Fall 2016 Issue 12

Binghamton University athletics receives

$2.2 million donation for baseball program

SEE PAGE 10

Celebrating 70 Years as the Free Word on Campus

Friday, October 7, 2016 | Vol. XC, Issue 12 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Students win $3K for top stock pick

BU offers refuge to graduate student

SOM group takes first place at University of Michigan event

While conducting research in Turkey, Delal Aydin forced to escape country

Peter Brockwell Staff Writer

Pelle Waldron & Hannah Walter Pipe Dream News

On Jan. 12, 2016, a bombing by ISIL killed 13 tourists in Istanbul. Later that day Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, talked briefly about the attack.

He then spent the rest of his speech threatening a group of academics who had called for peace in the country, claiming that they were responsible for supporting the terrorist group.

Delal Aydin, a seventh-year Ph.D. candidate studying sociology at Binghamton University, was one of those academics.

At the time, Aydin had been researching the Kurdish youth movement during the 1990s. While she was doing this, fighting broke out between the government and Kurdish resistance groups.

In protest, Aydin signed a petition, along with 1,128 other academics, which called for an end to the violence and human right violations against the Kurdish people.

“We, as academics and researchers working on and/or in Turkey, declare that we will not be a party to this massacre by remaining silent and demand an immediate end to the violence perpetrated by the state,” the petition stated.

In the wake of the president’s speech, pro-government organizations began seeking out the academics who placed their signatures on the petition. Travel bans were issued, hundreds lost their jobs and many feared for their lives.

“All the mainstream media — progovernment media because the Turkish government has all media channels — published our names and photos,” Aydin said. “They wanted a lynching. Some friends, especially in small cities, were under distress. One of my really close friends just escaped from lynching by a few minutes.”

Aydin immediately reached out to the sociology department at BU, and asked for help leaving the country. Within half an hour Denis O’Hearn, the chair of the sociology department at the time, had a student visa delivered to her.

On Jan. 28, Aydin returned to the United States. Because the spring semester had already begun at BU, there were no positions available. To help her, the sociology department utilized the Binghamton University Student Emergency Fund, a resource for students experiencing “unusual and unforeseen financial demands,” per the University’s website.

As a part of her research in Turkey, Aydin had interviewed multiple people that were part of the Kurdish resistance movement.

SEE REFUGE PAGE 2

Caleb Schwartz/Pipe Dream Photographer Daniel Reynolds, 4th District legislative nominee, speaks to students on Thursday evening in Lecture Hall 7. The forum served as an opportunity to bridge the gap between campus and the surrounding community.

Broome County candidates visit campus

Local Democrats discuss policy, plans for future of surrounding area Pelle Waldron Assistant News Editor

On Thursday evening, local Democrats running for political office came to campus to share their visions for the future of the Binghamton area.

The forum, which was held by the Binghamton College Democrats, provided an opportunity for the candidates to outline their plans to Binghamton University. The candidates are all running for districts that

represent student populations.

In attendance were Kim Myers, who is running for the 22nd Congressional District in New York, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo of the 123rd District and Daniel Reynolds and Bob Weslar, who are running for the 4th and 13th County Districts, respectively. Jason Garnar, a candidate for Democratic county executive, had to cancel last minute because of an illness.

According to Conor Stillwell, the president of College Democrats and

a senior double-majoring in political science and sociology, the forum served as an opportunity to bridge the gap between campus and the surrounding community.

“We want to get people to know more about the local politics here,” Stillwell said. “We feel like this is a great way for students to learn about the candidates that are running for office.”

Harry Bittker, political director

On Oct. 2, a group of students from the Binghamton University Finance Society won the Ross Investment Competition at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, taking home a $3,000 cash prize.

The four students were invited to participate in the competition early last week, and drove to Michigan over Rosh Hashana weekend. They took home first place, beating a field of almost 30 teams, including multiple Ivy League universities.

The students are Robert Pim, the president of the Binghamton University Finance Society and a senior majoring in business administration; Jonathan Heller, a sophomore majoring in business administration; Brandon Fine, a senior majoring in accounting; and Ronick Sanon, the vice president of the Finance Society and a senior in the individualized major program.

At the competition, the different student groups pitched stock

SEE LOCAL PAGE 2

SEE STOCK PAGE 2

Local orgs. recruit volunteers BU music Communities Opportunies Fair features over 80 groups Stacey Blansky Contributing Writer

Binghamton University’s Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) sponsored the seventh annual Community Opportunities Fair in the Mandela Room of Old University Union on Thursday, providing students with a diverse range of volunteer and service opportunities.

Over 80 community-orientated sponsors, campus offices and student groups came to the University to encourage students to become more involved in the Binghamton area through their nonprofit organizations. Attending groups included Boys and Girls Club Mentors, the Multicultural Resource Center, United Way of Broome County and Women Empowered Support, Protect, Educate, Advocate and Know at Binghamton University.

Laura Reindl, the assistant director for communications at the CCE, said that Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Students gather in the Mandela Room to attend the annual Community Opportunities Fair sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement.

SEE COF PAGE 4

Wellness groups collaborate at campus Health Summit

professor, organist, dies at 56 Jonathan Biggers remembered for passion, worldrenowned talent Brendan Zarkower

Assistant News Editor

Jonathan Biggers, associate professor of music and holder of the Edwin Link Endowed Professorship in Organ and Harpsichord at Binghamton University, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Vestal on Tuesday, Sept. 27. He was 56 years old.

Biggers’ career as an internationally acclaimed organist spanned several

SEE JB PAGE 2

Event aims to showcase University's efforts to promote active student lifestyles Amy Donovan Staff Writer

The first Healthy Campus Summit was held in Old University Union on Wednesday to highlight Binghamton University’s Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI), a collaborative effort that strives to promote students, faculty and staff to live healthy lifestyles.

Johann Fiore-Conte, the assistant vice president for health and wellness, said that the HCI is meant to show students, faculty and staff that health is

an important issue on campus.

“It’s a campus-wide initiative to recognize health as a high priority and value here at Binghamton University,” Fiore-Conte said. “So we are working to do things to support the constituents on campus in maintaining their optimal health, which could be different for everybody.”

The keynote speaker was Megan Amaya, the director of health promotion and wellness and an assistant professor in practice at the Ohio State University College of Nursing and president-elect for the National Consortium for Building

ARTS & CULTURE

Healthy Academic Communities. She spoke about ways to build a culture and environment of wellness at colleges.

Linda Spear, a professor of psychology at BU, spoke about adolescent and college-age drinking.

Students from clubs such as 20:1 Sexual Assault Prevention Program and Mental Health Outreach Peer Educators tabled in the Tillman Lobby in New University Union to share with students passing by the different health resources the University has to offer. Other groups were present as well, including the Student Culinary Council and the

Undergraduate Research Center.

Faculty were given the opportunity to learn about ways they could participate in the initiative through a panel of Healthy Campus agents, who are faculty and staff advocating healthy lifestyle choices within their department or office.

Cindy Cowden, the senior associate director of Campus Recreational Services and the chair of the HCI steering committee, helped organize the summit and said that the purpose

SEE HEALTH PAGE 4

OPINIONS

Provided by St. Philip's Friends of Music

SPORTS

The best new additions to your Netflix queue,

Make your makeup routine cruelty-free with simple swaps,

The Pipe Dream Editorial Board shares thoughts on the future of alumni donations,

In talented America East conference, men’s soccer stands strong,

Men’s basketball looks to turn the corner in 2016-17,

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2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | October 7, 2016

After threats, Ph.D. student fled Turkey REFUGE FROM PAGE 1 After threats from the government, she uploaded all of her information to Dropbox and stored notebooks in her friend’s houses and cars before she was able to leave the country.

“I spent a lot of months getting the trust of my interviewees and …

I didn’t want to harm them so it was actually my first concern,” Aydin said. “Luckily, nothing happened.”

Aydin’s research had focused on a history of unrest in Turkey, but for her, these events were more volatile than the ones before.

“Turkey was never a democratic country but this amount of oppression is something new,” Aydin said. “They don’t want to hear any different voice basically.

But people in Turkey have a long tradition of struggle, so people are not silent.”

After eight months in the United States, Aydin is now teaching an undergraduate sociology class and shared her story with her students.

Claudia Wright, a senior majoring in sociology, was shocked to hear what she had been through.

“It was really scary to know things like that actually happen,” Wright said. “The U.S. is kind of a world of its own, so you don’t always realize how extreme it can be in other places.”

Aydin said that academics

are still at risk in Turkey, and she said she believes it is important to acknowledge the struggle of people in her home country.

“Now in Turkey, millions of people are trapped,” Aydin said.

“They are not any different than people here or in Europe. They are the same. They have the same democratic [principles], they want to live normal, they want to go to their jobs, they want to live normal but they are like hostages now.”

Leslie Gates, the director of graduate studies in sociology at BU, said that they were quick to help Aydin, adding that student safety is always a priority.

“We are very familiar with what’s going on and [are] concerned for many of our students,” Gates said. “We want to be supportive of our students and … offset the very troubling political situation.

It’s a real crackdown on not just academic freedom but political freedom.”

Despite the current situation, Aydin said she hopes she can return to Turkey in the near future to see her family and eventually begin teaching there.

“I’m just hoping the situation is temporary and finally the government collapses and we can go back,” Aydin said. “It is my intention; it is my hope.”

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Delal Aydin, a seventh-year Ph.D. candidate studying sociology, stands outside of Glenn G. Bartle Library. Aydin left Turkey after being targeted by the Turkish government.

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Robert Pim, a senior majoring in business administration; Jonathan Heller, a sophomore majoring in business administration; Brandon Fine, a senior majoring in accounting; and Ronick Sanon, a senior in the individualized major program, stand in front of Academic Building A.

SOM students take first place at stock competition STOCK FROM PAGE 1 investments to a panel of judges from national investment firms that chose the winner based on the likelihood of their analyses coming to fruition. The stock pitches were designed to provide a current snapshot of what the stock is trading at currently, with the groups providing evidence for their predicted trends.

While most groups chose to pitch stocks expected to experience traditional growth, the group from BU instead chose to pitch the idea of shorting a stock. Shorting a stock entails borrowing a stock while betting against it, meaning the stock is expected to fail, and then immediately selling those shares once borrowed. Once the stock falls, they are bought back at a lower price than they were

sold for, and then returned to the broker.

Their pitch focused on GATX Corporation, a railcarleasing company. The company leases railcars to railroads and companies looking to transport their product by freight rail.

The company was chosen based on supply and demand principles, with a commodity boom in 2014 leading to an overabundance of railcars in 2016. Without the demand for the cars, the BU student group stated its belief that the stock price of GATX is destined to fall by almost 30 percent in the coming months.

To justify its analysis, the group pointed to three different market catalysts they believed would have a direct influence on the stock’s future performance.

They examined the stock’s lease price index, one way a lease’s

price is gauged, and found that it had fallen into the negatives for the first time since the financial crisis of 2008. The company’s rate of customer renewal had also fallen by almost 20 percent over the last few quarters, leading the group to believe this trend would continue. Finally, the group looked at the utilization rate of GATX’s fleet and saw that it was beginning to fall.

“One thing the judges did say that made our pitch stand out was that it’s kind of hard to convince someone what you’re going to say is going to happen like the other pitches,” Sanon said. “But it’s a lot easier to fundamentally lay out supply versus demand, this is exactly why it’s not going to work and this is why the market is evidently not appreciating that.”

As president of the Finance Society, Pim was not only personally excited for the group’s win, but he hoped that the win would help BU gain greater name recognition nationally for all of the hard work put in by students and professors.

“It’s huge for the school,” Pim wrote in an email. “We are constantly trying to compete with larger schools, and show that you can get a ‘big business school education’ at Binghamton for significantly less.

These competitions demonstrate that our finance students can go toe-to-toe with students from schools like Harvard, Michigan, Duke, and NYU and beat them.”

The cash prize will be split equally between Sanon, Pim, Fine and Heller.

Music professor dies at 56

JB FROM PAGE 1

Bring this fly

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Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Any Time

decades. In 1985, he was unanimously awarded first prize at the Geneva International Musical Competition, one of the most prestigious organ competitions in the world.

He has appeared as a featured soloist in many renowned performance groups, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and has been played frequently on NPR’s “Pipedreams” program.

Marnie Wrighter, the concert manager at Binghamton University, said the loss was a personal one for the whole music department.

“We were his family,” she said. “He didn’t have anyone else up here really.”

Next year would have been Biggers’ 25th year as a professor at BU. His colleagues knew him for his generosity and his dedication to the University.

“He really cared about us — he would be on the schedule for two concerts every year at the

school because he knew all the revenue would go straight to the [music] department, even though he wouldn’t make any money,” Wrighter said.

An entertainer at heart, Biggers would host a welcomeback party in his own home at the beginning of each academic year for his friends in the department.

“He was at his happiest when he could entertain and be entertained by his friends,” said René Neville, assistant to the chair of the music department.

His acerbic exterior could sometimes mask his sense of humor, according to his colleagues.

“One time, he was playing a show at the church and was in there practicing and warming up by himself,” Neville said. “There was an elderly handicapped woman who came to the show early and I opened the door for her to seat her beforehand. He looked up and absolutely looked shocked when he heard that door, yelling, ‘This is a closed rehearsal; no one is allowed in!’”

While his reputation as a “character of the organ world” would often precede him, those who knew him well knew him as a generous and passionate man.

“He really had a huge heart,” Wrighter said. “I would tell him, ‘I know you have a big heart, whether you want other people to know it or not, I know.’”

At the time of his death, Biggers was in the middle of a three-year series of performances of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was planning to release a CD version of the complete works of Bach in the future.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Caroline Biggers, who live in Virginia with their children, Claire and Sam. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 10 at the United Presbyterian Church in the city of Binghamton, where Biggers played many concerts during his life. A special musical performance will start at 12:15 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 1 p.m.

Local Democrats speak to students Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Hot Dogs, Hot Plates, Philly Cheese Steaks, Subs , Salads, Wraps, Sandwiches, Fries, and more

MON 11AM - 3PM TUE-THU 11AM - 1:3OAM

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LOCAL FROM PAGE 1 for College Democrats and a sophomore majoring in political science, moderated the forum. He asked the candidates questions about the local economy, the Southern Tier’s growing heroin epidemic and the importance of voter participation.

Myers, who is running in one of the most tightly contested House of Representatives races in the country, spoke about the importance of civic engagement.

“You guys are important because you’re our future,” Myers said. “You’re an important voter block. I want to make sure I hear you, I want to make sure that you know me and I want to make sure that I’m able to serve you in the U.S. Congress.”

Lupardo, who is up for reelection in her district, spoke

about the opportunity that students have to get involved in the area’s growing economy after graduating.

“We have a terrific opportunity right now to completely rebuild this place,” Lupardo said. “I always tell the story of what size fish do you want to be and what size pond do you want to operate in. This is a great chance to be a very big fish in a small pond. You can look across this place, and you can tie into some of the innovative work that is happening.”

When asked about the heroin problem that is affecting upstate New York, Myers said that it is an issue that needs attention on all levels, starting in the doctor’s office.

“The opioid epidemic is a passion of mine because it is not unique to any demographic, it

is not unique to anybody at all,” Myers said. “I believe that we need to address this on a federal, on a state, on a county and on a city level, comprehensively. The doctors can no longer prescribe 30 days of oxycodone for a teenager that gets their wisdom teeth removed.”

Heather Manley, the treasurer for College Democrats and a sophomore majoring in human development, said that it is important for students to have the chance to interact with local election candidates.

“It’s good to know what’s going on in your local community and have the power to vote down the ballot if you want to,” Manley said.

“We brought them to campus so [students] can see them face to face, see that they’re real, so that they aren’t just thinking about the presidential election.”

PAGE III Friday, October 7, 2016

ADDRESS: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 PHONE: 607-777-2515 FAX: 607-777-2600

Paint the Town

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS Johnson City man tased after swinging sword at dogs Deputies tased a Johnson City man after they said he swung a sword at dogs and advanced toward deputies in a threatening manner, according to Binghamton Homepage.

Deputies say they found Phouphit Thongrivong, 55, leaning over a fence yelling obscenities and swinging a sword at barking dogs. Deputies say Thongrivong was heavily intoxicated and very angry about the barking dogs. He was charged with menacing in the second degree and obstructing government administration in the second degree, both class A misdemeanors.

Wrong-way driver killed in collision on Route 17 On Tuesday morning, New York State Police responded to a complaint of a wrong way driver traveling westward in the eastbound Route 17 lane, according to WBNG. When troopers arrived, the vehicle had crashed head-on into another car that was traveling eastbound in that lane. The wrong way driver, John McCarthy, 90, of Elmira was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other driver was treated at Lourdes Hospital for minor injuries.

At least one person has died in a train crash at a Hoboken, New

WEB: bupipedream.com

FALL 2016 Jersey train station, according to The New York Times. The New Jersey Transit train, traveling on the Pascack Valley Line, was full of commuters when it crashed into the station on Thursday morning. According to a senior transportation official, the train was moving very fast; there is a significant amount of injuries and there are structural concerns about the Hoboken station.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF* Jeffrey D. Twitty editor@bupipedream.com MANAGING EDITOR* Rohit Kapur manager@bupipedream.com

NEWS EDITOR* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com ASST. NEWS EDITORS Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick Brendan Zarkower

Man dies after car crash on Washington Street One person is dead after a single-car collision on Washington Street on Wednesday morning, according to WBNG. Police say the man did not die from his injuries but from an unspecified medical condition. The vehicle jumped over a curb before hitting construction pallets in front of 263 Washington St. Two arrests made in Union shooting case Police made two more arrests Tuesday after investigating a shooting in the West Corners neighborhood of the town of Union that left a 50-year-old man wounded, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. John Frey, 42, was charged with attempted second-degree assault. Peter Gumaer, 59, was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief.

OPINIONS EDITOR* Caleb D. Schwartz opinions@bupipedream.com ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR* Odeya Pinkus arts@bupipedream.com

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Jackie Hogan, the Binghamton University Art Museum assistant director, and staff assistant Cynthia Riley coat Henry Moore’s “Reclining Figure on Pedestal” with beeswax in the Memorial Courtyard to assist with preservation.

Percentage of Housing Communities Registered to Vote on Campus College-inthe-Woods Newing

Hillside Mountainview

25.75%

Dickinson

Susquehanna

26.83%

26.77%

27.17%

— Tim Kaine,

on abortion, at Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate.

Corrections

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

Police Watch Just Can’t Win MONDAY, Oct. 3, 1:06 a.m. — Officers received a report of individuals smoking marijuana outside of Oneida Hall of College-in-the-Woods, said Investigator Robert Meddleton of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The witness complained that the two suspects, one 19-year-old male and one 19-yearold female, had blown smoke in his face as he entered the building. An officer responding to the scene noticed two individuals in the Oneida Hall vestibule who matched the description given by the witness. The officer approached the two suspects, who initially denied smoking marijuana and were very uncooperative, but eventually admitted to smoking outside earlier. Since neither had identification, the officer escorted them back to the male suspect’s dorm room to retrieve his student ID. Once in the room, the officer noticed marijuana on the desk of the male suspect’s roommate, who had been asleep. All three suspects were referred to the Office of Student Conduct and no charges were filed.

Sleeping Beauty TUESDAY, Oct. 4, 1:49 p.m. — Officers received a report of a burglary in Oneida Hall of College-in-the-Woods, Meddleton said. The victim, a 19-year-old male, reported that he returned to his room at 1:20 a.m., placed his wallet on his top drawer and fell asleep without locking his door. When he woke up at 11 a.m., he noticed his door was left open during the night and closed it before

ASST. SPORTS EDITORS Noah Bressner Kyle McDonald

ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Kevin E. Paredes FUN EDITOR* Elizabeth A. Manning fun@bupipedream.com

Hinman

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Airi Kojima/Design Assistant

“I think you should live your moral values, but the last thing, the very last thing that government should do is have laws that punish women for making reproductive choices.

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PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR* Kevin A. Sussy photo@bupipedream.com

26.53%

30.17%

24.12%

ASST. ARTS & CULTURE EDITORS Kara J. Brown Georgia Westbrook

A lighter take on campus crime Brendan Zarkower, Sasha Hupka, & Samuel Ditchek Police Correspondents

returning to sleep. He later woke up to find his wallet was missing from his drawer. The wallet contained $16 in cash, credit cards, a student ID and his driver’s license. The victim’s roommate reported that none of his possessions were missing. The case is still under investigation.

Slippery Situation TUESDAY, Oct. 4, 4:15 p.m. — A student came to the police station with a complaint of issues with his roommate, Meddleton said. The victim, an 18-year-old male, reported that his roommate in Delaware Hall of Newing College, also an 18-yearold male, had spit on him and made vulgar comments on two separate occasions during this semester. The victim said he believed the suspect had spat on him because he was snoring too loudly. The victim elected not to pursue charges against his roommate but will be switching into a new dorm room.

Fraternal Fraud WEDNESDAY, Oct. 5, 1:13 p.m. — An officer went to Student Conduct to meet with a victim reporting a fraud, Meddleton said. The victim, a 22-year-old female, stated that she had purchased two tickets to an event from a 21-year-old female that she later found out were fraudulent. The event, titled “King of Diamonds,” was hosted by a fraternity at an off-campus location.

The victim stated that she purchased the tickets in the Tillman Lobby of Old University Union. The tickets cost $10 each and officers believe that as many as 100 tickets may have been fraudulent. The case is still under investigation.

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stabilizing: wine tour

flies :destabilizing

4

NEWS

bupipedream.com | October 7, 2016

Watson professors improve hearing aid technology Research group receives $359K NSF grant to develop new sensors Samuel Abaev Staff Writer

Mechanical engineering professors and Ph.D. candidates at Binghamton University are looking to improve sensor technology, which is essential to billions of devices in use today.

With a three-year $359,958 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the researchers will seek to apply these new sensor technologies to hearing aids.

In creating new, highly sensitive microphones for hearing aids, the researchers utilized a sensor technology known as capacitive sensing.

Capacitive sensing is different from other methods of “sensing,” or capturing information from the environment, in that it measures an object’s distance by analyzing the effect the object has on an electrical field created by the sensor. Devices that use this type of sensing include accelerometers, gyroscopes, touch screens, proximity sensors

and microphones.

Ronald Miles, a co-principal investigator on the project and chair of the department of mechanical engineering in the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, attributed the department’s innovative work in sensing technology to his own research findings, in addition to the work of Sherry Towfighian, co-principal investigator on the project and an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at BU. He said that the combined effort of different specialties across the mechanical engineering department resulted in technological progress which may lead to increased capabilities of all capacitive sensing devices.

“My own work in this field began with my discovery of a new way for small animals like insects to tell where sound came from,” Miles wrote in an email. “I then developed microphones based on that discovery. When Towfighian arrived, she had worked on a way to make actuators that can push

things using capacitance. This project is the result of taking her work and mine and combining them to do something really new: ‘repulsive sensors.’ This can solve a big problem that plagues all capacitive sensing devices, not just microphones.“ Towfighian explains that the NSF grant has allowed her and her team to experiment with repulsive sensors, particularly within her discipline of microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS].

“We address a severe limitation in capacitive sensing mechanism that causes sensor failure and limited operation range,” Towfighian wrote in an email. “Employing this concept in a MEMS microphone, an essential part of hearing aids, we expect significant improvements in terms of sound sensitivity and directionality.”

Towfighian said her favorite part of working on this research is the impact that it can have on the lives of everyday people, including millions of

hearing aid users.

“My expertise is in MEMS sensors and is complementary to Miles’s expertise on MEMS microphones used in hearing aids,” Towfighian wrote. “With combined expertise, we aim to improve the quality of lives for hearing impaired. I find it rewarding to use my engineering knowledge to help people live better. This motivation helps me work harder every day and makes my life meaningful.”

Like Towfighian, Mehmet Ozdogan, a third-year Ph.D. candidate participating in the research, said he finds meaning in his work by seeing it become a useful product for others.

“There are millions of people having used hearing aids around the world and they should feel comfortable using their lifesaving gadgets,” Ozdogan said. “As a research group of mechanical engineering department at Watson School of Engineering, we believe that designing highquality hearing aids will improve the quality of their lives.”

Service organizations connect with students COF FROM PAGE 1

the goal of the fair is to provide students with access to volunteer opportunities in their own communities, such as tutoring with local school districts, teaching basic digital literacy classes to community members and engaging in political life through voter registration drives.

Through volunteering among these organizations, students can participate in internships, establish their professional development and find personal fulfillment. The participating organizations can benefit greatly from the help of student volunteers, Reindl said, and the CCE takes pride in BU students

who build connections with these community groups.

“By getting involved in these organizations, you take ownership of the community,” Reindl said.

“You feel like you belong. You help the community, the community becomes stronger and you will develop as a stronger person too.”

Among the various organizations tabling was the Binghamton Food Rescue. Maggie Cubic,’16, shared the widespread goal of the organization with students approaching the table.

“What we do is we go around to local farmer’s markets and some local retail markets and we collect produce that would otherwise be thrown away,” Cubic said.

After taking inventory on

the collected harvest, the food is sorted — either discarded as compost or prepared for distribution. The group targets regions in the Binghamton area known as “food deserts,” which do not have ready access to fresh produce. The organization travels to select locations where they set up tables and supply all of the produce for free within 24 hours to those in need.

Other students at the fair said they had similar hopes of finding volunteer opportunities that fit their interests and established them among the service community. Participating organizations facilitated the process of becoming involved, allowing attendees to ask

questions and sign up for volunteer opportunities or internships.

Christine McCune, a junior double-majoring in psychology and human development, said that she had always wanted to volunteer somewhere in the Binghamton area, but thought it was difficult to find a convenient location. She said she came to the fair to take advantage of all the local opportunities in one central location.

“I think it’s almost a duty, in a way, to give back to the community,” McCune said. “It’s something that I think is necessary for everybody to participate in, in order to create a community that people want to live in.”

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Katherine Scott/Pipe Dream Photographer Megan Amaya, director of health promotion and wellness at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, speaks at Binghamton University’s first Healthy Campus Summit.

Summit highlights health resources at University HEALTH FROM PAGE 1 of this event was to publicize the HCI. “The Healthy Campus Initiative has actually been working for about three years and we’ve made a lot of progress both on the local and national level, but we’ve never advertised that in a profound way on campus,” Cowden said. “The summit is the first opportunity to kind of highlight and showcase what the initiative has been doing, what we have planned as well as all of the resources and services that are available already on campus that are open to students, faculty and staff.”

William Wondra, a junior double-majoring in psychology and economics, is an intern with 20:1. Wondra said that the summit gave 20:1 a chance to start a conversation with students and to publicize what they do.

“It gets our name out there

primarily,” Wondra said. “If you know 20:1 is there, you can go to them if you have a problem. It’s also good to get people walking by who wouldn’t normally go to our events and talk to them and get the idea of why this is important into their heads.”

Sharon O’Neill, a Healthy Campus agent and the senior associate director of Residential Life and marketing, said that the summit allowed people from different areas on campus to come together and share what they’re doing to maintain the initiative.

“I think that as a university there is so much being done around health and wellness, whether it’s research, individual offices, different departments and the right hand doesn’t necessarily know what the left hand is doing per se,” O’Neill said. “So having this initiative is our opportunity to share with the grander campus.”

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Friday, October 7, 2016 They're Ruining Us

Gabriella Weick and Elizabeth Manning That's How Plastic Surgery Usually Goes, Right?

FINALLY Feels Good Man

Max Steinbach

Elizabeth Manning

Eryn Catus

ARTS & CULTURE Illustration by Elizabeth Manning

Do more than just wear pink this October

During this month of awareness, take part in the fight against breast cancer Sarah Buerker Contributing Writer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and during this time there’s a plethora of campaigns, ads and pink to go around. And while this campaign spreads over our news feeds, shelves and screens, it’s easy to lose track of the original message while swept up in rosy shades of pink. In honor of the commencement of our annual crusade against breast cancer, here’s your guide to making a real impact this October.

Share the knowledge Breast cancer affects the lives of people across the world, consuming time, money, energy and grief from each person and family it affects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast

cancer is among the most common cancer in women in the United States. Annually, about 220,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,000 in men.

Of these cases, about 40,000 women and 400 men die of the disease.

Prevention and early detection are key in fighting the disease.

It is recommended that women begin getting mammograms at age 40. However, if you know you have a family history of the disease, you should speak to your health care provider about when it’s best for you to begin screening.

Forty percent of all breast cancer cases are discovered through selfbreast checks. These tests can be performed by women of all ages, and should be done once a month.

Donate There are countless funds that

aid families with the financial struggle breast cancer bears. Here are a few foundations that support the women it affects as well as breast cancer research: Susan G. Komen for the Cure — Susan G. Komen’s mission statement is “to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering others, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find cures.” Since 1982, this foundation has funded research, medical care, community and provider education and psychosocial support for millions of people in 60 countries worldwide.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation — Founded in 1993, the BCRF works to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer by providing research

funding at various medical centers across the world. They also work to increase public awareness about good breast health.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer — Established in 1991 by a radiation oncologist, the organization aims to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. Known for their highquality programs and services, they offer free programs to educate and support men and women affected by the disease.

They offer additional, specialized programs sensitive to the issues facing young women, men, African Americans and members of the LGBTQ community.

Think when buying pink Buying commemorative pink

items and clothing to back this cause will be by far the most common way to support it.

But when doing so, remember question just how much of your purchase is going to the cause, and who it is going to. Here are some easy and reputable ways to help support breast cancer this month: smile.amazon.com — It’s the same old Amazon, but simply adding “smile” allows you to choose your favorite organization for Amazon to donate 0.5% of the purchase price from eligible items in your cart every time you shop, at no extra cost to you. With almost a million charities to choose from, it’s a simple but effective way to donate all year round.

Panera Bread — Introduced in 2001, Panera annually

promotes their pink ribbon bagel to honor breast cancer awareness month. So, next time you stop by for some macaroni and cheese, pick up a bagel and do your part.

Select locations offer 100 percent donation day, where the entirety of that day’s sales in pink-ribbon bagels is donated.

The NFL — Since 2009, the NFL has driven their campaign “A Crucial Catch,” in partnership with the American Cancer Society. They promote the importance of regular breast cancer screenings. To support this mission, the NFL has a line of breast cancer awareness gear, so you can support your favorite team as well. Throughout October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel.

Solange drops soulful LP What's new on Netflix R&B star offers listeners 'A Seat at theTable'

The streaming service to add over 50 titles

Haralambos Kasapidis Arts & Culture

Jordan Gozinsky Contributing Writer

“Fall in your ways, so you can crumble / Fall in your ways, so you can sleep at night,” sings Solange Knowles on the first track of her newest album, “A Seat at the Table,” introducing herself with a piece of lyrical advice. Her advice isn’t for everyone, though. One look at the track list, and it’s clear Knowles’ long-playing record is an unapologetic nod to African American solidarity.

Track titles like “Don’t Touch My Hair” and “Interlude: For Us By Us” make this obvious. Powerful, politically driven speeches given by her family members and musicianpeers alike serve as interludes for her collection of melodic poetry sung sweetly over jazzy rhythm and blues instrumentals. The interlude commentary is clearly important to Knowles, yet her focus on a neo-soul and jazz sound sticks out above all else.

“A Seat at the Table” is exactly what the title suggests. Knowles, ready to discuss her personal experience as a black woman in the United States, does so unashamed, and with maturity and prudence.

Of the 21 tracks, only 12 are actually songs, while the rest are instrumental-blending interludes.

Each track begins with the sound of the one that precedes it, eventually building up a beat of its own. This creates a continuity similar to a small live performance — personal yet energetic.

The strong tones of solidarity are further demonstrated through Knowles’ decision to only feature black artists on this LP. This theme is evident within the track “Interlude: For Us By Us,” in which rapper Master P speaks about the success of his black-owned record label and creating autonomy despite the industry trying to devalue his worth.

On “Mad,” Knowles deconstructs stereotypes about black women over a psychedelic piano sound. Lil Wayne offers

Netflix recently announced the new titles that will be available to stream this month.

Along with classic and wellknown titles, such as James Cameron’s “Titanic” and Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven,” fairly new films and television series have been announced to appear on the streaming site as well.

This includes Peter Nicholson’s “Dartmoor Killing” and the original Netflix film “Mascots,” directed by Christopher Guest.

With all these new titles becoming available to stream, it can be hard to pick something to watch. Here are a few titles that should not be missed.

“Black Mirror,” Season 3 “Black Mirror” is an anthology series, meaning that each episode features a new story and a different set of characters. This provides a unique experience for the viewer since it is not too common in popular, current television.

Throughout this British sci-fi series, there are dark themes similar to those found in “The Twilight Zone.” A major focus of the show, which makes it more modern, is the dangers and effects of new technology. Season 3 is available to stream on Oct. 21 and features numerous directors, including Dan Trachtenberg, who is known for directing “10 Cloverfield Lane.”

“Luke Cage,” Season 1 Even though many think that action-based superhero story lines are getting old, the genre still does extremely well, and Netflix’s “Luke Cage” is no exception. Based on the Marvel superhero of the same name, the series follows Luke Cage, who is played by Mike Colter. The superhero is a man with superhuman strength and unbreakable skin. Season 1 was just released on Sept.

30 and contains 13 episodes.

Throughout these 13 episodes

Provided by Columbia

his own verse, “I used to rock hand-me-downs / And now I rock standing crowds / But it’s hard when you only/ Got fans around and no fam around.”

“Don’t Touch My Hair” offers confident, and more explanatory lyrics to her listeners. Through the opening lines “Don’t touch my hair / When it’s the feelings I wear / Don’t touch my soul / When it’s the rhythm I know,” she invites listeners to learn that she views her hair, just like her soul, as a meaningful part of her identity.

Knowles revealed via Instagram that her song “Cranes In The Sky” was written eight years ago. The statement she makes on black solidarity is politically relevant now more than ever, doesn’t seem to be a reflection of the media’s interpretation of the movement.

Instead, Knowles perpetuates an idea of self-acceptance, which was promoted even before movements like “Black Lives Matter” were created. In “Interlude: Tina Taught Me” she amplifies her mother Tina

Lawson’s voice, who says, “It’s such beauty in black people, and it really saddens me when we’re not allowed to express that pride in being black, and that if you do, then it’s considered antiwhite. No! You just pro-black.”

Emotionally charged statements like these are the backbone to “A Seat at the Table.”

While Knowles excels at social commentary, the delivery of her words seem blended in the instrumental and used as melodies rather than to emphasize the meaning. Her voice is sweet and airy, yet the powerhouse vocals that her sister Beyoncé flaunts on her tracks seem purposely hidden on Solange’s.

Upon finishing “A Seat at the Table,” though, listeners are left with a newfound sense of leadership in Knowles. Her rhetoric is clever, her delivery is unique and the complexities of living in the intersectional reality of black womanhood in the United States are clear.

we get to delve a little deeper into this ex-cop, ex-con that possesses extraordinary power.

We follow Cage as he fights the idea that he is a hero while he tries to lay low in Harlem.

Throughout his time there, he works on using his powers to make the neighborhood a better place. Harlem’s spirit is captured fantastically throughout the show from the soundtrack to the locations that are used.

For any Marvel fan, this series is definitely something you shouldn’t miss.

“The Imitation Game” This Academy Award-winning World War ll film follows the true story of a small group of British mathematicians as they solve Nazi Germany’s Enigma code.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Alan Turing, the mathematician that solved the “uncrackable” code and built one of the first computers in the process. He is joined by Keira Knightley who plays one of his partners, Joan Clarke. The main focus of the film is how the code was cracked by this unlikely group of heroes, but the audience also gets a glimpse into the life of Turing and his tragic end. Even though he aided in the Allies’ victory, he still lived a tragic life as an ostracized gay man in an unaccepting time. The film is

streaming now and for anyone that is interested in historical films based on true stories, it is a perfect match.

“The Uninvited” Possibly murderous, evil stepmother, psychiatric facilities and ghosts, this film has everything that a horror movie should have.

This U.S. remake of the South Korean horror film “A Tale of Two Sisters” follows Anna, played by Emily Browning, a girl who is released after spending 10 months in a psychiatric facility following her mother’s death in a boathouse fire and a subsequent suicide attempt. After her release, Anna returns home to find her father engaged to the nurse who used to take care of her mother. She is then visited by her mother’s ghost and is told to seek revenge because her death was not an accident. Anna enlists the help of her sister, Alex, and the two attempt to solve their mother’s death.

Honorable Mentions: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” “Gentleman’s Agreement” “American Horror Story: Hotel” (Season 5) “The Flash” (Season 2) “Arrow” (Season 4) “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (Season 1) “Trailer Park Boys Out of the Park: Europe”

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7

ARTS & CULTURE

October 7, 2016 | bupipedream.com

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arts@binghamton.edu.

Revamp your beauty kit with cruelty-free products Brands like Milani, Buxom and Too Faced make ethical merchandise easy to find Deanna Shiverick Contributing Writer

Foundation: Eyeliner: e.l.f. — Flawless Finish e.l.f. — Precision Liquid Foundation ($6.00) Eyeliner ($3.00) Going cruelty-free when Kat Von D — Lock-It Kat Von D — Tattoo Liner purchasing beauty products — Foundation ($35.00) ($20.00) choosing products not tested on animals — sounds daunting, Concealer: Mascara: especially if it means giving L.A. Girl — Pro Conceal HD Essence — Lash Princess up your favorite affordable or Concealer ($2.00) False Lash Effect Mascara guilty-pleasure high-end brands.

NARS — Radiant Creamy ($4.99) And for those who buy makeup Concealer ($29.00) Buxom — Buxom Lash exclusively at drugstores, Mascara ($20.00) chances are that a great deal of Powder: that collection has been tested on NYX — HD Finishing Powder Lips: animals. Major drugstore brands ($9.99) ColourPop — Ultra Matte such as Maybelline, CoverGirl or bareMinerals — bareSkin Liquid Lipstick ($5.00) L’Oreal Paris are guilty of testing Perfecting Veil ($26.00) Obsessive Compulsive these products on animals.

Cosmetics — Lip Tar ($16.00) Well-known, more expensive Bronzer: ones such as MAC, Clinique Milani — Baked Bronzer Setting Spray: and Lancôme are not innocent ($9.99) NYX — Dewy Finish Makeup either. The major reason for Hourglass — Ambient Setting Spray ($7.99) this is because these companies Lighting Bronzer ($50.00) Urban Decay — All Nighter sell their products to China, a Makeup Setting Spray ($30.00) country in which animal testing Blush: is required before cosmetics can Milani — Baked Blush ($8.49) Many other cruelty-free be sold.

Tarte — Tartelette Amazonian brands exist out there, and a Despite this, there are many Clay 12-Hour Blush ($28.00) large number of them dwell in options that are PETA-certified Sephora and Ulta. Try one of as 100 percent cruelty-free. And Highlighter: the 100 Vice Lipstick shades it is completely possible to create ColourPop — Highlighter from Urban Decay over any a full face of makeup entirely ($8.00) of MAC’s cult-favorite hues. using ethical products. Though theBalm — Mary-Lou Instead of Maybelline’s Pumped it may take a while to phase out Manizer ($24.00) Up Mascara, opt for Too Faced’s all of the animal tested products Better Than Sex Mascara. in your collection, here are Brows: Search for new brands on PETA’s some cruelty-free products, both NYX — Micro Brow Pencil website, where there is a search affordable and high-end, that ($9.99) engine specifically designed for you may want to turn to next Anastasia Beverly Hills — beauty companies that do not time you shop.

Brow Wiz ($21.00) test on animals.

Though PETA’s certification BB/CC Cream: Eyeshadow: is a great sign that a company NYX — BB Cream ($12.99) BH Cosmetics — Enhancing is cruelty-free, other brands out It Cosmetics — Your Skin But Eyes Palette ($12.00) there exist that don’t have the Better CC Cream ($38.00) Too Faced — Natural Matte certification or are in the process Eye Palette ($36.00) of obtaining it. Additional reliable

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resources include Leaping Bunny and Cruelty-Free Kitty, websites and blogs dedicated to calling out false advertising and promoting new, cruelty-free brands on the market.

Though it’s not necessary to completely blacklist any animaltested product, purchasing cruelty-free products only strengthens their message and supports their company. Buying

these products in favor of noncruelty-free products not only feels morally better, but it also reveals to these companies that there is a big market for crueltyfree products.

OPINIONS Friday, October 7, 2016

NOT UP FOR DEBATE Theatrics of recent campaigns invalidate the televised forum Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

SENDING IT HOME

Elizabeth Manning/Editorial Artist

Earlier this week, Binghamton University athletics announced an anonymous donation of $2.2 million earmarked to improve the baseball team’s field.

The alum who made this generous contribution, like many others, is committed to improving the quality and reputation of BU. The donation will do just that. It will add to the prestige of the athletics program and the University itself. It will provide an attractive new facility for our team, which has won the America East (AE) title in three of the past four years, to train on and host games in its conference.

Athletic programs add a sense of camaraderie and pride to any university. This is the second year in a row we have seen large contributions to athletics by individual donors — following a $1 million donation given in 2015 to update basketball facilities in the Events Center.

We hope that such a considerable donation will inspire other alumni to follow suit and aid in funding

areas of BU about which they are passionate. But this contribution led us to wonder: Why don’t we see similarly sized donations to our academic programs?

The Binghamton Foundation has put careful thought into strategizing funding plans and pursuing new donors. Its funding provides almost $1.5 million per year in financial aid to BU students.

But as a public university with a limited history of donations and a comparatively small endowment, funding can fall short. There is still a sizable opportunity for improvement as the University continues toward premier.

A new baseball field is a luxury we are grateful for. But we can also identify other areas where donations are needed for BU. If the University wants to continue to bring in meaningful donations that will make our school premier,

it must first determine which areas students find meaningful.

Once it does so, the focus can shift to fundraising efforts designed to support those programs.

By taking steps like issuing a student survey, interviewing students or holding open forums, those in charge of fundraising can build a meaningful platform for fundraising and growth. If it completes this goal by building trust with its current students, then it will be able to create lasting alumni relationships.

Part of the problem lies in the intangibility of donations to academic programs. It’s difficult for a donor to see a concrete impact if he or she donates to a department, faculty salaries or scholarship. In contrast, a baseball field or basketball court is something that will leave an immediate, visible impact for years

to come.

We are not professionals, nor are we privy to the details behind the Binghamton Foundation’s efforts.

We are not looking to tell it how to fundraise or pursue donors. But as BU students, we are suggesting a method that would both involve current students and appeal to us as donors after graduation.

Knowing that a potentially largescale donation opportunity would fund an area that students identified as necessary and in need could inspire generosity among donors.

If we want to start seeing multimillion-dollar donations to our academics, the University must find a tangible and meaningful way to pitch its academic programs to alumni. To become premier, BU must first kindle a sense of pride and confidence where it matters most.

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

Although there is much to learn watching the debates, nothing said by either candidate at this point can influence my decision. I had sworn my allegiance to Hillary Clinton months ago. It wasn’t just Clinton’s impressive résumé of public service and diplomacy that colored my decision, but Trump’s mockery of war hero Sen. John McCain that solidified my vote.

Previous presidential debates were always conducted with a base level of respect. People can’t be expected to take a presidential debate seriously if one of the candidates refuses to. Yes, the debates do warrant laughter, but I much prefer to watch interpretations of the election through shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “South Park.” At least the humor in those shows is intentional.

While I am abstaining from the debates, I certainly will not abstain from voting. I firmly believe that no matter what people choose to watch or read, all Americans must vote on Election Day. People who say they cannot vote for either candidate in good conscience must seriously reconsider. Abstaining dishonors the legacy of those who have fought and died for our suffrage.

President Barack Obama says it best: “There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. Realize everything we stand for is at stake.

All the progress we’ve made is at stake in this election.”

By all means, get out and vote on Nov. 8. Just don’t put all your faith in the debates.

I love political debates. There’s something about nerd Christmas that’s so invigorating. From Chris Matthews’ pre-debate “Red Carpet” to the panel discussion afterward, the presidential debates embody a part of our nation’s rich democratic history. Yet, this year, as the country’s fate seems to hinge on three 90-minute segments, I can’t bring myself to turn on the television.

Nor can I bear to bring myself to go on Facebook to see my friends’ own debates and jokes about how they’re moving to Canada. I get angry when Chipotle skimps on guacamole; I don’t know if I can handle an hour and a half of question dodging, buzzwords, accusations, denials and rehearsed quips.

The politically pious individuals who insist that watching the debates will keep me informed must also realize that I can be as informed as I want to be without watching 90 minutes of antics. I prefer to read about the fact-checked version of the debate compiled the next morning.

The fact that Donald Trump referenced his schoolyard feud with Rosie O’Donnell is a slap in the face to every American. I will not waste my time listening to a presidential candidate trivialize our electoral process with his own egomaniacal diatribe about his hurt feelings. This unprecedented embarrassment will only make me — Kristen DiPietra is a junior more despondent about the United majoring in English and human States’ self-inflicted predicament. development.

Drones: a strike on Obama's legacy

The president's use of unmanned aerial vehicles may set a dangerous precedent Aaron Bondar

Contributing Columnist

For many college students, Nov. 8 will be the first time we are voting for the president of the United States. Because of this fact, it is important to understand how fundamentally the office of the presidency has changed. In addition to his legislative achievements and failures, President Barack Obama will be remembered for his expansion of executive power and the failure to live up to the promises of transparency he emphasized when he first ran for president.

Before his inauguration, Obama sought to look inward while ending what he saw as harmful wartime abuses, like the Guantanamo

Bay detention camp. Faced with both the pressure to avoid foreign intervention and the conflicting necessity to combat violence by a stateless band of murderers, Obama reached a solution: Conduct your war and silence its sound.

No flag-draped coffins, no mentally and physically broken men and women and none of the loud reporting that does and should accompany the use of force.

The din of war was replaced by the constant hum of a robot, which flies over Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. This robot, controlled by humans thousands of miles away, is responsible for the killing of very dangerous people.

It also kills civilians, more than the Obama administration would like to admit. In general, the almost-omnipotent presence of the drone strikes fear into anyone

who sees and hears the machines and feeds directly into the narrative of the United States as a superpowerful force of violence and evil.

The machine makes children fear clear skies, because that’s when the drones fly. They grow mad with anxiety. Their anguish is also silent.

The problems with Obama’s drone policy are manifold. For one, the process is opaque. Though the administration has released its “playbook” on the use of drones, the executive branch and its constituent agencies are ultimately responsible for drone action.

Another problem is the silence.

Who can hold the government accountable for a war which makes no noise, one we can pretend doesn’t exist?

Even the wording of the playbook itself can’t be taken at face value; though the document

claims that strikes are only approved with the “near-certainty” of avoiding civilian casualties, the Obama administration marks as combatants all combat-age males killed in drone strikes — even if they weren’t the intended target.

One can make the argument that, during wartime, the executive branch ultimately has the power to make these decisions, and thus Obama’s drone war is nothing new.

But are we prepared to accept this new definition of war, wherein a President can strike any part of the globe, including sovereign countries, including areas where there are no active hostilities, including American citizens with little to no oversight?

The responsibility for the enlargement of presidential powers lies in part with Congress, which has seen fit to delegate most of

its legislative function, in regards to the powers to make war, to the executive branch. Actions taken against al-Qaida derive their legitimacy from the Authorization for Use of Military Force. Passed in the days following 9/11, this document gives the president the power to use “all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.”

It doesn’t take a legal scholar to understand the opportunity for “creative interpretation” this bill allows. Since then, the document has been used to justify the use of force against other terrorist organizations, definition of terrorist not required. Admittedly, it is hard to nail down a legal

definition when fighting a stateless group of anarchical jihadists. But the response to this legal ambiguity cannot be unrestrained authority.

In fact, that is exactly this response which feeds groups like al-Qaida.

These groups have political goals, and chief among them is to goad the United States into becoming the monster they always claimed it was.

That’s all spilled milk, though.

The drone war is already a reality.

We must remember that as Obama leaves office, the drone war is no longer his war. It is the United States’ war. It is our war, mine and yours. Only armed with this knowledge can we end it or reform it.

— Aaron Bondar is a sophomore double-majoring in economics and political science.

Study what you love, leave the rest behind

Why should you devote yourself to pursuing an academic career that provides no fulfillment?

Brian Deinstadt

Contributing Columnist

It would be difficult to quantify the amount of people I have met who absolutely despise their majors. I cannot help but find this to be a curious context — how can one unload copious amounts of money each year into an institution that gives them nothing but misery in return?

The intent behind many students’ selection of major is often simple but nonsensical.

Sure, a radiologist can yield 10 times the median salary of a social worker, but I doubt I have to state

that the correlation between cash and contentment is not concrete.

I cannot help but single out the natural sciences where my biology, chemistry and integrative neuroscience major friends’ querulous remarks help formalize this list of most loathed disciplines.

Whether the class is organic chemistry, molecular biology or one of the other innumerable amount of pre-med requirements, there is no doubt that the path toward a degree in this field is one filled with adversity and premature gray hairs.

Some may conclude that the temporary pain derived from undergraduate and medical institutions is worth the longterm net return in both salary

and the fulfillment of helping others. This is undeniably true if we were willing to concede that the struggle subsides upon graduation.

Unfortunately, it does not.

If anything, the induction into practicing medicine is probably when the true challenges begin.

Forgive me if a career rooted in the natural sciences sounds like the only target of my scrutiny.

A society filled with scientists is imperative and there are obviously plenty of medical students who love science, have zero qualms about pursuing it and excel at it. I support these people entirely.

Beyond medicine, there are hundreds of disciplines that are responsible for forming an

emotional burden on the students who study them; it all depends on the individual. However, pressures from external influences cannot go unnoticed here. Whether it is a parent who wants a child who becomes a lawyer, a group of friends who criticize the pursuit of a career in anything other than business or society that deems certain majors more useful than others, many students are steered toward or away from certain fields by predispositions other than their own.

I advise to resist such forces.

There is simply too much money, time and effort on the line for people to be studying anything other than what they are passionate about. Would it

not be more sensible to thrive in a field that suits your interest rather than saunter through one that you detest? The path may be more difficult, but every step will be insured by the fact that you knowingly made the right personal decision; this will far outweigh the allure of an alternative lucrative endpoint.

We live in a time where the professional possibilities are virtually endless. No longer do doctors and lawyers hold the monopoly on wealth, for money can be obtained through even the most obscure ventures. There are YouTube creators making over six figures by posting videos of cats that garner thousands of viewers and consequently money through

the utilization of advertisements.

It may be a strange niche, but it is one capable of being filled nevertheless.

Study what excites you.

Whether it be the verses of William Shakespeare, the formulas of Isaac Newton or the blueprints of the Wright brothers, all areas and more are capable of accomplishing joyful, intellectual and financial goals. Commit to a field of genuine interest now to eliminate temporary pain, ensure forthcoming pleasure and allow a future version of yourself to look back and say, “Thank you.”

— Brian Deinstadt is a junior double-majoring in political science and English.

9

SPORTS

October 7, 2016 | bupipedream.com

In more competitive AE, men's soccer remains confident Bearcats seek repeat of last year despite ailing squad Noah Bressner Assistant Sports Editor

After its America East (AE) opener last Saturday against No. 19 UMass Lowell, the Binghamton men’s soccer team’s confidence has only grown. BU’s 1-1 tie against UML confirmed what it already knew going into the match: Binghamton (5-2-4, 0-0-1 AE) can play with the best teams in what has become one of the strongest soccer conferences in the country.

“It gives you a bit of a boost when you see that you’re able to compete against these teams that, for many years, you looked up to,” said redshirt junior back Charlie Novoth. “So that can only help us.”

In the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Coaches’ Poll, which came out last Sunday, two AE teams now rank in the top 25.

UMass Lowell is now ranked at No. 22, falling three slots from the previous poll, but No. 25 New Hampshire fought its way into the rankings for the first time this season after opening 2016 with a 9-1 record. Vermont, last season’s conference champion, also received votes in the poll.

“I’d probably say, without hesitation, that the America East is the strongest since I’ve been here,” said BU head coach Paul Marco. “I did say that going into the season that I thought this was a good year for the conference. I’m really delighted with how well the conference has done.”

But it’s not only the top of the conference that has seen success so far this season. Albany stunned No. 3 Syracuse on Tuesday night, and every team’s record

Katherine Scott/Pipe Dream Photographer Redshirt junior Charlie Novoth has started all 11 of the Bearcats’ games this season.

in nonconference play stands above .500. The AE’s average RPI ranks fourth in the country of 24 conferences, trailing only the Atlantic Coast Conference, Pacific-12 Conference and the Big East Conference.

“The conference is very competitive,” Marco said. “The last-place team can easily beat the first-place team on the last day of the season, so I think it’ll be a challenge for everyone this year.”

Binghamton’s RPI is 61st of 206 Division I teams — the highest it’s been since 2008.

The Bearcats now rank 10th in the NSCAA Eastern Regional Poll. Although the conference has proven more competitive this season, Binghamton’s focus during practice hasn’t changed.

“The conference is very strong this year,” Novoth said. “But that doesn’t really change how we play or how we mentally prepare

ourselves for the games. As a team, we know we can do it. So the preparation is just keep focusing and keep training as hard as you can.”

Last season, Binghamton advanced to the conference championship for the first time since 2008. The Bearcats hope to make it back this year.

“I have belief, and it’s more than hope,” Marco said. “When you believe that you can do it, it’s

different. Hope has a little bit of chance in it.”

Binghamton’s depth was tested early this season when the Bearcats ran into injury problems.

Four of the team’s five seniors are sidelined with injuries, but BU’s young talent has proved reliable and is ready to lead Binghamton into conference play.

“I think the boys are very well set in trying to make it back to the conference tournament, and make

it back to the finals,” Marco said.

“Will need some good preparation for each game, we’ll need to make sure that we can present a body of work that, at the end, says that [we] were pretty good and that we can earn a right to get to that level.”

Binghamton is scheduled to continue AE play against Hartford on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

BU competes at Lehigh Golf fourth at home meet

Davis leads women, Kozyra first for men

BU shoots 289, three strokes behind leader

Kyle McDonald

Julian Guevara

Assistant Sports Editor

The Binghamton men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the Paul Short Run at Lehigh University last weekend.

Both squads finished in the top third of their fields.

The women finished 13th of 42 teams, while the men finished 14th of 45 teams.

The Bearcat women finished the 5,000-meter course with an average time of 22:33. Princeton dominated the women’s race with an average time of 21:15, 44 seconds faster than second-place Queen’s University. Binghamton placed four of its six runners in the top 100.

Junior Allison Davis led the way for the Bearcats, finishing 37th overall with a time of 22:02.

Sophomore Erika Yamazaki, who finished 82nd, was followed closely by seniors Alana MacDonald and Eileen O’Hara, who finished 95th

and 96th, respectively.

“Across the board on the women’s side it was as good, if not better, than what I expected,” said head coach Annette Acuff.

“The women have been running consistently well as a team the last two meets.”

On the men’s side, Princeton was also at the top with an average time of 25:00. BU finished with a time of 25:54, less than a minute off the leader’s pace.

“It was a solid performance, but overall we were hoping for maybe a little bit better,” Acuff said.

Although Binghamton performed well, Acuff knows the Bearcats were not at their strongest, in terms of both performance and health.

“We had a couple of guys who had a rough day,” she said. “We had some guys that had been sick, and then one of our guys fell. It was just a combination of things.”

Graduate student Nate Kozyra, who completed the 8,000-meter

Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Graduate student Nate Kozyra was Binghamton’s top finisher on the men’s side in the Paul Short Run hosted at Lehigh University.

course in 25:15, was the Bearcats’ top finisher. Coming in behind Kozyra was sophomore Daryn Hutchings, who recorded a time of 25:53. Kozyra and Hutchings have been BU’s top two finishers in each race this season. Both are key to the men’s teams success this season, but Acuff knows she needs more from the rest of the team as well.

“We’re definitely focused on the full team effort, not just our top two guys,” Acuff said. “We don’t want our entire team reliant necessarily on those two guys.”

The competition was the largest race that the men and women have competed in this season. Prior to Saturday, the greatest number of teams they had run against was five. ”It’s a great meet because it is a great course,” Acuff said. “It simulates the NCAA Regional Meet, so the kids get used to running in a huge field.”

For the women, Davis’ success continues to be essential to the team’s progress. She has been BU’s top finisher in both races this season, finishing first in the Binghamton Invitational before taking the top spot at Lehigh.

Both teams will have two weeks to prepare for their next meet, the Albany Invitational. This will mark BU’s final meet before the America East Championships.

Acuff is hoping for a strong showing to prepare the team for the conference title race.

“On the men’s side, we need to run a little better [and] more consistently as an entire team,” Acuff said. “[The women] have just been running consistently well, so I’m excited about where they’re at.”

The Albany Invitational is scheduled for Oct. 15. The women’s race is set to get underway at 12:45 p.m., while the men’s is set for 1:30 p.m. in Albany, New York.

Contributing Writer

After a slow start to its season, the Binghamton golf team sought to bounce back last weekend at the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational, BU’s only home match of the season. The Bearcats finished in fourth overall in a field of 16 teams. BU’s team score, 568 (-8), was just three strokes behind the event winner, St. Bonaventure. The invitational marked Binghamton’s best performance so far this season.

The Bearcats finished the first day in second place with a team score of 279 (-9). Binghamton was just two strokes off the leader, Drexel, which tallied a team score of 277 (-11). On the second day, however, BU dropped to fourth after shooting 289 (+1).

“Our goal is always to give ourselves an opportunity on the final round to be in position to maybe win and we did that this week,” said BU head coach Bernie Herceg.

This marked the final home tournament for seniors Kyle Wambold and Sameer Kalia.

Both Kalia and Wambold played extremely well, shooting 143 (-1) and 141 (-3), respectively. Kalia improved in the second round, leading the Bearcats with a 71(-1).

“We take it pretty seriously, as well as any other event, but this one is a little extra special for us,” Herceg said.

Sophomore Jack Faraci tied with Wambold in terms of overall score, shooting under par with a 141 (-3). Faraci and Wambold ended in a tie for ninth place out of 90 total golfers.

“Without [Wambold and Faraci] being under par, we wouldn’t have been as close as we were; both of them really played great.”

Herceg said.

Sophomore Zak Ottman and freshman Tom Mandel were able to

Provided by BU Athletics Senior Kyle Wambold finished the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational with a score of 141 (-3).

contribute to the Bearcats’ success as well. Ottman put together an impressive second round, scoring par, which helped him finish at a 149 overall, just one stroke behind Mandel, who shot a 77 in round two.

“But overall the guys are just consistent, where they didn’t really have any big numbers,” Herceg said.

The Bearcats’ core four of Wambold, Kalia, Ottman and Mandel were key to Binghamton’s fourth-place finish. The Bearcats have performed well at their home tournament in recent years, winning the event in 2014.

“To have all four guys have solid rounds each day, that’s how

you’re able to move up in the leaderboards,” Herceg said.

The Bearcats improved their performance to record their second top-10 finish of the season.

The other was a 10th-place finish at the Cornell Fall Invitational.

BU is scheduled to play in the Connecticut Cup on Oct. 10 and 11 at Ellington Ridge Country Club in Ellington, Connecticut.

“Going into Connecticut’s tournament with us playing a little better and feeding off the positives we had here, scoring a lot better, putting a lot better,” Herceg said.

“Our overall game is feeling a little more confident.”

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Binghamton falls to Albany SEE BUPIPEDREAM.COM/SPORTS

Baseball Complex Friday, October 7, 2016

to be upgraded

after $2.2 million gift Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor

Construction has started on upgrades to the Baseball Complex after an anonymous donation of $2.2 million.

Anonymous donation to be used for installation of FieldTurf, high-power lights Noah Bressner

athletics department announced the donation — the largest in program history — on Tuesday.

The Binghamton baseball Construction began Monday, team’s field sits at the prior to the announcement. northwestern corner of campus, The new field is scheduled to be past the Science Complex and the completed by the Binghamton West Gym, adjacent to the Events baseball team’s first home game, Center. Just as leaves begin to fall which is scheduled for April 8 around campus, the grass at the against UMBC. baseball field has disappeared, “This gift will provide our too. But unlike the leaves on the baseball student-athletes with a trees that surround it, Varsity state-of-the-art, weather resistant Field’s grass is gone forever. and durable surface to play on,” Thanks to a $2.2 million gift said BU Director of Athletics from an anonymous donor, various Patrick Elliott. upgrades will be made to the field, The new field will be entirely including the installation of a made of turf, including the FieldTurf synthetic surface and infield and foul territory areas. the addition of broadcast-quality The improvements will allow flood lights.

Binghamton the freedom to The Binghamton University practice outside and schedule Assistant Sports Editor

home games earlier in the season.

In 2015, poor field conditions forced the Bearcats to move their home opener to Ithaca.

The addition of lights will allow BU to host America East (AE) conference tournaments in the future.

“It’s going to enhance not only what the current student athletes are doing, but the future of this program, and the talent of student athletes we can go and recruit,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki.

The athletics department says that the donor was a BU alum who is passionate about baseball.

“Our donor loves baseball and we’re thankful he thinks enough of the program here to support it at this level,” Elliott said. “His gift will provide an exceptional facility

for our baseball team.”

BU athletics’ previous donation record was set last year by Dr. Bai Lee, a local gynecologist, when he donated $1 million. The Events Center court now bears his name.

That donation initially went toward the renovation of the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms. Further improvements were made to the Student-Athlete Success Center, the strength and conditioning program and the sports medicine team.

After the most recent donation was announced, Sinicki expressed his disbelief and gratitude.

“I was really surprised, honestly, that there was someone out there who felt so strongly about our baseball program that they’d be willing to commit

that type of money toward the improvement of our facility,” Sinicki said. “There are no words to accurately describe how I feel in terms of what it means to this program.”

According to Elliott, the planning process initially started in April. The project was chosen from a spreadsheet of possible improvements that Elliott maintains and utilizes in discussions with potential donors.

“Fundraising is a process and sometimes when you’re focused on a particular project, there’s a lot of leg work to do to look at design and to look at what an overall project would cost,” Elliott said.

While he was kept updated throughout the planning process,

Sinicki believes that the project was only finalized recently.

“It wasn’t until maybe a week and a half ago that we knew it was actually going to happen,” Sinicki said. “I wasn’t brought into some of the conversations that the administration has to have.”

The field was last renovated in 2013 when a new natural grass surface was installed, along with new dugouts and a press box.

Last season, the Bearcats won both the AE regular season and tournament titles before falling in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats have won the AE Tournament in three of the last four years.

“I’m really just overwhelmed by the donor’s generosity and interest in the team,” Sinicki said.

Sensing urgency, BU hopes for breakout season

Men's basketball seeks improved offensive performance in Dempsey's fifth season at helm

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Junior forward Bobby Ahearn and sophomore guard Everson Davis struggle for possession during the Bearcats’ first practice on Wednesday.

Orlaith McCaffrey Sports Editor

Urgency. The word was mentioned seven times at the press conference that took place prior to the Binghamton men’s basketball team’s first practice Wednesday afternoon.

It’s a feeling that permeates the program, which failed to advance past the quarterfinals of the America East (AE) tournament for the seventh consecutive time last year.

The Bearcats, led by fifth-year head coach Tommy Dempsey, recognize the imperative nature of this season.

“It’s time to go,” Dempsey said. “We all know it. We’re well aware that this is a year where we expect to turn the corner.”

Turning the corner, however, has been Dempsey’s refrain for all seasons in recent memory.

It’s an ambition that has remained unrealized during this period, as BU hasn’t won more than 30 percent of its games since the 2009-10 season. Last season, Binghamton won just five of its 16 conference games and finished sixth of nine teams in the league.

One of the Bearcats’ main struggles last season was

developing a consistent offensive threat, especially when shooting from the field. In 2015-16, BU ranked 339th out of 346 Divison I teams in field-goal percentage, hitting just 39 percent of shots from the floor.

“We have to shoot the ball better,” Dempsey said. “We have not been able to score the ball consistently from the perimeter and scoring the ball in general has caused us some issues.”

BU’s glaring offensive deficiency was apparent in conference play. Binghamton ranked last in scoring offense, averaging a full 10 points lower per game — 60.9 points — than

the next-best AE team.

Dempsey believes that several key additions will help the Bearcats’ offense heading into the 2016-17 season.

BU’s biggest recruit by far is freshman guard Fard Muhammad, a prep star at powerhouse Montverde Academy where he made 41 percent of shots from beyond the arc. He can be used as a lead guard or off-the-ball for the Bearcats this season.

Redshirt sophomore guard J.C. Show, who sat out last season after transferring from Bucknell, will also be a threat for Binghamton in the backcourt.

At Bucknell, Show hit 36.6 percent from the 3-point range.

Binghamton’s greatest advantage is the fact that it returns nearly its entire roster.

With the exception of sophomore guard Romello Walker, who transferred to Midwestern State, all of last season’s squad will be back in uniform for the Bearcats. This includes a large junior class that saw significant time as underclassmen.

“I think there’s more urgency now as guys start to get older,” Dempsey said. “It’s one thing when you’re a freshman or a sophomore and you feel like you have time. Some of these guys are running out of time. I can sense the urgency in the way we’ve prepared for the start of the season.”

The Bearcats’ urgency is evident in practice, where battle wounds are the rule rather than the exception.

“After every practice, everyone’s banged up — whether it’s scratches, bumping knees, elbows to the ribs,” said junior forward Bobby Ahearn. “It shows toughness in practice; guys are going hard.”

Other key returners for the Bearcats are junior forward Willie Rodriguez and senior guard Marlon Beck. Rodriguez averaged 15.1 points per game, attacking the paint and finding paths to the rim. Beck, one of just two seniors on the team, has been a mainstay in the backcourt, starting 28 of Binghamton’s 30 games in 2015-16.

“My confidence level in this group is really high,” Dempsey said. “I think we have a lot of key ingredients. I think we’re more than ready to get started.”

After every practice, everyone's banged up — whether it's scratches, bumping knees, elbows to the ribs — Bobby Ahearn Junior forward