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Oswego, NY – It’s now been one month since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida that took the lives of 17 students and faculty, and injured 17 others. The ensuing debate over gun control has spread across the country, including to SUNY Oswego.
Students were asked if the recent school shooting made them question their own safety here at Oswego.The general consensus among students on campus were that students felt safe. However, students were also unsure of their safety because “anything could happen.” One student stated “I’m a student and I want to be able to walk around without having to be concerned about my own life.” Another student added, “I know in Florida there is less gun control than in New York State, so I kinda find it safer in New York.”
Nationally, this tragedy has sparked a debate as to what is the best option to stopping mass school shootings. President Donald Trump has suggested the idea of having trained-armed teachers in schools, an idea SUNY Oswego Police Chief John Rossi disagrees with. Chief John Rossi claims that in these situations usually the perpetrator is depressed or disenfranchised. He says that there are typically warning signs to these tragedies, and detection of these signs, and prevention are key to stopping mass school shootings. He also adds that “Oswego is a very very safe campus. Our crime statistics do prove that, our officers are extremely dedicated to making sure this community is very safe for our students.”
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“Human Again” film aims to end prison stereotypes
OSWEGO, NY — The Marano Campus Center at SUNY Oswego held a recent screening of “Human Again,” a filmed documentation displaying the power of theater on prison inmates. The showing of the film was open to the public, and a discussion panel consisted of professors in various fields of study, such as Criminal Justice, Psychology, Creative Writing and, of course, Theater.
Professor Kristen Eichhorn, the Dean of Graduate Studies at SUNY Oswego, served as the head of the event, and has hopeful feelings on the film’s heartwarming message.
“I think it’s a really interesting topic from a lot of different perspectives, and I hope that students take away a heightened consciousness of prisons and the prison systems,” Professor Eichhorn said.
The discussion panel also included Cornell professor Bruce Levitt, the facilitator of the Phoenix Players Theater Group, which is centered within the Auburn Correctional Facility.
“These people who are incarcerated are human beings and have qualities. They are not a stereotype,” Professor Levitt said. “We start the film with a mug shot, which is the most stereotypical image of someone who’s incarcerated. And then, you get to know them through the course of the film as human beings, and so we’re hoping to push against that stereotype.”
The Phoenix Players Theater Group has continued to operate inside the correctional facility with new members since the film was produced,. For more information, visit www.phoenixplayersatauburn.
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Oswego Focuses On Hearing
Hearing is about to get a little clearer in Oswego.
SUNY Oswego is upgrading some of its major venues on campus to be more hearing aid friendly. The college is installing hearing loops, which will minimize reverberations and ambient noise. The hearing loops will be compatible with newer models of cochlear implants as well as most digital hearing aids.
Although SUNY Oswego is only upgrading a few locations at the moment, the college hopes to install the system at other locations on campus in the future.
A few of the locations getting the upgrade are the Marano Campus Center, Sheldon Ball Room and the new Waterman Theatre.
Written By: Kirby Socker
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Student Associations Update
by Stefanie Sciolaro, WTOP10-TV
Ironically, this week’s Meeting of the Senate, happened to fall on Election Day. Though, the excitement of the close race did not affect proceeding by any means. After talk of the election subsided, the meeting was called to order at 6:03. With roll call taken, quorum reached, and minutes and agendas approved, the meeting began. Dr. Howland the Advisor of Student Associations, was also present at this week’s meeting.
Two representatives from the Oswego State Crew Team were the Senate’s first guest speakers of the night. The club’s Treasurer, Greg West, and Head Coach, Matthew Stufano, presented the Senate with a powerpoint touching on various subjects. Their presentation gave a brief explanation of who the crew team is, why they need help from SA, and an overview of what the team will need in the future.
The crew team has been around for over three decades, and it is only in recent years they have seen their highest participation and success rates of all time. During the weekend of October 22nd, high winds severely damaged one of the most important boats they own. The two speakers stressed that this boat damage has the ability to affect the stability of the team. Because of this, they came asking the Senate for assistance in helping to pay for its repairs. Invoices from various companies, along with contributions the crew team can afford, were discussed. The guests also asked for the SA’s support and endorsement on future plans to have a boathouse built for the crew team. This would help defer costly damages like such from happening again.
The next guest to the Senate was a representative from the International Student Association, she is the current Treasurer of the organization. This organization helps to better acclimate international students to SUNY Oswego. They hold and participate in multiple events that work towards making these students feel more at home during their time here in the U.S. This organization is open to both international and American students. The Treasurer came before the Senate to discuss her organization’s budget issue: the prior Treasurer had not submitted a budget for this academic year. As a result , she had come to shed light on the issue and gain the proper funding of the International Student Association for the remainder of the year.
After hearing from the International Student Association, Imani Cruz, the Assistant Director of the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB), came to advertise her need for an events/social coordinator for SAPB. This job entitles various tasks including tabling, poster making, assisting with Ozfest, and more. If you have any questions, want more information, and/or are interested in this position, please contact Imani via email: sapb@oswego.edu or her personal oswego email if given.
Closing up the guest speakers for the evening was the Director of Public Relations, Emily Stasko, with a presentation on the Study Abroad Program. There are over 80 programs in 30 different countries offered, with various programs depending on your major. If a program is not offered through SUNY Oswego, students also have the opportunity to go through another SUNY school that offers the specific program they’re looking for. There are four program options: Quarter Courses, Courses with Optional Travel, Summer, and Semester. Each of the program options offer different durations of travel and are during different times of the year to best fit students’ needs. Stasko emphasized the advantages studying abroad brings: developing global and multicultural skills, a fantastic resume builder, connections and networking internationally.
She also touched on ways to pay for a Study Abroad Program. Financial aid, scholarships, loans, and many other options can be put in place to help students pay for their experience. If you have any other questions, concerns, or interest in studying abroad please visit the International and Educational Program Office in Sheldon, room 100 or call (315) 312-2118.
For the first time ever, this week’s Advisor Reports were held for Dr. Howland, who is the Advisor of Student Associations. One of the many topics she touched upon during the night was upcoming events within the I AM OZ “ Diversity Speaker Series Events”. Three event dates she spoke of are closely approaching: November 9th, November 15th, and November 16th. November 9th in Sheldon Ballroom at 6:00pm there will be three guest speakers presenting for the “ Indignation: Indigenizing Campus Culture” : Taiwentonti Chelsea Sunday, Jonel Beauvais, and Wakerakatste Louise McDonald Herne. On November 15th in Marano room 132 at 6:00pm there will be the “An Ordinary Hero” film screening. November 16th in Sheldon Ballroom at 6:30pm Joan Mulholland, a renowned civil rights activist, with be speaking.
The meeting then proceeded into Executive Reports. President Emily Nassir gave updates and run downs on various organizations and meetings she has been apart of throughout the past week.
The structure of this years Ozfest survey was also discussed. Students can expect an entirely different survey to be sent out this year in regards to the event. The survey will be more structured around what students will want out of the event, ticket prices, food, and preferred times of the show. There will no longer be an emphasis of who exactly students want the artists to be, but there will be a comment section to give suggestions.
Vice President Dalton Bisson then clarified that if a student attends Title IX training for one club, he or she may also use that same training session towards another club.
Post Executive Reports, three new legislations were voted on by the Senate. Bills in regards to needs of the Cheerleading Team and Writing Open Forum of SUNY Oswego were both passed by general consent. The last legislation was in regards to the Student Association’s Organization Liaison, both amendments requested were also passed by general consent.
Roll call was then taken and quorum was reached at 8:30pm. With this, the meeting came to a close, just in time for members of the Senate, both Trump and Clinton supporters alike, to watch the rest of the election.
