Fall 2014 Issue 17 by Pipe Dream

ALL THAT JAZZ Bearcats clinch three seed into America East Tournament see page 10

Wondering who’s been playing that beautiful saxophone music in Dickinson on the weekends? Release talks to the Sax Man, see page 5

LUCKY NUMBER THREE

PIPE DREAM Friday, November 7, 2014 | Binghamton University | www.bupipedream.com | Vol. LXXXVI, Issue 17

Midterms draw hundreds to polls NYS funds Campus sees highest turnout for non-presidential race in a decade Emilie Leroy

Governor's Race:

Pipe Dream News For months, community organizers campaigned on campus, not for students to vote for any candidate in particular, but for students to vote for any candidate at all. And on election day, hundreds of students turned out to vote in the University Union. From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., staff members of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and volunteers from the area signed in over 330 students to vote on Tuesday for statewide and local candidates. According to Nicholas Doran, the Vote Everywhere ambassador for the CCE and a sophomore majoring in economics, only 148 students voted in the last midterm elections in 2010, but the CCE aimed to have between 300 and 500 students vote this year. Typically, students do not vote in high numbers during midterm elections, said Jessica Arends, the faculty engagement associate for the CCE. To get students interested in the election, members of the CCE handed out flyers around campus and posted on Twitter and Facebook encouraging students to vote. They also held voter information sessions and a campus-wide voter registration drive in October. “Non-presidential years are very tricky,” Arends said. “There’s not as much excitement or interest but we’ve done a lot of social media and a lot of preparation to get students in the door.” She explained that on election day,

State-wide

53%

$600K in changes planned for 2016

40%

Cuomo (D)

Zachary Wingate Contributing Writer

Astorino (R)

Binghamton University isn’t the only thing getting revamped in the Binghamton area. One area that is near and dear to students’ hearts is set for a makeover. The city of Binghamton was awarded $480,000 on Oct. 27 to renovate State Street. The funds were made available by the Federal Highway Administration as a part of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s $70 million initiative to support projects across New York state. The State Street project was selected by the State Department of Transportation based on public benefit, community support and improvements to promote walking and biking, according to a press release from the governor. The renovation of State Street will include new street paving and striping, bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and landscaping. Totaling to roughly $600,000 altogether, the additional $120,000 will be provided by local funds. State Street was chosen because of its location at the heart of Downtown

Broome County

49%

42%

Cuomo (D)

Astorino (R)

State Senator's Race: 52nd District

Broome County

36%

39% Libous (R) Starzak (D) 60%

State St. upgrades

57% Emma Siegel/Design Manager and Neil Seejoor/Contributing Photographer

See VOTE Page 4

Renata Ontman, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, votes in the Old Union Hall. From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., staff members of the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and volunteers from the area signed in over 330 students to vote on Tuesday for state-wide and local candidates.

Lawyer recalls post 9/11 work William Groner discusses dust litigation settlement Gabriella Weick

Awareness goes viral

Prof. highlights power of social media Michelle Kraidman

Contributing Writer

The crowd hushed to a silence as iconic images flashed across the screen — photos and videos of the World Trade Center towers falling on Sept. 11, 2001, dust engulfing the streets of New York City and tearful New Yorkers standing in a city covered in ash. On Thursday evening, William Groner spoke to attendees in the Casadesus Recital Hall and presented “Ground Zero Dust: Its mysterious medical consequences and the resulting epic first-responders litigation,” a talk discussing his involvement in the compensation of those who fell ill

See 9/11 Page 2

Klara Rusinko/Contributing Photographer

William Groner, a BU alumnus and managing partner Worby Groner Edelman, LLP, speaks about compensation for 9/11 first-responders in Casadesus Recital Hall on Thursday evening. Groner’s law firm represented the nearly 10,000 victims injured by working in airborne dust particles after 9/11.

BU engineers plan Formula Hybrid car Michelle DiGiacomo and team design racecar from scratch Chloe Rehfield Staff Writer

Michelle DiGiacomo developed a passion for auto racing, specifically autocross, as soon as she got her driver’s license. Since then, she has been racing regularly as part of the Sports Car Club of America. Flipping through a stack of drawings of circuits and motors scribbled with numbers of voltage and currency, she stood in front of a room of 10 engineers to discuss this week’s

goal for their project: improving the design for a hybrid car they plan to build completely from scratch. DiGiacomo, a senior majoring in management, transferred to Binghamton University after obtaining an associate degree at SUNY Broome. She started the Formula Hybrid project at BU through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), an organization that hosts automotive competitions in colleges worldwide. Formula Hybrid focuses on skill and sustainability rather than just

speed. The main event is autocross, a timed competition in which drivers race against the clock as they race through a course full of tight turns and orange cones. It is also the only branch of SAE that uses a hybrid car. The team’s goal is to make it around the course in the least amount of time possible, constantly trying to beat their previous times. “There are a lot of things left up to you to design,” DiGiacomo said. “Do we

See CAR Page 2

See STATE Page 4

From the Ice Bucket Challenge to mass protests in the Middle East, people around the world have used online social media to popularize their own projects and campaigns. Binghamton University organizers are encouraging students to take advantage of the technology too. The Hillel-Jewish Student Union held the interactive workshop, #Activism, on Wednesday in the Old University Union. The goal of the event was to teach students how to use social media effectively in promoting businesses and raising awareness about world issues. Associate professor Ali Yayla, a professor in the School of Management, presented different ways to make a message go viral. He highlighted strategies for using social media, as well as specific websites and apps that could further a campaign. He said websites like WordPress, which provides a template to create a user’s own website, and MailChimp, which sends out newsletters to a large group of people and then helps the creator analyze how the newsletter was received, could make larger projects more feasible. “Creating the email and checking the email links, that’s almost impossible for one person to do,” Yayla said. “It pays off.” He also stressed the necessity of having a community or a network to help messages spread across the Internet. “Even if you have a very good

message, if you have a very small network of people … it’s gonna take a while for it to go viral,” Yayla said. Scott Wisotsky, a senior majoring in political science, said social media helped expand his app, Campus Pursuit, which gives students clues to find hidden prizes around campus. He explained that students would tweet pictures of themselves with their winnings, which promoted the businesses that those prizes came from. He said that he and his partner used it for practical purposes as well. “We get to see glitches that people are having because they’re posting them on social media and we’re able to address these glitches in a more timely

See MEDIA Page 2

Michael Sugarman/Contributing Photographer

Ali Yayla, an associate professor in the School of Management, presents on the dynamics of viral marketing at #Activism on Wednesday.

NEWS

www.bupipedream.com | November 7, 2014

BU, Broome team to build racecar CAR continued from Page 1 want to have more torque from the beginning, and do we want the batteries to be able to last longer? It makes you factor in a lot of things.” Thirteen engineers, both mechanical and electrical, along with a handful of students at SUNY Broome, decided to participate. Thirty students total, split up into three teams, are working on the project. According to DiGiacomo, the teams are frame and body, suspension, and drivetrain. The suspension team determines what breaks and steering equipment to use, the drivetrain team chooses batteries and motor models and the frame and body team handles the design of the exterior of the car. Students at BU focus on analytics, while the Broome teams physically assemble the car. “By bringing the two types of education together,” DiGiacomo said. “It really diversifies our team. It kind of benefits everybody.” Mark Carbonaro, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and the leader for the frame and body team, said the teams depend heavily on

9/11 continued from Page 1

Duncan McInnes/Staff Photographer

Michelle DiGiacomo, a senior majoring in mangagement, is leading a team effort at BU to build a hybrid car from scratch. Entitled Formula Hybrid and conducted through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the project focuses on sustainability and skill.

each other. “After meeting with the steering and suspension team, we know how to design the fuselage in front of the cockpit,” Carbonaro said. “Then we’re working on the rear part of the car, which has the motor.” The team needs $25,000 to purchase all the parts necessary, and currently they have just $8,500 in grants from the Watson School of Engineering. To obtain the remaining $16,5000 needed for all necessary resources, DiGiacomo is collecting donations from organizations

and car dealerships. She has been in contact with technology firms, local businesses and alumni to try to get as much money and materials as possible. “With bigger organizations that can afford to give more, it takes longer,” DiGiacomo said. “I’ve had really good results talking with car dealers.” The team has received tire donations from the Ford Motor Company and marketing help from School of Management students, but with two months already spent planning and five months to go, the race is on to complete the model in time.

By bringing the two types of education together, it really diversifies our team. — Michelle DiGiacomo BU senior

BSU hosts forum with SA E-Board Town-hall-style forum lets students pose questions to reps Alexandra Mackof Assistant News Editor

Aiming to reinforce the relationship between the Student Association (SA) E-Board and groups on campus,

We have to look at where our strengths are, look at where our weaknesses are and see how we can build on our infrastructure moving forward — Alexander Liu SA President

BU alumnus defends 10K 9/11 responders

the Black Student Union (BSU) held a town hall-style Q&A on Wednesday in the New University Union. Brandon Jenkins, a member of BSU and a junior majoring in economics, said that it is necessary for students to feel comfortable approaching the SA. “The most important thing is to have common ground between the SA and students,” Jenkins said. “We want to build a friendly basis so that students feel they can freely ask for help.” Anonymous questions submitted by the audience prompted members of the SA to discuss their plans to match Binghamton University’s goals for expansion. “In the last three or four years, Binghamton University has transformed,” said Alexander Liu, SA president and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law. “As the Student Association, we have to follow that trajectory and make sure that if the administration wants 20,000 students by 2020, we’re ready for that.”

Chris Zamlout, SA executive vice president and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said that his office will benefit from the University’s changes. “With more students coming to the University, it brings more money and more infrastructure to the SA,” Zamlout said. “With that comes the opportunity for more student groups.” He added that while many organizations will be added to benefit a growing student body, attention must be paid to existing groups to make sure they are not lost in the changes. “What I really want to focus on is that we don’t grow the student group number to a size that is unsustainable,” Zamlout said. Liu said that the University’s plans also give the SA an opportunity to be introspective and evaluate their current performance. “We have to look at where our strengths are, look at where our weaknesses are and see how we can build on our infrastructure moving forward,” Liu said.

According to Don Greenberg, the vice president for academic affairs and a senior triplemajoring in computer science, finance and mathematics, his office has many resources to offer the student body that many are unaware of, such as help with class registration and and dealing with conduct violations. “This year our goal is to define ourselves as an empowering office,” Greenberg said. “We’re trying to advertise to students that any and all problems can be brought to our office and addressed by an advocate.” While the meeting offered students a abbreviated look into the future plans of the SA, Jenkins said that it was a step in the right direction and helped to open lines of communication. “I feel like the students on campus need to be more aware of the SA and what they do,” Jenkins said. “Many students have different ideas and concerns, but don’t know where to go or how to address them. With this forum, we helped get questions answered.”

following the attacks. Groner graduated from Binghamton University in 1977 and later attended Boston University School of Law. He co-founded and is a managing partner at Worby Groner Edelman LLP, and co-managed the firm’s litigation. Beginning with a single phone call from a detective injured in the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11, Groner and his law firm eventually represented the nearly 10,000 victims injured from the aftermath of dust and particles in the air. According to Groner, 9/11 was not only the first time mass amounts of citizens were exposed to excessive amounts of toxic substances in the air, it was also the first time that dangerous materials, such as glass fibers, sulfur, PCBs and silicas were combined to possibly create illnesses including respiratory ailments, cancers and gastrointestinal disorders. “The [9/11] case is all about dust,” Groner said. “Science we knew at this point that PCBs can cause asthma, can cause cancer, but what we didn’t know at this point was ‘What will they do in synergy?’ We’ve never seen silicas and PCBs combined and inhaled by someone — not even rats.” Groner and his firm began with a settlement of $650 million, which was initially rejected. After Groner and his firm created a new point system ranking the severity of illnesses and determining the total compensation each victims should receive, an ultimate settlement of $850 million was reached. Everyone Groner represented received compensation with

varying amounts based on the point system. Groner said he and his team worked tirelessly for over 10 years and never believed they would lose. “I am not objective when it comes to this,” Groner said. “I represented 10,000 victims. I am biased, and I look from their perspective.” Following the presentation, Rose Frierman, the senior director of Alumni Relations, said she appreciated Groner’s willingness to return to BU and share his experiences in such a high-profile case. “He also exemplifies what we would hope all our students and alumni would become,” Frierman said. “A passionate, tireless advocate for our University in addition to just being a really nice guy.” Students in attendance, including Steven Lazickas, a sophomore double-majoring in political science and English, said they enjoyed Groner’s determination to succeed in the case that still is going on today. “Working for 11 years on one case, he really did care and work hard,” Lazickas said. “His dedication to giving the people what they deserved was pretty awesome, pretty inspirational.” Groner said he hoped his story resonated with BU students and encouraged them to continue their pursuit in a career in law and civil service. “To be able to come back here and share my experiences and give people a confidence that this institution will give them an education that can give them opportunities to do something hugely significant in life, is wonderful,” Groner said.

With social media, a window to awareness MEDIA continued from Page 1 manner,” Wisotsky said. The organizer of the event, Naomi Barnett, a junior doublemajoring in management and English, said she had several social media internships and wanted to show students how to utilize social media to their advantage. “I hope they realize they really have so many things at their disposal for social media and campaigning and how simple and easy it can be to create a social media campaign,” Barnett said. “As well as getting the inspiration to really start

going with their ideas because anything is possible.” Carly Freeman, a junior majoring in psychology, said that she attended to learn more about the uses of social media and was eager to try some of the applications. “I didn’t realize how many platforms there were for social media that are easy to use,” Freeman said. Barnett challenged attendees to start online campaigns about issues they found important, and that based on reposts and tweets she would announce a winner after one week.

PAGE III Friday, November 7, 2014

Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515

Pipe Line

Getting Trashy in the Union

Fall 2014

LOCAL NEWS

editor-in-ChieF* Rachel Bluth editor@bupipedream.com

NY senator wants charge dismissed A leader of New York’s Senate Republicans has asked a judge to dismiss a federal charge against him while winning re-election and helping the GOP regain sole majority control of the Senate next year. Sen. Thomas Libous, representing the Binghamton area since 1989, beat Democrat Anndrea Starzak, a former teacher and town supervisor, with 62 percent of the vote. He has denied lying to the FBI four years ago in stating he made no political deals to get his son a job at a now defunct law firm. In court papers this week, Libous says the case should have been filed in Albany where FBI agents interviewed him, that the single charge improperly cites seven allegedly false statements and the indictment preamble is prejudicial.

MAnAging editor* Zachary Feldman manager@bupipedream.com

neWs editor* Nicolas Vega news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Joseph Hawthorne Carla Sinclair Alexandra Mackof oPinion editor* Molly McGrath opinion@bupipedream.com

STATE NEWS 2 troopers exposed to heroin during traffic stop State police say two troopers had to be treated at a hospital after being exposed to heroin during a traffic stop on an upstate New York road. Authorities say the troopers stopped a vehicle Tuesday that was being driven on a rural road in the Rensselaer County town of Pittstown. As the troopers were approaching the car, a 31-year-old Brooklyn man attempted to flee with a plastic bag containing heroin. As the troopers took him into custody, police say he tore open the bag, causing the heroin to hit one of the troopers in the eyes and mouth. Both troopers were treated at a hospital in Troy and then released. The man was charged with assault and criminal mischief. Two residents of Rutland, Vermont who were in the car were charged with drug possession. 2 NYC police officers facing brutality charges Two New York City police officers pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assault charges in the beating of a teenage marijuana suspect who prosecutors say never put up a fight. He said the teen was “noncompliant” throughout the encounter. Authorities say the incident began on Aug. 29 when the patrolmen saw the teen toss a bag of marijuana and start running. A video shows the teen slowing down on a Brooklyn sidewalk as the officers catch up to him. The tape then appears to show Tyraine Isaac hitting the teen with a punch. Seconds later — as the teen backs away, raises his hands and leans against a wall — David Afanador appears to hit him with his pistol. The beating continues until the teen drops to the ground and is handcuffed. Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, speaking to reporters, called the video convincing evidence of police brutality.

NATIONAL NEWS Suspect in slaying, posting death photos caught A man surrendered in Oregon after police say he killed his girlfriend, posted gruesome photos of her body and the crime scene online and wrote that he wanted authorities to kill him. David Kalac’s arrest Wednesday night nearly 200 miles from the crime scene in Washington state came after a daylong manhunt. He’s accused of killing Amber Lynn Coplin, whose teenage son heard the couple loudly arguing and then found his mother dead in their apartment. Kalac, 33, texted a friend Tuesday morning to say he would read about Kalac in the news, then evaded police in the woman’s stolen car until he emerged from a wooded area and turned himself in to a passing police officer, authorities said. Authorities confirmed the grisly online photos were of Coplin, 30, and the crime scene in Port Orchard, Washington, said Scott Wilson, a Kitsap County sheriff’s deputy. The images appeared on 4chan, an online bulletin board whose free-wheeling and anonymous nature has led to some of the Web’s darker moments.

FAx: 607-777-2600 Web: www.bupipedream.com

releAse editor* Jacob Shamsian release@bupipedream.com Asst. releAse editor Odeya Pinkus Franz Lino/Photo Editor

Danielle Kiczales, an undeclared sophomore and a sister of Sigma Delta Tau, struts her stuff in the Old Union Hall. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi hosted the second annual “Trashin’ Show,” a philanthropic event; all proceeds went to AJWS, American Jewish World Service.

sPorts editor* Ashley Purdy sports@bupipedream.com Asst. sPorts editors Jeff Twitty E.Jay Zarett

Police Watch

Fun PAge editor* Ben Moosher fun@bupipedream.com

A lighter take on campus crime

design MAnAger* Emma Siegel design@bupipedream.com

Aaron Berkowitz | Police Correspondent

This Shit is B-A-N-A-N-A-S SUNDAY, NOV. 2, 3:10 a.m. — Officers on foot patrol noticed that the gate arm was broken at the paid parking lot across from the Glenn G. Bartle Library, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Officers obtained surveillance camera images of the incident and saw three males walking by the lot and one of them, an 18-year-old wearing a banana costume, broke the arm off. On Nov. 5, officers noticed two of the males walk into Windham Hall in Mountainview College and they stopped the two. The two gave the officers the name of the third, who was the suspect. Officers spoke to the suspect and he admitted to breaking the arm because he was drunk. The case was referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

‘Cuse Gotta Be Kidding Me THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 12:35 a.m. — Officers were called to Seneca Hall in College-in-the-Woods due to reports of damage in a restroom, Reilly said. The resident director of the hall said that there was reportedly damage done to the fifth floor bathroom. When officers arrived, they noticed that there was a pumpkin smashed on the floor of the bathroom as well as bottles and cans filling up the toilet and the sink and a mop sitting on top of the toilet. An unidentified student came forward and told police that two of his friends who were visiting from Syracuse, both 18-year-old males, were the perpetrators. The student only gave the officers their names, and no contact information. The incident was referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Random Act of Firefighting

It Had to Catch a Redeye TUESDAY, NOV. 4, 4:18 p.m. — A 19-year-old male reported his cell phone missing to UPD, Reilly said. The victim said that he was at a house party Downtown the weekend before when he noticed it was gone and could not find it. He spoke to people at the party and they said that they found the phone and gave it to an unidentified female. The victim found the phone through a tracking app and traced it to the Greater Binghamton Transportation Center. He then saw that it traveled south to the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The victim was advised to contact the Binghamton Police Department, because the case was out of UPD’s jurisdiction.

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 7:30 a.m. — An unknown suspect let off a fire extinguisher outside of Seneca Hall in College-in-the-Woods, Reilly said. The extinguisher discharged in multiple areas including on a car that was parked outside of the hall. The damage done to the car is unknown. The case is still under investigation.

design Assts. Corey Futterman John Linitz Photo editor* Franz Lino photo@bupipedream.com Asst. Photo editor Tycho McManus editoriAl Artists Miriam Geiger Paige Gittelman CoPy desk ChieF* Emily Howard copy@bupipedream.com Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Paul Palumbo leAd Web develoPer* William Sanders developer@bupipedream.com AssistAnt Web develoPer Zachary Feuerstein neWsrooM teChnology* William Sanders tech@bupipedream.com

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Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. *Positions seated on the Executive Board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Tuesdays and Fridays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations.

Corrections Pipe Dream strives for accuracy in all we publish. We recognize that mistakes will sometimes occur, but we treat errors very seriously. If you see a mistake in the paper, please contact Editor-in-Chief Rachel Bluth at editor@bupipedream.com.

“With marijuana legal in the federal government’s backyard, it’s going to be national politicians to continue ignoring the growing majority of voters who want to end prohibition.”

This Day in History Nov. 7, 1983 A bomb explodes inside the United States Capitol. No one is injured, but an estimated $250,000 in damage is caused.

Pipe Dream accepts stimulating, original guest columns from undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Submissions should be 400 to 500 words in length and be thus far unpublished. Submissions must include the writer’s name and phone number, and year of graduation or expected year of graduation. Graduate students and faculty members should indicate their standing as such, as well as departmmental affiliation. Organizational (i.e. student group) affiliations are to be disclosed and may be noted at Pipe Dream’s discretion. Anonymous submissions are not accepted. Any facts referenced must be properly cited from credible news sources. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Submissions may be e-mailed to the Opinion Editor at opinion@ bupipedream.com.

Tom Angell, chairman of the marijuana advocacy group Marijuana Majority.

stabilizing: more nuggets

Design Cou:destabilizing

NEWS

www.bupipedream.com | November 7, 2014

Campus vote swings local election VOTE continued from Page 1 the CCE distributed materials to students to help them understand which precinct they were in, where they should vote and what the issues were. The CCE also provided information online and in person at the Union that explained platforms of all the candidates as well as the three additional proposals included on the ballot, which dealt with issues such as redrawing district boundaries and allocating money for technology in schools. Doran said he encouraged students to get involved in local elections because of the opportunities they have to spark changes in the Binghamton area

and the state. According to him, there are approximately 7,000 students on campus registered to vote, 800 of whom were registered during this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s registration drive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for college students to vote because voting is a way for people to get their voice heard and to make a difference in the community,â&#x20AC;? Doran said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without it you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have as big a role in shaping the direction of the nation and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on around you.â&#x20AC;? According to Austin Blumenfeld, a senior majoring in political science and a democratic campaigner, the student turnout helped democratic candidate Kim Myers win a seat on the Broome County Legislature. He said nearly

80 percent of on-campus votes were for her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She sent mailers out days before the election with ten reasons why students should vote for her and she came to campus on election day,â&#x20AC;? Blumenfeld said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She engaged with students and it paid off because without the student vote she wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have won.â&#x20AC;? Wyatt Chartrand, a senior double-majoring in finance and leadership, said he he cast his vote because it was his right as a citizen, not necessarily because of its implications. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At this point itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symbolic,â&#x20AC;? Chartrand said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New York is heavily a blue state so whichever way I vote it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make much of a

difference in a vacuum.â&#x20AC;? Other students said they did not vote because they did not have time to keep up with local politics. Donovan Borger, a senior majoring in English, said he did not want to vote in the local elections because he felt he was not informed enough about local issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spent enough time reviewing the candidates, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put my studies ahead of the elections,â&#x20AC;? Borger said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not voting in these elections because I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really have anything to intellectually bring to the conversation.â&#x20AC;? Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Thomas Libous were both reelected to office, holding their respective positions as New York Governor and State Senator.

State St. to see bike lanes, improved roads STATE continued from Page 1 Binghamton and its proximity to BU, according to Deputy Mayor Jared Kraham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really is going to be the key to enhance the gateway into the Downtown area,â&#x20AC;? Kraham said. A goal of Cuomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiative is to boost tourism and development opportunities across communities in New York, and according to Kraham, Binghamton will see those effects after the construction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This project will beautify infrastructure and spark new economic development opportunities along State Street,â&#x20AC;? Kraham said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The added bonus is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the road from campus to Downtown.â&#x20AC;? Business owners, like Uncle Tonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner Bryan Whiting, said the improvements will benefit

the area through temporary employment and permanent results. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Infrastructure is always a good investment,â&#x20AC;? Whiting said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anything that brings jobs into Binghamton is a good thing.â&#x20AC;? Kassandra Smykowski, a senior double-majoring in financial economics and English who lives on State Street, said Downtown is ready for renovations, and that more bike paths and pedestrian areas would be good for BU students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Binghamton University is such a bubble â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there is a disconnect between being a student and being a member of the Downtown community,â&#x20AC;? Smykowski said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would give an incentive to be more of an active member and explore the town you live in for four years.â&#x20AC;? The construction will cover

State Street from the intersections of Susquehanna Street to Hawley Street, and according to Kraham, will cause minimal disturbances to the residents and business owners along in the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That stretch of State Street is not a high retail area,â&#x20AC;? Kraham said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And we will make sure there will be pedestrian access during construction.â&#x20AC;? Ron Sall, president of the Downtown Binghamton Business Association, admitted that although businesses might be affected by construction, the end result would be beneficial. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course businesses are going to be affected; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no other way around getting things done,â&#x20AC;? Sall said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;State Street to Hawley was not done correctly, so this administration is trying to fix it.â&#x20AC;? Larry Shea, owner of State

Street establishment Tom & Martyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, said the long-term benefits of renovation outweigh the short term disruption. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a business owner, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always concerned in terms of construction,â&#x20AC;? Shea said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an inconvenience, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all it is. We can deal with the short term. In the big picture, I certainly am applauding them.â&#x20AC;? But Jessie Ramirez, a junior majoring in biochemistry who lives Downtown, is apprehensive about new construction projects in the Binghamton area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With all the other construction in Binghamton it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem like the best time to start,â&#x20AC;? Ramirez said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like the exit detour on 4S and now Riverside, it seems like a bit much.â&#x20AC;? According to Kraham, the project is projected to be completed by the fall of 2016.

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RELEASE Arts & Culture

Love is no object, it's just sax Samuel Titus | Contributing Writer

ickinson Community residents who headed Downtown this weekend were expecting a night of Top 40 hits or the thumping bass of a frat house. But before they caught a bus or cab, they expected another kind of music, too: the sweet serenading sound of a saxophone. In the evening hours, a mysterious figure treats the quad to more refined musical stylings. If you live in or have passed through Dickinson sometime on a Friday or Saturday night, you may have heard the soulful sounds of a character referred to by his fans as “Sax Guy.” Perched upon The Object, a sculpture that sits close to the Dickinson swing set, Sax Guy belts out jazz-inspired tunes most weekend nights for the enjoyment of passersby. And though he’s adopted the moniker and enjoys the anonymity, Sax Guy’s real name is Jack Manzi. Manzi, an undeclared freshman, has taken up performing in public as a hobby and as a way to bring smiles to the faces of his listeners. The air of mystery that’s surrounded Manzi’s identity has turned him into a legendary figure of sorts, a spectacle that has piqued the curiosity of anyone within earshot of The Object. But to Manzi, playing saxophone is just second nature. “I’ve been playing saxophone since about the fourth grade,” Manzi said. “I brought it here because I thought I might join a band or group on campus. I asked my RA if anyone had played anything on The Object before and thought, why not? I took my saxophone out there and everyone really liked it.” Manzi plays only on weekends because of his limited availability, and because students probably wouldn’t appreciate hearing John Coltrane from their bedroom windows at midnight on a Tuesday. Respect and courtesy are among Manzi’s biggest concerns. “Every now and then, I’ll see a comment on social media saying how they like the music but really just want it to stop,” Manzi says. “Once or twice I’ve been asked to be quiet because people were trying to sleep and I completely understand that. I only play at times that wouldn’t interfere with people’s schedules.” Public performance on campus has become a contagious idea since Sax Guy made his debut. Other musicians have come out of the woodwork to mimic Manzi’s idea. “I know there’s a guy up in Mountainview that plays under the dining hall sometimes,” Manzi said. “I’ve met him and he’s a cool guy. I really don’t mind the competition. Frankly, if I’ve started a trend, that’s awesome, because music is awesome

and so are the people that play it.” While the intrigue and anonymity might now be lost, the spirit of selflessness lives on. To Manzi, being the Sax Guy is not about recognition or gaining anything from his newfound notoriety. “People have actually offered me money for playing. I’ll take food, but not money,” Manzi said, recalling a time when he was once offered a halfeaten box of Oreos for his services. As the weather declines and late nights on The Object become increasingly frigid, Manzi expresses his hesitation to continue playing outdoors in the winter. “At some point, it’s going to be freezing outside, and that’s going to be a pain,” Manzi said. “People really enjoy it though. When I don’t go out, people wonder where the Sax Guy went.” Call him what you want, whether it be “Jack” or “Sax Guy.” At the end of the day, he’s just sharing what he loves to do with those around him. As Manzi continues to perform, his fan base only appears to grow larger. Showing no signs of stopping his routine, Manzi plans to continue providing students with a little bit of soul to end their week and a reason to walk extra slow to their dorm buildings, savoring every last note. You may find yourself passing through Dickinson on your way to a bus Downtown or perhaps taking a seat on the quad just to hear Manzi play. Either way, if you listen closely you just might hear a little bit of jazz in the cool Binghamton breeze.

“People have actually offered me money for playing. I’ll take food, but not money,” —Jack Manzi, Sax Man an undeclared freshman

Franz Lino/Photo Editor

Jack Manzi, an undeclared freshman, otherwise known as “Sax Guy,” sits perched on top of The Object in Dickinson Community late Wednesday afternoon.

A new dating app, where women call the shots

With 'Singled Out,' men can send messages only if they're chosen Rich Kersting | Release

Swipe left, swipe right. In a world where this simple mechanism is becoming the norm in online dating, Singled Out hopes to be a different kind of dating app. Left or right, hot or not, sex is at our fingertips 24/7, and if only we could find the right pick-up line it could be all ours. We validate ourselves with high match counts, aiming for quantity over quality, hoping that our yellow umbrella is somewhere out there. As a result, potential partners get lost in a sea of strange “heys” and “sups,” among cheesy pickup lines and other trivial discourse. With so many matches, and so little content, it can be hard to get to know someone. “Our overall goal has been this: a structure that relies on social accountability, reflecting what would otherwise happen without the help of cell phones,” Jocelyn Harwood, head of marketing and outreach at Singled Out, wrote in an email. “Technology should help us build relationships, not be the substitute in the way we do it.” Singled Out is an app that takes a unique approach to online dating by focusing on empowering women. In order to mitigate the amount of creepy messages women constantly receive on online Photo Provided

messaging in many dating apps, Singled Out allows the women to handpick which men can message her, and which men cannot. It accomplishes this feat with a simple question-and-answer testing method, whereby a woman asks a certain yes or no question, and can sort through men based on their responses. This effectively decreases match counts, and hopes to generate more quality relationships through common interests in an environment that’s explicitly female friendly. However, that isn’t to say that the process is completely stripped of vanity. Men still get to choose to answer a girl’s question based on her photo, and likewise, women can choose which guy to “single out” based on his photo. “The questions are what actually make it possible to create an app where women call the shots,” Harwood wrote. “The women ask the questions and eliminate guys on how they respond.” The questions might seem trivial at a glance: dog person vs. cat person, Ross and Rachel vs. Cory and Topanga, but in essence they act as talking points for the first few messages. Instead of having to resort to a lame hello or an even lamer pick-up line, the questions can guide conversations in a way that generates a more interesting dialogue. Singled Out recently completed a successful

beta test run at UMass Amherst and is now open to the general public, gearing itself toward college communities. The most obvious question regarding the app is, if the app is tailored toward empowering women, what motivates men to join the community? According to Harwood, the biggest incentive for men to join Singled Out is the promise of a more meaningful connection. Plenty of guys get matches on Tinder, but much fewer are actually ever successful in taking any of these matches to fruition. Furthermore, they don’t lose that validation they get from apps like Tinder. When a guy is “singled out,” he’s being specially chosen by a girl that actually wants to have a conversation with him. It all boils down to quality over quantity. While the service is currently running specifically for heterosexual relationships, Singled Out is currently exploring ways to incorporate different coding options to make the app effective for LGBT individuals as well. Singled Out is still in its infancy, but it’s an interesting new concept to online dating and could potentially be a viable alternative for those tired of conventional dating apps. It’s currently available on the Apple App Store, with an Android version in production.

RELEASE

www.bupipedream.com | November 7, 2014

This weekend, take the bait and enter the 'Mousetrap' DCP and HPC unite forces to adapt Agatha Christie play Rich Kersting | Release Possibly the only thing worse than staying in a hotel with a murderer is being trapped in a hotel with a murderer. Unfortunately for the characters of the Dickinson Community Players’ (DCP) upcoming play, that’s the reality of “The Mousetrap.” From Agatha Christie, the matron of mystery herself, “The Mousetrap” is the longest-running show in history, celebrating over 60 continuous years of production in the West End of London. Anyone familiar with Binghamton University’s theater scene will recognize many faces of members of the Hinman Production Company (HPC) among the cast and crew. For a while now, the scene has been clearly divided between the HPC productions in Hinman’s Nelson A. Rockefeller Center and DCP productions in the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4) Multipurpose Room. “The Mousetrap” represents a joint effort between both theater groups to break the mold of DCP vs. HPC and form a more cohesive acting community. It’s being co-directed by Spenser Bivona, vice president of DCP and a sophomore majoring in anthropology, and Matthew Long, an actor for HPC and a sophomore majoring in English. While the story gets a little slow at times, there are always deeper mysteries to unravel. There’s only one murderer, but everyone is somehow tied up in

There’s only one murderer, but everyone is somehow tied up in a larger mystery

a larger mystery. The audience won’t stop at asking, “Who’s the murderer?” but will also question each individual’s motives for their actions. “The play gives the back stories of each person, driving the story toward revealing who the murderer is, and who is the next to be murdered,” Long said. The performers do a great job at keeping the ending a secret, which is probably the most important part of this kind of play. The play is famous for its twist ending and, while it takes some time to get there, the final reveal of the murderer is well performed and resolves the plot satisfyingly. Despite taking place in London,

Franz Lino/Photo Editor

The cast of “The Mousetrap” rehearse in the C4 Multipurpose Room on Monday. HPC (Hinman Production Company) and DCP (Dickinson Community Players) are collaborating to put on a show in C4 Friday Nov. 7 until Sunday Nov. 9.

most of the cast doesn’t adopt an English accent. While the mix of accents is strange at first, it’s excusable given the hotel setting. It stands to reason that all the guests aren’t necessarily from England, and it’s better that the cast use accents they’re comfortable with instead of failing at an English one. Problems that often befall upon DCP and HPC alike usually involve limited budgets for sets as well as makeshift theater conditions. It doesn’t take a stage manager to tell that the C4 Multipurpose Room wasn’t built for theatrical performances. The play is set

in the common room of an old English manor house, and one can imagine the structural limitation C4 puts in place. “Capturing the essence of the manor house isn’t as important as building up suspense,” Long said. “We’re in C4, we don’t have the biggest budget, but we can create that air of suspense and mystery, the legitimate theatre experience.” Despite their limitations, the crew does a sufficient job at making the space work. While the lighting often casts shadows on the actors’ faces, and the narration could be better served with some digital

doctoring, at the end of the day the design is intelligent and executed as well as the infrastructure allows. They built a set, created a scene and made it work. They definitely deserve some props for that. If you’re in the mood for a murder mystery whodunnit, stop by the C4 Multipurpose Room this weekend for “The Mousetrap” presented by the Dickinson Community Players. Tickets are $3 at the door and there will be shows at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

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November 7, 2014 | www.bupipedream.com

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OPINION Friday, November 7, 2014

A Tree Grows in Binghamton

he city of Binghamton recently secured nearly $500,000 in federal funding for a State Street renovation project.

The funding will go toward new pavement, lighting, landscaping and the construction of bike lanes on State, Susquehanna and Hawley streets. On the whole, these efforts will help to revitalize the heart of Downtown, which is home to many local businesses, students and Binghamton natives. One aspect of the State Street revitalization project however, is eliciting more negative reactions. A plan to remodel the Washington Street Mall into a parking lot has been swept under the radar and into this plan. There’s a state of parking emergency going on in Binghamton. Thomas Ellis, co-owner of Ellis Furniture, argues increased parking will bring a much-needed economic boost to local businesses (his business is conveniently located next to the proposed lot). But paving over one of the city’s few open courtyards to construct a

mere 11 parking spaces will do little to enhance the shopping experience in Binghamton. There are already plans to demolish one of the multiple parking garages Downtown and erect a larger one in its stead. There’s no point in encroaching into the courtyard to develop a meager handful of more spots. There are preferable ways to redevelop the space. The Washington Street Mall, a pedestrian courtyard students may recognize from its proximity to the Downtown bus stop at the corner of Court and Washington, isn’t exactly a sight to behold. The courtyard is lined with vacant boarded-up buildings. A “Walk of Fame” honoring famous Binghamton locals harkens back to happier, more prosperous days. Many residents complain that the courtyard is plagued by loiterers and panhandlers. The construction of new light fixtures, green lawns and the

planting of trees will make the courtyard more inviting for pedestrians and businesses alike. Perhaps the projected $336,000 needed to finance the two-phase parking lot construction could be put to use as an incentive for businesses to open shop in the empty store spaces bordering the courtyard. At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, residents complained that city administrators acted illegally in their decision to proceed with the project, as it was not approved by the Commission on Architecture and Urban Design. Regardless of the legality of the action, lawmakers should be responsive to the will of those they serve and reconsider the plan. In the fight to curtail urban blight, parking lots like these are only band-aids. We want trees, benches and flowers. The city of Binghamton can do better.

Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinion Editor, Sports Editor, and Release Editor.

Focus on Zambian leader's skin color is unjustified Benjamin Goldberg Contributing Columnist

It’s been a tumultuous couple of weeks for the people of Zambia. Their outspoken president, Michael Sata, who suffered from an undisclosed illness, died just four days after the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence. In addition to ushering in a national period of mourning, Sata’s death also elevated Vice President Guy Scott to the position of interim president. Scott is an accomplished Zambian politician and his rise to the presidency comes at an important time in Zambian politics. Despite all of this, the media is obsessed with emphasizing one thing in particular: Scott is white. Scott, who was born in 1944 in the north Rhodesian city of

Livingstone, is one of about 40,000 Zambian citizens of European descent. His skin color is of very little concern to Zambians as their country is widely renowned as one of the most successful multiethnic democracies in Africa. Indeed, the white population in Zambia has increased due to an influx of Zimbabwean immigrants. This is not to suggest that Zambia is a post-racial utopia, but Zambians are more concerned with the politics surrounding this situation than their president’s race. When Sata died, he opened up Pandora’s box within his party, the Patriotic Front. According to the Zambian constitution, Scott is required to become the acting president of the country for the next 90 days and after this period, elections will be held. Scott won’t be nominated as the PF’s presidential candidate. First, he doesn’t have enough political influence within the party. In fact, while Sata was in

the hospital he appointed Defense Minister Edgar Lungu as acting president. Second, Scott being president requires the repeal of a controversial constitutional amendment. The amendment states that one’s parents must have been born in Zambia and unfortunately for Scott, both of his parents were born in Scotland. The death of Sata and the ineligibility of Scott has left a power vacuum within the Patriotic Front. Lungu, one of the chief contenders for the presidential candidacy, was fired from his post as secretary general on Nov. 3 by Scott. Lungu’s sacking was criticized as disrespectful party infighting during a period of national mourning. The move was so poorly received, it sparked riots in Lusaka, forcing Scott to reinstate Lungu the next day. To complicate the situation further, Sata died as the country considered a proposed constitutional amendment to

require the presidential winner to receive at least 51 percent of the vote. Currently, Zambia is a multiparty democracy so a majority could mean as little as 41 percent of the vote. Despite the political context, the media continues to disproportionately focus on Scott’s race. Reducing a complex political matter to an entirely racial issue is both lazy and inappropriate. It’s difficult to find an article that doesn’t make the erroneous claim that Scott is sub-Saharan Africa’s first white leader since the end of Apartheid. This kind of journalistic behavior shows how the media tends to frame situations in black and white. Guy Scott is more than a skin color and the political situation in Zambia reflects that. — Benjamin Goldberg is an undeclared freshman.

Offensive apparel trend must stop Giovanna Bernardo Columnist

When you think of Miley Cyrus, the first thing that comes to mind are her outrageous antics. We’ve tolerated it; the twerking, the tongue, the absurd haircuts — she was “just being Miley.” But after a recent fashion choice, she finally crossed the line. Recently, Cyrus posted a selfie to Instagram proudly wearing a T-shirt with photographer Terry Richardson’s face with the caption, “I was touched by Terry Richardson.” This “fashion statement” makes reference to the media allegations against Richardson. He is accused of forcing his clients into uncomfortable situations and sexually abusing them during photo shoots.

For someone constantly scrutinized by the media for her controversial choices, even this is low for Cyrus. Posting a photograph on a public forum in a shirt that mocks victims of sexual abuse is a new level of ignorance and tastelessness. I do blame Cyrus, but even more than that, I blame the designer of such a horrible piece of clothing. This type of fashion — if it can even be called that — is the issue. It is disgusting and so blatantly offensive that it calls into question the sanity of the person who came up with it. The leading offender is the hipster favorite, Urban Outfitters. Recently, they’ve started a trend equating controversy with trendy fashion. Their “Eat Less” T-shirts further America’s body image obsession, and on top of that, their pill-bottle designs for clothing and drinking paraphernalia give no thought to the fact that drug overdose is a leading cause of suicide in the United States.

Urban looks as if they’re trying to push the limit of how controversial they can make their products. And that’s the least of it. In April 2012, the company sold a shirt described as “Auschwitz Chic” with a “six-pointed star badge” over the left breast pocket that looked too similar to the “Star of David patch Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany, leading up to and during the Holocaust,” according to a recent article in British news magazine The Week. And just this past September, the store released “a faux bloodspattered ‘Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt,’” referencing the 1970s Kent State massacre where four unarmed students were shot and killed by the Ohio National Guard during a Vietnam War protest. When did wearing apparel that advertises a school shooting or one of the worst genocides in human history become a fashion statement? It’s actually appalling what these designers come up with

and try to sell in the name of what is trendy. People need to put more thought into purchasing this type of clothing, as they’re feeding into these ridiculous and offensive trends. Not only does it say something about the person who wears it, it speaks volumes about the company that produces it. What you wear is how you present yourself to the rest of the world. I don’t know about you, but if I saw someone wearing a shirt that said “Eat Less” or a fake-bloodstained sweatshirt, I wouldn’t think that they’re trendy. I would think they’re an asshole. We can all agree that these products need to be removed from the market and that starts by using our power as consumers and not purchasing them.

— Giovanna Bernardo is an undeclared sophomore.

Letter to the Editor To the editor: Growth brings challenges. The Pipe Dream’s editorial staff identified one of the challenges in its recent editorial, “After Hours.” To serve our growing student population better, Binghamton University has added almost 100 tenure-track faculty and dozens of new courses during the past three years. That’s a good thing. We have lowered the student-faculty ratio, offered students additional academic opportunities and strengthened research. The University has also added classrooms to accommodate additional faculty, classes and students. In January 2015, a major renovation of the Student Wing that will add over 20 new, stateof-the-art classrooms begins. Progress has its price, however; 20 existing classrooms will be out of service during the spring 2015 semester, making class scheduling more challenging. To accommodate this temporary reduction of classrooms, we have asked schools and departments to spread their courses across the day and into the evening. Some classes will end as late as 10 p.m. The new scheduling guidelines will certainly inconvenience some students and faculty. Fortunately, the inconvenience will not be as great as the Pipe Dream editorial suggests. In spring

2015, only 34 classes will end at 9:30 p.m. or after. More than half are graduate classes or health and wellness classes, offerings that frequently meet at night. Indeed, only two more classes will end at 9:30 p.m. or after in spring 2015 than in spring 2014. To sum up, a total of 34 classes out of 2,520 scheduled for spring 2015 will end at or after 9:30 p.m. And while there may be inconveniences, the new scheduling guidelines have distinct benefits for students. By ensuring that classes are more evenly distributed across the day and week, students will encounter fewer conflicts among classes they need or want to take and will be better able to graduate in four years. I regret the inconvenience our new policies may cause and appreciate the cooperation we have received from schools and departments in developing the spring 2015 schedule. As we have more classrooms available in fall 2015 and after, we will revisit our class scheduling guidelines and schedule fewer evening classes. However, we remain committed to an approach that minimizes class conflicts for students and promotes timely graduation. Donald Nieman Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

LGBT equality is more than marriage Tyler Sparks Contributing Columnist

Supporters of gay rights and marriage equality celebrated many victories in the past few weeks. During the month of October, seven new states legalized same-sex marriage, bringing the national total to 32 states and the District of Columbia. These hard-fought victories must be celebrated and the struggle for marriage equality must continue. Yet, such victories necessitate a reflection on the narrow parameter that typically defines success in the LGBTQIA movement. Equality and justice cannot be achieved without a renewed sense of focus on the broader social and economic issues that LGBTQIA people face. The purpose of such a reflection is not to criticize those organizations working for LGBTQIA justice, but to counteract the tendency to reduce social justice movements down to singular issues. The marriage equality movement is sometimes described as the civil rights issue of our time. However, many of the economic and social goals of the civil rights movement are as of yet unrealized, and the same could prove true of the LGBTQIA movement if issues aside from gay marriage are not addressed. While marriage equality continues to spread, LGBTQIA people continue to face discrimination in employment, housing and healthcare. A person can be fired or refused employment based on sexual orientation in 29 states, and based on gender identity in 33 states. Legislation has been introduced to address this issue at both the federal level and in New York state. Unfortunately, these bills have not received a strong enough political push to make them legislative priorities. Similarly, most states do not protect LGBTQIA people from eviction or housing discrimination. LGBTQIA youth homelessness is an especially pressing concern. Approximately

40 percent of documented homeless youth identify as LGBTQIA. LGBTQIA youth homelessness results from societal exclusion, parental and peer rejection, or even sexual or physical abuse in schools, workplaces or the home. These injustices create extreme economic and social instability for LGBTQIA people. Perhaps most insidiously, these individuals often end up within the criminal justice system, rather than receiving the help they need. Gay and transgender youth are vastly overrepresented in the juvenile justice system, accounting for 13 to 15 percent of those incarcerated or detained. LGBTQIA inmates face greater risks of sexual or physical assault from fellow inmates or guards. This reality further underscores the parallels between the LGBTQIA and civil rights movements. Sixty percent of incarcerated LGBTQIA youth are Black or Latino. The experiences of oppression for LGBTQIA and racial and ethnic minorities are different, but the results are often the same. We must pursue an economic alternative that provides full employment and economic stability to all people to combat the harsh effects of familial exclusion or societal oppression. It is encouraging that Binghamton University has worked to address the needs of LGBTQIA students and staff in recent years. The creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and of genderinclusive housing options are welcome developments. In order to continue to improve campus diversity, demographic statistics on LGBTQIA students should be confidentially recorded to ensure that public universities adequately serve LGBTQIA New Yorkers. Furthermore, we must work to attain tuition-free SUNY and CUNY schools in order to guarantee that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to higher education and a safe environment. — Tyler Sparks is a senior majoring in English.

SPORTS

November 7, 2014 | www.bupipedream.com

PIPE DREAM PICKS

WEEK 10

Welcome to the seventh week of Pipe Dream NFL Picks! Every week, Pipe Dream sports editors and one guest will attempt to correctly predict the outcome of four upcoming games of their choice, selecting one prediction as a LOCK. A correct LOCK is worth three points; a wrong LOCK costs one. The other three games are worth one point each. There are no penalties for wrong guesses on these. Ties give you a half-point. After week six, Twitty coasts on top with 23 points. E.Jay gets lucky with his lock and gets 12, while Ash overtakes the guest with eight. The guest sits in the rear with six.

ASHLEY PURDY'S PICKS SPORTS EDITOR

LOCK GAME

LOCK: Pittsburgh (-4.5) over NY JETS

When Sanchez out-performs his old team, there’s something wrong. Also, I’m not allowed to pick Dallas.

SEASON RECORD: 11-13, 8 POINTS FAVORITE NFL TEAM: DALLAS COWBOYS

+3 POINTS

OTHER GAMES

SCORING SYSTEM

-1 POINTS +1 POINTS

0 POINTS

+.5 POINTS

OAKLAND (+11.5) over Denver

DETROIT (-2.5) over Miami

San Francisco (+5) over NEW ORLEANS

Raiders are going to lose, but I’m skeptical of these high numbers.

Liking Staff and Tate right now. A Golden combination?

49ers’ O-line blows, but Kaep might survive if he runs the ball.

Pittsburgh (-4.5) over NY JETS

Carolina (+6.5) over PHILADELPHIA

Miami (+2.5) over DETROIT

Is there a worse team in football than the Jets? Shocked the spread is this close.

I will never, ever pick a team Mark Sanchez is quarterbacking.

Going with my gut on this one, the Dolphins will pull through.

PHILADELPHIA (-6.5) over Carolina

St. Louis (+7) over ARIZONA

NEW ORLEANS (-5) over San Francisco

The Panthers choke at night. Also, Philly sports fans are truly awful people — so the Eagles take home field advantage.

In Arizona’s pre-Super Bowl montage this February, this will be that disappointing loss in black and white.

I’m ready for a Brees-y November.

NEW ORLEANS (-5) over San Francisco

DETROIT (-2.5) over Miami

ARIZONA (-7) over St. Louis

The Saints score a lot. The Saints also score a lot at home. The Saints always win at home.

Coming off a bye week, Calvin Johnson and the wellrested Lions will dominate at home.

The Cardinals are one of the best teams in the NFL. The Rams, unfortunately, are not.

LAST WEEK: 3-1, 2 POINTS

E.JAY ZARETT'S PICKS ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

LOCK: Kansas City (-2) over BUFFALO

The Chiefs have been playing better of late and Buffalo starts Kyle Orton. Kyle….Orton.

SEASON RECORD: 9-15, 12 POINTS FAVORITE NFL TEAM: NEW YORK JETS LAST WEEK: 1-3, 3 POINTS

JEFF TWITTY'S PICKS ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

LOCK: Miami (+2.5) over DETROIT

Okay, okay. Now I’ll write, “It’s always nice to pick up an easy three points.”

SEASON RECORD: 14-10, 23 POINTS FAVORITE NFL TEAM: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS LAST WEEK: 2-2, 1 POINT

COREY FUTTERMAN'S PICKS DESIGN ASSISTANT - GUEST

LOCK: Atlanta (-2.5) over TAMPA BAY

SEASON RECORD: 9-15, 6 POINTS FAVORITE NFL TEAM: NEW YORK JETS

After their bye week, the Falcons will bounce back after a few unlucky losses. Matty Ice to Julio twice.

LAST WEEK: 1-3, 0 POINTS

BU takes on SBU, Hartford Binghamton opens After six-game home stretch, Bearcats hit the road again

They've been working hard and I know they have improved a lot — Glenn Kiriyama BU head coach

Tycho McManus/Assistant Photo Editor

Sophomore outside hitter Allison Hovie ranks second in kills per set in America East standings, with 3.24.

E.Jay Zarett

Assistant Sports Editor Opening with 19 consecutive games on the road, the Binghamton volleyball team has just enjoyed six straight conference matches at home. That home stretch ends this weekend, as the Bearcats (8-17, 6-3 America East) travel to take on both Stony Brook and Hartford. “I feel like they have come around a little bit as a team,” BU head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. “They’ve been working hard and I know they have improved a lot in a lot of aspects of the game, so it is just starting to come together.” Binghamton will look to rebound from its most recent loss against AE leader New Hampshire. With a chance to move into a tie for the conference lead against UNH, the Bearcats came

out flat, dropping their first two sets. Though they responded by winning the third, the Bearcats ultimately fell short in their last home game of the season. “It is disappointing but they know that New Hampshire is a solid team,” Kiriyama said. “They are the defending champions. We knew they’re a very good team … We wish we could have played a little bit better.” Aside from its last loss, Binghamton had a strong home stand. Winning four out of six, the Bearcats placed themselves in prime position to qualify for the postseason conference tournament, which it missed a season ago. “We knew this home stand was important,” Kiriyama said. “Going on the road in conference is tough. It was good to see them play with a

lot of confidence, a lot of energy and come out with some victories.” One crucial factor in the Bearcats’ success has been sophomore outside hitter Allison Hovie. Hovie, who garnered America East Player of the Week honors on Oct. 20, has been paramount to the Bearcat offense this season. Her average of 3.24 kills per set currently ranks second in the AE. “Allison Hovie has been pretty consistent for us outside,” Kiriyama said. “She has gotten better for us throughout the year, just her confidence and her ability to score points for us.” Binghamton already faced both the Hawks and the Seawolves in the West Gym this season, so the team hopes to keep this weekend free of surprises. BU opened its home slate against Hartford, committing 29 kill errors while blowing a 2-1 set advantage to fall to the Hawks in five. The results against Stony Brook were more positive for the Bearcats, who dominated the Seawolves offensively with three different players recording double-digit kill totals. BU came out victorious in four sets. While the Bearcats have experience against both of these opponents, Kiriyama believes that they may pose more of a threat to BU away from home. “They’re tough on the road,” Kiriyama said. “Both venues are tough to play at. We need to get a little more consistent with our ball control and we have to execute a little bit better at the end of games.” Binghamton is set to return to action tonight against Stony Brook. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pritchard Gymnasium.

second season in EIWA Revamping roster with 10-man freshman class, BU expects success Jeff Twitty

Assistant Sports Editor Reloaded with 10 freshmen and a returning NCAA-tournament qualifier, the Binghamton wrestling team is ready to pin its competition. The Bearcats will embark upon their second campaign in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) after being accepted to the conference two years ago. “We want to continue to climb up to the top tier in the EIWA,” BU head coach Matt Dernlan said. “That’s just one of the immediate goals. We were kind of middle-of-the-pack, lower-inthe-pack last year.” Last season, with then-senior Cody Reed leading the Bearcats at the 197-pound class, BU finished with a 5-11 team record, 3-8 in EIWA meets. But with a year’s experience in the second-toughest conference in the nation, Dernlan is confident his team can rise to the occasion. “I think we’ve got the talent to do it,” Dernlan said. “Finally two years worth of recruiting classes, a large portion of those [recruited] guys are going to be in the line up this year. These are guys that were sold on our vision and our philosophy for the program and to see them get a shot at the line-up is going to be exciting.” Highlighting this year’s newcomers are 157-pound Vincent DePrez and 174-pound Steven Schneider, both of whom are slated to start in their respective weight classes. The two combined for a high school record of 95-1, securing state titles along the way. According to Dernlan, freshmen will also be starting at the 125, 133, 149 and 165 classes. While getting fresh faces on the mat may be exciting for Binghamton, Dernlan anticipates

the learning curve that awaits the team. “There’s exciting things about starting freshmen and there’s also challenges,” Dernlan said. “Obviously, the talent’s there. These first two recruiting classes were both ranked top-15 in the country, so we got the talent. Developing it in the second-toughest conference in the entire country can come with some high moments and some low moments.” But BU won’t be without senior leadership in 2014-15. Decorated senior Tyler Deuel will return as the heavyweight starter after ending his junior campaign at the EIWA championships. This season, Dernlan expects “big things” from the heavyweight. “Tyler really leads by example,” Dernlan said. “To see how far he’s progressed in the two and a half years I’ve been here — it’s been pretty impressive. But he’s done it because he’s gone all in with our philosophy and our beliefs and really led by example in every aspect of the program.” Taking on the task of replacing Reed at 197 is redshirt senior Caleb Wallace. The former 184-pounder added 13 pounds in the offseason to fill the three-time NCAA tournament qualifier’s role. “He knows the shoes he has to fill,” Dernlan said. “But he’s been a starter in our lineup for about two and a half years now, so he knows the expectations. He knows that he needs to step up.” The Bearcats are set to see their first live action on Sunday, hosting the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open at the Events Center. “We’re just excited to get the season started,” Dernlan said. “[We’ve] always been working hard — a lot of preparation since the summer. We’re excited that it’s time to get out on the mats.”

File Photo

Redshirt senior Caleb Wallace will take the reigns at BU’s 197-pound slot after the graduation of three-time NCAA tournament qualifier Cody Reed.

SPORTS

WRESTLING

BU opens season at home on Sunday see page 9

Friday, November 7, 2014

THREE TO BOOT

BEARCATS CARRY THREE SEED INTO AE TOURNEY

Sasha Dolgetta/Contributing Photographer & Corey Futterman/Design Assistant

BU hosts Stony Brook in America East quarterfinals, seeks to recreate offensive dominance Ashley Purdy Sports Editor

No one likes to settle, but three out of six ain’t bad. Unable to respond to a 38th-minute Albany goal on Wednesday night, the Binghamton men’s soccer team will carry the three seed into the America East Tournament this weekend. BU (5-13-0, 3-40 AE) is set to host No. 6 Stony Brook at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

“We were picked seventh [in the preseason poll] — we got the third seed in the tournament, fourth overall in the conference,” senior back Jamie Forbes said of the team’s exceeding external expectations this season. “So we’re happy with that, but we don’t want to settle. We’re going to keep going as far as we can.” BU’s 1-0 loss on Wednesday was decided by Albany freshman forward Alfonso Pinheiro’s longrange go-ahead goal that snuck inside the right post. That slim margin fits the season better than the team’s offensive break-out performance on

Saturday, in which the Bearcats blew out Stony Brook (4-13-1, 2-5 AE), 5-1. Fifteen of Binghamton’s 18 games to date have been decided by one goal, 12 of them featuring just that single goal. Even against Stony Brook, the score was tied at 1-1 until the second half. Three of BU’s goals came in the last 10 minutes. “We were getting chances, but we didn’t get goals and then they just created a few more opportunities for themselves,” BU head coach Paul Marco said. “They were taking very good positions during the run of play, which allowed us to create perhaps a better look at goal. But all year we’ve been

making some really good chances. We’ve been hitting the post and the crossbar, and Saturday night they just went in.” While the end result was a rout, a second victory over the Seawolves is by no means guaranteed. “The challenge for us is, it might have been 5-1 at the end of the game, but for long spells of the game, it was a 1-1 game,” Marco said. “So I think it’ll be a tight game on Saturday. We need to be sharp, we need to be focused, our attitude needs to be right to start, I think our effort in the game will be great. And then it’ll just come down to our concentration in front of goal. Both goals.”

“Everything that happened up to this point is over with and done,” graduate student midfielder Tommy Moon said. “So now all we can do is take each match one by one and then go from there.” Saturday’s tournament contest will be the first the Bearcats have hosted since 2010. The AE determined prices for admission, with regularly priced tickets costing $8, youth tickets (14 and younger) $5 and tickets for students from any America East school available for $2 with a valid student ID. However, the Binghamton Athletic Department will cover the cost of the tickets of any BU undergraduate students. These students must scan their University IDs at the gate of the Bearcats Sports Complex.

We need to be sharp, we need to be focused ... and then it'll just come down to our concentration in front of goal — Paul Marco BU head coach

For live updates of the men's basketball game, follow @BingBBallBlog.

UPCOMING HOME MATCHES MEN'S SOCCER - AE TOURNAMENT NO. 3 BU VS. NO. 6 STONY BROOK SATURDAY, NOV. 8 @ 6 P.M. BEARCATS SPORTS COMPLEX WRESTLING BU @ KALOUST TOURNAMENT SUNDAY, NOV. 9 @ 9 A.M. EVENTS CENTER

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BU VS. MANSFIELD (EXHIBITION) FRIDAY, NOV. 7 @ 5:30 P.M. EVENTS CENTER MEN'S BASKETBALL BU VS. OSWEGO (EXHIBITION) FRIDAY, NOV. 7 @ 8 P.M. EVENTS CENTER