by Ilyssa Weiner

Oswego, NY – Oswego State President Deborah Stanley sent students and faculty members an email on Sunday morning in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning travel into the United States from seven Muslim majority countries including Iraq, Syria, and Iran for 90 days.

The ban affects both non-immigrants and immigrants as well as those with a student or scholar visa. Green card holders were originally affected by the ban. However, according the New York Times, that decision has been reversed.

“There is considerable uncertainty about its implications,” Stanley wrote. “We advise great caution on the part of our international students, faculty and staff to consider carefully any travel outside the country or consider deferring travel until there is more clarity about how the Executive Order will affect us.”

Oswego State does not have a study abroad or international education program in any of the seven countries. Stanley advises those who are from any of those countries and are either planning to travel or are currently outside of the United States to seek the advice of an immigration lawyer before making travel plans.

“SUNY Oswego has always been a welcome and hospitable home for international students and visitors since our founding over 150 years ago,” she wrote. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to international students, scholars and programs for the creativity, intellectual rigor and cultural diversity you bring to our campus.”

According to the New York Times, a federal judge partially blocked Trump’s ban on refugees and other foreign nationals who were being held at U.S. airports on Saturday night. Protests against the ban continue across the country.  

If there are any questions or concerns, contact the Office of International Education and Programs at isss@oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-2118.

Hart Hall is home to many international students and some of the students may be affected by the ban.

Oswego, NY — The world’s plastic pollution problem may now have a solution.

According to an article released in the academic journal “Science”, Japan may have discovered a plastic eating bacteria strain.

This bacteria strain can break down the most common plastic, called Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is often found in packaged bottled drinks, household cleaners, and beauty cosmetics. These items can be completely broken down by the strain.

The bacteria strand could mean good news for the environment because about a third of all plastic packaging does not end up in recycling; it ends up out in the environment. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2050 more plastic will be in the oceans than fish.

Written By: Kirby Socker