OSWEGO, N.Y. – A fight across the street from the Shineman Center early Sunday morning resulted in a man being sent to Upstate Medical University Hospital. When University Police arrived at the scene they found an 18-year-old man had been assaulted and stabbed four times in the shoulder.
Witnesses say that four males in dark clothing with hoodies pulled over their heads, came out of a dark colored 4-door Honda before attacking the freshman. A female was driving the car, and it was last seen heading east on Washington Boulevard.
The argument is believed to have begun earlier in the night in front of the American Legion on Bridge Street. The victim’s injuries are not life threatening and he is in stable condition.
The incident is currently under investigation by State University Police and is asking anyone with information to contact them at 315-312-5555.
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New York: The First Tuition Free State in the Nation
by Stefanie Sciolaro
OSWEGO, NY- – On April 8th, Governor Cuomo announced that all public 2 and 4 year universities in the state of New York will offer a tuition free scholarship. The Excelsior Scholarship will allow middle class families, who qualify, to be exempt from paying for college tuition.
In order to qualify, a family’s adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 in 2017. By 2018 that number will go up to $110,000, and by 2019 the amount will increase to $125,000. These incomes will include all student, parent, or spouse incomes within the family.
Students must be enrolled full-time, already have 30 college credits, and continue to complete 30 credits per year, which includes summer sessions, while in college. Transfer students will be eligible if they, or once, they’ve met the 30 credit requirement. If the student loses the scholarship, for now, they will be unable to regain it, though there is an appeal process being put in place.
Once students who are receiving the scholarship graduate, they will be required to stay New York residents for the same amount of time they had received the scholarship in college. Christopher Britts, an education major at SUNY Oswego, is apprehensive of where the state’s getting the money to fund this and what the resident restriction entitles.
“Are my taxes or other college expenses going to go up?… Will they decrease the PELL or TAP grants we get? Because if so and I don’t qualify where does that leave me?… What if I get a job in Cali or Jersey, I have to say no? If so, I’d rather have the loans, then at least I’m free.” says Christopher.
Graduate students are not eligible for the scholarship, nor are students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second.
Families will still be responsible for other expenses such as room and board, meal plans, and books, but the hope is for the Excelsior Scholarship to help relieve some of the burdens that families face in trying to pay for student’s college education. Financial aid will not be effected if a student receives the scholarship.
Christopher is also a team leader for Mentor Scholar, an after school program helping children with homework, and says this scholarship is good for younger children as well.
“Yes the scholarship needs adjustments and clarification but it really does give them a future to look forward to. Many of these kids come from low income families who before now, college was probably never an option…well now it is. As a future educator and current college student thats a beautiful thing to see.” Chris said.
This scholarship will go into effect and be available to students for the Fall 2017 semester. For more on the Excelsior Scholarship visit http://www.ny.gov, for SUNY (State University of New York) information visit https://www.suny.edu, and for CUNY (City University of New York) information visit http://www2.cuny.edu.
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Women’s basketball sneaks past Hamilton
The Oswego Women’s basketball team improved to 3-0 after a thrilling 76-72 non-conference victory over Hamilton. Heather Hebert scored the go-ahead layup for Oswego with 52 seconds remaining in the game. Jenn Robbins had a team high 21 points on the evening. Hebert finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds for the Lakers.
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Excelsior Scholarship
by Ilyssa Weiner
OSWEGO, NY — Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent Excelsior Scholarship is the first program in the United States to offer free tuition to four year public colleges. The program, however, has its setbacks, critics say.
SUNY Oswego Financial Aid Director Mark Humbert says the hard part for students who receive the scholarship will be keeping it.
“You have to successfully complete 30 credit hours per year and most of our students don’t do that,” he said.
SUNY Oswego currently has a 48% acceptance rate. Humbert says the Excelsior Scholarship will cause the rate of all SUNY schools to decrease.
“It’s going to make SUNY more selective, which in some way goes against our mission which is affordability and access,” he said.
The initial cap for students who qualify will be an annual family income of $100,000. By 2019, the cap will rise to $125,000. Humbert says many students will still need loans despite the qualification.
”The cost of college is more than just tuition,” he said. “The same students that might be eligible for this still are going to need their loans to help pay for room and board.”
Students eligible for the program must stay in New York State for four years after they graduate. If they move out, the free tuition turns into a loan.
SUNY Oswego student Asha Bey is a broadcasting major and is concerned if she ends up with a job outside of New York.
“I know there’s plenty of job opportunities in other states other than New York,” Bey said.
While she is hopeful about the scholarship, Bey believes the kinks need to be worked out.
“I just want a group of people to just go through it so we can see what is there or what we can expect,” she said.
The Excelsior Scholarship program will take effect Fall 2017.
