The Oswegonian

A5 Lake sustainability Oswego State kicks off series on Great Lakes

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014

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

VOLUME LXXX ISSUE III

Student Protection Unit to investigate loan industry

Snow jammed Quad

Seamus Lyman News Editor slyman@oswegonian.com

Connor Gannon | The Oswegonian

The Oswego State Ski/Snowboard club hosted its third annual Rail Jam event last Saturday in the Quad, featuring competitions and DJs from WNYO. Check out Oswegonian.com and page A3 for further coverage of the event.

Study: CSC, economics best for jobs Luke Parsnow Asst. News Editor lparsnow@oswegonian.com The National Association for Colleges and Employers recently released data providing a ranking of college majors by the number of graduates who had at least one job offer before they graduated in 2013.

Computer science majors ranked highest on the list while education and visual and performing arts ranked at the bottom.

Out of 10,000 college seniors surveyed, NACE tallied up a ranking of 17 majors.

All seniors were ready to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Computer science dominated the top of the list, with 68.7 percent of computer science majors seeing a job offer before graduation.

An investigation has been launched by Gov. Andrew Cuomo into companies who are part of the process of loan refinancing.

The investigation, announced in a press release from Cuomo’s office, will run through a division of the New York State Department of Financial Services.

The average student loan debt of a New York college student is $24,803 according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s 2012 fourth quarter student loan debt analysis. Oswego State’s student default rate is below the nation’s 13.4 percent at 7.6 percent according to the White House’s College Scorecard for the university.

The Student Protection Unit aims to investigate and prevent students from falling victim to company scams that charge students to pay for services the federal government already provides for free.

Cuomo put the unit into effect in his budget. The release explains, “as part of his 2014-15 Executive Budget, Governor Cuomo established a new Student Protection Unit within DFS to serve as a consumer watchdog for New York’s students.”

Oswego State’s Director of Financial

Aid Mark Humbert said that for the most part there is no advantage to refinancing student federal loans.

“Direct student loans, now, can typically be refinanced for better rates,” Humbert said.

Humbert explained that Oswego State’s financial aid office emphasizes students borrow as little as possible, or with the least amount of trouble (high interest rates, short repayment timeframes).

According to Humbert, for the 20132104 school year 578 students have borrowed from non-federal loan programs this year, about 8 percent of all students.

About 5500 students have borrowed from the federal loan programs for 201314, according to Humbert, about 80 percent of all students.

Humbert invites students to talk with his office before they take the steps to refinance their student loans. He wants students to be aware of the pitfalls that are out there, something Cuomo’s unit is hoping to combat.

One of the main problems that the unit is taking on concerns student debt relief companies claiming to offer services that are already offered to borrowers for free by the government. The press release states that

See REFINANCING, A5

See CAREERS, A4

Mandatory student activity fee to face March student body vote Seamus Lyman News Editor slyman@oswegonian.com

CONTENT

The student activity fee is currently a mandatory $97 charge each semester.

In a few weeks, the student body will be given the opportunity to vote on whether or not to make this fee voluntary or not.

On March 11 and 12, students will receive an email about voting, which will take them to a page on LakerLife allowing them to vote. The vote for the

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

activity fee will coencide with the vote for president and vice president of SA. The fee is voted on by the student body every two years. Currently, there is a $250 limit on the amount Student Associations in the SUNY system can charge students.

According to Oswego State SA Vice President Francisco Perez, the “last time the vote was 59 percent to 41 percent.”

In order to avoid a close vote like that, Perez said SA is getting the word out through the use of posters and SA senators are talking to their constituents about the benefits of the fee.

“We’re getting them everywhere so people know what is going on,” Perez said.

The activity fees for the 2013-2014 academic year added up to roughly $1.4 Go to Oswegonian.com to see a video of student thoughts on the student activity fee million dollars, which is then distributed to SA’s 180 organizations.

“Every year [the $1.4 million] gets dispersed to all of the clubs, so people who

are in clubs who have budgets, their money comes from this fee,” Perez said. The vice president added that not all of the clubs have budgets and some are inactive.

“SA pays for a lot of contracts that aren’t so uniform,” Perez said.

These are services offered like Campus Recreation, services in The Point, Student Association Volunteer Ambulances Corps and Student Association Programming Board are funded through the $97 fee. A contract with CENTRO is also in existence, paid through the fee, which allows students to take the Blue

Sports

Opinion

Laker Review

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MAJOR MERGER

STUDENT ARTIST

B3

Maximilian E. Principe | The Oswegonian

B5

Photo provided by Getty Images

C5 David Armelino | The Oswegonian

Route and buses in the city of Oswego and to Syracuse on the weekends for free.

WTOP-10, the student-run television station is a recipient of some of this fee.

General Manager of the station, Matt Bishop, said that he thinks the fee should be higher to allow smaller clubs to have access to the funds that larger clubs receive, but also mentioned its importance.

See FEE, A4

Oswegonian.com RAIL JAM HIGHLIGHTS

WEB Connor Gannon | The Oswegonian

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A weekly list of what to check out on oswegonian.com Video: Find out what Oswego State students think about the upcoming vote on the student activity fee.

Video: Check out highlights from this past weekend’s Rail Jam, held in the Academic Quad.

GonianSocial

Matthew Folta, 23, was arrested on Feb. 17 at 4:21 p.m. at the corner of West Utica Street and Fourth Avenue for unlawful possession of marijuana. Folta was released on an appearance ticket.

Follow us on social media for daily updates

Learn more about Maria’s Family Restaurant, located on West Second Street.

Andrew Jones, 42, was arrested on Feb. 17 at 12:37 a.m. at 309 W. Seneca St. for trespassing. Jones was held for arraignment.

Drew Pelkey, 22, was arrested on Feb. 15 at 8:19 a.m. at 199 Erie St. for burglary and petit larceny.

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Bryan Hoyt, 36, was arrested on Feb. 16 at 7:08 p.m. at 34 E. Fourth St. for criminal contempt and criminal mischief. Hoyt was held for arraignment.

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WEEKEND WEATHER Forecast by Andrew Janiszeski | Graphics by Devon Nitz

Friday

Saturday

Paul Connors, 24, was arrested on Feb. 15 at 2:21 a.m. at the corner of West First Street and West Bridge Street for driving while intoxicated.

Samuel Farfaglia, 20, was arrested on Feb. 15 at 1:12 a.m. at 39 W. Bridge St. for disorderly conduct. Farfaglia was released on an appearance ticket.

Christopher Brinkman, 45, was arrested on Feb. 14 at 6:40 p.m. at the corner of Liberty Street and West Cayuga Street for unlawful possession of marijuana. Brinkman was released on an appearance ticket.

Cameron Turner, 20, was arrested on Feb. 14 at 1:42 a.m. at 51 W. Utica St. for public urination. Turner was released on an appearance ticket.

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John Wilcox, 18, was arrested on Feb. 18 at 6:10 p.m. at 91 Kings Rd. in Fulton for a false written statement.

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Adam Phillips, 26, was arrested on Feb. 18 at 7:19 p.m. at 38 Birch Lane for aggravated harassment and criminal contempt. Phillips was held for arraignment.

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POLICE

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

High: 45

Low: 26

Sunday

Ian Koscuik, 18, was arrested on Feb. 13 at 12:11 a.m. at the corner of West Third Street and West Bridge Street for public urination. Koscuik was released on an appearance ticket.

Kenneth Pepper, 47, was arrested on Feb. 13 at 10:18 a.m. at 169 W. Second St. for aggravated harassment. Pepper was released on an appearance ticket.

High: 25

Low: 17

High: 39

Low: 23

While spring may be appearing to make an entrance with the warmer weather recently, cold arctic air will quickly re-establish itself for the foreseeable future starting this weekend.

After a blast of rain and wind on Friday morning, temperatures will tumble and rain will change to snow during the course of the weekend as strong winds gradually draw in progressively colder air.

In terms of snowfall, expect minor accumulations this weekend. High temperatures will be in the low to mid 40s starting on Friday and end up in the mid 20s by Sunday.

Looking ahead to the next 10 days, the deep freeze will be firmly entrenched across the region with highs possibly only in the teens by mid-week with periodic chances of snowfall.

Off-Street Parking 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Free Snow Removal and Garbage Pick-Up On-Premise Washer and Dryer

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NEWS

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Fields that rely on computer science professionals are often ranked highly in terms of job prospects, salary, opportunities of creativity, and job satisfaction.”

- Oswego State computer science professor James Early

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

A3

Midnight Sun features items from local vendors; has been open for 26 years

The Agenda

Our weekly list of what to do in Oswego

Attend the Black History Month Variety Show on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Hewitt Union Ballroom.

Go see Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Plattsburgh on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center Ice Arena.

Perry Kennedy | The Oswegonian Valentines made by participants in the first ever “Say it with Class, Say it with Glass” event held at Lakeside Artisans in Canal Commons.

Perry Kennedy | The Oswegonian Midnight Sun sells a variety of items in their West First Street store. The laidback atmosphere features items from ten local vendors.

Kaitlin Ports Contributing Writer news@oswegonian.com Located at 215 W. First St. in downtown Oswego, the eclectic Midnight Sun offers major benefits to shoppers.

When you focus on the positive in your life, you become a positive person, which is what Midnight Sun is all about. It’s a perfect place to get in touch with your spirit.

With prayer flags hanging outside and a Buddhist prayer wheel to your right as you enter, the focus is spreading positive energy.

Customers can claim a complimentary tea and a Lindt truffle.

Owner Jim Dauphin aims to achieve an enjoyable and laidback atmosphere. The shop features a variety of items including jewelry, clothing, tapestries, wall hangings, incense, headbands, shoes, candles, tea sets, Ganesha statues and Evil Eye protection key chains.

“I would’ve never started without the school,” Dauphin said. “The age group is perfect for my merchandise. It’s a fun age. This is a fun store. The students keep me young.”

The shop features the people of Oswego.

There are ten local vendors who contribute items to the store, including a woman who hand makes bags out of old ties, calling them “PJ Baggs.” People also make pottery, sun catchers, bags, prints of handmade drawings and jewelry.

The place has come a long way, with the past year being its most successful. Dauphin’s first shop Kathmandu, named after the capital city of Nepal, opened in 1987. He went on to open Midnight Sun. Due to the merchandise similarities the two began to compete with one another, so he combined the shops.

He thought about getting out of retail for good, but his heart resided with Midnight Sun. After 26 years in the business, Owner

Jim Dauphin is extremely pleased with his shop. Midnight has been there for almost three years. Dauphin is hoping to open another location in Downtown Syracuse.

Midnight Sun is an eclectic place with something to offer everyone. To some it’s a jewelry store. To some it’s a shoe store.

The prices range from as low as under $10 to over $100.

“I can’t go wrong here,” customer Mark Morey said. “Anything I buy, my wife loves.”

Dauphin refuses to re-order pieces once they sell out because he thinks it’s uninteresting if everyone has the same things.

Midnight Sun is also thoughtful of the music it plays. Relaxing music is a constant, and local artists are also offered the opportunity to perform on Sunday nights.

Midnight Sun’s hours of operations are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 p.m. 5 p.m.

Rail Jam takes to Academic Quad to provide entertainment Students that happened to walk through the campus last Saturday may have noticed a miniature mountain directly in the center of campus.

The third annual Rail Jam was held with the help of the Oswego State grounds crew and a few dedicated Ski Club members. Students had the opportunity to show off their snow-riding skills while competing against each other in separate heats. The grand prize was a Red Bull T-shirt. Those who were not participating in either skiing or snowboarding participated in numerous activities provided by The Lifestyles Center and the Outdoor Club.

With free beverages provided by the national sponsor, Red Bull, being available to all, com-

bined with exceptionally loud music provided

by WNYO, students did not hesitate to pull off some of their favorite tricks. Oswego State Ski Club is one of the biggest groups on campus with 135 members on Laker Life.

President of the Ski Club, Nick Christopher, took note of those who came together and made the event possible.

“The first year it was a struggle, it was really a big group effort this year,” Christopher said.

Waking up as early as 5 a.m. to shape the miniature mountain along with adding rails and obstacles, it took after numerous hours and a lot of hard work before the slope was ready to ride. The atmosphere was loud and vibrant.

“Even though it was a competition, it’s still about having fun.” Eric Randall, vice president. of the ski club, said. “This is the best set-up yet.”

Connor Gannon | The Oswegonian A participant in the rail jam falls attempting a trick.

The Student Association Senate met for its third official meeting of the semester on Tuesday. It added three new senators and 19 senators were present.

The senate began the meeting by approving the minutes from the previous meeting and the agenda of the day.

A guest to the senate proposed $1,000 to aid in the cost for promotional materials and other services for a mental health conference to be scheduled in April. The concept was designed by the Civic Engagement Office. The conference would educate general campus population on mental wellness aspects with the help of different departments on campus and would include organization tabling and learning stations. Two senators will help write a bill for the event.

DECCA, a club for business majors, re-

quested somewhere in the realm of $350 to cover the traveling expenses of a speaker coming from New York City to speak at a conference the club holds every year. Two senators will help write a bill.

President Anthony Smith said he met with Oswego State president Deborah Stanley. Though they did not have a lot to talk about, Smith proposed to try to get some recognition from the school for teams that go to nationals more often and to help those teams financially.

Ryan O’Grady was voted unanimously to be the new justice. The SUNY system is putting on a Mascot Madness event to find ideas for an Oswego State mascot. SUNY is demanding Oswego State adopts a mascot. Sheldon is being used as one right now.

Smith said there is a committee that can

meet and discuss the options, then meet and figure out a poll or survey to get an idea of what the students want.

Advertisements have gone out about the mandatory SA fee. If the fee is not mandatory, there is not much SA can do. There was also discussion about last week’s meeting and how it went on for too long and the groups of people did not compromise well. Smith said that he is also hopeful for the future by the passion shown and to not be upset about anything once senators have left the meeting.

Francisco Perez, vice president of SA, said the meeting last week was a little chaotic and wants to enforce the raising of hands so that it keeps everything more organized and can keep the minutes more organized as well. He also addressed that there are

Connor Gannon Asst. Multimedia Editor cgannon@oswegonian.com

Plan to go to Rice Creek’s Story Hour: “Owl Moon.”

Participants will learn about the haunts and habits of owls on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Rice Creek Field Station.

Attend the opera performance of “Rigoletto” on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Waterman Theatre in Tyler Hall.

Find our Managing Editor Collin Leadbeater and wish him a happy birthday this week!

Check out the screening of the 2012 film, “Hannah Arendt” directed by Margarethe von Trotta, on Monday at 7 p.m. in Campus Center room 132.

Voice your opinion to the Student Association Senate on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Lanigan 102.

Attend an artist talk by Gina Occhiogrosso on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Campus Center room 132.

See the one-man comedy show by Sam Killermann called “It’s Pronounced Metrosexual” on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Hewitt Union Ballroom.

Check out the Acting Company’s theater performance of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Waterman Theatre in Tyler Hall.

no senators from Seneca, Scales or Mackin halls, or the Village and to ask residents in those to participate in senate to represent their buildings.

Director of Finance Hassan Al-Shareffi said that budgets are now open for the clubs and organizations. They will have one week to submit. There is a committee that goes through all the budgets submitted, then it goes back to finance to go over. After finance gives its recommendations, it will come to senate. Al-Shareffi also said he has received four applications for his position after he steps down. Applications for the director of finance position are due by March 5.

One special order was brought to the floor: SA election debate reform. The discussion is to have less than the usual three debates because there are not many candi-

dates running. The senate is considering one large event that can be broadcasted to avoid redundancy of three debates with so few of candidates.

The general orders began with the Oswegonian and WTOP journalism conference trip to San Diego, which was passed last week by the senate but vetoed by President Smith. Smith discussed the reasons for his veto and the senate discussed possible future ways bills can be handled, which may include the clubs coming and giving information about their endeavors after going to these types of events. The senate voted on overturning the veto. The vote failed to pass 0-17-2.

The SA Senate meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Lanigan 102 and all meetings are open to the public.

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

A4

Rankings on college majors, employment shows relation

Students to vote Computer science on rise in popularity; education jobs on decline in employment, declared majors on $97 student According to the Office of Institutional activity fee soon

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

CAREERS from COVER Economics ranked second on the list, with 61.5 percent, accounting 61.2 percent, engineering 59 percent, business administration 54.3 percent, sociology/social work 42.5 percent, mathematics/statistics 40.3 percent, psychology 39.2 percent, history/political science 38.9 percent, healthcare 37.8 percent, liberal arts/humanities 36.8 percent, biology 35.2 percent, communications/journalism 33.8 percent, English 33 percent, environmental science 30.5 percent, education 28.9 percent, and visual and performing arts bottom out the list at 27.8 percent.

“Fields that rely on computer science

professionals are often ranked highly in terms of job prospects, salary, opportunities of creativity, and job satisfaction,” Oswego State computer science professor James Early said. “In addition to the ranking, we can point to labor statistics at the state and federal level showing that computer science opportunities are outstanding, and will continue to be so for years to come.”

Early also said that technology is a large part of today’s society and is present in entertainment, medicine and manufacturing and all of that software needs people to create it and current students are training for that.

“I am not surprised at all that computer science ranked so high, in fact I would have been

surprised if it wasn’t first or second,” said senior computer science major Zachariah Schrecengost. “With the importance of computers and software becoming greater and greater, the need for programmers becomes greater and greater. Plus, a lot of older people in softwaretype jobs are retiring so there is additional need for people with computer science degrees.”

Oswego State computer science professor Christopher Harris said computer science student enrollments grew quickly in the 1990s but then decreased almost as rapidly. However, in the last five years, enrollments in computer science have once again been increasing, but the demand for students with the right skills still outstrips supply.

Research and Assessment, there were 71 declared computer science majors at Oswego State for the fall 2009 semester. For the fall 2013 semester, there were 114, up from 96 just one year before.

“Computer science is a relatively young discipline and is still expanding into new frontiers,” Harris said. “The department constantly examines what the market is seeking and adapts course offerings to meet those demands.”

While accounting ranks third on this list, business students usually rank high in other kinds of studies. Business ranked second as the highest starting salary job at $55,100 in 2013, according to NACE data.

“Through my years here I have learned that being an accounting major provides many opportunities to different types of jobs in business,” Oswego State senior Kris Van Deusen said. “You learn a little of every business major in the business school because it is required as general education. Also many of the accounting firms want freshly trained accountants because they are trained in the new technology and can help teach the other accountants.”

The School of Education at Oswego State has seen decreases in student enrollment over the last few years. The school as a whole had over 650 fewer students enrolled in the fall of 2013 than it did in the fall of 2009. There are 243 fewer students enrolled in childhood education and 307 less in adolescent education as of last fall than there were four years ago, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Barbara Garii, associate dean of the School of Education at Oswego State, said that teacher hiring is associated with local demographics and needs.

“This is cyclical and national economic trends indicate that within the next three to seven years there will be a great increase in teacher hiring across all areas as baby boomers continue to retire,” Garii said. “Currently in New York State, there is great need for mathematics, science and special education teachers all at the secondary level, technology teachers and teachers of English as a second or other language across all grades and trade and technical educators at the secondary level.”

Kate Cardone is a senior graphic arts major and views the low ranking of visual and performing arts students as subjective.

“There are many different variables you can take into consideration when you look at that statistic,” Cardone said. “Where is the population that you are referring to going to school? Where exactly do they live? I can tell you that visual arts jobs in this area are non-existent, but we are also very rural in an area that is not very artistically rich. I make a very big effort to be involved on campus while I am in school and have the resources I need. I have a double minor and have had three internships.

I put in a lot of extra effort in order to make it into the 28 percent that do get offered a job.”

While arts score low ratings on the NACE list, research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce along with the U.S. Census Bureau rank several art fields in the lowest spots of the top 25 college majors with the highest unemployment rates. Graphic design, studio art, fine arts, cosmetology and culinary arts all have lower unemployment rates than majors such as clinical psychology, architecture and linguistics, according to the report.

“I really think that you need to be diverse in order to be marketable in this economy,” Cardone said. “You should really become focused on fulfilling multiple niches in the art world, making you useful in a variety of companies, as well as being able to fill more than one position for a company.”

FEE from COVER “If you don’t pass it, we cannot be here,” Bishop said. “The $97 fee is well worth what I’m taking away from being at WTOP.” “If it were to become voluntary, students would still have the fee when they come but then they would have to appeal it,” Perez said.

He said that the fee would not be as simple to waive as some other voluntary fees.

SA is currently embarking on the process to develop a budget for next year.

Perez said that the numbers they use to set this budget are based on having the mandatory $97 per student. Without the certainty of the funds, SA would be put in a tight spot. “[The SA fee is] super important. Once it were to become voluntary, it would cause uncertainty. The clubs can’t count on anything at that point,” Perez said.

Some things the $97 activity fee pays for ● CENTRO Blue Route and buses off-campus and to Syracuse ● The Oswegonian, WTOP and WNYO ● SAVAC ● SAPB ● Services offered by The Point

Four Oswego State students honored nationally

Four Oswego State students won two awards at the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts, a national competition.

Senior Joseph Salvatore and juniors Shaune Killough and Daniel Frohm tied for third place in the instructional and educational category for a video made under contract with the Central New York Interoperable Communications Consortium. Senior Patrick Malowski won honorable mention in radio hard news reporting for a piece titled “Harlem Shake Translation Controversial.”

All three students are broadcasting and mass communications majors.

Killough, Salvatore and Frohm worked on a $10,000 project, sponsored by Motorola, to produce a film about the need for reliable communications among a variety of first responders in New York state. Communications professor Marybeth Longo mentored and assisted in the project.

Malowski’s audio report was part of a multimedia package for an upper-level broadcasting class. Malowski seized on the opening line of Baauer’s version of “Harlem Shake,” that says “with the terrorists” in Spanish. Malowski’s work finished fourth among 80 entries in the national competition.

The Broadcast Education Association competition drew entries from many colleges and universities, including University of Maryland, Ithaca College, Arizona State University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

The awards presentation will take place at the organization’s national convention in Las Vegas in April.

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NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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Cuomo creates student protection unit Governor’s new program from budget aims to end loan refinancing scams REFINANCING from COVER there have been concerns “about whether these private companies are charging improper, high upfront fees for simply funneling students into free government programs. A recent National Consumer Law Center report detailed these and other troubling practices within this industry.”

The press release specifies that the unit has already sent subpoenas to 13 student debt relief companies on Jan. 22. The companies are as follows: ● AlphaOne Student LLC ● Brelvis Consulting, LLC d/b/a The Student Loan Help Center ● Consumer Protection Counsel, P.A. ● Debt Be Gone, LLC ● Default Student Loan Assistance, LLC ● Interactiv Education, LLC d/b/a Direct Student Aid, Inc. ● Omega Capital Advisory LLC d/b/a Federal Student Aid Relief ● Student Consulting Group, Inc. ● Student Loan Relief Center, Inc. ● Student Loan Service ● US Student Loan Helpers, Inc. ● US Student Loan Services, Inc. ● Xtreme Products LLC d/b/a USA Student Loans Matt Anderson, deputy superintendent for Public Affairs at the NYS DFS, said that the unit currently has about a half-dozen DFS employees dedicated to the unit, something he says could expand in the future.

Anderson said there are two main goals for the unit; consumer education and an investigative capacity. “[The companies are] selling students a raw deal,” Anderson said. “We investigate that.”

He said that the unit is looking for violations of consumer protection requirements.

Anderson said the subpoenas are asking for advertising materials, contracts,

consumer disclosures and fee schedules.

The unit’s investigation is still ongoing according to Anderson, who suggested that students who think they are facing difficulties with refinancing with private companies reach out to the DFS. He added that the unit investigates consumer complaints.

Timothy James, a 2013 graduate of Oswego State recently took a look at refinancing his loans. He said he ultimately didn’t see a point.

“All of my student loans are at a fixed rate, with unsubsidized Stafford loans at 6.8 percent and subsidized Stafford loans at 3.4 percent,” James said. “For me personally, consolidating these loans doesn’t really provide me with any benefit. It would all be merged into one loan that would have an interest rate equal to what I’m paying overall for my loans right now.”

James explained that he would lose the benefit of making early payments on the loan with an interest rate of 6.8 percent, in order to lower his costs due to interest, if he combined his loans. James said that having to make payments on student loans is a rough experience.

“Just the minimum payments on my student loans take up to 15 percent of my after-tax income, and I landed on my feet with a great job after college,” James said. “Actually paying down this debt, let alone my wife’s, will take years. Anything you can do to decrease the amount of loans you have to take out in college will be extremely helpful for you down the road after college.”

Humbert explains that some companies will approach students with low upfront costs to refinance their payments to an initial lower payment, but the companies are “not disclosing the rest of the payment.”

Humbert said that this unit forces companies to be honest.

Students currently enter Oswego State and face a loan entrance program. Upon graduation from the university students

go through an exit counseling session to inform them of their options when it comes to repaying their loans, Humbert said.

Actually paying down this debt, let alone my wife’s, will take years. Anything you can do to decrease the amount of loans you have to take out in college will be extremely helpful for you down the road after college.”

- Timothy James, class of 2013

In a few weeks, Humbert said a financial literacy site aimed at helping students better understand their finances will be available through myOswego. The program can help students with budgeting their money, understanding loans and taking a look at expenses.

Humbert said he is not against the ninecourse program being required for all students, but hopes that professors will take time to use the program with students.

As for students dealing with loans and debt, Humbert said that it is unavoidable.

“It’s a reality of higher education,” Humbert said. “[We] can’t eliminate it, but we can make sure students aren’t getting in trouble with [debt].”

Humbert said that federal student loans already combine for students and, as far as private loans go, there “are not any good products where combining is a good thing.”

Discussion on issues with Great Lakes

Talk part of Sustainability Series with Oswego State’s Richard Back

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Chloé Larsen | The Oswegonian

e Richard Back speaks to an audience in Campus Center room 114 on the sustainability of the Great Lakes as a part of the Sustainability Series.

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Chloé Larsen Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com Oswego State’s Spring 2014 Sustainability Series started off with success as Richard Back, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, led a talk about the “Issues Confronting the Sustainability of the North American Great Lakes.”

At 1 p.m. on Feb. 18, students and faculty alike were able to learn about our actions that have negative effects on North America’s largest bodies of water, the Great Lakes.

The Sustainability Series, put together by the Climate Academic Steering Committee, seeks to inform students about issues that will have profound negative impacts on the Earth’s many environments. The focus of the series for this semester is the sustainability of water.

Lisa Glidden, the chair of the Climate Academic Steering Committee, said that she chose Back to speak at this event because he “specializes in limnology, which is the study of the Great Lakes and other inland waters.”

As Back is now interim dean, he explained that “[he] is now unable to teach the general education courses in the Biological Sciences department that [he] previously taught, so it was interesting to be able to teach again.” He also said that he has “studied and witnessed many environmental problems that students have yet to go through,” and believes that youth should

be “aware of how the abuse of water sources will personally affect them.”

Currently, the major usage of water in the United States is not for drinking or cooking, but for bathing and flushing the toilet. This is a huge issue that is rapidly depleting our water sources. Back showed several visuals of lakes, such as Owens Lake in California and the Aral Sea between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which are almost completely dried out. He said this is due to several reasons, including overuse of water and water diversion.

“Water from the Great Lakes is a great resource for the continent, so it is very important that we learn ways to conserve our water,” Back said.

In his speech, Back also explained that in studying the sustainability of water, you must think of it “politically, economically and morally.” Because the Great Lakes region has access to so much water, many residents of the West Coast and Midwest are seeking to move for a more reliable water source.

Several students who were interested in sustainability and the environment attended the talk.

“I am an environmental earth science major with a minor in sustainability, and I hope to study water issues in the future, so this talk is really interesting to me,” Oswego State student Kate Riley said.

Nikki Root and Nick Fargosa, also students at Oswego State, said they came to the talk because they found the topic interesting, and it would further [their] studies in a Great Lakes Environmental Issues class.

The audience was not entirely made up of students though. There were several Oswego State professors in attendance as well.

Katie Stout, an adjunct professor at Oswego State who teaches an English 102 class attended the event because she “thought it would be really interesting, as a lot of us do not pay attention to our water usage.” She

also said that it was “interesting to see a new perspective of how we live.”

Stout has a special interest in sustainability, and is currently working on a related project with some of her colleagues. This project, called the Permaculture Living Lab, is currently in the development stage. Permaculture, in essence, guides us to follow the patterns and relationships that we can see in nature, and apply them to all aspects of human habitation to preserve the environment.

“The Permaculture Committee is working to solidify a location for the garden, which we’re calling a living lab, since its entirety would offer space for learning and experimentation with ecological processes,” Stout said.

Right now, the committee is aiming to have the garden placed in the space between the Richard S. Shineman Center and Lee Hall.

“The goal is to make a beautiful, functional, self-regenerative place for students to learn in and enjoy in perpetuity,” Stout said.

Stout and the Permaculture Committee are also working with departments across campus to develop curriculum for this Living Lab space, and hope to create a replicable model—reaching beyond the idea of mere sustainability—by adding value and production to an unproductive stretch of dirt using permaculture design principles. This

garden will serve as a model, with “the rest of SUNY Oswego and beyond as their canvas, so students can not only observe and interact with the campus Living Lab, but apply beyond-sustainable principles to all aspects of their lives through these regenerative design techniques,” Stout explained.

“One permaculture principle is to catch and store energy, replenishing and adding to a system, rather than creating waste within a system, which is essential when looking at water management,” Stout said.

Permaculture is “all about the regenerative design in which we look at water usage in a system, we figure out where water is coming from, where it is going, and we determine how to catch it and feed it back into the system, hopefully in a more usable form than when it entered in the first place,” Stout said. These techniques will “help mitigate storm runoff, prevent contamination of drinking water, and create water reserves where they are lacking, among other benefits,” Stout explained.

To learn about sustainability, ways to help preserve the environment and the coming Permaculture Living Lab, stop into the Sustainability Series’ next event, a film screening of and discussion about “Even the Rain.”

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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SPORTS

OPINION BANG FOR

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YOUR BUCK

Photo provided by Getty Images

VOLUME LXXX ISSUE III

• www.oswegonian.com

SPORTS LAKERS LOSE

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THE OSWEGONIAN

Seamont leads Oswego State past No. 8 Utica

THRILLER

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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Lakers defeat nationally ranked Brockport at home

Women’s ice hockey sweeps home-and-home series against Pioneers

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Freshman Matt Crockett scored eight of his 17 points during the final 6:35 of the first half, helping lead the Lakers to victory against The College at Brockport at Max Ziel Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

Paul A. Esden Jr. Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com

Perry Kennedy | The Oswegonian Senior assistant captain Jocelyn St. Clair battles for a loose puck in front of the Lakers’ bench during Oswego State’s 2-1 victory over Utica College on Sunday.

Maximilian E. Principe Staff Writer sports@oswegonian.com Adversity brings out character, and the Oswego State women’s ice hockey team, led by senior Melissa Seamont, showed they possessed character this weekend after sweeping a home-at-home series against No. 8 Utica College.

On Saturday, Seamont netted both goals in a 2-1 road victory, both coming on the penalty kill, to bring the Lakers to victory over Utica. With the Pioneers coming in to the Campus Center Ice Arena Sunday looking for revenge, Seamont and the Lakers responded, earning a 2-1 victory.

Oswego State got off to a slow start, falling behind early and needing Seamont’s heroics later in the game.

“It seems for whatever reason, it takes us a little bit to get our legs going, to get our confidence going,” head coach Diane Dillon said.

Sluggish play and lack of communication early led to missed opportunities, which in turn led to a quick 1-0 deficit. Just 3:45 into the first period, Utica’s Kelsey Dowdall gathered a loose puck and beat net-minder Bridget Smith. While the goal

gave Utica the lead, the Lakers made a noticeable effort to pick up their play.

Oswego State showed the tenacity the team has shown all year, and at the 14:30 mark of the first period, the leaders of this Laker squad helped knot the score at 1-1. Senior Emma Smetaniuk was pulled down outside of the hash marks to the right of the Utica goal and sent a beautiful feed from her knees to senior captain Olivia Boersen from out in front of the net. From there, Boersen hit Seamont with a pass and she sent it home, tying the score at 1-1.

“I don’t know what happened, it just kind of trickled in,” Seamont said. “I’ve played with Emma (Smetaniuk) since the time she got here as a sophomore and now with Liv (Boersen) on our line we just communicate very well.”

The line’s communication continued to work well for the Lakers, who gained the lead in the third period after a scoreless second frame.

Perry Kennedy | The Oswegonian Junior Bridget Smith saved 57 of 59 shots en route to a sweep of Utica College last weekend.

UPCOMING MATCHES * green indicates home games

The line of Seamont, Smetaniuk and Boersen stayed aggressive on the offensive end and gave Oswego State the lead about nine minutes into the third period while the Lakers were on a power play. Seamont scored on the power play, with assists going to Boersen and Smetaniuk.

“If I had my way, she and a few other of these kids wouldn’t graduate,” Dillon said.

“They have that kind of chemistry going.

We’ve had them playing together all year and now its really starting to gel. And now they’re really just having fun out there.”

The trio is responsible for every goal the Lakers put on the board this weekend.

The rest of the team chipped in as well, helping Smith pitch a shutout following the early goal.

The defense played stellar and with Smith between the pipes, the Lakers shut down a high-powered Utica offense despite needing to turn to the penalty kill five times throughout the game.

“Bridget came up big,” Dillon said. “You have to have a goaltender who is your best [penalty killer].”

The Lakers did not score on the six power play opportunities handed to them and, according to Dillon, “were a little tentative on the power play.” Despite 12 minutes on the power play, the Lakers could only muster eight shots on net, something Dillon said the team will need to work on with top-ranked SUNY Plattsburgh coming to town next weekend.

With the two wins the team picked up this weekend, the Lakers improve to 16-6-1 (10-3-1 ECAC West) on the season and have all but secured the No. 3 spot in the conference standings.

The Lakers play No. 1 Plattsburgh this weekend to close out the regular season. Puck drops at 7 p.m. on Friday and then again at 3 p.m. on Saturday for Senior Night.

Despite a sluggish start to open the game, the Oswego State men’s basketball team was able to come together and overcome an early deficit to defeat The College at Brockport, 95-83.

The Lakers put an exclamation point on their last home game of the season, thanks to the leadership of the lone senior on the squad, guard Daniel Ross.

“We started out a little slow and we calmed ourselves down after a quick timeout by coach,” Ross said. “And I told them we can play with these guys we’ve been playing with the best teams in the conference all year. Some outcomes haven’t been the best for us, but we know we are one of the best teams in this conference.”

Ross led the Lakers with a game-high 28 points and knocked down 16-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe. He also recorded a game-high 14 rebounds, which was critical for the Lakers, who were looking to keep the Golden Eagles on their heels for the majority of the contest by getting the fast break going throughout the game.

The offensive punch off the bench was critical in Oswego State’s victory.

This can be credited to freshman guard Matt Crockett, who did most of his damage on the perimeter, going 3-for5 from three-point range. Sophomore Walter Sampson also contributed off the bench, shooting 100 percent from the field en route to notching 11 points.

In the first period, the Lakers held Brockport to just 37.9 percent shooting from the field and built an 11-point lead going into the half.

Brockport opened up the second half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to five. But the Lakers relied on their senior guard’s leadership and passion, as Ross scored 13 second-half points, 11 of which came from the free-throw line.

The Lakers continued to hold the lead, as they were able to keep Brockport at bay with their relentless aggression to get to the basket. Oswego State played smart and fast-paced basketball, which was key to its victory.

Freshman Keith Tyson started for Oswego State and showed he has a bright future with the Lakers after recording a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

See BASKETBALL, B2

Guard shines in final year with women’s basketball Daniel Lonky Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com Senior guard Jenn Robbins has been a force to be reckoned with for the Oswego State women’s basketball team this season.

The Geneva, N.Y. native is averaging just over 17 points per game, the leading scorer for the Lakers this season. Robbins, who transferred to Oswego State from West Liberty University last year, has found a solid comfort level this season, which has been the best of her collegiate basketball career.

Growing up, Robbins was introduced to basketball by her father at a young age. In second grade, she played on the boys and girls club team alongside her brother. An allaround athlete, Robbins also played softball and wrestled when she was young.

At Geneva High School, Robbins was a multi-sport athlete, participating in swimming, track, soccer and lacrosse.

However, it was clear that Robbins was best suited for basketball, as she led all of Section V in scoring her senior year and went on to set the school record for career points and assists.

Coming out of high school, Robbins committed early to play at Division II West Liberty University in West Virginia.

“I signed pretty early because at the time I

liked the school and had a full scholarship and they were a good, competitive team,” Robbins said.

As a starting freshman at West Liberty, Robbins was ranked second in the nation in assists/turnover ratio and third in assists before transferring to Oswego State after her sophomore season.

“Academically, [West Liberty] just wasn’t for me and also I didn’t really like the location. I wanted to be closer to home,” Robbins said.

Robbins joined the Lakers midway through the 2012-2013 season, playing her first game with Oswego State against William Patterson University on Dec. 30, 2012.

As she adjusted to her new team, Robbins, then a junior, averaged 6.9 points in just 18 games played while averaging 20.8 minutes. Going into this year, Robbins knew she would have an increased role in leading her team.

“I knew coming into this season I was going to have to step it up just because we lost a lot of good players,” Robbins said.

“Now I’m just more comfortable with the team. I’ve gotten to know them a lot better the past year.”

After transferring schools, the offensiveminded Robbins has successfully been able

See ROBBINS, B4

Women’s Ice Hockey

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Ice Hockey

Men’s Tennis

Friday, Feb. 21

Saturday, Feb. 22

Saturday, Feb. 15

Sunday, Feb. 23

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SCOREBOARD Men’s Ice Hockey

Quote of the Week We’ve had them playing together all year and now it’s really starting to gel. And now they’re really just having fun out there.

-Women’s hockey coach Diane Dillon on the team’s senior players

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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Oswego State loses heartbreaker Lakers fall to Brockport in final seconds of home finale, have one game left in 2013-14 season

Saturday, Feb. 15

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Oswego State

ROAD RECAPS Wrestling Oswego State came up short in all three matches at the Wesleyan Quad, its final regular season action last Sunday. The Lakers first fell to Hunter College in their closest contest of the day, 27-21. From there, they were defeated by the hosts, Wesleyan College and Johnson and Wales University, 26-15 and 33-10 respectively. Sophomore Abubakarr Sow had the most successful day for Oswego State, winning all three of his matches, one by pin and two by decision.

Men’s Basketball The Lakers dropped two tightly contested games last weekend on a trip to the North Country. The set started off at SUNY Potsdam on Friday night where Oswego State lost on a last second three-pointer by the Bears’ Joe Estramonte, 68-66.

Junior Rashawn Powell led the Lakers with 10 points and 10 rebounds. On Saturday, SUNY Plattsburgh handed Oswego State another close loss, 82-72 in overtime. Senior Daniel Ross paced the Lakers with 28 points.

Women’s Basketball Oswego State tasted defeat in both its SUNYAC matchups last weekend versus SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh.

First on Friday, the Lakers fell to the Bears in overtime, 89-80.

Senior Jenn Robbins poured in 31 points, including 18 in the second half to help force the extra period. The following night, the Cardinals used a 42-point opening half to power themselves past Oswego State, 75-63. Junior transfer Haley Witchella led the Lakers with 12 points and eight rebounds.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

Senior Lauren Nunziato drives the lane during her final home game in a Laker uniform on Tuesday night .

Senior Jenn Robbins led Oswego State with 16 points in its 51-50 loss to Brockport on Tuesday night.

David Armelino Photo Director darmelin@oswegonian.com The last home game of the season brought both cheers and tears on Tuesday night, as the Oswego State women’s basketball team (6-18, 2-15 SUNYAC) fell to The College at Brockport (9-14, 5-11 SUNYAC), 51-50.

Brockport got off to a fast start and took control of the game early. The Golden Eagles held Oswego State scoreless for the first five and a half minutes, while taking an early 9-0 lead. However, the Lakers were able to work their way back, cutting the deficit to four at halftime, 21-17.

The comeback was aided by several traveling violations committed

by Brockport, which became a theme throughout the game for both teams.

Once Oswego State was able to make up ground it had lost in the first half, the game remained close until the end.

Several lead changes paved the way for a dramatic, last-minute finish at Max Ziel Gymansium.

With under a minute left and the game tied at 48, sophomore Heather Hebert split the defense and sunk a layup to put the Lakers up by two with 13.9 seconds remaining.

The Golden Eagles immediately took

the ball down the court and senior Alexandra Marshall converted a three-point play with 10.4 seconds remaining to give Brockport a lead it would not relinquish.

Oswego State senior Jenn Robbins brought the ball up court for the final possession of the game, but she dribbled the ball into a trap and was forced to kick it out to Alison Nunziato.

The freshman was able to get a shot off with less than a second remaining, but the shot bounced off the rim and there was no time remaining for a second shot.

Robbins led the Lakers in her final home game with 16 points, shooting 3-for9 from three-point range and 6-for-17 from the field overall.

Hebert finished with eight points and a team-high seven rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.

The loss was the Lakers’ 11th straight in SUNYAC play and despite the season going downhill after a promising start, head coach Tracy Bruno loved what she saw out of her team down the stretch.

“They’re still battling,” Bruno said.

“It still matters (to them) that they win, they’re still putting forth the effort, but the ball just hasn’t bounced our way.”

Bruno noted how her team could have just thrown in the towel after being eliminated from conference tournament contention, but the fight that her team has shown is unparalleled.

Looking into the foreseeable future, Bruno said she believes that replacing her three seniors will be challenging.

Robbins, Lauren Nunziato and Paula Egleston were three key parts to the Laker team this season, and replacing them will be anything but easy. But Bruno said she will stay optimistic.

“There are certainly moments with our younger players,” Bruno said. “Alison Nunziato rotated into the starting lineup, I think she has a huge upside, and with Tayler (Sorell) and Mary (Mazzella) at the point guard, I think there’s a lot of things to be excited about.”

Bruno also said she believes the way her team finished will help motivate the players in the offseason to improve upon

their shortcomings.

Recruiting is another positive that Bruno said she is happy about going forward, on top of who is returning.

There is one particular player which Bruno said she will be very happy to have on her roster for a full season next year in junior transfer Haley Witchella.

Witchella joined the team in the middle of December and Bruno said she is excited to continue watching her develop further next year after the success she has already achieved.

Oswego State will finish off its regular season on Saturday afternoon when it travels to SUNY Cortland (10-7, 14-10).

Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium.

Men’s basketball wins big BASKETBALL, from B1 “I play with energy and passion and that is definitely something I pride myself on is to go out there and get boards,” Tyson said. “I just try to give my team a little added spark off the bench, but I got the start today.”

Other contributions came from Kyle Covley, who had an efficient night, shooting 66 percent from the field and finishing the night with nine points. Rashawn Powell added nine points and seven boards.

The Lakers proved to be efficient on the offensive end, shooting 45.6 percent from the field and an incredible 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. On the defensive end, Oswego State held the Golden Eagles to just 18.2 percent shooting from three-point range.

Brockport’s poor long-range shooting can be credited to the Lakers’ strong defensive affinity that was focused on stopping the deep ball all night, including a run in the first half in which Brockport did not knock down any long-range shots (0-

for-4) against a stingy Lakers defense.

The win improves the Lakers’ record to 15-9 (9-8 SUNYAC) and gives the team some much-needed separation in the playoff picture. Currently, SUNY Oneonta is the No. 4 seed and Oswego State is tied with SUNY Cortland for the No. 5 spot in the conference at 9-8.

This weekend, the Lakers play SUNY Cortland in a critical matchup with playoff seeding implications. If Oswego State wins this Saturday and Oneonta loses one of its last two, Oswego State will host a playoff game Tuesday.

Heading into this weekend’s matchup versus Cortland, Keith Tyson said the team is going to continue doing what it has done all year.

“Play hard. We’ve got to come in there with a good attitude, because if you don’t go in there and play hard it’s going to be tough,” Tyson said.

Oswego State will finish off its regular season on Saturday night at SUNY Cortland 14-10 (9-8 SUNYAC). Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Daniel Ross recorded his first double-double in a SUNYAC game in Tuesday night’s win over Brockport.

SPORTS

Oswego State drops 2 at home Men’s hockey falls 3-2 to Brockport on Saturday after Friday loss to nationally ranked Geneseo Andrew Pugliese Asst. Sports Editor apugliese@oswegonian.com Two slow starts plagued No. 12 Oswego State (8-5-1, 15-6-2) last weekend as the Lakers fell to SUNY Geneseo, now No. 11, and The College of Brockport, 3-2 each night. The Lakers had not been swept over a weekend since White Out Weekend in December 2008.

On Saturday evening, the Lakers got off to a slow start in the opening frame and fell behind early. The Golden Eagles (5-8-1, 8-123) took a first-period lead and never looked back, starting the scoring at the 4:34 mark.

The play started when sophomore Jonathan Demme found fellow sophomore Chase Nieuwendyk on the dot in the left circle. Nieuwendyk sent a bouncing puck the way of sophomore Justin Gilbert, which got over the goalie’s glove to the right pipe and onto the stick of senior Chris Cangro for the finish.

Cangro’s goal was just one of several examples of bounces going against the Lakers throughout the weekend. Even though senior captain David Titanic recognized his team faced very solid goalies in each game, he also realized Oswego State will need some of those bounces in order to be more successful going forward.

“I give the two goalies that we played a lot of credit. They played great games against us, but I think it’s just about getting grittier, getting to the front of the net, doing the dirty things, getting in front of the goalie’s eyes and not letting the defense tie you up in front,” Titanic said. “Whether it has to go off your body and in or you bang in a greasy rebound, we have to change something and it has to come soon.”

Oswego State came right back at Brockport’s goaltender Aaron Green, but as he did for much of the evening, the junior stood tall. The Mount Albert, Ontario native finished the game with 45 saves. On the other end of the ice, Gilbert finished the contest with 21 shots stopped.

Around the midpoint of the period, the Golden Eagles would strike again when sophomore Shane Cavalieri scored. Freshman Nick Marinac and junior Troy Polino worked together to get the puck in the low slot for Cavalieri, who lifted the puck over Gilbert’s right shoulder to expand the lead to two.

As the period went on, Green stopped his share of shots, but the Lakers’ puck movement improved at the same time until the two factors came to a head at 18:05 of the period and the hosts found their response.

Freshman Stephen Johnson sent a puck to the point and onto the stick of junior assistant captain Bobby Gertsakis. From there, Gertsakis sent a shot to Green’s right and the goaltender sent it away with his blocker.

However, it found Chris Waterstreet’s stick and for the second night in the row, he grabbed the first goal for Oswego State.

In the second, the Lakers continued to step up their pressure and even though they produced their fewest shots in a period all night, the quality of scoring chances remained high.

However, Green and the Golden Eagles’ defense were up to the task and along with a strong effort by Gilbert and company, each side was held scoreless for the 20-minute span.

The scoreless period ended at 25:57 when Jesse Facchini scored the eventual game-winner at 4:02 of the third period.

FINAL SCORE FRIDAY

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After recording 28 points in a win against the College at Brockport, Daniel Ross has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season for the men’s basketball team.

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With back-to-back losses to SUNY Geneseo and The College at Brockport, the men’s hockey team has lost two consecutive weekend games for the first time in five seasons.

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With its sweep of nationally-ranked Utica College, the women’s hockey team has now won six straight contests and has not lost in February.

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The women’s basketball team dropped its eleventh consecutive game after falling to The College at Brockport on Tuesday night.

Maximilian E. Principe | The Oswegonian Senior David Titanic waits for the puck during a game in the Lakers’ final weeked at home. Oswego State dropped both games, falling to 15-6-2 on the season.

The sophomore found a wide-open left side of the net with Gilbert defending the right side of the crease after the initial shot by freshman Rob Hall from the top of the right circle.

Senior Brendan Rothfuss was awarded the secondary assist on the play.

After Facchini’s goal, the Lakers had trouble finding an equalizer and the search for a second goal started to seem like an unfruitful venture, until the Lakers’ captain delivered in his final regular season home game.

Freshman Chris Raguseo, who earned his first collegiate point at Brockport back in November, sent the puck behind the net and onto the stick of fellow freshman Matt Galati.

Galati sent the puck to the low slot for Titanic, who sent it home, scoring his eighth goal of the season and cutting the deficit to one.

Titanic said he was happy to grab a goal on such a special night, but said the experience was bittersweet due to the loss.

more aggressive than its counterpart. The Knights were winning the races to most pucks and taking more shots, recording five of the game’s first eight. However, Oswego State managed to strike first.

At 6:33 of the opening period, Waterstreet delivered the first goal of the game, as he did in Geneseo as well on Nov. 22.

Sophomore Sacred Heart transfer Morgan Bonner found Waterstreet just inside the slot and he fired home his fourth goal of the year, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Just 15 seconds later, Raguseo was sent off for interference, opening the door for the Knights to even up the score.

The reality is, there is a lot of injuries and a lot of banged-up guys that they’re working, and they’re trying and putting in their best effort.

- Head coach Ed Gosek

“G [Galati] made an unbelievable pass to me. I found some quiet ice there in the middle where no one was and I guess I closed my eyes and found the back of the net,” Titanic said. “It’s always nice to score, but when the outcome’s not there it’s kind of disappointing, especially on Senior Night.”

Head coach Ed Gosek called a timeout 28 seconds later to set up a plan for grabbing the game-tying goal. Gosek decided to pull Gilbert for the final 1:30. Waterstreet, Galati and Gertsakis each almost found the team’s third goal, but the buzzer sounded and Brockport walked away with the victory.

Gosek said he was not happy with the result on the scoreboard Saturday night, but was able to see the silver lining, even in defeat.

“I was proud of our guys,” Gosek said.

“For the second night in a row they didn’t come unglued, we weren’t undisciplined, we stuck with our systems, guys didn’t try to do it as individuals, they stuck within the parameters of how we want to play, created some great opportunities and pucks didn’t fall.”

“The reality is, if you keep doing the right things sooner or later you’ll be rewarded for them,” Gosek said.

From the first puck drop on Friday, SUNY Geneseo (17-5-0, 11-2-0) came out faster and

With 41 seconds remaining on the Raguseo penalty, the visitors found an equalizer off the stick of senior Zachary Vit. One of the Knights four captains and reigning SUNYAC men’s ice hockey player of the week, Vit sent a shot off the pipe and past Gilbert at the 8:07 mark of the period.

The assists on the goal were awarded to juniors Justin Scharfe and Jack Caradonna.

Geneseo scored its second goal of the game 23 seconds later when junior Ryan Stanimir punched home a loose puck among a group of blue and white jersey in front of the Oswego State net. Matt Solomon picked up the assist.

As the period continued, the Knights appeared to have the upper hand and added another goal when sophomore David Ripple scored the eventual game-winner.

The goal came at the 19:13 mark, with Ripple finding the puck at the left pipe and putting it in off the back of Gilbert. Vit and freshman Jack Ceglarski contributed to the goal, as well.

The final horn of the first sounded less than a minute later and from that point on, the Lakers switched gears.

The slow start in the first 20 minutes came back to haunt Oswego State and Gosek said the team’s performance in the period had an impact on the outcome of the game.

“Us getting off to an awful slow start I think was a key factor to the game,” Gosek said. “We played a good second. We played a solid third. I think we were as good in the third as we were in the second, but you’re trying to dig yourself out of a whole because we weren’t ready to compete in the first period.”

In the second period, Oswego State out-

shot Geneseo 18-to-1, and no shot was bigger than Galati’s at the 3:20 mark.

Just 37 seconds in the period, freshman Alex Botten was called for goalie interference giving the Knights two minutes on the man advantage. The Lakers successfully killed off the penalty right as Geneseo was caught for interference, setting the stage for the home team’s second goal.

Under a minute into the power play, the first Oswego State power play unit was able to circle the puck around a few times before Waterstreet was able to kick it out to Gertsakis in the high slot so the junior assistant captain could find Galati on the faceoff dot in the left circle for the finish.

The goal was Galati’s nation-leading 18th of the season and eighth on the power play.

The tally was the final goal of the game.

From then on, the play of the two goaltenders took center stage, with each holding down their respective creases for the final 36:40.

“I think any goalie will tell you that he’d rather see more work than less on any given night. It definitely plays on your mind a little bit when you’re not seeing too much action.

You’ve got to stay focused,” Gilbert said. “It was kind of like that up at Morrisville too. So, those are the most difficult games for me. What I try to do is just keep my eye on the puck the entire time and keep a clear head.”

Gilbert finished the game with 21 saves, while the Knights’ sophomore goalie Nick Horrigan stopped 35 of 37 Laker shots.

Gosek said he understands Oswego State is dealing with injuries at the moment, with three starting defensemen and two starting forwards out, but said he is also seeing a lack of energy on the ice.

“The reality is, there is a lot of injuries and a lot of banged up guys that they’re working and they’re trying and putting in their best effort,” Gosek said. “But, that same little jump and fire that we had earlier is lacking because they’re tired and beat up.”

This weekend, the Lakers finish off the regular season with a weekend at SUNY Potsdam (4-8-2, 9-12-2) and No. 4 SUNY Plattsburgh (18-3-2, 11-1-2) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

57:

Junior goaltender Bridget Smith registered 57 saves on 59 shots to help lead the women’s hockey team to a weekend sweep of No. 8 ranked Utica College.

Athletes of the Week

MELISSA SEAMONT

Women’s Ice Hockey Senior, North Bay, Ontario Seamont led the Lakers with four goals as they swept Utica College in a two-game series last weekend. The senior started the weekend off by scoring the Lakers only two goals in a 2-1 win. Both of Seamont’s goals were shorthanded, one in each of the first two periods. Seamont was right back at it again on Sunday afternoon with another two goals to defeat Utica College again, 2-1. Trailing 1-0 early in the first period, the senior found her way to the net to tie it up 1-1. Seamont scored her fourth goal of the weekend on the power play to seal Sunday’s win in the third period.

FINAL SCORE SATURDAY

2

3 BRANDON COMDEN Track & Field Junior, Holley, N.Y.

The Lakers attended the Bomber Invitational in Ithaca, N.Y. this past weekend. Comden proved himself in the 200-meter dash by placing fourth overall out of 73 participants in the event with a time of 22.85. The junior’s time met an ECAC qualifying standard and was also his careerbest by .58 of a second. He currently ranks in the top ten for the 200-meter dash in the SUNYAC Conference.

Robbins excels as senior

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

Women’s Hockey Standings

Men’s Hockey Standings

* Conference Standings Only

* Conference Standings Only

1

13-1-0

1

11-1-2

2

13-1-0

2

12-2-0

3

10-3-1

3

8-5-1

4

7-4-3

4

6-4-4

5

8-6-0

5

4-5-5

6

3-12-1

6

5-8-1

7

2-10-2

7

4-8-2

8

3-11-0

8

3-9-2

9

1-12-1

9

2-13-1

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Senior Jenn Robbins has paced the women’s basketball team throughout the season, leading the squad in a majority of recorded statistical categories.

ROBBINS, from B1 to adjust to a new way of playing under Oswego State head coach Tracy Bruno.

“The biggest thing with Jenn was just a comfort level. She was in a tough spot transferring and joining us at the halfway point last year and having to go from the system she was comfortable with to a new one,” Bruno said of her guard. “The ability was always there, though. The kid can flat-out play.”

Back in November 2013, the Lakers began their season with wins against Clarkson and RIT en route to the Max Ziel Tournament title. Robbins was named Max Ziel Tournament MVP after scoring 14 points and tallying four assists against Clarkson before recording a career-high 30 points to go with four assists against RIT.

She was awarded Oswego State Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending Nov. 17.

Despite her offensive abilities, Robbins has focused more on defense this year due, in part, to her head coach.

“The coaching styles at the two schools I’ve played at were totally different. I’ve learned to respect defense a lot more under Coach Bruno because she’s a lot more defensive-minded, and I think that’s really helped me improve a lot on defense since I’ve been here,” Robbins said.

Bruno has been impressed with Robbins’ play, both offensively and defensively, since joining the Lakers. This season, the guard is currently ranked third overall in the SUNYAC in points per game and first in three-pointers made with 69.

On the defensive end, Robbins’ 36 steals are good for eleventh in the SUNYAC and are the most she has ever had in a collegiate season.

“She’s one of the best flat-out scorers I’ve ever

coached. She can shoot the three with great efficiency, she’s got great handles, she’s not afraid to shoot off the break, and for her size, she’s not afraid to go in and attack the basket,” Bruno said.

“From a scoring standpoint, she’s an extremely tough defensive matchup. [Robbins] is also really a great team player. To have that scoring ability and the ability to play with your teammates is quite the attribute.”

Robbins had what may have been her best game of the season in last Friday’s overtime loss at SUNY Potsdam. The senior scored a career-high 31 points, draining seven of her 10 3-point shots. She added five assists and a pair of steals in 42 minutes of action.

Off the court, the senior is an education major and is student teaching this semester. After graduating, Robbins hopes to move south and one day open up her own daycare.

The Lakers finish off their season against SUNY Cortland on Saturday at 2 p.m.

B34

NEXT GAME

NEXT GAME

FRIDAY

FRIDAY

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

vs.

@

Campus Recreation Sports Report Adam Rupczyk Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com As we near the end of February, Campus Recreation is reaching one of its busiest times of the semester.

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Campus Recreation will host a table tennis tournament in Funnelle Hall Lounge at 7 p.m.

The online registration deadline is Tuesday and on-site registration is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Divisions will consist of men’s singles, women’s singles and open doubles.

Another new event is Campus Recreation’s Border Crossing. The Border Crossing event provides a unique goal for people who are interested in swimming.

Over the course of a month, students will log the distance they swam in Lee Pool. The goal is to cover the distance of Lake Ontario, from Oswego to Canada.

The next round of intramural sports will include 6 v 6 Dodgeball and European Team Handball. The online registration for those sports will be March 4.

On Friday, the Campus Center Ice Arena was host to the Valentine’s Day Open Skate, 150 participants attended the event. On Saturday, Campus Recreation Intramural Sports hosted a doubles and singles racquetball tournament at Laker Hall.

In the doubles tournament, Dan Ulrich and Preston Krieger outlasted Jon McKibbin and Justin D’Antonio in a grueling 22-20 match. Chaskin Saroff and Katie Briggs started strong, but came up short, losing to Zach Sabella and Chris Darr in the semifinals. Krieger and Ulrich’s team chemistry and court presence seemed to give them the upper hand in their 21-16 victory over Darr and Sabella in the finals to become the 2014 racquetball doubles champions.

In the singles tournament, Justin D’Antonio cruised through the field en route to an undefeated record of 5-0.

D’Antonio earned his first singles racquetball championship.

Intramural sports are picking with five sports now in session.

In basketball, an intramural champion was crowned in the women’s division as oSWAGo won two games in two days to take home the Spring 2014 Women’s Championship. In the co-rec tournament the final four is set. The remaining teams are top-seeded Optimus Prime, Oswego State Warriors, Late Bloomers and the Monstars.

In the men’s tournament, the topseeded Lee Hall Legends were the first team to reach the semifinal round after a convincing 55-27 victory over the Splash Brothers. Other remaining teams are Optimus Prime, The Regime, The Goons, Below the Rim, Win or Lose We Always…. and Jellyfish.

In men’s broomball, the final playoff bracket is set. Derp Dynasty holds the No. 1 seed, followed by Snipe Chirp Cele, Spank That Donkey Kong and The Rolltiders. In the co-rec division, six teams remain undefeated before the final regular season game. The Crimson Panthers, Dotties Fun Nuggets, Multiple Scorgasms, Master Debaters and Eskimo Family are all 2-0, as Slippery Shafts comes in at 1-0 to round out the unbeaten teams.

A new sport to Campus Recreation this spring is the pickleball league. After one day of competition in the open doubles division, Bread and Butter and Triumv both notched early victories.

In indoor soccer, some teams are making some early noise with convincing victories. In the co-rec competitive division, team Hungover leads the league with a 2-0 record, with Emily Feeley scoring a goal in both wins. In the co-rec recreational division, Team Swagger and The Fat and Furious lead the league at 2-0. The two teams will face off on Monday to battle for the league’s top spot.

In the men’s recreational division, Goal Diggers and No FLIP’s are 2-0. In the men’s competitive division, Dump Truck and Mohawk Manatees are atop the league at 2-0. Team Dump Truck has come from behind, scoring unanswered goals to win its first two contests.

The indoor volleyball league started on Sunday. Tune Squad, Dan’s Calves, Practice Safe Sets, Long Live the Young Wolf and How I Set Your Mother each recorded victories. In the men’s league, Best Sets You’ve Ever Had and 187 On The Dot took home wins.

OPINION MODEL OF EXCELLENCE

B?5 Photo provided by Getty Images

OPINION

VOLUME LXXX ISSUE III • www.oswegonian.com

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E-mail 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).

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

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Do you think the SA activity fee should be mandatory?

“Yes it should be, some of the activities are for student safety and for socializing.”

Kristin Greeson senior, English major

“No! Not every student participates in activities.”

Danielle Gillett sophomore, English major

“What if you come to school then just go home, and you’re not involved in anything?”

Alexa Kuparinen junior, human development major

“I think it should be since everone gets the free stuff anyway.”

Tiffany Carr sophomore, psychology major

BIG AT HOME

B1 David Armelino | The Oswegonian

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

B6

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FEES Our plan for this week’s Vox Pop was simple. The student activity fee students are charged each semester is going up for a vote: should it be voluntary or remain mandatory? We asked students what they thought of the fee being mandatory.

The question was simple enough. Yet, what we were met with were several students who were unsure of any of the details surrounding the fee. Explanations were needed for what the fee is, how much it costs and where the money goes. More often than not, students had never even realized that an extra $97 was charged to their bill each semester.

This is concerning. Beyond the value of debating the necessity of the various fees

levied onto students, it’s important for students to take stock of the fees they are charged for their own understanding of education costs.

Part of the problem derives from the way loans are dispersed. FAFSA reports and student bills are posted on myOswego, but many students are more likely to be keeping tabs on pending refunds than on where the rest of the loans are going. College students are busy, and it can be hard to keep track of it all.

But this doesn’t make it any less important. Students should keep track of the art fee, athletic fee, the Mary Walker fee, the technology fee and anything else that appears on their bill.

These fees, especially the student activity fee, all have their purposes and value on campus, but that doesn’t mean they are beyond questioning by the students. If a student feels the technology fee is too high, they should look into how the amount is determined and where the money goes.

Beyond fees, there is incredible value in keeping close tabs on tuition expenses in general. It is easy to turn the blind eye now, when loan money streams in each semester to take care of all costs. There are many ways for an enterprising student to cut down on costs, such as commuting or living off campus.

Pay attention now, before the loan bills stream in and you wish you had.

IN THE OFFICE

Knowing yourself inside, outside

Moraima Capellán Pichardo A&E Editor mcapellan@oswegonian.com The amount of women I have met that do not know what their private areas look like is staggering. I’ve had friends who simply feel “afraid” to look at what’s down there and how it works. Sounds ridiculous? Well, this points to a bigger issue. How many of us actually take the time to know our physical self? An even smaller number of us are aware of what makes us tick internally.

Knowledge about oneself is directly linked to success in all the different areas of life. You’ve heard the phrase, “If you don’t love yourself, no one will.” I am a firm believer that the only way to really love yourself is to know and sometimes discover (through safe experimentation) all the quirks

that make you, you. This knowledge about yourself leads to better decision making in not only personal relationships but career goals as well.

Let’s go back to my friend, the one who has never taken a close look at her intimate areas. Completely unaware of the way that part of her body works, she has unrealistic expectations of what sex is supposed to be like. She finds herself constantly disappointed because, along with her partner, she cannot achieve an orgasm. Her partner does not know how to pleasure her, and the worst thing is, she doesn’t either. She doesn’t even know what it looks like!

An awareness of oneself is, of course, not limited to a successful sex life. It’s highly important that, as individuals, we understand why we like and dislike things, people and situations. It’s as simple as being able to explain why you hated a movie and as challenging as choosing a career based on your personality traits. I can probably lecture for an hour on why I hated “The Counselor” (it’s loaded with Latino stereotypes) and also understand that I’ve been successful in costumer service jobs because I am good with words. Over the years, I’ve come to observe that I am an introvert who needs to take a few timeouts from crowded areas and talkative people. I’ve witnessed a lot of my peers in uncomfortable situations because they

surround themselves with people that they are not compatible with or have chosen a major that does not suit them.

How many of your friends have majors that are clearly not for them? Whether their family or the desire for “easy” money influences it, there are a lot of people out there working jobs that they hate and not understanding why it makes them miserable. There are an innumerable number of options for everything in life but it’s up to you to figure out which one works for you.

Sure, your friends all like to run as a way to stay in shape, but you hate it. The solution isn’t to become a couch potato; try boxing or yoga instead. Take some charge over the choices that make you happy and bring you pleasure.

After you’ve formed an idea of who you are, don’t forget that change is constant and absolutely beautiful. Go back a few years on your Facebook timeline or your tweets and you will see the changes and evolutions in your thoughts and surroundings. Analyze how those changes came about and the positive effect they might have had. If the effects are negative, well, it’s time to de-clutter and detoxify.

It is your job to know yourself. Very few people will have the patience to decipher the puzzles that make up a person. Start by exploring.

Making friends takes time, courage

Shanna Fuld Copy Editor sfuld@oswegonian.com Friendships are very important to most college students. At a time when we are away from home and doing things that do not involve our families, friends are all we have to keep us treading the waters of college.

People make friends with other people that they can relate to. My question is, how do we go about seeking the friendship of our unsuspecting college mates? Flirting with the opposite gender is fun and easy.

Heck, you don’t even need to open your mouth to flirt because you can use your eyes. When it comes to making a platonic

friend however, undressing someone with your eyes is not the way to go. So where does this leave us?

There is a girl in one of my classes that seems to have similar views with me that I notice when she expresses her opinion.

She wears clothes I like, and I could totally imagine us hitting the town and getting all the dudes together. Here’s the problem: we only chit-chat before and after class. I don’t know if she would be interested in spending time with me outside of class. What if she has her own friend group and has de-

The fear of rejection is real, and whether it is for a love interest or just a friend, this fear can keep us from reaching out.”

this girl on a date. The fear of rejection is real, and whether it is for a love interest or just a friend, this fear can keep us from reaching out. Essentially, I would be taking her on a date.

I would be showing my interest and giving her the opportunity to see that I am fun and do interesting things. If only we could all suspend our fear, more people would have an easier time at gaining friendship from those they desire. The worst that could happen is that this desired friend of yours will have a terrible time with you, hate you forever and give you nasty looks in class. But the risk makes the challenge that much more exciting, right?

cided not to seek out any new friends? Do people do that?

I think most people are down to make new friends though. My current plan of action is to continue chit-chats with this potential pal through the next week of classes and then try to invite her to a party with me. It almost feels like I am trying to take

Tip of the hat... ◊...to Gina at Crossroads for top-notch breakfast sandwiches.

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

LAKERS WIN

STAFF EDITORIAL

“It’s a bit steep, pricewise, and it shouldn’t be mandatory.”

Ian Pauchard junior, communication and social interaction major

SPORTS

◊...to the women’s ice hockey team for being recognized in this week’s national rankings. ◊...to those who took part in Rail Jam.

Steven Radford| The Oswegonian

◊...to those who are not tipping delivery drivers. ◊...to Toilet Talk—people should wear shoes in the bathrooms. ◊...to Snygg. What the hell.

Wag of the finger...

OPINION

Keep it together teach’ Droning professors are wasting time, money while students suffer Kimberlyn Bailey Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com If college fees are about to put us into debt for the next 10 years—and for most of us, they will—we had better be getting our money’s worth. Though this conservation rightly gravitates around a concern for how our degrees will fare on the job market, it’s useful to take a step back and ask what we’re paying for when we’re sitting in the classroom.

If you do the math, and assume you are taking the average 15 credits per semester, then every hour you spend in an Oswego State classroom is costing you $13. If you think it’s fair to factor in additional college and dorm fees, it works out to about $50 per hour. Thirteen bucks per hour is about twice what you pay for a 3D movie, and $50 per hour is the price of decent seats for a Kanye West concert.

In my last few semesters, I’ve had a lucky streak of good professors and courses. This has made me realize just how much can be accomplished in each of those $13 hours. I’ve also seen enough to know that when you get unlucky, you can find yourself in a classroom where almost nothing gets done.

Too many of us are OK with this. When the professor does nothing more than press

Melissa Gottlieb | The Oswegonian

play to show a movie, we’re happy. But it turns out that it’s probably the most expensive movie we’ve ever seen. When he or she devotes 30 minutes to some tangential rant, we don’t feel cheated out of $6.50. But we have been.

Sometimes the point of a lesson won’t be completely clear until the end of class.

I’m not counseling impatience. But it might be useful to everyone, professors and students alike, to imagine that every 60 seconds, each of the seated students feed a quarter to the machine to keep the class going. That is Oswego State tuition for the typical fulltime student roughly broken down into the price per minute. Maybe if we all imagined ka-ching sounds of quarters dropping each minute, it would help everyone maintain focus on what needs to be taught and learned.

When professors are wasting classtime, we need to remind ourselves that we have the power to pull them back on topic, to ask

the questions that need answering, and to expect that our classroom minutes are used effectively. Professors are, first and foremost, performing a service, and we have the right to make sure we get what we pay for.

Once we think of classroom time as being rather expensive, we can quickly think of ways in which it could be better spent. I find it surprising that most of our professors have yet to make drastic changes to how they teach in the digital age. Khan Academy and similar services have arguably made the college lecture obsolete.

If professors would record their lectures and ask that students read both their text and watch the lecture before class, then classroom time could be reserved for activities that benefit the most from student-teacher interaction: answering questions, providing clarification, discussion and practicing problems.

This idea, called the “flipped classroom” in education research, is something I would love to see.

There might not be an optimal teaching method. In fact, the excellent professors that I fondly remember have chosen very different methods, but what they all had in common was the urgency to fill class time with as much valuable content as possible. If all students and faculty kept this same concern in mind, perhaps we’d speak to the value of the classes we took as much as we do the value of our degrees on the job market.

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 21 2014

Big-time merger threatens viewers Emma Hanlon Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Following its merger with Time Warner Cable, Comcast posted a press release on its website that hummed with buzzwords.

Sentences such as, “This transaction will create a leading technology and innovation company, differentiated by its ability to deliver ground-breaking products on a superior network while leveraging a national platform to create operating efficiencies and economies of scale.” All very dizzying.

What does this really mean? The statement is almost in a different language, but it just says more of the same. “Buying Time Warner will allow us to service our customers while growing as a company,” is the gist of it. Is this a good thing?

Comcast states that they will have “Startover” and “Lookback,” two new services that will allow the consumer to record and re-watch live broadcasts without the use of a DVR. They also paid $159 per share in the bidding process, a 17 percent increase in stock for shareholders. Comcast paid more than $45 billion for Time Warner, and says that the merge will generate more competition.

This merger is absolutely ridiculous.

Oswego State lands itself in high company Blair Harvey Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com There is nothing that started to ruin my respect more for my SUNY peers than working the overnight shifts at the west side McDonald’s. I would get spit at, hit on and would take orders for students who could barely remember what their name was . I started to study these students who would come in smelling of tequila and beer and I began to notice something. It was always somebody different. It was like they all took different shifts. Some people that went out last weekend would stay in, and a whole new crowd was out the next.

Some students see the excessive amount of bars in Oswego as a good advantage of going to the school, but when you look at real statistics, not a lot of students go out and get into real trouble. It wasn’t until 2012 that we reached over 100 students who were being faced with drug charges, and only 18 people in 2012 were charged with a DWI. Despite the recent spread throughout Oswego of crystal meth and “bath salts,” it seems to have very little influence on the students: given that the majority of the drug arrests are for unlawful possession of marijuana. Only eight students in 2012 were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Like any other college atmosphere, the usual controlled substances that go around the most are amphetamines such as Ritalin and Adderall. Some students take these drugs when they’re stressed and need

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

to stay up all night to cram and get their work done. Even with enormous amounts of stress. Even with the known use of these kinds of drugs as “study aids,” the arrests for being caught with these controlled substances were only 10 people from both 2012 and 2013. Also, in 2012 and 2013 the difference between charges of unlawful possession of marijuana has actually gone down from 125 to 107 people.

The campus knows that every weekend the bars will be packed, and services try to accommodate safe conditions, such as the D-Bus and other shuttles throughout the night for students. Especially in the cold winter conditions it becomes extremely important to make sure you can get home safely without acquiring hypothermia or frostbite from passing out drunk somewhere.

While it is necessary to get out and have fun every once in a while, there are numerous activities around campus and the town other than drinking and doing drugs.

If you make it across the stage to get your diploma, you should have gained the time management skills that led you to this accomplishment. If only 150 students at the maximum are being arrested for these drug crimes, then that leaves thousands of stu-

dents that are out there doing other things with their time.

There are about five gyms located across town, including a rock climbing and a boxing club. You can go hiking and swimming, out to the movies or even just sit in the Campus Center hearth lounge to play a game like Magic the Gathering with your friends.

If you are spending your entire day getting high or every weekend drunk, chances are you won’t last very long here.

What it boils down to at Oswego is just a regular college atmosphere where some people will be influenced by drugs and alcohol, and others will not. There isn’t an overwhelming drug addiction atmosphere.

In fact, I happen to believe that we have a challenging and intellectually stimulating learning atmosphere around here. Some people just know how to take more advantage of all the school has to offer. For the others that can’t manage their time well and succumb to the influence of drugs and alcohol all the time, it seems like a waste of time and money. However, I don’t believe the whole school should be looked down upon for those that are mistreating their own time and wealth, especially when there are so many other students trying to reach their fullest potential here at Oswego State.

Jeter leaves blueprint of excellence Issack Cintron Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com In the classic 1993 baseball movie “The Sandlot,” a timeless quote is made regarding the main character’s favorite player, Babe Ruth. The quote says, “People say he was less than a god but more than a man.

You know, like Hercules or something.”

This statement was based on accomplishments Babe Ruth achieved with ease while others considered them to be impossible.

However, that was back in the day. Nowadays, similar claims could be made about another Yankee of superhuman status, in the form of Derek Jeter. While Jeter may not be nearly as built, powerful, or even “Ruthian” for that matter, he definitely has a legacy that will be discussed about for years, just as Babe Ruth’s career is.

It was last Wednesday when the fivetime World Champion announced that he would be hanging up his cleats to retire from baseball at the conclusion of the 2014 season. This announcement came as a shock to many, although it was obvious that the day eventually would come where he would have to call it quits. In what will be his 20th season in the MLB, Jeter is going to experience a similar treatment that his career-long teammate Mariano Rivera

received in 2013 before his retirement.

However, in Jeter’s case, he is more likely to receive treatment on a much larger scale based on his image and professionalism.

Jeter has unofficially been the face of the league as well as being a shining example of how professional athletes should carry themselves both on and off the field.

Many would say that Jeter is “your favorite player’s favorite player,” as a majority of the youth in the MLB currently view Jeter as their role model and inspiration in the game. This is simply because Jeter has taken a great deal of pride in what he does, carrying himself with class and respecting his peers from every aspect of the game, ranging from beloved teammates or even bitter rivals.

With Jeter walking away at the conclusion of this season, the title “Face of MLB” will seemingly be vacated as well. However, it’s not a title that can be won, given, or handed out. It is one that is earned unintentionally. For an athlete to be viewed as the poster boy or girl for a sport, it must be earned through years of consistent professionalism, respect for the game, and pride in what you do every single day. Examples also live in guys like Peyton Manning (NFL), LeBron James (NBA), Michael Phelps (Olympics), David Beckham (soccer) and so on. To be viewed as the face of a sport is realistically a higher honor

than being an MVP, Champion, or Hall of Famer. Being the face means that one is the unofficial leader of a generation. It’s a title that isn’t dependent on gender, creed, or race, but on who takes extreme pride in the sport they’ve played.

Jeter’s winning attitude on the field is a quality that fans really appreciate. Whether it’s running across the field in Oakland Coliseum deep in October to save a play, a run and the Yankees’ championship hopes or diving into the left field stands to catch Trot Nixon’s pop fly in the important stages of an early July rivalry game, it should be noted that Jeter is the prime example of a guy who was willing to sacrifice it all. He has become one of the fiercest competitors of all-time in any sport. As he retires at the end of this season, we will remember Jeter for being something of a legend. Something less than a god but more than a man.

Like Hercules.

Photo provided by Getty Images

B5

In its press release, Comcast states “in order to reduce competitive concerns, Comcast is prepared to divest systems serving approximately 3 million managed subscribers.” Comcast is willing to completely drop nearly 3 million pre-existing subscribers simply to avoid “competitive concerns.” Why? Just to regain them again when other businesses can no longer compete? A Time Warner Cable shareholder is currently filing a class action law suit against Comcast, saying that the bid for shares was too low and did not account for future growth of the company, cheating stockholders. Additionally, he argues that this merger of the two largest cable companies in the U.S. teeters on the edge of becoming a monopoly. The merger needs approval by both the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department.

Is Theodore Roosevelt in office? Monopolies are illegal, and whether it is the oil industry or the media industry does not matter. The merger will discourage competition while allowing Time Warner to not worry about improving their infamously horrid service. Let’s face it; the class-action lawsuit was only filed because that shareholder feels cheated out of “his” money.

This contestable business decision is not only risky to both corporations, but insulting to the American people. A few fistfuls of cash flung in the face of Time Warner executives is enough to create an enormous media corporation. The aftermath will be devastating: favorite shows and channels dropped, control over other enormous media companies, and all around disappointing internet and cable service. In this day and age, the Internet is virtually vital to the survival of the American young adult. The merger will essentially kill our youth. While the press release was cleverly composed, dissecting it only reveals the dastardly intentions of the major corporation.

Time will tell if the proposition passes, but hopefully the FCC will come to its senses before it is too late.

Climate change catches up Emily Cole Contributing Writer opinion@oswegonian.com

As we all know the weather has been more drastic lately and it is not a figment of our imagination. We have all witnessed the crazy weather of Oswego, however, it has been even crazier this year than in the past. Oswego is not alone. Places all around the world have been experiencing record-breaking weather. It is all due to climate change.

As a native of Oswego I can say that there has been a significant change in the winters. The term “winter” in Oswego means two things: bone-chilling cold and snow. Now you might be thinking, “That’s what winters are still like.” However it is very different in Oswego.

When I was younger, I could count on a snowman lasting in a yard for the duration of winter and being able to go sledding on powder snow every weekend. In these last couple of years, it has been hard to know if there was still going to be snow on the ground from day to day. The stable low temperatures kept snow on the ground from December until mid-March. The temperatures were bone chilling, but not painful. Lately the temperatures have been getting down in the negative teens with wind chill some days, while other days it has been in the mid 40s. The low-temperature days have been accompanied by winds that make it painful to go outside. These are all examples that climate change is a very real and prevalent issue.

According to The United States Environmental Protection Agency, climate change “refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer.” It also states that the Earth’s temperature has risen 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It may not seem like much, but it is enough to cause ice caps to

melt and sea levels to rise. Oceans are becoming more acidic and animals are becoming extinct. Scientists have projected that the Earth will rise 2 to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Climate change affects everything in one way or another. It affects things that we may not even know about. For example, climate change affects forests.

The change in the climate can cause forest fires and insect outbreaks. Agriculture is also affected. The change in the climate can shorten growing seasons and can ruin crops from lack of water of too much water. This is very bad for humans because consumers rely on agriculture to eat and producers rely on agriculture to make a living. Agriculture helps give the human body nutrition so it can stay healthy. Human health is also greatly affected by climate change. Climate change is projected to cause severe heart problems, breathing problems and allergies due to toxic airborne particles.

Every choice that humans make plays into the global warming crisis. Every time a person makes the decision to drive their car, they release toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, making global warming worse. However, we are caught in a tough spot. We need transportation which requires burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases create holes in the ozone layer, which then causes the Earth’s temperature to rise. These gases can stay trapped for up to a century causing damage the entire time. The consequences of our actions now will affect us for centuries to come.

There are ways we can help stop climate change, like walking instead of driving short distances, turning off lights when they are not in use and taking shorter showers. These things may seem simple. If most people do them, they will make a large impact and help stop the warming of our Earth and climate change. Our Earth is important and there is only one. We should take care of it.

INSIDE

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Thought-provoking ‘Robocop’ reboot

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COVER: Phantogram releases ‘Voices’

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Rising Student Artists: James ‘Lucki’ Copper

FRIDAY Feb. 21, 2014

Laker Review The Oswegonian

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FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

Events Calendar Friday, Feb. 21 through Friday, Feb. 28

ART EXHIBIT: THE NATURE OF THINGS Date: Friday, Feb. 21 Time: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Location: Oswego State Downtown, 186 W. First St. BLACK HISTORY MONTH VARIETY SHOW Date: Friday, Feb. 21 Time: 6 -11 p.m.

Location: Ballroom, Hewitt Union PERFORMANCE: RIGOLETTO Date: Friday, Feb. 21 Time: 7:30-11 p.m.

Tickets: $20 with student ID Location: Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall BLACK STUDENT UNION DINNER Date: Saturday, Feb. 22 Time: 5 - -9 p.m.

Tickets: $10 with student ID Location: Room 255, Campus Center PLANETARIUM SHOW Date: Sunday, Feb. 23 Time: 7- 8 p.m.

Location: Shineman Center, second floor MOVIE: “HANNAH ARENDT” Date: Monday, Feb. 24 Time: 7- 9 p.m.

Location: Auditorium, Campus Center OPEN SKATE Date:Tuesday, Feb. 25 Time: 12-2 p.m.

Tickets: $2 for skate rental Location: Arena, Campus Center ETIQUETTE DINNER Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10 for students Location: Ballroom, Hewitt Union TALK: ARTIST GINA OCCHIOGROSSO Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 Time: 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

Location: Auditorium, Campus Center PERFORMANCE: “HAMLET” Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26 Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Tickets: $5 for students Location: Ballroom, Sheldon Hall PERFORMANCE: “IT’S PRONOUNCED METROSEXUAL” Date: Thursday, Feb. 27 Time: 7-8 p.m.

Location: Ballroom, Hewitt Union PERFORMANCE: “ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD” Date: Thursday, Feb. 27 Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Tickets: $5 for students Location: 19 E. Cayuga St, Cover image provided by myplaydirect.com

LAKER REVIEW

‘Robocop’ reboot filled with action, intrigue Tom Kline Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rebooting ‘80s movie franchises seems to be a fashionable thing to do in the film industry. These reboots are typically a mixed bag in terms of quality: some, like “Dredd” (which remade the original 1995 film “Judge Dredd” starring Sylvester Stallone), are fairly decent. Others, like the 2011 reboot of “Footloose” and 2012’s “Total Recall” remake, are celluloid trash.

Fortunately, “RoboCop,” the 2014 retelling of the original 1987 film, belongs to the former category, as it does a fantastic job of rebooting the franchise in a way that has just enough similarities to the original film (particularly in setting and plot) for longtime fans of the series, while still being accessible and relevant to modern audiences.

Much like the original, the film is set primarily in a futuristic version of Detroit, Mich. where crime continues to ravage the streets. OmniCorp, a multinational conglomerate owned by CEO Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton, “Clear History”) that provides robot soldiers to the U.S. Army for

use overseas. The conglomerate seeks to create a new form of security robot for use in the U.S. (which has been skeptical about replacing police officers with machines) as it would be consumer-friendly.

Sellars decides that the best chance OmniCorp has at getting public approval for the use of robot police on U.S. soil is to “put a man into the machine,” and enlists the help of Dr. Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman, “The Dark Knight Rises”), a scientist specializing in robotic prosthetics, to complete the project. Meanwhile, Detroit cop Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman, “Safe House”) is nearly killed by a bomb planted in his car while investigating a case involving possible police corruption. Severely injured with multiple amputations and little hope for survival, Alex is given new life as OmniCorp’s first test subject. Complete with the iconic visor and the pistols for which the character is widely known, Alex is tasked with single-handedly cleaning up the streets of Detroit. However, as the film progresses, the question must be asked: is Alex more machine than man?

The basic plot of the film – Detroit cop is nearly killed and becomes a cyborg to seek justice – remains more or less the same as the origi-

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian Joel Kinnaman stars in the reboot of 80’s cop thriller “Robocop”.

nal. However, where the 1987 film dealt more with gentrification and authoritarianism, this remake addresses more modern concerns, such as the use of unmanned drones in U.S. foreign policy and the moral and ethical issues surrounding cyborgs, robotic augmentation and the nature of machine intelligence.

Several references to modern cognitive science are present: Dennett Norton’s first name, for example, seems to be a reference to American philosopher of mind and cognitive scientist Daniel Dennett. While the film makes fairly good use of its plot to tell a story addressing modern issues, it becomes a bit too heavy-handed with its critique of drone usage on U.S. soil to the point that the far more interesting topic of cyborg intelligence and hu-

manity is more or less thrown aside by the last third of the film.

The acting in the film is rather good, with Keaton nailing the role of Sellars and Oldman providing a sympathetic performance as Dr. Norton. Kinnaman also does an excellent job of portraying Murphy as the incorruptible-yet-not-infallible police officer that he was in the original, albeit with far less camp.

Rounding out the cast are Samuel L. Jackson (“Django Unchained”) as pro-robotics news personality Pat Novak and Abbie Cornish (“Limitless”) as Clara Murphy, Alex’s wife, both of whom provide notably well-done performances.

If any complaint is to be lodged against the reboot of “RoboCop,” it is that the film tries too hard to be a platform for social commentary.

That said, for a big-budget popcorn flick, the film provides social commentary that is highly entertaining at the very least.

Weekly EP Revue: Ex-teeny bopper Alexz Riley Ackley Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

From the beginning, former child star Alexz Johnson has pursued music. Known for early roles on CTV’s “Instant Star” and Disney Channel’s “So Weird,” Johnson has largely fallen away from the public spotlight. In 2010, she released her first full-length album, “Voodoo.”

Check out oswegonian.com to stay up to date with the latest Extended Play releases.

The album went largely unnoticed. In 2012, Johnson once again tried her hand in music with her extended play, “Skipping Stone,” which received

little to no attention. Now Johnson has released a second EP, “Heart.”

The resulting four songs are a huge step up from Johnson’s previous work. With a more individual and less-produced sound, “Heart” shares inflections with pop, country, blues and gospel genres. And perhaps with these new ventures, the 27-year-old will be able to gain a little recognition.

The best track on “Heart,” is “This is Heartache.” It plays confidently, like “Home” by Phillip Phillips or Orianthi’s “According To You.” The song will register as an anthem, showcasing powerful vocals by Johnson and backed choruses.

The lead single off of “Heart” is “American Dreamer.” Slower than “This is Heartache,”

Photo provided by ferveritunes.com Alexz Johnson’s musical maturity continues on ‘Heart’.

“American Dreamer,” builds itself up, slow at first, then faster as it becomes a catchy and soulful tune. Sounding more country than pop, “American Dreamer” is perfect for warm summer nights around the campfire.

Another track on the album, titled “Nothin’ On Me,”

is reflective of a more country/inspirational sound. Like most feelgood music, the background vocals play throughout, similar to a gospel choir. And like the track before it, “Nothin’ On Me” plays on much of the anthem-theme that is present throughout the EP. Lastly, there is “Thank You For Breaking My Heart.” More soulful than the other songs, this track begins stripped down with a simple beat. As the album’s truest ballad, “Thank You For Breaking My Heart” is sweet-sounding and pleasant.

Like Kelly Clarkson with a more rugged feel, Alexz Johnson’s newest EP is classic, yet original. From track to track, “Heart” definitely has heart.

The persistence that takes over and develops the EP helps JohnS son and her tracks stand out.

LAKER REVIEW

‘True Detective’ mid-season recap writer Nic Pizzalatto, as what the Ryan Deffenbaugh detectives are describing in 2012 as Editor-in-Chief rdeffenbaugh@oswegonian.com happening 17 years earlier is not al-

“True Detective” is a miniseries about a murder that’s indifferent to the actual crime.

Rather than turn into a standard “whodunit”, the murder quickly fades to the background as the show immerses itself in its two main characters. This is for the best, as the detective duo, played by Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”) and Woody Harrelson (“The Hunger Games”), is riveting every second they spend on screen.

Five episodes in, McConaughey has positioned himself to be showered with awards next year. He reigns in his movie star energy and swagger to bring us the droll Rust Cohle, an eerily calm detective who appears primed to explode at any time. He spends a large amount of his screen time spouting psychobabble and Nietzschean beliefs to Harrelson’s Marty Hart. Hart, a perfect role for Harrelson that may end up overlooked in the shadow of McConaughey’s, is almost never a willing listener, creating a tense but entertaining dynamic between the two.

The story flips between 1995, when the original murder case is given to Cohle and Hart, and 2012, where they are describing the original case to detectives investigating a similar murder. The time shift allows for a lot of creativity from

ways what we see when placed in 1995. At this point, McConaughey’s character looks almost nothing like his 1995 self. He drinks a steady stream of beer cans in the interrogation room and sports a handlebar mustache with gnarly long blond hair.

The show makes clear something happened to send Cohle from point A to B, and the mystery of figuring out what that was often outweighs the mystery of the murder.

“True Detective’s” opening sequence shows silhouettes of McConaughey and Harrelson with a slew of objects projected onto them, setting the tone for the type of dualities the show has obsessed over in its first five episodes. Cohle is unreadable to everyone around him.

Though often carrying a large notepad and mainting a penchant for philosophical pontification, Cohle is not simply a thoughtful detailoriented detective. He becomes an ass-kicker on multiple occasions, including a seven-minute tracking shot that dominated the discussion following episode four. Cohle spent five years undercover with biker gangs, and when he briefly reinhabits that role, it’s unclear which version of himself he feels most natural in.

Hart, meanwhile, presents himself as a by-the-book family man, but he is shown having an affair and has little problem breaking protocol when the moments calls for it. He is tense around Cohle, clearly uncomfortable with his

blunt honesty and refusal to play ball and interact with the other detectives in the bureau. The 17 years between the two settings have clearly aged him as well, but more subtly. He looks wearier, worn down by life. He justifies almost everything that happens to him as if a victim of the circumstances, a “detective’s curse.”

Beyond the brilliance of McConaughey and Harrelson, “True Detective” shines under the superb direction of Cary Fukunaga. The series is shot in southern Louisiana, and Fukunaga milks gothic beauty in every bayou shot. The visuals are slick and gorgeous to the point they give the show a trance-like feeling, blurring the line between reality and the hazy memories of the detectives telling the story.

With only three episodes left in this first installment, a question surrounding “True Detective” becomes about what’s next. Pizzalatto has said the plan for the show is to follow an anthology format, similar to FX’s “American Horror Story.” Pizzalatto’s strong writing and Fukunaga’s brilliant direction will certainly bring viewers back for more, but McConaughey and Harrelson have both been so vital to the show’s identity that its hard to imagine any other duo able to come in and follow in their footsteps.

But that’s for the future. In the meantime, we have three more episodes to take in the dark and beautiful creepiness of this installment of “True Detective” before both actors ride off into the sunset of Hollywood, Emmys and Golden Globes in hand.

Photo provided by hbowatch.com Stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are a small-screen tour de force in this dark, gritty Southern mystery series.

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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Laker Review

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

Phantogram returns with darker, danceable beats on ‘Voices’ R

Photo provided by windishagency.com New York natives Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel collaborate to make a unique brand of alternative electronic music.

Riley Ackley Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com In 2007, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel came together to create Charlie Everywhere. The name did not stick. However, the duo’s new name, Phantogram,

has. With heavy electronic beats and creative direction, Phantogram has made a name for itself both nationally and internationally. In 2010, the pair released

its first full-length album titled “Eyelid Moves.” Met with moderate success, “Eyelid Moves” was praised for its individual sound. Now Phantogram hopes to continue making an impression in the music industry with “Voices.”

“Voices” plays similar to Phantogram’s previous album, featuring distant, yet surrounding vocals from Carter and Barthel. Featuring darker tunes and heavy bass, the record becomes more than an album, it becomes an experience. As the album builds momentum with each track, Phantogram becomes an unstoppable force in the alt-electronic genre.

One of the album’s strong tracks comes in the form of “Black Out Days.” In this track, Phantogram’s uniqueness shines.

With a similar sound to M.I.A’s most recent tracks on “Matangi,” “Black Out Days” uses Barthel, not just as a singer, but also as an instrument by having her voice continuously in the background,

looping around her belting lyrics in the track’s forefront.

In “Voices,” true potential for success runs deep in its lead single, “Fall In Love.” Definitely danceable, “Fall In Love” alone could carry the album. With its complex synth-pop music backing the sugary vocals of Barthel, the song is intensive and forceful. “Fall In Love” has the capability to reach mainstream radio.

“Celebrating Nothing” is the most pulsating track on “Voices.” With simple and repetitive instrumentals, the song is fillseditself with echoing lyrics that encompass listeners. “Celebrating Nothing” brings with it an almost sinister sound that waits quietly until its final moments to show its power.

On “Howling At The Moon,” Phantogram hits hard with a sound similar to singer Oh Land.

The track, which also resembles “Black Out Days,” has a certain sharpness to it. Both Barthel’s voice and the high-pitched synths creates a more ethereal

and quirky song than more of their darker music. However, when listening to “Howling At The Moon,” listeners will note a strong sense of loneliness both in the lyrics and in Barthel’s voice.

Finally, there is “Bill Murray.”

The slowest track on “Voices.”

The track plays on static and low-bearing sounds to create a sense of emptiness. Then, as the chorus plays out, “Bill Murray” becomes surprisingly beautiful and rosy. There is a type of transcendence within it that helps it stand alone on “Voices.”

If there was one criticism to be made of “Voices” it would be on the lack of differentiation between the tracks. Like many electronic artists, Phantogram tailors its record to a specific audience.

If this audience finds one song on “Voices” appealing, they will then in turn enjoy them all. So, while not necessarily equipped for the mainstream, “Voices” K stays true to itself and its core C group of fans.

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Authentic chemistry, weak third act in Farrell’s ‘Winter’s Tale’ Maureen DiCosimo Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com “Winter ’s Tale” is a whimsical yet heartbreaking fairy tale about miracles and good against evil. The film stars Colin Farrell (“Saving Mr. Banks”) as Peter Lake, a thief that breaks into a house and meets Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay, “Downton Abbey”).

They quickly fall in love, despite a fever that threatens to kill Beverly at any moment if she isn’t kept cold. Meanwhile, a demon named Pearly (Russell Crowe, “Les Miserables”) is trying to keep them apart in order to keep the cosmic scale balanced for hell’s side.

Full of magical realism, this film, based on the novel by Mark Helprin, is charming and sweet. The chemistry between the leads on screen is excellent.

Crowe relishes his role as the villain, although he sometimes borders on over the top. Farrell is likable in the main role, giving the audience a charming male. Findlay is also good in her role and the moments they’re together are some of the most tender and enchanting of the film.

It’s also beautifully shot, dropping you into this world that is similar to ours but with more magic involved.

The problem with the film is that the romance between Peter and Beverly is extremely rushed. It does require suspension of disbelief to buy that they have one conversation and immediately fall in love. While their romance seems hasty, the entire film seems much too long.

They rush the parts that should have been developed more and develop the parts that didn’t need as much explaining.

The third act is a complete turnaround from the rest of the film, giving a jarring feel in the story. Jennifer Connelly makes an appearance in a role she is completely underutilized in.

The last act is a mess of characters that the audience hardly knows but is expected to care about. It just doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. We spend too little time with the mother and daughter introduced late into the story.

There are also parts of this film that are fairly cheesy. Others are heart-wrenching, while some are difficult to watch. It does manage to tug at the heart-

strings in a few key moments.

While the film is set in 1895, the characters say lines that do not sound like dialogue from the turn of the century. Some of the special effects leave a bit to be desired, looking almost like a made-for-TV movie rather than a feature film. This makes more sense considering the director Akiva Goldsman, who also wrote the screenplay, has only directed for television with a few episodes of “Fringe.”

This film does require a lot of its audience. It relies on the chemistry between the leads to carry much of the film. While they do a good job at selling what is ultimately a hurried romance, it’s not enough to save it, especially not from the disappointing and disjointed third act. It does have its tender moments and excellent performances from its main actors.

It felt that there was too much emphasis on the wrong parts of the film. The actual romance of the characters takes up less than a third of the film, which is unquestionably the strongest and most interesting part of the movie. It stumbles into the third act and never really recovers.

Lily Choin | The Oswegonian Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown and Russell Crowe star in “Winter’s Tale” the newest romance film based on Mark Helprin’s novel.

Laker Review

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

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Rising Student Artists: Lucki Caesar chasing paper, dreams Oswego State in 2013 at an urban music showcase for the studentrun radio station, WNYO. Cooper is currently in the second semester of his sophomore year and has many plans for his music in the future. He said his next album will be centered around his life as a college student.

“I want to do an Oswego tape,” Cooper said. “I think that’s

the next tape I’m going to drop if I do one. It’ll be about the life as a college student: up at 5 a.m., trying to study for the test that you knew about for two weeks and procrastinated on.”

Lucki expresses his excitement for the future, giving praise to all of his fans and peers at Oswego State, who he said are helping him every day to make the dreams of his future a reality.

David Armelino | The Oswegonian Thoughtful and passionate, James “Lucki” Cooper finds his expressive outlet by creating his own hip-hop music.

Kari Hively Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com With a nickname as unique as his talent for making music, 19-year-old James Lucki Cooper, also known by his stage name, “Lucki Caesar,” has become a prominent name in the local music world.

When Cooper first came to Oswego State, he was known as a quiet, mysterious guy who liked to rap. He could be seen playing basketball, listening to music or watching a basketball game with his buddies. Now Cooper is known because of his increasing fan base.

Cooper, a creative writing major and audio design minor, not only writes original songs, but also remixes songs by wellknown hip-hop artists.

He recently remixed hip-hop artist Mobb Deep’s song, “Survival of the Fittest,” which is just one of many songs in Cooper’s collection. Cooper has four albums: “Chasing the Limelight I,” “St. Marks Memoirs,” “Caesar” and “Chasing the Limelight II.” He also has two EPs, “Auburn” and “Infamous.”

“When I first started making music, you know, I was sort of raised against it,” Cooper said.

“My parents just thought hiphop was people talking about sex, selling drugs and all of that.

But music as a whole is something you can relate to. When I

try to make music, I try to make something that people individually can relate to.”

Cooper he was always writing poetry, going back to his childhood. He continues to write poetry, knowing any poem could bring about inspiration for a new song.

His love of rapping began at age 12, when he was spellbound by Soulja Boy’s hit single, “Crank That.”

Cooper encourages musicians to continue pursuing their passion, even when they begin to feel discouraged.

“There was a decent amount of time in my life when I got no recognition, since I’ve been rapping for about five or six years.

That made me want to quit,” he said. “The whole thing about it is though, when you have fun with

writing… and you get people that actually do relate with what you originally intended, you just can’t break those ties.”

Cooper has a passion for the artistic value of hip-hop and rap music, with the desire to center his work around his lyrics, which are personal to him. He talked about the awe he feels anytime he hears someone recite his lyrics.

“Art as a whole should help people grow, you know, it should help people develop,” he adds.

“Like, as I developed as an artist with my music, I want to help others develop, change, and grow too.”

He has performed in a couple of shows, including one in his hometown of Brooklyn when he was 15-years-old, where he performed for an audience of almost 200 people. He also performed at

David Armelino | The Oswegonian

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Laker Review

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

Comics & Games

Cre ati ve Writing

Everybody waits for something That’s just the way life is We play the waiting game It’s a game with no winners or losers The concept is to simply wait Whether it’s waiting for a new movie For a graduation Or even to be an adult Everybody waits for something Waiting, like most things, is only temporary That’s the beauty of it Winters are temporary School is temporary Life is temporary When the going gets tough and you wanna give up just remember, “This is only temporary” Quitting isn’t always a sign of weakness Everyone has a weakness Yet being able to admit that you aren’t invincible That you can’t do everything Is one of the strongest things you can do Because it shows that you understand that this is only temporary

Crossword Puzzle

Down

Across

1. _____ a boy!

4. Noticed 7. Laker Shaquille ______ 12. Untrained 13. “____ Lost You” 14. Stop 15. Guilded 17. Test for flavor 18. Happily ____ after 19. Vocation 20. _____ span 23. Waterless 24. Adolescents 25. Feat 27. Diarist _____ Frank 28. Subsidize 29. Doesn’t exist 33. Extinct creature 35. Player 36. Imitate 39. Fatherhood 41. Cash in 43. Borscht ingredient 44. Church instrument 45. Bread browner 48. Colander 49. Printing measures 50. Historic period 51. Church leader Puzzle provided by boatloadpuzzles.com 52. Peeper 53. Opposite of pos.

Devon Nitz | The Oswegonian

Without realizing it you have said that for the past 12 years of your life All the mornings where you drag yourself out of bed to go to school The complicated homework assignments that fry your brain People who cause all the drama that drive you off a cliff You still wake up the next day and soldier on because you understand “This is only temporary” So don’t get stuck in those black hole days Where yesterday’s problems dictate tomorrow See because the past is in the past Don’t live in regret, just regret how you lived and simply move on So when you’re sitting in the cold, thinking “damn” it’s cold Just know that “it’s only temporary” So forget the past and live for today Live for now because We make our history now We make our legacy now

David Owens | The Oswegonian

1. Tax inits.

2. Make lace 3. Make more sugary 4. Fire truck alarms 5. Turn aside 6. Get hitched 7. Gasoline rating 8. Approach

9. Relieved 10. Daisy’s kin 11. Suspicious 16. Leveled 19. Female student 20. _______ standstill 21. Perfect gymnastics 22. Dolt

26.

28.

30.

31.

32.

34.

35.

36.

Keaton and Sawyer Comedian Sandler Infatuated Butterfly snare Strive Kitchen gadget Lubricate Ascended

For this week’s crossword answers go to:

37. Danger 38. ______ out 40. Keyboard wood 42. Roof part 45. Golfer’s need 46. Before, in verse 47. Scrap of cloth

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3-4 bedroom 2000 square foot loft-style apartment. Fantastic river view Washer/ dryer. $275 pp. Contact Sean at 529-2975.

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Gorgeous 4 bedroom house. New Kitchen, dishwasher, washer/ dryer. Great location. $350 pp. Brad 5322105.

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Available June 1, 2014.

315-532-1338

Housing 2014-2015! Luxury 4 bedroom apartments includes EVERYTHING! Student Discount Card, Wi-Fi, and cable, washer, dryer, dishwasher, free parking, garbage and snow removal, fitness center, movie theater, recreation hall, game room, semester care package, free food, and so much more! Walking distance from campus! Premier Living Suites!

Call 315PREMIER or 315-773-6437!

E-mail info@plsuites.com Visit www.PLSuites.com!

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 2, 3, & 4 bedroom units availabile. Long-time Family Housing.

Clean, Efficient, many upgrades.

All Utilities, free W/D, lawn, & snow included.

KJ-Housing.com 315-529-0512 (Mike) 315-236-2027 (John).

Available 2014-15, 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.

Horoscopes Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19): Cancer (June 22 - July 22):

Time to declutter. You have been craving solitude lately.

Take some time to detoxify yourself of anything and anyone that is holding you back. Something new and fresh is coming your way, but first you must do some emotional housekeeping.

Let out your inner traveler. You have been restless and craving a change of scenery. Whether that means booking a spontaneous flight abroad or a walk by Lake Ontario. Take some time to discover the wonders of the world outside your daily routine.

This is the time to become involved in your community and any organization that calls to your heart. You will be feeling friendly and sociable so indulge in getting to know a diverse group of unusual people.

Stay open to new experiences.

They have a lot to teach you.

The spotlight is usually on you, but on this occasion you might feel a desire to work from behind the scenes. Relax for once.

Focus on an inner transformation and your peace. Do whatever it takes to remind yourself what makes you happy and brings you pleasure.

step forward. Do not hesitate.

Take charge and enjoy the feeling of responsibility and leadership. Attend industry events or brush up on reading material related to your field.

You have been receiving a lot of mixed signals from people lately and as usual you’ve been constantly overanalyzing them.

Calm down and take a deep breath. There’s no pressure on

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20): Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22):

Gemini (May 21 - June 21): Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sep. 22): Your career is about to take a

FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2014

C7

Sudoku

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CLASSIFIEDS

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

Solution to this week’s Sudoku puzzle

> > >

Variety of houses. 2-4 bedroom houses. All large bedrooms.

All new Appliances. Washer/dryer included. Great location. Responsible landlord.

Off-street parking. 591-8521.

1-5 Bedroom quality college housing available for the 2014-2015 year. Utilities included, off-street parking, garbage and snow removal, flat Screen TVs, discounts at local businesses and lawn care!

Call 315-773-6437! Check out furlongproperties.com !

Difficulty: Hard

1,2,3 & 4 bedroom (20142015). Clean, well-maintained.

Off-street parking Snow/ garbage removal. Responsible landlord. A must see! 24-hour maintenance.

On bus route. 315-529-5678.

1 to 4 bedroom Apartments/Houses. Off-street parking, trash, and snow.

Removal. 24-hour maintenance. Averyrentalproperties.com (315) 343-5005.

BY Mor aima Capellan you to make a decision right now. Take your time in making a decision.

Libra (Sep. 23 - Oct. 23):

You’ve been neglecting your health lately and your body and mind are screaming for help.

Sign up for a yoga class, try a cleanse or simply drink more water during the day. It’s time to re-examine the way your treat your temple. This will ultimately bring you inner peace.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 21):

Fashionably late, Cupid arrives in your life. The next month for you will be filled with infatuation, romance and seduction.

Take the initiative and enjoy yourself with your romantic companions, but try to remember not to cause any unnecessary harm to anyone or yourself.

ON THIS DATE

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21):

Don’t dive into any projects that require a lot of time and energy, because you are going to want a flexible schedule in the next coming weeks. You will find yourself taking more time-outs and nap times to recharge but you will also find a spark of crafty creativity. Indulge.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19):

You are craving adventure. Fortunately you won’t have to travel far for it. Explore new, trendy or unknown local spots and let your inner social butterfly woo everyone around you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18):

You have found yourself hitting hard ground after floating in the clouds for a while. This is good. Now you can start those projects and ideas that were only dreams and get into the routine of reality.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20):

Your birthday month has officially started, so begin to show yourself some love. Get that new hairstyle you’ve been eyeing, splurge on those red pumps and invest in your self-development. This is the time to take a leap and greet the future with open arms. Get rid of any useless, dead weight holding you back.

1885 – The newly completed Washington Monument is dedicated.

1925 – The New Yorker published its first issue.

1965 – Malcolm X is assassinated in New York City by members of the Nation of Islam.

1986 – The Legend of Zelda, the first game of The Legend of Zelda series, was released in Japan.