by Daniel Manou, WTOP10-TV

President Trump or President Clinton, words that not just Americans will have to get used to this November.

With election day less than a week away, international students studying this fall in the U.S. have been able to witness this year’s election from the inside. Watching the political debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, students have been able to compare their prior knowledge and opinions to what they have seen firsthand.

Regardless of how far away the states are from their homeland, Lindsey Martin says the results will be felt even after the semester ends.

“As an Australian, I find it really daunting. I feel a bit helpless because I feel like the eventual outcome will affect not only Australia but most of the world because America is a such a super power,” said Martin.

Martin has followed the debates and empathizes with Americans who are frustrated with the current political landscape. Looking at the two candidates Martin said she doesn’t feel confident in either of them but for completely different reasons.

“He [Trump] lacks any kind of depth in his policy statements and any real contentious factual information,” said Martin. “Hillary Clinton might be a seasoned veteran but she is completely uninspiring in my opinion, especially contrasted against Obama.”

For some Americans, frustration has become too much and have decided not to vote. Beliz Atalay actively follows politics in Turkey and she does not understand how Americans can decide not to vote.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable about it because it’s about my country and even though people may not think one vote will not change anything, it can,” said Atalay.

For Atalay and Martin, voting is mandatory in their country. Australia follows a compulsory vote system which means any resident over the age of 18 is required to register and vote. If someone does not vote and do not have a valid excuse, they can be subjected to a fine and court date, which in some cases has led to jail time.

As the election on November 8 nears, both wish they had a vote but will have to wait to see what the United States Voters decide and how it will affect their countries. Trying to guess what life with either candidate would be like as the next president is something both Martin and Atalay don’t know, but are hoping voters look closely at the policies and personalities before casting their ballot.

By William Corsi

OSWEGO, N.Y.– SyFy and fantasy fanatics at SUNY Oswego have a unique outlet to make friends on campus. Once a month, the Story Teller’s Guild rents out four rooms in the Marano Campus Center in order to hang out and play games together. If that sounds like a typical Saturday between friends it’s because at the heart of the Story Teller’s Guild, there’s a community of people who enjoy spending time together.

Vice President Tiffany Baez said the Story Tellers Guild is close knit group of people like a family. Baez said that although not everyone might be interested in the club because it is what she calls ‘nerdy’, the members of the club really enjoy it.

Story Tellers’ Guild Member Jessica Miller said the Story Tellers Guild was the first club she joined on campus.

“Most of my friends on campus are in the club. It gives me stuff to do so I don’t sit in my dorm all night which is fantastic,” Miller said. Miller said she wrote a game for the club this past week which she said is something she never thought she’d do.
For more information on the Story Tellers’ Guild visit http://www.oswego.edu/orgs/stg/index.html.

Reported by: Ilyssa Weiner

Scales Hall residents will be forced to move out at the end of the semester due to the hall’s renovation. Scales is the last residence hall in the Lakeside Community to be renovated after Waterbury reopened last fall.

Resident Assistant Gabby Green lived in Waterbury before it was renovated. She was initially worried about where she was going to live when Waterbury closed. However, she enjoyed the experience she had with it.

“That’s why I came here, to help people move out of this building and do it all again,” said Green.

The renovations to Scales will include new lounges, a new front desk and an elevator. Scales Hall Director Myles Clendenin is excited for the changes, but also believes the community aspect is what will stand out the most.

“It’s not just about how the building looks in the renovation. It’s about building that community, at the end of the day the students who make the make the community,” said Clendenin

Scales is currently home to about 150 students, consisting of international students only staying for the semester, new students and students who’ve lived in Scales for more than a year.

Senior Anthony Salvador has lived in Scales since his freshman year and will greatly miss the atmosphere of the old hall.

“I will definitely miss the old Scales to the point where I’m going to leave on the last day at ten A.M. when they kick me out,” said Salvador.

Those who are currently living in Scales since the beginning of the semester will priority in picking what dorm they want to stay in during the spring semester.

Scales Hall will reopen Fall 2017.