Oswego, NY – SUNY Oswego is putting on their 10th annual Relay for Life event on April 6th from 6pm to 2am. Coordinator, Tina Cooper, tells us all about the event.
“Historically it has been a event that goes from an evening to a morning. It is representing the change over from dusk to dawn. Talking about throughout the night, relating it back to a person enduring cancer throughout their journey and throughout their fight.” Relay for Life Coordinator Tina Cooper said.
Senior, Riley Synan, has been involved in Relay for Life for 12 years, she shares with us her inspiration to why she continues to help this organization.
“Both my grandparents died of different types of cancer and my mom also got diagnosed with cancer when I was in high school so, we made a team for her after that.” Synan said.
Coordinator Tina Cooper encourages students to come out and get involved in SUNY Oswego’s Relay for Life event.
“Come to this and see what your campus is about and see what it is like to actually be involved on campus with a whole ton of people your age that care about the same thing.” Cooper said.
To join or make a team visit
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY19NER?pg=entry&fr_id=90864
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Title IX Training
by Jihad Yarber
Oswego, NY- April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month.
According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), 11% of college students experience rape or sexual assault on campus. Oswego State educates those on campus about how to assess these situations through Title IX training.
Title IX is a section of the federal Education Amendments Act of 1972 that prevents sexual discrimination in colleges. Discrimination includes sexual harassment, assault, and rape.
Title IX training is required for many clubs, organizations, and employers on campus. It goes through the basics of sexual harassment training and how to avoid being a bystander.
Oswego State student Alyssa Barrett says the Title IX training provided on campus is beneficial.
“I feel like it was beneficial, not just for organizations or jobs. I think the video they show was effective. I think it’s important just to know about it in general,” she said.
Fraternities and sororities on campus must also go through the Title IX training in order to spread awareness about sexual harassment and assault to incoming members.
“Greek life honestly has a bad reputation,” Kappa Sigma president Steven Gerencser said. “People just think that we’re drinking clubs and all we do is take advantage of girls and do all that stuff, but I think it’s good because it shows we don’t just do that, it’s not the stereotypes. We care about people and it’s good we’re teaching our pledges that.”
Both Barrett and Gerencser feel the training is an excellent step to assure their wellbeing.
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Free Flu Shots Given at Mary Walker Health Center
The yearly distribution of free flu vaccine has ended on October 5th and in result, 350 plus students has received their shot. On this month of October, the coldness is coming near and this means that flu season is now in session.
Angela Brown, director of Student Health Services, explained the importance of receiving the flu shot and the ways to prevent catching or spreading the flu virus.
“So the flu shot is important because it prevents usually prevents the person from getting the flu; that is the goal of it. Um, once you get a flu vaccine, you can potentially still contract the flu virus, so one of the advantages of getting the flu shot has is that if you get the virus, it means that you’re sick for a shorter amount of days and usually less sick than someone who have never been vaccinated.” Brown said.
They are plenty of simple ways to stay clean and safe. Being active, eating healthy, staying positive and importantly washing your hands, is the major way to prevent catching or spreading the virus.
“Make sure you wash your hands. Any mucus membrane, so your nose, your eyes, your mouth can be a portal for a virus to get in so if you are walking around campus, then go eat lunch and don’t wash your hands, you can the flu virus that way.”
Mary Walker Health Center are now trying to establish mobile flu shots and it might appear in many residence halls.
For more information, you can contact 315.312.4100 or email whealth@oswego.edu or visit their website https://www.oswego.edu/walker-health-center/
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Student Association Update
by Stefanie Sciolaro, WTOP10-TV
The Student Association held their weekly Senate meeting Tuesday evening on October 18, the date also marked the 52nd legislation session. Once roll call was taken, quorum fulfilled, and all agendas and minutes were approved, the meeting commenced. The agenda included some guest speakers to the Senate this week, along with a few words from President Emily Nassir, and some updates on various items for SUNY Oswego.
Two guests consisted of Student Affairs Vice President Kathleen Evans and Michael Flaherty from Auxiliary Services, who discussed the topic of student travel needs. They explained the present transportation methods available to students, and pitched their new ideas on how to improve these options in the future. Kathleen Evans began the presentation by explaining the recent changes to transportation options that have already been enacted for the 2016-17 academic year. All changes, updates, and additional information to public transportation for this year can be found within the Student Travel Guide Pamphlets available at the Marano Campus Center Help Desk or for the most up to date schedules visit http://www.centro.org/colleges/suny-oswego.
After discussing recent changes, Michael Flaherty took over to pitch new ideas on how to better fulfill transportation needs on campus while saving money. He explained that some of the transportation options are barely used and are costing substantial amounts. In order to save money, concentration on only means that students tend to use the most should be enacted. This saved money could be used to enhance van transportation and fund a direct bus route to NYC for students for the end of both Fall and Spring semesters. He says that by utilizing the van shuttles for breaks and only running the Sunday Late Service during peak travel times in the year, it would help offset the overall costs the school pays for travel. Two running times, instead of one, were proposed for the Sunday Late Services during peak travel times: Leaving NYC at 2:00pm, arriving in Oswego by 8:45pm, and leaving NYC at 6:00pm, arriving in Oswego by 12:15.
At this point feedback, comments, and questions were opened up to be voiced by the Senate. The issue of the current amount of training sessions available for students to be certified to drive the vans was raised. The concern was that there are not enough opportunities for students to acquire this certification. It is required that all students who drive the vans, which are predominantly student driven, have their van certification. If you have this certification, an email is sent out when van drivers are needed and students are paid for their driving services. As of right now, training sessions are only held if the class is full, if you are interested in acquiring your van driving certification contact the Student Affairs Vice President Kathleen Evans.
The Senate also brought up the question of where exactly the College Express Service stops within NY, NYC, NJ, and Long Island are and the efficiency of the service as a whole. One Senator voiced that she has ridden the service before and stops were no where near her home town. Making these stops in more areas would convenience students and possibly up the amount of students who ride with the service. In regards to safety and efficiency, another Senator said “ Students wouldn’t mind paying that price if they’re getting good service… I never really feel safe on the bus”. The possible partnering of transportation services with the D- Bus was also brought up as an alternative option of transportation. The D-Buses assists student, predominantly during the weekends, in local transportation. These buses are not utilized as much during the week days, therefore, it would be a great option as far as an additional regular form of transportation is concerned. The guest speakers took all of this feedback into account and specified that they would look into the idea of partnering with the D-bus, explore more direct routes for the College Express Service, and address all comments and concerns as far as transportation needs, safety, or efficiency. If you have any feedback, comments, or concerns in regards to traveling options offered by SUNY Oswego or are interested in taking a van training certification class, please contact Kathleen Evans at kathleen.evans@oswego.edu or Michael Flaherty at michael.flaherty@oswego.edu.
The Director and Assistant Director of SAPB, then, came up to discuss and advertise their need for extra hands from 4pm to 9:30ish during the upcoming Spooktacular Casino Costume Party. The Senate brought up the question of if one were to help work the event, if it could fulfill the GST community service requirement. The Assistant Director stated that it may be a possibility but she was unsure and would look into it for students. At the event there will be prizes handed out, music, food, a gift card given to the best costume, and much more. If anyone is interest in helping set up for the event, or interested in going but have further questions please contact SAPB at sapb@oswego.edu.
Later on, President Emily Nassir spoke in regards to Executive Reports. She confirmed dates and focuses for upcoming meetings: faculty assembly, Presidents Council, etc., and spoke in regards to electing the Constitution this year. Results will be available Friday. She stated that November 11th will be the Veterans Open House and November 17 will be the 1,000 Words Event. On the topic of OzFest, there will be a new way set up this year in order to gain insight directly from the students about what they’d like their experience to be. Instead of only having the online survey, that includes what artists students wish to have come, the theme of Senate on Tuesday will be to physical gain insight into what students want: what artists, food, overall experience, etc.
After the President spoke, Matthew Peters, the Director of Finance, briefly stated that all is well and normal as far as finances is concerned. WTOP10 has received all of the bought materials for the studio’s upgrades. The main focus as of right now is finalizing the audit for the year.
To close all important information for Tuesdays meetings, the President Chief of Staff announced that the final Homecoming Meeting was held and the schedule of events has been almost completely, if not so already, finalized. The events sheet scheduling was discussed and will be released soon. The theme days were also discussed: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday have been confirmed but Wednesday and Thursday had still been up in the air. Themes for those days were voted on during the meeting and will be enacted accordingly. The list of Monday-Fridays Themed Day’s will be distributed throughout campus shortly.
On that note, the meeting was coming to a close as Vice President Dalton Flint confirmed that from now on the Student Association meetings of the Senate will commence at its regular time, 6:00pm, and regular place, Lanigan 105, as there has been some previous issues in scheduling meetings. With that he took a final roll call and the meeting came to a close for this week.
