Category Archives: Community

Re-Branding SUNY Oswego

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This week SUNY Oswegoʼs PRSSA held their last club meeting. They used this meeting time to go over the re-branding of SUNY Oswego as a whole. The discussion involved reasons that we as current students at Oswego considered to be a good staple for the campus as a whole. Majority of the students focused on the lake and no matter how or when you come to this campus every organization is a community. Not only is the view here unmatched, but the atmosphere that you get to experience once you are here is unforgettable.

Being that decision day was yesterday, why did you decide to come to SUNY Oswego?

5 Fun Ideas That Will Get You Out of Your Dorm

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It is Friday afternoon, classes are done for the week, homework is put away and you are trying to figure out what activities you can do as the weather starts to warm up. Here are 5 fun ideas to get you out of your dorm room and outside:

  1. Take a trip to Rudy’s for lunch or dinner. It is a short walk from campus and you have a nice view of the lake as you venture down the road. Rudy’s is a great place to hang out and enjoy some great food! After Rudy’s be sure to stop over at Bev’s to pick up some delicious ice cream. Address: 78 Co Rte 89, Oswego, NY 13126
  2. Flat rocks is a fun place where you can go swimming once the water warms up and hang with friends. At flat rocks, you can see the famous Oswego sunset.
  3. If you are into history, check out Fort Ontario. Not many people know but, Oswego is a very historic town. At Fort Ontario, visitors can use a take along tour which they can read while going through the fort. The fort has artifacts and professional displays available to the public that reflect the history. Address: 1 E 4th St, Oswego, NY 13126
  4. The Oswego Riverwalk is a great place to take your bike, rollerblade, or even just walk. You can enjoy the view of the river along with getting some exercise. If you are into fishing, this is also a spot to check out in the fall when all the salmon return up the river. There are also several different restaurants near the riverwalk that you can check out.
  5. If you have a car on campus, take a trip to Chimney Bluffs State Park. At the Bluffs, you can capture amazing pictures of the lake along with enjoying some hiking and relaxing on the beach. Address: 7700 Garner Road Wolcott, NY 14590.
View from the walk down to Rudy’s and Bev’s from campus dorms

SUNY Oswego S.H.O.P. Coordinator Gains Acknowledgment in County News

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Oswego student Ariel Gutman-Gates, manager and coordinator of the campus food pantry, was recently named a Newman Civic Fellow. Newman Civic Fellows are chosen through their actions in improving campus communities and addressing public problems to promote more equitable communities. These individuals are then provided with access to scholarships and a network of past honorees.

The campus food pantry also known as Students Helping Oz Peers (S.H.O.P.), has provided students and faculty of the SUNY Oswego campus with a combination of goods and services. This has been done by means of developing a place to go when they are in need of basic clothing, toiletry and food items. Students and faculty are able to come to the pantry and gather the everyday items they need free of charge. This is done much like a grocery shopping experience. The pantry itself allows its users to browse the shelves for the resources they need through organized sections.

Students Helping Oz Peers does this to provide a place to attain these items, for those who are unable to acquire them on their own, and follows a strict code of confidentiality to ensure that those utilizing the goods and services  remain comfortable with the dispersal of their personal information. The shop is also a place for members of the the SUNY Oswego community to seek further information and links to food resources and Health Insurance.

To read more about Ariel’s contribution to our campus community and personal journey, please see the article linked below!

http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/newman-fellow-ariel-gutman-gates-carries-on-family-tradition-of/article_4b6419f8-5233-11e9-940a-cf3913dd0745.html

Women Athlete or Just Athlete?

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As many of you may know Women’s History Month is now coming to an end. This past week I had the pleasure of meeting with the Women’s Volleyball team to see how they celebrated.

This month the team has decided to each do their part in stripping gender roles from sports.  As the team prepares to go to nationals in a few weeks they have been practicing harder than ever. In the mist of nationals approaching, team member still had time to engage with youth in the community. Madison Seamans, a junior on the team stated “I celebrated women’s month by supporting athletics especially young women and letting them know not to be afraid to get out there.”

 

 

While attending the practice the team let me know about their t-shirts and the importance behind the slogan.

The t-shirts and the slogan were to represent that sayings such as “You throw like a girl”, shouldn’t exist. Yes, sports teams are separated by genders but should not separate how we are as  players. The team as a whole stressed that they should be identified as ‘Athletes’ not ‘Female Athletes’. Overall the team spent Women’s History Month stripping gender roles from sports, and being themselves.

The Last Round: Advice to Freshman

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Six weeks into my last semester of college. Where has the time gone? Just yesterday, I was getting ready for my first spring break as a college student. I was an exhausted freshman who was ready for my first year to be over. I look back and think “what was the rush?”.

If I could give advice to freshman or incoming students, I would say, don’t count down the weeks. Take advantage of everything  going on in this little college town that we are so proud to call ours. These four years of your life go by in a blink of an eye and before you know it, you will also be walking across that stage in May. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stress of school work, friends, and the “dorm-life” is only temporary. Make sure you go to as many hockey games with your friends and cheer as loud as you can to show your Laker pride. Say “yes” to late night in the dining hall to enjoy those late night bites. Also, switch your major if you aren’t passionate about it, it’s okay, you have time. Most importantly, enjoy every second of everyday. You are only here for four years, so live it up while you can.

Oswego Porchfest 2018

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The annual music event known as “Porchfest” has grown exponentially since its birth in Ithaca, NY in 2007. It has now spread across the entirety of the United States, and even into parts of Canada. I had heard of the event, but never witnessed it, so I took the chance this past Sunday to check it out with my new puppy Chief.
We took to the streets and started walking towards where it was held on the west side of Oswego. Gradually, as we neared closer to Franklin Square Park, we could hear the music growing louder, and the number of people in the streets increasing.
The first band we heard was “O-ryan.” It was two  guys, with only a few close friends listening, playing folk songs I’d never heard of. At first the music was scaring Chief, as most any loud noise does. Once he started to calm down, he began to the appreciate the eclectic and soulful performance that was unraveling before us. One member of the two man band quietly said that the next song they would play would be “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain, a classic. That song, performed live, I believe changed Chief’s outlook on the world, and got him so in his feelings he was crying about all the ex-girlfriends he hasn’t even had yet.
Band performs at Porchfest

(Chief with a new friend)

Porchfest had a totally unique and fun feel to it. It amazed me that anyone could volunteer their porch to be used for this mini-festival. It is a testament in itself to how tight-knit the Oswego Community is. It was also a great send off to summer as the fall season approaches. The echoes from the 40+ bands that performed filled the crisp fall air, and warmed the festival goers as they bounced from house to house.
Also worth noting was the “Love Volcanoes” performance. CThis jam band appealed to a larger audience covering songs from popular bands such as “The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Grateful Dead” (cue tie-dye tapestry). I would highly recommend this free show to all music lovers, or bored college students looking to get out of the dorms for a few hours.

Move-In Day!

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Move-In Day about four years ago I came to Oswego. Being from New York City I wanted to arrive early so my mother, brother, and I left around 5 a.m. That day it was very foggy and cold which later became warm and sunny. It was about a 6-hour ride and arrived at 11 a.m.
 
As a freshman, I lived in Johnson Hall. I wanted to arrive early because I needed the help of my family to decorate and organize my room. We decorated for about an hour then went out to eat. Came back around 2 p.m. and my resident mentor said at 3 p.m the students had an activity so my family and I said our goodbyes.
 
The activity was basically icebreakers for the people on our floor to get to know each other. Then we all left because some had meetings to go to also there was a picnic for students at 4:30 p.m. Later that day we were told that there would be a torchlight ceremony. Where we were welcomed by the president of the school and came in with our resident halls.
 
Lastly, there were fun activities planned for the rest of the night. My suggestion is come early and listen to your resident mentors/advisors because they have many fun activities planned! This is where you will meet your friends and make memories.

Peer 2 Peer Educator

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I am happy to say that this upcoming fall semester I will be a Peer Educator.

What is a Peer Educator?

This is a program held by the Counseling Services Center which Peer Educators (P2P) are SUNY Oswego students who involve, empower, and support educational campus environments related to psychological health and wellness.

What do P2P students do?

The role of the P2P Educator is to promote programs and provide information on mental health topics that can impact the academic and social success and overall well-being of SUNY Oswego students. P2P Educators are committed to teaching skills that can help fellow students reduce potential stressful life experiences (prevention) and to resolve situations more quickly should they arise.

Who are these P2P Educators?

P2P Educators are undergraduate students who represent a rich diversity of cultural and life experiences. They have a commitment to learning, teaching, assessing, role modeling, communicating in person and using social media, and effective presentation skills.

This is something I am very excited about and I can not wait to meet/help students. During my undergraduate career, I had my own experience of going to the counseling office because I felt that I needed help. At that time my friends thought I was in need of counseling because I was making decisions that they thought I could have prevented and were “affecting others”. Which made me feel like I was being attacked so I made the decision to speak with a counselor and it was the best decision I made.

While at first, I was nervous speaking about my experiences but then realized that they are there to help. These services that students take for granted are not only for people with “mental issues” but in actuality, it is for students who need someone to talk to. As a P2P I want to bring awareness to all students that these stereotypes of illness are not true which is one of the reasons I joined. The counselors on campus are all amazing people, help with different stressors in life, and are people who care about your well being.

Everyone is welcome so please stop by Mary Walker!

For more information follow this link below.

https://www.oswego.edu/counseling-services/meet-20152016-counseling-center-p2ps-peer2peer-were-here-help-you-fly

A Humbling Experience

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Nine months ago, the island of Puerto Rico was devasted by Hurricane Maria.

Nine months ago, homes were destroyed.

Nine months ago, people were displaced.

Arriving back in the states after helping with disaster relief has allowed me to put many things into perspective. For one, it allowed me to realize how blessed and privileged I am as an individual and as a resident/citizen of the U.S.

Every day, people complain about minor inconveniences in their lives such as slow internet speed, missing their favorite show or even their phones dying. But, for the many homeowners that my service in Puerto Rico has impacted, small inconveniences such as the aforementioned, are laughable.

How can one complain about the internet without power?

How can one complain about missing their favorite show when the very room where you would watch that show, has been destroyed by water damage and mold?

Being in Puerto Rico was beyond humbling for me. It allowed me to see that whenever I feel as though things are uncomfortable for me, there are people who are living through far more serious and uncomfortable hardships.

Living in the states gives us many opportunities to seek the help we need in any situation while others get ignored. Comparing my service in San Juan, Puerto Rico to my service in Port Arthur, Texas, it is clear that one city received much more help than the other. For one, the traffic lights in Texas were up and running while many of the traffic lights in Puerto Rico still remain unrepaired- nine months later.

This trip has allowed me to step outside of my world and add context to what it means to be an American, living in the United States.

Hopefully completing service in Puerto Rico opens the minds and eyes of future students who are a part of the New York “Stand with Puerto Rico” initiative to realize how privileged we are here in the U.S. I hope that it opens their hearts to want to do more for others who are not as privileged and are often forgotten.

Nine months later Purto Rico still remains in need of recovery and yet, the people are so pleasant and welcoming. Truly, a humbling experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

 

 

SUNY Oswego Takes Puerto Rico!

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As a part of the New York statewide effort to “Stand with Puerto Rico,” several SUNY Oswego students including myself has chosen to embark on a two-week journey in San Juan, Puerto Rico to aid in disaster relief.

In collaboration with the non-profit disaster relief organization, NECHAMA, I have the opportunity to directly impact the lives of homeowners who are trying to recover from the devastation that Hurricane Maria caused.

Day 1:

My group was assigned to repair the roof of an 80-year-old woman. Upon arrival at the site, I noticed the condition of the home and the surrounding homes. It was clear that the roofs of many homes in that area were affected by the storm.

Her roof, which was once the second story of her home had been damaged by several hurricanes over the years causing her to transform it into a roof. Due to several cracks in the concrete, her house often had leaking when it rained.

After speaking with Marta I got to learn a little more about her life. She lost her husband five years ago and currently lives alone. They were married for over 40 years and have two sons together. One of which lives in Puerto Rico and the other residing in Texas. She expressed that her husband did everything for her including building their home so when he passed, it was very hard for her to adjust to living on her own. It was the first time in her life where she had to do things for herself.

Day 1 consisted of scrapping and lifting the old surface of the roof to prepare it to be cleaned and prepped for the sealing and painting of the new roof.

Fast-forwarding to September of 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit, she was faced with overcoming the devastation on her own.

Day 2:

Today was filled with concrete work and preparing the roof to be painted. My team and I dusted and swept the roof, applied concrete to all of the cracks and began applying primer to the surface of the roof. Unfortunately, it started to rain very hard causing the primer we applied to be washed away. Our resilient team, however, was not discouraged and quickly dried the surface and applied the primer for the second time.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was the home cooked meal we were prepared for lunch by our homeowner, Marta. Marta prepared a delicious meal for us to eat (chicken, rice, and beans) to show her appreciation for our efforts to help her with her home.

Day 3:

Today was slower than the previous days in terms of busy work. Since we primed the roof and prepped it to be painted, the only task left to do was to actually paint. While completing this task, a news crew came to Marta’s home to interview the leaders of our group and a few students. We explained to the crew the process of our work and the importance of the “Stand with Puerto Rico” initiative.

Our lovely homeowner Marta, yet again, prepared us a delicious lunch. Today, she made rice and beans with pork chops. It felt great to see how much she appreciates us and which in turn allowed me to put the entire program into perspective.

Sadly, our time with Marta will come to an end soon as we only have one more task to complete to restore her roof. Tomorrow, we will be applying a second coat of paint and then we are off to meet a new homeowner!