery #s available 4 pm Feb. 16. • 4b:Village Resident Lottery .........................................Feb. 18 Lottery #s available 4 pm Feb. 16. • 4c: Village Majority Lottery.................................Feb. 24 – 26 Lottery #s available 4 pm Feb. 23. • 4d:Village General Lottery..................................Feb. 24 – 26 Lottery #s available 4 pm Feb. 23.

SPORTS

OPINION JENNER PAVES WAY

FOR CHANGE

• www.oswegonian.com

Coach's Corner Diane Dillon Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach Special to The Oswegonian It’s been nine years but sometimes it seems like only yesterday I was hired to re-launch the women’s hockey program at Oswego State. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the early days lately and how we got started, mainly because the women’s hockey program is approaching the 100-win milestone. People have been asking about it, asking me, as a coach, if I’m focused on the number… and quite honestly the answer is no. I’m focused on preparing my team for our next game and post-season play When we started in 2006, everything was brand new – the program, the (Marano) Campus Center, the coaching staff and all the players. It was a crazy ride that season and everything was a first. I can still remember the morning of our opening game. The game jerseys had just arrived the day before, workers were still painting hallways in the arena and our young team was excited and petrified all at the same time. Once the puck dropped and the Lakers settled into the game against Chatham University, the nerves melted away. When Jenna Kirkwood ’10 scored our first goal, the Campus Center went crazy. We went on to win that game 3-1, and it was the first of many wins to come and just one of the many memorable moments in our program’s history. The program has come a long way since 2006. We’ve improved every year by becoming more competitive, more dedicated to the process of winning and upholding the proud traditions of Laker hockey established through years of success by our men’s teams. The ride hasn’t always been a smooth one, but it’s certainly been exciting. Adding to that excitement has been one of the strengths of our program - solid goaltending. Goalies Hilary Hitchman, Emi Williams ‘11, Catherine Cote ‘14, Tori Trovato ‘16 and Bridget Smith ‘15 have been the backbone of our teams. If you have great goalies in the net, you have a chance to win every night and that brings me to another moment in our history that stands out to me. It was February 2011 and Williams was in the net for the Lakers on the road at Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT was unbeaten with just a few games left to go in the season. They were celebrating their Senior Night, Ritter Arena was packed and their band was in rare form. We were hanging tough but being outshot pretty badly. Williams was standing on her head in the net, making incredible saves, when RIT ran her and popped her shoulder out of joint. Not willing to back down, Williams and the team battled through, took the lead in the third and handed RIT their only loss that season. The Tigers went on to win the Div. III National Title… but with a blemish courtesy of the Lakers. The next few seasons saw the Lakers progress steadily from a team in the lower half of the standings to a team contending for the top spots in, arguably, the toughest league in Div. III hockey. Much of the credit for our continued climb can be attributed to the hard work of the coaching staff, especially the assistant coaches, on the recruiting trail. Finding new student athletes to carry on the Laker tradition of winning hockey is the lifeline of any team and the Lakers have been very fortunate to have dedicated recruiters leading the way. Since the rebirth of the program, the Lakers have qualified for the playoffs six times and made it to the semifinals twice. This season will mark the fifth season in a row the Lakers have made it to postseason play, so the expectations are running high as the program continues to build toward winning the ECAC West title and an NCAA tournament bid. In order to be successful, a team needs so many things to go well and it needs support to make those things happen. One of the constants at Oswego has been the support of the Athletic Department, the administration, the college community and the city of Oswego. So many people have been instrumental in the development of the women’s program, too many to name, but they are proud members of our Laker hockey family. Am I excited about earning the 100th win for the Lakers? Yes, of course, but I’m even more excited about our future as the Lakers are a young and very talented team just starting to hit their stride. Ask me again when we’re close to our 200th win.

UPCOMING MATCHES * green indicates home games

NEXT STOP PODIUM

THE OSWEGONIAN

Photo provided by jla0379

VOLUME LXXXI ISSUE II

SPORTS AT NATIONALS

Photo provided by Sports Information

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Lakers battle Cardinals for supremacy Men's basketball puts SUNYAC lead on line in rivalry matchup at Max Ziel on Saturday

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Senior Rashawn Powell will look to have more of a presence this time after only scoring eight points and one rebound the last time the Lakers played the Cardinals.

Sam Watkins Staff Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State men’s basketball team will play host to the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals on Saturday, to reignite their SUNYAC conference rivalry. The Lakers (14-7) take on the Cardinals (14-6) for the second time this season, with the Cardinals defeating Oswego State on their home court, on Jan. 16. In that contest, a 70-66 victory for SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals’ senior Reggie Wil-

liams tallied 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Laker junior Alex Rawa scored nine points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Despite possessing similar records, few expected the Lakers to contend with the Cardinals for first place in the SUNYAC, a spot Oswego State currently occupies. The Lakers were entering the 20142015 season without their top scorer from the previous year, and on the heels of a SUNYAC semifinal loss to the College at Brockport Golden Eagles. The Cardinals, on the other hand, were returning seven seniors from last

season, a year in which they reached the national semifinals. The Lakers have earned their status as top-ranked team in the SUNYAC with the help of returning sophomore Brian Sortino. Sortino, who suffered a season-ending injury last winter, has returned in full force. Leading the Lakers in scoring with an average of 15.2 points per game, Sortino has been the scorer the Lakers so desperately needed him to be. Sortino also leads the Lakers in assists and steals per game. While the Lakers only have two scorers averaging more than 10 points per

Photo provided by Oswego State Sports Information

game (Sortino and junior Kyle Covley), the Cardinals boast four players averaging double digits. Senior Reggie Williams leads the way for SUNY Plattsburgh, averaging 11.3 points per game, but not far behind is junior Edward Correa, averaging 10.5 points. Unlike the Cardinals, the Lakers heavily rely on their younger class of players. Oswego State only possesses one senior on the roster, Powell, emerged as a force for Oswego State last season, being a threat in multiple facets of the game. Powell is averaging just under 10 points per game this year and averaging over eight rebounds as well. To go along with these impressive numbers, Powell will also soon eclipse his total of 32 steals from last season as well as his 17 blocks from last year. Participating in his final season as a Laker, Powell would certainly like to end his Oswego State career with a SUNYAC Championship title. Following their matchup with the Cardinals, the Lakers only have two remaining games on their regular season schedule. On Tuesday, Oswego State will match up with the SUNY Geneseo Knights on their home court before wrapping up the season with a home game against SUNY Cortland on Feb. 20. For the Cardinals, three games remain after their contest with Oswego State. Before finishing the season with two home games against the College at Brockport and SUNY Geneseo on Feb. 21 and 22 of this month, respectively, the Cardinals will face the SUNY Potsdam Bears on the road on Tuesday. Oswego State will have history on its side on Saturday, as the Lakers own an alltime record of 52-31 against the Cardinals, dating back to 1938. As the season winds down, both teams will be looking to gain the edge this weekend when they meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Max Ziel Gymnasium.

Photo provided by SUNY Plattsburgh Sports Information

Lily Choi | The Oswegonian

Women's Ice Hockey

Women's Basketball

Men's Basketball

Friday, Feb. 13

Saturday, Feb. 14

vs.

7 p.m.

vs.

7:30 p.m.

vs.

2 p.m.

Men's Ice Hockey Saturday, Feb. 14 @

7 p.m.

Blue Line Oswego State

SCOREBOARD Women's Basketball

Quote of the Week Competively, I think he's got the fire and the drive to be up on that level, and what he's been able to accomplish is pretty spectacular." -Derek Rousseau, track and field head coach, on Matt Wagenhauser

Windhausen, Jacobs key in women's basketball turnaround after struggles during last season

72 49

Men's Basketball Tuesday, Feb. 10

71 47

Women's Ice Hockey Sunday, Feb. 8

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Freshman Rachael Windhausen is confident that the Lakers can make a run at clinching a playoff berth.

Men's Ice Hockey Saturday, Feb. 7

5 1

Oswego State

ROAD RECAPS Women's Basketball The Lakers split their two game road set in Western New York, defeating SUNY Fredonia, 80-71, and losing to Buffalo State, 81-75. Freshman Courtney Ameele led the team in scoring against the Blue Devils with 15 with all of her points coming from beyond the three-point arch. Freshman Rachael Windhausen recorded a double-double. She then followed it up with her tied for team-leading fourth doubledouble in the loss against the Bengals. Ameele also had another solid game, scoring 20 points, a career high.

Men's Basketball The SUNYAC-leading Oswego State team defeated SUNY Fredonia 65-53, and then followed it up with a heartbreaking 80-76 against Buffalo State. In the win over the Blue Devils, sophomore Brian Sortino had a season-high 29 points in the game. Sortino followed it up with a team-leading 22 points in the loss against the Bengals. With 1:09 remaining, and the game tied at 76, the Lakers turned the ball over twice and a missed 3-point attempt at the buzzer to lose the close game by four.

Matthew Moran Asst. Sports Editor mmoran@oswegonian.com With a statement win over SUNY New Paltz on Tuesday, the Oswego State women’s basketball is looking to make its season that has contained highs and lows, into a successful one, as it looks to make a run by earning a berth into the SUNYAC playoffs. A major factor in the production the Lakers have earned has come from none other than the freshman class. With five of the 11 players on the roster being first-year students, and with last year’s team losing three of its top four scorers to graduation, one would question if this team could be successful. But thanks in part to the recruiting class that head coach Tracy Bruno brought in, they have their sights set on the postseason. The freshman class includes forwards Rachael Windhausen, Zana Dillard and Lindsay Johnson. As well as guards, Alisha Jacobs and Courtney Ameele. Windhausen and Jacobs have seen the most action with both being in the top five in minutes played on the team, and also being in the top three in scoring. Both Windhausen and Jacobs made impacts right from the start, with Windhausen recording a double-double in her third game, and both of them scoring 23 points in their fourth games. They agreed it was a bit of an adjustment period going from high school to the college level with the differences in the speed of the game and more talent on the floor. But it was the effort they made in the preseason that led them to have such a presence early on. As the season progressed, the numbers showed that neither of them felt hard effects of transitioning to college with them climbing up amongst the best on the team in points, and in Windhausen’s case, rebounds, as she is second on the team, averaging seven per game, behind junior Heather Hebert. Jacobs is third on the team in assists, averaging 1.9 per game, behind Hebert and

sophomore Mary Mazzella. She is also second on the team in steals, averaging 1.8 per game, behind Mazzella. For the both of them it’s the pressure that these upperclassmen and returning players, put on themselves in practice that has led to their great success. “They don’t go easy on us in practice, and they just encourage us to help us get better,” Windhausen said. Jacobs also felt the pressure as she had to earn her starting spot on the team, something that motivated her to work hard to where she has been in the starting five for the Lakers’ last 17 games.

Along with the encouragement from their teammates, Jacobs and Windhausen also said how the positive attitude from Bruno helped their level of play increase. While during games, whenever they are subbing out and sitting on the bench, assistant coach Erin Skaradek is giving them information on what they are doing well and what they can improve when they go back onto the floor. While Jacobs and Windhausen are toward the top in many different categories, they are the leader in their own right in one category. Windhausen with blocks, averaging 1.7 per game, and Jacobs with three pointers made, averaging just over two per game. Windhausen said how her size, with her 6-foot-2-inch frame, the tallest player on the roster, led her to be so good at swatting the shots of the opposition. She also admitted that having to get stronger for competing at the college level is what was a big factor. While for Jacobs it is simple as just “chucking up the ball,” she has always been comfortable with shooting from behind the arc. As shown by her team-leading 121 three pointer attempts, but with a 33.9 percent success rate from those attempts, it is hard to argue with her aggressive shot selection. They may now be the most productive, statistically speaking, of the freshman class, but there is a feeling that is shared between the both of them: All the freshmen are on the same level as they each bring an asset to the team and to one another. “We all just look to each other, even I look to Zana or Lindsay, who though aren’t starting or getting as much playing time, we are all just really different,” Windhausen said. The togetherness the freshman class has is what will make them interesting to watch in the future. “I feel like we’re still getting to know one another, and how we play,” Jacobs said. “As years go on, I think we’re going to be really good.” Even though the future holds great things for the players their focus is on the four games

that are left in the regular season, which includes one against SUNY Plattsburgh at home on Saturday. The Cardinals currently hold the last playoff spot with a 6-7 conference record. The Lakers are currently 5-9 in the SUNYAC. While discussing the run they are looking to make, Jacobs said she hopes they make it. Windhausen jokingly questioned Jacobs’ use of the word hope. “We’re going to. What are you saying ‘hope'?” Windhausen said. That confidence comes off of the win over SUNY New Paltz, who is currently third in the conference. But according to both Windhausen and Jacobs the confidence has been increasing since then. “It’s just been building, because even though we’ve lost our last couple of games before New Paltz, it’s just we’ve been playing so much better together,” Windhausen said. “It finally clicked on Tuesday. While they have the thought of playoffs in their minds, they also said Bruno has been keeping them in the mentality of taking it one game at a time, something that will be key in the game Friday against SUNY Potsdam. The Bears are at the bottom of the conference standings, but could also upset the Lakers if overlooked. “We definitely look ahead. We definitely have it in our mind we can get into the playoffs. But once we get to the game, we are just thinking about that one game,” Windhausen said. Whether they make the run or how far they go, the future of the program looks to be in good standing. With this class of freshmen, they will look to improve on working together as a team and with the help from their teammates and coaches, only time will tell how good the team can truly be. “With so many of us, we can all improve each other, and get used to how each other plays,” Jacobs said. “At this point in the season, we’re really trying to get to know how we play,” Windhausen said. “It’s just up from here."

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Freshman Alisha Jacobs' (left) comfort level with shooting 3-pointers has led her to become one of the top guards, averaging 11.6 points per game.

Swimming & Diving The men's and women's teams finished up their regular seasons on Saturday at SUNY Geneseo for the Geneseo Invite. The men placed 2nd out of five teams while the women's placed 3rd out of five teams. Senior James Pope and sophomore James Dillon both earned first place finishes with Pope earning it in the 1000-yard freestyle and Dillon in the 500-yard freestyle. Earning the most points for the women was the 400-yard free relay team of freshmen Natalie Brophy, Kaylin Luhrs, junior Emily Doe and senior Sabia Filiaci with a time of 3:59.21 placing fifth in the event.

Freshmen make instant impact

Tuesday, Feb. 10

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

2015-2016

SPORTS Track star looks to leave mark, set tone for future Mid-distance runner wants third trip to NCAA Championships, prepare team for loss of seniors next season Andrew Pugliese Sports Editor apugliese@oswegonian.com Six years ago, Matt Wagenhauser decided to run outdoor track after playing soccer throughout his childhood and today he is an All-American mid-distance runner. He did not just find success on the track but a passion as well. “I played soccer my entire life, and I only started track my junior year of high school,” Wagenhauser said. “So, my first year, I wasn’t that great but I loved it. I loved running and I wanted to get better. I did cross-country the next year to get better and try to improve myself and work on all the little things. It definitely changed my life when I started, and it’s gotten me here today, so it’s pretty important.” Wagenhauser has had success since the beginning in Oswego. In his first invitation at St. Lawrence University in January 2012, he was a part of the first-place men’s distance relay team. Since then, he has been a part of 19 other first-place finishes, and only finished outside the top 10 in 10 of 75 career races. But his growth has been more visible outside of competition. “I was pretty shy my freshman year, so I think I’m more personable,” Wagenhauser said. “I’m definitely a better leader than I was. Not just lead by example anymore, but vocal leadership. I work harder at everything now.” The example Wagenhauser sets is one of consistency and success at the highest levels. In the 400-meter dash, he is a twotime defending SUNYAC outdoor champion, as well as the reigning conference indoor champion. He was also part of the SUNYAC outdoor champion 4x400-meter relay team last spring. On the national stage, he has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in back-to-back seasons. As a sophomore, he qualified in the 400-meter dash. But, he had his best finish last season when he had the fifth fastest time in the nation for the 800-meter dash. Not running the 800 often before, Wagenhauser was surprised at the level of success he had so quickly. However, his head coach, Derek Rousseau had a bit of fore-

Photo provided by Sports Information Lily Choi | The Oswegonian

sight. The original plan was for Wagenhauser to return to nationals for another shot at placing in the 400-meter dash, but in collaboration with Don Masterson, the mid-distance coach, Rousseau decided to take the chance. “Indoors, he ran it once and it looked pretty good,” Rousseau said. “So we thought, ‘Let’s put him in and let him run it outdoors. So, we waited and the goal was still to get him to nationals in the 400. But Don was like, ‘I think he can put up a national qualifier in the [800] in Oneonta in May.’ So, let’s see what happens. Well, he went out and did just that, turned in the fifth-fastest time in the country, and from there, there was no looking back. It was just a natural progression of how athletes work.” There is a train of thought that suggests runners who started competing in their early teens burn out early in college, suggesting Wagenhauser benefited from coming in to run later on. Rousseau believes his senior standout is just starting to see his potential.

But, the coach credits it to a bit more than a late start. “I think, in his regard, that he was progressed from a sprinter to a mid-distance runner has really helped not only prolong his career but we’re just now starting to scratch the surface of it,” Rousseau said. “I think the thing that really helped him was developing speed early on. Because he’s had years and years of speed work, now the endurance that builds up a little bit quicker as you get older has had a chance to coalesce with the other skills he’s developed over the course of a career, and it’s really taken off for him.” The next step for Wagenhauser is a spot on the podium at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this spring. Rousseau thinks the question is not whether or not Wagenhauser will be on the podium, but instead where on the podium he will stand. Rousseau has been coaching at the collegiate level since graduate school. He coached professionals and international runners while at Providence College, and even

though Wagenhauser is not on that level, the Greenlawn-native is among the best the second-year coach has ever worked with. “In terms of desire to compete and ability to excel, he’s up near the top,” Rousseau said. “I’d say he’s in the top five percentile I’ve had the opportunity to work with. In terms of talent, top 10 to 15 percent definitely… Competitively, I think he’s got the fire and the drive to be up on that level, and what he’s been able to accomplish is pretty spectacular.” Wagenhauser is a part of a large senior class that has had a lot of success over its four years. Even though Oswego State is not known for track and field, the class of 2015 has helped put the program in a place to potentially finish in the top three at SUNYACs. A collection of mostly walk-ons, the growth the group has experienced has been both on and off the track. One of Wagenhauser’s friends and co-captains, distance runner Nick Montesano, sees him as an inspiration to not only the freshmen but also the team as a whole. “I’ve known Matt my entire college career,” Montesano said. “He’s a wonderful guy. He’s a wonderful leader, not only in running. He’s been a phenomenal person to hang around, and a great friend.” Wagenhauser has lofty goals, such as returning to nationals, finishing top three at SUNYACs and qualifying more competitors for NCAA Championships. He knows this is their chance to make a mark on Oswego State athletic history and their class is the one with an opportunity to put the school’s program on the map. Wagenhauser, who already holds seven school records, has a chance to add more individual accolades. But, the seniors know the most important focus is on keeping the team going strong once they graduate. “We understand that they’re going to be losing a lot of guys. So, we’ve got to prepare them for that,” Wagenhauser said. “We obviously see who’s going to be a future leader. We focus on getting everybody comfortable and getting everyone to understand what they have now and what they’re going to have in the future. We try to instill in them to always work hard and be smart about every aspect of the sport, and of the school. We do kind of mentor and try to get the young guys ready.”

New women's ice hockey assistant coach brings unique perspective Oswego native, recent Laker graduate returns to campus full-time as Dillon's right-hand man, student Clayton Voltra Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State women’s ice hockey team chose Andrew Lazzaro to be its new assistant coach over winter break. One might ask what Lazzaro can bring to a team so late in its season and so close to playoff ice hockey. “We wanted one earlier on obviously,” said Diane Dillon, head coach. “We had some issues with the whole interviewing process. We wanted one on board all season and we were lucky to bring on Andrew as a part-time assistant in January.” The Lakers are 16-4-1 overall and 123-1 in ECAC Women’s West play this year. Currently in third place behind the No. 2 Plattsburgh Cardinals their conference record is already better than it was last season by two wins. They still have four more games this season against nonconference opponent Stevenson College this weekend and the ECAC West-leading and No. 1 Elmira College Soaring Eagles next week. “I think one of things you see is that teams often take after the traits of the personalities of their coaching staff and Laz is a pretty level-headed guy,” Dillon said. “I think you’re seeing that in our team. We are not panicking. We might win a game in the third period, but we know we are going to come out and work hard in that last 20 minutes. We try to create a calm atmosphere for the players and so far it is working.” The women’s ice hockey team is not the only Oswego State team that Lazzaro is a part of. He has been helping out with the baseball team’s camps since the spring of 2009. He also played for the baseball team when he attended Oswego State. Lazzaro has women’s ice hockey coaching experience under his belt as well. He has had some experience being the assistant head coach for the Oswego High School’s women’s hockey team. He started coaching them in the winter of 2009. He also played three years of hockey during his time at the high school, and even played for the Oswego State club hockey team before going to baseball. “It is a lot different,” Lazzaro said. “It is more structured. It is a faster game.

Some things I wasn’t used to. The way the girls carry themselves and go about their pre-game rituals was similar to when I played baseball. Being on the bench for games is extremely neat. The girls work extremely hard. My first couple of games, I was trying to figure out my role and then I just went from there.” Lazzaro also has worked specifically on goalie techniques at the goalie clinics he worked at from 2006 to 2008. “I have actually been to some of the clinics he worked,” junior captain Tori Trovato said. “I was right there when he was coaching us, shooting on me when I was little. He definitely helps out. He has a great shot for goalies. He can pick his spots and he really helps us improve.” On top of the coaching job, Lazzaro has re-enrolled at Oswego State as an accounting major. “I definitely have a full plate right now, but it is something I definitely enjoy,” Lazzaro said. “I enjoy coming here. I enjoy being around the team. I enjoy going to games. It is something I love to do.” Dillon is approaching win number 100 for her career. She was the ECAC Women’s West Coach of the Year in her very first season. The team has improved dramatically over the past four seasons. They won their first ever post-season game in 2012. Last season, the Lakers recorded their best overall record in program history, 17-9-1, and now second-best ECAC Women’s West finish of 10-5-1. “It is an honor to be working with Coach Dillon,” Lazzaro said. “To take a team this young all by herself and turn it into what they have become has been absolutely amazing. They were 7-2 when I came along. Coach Dillon deserves a lot of credit. She has been right there for me since my first day and is willing to help me in any way possible. The team has been outstanding with welcoming me aboard. They have been absolutely great in that regard. And it has been a privilege to be working with them. They’re a great bunch of girls who make it so easy to come to work every day.” This Laker team is very young compared to last year’s team. Bridget Smith is the only senior on the team this season compared to last season’s total of nine. “I think one of the things that makes the transition easier is that Laz is so close

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

B33

Athletes of the Week

ALEXA ARAMBURU

Women's Ice Hockey Sophomore, Glen Rock, N.J. Aramburu had six points in a 2-0 home-and-home against William Smith College this weekend. The sophomore more than doubled her goals on the year, recording four between the two games. In Friday's away contest, Aramburu scored Oswego's fourth goal, adding insurance to a 3-2 lead. She also notched an assist on the first goal as well. In the follwing day's game, Aramburu recorded her first ever hat-trick, helping Oswego defeat the Herons 5-1. The Glen Rock native also picked up an assist for four points on the afternoon.

SECOND LINE

Men's Ice Hockey Fr./So.,/Sr. Recording an unprecedented 21 points combined, the line consisting of Mitchell Herlihey, Shawn Hulshof and Mike Montagna had a career weekend. Hulshof, who accounted for nine of the 21 points, set a personal career-high points in a game with five. The sophomore was the playmaker for the line, recording four assists against Morrisvillle State in the first game of the weekend. Herlihey also had a great weekend with five points in the 6-2 victory over the Mustangs. Montagna picked up four points in Friday's contest that included two goals.

On Sunday, wrestling’s freshman Tyler Silverthorn picked up his fourthstraight win in his last four duals with the 10-7 victory over SUNY Cortland’s Mike Beckwith in their 157-pound weight class bout.

18:

Photo provided by Sports Information Andrew Lazzaro's previous hockey coaching job was as the assistant head coach at Oswego High School.

to their age,” Dillon said. “He has been to Lanigan and has sat in those lecture halls.

He brings a different perspective like all assistant coaches. He does an excellent job with our offense and he picks up things that Coach Dillon doesn't see herself."

Lizzy Marks, junior assistant cpatain

I haven’t had that experience. I believe that it is the job for the assistant coach to know what is going on with the team. In order for him to do that, the team has to trust him and I believe Laz has done a very good job in building that.” Although Lazzaro was hired so late in the season, the team has had a favorable reaction to the new addition. “He brings a different perspective like all assistant coaches,” junior assistant captain Lizzy Marks said. “He does an excellent job with our offense and he picks up on things that Coach Dillon doesn’t see herself.” Lazzaro graduated from Oswego State in 2013. The team has seen that as an advantage. “He only graduated two years ago so he isn’t that removed from the game,” Trovato said. “Even though he played baseball, he still has a lot of hockey knowledge and he can really relate to us as athletes which is really valuable to have as an assistant coach.” Since Lazzaro has joined the team, the Lakers are 9-2-1 and they have won their last five games.

Senior Nick Reinsdorf assisted in getting 18 of the men’s track and field 72 points in which they came in fourth place in the Golden Eagle Invite at Brockport, N.Y. on Saturday. Reinsdorf was part of the distance medley relay team that took the top overall spot in the event that included graduate student Damian Archie, senior Brandon Comden and sophomore Ben Griffin. Reinsdorf also picked up another eight points when he placed second in the 800-meter dash.

20:

Women’s ice hockey freshman Olivia Ellis scored a goal and an assist between the Lakers two games this past weekend against William Smith College, increasing her point total on the season to 20. The record for most points in a season by a Laker is 24 and with four regular season and potential playoff games left, Ellis has her sights set of being put in the history books in her first season at Oswego State.

Campus Rec Report

Gabriela Santos | Campus Recreation The indoor soccer league started with competition in Men’s Recreation between Amateur FC and Versace.

Kelsey Blair Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com It was another exciting week in intramurals as the indoor soccer league started on Sunday. An intense game played out in the Men’s Recreational League between SAE and Zeecon and the Pinpoints. In the last minutes of the game, Zeecon and the Pinpoints pulled within one point of SAE, who was ahead the entire game. It looked like Zeecon and the Pinpoints might be on the verge of a comeback. However, SAE was quick to answer with two goals of its own. Despite SAE coming out on top by a final score of 6-3, the competition was tough and each team had a player earn a hat trick for the game, those being Casey Hogan from SAE and Kevin Shaw from Zeecon and the Pinpoints. The other Men’s Recreational was a nailbiter, with Versace just edging out the Amateur FC, 6-5. The Men’s Competitive game was an easy victory for We Always Finish, defeating Secret Fire, 10-5. During CoRec Recreational, there were two close games. Keating’s Krew out-scored The Fat and the Furious, 4-3, while The Brody Bunch beat Balls Deep, 4-3. In broomball this past week, Broom Goes the Dynamite edged out the Iceholes in overtime, 1-0. In another close game, Your M & M beat the Sons of Pitches in the final minutes of the game, 1-0. The Fresh

Prince of Briere topped the Ice Cats, 4-0, all four goals being scored by Quentin Mariano. Meanwhile, The Crimson Panthers ousted the Ballghazi in another landslide victory, winning 4-0, with Dylan Holden scoring all four of the team’s goals. The Boheim’s Boogers dominated this past week in men’s basketball, winning both of their games. They beat out the Premature Shooters on Wednesday, 58-44. On Thursday they took an early lead over Size Don’t Matter and never gave it up, winning 48-34. Andrew Malaney and Matthew Placito came through big for The Boheim’s Boogers, both of them consistently scoring throughout the game to keep their team on top. In the rest of men’s basketball this week, there were two blowouts, The Jellyfish dominated Ball is Life, 71-35, and The Dirty Flamingos topped the Ball Handlers, 67-32. In a slightly closer game, Pippin Ain’t Easy beat out the Purple Cobras, 57-43. Below The Rim was able to cruise to a win over SplashBros by a score of 56-37. Harlem Grounds beat Oswego State Soccer, 73-37, and Lee Hall Legends beat Let’s Get Tropical, 81-46. While, in their earlier game in the week, Let’s Get Tropical just beat Hold the Mayo, 50-44. Meanwhile in CoRec, The C Boys ousted The Ballers, 75-51, on Wednesday. In a series of close games on Thursday, The RSS won convincingly over The A Team, 44-3.

SPORTS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

B34

OPINION HARPER LEE RETURNS WITH NEW NOVEL

B?6 Photo provided by Wikimedia

OPINION

VOLUME LXXXI ISSUE II • www.oswegonian.com

“Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...” -First Amendment

THE OSWEGONIAN The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935

GUIDELINES

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). 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.

SPORTS UNDERCLASSMEN

CONTRIBUTE TO SURGE

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

STAFF EDITORIAL

CUOMO MODESTLY UPS BUDGET SUNY is one of the largest public education systems in the country, but if Gov. Andrew Cuomo checked the DegreeWorks for his own program he’d see that its outlook was bleak. The 1.7 percent increase Cuomo has proposed in his budget plan for the state does not reflect how he publicly holds the university system on a pedestal. The governor has repeatedly referred to the SUNY system as the crown jewel of the state. Under the proposal, Cuomo allocated $3.4 billion annually for higher education needs. Meanwhile, students are seeing state tuition increase $300 a year, an initiative started in 2011. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher asked the state for an increase of 17.5 percent to fund NYSUNY 2020, a plan to increase the number of students graduating from SUNY by nearly 57,000 students. The program has already been able to add 520 additional instructional staff, as well as creating more than 100 new degree programs across the system.

The additional funding requested would help this program continue to expand the SUNY system. Besides simple advancements to the educational aspects of the system, Zimpher’s request asks for funding to update buildings on all 64 campuses in SUNY. Oswego State’s own campus is working on renovations as Tyler Hall is currently being updated, with plans to renovate other academic buildings in the near future. This is not a unique scenario for our port-city university, as many campuses across the state are looking to upgrade the classrooms where their students learn. Without proper funding, the SUNY system will not remain the crown jewel of the Dark Prince’s empire. Cuomo seems to almost be on a crusade to change education in New York and whether you agree with his plans or not, the argument that more funding is necessary holds true. Underfunding will only lead to college campus seeking ways to cut corners at the expense of the students. In addition, there is a feeling sweeping the country that college educations cost more

than they should. While SUNY has quite a reasonable tuition, coming in under $8,000, this is not an excuse to push more of the costs on students, especially since most students do not have the ability to fully pay for college on their own, which is no surprise why many students leave their education or forgo higher education altogether to earn a paycheck.

Cuomo seems to almost be on a crusade to change education in New York and whether you agree with his plans or not, the argument that more funding is necessary holds true.” If Cuomo and the state legislature really want SUNY to remain a crown jewel, they should reconsider how much funding is provided for their students.

IN THE OFFICE

What do you think about Oswego State being number two in on-campus drug arrests in the nation?

Valentine’s Day can be oversaturated

Love is more than government-inspired holidays, should be treated as such

“It really does not look good for the campus and it makes it seem like drugs overshadow all of the good things we have here.” Robert Pagan junior, broadcasting

“I think it’s disappointing that there’s that many drugs in our school system. On the other side, I’m glad that we’re making that many arrests.” Catherine Danielewicz sophomore, broadcasting and mass comunications “That’s definitely not good. I feel as though something should be done to make us a little bit more reputable.” Khalil Waldron junior, cinema and screen studies

“We’re really limited to what we can do. There’s no leeway like, ‘Oh we can go out and do all these things.’ We’re stuck.” Amanda Perri junior, graphic design

“I think a lot of it has to do with the community... like it’s a small town and there’s not a lot of things to do on and off campus.” Alexandrea Zoccali sophomore, music

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

Ronel Puelo Laker Review Editor rpuello@oswegonian.com I normally hate any op-ed that starts with “It’s that time of year again….” And yet I was at a loss as to how to start talking about this week leading up to Valentine’s Day. Yes, the most corporately overblown non-holiday (Sorry, Flag Day!) of them all is finally here. I’m currently in a loving relationship with a wonderful young woman, and even I couldn’t help but grimace and curse under my breath when I saw decorations of chubby-winged little children being hung up around campus.

Every holiday has its grinches and scrooges, but none like the ones that come out on Valentine’s Day. I have sympathy deep down; no one wants relationships and love flaunted in their faces when they don’t have it or to be told they are not as valued because they are alone on one specific day of the year. Here’s the deal, though: If you’re feeling down and dejected for not having a date this Saturday, you’re buying too much into something that was made up by card companies to sell more candy before Easter. That’s not to say I’m some complete blackhearted cynic about Valentine’s Day, I just think it promotes a very narrow idea of what love is

Photo provided by Amber DeGrace Valentine’s Day is simply about material objects.

because it’s all about profit-margins and the bottom line for retailers. Love is more than buying some red-tinted stuffed animal with a balloon and some heart-shaped candy for someone you care about. Love isn’t about buying presents because you’re socially expected to do that one day a year. Love isn’t about getting the best table for two at the best restaurant in town. Love is bigger than these monetized constraints; love is constant and fluid. Love is watching awful movies with your roommates while you wait for your delivery to come. Love is calling up an old teacher and letting them know how much they helped you grow into the individual you are now. Love is helping a neighbor dig out their car in an unplowed parking lot, even if you miss the bus to class. Yes, love can even be a warm cup of tea and a full Netflix queue all to yourself in bed one night. So even if you don’t have someone special to hold on to and go home with on Saturday night, don’t ever think that you aren’t loved or that you can’t show someone else that you love them. Valentine’s Day is, of course, just one day and that shouldn’t stop you from showing people you love them all year round.

Bruce Jenner’s life adjustment

Said to be making significant life transition, Jenner can live more peacefully Jenn Shuron Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com As a nation, we have started on a continuum to becoming more accepting of different lifestyles. Differing sexual orientations and those who are struggling with their identity have been most prominent in mainstream media. Though acceptance is at a high point, there are still many obstacles for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or “LGBT” community, to overcome. Bruce Jenner, stepfather of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian and ex-husband of Kris Jenner, has been appearing frequently in the news and tabloids this month. Jenner is said to be transitioning from being a male to becoming a female. There have been talks of this for quite some time, but Jenner has yet to officially come forward regarding these rumors. There are plans set in place for Jenner to speak openly about his transition in an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, which is set to air in May, according to CBS News. Jenner is an Olympic gold medalist and television personality starring in the popular reality series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Jenner is constantly in the public eye and now with these buzzing rumors of this male to female transition, he has the power to transform the lives of those struggling to accept themselves as well as others to accept them. There are a plethora of television

shows involving gay relationships, as well as transgender characters and actors. The television sitcom “Will and Grace” brought the gay lifestyle into public light in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, which gave insight into an otherwise hushed subject. In 2015, we have shows such as Amazon Prime’s “Transparent” and Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black,” which both feature either transgender characters or actors. Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender author and bestseller, told USA Today “The more examples we see of transgender people living their lives openly and without shame, the better.” Public figures and celebrities who choose to come out to the public can inspire those struggling to transition or come out. When people see celebrities going through similar tribulations, there’s a sense of humanity and relatability. Jenner has the opportunity to tell his story in a way most transgender individuals cannot, through media. By making transgender lifestyles prominent in media, tolerance and understanding have the potential to become apparent to those who may not completely understand or accept the lifestyle. Not only can Jenner advocate for trans and LGBT rights, but he can put his fortune into play as well. Jenner could donate money to struggling LGBT centers, as well as homeless shelters for youth that have been ostracized from their families due to their gay or transgender identity. According to The New York Times, current transgender advocates have de-

clined numerous interviews because they feel it is wrong to make any assumptions regarding Jenner ’s lifestyle, but that “his prominence has provided

Photo provided by jla0379 Bruce Jenner has the ability to make a difference.

momentum for a continuing national discussion on the topic.” Given time, Jenner could become the new face of the transgender community, helping to spread tolerance as well as awareness. Jenner should not take this opportunity to educate lightly, and should encourage others to accept themselves for who they are and show that even the most publicly recognized individuals have secrets as well.

OPINION

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Brian Williams’ lie revealed Tip of NBC comes down hard on anchor after fraud the hat... Nick Brown Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com

NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams has been caught in a lie. Williams’ defense is that he misremembered what happened, but don’t buy into that. Williams is just lying about lying. Since March 2003, Williams has told several different stories recounting an event in Iraq in which a helicopter, one hour ahead of the one Williams was in, had to make an emergency landing after being struck by an RPG. His helicopter actually had an ordinary landing. Williams’ story has changed a lot since 2003. He has claimed to witness the helicopter in front of his get struck with the RPG. He has claimed to be in the helicopter that was struck. None of this is true. Brian Williams was trying to share an experience that was not his. Hey, I’ve lied before. I do not have the

Photo provided by The Peabody Awards Williams will be forced to gain trust back over time.

platform Williams does though. There comes a higher level of integrity when being a nationally known journalist. He’s a human being though. I still respect Williams for coming forward, apologizing and admitting to his lies. No, wait—he didn’t even do that. Williams brought the story to light again after bringing retired veteran Sgt. Maj. Tim Tepak to a New York Rangers hockey game two weeks ago. At the ceremony, Williams recalled the story, this time going with the version where he was in the helicopter. After being exposed by the people actually involved in the incident, Williams admitted he made a mistake recalling the events. Williams claimed his memory was fogged and he could not remember which helicopter he was on. Seriously, you don’t remember if you were in the helicopter that got hit by a grenade or not? That is absolutely unbelievable. I refuse to believe he simply mixed up some facts. I would be able to distinguish if I was in a helicopter that was nearly blown out of the sky. Williams added, “In an effort to honor a veteran, I made a mistake.” Do you see what he did there? He played the veteran card. Good for him. Except he’s told the story a little differently over 14 times in the past 12 years. He can’t try to spin this into an isolated incident where the good he was doing overshadowed the ridiculous lie you told. This is not a political debate. I don’t like seeing people play this off as if Williams did nothing wrong. I don’t like Jon Stewart brushing over the incident as an outlet to bash the media coverage of the War in Iraq. Williams needs to be held accountable. I lean left, but Williams and my fairly similar political beliefs are not a reason for me to come to his defense. He lied. Then he lied about lying. If you want to earn the trust of your audience back, Brian, the first step is to own up to your lie. On Tuesday night, NBC announced they would be suspending Williams for six months without pay.

Vaccines play crucial role in medicine Emily Dougherty Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com There have been a slew of opinions on getting vaccinated. These debates have been based upon the argument over whether vaccines help or harm your body. With the outbreak of measles in California, people are overreacting and overthinking the purpose of vaccines and how they really affect your health.

Instead of searching the Internet for every possible answer on vaccines, our nation should focus on helping themselves out and their own children. We have been using vaccines since 1796, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Why should we start panicking now about what they’re doing to our bodies? Obviously they have worked for quite a while now, so I don’t understand why people are choosing to go without them, and by doing so, putting themselves and others at risk. Schools have the right to require students

Photo by James Gathany With vaccines becoming available shortly after a disease is discovered, it would be foolish not to obtain one.

Vaccines have prevented over 6 million deaths every year worldwide, according to CNN. They also improve your immunity to the targeted disease and allow your body to fight any foreign viruses. In 2009, the H1N1 virus captivated the nation’s attention with citizens panicking for their lives about catching it. But of course, the vaccine to make your body immune to H1N1 was created just months later, according to WebMD. Over 28 million adults and 18 million children received the vaccine, allowing for better control over the widespread H1N1. When vaccines are within our reach, why not receive the ones you need to easily prevent the spread of these diseases?

to enter with the needed vaccines. If nobody received required vaccines, there would be an outbreak of viruses and diseases not only in schools, but it would later potentially widespread across the nation. These outbreaks would create even more unwanted drama and issues in our schooling systems. Personally, I chose to get the required vaccines that my doctor recommends. I have never known anyone who has had an issue with receiving a certain vaccine. I think most people are overreacting to what they hear on the TV and what they read on the Internet. An online influence about anything creates a larger issue because one never knows what’s true and what is not.

◊...to journalists not providing the truth. ◊...to the wind for continuing to pierce people’s skin campus-wide.

◊...to SA for coming out with a discount card for students. ◊...to Jon Stewart for wanting to spend more time with his family. ◊...to the women’s hockey team for becoming nationally ranked.

◊...to vending machines for having minds of their own.

Wag of the finger...

‘Cuse imposes self-ban on postseason University excludes men’s basketball team from ACC, NCAA tournaments Nick Brown Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Syracuse University has self-imposed a ban on postseason play for the 2015 men’s basketball team. The ban comes as a result of player violations not being appropriately handled from the years 2007 to 2012, according to ESPN. Players had been allowed to play despite failed drug tests. Someone has to answer for the Syracuse basketball program disregarding NCAA rules. However, the young men playing on a team that did not violate any rules should not be the ones held accountable. In a joint statement, three Syracuse players, including Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije said, “We are all tremendously disappointed that we are going to miss out on playing in the postseason based on issues that do not involve us.” This is exactly the point. Christmas is a growing star. The NCAA tournament provides an audience beyond passionate college hoops fans. Because of this ban, Christmas will not have the opportunity to potentially showcase his ability on a bigger stage. In all fairness, Syracuse has had a mediocre season and was not poised to make a lot of noise in the postseason. If a ban has to happen, this was one of the better years to enact it. Normally an elite basketball program, Syracuse has stumbled to a pedestrian 15-8 record. This takes away from the severe illogicality of the ban though. Syracuse still has 10 games left to play, five against teams that are currently ranked top 10 in the nation. In

other words, Syracuse ends the season with a brutally tough stretch. Because of the ban, the incentive to leave it all on the court has been lost. Syracuse players should be excited to play against a plethora of top tier teams while holding onto their slim postseason chances. However, they are now a team with nothing to play for, aside from personal pride for each player. I want Syracuse to turn the ban into passion. I want them to play their best basketball of the year over the final stretch. However, with the zero chance of making the NCAA tournament looming over the players’ heads, uninspired basketball should be expected.

Syracuse faculty athletics representative Rick Burton said the ban is a way to “close this particular chapter and look towards the future.” No, Rick. Punishing the young men on this year’s team does not lessen the offenses of former teams. It merely continues to taint the present. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim also expressed support for the punishment. Everyone is sympathetic toward this year’s players, however, no one within the basketball operations is standing up for them. No one is fighting for them. That is troubling.

Photo provided by Darry2385 S.U.’s season may have been one to forget for fans, big man Christmas’ breakout season is shorted

ISIS claims U.S. hostage dead as result of Jordanian airstrike Emily Cole Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com The Islamic State, more commonly known as ISIS or ISIL, claims that U.S. hostage Kayla Mueller was killed by a Jordanian airstrike in Syria on Feb. 6. The airstrike from Jordan was a result of ISIS releasing footage of the group burning alive the Jordanian pilot, Lt. Moath al-Kasasbeh, who they captured. On Feb. 6, ISIS posted online that Mueller was killed in the city of Ar-Raqqah with a photo of the dilapidated building where Mueller was reportedly being held. The photo has been subject to suspicion. The building does not appear as if it was hit by an airstrike, and there is no sign of smoke or any pieces of burned debris. ISIS also claims that none of their mili-

tants died in the airstrike and Mueller was alone in the building. This statement, along with the picture, has led many to question if ISIS are telling the truth. In the past when ISIS has claimed that one of their hostages has died, they have released an image or video of the body. Even though it was disturbing to see the graphic detail, people knew that ISIS was telling the unfortunate truth. This time is quite different. No one knows for a fact if Mueller is dead or alive. There may be a tactic to ISIS’s actions. CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes said it could be propaganda, while Interior Minister of Jordan Hussein Al-Majali called it a PR stunt. Both of these claims hold some degree of truth. ISIS has always shown the world what its hostages who have died. Why would this time be any different?

ISIS’s propaganda could be to gain money, the release of one of their fighters that the U.S. has in custody or for the U.S. to react in the same way that Jordan did. It is hard to tell what’s next for ISIS. It seems like nothing is off limits or too inhumane for them. I believe they will try to keep outdoing themselves until they get a reaction from a large country like the U.S. ISIS wants the U.S. to go to war with them so they can kill more Americans. However, until ISIS can be stopped, they are going to always be thinking of new ways to try and spark reactions. ISIS is a very powerful yet terrible group that needs to be handled in a delicate manner. I have faith our government will make the best decision for the U.S. as a whole.

Skipping classes can turn into failing out of college Emily Stasko Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com The early mornings and late nights are a constant struggle among college students. It can be tiresome and painfully draining to get through the week. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that skipping class is the way to go about catching up on sleep. It is easy to skip class. Parents are no longer telling you to get up and get ready for school. It is now our responsibility as young adults to realize the importance of school and attending classes. Skipping classes is becoming a serious problem

for our generation now that nearly 45 percent of 2 million college students aren’t graduating because of not attending classes according to studies done by class 120, as reported on by news outlets including NBC and CBS news. Skipping class has never been an option for me. I know that if I didn’t attend class there would be no way for me to fully comprehend the material being taught. There are obvious reasons that college students might skip out on a class or two. Drinking and partying can steer us toward this mindset of, “It’s only one day of classes.” However, when one day becomes one day a week, we find ourselves in trouble. It is hard to want to do well when you are

not interested. Therefore, students believe he or she can learn the material on his or her own without a professor. Though I agree some teachers are not meant to teach, no matter how brilliant they are, I do think that it is our responsibility to attend class. It is not our job to decide if a professor is a teacher or professional researcher. It is our responsibility to learn and graduate with the highest amount of knowledge possible. I do acknowledge the fact that not all college students see it this way. College becomes a form of survival of the fittest. To survive you need to work hard and attend class.

Harper Lee to release sequel to classic narrative ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Legendary author plans to deliver previously shelved second novel over 50 years since last book was released Cherilyn Beckles Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Whether you are in middle school, high school or college, Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1960) is a timeless classic. Utilizing the unique perspective of a young girl not only added to the story, but brought it together as a whole. The theme of racial injustice and courage made Lee’s novel one of the top selling novels of all time. Now, over 50 years later, the

question is why now create a sequel to such a powerful book? The truth is Lee actually wrote her new novel “Go Set a Watchman” before “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This news had literary fans going crazy, especially since Lee once claimed “I will never publish another novel because once you’re at the top you can only go down.” Her novel “Go Set a Watchman” is expected to be a top seller when it is released on July 14, 2015. This novel is said to have been set aside by Lee’s editor back in the ‘50s when it was written and then lost. It was recently

rediscovered by her lawyer in fall 2014 and is expected to be a 304-page novel with no revisions or changes. Around 2 million copies will be published through HarperCollins, Heinemann and Penguin Random House. Even though she will not be able to go on tours to promote her book due to her health, it is not surprising that it is currently the most talked about novel in the literary world. This novel is a special one because it is essentially a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird.” An adult Scout Finch goes to visit her father, Atticus Finch, in Alabama almost 20

years after the events of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Scout will be facing personal and political obstacles throughout the novel as she tries to connect and learn more about her father and, ultimately, the place that she once called home. The novel will also have some of the characters from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” so fans are curious as to who will be featured and if they have changed the characters’ personalities in any way. Sadly, it is believed that Lee is not fully in control of the release of this novel and that her friends and family are worried about her, espe-

cially since the death of her beloved older sister Alice occurred only two months ago. She may not be in the right mindset, or she may just be releasing the novel in honor of her sister, but I believe that this book release is not only a smart career move, but unexpected and exciting. I do worry that people may judge her book more harshly because of how great her first novel was, and in the future this new novel might be a lost memory. It is often hard to do two great things in a row and, in Lee’s case, she waited too long to release it.

INSIDE

Best of Netflix: TV dates for this Valentine’s Day

Fifty Shades of Grey’s soundtrack sizzles

Academy Award predictions: who’ll take home gold

FRIDAY Feb. 13, 2015

Laker Review The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Events Calendar Friday, Feb. 13 through Friday, Feb. 20

ART EXHIBITIONS: “IDENTITY TIDES” & “SEARCHING” Date: Friday, Feb. 13 Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Second floor, Penfield Library ART EXHIBITION: “FANTASTIC ARCHITECTURES” Date: Friday, Feb. 13 Time: 12 - 5 p.m. Location: Oswego State Downtown, 186 W. First St. MAARIFA PROGRAM Date: Saturday, Feb. 14 Time: 12 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Rooms 201, 208, 210 & 211, Marano Campus Center MOVIE: “LOLA RENNT” Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18 Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Location: Auditorium, Room 132, Marano Campus Center CONCERT: BRITISH VOCAL ENSEMBLE VOICE Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18 Time: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Location: Ballroom, Sheldon Hall ART EXHIBITION OPENING: “APARTHEID AND IDENTITY: RACE · PLACE · BEING” Date: Thursday, Feb. 19 Time: 5- 8 p.m. Location: SUNY Oswego Metro Center, The Atrium, 2 Clinton Square, Syracuse

LAKER REVIEW

Best of Netflix: Not-so-lonely-hearts club edition Stephanie Mirambeaux Copy Editor laker@oswegonian.com Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and a lot of people are brooding at not having someone to spend it with. But, with a brilliant matchmaker like Netflix, who needs a date? Something to look out for are shows with strong female leads who don’t need a valentine and find self-worth in defying expectations and redefining women’s roles in television. An intriguing story about just that, “Revenge” focuses on Emily Thorne, played by Emily Van Camp (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”), a woman who exacts payback on certain Hamptonite elite for their involvement in framing her father for funneling money to a terrorist organization. With an intelligent hacker as a sidekick, she infuses herself into her enemies’ lives as a young socialite who courts the son of her worst and most powerful adversaries in order to bring them down. Jon Bokenkamp’s “The Blacklist” pulls off the FBI working with a criminal dynamic very well. Raymond

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Photo provided by solarmovie.com

“Red” Reddington, (James Spader, “Lincoln”) is on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, and agrees to exchange information on some of the world’s worst criminals, but only on the request that he works with Elizabeth Keen ( Megan Boone, “Robot Chicken”) It’s Keen and Red’s relationship that steal the show. She’s a rookie agent barely out of Quantico, with a good heart and he’s a mastermind criminal with a calm demeanor and willingness to kill. She’s fearless

and vulnerable all the same but she doesn’t back down. As powerhouse lawyer, Olivia Pope, Kerry Washington (“Django Unchained”), brings the White House and those surrounding it to its knees, each episode in “Scandal” revolves around Pope and Associates cleaning up somebody’s scandalous behavior, whether it’s a murder or a sex tape. On top of all that, Pope is having an affair with the President of the United States all the while struggling to keep her feelings separate from

her work as politicians keep trying to hire her. Something that these shows do really well is they have strong female leads with agency who can be sexy and devious; flirtatious and intelligent. They are all strong-minded and independent women who don’t need, but enjoy the company, of men, and could reduce the President into a whiny, love-sick mess. These women are what we secretly wish we could be. We can live vicariously through on lonely Valentine’s Days or just days when we want to take charge.

Monroe would have more mainstream attention. With the release of “One My Way Pt. 2,” Monroe attempts, yet again, to become a force in the industry. Overall, Monroe’s sophomore follow-up to his “Pt. 1” EP will more than likely miss the mark. Its frivolous attempts at intimacy and smoothness are ruined by a constant feeling of industry-churned moments and empty satisfaction. Like a cardboard cutout of Justin Timberlake or Usher, Monroe’s latest installment is a smudged reflection of far better music. On “Soulmate,” Monroe allows a dance-like beat to take over his vocals throughout. Perhaps the only place where his EP is able to create sustenance, “Soulmate” which is like a

David Guetta song; it has little meaning but you can’t help but get up and dance to it. The second track off of the EP featuring Sean Kingston, is titled “F****** Up.” And where hyperauto-tuning can be seen as an entertaining and party-like addition to artists like Flo-Rida, T-Pain, and Ke$ha, Monroe’s simply does not work. With no grasping moments or popdance crossover, “F****** Up” won’t fulfill anyone’s wants or needs musically. On “Bye Bye,” listeners will find a track that is as tedious as watching a toddler learn how to speak. Like a Backstreet Boys reunion, “Bye Bye” is unimpressive and annoying. Its 2006 lyrical composition and fundamentally basic elaboration

fails to reach any sort of climax or any sort of dancablity. Monroe shows himself to be a hyperproduced version of a pop star. Maybe it’ll pay the rent, but it certainly won’t garner him much critical success. For an artist who has preached in an interview with Celebuzz that he is a “real singer,” something about “On My Way Pt. 2” seems inherently false. With there being artists who are far better, and far more interesting existing already, Asher Monroe is worth the skip. While Asher Monroe’s EP may be called “On My Way” listeners will more than likely respond with “hopefully not.” Perhaps Monroe should stick to his other creative pursuits, like acting or dancing, where he doesn’t have to inundate his listeners in superfluous and overproduced pop beats.

Weekly EP Revue: Asher Monroe on his way out

Riley Ackley Promotional Director rackley@oswegonian.com

Cover image provided by notablemusic.net

Photo provided by fanpop.com

When ex-V Factory front man and part-time actor Asher Monroe began releasing solo singles, he shot into viral fame. With over a million views on multiple YouTube videos and songs cowritten by superstars like Ryan Tedder, the actor and singer became a niche hit. Teen girls drawn to the young artist would seek to make him a household name. His friends within the music industry would as well. With artists like Sean Kingston and Chris Brown featured on his various tracks, you would think

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Art exhibition showcases student talent, collaboration

Alexander Simone Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

The “Fantastic Architecture” exhibit at 192 W. First St. on Friday Jan. 30 was the exciting debut for many Oswego State art students. The work this year featured a showcase of 16 pieces from last semester ’s Concepts of Design I class and was selected from the classrooms of Mary Pierce, Seely Cardone and Rick Metzgar. “This is my first time being in a legit gallery,” said Vanessa Minges, one of Metzgar ’s students “I’ve been in a lot of shows but they weren’t this awesome.” The instructors undoubtedly love hearing such enthusiasm from students, and it was abundant at the gallery. The resources utilized ranged from colored pencils and acrylic paints, to styrofoam and tissue paper. However, the creativity was not just in the variety of supplies, but in the concepts as well. “It was fun,” studio major Emily Clarke said. “I’m a 3-D artist so I like to incorporate a 3-D element to my design in 2-D because it just makes it that much more powerful.”

As with Clarke, many students chose to approach the project in portrait mode, using colors or shapes and lines to define the third dimension. One exception was the work of Gabrielle Darling, which used a combination of landscape orientation and highly contrasting colors to display aspects of floral and architectural design. “This course is a foundation course for us,” Metzgar said. “Everyone takes this course as part of our department.” Another student, Claire Wadja wanted to do more than just create an illusion.

“I like to experiment with different things.” Wadja said. Wadja took a literal approach to the term “3-D.” She used styrofoam to make her project actually jump out of the page and then relied on color and shape to keep everything together. Each piece had some aspect that differentiated it from the rest. For some it was the aforementioned change in orientation, while others chose to demonstrate the largest dynamic color range possible. The lone unifying factor between all of the work was how different they were. This was due, in large part,

Alexander Simone | The Oswegonian Vanessa Minges (left) and Professor Rick Metzgar (right) at the student art exhibition.

It was fun working

with Mary because she kind of let you go free, get your artistic license in there. She left it open for the medium, so that was really fun to play Alexander Simone | The Oswegonian Claire Wadja (left) and Professor Seely Cardone (right) in front of student art.

with.” - Emily Clarke

to the amount of creative mobility the instructors granted to students. “It was fun working with Mary because she kind of let you go free, get your artistic license in there,” Clarke said. “She left it open for the medium, so that was really fun to play with.” Observing the final products from the students was truly a sight to behold, the chance to see top abstraction pieces from Oswego’s art department. The exhibit will be on display until March 6 at 192 W. First Street.

Fifth Harmony falls flat, disappointing debut on ‘Reflection’ Heather Clark Asst. Laker Review Editor hclark@oswegonian.com

American pop band Fifth Harmony released their latest album “Reflection” on Jan. 30. Made famous by the popular television show, “The X Factor,” Fifth Harmony consists of Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Dinah-Jane Hansen, Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui. Originally, all five girls had entered “The X Factor” as soloists but were not featured on the show. It was not until Simon Cowell’s boot camp that the group qualified for “The X Factor.” Fifth Harmony released their EP “Better Together,” which was released in October 2013. “Reflection” is Fifth Harmony’s debut full-length album. The group recorded all of the tracks for the album in 2014 and the album was released in January 2015.

“There are fewer pop influences, but they’re definitely still in there,” Cabello said in a recent interview. “There are a little more urban and hip-hop influences, because we dance more now and there’s a lot more girl empowerment too. I feel like we’ve kind of grown and matured since the “Better Together” EP. That era was very, very close to our hearts, but we’ve moved on. We’re really excited for the fans to hear the new stuff.” Girl empowerment, the running theme behind most of the albums tracks, is shown most emphatically in the first single released off the album “Bo$$.” Debuting at No. 43 on big name charts, “Bo$$” is highly dance -oriented with strange supposedly empowering lyrics. While the beat is infectious and makes you want to dance, the lyrics are odd and contain references to Kim Kardashian’s love life, Michelle Obama and Oprah. While some of the lyrics are actually about being confident in what one does, the rest of the lyrics are excessive, re-

petitive and forgettable. The second single off the album, and by far the catchiest, is “Sledgehammer.” Released on Oct. 28, “Sledgehammer” peaked at No. 21 on the top charts. This song is co-written by Meghan Trainor of “All About that Bass” fame. “Sledgehammer” is very fast-paced, fun and danceable. The lyrics are highly relatable to someone who has ever truly felt love. It’s about the feeling one gets when he or she is around that special someone. “Them Girls Be Like” is the worst song on the whole album. While the music behind the lyrics is exotic and familiar to other pop artists, the lyrics are highly repetitive and difficult to get past. They are a cohesive thought, but they are not creative at all. While the lyrics are quite relatable to girls pretty much anywhere, they are not executed well. “Reflection” by Fifth Harmony is filled with upbeat energy and danceable hooks. But it is also filled with horrible lyrics. The girls of Fifth Harmony have

Photo provided by musictimes.com Girl power and sultry beats aren’t enough to save this girl group from mediocrity.

beautiful voices that complement each other quite well, but the lyrics are very difficult to get into and take it seriously. None of the songs are written by any of the

members. Maybe the girls should think about writing their own lyrics. Maybe the songs will be more creative and will complement their true voices in the future.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ steamy soundtrack scintillates listeners

Riley Ackley Promotional Director rackley@oswegonian.com

Prefacing with the fact that the movie may make viewers and critics cringe, one should be able and willing to disseminate the “Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” from the film and book in which it is based off, lest listeners miss out on something surprisingly well composed. With new music from artists like Ellie Goulding and The Weeknd, the franchise’s most entertaining installment may actually be found in this sure-to-be-ahit compilation of terrific classics and edgy, new releases. With remixes from Beyoncé, two new tracks from composer Danny Elfman (“Alice In Wonderland”) and plenty more, The “Fifty Shades” soundtrack shapes up to be much more fulfilling than expected. The most enthralling track off the album is The Weeknd’s “Earned It.” Thumping and alive with R&B inflections, “Earned It” is a simmering track seeping with a soothing, but also jolting beat and instrumentals. Its brooding tone will hold listen-

Photo provided by fiftyshadesmovie.com Sultry music from The Weeknd and Annie Lennox frames the romantic embraces of stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.

ers completely, and through The Weeknd’s intimate vocals and building intensity, this song will start any night off right. On the heels of a successful and compelling Grammys performance, Annie Lennox’s cover of the Screamin’ Jay Hawkin’s classic, “I Put A Spell On You” offers audiences with a powerful and fiery rendition of an already terrific song. Classy and elegant, this track plays well into the wanted branding of the franchise, while also providing a di-

mension that will appeal to older listeners as well as young ones. Where so many covers of “I Put A Spell On You” exist, Lennox’s stands above and out from many. Far quieter than their viral hit “Sails,” AWOLNATION’s “I’m On Fire,” will only seek to further AWOLNATION’s notoriety. Surely an intelligent move on their part, this low-key, atmospheric showcase holds its own in an album saturated with highly produced tracks. Its slowburn approach and arrangement,

Emma Stone (“The Amazing SpiderMan 2”), and most of all, Birdman himself, who haunts the back of Riggan’s mind and confirms his worst fear: that he is nobody. The most immediately remarkable part of this movie is its style of filming in one long take. With very few exceptions, there are no visible cuts in this movie. It is simply bizarre and while it might be jarring for the first few minutes, it becomes absolutely enthralling as the camera travels through the claustrophobic hallways of New York’s St. James Theatre, where most of the action takes place. Visuals are full of color, light, and dust, and get close enough to show the character’s spit and wrinkles. Sometimes the subtly shifting frame and shifts of focus can be distracting, but they are a part of the film’s chaotic aesthetic. What really makes the movie is the air-tight performances. The actors’ egos clash on and off stage, and are alternatingly hilarious and horrifying. Keaton’s Golden Globe

winning and now Oscar-nominated portrayal of Riggan as hateful, selfobsessed, yet ultimately sympathetic, is brilliant. “Birdman” gains a level of meta-fictional commentary with its clear parallels to Michael Keaton’s breakout performance in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman.” Riggan is not exactly Keaton, but this biographical similarity gives his performance a very personal feel. The supporting actors almost steal the show at times. Norton is a fun antagonist, as the egotistical, method-acting Broadway veteran on an obsessive search for authenticity. He hates Riggan for his mainstream success and makes things interesting at every turn. Stone’s portrayal of the neglected Hollywood daughter is a chilling counterpoint to her father. Ironically, both of them have also played famous parts in superhero movies. Stone actually worked on “Birdman” in between filming for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” The daring camera style is complemented by an equally loose and

paired with the folksy vocals created are sure to generate a calming experience. Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” while not revolutionary, plays into Goulding’s main demographic well. Anthemic and swooning, “Love Me Like You Do” is a pleasing lead single off a darker album. For Goulding, it will only add to her repertoire and creative style. The remix and slowed-down remix of Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love” is also noteworthy. While

consistently impressive, and always worthwhile, something special exists within this track. Put simply, it just works. Its sulky, yet still fierce tone hone in on exactly what this soundtrack is meant to represent. Its climaxing beat and swirling intensity will send listeners home dizzy at the artistry they just heard. For a romantic movie, ballads are a must and for some, the necessity and fulfillment of this requirement may be left empty or unsatisfactory. This is not the case for the “Fifty Shades” soundtrack. With Skylar Grey’s “I Know You,” she not only accomplishes one of the movie’s necessities but surpasses it. Reflective of the current music landscape, “I Know You” is able to escape a level of fundamentality and basicness that many artists are unable to accomplish. It’s edgy and passionate. Overall, while the film and its associated books may be respective critical disasters, the audience appeal and surefire blockbuster sensationalism of their content are sure to draw listeners to the album as well. And, unlike the books and movies, the album will surely impress all. It is a terrific compilation catered to a wide variety of people and viewers.

‘Birdman’ triumphs, metafictional emotional rollercoaster ride Andrew Kowal Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

“Birdman” is a distressing, arresting, jazzy thrill-ride; a film about a play which blurs the line between acting and reality and asks what truth really is. Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton (“Need For Speed”), is an aging actor whose entire career is overshadowed by his role as Birdman, a comic book character he played over 20 years ago. Now, destitute in money and love, he is desperate to prove his legitimacy as an artist. Riggan takes one last gamble for relevance and adapts a Raymond Carver short story for the Broadway stage, which he will also direct and star in. From the first preview, his project quickly goes to hell. He has difficulties with his supporting actor Mike, Edward Norton (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”), his daughter Sam,

Photo provided by commons.wikimedia.org Michael Keaton speaking about his starring role in ‘Birdman’ at a press conference.

out-there soundtrack. The tight, minimalist jazz drumming perfectly complements the shifting tones and tempos of the movie. The drummer actually appears as a background character in some scenes, and becomes part of the film’s subversion

of reality, a nice bowtie on the whole surreal package. Commanding performances, the uniquely fluid, continuous camera and a powerful soundtrack all combine to make “Birdman” an absolute treat.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

57th Grammy Awards celebrates achievement in music

- Cherilyn Beckles g Contributing Writer . laker@oswegonian.com s n Last Sunday was the 57th k Grammy Awards hosted, once - again, by LL Cool J. Artists from y all genres came together on the t red carpet shocking us with their outfit selection. The top three best outfits this e year have to be Nicki Minaj, Taylor s Swift and Gwen Stefani in that ory der. Nicki Minaj amazed us with her t sleek black, low V shaped Tom Ford ” dress and Giuseppe Zanotti heels. s Her make-up was natural, her hair - was slicked back on one side and s her jewelry was not over the top. At . previous award shows she always c attempted to look unique and wild e but this year, her simple black dress - stole the spotlight. y Even though most people called . Taylor Swift’s dress a country girl prom dress, its simplicity yet origid nality is what made her look gor- geous. Her lipstick matched her e shoes and the aqua dress was pere fectly fitted. f Last but not least, Gwen Stefani w stepped out onto the red carpet with . a beautifully designed jumpsuit, apple red lipstick and a haircut that reminded us of her fierce personality. f

On the flip side, Rihanna, Madonna and Kim Kardashian did not wow the crowd. Rihanna’s pink dress was not only disturbingly puffy but there was nothing interesting about her hair or shoes. Madonna once again refused to act her age and wore not only a burlesque corset but flashed news reporters her butt for laughs. Kim Kardashian reminded us of Cruella de Vil in an unattractive brown robe dress that did not compliment her style. Beyond the fashion world, there were some great performances. One of the most memorable was Beyonce’s “Take My Hand Precious Lord.” Her all-white outfit and back-up dancers really touched the crowd’s heart. She shocked us by performing this song, especially since last year she came out with so many top hits. It was humble and beautiful. Secondly, Sia’s performance of “Chandelier” was just mind-blowing. The actors used and the stage decor really made it unique. Lastly, Katy Perry’s “By The Grace of God” was a beautiful song that touched upon domestic abuse. The opening speaker, domestic violence activist Brooke Axtell, gave a great speech that was a nice transition into the song. Sam Smith’s hands were full as

Photo provided by grammy.com Sir Paul McCartney, Rihanna and Kanye West took to the stage in a night filled with live star-studded collaborations.

he walked away with four awards. He won Best New Artist, Best Song of the Year, Best Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. His performance of “Stay With Me” was boosted by his surprise guest collaborator Mary J. Blige. Iggy Azalea did not win Best Pop Duo/Performance with her top hit of last year “Fancy” but instead the Grammy went to A Great Big World with Christina Aguilera for “Say Something.” One disappointing win was

Pharrell winning Best Music Video with “Happy,” especially since it was running against “Chandelier” and “Turn Down For What.” Fans believe that this catchy tune is overplayed and over-loved and the award should have been given to another artist. Last but not least, Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Song with his song “i,” which was thought to lose to Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” or even “We Dem Boyz” by Wiz Khalifa but it looks

like this year voters went with a more upbeat, positive song. This year ’s Grammys was filled with all the excitement of previous ones, but what really stood out were the performances and the new artists who had the opportunity to prove themselves onstage. Beneath the disappointing outfits were down to earth artists who showed love and support for each other throughout the ceremony.

87th Academy Award predictions: Who’ll take home Oscar?

Elliott Altland Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

On Sunday Feb. 22nd, the 87th annual Academy Awards will air on ABC, and this year’s installment should be an enjoyable one. Aside from the show being hosted by the extremely entertaining Neil Patrick Harris, the nominees for some of the award’s biggest honors has fans and critics buzzing. It’s a year wtih stiff competition in each category, so it would be difficult to truly say if any one actor, actress or director gets robbed or upstaged in a year of truly fanstastic, but still distinct films. What follows is a list of predictions for the Big Four awards of the night, but here are some predictions for some of the other Academy Awards: Best Original Score- “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best Original Song- “Glory” by John Legend and Common Best Cinematography- “Birdman” Best Animated Feature- “The Boxtrolls”

Photo provided by impawards.com

Best Picture Winner – “Boyhood”: In quite possibly the tightest best film race in years, the dark horse that is “Boyhood” seems very likely to come out on top. While Richard Linklater ’s film may not possess the strongest plot compared to “Birdman,” “American Sniper” or “The Imitation Game,” it is the film’s successful groundbreaking nature that may prove to be the deciding factor. The 12 year experiment may very well result in the coveted Oscar and rightfully so.

Photo provided by commons.wikimedia.org

Best Director Winner – Richard Linklater: While Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Wes Anderson put on convincing arguments with masterpieces of their own, Richard Linklater ’s directorial performance may stand above the rest. Boyhood possesses an originality and simplicity that is rarely seen in today’s films and has a good chance of landing Linklater, an independent filmmaker known for his classic films “Slacker” and “Dazed and Confused,” his first Oscar.

Photo provided by commons.wikimedia.org

Best Actor Winner – Eddie Redmayne: In what may come as a shocker, the young and steadily rising star of “The Theory of Everything” Eddie Redmayne has a good chance of leaving the 87th Academy Awards with the Oscar. His complete physical transformation and emotional portrayal of Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” is what may put him over the heavily favored, Golden Globe-winning Keaton in the cinematic powerhouse that is “Birdman.”

Best Actress Winner – Rosamund Pike: With all due respect to the women in this category, Rosamund Pike has this Oscar locked up. It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which she doesn’t leave with the statue. The performance she put together in “Gone Girl” was a show stealer, elevating her game and owning that role. When all is said and done, Amy Dunne may very well go down in the history books as one of the greatest femme fatales in film history, thanks to Pike’s stomach-churning performance.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

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Ross Insalaco | The Oswegonian

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Make use of the things around you The creamer melting into the coffee The Christmas lights along the dark walls Scattered pencils on a desk The subtle hint of cheap vanilla body mist The keys singing as you type The cold beer can on your lips The dirt under your nails Making love and taking love It’s college Put it all in.

Down

Puzzle provided by boatloadpuzzles.com

1. Singer _____ Hayes 2. Ballroom dance 3. Twisting shape 4. Better half 5. Uproar 6. Lodger 7. Collections 8. Bogus butter

9. Hopelessness 10. Play section 11. Piggery 16. Decide 20. Lash locale 22. Pinball Parlor 24. Compass pt. 25. Achieved

27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 35. 39.

Frying liquid Zodiac lion Contact _____ Fin. fund ____-Mex cuisine Normal Spuds Town’s announcer

For this week’s crossword answers go to:

Across

1. 4. 7. 12. 13. 14. 15. 17. 18. 19. 21. 22. 23. 26. 30. 33. 34. 36. 37. 38. 42. 45. 46. 48. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55.

____ a girl! Wrestler’s pad Soft drinks Cut wood Lemon drink Choose by ballot Actress Jennifer ____ Irritable Consent Fable writer Foal Some As well Meat-filled pasta Type style Ogled Eye-opener Hewing tool Pop Go away! Rent again Combine In the Know Wearing away Legendary stories Curtain holder Naval officer Printing machine Witness Bread type

40. 41. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 49.

Pain Keyed up Distinct times Minus Manner Poisonous snake Conflict Fish eggs

Oswegonian.com/lreview

CLASSIFIEDS

lassifieds

Contact:Selena Ferguson

classifieds@oswegonian.com

Phone: 315.312.3600

Efficiency apartment. One quiet person required. Utilities included. Internet, cable, water and trash included. No smoking or pets. Off-street parking. On bus route. Avaliable immediatly. 3437072. Leave message. Affordable off-campus housing. Great locations. 1-8 bedroom houses. Starting at $340/ month pp. Utilities included optional. 315-591-2735 www.oswegostudenthousing.com www.dunsmoorstudenthousing.com

4 Bedroom house, 2015-2016. One of our nicest homes. Hardwood floors. Double living room. Two bathrooms. Dishwasher and coin-free laundry. See this house! $369 base rent or $519. EVERYTHING included. 315-963-8286 or 315-593-0707 2 Bedroom duplex, 2015-2016. First floor, nice size, good condition. Front porch. Coin-free laundry. 315-963-8286 or 315593-07007 (no text) 2 Bedroom House, 2015-2016. Very close to the college. One of our favorites. Clean and nice. Private. Dishwasher, coin-free laundry. A great home. 315-963-8286 (no text) Renting for 2015-2016 school year. Newly remodeled 4 & 5 bedroom houses. 1 block from campus. Off-street parking, garbage, snow removal, free laundry. 2nd semester available. Call Geoff 315-439-0805

Renting for 2015-2016 school year. 1-8 bedroom house/ apartments. Neat, clean, quiet. Off-street parking. Garbage and snow removal. 315-343-5005 www.AveryRentalProperties.com 3 Bedroom House, 20152016. Very nice shape. Large living room with hardwood floors. Dishwasher, coin-free laundry. $509 p/p, everything include. 315-963-8286 or 315-593-0707 (no text) 4 Bedroom House, 20152016. Our most affordable house. Nice condition. Large lawn and deck. Coin-free laundry. 2 bathrooms. Close to campus. Only $489 p/p, includes EVERYTHING: Heat, Electric, Water, Garbage, Cable, and WIFI. 315-963-8285 or 315-593-0707 (no text)

LOOK COLLEGE LADIES who dance! Make some serious cash dancing at Boozer’s Saloon. Amateurs welcome. Apply at 171 East Mitchell St., Oswego. 315343-0631

Newly built 1 & 2 bedroom apts. Free lawn care, garbage/ snow removal. On premises washer/dryer. Partial or all utilities. 342-6764 www. mbrancatoproperties.com Available 2015-2016. Newly remodeled 1 & 2 BR apartments. Prime location. Free garbage, lawn, and snow removal. 591-2253 LARGE 3-4 bedroom HOUSE. HUGE rooms. Nice location, Close to downtown. ALL utilities included. Call or text 315-593-4857

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19): A distinct split during the day may show mixed messages, but the morning should bring a brief level of insight, along with information which may well be useful later in the day. Do stick to faithful targets though and try to stay on the simple, yet practical front.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20):

Stresses may be a little misleading, especially when it comes to matters that require teamwork or collaboration. You’ll have a sure sense of right and wrong, but others may not. What you accept to be the perfect circumstances for initiating change may actually be quite undependable.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22):

BY Gabrielle Reimann Libra (Sep. 23 - Oct. 23):

A slight level of confusion may develop in romances, thanks to a rather unreliable vibe. It may take some time to further shed any light onto where this relationship might go, so be patient, Libra.

The “Monday-morning feeling” may be noticeably present today. It’s feeling like you can’t quite get past one particular roadblock. That said, it may be best to focus very precisely on people’s good intentions and not on the everyday limits that hamper their intentions.

It’s not a day for direct actions per se; it’s more a day to stand back and perceive. It’s possible that something is about to be improved, given the time. This doesn’t require you to do very much, except let others have a little space to do the talking and act on their words.

It might appear that you are likely to be overly sensitive and inclined to overreact to the slightest thing today. Numerous misunderstandings are also likely to pop up throughout the week. A choice you made could actually be the real offender for a possible feeling of displeasure.

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

Difficulty: Hard

Career and work-related matters along with relationships may seem just a little demanding lately. But worries aside, there are plenty of positive vibes around you helping to turn things around. Possible temporary hiccups might happen, so don’t overreact, there are under points hidden within.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22):

Difficulty: Easy

Nice 5-6 bedroom house. Many updates. ALL utilities included. Call or text 315593-4857 Very spacious 7-8 bedrooms. Nice size rooms. Great location. ALL utilities included. Call or text 315-593-4857 Available 2015-2016: 1-4 bedroom houses. West side. Free washer/dryer, off-street parking. Rent includes snow, garbage, lawn care and water. Lease and security. Call 529-1015 Attractive 1,2, & 3 bedroom apartment. Heat, trash, washer/ dryer included. Off-street parking. Near campus. Available June 1, 2015. 720-9333

Gemini (May 21 - June 21): Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22): It’s going to be a modest week. A couple of tough aspects may well throw some difficulties before the week is over with. That said, you will have the right vibe, which should help you deal with any unexpected circumstances that come your way.

Sudoku

4-5 bedroom home. Large rooms, great location. ALL utilities provided. Plenty of parking with plowing. Free use of furniture and washer/dryer. Call or text 315-593-4857

Horoscopes

FRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2015

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 21):

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21):

Support is the best. It is likely that you’ll acquire a new source of sustenance that you desperately have been seeking. Older guidance will be good source of help.

ON THIS DATE

Wise words and incoming advice may not be exactly what you want to hear.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19):

There’s a great deal of potential in the air. That being said, you may need to make a quick decision or two, thanks to a minor shift in conditions in a specific area. As long as you can keep up with last-minute or unexpected changes to the day’s plans, you’ll stay ahead of the curve.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18):

It’s possible that you’ll feel as though you can’t quite get to the bottom of something, but intuition suggests that deep down you already have a good idea of what might be going on. Be elusive, trust your instinct, you’re feeling active and ready but try not to overreact when you to make some changes, go for it. figure it out. motivation is likely to last for Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20): This a little while. There are calming Home is where you’ll want to be, to influences lurking around you and relax and spread out. If you find that in itself will boost confidence.

1741: “The American Magazine,” the first magazine in the United States, was published. 1944: Talk show host and 56th mayor of Cincinnati, Jerry Springer, is born. 1965: 16-year-old Peggy Fleming won the title of ladies senior figure skating in Lake Placid, NY. 2005: Ray Charles won eight Grammy awards for his final album, “Genius Loves Company.”