April is sexual assault awareness month. Reporter Jessica Mulder explains how the organization Two and A Half is spreading awareness on campus.
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Styrofoam and Smoking On Public Property Ban
OSWEGO, NY—On Monday, October 27, Mayor Billy Barlow and City Hall officials unanimously voted to ban the use of styrofoam and smoking on public properties.
A concerned member of the community took the opportunity to speak about the effect of smoking on the community.
“Discarding cigarette butts constitute the majority of litter on beaches, playgrounds, etc. The reduction of use results in reduced clean up costs for the community,” said the woman.
Cigarette filters, e-cigarette pods and plastic wrappers all contain toxic chemicals that can leak into water supplies and are non-biodegradable. These products can also pose a major threat to children and small animals.
“That’s the bottom line for me is quality of life. There will be improvement for us, as current residents as well as the future residents,” said Council Member Robert A. Corridino.
SUNY Oswego students also expressed their support for the ban, but adding more can and should be done.
“To have them all be more encompassing and have a more robust ‘Keep Oswego Clean Initiative.’ I feel like besides just banning styrofoam products they should too expand it to ban other single use plastic products as well…” said former Student Association President, Omar van Reenan. “Then we also have to take that responsibility to heart and act on that responsibility to protect not just the people but the environment of the city of Oswego as well.”
Now that it has been passed, the initiative will go into effect on April 22, 2020, which is also Earth Day.
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I Am Oz Speaker: Winona LaDuke
by Eoin Gallagher
Oswego, NY- Environmentalist and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Winona LaDuke spoke to members of the Oswego State community on Mar. 28. Her talk is part of the “I Am Oz” diversity speaker series.
LaDuke spoke on current political issues Americans and Native Americans are facing as well as the role we have in society. She stressed the idea that college students have the opportunity to think critically.
“As college students you have the full opportunity to be critical thinkers and do good,” LaDuke said.
The biggest issue she discussed was climate change and the steps the government should be taking in order to be more aware of it.
LaDuke has an extensive background in the environmental field. She has put her knowledge to work by challenging government and taking on big oil companies, including her involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. She is also the founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project.
LaDuke says the key to changing the Earth is think about what it will be like seven years from now. At the current rate, she believes it may be inhabitable by then. She challenged her audience at the end of speech to change the Earth.
“Let us be creative,” she said. “Let us do what the great leader Sitting Bull said, and let us put our minds together to see what kind of future we can make for our children.”
