Fall 2014 Issue 19

Flip to our basketball season preview, see Section B

Friday, November 14, 2014 | Binghamton University | www.bupipedream.com | Vol. LXXXVI, Issue 19

Freezing, crashes mar Spring 2015 registration BU Brain faces technolgical issues due to increased usage Pelle Waldron

Pipe Dream News BU Brain has given students a different reason to worry about class sign-ups.

For the past few weeks, students have been experiencing problems looking up and signing up for classes.

Daniel Litt, a junior double-majoring in economics and geography, said that every time he tried to sign up for a class, the server didn’t respond, making a ten-minute process take hours.

“You have to start from square one every time the server cuts out in order to get to the right page to sign

See BRAIN Page A4

With Admissions Center, a fresh start Recently-opened facility offers resources for current, prospective Bearcats Stacey Schimmel Contributing Writer

With plans of welcoming thousands of future Bearcats to Binghamton University, the new Admissions Building officially opened its doors to administrators, faculty and current students.

BU held its official grand opening celebration for the building Thursday afternoon in what was formerly the Dickinson Dining Hall.

The admissions center, previously located in Academic Building A, moved to its new home in September, but the official opening offered visitors a chance to tour the sites and hear speeches from administrators. The new building is now also home to Student Accounts, Financial Aid and Student Records, Course Building and Academic Space Management, Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Management.

See CENTER Page A5

Michael Sugarman/Contributing Photographer

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Nieman speaks at the opening of the new Admissions Center. The new center includes Student Accounts, Financial Aid and Student Records, Course Building and Academic Space Management, Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Management in what was formerly Dickinson Dining Hall.

Panel dissects U.S. immigration policy Ombudsman search Graduate students, talk realities of life as undocumented resident

hosts every semester.

Lisbeth Pereyra, a second-year graduate student studying public administration, recounted her family’s experiences coming from the Dominican Republic to New York City.

“It’s hard to look for a job, find a school, organize finances,” Pereyra said. “There’s rules, regulations and getting to know how things work here.”

She said that although her family came to the U.S. legally, life was difficult, especially for her mother who already had multiple children and struggled to learn English.

“The resources we have here Duncan McInnes/Staff Photographer are often absent in our countries,” Stephen Ruszczyk, an adjunct professor of quantitative methodology at City College of New York and a doctoral candiPereyra said. “But no one talks date; Lisbeth Pereyra, a second-year graduate student studying public administration; and Aja Martinez, BU English and about the challenges, even family rhetoric professor, discuss immigration and the DREAM Act in the Old Union Hall. members brush over them.”

These “Dreamers” are imunity and educational support Stephen Ruszczyk, an Joseph Hawthorne Assistant News Editor residents of the U.S. who are to undocumented residents who adjunct professor of quantitative under 30 and entered the country came to the U.S. as minors. methodology at City College Around the United States, as minors at least five years ago.

On Wednesday in the Old of New York and a doctoral there are millions of young men They have no criminal record, University Union, the Binghamton candidate, said that new residents and women who are essentially but because they lack proper University Masters of Public of the U.S. simply do not have the barred from going to college. paperwork, they cannot apply Administration department same access to information as It is not because their grades for financial aid and thus often (MPA) hosted a panel of speakers established American citizens do. aren’t good enough or because of cannot afford higher education. to address issues for the millions “People talk about going to preexisting debt; nor is it because The name refers to people of immigrants in the U.S. who college and taking the SAT, when they are a felon or a dangerous affected by the DREAM Act, a bill live in the shadows. The event was you are young, like it is some bad criminal. It is because they are last proposed in Congress in 2012, part of a series of current events See DREAM Page A5 undocumented immigrants. which would give temporary topics that the MPA department

continues at BU

University hears candidate's plans for improvement, mediation Alana Epstein

Contributing Writer Binghamton University needs a new ombudsman. And on Tuesday afternoon, the first candidate for the position came to campus not to mediate an argument, but to present one: why he is best for the job.

The primary responsibility of the ombudsman, a position previously

held by Dawn Osborne-Adams, is to provide confidential, impartial and informal assistance to all students, faculty and staff. The office assists both individuals and groups in managing conflict and resolving problems by providing an outlet to gather thoughts and explore options, all while maintaining a

See OMBUD Page A2

Sasha Dolgetta/Contributing Photographer

Bernard Anderson, the current ombudsman at Kennesaw State University, was the first candidate to present his case to become the new ombudsman at BU.

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www.bupipedream.com | November 14, 2014

University searches NYPIRG discusses changes in political climate for Dean of Libraries Horner talks recent elections, discusses plans for coming semester

Harpur Dean McCall spearheads committee in replacement search Gabriella Weick

Contributing Writer Binghamton University has begun its search for a new dean of libraries.

John Meador, who held the position for 11 years, left BU this summer to become the dean of libraries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

A committee chaired by Anne McCall, dean of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, and appointed by Donald Nieman, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, is searching for the next suitable candidate to take Meador’s place.

The committee members include faculty from in and outside the libraries, as well as library staff, an undergraduate student, a graduate student and alumni representing the BU Foundation Board of Directors and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

According to Nieman, the dean of libraries has many responsibilities including managing the libraries’ budgets, overseeing the library staff and working with the deans of the six schools at BU to enhance the libraries’ accessibility to students and faculty. Nieman says the committee is taking initiative with the search and is reaching beyond normal means to find candidates.

“We have hired an executive search firm to help us with the search,” Nieman wrote in an email. “The search firm identifies candidates across the country who have strong reputations for leadership and then contacts them, encouraging them to consider applying.”

After selecting eight to 10 semifinalists, the committee will interview the individuals over video conference and then narrow the group down to three or four candidates for public interviews on campus.

All members of the campus community will be encouraged to come and share their feedback, but the decision will ultimately be made by Nieman and President Harvey Stenger.

Although prerequisites include having a master’s degree in library science and previous management experience in a university library, Nieman said the criteria for the candidates goes beyond education and job titles.

“As for the qualities I’m looking for, they include: excellent judgment and exceptional communication

skills; strong leadership, collaboration and team building skills,” Nieman wrote. “The ability to be a champion for the libraries on and off campus.”

While the committee continues its search, the provost has asked Susannah Gal to serve as the interim dean of libraries.

Gal has been a faculty member in the Biological Sciences department for 20 years.

“I’m learning a ton about what activities the library faculty and staff do to support the research and teaching missions of the university,” Gal wrote in an email. “I’m regularly discussing with faculty and staff about how we are doing our jobs, ways we can do things better and what we can do to publicize our services and support for the students, faculty and staff of the University. So far, it’s been a great experience.”

Gal said she hopes the new dean will continue to support the missions of the University and provide the libraries with a vision for the future.

“I hope that the new Dean will realize all the creative and hard working people we have in the Libraries and the ways that we already serve many of the needs of the university,” Gal wrote.

The committee will screen applications in early 2015, and a new dean of libraries is expected to be chosen after spring break.

Carla Sinclair

Assistant News Editor Although the elections are over, the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is just getting started.

NYPIRG is a non-partisan, statewide, student-directed organization that works on college campuses to engage students in a wide array of political issues such as environmental protection and consumer rights.

Binghamton University’s chapter met on Wednesday in the Fine Arts Building to discuss the recent election and the changes it will incite for NYPIRG, students and all New Yorkers.

“We wanted to reach out to people and inform them as to who won, what policies are

to come,” said Eli Weissman, NYPIRG president and junior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and history.

“Even to those who voted, maybe they didn’t follow up. We want them to know what’s happening, and how they can help.”

Wednesday’s program featured Blair Horner, the legislative director of NYPIRG. Horner delivered a breakdown of the local, state and national elections, and their implications on policies that will affect both college students and the state at large.

“We wanted to put the election results into some context, and what impact [they] will have on policy for young people in Binghamton, or anywhere in New York state,” Horner said.

“The 18-to-22-year-olds are the ones that will one day be running the country. The sooner they get engaged and learn how the process works, the more effective they’ll be as citizens.”

After the presentation, the heads of the four main committees of the BU chapter — higher education, hunger and homelessness, environmental policy and consumer protection — outlined their goals for the semester.

“NYPIRG has a stake in many issues and the separation of the campaigns serve to focus our efforts and make them as effective as possible,” said Sam Clark, head of the consumer protection committee and a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law. “Working in smaller

Klara Rusinko/Contributing Photographer

I hope that the new In Ombudsman search, candidate shares his plans dean will realize all the creative and hardworking people we have Blair Horner, the legislative director of NYPIRG, delivers a breakdown of the local, state and national elections, and their implications on policies that will affect both college students and the state at large.

OMBUD continued from Page A1

— Susannah Gal Interum Dean of Libraries

strict confidentiality clause.

All candidates are required to participate in “University Ombudsman Roadmap to Premier: Goals, Opportunities and Challenges in a Dynamic and Multifaceted Organization,” where they will present their plans to help BU grow.

Bernard Anderson, the current ombudsman at Kennesaw State University, was the first candidate to present and will be followed by other candidates in weeks to come.

In his talk, Anderson highlighted engagement, creative activities, strategic investments and fostering a learning community.

He said that he would educate the campus community about conflict resolution, and improve team cohesion within departments.

“As we work towards becoming a premier institution, the ombudsman is the advocate, not for a specific group but for the abstract,” Anderson said. “He or she is an advocate for fairness, equality and equity in a healthy work environment.”

Celia Klin, a member of the search committee and associate dean of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences, said it is a critical position on campus that can provide a means to mediate conflicts before they escalate.

“It’s a really important position because it is a resource used by students, staff and faculty,” Klin said. “It’s also a position that has the potential for addressing issues before they get too big.”

Anderson said that the ombudsman will provide an even playing field for both students

and employees who may feel overwhelmed.

“The ombudsman is the great neutralizer,” Anderson said. “It provides symmetry of power.

Being an early warning system to the University is another tangible benefit of an ombudsman. It operates at the lowest levels possible before [the clashing parties] rise up any further than they have to go. ” According to Pamela Mischen, the faculty adviser to the president, associate professor in the department of public administration and a member of the ombudsman search committee, the University is seeking a candidate who can both manage the many jobs an ombudsman must fill and bring a unique perspective to the position.

“The ombudsman works

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teams promotes student leadership and allows students to get involved exactly where they want to.”

BU’s chapter has undergone some changes of its own this semester; due to a decrease in funding, the Binghamton NYPIRG chapter can no longer afford a a full-time campus coordinator. Horner, NYPRIG’s legislative director, will take over campus coordinating duties.

“One of the advantages of having someone with 30 years of experience is I can help them think through the details of the projects that they’re interested in,” Horner said.

Vice President Ayla Alvarez, a senior majoring in environmental studies, said that members of the BU chapter were looking forward to using Horner’s expertise to implement new programs and grow.

“I really hope that we’re going to be able to be less all over the place and focus in on some key groups, like fracking and higher education,” Alvarez said. “Blair is a big inspiration; he brings a lot to the table.”

Horner said he was happy with the presentation, and hoped members walked away with a better grasp on how to influence the politics of the world they live in.

“You hear a lot about higher education making a ‘skilled workforce’ for the future, you can make a very good case that if you want a 21st century democracy to work, it needs to have educated and informed citizens,” Horner said. “Tonight is a way to add some context, so young people can start to think of themselves as future leaders.”

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independently of everybody else,” Mischen said. “The position is what the individual brings to it.

We’re looking for someone who can balance the roles of being the reactive person who’s in the office and listens to problems and tries to solve them with someone who is at the other extreme, really out there and advocating for policy changes.

You need to fill both roles.”

Ultimately, Klin said, the position was an important part of managing the University’s expanding community.

“I think it’s a very critical condition especially at a university that’s growing; sometimes it’s hard for people to know where to go when they’re having difficulties,” Klin said. “It’s a really nice central place that can be helpful both itself as well to refer students faculty and staff to other resources.”

PAGE III Friday, November 14, 2014

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

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Fall 2014

STATE NEWS

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

Dangling workers rescued from World Trade Center Two window washers were trapped on a dangling scaffold nearly 70 stories up the new 1 World Trade Center tower for nearly two hours on Wednesday before firefighters sawed through a thick doublelayered window to reach them. The dramatic rescue, coming a little more than a week after the nation’s tallest building officially opened, was followed by throngs of New Yorkers on the ground and many more around the world watching on live TV. The window washers, Juan Lizama and Juan Lopez, were working on the lower Manhattan building’s south side when one of the platform’s four cables abruptly developed slack, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. The open-topped platform tilted sharply and swayed slightly between the 68th and 69th floors. About 100 firefighters rushed to the skyscraper, some of them lowering ropes from the roof so the workers could secure themselves and a two-way radio for them to communicate, Nigro said. The workers, who have more than 20 years of experience between them, also were harnessed to the platform, and the building’s owner said they had all the requisite safety gear and training.

NY prosecutor to fund rape kit testing nationally Evidence from up to 70,000 rape cases nationwide will get longawaited DNA testing, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. announced Wednesday as he pledged as much as $35 million to help eliminate a backlog that has long troubled authorities, victims and lawmakers. Experts estimate hundreds of thousands of rape kits — swabs and specimens gathered during examinations of victims — remain to be tested for genetic evidence that could identify, or eliminate, a suspect. Rape victims deserve to see that the extensive exams weren’t for nothing, Vance said. The backlog is largely a factor of the $500-to-$1,000-per-kit cost of testing, but advocates feel it also signals that sex crimes haven’t always been enforcement priorities. New York state communities will get priority in applying for the funding, which also will go to auditing how big backlogs are. Advocates hope it will build momentum to secure more money, including $41 million President Barack Obama has proposed; Congress is weighing it.

NATIONAL NEWS Lawmakers move to strip former Nazis of benefits A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday to strip suspected Nazi war criminals of their Social Security benefits, insisting American taxpayers should not be underwriting the retirement of anyone who participated in the Third Reich’s atrocities. The Nazi Social Security Benefits Termination Act comes in response to an Associated Press investigation published in October that revealed millions of dollars in benefits have been paid to dozens of former Nazis who were forced out of the United States. At least four are alive, living in Europe on United States Social Security. The legislation would end benefits for Nazi suspects who have lost their American citizenship, a step called denaturalization. U.S. law currently requires a higher threshold — a final order of deportation — before benefits can be terminated.

WORLD NEWS Spacecraft lands on passing comet A European spacecraft landed on a comet on Wednesday, making history after traveling 4 billion miles. The spacecraft is the size of a washing machine, and had been traveling through space for a decade. Besides an unexpected bounce, the landing was executed almost perfectly. The spacecraft is fully functional and in good condition. Information gained from the comet mission will allow researchers to explore whether comets brought water and organic matter to Earth, therefore playing a major role in the evolution of the planet.

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neWs editor* Nicolas Vega news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Joseph Hawthorne Carla Sinclair Alexandra Mackof oPinion editor* Molly McGrath opinion@bupipedream.com releAse editor* Jacob Shamsian release@bupipedream.com Asst. releAse editor Odeya Pinkus sPorts editor* Ashley Purdy sports@bupipedream.com Michael Sugarman/Contributing Photographer

Helene Naftali speaks to a group of students in the C4 Multipurpose Room about student empowerment and finding a career that fits them best. Naftali spoke on Wednesday, Nov. 12 on behalf of The oneTRUEzone, a program designed for “empowering students to find their zone and become the authors of their lives.”

Police Watch A lighter take on campus crime

Asst. sPorts editors Jeff Twitty E.Jay Zarett Fun PAge editor* Ben Moosher fun@bupipedream.com

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Corey Futterman John Linitz

Aaron Berkowitz | Police Correspondent

Sticky Fingers WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 7:48 a.m. — Officers responded to the Glenn G. Bartle Library metered parking lot after receiving a call from a 34-yearold male professor, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim said that when he looked at his vehicle, he noticed that the parking decal was stolen from his rear window. There are no known witnesses or suspects at this time. The case is still under investigation.

Hit It and Quit It WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 4:57 p.m. — Officers responded to Lot R due to reports of a hit-and-run, Reilly said.

An unidentified witness told officers they saw a blue SUV strike a black car and drive off.

The witness obtained the license plate number of the suspect’s vehicle and gave it to the police. The officers contacted the 24-year-old female. The suspect said that she would not speak with police until Saturday. The suspect has pending charges for leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

But … Why? WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 7:44 p.m. — A 19-yearold male left his phone in the room of a student who had to be rushed to the hospital, Reilly said.

When the suspect realized this, he called UPD. During the call, he pretended to be the student’s family member in order to gain access to his phone. The officer on the phone was suspicious and after some time the suspect admitted that he was lying. The suspect was charged with criminal impersonation in the second degree.

Do You Smell It? That Smelly Smell. That Smelly Smell That Smells … Smelly.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12, 11:37 p.m. — Officers responded to Brandywine Hall in the Susquehanna Community due to reports of marijuana use, Reilly said. An unidentified student said that he was walking by the laundry room when he smelled the odor of marijuana.

He couldn’t find any evidence of anyone using it, though. The officers were unable to find anyone either.

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“Before the end of the year, we’re going to take whatever lawful actions that … will improve the functioning of our immigration system.

What I’m not going to do is just wait.”

— President Obama on immigration

This Day in History Nov. 14, 1922 The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) begins radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom.

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.

everyone is sick:destabilizing

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www.bupipedream.com | November 14, 2014

Masonic Temple up for grabs in public auction Abandoned building said to require an estimated $500,000 in repairs Garrett Shor

Contributing Writer The six-story-tall former Masonic Temple towers over the corner of Main and Murray.

However, the interior is crumbling and the concrete walls have fallen into piles of rubble and dust.

Pipes dangle from the ceiling, and chandeliers rest broken on the floor.

The tax-foreclosed building will be auctioned by the county on Saturday, and on Monday afternoon it held an open house to give interested residents and investors an inside look at Binghamton history. “From the time I was 18 I was in this temple,� said David Glassman, deputy grand master for the Broome-Chenango District

of the Freemasons. “To fix it — my god where do I start? This is disheartening. There’s no saving this building.�

According to Gerald R. Smith, the Broome County historian, the building was built in 1922 and became the second Masonic Temple in the area. It housed the TriCities Opera and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Its auditorium served as a venue for local sporting and entertainment events ranging from boxing matches to concerts until the opening of the Veterans Memorial Arena in 1973.

Since then, the building has had several different owners. According to Glassman, the Masons invested their own money and the received loans from the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

but were unable to pay back the loans and lost the property.

Since 2012, when the county seized the building, the property has gone through numerous owners, ending with the the Binghamton Housing Group LLC, which failed to pay property and school taxes.

According to Matthew Manasse of Mel Manasse & Son Auctioneers, which is handling the auction, the estimated cost of repairs has been placed at $500,000. Manasse is confident that the building will sell at auction and said that the structure is solid. “There’s a lot to being historic and the appearance to help with the sale,� Manasse said. “The properties will definitely sell.�

Possible future uses of the building include student housing,

private apartments or a theater, but according to Dave Hamlin, Broome County director of Real Property, nothing is definite yet. “You have a good, solid building right now, and there’s a few proposals I heard,� Hamlin said. “We could always use more senior housing, and there’s even one man who wants to turn this into a single family home.�

For the time being, though, the state of the temple remains the same. Chris Bodnarczuk, a Binghamton resident who attended the open house, said that just getting inside was exciting. “Now I have a chance for some urban exploration,� Bodnarczuk said. “It’s too cool not to have a look at.�

During registration, BU Brain faces tech issues BRAIN continued from Page A1 up for classes,� Litt said. “For people that compete for certain classes, this is a very stressful thing and having the Binghamton [University] server quit on you every two minutes can ruin people’s schedules, as well as cause problems for people that need to take certain classes for their majors.�

According to Binghamton University’s Information Technology Services (ITS), the system sometimes cannot handle the large amounts of students that are trying to use the system at once, especially during registration.

ITS had found a temporary fix by changing the session security setup process, so that now only personal and confidential information about students are encrypted. The system had been running smoothly since

the change earlier in the week, but by Thursday it had slowed again.

Logan Robinson, the ITS Communications Manager, said that they are doing the best they can to stabilize the problem, but there will always be difficulties. “In an environment as complex as a university, our ITS staff is constantly working to provide access to the systems we manage,� Robinson said. “No system is perfect, but ITS continues to work to provide safe and convenient access for all of campus.�

These problems, though, have wider consequences for the University.

Jill Seymour, the associate director of Harpur Academic Advising, said advisers use BU Brain to pull up students’ audits as well as access the schedule of classes. She said that server problems complicated her job on several occasions, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 10.

“When we’re short-staffed, when [we] only have a very short amount of time with the student and the system’s not running, [we] can’t do what [we’re] supposed to do,�

Seymour said. “It doesn’t make my job impossible, but it delays the amount of time I have to spend with a student because I’m dealing with mechanical issues and not dealing with the academic issues.�

Robinson attributed technical issues to the expansion of the system to accommodate more students, but said that some problems could not be foreseen. “All of the servers were load tested to determine if they could handle the traffic they would encounter and passed testing,� Robinson said. “However, a true system load test is not attainable during summer months so some issues present themselves when the full campus population returns.�

However, some students believe that a school of BU’s size shouldn’t experience such problems. Amanda McDonnell, a junior majoring in neuroscience, said that the system’s unreliability made registration stressful. “It was crashing when I was looking for classes and it crashed when I was registering,� McDonnell said. “It was nerve-wracking because there weren’t that many seats left in a couple of classes I needed.�

Greg Morley, a junior majoring in accounting, said he understood the reasons for delays but was still unhappy with the outcome. “I think they’re probably doing the best they can, they’ve just never really had this many kids here, never experienced a fix-as-you-go thing,�

Morley said. “I don’t blame them, it’s just frustrating.�

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November 14, 2014 | www.bupipedream.com

Admission building centralizes campus offices CENTER continued from Page A1 According to Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald Nieman, having all the services located in one building allows the University to provide more seamless service to students.

“What they see when they walk through shouts ‘premier,’” Nieman said.

Joe Tiesi, senior assistant director and campus visit coordinator, noted that the center is eco-friendly and has a “green” wall of plants that filter the air.

The building also has a classroom, formal spaces and informal spaces for students and faculty.

In addition, the front desk is now manned by students instead of

staff.

“If we’re going to be premier, we have to showcase premier and this building does it, the image does it,” Tiesi said. “There’s a lot to be said about first impressions so when prospective students come and their first impression is ‘Wow, look at this building,’ it’s a good way to start the visit.”

According to Tiesi, the new building is also a resource for students to ask questions about the school, as attendants are available at the desk to help any current or prospective students.

“We wanted to be more than just admissions; we really wanted to be a place of hospitality,” Tiesi said. “Current students are extremely valuable to us, so we want to make sure that they feel

important and welcome as well.”

According to Tiesi and Nieman, the building has more to come.

Over the next year, they anticipate adding images of alumni, a video wall and touchscreen TVs. Randall M-J Edouard, assistant provost and director of admissions, said that he hopes to get as much out of this building as possible through its classrooms and new presentation room.

“It’s so important because this building represents a vision of the University and a vision of the president, which is to build structures and to make sure that we have appropriate spaces that speak to what we’re all about, which is excellence,” Edouard said.

Edouard read President Harvey

Stenger’s remarks on his behalf, who had to cancel his speech for a last-minute visit to Long Island. The speech stated that the center will serve as a “one-stop shop for students and families,” that centralized offices that were previously separated.

“May this building attract not only great students,” Stenger wrote. “But also great successes for the entire University.”

Andrew Loso, senior doublemajoring in history and Spanish, said that the Admissions Building acts as the face of the University.

“I think that if we are looking to be premier, premier has to happen everywhere,” Loso said.

“The students are really the driving force, and this is where it starts.”

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Immigrant advocates look to defend undocumented DREAM continued from Page A1 joke,” Ruszczyk said. “But when you’re an immigrant it’s just three letters and you have no idea how important the test is.”

All the panelists said federal and local governments need to do more to accommodate and support documented and undocumented residents living in the country.

This includes passing the DREAM Act to protect students who want legal protection to apply to college, and also supporting immigrant communities through better law enforcement and financial opportunities.

“There are 10 to 12 million people without legal status in this country — that’s more people than in all of Sweden,” Ruszczyk said.

“These are not criminals; they are caught in clumsy policy.”

However, according to Aja Martinez, BU English and rhetoric professor, the U.S. government has a long history of discriminatory policies toward immigrants based on race and judgments of moral character based primarily on a person’s education and employment.

By focusing on the Dreamers, she said, activists lost sight of all the other immigrants that deserved help.

“Who’s being left out in this quota system?” Martinez asked.

“With thousands of deportations by this administration, who’s left in the blind-spot? There’s tons of people that are not part of this narrative of dreamers.”

ANDERSON CENTER for the Performing Arts BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY |

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A6

FUN

www.bupipedream.com | November 14, 2014

Ahh, welcome to the glorious part of Fun Page!!

Testual Harrassment

Tom Casey and Eitan Sheena

Fun. Grandaddy Skunk

Miriam Geiger

How to Train Your Roomate I don't know and I don't care

OMG what is that smell?!

RELEASE DATE– Saturday, February 28, 2009

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Resistance statement 8 Punch 13 Stone Age artifacts 15 Two-time Triple Crown jockey 16 Rival of Lincoln 17 “Cheers,” for one 18 Jungian principle 19 One coming down the aisle?

21 Had something 22 Eye part 23 Hibachi filler 24 Hold (up) 25 Oven cleaner component 26 Blade handles 27 “Operator” singer, 1972 28 Column style 29 Notes from Stockholm 30 “The Purple Rose of Cairo” premise 34 Miffed 35 Try too hard 36 Ocular woes 37 They often have lance-shaped leaves 38 Last-min. additions 41 Greenish blue 42 Painter __ Hals 43 Coll. team sub, often 44 Button on older phones 45 Stereotypical monster’s target 46 “Vexations” composer 47 Like Calvin Klein’s ck one 49 He played Henry VIII in “The Other Boleyn Girl” 51 Gibson guy?

52 Christmas celebrator?

53 Fundraising letters, e.g.

54 Some Keats works DOWN 1 Standing by, in a way

2 1995 Literature Nobelist Seamus __ 3 “Married to the Mob” actor 4 Reduces, with “down” 5 Snoopy’s first owner 6 The NBA’s Hawks 7 Defensive retort 8 “Little Shop of Horrors” dentist 9 Calendar pg.

10 Feeding tubes?

11 White House observation?

12 Money-saving hair treatment 14 Regular par shooter 15 eBay warning 20 The Beach Boys’ Jardine et al.

23 “Quiet!”

24 Some Drs. 26 Sally Ann of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” 27 Oafish 28 Goad

29 Mini revelations 30 “Yes!” accompanier 31 Like some monologues 32 Save for later 33 Mine finds 37 Where many shipmates were seen?

38 Distillery waste 39 Salon instrument

40 Topiary tool 42 Four-time A.L. home run champ Jimmie 43 ’50s vaccine pioneer 45 Socials 46 Go over quickly 48 Bitty, to Burns 50 Nagano Olympic flame lighter

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

02/28/09

Yeah, you're in the wrong part of Fun Page, pal

By Brad Wilber (c)2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

02/28/09

Eitan Sheena

OPINION Friday, November 14, 2014

A

BU Brainless

few weeks ago the spring 2015 class registration period began.

Students anxiously logged into BU Brain, jostling to sign up for classes that would get their majors and degrees finished on time. But the BU Banner system malfunctioned, and students were unable to login for several hours.

In the following weeks, the system crashed over and over again, leaving students even more stressed and irritated. Registration is already a nervewracking process, and the University’s failure to properly respond to these glitches placed unnecessary additional stress on students.

Most importantly, students were unable to register for courses during their designated time slots. For students approaching graduation, this is unacceptable. For students with strict major requirements, this is equally unacceptable. Some students with work and class commitments lacked the

flexibility to patiently refresh BU Brain.

As a result, these students registered later than peers with the same time slot.

One way to solve this would have been to freeze registration, a strategy that can be employed in the future if this ever happened again. It would mean moving everyone’s time slots over — perhaps for a few days — until the system could be repaired. That way, the integrity of the current time slot system could be maintained, and students wouldn’t have to worry about more people being able to register for classes they need to take.

The crashes are allegedly caused by too many students logging onto the servers simultaneously. This past summer, ITS load tested the Banner system and determined the network could withstand the predicted level of student traffic. In reality, this was not

the case.

To ensure future registration periods run smoothly, the network infrastructure must be improved. If that isn’t feasible, perhaps the University should invest in an outside server, a method employed by businesses and organizations across the country. These third-party networks of redundant servers are specifically designed to handle large volumes of traffic. Ellucian, the software company that develops Banner, offers a cloud computing platform, Ellucian Cloud, that is used by universities to host their Banner deployment.

If the University lacks the funds or expertise to improve the network infrastructure, further staggering registration times could help reduce Banner traffic during peak registration periods. At present, there are two separate time periods for each day

during registration period. These days could be divided into five or six time slots. With an out-dated system, this may be the only way to keep pace with a growing student population.

Students attempting to look up classes to design schedules in advance could not do so at convenient times due to crash. The crash even hurt students meeting with advisers. Already shortstaffed, advisers found it difficult to run audits for students due to the systems crash. Limited adviser accessibility and registration crashes coalesced to make this the most stress-inducing registration period in recent memory.

These problems are even scarier as the University continues to balloon in size. It’ll be hard to have 20,000 students in 2020 if they can’t sign up for their classes.

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.

Linguistic prejudice reflects regionalist and classist stereotypes Discrimination against an individual based on accent or dialect is unacceptable Benjamin Goldberg

Contributing Columnist

When was the last time that you mocked a stupid person?

What kind of accent did you give that hypothetical idiot?

Chances are, it was a Southern accent. If you hear someone speaking Southern-American English or African-American English and automatically assume that they’re uneducated, you’re reinforcing a negative stereotype that is far too acceptable in our society.

The social stigma applied to various accents throughout the United States is not only disheartening; such stereotypes lack any basis in reality.

Linguistic prejudice, which is by no means limited to America, is an unfortunate, overlooked phenomenon. We all have accents, every single one of us. Most students at Binghamton University, myself included, speak some variety of the general American accent. Because of this accent’s widespread presence within our society, our media deems it the most “neutral” American accent. As a result, such an accent managed to shake off most negative stereotypes and regionalism. But what about the other countless accents that exist within the U.S.? From the Yat accent of New Orleans to the dialect of the Upper Midwest, both positives and negatives are associated with these less common accents.

For instance, Southern accents are associated (in the North) with rural folksiness and a lack of education. The latter of the two stereotypes is particularly damaging as it puts immense pressure on most southerners to change their accent when they want to sound intelligent. These negative stereotypes are symptomatic of the regionalism and classism that is deeply entrenched within American society. The Southern accent is rarely associated with academic positions. In popular culture, the accent is associated with blue-collar jobs or some hermit living in the middle of the woods. It is telling that the most well-known depiction of the Ozark variety of the Southern accent is by the main

characters on “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Why isn’t it okay to judge people based on their accents?

There is no such thing as “correct English.” While each dialect may have internal grammatical structures and consistencies that should be followed, there is no linguistic basis for designation of any single one of them as “correct.”

For example, if a native speaker of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) uses the phrase, “He been working” as opposed the general English phrase, “He has been working,” it’s completely acceptable because that usage is in line with AAVE grammatical rules. However, the AAVE speaker will still be judged as being lazy or stupid simply because his dialect is

commonly associated with poor urban African American communities.

Linguistically, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with that dialect and it is just as effective at conveying meaning from one person to another.

Accent and dialects can also be incredibly important to a person’s identity. After all, they are linguistic features that sometimes possess deep and meaningful historic ties to a particular region or community. If you wouldn’t judge someone based on his or her skin color, ethnicity or gender, then why would you judge them because of the way they talk?

— Benjamin Goldberg is an undeclared freshman.

While each dialect may have consistencies there is no linguistic basis for any single one of them as correct

A8

OPINION

www.bupipedream.com | November 14, 2014

Sex in the Triple Cities

Sex Toys "R" Us: Add hardware to your tool kit

You're never too old for play time. Replace those TinkerToys and yo-yos with dildos and vibrators Michael Rulli Sex Columnist

I bet you thought you outgrew toys long ago. But just when you thought your childhood affinity for toys was over, now is the opportunity to experiment with a new tier of toys: sex toys. Sex toys come in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials. Gay, straight, lesbian, by yourself or with 10 others, sex toys are the tools that can transport you to a whole new realm of sex.

The quintessential sex toy is the classic dildo. Latex or rubber and usually dishwasher safe, the classic dildo is a great toy for beginners who want to try something new.

You can keep it simple and get one that resembles a penis or try one that doesn’t fit the usual mold.

Different textures can reach every erogenous zone inside of you. A dildo is perfect for masturbation or couples who want to please one another. If one dildo isn’t enough, look no further than the double-sided dildo. This toy suits two people who both want to have penetration, but don’t want to do the penetrating. Don’t forget

to pair your new best friend with some lube for your own version of greased lightning.

If you really want to spread the good vibes, ditch the drum circle and pick up a vibrator. The vibrator is perfect for the woman on the go who doesn’t have time for a partner.

Just make sure to take the batteries out if you take it mobile. At first, if it goes off in your bag, we’ll all think it’s your phone, but a phone only rings for so long. Just as with dildos, there are a lot of different kinds: little ones that fit on your finger like a ring, or larger sizes that fit in the palm of your hand.

You can even try a “neck massager”

like Samantha does in “Sex and the City.” If you go to return it at Sharper Image, don’t tell them you used it for massaging a place other than your neck.

The butt plug stimulates the prostate, a source of immense pleasure. Even straight couples can experiment with these toys.

Guys, don’t be afraid to ask your lady friend to plug you, because stimulating the prostate is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Anal beads can also stimulate the backdoor. Lots of lube is required for this one, but simply insert the beads slowly and gently pull them out one by one. Finding what you

like is always a guessing game, but once you do, you’ll be happier than a kid in a toy store.

If you want an all-in-one toy, I recommend giving inflatable dolls a go. Make sure you think of the perfect name and backstory for your new pseudo boyfriend or girlfriend. You’ll like your new friend a lot more than that inflatable whale you played with in the pool as a kid. Straight guys can purchase a female companion willing to explore everything. Or, for ladies and gay men, a man doll will never suffer from whiskey dick or erectile dysfunction. They don’t have to be inflatable, either.

Dolls come in silicone, and while this may be a bit pricier, if you get that dream job with the Big 4 after Binghamton, you might want to invest in a new toy instead of a dream car.

Sex toys are an indulgence many never experience. However, those who do will become experts in pleasuring themselves and others. Just remember to always clean your toys after each use, and to keep them away from children.

— Michael Rulli is a junior majoring in English.

Atheism is lack of belief, not morality Profit model does Concepts of good and evil can be defined outside of religious frameworks Lauren Young Contributing Columnist

In one nation under God, the idea that morality can exist outside the comfortable embrace of the Lord seems foreign. In many religions where only God’s word can define an ethical code, all those who stray from God are deemed immoral. Because atheists don’t believe in a god, they are often associated with moral bankruptcy.

Do we need a belief in God to act morally? Moral decisions do not require the existence of God, but rather the basic biological and psychological empathy possessed by all human beings, religious or not.

Under Divine Command Theory, the philosophy that

underpins much of Judeo-Christian thought, all that is moral is moral because God says it is. In this sense, morality is contracted as something that exists outside human understanding, and these sacred truths can only be erased with a holy pen. While concepts such as original sin and innate evil serve as the backbone of moral guilt, I never felt as an atheist that my moral actions needed to be monitored by a religious daycare. My views on morality versus immorality were rooted in my natural ability to empathize and rationalize.

My ability to understand the horror of sexism, racism and homophobia isn’t based off of my fear of going to hell, but by basic rational thought, supported by empirical evidence in biology, psychology and sociology. Atheists can determine right and wrong based on the consequences of their

actions. By observing the positive or negative effects of their actions, atheists can hold themselves accountable for what they do and how they should treat others under the law.

Elementary ideas, such as cause and effect, personal responsibility and the golden rule help constitute an atheist’s set of morals. As a result of evolution, humans are naturally social animals. This helps to explain why we sacrifice ourselves to fit in, to survive within the group and to develop intense relationships with others. Because of our psychobiological desire for relationships, we act in our own self-interest by furthering the interests of others.

The human will to cherry-pick what makes a righteous Christian and what constitutes an unethical Muslim justifies the reality that morality can’t be left to a strict

religious construct. Morality is not dependent on one’s belief in a god, and the ability to take objectively good actions in society does not rely on humans developing a relationship with God before developing one with others.

Horrific religious cleansing massacres such as the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust and the Bosnian Genocide plague the holy righteousness that is associated with religious virtue. To solely rely on religion for your moral code only provides you with a pedestal to place yourself above others.

Morality can’t be defined strictly by its ethereal context. It is defined by how you treat others on earth, not how you think they should be treated in the afterlife.

—Lauren Young is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Philosophy.

Early sales distort Thanksgiving's purpose

Pushing Black Friday into Thursday hurts family dynamic Skylin Baestlein

Contributing Columnist

‘Tis the season for giving thanks and spending time with family! Upon the arrival of November, retail stores transition from one commercialized holiday to the next. From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas, every holiday is turned into a money-making mechanism.

In November, the commercialization of Thanksgiving is inescapable and it diminishes the true meaning of the holiday.

Thanksgiving should be a time spent with family. Big retail is confusing this purpose by making Thanksgiving about Black Friday sales. This year,

Walmart, Kohl’s and Macy’s are all opening for Black Friday sales at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. These ridiculous sale times pull consumers away from their loved ones and require employees to work on Thanksgiving. This family holiday should not require people to go into work during dinnertime and it’s unfair that employees are required to work on Thanksgiving at all.

Many businesses are receiving positive feedback for their pledges to close on Thanksgiving. Costco appreciates that their employees “deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families.”

Nordstrom and GameStop are also closing on Thanksgiving to allow their employees to celebrate the family holiday where they ought to, at home.

Black Friday is not only damaging to the family dynamic,

it is also physically dangerous.

In 2008, a 34-year-old Walmart employee was stampeded to death by a mob of shoppers when the store opened at 5 a.m.

It’s disconcerting that people would show such little regard for human life in light of a hurried sale. After the store announced its closure due to the unfortunate event, people continued to shop and justified doing so because they’d waited in long lines. This event demonstrates the insanity of Black Friday sales. People become so consumed by Black Friday that they adopt a mob-like mentality and lose the ability to empathize.

Why would anyone want to put themselves through such a frenzied event? Some argue that Black Friday is an opportunity to show family members they want to provide the best for them through gift-giving. Perhaps

instead, one should provide love, attention and appreciation on Thanksgiving. Some argue that Black Friday sales allow them to save money on holiday shopping, but in reality these sales actually encourage overspending and impulse buys. This type of holiday shopping eliminates time for shoppers to consider thoughtful, meaningful gifts for loved ones.

Personalized gifts are often the most appreciated.

Use this holiday as a chance to take a stand against commercialism. Rather than stand in line in the blistering cold on Friday morning or miss dinner on Thursday night, kick back and enjoy time spent with the ones you love, because that’s what truly matters.

— Skylin Baestlein is a senior majoring in environmental studies.

not fit for University Market forces fail to benefit college students Kyle Welch Columnist

Binghamton University is adapting, like many highereducation institutions, to meet the challenges imposed by the 21st century. In order to handle the demands of higher enrollment and increasing competition, universities have embraced the business model. The business model could benefit students by allowing universities to drive down costs, offer more specialized programs and remain on the cutting edge of technological advances. These benefits have yet to be realized. Instead, costs are soaring. Toxic debt will plague our generation and limit our flexibility in making future financial decisions.

What have we gotten in the place of these expected benefits?

Just as CEOs’ salaries surge, college president salaries are rising. In 2013, the number of presidents earning more than a million dollars doubled, while the salaries of the workers, particularly adjuncts, remained stagnant. Many adjuncts are graduate students who teach classes in order to allow professors to pursue research interests. Some universities are electing to hire more adjuncts and employ more graduate students as instructors instead of hiring professors on tenure-level tracks.

Many institutions exploit adjuncts and graduate students. It’s not hard to find horror stories of universities forcing scholars, many of whom have doctorates, to teach for a measly $3,000 or $3,500 per course — the same salary earned by many minimum wage workers.

As the wage gap increases, an obsession with prestige is playing

a more integral role in higher education and in our society. When choosing a college, prospective students are inundated with glossy and expensive brochures that detail the benefits of every university. As college ranking guides excessively quantify the unquantifiable, it drives the focus of the university.

More and more resources are delegated to marketing rather than to student services and financial aid. This obsession with prestige is unhealthy.

The increasingly close relationships between corporate leaders, politicians and lobbyists breed corruption within our governing bodies and limit the political power of the American people. The same trend is affecting universities. Rich donors have the ability to shape the direction of a university with large donations, detracting from academic freedom.

The Koch brothers, who have used their massive wealth to influence elections across the country, have donated $50 million to universities over the past several years. The universities receiving funding — Florida State University, for example — are leaders in denying climate change.

There’s no doubt that universities have embraced the business model. What about BU? Much is changing around us.

Plans of expansion and a greater emphasis on prestige are driving these changes. Classes have been pushed to later hours, housing has been moved to the fall semester and Binghamton’s infrastructure, including Wi-Fi, is being taxed. Is this in our best interest or are BU’s attempts to better its programs and prestige harmful for us?

— Kyle Welch is a sophomore majoring in French language and linguisitcs, Arabic language and literature.

Response: Functional benefits of social media outweigh costs Networking capabilities and access to information can increase productivity Esmeralda Murray Contributing Columnist

At a family gathering when my grandmother beckons me into the kitchen to help her cook, I take out my trusty cellphone. She immediately scolds me, thinking that I’m browsing Twitter, Instagram or any of the other prominent sites like the “other kids” instead of paying attention to the food preparation.

The reasoning behind my

grandmother’s conclusion isn’t exactly wrong. Internet accessibility has become a bit of a problem. We’re often met with associates who can’t put their phones down during a discussion or would rather take Instagram selfies than contribute to a group hangout. Constant reliance on technology is often cited as the reason millennials fail to possess necessary skills like reading maps or checking tire pressure. Social media can be, in simpler terms, just plain annoying.

Facebook is, at face value, everything I hate. It’s an online realm that practically begs you

to document every pertinent emotion you feel and every picture you take, all the while encouraging you to feign interest in what others have to say. It’s also one of the biggest resources on the Internet. Look past those unwanted event invitations and exasperating game requests and you’ll find an enduring system of networking that allows you to stay engaged in social groups and sometimes even reminds you to vote.

Is refreshing your newsfeed instead of studying for midterms a waste of time? Yes. Should we stop immersing ourselves in wireless

interactions? Never.

Let’s stop overlooking the success stories of social media.

There are fashion models who have been scouted by posting selfies on Myspace and Instagram. There are thousands of students who have ditched in-person networking and have made notable connections through sites like LinkedIn. There are new occupations popping up every day — search engine optimization specialist, social media strategist and online community manager, to name a few — that boast salaries higher than $50,000 and deal directly with the flow of electronic information.

Social media isn’t only handy on the professional end of the spectrum. Don’t know how to cook steak? There’s an online guide for that. Forgot how to solve a differential equation? There’s an app for that. Want to reconnect with an old acquaintance who lives across the country? There’s a messaging system for that.

I’m not advocating for a world in which Twitter rules all; I’m not gunning for a society full of people who are unable to pry themselves away from their iPhones when the time seems fit. But I am #TeamFacebook, and for the right reasons. Social media is much like

everything else that surrounds us — prominent, ever-emergent, potentially overbearing and highly useful if you know how to use it.

It’s a vital part of how we function and it’s here to stay, so why not take full advantage of it?

My grandmother may be annoyed that I’m using my cellphone in the kitchen, but little does she know that I’m using social media to find a recipe for the best apple pie she’ll ever have.

— Esmeralda Murray is an undeclared sophomore.

RELEASE Arts & Culture

Art imitates life in ‘A Chorus Line’ Get in the line for the second Mainstage show of the semester Kathryn Shafsky | Staff Writer If you walked into Watters Theater in the Fine Arts Building a week before opening night, you might hear a group of three people singing a song from “The Cheetah Girls,” or see students doing jumping jacks and exercises in unison, as if they were in a workout video. It isn’t until you hear a booming voice yell “places for top of show” that you’d realize you were actually at a rehearsal for “A Chorus Line.”

“Any group of people being forced to do push-ups and sit-ups like we were together just grows as a group,” said Danielle Nigro, a sophomore majoring in theater, who plays Cassie in the mainstage production.

“A Chorus Line” takes place during an audition, with each cast member playing a dancer who hopes to land a role in the chorus of a show. Elizabeth Mozer, an assistant professor of theater and the director of the show, said she knew it was the right choice for this season’s musical after hearing her students’ enthusiasm.

“It’s a really big show and it’s a really hard show to pull off,” Mozer said. “But I started to look around and I thought ‘There are people here who can do this show, I know it.’ So we said ‘Let’s go for it,’ and I’m really glad we did.”

The show opens with a display of

impressive dance talent, as the audience gets to watch the cast show off its skills before delving deeper into each dancer’s life. Mozer likened the anxious nature of the show to a reality show that brings everyone in on the usually private auditions of the theater world.

While the dancers’ lives are tied together by the pressure they feel during the audition process, the show explores their backgrounds through a combination of funny and moving scenes.

“There are so many hysterical parts of the show, and then some really deep, heart-wrenching moments,” Nigro said.

“It goes through everything and I think it’s a really great experience for the audience.”

Mozer said that the musical’s themes wouldn’t resonate with only those in the theater world, but from anyone who dedicates themselves to their ambitions.

“It’s the story of people who are passionate about achieving their dreams, living a life that’s filled with their vocation, dedicating themselves to their art,” Mozer said. “I think it’s universal in that so many of us make the kinds of choices [that involve] sacrifice, commitment, hard work and the pursuit of a dream.”

While the themes are universal, it’s easy to see the strength of the actors’ connections to the characters, as they

“A Chorus Line” Where: Watters Theater When: 8 p.m. on Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22 2 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Student price: $10

Photos Provided by Jonathon Cohen/Binghamton University Photographer

find similarities between their own experiences working in theater and the experiences portrayed in the show. The lives of the characters mirror the lives of the actors.

“There are definitely a lot of parallels between the process of actually auditioning for the show and the fact that the show in itself is an audition,” said Jade Cayne, a senior majoring in management, who plays Rickie. “I think that’s what’s so cool about it. There’s that feeling of realism to it as well.”

With subject matter ranging from plastic surgery to sexual abuse, the show will bring audiences on an unforgettable emotional journey. The actors take on demanding roles, with the hope of providing a truly memorable show.

Matthew Pedersen, a junior double-

majoring in psychology and music, who plays Paul, said his favorite part of performing is seeing the reactions of the audience.

“To experience an audience member’s raw emotion, whether they’re crying or laughing, it’s just unlike any other experience in the world,” Pedersen said.

For Pedersen, working on a danceheavy show has been a rewarding new experience.

“I’ve always done musicals where it’s singing and acting first,” Pedersen said.

“It’s great to have dancing as a primary and to learn so much from it.”

Courtney Schiff, an undeclared sophomore and the assistant choreographer, has enjoyed watching the performers grow through the process of rehearsing for the show.

“They’re all different and they’re all talented in so many different ways,” Schiff said. “Not all of them are dancers.

To watch them have grown throughout this process is cool.”

While the amazing dance numbers, sentimental and hilarious songs and passion shown by the performers will be sure to please, audiences will be most impressed by the honest experience that the actors have created.

“The show is so unique because everything that everyone is seeing is very truthful and natural,” Nigro said.

The theater department’s production of “A Chorus Line” will be on stage at 8 p.m. on Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Build your gaming wish list with these new releases Franchises like 'Assassin’s Creed' and ' Pokémon' dominate upcoming slate of video games James Sereno | Contributing Writer As the Christmas season looms closer, Santa’s mailbox fills and Black Friday veterans strap on their protective armor.

And since stores are hell-bent on opening in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner, it’s probably a good idea to have an early handle on your wish list. For those who revel in the world of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and multiplayer modes, this holiday season has you set. For your shopping convenience, Release has compiled a list of the best new video games out in time for the holidays.

“Halo: The Master Chief Collection” Price: $60 Platform: Xbox One Available now The first-person shooter space epic is being remastered in a collection well worth the price. The disc includes “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4,” complete with all the original multiplayer maps with upgraded graphics.

It’s a perfect game for any Halo fan wanting to stroll down memory lane since the first game’s release in 2001. The set also includes the live-action series “Halo: Nightfall,” produced by Ridley Scott and access to the “Halo 5: Guardians” beta.

“Assassin’s Creed: Unity” Price: $60 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows Available now The Assassin’s Creed series takes its players through history as members of an elite assassin brotherhood. Using stealth and combat, they achieve peace through violence. This installment in the series brings players to Paris during the French Revolution. Along with the open-world single player mode, the game includes a cooperative multiplayer narrative.

“Grand Theft Auto V” Price: $60 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One Release Date: Nov. 18 While the game was released over a year ago, it’s now being re-released for the next generation of consoles with new additions and gameplay upgrades. One of the biggest additions to the game is a first-person mode which up until now has never been a part of the GTA experience. As an incentive for those who have already purchased the game, exclusive content like weapons, vehicles and activities will be included with the new purchase.

Photo Provided

“Pokémon Alpha Sapphire” and “Omega Ruby” Price: $40 Platforms: 3DS, 2DS Release Date: Nov. 21 As players return to the Hoenn region introduced in the 2002 games “Pokémon Ruby” and “Sapphire,” they’ll be accompanied by some of the changes brought to the newer generations of games, like the mega evolutions from “X” and “Y,” along with discontinued features like secret bases. This remake will also include a new evolution system called Primal Reversion, which will be very similar to the mega evolutions.

“Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix” Price: $40 Platform: PlayStation 3 Release Date: Dec. 2 Other collections being remastered in HD are “Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix” and “Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix.” Both games, which were exclusive to Japan in their original releases, will now be available in North America in their entirety. Also included on the disc is an HD theater mode for “Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.” This will probably be the last Kingdom Hearts release until the highly anticipated “Kingdom Hearts III.”

It’s a perfect game for any Halo fan wanting to stroll down memory lane

“The Crew” Price: $60 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows Release Date: Dec. 2 “The Crew” is an open-world online racing game set throughout the United States, relying heavily on both exploration and customization. It’s estimated that it would take a player 45 minutes to drive from coast to coast in the game. The overall game consists of a single player campaign, cooperative multiplayer missions and an online racing mode with a maximum of eight players.

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RELEASE

www.bupipedream.com | November 14, 2014

Tracing her roots, and eating them too Ava Chin talks about her life as an urban food forager Kayla Harris | Contributing Writer Some people might think “forager” is a nicer way of saying “dumpster diver.”

But for Ava Chin, former writer of the Urban Forager column at The New York Times, foraging is not about digging for trash. It’s a way of life.

Chin has been foraging since she was a young girl. Raised by her single mother and Chinese grandparents in Flushing, Queens, she often found herself immersed in Chinese traditions both in and out of the kitchen. Over the years, food has become a source of comfort for Chin as it reminds her of the countless times she spent helping her grandfather in the kitchen. In fact, there were numerous occasions where her grandfather would take her along while he foraged for his ingredients.

In a discussion about her most recent book, “Eating Wildly: Foraging for Life, Love and the Perfect Meal” in the Old University Union on Thursday afternoon, Chin talked about her life as a forager and its significance in her life. Even though food has always had a place in her heart, it was not until Chin experienced foraging for herself that it became a part of her lifestyle.

“It helped me feel grounded in my surroundings,” Chin said.

After her grandma became seriously ill and she experienced a sudden breakup with the man she believed would be her husband, Chin set out on an emotional journey. She retreated to the parks and backyards of Brooklyn and New York City in search of fresh and edible plants and a sense of wisdom. It is through her experiences foraging that Chin began to see the world as a place of abundance and beauty.

“Eating Wildly” — named one of the best books of 2014 by Library Journal — emphasizes the importance of selfreliance in terms of both emotional and culinary sustainability as an alternative perspective to the general urban lifestyle.

Through her various recipes, which incorporate ingredients like field garlic and wood ear fungus, Chin began to realize that immersing oneself in nature leads to self-discovery.

While Chin’s experience with foraging has been intensely personal, for others it can serve both medicinal and commercial purposes. A small fraction of foragers work for top chefs, bringing them the most natural and authentic plants to craft into gourmet meals for their customers.

However, most are ordinary people,

possibly first-generation immigrants, looking to practice the traditions of their homelands as Chin’s grandfather did.

Everyone has the ability to forage; according to Chin, it is just a matter of knowing where to look. She suggests staying away from buildings and traffic, since both can cause high levels of pollution. Additional advice includes consulting an expert and testing your knowledge of specific plants throughout the entire season before tasting.

However, once enough information has been acquired, foraging for food can be a way to increase sustainability in the environment. It can even be romantic — on their second date, Chin and her nowhusband went foraging for mushrooms.

“Foraging changed my life,” Chin said. “It is how I met my husband.”

In addition to writing a series of foraging-related essays, Chin now works as a professor at the College of Staten Island. However, this does not stop her from whipping up a delicious dinner using all foraged ingredients.

“It is my passion,” Chin said. And it doesn’t look like she’ll stop anytime soon.

Raquel Panitz/Staff Photographer

Ava Chin, former writer of the Urban Forager column at The New York Times, speaks about her experiences foraging in her childhood and how it influenced her life.

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Band recorded each of 8 songs in 'Sonic Highways' in a different major US city James Sereno | Contributing Writer In 1994, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl began his own solo venture in the music industry after Kurt Cobain’s death. Within a year, his solo effort had grown and sparked the beginning of the Foo Fighters. Over the span of two decades, the band has become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, selling over 11 million albums and winning four Grammy Awards. This past Monday marked the release of their eighth studio album, “Sonic Highways.”

Following the release of their chart-topping 2011 album “Wasting Light,” everyone had high expectations for what would come next from Grohl and the band. They didn’t disappoint.

“Sonic Highways” is much more than just an eight-track album, and perhaps that’s because their process of creating and recording the album was different than any other.

The band spent a week recording each of the eight tracks in a different United States city. While in each city, Grohl interviewed local, influential musicians to learn about how music had affected each area and how the area had affected each artist’s music. On the last day spent recording in each city, Grohl used what he learned from the interviews and experiences to write lyrics for that week’s track.

The album begins with “Something from Nothing,” which is the centerpiece of the first episode of the band’s HBO Documentary, “Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways,” directed by Grohl himself. This song is one of the strongest on the album, and a perfect introduction.

Beginning with a single guitar and soft vocals, it builds up into an explosive sound with Grohl’s classic roar. Recorded in Chicago, the lyrics touch upon the Chicago fire, Buddy Guy and how the music of the windy city is truly “something from nothing.”

The album showcases the Foo Fighters’ rapid-fire sound in the Washington D.C. song “The Feast and the Famine,” which sounds as if it could be the background track to an ESPN highlight reel.

On the opposite end, the Seattlerecorded track “Subterranean” brings a slow hypnotic sound led by an acoustic guitar.

In addition to the album, Foo Fighters fans can revel in the aforementioned companion television series on HBO. Each hour-long episode, airing Friday nights at 11 p.m., follows the band in a different city while they record. (Tonight’s episode takes the band to Los Angeles.)

Everything from rehearsals to interviews to lessons on

each city’s musical history is filmed and narrated by Grohl.

Throughout the journey, the band was accompanied by notable musicians like Dave Matthews, Joe Walsh and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

This album is packed with the gut-punching sound that has come to be expected of this rock star band. Though it’s well crafted, it spawns an underwhelming feeling and a desire for more within the listener. While this could be attributed to the short tracklist, it also seems that the band lost part of its sound somewhere along the way by trying to accommodate the sound of each city.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is the band’s eighth studio album in their 20th year of existence, and it’s good to hear something different. Regardless, this album is what Grohl refers to as a “love letter to American music.”

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SPORTS

November 14, 2014 | www.bupipedream.com

Bearcats set to take on UMBC with playoff berth at stake

After dropping two games last weekend, BU seeks victory to secure final spot in AE tournament

Derek Stampone Contributing Writer

The Binghamton volleyball team is set to wrap up its regular season schedule this weekend when it hits the road to take on UMBC. After falling in two contests last weekend, the Bearcats (8-19, 6-5 America East) hope that the third time is the charm in its search to capture a postseason bid in the America East tournament.

BU had a chance to secure a spot in the playoffs last weekend with a victory in one of its two contests. However, the Bearcats were defeated by both Hartford and Stony Brook, leaving the final spot in the tournament up for grabs.

Binghamton does not need to win its game today to advance, as it will remain alive depending on how the other teams fare. But the Bearcats would rather not stumble into the postseason on a loss.

“We don’t want to slip into the playoffs through the back door,” BU head coach Glenn Kiriyama said. “We’d rather go out there on a good roll. So it’s important that we play well against UMBC and try to execute our offense.”

When UMBC (10-13, 4-6 AE) came to Binghamton on Oct. 19, the Bearcats stunned the Retrievers in a three-set sweep. The team played one of its best games that day, stifling UMBC’s strong hitting.

BU held the dynamic duo of redshirt junior middle hitter Krystal Mlemchukwu and junior outside hitter Sherelle Walker to

uninspiring hitting percentages of .078 and .062, respectively. On the other side of the net, outside hitters Kristin and Allison Hovie — a senior and sophomore, respectively — combined for 22 kills to lead Binghamton’s offense.

The Bearcats hope that they can execute a similar game plan this time around, focusing on solid defense and a consistent offense.

“I think we just have to remain aggressive, especially with our serving,” Kiriyama said. “When we get the chance, we want to really focus on connecting well with our hitters and running our offense at a high efficiency.”

UMBC must win out the rest of its season in order to have a chance at making the playoffs. Between the Retrievers’ desperation and the home crowd energy, the Bearcats have a great deal working against them. The key, however, will be maintaining composure and focus.

“We have to try not to look ahead to anything and play each point as hard as we can,” Kiriyama said. “If we can do that we’ll have a good result.”

If the Bearcats falter against the Retrievers, there is still a chance BU can find its way into the playoffs. If Hartford (1612, 4-6 AE) drops either of its games this weekend to UNH or UMass Lowell and UMBC loses its regular season finale at home against Albany, the Bearcats will earn the fourth and final seed in the conference tournament.

However, if Hartford wins both of its matchups and the Bearcats fall, they will earn the last playoff

We can't wait to rely on anything else. We want to go out and play our hardest — Glenn Kiriyama BU head coach

spot. If Hartford drops a game and UMBC defeats Albany as well as BU, than the final playoff spot will be determined by a tiebreaker, which hinges upon today’s game.

But BU hopes it can avoid all of these playoff scenarios in securing a win today.

“We play [UMBC] first before anything else really happens,” Kiriyama said. “We can’t wait to rely on anything else. We want to go out and play our hardest.”

Today’s match between BU and UMBC is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena in Catonsville, Maryland.

Tycho McManus /Assistant Photo Editor

Senior outside hitter Kristin Hovie will aim to channel her dominance on the season against UMBC this weekend for a chance to send BU into the postseason.

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SPORTS

VOLLEYBALL

BU set to vie for postseason berth see page 11

Friday, November 14, 2014

Hart-Broken

BU drops America East semifinals match, 2-1, to Hartford despite solid defensive showing Ashley Purdy

SHOTS: HARTFORD:

20

Sports Editor

BU:

4

SAVES: HARTFORD:

1

BU:

6

CORNER KICKS: HARTFORD:

10

BU:

3

A full circle provides closure, right? Ending the season much in the same way it began, the third-seeded Binghamton men’s soccer team was booted from the America East Tournament in its semifinals round on Wednesday night, after two corner kicks from No. 2 Hartford proved to be the underdog’s Kryptonite.

Sore against set-piece defending — which led to conceded goals earlier in the season — the Bearcats (5-14-1, 3-5-1 AE) let up their first goal in

the 73rd minute, and another with 53 seconds remaining in overtime to end their season, 2-1. Hartford (11-5-2, 5-2-0 AE) senior defender Connor Yeaney scored both goals, with senior defender Rohan Roye credited with an assist on the former and sophomore midfielder Udi Cohen on the latter.

For being outshot, 20-4, Binghamton put on a pretty impressive defensive display.

The AE Goalkeeper of the Year, sophomore Robert Moewes, in conjunction with freshman back Christian Dam and senior back Jamie Forbes, combined for six saves. Moewes reacted for an incredible save in the 84th minute

to keep the game tied. He dove, saw the ball ricochet from his hands, and dove again to push it past the backline. On the resulting corner kick, he garnered another save, collecting two in under a minute.

As far as Zach Galluzzo is concerned, the night saw sizable success: The sophomore midfielder netted his first career goal — a semifinals equalizer —in the outing. Retaliating two minutes after Hartford’s initial damage, he rifled a shot from 16 yards out, beating Hawks sophomore keeper David MacKinnon to force a tie.

In his last game in the green and white, graduate student midfielder

Tommy Moon was credited with an assist on the play.

Were it not for a risky tactic taken by Hartford junior defender Jhamie Hyde five minutes into overtime, BU’s result may have been different. Senior back Derrick Ladeairous broke away from a cluster of players and charged downfield, about to go head-to-head with MacKinnon.

But Hyde grabbed Ladeairous by the shoulders and tackled him to the ground. Though Hyde was penalized with a red card on the play and the Hawks were forced to continue with a man down for the remainder of the game, that didn’t stop them from taking the game.

The loss is upsetting, but even making it this far was, to external eyes, a stride for the Bearcats. BU was picked to finish seventh out of eight teams in the preseason poll this August, but carried the three seed into the AE Tournament and persevered into the semifinal round. That success did not surprise Binghamton’s players and BU head coach Paul Marco, however, inside the program, there were scoffs at the underwhelming ranking. They knew they were playing at a higher level than that.

Taking the field for the last time were seven Binghamton players set to graduate this year: Moon, Ladeairous, Forbes, senior forwards Steven Celeste, Matt McCoy and Vlad Finn, senior back Alan Duff and senior midfielder Pascal Trappe played their last game for the Bearcats in the postseason loss. But they left on a bittersweet note, as they were able to extend their games by two due to their success. All but Duff saw minutes on Wednesday night.

Advancing to the America East Championships, Hartford will take on UMBC (11-5-3, 6-01 AE) in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday. The AE’s No. 1 seed ousted Vermont, 3-1, at home on Wednesday. The title match is set to begin at 7 p.m.

FINAL SCORE

1

Tycho McManus/Assistant Photo Editor Sophomore back Zach Galluzzo tallied his first career goal during BU’s semifinals match against Hartford on Wednesday night. His 75th minute score propelled BU into overtime, but the team dropped the match, 2-1.

2