The O-town Scene

January 27, 2011

The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY

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Sam Spokony SUNY needs more competitive students A day before the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s legendary inaugural address, the State University of New York received its own call to action. Last Wednesday, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher gave her State of the University address for 2011. Her remarks were ambitious in scope, precise in their response to Gov. Cuomo’s goals for education and job production in New York, and, like few other things that have come out of SUNY lately, they left me feeling optimistic. Zimpher expressed the necessity of unity, of cooperation between the 64 SUNY campuses and of increased support from the three million SUNY alumni. She addressed the need to find alternative sources of revenue in order to bolster a system of programs and resources that has, like many others in the state, been gasping for air. She acknowledged the positive aspects of adopting an international mindset. Above all, she pledged to “deliver a more competitive SUNY.” But the Chancellor was, of course, telling all of this to the campus presi- dents, the legislators, the higher-ups. Strategic plans live and breath at the top of the managerial food chain, and, while they trickle down to im- pact everyone with a stake in their success, it’s hard to deny that students don’t spend much time considering these “big picture” issues while they take notes in the back of a lecture hall. It’s time for that to change. Each year, presidents and provosts evaluate their progress not only in terms of achievements on campus, but also within the grander scope of the SUNY network, the state and the American educational system. As we emerge from the depths of the Great Recession, it’s time for us, as students and stakeholders, to participate more actively in the sustained growth of the environment in which we are given opportunities for suc- cess. We don’t have to make the decisions that will affect the development of our campus, but we have to stay informed about them and assess them. We don’t have to fund the academic departments that offer our courses, but we must feel the need to advance them. I didn’t think I had ever really identified with the way people reacted to the words of people like John F. Kennedy. I was never inspired by a political figure like that … but maybe I had never actually considered that gargantuan and complex systems could be derived into parts as small as individuals like me. As our generation continues to redefine “social networking,” we tend to be sucked into a smaller, digitally enhanced universe; soon the obliga- tion to maintain a connection with the world outside the one we create for ourselves will fade away. But a more competitive New York may rely on a more competitive SUNY, so why not give our school a more competitive student? I finally feel like it’s okay to be inspired, to want to grow as an individual by contributing in some small way to something huge. And the funny thing is, I realized it was always okay. So as we enter the spring semester, maybe it’s okay to trade in a trip to the bar for a trip to the library, the concert hall or the newsroom. Have all of those Thursday nights spent wandering the streets really freed your mind? Or will you find your true voice in a response to Zimpher’s call to action? Ask not what your campus can do you for you … Sam Spokony is a junior majoring in music industry and English at SUNY Oneonta. He can be reached at spoksm03@suny.oneonta.edu. Jennifer Tighe Tweet Tweet I always thought that Twitter was the loser’s version of Facebook. But, oh my God, was I wrong. Of course when I say the “loser’s version” I’m really referring to those people that we all block from our newsfeed be- cause of their incessant need to post statuses every two minutes. I never really wanted to know when all of you were leaving your house for class, when you got to there, when your teacher called roll call or even the funny thing someone said before the bell rang. Frankly, I don’t care that much about your life, and Facebook isn’t supposed to be used as a diary. But now everything is different. Twitter exists and all of the sudden it’s socially acceptable for us to go public with every last detail about our lives. I feel like so much less of a stalker now that you’re basically giving me permission to follow your every move. I have to admit, I might get a lot fewer restrain- ing orders now. Unless, of course, you make your tweets private, which is truly just cruel. In that case, I’ll be the dark figure following you around. Don’t worry, though, the courts ruled me non-violent. Now, I’ve only been using it for a week or so but I’ve hit I’m-in-need-of-rehab status. Every time something happens I jump for my phone or the closest computer to tweet about it. Though, as it is now, I have a whole of one follower and two people that I follow myself. And before you say anything, I know how remarkably popular I am so yeah, I’d be impressed by those numbers, too. But in all honesty, it will be really neat someday to have this virtual database of all of the ridiculous things that we blurt out of our mouths. I’m just sincerely hop- ing that my parents, bosses and, someday, kids never ever even so much as glance at it. That could lead to some very awkward and scandalous explanations. And yeah, if you look me up my first tweet says, “I eat rocks.” But because I know you’re wondering, I actually did eat a rock on accident last week. It had something to do with being at happy hour for four hours and coming home to eat spilled popcorn off the floor, but no more talk about that — it’s a sensitive subject. So I guess if you’re looking for some more Jennie Tighe one-liners in your life, either head down to the Sip and Sail any night of the week or check out my new Twitter. Jennifer Tighe is a senior majoring in English at SUNY Oneonta. She can be reached at tighjj53@ suny.oneonta.edu. Jan. 27, 2011 O-Town Scene 5

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