The Oswegonian 2-8-19 by The Oswegonian

Look Inside: A3 Remembering Justin Carmona

Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 VOLUME LXXXIV ISSUE I SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com

Fitness centers pilot extended operating hours

Kyle Hurley | The Oswegonian

Alexander Gault-Plate Managing Editor aplate@oswegonian.com This semester, the fitness centers on Oswego State’s campus are testing to see if expanded hours may help students get to the gym more often. The centers, both Glimmerglass and Cooper, are now open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays. On Saturdays and Sundays, the centers will open at 9 a.m., closing at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday. The fitness centers were previously open from 7 a.m to 10 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The new hours are only being tested at the moment and may be subject to further change as more information about how students use them is collected. Membership prices have not been increased for this semester. “The expanded hours is only a pilot program as we will analyze usage and determine if we want to continue the expanded hours next year,” said Brian Wallace, the general manager for the Oswego Fitness Centers.

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

fire safety BSU celebrates culture, history State inspector checks Oswego State students observe Black History Month Kassadee Paulo News Editor kpaulo@oswegonian.com Oswego State’s Black Student Union, in collaboration with other organizations, is celebrating Black History Month with numerous programs throughout February to embrace the black community’s culture and heritage. “To me, Black History Month means pride,” BSU Vice President Michaela Williams said. “To be prideful in all that it is to be black; to find pride in the struggle and the success; to be prideful of those who came before me, regardless of their tactics whether violent or nonviolent.” The overarching theme of this year’s month-long observance is Black Her-story Month as a nod to BSU’s all-women executive board and is meant to highlight successful black women and acknowledge wrongs done to black women, Williams said. The organization is putting together at least five programs per week, including the effects of mental health, domestic violence and medical mistreatment in

women. Williams said she believes it is important to share information and stories which have not been brought to light often, such as the maternal mortality rate of black women. The rate of pregnancy-related deaths from 2011 to 2014 was 12.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women, but for black women, the rate was 40 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I hope that through our programs, the BSU is able to show the campus that black pride doesn’t mean anti-white,” Williams said. “There isn’t anything wrong with loving ourselves. There isn’t anything wrong with our pride. Especially after all we’ve endured as a body of people, how could you be mad?” In October, as part of Return to Oz, Williams and other members of BSU met alumni who had been in the organization when Black History Month was first celebrated in 1970. She expressed her interest in hearing the alumni’s stories about how BSU was only given enough funding to cel-

ebrate one week out of the month and how they fought for the opportunity to host programs for all of February. BSU currently hosts several programs throughout the month, including their annual Variety Show and a dinner. “Our budget is just ok, I’d say,” Williams said. “Granted, it isn’t a low number, but for what we’re expected to bring to this campus each semester, sometimes it doesn’t always feel [like] enough.” Anisha Melton, director of marketing for BSU, joined the organization to make a difference on campus and provide a space in the campus community where black students can feel more comfortable. She said Black History Month is a time to pave the road that allowed her to follow her dreams and also understand her worth as a young black woman. “I hope that BSU will continue to speak about things that make people uncomfortable but bring to light topics that need to be discussed,” Melton said. “In addition, I hope we can go back to being more prevalent in the things rattling the black community on campus.”

prohibited items

William Rogers | The Oswegonian

Jessica Wickham Chief Copy Editor jwickham@oswegonian.com

Photo provided by Michaela Williams

The annual state fire inspections of academic buildings and residence halls at Oswego State, conducted Feb. 4 through March 8, means more strict safety checks that some students find annoying despite their necessity. Kenneth Ayhens, the New York state fire inspector from the office of Fire Prevention and Control, will be inspecting all academic buildings and 1/3 of the occupied rooms in each residence hall as part of the safety check. During the checks, he looks for any violations that pose a fire safety hazard and immediately confiscates any he finds. This procedure can seem more harsh than the ones conducted by Residence Life and Housing staff in the fall semester, according to Robert Grasso, a resident assistant in Onondaga Hall. “[The state fire inspectors] have much more authority than we do,” Grasso said. “They’re typically much more serious … anything that is a prohibited item, they confiscate right away, which will not be returned.” The fall inspections are typically scheduled ahead of time between residents and RAs, and if RAs find small infractions, they will give students a 48-hour window to remove the items and have the room checked again.

Black Student Union hosts several programs throughout the month February to celebrate and honor their heritage and history.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK It’s nice to see where the professors come from, seeing them excited about the stuff that they did that got them to where they are now.”

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Oswego State remembers Justin Carmona

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Students reminisce time, laughs spent with lost friend Kassadee Paulo News Editor kpaulo@oswegonian.com At the end of this past fall semester, the Oswego State campus lost a student, a poet, a dear friend, a protector and an appreciator of life. Justin Carmona, a senior communication and social interaction major from the Bronx, touched the lives of many and brought a sense of warmth to any room he walked into, according to some of his close friends, junior Beatriz Rosa, senior Tenaja Smith-Butler and senior Zelly Vargas. “The same way he wasn’t afraid to offer help, he was never afraid to ask for help, and that is something I have to thank him for,” Rosa said. “It’s something that I learned from him: don’t be afraid to go to your sources.” Vargas, who had been friends with him since high school, described Carmona as similar to an older brother for her because of the fierce projection he gave to anyone he cared for. She said he would tease her and listen to her like an older sibling would. Vargas said Carmona always knew how to make anyone feel better if they were having a bad day by telling a joke, ordering a pizza or going out to do something. “Whenever he left, the room felt so empty,” Rosa said. “Nothing is going to replace those nights we would stay up whether we were talking about random topics or we were just talking about our lives at home.” Smith-Butler expressed how Carmona actively listened when she spoke about an issue she was experiencing and then make her laugh. Rosa said her favorite thing she used to do with Carmona was braiding and twisting his hair during the countless hours he spent visiting her during their friendship. She had even bought him hair beads in the shape of a fat cat due to his strong love for them and planned to put them in his hair this spring for his birthday. Carmona felt a deep love for music and the arts, especially his favorite Broadway show, “Hamilton.” He often listened to and sang along with the score of the musical. Rosa said his favorite line was “I am the one thing in life I can control” from the song, “Wait For It” because he could identify with it. While listening to music, Carmona analyzed and appreciated every musical decision because it had a special meaning, according to Rosa. Vargas said even the bass in a song had meaning to him. Vargas also recounted a time when they were in a room with disco lights shining on the ceiling with different colors and patterns. She said Carmona all of a sudden laid down and began intently watching the lights. When she asked him why, he told her to watch and she would understand. “All I saw was an array of colors at first,” Vargas said. “Then, I realized it was like a meditative process

Mindful Yoga, 4 p.m., Friday in Lee Hall, Room 302

A Day at the Chocolate Factory, 8 p.m., Friday in Seneca Hall basement lounge

Women’s Ice Hockey v. Williams College, 3 p.m., Saturday in Marano Campus Center Ice Arena

Photo provided by Zelly Vargas Justin Carmona, a senior Oswego State student, left his close friends with sweet memories.

for him, looking at the colors and the meaning behind it and thinking about what it meant to him. And then he’s like, ‘Isn’t life so beautiful?’” Carmona was known to often give heartwarming hugs. SmithButler said her favorite memory of him was when he gave her one of these hugs because of the emotion she felt through it. She said it had been one of the nicest things anyone had done for her without realizing it. “It was more than just the comfort of his arms,” Smith-Butler said. “He was conveying something.” Another passion of Carmona’s was poetry. Rosa, a creative writing major, said he was able to put rhyming lines together and use familiar references without making it sound like a cliche. She said he put his heart into his poems, which he recited on Thursday nights at Open Mic Night in the Lake Effect Cafe. “I forgot what poem of his this was, but he was talking about how he found someone beautiful and how they don’t compare to any artwork that he’s seen, and he said something like, ‘Next to you, Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” might as well be a Jackson Pollock piece,’” Rosa said. Vargas said the first time he shared his poetry at Open Mic Night, he told her he was really nervous but did not show it while he stood in front of the crowd. She said he had “wowed the audience.” Carmona also spent his time building complex models, working as a desk attendant in Hart Hall and inspiring his friends to recognize their potential and worth. Rosa said Carmona always found the good in people and built their confidence when they could not see it themselves. He also had

participated in the IDGA Foundation Next Gen Leader program and was a mentor to younger students in high school. “Aside from all of the funny jokes that we usually made in class, he said, ‘Zelly, I think you can be something great someday.’ That was the first time in a long time in high school that I’ve heard someone genuinely mean those words,” Vargas said. During the last week of the fall semester, Carmona was admitted to Oswego Hospital. Upon visiting him, Rosa and Vargas said he kept saying “I love you” and “Thank you for being here.” Vargas had charged his phone, kissed his forehead and said she would come back the next day after work when she left his hospital room the night of Dec. 11. Rosa said she had ironed some of his clothes and gathered what he needed for his final exam, and she went to visit him to braid his hair and go out to eat the morning of Dec. 12, only to find out he had died just a few hours after she had left the night before. “It’s almost as if he was waiting for everyone to leave,” Rosa said. According to a campus-wide email that day from Jerri Howland, interim vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and dean of students, Carmona had died of complications from pneumonia. Vargas said if she could say something to him now, she would thank him for being the longest consecutive friend in her life and for being like a sibling. “If there’s one thing that if he were here that I would want to say to him, it’s ‘Thank you for making existing just a bit more comfortable,’” Rosa said.

Men’s Ice Hockey v. SUNY Geneseo, 7 p.m., Saturday in Marano Campus Center Ice Arena

WinterFest 2019, 6 p.m., Sunday in Marano Campus Center Ice Arena

Planetarium Show: “The Polymer Paradox,” 7 p.m., Sunday in Shineman Center, Room 223

Workshop: Effective Studying, 7 p.m., Tuesday in Penfield Library, Room 215

Study Abroad Fair, 11 a.m., Wednesday in Marano Campus Center, Main Concourse

Love-A-Donor Day, 10 a.m., Thursday in Marano Campus Center, Main Concourse

A4 NEWS Prohibited fire safety hazards confiscated Extended hours allow for State inspector enters third of resident rooms at random more exercise, work shifts THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

STATE from COVER State fire inspectors, however, choose rooms at random to search, come in regardless of who is there and give students no chance to remove prohibited items before they are confiscated. This style has bothered a few students, like junior pre-optometry major Kimberlynn Sprague, who lives in Riggs Hall. “I guess, for safety reasons, I understand why they do them,” Sprague said. “[But] I don’t like that they can just come into your room without you being there. I really wish that they gave us set times.” Freshman childhood education major Olivia Grecco, who lives in Seneca Hall, said she has not been very bothered by them, though she finds them a little annoying. “I think they’re a bit of a nuisance, but I do think they’re nec-

essary,” Grecco said. “[My friends] don’t really mind them.” Other students, like sophomore journalism major Shyanne Reid, see them as more than just a mild nuisance. Reid’s room in Seneca and her friends’ have been checked before, and on both occurrences, items were confiscated. “I find them really annoying, and they’re an invasion of privacy,” Reid said. “[I would rather] not have them happen or not be random. If you’re going to be in my room, I want to know.” Brandon Ash, a junior broadcasting and communications major in Seneca Hall, said some of the items prohibited do not seem dangerous. “[The check] keeps you safe, but then again, there’s a lot of things that they confiscate and do that definitely don’t need to be taken,” Ash said. “The only thing that

makes sense is the tapestries.” Grasso said the best way to avoid having items confiscated is to check the list of prohibited items posted in the residence halls and online and make sure all prohibited items are put away. Some of the most commonly found prohibited items include tapestries, daisy-chained extension cords and posters too close to the ceiling. Though Grasso acknowledged the checks can be a pain for some students, he said they are necessary to ensure everyone’s safety. “If one person has a violation, something that is a fire safety hazard, that puts everyone in the building possibly in danger of a potential fire hazard,” Grasso said. “The bottom line is that they just want to make sure that everything’s safe, that everyone is safe and doesn’t get hurt or have anything that might become a problem.”

FITNESS from COVER The experimental change comes almost a full year after Student Association passed a resolution requesting that Residence Life and Housing, the college department that oversees the fitness centers, consider expanding the hours to serve more students. The resolution based its conclusions on a survey filled out by Oswego State students. The survey got more than 200 responses, and 95 percent of the respondents, most of which were fitness center members, said they would like to see an extension to the fitness center’s hours. Most respondents also agreed that having the centers open later, rather than earlier, would be preferable. The trial hours do both, by opening the centers earlier on weekends and later on weekdays. “Now [the fitness centers are] giving students a better service, and that’s what it’s all about; that’s what SA

is about,” said Omar van Reenen, SA president and the author of the original resolution passed by the senate. The extended hours have led to new jobs for students on campus as well. Wallace said he needed to hire a few new staff members for the extended shifts. Ruben Santana, an employee in Glimmerglass Fitness Center, said while he was hired before the extended hours were put in place, he is happy to see more hours being available for workers who want them. Santana said while he has seen some nights with more activity, others still are not as busy. “I think the issue is that the returning gym-goers are unaware that the times have been extended, and therefore don’t go if it gets too late,” Santana said. “There have been several times where people have been surprised when I’ve told them that the gym closes at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday now.”

William Rogers | The Oswegonian Cooper Fitness Center, one of the two centers on campus, is piloting extended hours.

Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian Fire extinguishers in academic buildings and residence halls are checked to ensure in the event of a fire, they will work as expected.

New campus printing system introduced to Oswego State Stephen Novak Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com Beginning this semester, a new system was put in place to allow students to print out assignments and other school-related content. The new system, known as “LakerPrint,” is meant to encourage an environmentally friendly and convenient method of printing to replace the previous system, according to the Oswego State website. The LakerPrint system, introduced in the spring semester, allows students to forward their documents to a cloud server and print them out at one of the various LakerPrint stations. Students now must upload documents to the LakerPrint server and then either swipe their student ID card or sign in at a compatible printer within 48 hours. Students are limited in how much they can print, with each student allowed to print up to 500 pages per school year, which translates to $75 per semester. “Costs of black and white documents are $0.15 per sheet of paper (whether single or double-sided) and $0.90 per sheet for color documents (whether single or doublesided). When you look at your balance, it will now show a monetary

balance based off the $75 allocation and the cost of the printed documents,” according to the Oswego State website. “I think there’s a bit of confusion at this point; [students are] not used to it,” said Morgan Bond, a Penfield Library staff member. “Faculty and staff have [been much more] receptive.” However, she sees the system as a net positive for SUNY Oswego students, based on the environmental benefit and the potential for faster workflow from printer to student. “Once they realize they have to print in advance, they’ll see that it’s very beneficial to be able to set it up,” Bond said. “You just come in and print. Also, it’s more environmentally friendly since we aren’t printing cover pages anymore.” Psychology sophomore Alexis Rivera helps students with the system through her job as a desk attendant. She said that while there were no harsh implications for students with the system so far, the reliance on another person for printing could be irritating in the future. “You kind of have to rely on somebody else since the printer is behind the desk,” Rivera said. “All I have to do is swipe the card to print it, but you still rely on somebody else to make sure you’re printing everything you want printed.”

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Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian LakerPrint can be found in Penfield Library and select academic and residence buildings.

A5 NEWS Science Today lecture explores plastic waste Government shutdown Oswego State professor explains solution to problem does not affect financial aid THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Colin Hawkins Staff Writer news@oswegonian.com

Chemistry professor Matthew Baker told students that the world produced over 448 million tons of plastic in 2015 at a Science Today lecture on Tuesday. “If that seems like a lot, it is. It’s almost incomprehensible,” Baker said during his lecture. A major problem with plastics, Baker said, is the fate of plastic after we use it. Forty percent of plastic ends up in landfills, while 32 percent ends up in the environment. Fourteen percent is burned for energy, 12 percent is recycled once, and only 2 percent is reclaimed as part of a closed loop recycling. Closed loop recycling is where a recycled plastic can be fully reused. The 12 percent of plastics recycled are mixed with other plastics and can lose the qualities different plastics need for different jobs. These mixed plastics become unsuitable for much beyond single-use products such as recycled plastic bags, Baker said. After the second life of a recycled product, “the fate is the same of all other plastics,” Baker said. Baker’s research has focused on increasing the amount of plastic that can enter that closed loop. One reason the percentage is so low is because many consumer uses for plastic contaminates the material, so it cannot be guaranteed suitable for reuse. The 2 percent of plastic currently in a closed loop recycling system comes from industry uses where they can be kept free of contaminants and fully reclaimed. To increase the amount of plastics reclaimed, Baker focused on a plastic that can easily polymerize and depolymerize for complete reuse. Polymerization is the chemical process of using monomers to form long chains of polymers that make up plastics. The process is “like a zipper,” Baker said. “If you zip it up, that’s polymerization.” Depolymerization is reversing the process down to the beginning materials so they can be fully reused rather than salvaged. “That’s relatively difficult to do,” Baker said. A plastic with these qualities did not exist, so Baker had to design one. The overall yield from

Samantha Flavell Editor-in-Chief sflavell@oswegonian.com

Colin Hawkins | The Oswegonian Matthew Baker shares his research with students on recycled plastic and its effect on the environment.

Baker’s new plastic was 70 percent after depolymerization. “Which is pretty good for a four-step synthesis,” Baker said. “[But] 30 percent loss isn’t good in industrial scales.” Baker is still developing his research into this new plastic, making strides like recyclable plastic with different qualities such as flexibility, yield, streamlined synthesis, water-beading and degradation in different environments including sunlight or fluoridated water. Baker’s research will benefit from Oswego State’s new Gel Permeation Chromatography instrument, or GPC. “I’m pumped for that,” Baker said. The new instrument was a part of the chemistry department’s equipment request proposal this year. The GPC allows Baker to measure the length of polymer chains so he can better track the polymerization and depolymerization process. The department benefits as polymer science is a growing field in chemistry, Baker said. “Fifty percent of all chemists will work in polymer chemistry,” Baker said in an interview after the lecture. Access to the instrument will help chemistry students at all levels, Baker said. Undergraduates utilize the machine when creating polymers in lab while graduate students are gaining experience using an instrument they will likely use in their chemistry careers. Baker’s work is important to students at Oswego State. “Being a biochemistry major and someone that walks outside

sometimes, I hate seeing plastic everywhere,” said Kyler Anderson, a senior at Oswego State that attended the lecture. “I think chemistry is not just a tool for producing things, we use it for helping the world.” Mary Catherine Rice, a graduate student in the masters of chemistry program at Oswego State, said plastics are a detriment to the environment and that she believes more research on the topic needs to be done, to better to understand it. “I was interested in the degradation,” said Tim Jones, another graduate student in masters of chemistry that attended the event. “They can use light, water, fluoride, bacteria even if they tack on that sugar. That’s awesome.” The Science Today lecture series offers students the opportunity to hear about an Oswego State professor’s research and share in their excitement. “It’s cool to see what [Baker] does and did in grad school,” Rice said. “A lot of the time, the focus is on the students and the research that the students are doing. It’s nice to see where the professors come from, seeing them excited about the stuff that they did that got them to where they are now.” Graduate students were excited about the new GPC instrument as well. “Basically, it filters by mass. Depending on the size of your polymer, it filters by that,” Jones said. “It’s mainly used for polymers, but we use gel permeation in looking at DNA or proteins [or any macromolecule].”

William Rogers | The Oswegonian Matthew Baker, a chemistry professor at Oswego State, explains to students the process of depolymerization of plastic molecules.

Dec. 22 marked the beginning of what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. As a whole, the partial government shutdown lasted 35 days, affecting 800,000 federal workers as well as thousands of federal contractors, according to The Huffington Post. For many Oswego State students, the question of how this shutdown could affect them was a popular topic of discussion, with many turning to the financial aid office to ensure their financial aid would not be affected. According to Mark Humbert, due to the time frame of the shutdown, students will not see a negative impact. “Fortunately for students, the government shutdown did not have any negative impact on the processing of federal student aid,” Humbert said. “That part of the government was not affected by the shutdown, as that funding had already been approved for the year.” It was the other repercussions, such as those that affected departments who dealt with health and education issues, that infuriated others, as well as what the possible longevity of the shutdown and what lasting effects could arise from it. “I was more upset than worried about numerous things caused by the extent of the shutdown, museums, national parks, FDA regulations,” Oswego State student Julia Polly said. “When the shutdown started jeopardizing education and children’s health, they crossed a line.” The government reopened on Jan. 25 after President Trump signed a resolution to provide funding until Feb. 15. The House of Representatives and the Senate

approved the resolution as a temporary solution after Trump’s month-long standoff failed to procure the necessary funding for his proposed border wall on the southwestern border between the U.S. and Mexico. During the government shutdown, many federal offices were closed, including portions of the Food and Drug Administration, which works to protect the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics and products that emit radiation, according to the FDA website. During the shutdown, hundreds of FDA inspectors were furloughed, which dramatically reduced inspections of the nation’s food supply. The FDA, 80 percent of which oversees food supply, suspended all routine inspections of domestic food processing, according to The Washington Post. FDA inspectors and other staff returned to work Jan. 15 after public outcry to focus on facilities that produce higher-risk goods, drugs and devices, according to the agency’s commissioner. The government shutdown left many citizens angry at the administration for a number of reasons, but others were just confused as to what it meant. “Nowadays, when it comes to things involving the government, I’m aware but not too involved with everything that is going on,” Oswego State student Allison Feely said. “I guess that’s just my mentality since I am not a very political person.” The government will remain open for three weeks while negotiations on how to secure the nation’s southwestern border continue. The resolution provided funding for normal operations until Feb. 15, according to The New York Times.

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian

NEWS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Town hall prompts questions on diversity, racial bias Jessica Wickham Chief Copy Editor jwickham@oswegonian.com

FIRST from COVER

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VOLUME LXXXIV ISSUE I

SPORTS THE OSWEGONIAN

SPORTS B3 Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian

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Editor’s Column

NEW ASSISTANT

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Nenadal learns patience throughout junior, college hockey

After three years as blue, gold Laker, senior becomes green, gold for final year #WeAllLoveEachOther

Ben Grieco Sports Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com What do The Oswegonian, WNYO and WTOP-10 all have in common? Or, how about Ben Grieco, Cole Parzych and Brittany Cairns? The answer is simple. All three, are the respective sports directors of their student media organization, working to provide the best Oswego State athletics coverage for the 2018-2019 school year. Like any professional media outlet, you will hear, “Listen to us for the best,” and you can finish the sentence, whether that be music selection, sports coverage, etc. No one bats an eye when a media outlet makes that kind of statement. The Oswegonian, WNYO, WTOP10 are three vastly different media, trying to cover the same athletic events. We all want to believe we are the best sports outlet at Oswego State, which pushes us to be better every day. At The Oswegonian Sports, we strive to produce the best written coverage, between game stories, in-depth features and game-day previews. WNYO wants to provide the best audio coverage of the live game, while WTOP-10 does the same but visually with different graphics or unique aspects to its broadcast. All three organizations have one goal in common: make sure our viewers, listeners and readers all receive the best possible coverage of Oswego State athletics. Better yet, all three of us have collaborated and shared ideas before, during and after games to help each other improve. Now, you may be asking what struck a nerve in me to write this column now. This past weekend, on WNYO’s pregame show before Oswego State men’s hockey took on Buffalo State, one of the station’s analysts said something along the lines of, “Listen to WNYO for the best Laker hockey coverage.” Does that sound so bad to you? This statement resulted in a, for the lack of a better term, “Twitter war” involving an alumnus of Oswego State, WNYO sports and a couple other sports personnel from each media outlet. The “war” prompted the hashtag, “#WeAllLoveEachOther.” No, it did not go viral, but it was spread among people within the three media organizations – especially in the sports departments. It is true, all three sports directors talk all the time. Heck, there are even some people who are involved in all three organizations – some at the same time. Furthermore, Brittany, Cole and I all are going to be collaborating on a TV show for WTOP-10 called Laker Connections. If that does not prove we all love each other, I do not know what does. The friendly banter claiming that one outlet has better coverage than the others is not harmful or rude. It is real life. The banter also pushes us to be better than we were yesterday. As people say, “The sky’s the limit.” You never know where the drive is going to bring us. All in all, whether you prefer to read about the game, listen to it or watch it, all three media organizations strive to get you the best coverage. No matter which organization you choose to follow, you are providing feedback to us – students, journalists, broadcasters, reporters – and allowing us to live out our dream careers in sports reporting or broadcasting.

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian

Ben Grieco Sports Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com After visiting three SUNYAC schools, SUNY Potsdam, Plattsburgh State and Oswego State, Josh Nenadal knew where he wanted to play hockey. Plattsburgh State was the final visit for the three schools he was visiting, and immediately after, on the car ride home, he called head coach Ed Gosek to say he wanted to play for Oswego State. Only 90 minutes later, Nenadal received a call from Lake Superior State University, a NCAA Div. I program in Michigan, and was given a scholarship on the spot from the new coaching staff. Nenadal said it was the toughest choice he has made, between Lake Superior State and Oswego State, but he does not regret going to Lake Superior for his first three years of college hockey. “Looking back, I think I would’ve given it a little more thought, and gone into a little more research into the two teams,” Nenadal said. “But regret is not really in my vocabulary.” Originally from Brecksville, Ohio, a city with around 13,000 people, Nenadal was drafted by the Waterloo (Iowa) Black Hawks in the seventh round of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft, selected with the 95th pick of the draft. Nenadal

was drafted at just 18 years old and was living nine and a half hours away from home to play junior hockey. After one season with the Black Hawks, he was traded to the Youngstown Phantoms, a team that is based only an hour outside of Brecksville. He said it was nice having his parents at every game while with the Phantoms. “I don’t think I was well-equipped for living away from home,” Nenadal said. “When I got to Youngstown, I figured out who I was as a player.” In his first two years as a Laker at Lake Superior, Nenadal played 73 games registering 13 points. His junior year, however, he only played 20 games. “That’s when I felt like it was time for me to go,” Nenadal said. Following his junior season, Nenadal decided to leave the blue and gold Lakers. When deciding on a new school to transfer to, he remembered his conversation with Mike Montagna, a former forward with Oswego State who graduated in 2015. Montagna transferred to Oswego State from the University of Vermont. But, when it came down to it, he relied heavily on his parents for knowing who he was as a person. Nenadal, now entering his senior year, is a green and gold Laker with the team he originally committed to. “It isn’t a scenario we wouldn’t normally enter into had we not known

him, his personality, his family,” Gosek said. “We felt that he fit it in with what we do here.” Being a senior transfer, Nenadal has been able to connect with two ends of the spectrum of the roster. He said he relates to his fellow senior classmates, but also has bonds with the freshman class as a first-year Laker. “It was a good way for me to get acquainted with everyone on the team,” Nenadal said. The hockey aspect of transferring was not shocking for Nenadal. He said Oswego State could transfer with a lot of Div. I programs, but past that, there are not a lot of differences. The biggest cultural change was the size of school for Nenadal. Lake Superior has 1,200 students compared to Oswego State’s 8,000. The “culture shock,” as he called it, all started with his first day of orientation. “I lost my car in the parking lot,” Nenadal said with a laugh. “I think I walked around in the parking lot for 20 minutes trying to find it.” With the change from Div. I to Div. III, Gosek said that Nenadal did not come in thinking that he was going to become a goal-scorer all of a sudden. Gosek said Nenadal understood his role - a key cog on the penalty kill and a physical player overall - on the team. “He knows his role, he knows his limitations, he knows his strength, [and] he knows when

he’s at his best,” Gosek said. But what has really meshed well is Nenadal’s personality. Known as “Nens” by the team, he can be a serious player, but he also knows when to lighten things up when they need to be. “I wouldn’t even say it’s silly. It’s just he knows when to break the ice,” Gosek said. “He knows when to be Nens. He also knows when it’s time to be serious.” Nenadal has nearly matched his three-year total from Lake Superior State not even one whole season with Oswego State. He has 14 points, including three-empty net goals - some of which have gone the whole 200-foot length of the ice. Despite the amount of empty-netters, he claims it is not a secret play. “I’m sure Ed would love it to be,” Nenadal said. “Right now, I’m shooting three-for-three.” Nenadal said the biggest key for his collegiate hockey career was patience, waiting for the right opportunity to come around. Even though he has been with Oswego State for only one year, he said he has made a couple life-long friends, including roommate Colton Fletcher, that will last longer than the friendships at Lake Superior. Either way, whether it be blue and gold or green and gold, Nenadal is able to say he has been a Laker for four years. “It’s pretty funny. I’ll be a Laker for life now,” Nenadal said.

Women’s basketball with 5 games left, 4 road games Team went 1-9 during January with win against SUNY Cortland Jan. 12 Aaron Valentino Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com The second semester is underway, and while most Oswego State students were home enjoying winter break, the Oswego State Lakers were here shooting hoops. Here is what happened in the month of January The Lakers went 1-9 in the month of January, with their only win coming against SUNY Cortland on Jan. 12. They averaged right around 55 points per game and have fallen to last in the SUNYAC with a record of 2-18. Their leading scorer was Samantha Britton, who is averaging 11 points per game. Their leading rebounder, Ramatoulaye Sy, has a total of 190 rebounds on the season but has unfortunately gone down with an injury. “We got to play basketball with zero mistakes,” head coach Sean Pinkerton said. “We just don’t have a lot of margin of error. We are not a team that’s putting a lot of points on the board. We are not shooting the ball well. Oswego State is second to

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian Erin Gantley (right), who has 55 points this season, drives in for a layup on Feb. 2 against SUNY Cortland where the Lakers lost 57-48.

last in the conference in field goal percentage (33.3 percent) and last in three-point field goal percentage (23 percent).” Rachel Windhausen said there is nowhere to go but up. “The goal is always to just go in and play our hardest and obviously to win,” Windhausen said. “We are not

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian Quincey Zimmerman (center) is now the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 128 points.

having the greatest season, but now, there is nothing to lose, so why don’t we just go and play our hardest and play basketball.” This will also be Windhausen’s final season with the Lakers, and she reflected a bit on her senior year and her time as a Laker. “We are not having a great season, so it has been disappointing in that way, but all the girls make up for it,” she said. “We have a great team. We get along really well. No one dreads coming to practice or going to games or anything like that. It’s really been a great five years here so I’m just trying to take it all in.” She also said she liked her leadership role. “I remember how it was when I was a freshman, so it is always a learning curve coming from high school basketball to college and just from coming from high school to college in general,” she said. “You just try

to be there for them on and off the court and form those bonds and try to help them just mature and get used to college.” Windhausen is currently Oswego State’s fourth leading scorer averaging seven points per game and is the second-leading rebounder on the team with 120 rebounds. Earlier this week in the game against SUNY Cortland, Sy had what looked like a bad knee injury but Pinkerton said it does not appear to be an ACL injury. “They didn’t do an MRI,” he said. “The trainer did a workout with her at lunch and then another one during our practice.” Sy was the third leading scorer on the Lakers, averaging 10 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. The Lakers are back in action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8 at SUNY Potsdam and then at 5:30 on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Plattsburgh State.

SPORTS

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

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

Men’s basketball @ Potsdam/Plattsburgh

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian

Senior transfer makes immediate impact on first-place squad Quinn Carey transfers for broadcasting program, finds role as three-point threat Mamadou Tall Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com Being among the leading scorers for the Oswego State Lakers with 12.2 points per game, guard Quinn Carey has been a pleasant surprise on and off the court for the Lakers this season. The Lakers’ season has been an absolute turnaround from last season’s subpar record of 14-13 to an impressive 17-3 with five games left in the regular season. The addition of the great three-point shooter Carey has helped catapult the team to where it is now.

It’s been awesome. It’s been better than anywhere else I’ve been.” Quinn Carey -Oswego State men’s basketball guard

Carey decided to transfer to Oswego State from SUNY Geneseo for his senior year and final season of college basketball. Carey’s journeyw to Oswego State has been one of many stops along the road, but Carey displayed consistency at each place where he spent his time. Being from Florida, it was quite a change of scenery for Carey, as he spent his whole collegiate career in New York state. His first

stop was at the Div. II Roberts Wesleyan College, where he spent two seasons of his collegiate career. In his freshman and sophomore years, he came straight out of the gun as a scoring threat behind the arc, averaging 10.7 and 12.2 points per game respectively. In just two seasons there, he set the school record for career three-pointers made with 162. After his two years at Roberts Wesleyan College, Carey moved on to play for the SUNY Geneseo Knights for junior year, where he led the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game. He also led the SUNYAC in three-pointers made that season with 91. After helping lead the Geneseo Knights to a 1412 record, Carey transferred to Oswego State. What led Quinn Carey to transfer to Oswego? It was not quite for athletics. Being a student athlete, Carey made his decision based off academics. “I ended up transferring here for the broadcasting major,” Carey said. “I was coming into a really good basketball situation with [head coach Jason Leone] and all the guys returning here.” Carey and the Oswego State Lakers are a match made in heaven. While he is helping the team thrive this season, he also feels at home and happy. “It’s been awesome,” Carey said. “It’s been better than anywhere else I’ve been.” He has been one of the major components of the team’s unity this season, showing that he is unselfish and willing to step up

and be a leader when he needs to be. Leone praised Quinn’s character and personality, calling him “unselfish” and “happy.” Leone even added, “he knows what it takes to win.” Apart from just scoring and putting up great shooting percentages on the box score, Carey helps his team and teammates play better in a way that is not tangible. The intangibles he brings the table are all a product of his excellent shooting and scoring ability. “When he is on the floor,” Leone said. “He attracts a defender at every moment, so what that does is it opens up the floor. There have been teams that face guarded him, not allowing him to touch the ball, which, frankly, I believe helps us. And he is a very unselfish player. That doesn’t bother him.” Carey, who is leading the team with 71 three-pointers, has welcomed and is enjoying his role and the team effort that the Lakers have shown this season. “At [SUNY] Geneseo, I was relied on to score more, but the really

nice part here is we have five other guys who are all all-conference caliber guys,” Carey said. When interacting with Carey, the first thing that one notices is his easy-going demeanor. In just one season, he has managed to help lead the Lakers to a chance to win their conference and has left his mark on the team on and off the court. “He has a great ability to knockdown open shots and contested shots,” Leone said. “He is a happy guy.” The biggest testament to Carey’s character is his favorite memory as a Laker so far. It was not his 26 point night against SUNY New Paltz, but rather the game against his younger brother, where he scored just 13. “Without a doubt it was our game here against Plattsburgh [State],” Carey said. “We won on a last second shot by our point guard Liam Sanborn. I got to play against my younger brother, Liam Carey, which was a really cool experience.”

Mamadou Tall Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com The Oswego State Lakers will be visiting the SUNY Potsdam Bears this Friday in hopes to keep up their solid play this season and increase their record to 18-3. The Lakers will be playing the Bears for the second time this season and will be looking to complete a regular-season sweep over the Bears. Their last meeting saw the Lakers win in a close game with the final score being 72-70. The Lakers committed 16 turnovers that game, keeping it close, but managed to pull out the win behind Liam Sanborn’s 20 points and Quinn Carey’s 15. The Lakers lost their last game to SUNY Cortland with the final score being 72-67. They will be trying to avoid falling into a two-game skid and getting back on track to their solid play that helped them all season long. The Bears go into the game with a subpar record of 12-9 and will surely be looking to pull out a win to help their chances of making the SUNYAC tournament. They are led in scoring by guards Dante Langley and Nosa Onabor, who average 15.2 points and 15.1 points, respectively. The Bears won their last game 75-66 against SUNY Fredonia. With five games left in the regular season, Oswego State will be looking to finish off the season the way they started it, with solid play. With a 17-3 record, the Lakers are a lock for the SUNYAC tournament and are now looking to win their conference.

Women’s basketball @ Potsdam/Plattsburgh

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian

Wrestling brings back depth, regional qualifiers, leaders Five of six regional qualifiers return, including Seymour, who looks to end career on high note Matt Watling Asst. Sports Editor mwatling@oswegonian.com The Oswego State Lakers wrestling team has only one more regular season dual left on the season in which they have been able to demonstrate their depth. Top to bottom, this is a team that has a lot of talent, something that is evident by its results. In their most recent invitational, the John Summa Memorial Tournament, the Lakers finished in sixth place out of 15. A big reason for this depth is the fact that the Lakers returned five of their six wrestlers who reached the NCAA Mideast Regionals from last season. These include two juniors and three seniors. Of these five, seniors Troy Seymour and Rocco Russo finished in third and sixth, respectively. Having regionally recognized talent on the roster has helped the other wrestlers in the room immensely as leaders and competitors. “Having that continuity and leadership, showing guys how to do the right thing, is important,” head coach Mike Howard said. “We can preach it all we want as coaches, but a lot of

times, coming from your peers, it goes a lot farther.” That leadership and battling it out in practice among other talented wrestlers helped the Lakers place five wrestlers in the top eight at the John Summa Memorial Tournament. Seymour was the runner-up at the 174-pound weight class with his only loss coming to the No. 5-ranked wrestler in all of Div. II, Connor Craig. After defeating the No. 1 seed in the 157-pound weight class, Christian Gramuglia claimed third place. Other top-eight finishers include Jeff Lombardi in fifth place, Isaac Matthews in sixth and Bryan Coll in eighth. While there were only five wrestlers that placed, the team runs 20 wrestlers deep. “We are deeper than five guys,” Howard said. “We [have] 20 guys working extremely hard to make each other better … We have been wrestling good the second half of the year, and we are excited about the direction we are heading and what the postseason has in store.” In the biggest win of the season, the Lakers received contributions all throughout the lineup. The contest

occured on Jan. 11 against Southern Virginia University. The depth of the Lakers was on full display, as they won eight of the nine weight classes. Freshman Wyatt Gorman was able to win his match at the 133-weight class, and alongside Ricardo Dawkins and Jeff Lombardi, the trio tacked on nine additional points. Gorman is one of five freshmen on the roster who have 12 combined wins. The first-year wrestlers battled through early struggles to start the season as it takes time to adjust to the next level of wrestling. “It is still a work in progress,” Howard said. “They are making strides, but it is a big jump for some … with the help of the upperclassmen and the leadership they have, [the freshmen] are starting to get it.” With five seniors, mentorship is quite common for the freshmen, Howard said. Early on, the freshmen were not pressed hard. However, as the season progressed, they were able to develop in their own way. “Early on, we started off by throwing them out to the dogs,” Seymour said. “The older guys [took charge] and did not give them much leeway in the

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian

room ... As the year has gone on, we just let them form in whatever way works [best for them.]” Despite being a top-tier wrestler with nationals experience, Seymour follows in the footsteps of his coach and focuses on team success in addition to his own. For the week of Feb. 4, he was named Laker Athlete of the Week. Although that is an individual award, Seymour was just happy that his wrestling team was noticed. “It is pretty important to me [because] our team is being recognized by the school with all the athletics here at Oswego State,” Seymour said. “We have come a long way in the four years.” The pride Seymour demonstrates in his team goes to show how significant the team-first attitude that has been developed by Howard and his upperclassmen. However, in the end, wrestling is also an individualbased sport, and the Lakers have five returners who reached regionals and have goals to continue to grow and improve off that. This makes it tricky for a coaching staff who wants to continue to develop and improve the group while protecting his wrestlers for a lengthy postseason. “We want to keep them healthy, shorten out the workouts for them so we are not beating them up too much, but maintaining their conditioning,” Howard said. “That is going to be the challenge for us moving forward … [We want them to be] aggressive and motivated to achieve the goals they set for themselves.” For Seymour, that goal is simple. “My ultimate goal is to be a national champ, make sure I get on the podium and end my career with an exclamation point and achieve everything I have worked for,” Seymour said.

Aaron Valentino Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com Coming into the second semester, the Oswego State Lakers are coming in losing seven straight games after beating SUNY Cortland on Jan. 12. Heading into the weekend, the Lakers sit in last in the SUNYAC. This weekend, they will take on conference rivals SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State. The Lakers’ weekend will kick off Friday at 5:30 in Potsdam. The Bears come into the weekend with a record of 7-13 and losing their last two games to Buffalo State and SUNY Fredonia. The Bears have the worst-ranked offense in the league, only averaging 61 points per game, but they are very efficient being third in the SUNYAC in field goal percentage shooting 39.3 percent on the season. The team also averages the second-most turnovers in the league averaging 18.5 per game. Earlier this season, they were able to beat the Lakers by a score of 59-52. This game is a makeup game, as it was supposed played on Jan. 19. Saturday’s game against Plattsburgh State is at 2 p.m. at Plattsburgh. The Cardinals currently sit at 8-13 and are seventh in the SUNYAC. Plattsburgh State is very good at drawing fouls, shooting more free throws than any other team in the conference at 368. However, the Cardinals are last in the conference in free throw percentage, shooting a measly 57.3 percent. The last time these two teams squared off, the Lakers lost 59-48.

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

SPORTS Campus Rec Report: Spring intramurals begin Basketball, broomball tournaments now in full swing

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb.. 8, 2019

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

Men’s hockey at Brockport / vs. Geneseo

Women’s hockey vs. Williams College

Ben Grieco Sports Editor bgrieco@oswegonian.com

Luke Owens Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com

After a challenging weekend against SUNY Fredonia and Buffalo State, the No. 4/4 Oswego State men’s hockey team has a big weekend, once again. While the Lakers will be traveling to The College at Brockport on Friday night, the bigger focus is on Saturday’s matchup against No. 2/2 SUNY Geneseo at the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena. A big key in the last two games, despite the loss to Buffalo State, was defensive scoring. Max Novick had two goals in the win against the Blue Devils and contributed another against Buffalo State. Carter Allen also had a goal in the loss to the Bengals. With the productivity of the blue liners for the Lakers, scoring situations should be in Oswego State’s favor. Over the weekend, David Richer was pulled after allowing three quick goals in the first period against Buffalo State, to be replaced by Cedric Hansen. It is probable that Richer will get the start against the Ice Knights on Saturday, given the prominence of the game. A couple top names, including Travis Broughman, have been held pointless – and also goal-less – for a while. Broughman’s last point was on Jan. 26, an assist, and his last goal was on Jan. 12 in the 4-1 win over Elmira College. This weekend should be a tough test for the Lakers, who are trying to claim home-ice advantage for the SUNYAC playoffs in a couple weeks.

Oswego State is presented with a little bit of a weird situation this week. After losing 3-2 to SUNY Cortland on Wednesday night, the Lakers have a quick turnaround as they welcome in No. 10/10 Williams College for a non-league series. With the NEWHL season heating up, it is almost a pause button for the Lakers to regroup with two games that do not count in the league playoffs before the final-stretch run. Three games a week is something that Oswego State may have to get used to before next season begins. SUNY Canton and Morrisville State will be added to the NEWHL, but the teams will still play four games against each league opponent while fitting in non-league games. This new schedule will call for games on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday some weeks, with the new schedule also aiming to avoid Sunday games. With a full load of classes and practice, on top of three possible games a week, the workload will become that much harder for the student-athletes. As for the games on hand, the Lakers are sure to have their hands full. Williams College has not lost in their past five games and has only lost two games this calendar year. Head coach Diane Dillon will have to rally the team after a tough loss on Wednesday night to bounce back at MCC this weekend against a team ranked No. 10 nationally in both major polls.

Photo provided by Shelby Stewart via Campus Recreation The spring broomball tournament began on Feb. 5 with four men’s competitive games that are all single-elimination on the full ice rink.

Morgan Meaney Contributing Writer sports@oswegonian.com Campus Recreation wasted no time getting started with the first games starting a week after classes began. First to get going was the men’s competitive single-elimination basketball tournament. Teams have one chance to move forward in the tournament, and with one loss, teams do not move forward. Feb. 5, three teams moved closer to the championship and got their seasons off to a very strong start. Oodles O’ Noodles Babies defeated SAE with a dominating victory and a final score of 69-31. In the second game of the night, Cyclones defeated Alex

Bielfeld Fan Club in another big win with a final score of 59-22. Oodles O’ Noodles Babies and Cyclones will see each other in both teams next games on Feb. 11. With both teams proving obvious dominance, the matchup next week should be very interesting. In the final game of the evening, 2 Eazy defeated Rec’s Most Wanted with the highest points scored of the night in a final score of 75-38. 2 Eazy will battle the winner from the matchup between No Game This Week and The Men from West Virginia, which is set to take place on Feb. 10. Games will continue through this week as intramural really gets underway. Broomball began on Tuesday, with four men’s competitive games on the first night that

were jam-packed with action. Different from last semester, the teams participating in the tournament are playing singlegame elimination on full ice. Team Phoenix took down Metards in a shutout game of 4-0. The Swingers battled Broom’er I Hardly Know’er, with The Swingers coming out on top with a big final score of 7-0. In the final two games of the night, Rec’s Most Wanted played Dan Koch is Cute, with Rec’s Most Wanted taking the win in a final score of 3-1. The other broomball tournaments are set to begin this Sunday. Be sure to check out some of the other events coming up, such as the Valentine’s Day Scavenger, the No-Sew Fleece Blankets and the No Limit Texas Hold’Em. Signups are on IMLeagues.

New women’s hockey asst. coach brings unique aspect to team Behind goaltending experience, Burgio able to help goalies with private sessions outside practice Luke Owens Sports Writer sports@oswegonian.com Chaislyn Burgio arrived as one of just four players on Merrimack College’s Div. 1 women’s hockey team in 2014. Three teams and four years later, she has found a home as the assistant coach to head coach Diane Dillon at Oswego State. Burgio was one of the first recruits landed for Merrimack’s new hockey team, a five-year letterwinner at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts as a goalie. There were only four players on the team’s roster in 2014, with three coaches. “It was a unique situation,” Burgio said. “My freshman year, I had three teammates. We were practicing five days a week with the coaching staff, so there were small, intimate coaching sessions on the ice. It was nice because

I got the feel for the college experience in terms of how am I going to handle the classroom and being an athlete, but I didn’t have to travel, so that was nice.” The traveling would begin next season, when Burgio played four games for the Warriors, posting a .861 save percentage and making 93 saves, including a career-high 33 saves against hockey powerhouse Boston University in her home state. However, after her sophomore year, Burgio decided it was time for a new challenge and enrolled at UMass-Boston to continue her athletics and education. “Transferring to UMass-Boston was a little different,” Burgio said. “I went there strictly because of what I wanted to major in and the grad program that I planned on going into, and it was a different level of hockey.” It was not just hockey, though. Burgio was a two-sport athlete, also playing outfield for the Beacon’s soft-

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian

ball team. She graduated from UMassBoston with a bachelor’s in psychology after finishing her final two years. “I was closer to home. I got to play softball. It was a different experience,” Burgio said. “Overall, I’m pretty happy with my experience as a student-athlete, and it’s helped me having gone through the steps and going through what they’re going through.” After graduating, it was off to Adrian College. Burgio was the head coach of the ACHA Div. II women’s hockey team and the assistant coach of the women’s Div. I hockey team. In fall of 2018, upstate New York was next, where Burgio was named the assistant coach for the Oswego State women’s hockey program. “I was welcomed by everyone immediately,” Burgio said. “Coach Dillon was great right off the bat, and the girls were really welcoming. There were about 10 new freshmen on the team, so I felt like I was going through the process with them being new, being the rookie here.” Dillon said that, when looking for an assistant coach, there are a few boxes to check. “We’re looking for all kinds of things,” Dillon said. “This is a school with a strong hockey program, so we’re looking for people that love the game.” Burgio fit this description to a T. It also helped that her expertise came in between the pipes. “We had four goaltenders on the roster coming in, so I knew it’d be helpful to have a goaltending coach or someone with goaltending experience, and that’s what Chaislyn brings to the table,” Dillon said. Burgio’s responsibilities with the goaltenders has been noticed both by Dillon and by the players themselves. “Being a forward myself back in the day, I know how valuable defense and goaltending is,” Dillon said. “A team can play lighter if you are confident in the person between the pipes, and I think having a goaltending coach helps not only them, but it travels up through the team.” Burgio has brought her skills to the table to arguably the toughest position

Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian Asst. coach Chaislyn Burgio (left) and head coach Diane Dillon (right) talk to the players.

in hockey. Goaltenders are oftentimes blamed when things go south and not given enough credit when things are going well. “Aside from teaching them technical things like movements, I hope to teach them how to prepare mentally,” Burgio said. “If they’re pulled from a game, I’m going to be there to talk to them and calm them down when I can.” Burgio also has helped the Lakers’ goaltenders in private sessions, where she helps them work on things they may be uncomfortable with. Oswego State goalie Rachael Farmer mentioned those sessions. “Coach Burgio helped me feel more comfortable playing the puck. She goes out of her way for us a lot,” Farmer said. “She does goalie sessions with us, and she makes them a lot of fun.” The Lakers have had an unbelievable season in net. They have collectively posted a .939 save percentage

and a 1.90 GAA. But helping the goaltenders is not the only major role Burgio has with the team. “She’s been our main recruiter, and since we’re in season, she’s been the one on the road and running up and down the Thruway,” Dillon said. Recruiting is a key part of any college team, and the many hours in the ice arena and the long drives can easily take their toll on a coach. But Burgio said she has enjoyed it so far. “It’s a lot of driving, that’s for sure, but I like driving,” Burgio said. “It’s a lot of standing in the rink, so hopefully, you’re bundled up and warm, and a lot of hockey to watch. It’s great. It’s like a puzzle you’re trying to piece together to build a team.” When she is not on the road, Burgio has had a warm welcome in this upstate New York town. “I feel right at home here, and the hockey aspect has been great,” she said.

Shore Report SUNYAC Standings

Men’s Hockey

Geneseo-x Oswego State-x Buffalo State-x Brockport Plattsburgh Fredonia Potsdam Cortland Morrisville-e

Women’s Hockey (NEWHL)

Plattsburgh-x Potsdam Cortland Oswego State Buffalo State

Oswego State-x Plattsburgh Cortland Brockport Potsdam New Paltz Oneonta Buffalo State Geneseo Fredonia-e

Conference 10-1-1 9-3-0 7-4-2 6-5-2 6-5-1 5-5-2 3-8-1 3-9-0 2-11-1

Points 21 18 16 14 13 12 7 6 5

Overall

Conference

Points

18-2-0

12-0-0

8-9-3 11-8-2 9-8-3

5-4-2 4-8-3

12 11 10

4-7-2 3-9-1

7 Streak

17-3

12-1

17-4 15-5 13-8 12-9 11-9 10-10

11-3 9-4

7-14 6-15

5-10 3-11 1-14

W5 W1 W2 W1 L1 L1 W1

9-5 8-6 6-7 5-8

2-20

L1 L9

Conference

16-4 18-3 16-4 11-9 11-11 8-13 8-13 11-11

12-1 11-3 10-3 7-6 8-7 6-8 5-9 5-10

Streak W12 W1 W2 W4 W3 L3 L4 L1

7-13

4-10

2-18

1-12

Oswego Scoreboard Men’s Hockey

Women’s Basketball

Friday, Feb. 1

Saturday, Feb. 2

FRE:

Dunn: 1 goal, 3 SOG Bogart: 28 saves, 3 GA

COR:

Vitucci: 16 pts, 9 rebs Dugan: 12 pts, 3 steals Crespo: 11 pts, 4 rebs

OSW:

Nenadal: 2 goals, 4 SOG Novick: 2 goals, 4 SOG Richer: 16 saves, 1 GA

OSW:

Sy: 15 pts, 3 assists Encarnacion: 14 pts, 5 rebs

Men’s Basketball Saturday, Feb. 2

72 COR: OSW:

Conference

Overall

Women's Basketball Overall New Paltz-x Geneseo-x Oneonta-x Cortland Fredonia Brockport Plattsburgh Buffalo State Potsdam Oswego State

x - clinched e - eliminated

Overall 19-1-1 16-4-1 10-8-2 14-6-2 8-11-2 11-6-4 7-13-1 9-12-0 4-15-2

6-12-2

Men's Basketball

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Women’s Hockey Saturday, Feb. 2

Bonura: 22 pts, 4 rebs Cooper: 15 pts, 2 assists Charles: 15 pts, 1 block Pierre: 21 pts, 15 rebs Sanburn: 14pts, 7 assists

0 BS: OSW:

Steinle: 6 SOG Gawronski: 45 saves, 1 GA

Neufeld-Kreider: 1 goal, 3 SOG Cruise: 1 goal, 3 SOG Farmer: 27 saves, 1 SO

Upcoming Events Women’s Basketball Friday, Feb. 8

Women’s Hockey Saturday, Feb. 9

5:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m

OSW: 2-18 (1-12) POT: 7-13 (4-10)

Men’s Basketball Saturday, Feb. 9

WC: 13-4-3 (8-4-2) UPDOSW: 9-7-3 (4-6-2)

Men’s Hockey

Saturday, Feb. 9

@ 4:00 p.m.

OSW: 17-3 (12-1) PLA: 17-4 (11-3)

7:00 p.m.

GEN: 19-1-1 (10-1-1) OSW: 16-4-1 (9-3-0)

Laker Athletes of the Week

Around the SUNYAC Men’s Basketball

Men’s Hockey

Women’s Basketball Catarina Burke

Women’s Track & Field Junior | Raynham, Massachusetts

PLA: 17-4 (11-3) BUF: 13-8 (9-5)

BPT: 13-8 (9-5) FRE: 2-20 (1-14)

BPT: 14-6-2 (6-5-2) MOR: 4-15-2 (2-11-1)

POT: 7-13-1 (3-8-1) PLA: 8-11-2 (6-5-2)

The Lakers’ men’s hockey team dropped to No. 4 in both the USCHO and D3hockey.com rankings after their 6-5 loss to Buffalo State. The Lakers fell only one spot from No. 3, as they traded places with Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who were previously No. 4. The Lakers will face No. 2/2 SUNY Geneseo this Saturday.

Troy Seymour

Wrestling Senior | Morrisonville

GEN: 18-3 (11-3) BUF: 11-11 (5-10)

Burke won the high jump at Utica College’s Pioneer Invitational. Her winning height of 1.55 meters propelled the Lakers to an eighth-place finish of the 16 teams competing. The 1.55-meter jump was her third best of her career, only .05 meters behind her career-best of 1.60. On Friday and Saturday, Burke will be at Boston University for the Valentine Invitational.

The senior had a strong performance at the John Summa Memorial Tournament, hosted by Baldwin Wallace University and played a crucial role in the Lakers’ sixth-place finish. He won three of his four matches in the 174-pound weight class. He won those three by a combined score of 27-3. His only loss was by a score of 7-0 to Connor Craig who is the fifth best wrestler in Div. II.

The women’s basketball team held SUNY Cortland to just 17 points in the first half. Despite this excellent first-half effort, the Lakers lost 57-48 after surrendering 40 points in the second half. The Lakers were dominant in the first, scoring 27 points, but slowed in the second, with just 21 points.

The men’s basketball team leads the SUNYAC in points allowed, as they give up just 63.4 points per game. They have a 10.4 advantage over the secondbest scoring defense in The College at Brockport, who surrender 73.8 points per game. This has helped the team to a 12-1 SUNYAC record.

The Lakers’ women’s hockey team has taken 572 shots in just 18 games. The Lakers only trail Plattsburgh State (924) and SUNY Cortland (580) in total shots among all NEWHL teams. However, the Lakers are second in the NEWHL in shots per game with 31.78.

POT: 7-13 (4-10) FRE: 11-11 (8-7)

17:

63.4:

572:

OPINION

THE OSWEGONIAN FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Government Sincere values gain most votes Super Bowl shutdown boring on all only harmful Moderate candidates not wanted for 2020 presidential election fronts Francesca Miesner Opinion Editor fmiesner@oswegonian.com

Photo from Pixabay

Connor Breese Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com After 35 days, the longest shutdown in our nation’s history ended with a fizzle, a cave, and a win. While some of us who spent our winter breaks binging and creating a permanent butt-print in the couch, our government, outside of a few funded departments, screeched to a halt over a border wall. Yet, looking back at those 35 days, it is important to remember exactly what the shutdown cost us, and where we can point the blame. Billions of dollars in gross domestic product can never be recovered. When 800,000 government workers quit going out on lunchbreaks, local economies felt the crunch. The damage done to our national parks was tremendous, as trashcans and toilets spill over in one of the nastiest things to happen in our parks. This is why they are supposed to close in a shutdown, so there are not piles of poop in the parks. Rents were due, and many had to find industrious ways out of a situation that could have been prevented had the government been cooperating. Highlights included Wilber Ross suggesting paycheck to paycheck workers were abusing foodbanks, and a shared podium moment between Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer where Schumer looked like the father who can only get a “your mother is right, you know” edge-wise.

Efforts to undermine Pelosi became embarrassments, and the polls turned against him.

Pelosi took a stand on behalf of the millions of Americans who chose her, and her party to lead the House of Representatives, with growing public support for her resistance. So, unlike most issues in politics that devolve into a “let us agree to disagree, it is both sides” argument, this one falls squarely on the shoulders of President Donald Trump. He chose, in a curious televised meeting, to accept blame for the shutdown. Now, as leader of our country, his decision to own one of the most obnoxious perennial events in our political history came off for him and his party as a brave stand against illegal immigration. He had too much to lose from failing to funding for the wall. Yet he underestimated a reinforced Democratic party and a speaker with the strength to stand against him. Efforts to undermine Pelosi became embarrassments, and the polls turned against him. In opposition to an argument that 90% of undocumented immigrants overstay visas, not illegally cross borders and drugs overwhelmingly come through ports of entry, Trump realized that his situation was as stopped up as a national park toilet. As our government slowly rolls toward either another shutdown or a national emergency, everyone should be reminded of the damage this did, not only to the lives that were affected for a month but the whole country, and ask them to remember whose intransigence put us here.

With the eccentric behavior of the current U.S. president and the increase in people throwing their hats in the ring for the 2020 election, there is a lot of discussion about what type of candidate each party should be putting forward. Some claim that by choosing a more moderate candidate with a stable background, people from both parties are more likely to vote for them. Essentially, if they can appeal to both parties, they have a higher chance of winning. Others argue that if the candidate is more moderate, they are therefore more passive. If they are not strong in their values, they will be more likely to be pushed into making certain decisions. Historically, there were a few moderate presidents, such as President Dwight Eisenhower. With this last election, many of the issues the American public had with Hillary Clinton, besides the “email scandal,” was the level of uncertainty she seemed to have with her own beliefs. This, of course, did not stop a lot of far left-leaning Democrats from voting for her, but many were not as passionate about her cause as they would have been for someone more left-leaning, such as Bernie Sanders. In the case of moderate democratic or independent voters, they may have had a level of bias against Clinton per-

sonally. Whether it be a level of sexism, dislike for the Clinton administration, or a dislike for her personality this was obviously enough for many moderates to be brought to the side of Trump. Using this past year as a basis, a few conclusions can be drawn about modern political systems. The candidates that are certain in their values and speak up for what they believe are more likely to gain the left-leaning democratic vote. As a general rule, people will vote for the party they identify with without doing any actual research on their backgrounds. This is part of the reason George Washington did not want the American people to be partisan. If the nation can reject the resources they have for self-education and only vote based on what the candidate identifies as, then

we, as a nation, are going to be making uninformed decisions. There are so many resources available, be it a history book, reliable sources on the internet or simply word of mouth. The candidates that are going to win the favor of the American people and, potentially, take on the title of leader of one of the most influential nations in the world are not going to be the ones who are trying to please everyone. This nation needs a professional, honest, caring and responsible leader who will do their best to lead the nation down a successful path. They will not do this by being a moderate candidate who feels that trying to please everyone is the way to win the title. Being president should not be about the title; it should be about wanting to lead the country in the right direction.

Photo from Phil Roeder via Flickr Bernie Sanders was a favorite in the 2016 election for far-left liberals and it is rumored he looks to run again.

SPEAK YOUR MIND, TWITTER! POLLS POSTED EVERY FRIDAY TO @gonianOPN

Governors need to be held to higher standards Blackface unacceptable regardless of intentions Shea O’Malley Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Feb. 1 was not a good day for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. A college yearbook surfaced revealing Northam dressed in blackface alongside a person dressed as a Ku Klux Klan member. The photo is disturbing at best and leaves onlookers wondering why someone would choose such blatant racism as a choice for costume design. Social media is slamming the photo as Democratic party leaders push for the governor’s resignation. Northam’s initial response was an admittance of his presence in the photo coupled with apologies for his unacceptable behavior. The next day he recanted his apology, stating after further speculation, he realized the picture was not of him. He admitted to using blackface in a dance contest depiction of Michael Jackson sometime later in Texas. Public opinion of Northam sank even further when his yearbook revealed a racially indicative nickname others used for him. Northam is refusing to comment on the name, while also refusing to step down from his post as governor. He wants the people of Virginia to forgive him and give him time so he can regain their trust. In an even stranger twist of fate, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring admitted on Wednesday to also appearing in blackface. Then nineteen-year old Herring decided to dress as a rapper, using wigs and brown makeup for effect. Herring made a statement of admittance and apology today, citing ignorance as reason. Just days earlier, Herring called on Northam to step

Photo from VCU Capital News Service via Flickr Gov. Northam was too ashamed to own up to whether or not he was in blackface in a photo.

down as governor. Herring should have taken a good look at his own yearbook before putting forth resignation suggestions. I see a pattern here; college parties, the eighties, so on and so forth. I was a young woman who grew up in the era when pop, hip-hop and rap artists were on the rise: Michael Jackson, Prince, LL Cool J, Run DMC and the Pointer Sisters. “Thriller” and “Purple Rain” were serious album choices amongst my friends. As much as we loved them, never in my circle of friends, in my town or at any college parties did someone use blackface as a costume idea. I realize the nature versus nurture conundrum plays a part in how one grows in thought and behavior. I have met and talked with various individuals about racial issues when I lived in the south. Many were as perplexed by my attitude as I was by theirs. One man finally confessed his racial viewpoints were a product

of his upbringing. He could not understand why I vehemently disagreed with his viewpoints. I left mind boggled and frustrated. This is where I falter in Northam and Herrings perception of right and wrong. How can they tell the world they did not know better? I did. My friends did. The guys at our local frat parties did, and we were your age then, Mr. Northam and Mr. Herring. We as a body of Americans expect more of you. The civil rights movement was not hidden. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., the Thelma, Alabama march, the Civil Rights Act of 1964; all events happening in the public eye. History overshadows your apologies. If you were willing to resign your morals for a night of fun at the expense of people who gave their very lives for freedom, then you should be willing to resign in order to give us freedom from your willful ignorance.

Photo from Keith Allison via Pixabay

Dominic Rizzi Laker Review Editor drizzi@oswegonian.com Super Bowl LIII premiered on Sunday, Feb. 3, and it is safe to say the event was not very well recieved. The game was heavily criticized for terrible plays, boring commercials, surprises that paid off to nothing, and to top it off, a halftime show where a shirtless Adam Levine was the least controversial topic of conversation. The thing that stands out the most here, though, is not everything that happened with the actual game, but rather with a larger issue concerning the Super Bowl ads. The Super Bowl advertisements have become almost as anticipated as the game itself. Every year, people gather around the TV to enjoy crazy scenarios generated by each commercial or whatever famous celebrity companies can nab. But this year, they were largely lackluster. This speaks to a larger issue the NFL faces. This year’s Super Bowl saw the lowest Nielsen rating yet, which is a rating system that uses audience size and composition of TV programs. However, if it is smart, the NFL might be able to take this opportunity and use it to their advantage. Without actual knowledge of what percentage of their ratings are actual viewers of the game as opposed to people who tune in to just watch the commercials, it is a safe assumption at least half the people who tune in are not interested in the game. Not counting the amount of faces per TV screen, the NFL is missing a golden opportunity to make the advertisements part of its marketing strategy for the Super Bowl. Usually, the ads are mostly spread via word of mouth. Just to give an example, at last year’s Super Bowl, Netflix dropped an advertisement for “The Cloverfield Paradox” during the game, revealing the movie would go up on Netflix upon the game’s completion and ultimately making for one of their most-viewed films that saved both them and Paramount Studios millions in advertising revenue. It was something completely new that had never been seen before, and it was easily the most talked about event from the game last year. If the NFL really wants the Super Bowl to not fall victim to social-media-obsessed millennials, Generation Z-ers and future generations inevitably growing bored with the game like every other previously thought social media proof event, then it needs to seriously consider its audiences. It needs to pay special attention to why people are watching and plan their marketing of its advertisements around that, and it needs to start now. Imagine if, a few months before the Super Bowl, right around when the teams are announced that make the game, they start dropping teasers for advertisements, similar to what movies do now with trailers. Instead of dropping full-length trailers, movie studios have been dropping little snippets of footage, usually ranging from 30 seconds to a minute, before the trailer is even released in order to build up anticipation. If there is one thing that is becoming more apparent with each generation, it is that they have short attention spans and even shorter memories. The NFL needs to take a few hints from studios and understand its audiences more if it wants to stick around. Otherwise, it will fade into obscurity.

OPINION SUPER BOWL SUCKED

B5 Photo from Kalhh via Pixabay

OPINION

VOLUME LXXXIV ISSUE I • www.oswegonian.com

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

SPORTS THREEPOINT MAGICIAN

B2 Photo provided by Maria Pericozzi

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

STAFF EDITORIAL

The Oswegonian is back for another semester, and we are refreshed and ready to provide the Oswego State campus and city of Oswego with trustworthy and up-to-date news on what matters most to you. In a political climate of “fake news” and distrust of the media, the young journalism and broadcasting students at Oswego State work hard to maintain the trust and readership of students and community members. The Oswegonian, WNYO and WTOP are comprised solely of students spending their free time to work hard and bring quality coverage and content to the student body and surrounding area. While journalism and media work is not for everyone, and we understand that there are some people who will never pick up a paper or tune in to a broadcast, understanding of what is happening in the world around you is necessary. Change is made when peo-

ple are aware of what is happening in the world. You may not like news coverage, and you may not even trust the media, but they work hard to keep you as up-to-date as possible with what you need to know to be well informed and prepared for the day. Student media is real media. We are providing the same passion and hard work as professionals do, and perhaps even more, as we get paid little to none for the long hours we put in at the office. We work around full class schedules and part-time jobs. We are proud of the content we create, the relationships we have built and the work we put in to inform our community. As the semester moves into full swing, take a moment to be informed. You do not need to trust one source. Have multiple news outlets you look at and read from to glean the most unbiased and thorough view of current events.

Make a new start to the semester. Pick up a newspaper. Tune into the radio or TV station. Support and learn from your peers as they bring you pertinent information that affects you, our community and our nation. It is OK to be skeptical of what you read. In fact, that is how you should react. “Fake news” exists because there are people who blindly believe whatever they hear. Oswego student media strives to do better. You will get factual reporting and no “click bait” from us. Want to learn more about the people behind the paper? Come into our office in 139A, say hello and learn about what we do, how we produce our paper and vet the content that we send to you. As we begin a new semester of publication, we hope that you will make a goal this spring to be more informed, more involved and take a few minutes each day to learn about what is going on in the world around you.

IN THE OFFICE

Capt. Rosemary Mariner honored in flyover Gender inequality in US military prevalent, improving

In a world where there is still a fight for gender equality, it was refreshing to see the U.S. military honor a female fighter and her groundbreaking career history by furthering gender equality through an all-female memorial flyover. Capt. Rosemary Mariner was one of the first women to earn her pilot wings in 1974 and was the first Navy female fighter pilot. She faithfully served from 1973 to 1997. Mariner broke many glass ceilings throughout her career. She was among the first women to earn her pilot wings, the first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet and the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron. That is only the tip of the iceberg of her accomplishments. Mariner lived in a time in which women had to work twice or three times as hard to earn their spot in male-dominant fields. Yet, she did not let gender discrimination stop her from achieving all that she set out to accomplish. On Feb. 2, the Navy commemorated her life and years of service with the first-ever all-female flyover. Not only is a flyover a great and respectful way to honor her life and death,

Samantha Flavell Editor-In-Chief sflavell@oswegonian.com

but what better way to commemorate a female who broke glass ceiling after glass ceiling in her field than by making history for gender equality with the first ever all-female flyover? Today, we live in a social climate that is all about making nice speeches and statements about what needs to be fixed and where changes can be made. In a time where it can sometimes feel as though the world is all talk and no action, it was very inspiring and refreshing to see the U.S. military celebrate in this way. While it is not equal pay, it is a step in the right direction, especially since it was done by a government agency, setting the precedent for equal oppor-

tunity. Gender equality does not mean favor females in fields due to past discrimination, but instead means to offer the same opportunities and same pay for those who deserve it. In 2018, the Census Bureau found that full-time, year-round working women earned 80 percent of what their male counterparts earned, meaning that it would take women 47 extra days of work to equal what their counterparts would make in less time. This shows that there is still a lot of work to be done. This navy funeral by no means makes up for the lack of justice in gender discrimination in the work place, but it is a step in the right direction. There are brilliant, competent men and women in the world, serving in a variety of fields. Including aviation, the Navy could have selected a variety of fully competent male or female flyers, but they chose to make history by choosing an all-female flyover. While we may not know whether these women were paid the same as male flyers may have been, the choice does a lot to promote equality, competence and hope for a better, more equal future.

Efron as Bundy warns killers can be handsome Documentaries do not cause desensitization of murder Alexis Hanna Staff Writer opinion@oswegonian.com Documentaries, originally called “actuality films,” have been around to provide us with information through visuals since pre-1900. They have helped us learn more about topics we may have been ignorant about or misinformed on. Most recently, there has been an increased popularity in documentaries about serial killers. They are not only seen on TV through documentaries. Serial killers and their stories have been gaining interest of watchers everywhere lately. CBS’ “Dexter” takes The independent student newspaper of Oswego State since 1935 audiences on a ride through the killer’s emotions, or lack thereof, as he commits his crimes, killing only other killers or people he deems unjust. Of course, viewWe want your thoughts on our coverage, campus and local issues, or anything ers root for Dexter Morgan, the main character, who appears to be doing a good deed regarding the Oswego State community. by eliminating the monsters in society. Email all letters as Word attachments to opinion@oswegonian.com or mail However, his motive is less valorous, as he

THE OSWEGONIAN G UIDELIN ES

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).

kills to suppress a need, a craving inside him, and justifies his actions by seeking out those other monsters. Viewers can be misled in their perception of Dexter because of the way he portrays and carries out his character. This is a topic of hot debate, stemming from the release of “Conversations With A Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” on Netflix. This series has been watched by many people of Netflix users, and the reviews have stirred up controversy. People have been saying they are attracted to Ted Bundy. Many people are shaming them for feeling this way. However, his charismatic character, smug smile and bright eyes combined with his ability to deceive so easily is what made his crimes easy to get away with. Along with the Netflix series, a movie about the infamous killer, “Extremely Wicked, Shocking Evil and Vile” is in the works as well, starring heartthrob Zac Efron.

The choice of Zac Effron has people disgusted and disappointed, as people will only further romanticize Bundy. Some claim portraying Bundy as attractive is disrespectful to the women he murdered and makes society ignore how horrible a human he was. The portrayal and reviews are not the problem, though. Refusing to acknowledge the attractive appearance and charismatic character of Bundy is the problem. It is important we acknowledge his looks and his character, what made women swoon and attractive to him. Ignoring the attractive parts of Bundy only leaves room for others to get away with similar crimes for the same reason. Most would not expect a serial killer to be attractive. Assuming a killer would be equally unattractive on the outside as it is on the inside is one assumption that is more dangerous in the long run. Murderers can be attractive. Rapists can be attractive. Acting like they cannot be or were not is ignorant.

Maverick

Members of organizations should include their title if their letter addresses an issue pertaining to the organization. For publication, letters should be 250 words or less and submitted by the Tuesday prior to the desired publication date. The Oswegonian reserves the right to edit and reject letters and cannot guarantee that all letters will be published. Opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not always reflect those of The Oswegonian. Photo provided by @sammi_013 on Twitter

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

INSIDE

C2 Superbowl LIII drops C3 2019 Oscar nominations, C4 ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ proves

ball, disappoints fans

who got snubbed?

interesting, yet flawed

FRIDAY Feb, 8. 2019

Superbowl 2019? Boring.

Laker Review 2019? The excitement you’ve been waiting for.

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

LAKER REVIEW

Super Bowl LIII drops ball on everything Lackluster game brought down by controversy, uninspiring commercials

Warner Bros. an no unces release dates for Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” an d James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squa d” for 2021 Image from NFL via YouTube Adam Levine, and his many tattoos on display after he took off his shirt, could not save Super Bowl LIII’s halftime show from controversy.

Dominic Rizzi Laker Review Editor drizzi@oswegonian.com The Super Bowl has become a bit of a phenomenon in recent years for the entertainment business in general. The sports juggernaut that is the NFL is already, as stated by Albert Brooks in 2015’s “Concussion,” a corporation that “owns a day of the week.” But an interesting phenomenon has occurred with the event in recent years. It seems like now, half the people who watch the game not only do not care about which team wins, but also just do not care about or watch the sport in general. Instead, at least half the views the game has received in recent years have been for the trailers, as the Super Bowl has become one of the hottest spots to drop new trailers and other bits of advertisements for upcoming films, TV shows and other media products. Super Bowl LIII aired on Sunday, Feb. 3, and one consensus seemed to be apparent: it was extremely underwhelming. The football people criticized it for the boring and uninspiring plays, the commercial people criticized the commercials for lacking in variety, and the halftime show may have been the most heavily criticized. With their view-

ing numbers at an all-time low, the question remains: why did it seem like everything just went wrong with this year’s Super Bowl? When it comes to the halftime show, it actually goes as far back as Colin Kaepernick’s protests in 2017. Kaepernick was fired from the NFL for kneeling during the National Anthem as a way to respect the large amount of African Americans who had been killed due to police violence over the last year and was unable to get another contract with another NFL team. His protest led to many other athletes doing it as well. This earned him the praise of African American communities and the outrage of the federal government and the NFL. Despite the NFL repealing its stance on having athletes who did not want to stand during the National Anthem stay in the locker room or get fined, Kaepernick has still not been allowed back on the field. As a result, this has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, as this caused many artists approached by the NFL for the halftime show this year to turn down the gig. These included Rihanna, who famously turned down the gig due to the controversy, and P!nk, who dropped out when contract negotiations ended up taking too long.

It was eventually determined that Maroon 5 would headline the event, but even more controversy emerged. First, a petition on Change.org was started that urged them to drop out of the show, which they refused. However, in the wake of the controversy, they were desperate to perform with an artist of color, but this only created a new problem, as almost everyone they reached out to said no. This included Mary J. Blige, Usher, Andre 3000, Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. Regardless, Maroon 5 charged ahead and managed to secure rap artists Big Boi and Travis Scott. However, almost immediately upon taking the job, the two drew heavy criticism. The Reverend Al Sharpton even came out saying, “I think he should do what a lot of other major artists have done: say ‘I’m not going to participate, you can’t fight against Jim Crow and then go sit in the back of the bus.” Almost immediately after he announced his donation, Scott officially confirmed that he would be performing with Maroon 5 at the Super Bowl halftime show. A “source close to Scott” told Variety that Scott spoke with Kaepernick before he made his decision and that the two had reached a place of “mutual respect.” However, Kaepernick later retweeted a

statement from his girlfriend that declared “there is no mutual respect” between them. Controversy aside, it is safe to say that unlike last year, this year’s Super Bowl was a failure from the beginning. Nobody wanted to be there in wake of the Kaepernick controversy, the commercials were largely uninspired and boring, and the game itself was just a chore to watch. Everyone, both in the business and who follows the Patriots and the NFL closely, knows that the Patriots, specifically head coach Bill Belichick, are famous for using unsportsmanlike tactics to win. Whether there is a shred of truth to that statement is neither here nor there. The overall point is not about who wins or loses, but whether the game was entertaining. At the end of the day, the Super Bowl is not just a football game; it is an event. It has become one of the most sought-after spots for trailers from big movie studios and is also just a great event to get people together. In conclusion, people should have known what they were in for when the “Avengers: Endgame” teaser was dropped within the first 20 minutes of the game, while the previous year’s game waited until around the halfway point to drop the teaser for “Avengers: Infinity War.”

Netflix buys the rights to the Ted Bun dy biopic “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” star ring Zac Efron from Joe Berlinger, the director of “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bun dy Tapes.”

Marvel Stu dios announces that R-rate d films will become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

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91st Academy Awards demonstrates more snubs in unexpected places

Nathaniel Ahart Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Despite the backlash directed toward the Academy Awards in recent years, there are still those who both watch and believe they have some merit. It is a good platform to promote films that may not have been on the public’s radar and boost the careers of many actors who are nominated and go on to win these awards. For some reason, however, the nominations this year are simply baffling. Starting with some positives, “Green Book” and “Roma” got Best Picture nominations, along with the immensely popular and financial darling “Black Panther,” which happens to be the first comic book film nominated for Best Picture, finally achieving what “The Dark Knight” failed to do 10 years prior. There were many surprise nominations as well, such as Paul Schrader’s Best Original Screenplay nod for “First Reformed,” Marina de Ta-

Image from Focus Features via YouTube Fred Rogers in Morgan Neville’s beloved documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

vira’s Supporting Actress nomination for “Roma” and three nominations for the Coen Bros.’ “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” Some omissions, specifically in the Acting and Documentary categories, were sorely felt. These include the likes of Ethan Hawke in “First Reformed,” Toni Collette in “Hereditary” and Timothée Chalamet in “Beautiful Boy.” For the Documentary and Foreign Film categories, the snubs included “Burning,” “Three Iden-

tical Strangers” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” the last of which feels like the biggest snub in the past few years. But why were these artists left out of the running, and more specifically, why do these snubs feel more aggravating than some of the ones for the bigger, more popular categories? As per the Academy’s usual methods, every snub has its own reasoning behind it. Chalamet was left out due to Annapurna’s push

for Sam Rockwell in Best Supporting Actor for “Vice.” With eight nominations and only a 66 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, “Vice” is clearly a film that had a lot of good campaigning behind it, but should Rockwell’s impression of Bush have been nominated over Chalamet’s harrowing portrayal of drug addiction? As for “Hereditary,” that case seems to be a mix of genre and timing. Although 2017’s “Get Out” was released in February and was considered to be of the horror genre, immense commercial success kept it in the conversation. As good as it is, “Hereditary” unfortunately fell victim to not quite having these elements and fell out of awards talk. Because of this, it is a head-scratcher that Ethan Hawke was not recognized for his performance when Schrader’s script secured a nomination. “First Reformed” came out in May 2018 and clearly had longevity until awards season. As good as Willem Dafoe is in “At Eternity’s Gate,” it was not

quite as good as the other performances nominated, all of which did not impress as much as Hawke’s performance of a tortured reverend. None of these snubs hurt as much as Morgan Neville’s documentary about Fred Rogers not getting a nomination in the Documentary category. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is a film that is easily better than 95 percent of those nominated for any category this year. Did the documentary branch collectively think it was a shoe-in to be nominated and spread the love elsewhere, or are they really that incompetent? “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “Three Identical Strangers” were two documentaries that many people saw and seem to be the two that have stirred up a considerable amount of conversation. Other films besides these and “Burning” that could have been recognized include “Paddington 2,” “Blindspotting,” “Eighth Grade,” “Annihilation,” “Mission Impossible: Fallout,” “Vox Lux,” “Boy Erased,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Suspiria” and “Searching,” to name a few.

What everyone missed, misunderstood about ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Zakary Haines Contributing Writer laker@oswegonian.com

“Bohemian Rhapsody” premiered in theaters back in November 2018 and has been a favorite to win awards since. The two-hour biopic goes through the life of Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot”) and the band Queen, from formation all the way to Live Aid in 1985. Though some reviews have pointed out the historical inaccuracies and the shallowness of an in-depth look at the band, it has been well received by audiences and has won several awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama and Malek winning multiple awards for his performance. No film is perfect by any means, and this picture had its own share of troubles, such as director Bryan Singer (“X-Men: Apocalypse”) leaving mid-production and Dexter Fletcher (“Eddie the Eagle”) taking over directing (Fletcher is uncredited for this production). There

was also controversy on Mercury’s sexuality, with some critics claiming they did not explore the lead singer’s personal life enough while some argue that the film did too much. Despite these setbacks and controversies, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is posed for even more awards at the 91st Academy Awards. One of the issues in many reviews is the lack of coverage of Mercury’s sexuality. Mercury was seen as a gay icon and more recently corrected as a bisexual icon. Some felt the movie did not address this properly, and even Malek said they “straightwashed” the lead singer. The film definitely could have been more geared toward Mercury’s gay side, but there was enough evidence that hinted toward his sexual identity. The hints became less subtle as the film goes on until the boiling point of Mercury and Paul Prenter (Allen Leech, “Downton Abbey”) in a gay club together and hosting multiple parties with other gay men. However, the film does show a more pressing issue than

sexual identity. Throughout the film, audiences can see the relationship between Mercury and Prenter grow through the years, but no one addresses how they began their relationship, even though Freddie at the time was engaged to Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton, “Sing Street”). Another example is CBS Records’ offer for a solo album for Mercury. Prenter convinced the band’s manager John Reid (Aiden Gillen, “Game

of Thrones”) to pitch the offer, after which Reid was fired. Mercury asks Prenter if he knew, to which he said it was Reid’s idea. Eventually, Prenter convinced Mercury to do the deal for two back-to-back albums and move to Munich so he could work on the album with minimal distractions, manipulating and taking advantage of him. While some reviews focus on Freddie’s sexuality, many

are missing the theme that abusive relationships can happen to anyone. Whether it be a heterosexual or homosexual relationship, an average worker or a superstar, abuse happens to anyone in a relationship; it is nondiscriminatory. That is what many reviews are missing, not the lack of bisexuality, but the fact that Mercury was a victim of abuse and manipulation for years.

Image from 20th Century Fox via YouTube Paul Prenter (Allen Leech) comes onto Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) in a questionable moment in “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

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LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ falls into pit of classic horror movie tropes

Image from Netflix via YouTube Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal portray eccentric critics who must fight off supernatural pieces of artwork within their museum.

Alex Kent Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating:

Dan Gilroy’s characters from “Velvet Buzzsaw” feature some prominent names that are as uncommon and eccentric as the film itself. Some of these characters include Morf

(Jake Gyllenhaal, “Okja”), Rhodora (Rene Russo, “Nightcrawler”), Damrishm (Daveed Diggs, “Blindspotting”) and Coco (Natalia Dyer, “Stranger Things”). The movie is also very fascinating, with its fair share of flaws as well. The strong ensemble is the high point of the production with their tremendous chemistry. Leading the way is Gyllenhaal, continuing to es-

tablish himself as one of the best method actors around. He plays Morf Vanderwalt, a flamboyant art critic who determines who makes it big in the industry. His subtle body language as he starts questioning reality is sublime. Everybody in Gilroy’s world is “fake” and pretentious to each other. This is where the film acquires most of its satire. Another performance that stood out was Toni

Collette (“Hereditary”) as Gretchen. She was the embodiment of wearing a mask to hide one’s real identity. Collette deserves more recognition in Hollywood, as she always seems to go above and beyond with her roles. The cinematography by Robert Elswit (“There Will Be Blood”) highlights the gilded setting that all the characters are living in. During the climax, he creates a feeling of unrest for the viewer with tons of quick cuts. Most shots are well framed with an eerie feel to foreshadow future events. The film, however, is not without some notable flaws. Gilroy seems unsure if he wants to make a horror or a comedy, as the shift in mood and tone feels abrupt and forced. One minute, it tells the story of greed through commercialization, and the next, “evil spirit paintings” are killing people without explanation. The story feels like a cross between the ’80s classic “Wall Street” and the redundant “Final Destination” franchise. The storyline is a bit ridiculous and farfetched with artwork coming to life. Also, do not watch the trailer because it gives away major plot points. The film contains many predict-

able horror tropes, which include traveling alone and going into dark environments. Some of the gore was unnecessary as well. The film shows every vicious detail of the gruesome deaths, which add no substance. One death scene was overwhelmingly brutal and felt added in just for shock value. The themes discussed in the movie are prevalent in today’s materialized world. Not valuing money over artistic expression is something Gilroy conveys frequently during the 113-minute runtime. The next question is “What is Art?” Obviously, this is a highly subjective question because, as the famous phrase goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” The script makes it clear that anything can be art, even if someone else denounces it. This was an ambitious film that will be analyzed for years to come. It feels uneven at times, but is a harmless addition to the Netflix catalogue. The philosophical ideologies portrayed are more interesting than the killer paintings themselves. This is not Gilroy’s “Sistine Chapel” or “Mona Lisa,” but it is an interesting watch.

has his second life as a vigilante dubbed “the Overseer” while his son feeds him intel. Think of the relationship between Batman and Oracle from the “Batman: Arkham” games but on a more grounded scale. Following a failed attempt at apprehending the deranged Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy, “Sherlock Gnomes”), Dunn finds himself locked away in a mental institution alongside Crumb and Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson, “Incredibles 2”). All three find themselves under the watchful eye of Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson, “Bird Box”), a psychiatrist who tries to persuade the trio that they do not possess super powers. Starting with the good, James McAvoy’s performance as the Horde is impeccable and proves why the Scottish actor is one of the best working today. The nature of Crumb’s dissociative identity disorder (DID) allows McAvoy to showcase his versatility by switching personalities spontaneously. Watching McAvoy go from a sweet, innocent teenage girl to an obnoxious and perverted man is nothing short of astonishing. The film’s action set pieces are also a sight to behold. The opening and closing brawl between Dunn and the Horde are some of the film’s

highlights. It feels simply amazing to watch Willis finally go toe to toe against somebody that might overpower him. For some, the second act of the film may feel tedious, as Willis and Jackson take a backseat in favor of the Horde, and audiences have been waiting to see these two characters for over 20 years. But the asylum portion of the feature acts like the simmering of a good stew. Sure, it takes a while, but it will most likely lead to a satisfying conclusion. “Glass” suffers from many major issues. Anya Taylor-Joy (“Thoroughbreds”) returns from “Split,” but her presence feels utterly pointless. The film also starts to fall apart in its final act. Not only does the expected twist come completely out of left field (even by Shyamalan’s standards), but the ending also leaves a lot to be desired. Superhero films have come a long way since the first “X-Men” movie in 2000, but the ending of “Glass” feels more like it belongs at the end of the NBC series “Heroes” rather than the end of a long-gestating film trilogy. “Glass” can be an entertaining movie. The action is fine, and McAvoy’s performance is a sight to behold, but the buildup that Shyamalan pens falls apart at the end. “Glass” is better than a lot of Shyamalans previous offerings, but it will most definitely leave audiences “Split.”

‘Glass’ fails to live up to legacy, quality of its predecessors Garrick Groover Staff Writer drizzi@oswegonian.com

Rating: After nearly 20 years of waiting, the sequel to 2000’s cult hit “Unbreakable” is finally here. Director M. Night Shyamalan (“Split”) has been teasing this installment for years, but is “Glass” worth the wait or as brittle as Elijah Price’s bones? To current movie-going audiences, Shyamalan is a name that will elicit more shudders than praise. At the dawn of his directing career, Shyamalan was the hottest filmmaker in Hollywood, receiving acclaim for his supernatural thriller, “The Sixth Sense.” Furthermore, preceding the release of his 2002 science fiction film, “Signs,” Newsweek lauded Shyamalan, even going so far as to call him “the next Spielberg.” It seemed like Shyamalan was going onto bigger and brighter things, a storyteller to rival the minds of George Lucas (“Star Wars”) and Stephen King (“Maximum Overdrive”). But as history reminds us, nothing lasts forever. The latter half of the 2000s brought nothing but abysmal returns for the Indian filmmaker. Audiences

Image from Universal Pictures via YouTube The three lead actors portray their iconic roles from “Unbreakable” and “Split” for “Glass.”

and critics began to look past Shyamalan’s act and started classifying “the next Spielberg” as being nothing more than a one-trick pony. Considering the quality of his films at the time, the reception was duly earned. Films such as “Lady in the Water” and “The Happening” were panned for their pretentious presentation, awkward performances and nonsensical twists. The beginning of the 2010s brought nothing but a bigger budget to Shyamalan’s myriad of cinematic excrement. “The Last Airbender” is per-

haps the worst adaptation of a beloved cartoon series ever made, and 2013’s “After Earth” proves how nepotism in Hollywood is not always a good thing. Now comes “Glass,” a film that could go either way in terms of quality. Three years after the end of “Split,” Bruce Willis (“Reprisal”) returns as David Dunn, the protagonist from “Unbreakable” with superhuman strength. In the time since, Dunn has started a security business with his son and partner Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark, “The Town That Dreaded Sundown”). However, at night, Dunn

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Poncho Loco's 'Freeswaglikedis' showscases songwriting skills Dominic Lioto Social Media Coordinator laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: For some fans, the journey to Poncho Loco’s “*Freeswaglikedis*” seemed to be developing at a laggard pace. It had been almost a year since the original four-song EP dropped. While Poncho was posting snippets of what was going down in the studio on his Snapchat and Instagram stories, there was still nothing tangible to hold onto. When a year had passed and their tentative release date was ignored, the conversation started: Where is “*Freeswaglikedis*”? Lucky for fans, they did not have to wait too long to hear Poncho’s first official album. Only days into 2019, they were greeted with “*Freeswaglikedis*” the LP, which features seven tracks, six songs and one interlude. Before dissecting this project, it is important to note the distinctions between the EP and LP of the same titles. Yes, there is an original “*Freeswaglikedis*.” Poncho Loco was using the alias Rico at the time, and this was his first major project. The EP featured “FreeSwag Meaning,” “Dry Ass Braids,” “Billy Fuccillo” and “FreeSwag (Feat. Jalen Jenkins).” Loco’s manager, Jake

Wildrick, aka Young Coupe, shot and edited both the “Dry Ass Braids” and “Billy Fuccillo” music videos and was a major reason for the EP’s success. Not only did Poncho create dynamic and unique bangers, but he also had the visuals to match his style. Sadly, the EP has been removed from all major streaming services. “FreeSwag,” arguably his best song made under the username “Ricolns,” can only be found on Soundcloud, along with some early gems from the young Syracusian rapper and his associates. His early, explorative work and the EP are what led to Poncho Loco’s LP, almost as if he actually spent the time to fine tune his skills, sound and style for a project he believed was genuinely worth it. It is boisterous, braggadocious, in your face and entirely original. Poncho sets the scene of his life in the first song titled “Poncho 22.” The clothes, money, jewelry, women and drugs are all on full display while he actually addresses some things about himself, such as the fact that he is not referred to as Rico anymore. He addresses what he believes it means to be loyal and his humble beginnings, citing he “remembers cooking noodles in a dirty-a** kitchen.” He also mentions that he has lost people close to him because of the world he and a lot of others face every day. On

the surface, one might only hear the lyrics about women and everybody’s jealousy of his swag, but there is more to Poncho than that. The second track, “Spend It,” features Trigg the Ruler. Poncho and Trigg bounce well off each other, and this song offers a catchy hook, emphasizing themes of grinding and making money only to spend it on themselves. It is essentially a “work hard, play hard” song that focuses more on the “play hard” aspect. “Off 2 10s” is a true head-banger. “Poncho 22” and “Spend It” act as an appropriate warm-up to what Poncho is capable of producing. The opening bars pull the listener into Poncho’s world of performing and hooking up. The production here is crisp, and the rhythm of Poncho’s flow weaves in and out. All the songs on this album are less than three minutes long, this one barely two, but it is definitely one that could have been longer just because it is of such high quality. That can be said for this album in general, though. It is only 14 minutes total, including the interlude, and it feels like it could have been a song or two longer. The EP was four songs, and the LP is only six. It is not much of a difference, and “Paranoia” makes the listener wonder what Poncho is not including in the album. This is a slower, more somber

Image from RicoNLS via YouTube After a long wait, 'Freeswaglikedis' has finally dropped on music streaming services.

reflection of himself. It is oddly reminiscent of Biggie Smalls’ “Suicidal Thoughts” simply in the way they address their real-life concerns about their respective corners of the criminal landscape. Poncho struggles to comprehend the deaths of his friends and the disloyalty of some while moving forward in his own life. “Hoelotta” featuring Jalen Jenkins is another song that deserves to be labelled as a banger. Their chemistry together gels so well and creates a sound that is almost cosmic. Jalen is reminiscent of Kid Cudi in the way he can transition from rapping to singing and create a dope sound using either. This and “FreeSwag” alone make listeners want to hear a “Watch The Throne” style album featuring the duo. Poncho

has cited that Jalen is a major reason for him to start taking music more seriously, and their collaborations are no joke. They have found a niche together and should not be wasted. “Buy It” closes out the album. It parallels “Spend It” in terms of themes, but this time, it is Poncho on his own, doing his thing. It is hard to say definitively, but they may have saved the best for last. Doran Beats provides Poncho with a psychedelic beat that Poncho kills. Between the hook and lyrics themselves, Poncho knows how to craft catchy party songs with hidden declarations about his views on society, law enforcement and more. “*Freeswaglikedis*” is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon.

Image from GameNewsOfficial via YouTube 'Resident Evil 2' does not simply add better visuls, but also rebuilds the entire original game.

only is it crawling with zombies waiting to pounce on unwitting players, but it also features a strong amount of side content. New weapons can be accessed through optional puzzles, and helpful shortcuts can be created through exploration. The map weaves into itself, keeping the time spent exploring the station fresh and tense as new threats emerge from the shadows. Sadly, this environment does not last too long, as later into the game, players find themselves in smaller, less complex areas. While not lethal to the experience, most will be found wanting to return to the station instead on lingering in generic laboratories and sewers. These minor flaws do not tarnish what is still a great entry to the series. Many Resident Evil fans will definitely find themselves right at home, though players interested in scarier experiences will find the previous entry to be more in their favor.

'Resident Evil 2' remake proves to be major success for Capcom

Stephen Novak Staff Writer laker@oswegonian.com

Rating: Back in 1998, Sega released “Resident Evil 2,” which overwhelmed audiences with its thick atmosphere and dedication to scares that were emphasized with fixed camera angles, tank controls and blocky graphics. The series has gone through a bit of a phase since then, swapping style and genre at the drop of a hat, with critically panned games like “Resident Evil 6” at its worse received (but poorly sold) and “Resident Evil 4/7” at its best. However, Capcom has decided to do a return to form with a remake of the game that started it all. Despite being a 2018 remake, “Resident Evil 2” rebuilds the old game from the ground up as opposed to simply giving it a facelift with the new RE Engine. A

careful consideration was taken in creating fun new opportunities while also removing certain elements that have lost their touch with age. The fixed camera angles found themselves to be the first on the list of features that did not last, opting instead for a third-person perspective that toes the line between creepy and atmospheric. The story is largely the same, with the player choosing between either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, who each provide their own twists on how the campaign plays out. Most players will find Leon’s campaign more satisfying with its selection of shotguns and flamethrowers. Claire’s grenade launcher can be impactful, but her submachine lacks that feeling of power. Claire’s story also centers around a more polarizing mechanic, as she finds herself being terrorized by Mr. X more so than her rookie counterpart. This tyrant’s invincibility and stoic figure can leave

players with a tense feeling of dread as they hear his boots echo throughout the station. Sadly, his charm wears thin during subsequent runs, making him pale in comparison to “Resident Evil 7’s” stalker Jack Baker. Returning to a third-person camera also means the developers had to remove the ability to hide from threats. This leads to scenarios where one cannot lose Mr. X, only put enough

space between the characters so that one might find just enough peace and quiet to finish that sliding bookcase puzzle. The only other possible recourse would be to wait in a safe room until he goes elsewhere, but this kills pacing and brings players out of the well-built atmosphere. Thankfully, the remake of the main area, the Raccoon City Police Department, is a great place to explore. Not

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Crossword Puzzle

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

Down

22. Mediate 24. Church leader 1. Four qts. 25. Grouchy 2. Groom’s vow (2 wds.) 27. Pod inhabitant 3. It follows Oct. 28. FBI employee 4. Common contraction (abbr.) 5. On a voyage 29. Fish eggs 6. Thailand, formerly 31. Guided 7. Abhor 35. Retiree’s acct. 8. Poisonous element 38. Misplaces 9. Arrange grounds ar39. Opposite of WSW tistically 41. Tribe 10. “Snakes ___ Plane” 42. Hue (2 wds.) 43. Charged particles 11. Quiche ingredient 44. Canine comment 16. Browning’s “always” 45. Evergreen 19. Parking area 47. Keanu Reeves role 20. Disrobe 48. Lobe site 21. Augusta’s locale 49. Payable now

Across 1. Card game 4. Leftover dish 8. Burn balm 12. Turmoil 13. China’s continent 14. Pealed 15. Small sofa 17. Obstacle 18. Painted 20. Intelligent 23. Beginning 26. Road material 27. Tiny speck 30. Chest bones 32. Id’s partner 33. Rascals 34. Start 36. Family animal 37. Anchorman ___ Jennings 38. Suspicious 40. Response 44. Remote 46. Made less tight 50. Ceremony 51. Grenn Gables girl 52. Water (Fr.) 53. Dancer ___ Astaire 54. Loch ___ monster 55. Native mineral

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

Artwork

LAKER REVIEW

FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019

Do yo u wa nt yo ur art wo rk or cre ati ve wr itin g in the Oswe go nia n? contact bfa llat@oswego nian .com

Flashback Friday

Shea McCarthy | The Oswegonian

Image from YouTube Movies via YouTube

On Feb. 8, 1976, the cinema classic “Taxi Driver” was first released. The film was directed by Martin Scorcese and starred Robert De Niro as the iconic Travis Bickle. The film was nominated for four Oscars, it currently sits at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and is #94 on IMDB’s Top Rated Movies of All Time List.

Oswego Cinema 7 Fri. Feb. 9 - Sun. Feb. 10 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

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

4:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

What Men Want

11:20 a.m.

2:10 p.m.

4:50 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

10:10 p.m.

The Prodigy

11:50 a.m. 2:30 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

7:50 p.m.

10:05 p.m.

Cold Pursuit

11:40 a.m. 2:20 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

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Green Book

1:15 p.m.

9:25 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

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