Oswego, N.Y- An annual male beauty pageant, originally hosted by sorority Delta Phi Epsilon, was given to Phi Sigma Sigma this year for undisclosed reasons. The official name of event was changed to “Mr. Phi Significant.”

The event’s message remains the same each year. It honors former Oswego State student Jennifer Knighton, a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon who passed away in an alcohol related accident on Jul. 19, 2009. Her father, Joe LaPoint, organized the event in her honor.

“This is the way I make peace and make sense of it, and to keep her legacy alive so that all the huge enormous promise and potential that she had didn’t just end when she left us,” he said.

Phi Sigma Sigma sister Morgan Rumpf co-hosted the event and says she’s honored to have LaPoint’s support year after year.

“The strength that it takes for him to get up on stage and continue year after year to be here in support and fly across the country for this event is just anything we could ask for in him,” she said.

Eight contestants competed in four categories; swimwear, evening attire, talent and questions. Delta Sigma Phi brother Rich Yonkers was the overall winner and crowned “Mr Phi. Significant.”
All proceeds for the event will go towards the Jennifer Knighton Scholarship Fund and the Kids In Need Foundation.

Oswego, N.Y- Oswego State is receiving bigger name-speakers as years go on, especially for the media. The newest name on the list is Miguel Coyula, one of biggest filmmakers in Latin America. Along with him was actress Lynn Cruz who presented workshops for an audience interested in directing and acting.

Coyula is known for his political-heavy films such as Nadie (No One) and Memorias del Desarollo (Memories of Overdevelopment.) He presented screenings for both films and a Q&A session for each film.

In Cruz’ first workshop, she showed students how Coyula creates effects for his movies. Stop-motion style, Miguel adds images from magazines or other sorts of things into backgrounds of a film shot. Her second event was a presentation on the difference between acting in theatre and film. Oswego State professor Ulises Mejia, who organized the event, was present to translate what she said to the audience. Cruz says directors should learn about their actors on both the personal and work level in order for acting in a movie to feel more genuine. She also loves to co-direct with Miguel. ”I don’t only work as an actress but also behind the camera. I’ve discovered in my opinion that the actor’s role is more difficult,” Cruz said.

Coyula believes the film industry in Cuba is changing instantly because of the country’s westernization. “Directors aren’t working as independently as before, most films are now commercialize. The film industry began so filmmakers can only work as independently. But now that’s all changed,” Coyula said.

At the end of the event, Coyula showed a snippet of his current movie in production, Blue Heart.