Fall 2015 Issue 26

BU ADDS LATE-NIGHT UDC HOURS FOR FINALS WEEK, SEE PAGE 3

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 | Vol. LXXXVIII, Issue 26 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Jimmy of Jazzman's does it all

SAPB starts to plan for Spring Fling

Alvarez is known for efficiency, friendliness at popular coffee spot

Headliner survey data highlights Chance the Rapper, Steve Aoki

Stacey Schimmel

Alexandra Mackof

Pipe Dream News

News Editor

Students who frequent Jazzman’s in the Glenn G. Bartle Library might recognize the familiar face of manager Jimmy Alvarez, or as some know him, “Jimmy from Jazzman’s.”

They wouldn’t be the first students to know him on a first-name basis — February marks Alvarez’s eighth year working for Jazzman’s and 21st year working for Sodexo, where he’s known as the “Mayor of Binghamton.”

Alvarez is the manager of the Bartle branch of Jazzman’s. He oversees everything, from maintaining inventory to customer service and product quality, and on an average day, he may deal with burning bagels and broken toasters. He also oversees concession stands at Binghamton University wrestling and soccer home games, and supervises catering for student organization banquets.

Alvarez currently lives in Apalachin, New York and is from Ecuador. He has lived in the United States for 25 years, and attended the University at Albany, where he played soccer and was the founding father of the college’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Throughout his years working for BU, Alvarez has managed different locations on campus. He began his career as the catering supervisor, then worked as the night supervisor at the now-defunct on-campus pub, where he ensured that students who lived off-campus got home safely.

He moved to what used to be the MiniMall next to the Mandela Room before finding his niche at Jazzman’s.

“I like it because I deal with a lot of students, professors, grad students,” he said. “Every two seconds you meet somebody new there and it keeps me young.”

Sodexo Retail Dining Manager Daniela Retezatu said that Alvarez is a considerate and supportive manager.

When student workers are busy, she said, Alvarez ensures the store is covered, even if it means him working longer hours.

“Everyone loves Jimmy,” Retezatu said. “He is their favorite because he is so pleasant and is always going beyond to make everyone happy. He is supporting his team and he’s always trying to improve and trying to have everything to serve them in the right way to make them happy.”

Director of Retail Operations Thomas LaSarso said that Alvarez

academic responsibilities. According to LeAnna Rice, the mental health outreach coordinator and one of the senior counselors at the University Counseling Center, the number of emergency counseling appointments requested increase during finals.

Students are beginning to miss home

The Spring Fling survey has officially closed, which means it is time for the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) to start planning for next semester’s concert.

The survey listed performer options from four genres — hip-hop, country, electronic and pop rock/alternative — and featured headliner options such as Future and Walk the Moon.

According to Bernadette Machuca, the SA vice president for programming (VPP) and a senior majoring in biology, when creating the survey, she made sure to only list artists that were within the SAPB’s price range.

“Everything that’s on the survey is everything that is a possibility,” Machuca said. “That’s something that a lot of people are very surprised with.”

As of Wednesday, December 9, over 2,900 students had participated in the survey. Chance the Rapper was leading with over 1,200 votes, closely followed

by Steve Aoki and Future. Walk the Moon was also popular, leading in the pop rock/alternative genre with 1,086 votes.

Machuca said that her office was planning to start the bidding process for artists as soon as possible. Bids are binding for the first two weeks that they are active, and she said she planned to only put out one bid at a time. In the past, the VPP has offered multiple bids,

SEE STRESS PAGE 2

SEE SPRING PAGE 5

SEE JIMMY PAGE 2

Tamar Ashdot-Bari/Pipe Dream Photographer Kiara Fernandez, a sophomore majoring in political science, leads an Afro-Zumba dance break hosted by Binghamton University’s African dance team, Uyai Nnua, in O’Connor Hall’s Great Room. The Dean of Students office partnered with Campus Recreation and Residential Life to offer students stress-relieving activities in December for “De-Stress December.”

Healthy habits can limit stress Eating well, getting enough sleep can lead to success during finals week the pressure.

“It’s been hard for me to get a lot of sleep at night because I’m just With two presentations, two papers thinking about all the things I have to and one exam due in the next week, do,” said Corrigan, a senior majoring in Anna Corrigan said the stress of her economics. “When I wake up, I’m still upcoming final exams and projects is tired. It’s a cycle.” getting to her. Planning to spend most As the fall semester comes to a close, of her free time in the library, Corrigan Binghamton University students are described her sleep as suffering under beginning to feel the strain of their

Alexis Hatcher

Pipe Dream News

University researcher in national spotlight

Celia Klin studies the effects text message punctuation can have on percieved meaning Alana Epstein Pipe Dream News

The period at the end of this sentence is now Binghamton University professor Celia Klin’s claim to fame.

Klin, an associate professor of psychology and the associate dean of Harpur College, conducted research two years ago examining how people comprehend text messages differently than other forms of language. It was composed of a random group of 120 students, who were given both a text and a written exchange and then asked to rate it on its sincerity.

According to Klin, the research was very simple.

“We simply gave people what looked

like texts with short exchanges like, ‘would you like to go out to dinner tonight’ and the person would respond, ‘yep,’ ‘yes,’ or ‘okay,’ and we would ask them to rate the sincerity,” Klin said.

“Half of the subjects saw responses with a period and half of them saw responses without a period.”

The exchanges were rated on a scale from one to seven, one being the least sincere and seven being the most sincere. Using this as a metric, they found that text messages with a period were found to be more formal and less sincere. According to Klin, this research is an important step in understanding how people communicate.

Klin said that since texting is currently

SEE TEXT PAGE 2

John Babich/Assistant Photography Editor Pictured: Celia Klin, an associate professor of psychology and the associate dean of Harpur College. Klin has been researching how text messages are perceived with varying punctuation styles.

Nite Owl to see changes in Spring GSO protests lack of CIW, Hinman grills to close, C4 and App will revamp menu options Gabriella Weick Assistant News Editor

When students living on-campus return from winter break to face a new semester, they’ll also be coming back to new Nite Owl options.

Due to changes decided upon by both Sodexo Dining Services and the Student Culinary Council (SCC), Nite Owls will now only be open in the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4) and Appalachian Dining Centers beginning spring semester. The Hinman and College-in-the-Woods Nite Owls will no longer operate, but the convenience stores in these locations and in Appalachian will remain open.

Casey Slocum, the marketing coordinator for Sodexo, said the decision to reform Nite Owl comes from long wait ARTS & CULTURE

From crafts to cat rests, take a break from finals with Pipe Dream’s de-stress tips,

See page 5

times at each Nite Owl after prices were changed from retail to residential rates last year. Now, after serving over 600 to 900 sales a night, Sodexo is hoping to employ more staff in the two larger locations to better serve students.

Slocum said that Sodexo originally brought the plan to the SCC and then to Residential Life. After the groups showed support, the idea was proposed to each Community Council, RA Council and Area Leaders.

“The response was supportive and understanding,” Slocum wrote in an email. “We are confident that the students’ dining experience will be more positive with increased menu variety, better service and additional study or meeting spaces being made available

SEE NOWL PAGE 2 OPINIONS

The Editorial Board publishes its Fall 2015 Report Card

See page 8

policy transparency

Administrators discuss stipend increase, give grad students five minutes to speak Haley Silverstein Pipe Dream News

Rebecca Kiss /Contributing Photographer Pictured: Students buying food from Nite Owl in Appalachian Dining Hall. Sodexo Dining Services and the Student Culinary Council decided to cease Nite Owl operations at Hinman College and College-in-theWoods’ dining halls.

Graduate students gathered outside the Events Center on Friday morning to protest a meeting held by administrators that was not open to students.

The Graduate Students Employee Union (GSEU) and the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) organized the protest outside of the building, while Provost Donald Nieman, the directors of graduate studies and department chairs discussed the stipend proposal. The announced stipend changes would increase incoming graduate students’ stipends, while current

students would maintain the same salary.

According to Toivo Asheeke, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate studying sociology, the meeting was held for the administrators to discuss the recent protests for unequal stipend increases for graduate assistants (GAs) and teaching assistants (TAs), and the administration wanted this meeting to be held without the graduate students.

“Honestly we’re upset because we weren’t even told about this,” Asheeke said. “We believe that if there is a meeting about GA and TA issues, we need to have

SEE PROTEST PAGE 2

SPORTS

FUN

Take a break from studying with Fun's very own Mad Libs,

James scores 33 points, but women’s basketball drops game at Columbia,

See page 10

See page 11

Men’s basketball falls to Buffalo, 80-64, for third-straight loss,

See page 12

2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | December 15, 2015

holds town hall to hear student concerns Professor SA Executive Board discusses accomplishments of past semester, presents goals for the spring looks at If you want to sincerity have ... change on campus, it in texting has to be done Derek Schuster

Contributing Writer

TEXT FROM PAGE 1

such a widespread form of communication, it is important for people to understand the nuances of it.

“If we’re interested in how people understand language, which to me is fascinating, we need to be looking at all kinds of language,” Klin said. “We want to be able to understand language how it’s actually used, and a lot of us spend most of our time communicating in electronic form.”

According to Danielle Gunraj, a fourth-year graduate student studying psychology who worked with Klin, texting is a common use of communication but research on it is rare.

“Texting presents a chance to watch language evolution as it’s happening,” Gunraj said. “It’s somewhat of a hybrid between spoken and written language, maintaining features of both.

Not too many researchers seem interested in it and even fewer are doing the research on it.”

In the past week, Klin’s research has received international attention. Klin’s study has been featured on NBC’s TODAY, CNN, National Public Radio, BBC and media outlets in Australia. According to Klin, the media notoriety was never anticipated.

“This has been a wild and weird week,” Klin said. “It was a really modest paper and when we got it published we assumed whoever read the journal would read the paper and think it was an interesting first step. It never occurred to me that it would go viral.”

Many outlets are saying that using a period is rude, which Klin explained is not what their research concluded. She said she had originally thought the study would be a stepping stone for more research and not the widely read conclusion that it has become.

“Our research concluded that for these particular types of communication they were less sincere,” Klin said. “With the one word responses of ‘yep’, ‘yes’ and ‘okay’ the period made it seem more formal and less sincere.

My normal life is much quieter than this — I’m not usually in this kind of demand. I sit at my desk, do my work and teach my classes.”

The Student Association (SA) Executive Board held a town hall forum on Sunday, giving students a chance to hear what work the SA has been doing this semester as well as make their own concerns known.

Dillon Schade, SA president and a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, said these meetings are very important for communication between the SA and the student body.

“I think these are good ways that we can figure out where students’ concerns really lie,” Schade said.

“I think it’s also good to show that the E-board is also students; it puts a name to face.”

Each of the E-board members explained what their office accomplished over the past semester and what their goals are for the spring.

Bernadette Machuca, the vice president for programming (VPP) and a senior majoring in biology, discussed her office’s attempts to gain sponsorship funding for Spring Fling. Zachary Vigliani, the executive vice president (EVP) and a senior majoring in business administration, announced that he was looking to increase the number of student organizations on campus to over 300 next semester.

Ruslan Klafehn, the vice president for multicultural affairs (VPMA) and a sophomore majoring in political science, discussed the creation of four new committees aimed at improving communication between the administration and student body.

These committees look at diversity at Binghamton University and how to improve it by increasing the representation of minority groups on campus and the retention rate of those students.

and are feeling overwhelmed trying to balance everything on their plate, she explained.

“I do think there is something about this generation that’s different in anxiety and the way anxiety is experienced with stress to school,” Rice said. “The pressures of what it takes to get a job may be heightening the anxiety and pressures related to school work.”

The more sleep you can get during finals the better you will feel, the less likely you will be to forget information and ... get sick —Lisa Hrehor BU Director of Health and Wellness

“It’s important that we have our voices heard and that there’s equal representation of minorities in meetings like this,” Bayombo said.

Victoria Lewis, a senior majoring in psychology, was also active in the discussion. She said that she feels dialogue between the student body and the SA, especially concerning minority groups’ voices, is something that needs to be improved.

“I think that there could be more communication,” Lewis said. “I had a feeling that there would be low representation so I just wanted to make sure that the SA E-board understood what our concerns are at this point.”

Klafehn responded to both Bayombo and Lewis’ comments by referring to the committees he has formed, as he hopes that they will help to settle issues of an overall lack of minority representation at BU.

by the students —Dillon Schade SA President

Schade said it is important to increase dialogue between the students and the SA in order to make sure improvements are accomplished.

“If you want to have actual change on campus, it has to be done by the students,” Schade said. “The administration can change policies, but until it’s a student conversation, nothing’s going to get done.”

Grad students seek equal pay for work PROTEST FROM PAGE 1

some representation there.”

According to Asheeke, rumors about the meeting swirled amongst the graduate students early last week until professor Yoonkyung Lee, the director of graduate studies of sociology, confirmed the gathering.

The administration allowed one GSEU and one GSO member to attend the meeting once word spread. The students picked the representatives they sent to the meeting, and each was given five minutes to speak.

Sarah Marcus, the GSO representative at the meeting and a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate studying biology, said that the GSO has done their own calculations, and determined that splitting the stipends equally would provide a significant raise to GAs and TAs. “My plan is to remind the chairs and the administration that this is going to negatively affect recruitment,” she said.

“Poor morale is not going to bring in the good students they’re looking for.”

She said that there were no responses to her statements, but she hopes that the administration was receptive.

Shehryar Qazi, a representative at Friday’s meeting for the GSEU and a fifthyear Ph.D. candidate studying sociology, said she has never

seen the union as mobilized previously.

“It’s coming to a point in time when we need to start taking publicity measures to let the world know, and undergraduates coming in, how this University treats its GAs and TAs,” he said.

While the graduate students cannot strike, they can use union defense funding to generate negative publicity for the University by going to schools and speaking badly about Binghamton University’s administration.

“One you get bad publicity, you can’t take it back,” Qazi said.

According to Qazi, New York state pays the base stipend for GAs and TAs, and the rest is paid by the University. The graduate students have been told by the state to talk to the University about raises, and the University has told them to talk to the state, so progress has been stifled.

According to Asheeke, Friday’s protest was also held in response to the broader lack of transparency and democracy at BU. “We’re seeing decisions being made on this campus, on a lot of different issues — sexual assault issues, Title IX violations, some of the Students For Change issues,” he said. “You see a lot of decisions being made [behind] closed doors, undemocratically.”

BU offers de-stress activities STRESS FROM PAGE 1

The SA also discussed the launching of an “It’s On Us” campaign on-campus and said they hope to expand next semester. “It’s On Us” is a nationwide campaign, started by President Obama, that aims to stop sexual assault on college campuses.

Among the goals listed for next semester, Schade announced plans for Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) expansion. Last spring, OCCT consisted of a fleet of only 12 buses. By the end of next semester, the fleet will have 21 buses.

The forum was then opened up to the audience and students were allowed to ask the SA specific questions.

Legan Bayombo, a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, addressed the new VPMA committees as well as the representation of minority groups.

He said that it is important to make sure the SA is aware of what students want.

Rice said this stress can often lead to heightened anxiety, especially for those students who already suffer from an anxiety disorder. However, she said the effects of stress are not only mental, but can be physical as well.

“If you’re already very stressed out for a prolonged period, you might get sicker easier,” Rice said. “Sometimes that can even affect your mental health because you’re more tired when you’re sick.”

To help deal with this stress and anxiety, Rice recommends that students make sure to set realistic test goals, practice breathing exercises and try to get a full night of sleep. Though staying up late studying may be tempting, Rice said doing so has a negative effect on a student’s mental health long term.

In addition to this increased anxiety, Director of Health and Wellness Studies Lisa Hrehor said lack of sleep and cramming late at night can actually hinder test performance.

“Research shows that cramming all night for a test actually has a negative effect on memory recall,” Hrehor said.

“The more sleep you can get during finals the better you will feel, the less likely you will be to forget information and the less likely you will be to get sick.”

The Dean of Students

office partnered with groups on campus such as Campus Recreation and Residential Life to put on their semiannual stress-free month. DeStress December features a compilation of stress-relieving activities that offer students a break from studying. With BU aiming to become the premier public institution, Assistant Director of Case Management Services and Budgeting Jazell Johnson said it’s important to offer these types of activities.

“The expectations from professors, instructors and faculty are pretty intense,” Johnson said. “It’s not fair for us to have those expectations for students to really perform and continue to outdo themselves without also providing some programming to help them to be recharged and to be refreshed.”

De-Stress December’s activities include therapy dog visits, free massages and organized sports games. They are available to all students and are ongoing until December 22.

“Being able to provide them with opportunities that help them to have a well-balanced life, so that it’s not just academics but it’s also socially and emotionally healthy and mentally healthy,” Johnson said, “that’s how we have happy and healthy students. That’s what we want.”

Rebecca Kiss/Contributing Photographer Pictured: Students buying food in the C4 Nite Owl. The decision to discontinue Nite Owl at Hinman College and College-in-the-Woods was prompted in part by last year’s change in Nite Owl’s pricing from retail to residential rates.

NOWL to expand in C4, App NOWL FROM PAGE 1

with the additional seating.”

According to Ryan Sheppard, the SCC vice president for residential dining and a senior double-majoring in accounting and geography, the new Nite Owls will feature classic menu options, such as chicken fingers, curly fries, mozzarella sticks and mac and cheese bites, and also alternate every three days between a quesadilla and burrito bar, a pancake bar and a chicken wing bar. New additions also include a Wellness Bar with grilled chicken or salmon, brown rice and steamed veggies, a salad bar, a Boars Head Sandwich station, a milkshake and smoothie station and a beverage section.

Students like Sarah Russ-Clar, an undeclared sophomore, say the prospect of fewer Nite Owls

might be counterproductive by creating longer lines and more packed spaces.

“Nite Owl will potentially be more crowded than before because you are trying to pack the same amount of people into less space,” she said. “I feel like having fewer Nite Owls is more of a hassle than having to wait in line for a little bit.”

Carolina Herrera, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said that she looks forward to the possibility of a better Nite Owl, but would rather she didn’t have to leave her community of College-in-the-Woods to get a late-night snack.

“Maybe this change will be a good thing,” Herrera said.

“I think it has potential to be something cool, but it’s just discouraging that I’ll have to leave my community late at

night.”

Sheppard said that Sodexo and the SCC will observe the changes as the semester progresses and asks for student feedback about what they think.

“We’re aware that students aren’t always a fan of change, so we tried to make this change really positive for students,” Sheppard wrote in an email.

“We think they will love it and if they don’t, we can easily change it back to the way things were before. It wouldn’t be fair of us to not give an option that could make students happier a shot.”

C4 Nite Owl hours will be 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday.

Appalachian Nite Owl will be open from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday.

Jimmy of Jazzman's spills the beans JIMMY FROM PAGE 1 has many responsibilities since Jazzman’s is one of the mosttrafficked retail outlets on campus. He said that during the busiest days of the semester, Jazzman’s Library Tower location can serve around 1,700 customers a day.

“Customers love him, everybody knows his name,” LaSarso said. “His longevity here on the campus, knowing the customers, knowing the administration, knowing the students — you can’t put a price tag to that experience.”

According to some students, Alvarez is known for his advice and willingness to help his customers in their personal lives. Nilufer Akalin, a thirdyear graduate student studying sociology, said whenever she passes Jazzman’s and sees Alvarez, he always greets her even if they are both in a rush.

“This is what is great about him, he takes [his job] very seriously, but at the same

time, he’s not overstressed or overwhelmed about it,” Akalin said. “He’s on top of everything but he’s not putting pressure on people who work here and I don’t think that he tries to construct a hierarchy between workers.”

Some of his favorite stories include helping stressed customers. A student once went to him crying because her car broke down and the mechanic charged her $1,300 to fix it; Alvarez recommended a mechanic who saved her $600.

In another situation, a student told Alvarez the catering for her wedding was expected to cost $3,500 which she could not afford, prompting Alvarez and his coworker to cook and cater the 150-person wedding dinner for only $300.

Finals week is extra busy for Jazzman’s, and according to Alvarez and Retazatu, the De-Stress December initiative that the University puts on can alleviate students’ worries in ways that caffeine can’t.

“I always say ‘one thing at a

time,’” Alvarez said. “It’s only a few days of tension and stress, but it will be over in a week and my advice to them is to study, and if they have any problems just come to see me.”

He takes [his job] very seriously, but at the same time, he's not over stressed or overwhelmed about it —Nilufer Akalin BU Grad Student

PAGE III Tuesday, December 15, 2015

BU SPEAKS

Q: HOW DO YOU

STAY RELAXED DURING FINALS WEEK?

A:

Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515 FAx: 607-777-2600

Pre-finals Flash

MAnAging editor* Emma C Siegel manager@bupipedream.com

Kathryn Hinman, a sophomore majoring in English

neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com

“Drink a lot of water! Staying hydrated is so important.”

Asst. neWs editors Carla B. Sinclair Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick

Ira Yousey, a junior majoring in environmental science

oPinions editor* Lawrence Ciulla opinion@bupipedream.com

“I deal with finals stress by rewarding myself with 10 minutes of bingeing on distractions out of every hour.”

Arts & Culture editor* Odeya Pinkus release@bupipedream.com

Hannah Premo, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience

Asst. Arts & Culture editor Kathryn Shafsky

“Since the weather has been nice out I’ve been sitting outside to study and work on papers. And I started running again which, as painful as it is, has been helping a lot with dealing with finals.”

sPorts editor* E.Jay Zarett sports@bupipedream.com

Rawan Abouzeid, a junior majoring in biology

Bearcat Cafe, classrooms in University Union to operate with extended hours Nicolas Vega Editor-in-Cheif

In response to an editorial published last week in Pipe Dream, the Dean of Students office has announced extended hours and expanded locations for students to study during finals week.

Starting on Tuesday, December 15, the University Union will be open for 24 hours a day, and first-floor classrooms will be available to students as study spaces. In addition, the lounges and Marketplace will be open around-the-clock. Sodexo has announced that Bearcat Cafe and Cakes & Eggs will have extended hours as well.

According to Suzanne Howell, the associate dean of students, the extended hours were created after the department recognized the need for more study spaces on campus.

“We at the Dean of Students Office do care about helping our students study for finals,” she

said. “We have listened and have opened extended study spaces in a number of places on campus.”

In the residential communities, classrooms will have extended hours. College-inthe-Woods’ Tuscarora Classroom 219 will be open from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. starting Tuesday, while Appalachian Classroom GO14 and Rockefeller Center Classroom 159 in Mountainview and Hinman, respectively, will be open from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m.

But perhaps the biggest announced change is that the University Downtown Center will see expanded hours. Beginning Wednesday, the UDC information commons and rooms 121 and 122 will be open from 7:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.

At press time, OCCT had not released any plans to run overnight buses to accommodate off-campus students who choose to study on-campus.

Finals week begins Wednesday, December 16 and goes until Tuesday, December 22.

!

See you next year Please be aware that this is Pipe Dream’s final issue of the semester. Our next issue will be on Monday, January 25. Make sure to check out bupipedream. com for fresh content. Have a great break!

Fall 2015 editor-in-ChieF* Nicolas Vega editor@bupipedream.com

“I try to not drink coffee after 10 p.m. It may seem like it’s worth it, but it’s really, really not.”

BU adds study spots during finals week

Web: bupipedream.com

Asst. sPorts editors Jeffrey Twitty Orla McCaffrey Fun PAge editor* Benjamin Moosher fun@bupipedream.com design MAnAger* Samantha Webb design@bupipedream.com

Kaely Hankison/Contributing Photographer Binghamton University students from Wishmakers on Campus, BU’s Kickline and Cheer Squads and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity dance to “Jingle Bell Rock” during a flash mob. After performing, students delivered over 22,000 letters to Macy’s Believe mailbox. Macy’s will donate $1 per letter to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

design Assts.

Aleza Leinwand Sihang Li PhotogrAPhy editor* Franz K. Lino photo@bupipedream.com Asst. PhotogrAPhy editor John S. Babich

Police Watch

A lighter take on campus crime Aaron Berkowitz Police Correspondant

At Least You Tried?

FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 8:33 a.m. — A physical facilities worker called UPD to report that someone set off a fire extinguisher in Collegein-the-Woods’ Oneida Hall, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. When officers arrived, they saw that the extinguisher was removed from its designated area and that the zip tie which secures the handle was taken off and thrown on the floor. A fire alarm was raised earlier in the night and it is believed that someone may have set off the extinguisher while the alarm was raised or right after. There are no known suspects or witnesses at this time.

given two traffic tickets for operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic device and having a suspended license.

Called Out FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 12:29 p.m. — Officers on patrol on West Drive noticed the driver of a vehicle using a cell phone while driving, Reilly said.

The driver was speaking on the phone as he passed by the officers. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, a 22-year-old male, gave the officers his license and registration.

A computer check found that the license was suspended in 2013 for failure to pay a ticket. The suspect was aware of this suspension and said that he would rectify it soon. The suspect was

Tully’s Tussle SUNDAY, Dec. 13, 11:39 p.m. — Vestal Police officers contacted UPD for help in stopping a fight outside of Tully’s in University Plaza, Reilly said. When the UPD officers arrived, the fight had already ended and the involved parties had left. The Vestal officers then asked the UPD officers for help in arresting a resident of University Plaza for an unrelated matter. The resident falsely reported a fire at the building. The officers successfully arrested the unidentified resident. The resident was taken to the Vestal police station for arraignment.

Co Reckless SATURDAY, Dec. 12, 4:12 p.m. — Officers observed six people playing soccer on the East Gym Co-Rec field, Reilly said. The officers made sure that the field was closed and when this was confirmed they went to talk with the people. They were identified as Binghamton University students. They said that they climbed over the fence in order to play.

They were advised that the field was closed. They were escorted out of the field by the officers.

CoPy desk ChieF* Katherine H. Dowd copy@bupipedream.com Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Rachel Greenspan neWsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Rohit Kapur tech@bupipedream.com leAd Web develoPer* William Sanders web@bupipedream.com editoriAl Artist Elizabeth Manning business MAnAger* Michael A. Contegni business@bupipedream.com Advertising MAnAger Sabrina Khan ads@bupipedream.com distribution MAnAger Nathan Dodge distribution@bupipedream.com Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. *Positions seated on the Executive Board are denoted by an asterisk.

Pipe Dream is published Tuesdays and Fridays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations.

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 departmental 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.

stabilizing: mike's beer

broccoli :destabilizing

ARTS & CULTURE Bartle packed? We've got the answer.

Cram for your exams in the best on-campus study locations Shauna Bahssin Contributing Writer

don’t go to John Arthur. This may have to do with the fact that they don’t accept meal plans or credit Well Bearcats, you’ve struggled cards, but for those of you who through the semester to make it haven’t gone yet, bring a $5 bill to the final push. You’ve lost sleep and check it out. Studying in a along the way and your grades are library is ideal, but studying in a barely clinging to life, but now cute, cheap coffeehouse is a close there comes a new issue: finding second. Plus, there is a nice mural the right place to continue your to remind you of all of the places studies. Your dorm room contains you can be when you’re done with too many distractions, and when your paper. you make your way to Glenn G. 2. The Fine Arts Building — Bartle Library, you’ll find that all While the Fine Arts building is one of the desks, tables and couches of the most confusing buildings to are full. But have no fear, because navigate, it contains two easily Pipe Dream has a few alternatives accessible spots to study — the Anderson Center and the first for your study space needs.

1. John Arthur Cafe — floor lounge. Located on the same Despite its convenient location on floor as the John Arthur Cafe right the Spine, many underclassmen by the Memorial Courtyard, the

lounge is filled with comfortable couches that are perfect for spreading out textbooks on. Across from the science complex is the Anderson Center, which similarly contains couches and a vaguely comfortable radiator. This area, which is home to Binghamton University’s concert hall, is almost always vacant, and is a good place to go to study alone.

3. STEM Buildings — If you’re in the Science III and V buildings, which are connected to each other, it’s difficult to walk far without finding an open table.

These can be found at almost every corner of a given building, and they’re surrounded by floor-toceiling windows so you can still see that sweet, odd December sunlight

we’ve been getting. Similarly, the Engineering Building has a large lounge area outside of its lecture hall that serves as a great spot — if you can find it. Additionally, the Science Library has group study rooms on the first floor which can be reserved online, as well as study rooms on the ground floor that are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

4.

University Union Basement — The lounge area located below Moghul and Red Mango is filled with tables and couches that are great for group studying. It also has the added bonus of being right under the Marketplace, so if by some miracle you have money left on your meal plan at this point in the semester,

you can get some comfort food at Tully’s to fill the void in your soul that your studies have created.

This area is conveniently located next to a bathroom, but doesn’t have any outlets, so avoid it if you’re looking to spend hours writing a paper on your laptop.

5.

The Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4) Fireplace Lounge — Located directly above the Dickinson Community side of the dining hall, this area is spacious but cozy, with couches surrounding the fireplace and facing out toward the windows, which overlook Dickinson’s scenic marshland. The couch setup also makes the space ideal for multiple people to work together.

6. Alumni Center — As the Alumni Center houses the geography department and the Counseling Center, a lot of students don’t have much reason to enter BU’s shiniest new building. And while this building is new, it contains a lot of the past.

Full of University memorabilia, you might procrastinate a bit by exploring BU’s rich history — but you can combine this with studying by sitting at original campus pub tables on the bottom floor. Both levels of the building are filled with seating and outlets and are almost always completely empty. If you want complete silence save for the sound of memories, this should be your goto spot.

Get down to business and hit those books in Downtown Bing Anna Szilagyi Arts & Culture

For us off-campus students, leaving our warm, cozy houses to go to class on-campus can be a struggle. Whether that means waking up earlier to get a spot closer than M lot or rushing to catch an OCCT bus, the trek to campus can get tiresome. With finals coming up, finding a spot to study just adds to the challenge.

Who wants to go through all of that effort just to circle the Glenn G. Bartle Library for an hour trying to find a desk next to an outlet? No

one. But don’t stress, because Pipe Dream has come up with a list of the best off-campus study spots, so you can worry about your research paper instead.

Broome County Public Library If you thrive in the library environment, try studying at the Broome County Public Library.

Located on Court Street past the traffic circle, Broome County Public Library is a quiet place closer to home to get your work done. You can also access the library’s databases while you’re there if you need to do any lastminute research.

Your Home Public Library For those who live further down Main Street, Your Home Public Library in Johnson City is another option for silent studying.

It’s a cozy, historic building, and if you’re easily distracted, it’s unlikely you’ll see anyone you know. Studying at either of these libraries would be best if you’re the most productive during the day, since they close at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Shop When you’re trying to work in the evening, try The Shop. A café,

bar and creperie on Washington Street, it’s perfect if you need a caffeine boost — or a beer — while you work. This spot is also great for those who work better with background noise rather than absolute silence. The Shop has plenty of tables for studying with friends or spreading out on your own, and there are no finals week woes that a sugary crepe can’t fix.

The UDC You may have had a class or two at the University Downtown Center (UDC), but it’s definitely an underrated study spot. The Pods area is way less crowded than

anywhere on campus, and there’s a Jazzmans stand to cover your caffeine and snack needs. Large group and individual study rooms are located behind the Pods area, which is great if you’re planning to set up camp. UDC doesn’t offer as many tables for looking over textbooks and readings, but if you need a computer for papers or other assignments, it’s an easy option for off-campus students.

Plus they’ve started extended hours for finals week; beginning this Wednesday, the UDC library, room 121 and room 122 are going to be open from 7:30 p.m. until

1:00 a.m.

Chroma Cafe and Bakery If you’re on a time crunch and barely have a free moment to eat anymore, Chroma Cafe and Bakery covers all your needs. Their panini sandwiches and baked goods are perfect finals week fuel to shovel in your face with one hand while holding flashcards with the other.

It also serves coffee from Laveggio Roasteria, which is located right next door. And if you’re looking to study at a coffee shop that isn’t a crowded Starbucks, try Laveggio — their Nutella latte is an important selling point.

Relax with these beginner yoga poses Take a break from your finals and get your namaste on with Pipe Dream's renewing workout Kara Brown Staff Writer

If you’ve always wanted to try yoga but never have, finals week is the perfect time to start. Not only can it be extremely relaxing, it may be just what you need to keep your sanity at the end of the semester. Courtney Chung, a yoga instructor at the East Gym and a senior majoring in English, chooses it as her method of stress reduction because it not only works her body, but allows her to interact with her spiritual and emotional health. To help us get in touch with our inner selves, Chung shared a few of her favorite yoga poses.

Child’s Pose Sanskrit name: Balasana Start in a kneeling position. Chung says that depending on how flexible you are, you can start with your feet apart or bring your big toes to meet right under your sacrum, which is the triangular-shaped bone at the base of your spine and connects your hip bones to form your pelvis. Neither position is easier; it just depends on what you find comfortable. Once you find a suitable position, rest your butt on or above your heels and allow your torso to fold forward and your head to drop toward the floor, almost touching chin to chest. While doing this, tuck your pelvis under to lengthen your spine. Your arms can either extend forward in front of you with your palms flat on the ground, or they can lay at your sides with your fingertips pointing behind you. In either position, Chung says you can imagine pushing your head, neck and shoulders down and into the floor, to help you spread your shoulder blades and stretch your spine.

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Reclining Bound Angle Pose Sanskrit name: Supta Baddha Konasana Sitting up straight with your legs straight out in front of you, bend your knees and draw your heels in toward your pelvis without your feet leaving the ground. Allow your knees to open away from each other and drop toward the ground. Slowly recline backward, bringing your elbows to the ground, then lower your back all the way to the ground. Gently shift side to side on your butt to allow your spine to lengthen while maintaining the natural curvature of the lower back. Chung says you should allow your knees to relax and to not force them to touch the floor if they don’t do so naturally. Gently bring your shoulder blades inward and allow your arms to relax with a soft bend in your elbow, your forearms away from your body and with your palms facing the sky. If you need more support, Chung suggests placing your knees and thighs on either a yoga block, pillows or even folded blankets.

2

Upside-Down Pose Sanskrit name: Viparita Karani Chung says many people already do this pose, and she often sees people resting in this position while using their phones. Begin by facing a wall that is about a foot away in an upright seated position. Slowly lower your torso toward the ground and then raise the legs to lay against the wall. If this is comfortable you may stay here, or for an added stretch, you can slowly begin to push the body toward the wall until your hips form a right angle. If you have any pain or discomfort from resting your hips on the ground, Chung suggests supporting your lower spine by placing folded towels or blankets underneath the sacrum.

3

Downward Facing Frog Pose Sanskrit Name: Adho Mukha Mandukasana Begin by first settling into a tabletop position, where your hands are underneath your shoulders and your knees are stacked underneath your hips.

Your back stays flat, and your gaze is between your hands. Rotating from your knee, allow your toes to point outward, with the instep of your feet on the ground. Slowly begin to widen your legs by walking your knees out to the sides, coming onto your forearms once you have found a comfortable position for your legs. Keeping your elbows underneath your shoulders, Chung says you can push your body far back enough so that you feel a small stretch in your inner thighs. You can also create movement by slowly rocking your body back and forth. Chung added that this is one of her favorite poses, but she warns that if you do have a lot of tension in your hips or lack flexibility in this area, this pose may not be comfortable or easy for you to rest in.

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Rebecca Kiss/Contributing Photographer Courtney Chung, a yoga instructor at the East Gym and a senior majoring in English, performs four of her favorite yoga poses (from left to right): child’s pose, reclining bound angle pose, upside-down pose and downward facing frog pose. Practicing yoga can help relieve stress.

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ARTS & CULTURE

December 15, 2015 | bupipedream.com

De-stress yourself during finals week

From meditation techniques to study-break crafts, take some pressure off the end of the semester For most college students, the words “stress” and “finals” are synonymous. This physiological response to exam week can result in issues like anxiety, fatigue and sleeplessness. Extreme cases can even cause gastrointestinal distress and muscle tension. Luckily, these unpleasant issues can be avoided through the practice of proper stress reduction techniques. To keep you sane amid all of the finals craziness, Pipe Dream enlisted the help of health and wellness professor Sarah Thompson to teach us different stress reduction techniques.

Kara Brown Staff Writer

Meditation “It doesn’t have to be something that’s really complicated.”

You’ll want to start in a comfortable, upright position with your spine elongated to provide for optimal air-flow through the lungs. This will help to oxygenate your body’s tissues and relieve muscle tension. Close your mouth and, slowly and steadily, breathe in and out of your nose. Clear your mind and focus on feeling your body. If you’re having trouble concentrating, fixing your gaze on an object or repeating a mantra — a word, statement or sound — can help. Thompson feels that when most people start meditating, they overwhelm themselves by trying to do too much too soon. To prevent this, she suggests starting by meditating for only 2-5 minutes and building up to longer periods of time.

Progressive muscle relaxation “A very helpful tool for people who are having a hard time sleeping.”

Cited by Thompson as a more active method of relaxation, this is a series of 10-15 second muscle contractions in particular areas of the body. After contracting each muscle, relax for 30 seconds before moving on to the next area. Thompson suggests starting with your feet, and then moving progressively up the body, eventually ending with your face. She says this creates a “systemic paralyzation effect,” as the body becomes more relaxed with each phase. If stress is keeping you awake at night, this can be done in bed to help induce sleep.

Creative Projects “They don’t have to be elaborate.”

Thompson says that any sort of creative outlet can provide a temporary distraction that will be helpful in the long run. She suggests coloring, painting a picture, organizing a scrapbook, sewing or cooking to take your mind off of studying. The key to this method is to keep it simple.

Don’t add stress by turning your craft into a big production.

Keep it to about 20-30 minutes.

Cat Rest “I am under the complete conviction that healthy adults should not be napping during the course of the day.”

Thompson warns that napping throws off the biological rhythms of the body and makes restful sleep difficult at night — the time when humans are programmed to sleep.

She suggests opting for a cat rest instead, which consists of laying in your bed for 20 to 30 minutes without falling asleep, coming back to awareness to a soothing alarm and forcing yourself to get up. When you get up, you should expect to feel like you’re in between being asleep and being awake. Allow yourself to come out of the fog and you’ll feel much more focused, rested and ready to be productive. If you can’t do this without falling asleep, opt to meditate in a place where you’re less likely to fall asleep, like a busy area in Glenn G. Bartle Library.

Eat healthy carbohydrates “You want to have things that are mentally and physically stress reducing.”

Thompson suggests choosing wholesome foods that you also enjoy. A lot of people turn to sugary, refined carbs when they’re stressed because carbs elicit the production of serotonin by the brain, which allows people to feel more calm and relaxed.

Try eating unrefined carbs like whole fruit, or whole-grain breads or pasta.

The difference is that while both refined and unrefined carbs will produce serotonin, refined carbs also make you feel sluggish, while unrefined carbs will keep you fueled and focused.

Thompson notes that not all relaxation techniques work for everyone and that what works for you can also change over time. She suggests exploring different methods when you’re not stressed so you are prepared for when you need to use them. Be mindful of your time and use these methods responsibly as short, 20 to 30 minute distractions.

Sihang Li/Design Assistant

SAPB to place Spring Fling headliner bids SPRING FROM PAGE 1 which Machuca said can backfire if multiple artists accept within the first two weeks.

“Right now what we’re focusing on is a really good headliner,” Machuca said. “We’re going to put all our energy and money into that, and then after we get all of our income finalized we’ll see if we have money to play around with another act.”

She said that at most, there will be two larger acts at Spring Fling this year.

When deciding which artists are affordable, Machuca evaluates both the SAPB budget and income from fall events. In addition to funds available, other details play into whether an artist is feasible.

One of these factors is the date of Spring Fling. According to Machuca, BU’s event is generally later than other schools’ concerts.

Originally, her office had considered moving Spring Fling one weekend earlier, but realized that because it would then be closer to other schools’ dates, booking artists would be more difficult.

“We’re really, really low on the scale of budgets,” she said. “Big schools like Cornell, Syracuse and Buffalo would completely outbid us. So we switched the weekend to have a better chance.”

Artist popularity also plays a large role in affordability. While many big names were on the survey this year, Machuca said that if an artist is not currently booking major concerts, they are much more achievable.

“We an afford them because they’re not trending right now. It’s literally a market. If people aren’t interested, you can bid pretty low

for them.”

But extra costs can also pop up unexpectedly. Artist production costs, and the prices of logistics such as transportation to and from BU, can be hard to predict.

Machuca also said that the amount of people associated with an act, either in the form of multiple performers or a large entourage, could play a role in the cost of the event. According to her, more people mean more expenses for transportation and other accommodations.

The SAPB is still operating under

a deficit, which Machuca said currently stands at about $28,000.

The VPP office owes the money to the SA’s personal account, but still works to replenish the funds. Going into each year, she said, the office subtracts the deficit total from the annual budget to attempt to pay it off. But due to unexpected costs, the budget is inevitably exceeded, which makes paying off the deficit a more long-term process.

Above all, Machuca said, her office aims to put on the best show possible for students. She said that while cost is always a concern,

help from Campus Activities and support from students inevitably makes Spring Fling possible.

“People should know that it’s hard for us to do these events,” she said. “If it wasn’t for sponsorships, campus activities and people going to our events and buying tickets, we wouldn’t be able to do this stuff.”

But budgeting restraints do not stop Machuca from dreaming big, and she said a great Spring Fling lineup is her priority.

“It’s a risk we take,” she said.

“We either make the jump or we don’t.”

Ear n 3 credits over semester break!

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FALL 2015

W

This weekend was weird, wasn’t it? Half of you half stayed in and went stir-crazy in Bartle. N through finals week and enjoy y

WARRIORS

7

Vladimir Koleshikov/Contributing Photographer, Jersson Torres/Contributing Photographer

u went Downtown and got drunk on State Street, while the other Nonetheless, you are all Weekend Warriors. Now it’s time to get your winter break. We’ll be waiting for you in 2016.

December 15, 2015 | bupipedream.com

We need to admit more refugees The U.S. must reject Islamaphobia and lead on refugees Lawrence Ciulla

Opinions Editor

I am the son of political refugees. When my family left the Soviet Union in 1989, they didn’t know for sure whether they would be let in the United States. They spent nine months being bounced around from Austria to Italy — their first experience in the Western world — waiting for their papers to be cleared so they could immigrate.

They waited in limbo as the United States Senate debated the Lautenberg Amendment, an ambitious bill that sought to allow nearly 400,000 Soviet Jews into the country — a number of refugees that would be unbelievable, were it today.

When they were finally let in, they all had one man to thank: Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. He fought hard to ensure that Soviet Jews received the same rights as every immigrant that came to this nation — the opportunity to avoid persecution and the right to rise. It wasn’t something they thought they would be afforded.

The Cold War had kept Russians at arms length for

the greater part of a century, as Americans lived in constant fear of a potential nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

The predominant culture and politics at the time perpetuated the idea that the Soviet Union and its people sought to destroy the American way of life.

Yet, the Soviet Union sought to destroy the lives of Soviet Jews. They were considered a lower class of citizens, marked by the status of Jewish, not Russian, on their passports.

They weren’t allowed to attend the same universities as Russians, even if their merits deserved it. They weren’t allowed the opportunities their compatriots were afforded — even if they didn’t practice their religion.

I can’t help but draw parallels between the Syrian refugee crisis and the plight of my family. As Syrians flee their homeland by the millions under siege, they have a tough time to find where to go. European nations, where a majority of these refugees have fled, have taken no more than 50,000 each, with more laying at their shut borders.

Islamophobia is rampant across these nations. And at a time when American leadership

is dearly needed, the Republican Party seeks to restrict the flow of Syrians in the nation.

Some argue there needs to be a religious test to only admit Christians, not Muslims. Others want to restrict the immigration of all Muslims to the United States altogether. It is against values we held onto no longer than 25 years ago — under a Republican president, too.

Germany has emerged as a world leader in accepting Syrian refugees. It has received more than a million asylum seekers, ensuring that they don’t turn anyone away. Germany isn’t the only nation capable of taking in these refugees. More nations must step up their acceptance rate and help these Syrians rebuild their lives.

If the United States did not allow my family an opportunity to escape the Soviet Union, I am unsure where we would be now.

I would not have been afforded the opportunities that I have been given — even the ability to attend a school like Binghamton University. Syrians deserve the same opportunities — their lives should not be destroyed by the poor choices of their governments.

I believe above all else, the United States and many

Western nations need to reject islamophobia. The U.S. needs to set an example for the world to follow — to show that our values do not change when one’s religion does. We are a nation of religious tolerance and opportunity. We have no right to change it now.

— Lawrence Ciulla is a senior double-majoring in philosophy,politics, and law and political science

[Syrians'] lives should not be destroyed by the poor choices of their governments

Sexual ed should begin sooner

We can no longer learn about sexual assault from experience Sarah Saad

Columnist

When I hear the words “sexual assault,” I can’t help but stomach the anger that develops inside me. When I hear the word “rape,” I can’t help but fight the chills that develop around my body.

I have recently gained the strength and knowledge to actively join the movement, on and off-campus, and many have asked me why. They ask, “Why are you focusing so much on sexual assault prevention, when there are so many other issues we need to focus on?”

Confused, I have tried to understand why people don’t recognize how harmful it is to be a survivor of interpersonal violence — how this is an issue that needs recognition.

Do they not understand what the definition of “rape” is?

Do they not understand the

emotional and physical pain that is developed? Do they not understand the fear that exists in a survivor post-incident?

Do they not understand that the pain inflicted upon these survivors is simply inhuman?

While there are many answers to these questions, I think something I have taken a special interest in is the misunderstanding between those who understand the pain, and those who don’t.

Empathy is one of the strongest qualities a person can have. It allows us to slip into somebody else’s shoes, even if it is just for a few minutes.

It is what has allowed me to stand with survivors and try to understand what is going through their mind and body.

I have recognized that it is the lack of empathy that disbelievers hold that is one of the issues preventing them from understanding the true harm of sexual assault, and I think part of that comes from the late sexual education we are

9

OPINION

taught.

Starting from a young age, we learn that a few things are very bad: murder, theft, lying and drugs, but rape isn’t mentioned.

As these ideals are taught in creative ways, between role playing, funky videos, children’s workshops and history lessons, kids are reminded of what they shouldn’t do.

Then, as sexual education begins in later adolescence, they begin to learn more about consent and what “rape” is, but because “sexual education” requirements still have so much flexibility, kids can continue to develop and explore their sexual lives without understanding consent, rape and the range that sexual assault touches.

While the physical wound of rape may go away, the emotional wound will last forever. If we shelter children from truly understanding the worst elements of society, then not only will statistics grow, but the disbelievers will never empathize with survivors,

because in regards to rape, our society only teaches how harmful this is from experience.

— Sarah Saad is a junior double-majoring in human development and women, gender, and sexual studies

While the physical wound of rape may go away, the emotional wound will last forever

Letter to the Editor

Arguement for GA pay flawed

Different levels of stipends create two-tier class system Binghamton University is proposing to increase the stipends for its teaching assistants (TAs) and graduate assistants (GAs).

This would be great, except the increase only applies to new graduate students, beginning fall 2016. The current graduate students will make $2,000-$7,000 less per year than incoming doctoral students. Provost Donald Nieman and Dean Susan Strehle met with the graduate students at a Town Hall meeting on December 3 to defend their claim that this will make Binghamton University a more “competitive” university for recruiting new graduate students, but their arguments were flawed.

Dean Strehle’s first argument was a logically faulty claim that the offer of higher wages for incoming TAs and GAs would draw more students with greater merit than the ones currently working at BU. She explained that the concept of “Equal Work for Equal Pay” is naïve, because “in the real world,” workers are not paid the same wages for the same work — they are paid differentially based on exhibiting the various qualities sought by hiring institutions.

Many graduate TAs and GAs worked in the “real world” for a number of years before beginning their PhD programs; they know that the “real world” isn’t fair.

But that is not a valid reason for excluding current GAs and TAs from the proposed stipend increases. Dean Strehle’s claim that the proposed pay discrepancy between current and incoming graduate students is merit-based is wrong — if this decision was actually based on merit, then Binghamton would pay more to the TAs and GAs who already have a great deal of experience in their current positions at BU. Dean Strehle also argued that paying incoming GAs and TAs more would not disadvantage current students. Instead, current students’ degrees will actually be worth more in the future because stipend increases for incoming students will strengthen BU’s “reputation,” thereby raising the value of all degrees obtained from the University. I couldn’t disagree more — and such an argument suggests that the administration is woefully unaware of the demands the academic world places upon graduate students.

Stipend

disparities between incoming and current graduate students will create a class system — a hierarchy of the have and havenots — and the consequences will extend far beyond the time spent in graduate school.

Graduate students must tirelessly cultivate a professional presence in order to be competitive in the job market upon graduation; professional development is vital. This includes not only doing original research, but also presenting this research at distant and expensive professional conferences that are also critical venues for networking with potential employers. By paying incoming students more, BU is providing them with a significantly greater opportunity for professional development than current students. They will be able to afford the necessary costs of professional development — registration fees, transportation costs, lodging costs — placing them at a substantial advantage relative to current graduate students. The slight increase in “reputation” that the proposed wage change would supposedly bring BU is not nearly enough to ensure a bright future for all graduates. The inherent economic inequality of this plan will cause significant, life-long differences in the career outcomes of BU graduates, even if the University moves up a few spots in the rankings.

Offering incoming students greater stipends will only make BU more competitive on paper.

In reality, the effects of this proposal will cause much more damage than can be compensated for by any change in ranking.

What will really raise graduate student numbers, increase the profile of the University, and build its reputation as a premier public university? The current graduate students. We are the people who communicate to the academic world the quality of the programs, the cuttingedge research conducted at the University and the level of support provided by the administration. In the “real world,” well-supported, successful graduate students are what will truly make Binghamton competitive.

Ashley Burch, Ph.D. Student in Anthropolgy

Letter to the Editor

Protests across campus highlight need for progress Faculty members should contine to reshape campus for the underrepresented students A premier university is defined by the quality of its learning, teaching and research.

Binghamton University has built its reputation for excellence on the commitment of its faculty and students to learn from each other, to teach each other and to work together to form communities of scholars.

The protests and marches that have heightened debates on campuses across the country are reactions by students, faculty and staff to frequent incidents that communicate the message that underrepresented groups don’t belong among a community of scholars. A community is defined by who belongs to it, and its boundaries are reinforced by daily encounters and interactions.

When students of color hear a slur on a bus or in a classroom,

the message is “you don’t belong here.” When faculty members are excluded from decisionmaking, they receive a message that their contributions lack value; they don’t belong. Such messages are wrong because they harm the individuals to whom they are directed, and they rob the University of the energy and attention of people who must defend their right to be here before focusing their talents on their growth and development.

As faculty members, our day-to-day interactions with colleagues and students help shape the environment of our campus community. We recruit and mentor new faculty. We contribute to the University’s policy making. Perhaps most importantly, we talk to students every day, provide them with

guidance and advice and set expectations for appropriate discourse in our classrooms.

These influential roles come with a particularly acute responsibility to support our students, faculty and staff in their efforts to achieve their maximum potential. It is an obligation, but it is also a particular privilege to embrace those responsibilities.

Institutionally, the University has been active. The Faculty Senate revised the pluralism general education requirements last year. Departmental faculty have supported initiatives to recruit and retain faculty from underrepresented groups.

On Tuesday, November 17, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution to form a Committee on Diversity that will create an institutional voice for faculty

and will be designed to ensure that policy decisions incorporate criteria of equity and inclusion.

We also applaud the actions of other University leaders. In recent weeks, President Stenger and Chief Diversity Officer Valerie Hampton, the Executive Board of the Student Association and Provost Nieman have all written to Pipe Dream to address the importance of inclusion of all of our students.

It is a professor’s habit to lecture. But this is a time when it is much more important for us to listen and learn from those who are exercising their own voices and need to be heard. As leaders in campus governance, we will be meeting with student organizations in the coming weeks and months. By listening, being attentive and working

collaboratively to lower barriers to communication, and then taking action based on what we learn, we correct our errors. As faculty governance leaders, we see this as an essential direction for Binghamton University and a path for a vibrant and robust intellectual community where everyone belongs. We urge everyone — faculty, students and staff — to join us in this effort.

Thomas Sinclair, Department of Public Administration and Chair, Faculty Senate Executive Committee Fernando Guzman, Department of Mathematics and Chair, Faculty Senate Pamela Smart, Department of Art History and University Faculty Senator

Sara Reiter, School of Management and Chair, Educational Policy and Priorities Committee Wayne Jones, Department of Chemistry and Chair, Budget Review Committee

When students of color hear a slur on a bus or in a classroom, the message is 'you don't belong here'

F UN

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 Finals Week Sticky

TFP Finals Week Mad Libs

TFP

Finals Week Blues

Aren’t people too busy with finals to read Fun Page?

Are you kidding?

I’m too busy with finals to write Fun Page!

I can’t even finish this comic, I just recycled an old panel.

Hey look, I just “liked” it.

Ugh, I can't believe I have a final in ____________. That's so __________. It ADJECTIVE

SCHOOL SUBJECT

Whatever.

makes me want to ________, ________ and fuck ____________. That's right, VERB

VERB

PERSON IN ROOM

I'm so freakin' ________ that it makes me want to put _________ all over that NOUN

ADJECTIVE

______________, and maybe in and around his/her ___________.

BODY PART

BODY PART

I have so much ________________ to do before this test! It's so __________.

ADJECTIVE

VERB ENDING IN -ING

It's like, we JUST learned about the _____________ unit. I can't believe we don't SOMETHING SMART

Hey guys, I hear you're freaking out about your Chem Final. Here's three mini periodic tables to help you during the test.

get a reading period so we can bury our faces in some ___________. Speaking PLURAL NOUN

of burying, I really want to bury my face in ________________'s ___________.

SAME PERSON IN ROOM

BUTT HOLE

Seriously, look at me. I've been thinking about this so long. And I want _________________ to watch us. I need this extra ________ in order to do well OTHER PERSON IN ROOM

NOUN

on this ______________.

FINAL/EXAM/PAPER

Don't even get me started on this ______ page paper I have to write. My NUMBER

plan so far is to write a __________. Hey guys, before we continue this Mad

RELEASE DATE– Monday, July 23, 2007

THING YOU WRITE

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 They’re placed at tracks 5 Walking stick 9 Toyland denizens 14 Where to find counties Clare and Cork 15 Reebok competitor 16 Make __ of: botch 17 Having minimal fat 18 Turn from ice to water 19 Gravy server 20 Best possible outcomes 23 Seaman’s “Help!”

24 Kind of profit 25 Chinese island metropolis 28 Chelsea “Z” 29 “Kills bugs dead” spray 31 Blame that may be bum 32 It may follow the first intermission 35 Pear variety 36 Prefix with hertz 37 Beach footwear 40 Ewes’ guys 41 Paradise 42 Assistants 43 Salem’s state: Abbr.

44 Verbalizes 45 Recreational four-wheeler, initially 46 Window pane holders 48 Doctor’s org.

49 Airport waiter 52 Break dancing, rapping, etc.

56 Exhausted, as funds 58 Myanmar neighbor 59 Length times width 60 Feudal lord, or his subject 61 Former Milan money 62 “Shocking” color 63 Four duos 64 Sothern and Landers 65 Wet 44-Down

33 The “It Girl” Bow 48 Oak-to-be DOWN 49 Physics Nobelist 34 Record of hours 1 Slacks supports Marie worked 2 “Old MacDonald” 35 Kind of English or 50 Ice Capades refrain site language 3 Rat catchers 51 Bird bills 36 MMMVIII ÷ II 4 Shipped 53 Southwestern 38 Lab walker’s 5 Slept in a tent, earthenware pot need with “out” 39 Pertaining to birth 54 Partner of 6 Keep from suffering 44 63-Across minus happening 55 Base lullaby of one 7 Cleopatra’s river sorts 45 Entertains 8 Has munchies, 56 __-mo replay 47 Door-hanging say 57 Photo, for short hardware 9 Minstrel’s number ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 10 Valuable violin 11 Decorative daytime covering 12 Subj. for immigrants 13 NNW opposite 21 “__ by land ...”

22 New York birthplace of Annette Funicello 26 Scout rank 27 “No bid,” in bridge 28 Beverly Hills’ 90210 et al.

29 Double Dutch needs 30 Part of AAA: Abbr.

32 Bushy hair styles xwordeditor@aol.com 7/23/07

Libs, and by the way I stopped reading, I just wanted to say how ____________ CREEPY ADJECTIVE

my ________ is. I can't really explain it, and I'm sorry if I'm ruining everyone's BODY PART

time by interrupting this _____ _______, but I needed to get this off my chest.

NAME OF THIS GAME

I _________ my neighbor's cat. I don't know why I did it, I kind of just blacked PAST TENSE VERB

out and the rest is a blur. You guys are still gonna be my friends right. I have a ___________. No one leaves unless you all say it. Say "we will always be your WEAPON

_______________." Also you all have to call me _________ from now on.

FUCKING SAY "FRIEND"

SILLY WORD

Finals week got me like

Lil Manning

Final Angst Column

By Anne Garellick (c)2007 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Pre-Veterinary Society Weekly meetings: Mondays at 8pm in the New Union Room 324. Any and all are welcome, especially animal lovers and pre-vet students!

7/23/07

Ben "Bang" Moosher

What another great semester of putting hilarious and inventive conent out there for you people. I do this job for free. It takes me fucking forever to think of these comics and bingos and other smart jokes and for what? People come up to me, not knowing that I do Fun Page, and talk about how shitty Fun Page is. You know how bad that makes me feel? This is my only creative outlet anymore and you people read it while you shit. How dare you. I am a poet. You people don't understand that these are the musings of a goddamn genius. Peace out, enjoy a lifetime of pacifism. I'll see you on the other side of the border you're too chicken to break through.

- Fuck You.

11

SPORTS

December 15, 2015 | bupipedream.com

Garn ready for final season All-American looks to build off of last year's success Derek Schuster Contributing Writer Senior mid-distance runner Jesse Garn, one of the best track and field athletes in Binghamton history, will be competing in his final seasons for the men’s track and field team this year, putting the finishing touches on a career that has included multiple firstplace finishes at the America East (AE) and IC4A championships as well as two appearances at the NCAA championships.

Originally from Marcellus, New York, Garn began his athletic career as a football player in middle school. After only a week of practice and a prompting by a friend, Garn took his talent to the cross-country trail. Despite all the success he’s had in his career, he is adamant that nothing came easy for him.

“I was awful, I was really bad,” Garn said on his beginnings in the sport. “I was the worst guy. I was the last guy for our team the first race.”

But Garn improved, and in high school, he went on to become a state champion in the 1,000-meter his senior year, as well as finishing fifth and seventh in the mile at the indoor and outdoor State Championships, respectively.

When he was making his college decision, Garn says that Binghamton stood out to him among the other schools that he was looking at.

“I was checking out different schools, and I wasn’t sure what the right fit would be,” he said.

“When I came [to Binghamton] on my official visit, I gelled well with the team and I loved the campus.”

He also got along well with the cross-country head coach and track and field assistant coach Annette Acuff. Garn cites Acuff as someone who has been very special to him here at BU and has been very influential to all of his success.

“Something not necessarily everyone finds is a good relationship,” Garn said. “Coach Acuff has been a very good role model for me. I can go to her for anything and I think that’s special.”

He also credits his teammates, and says that they have provided him with an incredible amount of support.

“A lot of my teammates are some of my best friends,” he said.

“There’s a lot of pressure that goes into [the sport] and that’s something that we can relate to and talk about.”

At the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships last year, Garn took part in the trials for the 800-meter, but was disqualified in the preliminary round for a false start.

“There were a lot of writeups and discussions when I got disqualified from the indoor meet,” he said. “So when we got to the [outdoor] championships, there was a lot of just ‘OK, don’t mess this up.’”

Garn took full opportunity of his chance at redemption.

He earned a berth in the NCAA outdoor finals and finished fourth in the 800-meter event, earning himself NCAA All-America status.

After winning his heat in the

trials, and qualifying for the final, Garn says he had no idea what to think.

“People asked me, ‘what’s next?’” he said. “Well, I don’t know. I’ve never thought this far ahead. But I’m in it now, and that was the attitude that I went into it with.”

As for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons — his final ones in a Binghamton uniform — the goals are similar.

“The plan is just to advance again to the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships,” Garn said. “But the big goal, which has been the big goal for so long and it’s crazy that it’s finally here, is making the Olympic Trials this summer.”

Garn has yet to make any definite decisions about his future, but knows that he wants to continue his running career.

“Obviously, I’m planning on having a future with postcollegiate running,” he said. “I’d love to run professionally and that seems to be realistic.”

But right now, Garn is trying not to look too far into the distance.

“It’s time to just settle down and focus on track,” he said.

“Focus on performing the best that I can my last year of college.”

Emily Earl/ Pipe Dream Photographer Star senior middle distance runner Jesse Garn, an All-American last year, is set to enter his final season on the BU track and field team.

Emily Earl/ Pipe Dream Photographer Sophomore forward Alyssa James poured in a career-high 33 points in BU’s loss at Columbia on Wednesday.

BU drops two road games Despite James' strong play, Bearcats come up short Brett Malamud Pipe Dream Sports The Binghamton women’s basketball team struggled on its brief two-game road trip this weekend, dropping games at Columbia and Sacred Heart to fall to 0-7 on the road this season.

In Wednesday’s contest against the Lions (6-4), the Bearcats (3-7) went 3-for-20 on 3-point attempts, ultimately falling, 71-64.

“We haven’t really been a good 3-point shooting team this year,” Binghamton head coach Linda Cimino said. “After the Columbia game, I told them that they had to do a better job at shot selection and not take as many threes. I think that our shot selection was much better on Saturday.”

The team was forced to change its mindset on Saturday while heading into its contest with Sacred Heart and knocked down seven 3-pointers in addition to shooting 50 percent from deep.

The Pioneers’ (2-7) offense scored three straight buckets out of halftime to turn a tie score, 3131, into a seven-point advantage, 38-31. The Bearcats attempted to stage a comeback, but fell once again, 69-60.

“We didn’t get defensive stops when we needed to,” Cimino said. “Sacred Heart came out on fire after halftime. You exhaust so much energy trying to catch up. Even though it was just a three-minute span, I think that defensively, we need to do a better job getting more stops.”

Sophomore forward Alyssa James made a huge impact for Binghamton this week finishing Wednesday’s game with a teamhigh 33 points in addition to six rebounds and three blocks.

James recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s match up.

The double-double was already her fifth of the season.

“We knew that Alyssa was going to be a huge addition for us on the defensive end and I’ve said all along that anything she gives on offense is a bonus,” Cimino said. “She’s really starting to develop into a good offensive-post player. [BU assistant] coach [Leah] Truncale has really been working with her on that and we’re very pleased with her progress.”

Sophomore guard Imani Watkins finished Wednesday’s contest with 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds. She contributed 24 points and three

rebounds on Saturday.

The Bearcats are still dealing with the effects of losing sophomore guard Jasmine Sina to a torn ACL during the preseason.

Cimino has looked to Watkins to rise to the occasion of playing a more complete game and leading the team in Sina’s absence.

“Imani has had to take on two roles — being a scorer and a point guard — and she’s doing a great job with that,” Cimino said. “She’s leading the team on the court and is a leader off the court. I’m really proud of her growth and maturity this year.”

Although their record may not show it, the Bearcats believe that they are improving — looking forward, rather than behind.

“We’re right there,” Cimino said. “You want to be in one or two possession games, especially on the road. Unfortunately we haven’t had the opportunity to win on the road but I’m really happy that we’re there, we’re close and we’re playing really good teams. I think that we can compete in our conference.”

BU is set to return to action on Tuesday against Division II Nyack.

Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

TRACK AND FIELD

Star runner Jesse Garn set for final season See Page 11 Tuesday, December 15, 2015

BUFFALO'S DEFENSE STIFLES BINGHAMTON

Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Freshman guard Everson Davis recorded 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in BU’s loss at Buffalo.

Bearcats held to 39 percent shooting, topped by Bulls, 80-64 Noah Bressner Pipe Dream Sports Despite keeping Saturday’s game against Buffalo competitive in the first half, the Binghamton men’s basketball team failed to overcome significant scoring droughts in the second half, succumbing to the Bulls (5-5), 8064, for its third straight loss.

BU (2-7) shot just 39 percent from the field as the Bulls’ size and physicality forced the Bearcats to take low-percentage perimeter shots all game.

“We had a hard time getting the easy ones,” Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We were trying to get the ball inside but we were having a hard time scoring in there, which led to a

lot more jump shots. While we did make 10 threes, it felt like at times all we could get were jump shots and that was a credit to them.”

While their defense has held together throughout the season, the Bearcats’ collective struggle to shoot has proved to be a glaring barrier that has kept them from winning games. Binghamton’s 36.2 percent clip from the field ranks 349th of 351 Division I teams this season. BU has only shot greater than a 40 percent clip twice, in its two victories against Central Connecticut and Colgate. Beyond the arc, BU has managed to shoot 31 percent, good for 265th.

On Saturday, Buffalo faced a Binghamton team that was missing a key player in freshman forward Thomas Bruce who was

out for a second-straight game after suffering a concussion. Bruce is second among the Bearcats from the field, shooting 44.4 percent on the year. Also out was sophomore guard Romello Walker (shoulder), who was averaging 18.1 minutes per game this season.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 15-11 in the first before Buffalo responded with an 11-3 run. Bulls freshman guard CJ Massinburg proved to be a catalyst off the bench for Buffalo, scoring 17 points — including 14 in the first half — as Buffalo entered the break with a 38-30 lead.

Early in the second half, a layup by freshman guard Everson Davis followed by a jumper from sophomore forward Willie Rodriguez cut the lead to 38-34. Up

by just four, the Bulls countered, going on a 13-0 run to secure a 17-point lead that Buffalo would maintain the rest of the game.

The Bulls snapped a three-game slide and seemed to be in good form following a tough road trip of their own. Buffalo lost to fourth-ranked Iowa State and eighth-ranked Duke on the trip.

“This was a game on their schedule I’m sure they felt like they had to win considering they were coming off that road trip,” Dempsey said.

The Bearcats struggled all game to keep Buffalo out of the paint, allowing 44 points from that area.

Buffalo shot 47.5 percent from the field and collected 23 points off Binghamton’s 15 turnovers.

Junior guard Marlon Beck

BU @ BUFFALO

80-64 SATURDAY, DEC. 12 ALUMNI ARENA, BUFFALO, NEW YORK

led BU in scoring with 24 points, shooting 6 of 13 from three-point range and adding six rebounds.

Davis scored 10, all of which came in the second.

Plenty of Binghamton’s shots just missed the mark when the Bearcats had opportunities to claw themselves back into the game.

“Every time it looked like they were going to push the lead up and run out of here I thought our

kids responded and kept fighting back,” Dempsey said. “We made a lot of big shots to keep the game competitive but at the end of the day they were the bigger, stronger, more physical team and we just couldn’t get enough stops.”

The Bearcats are set to return to action Tuesday against Saint Francis (PA). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

After move off the point, Beck finds shooting stroke

Junior having career-best season from three E.Jay Zarett Sports Editor As a freshman in 2013-14, Marlon Beck, a guard on the Binghamton men’s basketball team, struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 27.5 percent for the season. The following year, he raised his percentage to 37.5 from behind the arc. Now a junior, Beck has again improved his shooting numbers. So far, in 2015-16, he is ranked fifth in the America East (AE) in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down a scorching 44.4 percent of his shots.

“Marlon is shooting the ball really well,” BU head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “I think Marlon’s ability to stretch the floor right now has opened up the court for us. He’s drawing a lot of attention and we’re getting better shots.”

Beck is BU’s most experienced player, having started 40 games as a Bearcat entering the season. In his first two years, due to a lack of depth on Binghamton’s roster, Beck was forced to play almost exclusively at point guard. On most possessions, Beck initiated the offense, either taking shots off the dribble or distributing the ball to his teammates.

But, this season, with the addition of freshman guard Everson Davis, Beck has been able to play more at the shooting guard position. This has allowed him to receive more off-ball screens,

freeing Beck up for open catch-andshoot jump shots.

“It’s hard to run plays for guys coming off screens away from the ball when they’re playing point,” Dempsey said. “He was doing a bulk of the running of the offense and now he’s a little bit more involved in running offense for him.”

However, Beck got off to a slow start in his new role to open the year. He recorded just two points in the Bearcats’ season-opening loss at St. Bonaventure and followed that up two days later by scoring just one point in BU’s home opener against Army, a 75-60 loss. But, since then, Beck has had a stretch of seven games where he’s played some of the best basketball of his collegiate career.

“I wasn’t really expecting that [a slow start] but once I dug myself in that hole, all I could do was dig myself back out,” Beck said. “I just went back to watching film with the coaches, getting more workouts in, working on getting my shot right.”

In the seven games since Binghamton’s loss to Army, Beck has averaged 14.9 points per game — eclipsing double figures in six of them — while draining at least three 3-point shots in each of those contests. The lone exception was BU’s game against top-ranked Michigan State, when the Bearcats managed to score just 33 points.

Beck has not only helped to lead BU to both of its wins this season, but also has kept the Bearcats

competitive in their losses.

“I’ve definitely noticed myself that I’ve been playing pretty well lately,” Beck said. “Just going from freshman year to sophomore to this year — just gaining the experience, getting better, understanding the game — has allowed me to just understand how to get better shots on offense.”

Opponents have now begun to make preventing Beck from shooting open 3-pointers a main focus of their game plan.

Oftentimes, he is attempting shots that are tightly contested. However, that hasn’t hindered his ability to make them. Beck knocked down four of the seven 3-pointers he attempted in the Bearcats victory over Central Connecticut State and hit three of four in BU’s win against Colgate.

Beck also drained five 3-pointers in losses against Cornell, Boston University and Oakland, and hit six in the Bearcats most recent contest — an 80-64 loss at Buffalo on Saturday. Beck scored a season high 24 points in that game.

Last season, Beck hit 50 3-pointers in 32 games. In nine games so far in 2015-16, Beck has already knocked down 28.

“It’s a huge confidence and mental thing,” Beck said. “Coach always says, ‘good shots are shots that your teammates and your coaches think you can make.’ And my teammates and my coaches feel like I can make those [3-pointers].”

Franz Lino/ Photography Editor Junior guard Marlon Beck has had six games with three or more 3-pointers this season.

TRACK AND FIELD

Star runner Jesse Garn set for final season See Page 11 Tuesday, December 15, 2015

BUFFALO'S DEFENSE STIFLES BINGHAMTON

Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Freshman guard Everson Davis recorded 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in BU’s loss at Buffalo.

Bearcats held to 39 percent shooting, topped by Bulls, 80-64 Noah Bressner Pipe Dream Sports Despite keeping Saturday’s game against Buffalo competitive in the first half, the Binghamton men’s basketball team failed to overcome significant scoring droughts in the second half, succumbing to the Bulls (5-5), 8064, for its third straight loss.

BU (2-7) shot just 39 percent from the field as the Bulls’ size and physicality forced the Bearcats to take low-percentage perimeter shots all game.

“We had a hard time getting the easy ones,” Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We were trying to get the ball inside but we were having a hard time scoring in there, which led to a

lot more jump shots. While we did make 10 threes, it felt like at times all we could get were jump shots and that was a credit to them.”

While their defense has held together throughout the season, the Bearcats’ collective struggle to shoot has proved to be a glaring barrier that has kept them from winning games. Binghamton’s 36.2 percent clip from the field ranks 349th of 351 Division I teams this season. BU has only shot greater than a 40 percent clip twice, in its two victories against Central Connecticut and Colgate. Beyond the arc, BU has managed to shoot 31 percent, good for 265th.

On Saturday, Buffalo faced a Binghamton team that was missing a key player in freshman forward Thomas Bruce who was

out for a second-straight game after suffering a concussion. Bruce is second among the Bearcats from the field, shooting 44.4 percent on the year. Also out was sophomore guard Romello Walker (shoulder), who was averaging 18.1 minutes per game this season.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 15-11 in the first before Buffalo responded with an 11-3 run. Bulls freshman guard CJ Massinburg proved to be a catalyst off the bench for Buffalo, scoring 17 points — including 14 in the first half — as Buffalo entered the break with a 38-30 lead.

Early in the second half, a layup by freshman guard Everson Davis followed by a jumper from sophomore forward Willie Rodriguez cut the lead to 38-34. Up

by just four, the Bulls countered, going on a 13-0 run to secure a 17-point lead that Buffalo would maintain the rest of the game.

The Bulls snapped a three-game slide and seemed to be in good form following a tough road trip of their own. Buffalo lost to fourth-ranked Iowa State and eighth-ranked Duke on the trip.

“This was a game on their schedule I’m sure they felt like they had to win considering they were coming off that road trip,” Dempsey said.

The Bearcats struggled all game to keep Buffalo out of the paint, allowing 44 points from that area.

Buffalo shot 47.5 percent from the field and collected 23 points off Binghamton’s 15 turnovers.

Junior guard Marlon Beck

BU @ BUFFALO

80-64 SATURDAY, DEC. 12 ALUMNI ARENA, BUFFALO, NEW YORK

led BU in scoring with 24 points, shooting 6 of 13 from three-point range and adding six rebounds.

Davis scored 10, all of which came in the second.

Plenty of Binghamton’s shots just missed the mark when the Bearcats had opportunities to claw themselves back into the game.

“Every time it looked like they were going to push the lead up and run out of here I thought our

kids responded and kept fighting back,” Dempsey said. “We made a lot of big shots to keep the game competitive but at the end of the day they were the bigger, stronger, more physical team and we just couldn’t get enough stops.”

The Bearcats are set to return to action Tuesday against Saint Francis (PA). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

After move off the point, Beck finds shooting stroke

Junior having career-best season from three E.Jay Zarett Sports Editor As a freshman in 2013-14, Marlon Beck, a guard on the Binghamton men’s basketball team, struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 27.5 percent for the season. The following year, he raised his percentage to 37.5 from behind the arc. Now a junior, Beck has again improved his shooting numbers. So far, in 2015-16, he is ranked fifth in the America East (AE) in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down a scorching 44.4 percent of his shots.

“Marlon is shooting the ball really well,” BU head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “I think Marlon’s ability to stretch the floor right now has opened up the court for us. He’s drawing a lot of attention and we’re getting better shots.”

Beck is BU’s most experienced player, having started 40 games as a Bearcat entering the season. In his first two years, due to a lack of depth on Binghamton’s roster, Beck was forced to play almost exclusively at point guard. On most possessions, Beck initiated the offense, either taking shots off the dribble or distributing the ball to his teammates.

But, this season, with the addition of freshman guard Everson Davis, Beck has been able to play more at the shooting guard position. This has allowed him to receive more off-ball screens,

freeing Beck up for open catch-andshoot jump shots.

“It’s hard to run plays for guys coming off screens away from the ball when they’re playing point,” Dempsey said. “He was doing a bulk of the running of the offense and now he’s a little bit more involved in running offense for him.”

However, Beck got off to a slow start in his new role to open the year. He recorded just two points in the Bearcats’ season-opening loss at St. Bonaventure and followed that up two days later by scoring just one point in BU’s home opener against Army, a 75-60 loss. But, since then, Beck has had a stretch of seven games where he’s played some of the best basketball of his collegiate career.

“I wasn’t really expecting that [a slow start] but once I dug myself in that hole, all I could do was dig myself back out,” Beck said. “I just went back to watching film with the coaches, getting more workouts in, working on getting my shot right.”

In the seven games since Binghamton’s loss to Army, Beck has averaged 14.9 points per game — eclipsing double figures in six of them — while draining at least three 3-point shots in each of those contests. The lone exception was BU’s game against top-ranked Michigan State, when the Bearcats managed to score just 33 points.

Beck has not only helped to lead BU to both of its wins this season, but also has kept the Bearcats

competitive in their losses.

“I’ve definitely noticed myself that I’ve been playing pretty well lately,” Beck said. “Just going from freshman year to sophomore to this year — just gaining the experience, getting better, understanding the game — has allowed me to just understand how to get better shots on offense.”

Opponents have now begun to make preventing Beck from shooting open 3-pointers a main focus of their game plan.

Oftentimes, he is attempting shots that are tightly contested. However, that hasn’t hindered his ability to make them. Beck knocked down four of the seven 3-pointers he attempted in the Bearcats victory over Central Connecticut State and hit three of four in BU’s win against Colgate.

Beck also drained five 3-pointers in losses against Cornell, Boston University and Oakland, and hit six in the Bearcats most recent contest — an 80-64 loss at Buffalo on Saturday. Beck scored a season high 24 points in that game.

Last season, Beck hit 50 3-pointers in 32 games. In nine games so far in 2015-16, Beck has already knocked down 28.

“It’s a huge confidence and mental thing,” Beck said. “Coach always says, ‘good shots are shots that your teammates and your coaches think you can make.’ And my teammates and my coaches feel like I can make those [3-pointers].”

Franz Lino/ Photography Editor Junior guard Marlon Beck has had six games with three or more 3-pointers this season.