By Krystal Cole
OSWEGO, N.Y.– Oswego County’s 2018 Budget proposal is expected to have no increase in property tax.
The overall budget is currently around $202 million. If no changes are made before the final version, taxpayers will actually see a decrease in their property tax.
These numbers are not set in stone however, as the county is still waiting on figures from the state.
A final vote on the budget will be taken on December 14 at 7 p.m.
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Oz Speaks: Taking a Knee opens discussion on racial inequality
Written by Stefanie Sciolaro and Abbey Buttacavoli
OSWEGO, N.Y.– Almost all 150 seats in SUNY Oswego’s Marano Campus Center auditorium were filled Wednesday for the first Oz Speaks event of the fall semester. The event was a panel discussion talking about 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem before a game last year. Oswego professor, Brian Moritz, moderated the panel which included SUNY Oswego professors, Bonita Hampton, Kenneth Marshall and ESPN Radio Syracuse’s Brent Axe.
Each panelist gave information on the historical roots involving racial inequality in America. In regards to Kaepernick taking a knee, Dr. Kenneth Marshall said, “about time. From 1619 to 1865 when lincoln signed the paper freeing black people. 3.5 million black people who worked for free, America had 246 years as a nation of oppression and approximately 152 years as a nation of liberation, so we are better at oppression than liberation, that’s who we are.”
Axe said that he has talked to people who feel that football Sunday is no time for political statements, but people react one of two ways. Either they immediately are angered, or they think that maybe it is something they should listen to.
Bonita Hampton said for students to educate themselves that that they can fight racial inequality in America.
Axe explained that Kaepernick had taken a knee before, and no one had noticed. However, once the cameras captured an image of him down on one knee, there was proof, and it took hold. Axe concluding by telling the audience to “never underestimate the power of a powerful image.”
Other Oz Speaks topics this semester include freedom of speech and social awareness. Dates are still being determined.
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Fashion Week
by Ilyssa Weiner
Oswego, NY- Fashion at Oswego’s first ever Fashion Week kicked off on Apr. 1.
Imani Cruz created Fashion at Oswego in 2014 after realizing there weren’t any fashion organizations on campus. She was influenced by designers in New York City and Paris.
“I kinda took it upon myself to think ‘You know what? It’d be cool if like we went around campus and took photos of people that were dressed really nice,” she said.
“The week is all about taking pride in how you appear and your appearance,” she said. “By creating Oz Fashion Week, we could light up some fire under students to dress nice just for one week.”
The week started with a pop up shop showcasing outfits created by up-and-coming designers from places such as Syracuse and Ithaca.
Rashaad Holley, a grad student at Buffalo State, is the creator of “Vingt Cinq Rashaad” and one of the designers at the pop up shop. His brand comes from a song lyric about not living past 25 years old.
“I take that and revert it into a positive direction and give people like myself inspiration to ascend as opposed to look at a ceiling and be limited,” Holley said.
With the success of the pop up shop, Cruz is very positive about Fashion at Oswego’s future.
