BU junior, Ben Breban,
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Tuesday, December 8, 2015 | Vol. LXXXVIII, Issue 25 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
Faculty, students talk policy over lunches Student Association hosts "Administrative Luncheons" to foster transparency, discussion Stacey Schimmel Pipe Dream News
Franz Lino/Photography Editor Graduate students protest recent graduate student stipend changes on the Peacemaker Stage in Downtown Binghamton. Members of the Graduate Students Employees Union and Binghamton University’s Graduate Students Union held a demonstration in response to increased pay for incoming graduate students.
Rally protests stipend increase
To protest "unequal" stipend policy, GSO organizes march on Court Street Zachary Wingate Pipe Dream News
With picket signs, megaphones and children on shoulders, graduate students took to the streets of Downtown Binghamton on Friday evening to protest recent graduate student stipend changes. Members of the Graduate Students Employees Union (GSEU) and Binghamton
University’s Graduate Student Organization (GSO) gathered around the Peacemaker Stage on Court Street to protest the BU administration’s decision to increase stipends for incoming graduate students. The increases will only benefit those entering BU beginning in the fall 2016 semester, while current graduate students will maintain the same pay rate. According to Laura Johnsen, a second-year
graduate student studying anthropology and one of the organizers of the protest, those incoming graduate students are expected to make anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 more than current graduate students annually. Currently, graduate students make an average of $14,500 per year, but it can vary across disciplines.
SEE RALLY PAGE 2
Looking to foster transparency between students and the administration, the Binghamton University Student Association (SA) will be hosting weekly Administration Luncheons. Dillon Schade, SA president and a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, created this idea with Brian Rose, the vice president for student affairs. The initiative came about after they realized that many students on campus believe communication with administrators could be stronger. Each Friday, a different administrator chosen by Rose sits with six to eight students who are chosen by Schade’s office. The lunches are held in the Chenango Room from noon to 1 p.m., and the first event was held on November 20. All BU students are eligible to apply by emailing their resume and a brief statement of why they want to participate. Schade said he selects students not only based on their leadership roles in the University, but also on whether they previously have had opportunities to meet with administrators. “I think one of the most powerful things this provides both students and administration is an environment where people can just talk and provide productive conversations and solutions,” Schade said. “I definitely think change will come of it.” Lunches are advertised on SA-Line and will continue to be advertised more through flyers next semester. They will be categorized into topics based on different office’s duties at the
HIV/AIDS survivors look to dispel stigmas
Pipe Dream News
Hearing about HIV/AIDS in health class is one thing, but hearing about it from people who actually have it is a whole different learning experience. That’s why volunteers from the Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) came to share their stories with students with hopes they would stay safe. On Friday evening, students attended “It Can’t Happen to Me,” an event hosted by Women Empowered Support, Protect, Educate, Advocate and Know at
Binghamton University (WESPEAK BU), which featured a panel of four speakers from STAP who shared their personal experiences with the disease. Ebony Arendt, the president of WESPEAK BU and a senior majoring in business administration, said that the panelists, who had all contracted HIV and two of which had AIDS, had expressed interest in speaking to students. She said that by having them share their own different experiences with HIV/AIDS, students would be able
SEE STAP PAGE 2
Fraternities, sororities give time and money during holiday season Alana Epstein Pipe Dream News
Kevin Parades/Contributing Photographer Volunteers from the Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) share their experiences with HIV/AIDS with students in the Old Union. The event focused on explaining that no one is immune to the disease and spreading awareness about getting tested.
Alum recounts path to career as pediatrician
Patricia DeLaMora, '95, works as infectious disease doctor for children Derek Schuster Contributing Writer
John Babich/Assistant Photography Editor Dr. Patricia DeLaMora, a Binghamton University alumna from the class of ‘95, speaks about her career in medicine as an infectious disease pediatrician. DeLaMora illustrated her journey to associate attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Check out Pipe Dream's photos from SantaCon 2015,
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Pursuing a career in the medical field may seem daunting, but guidance from someone who has experienced the process can provide direction. Patricia DeLaMora graduated from Binghamton University in 1995 with a degree in biology and currently works as an infectious disease pediatrician, dealing with ailments that stem from bacteria, fungus or parasites. She was invited to BU to talk to students about medical career paths. DeLaMora currently works as an associate attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Weill Cornell Medical College. She was asked
SEE LUNCH PAGE 2
Greek life gives back to charity
Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) volunteers share personal experiences living with disease
Michelle Kraidman
University, and an administrator that best matches each topic will be selected for that week. According to Schade, this will better tailor the student demographic to have more productive conversations. The idea was approved by BU President Harvey Stenger, and lunches are paid for by the administration’s funds under Rose’s office. Suzanne Howell, the director of Residential Life and the associate dean of students, was the administrator selected for last Friday’s Luncheon. She said she thinks increased communication with the student body will benefit everyone. “I think an open communication dialogue that we’ll gain from each other is learning what’s on each other’s minds,” Howell said. “I’m here to listen and to help people understand if there’s things out there that they want to know more about.” Students can ask administrators to clarify any information regarding things on campus, why certain systems function the way they do or offer suggestions as to how to make certain parts of the University better. Students can also learn from each other, by sharing knowledge they know about events going on at BU. Last Friday, students began the lunch by introducing themselves and their campus involvement, followed by Howell introducing her current projects. She discussed how she is working to make changes to the Union’s Undergrounds in order to reduce the prices of activities. From there, Howell asked for student input about how to promote certain changes,
to speak at BU by Harpur Edge, along with the pre-health professions advising office and the Harpur College Dean’s office. Leah Joggerst, the director of constituent relations for Harpur College, said that she thought DeLaMora was someone whose unique career would be a good perspective for students to hear. “She’s been on our list for a while,” Joggerst said. “I saw what she does for a living and thought that that was interesting and that we haven’t had a speaker that’s done that topic before.” DeLaMora originally came to BU with the intention of becoming a veterinarian, but then decided to go to medical school. One of her reasons for choosing pediatrics specifically was so she could develop a meaningful relationship with her patients.
“I really enjoyed that continuity of care,” she said. “I didn’t want to see a patient just once then never see them again. I liked seeing people grow up.” After graduating from BU, DeLaMora went on to earn her MD from New York Medical College. After completing both her residency and fellowship, she got her current job in New York. She said that she believes BU provided a good start to her education. DeLaMora said that two classes in particular that she took at BU influenced her and made her realize that there were many different topics to be studied within the medical field. “The medical anthropology class and the medical ethics class were a big click for me,” DeLaMora said. “[Those were]
Coldplay brings their music back to life on new album,
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SEE ALUM PAGE 2
ARTS & CULTURE
Don’t beat around the bush, ask for the right music mixing equipment this holiday season,
The holiday season has arrived, and Binghamton University Greek life organizations are hoping to spread the holiday cheer around the community. Various fraternities and sororities are engaging in charitable work to ensure that families around Binghamton have a joyful holiday season. According to Christopher Lee, a brother of Kappa Sigma and a junior majoring in economics, his fraternity already volunteers each week of the semester at a local soup kitchen and engages with members of the Binghamton community. “Kappa Sigma is always looking to help out the local Binghamton community,” Lee said. “We send a minimum of five brothers to at least one soup kitchen a week. You can find us every Wednesday at 5 p.m. volunteering at the Tabernacle Church soup kitchen and every other Saturday night usually around 6 p.m. volunteering at Chef Mike’s soup kitchen at the Boulevard United Methodist Church.” Sigma Delta Tau (SDT) sorority and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity also team up with Chabad at Binghamton to run the “Light up a Life” charity toy drive. The toy drive, which has raised over $9,000 so far, donates all of its proceeds to children suffering from cancer. All money raised through donations from
SPORTS
Bearcats compete against top competition in Las Vegas,
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Women’s basketball defeats Colgate for third win of season,
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