Events this week

1. If you are interested in something to do tonight, Fredonia Feminists will be hosting a discussion at 4:00pm in G103B of the Williams Center. The discussion is called “Breaking the Mold: Women, Media, and Representation,” Fredonia website says they will be talking about challenging stereotypes and representation of women in the media. So bring your friends and ask some questions and give some advice. Refreshments will be provided while supplies last.
2. Wednesday night in Mason Hall, Rosch Recital Hall from 5pm to 6:15pm, visiting violinist Ambroise Aubrun will be hosting a master class sponsored by Stamell String. Aubrun is an Associate Violin Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and Artistic Director of the Henry Bruman Chamber Music Festival at UCLA. The master class will be followed by a performance from the visiting violinist at 8 pm. Again this is wednesday night in rosch recital hall beginning at 5pm.

Local Music

Last Call Entertainment THIS THURSDAY, March 27th, is hosting Bone Machine, Hundred Plus Club, and So Perfect (from Canada!) at BJ’s, 51W Main Street in Fredonia. Doors at 9, music is at 10.

Campus news updates with London Nickolai

The SUNY Fredonia department of music is glad to welcome saxophonist Troy Roberts. The artist will be bringing an experience of masterclasses to the school of music along with a series of performances. Roberts is planned to perform with the Fredonia Jazz orchestra and the Fredonia new moods combo right at our very own Juliet J Rosh recital hall this Friday March 28th. The following day is when students can indulge in the jazz workshop masterclass at 7pm at Mason Hall. All events will be open to the public. It’s an event that you will surely not want miss one beat of.

That isn’t all to this weekends activities. Friday March 28th you can also catch a brand new production of an old Walter Gloor Classic. Often revealed as one of the favorites of the great William Shakespeare, this theatre masterpiece is sure to bring students an experience full of comedy and laughed as much as awe and emotion. Director Professor Paul Mockovic speaks on the upcoming event adding, “One of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, ‘Twelfth Night’ is a masterful blend of comedy and romance.” Director Makovic teases that, “there are interpolations of two of Shakespeare’s sonnets to amplify some of the themes and set them to music as well.” You Experience the wonders of romance through this amazing piece at marvel theatre in Rockefeller center this Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm.

Seniors: Fredonia understands that going into the work world can be a daunting experience. Especially for our graduating seniors. Luckily it doesn’t have to be. Tomorrow Fredonia is inviting its seniors to a expo at the University Commons chock full of resources and opportunities to prep students for transferring into life beyond Fredonia. Join your class in getting ideas for careers and ordering and signing up for commencement day.

Local Chautauqua news with Maisie Strader

–County committee rejects giving more sales tax money to municipalities–

After the legislators audit meeting on Thursday of last week, Republican Legislators Bob Scudder of Fredonia, Dan Pavlock of Ellington, Tamara Dickey of Jamestown, and Fred Johnson of Westfield had decided and voted on keeping the county’s sales tax rate at 8%. However Jamestown Legislator Tom Nelson voted against this. The Dunkirk observer states, “Last month the county legislature reviewed a request to keep its sales tax rate at 8%. At that meeting, Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown, argued that the county should consider giving more revenue to towns, villages and cities, since so many of them are facing budget challenges and property tax hikes. The biggest example by far is the city of Dunkirk, which is increasing its property tax rate by 84%. Fredonia, as well, has talked about a need to increase the tax rate substantially, with a starting point of 68%.”

In the meeting Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. mentioned that they know the city of Dunkirk is having a significant hike in property tax. And That the rate will be increasing if people don’t pay their property taxes. This then falls on the county to take care of. The final decision on giving more sales revenue to towns, cities and villages in the county is expected sometime next week.

–Wendel to give State of the County Address–

Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. will be giving a State of the County Address Wednesday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislature Chambers, located at 3 North Erie St.

The Dunkirk Observer states, “During the address, County Executive Wendel will reflect on the achievements of the past year and present his vision for 2025 under the theme ‘Grow CHQ.’ He will highlight strategic investments, economic development initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and plans to enhance the quality of life for Chautauqua County residents.” All residents of chautauqua county are invited. Wendel says, “Together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous Chautauqua County. Students are also welcome to attend the county meeting.

International/national news with Maisie Strader

–Trump says countries that buy Venezuelan oil will face 25% tariff–

On monday President Trump said that he will be placing a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela as well as imposing new tariffs on the South American country itself according to AP News. In a truth social post which is a social media platform that’s goal is to encourage an open, free, and honest global conversation without discrimination.

On here president trump mentions that Venezuela has been “hostile.” AP News says , “Venezuela will face a “Secondary” tariff because it is the home to the gang Tren de Aragua, he said. The Trump administration is deporting immigrants that it claims are members of that gang who illegally crossed into the United States. Trump said his social media post would serve as notification of this policy to the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies.”

–Homeland Security makes cuts to offices overseeing civil rights protections–

The department of homeland security is starting to make department cuts. According to wikipedia The United States Department of Homeland Security is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. AP News says, “President Donald Trump has made downsizing the federal government a key policy goal. Federal agencies were directed to submit by March 13 plans that would not only lay off employees but eliminate positions altogether and consolidate programs.”

Tricia McLaughlin of homeland security says that they will be cutting the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. This is a part of the new reduction in force, a reduction in force is when a company eliminates departments and job positions on a large scale.

–23andMe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as co-founder and CEO Wojcicki resigns–

23 and me, a genetic testing company has officially filed for bankruptcy. The company filed under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and its co-founder and CEO has resigned, the company also is looking into selling all of its assets.

AP News says, “The San Francisco-based company also said Anne Wojcicki had resigned as CEO effective immediately but would remain on the company’s board. Her resignation comes a couple weeks after a board committee had rejected a nonbinding acquisition proposal from Wojcicki.
Shares of 23andMe Holding Co., which have shed nearly all their value since last spring, plunged below $1 in premarket trading Monday.”

According to uscourts.gov, Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code generally provides for reorganization, usually involving a corporation or partnership. A Chapter 11 debtor usually proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time. People in business or individuals also can seek relief in Chapter 11.

Sports news updates with Mitch Horucy

The softball, baseball and women’s lacrosse teams all headed south over spring break to compete. Starting with baseball, they played 10 games in the RussMatt Central Florida invitational, going 6-4 in those games. They travel to Oswego Friday for a weekend series. The softball team made its way to the sunshine state as well to compete in the Spring games. They played 12 games, including 3 against top 25 ranked teams. They went 2-10 in those games. They travel to Geneseo Wednesday for a double header, which is now a non-conference game. The women’s lacrosse team made its way all the way down to Puerto rico. They had 2 games going 0-2 in them. They returned home and traveled to take on Plattsburgh this past Saturday and picked up a 13-12 win. The team is now 5-3 on the year with a game Wednesday at oswego. The Sabres picked up a 5-3 win over the top team in the west last night, Winnipeg jets. Ryan McLeod recorded 4 points with a goal and 3 assists, while James Reimer had a day in net with 33 saves on 36 shots. They return home tomorrow with a game against the Ottawa Senators. The Bandits went 1-1 over the weekend with a win against Las Vegas on friday, but a 11-10 loss in OT to Albany on Saturday. However, this was still enough to clinch a playoff spot with 4 regular season games remaining. They currently have a game lead on Saskatchewan for the top seed in the playoff bracket.

Pop culture with Julia Klement

–Ed Sheeran St. Patty’s Pop Up–
Ed Sheeran held a surprise performance at an Irish pub called the Dubliner in Boston, Massachusetts on St. Patricks Day last week. The Grammy winning singer-songwriter shared a video Monday of his performance of “Galway Girl” at The Dubliner, accompanied by the Irish folk band Beoga. On his Instagram post, he added a note saying, “It’s okay to admit you like this song today bruh.” According to NBC News, the set included songs Shape of You, Nancy Mulligan, and I Don’t Care. What a celebration!

–Snow White Box Office–

Now, for a more recent story. After Rachel Zegler starred in West Side Story and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, there was no doubt that she would be the next live-action Disney princess, which ended up being Snow White. However, the movie with a budget over 250 million dollars ended up pulling 43 million in ticket sales. This is less than the 2019 live action releases of Dumbo, which pulled 46 million opening week, and Lion King, which pulled 1.6 billion worldwide. NBC News states, “The run-up to release was plagued by controversies over the film’s handling of the dwarfs, who are rendered in CGI, and backlashes over comments by its star, Rachel Zegler. The PR headaches prompted Disney to pull back on its premiere.” Reviews were unimpressed and so were the critics, scoring it a 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Political updates with Daniel Quagliana

–Trump signs order to dismantle Department of Education–

Last Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” Trump said, “We’re going to be returning education, very simply, back to the states where it belongs. And this is a very popular thing to do, but much more importantly, it’s a common sense thing to do, and it’s going to work, absolutely.” While Trump and McMahon can decrease the size of the department, they’re unable to completely close it — the Department of Education was created by an act of Congress in 1979, and it would require another one to completely dissolve it, something that is unlikely to garner the 60 votes required to bypass a filibuster in the Senate.

–Schumer dodges resignation calls over budget vote–

On March 14, the Senate passed an extension of last year’s federal budget until September by a vote of 54-46. Some Democrats, including Senate MInority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted in favor of the budget. Despite originally voicing opposition to passing the budget, Schumer said that a “shutdown would give Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk permission to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate.” Schumer’s unwillingness to fight Republicans on the budget has drawn the ire of many Democrats. Senator Michael Bennett, a Democrat from Colorado, said that “we’re going to have future conversations about all the Democratic leadership.” Yesterday, Schumer told NBC News’s Kristen Welker that he’s not stepping down. “Under a shutdown, the executive branch has sole power to determine what is ‘essential.’ And they can determine without any court supervision. The courts have ruled it’s solely up to the executive what to shut down,” he said, warning that Trump would “would eviscerate the federal government.”

–Musk claims he will sue Jamaal Bowman–

Last week Friday, Elon Musk announced on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the he would be suing former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat from New York, after he called Musk a thief and a Nazi during a CNN roundtable the night before. “He’s incompetent. He’s a thief. He’s a Nazi. And people don’t trust him,” Bowman said on that station. Musk’s tweet responded with, “”I’ve had enough. Lawsuit inbound.” Other Democrats have also called Musk a fascist, with Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley saying last month that Musk is a “Nazi nepo baby.”