TRUTH AND TWO STAPLES TRUTH AND TWO STAPLES
SEPTEMBER 2015 SEPTEMBER 2015
Binghamton Review
BINGHAMTON REVIEW Founded 1987 • SEPTEMBER 2015
P.O. BOX 6000 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902-6000
EDITOR@BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Contents
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sean M. Glendon
Managing Editor Jordan Raitses
Copy Desk Chief Tom Casey
Staff Writers
Yuval Hananya, Haim Engelman,
Patriarchs of the Review Louis Leonini Adam Shamah
Special Thanks To:
Intercollegiate Studies Institute Collegiate Network Binghamton Review was printed by Gary Marsden
We Provide the Truth, he Provides the Staples
Binghamton University is BU? BS!
PAGE 8
6 Return of the Taco Bell
by Tom Casey
10 A Night To Remember by Yuval Hananya 12 Freedom From Caring by Haim Engelman 14 Transgender TV
Departments 3
EDITORIAL
4
ABCS OF BINGHAMTON
5
WHAT YOU MISSED
by Sean Glendon
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Direct letter to editor@binghamtonreview.com Or come to our office: UUW B05 2
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
September 2015
EDITORIAL
From the Editor
Hello Readers, Welcome back to Binghamton University and Binghamton Review! And, if you’re a freshman and you’re reading this, you’ve made at least one good decision so far but will that balance out with the plethora of mistakes you’re inevitably going to make through college? Probably not, which is why you should stop by a meeting. You’re gonna need to something to balance out all of your State Street blunders. After our printer abandoning us last year by going out of business with no notice, and having huge delays getting our first issue as a result, I am glad to have this issue on the stands so early. Putting together an issue during the summer, with no physical meetings, was a goal that I thought was too ambitious to pull off. But we did it, and I have nothing but high hopes for what will be accomplished for the rest of the year. I’d like to give a huge thank you to everybody that worked on this issue, from writing to editing and layout work. This couldn’t have been done without you. With so much going on over the summer, 16 pages is not nearly enough to encapsulate the events that took place, but hopefully this issue gives you the chance to read a new opinion and get a few laughs. This year we’ll be lucky enough to get to follow the primaries, and you’ll be lucky enough to read about us following the primaries or even get involved and follow the primaries for
us if you’re ambitious! Some quick advice to the freshmen: College is supposed to be fun, but it is also plays a huge part in determining the rest of your life. Study hard, but party hard. There’s a fine balance between college not being memorable because you spent too much time in the library and not being able to remember what happened in college because you spent too much time drinking to forget about the tests that you didn’t study for. You’ll make friends that will last you a lifetime, and you’ll have a blast with people you’ll never see again. And President Stenger, don’t take the article too personally. We aren’t BU, and you were the best person to use to prove the point. We referred to you in the ABCs positively for a reason - keep up the good work, preferably while referring to Binghamton University and leaving the term BU for Boston University. Best of Luck,
Sean Glendon
Our Mission
Binghamton Review is a non-partisan, student-run periodical of conservative thought at Binghamton University. A true liberal arts education expands a student’s horizons and opens one’s mind to a vast array of divergent perspectives. In that spirit, we seek to promote the free exchange of ideas and offer an alternative viewpoint not normally found on our predominately liberal campus. It is our duty to expose the warped ideology of political correctness that dominates this university. We stand against tyranny in all its forms, both on campus and beyond. We believe in the principles set forth in this country’s Declaration of Independence and seek to preserve the fundamental tenets of Western civilization. Finally, we understand that a moral order is a necessary component of any civilized society. We strive to inform, engage, and perhaps even amuse our readers in carrying out this mission.
editor@binghamtonreview.com
Binghamtonreview.com
3
ABC OF BINGHAMTON
A
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
ABCs of Binghamton
lright - Many of the things at Binghamton are ‘Alright’. “How was the food?” “Not great, alright I guess.”
B
reaks - Just like a middle school dance, Binghamton’s break schedule is awkward and isolated. You’ll be home longer than your friends, and won’t be able to go on spring break with them.
C
afe - Yeah, you know that cafe in the marketplace? It’s not actually a Starbucks; it’s Sodexo.
D
isappointment - A feeling you will become very used to. From the weather, to the concert announcements, to the bars, brace yourself… disappointment is coming.
E
ast Gym - Somebody decided that our undersized physical fitness center needed to have a giant playground added to the middle of it. Managing to get a bench or squat rack requires a skill set similar to those required to purchase a 60 inch flat screen TV on Black Friday.
F
lo - And leading the list of Binghamton’s most notable alumni is Flo, the Progressive insurance spokesperson.
G
reek Life - Before you pledge, make sure that the administration isn’t going to decide to decharter your new fraternity. And, maybe read that New York Times article.
what a lot of emails actually looks like. Good luck.
M
oghul - The best restaurant in the Marketplace because… guess what? It’s run by a real restaurant instead of Sodexo!
N
ature Preserve - A great place to get away from it all and go for a hike. Or smoke weed, have sex… just college things.
O
ld Dorms - If you live in Hinman… we’re sorry. Though if there’s a power-out, don’t worry we’re pretty sure it’s steam powered
P
ipedream and Prospect - An inferior campus newspaper and a depressingly inferior magazine. Don’t bother, we’re better.
Q
uest - If you have nothing to lose except your virginity, you can join our local ‘Live Action Role Playing’ club and go on live quests, battling each other with foam swords. Did I mention the elf costumes?! obbery - See ‘Textbooks’
S
odexo - The least appetizing thing on campus that starts with an S. It even beat out Students for Change.
T
extbooks - Open to one page once, maybe, for the low cost of $179.99. But, it’s “required reading”. Oh, and don’t forget that access code that makes buying a used book impractical. Nothing like good old highway robbery.
H
arvey - He’s the hero Binghamton deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.
I
nternational TAs - If you take a math class during your time here, you’ll probably run into one of them. They say math transcends language--I beg to differ.
J
ewish people - Approximately 1/3 of the student body. No, really, we have the highest proportion of Jews of any public school. If you’ve never met a Jewish person before, you will.
K
osher Korner - Korner? Why not Corner? Anyways, this is the secret gem of C4 dining hall, and happens to be one instance of forced alliteration away from being a PR disaster for Sodexo
L
istservs - Over the next few weeks, you’ll begin to understand
4
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
R
U
ltimate Frisbee - A pretty fun game, but some people take it too far. Sorry bros, Ultimate is not more important that your grades.
V
estal Parkway - A construction filled glimpse into the first world, featuring almost every franchise-able food establishment in existence.
W Y
inter - It’s coming.
X
anax?
ik Yak - Freshmen, you will finally get why college students visiting home complain that your town’s yik yak sucks.
Z
ombies vs. Humans - Or, more accurately, Humans vs. Sexual Maturity. September 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
WHAT YOU MISSED Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders left a crowd of several thousand people without giving his speech after having the stage over by two Black Lives Matter activists. This is the second time Black Lives Matter protesters have interrupted a Bernie Sanders event. An Oklahoma state audit revealed that funds and property seized by law enforcement agencies were either missing or used improperly in many cases. Among the civil asset forfeiture violations found were the use of seized money to pay a prosecutor’s student loans and another prosecutor lived rent free in a confiscated house. Netflix announced that employees will be allowed unlimited paid maternity and paternity leave during the first year after the birth or adoption of a child. Microsoft quickly improved their parental leave policy, and other Silicon Valley companies may follow suit to remain competitive. A Massachusetts Civil Service Commission found that the Methuen Police Department gave higher scores to job applicants that would not arrest fellow officers for drunk driving. Lower scores were given to applicants who said they would equally apply the law to officers.
dogs. U.S. v. Bentley centers around a man who was arrested for having a large quantity of cocaine in his car. The dog, Lex, in this case affirmatively alerted police in 93% of sniffs, with a success rate of 59%, meaning that Lex likely would’ve generated a probable cause even if there was no cocaine in the car. After nearly a year and a half, wreckage from Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has been found. A right wing flaperon was found on the beach of Réunion Island, a small island in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar. CNN was ecstatic, and began to cover the flight nonstop… again. Zach Anderson, a 19 year old from Michigan, spent 90 days in jail and is now a sex offender after having sex with a 14 year old girl he met on the app Hot or Not. The girl lied about her age, claiming she was legal, and testified on his behalf in court. Anderson will be on the sex offender registry until 2040 and under his probation, he cannot have a smartphone or use the internet for five years, cannot talk to anybody outside of his immediate family under the age of 17, is banned from alcohol serving establishments and has a 9 PM curfew.
An explosion in a lab at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland revealed a meth lab in a building where Department of Commerce experiments are conducted.
After being found guilty of 165 charges for the killings of 12 people and the injuries of 70 more in Aurora, Colorado in 2012, James Holmes will serve life in prison. 9 jurors favored the death sentence, with one holdout pushing for life without parole, and 2 more on the fence.
The Seventh Circuit of the Court of Appeals has become the latest case in a long series of rulings that has upheld the use of drug-sniffing
Two movie theater shootings occurred - one in Nashville and one in Lafayyette. The Nashville shooter was the only fatality in that case,
editor@binghamtonreview.com
and two victims and the shooter were left dead at the scene of Amy Schumer’s movie Trainwreck in Lafayette. Amy Schumer and her cousin, New York Senator Chuck Schumer are teaming up to promote gun control legislation. Republican Presidential Candidates faced off for their first debate. The top 10 polling candidates debated on the main stage, while the remaining 7 were left to an earlier debate. The next debate will be aired on CNN on September 16th. The Democratic debate schedule has been set - there will only be 6 debates, with the first airing on CNN on October 13th. Less debate time is good news for Hillary Clinton, who is the clear frontrunner and expected eventual nominee. Besides Clinton, the uncrowded Democratic field includes former Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and former Virginia Senator Jim Webb. There is speculation that Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau urged him to enter the race before his untimely death, will be in the race. The United States and five other world powers reached a deal to curb the nuclear ambitions of Iran. Iran will decrease the number of centrifuges, and the uranium enrichment abilities. Further, inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency will be allowed. Sanctions by the United States and European Union will be lifted once it is determined that Iran is following the guidelines. The deal has become a polarizing issue - some praise it for its steps forward, while others are critical saying that it doesn’t go far enough. Binghamtonreview.com
5
RETURN OF THE TACO BELL
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Return of the Taco Bell! We Can Dream, Can’t We? Written By Tom Casey
Once an icon in the Old Marketplace, Taco Bell will return to campus in glorious fashion. The popular restaurant chain will replace Holy Habaneros as the primary source of Tex-Mex food in the New Union. Sodexo and Campus Facilities jointly announced the— I’m lying. According to all available public information, Taco Bell is not coming back to campus. I lied. Here, I have the graces to immediately admit my fib. Over the summer, I perpetrated a lie very similar to the one I just told. This lie, however, continues to fester in my hometown.
> ريخب انأ ؟كلاح فيك. بعللاب عتمتسأ تقو لك يف انه .
My town’s Yik Yak slipped into a drought when the Pace University student body went home. A few rehashed jokes and calls for companions trickled through the feed. My brother had four more weeks left in high school. He brought news that his grade planned to occupy the newly vacated Yaksphere. My brother leapt into the galvanized feed. He began posting a serious of cheerful, inspiration sayings after he 6
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
ran them through the Arabic Google Translate.
> يحلا اذه بحأ انأ. ةيقبل انه شيعأ نأ ديرأ يتايح. اضيأ انه شيعي فيطل بعش. ىنمتا !ديج موي كل The responses were predictably racist. Bomb emoji were common. My brother kept the act up for a while. His posts formed a character: a Sudanese man moving into Pleasantville with wide eyes and a broken syntax. What caught my attention wasn’t the inevitable “No you cannot blow this up” reply in every thread, but the real life responses Yik Yak users had. In regular, face-to-face conversation, people discussed the mysterious Arabic Yakker. An entrepreneurial friend of my bother plugged the Yaks back into Google Translate, which is akin to making a photocopy of a photocopy. Nevertheless, “Are you? I b Osmta core in here squirt time” didn’t answer many questions regarding the poster’s identity. The teenagers and college students of Pleasantville fully believed in Yik Yak’s content. Students throughout the school thought that an ArSeptember 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
abic family was moving in. My brother ceased his charade, concerned further action would prompt the formation of a house warming committee, or a witch-hunt. I decided to try my hand at a more devious Yik Yak deception. These users, who regularly attempted to depict a suicide bomber with asterisks and tildes, deserved it.
> OMG! Pleasantville is getting a Chipotle! My claim was more outlandish. The post’s information was easily debunked. I expected to spark only a flurry of hopeful comments. I’d enjoy the experience until a noble fact checker cut down the rumor. I was wrong. I barnstormed to 33 upvotes. My post smashed the meager former record holder: a call for cuddles that gathered a pathetic 12 ups. The comments: Yeeeeeeeesssss, Can’t wait. No one would lie about burritos, right? The following week, the town’s Pizza Hut shut down. I capitalized on the development. > Circle of Life > Pleasantville loses Pizza Hut but gets a Chipotle! My brother even joined in.
> ابيرق وتيروبلا لكأت نأ ديرت اقح انأ. By mid-July, things started to get hairy. My coworker from a town over casually mused if the new Chipotle would hire her. I asked where she heard about the Chipotle. The Official Chappaqua Moms’ Facebook Page latched onto my
“The Pleasantville/Chipotle incident revealed the power anonymous social media claims have over a ready to believe user base.” lie. Threads about the development were commonplace. My brother’s high school friends planned lunch runs to the restaurant when school resumed. Another individual, either a copycat or severely misguided fellow, began preaching against Chipotle’s arrival on Yik Yak.
RETURN OF THE TACO BELL
months from the original post, I can say that mostly everything is quiet now. The Pleasantville/Chipotle incident revealed the power anonymous social media claims have over a ready to believe user base. The arrival of a popular food locale fell directly within a Goldilocks zone of believability. A too outlandish post attracts immediate decriers. I remember a guy in December who posted on Yik Yak three times in ten minutes. > Woah, did anyone else feel that?
“Try your hand. Write a post announcing your joy, your hopes regarding Taco Bell’s comeback tour.” > Whole house shook mustve been an EARTQUAKE > Everything is broken my sister is crying wow No one fell for it. > OP, its just your mom getting out of bed. Relax At the other end, there are lies not substantial enough to bother believing.
> Rave in Cayuga 326. Who cares? So let’s try a major social experiment. Just like Pleasantville/Chipotle, Binghamton/Taco Bell are a perfect pair. Taco Bell was here before; no one eats at Holy Habaneros. All it takes is for one post to crack the top of the hot list for an hour. Every pair of eyeballs is a new believer. Try your hand. Write a post announcing your joy, your hopes regarding Taco Bell’s comeback tour. Upvote and comment in support for other posts you see. Together, we can harness the might of anonymous posting to influence a major population. Who knows? Maybe if enough people believe, it’ll come true.
> Guys, my dad works at Moes and he says that its definitely coming not Chipotle. Chipotle loyalists dutifully voted him off. I resolved to let the lie fizzle out. I would neither continue to purport nor strive to debunk my claim. Three editor@binghamtonreview.com
Binghamtonreview.com
7
BU? BS!
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Binghamton University is BU? BS! An Abbreviative Evaluation Written By Sean Glendon
W
hen University President Harvey Stenger wrote a guest column for Pipe Dream that was published on July 6, 2015, he may have been violating Administration Procedures. Institutional Services, Policy 502: Publication Policies and Guidelines for Graphic Standards, which “shall apply to all University personnel” has the goal of creating a unified brand regarding logo use and the university name. According to the policy, the University should be either called Binghamton University or Binghamton University, State of New York, while more formal documentation should refer to the University by its legal and official name - the State University of New York at Binghamton. After the first mention by name, “the University” can be used. The policy explicitly says that Binghamton University should never be referred to as SUNY-Binghamton, SUNY-B, Harper College, “or other names not listed above.” In his Pipe Dream column, he referred to Binghamton University as BU five times, which was absolutely not one of the names “listed above” in the policy.
It is not clear what exactly is covered under this policy, but it can be implied that Pipe Dream columns are covered, and it would be hard to argue that Harvey Stenger is unaware of this policy - An Open Letter from Harvey Stenger, also published for Pipe Dream on March 30, 2015, in response to the demands of Students for Change. His open letter referred to the University only as Binghamton University or the University. So why the sudden change in tone and adherence to rules? For many incoming freshmen, Harvey Stenger’s guest column will be one of the first things that they read about their new home, and they are being sent mixed signals about what to refer to the University as. How is the University expected to promote a strong, unified brand when the leader of the University is going against Administrative Procedures set forward by the Office of Communications and Marketing? I’d like to see BU explicitly added to the list of names that the school should never be referred to as in Policy 502 for a simple reason - we are not BU; Boston University is. If you Google “BU” the 8th re-
sult is BU Brain. The first 7 results, along with many of the results from the 9th result on refer to Boston University. 10 pages into my search, I quit with just one Google result referring to Binghamton and countless results referring to Boston University. That’s because Boston University is BU, and Boston University will always be BU unless for some strange reason they decide to change their marketing strategy. Until then, BU.edu belongs to Boston University (BU.com is apparently for sale though), because they are the true BU. They have the credentials that give them the right to their name. You don’t pick a fight with somebody twice your size with more experience and expect to win. And, in this case, the legitimate BU is definitely not somebody we should pick a fight with - Boston University is 107 years older than Binghamton University, has nearly double the amount of students that Binghamton University has when accounting for graduate students, and has an endowment nearly 14 times that of Binghamton University’s. Comparing the Notable
Seems pretty straightforward, Harvey 8
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
September 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Alumni Wikipedia pages of the two schools doesn’t fare well for Binghamton, and neither do accomplishments in sports. And a logical response to the comparisons, would be that it isn’t fair to compare a 69 year old public university to a 176 year old private university… but once the former tries to brand itself using the latter’s long-standing branding strategy, that comparison becomes quite logical. Geographic location plays a big part in the comparisons. If Binghamton was a state school on the West Coast, it could potentially get away with referring to itself as BU. But with both schools being in the East Coast, this is an absolutely terrible idea. While the geographic location makes Boston University the default comparison that comes
BU? BS!
to mind when somebody says BU, these two schools aren’t the only ones that at times are abbreviated as BU; Baylor University, Biola University, Bradley University and Butler University also share that abbreviation. Of the aforementioned list, Binghamton University is by far the youngest school. Obviously, age doesn’t define success but that would make us BU VI. Do we really want to brand ourselves as BU the sixth? And, realistically every other university beginning with a B can be called BU. That could include schools like Brown and Bucknell. As the recent Republican debate has shown, candidates have been trying to differentiate themselves and become household names. Jeb Bush is directly related to two former
presidents, and decided to brand himself with his first name, stylized Jeb! 2016, which many assume is to distance himself from his father and brother. Clearly, branding is a huge deal and we at Binghamton University need to do a better job of treating it like one if we would like to become the premier public university in the Northeast. I have never referred to Binghamton University as BU, and I never will. Doing so in an interview, a prospective employer would probably reply “Boston University?” Good look getting out of that one without complete awkwardness ensuing. I am proud to be a Bearcat, and I am proud to attend Binghamton University, but every time I hear somebody refer to the University as BU, I cringe.
Binghamton Review Presents: Comic Caption Contest!
Rules
1) Draw expressions, backgrounds, props, etc. into the scene above to make it as funny or political (or both) as possible 2) Slide the comic (with contact info) under our door (see back ad for location) or email editor@binghamtonreview.com Tom Casey 3) Potentially win an awesome prize! editor@binghamtonreview.com
Binghamtonreview.com
9
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
A Night To Remember Written By Yuval Hananya
T
he first GOP debate marked the beginning of what will be a long and Trump-filled primary season. With 17 serious candidates duking it out for the ultimate title, things were bound to get a little messy, and nothing was off limits. Even Rosie O’Donnell got involved! Come on, the least we could do is leave Rosie out of it! The debate was set up as follows: Fox News would moderate and co-host the night with Facebook, and due to the overcrowded field, would decide which candidates would take the stage and at what time using an average of several national polls. The top ten would take the stage at prime time, and the rest would speak earlier in the night.
disinterested, Fiorina went home a winner. Fiorina’s game plan was simple; play the smart Washington outsider card that Donald Trump is failing to play. Fiorina, however, acknowledged Trump’s success and used it to her advantage, claiming he has, “…tapped into an anger that people feel,” and that Americans are “sick of politics as usual.” Other reasons she’s a winner? Even her rivals noted her potential. Governor Rick Perry complimented Fiorina in one of his answers, stating he would want Fiorina at the negotiating table with Iran. We’ll be hearing a lot more from Fiorina in the months to come, and I expect to see her on the main stage in the coming debates.
sich could very well be the Ronald Reagan of 2016. The appeal to Kasich is obvious. First of all, he’s a very well liked Governor in what is probably the most important state in elections. He’s a moderate, and he’s got enthusiasm. Kasich appeals to such a wide base of Republicans, and even many Democrats, which I believe will prove to be his greatest asset in these early months as he seeks to convince the voters that he is the right man for the job.
MORE WINNERS: Marco Rubio.
CARLY FIORINA: WINNER.
For the earlier round, this is a no brainer. Former CEO of Hewlett Packard Carly Fiorina stole the show. Fiorina went into the night with 40% voter recognition- the lowest in the field- but is sure to come out of the debate a top contender. With weak performances from the other 6 candidates on stage, most notably Lindsay Graham who could not seem more 10
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
JOHN KASICH: WINNER.
Kasich had the home field advantage in the later debate. In a packed Quicken Loans Arena, Kasich, the current Governor of Ohio stood all the way to the right, a spot he earned after just edging out Governor Perry. Although Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is the winner of the debate, I think Kasich won a lot more than just the debate. With perfect and inspiring answers, Ka-
He was the obvious winner of the debate, emphasizing his experience in the Florida House, his personal struggles, referencing his student loans specifically, and describing himself as a candidate ready to handle the economy today, an economy he states is very different from that of the Clinton’s in the 1990s. Rand Paul fought to establish himself as the “Anti-Trump” by calling out the billionaire businessman on his consistent donations to both parties, and his reluctance to pledge support of the Republican nominee, whoever it may be. Paul also took on Chris Christie on the NSA and hugging Obama. It was pretty epic. September 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
DONALD TRUMP: UNDECIDED.
For as long as we can remember, Donald Trump has been The Donald. He is an enigma. Is he a Democrat? Is this all a publicity stunt? Is Ashton Kutcher going to surprise us with the greatest Punk of all time? On a serious note, I don’t yet have an answer as to why Trump is so popular. It seems that with every gaffe, he gets stronger and stronger. He’s like Clinton, only if the gaffes were major questions of integrity, national security, and ethical behavior surrounding her entire political career. However, I think we’ll start to see a decline in Trump’s poll numbers. His performance overall was pretty typical. Attack the moderators? Check. Present no new policy ideas? Check. Reference his net worth? Check. Offend just about everybody? You bet. I think his campaign isn’t serious. Sure, his poll numbers are huge, but it’s also very early, and he has huge name recognition. He’s also not from Washington, an argument Bush, Carson, Fiorina, and every other governor could make. Like I said, his debate performance was typical, and even if he remains the front-runner in the polls, were still a long way out from Election Day.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY: UNDECIDED.
For now, I think were in a pretty good position. We have many viable candidates that could all easily take on Clinton and Sanders. My only concern is the answer to the first question of the night; whether or not the candidates would pledge to support the eventual nominee of the GOP. As you may already know, Trump raised his hand and became the wild card of the election; could he run Independent and ruin all hope for a Republican in the White editor@binghamtonreview.com
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
House? Remember Ross Perot in 1992? He’s the man who gave us the Clintons. In the recent days, Trump has publicly stated that he would not run as a third party candidate if he were treated fairly. At this time, The Review does not have the definition of “fair” that Mr. Trump will be using, but we will let you know as soon as we do.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: UNDECIDED.
Allow me to explain. 24 million viewers tuned in to watch 17 extremely qualified candidates square off. We have 17 qualified candidates! Any news outlet that tells you that that’s bad is wrong. What do the Democrats have? A coronation. They’re putting all their eggs in one basket, and with a candidate as flawed as Hillary Clinton, that is not a good idea. Clinton represents everything that is wrong with politics: dishonesty and a total lack of transparency. The Democrats also have a lack of excitement coming into this election that could translate to very low voter turnout in 2016. For now, she is the front-runner, and while Socialist Bernie Sanders is on the rise, it’s not easy to go up against the Clinton Machine. My main reason for leaving the DNC as “Undecided” is because of Bernie or any other candidate for that matter. As I’m sure you already know, it’s very early, and Clinton has lost before to an underdog and she could very well lose again. What used to seem like a sure thing for the Left is slowly falling apart as more and more questions are being raised. It’s gotten so bad that they have to call in the B Team out of concerns that the top Democratic candidates could flop. Rumors of Joe Biden and even Al Gore entering the race have already begun. Al Gore?! But the biggest obstacle the
Democrats will face? It is extremely difficult for a party to win 3 elections in a row, especially if the candidate is linked to the administration. Only time will tell how big of a loss this is for the left.
MY FAVORITE ANSWERS: KASICH: On gay marriage: “…the
court has ruled, and I said we’ll accept it…because somebody doesn’t think the way I do, doesn’t mean that I can’t care about them or can’t love them. So if one of my daughters happened to be that, of course I would love them and I would accept them.”
CARSON: “I’m the only one to separate Siamese twins…the only one to operate on babies while they were still in mother’s womb, the only one to take out half of a brain, although you would think, if you go to Washington, that someone had beat me to it.”
RUBIO: “Well, first, let me say I
think God has blessed us. He has blessed the Republican Party with some very good candidates. The Democrats can’t even find one.”
Yes Marco, we are #Blessed. Binghamtonreview.com
11
THE FREEDOM FROM CARING
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
The Freedom to Care (Or Not) About Gay Marriage
Written By Haim Engelman
P
luralism is a hallmark of modern American society and a refrain that college students will hear innumerable times during their years in university. In this social context, pluralism represents the diversity in many aspects of society, from ethical and political philosophies to the religious, racial, and economic makeup of individuals and communities within our nation. The United States has continuously become more pluralistic in its expansion of liberties for more and more demographics. As a result, the pool of freedoms granted to the individual has expanded tremendously over time. However, freedoms are diminishing in some spheres as they expand in others. Economic freedom has yielded to collectivism. Political correctness has chilled freedom of expression. Private individuals and institutions must have the ability to express their ideals and conduct themselves within the boundaries of their ethical principals without fear of legal or social repercussions. Society must be honest in its pluralism and grant the freedoms to believe and express to both sides of this question. This summer, the pool of freedoms was expanded once again as the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage. Not withstanding the questionable legal theory of the majority opinion, this ruling was not only a victory for the gay community, but purportedly for all those who wish to see freedoms granted to more and more people. However, has the overall pool of freedoms expanded as one group’s
12
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
new freedoms encroach upon and limit another’s? Consider the recent case of the restaurant owners that, for reasons of deeply held religious conviction, would refuse to cater a gay wedding. The personal and financial backlash for a private citizen acting within the boundaries of his religious beliefs can be enormous. It will not end here. Traditional and religious institutions including places of worship, universities, and charitable establishments are on high alert, gearing up for a First Amendment showdown with gay interest organizations. Both sides have quickly turned to politicians and legislation for firepower. This war of worldviews is riddled with intense problems. Many in the gay rights movement are under the impression that those who don’t accept gay marriage are hateful or bigoted. The idea that someone can be kind, civil, and accepting on a personal level, yet
not accept a practice that he sees as counter to his beliefs is often never considered. As a result, traditional minded people who are respectful of gay people and their rights, but do not feel comfortable catering a gay wedding or the like see themselves as the victims of a national witch-hunt.
Bills are being proposed with few stopping to question their unintended consequences. The Democrat-sponsored Equality Act places many religious institutions, charities, and adoption centers at risk.” True pluralism and tolerance are accomplished when members of society can say that even if they disagree with someone else’s choices or lifestyle, they still are in favor of granting them the right to live
September 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
the way they choose, provided that no one else is violated in the process. This becomes increasingly tricky as the subtleties behind what services a private individual or company should be able to render to those who oppose them become more intricate. The differentiation between what constitutes a religious, and therefor-protected objection, and what is discrimination comes about if the service assists and validates the morally objected institution. To deny serving a gay couple dinner in a restaurant is discriminatory, it is a lack of acceptance of the individual. However to deny catering to a gay wedding is a different case altogether, this is the lack of acceptance of a practice, one many traditional individuals and communities across the country object to. For a person to say that someone else must accept gay marriage as ethically acceptable and therefore must agree with the law is not at all a tolerant view. It is the mirror image of those who say that gay marriage is morally wrong and should therefore be illegal. True tolerance is played out when members of society can express their personal beliefs about ethics and morals without fear of repercussion for being on the unpopular side. At the same time, those who disagree on both sides of the argument must be free to practice their preferred lifestyles without fear of legal restriction. An additional shortfall, as alluded to earlier is that the first strike, on both sides, in the post-SCOTUS struggle is the misguided effort to push legislation that is intended to protect religious institutions and individuals on the one side and to provide gay people with a bill of rights on the other. Legislation is necessary, but it must accompany popular feeling, not editor@binghamtonreview.com
THE FREEDOM FROM CARING
dictate it, or else the result is popular resentment and widespread sidestepping of the law. Finally, all too often individuals and groups will attempt to coerce the opposition to accept them, without making it a bilateral agreement. In order to gain respect, one must give respect. This is true for individuals and entire social movements.
“While this complex social issue becomes as difficult as ever to navigate, name-calling, witch-hunts, and wanton lawsuits do nothing to foster understanding or productive conversations.� Groups on both sides of the issue have thrown their weight behind legislation that in typical Washington, big government fashion would take a hatchet to the issues where a scalpel is needed. Bills are being proposed with few stopping to question their unintended consequences. The democrat sponsored Equality Act places many religious institutions, charities, and adoption centers at risk, while the
republican backed First Amendment Defense Act is written in a way that seems to allow discrimination against unmarried mothers. Thoughtless, reactionary action and us versus them team thinking has hurt all who stand to gain from understanding and engaging in dialogue. While this complex social issue becomes as difficult as ever to navigate, name-calling, witchhunts, and wanton lawsuits do nothing to foster understanding or productive conversations. For both sides of this intricate question, the solutions and compromises will not be simple or easy; compromise rarely is. In order for one to truly be tolerant, one must accept that there are those who disagree and that is a positive for society and not a drawback. It is a blessing to live in a country where vastly opposing viewpoints are allowed; to try to silence or discredit the opposition is intolerant. The journey to a conclusive outcome will be so much more productive if organizations, parties, and the individuals who they are comprised of, apply the basic principles of understanding that seem to have left the collective mindset of this debate. Binghamtonreview.com
13
TRANSGENDER TELEVSISION
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Transgender Television:
Media Acceptance or Corporate Exploitation? Written By Sean Glendon
41%
of transgender individuals attempt suicide. That’s two out of every five, which is staggering, especially when compared to the general population. Up to 20% of the LGB community attempts suicide, meaning the T community is double the rates of the other counterparts in the movement. The overall population suicide attempt rate is only 4.5%, meaning a transgender individual is nearly 10 times more likely to attempt suicide than a person chosen at random. And this number doesn’t change much with age for the transgender community. Bullying, misinformation and an overall feeling of isolation could be behind this insanely high number. So the fact that transgenderism is making its way into television shows should help to decrease this rate, right? The first experience I had with a transgender person in the consumable media was in 2005, when South Park’s homosexual teacher Mr. Garrison had a sex change, became a lesbian, and eventually became a man again with a now unknown sexual preference. Like South Park tends to do, it poked fun but got people thinking years before other outlets did. 14
BINGHAMTON REVIEW
The next encounter came much later, in 2013 when Netflix released Orange is the New Black. The show, focusing on a women’s prison, featured Laverne Cox playing Sophia Burset, an inmate that is the prison’s hairdresser. Both Laverne and her character as transgender women, and the show features Laverne’s twin brother as pre-transition Sophia in flashbacks. Sophia fits fluidly in the large and varied ensemble of inmates coming from various backgrounds, and wasn’t used as a talking point to promote the show. This is the kind of relatable, depiction that is needed to decrease the suicide attempt rate. It also helps bring light to the fact that not only are transgender individuals likely to attempt suicide, they are likely to be incarcerated. 16% of transgender individuals, and 47% of black transgender individuals have been incarcerated at some point in their lives. Looking at those statistics, the show would be less authentic if it didn’t feature a Sophia. Recently, 1976 Olympics Decathlon winner Bruce Jenner came out as a transgender woman in a 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer. Jenner revealed a new image and name - Caitlyn - on the June 2015 Vanity Fair cover, and has become the subject of the 8 part documentary series I September 2015
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Am Cait. Caitlyn received Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPYs, which created a lot of controversy as false rumors circulated that she the runner-up was double-amputee Iraq War veteran and Dancing with the Stars contestant Noah Galloway. ESPN released statements saying there is no runner up for the award, but critics still flooded social media with pictures of Noah Galloway. In her acceptance speech, Caitlyn highlighted the suicide statistics, gave examples of murders of transgender youth, and shared from personal experiences. I Am Cait and the Jenner situation as a whole has the potential to raise awareness and be a genuinely good thing - but it also has the potential to become a sideshow of the Kardashian circus. Once the focus shifts to CBS, things get a bit odd. For those unfamiliar, Big Brother is a reality show on CBS that throws a bunch of strangers into a house and they compete for $500,000 throughout the summer. The show is named after the all seeing presence in George Orwell’s 1984, because the houseguests are constantly being watched, with the ability for viewers to purchase 24/7 live feeds. Since its 2000 inception, Big Brother’s 17 seasons have featured 186 houseguests. Among this season’s houseguests, was Audrey Middleton, a 25 year old Digital Media Consultant from Villa Rica, Georgia - who was born as Adam Middleton. Audrey was purely as a typecast by CBS to gain publicity, and when TMZ received this information, CBS stopped allowing her to talk to reporters. They wanted the fact that Audrey was transgender to be revealed live on air, to intrigue viewers. There’s also math to prove that Audrey was purely a publicity stunt: while this season’s houseguests range in age from 22 to 33, there have been houseguests up
“16% of transgender individuals, and 47% of black transgender individuals have been incarcerated at some point in their lives. to age 75. But considering the vast majority of houseguests
have fallen around this range, let’s take the demographic information for people between the age of 21 and 34: 58,332,747 people. This is 18.4% of the American population. Data isn’t easily collectable on the size of the transgender population, but the most frequently documented number is 700,000 Americans. Assuming the age breakdown is the same for transgender individuals as it is for the general population, there are 128,800 transgender individuals that fall under Big Brother’s prime age range, or .22% of the prime age range population. Using this percentage, assuming Houseguests are chosen at random, the first transgender houseguest editor@binghamtonreview.com
TRANSGENDER TELEVISION
could have came as late as the 455th houseguest, starring in Big Brother 42. But, CBS decided to get in on the media discussion that has been beginning regarding transgender individuals and casted Audrey up to 25 seasons early for the publicity that would result. Audrey was very open with the other houseguests, and was accepted with open arms as a person, but was overall a terrible person when it came to gameplay. She was a manipulative liar, and played too hard too fast, leaving her voted out early - coming in 14th place out of 17 houseguests. In fact, many houseguests wanted her out sooner, but others didn’t want to be responsible for the eviction of the first transgender houseguest, fearing America would view them negatively.
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, has featured transgender characters twice, negatively both times”
Another CBS show, The Briefcase, featured a transgender individual in its season finale. The controversial show gives two needy families briefcases full of money and they have to determine how much to keep, and how much to give to the other family. Each family is unaware that the other family has a briefcase, and this episode in particular featured a devout Roman Catholic family and a formerly lesbian couple that now consists of one woman and one transgender male. These families were both chosen as their sharp contrast in beliefs, in hopes of creating a conflict and increased viewership. This backfired, as the families gave away roughly the same amount of money to each other and this episode was the least viewed of the season. Of the four examples, two of the shows are solely publicity stunts, and they both happen to fall on CBS. Is this a coincidence? CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, has featured transgender characters twice, negatively both times - through Paul Millander, a serial killer who murdered his mother, and in an episode that focused on illegal sex changes. Two and a Half Men features a woman that slept with Charlie, became a man and then started dating Charlie’s mother. Finally, NCIS a transgender criminal who was shot in the head at the end of the episode. CBS depicts transgender characters far more than other networks, but almost does so exclusively in a negative light or as a publicity stunt. So, while in recent years, there has been an increase in the portrayal of transgender characters in television and movies (look to Jared Leto’s character in Dallas Buyers Club), it is important to look at the light in which these characters are portrayed and the motivations of the funders and the distributors of these projects - if these characters are consistently villainized, it may be possible that the 41% suicide attempt rate isn’t a peak for this group. Binghamtonreview.com
15