by Reggie Debrah

Oswego, NY- Oswego State had their annual Iron Pour on Apr. 14. Iron Pour is an event that takes place once a semester by students in Oswego State’s Technology 205 (Materials Precision Production) course. The event took place in the pit behind Tyler Hall.

Professors and students collected recycled pieces of metal from around campus and heated it up to 3000 degrees. After the metal has melted, it is poured into plastic molds in order to create iron molds.

The event was organized by professor Benjamin Entner and other Technology 205 professors. Entner says the event is a spectacle.

“Everyone likes fire,” he said. “There’s an element of danger although it’s quite safe. It’s a unique experience not every college campus does.”

Students in the course were excited because of how much they prepared for this event throughout the semester. Those who came to watch were allowed to design plastics molds and have iron poured into it. After waiting for the iron to cool, everyone who carved out a mold was allowed to leave with the iron plate that they designed.

Oswego State student Lawrence Chiappone is currently in the Technology 205 class and says the Iron Pour is a great event for people to get involved with.

“Not many colleges do an Iron Pour,” he said. “You have a chance to make a sculpture. I think the professors in the community are really good about it.”

Oswego State student Michael Gambro took the Technology 205 class last year and was excited to come back to see the work done to this year’s event.
“I think it’s a cool way to get people involved,” he said. “It seems like something a little bit different around campus.”

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.

by Stefanie Sciolaro

OSWEGO, NY- – On April 8th, Governor Cuomo announced that all public 2 and 4 year universities in the state of New York will offer a tuition free scholarship. The Excelsior Scholarship will allow middle class families, who qualify, to be exempt from paying for college tuition.

In order to qualify, a family’s adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 in 2017. By 2018 that number will go up to $110,000, and by 2019 the amount will increase to $125,000. These incomes will include all student, parent, or spouse incomes within the family.

Students must be enrolled full-time, already have 30 college credits, and continue to complete 30 credits per year, which includes summer sessions, while in college. Transfer students will be eligible if they, or once, they’ve met the 30 credit requirement. If the student loses the scholarship, for now, they will be unable to regain it, though there is an appeal process being put in place.

Once students who are receiving the scholarship graduate, they will be required to stay New York residents for the same amount of time they had received the scholarship in college. Christopher Britts, an education major at SUNY Oswego, is apprehensive of where the state’s getting the money to fund this and what the resident restriction entitles.

“Are my taxes or other college expenses going to go up?… Will they decrease the PELL or TAP grants we get? Because if so and I don’t qualify where does that leave me?… What if I get a job in Cali or Jersey, I have to say no? If so, I’d rather have the loans, then at least I’m free.” says Christopher.

Graduate students are not eligible for the scholarship, nor are students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second.

Families will still be responsible for other expenses such as room and board, meal plans, and books, but the hope is for the Excelsior Scholarship to help relieve some of the burdens that families face in trying to pay for student’s college education. Financial aid will not be effected if a student receives the scholarship.

Christopher is also a team leader for Mentor Scholar, an after school program helping children with homework, and says this scholarship is good for younger children as well.

“Yes the scholarship needs adjustments and clarification but it really does give them a future to look forward to. Many of these kids come from low income families who before now, college was probably never an option…well now it is. As a future educator and current college student thats a beautiful thing to see.” Chris said.

This scholarship will go into effect and be available to students for the Fall 2017 semester. For more on the Excelsior Scholarship visit http://www.ny.gov, for SUNY (State University of New York) information visit https://www.suny.edu, and for CUNY (City University of New York) information visit http://www2.cuny.edu.

by Michael Reilly

Oswego, NY- The Oswego State theater department’s production of Jon Jory’s adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice, directed by theater professor Mya Brown, begins this weekend. Alexandra Matsu stars as Elizabeth Bennet, a woman looking to break away from the strict social norms she’s expected to follow in 19th century England. Matsu says the play’s message is about staying true to your feelings.    

 “Open your heart and to keep your heart open and don’t allow yourself to be affected by the noise of outside life,” she said.

Stage Director Emily Stott says giving the show a more modern feel makes it more powerful.

“To incorporate a contemporary heartbeat allows us to revitalize the show,” she said. “It provides a relatability to the audience, a modern feel.”

Also starring in the production is Cadi Hannold as Mrs. Bennet, Evan Debevec-McKenney as Mr. Bennet, Logan Colby-Rowe as Jane Bennet, Marisa Miner as Mary Bennet, Kayla Bonesera as Kitty Bennet, and Sean Ryan as Mr. Darcy.

Pride and Prejudice’s first preview performance will be on Apr. 20 at 7:30PM at the Waterman Theater in Tyler Hall, with opening night on Apr. 21. Performances will continue on Apr. 22 and 29 at 7:30PM and Apr. 30 at 2:30PM. Tickets are $15 to the general public and $7 for Oswego State students with ID.

by Jamie Aranoff

Oswego, NY- Students in Oswego State’s MBA program volunteered their time to do free income tax reports for both students and members of the Oswego community.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) has been a part of the Oswego State campus for over ten years. The VITA program assists students who are new to doing taxes on their own as well as community members.   

According to a press release, the Oswego VITA program received a score of 100 percent in quality site requirements in its IRS field audit.

VITA on-site program coordinator Kevin Kania says tax forms are sent by the students to the IRS electronically. If there are any questions or concerns about a form, the IRS will contact them.

“Last year we had over a 99 percent approval rating, which means over 99 percent of the returns we prepare were accepted by the IRS which means we did them correctly and there were no issues or questions for us,” he said.

According to City-Data, the median household income in Oswego was $39,632 in 2015. Many residents fit the requirement for VITA’s minimum income, bringing in many tax forms for student volunteers to file.

“Last year we preformed over 400 returns and this year we’re on track to get over 400 returns throughout the whole semester,” Kania said.

The last day to file taxes is Apr. 18.

by Jihad Yarber

Oswego, NY- April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 11% of college students experience rape or sexual assault on campus. Oswego State educates those on campus about how to assess these situations through Title IX training.

Title IX is a section of the federal Education Amendments Act of 1972 that prevents sexual discrimination in colleges.  Discrimination includes sexual harassment, assault, and rape.

Title IX training is required for many clubs, organizations, and employers on campus. It goes through the basics of sexual harassment training and how to avoid being a bystander.

Oswego State student Alyssa Barrett says the Title IX training provided on campus is beneficial.

“I feel like it was beneficial, not just for organizations or jobs. I think the video they show was effective. I think it’s important just to know about it in general,” she said.

Fraternities and sororities on campus must also go through the Title IX training in order to spread awareness about sexual harassment and assault to incoming members.

“Greek life honestly has a bad reputation,” Kappa Sigma president Steven Gerencser said. “People just think that we’re drinking clubs and all we do is take advantage of girls and do all that stuff, but I think it’s good because it shows we don’t just do that, it’s not the stereotypes. We care about people and it’s good we’re teaching our pledges that.”

Both Barrett and Gerencser feel the training is an excellent step to assure their wellbeing.

by Michael Allchin

Oswego, NY- Angela Russel is a senior music major from Richmond, Massachusetts. She has been very active with Oswego State’s music department by performing in choirs, musicals and acapella.

When she first came to Oswego State, she was passionate about broadcasting and journalism. She eventually switched her major to music because she knew her direction of passion had changed. She specifically had an interest in opera.

“I wasn’t really that great of a singer at first,” Russel said. “I didn’t really know all the technique and all the body you put into it and over the years I’ve learned so much that I just took all the repertoire that I’ve really worked on and shown how much I’ve grown since I started that song all the way up till now”.

On Apr. 8, Russel had her senior concert, where she performed many songs that showcased her opera skills. Russel was also collaborated with Vocal Effect, Oswego State’s acapella club where she is an active member of.

Aside from family and friends, Russel’s biggest supporters were Oswego State music professors Nancy James and Mihoko Tsutsumi. Both professors helped Russel improve her vocal skills and have not only transformed her into a better musician, but also the person she wants to be.

Russel plans to attend a graduate program where she will be able to continue her dream of becoming an opera singer.