OSWEGO, N.Y. — Beloved “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee was laid to rest Saturday afternoon. Lee’s ceremony was small and private, with just her family and close friends present.
Lee’s longtime friend Wayne Flynt gave the eulogy at the ceremony. The eulogy Flynt gave was from the speech he wrote in 2006 when Lee won the Birmingham Pledge Foundation Award for her work with racial justice. Lee requested to Flynt that he read the speech as her eulogy.
Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”, published in 1960, was an American classic dealing with race in a small southern town. A part of Lee’s book was pulled from her childhood. Her book won the Pulitzer Prize.
Many people have been moved by the loss of Lee, including author John Green and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. Harper Lee was 89-years-old.
Written By: Kirby Socker
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Oswego Students Take a Stand Against Anti-Semitism
Several Oswego State students and faculty gathered in front of the peace memorial for a candlelight vigil last Friday in honor of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack.
The vigil was held shortly after the suspect of the Pittsburgh attack, Robert Bowers, plead not guilty for the 44 criminal charges held against him in court last Thursday.
“We’re here to send a message of love and hope, and that hate is not welcome here,” Oswego Student Association President Omar van Reenen said. “Anti-semitism, gun violence, racism, and marginalization in all forms are not welcome on our campus, in our communities, or in our states.”
Van Reenen worked with the Student Association on campus to organize the vigil. Students and faculty held candles and signed a poster that read “Stronger than Hate.” Students gathered around the peace memorial for statements read by various members of the campus community including Sarah Nehama, vice president of Jewish Life on campus.
“I just want people to realize that anti-semitism is still a big thing,” Nehama said. “We had a 60 percent spike in anti semitism in 2017 which is crazy and this week we also had a synagogue defaced in California.”
The attacks in Pittsburgh and the defacement of a synagogue in California are just part of the growing problem with violence being expressed in America. The issue of gun violence in America continues to grow.
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Oswego Mayor Calls for 48 Hour Street Parking Ban
*Photo provided by Alex Simone
OSWEGO, N.Y. – The City of Oswego is asking for city residents to vacate all street parking for the next 48 hours.
Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow is calling for all vehicles to be removed from city streets, while the Department of Public Works works to clear the roads of snow and ice. The inclement weather and combination of snow and rain has caused many of the city’s drainage systems to clog.
“The significant weather event we are experiencing calls for the cooperation of all our citizens,” Barlow said. “In consultation with DPW Commissioner Tom Kells, I am requesting that all vehicles park off the road over the next 48 hours as the DPW works on snow removal and freeing the storm sewers from overflowing water.”
In addition, the Oswego City Police will continue issuing tickets and towing vehicles that are violating the city’s already existing parking ban from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Several municipal lots are open and free to park in and for more information you are recommended to contact the Mayor’s office at 315-343-8140.
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Voices of Diversity: Quindell Williams
OSWEGO, N.Y. – Students and faculty gathered Monday to hear about the professional journalism experiences of Oswego State alumnus Quindell Williams (‘11) in the Marano Campus Center Auditorium.
Williams works for Syracuse based TV station CNYCentral as a photojournalist and video editor. During his five years at the station, he was part of the team that won a regional Emmy award for best Daytime Newscast. Williams also holds other awards from the Syracuse Press Club and New York State Associated Press.
“I love what I do, I love my job,” he said.
His motivation in life comes from his child. “Every time I look at my son I have to do better, doesn’t matter what it is,” he said.
Williams began his career in broadcasting at CNYCentral as a master control operator for one year, a job he got right out of college. A career fair at Oswego State presented him with the opportunity. He did work to get himself to the point of getting hired as master control.
“Things I did (in college) helped mold and shape me to what I am now,” Williams said.
He spoke to the audience about his time in college, at both Oswego State and Onondaga County Community College. He was involved with several clubs on campus at Oswego State such as the Black Student Union, African Latino Asian and Native Americans (ALANA), WNYO 88.9 FM, and WTOP-TV.
His advice for students, was simple. “Be prepared to seize the moment,” Williams said. “Try to surround yourself with people trying to reach the next level.”
The program was put on by Voices of Diversity, currently in their sixth year of holding events like this one to encourage diversity.
