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.

Since the beginning of the semester, multiple clubs have had trouble with funding as they were not budgeted capital to support themselves. Vocal Effect, a show choir on campus, is one of those clubs.

“Vocal Effect is a SUNY Oswego’s one and only show choir. We do performances all over campus and in the town of Oswego. We meet every couple of days and just have fun, sing, and dance. It’s a lot of fun,” said President, Thomas Waizenegger.

Vocal Effect meets weekly and are about 30 members strong. This year Vocal Effect has had their funding cut right in half dropping from a $3,000 budget to a $1,500 budget.

“At the start of the year we started with about $1,500, we had about $3,000last year, and now our budget and now our budget was slashed in half over the course of a year,” said Waizenegger.

This is problematic for the club. Much of their funding is used for acquiring new material to perform and the rights to do so, as well as costuming and transportation to the multiple venues that the group performs at.

“It’s not fun, having your funding cut in half in less than a year. I understand that the Student Association had to make these cuts in order to start getting themselves out of the red, but for smaller clubs like Vocal Effect, it’s not fun and it’s not sustainable for us,” said Waizenegger.

As for the group currently, you can catch them on October 26th at 3 PM in The Space, Marano Campus Center free admission for all.