BINGHAMTON REVIEW
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From the Editor
Dear Readers,
I’m
tapping out. One year of this job has brought me to the brink of death, so I’m passing all of my mistakes and burdens to my trusty successor Aiden “Boss Hogg” Miller. The king is dead. Long live the king.
In this issue, I use the last vestiges of my power to interview Donna Lupardo, our district’s incumbent representative for NYS Assembly, and opine on the SA’s recent Boycott Divest Sanction resolution. (Hint: I don’t like it.) Additionably, Logan Blakeslee writes a brief farewell after so many years of service to the Review. I can imagine his back must hurt from carrying the Review all these years.
In the wild world of Bing Review’s media analysis: Editor Emeritus Madeline Perez has some things to say about Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, and Angelo DiTocco applies some armchair psychiatry to everyone’s favorite Fred.
Finally, if you’re looking for something to do over the summer (and, like me, you’ve failed to get a job because this magazine has ruined your credibility in the eyes of all employers), Liam Steele shares his love of spearfishing and its environmental implications.
As I retire into obscurity, hanging around Bing Review like the footballer who sticks near the high school where he peaked, our new E-Board makes their introductions.
Overall, this is a more quarked up, liberal issue than we’ve had recently. Give your thoughts about it in the QR code below.
Without irony, though. Serving in Binghamton Review these past four years has been a great honor. Some of the closest friendships I made were in this magazine, and it has been invaluable in building personal and career skills of all kinds. I look forward to what our new E-Board produces next year, and I hope that whoever’s reading this now will join us.
Sincerely,
Arthur O’Sullivan
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Our Mission
Binghamton Review is a non-partisan, student-run news magazine founded in 1987 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. The mark of true maturity is being able to engage with these perspectives rationally while maintaining one’s own convictions. In that spirit, we seek to promote the free and open exchange of ideas and offer alternative viewpoints not normally found on campus. We stand against dogma in all of its forms, both on campus and beyond. We believe in the tenents of free expression and believe all sudents should have a voice on campus to convey their thoughts. Finally, we understand that mutual respect is a necessary component of any prosperous society. We strive to inform, engage with, and perhaps even amuse our readers in carrying out this mission.
Views expressed by writers do not necessarily represent the views of the publication as a whole.
Advice Column
I offered to give you all life advice. These were your questions.
I have a lot of work to do on top of finals. How should I deal? Drinking large amounts of alcohol usually helps people make it through. It can really help you focus once you’re nice and relaxed, floating on that chill chill river of tequila. Write down your list of assignments and use it as a coaster, that’ll help you keep it in mind. Put on your finest Hawaiian shirt and buy a huge margarita glass to really keep the mood going. Happy studying!
I’m extremely insecure about my face and body, considering completely changing my attitude to compensate. Any thoughts? 100% do it. On top of that, pull a Britney and shave your head. Bonus points if you do it in your place of work, maybe you’ll have a day that will change your life forever and save your local Delaware record store and your buddies from corruption after losing $18,000 dollars in Atlantic City in one go. If none of that works, baggy clothes are usually the go too.
I think my soap’s giving me hives. What should I do? Stop using it, perhaps? Here’s a list of the best soaps to switch to: Dial, Dove, Dr Bronner, Ajax Dish, Method, Clorox bleach, and Revlon Colorsilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair. Enjoy.
I’m addicted to corn, this isn’t a tiktok joke I actually just really like corn I can’t get enough help???
Step 1. Stop emailing this address, we don’t want to hear any more about how much you like corn. It’s weird. Step 2. Get a psychiatrist. Step 3. Why are you still reading this? Do you actually need advice to stop eating corn? Step 4. Are you doing something else with the corn? Step 5. Don’t answer that.
My roommate uses her socks as napkins. They’re clean and all; it’s just wrong. What should I do?
Try it yourself. Why are you getting so high and mighty about clean socks being used? It’s not that serious. What if there’s nothing else around? You really want her to wipe grubby sticky little fingers on her bedspread? Be considerate. Save the trees. Forgo a napkin.
TikTok is getting banned and I am an addict. What am I supposed to do?
First, try touching some grass. If that doesn’t satisfy you, just go to any other social media platform; it’s basically the same content at this point.
I was invited to a Diddy party. Should I go?
Only if you want to get P. Diddled
How do you get a job over the summer? You could suck up to employers on platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn, but nothing will earn you more money in the long
Written by our Staff
run than a simple investment in Hustlers University. The price will increase soon, so don’t wait!
Why does Bing Review never fail to fill me up with its content? Our articles are written specifically to penetrate your brain as you read them. Once you’ve finished, you’ll have reached a climactic state of intellect and/or amusement.
My final essay needs to be 800 words and I can type at 30 words per minute. If it’s due at 11:59, how long can I wait to start the assignment?
If you’ve already done all your other assignments, you can simply forgo the final essay and still get a decent grade of B. You did do all your other assignments, right?
I really want to wear an 80s mens crop top, should I? PLEASE, please, pls, ples, PLlease,, ppealse, pLeasE, pls ples, plas, pleease, please, please, pllease, PLEAsE, pleasssse, pleiase, plLllease, plpease, ppplease, PLEASE, pls, plis, plz, plateaste, pleas, pllleease, PLEASE, plplease, plas, please, ppleasse, pleasese, ples, plaplease, p-;[kplese, PLEASE, plikse, pl
I want to contribute an article, but no matter how hard I try, I can only get 300 words in before I get distracted and start peeling my carrot. How can I improve my attention span? Next time grab a knife first. Can only make the mistake once :)
Why do old men have no shame in gym locker rooms?
Dealing with old people at Planet Fitness is truly one of life’s greatest challenges. We don’t want to see allat.
Are there any gen ed classes where I don’t have to do a single thing and I can still get an A?
I would look into the psychology department.
Which major has the most women? I just got admitted and I wanna make sure none of my classes are sausagefests.
I’m not sure which one’s the “best” for that, but I’ve heard the psychology classes are pretty good.
Someone’s offering to sell some Olivia Rodrigo tickets in one of the GroupMe chats I’m in. How do I know if it’s a good deal?
Good deals often come with high levels of security. For example, you’ll know it’s a good deal if the seller asks for information such as your home address or social security number.
Need life advice? Email manager@binghamtonreview.com for more wacky, quirky, and zany responses.
The SA’s BDS Masochism
By Arthur O’Sullivan
Inolonger fear Hell. I have seen the SA.
After writing six pages excoriating the appalling state of Israel-Palestine dialogue in academia, I hoped my last article would be my final word on the subject. Unfortunately—as so many statesmen have learned before me—this quagmire has a way of sucking people back in. Those who subjected themselves to my previous articles know that I have a bit of a pro-Israel bias. The recently passed SA Bill, “Resolution Calling for Binghamton University Divestment,” has done little to shift my stance.
The resolution mandates that the Student Association call for a ceasefire and denouncement of “apartheid” and “genocide” in Israel, and to implement the principles of the SUNY (no affiliation with the State University of New York) Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement. Principal authors Tyler Brechner, Omar Acosta-Nuñez, and Rami Almawaldi argued that it is morally incumbent on the university to support divestment from Israel and companies “implicated in the genocide,” just as the SUNY system divested from South Africa’s apartheid regime in the 1980s. Much of this bill is advisory to the Binghamton University administration, who are unlikely to implement this resolution in any way.
This bill attracted some ire from the pro-Israel crowd—especially in light of BDS’ statement describing the October 7th terrorist attacks as a “powerful armed reaction of the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza,” and Israeli intelligence reports that convicted terrorists now hold senior positions in BDS and similar NGOs. Saul Hakim, leader of BUZO and member of SA Congress, led the opposition to this bill.
Binghamton Review live-streamed the full Congress session on its YouTube channel. The man behind the camera (me), observed the meeting in full, from setting up chairs to the dramatic final vote. In that time, what was a mild headache became aggravated by endless shouting and bureaucratic tedium into a near-crippling neuralgia. Discussion of the resolution itself didn’t even begin until over an hour and a half into the meeting. It started with debate about whether the bill should be debated. Saul Hakim contended that it was a break from SA precedent for the organization to involve itself with organizations such as BDS and endorse divisive political positions. In response, Omar Acosta-Nuñez cited SUNY’s aforementioned divestment from South Africa. The latter ultimately won, and the resolution itself became up for debate. There, eight speakers from each side made repetitive arguments for and against the bill. In addition to accusations of genocide and apartheid, pro-resolution speakers decried the “settler colonialism” of the Israeli state, citing the “intersectional” struggle of the Palestinians against Western and Zionist oppression. They assiduously denounced Hamas and anti-Semitism, both in the bill and when Jewish speakers came forward in support of the bill. This didn’t stop the anti-resolution speakers from accusing the other side of both. At long, long last the debate period was concluded. SA precedent and bylaws dictated that the vote would not occur until the next meeting.
The pro-resolution faction, having the advantage, struck while the iron was hot. After several rounds of what I call “ping-pong” voting (where an unsuccessful motion keeps being put forward and rejected until someone breaks down), Brechner successfully passed a motion to suspend the rules—the vote occurred that night. By a slim majority, the resolution passed.
Despite my bias, I’m willing to admit a compelling case for the resolution. Most would agree that SUNY’s divestment from South African apartheid was the right decision, so why not the same for Israel and its policies of separation with Palestinians? There’s a simple logic to it which was not sufficiently addressed in the debate.
Still, it’s telling that the only relevant precedent for the pro-resolution side comes from the 1980s. There is no resolution condemning Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, for instance. More tellingly, there has yet to be a resolution calling for divestment with China in light of long-substantiated accusations of genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang (although one author, Tyler Brechner, claims he would support it). Moreover, divestment from South Africa is much closer to black-and-white (pardon the pun) morality—where one side is clearly right, the other wrong. Any attempts to impose the same simplistic worldview onto Israel and Palestine necessarily fail; the situation is far more complicated by the political and religious histories of each people. One might argue that Israel’s “genocide” makes this situation black-and-white. In fairness, this brief article can not litigate every accusation of genocide against Israel. Still, substantiating this crime requires enormous evidence—especially when contradicting the word of supranational authorities. The authors of this bill merely begged the question, writing “WHEREAS… the International Court of Justice deeming it plausible that Israel is committing genocide. [Emphasis added]” In law, as in anywhere else, “plausibility” is not certainty. The authors of this resolution arrogantly elide this fact in their absolutist activism against Israel.
Despite nominal claims to the contrary, Israel is being singled out by the Binghamton University SA and college campuses across the country. This resolution is (and, I predict, will remain) a one-of-its-kind targeting of a single bête noire in the international community, buoyed by hyperbole and suspicions not applied to any other place in the world. I generally detest labeling things I disagree with as “anti-Semitism”; ignoring someone’s arguments in favor of declaring their psychology defective is the lowest form of rhetoric. Yet the sheer, single-issue fervor of the so-called “anti-Zionist” movement on college campuses—whether they’re the relatively non-violent protests here, or the increasingly militant mobs forming at Ivy Leagues like Columbia—can’t be explained by simple appeals to collegiate activist spirit. Unless the SA becomes an activist organization, legislating on every hot-button pet-issue under the sun, this myopic activism against Israel and “Zionism” will continue to reek of anti-Semitism. This bill is an abuse: an abuse of SA authority, an abuse of the language of international law, and an abuse of the SA’s duty to represent the interest and beliefs of all students—not just the loudest group in the room.
Is Fred Really Schizophrenic?
By Angelo DiTocco
Having been on YouTube for a long time, I often see people expressing sentiments about how they wish the platform could go back to its older days. Back in the ‘00s, there was no “YouTube drama” and there were no “ad-pocalypses” to worry about. But as I’ve said many times before, those who get nostalgic for the past are often looking at it through rose-colored glasses. The YouTuber “Fred” is a prime example of this.
By uttering his name, I have probably unlocked many of your repressed memories, as his signature high-pitched voice is now ringing through your ears. If you didn’t know, “Fred” was a guy who figured out that the Windows Movie Maker “speed-up” effect changed the pitch of his voice and was somehow able to make a living off of that. He became so popular that some movie directors decided to capitalize on his success by making a trilogy. That’s right—a trilogy. We have to deal with the fact that there are three full-length movies of this guy talking in his annoying high-pitched voice and acting like a complete doofus.
Some of my friends and I have taken ironic pleasure in watching the films, admiring how bad they are. In fact, one of my friends from high school, Justin, claims that he’s watched them dozens of times, which he backs up with his ability to recite their plots from memory. I am not quite as wellversed in these films, having only watched each of them once during my
last three days of online high school in 2021.
To show the elaborate and delusional nature of Fred’s imagination, many scenes of the trilogy show an “alternate timeline” of something that doesn’t actually happen in the plot, be it a hallucination, a dream, a fantasy, or a flashback. In addition, Fred demonstrates a very poor understanding of what is happening in the real world. Some viewers, including my friend Justin, interpret these scenes as schizophrenic hallucinations and delusions and claim that Fred suffers from schizophrenia. He even went so far as to write a paper for a college assignment explaining his belief, which was supposedly so compelling that it received a grade of 98%. Since then, he has consistently claimed that “fred is a skitzofrenic [sic]” in many conversations with others and even on a first date.
However, I tend to be more skeptical of these kinds of fan-theories. I had already known about a very similar theory—that Candace from Phineas and Ferb was a real person who suffered from schizophrenia—that was easily proven false. So I decided to look further into the evidence supporting this claim so I could come to my own conclusion. This meant doing the unthinkable and rewatching both the original Fred: The Movie as well as Fred 3: Camp Fred (the second one is so bad that I don’t think it’s even ironically worth rewatching).
I then began writing this article expecting to neatly explain away any and all signs of schizophrenia in the main character and declare myself the victor. However, although some scenes are indeed better
explained by Fred just being a weird and lonely kid, other scenes seem to indicate that Fred actually does have schizophrenia. I found myself stretching the truth in my arguments at times.
In my second attempt at writing this article (including another rewatch), I aim to be as objective as possible as I explore which mental disorders Fred might have, if any. Since this article can only be so long, I’ll be analyzing the first movie only, as this one provides the most insight into Fred’s psyche. I hope you enjoy this opportunity to see the absurdity of Fred without having to actually listen to him.
Fred: The Movie begins on a Friday afternoon with the “protagonist” reflecting on his day at school. He’s already screaming. His hyperactive personality—the main thing that makes him so insufferable besides his highpitched voice—could be caused by nearly anything, as excessive talking or movement have been listed as symptoms of schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD.
It’s not long after that the main plot point shows up, as we’re introduced to Fred’s love interest, Judy. After stalking her on her way home from school, Fred tells us that she’s his girlfriend. This is one of the first signs of schizophrenia, as Fred is deluded that Judy is in love with him when she’s clearly not. At the same time, Fred can’t tell by Judy’s nonverbal behavior that she clearly doesn’t care about him, which could be attributed to other disorders such as autism instead.
Fred further reflects on what he calls the “worst Friday ever” as he commits the heinous act of reheating French fries in the microwave. He also explains that he uses the phrase “oh my Gammit” because he supposedly isn’t allowed to use the “d-word”. This would be normal for a young child to do, but Fred is 15 years old in the movie. This is the first of many examples of Fred’s failure to grow out of his childlike behaviors, though I’m not sure if
this is caused by a mental disorder or Fred’s lack of parental guidance. Fred also uses the word “hacking” instead of “fucking” or even “freaking.”
After fantasizing a romantic “date” between himself and Judy not once, but twice, Fred then tries to make his way over to Judy’s house to invite her over, but his bully, Kevin, gets in the way and scares him off. (Kevin has some problems of his own, but that’s outside the scope of this article.) When all hope seems lost, who else shows up but JOHN CENA!!! Dada-da-daaa! The wrestler plays the role of Fred’s absent father and seemingly appears out of nowhere to motivate him. It might be interpreted that Fred thinks John Cena is really in the room with him, but judging by recent social trends (namely the epidemic of fatherlessness in today’s generation of young men), I think that this is just a cinematic exaggeration of Fred idolizing the wrestler as a father figure and seeking masculine advice from him.
The movie somehow drags on for nearly ten more minutes until Fred finally makes it to Judy’s house by using his mother’s clothes as a disguise. (Who knows? Maybe Fred will go by “she/they” in a fourth movie if that’s ever made.) Anyway, he looks inside the window to see an Asian family instead. So he comes to a very rational conclusion: “Oh my Gammit! Asian people kidnapped Judy!” This delusion, along with a few others that the world is conspiring to keep Fred and Judy apart, give further credence to the possibility of schizophrenia.
Fred wrecks the living room when he finds out that Judy’s family actually moved to the other side of town. That night, as he sleeps with his stuffed animals, he has a dream and extrapolates that Judy wants him to go rescue her or something. The dream itself isn’t a hallucination, but what is probably schizophrenic is the fact that he thinks that Judy can telepathically send him a message. So Fred looks up Judy’s address online like the tech-savvy creep he is, and more than a third of the way into the movie, the adventure finally begins.
Our “hero” is off to a great start when he gets on the wrong bus. There,
he meets a character called Derf who is the opposite of him. Derf is obviously just Fred’s imaginary friend. Not only does he suddenly disappear when the bus ride is over, but he later shows up in Fred’s house at the end of the movie. Imaginary friends are relatively normal for young children to have, but the extent to which Fred thinks Derf is real is too much to blame on Fred’s infantile nature.
Once he gets off the bus, Fred makes his way through many public spaces, demonstrating a lack of knowledge of the outside world that would make even a Reddit moderator jealous. He goes to a laundromat and tries to take off his own clothes to wash them, then he goes to a pet shop and calls the Pomeranians “squirrels” (and also tries to steal one). He doesn’t even know that other languages exist as he mistakes a Hispanic guy for a spaceman that’s trying to put voices in his head and ruin his brain.
Fred also needs to go through the woods for some reason, where he meets a talking deer. This is obviously a hallucination, but it’s worth noting that in Fred 3: Camp Fred, there’s a very similar scene in which he eats poisonous berries and hallucinates a rapping “crocobearimoose” (don’t worry about what that is). So maybe he’s just trippin’ on some berries here too and he just ate them off-camera.
Night falls as Fred finally arrives at Judy’s house only to find that she’s throwing a party that he wasn’t invited to. But Fred has no idea what a party even is, so he’s initially confused before he is humiliated. He throws up for some reason and a video of him doing so gets a whopping 50 views online. In an attempt to get revenge, Fred decides to host his own party and send out “dis-invitations” to everyone. The “dis-invitees” care about as much as you’d expect them to.
Among the people Fred planned to “disinvite” to his party was this alt girl, Bertha, but when he finds out she’s sympathetic for what happened to him, he changes his mind. The two get a bunch of clothes and mannequins and whatnot, and film a video with the intention of tricking everyone into thinking they actually did have an epic
party. We actually get to see the montage, which is just as cringe-worthy as it is poorly edited. It drags on for three whole minutes.
What follows is the most confusing part of a movie I’ve ever seen—and I’ve seen Memento before, so that’s saying something. There’s this montage of all the kids at school telling the camera that they wish they could have been at Fred’s party. It’s so unnatural that it seems like Fred wrote the script for it. Lastly, Judy herself shows up at Fred’s doorstep asking to come inside and hang out with him.
And then the movie ends. There’s no going “back to reality” like what happens with Fred’s other daydreams and hallucinations, but there is absolutely ZERO chance that any of this actually happened. I have no clue what this scene could possibly be, so I’m just gonna have to guess that it’s a hallucination. Perhaps the directors didn’t show what actually happened because “he gets shoved into a locker and beat up. The End” isn’t a great ending for an adventure-”comedy” film.
So, does Fred have schizophrenia? After my third time watching this movie, I’m inclined to agree that he does. Although some of his actions are better attributed to other mental disorders or to his flawed upbringing, some scenes can only be seen as schizophrenic hallucinations or delusions. However, I doubt that the directors had any of this in mind. I bet that their only vision of Fred’s character was an extremely weird and hyperactive kid, and they just put in a bunch of extra scenes resembling daydreams and hallucinations to pad the movie’s running time.
As the reader, it’s up to you to decide what you think Fred does and does not suffer from. If you’re still unsure, feel free to watch the trilogy on your own. The second and third movies are available for free on YouTube, and you can find the first one for free as well if you look hard enough. You can also watch a reaction or review video if you want to save yourself a few hours and actually be entertained. Either way, be sure to keep your volume low.
An Interview with Donna Lupardo, NYS Assemblywoman
In a previous issue, I interviewed NYS Assemblywoman hopeful Lisa O’Keefe for our district 123. I have a history of interviewing political candidates, doing so for Happy Medium last fall during Binghamton’s city council race, Johnson City’s mayoral race, and Broome County’s District Attorney race. In this issue, I interviewed incumbent Representative Donna Lupardo. Together, these should present the two sides of our local politics, at least in this race. As I said previously, even if you don’t vote, it’s important to know who’s representing you and their potential impact on your lives at this university. If you found either or both of these interviews interesting, informative, or persuasive, I invite you to take the survey linked at the end of this interview. It will provide great insight into our student readership and their opinions on this race.
Let’s start with a brief introduction: What’s your background in Broome County? In other words, why have you run in this district specifically?
I moved here from NYC to attend graduate school at Binghamton University in the late 1970s. I completed my Masters and taught at BU for 10 years before my teaching line was eliminated by state budget cuts. I spent the next 15 years working in community mental health, serving the last eight as Director of Education for the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier. It was during that time that I realized how state policies affect real world situations like those facing people with mental illness.
I decided to run for public office, first serving as a Broome County Legislator and now as a state representative, for several reasons. The first concerned my professional interest in mental health treatment, specifically the lack of health insurance parity and access to services. The next related to my environmental advocacy, having worked on many local issues
regarding air and water quality, including an underground plume of contamination under the Village of Endicott.
After choosing to stay in the Binghamton area after graduation, I felt compelled to do what I could to help the community and region get back on its feet after the economic collapse that began in the 1970s. The gradual loss of our manufacturing base left leaders in the community searching for the next IBM or Endicott-Johnson to help save us. I was committed to helping reignite the entrepreneurial spirit that had built this community in the first place, and to making substantial investments in higher education and advanced research.
Why are you interested in the state assembly, as opposed to other offices?
Over the years, I’ve had many chances to run for other offices including the NYS Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. I have declined those opportunities knowing that my seniority and leadership roles in the Assembly were of benefit to this community. It’s never been about power or higher office for me as I’ve been entirely focused on helping our community rebuild its economy and quality of life. We’ve had amazing success in some areas, but are still deeply challenged in others. Our poverty rates, for example, are unacceptably high.
Why should students be interested in the state assembly race? More specifically, what tangible benefits does your office bring to Binghamton University, SUNY Broome etc.?
First, the NYS Legislature and the Governor craft the state budget, which is the principal source of funding for the SUNY system. We also oversee all state policies that affect SUNY, including tuition increases, TAP rates, opportunity programs, and more. I am the senior member of
By Arthur O’Sullivan
the Assembly Higher Education Committee and am involved in all of these deliberations.
Over the years, I have also brought substantial resources to both BU and SUNY Broome. This has helped BU become one of the most prestigious state schools in the country, a premier SUNY Center, and now a federally designated hub for battery research. For example, I helped bring in state funds for the Innovative Technologies Campus and the Nursing and Pharmacy Schools at BU, as well as the transformation of the old Carnegie Library into the home of SUNY Broome’s Culinary School.
Aside from your long-term tenure in office, what relevant experience do you have for this position?
Prior to my election, I had 10 years of experience in higher education as a Lecturer at BU. That was followed by 15 years working in community mental health and environmental advocacy. Serving one term on the Broome County Legislature also gave me insight into municipal government and the challenges they face. Along the way, I also served on many advisory boards for local non-profits like the YWCA, which gave me a greater appreciation for how valuable these organizations are.
What sets you apart from other candidates, both Democrat and Republican—past and present?
I think that everyone brings their own unique experience and value to elected office. In my case, seniority is definitely a plus, affording me access to local resources along with many legislative opportunities. In Albany and locally, I have a reputation for working in a strong bi-partisan manner. I currently chair the Committee on Agriculture and Food and enjoy close working relationships with all of my colleagues, including Republican members of my committee who repre-
sent the majority of NY’s farms.
What reforms (if any) do you intend to make to your office, if re-elected?
I’m proud of my track record and what my team and I have been able to accomplish during my tenure. In terms of my offices in Binghamton and Albany, if re-elected I would hope to maintain the same level of constituent service and responsiveness that we are known for. As for my office as Member of Assembly, I have very high ethical standards, and always aim to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
What obstacles do you expect to encounter, both in this race and in your office, if re-elected? How do you plan to deal with them?
I can’t anticipate obstacles in my race at this early stage of the campaign. I do hope that as we approach the political season, we can improve the overall quality of our political dialogue. It’s hard to debate issues and policies on the merits when misinformation and fear are used as distractions. No one benefits, least of all the community, when this happens. As we
have proven locally, people from different political persuasions can work together to achieve results for the greater good.
As far as my office goes, again, the divisive nature of politics has become very concerning. Hardened positions on the right and left have made more moderating voices like mine few and far between. I plan to continue to focus on the basics of healthcare, education, food, housing, child care, workforce training, public safety and the environment.
Is there any specific legislation, proposed either by yourself or your colleagues, that you are enthusiastic about? If so, why should students be interested in this legislation?
Having just finished the state budget, my attention will now turn to various legislative initiatives. Working with a broad coalition of legislators, I am prioritizing a package of bills that will benefit statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS). I am also in the process of drafting new legislation that will create the “Community College Workforce Guarantee” to better recognize the critical
role community colleges play in workforce development. Another item that I have been trying to pass for some time is the Student Journalism Free Speech Act, in support of high school journalists.
In the unlikely event that Republicans win a majority in the Assembly, how would you intend to work with them to advance your cause?
As you mentioned, this is unlikely. However, I have a good working relationship with all of my colleagues based on respect and mutual interests. If this were to happen, I’m sure we would still be able to accomplish a lot by working together. All of the issues I am currently working on also involve members of the minority.
If your candidacy for re-election fails, how might you continue to press your agenda, both in this district and New York in general?
I would expect to return to teaching and volunteer in the community. Steady voices will always be needed to problem solve and be of service.
Is Female Characterization “Death Proof?”
For all the worship Quentin Tarintino gets, it’s strange to see his 2007 film Death Proof get so much hate. This becomes much more understandable when you find that it is his self-proclaimed “worst movie ever made,” giving his fans (mind slaves) a sort of permission, or even encouragement to drag it through the mud after it flopped at the box office. (And if you haven’t seen it, please watch first, because I have wayyyy too much to say to go through a plot breakdown.) After a recent rewatch, I came to the same conclusion I had the first time: it was a fun experience with good characterization that didn’t take itself too seriously. Sure, I thought there were a few instances of poor delivery due to some awkward dialogue, and the “film damage” got on my nerves (OMG IT’S HOMAGE TO EXPLOITATION FILMS OF THE 70’S!!! Yes, I know), but that’s a minor subjective opinion and I was still puzzled. And that’s why I’ve been doing tons of research (scouring Reddit and Quora messageboards) to try and understand why it’s so widely shat on.
By Madeline Perez
I think this movie is a little misunderstood and abused puppy, caged at the pound, always two days away from being put down, and I hear a whimper every time someone misinterprets important plot material or spews unnecessary criticism just to hear the sound of their own voice.
apparent to the average viewer, not to mention the average male viewer, not to not to mention the average “Tarintino fan” male viewer. As the only female Tarintino fan in existence, (as well as a cold, calculating supergenius (autism)), I could tell these messages were meant for my consumption only (and the television was literally talking to me!!) Anyway, this movie was about voyeurism. Ironically, the criticism the movie received mirrors the message, as audiences found it so hard to relate to the female cast they instead watched from the perspective of “Stuntman Mike,” AKA Kurt Russell. And lo, fans were disappointed when the character is revealed to be cowardly, that his “strong, dangerous persona” is a veneer for insecurity, and the women ultimately triumphed over him using the power of friendship.
“The girl talk dialogue is painful and uninteresting as fk [sic]… I like the rest of the movie”
“Almost all of the dialogue the women speak is about their sex lives. It doesn’t generate interest in the characters nor does it make them likable [sic]. Kurt Russell carried the entire movie.” “ The story is really “About Nothing”—just a bunch of really annoying ladies, chat and chat, about nothing for an eternity. Then, chat some more. The women [sic] are so boring that I was quenched with blood-lust and rooting for Stunt Man Mike. Another set of unlikable ladies wastes our tim [sic]…”
and then Quora asked me to buy “Quora+” and I said, “fuck that.”
Alright, so this seemed to be the main criticism. Too much “girl talk.” Aside from this, I saw some criticisms of the tonal shift between the first and second half, talk that it was boring and unnecessarily long, and annoyance that the first set of characters were killed off, forcing the film into a plot triangle restart. Oh, and “KURT RUSSELL SAVED THIS MOVIE FROM THE STUPID WOMEN WHO RUIN EVERYTHING NOT ONLY THIS MOVIE BUT WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!!” I think this movie is a little misunderstood and abused puppy, caged at the pound, always two days away from being put down, and I hear a whimper every time someone misinterprets important plot material or spews unnecessary criticism just to hear the sound of their own voice.
The main takeaways of the film are not immediately
The antagonist “Stuntman Mike” is a societal stand-in for men who feel their attraction puts them at the whims of a woman, or below women. To cope, they dehumanize and hate women, turning them into the “other,” so that they can feel above. Through this superiority, they feel entitled to inappropriately insert themselves into the lives of women as they please. This is taken to the extreme in the movie with Stuntman Mike stalking women only until he can meet them in an environment where he already has an advantage over them: sober while they’ve been drinking, or maybe on the road in front of his “death proof” vehicle (only to get the benefit of it, you REALLY need to be sitting in his seat).
There are scattered references throughout the film of other “feminine” struggles, namely: attributing a successful woman’s achievements to “sleeping around to get ahead” and establishing that one of the lead women in the second act carries a gun because she fears getting sexually assaulted if she tries to do her laundry at night. What “critics” chalked up to “mind-numbing girls talk about their sex lives,” is actually a constant thematic discussion not only establishing the characters but how these characters interact with sexism in their world. In one of the first conversations between Shanna, Arlene, and Julia, the first group of girls, their conversation first touches on how Arlene set hard boundaries with a guy she saw last night, which weren’t respected, leading to long-winded whining, bargaining, and begging. The conversation then touches on more examples, namely regarding “Shanna’s daddy” and “boys to potentially buy weed from” where it is accepted as normal that men inappropriately insert themselves in the girls’ lives, which is then up to them to carefully navigate. Similar “realistic dialogue” which gets praised endlessly in other Tarintino movies now gets unfairly attacked, and why?
Already, the conversation set the tone for the whole movie,
as well as established themes that will come back later for each of these characters. In the second half, we see more of this as Abernathy talks about how she did not have sex with a guy she had a crush on because “if you fuck Cecil, you don’t become one of his girlfriends.” The Madonna-Whore Complex for beginners. Of course, there are conversations about other topics like music, movies, or other characters, but I don’t need to analyze that, do I?
Which brings me to the lap dance. This movie is partially about women trying to “take-back” their own sexuality, but it’s a struggle, especially when the male characters and the camera itself are sexualizing the women at all times. And their feet. Especially their feet. That’s part of the horror, that these women cannot escape being sexualized no matter where they go or what they do. A quote from Margaret Atwood from [X] comes to mind:
“Male fantasies, male fantasies, is everything run by male fantasies? Up on a pedestal or down on your knees, it’s all a male fantasy: that you’re strong enough to take what they dish out, or else too weak to do anything about it. Even pretending you aren’t catering to male fantasies is a male fantasy: pretending you’re unseen, pretending you have a life of your own, that you can wash your feet and comb your hair unconscious of the ever-present watcher peering through the keyhole, peering through the keyhole in your own head, if nowhere else. You are a woman with a man inside watching a woman. You are your own voyeur.”
Even so, the casting choices were purposeful to bring a more diverse and “realistic” cast of women to the film, not to mention there is a lot of purposeful effort put into creating the personalities, flaws, and goals of these women, so even though they are sexualized, they are not fully “objectified.” The lap dance scene is iconic, but the way it’s portrayed surface-level by the camera is not the same way it’s portrayed in the script. Arlene (the woman giving the lap dance) has struggled to reconcile intimate choices she wants to do, choices she feels pressured to do by men, and choices that make her feel respectable. Her opportunity to perform a lap dance is supposed to be left entirely up to her, and she initially declines because Stuntman Mike is a creeper (aw man). She does get pressured by him to agree, but by the time she makes that choice she is not reluctant and decides to commit. She does the lap dance because it’s a choice she made for herself to have others view her as sexy in that moment, not for his pleasure. She reclaims her own sexualization.
I’ve heard theories that the first group of women are “punished” for mishandling their sexuality, and that the second group survives because they are more “sexually liberated.” Personally, I think a lot of the thrill of the second half of the movie can only exist because of the established context of the first, and I don’t agree that the women were killed to send a message. As I saw somewhere in my message board travels, “the first half establishes the villain, the second half establishes the heroines.” We spend the second half of the movie in dramatic irony dread, knowing what Stuntman Mike plans to do to these women as they, like the first group, feel unsettled but don’t automatically recognize the danger they’re in. We know that the film is not hesitant to kill well-established characters and leave the audience upset,
bringing up the very real threat that the characters might not only be killed off, but that they might die in a gory, unsatisfactory way. If people want to criticize an actual terrible tonal shift in a Tarintino flick, let me direct you to From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), which he wrote. I spent the first half of that movie thinking it might be one of my new favorites, then struggled to watch all the tension deflate like a sad balloon. All the characterization was also tossed as we watched every surviving character become “the cool one.” YOU CAN’T ALL BE THE COOL ONE! THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A “COOL ONE!”
I saw plenty of people online trashing the women of Death Proof with the same defense: “And it’s not ‘cause I hate women. Kill Bill is one of my favorites!” But there is not much overlap between the experience of an average, real woman and the plot of Kill Bill. The plot does not challenge real-world sexism aside from saying “exceptional women can be strong and good at fighting.” In several instances in Kill Bill, “The Bride” is confronted with sexist men, and only gains their eventual respect by acting in “traditionally masculine” ways. Literally “not like other girls.” For more on this, I recommend you read “The One, The Other: Female Liberation and Empowerment in Kill Bill and Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex” by Ryan Carroll, which I found extremely interesting.
A lot of Tarintino movies have this same vibe, where a character who is otherwise underestimated, oppressed, and devalued by society, (sometimes a stand-in for a specific race, class, or gender) overcomes some challenge or adversity using the fact they are underestimated, as well as intelligence, perseverance, and resilience. What’s important to note, is that, like in Kill Bill, these main characters act in ways that simultaneously gain the respect of the people who victimize them and don’t often challenge racism or sexism in the real world below surface-level. Basically, they are “cool” to an audience without needing them to empathize with realistic depictions of that race, gender, class etc., further solidifying their place as the exception rather than the rule.
It’s ok for these characters not to be realistic, they’re fictional. And I’m not saying that these movies aren’t great, I have a complicated romantic relationship with each one. Where I find fault is thinking these movies are “empowering” or groundbreaking when they do not challenge the status quo. Death Proof’s best quality is that it was able to portray more realistic women, and challenged beliefs in society that are still widely normalized. That is why Death Proof is hated. That, and all the feet.
Good Riddance!
By Logan Blakeslee
Ifeel a slight sting with every keystroke as I write my final piece for the Binghamton Review, the greatest student publication in the Southern Tier—nay, the world. Part of my struggle in putting my thoughts on the page is that I can scarcely believe that my time at Binghamton University is almost over. Like every other graduating senior, I will be receiving my horrifically overpriced diploma and then I will be condemned to search the wastelands for this mysterious thing called a “job” so that I can make “money.”
My final article will be without a main subject. Instead, it will be more of a stream of consciousness as I close one epic chapter of my life and jump headfirst into another. The college experience has left me feeling a bit shell-shocked and woefully unprepared for adult life. Some of the skills I picked up along the way will definitely be helpful, and my newfound appreciation for public libraries has dampened my rabid libertarianism slightly. I would say the same about public transportation if the campus shuttles ever arrived on time.
To be quite honest, I can’t remember much of how I encountered Binghamton Review when I first became a student here. Through amnesic fog and haze, I do recall sitting somewhere in the Marketplace and having a good chuckle for a minute or two after grabbing an issue in 2019. The Review was the paper that said whatever the other papers were too scared to say, and that meant a lot to me as a lonesome conservative student. Even though it would be a very, very long time before I submitted anything myself, the Review gave me something to look forward to each month besides grade updates and club meetings.
In joining College Republicans, I met an assortment of incredible people who also happened to be staffers in the Review: Bryn Lauer, Spencer Haynes, Kevin Vorrath, Tommy Gagliano, Patrick McAuliffe—these people earned my respect as some of the best contributors to this publication and I miss them greatly. Their wit and kind souls were beacons in a sea of monotony. Truly, one of the hardest parts of graduating college is saying goodbye to old friends, but passing the torch along to the next batch of rebels and geniuses is the ultimate privilege for me. With luck, perhaps I can read the Review again once it hits its hundredth anniversary in 2087.
Aside from friendships, college is probably the last place I will ever be where I get free trips to glamorous political conferences in big cities. That is one perk that will be missed, alongside reduced movie and bus fares in Broome County. I will miss the feeling of deep philosophical conversations being interrupted by memes and jests and talk of anime. I will miss the convenience of having everything important to me within walking distance, whether it be classes or the admissions office or whatever else.
I won’t miss much else. Binghamton University is a decent school for academics, but some of its drawbacks would have convinced me to stay at SUNY Broome, had I known about them. For instance, I would have graduated one semester early had the Political Science Department not denied me a seminar class over the summer (after promising me that there’d be
one)—a delay which caused me to become a double major as I was forced to stay during the Fall 2023 semester anyway. I figured that I might as well take some extra classes and get a second degree while I had the time, but I am resentful about the extra cost it placed on me.
Additionally, any delay in graduating is ultimately a delay in finding a career. As I approach the age of 24, I am less certain about my career path than when I was a freshman. Previously my intention was to go to law school, but burying myself in deeper debt seems like an awful idea to me now, even if law is my dream job. I am highly qualified to work in politics but I am extremely disenchanted with the field as a whole. Some of the worst people I’ve met are well-paid politicians and their ambitious underlings. Working with them sounds terrible.
Naturally, I still recommend being politically engaged and aware, but too much of it can twist the human spirit in disturbing ways, like Fafnir transforming into a greedy dragon.
Speaking of working with politicians I personally detest, it is a huge relief to me that my service in the Binghamton Student Association is coming to a close. Student Congress is the worst hotbed of liberal infighting and nepotism anywhere outside of Albany. Clashing megalomaniacs rarely make good policy, and the recent decision to endorse the “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” movement against Israel will go down as one of the S.A.’s worst decisions. I can only take solace in my vote against such madness. By contrast, I take immense pride in passing the Chicago Statement at Binghamton University to strengthen free speech protections. It was a rare conservative victory in student government.
For fear of sounding like a jaded old man, I did discover a passion for teaching thanks to my work as a substitute teacher off campus. Today’s youth might be obnoxious, but making school a more fun place to learn really made me think about my own time as a kid and how miserable I was back then. I don’t mean that in a pessimistic way; it brings me real joy to see young folks enjoying school and forming bonds with each other. I’m glad to see kids learn in a more supportive environment than what I had as a child. I’ve since realized that world peace probably resembles a children’s playground. Kids on a playground will make their own rules, yet somehow, for the most part, everything remains peaceful and happy. I wish the adult world could be like that.
On the subject of teaching, I have to give an earnest shoutout to the professors at SUNY Binghamton who stood out for being top-tier instructors. Harald Zils in the German Studies Department was my favorite in this category. I never had a boring class with him, and his uniquely German sense of humor
quickly grew on me. Elizabeth Casteen introduced me to the wonders of medieval European history and I am forever grateful for that; that stuff is fascinating. Meanwhile, Mikhail Filippov showed me the finer nuances of the Cold War. This allows me to forgive him for being a ruthless Russian grader (he is actually very kind). Likewise, I appreciate Kristina Buhrman for educating me on the utter black comedy that is medieval Japan.
Truly, one of the hardest parts of graduating college is saying goodbye to old friends, but passing the torch along to the next batch of rebels and geniuses is the ultimate privilege for me. With luck, perhaps I can read the Review again once it hits its hundredth anniversary in 2087.
Last but not least, Professor Jonathan Krasno forced me to take statistical research more seriously in political science. He and I disagreed on plenty of issues, but I respect him and his efforts to curtail gerrymandering in Broome County. He is a great mind and a great teacher, and the same is true for all of the other professors I just mentioned. The importance of having an engaging instructor at a university cannot be overstated. Sometimes passing or failing simply depends on how well a professor can capture your attention, which is a lesson that I have taken to heart in my own teaching endeavors.
I guess the gist of this article is that life is unpredictable. I’ve grown to love things that I used to hate, and hate things I used to love. I don’t view it as a sign of maturity, but rather directing my energy towards circles where I can make a positive difference. The average progressive protester in modern America will never have the same impact on a person’s life as a teacher or charity worker. Perhaps that might be the key to success for my fellow conservatives: injecting ourselves into our communities to do good things that don’t necessarily involve politics. Naturally, I still recommend being politically engaged and aware, but too much of it can twist the human spirit in disturbing ways, like Fafnir transforming into a greedy dragon.
So, what are my hopes for the future? I predict that the 2024 presidential election will occupy a hefty percentage of my time. In spite of everything I just said, getting involved in a campaign, large or small, is a worthy step in advancing one’s career. My
hope is that Republicans make gains so that Project 2025 can be implemented nationwide, which would allow me to serve in the Executive branch as a true civil servant. I take inspiration from my granduncle, James Finley, who nobly served President George W. Bush during his second term.
If that falls through, I still have my eyes set on the State Department due to my interest in foreign policy and diplomacy. Peace Corps is another avenue to get experience in this field, and although one of my applications was rejected, I am sure to send many more. After all, defeat is only momentary. As an additional backup plan, I am crafting my application to the U.S. Naval Academy to further my education and hopefully practice military law. Beyond that, the future is a complete mystery to me.
As I run out of things to put down on the page, I am obligated to express my gratitude and affection for the friends I made who are still students at the time of writing. Arthur O’Sullivan, there’s no one else I’d trust to be prefect of House Hufflepuff. You are one of my closest friends on campus. Shayne O’Loughlin, my good anarchist chap, I hope you are condemned to 1,000 years of service to the Cato Institute. Joe Trombetta and Will Anderson, I would gladly retake Jerusalem alongside you both. Joe Kornblum, your tenacity and strength of character set the example that the rest of us should follow. There are so many other names that I could cite and thank, but sadly the word limit is fast approaching.
Binghamton University, my parting will be a bittersweet experience. Mostly bitter. There is so much more that I want to say, advice to give, wisdom to share, but I think that I will have to bid adieu on this lingering, unfinished note. I have accomplished a great deal and yet I will always feel like I could have done more. I merely hope that adult life will give me the chance to achieve my real aspirations and dreams. God bless.
Meet the E-Board
By Our Staff
Editor in Chief - Aiden Miller
Hello Reviewers, I’m Aiden “Median Voter” Miller and I’m a history major with a minor in education here at everyone’s favorite Premier Public Ivy.™ My job is to make people laugh, get mad at sports, and avoid running this magazine into the ground. It is my hope that I can, like my predecessors, cultivate a place where students can voice their opinions and share their interests with the rest of the community at Binghamton University.
Managing Editor - Angelo DiTocco
My name is Angelo and I’m a computer engineering student who does a bunch of other nerd shit like speedcubing and making Minecraft videos. I just discovered that writing doesn’t actually suck if the topic is funny enough, and with this newfound knowledge, I strive to help make the magazine the best it has ever been. I also eat cereal without milk.
I’m a psychology major with a minor in cinema, which basically means I have a lot of strong opinions on Troll 2. I’ve been making the magazine’s covers for two years now, but if you haven’t liked them all the ideas come from my alter ego Sklormp who resides in my pocket and eats lettuce like a hamster. I play the Sims and knit, so basically I’m the coolest person you’ll ever meet. Let’s do this another year, yeehaw.
Treasurer - Daniel Guido
Hey everyone, I’m Dan. I am in the School of Management studying Accounting with a minor in History. I am going to be a Junior for the Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 academic year. I will be acting as the Treasurer and Financial Manager for the Binghamton Review newspaper club. I hope to work closely with the e-board and I look forward to working with all members of the Binghamton Review.
I am Midas Leung. I am a talented physics major and passionate cameraman with a deep connection to his Chinese heritage as a Chinese-American. Born and raised in the United States, I have always been drawn to visual storytelling, capturing the world around me through my camera lens. I am an avid traveler and have documented my journeys through stunning photography and videos.
Copy Desk Chief - Midas Leung (NB: Like last year, Midas Leung was generated entirely by AI.)
Social Media Manager - Amanda Weinman
Spearfishing: Environmentalism But Awesome
In an age where issues like climate change and unsustainable practices are rampant, there appears to be a severe deficit in the average person’s environmental consciousness and literacy. We live in a time where many actual human beings, not just politicians, actually resonate with the rhetoric of “If climate change is real, how come it’s cold outside?”, and where the extent of young people’s care for the environment is putting some vapid declaration like “save the turtles!” in their Instagram bio. Part of this disconnect comes from our own disconnect from nature, and while I could turn this article the way of the “blah blah car-centric cities, blah blah kids don’t go outside anymore blah” ramble, I will instead introduce you to the glorious pastime that is spearfishing—the timeless art of striking down the scaly denizens of the deep with sharpened spears.
One might think that something that sounds so destructive may be a step in the wrong direction, but it’s quite the opposite. The Caribbean is a region populated by economies heavily dependent on the biodiversity of its waters. From North Carolina to the Caribbean islands and southern Brazil, the lionfish threatens the balance of marine ecosystems that feed millions and support whole economies. In recent years, coastal communities in this region have dealt with out-of-control populations of invasive lionfish through their mass removal in friendly spearfishing competitions, known as lionfish derbies. The winning team of one 2022 Florida derby removed a whopping 426 lionfish, setting a strong positive example for derbies as part of a management solution. These organized efforts show great promise in fighting the issue, while also spreading awareness, supporting local businesses, and helping to bring in massive revenue in tourism.
Spearfishing, like the pastime of traditional rod-and-reel fishing, involves the harvesting of fish for food, but it differs in execution. For one, deciding to take a fish becomes an irreversible decision—a hook to the lip does not quite equate to a spear to the vitals. This direct manner of harvesting, as opposed to doing so from the safety of dry land, forces one to fully appreciate the life of a fish, and its role in its ecosystem, before taking it. Additionally, dispatching, or to be more blunt, killing a fish in a timely manner (sometimes even without the chance for it to feel stress if one is skilled enough) is more ethical than what is done in the name of “sport” with line fishing. Affording a fish an exhaustive and stressful fight with a hook in its mouth, sometimes irreversibly harming the fish from pressure change complications (often an incredibly grisly affair; look up some pictures) and improper hook setting, sets a poor example for nature-related engagements. Furthermore, the damage that is done to the underwater world from line fishing has long-lasting effects, with the fish that manage to win the battle against eager anglers sometimes being left with hooks in their mouths, and their homes being polluted with lost baits and tangled lines. Traditional fishing “for sport” tends to involve targeting species of fish not for their
By Liam Steele
resource benefit to humans, but for how much of a fight they put up, in stark contrast to the sport of spearfishing, which stresses the sustainable and purposeful harvest of fish for sustenance.
Having gotten into the pastime myself two summers ago off the sandy shores of Grenada, I strongly recommend getting into the hobby yourself, if you can. I can confirm that spearfishing can be quite wallet-friendly, and as is the case with getting anything cheap, we can look to Amazon and find a beginner-sized polespear. (Believe me, you do not need to start with a speargun.) Usually between 4 and 7 feet, these will cost you less than 50 dollars. As for additional materials: affordable snorkels and masks, as well as fins if you prefer, can be found online. In practice, using a polespear is quite simple, and takes next to no time at all to figure out. After all, it’s just a pointy stick with a large rubber band on one end.
The actual practice of spearfishing is an incredibly enriching experience. It taps into that primal desire in the human brain to hunt and forces the understanding of the environment that lies at the core of hunting. I recall scanning rocks and coral for scorpionfish, combing sandy expanses for flounder, even tracking the movements of sprats along the shallows to locate trevally and jacks; all experiences that afforded a feeling of having earned dinner, but also a genuine understanding of the ecology of the waters I prowled for dinner in. With every meal earned, I learned to appreciate the significance of the life lost at the end of my cheap fiberglass spear, and made full use of the fish I earned, letting none go to waste. There came a point in my near-daily spearing outings over that summer where I could distinguish individual fish I had seen on previous outings. I knew the routine of the massive moray eel who lived in a derelict fish trap, and his regular cleaning visits to the French angelfish (a species known for cleaner fish behavior in its juvenile years) situated at the shallow concrete mooring blocks. I named that angelfish Carl (I am bad at naming things), and would also make a habit of visiting his spot in a discarded boat engine, and creatures like Carl drew my curiosity and interest in nature to another level entirely.
However, these outings also showed me everything that threatened the waters I enjoyed swimming in. I saw accumulations of plastic waste blown together by the currents, once-vibrant reefs turned monotone by coral bleaching, and the threat of the invasive lionfish moving to the shallow waters of my island home. Being informed on the functions of—and current threats to—our world’s oceans, I can apply my knowledge and firsthand witness to the politics concerning the environment and make informed decisions regarding them. If we are to care for the environment as it faces ever-mounting threats, how can we do so from a distance without appreciating its services with our own senses? How can the big decision-makers in the world continue to dictate the fate of the environment without a real, tangible understanding of everything at stake?
