The Student Association held their eleventh meeting of the Senate for the semester on Tuesday evening, The meeting got off to an exciting start when SA President, Emily Nassir, was officially sworn in as the President of the Student Association for the 2016-2017 year. Following the swearing in of the new president, roll call was taken which indicated quorum was met. The meeting minutes and agenda were then approved which allowed the meeting to officially begin.

The first and only guest to the Senate for the evening was President of SUNY Oswego, Deborah Stanley. Stanley tries to attend at least one Senate meeting per semester to discuss with students the new things happening on our campus. At this meeting, President Stanley took the time to inform the Senate of the student demographics on campus, budget updates, and some of SUNY Oswego’s policies. SUNY Oswego students both undergraduate and graduate, come from all over New York state and beyond. SUNY Oswego has spent more time and resources recently, to recruit more students from downstate, which President Stanley feels they have been very successful in doing so. This past year’s group of first year students totaled to 1,500. Of those students, 30.5 percent of them identified as being culturally diverse. Stanley mentioned this to the Senate because she feels it is a very important part of our campus’s atmosphere. The number of students who identify as being  culturally diverse, has increased in the past few years, but Stanley wants and expects that number to grow. In fact,  in the group of 2016 first year students, 49.5 percent of students have identified as being culturally diverse. These statistics Stanley said, have not been and are not discussed much with students, but she feels students should be aware of these important facts that impact the dynamic of our campus. President Stanley also revealed some measure SUNY Oswego is taking to help better represent the diverse population of students on campus. Stanley is currently looking for a Chief Diversity/Inclusion Officer, who will make sure that all voices on campus are heard and that all students are represented. Students also expressed their concerns on increasing the diversity amongst the staff and faculty at SUNY Oswego and President Stanley said these concerns have been and are being  addressed as the search for new faculty is underway. The President also mentioned the college wide commitment SUNY Oswego has taken to improve student success. Student surveys have indicated that students feel the college could improve on advisement for students. Stanley has been and will continue to review academic advisement planning for students to help provide them with all the tools and resources they need to ensure their success as students here at SUNY Oswego. Closing her presentation, Stanley mentioned some changes that are beginning to happen on campus. Tyler Hall will finally be reopening in the fall and renovations are expected to come to an end soon. Scales Hall is the next renovation taking place on campus which will be completed by August 2017.  

Public comment was next on the meeting agenda following the special guest to the Senate, President Deborah Stanley. Senators were reminded that Miss-A-Meal is taking place tomorrow, Thursday April 14th. Students are encouraged to give up their meal at dinner time and doing so will help fund the SUNY Oswego food pantry that will soon be located on campus.

Emily Nassir, SA President was the first to deliver her executive report for the evening. Nassir announced that Director Position applications have been reopened and will stay open until April 15th. Nassir will be traveling to Syracuse to advertise OzFest on the radio station “Hot 107.9”. Nassir also reminded senator to encourage their peers and friends to purchase OzFest tickets, seeing as they are only $15 per student. Nassir stated that instead of focusing on the lineup/performer, students should see it as an opportunity to spend time with their friends for one of the last times before finals week begins and before going separate ways as summer vacation begins.

Director of Finance Matthew Peters, delivered the final executive report for the evening, Peters discussed the sales of OzFest tickets and his concern on the current number of tickets sold. He made it a major point that more tickets need to be sold in order for this to be not only a successful event, but also a financial success. Peters also mentioned his new project which is working on training sessions for the executive positions that are held in the various clubs and organizations on campus. Training sessions will be held and the executives from similar clubs such as sports and academics will meet separately and will be given training so they are prepared for the 2016-2017 year.

Following executive reports, the meeting moved swiftly to Committee Reports. Rules and Judiciary stated that folders containing records and guidance for senators and clubs are being designed. Involvement Committee revealed that the Student Assocation comment cards have been printed. They will available to students at the Welcome Desk in Marano and students can find the cards with responses posted outside the Point.

Senator Research Forum was next on the agenda. The Senate is looking to create a position for an Organization Liaison. One or two people would be available for student leaders of organizations and clubs, to talk to and seek advice from in many areas such as forming a proposal for a budget, how to request funding for their organization or what organizations can and cannot do in terms of funding events. The Liaison would be the point person for all things organizations.

The meeting came to an end following Senator Research Forum seeing as there were no general or special orders on the agenda for the evening. The Student Association holds their weekly meeting of the Senate Tuesdays in Lanigan 106 and 6pm. All meeting are open to the public and students are encouraged to attend to express any concerns or opinions they may have.

The Oswego State men’s ice hockey team lost against the Potsdam Bears by a score of 1-0. After the loss, the Lakers drop to 18-4-2 overall and 13-1-1 in SUNYAC play while the Bears move to 10-9-5 on the season.

Aside from a power play goal from Potsdam in the first period, the game consisted of only chances. The Lakers outshot the Bears 42-20 but were unable to find the back of the net mainly due to the play of Potsdam’s goalie, Brendan McMeninmen. Max Novick led Oswego with a career high 10 shots.

The SUNYAC’s leader in goals against average and save percentage, David Richer, stopped 19 shots for the Lakers.

Oswego will have its regular season finale tomorrow against Plattsburgh in their annual Whiteout Game at 7:00 pm. The team will also honor its three seniors including captain Mitch Herlihey as part of Senior Day.

by Ilyssa Weiner

Oswego, NY- Writer and Humanitarian Kevin Powell spoke at SUNY Oswego’s Sheldon Hall Ballroom on Feb. 16 as part of the school’s “I Am Oz” Diversity Speaker Series.

Powell stressed the importance of education and history to his audience. His mother, who only had an eighth grade education, pushed him to do well in school.

“She kept saying to me when I was a child ‘You’re going to go to college. You’re going to go to college. You’re going to go to college,” Powell said.

Powell went to Rutgers University. However, his love for reading and writing came at an early age when his mother took him to the library.

“She allowed me to roam around the library,” he said. “That’s how I ended up falling in love with books and eventually decided as a young person I wanted to be a writer.”

After his time at Rutgers, Powell joined the cast of the very first season of MTV’s The Real World. At the time of taping, he and the rest of the cast had no idea how successful the show was going to be. Because of the show’s success, Powell was able to dig deeper into the world of pop culture.

“I love pop culture,” he said. “I think it’s a useful tool for reaching people and talking about serious issues.”

In 2011, Powell co-founded Building Knowledge (BK) Nation, a progressive non-profit organization focused on civil and human rights. The organization has worked on several racial profiling cases, including the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown cases, and was also a deep supporter for the recent Women’s March.

Despite being the co-founder of the organization, Powell doesn’t believe in titles beyond that.

“We’re all equals and all our voices matter in the organization and that’s how we operate,” he said.

Powell’s most recent book, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey Into Manhood, is available on Amazon.

Powell autographed copies of his latest book after his speech was over.