The Hudsonian Volume 76 - Special Issue #2

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HUDSONIAN

STUDENT NEWS ORGANIZATION AT HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE May 4, 2021

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Volume 76, Special Issue 2

Antisemitism accusations bar planned commencement speaker Alice Walker By: Lomie Blum News Editor Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and activist, best known for the legendary novel, The Color Purple, was scheduled to speak at Hudson Valley Community College’s commencement ceremony. However, due to promoting antisemitic ideas, Ms. Walker’s appearance has been canceled.

The well-known writer has also written “The Temple of Familiar,” “Meridian” and “Processing the Secret of Joy” among several short stories and poems.

Walker is a figure in the civil rights movement. Walker marched in Washington along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963. She was an editor for the seminal feminist magazine, “Ms.” She coined the term “womanism” and discovered the grave of influential black anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, bringing her back into public attention.

In a New York Times interview in 2018, Walker alluded to and praised antisemitic writer David Icke’s book And the Truth Will Set You Free. Icke is best known for promoting conspiracy theories that suggest the Holocaust was fabricated, that Jews run the world

and that Jews are “lizard people.”

Walker showed admiration for Icke saying that he was “a curious person’s dream come true.”

Walker’s statements regarding Icke were controversial, so she received swift backlash, criticism and accusations of antisemitism.

Walker later released a statement regarding her comments on Icke on her website.

“I do not believe he is antisemitic or anti-Jewish. I do believe he is brave enough to ask the questions others fear to ask and to

Continued Walker Page 4

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Campus reopening in fall Vaccine passports in New York A return to normal or an invasion of privacy?

COURTESY OF NYS EXCELSIOR PASS

By: Nolan Cleary Editor-in-Chief

COURTESY OF TROY RECORD

By: Nolan Cleary Editor-in-Chief Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, students have been largely prohibited from going on campus in person.

For half of the Spring 2020 semester, students were prohibited from entering campus and since the Fall of last year, students have been allowed to enter campus, but with vast regulations.

Gone are the days of busy campus life.

Despite loosened rules, most Hudson Valley Community College classes are still being held online. However, that seems to be changing soon as HVCC hopes to return to some sense of normalcy soon.

This Fall, the college is planning to return to have some classes in person. With vaccinations on the rise in America, the college is confident that they can soon get students back in the classroom safely.

According to the official Hudson Valley Community College website, “our hope is to be able to transition to holding the majority of our courses in-person/on campus again for Fall 2021 and plans are being made to safely accommodate that shift. We also plan to continue to offer a robust selection of online, remote and hybrid courses to accommodate all students’ learning needs and interests.”

Now, as students prepare to return, they say, they’re ready to go back. Tatianna Morange, the Secretary of the Student Senate, says she appreciates the work that has been done by students.

“To me, students have demonstrated that they are very capable of returning to campus. I’m super proud of our students for being awesome and compliant with testing. I know a lot of people did not like it at first, but I appreciate that it’s happening because of this we’re able to go back in the Fall.

It’s helped our case,” Morange said.

Morange said she’s very confi-

dent students will be able to roam campus safely again soon. “I feel super comfortable going back to campus. My understanding is that there will be a limit when it comes to capacity in terms of how classrooms go. I do have two classes on campus at the moment. I have an environmental science lab that is on campus and I have a vertebrate Zoology class on campus,” Morange said.

Morange said the college is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of anyone going to campus as of right now. “Everyone is making an effort to be safe. Additionally, there is testing going on every week,” Morange said.

Antonio Tarver is a student in individual studies. He said, he also believes now is the time to return to campus. “I don’t want to be home. Regardless of if it’s safe or not, I don’t think we have much to fear,” Tarver said.

Morange said she’s not 100%

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Americans have generally remained divided on several requirements imposed as a result of the virus.

Mask mandates and social distancing guidelines polarized the nation. Now, with COVID-19 vaccinations on the rise, America may once again be separate on major COVID-19 policy.

On March 26, 2021, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced the Excelsior Pass, a digital app showing the vaccination status of an individual. The pass also shows whether one is COVID-19 positive or negative.

According to their website, “Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of

The NY GOP’s Unlikely Hope

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Excelsior Pass — a free, voluntary platform developed in partnership with IBM, which utilizes proven, secure technology to confirm an individual’s recent negative PCR or antigen test result or proof of vaccination to help fasttrack the reopening of businesses and event venues in accordance with New York State Department of Health guidelines.”

As of the current moment, passports are voluntary for all New Yorkers.

Despite recent consideration, President Joe Biden’s administration recently declined to make vaccine passports mandatory for airlines. However, that doesn’t mean the idea may soon be adopted in certain areas of the state,

Continued Passports Page 7

This Week’s Events

Mon 10

Tue 11

Wed 12

Thu 13

Spring 2021 Optional Instruction Make-up Days All Day

Sat 15

67th Annual Commencement Ceremony All Day

Tue 18 Wed 18 Thu 19

Students can now get vaccinated

Transfer Talks with the Career and Transfer Center By: Lomie Blum 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

News Editor Academic Senate Monthly Meeting New York State (NYS) resi2:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. dents 16 and up are now eligible Student Senate Meeting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. with plans for HVCC to open in Spring 2021 Last Day fall vaccines have become crucial of Instruction for the school to open and mainAll Day tain safety precautions.

Career Conversations Students of a younger set inwith the Career and cluding many college students are Transfer Center usually asymptomatic, less likely 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. to experience severe COVID Kickboxing Classes symptoms and die. However, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in a New York Times article, it was revealed that college students Spring 2021 Optional were spreading the disease at rapInstruction Make-up id rates killing those more vulnerDays able.

All Day As of December 11th, 2020, Back2Work Communi- there have been at least 56 Coroty Job Fair navirus cases on HVCC’s campus.

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

On April 6th, 2021, Governor Career and Transfer Andrew Cuomo announced that Center “Walk-In” all New Yorkers 16 and up are Wednesday now eligible for the vaccine.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

HVCC is not mandating stuSpring 2021 Optional Instruction Make-up Days All Day

Fri 14

Mon 17

May 4, 2021

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COURTESY OF DANIEL SCHLUDI UNSPLASH

dents to get the vaccine but the school and President Ramsammy are encouraging students to get vaccinated.

“We strongly urge all Hudson Valley students to get vaccinated to protect themselves and keep our campus community safe. At this point, all New York State residents aged 16 and older are eligible, so that’s very encouraging as we look ahead to the summer and fall,” President Ramsammy stated.

President Ramsammy also pointed out HVCC’s collaboration with the state in distributing the vaccine.

“As you know, Hudson Valley has served as Rensselaer County’s vaccine point of distribution for several months and thousands of individuals have been vaccinated on campus. Many of our students and employees have received their vaccines here and weekly clinics are ongoing,” President Ramsammy said.

“In fact, just last Thursday, Chancellor Malatras announced that vaccination centers on SUNY campuses have collectively administered over one million vaccine doses. We are doing our part,” President Ramsammy added.

The NYS department of health requires immunization records and numerous vaccinations for students to be admitted into the school. This is not the case with the COVID vaccine.

Student Senate member Savan-

nah Shulkin stated regarding the COVID vaccine “the Senate has been overall quite against Vaccination mandates, feeling that students should have a choice of getting it or not while still being able to receive an education regardless.”

On April 12th Governor Cuomo announced New York State will be distributing 35,000 vaccines specifically for college students.

“The State of New York is announcing that we will be giving direct allocations to colleges and universities so they can vaccinate their students in their facilities and help us stamp out the COVID beast. This is the moment of opportunity and we have COVID on the run, but we have to stay New York tough and New York smart,” Cuomo said.

“We’re now focusing on stu-

Continued Vaccine Page 4

Hudson Valley signs SUNY Cortland transfer agreement By: Kevin Conley II Staff Contributor

Recently, Hudson Valley has signed a transfer articulation agreement with SUNY Cortland, which offers undergraduate degree programs in Physical EduSpring 2021 Final cation and graduate programs in Grades Due Physical Education and Physical 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Student Senate Meeting Education Leadership.

The new transfer agreement, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. which outlines the courses, acaTransfer Talks with the demic standards and degree requirements from Hudson Valley Career and Transfer to SUNY Cortland.

Center Hudson Valley students under 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Physical Education studies interested, need to complete more Career and Transfer than 35 hours of general educaCenter “Walk-In” tion courses like English ComWednesday position, Math, History, Public 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Speaking and Psychology, to join Career Conversations these degree programs. with the Career and Colleen Ferris, Department Transfer Center Chair of the Health, Physical Ed9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. ucation and Exercise Studies, disCampus Visit Day: cussed the new agreement and its Business, Computer requirements.

Science and Criminal “This is a big emphasis on sciJustice Programs ence so our students must also 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. take Exercise and Sports Nutri-

tion, Anatomy and Physiology I and II,” Ferris said.

“There are also several courses in physical education and health, such as First Aid, Personal and Community Health, Sports Medicine, Intro to Physical Education, Elementary and Secondary Games, Women’s Health and Health and Wellness Promotion that help the student decide which career path might be right for them,” Ferris added.

There will also be programs with new physical education and fitness such as Aerobic Boxing, Weight Training, Golf, Self Defense, Lifetime Fitness, Fitness Walking, Fitness Fusion, Volleyball and Soccer. Each course is being offered this fall, but other courses will be offered, depending on the term.

“I would encourage any student, regardless of major, to sign up for 1 or 2 of these credit-bearing courses, whether they count towards their degree or not - It’s worth scheduling the time in your day to do something that has so many benefits,” Ferris said.

Ferris also stated that students

interested in transferring to Cortland under this new program will receive the tools and support they may need to transfer successfully.

“Our students receive some of the best service and support from our advisors”. “We have an opendoor policy where our students come to the advisors, who are also their instructors, to get help with classes, career advice and many times non-academic issues where they become advocates for our students’ success. Our faculty also play a huge role in the success of our students” Ferris said.

Ferris also mentioned that “many faculty are also mentors and role models to our students within the profession.”

“Because of these factors we have students who have a sense of belonging and place within our department,” Ferris said.

The agreement to transfer articulation with SUNY Cortland is said to give students a clear sense of classes they need to take to seamlessly transfer to SUNY Cortland.

It will allow students to make calculated choices about classes and make their time at HVCC as efficient as possible and have enough guidance they need to succeed in the path they choose to make in college.

As of today, more opportunities for students in Hudson Valley Community College are coming.

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COURTESY OF COMMON APP.ORG SUNY Cortland’s Old Main built in 1922 is used for academic purposes

Follow us on Social Media @the_hudsonian The Hudsonian Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-629-7568 Email: hudsonian@hvcc.edu Editorial Policy All views expressed in this paper are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the The Hudsonian or the College.

Editor-in-Chief Nolan Cleary

News Editor Lomie Blum

Broadcast Editor Samantha Simmons

Jr. Editors Needed!

Managing Editor Isabella Smarro

Creative Editor Connor Danz

Web Editor Jen Huh

Staff Contributors Kevin Conley II

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Letters to the Editor Letters can be delivered to CTR 291 or emailed to hudsonian@hvcc. edu. Readers may have their letters published anonymously as long as their identity can be verified.

Letters will be edited for grammar, style, libel and length.

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May 4, 2021

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The NY GOP’s unlikely hope

Two HVCC Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

next year? In the past four statewide gubernatorial elections, Republicans were clobbered in massive landslides.

For decades, the state of New Westchester County Executive York has gained a reputation as a Rob Astorino, who unsuccessfully bastion of liberal values. challenged Cuomo in 2014, came In 2020, Republican Donald the closest to retaking the state’s Trump, a New Yorker himself, top office, but still failed by a stagreceived a mere 37% of the vote gering 14 points. in the state, while Democrat Joe Last year, incumbent Governor Biden received nearly 61% of the Andrew Cuomo’s approval numvote. bers reached the 80s.

No Republican has held stateGovernor received massive wide office in New York since praise for his handling of the pan2006, a Republican hasn’t repre- demic in early COVID days, while sented the state in Congress since millions watched his award-win1999. The last time a Republican ning press conferences on television. This popularity made Cuomo nearly a lock to win re-election to a fourth term, something his famous father couldn’t do.

In recent months, however, Cuomo’s swarm of scandals has put his re-election prospects. The Governor’s handling of COVID nursing home cases, along with a plethora of sexual harassment allegations Your weekly intake on have given Republicans a politics from a small hope of redemption in student’s perspective. the state.

Two major Republicans carried the state in a Presidential have already declared their canelection was back in 1984 when didacy. For one, New York ConRonald Reagan famously won 49 gressman Lee Zeldin has already out of 50 states in the electoral entered the race for Governor. college.

A 41-year-old Iraq War veteran, Republicans in New York did Zeldin represents parts of Long have control of the New York Island in the U.S. House of RepState Senate. However, that ended resentatives. in 2018, when Democrats retook If elected, Zeldin would be the control of the lower chamber and first Jewish Republican to serve gained a trifecta statewide. as Governor of New York. AdSo, why are Republicans sudContinued denly so optimistic about their chances of winning the next guPolitics Page 8 bernatorial election in New York

By: Nolan Cleary Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO COURTESY HVCC Two students at Hudson Valley Community College have been awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

The award is meant to highlight exceptional student academic accomplishments.

By: Nolan Cleary Editor-in-Chief Two students at Hudson Valley Community College have been awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

The award is meant to highlight exceptional student academic accomplishments.

According to the official SUNY website, “the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence acknowledges students for outstanding achievements that have demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives in areas such as academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University.”

This year, the two students receiving the award include Tatianna Morange of Watervliet, a student studying environmental science, and Logan Simms, a student from Greenwich studying business administration.

Morange is currently the Secretary of the Hudson Valley Community College Student Senate, as well as Secretary of the Black and Latino Student Union. She is an

activist and community organizer, who is deeply involved in environmental activities.

Simms is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor’s society, as well as the President of the Student Christian Association.

A a member of PTK, Simms has volunteered at the school’s regional food bank. Simms has previously won awards for building furniture and has held crafting lessons on trips to Africa.

“Tatianna and Logan epitomize the unique combination of service, leadership and academic achievement that are the hallmarks of Student Chancellor’s Award recipients,” HVCC’s President Roger Ramsammy said in an official statement.

“They certainly are deserving of this honor and, on behalf of the college community, I am so proud to share in their recognition,” Ramsammy added.

The ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 14.

Morange told The Hudsonian she wasn’t expecting the award.

“I certainly am super appreciative that I was selected. It’s a really big honor. I certainly did not expect it. I didn’t know the award existed before this, so it caught me by surprise,” Morange said.

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Morange credited Dr. Joseph Stenard, a business professor at Hudson Valley Community College for nominating her for the award.

“Dr. Stenard nominated me.

I’m extremely grateful to him. I really do appreciate it. Any time your hard work is acknowledged is nice,” Morange said.

Morange said that it feels good to have her hard work pay off. “I work hard, but I didn’t expect to get an award for it,” Morange said.

Morange said her persistence helped her overcome challenging situations.

“Some of my accomplishments have been testing myself and sticking with it and continuing to be determined. School has not necessarily been easy, so I stick with it,” Morange said.

Morange also said her advocacy against taking away Spring break, the tutoring programs she fought for, arranging for more classes to be held on campus and her role in putting together the COVID task force set up by the Student Senate are what she considers accomplishments.

“Being the voice for students and being able to listen and speak up for them is a big accomplishment,” Morange said.

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Walker

FROM PAGE 1

speak his own understanding of the truth wherever it might lead,” Walker said.

“Many attempts have been made to censor and silence him.

As a woman and a person of color, as a writer who has been criticized and banned myself, I support his right to share his own thoughts,” Walker added.

Amidst the backlash, Walker faced further criticism for her 2017 poem, “It is Our (Frightful) Duty to Study the Talmud.”

The Talmud is a Jewish religious text commenting on the Torah, law, and theology. Nowadays, the Talmud is studied mostly by Rabbis. The Talmud is also often twisted and misinterpreted by antisemites saying that it promotes pedophilia and drinking children’s blood.

In this poem, Walker perpetuates harmful Jewish stereotypes as well as trying to “educate” Jews on concepts such as “dignity.”

Walker writes in the poem “are Goyim (us) meant to be slaves of Jews, and not only/that, but to enjoy it?/are three years old (and a day) girls eligible for marriage and intercourse?/are young boys fair game for rape?/must even the best of the Goyim (us, again) be killed?/pause a moment and think what this could mean/or already has meant/in our own lifetime.”

Walker is also heavily critical of Israel calling it “demonic” due to the ongoing conflict with Palestine. Walker even opposes the idea of publishing “The Color Purple” in Hebrew.

It was recently announced that Walker was going to be a guest speaker at HVCC’s 2021 commencement ceremony.

After the announcement, HVCC received various calls and emails due to Walker’s accused antisemitic past.

Coordinator of Cultural Affairs and student activities, Maria Zemantauski stated that the decision was made before being at HVCC. “Alice Walker’s invitation to be our commencement speaker was a

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decision made by the commencement committee prior to my involvement with the committee or the planning process,” Zemantauski said.

HVCC’s Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, Dennis Kennedy spoke on canceling Walker’s appearance saying that it would be too “distracting.”

“Hudson Valley Community College regularly sponsors high-profile speakers, artists and activists to broaden perspectives and foster the discussion of complex ideas. In that spirit, we invited author and activist Alice Walker to deliver remarks as part of the college’s 2021 virtual commencement celebration,” Kennedy said.

“However, since we announced her involvement with this event, members of our community have expressed concerns about comments Ms. Walker made in a 2018 “New York Times” article that many consider controversial,” Kennedy stated.

“Though we recognize Ms. Walker’s valuable contributions to literature, education and civil rights, it has become clear that this situation is distracting from what should be a meaningful celebration of our students’ achievements. Therefore, we have declined to have her participate in commencement activities at this time,” Kennedy added.

Zion Sherin, a former HVCC student senate president discussed his thoughts on Walker and separating the art from the artist, while still holding those accountable.

“As a recent alumnus of Hudson Valley Community College, I have never been more proud of my school as they have decided to recognize antisemitism and make the appropriate decision to cancel her participation in the HVCC graduation ceremony,” Sherin said.

“I believe that in situations like these, it’s essential to separate the artist from their work and to read her works may be appropriate, but to allow her to speak would be indicating that the school looks up to her in some form and allowing

FROM PAGE 1

COURTESY OF HVCC WEBSITE

sure if there could be another spike in COVID-19 cases in the area. She does say she is confident that it should be caught early on, as the amount of testing on campus should prepare students and staff.

“There have been cases where

folks have gotten positive COVID tests and they’ve closed some sort of class or lab for a week. So it has happened. I wouldn’t say it’s something that’s happened frequently, it hasn’t happened in the class that I’ve been at, but it has happened. I believe it will happen

the start of a person’s post-college life to start that way is not okay.

I believe the university made the right call,” Sherin added.

Alice Walker has been a dividing question in the Jewish community specifically for black Jews.

Often, black Jewish activists point out that the white Jewish community exaggerates instances of black antisemitism.

In a New York magazine article discussing Walker written by a black Jewish writer, Nylah Burton, Burton talks about her conflict regarding Walker.

“I spoke to a [another] black Jewish woman who said that Alice Walker’s antisemitic “trolling” needed to be called out, but also that Walker was “a monster of [the white Jewish community’s] own making.” She warned that a failure to address such racism would push more people — notably, Jews of color — to this extreme. I believe this; I’ve already reported on the ways that racism was pushing black Jews away from the community,” Burton writes.

Antisemitism has been on the rise over the years. According to polling by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), 59 percent of Jews less safe in the US than they were only a decade ago. According to the same polling, 63 percent of American Jews have been attacked for their Judaism and/or witnessed antisemitism.

Often on both sides of the political aisle Jews feel used or underrepresented.

When President Donald J. Trump made Jerusalem the capital of Israel, many Jews reported that they felt it was not for their needs but instead to attract conservative evangelical Christians who believe Christ will return to Israel.

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia denied the Holocaust, perpetuated conspiracy theories that Jews caused the California forest fires through lasers, and that Israeli Intelligence killed President John F. Kennedy. 199 Republicans voted against a measure to remove Rep. Greene from House Committees. However, the measure did end up being successful with 11 again, but I think with the testing, you can catch it early and be solutionary with the problem,” Morange said.

On a recent episode of The Hud. podcast, Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy said that while he’s unsure if it’s possible, he would like to aim for the college to return by as much as 92% capacity.

“You’ve heard every day, things are changing. Every week you’re hearing something different. Now we can have almost anyone high school age and older can go in and get the vaccination. So, what that says to us, is that if things are changing, the numbers of parties that can accumulate together are increasing, more businesses are opening and allowing for more things to happen. The way we look at it is, Fall could almost return to what it used to be like, but of course, the policies and procedures still have guidance,” Ramsammy said.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF NEW YORK TIMES

Republicans joining Democrats.

On the left figures like Representatives Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have faced criticism for controversial remarks on Israel. Most notably when Rep. Omar stated that the US’s involvement with Israel was “all about the Benjamins baby.”

Jews also sometimes feel as if the left does not represent Jews in their activism.

Troy-born author, comedian and leftist David Brodeil of the book “Jews don’t Count” discusses how Jews are often left out of conversations on the left regarding social issues.

Brodeil writes “when people talk about antisemitism, what they tend to mean is an active process. They mean a specific targeted attack, such as Nazis or white supremacists describing Jews as vermin or being responsible for all the world’s evil. Antisemitism, in most people’s minds, puts Jews right in the middle of the sniper’s sights.

“But what I’ve tried to outline here is a few examples of the opposite: of absences. Of something--a concern, a protectiveness, a championing, a cry for increased visibility, whatever it might be--not being applied to Jews,” Brodeil adds.

Brodeil also points out in his book how during a 2019 London production of “The Color Purple” musical, a cast member who made homophobic comments was fired while there was not even a statement regarding Alice Walker’s antisemitism.

Sherin also talks about including Jews in activism as being vital in civil rights.

“Although there is no doubt that Alice Walker is a fantastic writer and her works add a lot to literature in general, her past statements are very concerning.

Her work as an activist is noted; however, it’s essential to include all oppressed groups in activism and her apparent antisemitism is unacceptable,” Sherin said.

HVCC’s commencement will continue without Walker and will be held virtually and in-person on May 15.

“We are so proud of all of our graduates, who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to their studies and persevered through unprecedented events during their time as students. We are excited to celebrate our students’ many accomplishments and wish them well as they move forward to new opportunities,” Dennis Kennedy said in a statement.

Vaccine

is a low positivity rate on our campuses of 0.32% over the past week. Our students have been crystal clear on this issue: they want to get vaccinated,” Malatras added.

President Ramsammy remains hopeful yet cautious for students to return to campus.

“As we approach the start of a new academic year, we will need to remain vigilant about adhering to health and safety procedures and the risks of COVID-19 while continuing to prioritize our students. However, with more and more of our students being tested and vaccinated each day, I am hopeful that the summer and fall semesters will see strong interest and enrollment,” Ramsammy stated.

One can make a vaccination appointment today online via: https://covid19vaccine.health. ny.gov/ or by calling New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-697-4829.

FROM PAGE 2 dents and we want to get students vaccinated before the end of the school year,” Cuomo added.

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras praised Cuomo’s decision and hopes students can return to campus as soon as possible.

“Vaccinating SUNY students before they leave for summer break is the key to restoring normalcy on our campuses when students return in the fall. Thanks to Governor Cuomo and New York State for securing vaccines specifically for our students—a move that will get us to the finish line faster and more efficiently,” Malatras stated.

“Our students have been a shining example throughout the crisis, with weekly mandatory testing, mask policies and helping on the frontlines—and the result

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May 4, 2021

NEWS

Make it upstate By: Samantha Simmons Broadcast Editor

There is a new makers market in the Capital Region, and it looks like it is here to stay called Make it Upstate. A new Sunday morning market meant to give crafters a space to sell their goods.

Erin Pihlaja and Lynette Tarrats are co-owners and co-founders of Make It Upstate. Pihlaja and Tarrats are both local businesswomen.

Pihlaja was the former executive of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District and Tarrats is a local realtor, real estate re-developer, and entrepreneur.

The two met while working with the same client and both had the same views and beliefs on economic development.

Make it Upstate came from

ideas of economic development, neighborhood redevelopment, and the thought of turning vacant spaces into innovative ingenuity.

Pihlaja said she is a “big believer in economic development and if you can, start on ground level, a grassroots effort.”

With small businesses being hit so hard during COVID and not receiving much relief from the government, this was a great opportunity to give back.

The pitch for the market was given in December. They had planned to start as an ecommerce business and eventually have in-person events. Pihlaja said the idea moved so quickly that they ended up starting with an in-person market and will add an online store to supplement that.

When trying to figure out the logistics of how this could be

Erin Pihlaja (left) and LyPHOTO COURTESY MAKE IT UPSTATE nette Tarrats (right) both co-founders and co-owners of Make it Up State. In this pic we are donating non-perishable food items gathered by patrons and customers at The Marketplace to the pantry at Unity House in Troy, NY. Unity House feeds at least 150 families every week.

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done and done well, they were in contact with Steven Riddler, Troy Waterfront Farmers Market manager. Pihlaja and Tarrats saw how the well-known Saturday market was being run and saw that it was done well and safely.

Once plans were set up on where the market was going to take place, Sunday mornings at the old Lansingburgh Price Chopper, word spread quickly. Soon there was an overwhelming number of applications for spots at the market.

Pihlaja said she never thought it would grow that big that quickly and felt bad that she had to turn down vendors. She hopes that those who were turned down on their first try understand that there needs to be a diverse offering of goods that will meet the needs of a diverse demographic.

Because Pihlaja and Tarrats believe so much in community rehabilitation, the idea of having a maker’s market was a no-brainer.

Pihlaja said this will cause a ripple effect. If creators invest in themselves, consumers will follow. The market allows for small businesses to be incubated until they can become more self-sufficient in their business and crafting. With sellers and buyers depending on each other, a sort of ecosystem forms.

Manufacturing is huge in this state and always has been, Pihlaja said.

This project allows for the promotion of small businesses and sustainable development throughout the state. She added that there is also a need for this right now in a positive and safe

JUNBUCHA VENDOR AT THE MARKET PLACE

way for everyone. Make it Up State, along with giving vendors a space to sell their goods, it also helps out these smaller businesses that maybe don’t have many available resources like a good marketing team or strategies available to them.

With the following that Make it Up State has received so far, the platform and audience that these businesses can reach is so much more.

Pihlaja said her most rewarding moment of this whole project so far took place a couple of weeks after the launch of the market and she said people waiting in their cars before the 10 a.m. opening.

“As they filled the space it filled my heart,” everyone seemed so happy she said.

She continued that there were a lot of moving pieces that needed to be put together to make this work along with handfuls of unknowns but with the success that the market has had so far in its few months makes it all worth it.

PHOTO COURTESY MAKE IT UPSTATE

There is still so much more room for growth and potential for the market and its vendors.

As for future plans, once the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market moves outside, the makers market plans to do the same. They plan to collaborate with private and municipal companies to host popup events anywhere in the state.

They hope to build it not just as an event, but also an experience.

Summer plans include a location at Riverfront park in DownTown Troy every Sunday 9am to 2pm. Masks and social distancing are required. The Market will continue with their rotating line up of food, art, makers of goods, music, and more.

If you have a small business of your own that you are interested in getting a spot at the market email makeitupstate@gmail.com or erin.pihlaja@gmail.com, follow the market on Instagram and Facebook @makeitupstate. You can also find them on the web at makeitupstate.com.

PTK persists volunteering despite challenges By: Samantha Simmons Broadcast Editor On and off the Hudson Valley campus, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is volunteering and helping out the community in a variety of ways.

On April 12th, members of PTK volunteered at LifeWorks Community Action in Ballston Spa. LifeWorks is a nonprofit organization that assists those in poverty on a local level in Saratoga County and the Northern Capital Region.

They help those in low-income situations with challenges such as hunger, utility costs, childcare and any language barriers they might face.

While volunteering, the PTK team packed 200 gallon-sized Ziploc bags filled with a variety of “healthy” snacks, juice boxes, toothpaste and toothbrushes. To be donated to local children in need.

Lamyaa Hassib, Advisor of PTK at HVCC said there have been many limitations on volunteering opportunities. Since some restrictions are being relaxed, PTK was fortunate to be able to help out LifeWorks.

Workers at LifeWorks mentioned that the group was the first volunteers they have had in almost a year at their distribution center.

Hassib said the HVCC PTK

chapter is dedicated to volunteering and they are always looking for new opportunities to get involved. She continued that there are four hallmarks for members to achieve with one of those being served. PTK allows and encourages students to be involved in opportunities and fine-tune their skills to become responsible members of society.

Over the past year, members have worked on two initiatives.

One being online mentoring.

Members worked with the college’s Distance Learning Office in assisting peers with the transition of online classes.

Their other work includes promoting the “My HVCC” app that allows students to feel more connected to the campus community. Members of PTK created wristbands that were placed at the screening centers on campus that promoted the app, handing out info cards, hanging posters around campus and attending classes over Zoom to talk to students about the app.

Future volunteer plans include volunteering in Latham at the Northeastern Regional Food Bank monthly. Hassib said she would like for a continuation of volunteer opportunities with LifeWorks because of their work with the overhanging problem of children and families in need in the region.

Next month, they will be working with the HicksStrong Foundation

to paint “HugMugs” for members of the military. Renay Williams, Advisor of PTK with Lamyaa, has been working closely with this organization.

Currently, the focus of society is to get more PTK members involved. Members currently receive emails about events that are coming up and how they can get involved. Information can also be found on the chapter website and chapter meetings are held too.

Volunteer opportunities and any other suggestions for the Chapter can be sent to l.hassib@ hvcc.edu or r.williams1@hvcc. edu.

From right to left are PHOTO BY DEBBIE CHRISTIANA | LIFEWORKS Vanessa Bressette, Omar Garcia, Lamyaa Hassib, Pravin Persaud at Lifeworks

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The meaning of thea By: Kevin Conley II Staff Contributor

Community colleges, especially Hudson Valley, are an area where students of all ages can attend to work their way to getting a degree for the career they want to be a part of. But when it comes to finding a career interest, it’s tough for students to nail down interest for what they want to do in their future. Students struggle to either find what career best suited them or discover a working field that students feel passionate about. One of the most influential college studies that are truly special to Hudson Valley is theatre arts. Sometimes, it’s theater that is more underrated than most majors that are being studied by many students today.

Whether it’s through theater classes or theatre club, the theatre has many opportunities for students who are needed to discover their talent and their true potential. “Essentially, theatre arts show stories and primarily stories about people.” Roseanne Raneri, one of the professors of Hudson Valley

who teaches many theatre classes, said. “At the heart of theatre are people: those who embody the characters of the stories - the actors, who play out what the characters go through; those who enhance a story’s given information by creating elements of spectacle the theatre technicians, who produce all of the technical theatre elements; and those who guide and manage the creative work of the group - the directors and the stage managers, who supply a creative vision for the show and organize its working parts respectively.” As theatre arts opens windows for any students who plan on a career choice consisting of creativeness, storytelling, art and entertainment for audiences or anyone, there are theatre classes and clubs in Hudson Valley that can allow students to discover these interests.

Even any student who has a dream that they attend on achieving in the future. Professor Scott Hathaway, advisor for theatre arts said that “For students interested in Theatre Arts, Hudson Valley offers the Theatre Club through

March 2020 ‘Shakespeare and Company’s Comedy of Errors’

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Student Activities. Students from any program on campus can join and attend weekly meetings.”

“Students working with their advisor often produce one-act shows and many students are part of the Theatre Arts program. Though the club and the Theatre Arts program are separate entities, there is some nice cross-fertilization that happens.” Professor Hathaway said. With that being said, theater arts in Hudson Valley can allow students to discover through the study of theater, from participating in one-act plays and monologues to learning through drama classes such as acting, theater history and practicum!

Theatre arts isn’t only just a major, it’s an experience. A way for students to view a different world that students in Hudson Valley can have the opportunity to discover. The students who join theater can express themselves through the characters they become in a story, as much as others like theater technicians, creators and so on, can express their ideas, their skills and their dedication to show to the world and build more

PHOTO BY KEVIN CONLEY II

purpose to all members of theatre arts.

There are lots of career opportunities under theatre arts that make theater more complex than how people usually view it. As well as theater offers many job opp or tu n it i e s for theater, especially films, it has been explained why theater could March 2020 Theatre Club be important to the campus. “Theatre is an ar- career they want to be a part of, tistic medium through which we, mainly, because of the environas individuals and communities, ment in the state of New York. can consider ourselves and each Here in Albany, or anywhere, it’s other; who we are, who the peo- hard for students to focus on the ples of the world are and the real- career they want because they’re ities they face, the circumstances not given a chance to learn from it that impact identity, behavior and and work for this study for the rest relationships,” Raneri said. “Go- of their lives. But, Hudson Valley ing further, I believe that theatre has the chance to help make it - in addition to being a necessary happen. means of entertainment that enTheater can also be interesting livens us - can be a forum for so- for students to study in Hudson cial justice. Theatre can powerful- Valley because theater resemly investigate the intersections of bles any form of entertainment personal, community and institu- like films. But students can learn tional social involvement and the through theatrical performancimplications of those encounters. es, either for a play or for acting I feel that theatre as an art form classes. There are also reasons is important because of how it why theatre arts can be an importcan represent various realities ant major here in Hudson Valley. and possibilities, how it can de- For example, Scott Hathaway construct the status quo, accepted said “Studies from several sourcconventions and reductive think- es show that verbal communicaing and how it can introduce ideas tion skills are one of the top skills that surpass, dislodge and even employers look for when hiring supplant conventional and disen- new college graduates. Despite franchising thinking/beliefs.” Ra- the advances in communications neri also said, “theatre can reflect technology, most organizations and reveal, it can empower and still value an employee who can inspire, it can delight and stim- articulate the company vision and ulate us while also informing us speak publicly about that vision.” and sparking change.” There are “Certainly, theatre develops these a lot of students who are being skills. Much has been made of late held back from learning about the of the importance of “soft skills.”

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atre at Hudson Valley the opportunity for a student to begin the journey of achieving a dream to perform in front of audiences or have the career to work through entertainment in any form like films or broadway. Scott Hathaway said, “colleges are a place for testing out new ways of looking at the world and challenging our established assumptions.”

“Hudson Valley is a comprehensive community college. As such, we need the Theatre Arts program and club for well-roundPHOTO BY KEVIN CONLEY II ed and diverse proThese skills are not the kinds of gramming and a link to the comskills learned in textbooks or labo- munity.” Hathaway said. Theatre ratories. These skills such as team- arts, or theatre club, may not be work, empathy, problem-solving, recommended to every student leadership and adaptability are on campus to participate in, but all unique skills acquired through it can give students who are inthe study of the Theatre Arts. Stu- terested in performing arts the dents in theatre programs also opportunity to achieve a career learn technical aspects of theatre that could interest them a lot. As including stage production, light- much as Hudson Valley, like many ing, sound engineering and car- colleges, offers any student the pentry skills.” Hathaway said. chance to achieve the requirement Theatre in Hudson Valley is as of the right degree for a career to important as every other major be a part of in the future, theatre on campus. They offer tons of arts is open for any student or new career opportunities for anyone high school graduates who are inwho attends this major, including terested. If there’s anyone who is

Passports

and the country.

While the Excelsior Pass is not mandated by the state government, private businesses do have the ability to refuse service to customers who are unable to provide proof of vaccination.

With a spike in fake vaccine cards, many have turned to services like the Excelsior Pass to provide digital verification the person in question has been vaccinated.

Several colleges including Cornell and Rutgers have already required students to take the vaccine to return to campus in person.

With some businesses having pondered the possibility, some have questioned the ethics of vaccine verification. Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have already drafted a bill to outlaw vaccine passports nationwide.

Many have praised the effort as a way of amping the economy up and reducing vaccine hesitancy.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described vaccine passports as something that “could be a really valuable tool.”

At Hudson Valley Community College, students remain generally skeptical of the idea of vaccine passports.

Nikita Padunin, a student in bioengineering, opposes the idea

not able to join theatre arts, the theatre club is open for anyone.

Including auditions for upcoming plays that Hudson Valley releases each semester.

To all the students who have participated in theater arts, have you had this feeling when you stepped on stage, you felt nervous?

Like you never had the chance to act on stage, or share your creative ideas with anyone else your whole life? But then, later on, you have

been difficult, but not impossible, to bring to life right in front of their eyes. That’s what makes theater so special; it’s where new and old experiences can happen whether people expect it or not.

Any student in Hudson Valley can either experience any production that is on its way to Hudson Valley as each semester passes by, or you can join theater arts and find the truth behind how this production happens yourself.

December 2019 Theatre Playwrights

FROM PAGE 1

of proof of vaccinations but says he understands the thinking vaccines should be mandatory for colleges and other businesses.

“I would support it, but I also strongly disagree so I would just do what I’m told,” Padunin said.

“I don’t like the idea that we could be required to be vaccinated,” Padunin added.

Tatianna Morange, the Secretary of the Student Senate, said she believes a majority of students oppose proof of the vaccine at Hudson Valley Community College.

“I do want to say, as a Senate Representative at Hudson Valley, we have been advocating against students being required to get the vaccine altogether, mainly because we are hearing from students that they do not want that,” Morange said.

Morange said she opposes requiring vaccine passports or proof vaccinations for airports and other businesses.

“Schools have in the past exercised their right to require students to get their vaccines and I think that is fine as long as vaccines have gone through all the same trials that other vaccines have. I think that when you require something, it does have to be approved at the highest level,” Morange said.

Antonio Tarver, a student in

this feeling like the stage is your new home. You feel as if you can say or act the way you have to without anyone judging, as long as you’re the character you are chosen to act for. This is the feeling a student can get when you’re in the theater. The theater is the place where theater majors in Hudson Valley can make a story come to life with the talent and entertainment they offer and students can experience a story that may have

PHOTO BY KEVIN CONLEY II

Chancellor Jim Malatras has said he has no plans as of the current moment to require students to get vaccinated to return in person in the Fall.

In an exclusive interview with The Hudsonian, Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy said he doesn’t believe mandatory vaccinations will be necessary on campus.

“I will say that because we are a vaccination site, and because I’m hearing that most people are get-

ting vaccinated, I think we would be ok to provide the necessary materials to those who decided they didn’t want to that, and for that reason, it’s gives me the opportunity to say that I would prefer not to have to do something like that. I would not want to make things a requirement to enter the campus. We are a public campus, we are a place that is open to the public and I would like to keep it that way,” Ramsammy said.

The Official Podcast For

COURTESY HVCC WEBSITE

HVCC president Roger Ramsammy spoke to the Hudsonian in an exclusive interview.

individual studies said he has mixed feelings on the idea of proof of vaccinations.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for Hudson Valley, because we had four or five COVID cases. However, I do think it’s necessary for four-year schools. You have to look at what happened to Delhi. Delhi and the neighboring school, Oneonta. 300 kids got COVID from a party. I think that’s necessary to keep things in order,” Tarver said.

So far, SUNY has expressed hesitancy towards the idea of mandatory vaccinations and proof of vaccinations. SUNY

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The life of a HVCC student during finals week By: Isabella Smarro Managing Editor The Spring 2021 semester is coming to an end with the last day of classes on May 11th. For most students, this may be amazing but the next week and a half will be filled with tons of homework and final projects.

Savannah Tenace, a Fine Arts student says thaVt her schoolwork is tolling on her mental health.

“The stress I feel is manageable but

is taking a toll on my mental health and sleep.”

“A lot more homework, I’m guessing to make up for in-person class time. It’s a bit overwhelming,” said Taylor Doran, a Theatre Arts student.

To most students, the workload is extreme and the support systems students had in person are highly different on zoom.

Logan Simms, a Business Administration degree student thinks with the lack of physical support systems at HVCC, finals are even

more complex than before.

“Normal access to the Library and professors is a huge loss. Couple that with a retention loss due to an online format and finals week becomes rather scary,” Simms said.

Hudson Valley does have resources on its main website that support students with their homework. These include; CAAT and The Reading Center.

While most students can agree that finals can be stressful, some students such as Taylor Doran feel that teachers have lightened the

load just a tad due to COVID. “It’s actually easier! I feel like the classes that I’m in have shortened the final requirements because the professors understand the stress that the pandemic is giving us,” Doran said.

With a mix of emotions during these last days of the Spring semester, students have some tips for others.

Simms suggests, “make finals week, finals month! Take breaks while studying. 30 minutes in the books with a 5-minute reward

break, ups your productivity immeasurably.”

“Plan! Try and request some time off of work and just roughly plan out your day and week on paper. Also, make sure you’re eating and drinking water. Taking some time for yourself and taking care of your body will help you manage the stress better,” Tenace said.

In this time of heavy workloads, make sure to ask for help. Hudson Valley will gladly be that support you need, you just need to take the first step.

Politics

FROM PAGE 3 ditionally, Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has also declared his intention to run.

Albany native Elise Stefanik, another Iraq War veteran turned member of Congress, is also reportedly looking at a run. However, Republicans may have to reckon with their support of President Donald Trump if they want to win.

Stefanik is known to be a strong ally of the former President, having spoken in his favor at last year’s Republican National Convention. According to FiveThirtyEight, Zeldin voted with Trump nearly 89% of the time in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Giuliani worked for the President.

While Republicans who have run against Trump, while holding largely socially liberal ideas, have previously seen success electing Republican Governors in northeastern Democratic states like Maryland, Massachusetts and Vermont.

For this reason, many have suggested nominating a more moderate Republican.

John Katko, a Congressman from Syracuse has reportedly

Joel Giambra

George Pitaki

Lee Zeldin

PHOTO COURTESY OF NY TIMES

been approached about seeking a run for office. Katko represents a heavily Democratic district in Congress and voted with Democrats for impeaching Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial.

Joel Giambra, the former Erie County Executive is reportedly looking at another run for Governor. Giambra considers himself socially liberal.

Former Republican Governor and 2016 candidate for President George Pataki may also seek a fourth non-consecutive term. Pataki is a moderate who supports lax immigration policy and identifies as pro-choice in the issue of abortion.

Robert Whittaker, a political science professor at Hudson Valley Community College said that

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECTRUM NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY OF PAGE SIX

he believes both Zeldin and Katko face uphill challenges.

“I think one of the biggest challenges Governor Cuomo is going to face is simply name recognition and getting voters to know who they are. Elise Stefanik has benefited from some national name recognition. She was able to get [President Trump] to visit her district in Northern New York and establish a name for herself,” Whittaker said.

“Katko and Zeldin I think would have a much greater challenge building name recognition amongst voters.” Whittaker said that he thinks a moderate Republican could have a safer chance of winning.

“Thinking back to the success that some moderate Republicans have had in the past, like George Pataki, and the political climate of the state, I think a moderate Republican candidate could have a better shot of peeling off some Democrats who are perhaps disaffected with Governor Cuomo,” Whittaker said.

Whittaker did say, however, that former President Donald Trump’s popularity within the Republican Party shouldn’t be underestimated. “These are not ordinary times. Donald Trump remains hugely popular within the Republican Party,” Whittaker said.

In addition to picking up several Governorships during the 2022 midterms, Republicans would also like to take back the U.S. House of Representatives as well.

When all vacancies are filled, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats will hold just a 7 seat majority in the upper chamber. John Katko is in a district Joe Biden carried by nine points. Zeldin is in a district Trump carried by just four. Some Republicans fear the retirements from both men could leave both seats up for grabs.

Whittaker said it’s unlikely that Republicans should be more con-

Andrew Giuliani

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNBC

Elise Stefanik

John Katko

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWNY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYRACUSE.COM

cerned that congressional redistricting hurt their chances of success. New York will lose one seat in the House when redistricting occurs.

This year will be the first time since 1911 that Democrats have

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full control over what the congressional map in the state will look like in 2022.

“You can bet that it won’t be a Democrat’s seat who’s eliminated when it comes time to redraw seats,” Whittaker said.

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Hebrews 12:1

Connor’s Corner By: Conner Danz Creative Editor Despite a great deal happening to me over the last three years, I can still recall how my running journey began as if it was only yesterday. It was early spring of 8th grade, I was sitting in my high school’s tech room and had just finished broadcasting my school’s daily announcements. Once I finished them, the person who did the announcements, a math teacher and track coach, Mr. Dempsey walked up and said “You’re running outdoor track”.

That’s all he said. Who was I to argue with him? He was a teacher who was rising in the ranks at the school and I was an athlete who was lost in high school without a sport since I never tried out for my school’s basketball team, which is what I did at my old school. Funnily enough, it was something I was already considering since I was starting to get a little chubby and I needed something productive to do after school.

Despite how hard the journey has been physically and mentally, not once did I ever regret it.

Running is an activity that builds someone’s character, especially if that someone chooses to be a long-distance runner. Distance teaches you essentially that, to go

the distance, no matter how hard it is, you just have to keep going as that struggle makes the finish line all the more satisfying. I get that experience every time I cross the finish line of a race, no matter how long, short as 800 meters and as long as 13.2 miles. With learning to go the distance in a run, I find that this will bleed over into all other aspects of your life, learning to slowly and methodically approach a task, with a long-term plan in mind.

But for me, the most important thing that I gained from my running journey thus far is the connections and relationships I’ve built. I can guarantee that if you do not make acquaintances and friends at races, then you are doing it wrong. I can’t tell you how many people I have met at races,

from small talk to team practice for school and small talking during races. I can’t tell you how many kind and awesome people I have met during these races and how many lifelong friends I have made through joining my school track teams.

The last thing I wanted to mention in this collection of random thoughts of my running experience is its connection to my religious belief. On my running shoes, I write “Hebrews 12:1”, as shown in the thumbnail of the article. This verse of the Hebrews book states “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” This has always had a deep meaning for me, tying one of my favorite activities with my faith. Whenever I feel myself slowing down or losing my energy, I look down at my shoes and I know that God has allowed me to do what I love through his will and sacrifice. For someone of the faith, this is deeply comforting.

PHOTO BY CONNOR DANZ

9

Making friends Let’s Talk Disabilities with Isabella Smarro By: Isabella Smarro Managing Editor Last week I talked about how to find support systems at HVCC if you were struggling with school work. This time, let’s discuss how to make new friends. What’s the connection you may ask? Well for me, I lacked in both during this past 2020-2021 school year.

Making friends for lots of people is hard in general, it’s even harder since COVID started. You can’t see people that often and if you do, it’s on zoom. Connecting and making real friendships seems impossible, especially if you had none to start with. For me, that was my case.

People are nice to me but what I’ve realized during the past months is how no one makes an effort back. I could call or text them often trying to make plans and they would say yes (most of the time) but if I stayed silent for a while, I would never hear from them again.

Back in high school, this never really bothered me since I was busy in clubs and play rehearsals. I was with people constantly so when I was alone, it was okay since I was tired.

Now it’s completely different.

I’m home alone almost every day without any physical involvement in activities.

I have a job but my co-work-

ers are adults in their mid-50s, so there’s no way to make a lifelong friend to do typical 18-year-old things with.

I’m heavily involved in clubs but they’re all online, so I may have a great talk for about an hour but I don’t see them for the rest of the week until the next zoom meet.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be able to even see people in some form but it doesn’t help with making real friends.

That’s when my mother introduced me to the website Meetup!

This page contains hundreds of local groups that meet up weekly.

One that I joined was a Troy Autism group. Even though right now it’s on zoom, if I become heavily involved in the moment, later on when we meet in person I’ll feel more comfortable around the other members.

Other groups include hiking, creative writing, book clubs and even finding love. The other members in that specific group enjoy the same things you do, so making friends may be a little easier than before.

It also has a chat option. So if you make friends with someone but you don’t want to give away your phone number, you can chat with them right on the website.

The website also shares events happening in your town, both live and in Zoom. https://w w w.me etup.com/ home/

COVID themed Oscars bring shock and controversy By: Kevin Conley II Staff Contributor The Oscars have come and gone, now for the 93rd time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy was forced to make drastic changes to account for their limited capabilities. After being delayed nearly two months, the Oscars took place at the Union Theater instead of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Most attendants, including the cast and crew members, were not wearing masks and the show wasn’t released virtually.

First off, previous Oscar winner Regina King made her directorial debut in last year’s Amazon Prime exclusive “One Night in Miami...”

She introduced the Academy Awards and presented the first two categories.

Emerald Fennell, best known for playing Duchess Camilla in “The Crown,” won the award for “Best Original Screenplay” for her film “Promising Young Woman,” a film about a woman seeking out men who prey on her in bars.

She wrote and directed the movie while she was seven months preg-

nant.

Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller were awarded “Best Adapted Screenplay” for “The Father,” a film about an elderly man struggling with Alzheimer’s.

“Another Round” won “Best International Film” of the year.

The winning film centers around a man struggling with alcohol addiction.

Daniel Kayuula, the breakout star of “Get Out,” won his first Oscar for “Best Supporting Actor” in “Judas and the Black Messiah.”

Netflix’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” took home the Oscar for “Best Make-Up and Hair Design.”

The winners for “Best Director and Picture” were announced earlier in the night than usual. It was given to Chloe Zhao for “Nomadland,” a film about a woman living a simplistic lifestyle after losing her job in the 2009 Great Recession. Zhao is the first Asian woman and the second woman ever to win “Best Director and Picture.”

Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh won the award for best sound for their film “Sound of Metal.”

Yuh-Jung Youn won the award

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for “Best Supporting Actress” in “Minari,” a movie about a Korean family moving to Arkansas in the 1980s to start a farm. She is the first Korean performer to win an acting award in the Oscars.

Some other awards include Disney Pixar’s “Soul” for “Best Animated Feature Film,” “Two Distant Strangers” by Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe for

“Best Live-Action Short Film,” “Colette” by Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard for “Best Documentary,” “Tenet” by Christopher Nolan for “Best Visual Effects,” Herman Mankowitz for “Best Production Design” and “Best Cinematography,” “Sound of Metal” for “Best Sound” and “Best Editing” and H.E.R. for “Best Original Song” for “Judas and the Black

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Messiah.”

To each viewer’s surprise, “Best Picture” was announced earlier in the night whereas traditionally, the winner of the said category is the last to be announced. This year, however, the Academy opt-

Continued Oscars Page 10

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Teen Wolf! Made in 2011 but speaks the truth of 2021

By: Isabella Smarro Managing Editor MTV’s 2011 hit series “Teen Wolf ” by Jeff Davis is nothing like its 1985 movie version. The lead character, Scott McCall, played

by Tyler Posey, has a normal life as a high school sophomore until while walking in the woods alone at night, he was bitten by a huge werewolf. With the help of his best friend, Stiles, played by Dylan O’Brien, and a fellow werewolf named Derek, played by Tyler Hoechlin, he’s able to find his purpose and destroy the one who bit him while protecting his town and the girl of his dreams Allison, played by Crystal Reed. I chose

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this show not just because it’s my favorite, but also because Jeff Davis includes real-life situations in this horror and action-packed show.

During the series, Scott becomes a True Alpha and his pack becomes diverse as it includes Werewolves, a Werecoyote, a Banshee, a Thunder Kitsune, a Hellhound, Human Hunters and other alphas. The show contains multiple deaths and bloody fights. After watching this show a couple of times, one may appreciate how Jeff Davis shows

Continued Teen Wolf! Page 11

Poems

By: Isabella Smarro Managing Editor

Another Lost Moment Another month of depression and pain Online classes imprison my brain Tapping away while losing eyesight Staying up till the middle of the night •~• Losing breath inside of this shell My bedroom is more like a jail cell Looking outside to the world around This virus has 500 never-ending rounds •~• Writing poetry like it’s my only drug Mix it like a smoothie and chug, chug, chug Nonstop eating candy from the dollar store I don’t think I’ve ever opened my door •~• Listening to the same music on repeat Emptiness is a killer of the streets The colorful nature is soon to fade away And my lonely September is full of gray ••• •• •

May 4, 2021

Oscars

FROM PAGE 9 ed to announce the award before “Best Actor and Actress.”

“The Father,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Minari,” “Nomadland,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7” competed for the top prize this year, but it was ultimately “Nomadland” that went home with the gold.

Francis McDormand pulled an upset in the “Best Actress” category. Pundits considered the field to be the most unpredictable of the year. While Andra Day won the Golden Globe for “Best Actress in a Motion Picture,” drama for her portrayal of the jazz singer and civil rights icon, Billie Holiday, in Hulu’s “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Carey Mulligan’s win for “Best Actress” at the Critic’s Choice Awards gave her frontrunner status in the race. However, Viola Davis’ win at the SAG Awards for her role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” led many to believe she was on track for an upset.

According to the online betting site, GoldDerby, pundits ranked McDormand as the second least likely to win, just in front of Vanessa Kirby for her role as a grieving mother who loses her baby in “Pieces of a Woman.” McDor-

Anthony Hopkins, in his tiCOURTESY OF USA TODAY tle role in “The Father”, was the surprise winner of the Best Actor award.

mand became the second woman behind Margaret Hepburn to win more than two Oscars in the “Best Actress” category. McDormand won previously for her role in “Fargo” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

The most memorable award was the “Best Actor” announcement.

Due to wild speculation, the late Chadwick Boseman was expected to win “Best Actor” for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Ultimately, it was not Boseman’s name announced in the envelope, but rather Anthony Hopkins for his role in “The Father.” Hopkins declined to attend the ceremony in person and was prohibited from chiming in via Zoom, bringing the ceremony to an abrupt halt.

Hopkins was said to be asleep when the announcement came. At 83 years old, Hopkins is the oldest

She is....

She is bold...

She is beautiful...

She is magnificent and marvelous...

She is never too little or too much, she is just enough...

man to win an Oscar.

Hopkins’ win remained highly controversial as many on Twitter claim that Boseman’s performance was far more deserving. Others alleged that the Academy’s choice to announce the “Best Actor” winner at the end of the ceremony was too “emotionally manipulative” and a way of using the actor’s death as bait to entice viewers to watch.

And watch they did not. According to Nielsen, the Academy Awards suffered the worst ratings in the ceremony’s 93-year history, garnering fewer than ten million viewers.

Still, with upcoming films like “Dune,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Steven Speilberg’s remake of the classic “West Side Story” on the horizon, some cautiously hope for a return to normalcy in the following year.

By: Pravindra Persaud President Of HVCC Phi Theta Kappa, Contriuting Writer

She is a luminous light that brightens every soul, Her words are powerful and it brings joy to all and pierces through every armor of a heart that is as hard as a rock...

She is worth more than the numbers on a scale, or the hair product she uses, or the shoes she wears, more than the price tags on her clothes, or even the number of followers she has on Twitter. Her worth is priceless...

She is poetry in itself, endless lines and stanzas of love and joy and hope and survival. She is the heart that plants flowers in desolate fields, the heart that battles against its oppressors, the heart that allows tears to flow freely just as abundantly as it allows laughter...

She is a gift that is meant to be cherished, her heart above all is the most admirable feature of her beauty because her beauty comes from within, craved in every fiber of her beating heart, it beats for everyone that surrounds her. It is as white as snow, filled with unconditional love.

She is a masterpiece, every bone in her body is perfect without a single flaw. She is precious, she is a Diamond, a Rose, a Pearl, the most stunning of all creation.

Her life is filled with stories of her overcoming challenges, she fought for the rights of all and became a symbol of hope for other women. She carries in her blood the charisma of Rosa Parks, the courage of Susan B Anthony and the heart of other women before her.

She leaves behind a stream of legacy flowing into others from within. Her legacy will be forgotten by none but will be remembered by all...

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May 4, 2021

CREATIVE

11

‘Hitman III’ review more of the same in a great way

By: Zephaniah Jackson Staff Contributor

IO Interactive’s “Hitman III” is the final chapter of the “World of Assassination” trilogy; it began with 2016’s “Hitman.” The franchise has come a long way from the series’ inception with 2000’s “Hitman: Codename 47.” While there are a few blemishes with the game’s story and side modes, “Hitman III” manages to fulfill its contract and starts 2021 off with a bang.

The World is at Your Fingertips Agent 47 returns with his iconic black suit, red tie and barcode tattoo on his head. “Hitman III” prioritizes stealth, hiding in plain sight and creative thinking over the typical guns-blazing approach in many games. The levels are open, massive and filled with opportunities to assassinate your targets. The game has six distinct locations that take you all over the world. These locations range from the cloud-piercing skyscrapers in Dubai to the neon-lit streets of Chongqing, China and even to a mansion in Dartmoor, England.

These levels are also graphically outstanding, with Dubai

standing out the most with its illustrious golden sculptures and photo-realistic reflections. It was mind-blowing to see how lifelike the textures and buildings were throughout the game, and this stands out even more with the next-gen consoles running the game in 4K and 60 frames per second. This makes the game feel even more fluid than it already was.

You are given a mass array of options to take out your targets; some of them being more outlandish than others. Agent 47 has access to multiple weapons that you start with and find in the environment. 47 can also knock out or eliminate people and steal their clothes to disguise themselves and get closer to the target.

It’s useful to be careful though because if you leave their bodies out in the open, someone may find it and the target will be alerted.

The “Mission Stories” allow you to follow certain paths that lead to some creative and sometimes hilarious kills. The one that stands out the most is when you assume the role of a private investigator and solve a murder mystery that your target is directly involved in. You slowly gain

your target’s trust when you help them solve the case, leaving them wide open to your crosshairs.

You can assassinate your targets with guns, blades, blunt objects and “tragic accidents.” The level in Berlin, Germany, allows you to eliminate one of the targets with a construction crane. The crane “accidentally” drops a large piece of concrete onto the target. It’s these kinds of details that make “Hitman III” stand out from the crowd and makes you want to replay it.

The overall gameplay is largely unchanged from Hitman and Hitman 2 and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you enjoyed the first two entries in the “World of Assassination” trilogy, then you are going to enjoy “Hitman III.” However, what is disappointing is the lack of new gadgets that are presented to you. The only new gadget you receive is a camera that allows you to hack into certain terminals and take pictures of clues that give you more intel on your target. While it’s a unique idea, it’s rarely used in the game and ultimately feels pointless.

The Story Misses the Mark While the gameplay and level

COURTESY OF HITMAN III

Teen Wolf!

FROM PAGE 10 many cultural issues going on in the world while preserving the show’s lessons of determination and friendship. Some examples are female empowerment, equal rights and social/self-acceptance.

One of the main ideas that is shown throughout the series is female empowerment and the #MeToo movement. During the series, the character Allison grows in determination to show her family that she’s powerful enough to hunt as the guys do. She faces multiple moments where men judge her based on her gender, even from Scott.

As a female watching the show, I fully understand how Allison is feeling and it helps that the actress, Crystal, is amazing at portraying emotion. During most of Earth’s

life, women have been treated as less than men. Writer Jeff Davis shows the reality in the show with Allison and another lead character, Lydia Martin, played by Holland Roden, Lydia is abused verbally by her boyfriend, Jackson, played

by Colton Hayness. He uses her for what he wants and yells at her without reason, and many women in the world face this and much worse. It allows for female fans to relate to these situations and help cope but also teaches male viewers lessons on how not to treat women and vice versa.

An internal struggle that screams from each character is acceptance of oneself. Scott McCall struggles with the idea that he’s weak and shouldn’t be a True Alpha. His character can be relatable to people who struggle with self-confidence. “We are not good enough,” he says. Jackson thinks he needs to be rude to people to fit

COURTESY OF HITMAN III

design of “Hitman III” shines, the same cannot be said about the game’s story. While the story is not terrible, it does not do anything that stands out or makes it great. The story picks up right where 2018’s “Hitman 2” left off, with Agent 47 and his accomplices Diana Burnwood, Lucas Grey, and hacker Olivia Hall trying to dismantle the shadowy organization Providence. While 47’s emotionless and deadpan humor is great, the same cannot be said for the other characters. Diana and Lucas were bland and uninteresting and the main villain, Arthur Edwards, comes off as a generic bad guy who just wants to take over the world. Olivia stood out a bit as she is a skilled hacker that trusts 47, but after certain events, she wants to leave the group fearing for her safety.

The story then becomes a bythe-books tale about betrayal and revenge that just feels generic. It is a shame because the world of Hitman is an interesting one with concepts like the “Agent Program” and the organization that 47 works for, the International Contract Agency, or ICA. Overall, the story is mediocre at best.

Online Play is Better than Ever Aside from the story mode,

in because he wasn’t wanted by his real parents, so he has no self-love.

Multiple other characters struggle with the idea of allowing their truth to be real. They all think that they’re worthless despite it not being a reality. Sadly, this idea is true to many around the world. People think that they need to be someone they’re not to be accepted by others.

“Teen Wolf ” is obviously a fantasy show about werewolves and other creatures. By just reading the synopsis, one wouldn’t realize that the series touches on issues that happen in the world, but writer Jeff Davis included many relevant and relatable issues such as female empowerment, equal rights and the path to social and self-acceptance.

These are just a few of the examples of how the writers allow viewers to feel emotionally connected to the show while showering on real-life issues.

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“Hitman III” features two other modes called “Contracts” and “Sniper Assassin.” In “Contracts,” players can create their own “hits” on characters throughout the maps in the game, create unique assassinations and their own custom stories. This mode is fantastic, with different contracts from players all over the world.

The amount of creativity that players have is wild, with one of the contracts saying that a noodle shop is selling poisoned food, and you must assassinate to stop the poisoning of civilians.

“Sniper Assassin” on the other hand is okay. You sit on top of a high perch overlooking a big area and you must pick off your targets with a sniper rifle. While the mode offers a nice twist on the game formula, it is not as fun as being in the middle of the action that the base mode provides.

Final Verdict “Hitman III” is a blast from start to finish. The open levels and gameplay are amazing as is the level of detail that IO Interactive lovingly crafted into the game. Despite the shortcomings of the story and lack of new content like gadgets, “Hitman III” still proves to be one of the best stealth games in recent memory.

Final Score: 8/10

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SPORTS

12

May 4, 2021

Sports return to HVCC after a year of delays

By: Nolan Cleary Editor-in-Chief

Following a year of delays and postponements, student sports at Hudson Valley Community College have finally returned in person to campus.

In-person sports were canceled last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, sports have

been halted out of necessity for the safety and well-being of students at HVCC. Initially, Sports were planned to return in December, but those plans were pushed back because of rising COVID-19 cases at the time.

However, since vaccinations around the country on the rise, the Hudson Valley Community College Athletic Department has announced that sports can return

on campus.

Women’s and men’s sports are currently back in session. Meetings for both are being held virtually via Zoom and can be accessed every Monday. Interest meetings are also being held virtually for students interested in joining.

The plan comes as Hudson Valley Community College aims to return in person at 92% capacity by the Fall of 2021.

COURTESY OF DAILY GAZETTE

Spring 2021 Student Art Exhibits Opens The Department of Fine Arts, Theatre Arts and Digital Media Online Exhibit From May 3 to May 31 www.hvcc.edu/campuslife/teachinggallery/upcoming.html IMAGES FROM SPRING 2021 STUDENT ART EXHIBIT

Join today!

SPORTS EDITOR NEEDED

Earn $70 per issue Make new Friends Build your Resume Meetings are every Monday at 2 p.m. on Zoom. E-mail Hudsonian@HVCC.edu for meeting details

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