by Daniel Manou

Oswego, NY- Today Show TV personality and Oswego State alum Al Roker returned the college on Mar. 31 as part of Rokerthon Three. Oswego State was the last stop on Rokerthon Three, which sent Roker to four other colleges during the week to break a Guinness World Record.

Oswego State’s world record was to have the world’s longest conga line on ice. The original record was held by the Ice Rink Canary Wharf in the United Kingdom with 353 people. Oswego State broke the record with 593 people.

Having Roker’s final stop be Oswego State, the visit had a little more meaning than the rest.

“It’s very exciting to end up having a week in Oswego. It’s very exciting and the school came through” he said.  

In order to officially break the record students had to follow strict rules. The students must step in unison while holding the hips of the person in front of them for five minutes. If at any point the line broke, someone fell or messed up the moves, the attempt would be disqualified.

Organizing such an event took more effort than meets the eye, which Del Sarte President Allison Anthony learned when tasked with choreographing.

“It’s important that we all came together and found one pace and one way to communicate that works for everyone” she said. “Doing that with 500 plus people was challenging but we got it done”.

Before the conga line could even happen, Anthony and the school advertised the recruitment of skaters and held practices to teach them the moves. Making the decision to participate in the record breaking attempt was easy for most people but were based on several different motives.

For students like Ethan Magram, the thrill of being having a world record in his back pocket was enough.

“I can’t wait to look back and say I broke a world record with some of my best friends, met one of the most favorite news personalities, and I’m going to remember this forever” he said.

Others such as freshman Hannah Enigh, had a strong admiration for Roker. She saw him as a role model in her pursuit to become a broadcast meteorologist.

“I was very excited to want to be a part of something Al Roker was a part of because that was one of the main reasons I came to Oswego, to be a meteorologist and broadcasting major” Enigh said.

by Ilyssa Weiner

Oswego, NY – Oswego State President Deborah Stanley sent students and faculty members an email on Sunday morning in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning travel into the United States from seven Muslim majority countries including Iraq, Syria, and Iran for 90 days.

The ban affects both non-immigrants and immigrants as well as those with a student or scholar visa. Green card holders were originally affected by the ban. However, according the New York Times, that decision has been reversed.

“There is considerable uncertainty about its implications,” Stanley wrote. “We advise great caution on the part of our international students, faculty and staff to consider carefully any travel outside the country or consider deferring travel until there is more clarity about how the Executive Order will affect us.”

Oswego State does not have a study abroad or international education program in any of the seven countries. Stanley advises those who are from any of those countries and are either planning to travel or are currently outside of the United States to seek the advice of an immigration lawyer before making travel plans.

“SUNY Oswego has always been a welcome and hospitable home for international students and visitors since our founding over 150 years ago,” she wrote. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to international students, scholars and programs for the creativity, intellectual rigor and cultural diversity you bring to our campus.”

According to the New York Times, a federal judge partially blocked Trump’s ban on refugees and other foreign nationals who were being held at U.S. airports on Saturday night. Protests against the ban continue across the country.  

If there are any questions or concerns, contact the Office of International Education and Programs at isss@oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-2118.

Hart Hall is home to many international students and some of the students may be affected by the ban.

College students that are also volunteer firefighters have the ability to receive tuition reimbursements in New York State. Assemblyman Will Barclay calls this a “relatively new program” offered through the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

The National Fire Prevention Association has estimated that roughly one hundred thirty nine billion dollars annually are saved by volunteer firefighters stepping up.

Barclay hopes that this program will encourage more students to become volunteers. The deadline for this semester’s program was recently extended to Oct. 16.

Volunteer firefighters attending college can apply online at http://www.fasny.com/index.php/resources/fasny-help/ or by emailing HELP@fasny.com, Attn: John D’Alessandro, Deputy Volunteer Programs Coordinator. Students can also call FASNY toll free at (855) 367-6933.