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Reported by: Matthew Moran
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Fulton Community Art Show and Cat Adoption
The Fulton Art Association held their annual photography show last Saturday at the Fulton City Hall community room. This event, which has been held every October since 2013, showcases various types of photography, drawings, and paintings by local citizens of Fulton. The event was organized by the president of the Fulton Art Association, Kathryn Mihalek.
“I took over in 1999 when they (art association) were coming close to folding, and we revitalized it and enlarged the number of events you could put in.” Kathryn Mihalek said. “We have our annual show every May, the weekend before Memorial Day. We have our high school show in March. This will be the 13th year we’ve done a high school show between Fulton, Phoenix, Hannibal, and Oswego. Then we hold our photography show in October and we may hold a couple more events.”
Besides her work with the Fulton Art Association, Kathryn Mihalek works with the Oswego County Humane Society. She fosters at least 20 rescue cats in her home. Several of those cats went up for adoption at the event.
Jess Bullard, member of the Oswego County Humane society who hosted the cat adoption, said she felt it was a great opportunity to get involved in another community event and to showcase their cats.
The photographers and artists competed in five categories,
– Landscapes
– People
– Buildings,
– Animals
– Objects
The winners were picked by a viewer ballot where spectators voted for their favorite piece. We got a chance to speak to Jose Ortiz, who won the viewers choice ribbon for his photography piece entitled, “Dapper Dog.”
“He (my dog) is my inspiration behind all that I do.” said Jose Ortiz. “I love black and white photography because I feel that our eyes are so focused on color, yet with black and white, you’re drawn towards the whole image. I feel like taking that concept for the same instance in life. You’re only drawn to what catches your eye but the whole picture is what really counts.”
The Fulton Art Association also provides scholarships for talented high school seniors at various schools from Phoenix to Oswego. To learn more about the Fulton Art Association visit cnyarts.org.
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SUNY Oswego Student Charged With Rape
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The SUNY Oswego student that was arrested for raping another student two weeks ago has been formally charged. Adarsha Budhathoki was charged with third-degree rape, second-degree unlawful imprisonment and third-degree sexual abuse.
The incident was reported to University Police by the victim on Oct. 25. Budhathoki was arrested four days later. The two individuals that were involved in this case were acquaintances. It has been reported that there were no drugs or alcohol involved in this incident.
Budhathoki was a resident of Cayuga Residence Hall. The rape took place in Funnelle Residence Hall. He allegedly restrained the victim, not allowing her to leave the room. He also committed other sexual acts and consent was not given.
In response to the incident, an email was sent from SUNY Oswego President, Deborah Stanley, to the students. The email informed students what happened on campus and directed students where they can find more information about Title IX.
Re: Krystal Cole
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Excelsior Scholarship
by Ilyssa Weiner
OSWEGO, NY — Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent Excelsior Scholarship is the first program in the United States to offer free tuition to four year public colleges. The program, however, has its setbacks, critics say.
SUNY Oswego Financial Aid Director Mark Humbert says the hard part for students who receive the scholarship will be keeping it.
“You have to successfully complete 30 credit hours per year and most of our students don’t do that,” he said.
SUNY Oswego currently has a 48% acceptance rate. Humbert says the Excelsior Scholarship will cause the rate of all SUNY schools to decrease.
“It’s going to make SUNY more selective, which in some way goes against our mission which is affordability and access,” he said.
The initial cap for students who qualify will be an annual family income of $100,000. By 2019, the cap will rise to $125,000. Humbert says many students will still need loans despite the qualification.
”The cost of college is more than just tuition,” he said. “The same students that might be eligible for this still are going to need their loans to help pay for room and board.”
Students eligible for the program must stay in New York State for four years after they graduate. If they move out, the free tuition turns into a loan.
SUNY Oswego student Asha Bey is a broadcasting major and is concerned if she ends up with a job outside of New York.
“I know there’s plenty of job opportunities in other states other than New York,” Bey said.
While she is hopeful about the scholarship, Bey believes the kinks need to be worked out.
“I just want a group of people to just go through it so we can see what is there or what we can expect,” she said.
The Excelsior Scholarship program will take effect Fall 2017.
