College students that are also volunteer firefighters have the ability to receive tuition reimbursements in New York State. Assemblyman Will Barclay calls this a “relatively new program” offered through the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

The National Fire Prevention Association has estimated that roughly one hundred thirty nine billion dollars annually are saved by volunteer firefighters stepping up.

Barclay hopes that this program will encourage more students to become volunteers. The deadline for this semester’s program was recently extended to Oct. 16.

Volunteer firefighters attending college can apply online at http://www.fasny.com/index.php/resources/fasny-help/ or by emailing HELP@fasny.com, Attn: John D’Alessandro, Deputy Volunteer Programs Coordinator. Students can also call FASNY toll free at (855) 367-6933.

by Julia Tilley, WTOP10-TV

Last Friday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m., the Faculty Art Exhibit opened in Tyler Hall. According to Michael Flanagan, the director of the gallery, the Faculty Art Exhibition tradition has been around since the 1960’s.

The exhibit in Tyler Hall is filled with art created with various mediums, some art actually being interactive. Rebecca Mushtare created a piece based off Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story ‘The Yellow Wallpaper,’ entitled ‘After the Yellow Wallpaper,’ where gallery attendees are encouraged to touch her piece. Their body warmth or the use of a provided “hand warmer” packet on her piece creates an endothermic reaction on the thermochromic pigments on her top pattern. The reaction caused her top design to disappear, and allows a hidden design to surface.

On the exhibit as a whole, Mushtare stated, “I love the faculty exhibit we have each year because it reflects the diversity of our practices and a wide range of creative process and techniques. This exhibition gives students insights into their faculty as creative beings who practice what they teach and beyond what they teach.”

Besides giving students and the Oswego community the ability to see an art exhibit when there aren’t many around, Flanagan also thinks it’s a great way to bring together the faculty. “I think it builds a sense of comradery. Often, professors are so busy teaching and researching and also making art that sometimes we don’t get to do things together,” said Flanagan.

The 2016 Faculty Art Exhibit is free to the public and will be open until November 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:0 p.m., with the exception of Mondays and school holidays. After this gallery, Flanagan predicts there will be a total of three galleries this fall semester and four more galleries in the spring semester.

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.