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Oregon Shooting: Remember the Hero
Chris Mintz.
That is the name of the student at Umpqua Community College who was shot five times in his attempt to save others from a gunman who went on a shooting rampage on the school’s campus. During the aftermath of the horrific shooting at the College, participants on social media have called for the widespread recognition of Mintz while stressing the importance of not popularizing the shooter.
The shooter has been identified as 26-year-old Christopher Harper Mercer, and the father of one of the victims said that during the shooting, Mercer intentionally targeted Christians. While it is unclear why he targeted the college specifically, it was reported that he went into at least two different classrooms.
A total of ten people were killed during the incident, with seven others reported as injured. The father of one of the victims stated that the gunman went into the classroom, and said (to the professor) “I’ve been waiting to do this for years” and then shot the professor point blank. Other reports say that he ordered “Christians” to stand up and then would shoot them when they emerged.
The gunman was reported dead earlier Thursday.
Chris Mintz is a 30-year-old military veteran and student of Umpqua Community College. According to claims, he attempted to block the door to prevent the gunman from coming into the classroom, and was shot three times. He then looked up at the gunman and stated “It’s my son’s birthday today”, to which he was shot at least two more times. While it is still unknown exactly how many times he was shot, it is reported that both of his legs are broken. He remains in stable condition at Mercy Medical Center.
President Barack Obama released a statement after the incident in which he indirectly pushed for stricter gun control laws, stating, “Somehow this has become routine,” he said. “The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine, the conversation in the aftermath of it. We’ve become numb to this.”
This incident is just one of the many that continue to seem more and more common in the United States.
In situations like this, it is important to publicize not the gunman, but the heroes like Chris Mintz.
*Quotes recorded from CNN.com*
Former SUNY Oswego Professor Killed During American Military Operation
On April 23, 2015, former SUNY Oswego professor Dr. Warren Weinstein was killed in an United States counterterrorism operation, the White House announced Wednesday.
According to an email sent out to students and staff of the university, Dr. Weinstein left Oswego in 1979 to work with U.S. aid for people in developing countries. He was abducted more than three and a half years ago in Pakistan, and it is reported that he was inadvertently killed during a U.S. operation in the area.
In a statement made by SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley, she expressed Weinstein’s devotion and character, saying, “Dr. Weinstein devoted his life to making the world a better place. He left us to serve others in some of the world’s most impoverished and troubled regions. His life was an inspiration that will not die. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”
Dr. Weinstein’s wife also made a statement in which she stated that the ultimate blame belongs to those that abducted him, saying, “the cowardly actions of those who took Warren captive and ultimately to the place and time of his death are not in keeping with Islam and they will have to face their God to answer for their actions.”
The White House and President Obama have since issued statements regarding their sorrows towards the situation and Dr. Weinstein’s family.
Oswego Fire Department Extinguishes West Side Flames
Oswego Fire Department responded after a house on 110 W. Bridge Street went up in flames.
Authorities say the fire had many layers, and because it was such a big home with several rooms, it was initially difficult for the firefighters. Despite this however, they were still able to prevent neighboring houses too much damage while ensuring the overall structure of the home stayed in tact.
Assistant Fire Chief Jon Chawgo applauded the efforts of the crew, saying “Our personnel did an excellent job knocking down the fire and protecting the neighboring structures. The house did sustain moderate damage, but is not considered a total loss and should be able to be repaired.”
The house is assumed to belong to college students, but nobody was home at the time of the incident.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
SUNY Chancellor Award Honors 5 Oswego Students
Five SUNY Oswego students will receive the 2015 SUNY Chancellor Award for Student Excellence, which is the highest student recognition through the statewide university system.
These students are said to be active in academics, leadership, community service, campus involvement, arts and career-long achievement.
The five students from Oswego who won the award are Dianora DeMarco, Joshua Drake, David Owens, Eyub Yegen, and WTOP-10’s very own Chief Meterologist Molly Matott.
Each student represents Oswego campus through their many forms of involvement and dedication to growing internally and helping the school flourish as a whole.
For more information on each winner, as well as comments from each person, follow the link: http://www.oswego.edu/news/
SUNY Oswego Career Fair
On Wednesday, March 4, SUNY Oswego held its annual Career Fair from 4-6 PM in Swetman Gym the Marano Campus Center.
WTOP-10 Reporter Jean Louise Bernhoft interviewed Associate Director of Career Services Mallory Bower, who told her the many benefits of attending the fair.
Bower said “The Career Fair is a great event even if you are not searching for a job right now it is still a great event to come out and network and meet new people. You never know what opportunities will be available even at a company that you wouldn’t expect to find interest in.”
She also assured that one of the main goals of the fair is to give students options within Central New York, as she says many students feel they need to move out of state to get a job.
Overall, the fair was a success, and students were able to connect with hopefully some future employers.
Oswego Heroin Arrest
As Bridge Street Run 2015 comes into the horizon, Oswego County dealt with a heroin arrest on Thursday, February 26.
Investigators with the Oswego County Drug Task Force stopped 23-year-old Eugene J. Gibbs on St. Rt. 481 north of County Route 57 in the City of Oswego. The investigation resulted in a warrant being issued, and authorities recovered 8.2 grams of heroin.
Gibbs was arrested and charged with 3rd Degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to sell, and 4th Degree Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Gibbs is a resident of Utica, New York, but authorities believe he was attempting to sell the drugs in Oswego. The heroin had a street value of $5,500.
He is scheduled to to return to Oswego to Court on March 3, 2015.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at 315-349-8222 or email drugtipline@oswegocounty.com.
Shelter Opening in Oswego for People Without Water
This year’s cold in Oswego is not only breaking records, but apparently water lines as well.
Mayor Thomas W. Gillen said the below zero temperatures have caused water lines in some neighborhoods to freeze, leaving the residents of those areas without water.
“It’s possible people will be without utilities, specifically water, for an extended period of time, potentially for several days,” the mayor said.
Oswego is currently working with the American Red Cross of Central New York to house impacted people in Laker Hall, a building on the SUNY Oswego Campus.
Mayor Gillen declared a state of emergency in the city to address the situation as quickly as possible.
He advises all residents to check on their neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled, to make sure they are okay.
If you know anyone who needs help, call 911, or (315) 343-1212 for other assistance.
New SUNY Oswego Assistant Professor Performs
A new SUNY Oswego Assistant Professor introduced herself to campus in a special way: by enlightening students with her violin.
Ahreum Kim, the campus’s new assistant professor in high strings and musicology, performed with Professor Robert Auler in front of an audience in Sheldon Ballroom. The sonatas consisted mostly of classical and romantic times in music.
Professor Kim not only had to perform the music, but also make sure that her movements accurately portrayed the specific emotions of the songs.
Reporter David Hermanovitch talked with Kim, who told him that to portray the emotion, she had to change her expressions at the same time, which is very tiring during the performance.
Overall, the performance was a creative way for Kim to begin her tenure with SUNY Oswego.
Oswego Polar Plunge
The Special Olympics New York Central Region is hosting their third annual Polar Plunge in Wrights Landing, Oswego.
The event will take place on March 28, and involves participants jumping into the lake at Wrights Landing regardless of the weather conditions of the time.
By registering, participants will have the opportunity to raise money for the athletes of the Special Olympics, and those who raise $100 or more receive a Polar Plunge Sweatshirt.
To register or for more information on other forms of involvement visit polarplungeny.org.