Fall 2017 Issue 16

Check out Monday’s issue for

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Thursday, October 26, 2017 | Vol. XCII, Issue 16 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

First board meeting lays out initial goals

Excelsior Scholarship given to 998 BU students By fall 2019, 2,566 students will be eligible Sasha Hupka

Town-Gown Advisory Board includes city, campus leaders

Assistant News Editor

This academic year, 998 Binghamton University students are receiving free tuition courtesy of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Excelsior Scholarship.

The scholarship, announced by Cuomo last January, provides certain students attending SUNY and City University of New York (CUNY) institutions with free tuition. Tuition is the charge for instruction at a university, and doesn’t include fees like room and board.

Excelsior is a last-dollar scholarship, which means it fills the gap not covered by other scholarships, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or federal Pell Grants.

According to information obtained

by Pipe Dream from BU’s Financial Aid Services office, approximately 27 percent of BU students who received the scholarship got the maximum award amount of $5,500. Awards ranging from $1 to $5,499 were received by roughly 34 percent of students. The final 39 percent of students who qualified for the scholarship received $0 in Excelsior funding because their tuition was already

Sasha Hupka Assistant News Editor

City officials, students, professors and community members rarely end up in the same room, but on Oct. 25, they gathered in the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator for the first Town-Gown Advisory Board meeting.

The board, which consists of 32 people representing both the University and the city, will focus on addressing issues relevant to both parties. The board has been planned for years, but last semester’s blue-light protests renewed the call for a town-gown committee.

Ideas will be generated in five subcommittees that focus on transportation and parking, student housing, promoting and cultivating positive community engagement, safety and dangerous or underage drinking.

Each subcommittee will have two cochairs, and they will present their proposals to the board. If the proposal passes the board, it will head to the executive committee, which includes Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose; Binghamton Mayor Rich David;

covered by other scholarships or grants.

Students had to meet a number of requirements to be accepted, the foremost a family income of $100,00 per year or less. The family income cap is set to rise to $110,000 in fall 2018 and $125,000 in fall 2019. In 2018, 2,097 BU students are expected to be eligible; that number increases to 2,566 by the fall of 2019, according the Financial Aid Services office.

Students also must have earned at least 12 credits per semester and 30 per year, been a resident of New York state for at least 12 months prior to application and be on track to complete a two- or four-year degree.

To process scholarship recipients, BU’s Financial Aid Services office worked with SUNY, the New York state Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and BU’s Information Technology Services to process scholarship recipients.

After students applied for the Excelsior Scholarship through HESC this summer, their income was verified and a list of eligible students was provided to BU. The Financial Aid Services office provided

Student breakdown by grade 61.81%

30.81%

Continuing students

New freshman

.13%

7.26% New transfers

New spring-admit freshman

Award amount breakdown $5,500: $5,000 to $5,499: $4,000 to $4,999: $3,000 to $3,999: $2,000 to $2,999: $1,000 to $1,999: $1 to $999:

27.02% 3.79% 6.63% 6.63% 6.88% 4.61% 5.74%

SEE EXCELSIOR PAGE 3

SEE BOARD PAGE 2

Cory Bremer/Design Manager

Grant to help combat opioid epidemic City officials Program expands AmeriCorps positions at local organizations Jillian Forstdt Assistant News Editor

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell) announced a new regional initiative to combat the opioid epidemic at a press conference at the Binghamton University Downtown Center on Monday morning.

Alongside a group of collaborating officials, Lupardo detailed how she helped secure a $100,000 grant from the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. The funding will create space for 15 AmeriCorps members who will serve a combined

offer code inspections to students

20,000 hours in prevention, treatment navigation and recovery support services. An additional $153,816 in federal funding and nearly $40,000 from local organizations and in-kind contributions will support the program.

The Rural Health Network of South Central New York will organize and manage operations of the AmeriCorps project.

Each of the 15 volunteers will be based at one of nine regional host organizations, including the Broome County Promise Zone, Mothers and Babies Prenatal Network, Southern Tier AIDS Program and the Tioga County Health Department. Jack Salo, executive director of the Rural Health

Amy Donovan/Assitant News Editor

SEE OPIOID PAGE 2

Jack Salo, executive director of the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, spoke on the importance of the new regional initiative to combat the opioid epidemic on Monday morning.

Advice includes reading lease, knowing tenant rights

Staff Reports A sticky note with a swastika drawn on it was found on a lounge window in Digman Hall of Dickinson Community yesterday, according to a B-Line News Addition sent Tuesday night. This is the third time this month a racist incident has occurred in a campus residence hall at Binghamton University.

“We take all instances of this

nature very seriously and have zero tolerance for such appalling acts,” BU President Harvey Stenger wrote in the news addition. “We are working to ensure the matter is investigated thoroughly and those responsible are held accountable.”

On Wednesday, Diana Castellanos, Dickinson’s assistant director of residential life, sent an email to residents encouraging students to come together as a community and stand up to messages of hate.

“While every person may have

SEE HALL PAGE 2

ARTS & CULTURE

First Puerto Rican librarian in NYC, Pura Belpré, remembered Karen Benitez Contributing Writer

When Pura Belpré, New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian, first arrived in Harlem in 1920, she couldn’t find any children’s books written in Spanish. So she wrote one.

On Monday, Oct. 23, Gladys JiménezMuñoz, Binghamton University associate professor of sociology and Latin American and Caribbean Area studies, presented

Assistant News Editor

on Belpré’s life in conjunction with “Reading Puerto Rico,” an exhibition currently on display in the lobby of Glenn G. Bartle Library. Approximately 25 students filled the Zurack Family HighTechnology Collaboration Center to listen to Jiménez-Muñoz’s examination of Belpré’s accomplishments.

After moving to Harlem, Belpré was recruited by the New York Public Library, which was looking to hire more ethnically diverse young women to better serve the city’s growing immigrant population. After noting the

Sharon Elkouby’s apartment on Court Street in Downtown Binghamton has an ant infestation and crumbling walls. The junior majoring in sociology is one of approximately 9,000 Binghamton University students who live off campus, many of whom don’t request property inspections before signing leases.

Tom Costello, ‘78, supervisor of building construction, zoning and code enforcement for the city of Binghamton, said very few students call his office and request a compliance inspection, a free service that determines whether a property is a safe living space. He said that without inspections, students can face serious problems with their housing.

“When they actually go to move in, in late summer, usually around August, that’s when the problems come up, but they already signed the lease and they have the pressure of school starting in a couple of weeks,” Costello said. “It becomes disastrous for everybody.”

The city’s inspection looks for issues including the presence of mold,

SEE BARTLE PAGE 2

SEE HOUSING PAGE 2

Swastika found in Library lecture adds Digman Hall lounge to cultural exhibition University officials condemn racist incident in statement

Amy Donovan

OPINIONS

SPORTS

Math professor turns equations into art,

Former “Saturday Night Live” star to perform on campus,

The Editorial Board discusses the importance of taking caution before signing a lease,

Start 'em or sit 'em? Fantasy football picks,

Men’s soccer finishes nonconference season with loss,

See page 4

See page 5

See page 6

See page 8

See page 8

2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | October 26, 2017

Drawing marks third incident HALL FROM PAGE 1 a different perception about what happened, it is important to recognize that we should never be complicit towards harm done to any of our community members,” Castellanos wrote.

The email listed the contact information of resources students could turn to for support, including the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Multicultural Resource Center and the University Counseling Center.

Digman Hall Residential Director Jennifer Roach also reached out to students over email, writing that the dormitory’s staff is taking the incident very seriously.

“Instances like these take away a feeling of safety and security for many Digman residents,” Roach wrote.

“This is not acceptable and Residential Life is standing against these actions.”

Other hateful drawings were found on campus earlier this month. On Oct. 5, a drawing including racist depictions of black people and racial slurs was found on a fifth-floor study lounge whiteboard in Endicott Hall of Newing College. The University sent out an email that evening addressing the discovery.

“Offensive graffiti that has been characterized as racist was reported at about 8:45 a.m.,” the statement from University President Harvey Stenger read.

“Binghamton University does not condone offensive incidents of any kind.”

A town hall was held by students later that night, where the language used in the statement — “characterized as racist,” instead of “racist” — was criticized.

Binghamton’s New York State University Police (UPD) identified the culprits in the case, who said the drawings were a “social experiment.”

Three days later, on Oct. 8, another racist message was found on campus, this time in a bathroom in Onondaga Hall of Collegein-the-Woods.

Stenger’s statement regarding the incident was lengthier and included stronger language.

“That Binghamton University should face two incidents of this sort in less than a week shows how immature, ignorant, potentially dangerous, and insensitive people can be,” he wrote.

The latest incident is under investigation, according to the news addition.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact UPD.

Katherine Scott/Pipe Dream Photographer Gladys Jiménez-Muñoz, associate professor of sociology and Latin American and Caribbean area studies, speaks on the life of Pura Belpré. After immigrating to New York City in 1920, Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian to work at the New York Public Library.

Lecture highlights librarian's life BARTLE FROM PAGE 1

Award is presented to one Latino writer and illustrator who best library’s lack of Spanish-language portrays and celebrates Latino literature, Belpré wrote “Perez y cultural experiences in works of Martina,” a children’s story about a literature for youth. The award has romance between a cockroach and been presented to many notable a mouse, in 1932. It was the first writers, such as Julia Alvarez, author Spanish-language book for children of “In the Time of the Butterflies.” published by a mainstream U.S. Jiménez-Muñoz said she found press. Belpré then traveled the city Belpré’s story while working on a reading to children and became a publication about womanhood and well-known storyteller, activist, race in Puerto Rico. librarian and folklorist.

“I think she’s a fascinating In 1996, the Association for character,” Jiménez-Muñoz said.

Library Service to Children and the “She put these things together — National Association to Promote theory and practice — in her life Library and Information Services to in how she educated, how she did Latinos and the Spanish Speaking activism, how she wrote.” established an award in Belpré’s Rachel Turner, a member of honor. Each year, the Pura Belpré the committee for library exhibits

and the cataloging librarian at BU, said that the idea for “Reading Puerto Rico” started last year when the committee felt there was a sentiment of uncertainty in the Latino community on campus following the election.

Audience member Noemy Chicas, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, said she learned from Belpré’s story.

“Even small acts of passion can serve for generations to come either through passing down traditions, stories or using your artistic skills to preserve your culture,” Chicas said.

According to Sandra CasanovaVizcaíno, assistant professor of romance languages and literature,

the lecture on Belpré appropriately complemented the library’s exhibit, which includes materials on Puerto Rican socio-economics, art, literature, history, music, language and food.

“Pura Belpré was ideal, not just because Belpré was a librarian herself, but because Prof. JiménezMuñoz approached other topics related to the exhibit: mainly, the complex construction of identities in Puerto Rico and its diaspora, which include Afro-Puerto Rican subjects and women,” CasanovaVizcaíno wrote in an email.

The “Reading Puerto Rico” exhibit will be on display in the lobby of Bartle Library for the rest of the semester.

City promotes code resources HOUSING FROM PAGE 1

Sasha Hupka/Assistant News Editor The safety subcommittee meets for the first time at the Town-Gown Advisory Board meeting. The meeting included time for subcommittees to set goals and meeting dates after hearing about the purpose of the board.

Town-Gown talks future plans BOARD FROM PAGE 1 and Terrence Kane, chief of staff in the BU President’s Office.

According to Randall Edouard, co-chair of the board and the assistant vice president for student affairs, the new board was designed after extensive research on town-gown groups at other colleges and universities, including Cornell University and University of Vermont.

“There is a system to what we are doing, and there are colleges and universities who are doing this that are doing it well,” Edouard said. “We have issues, but we are not unique.”

The first meeting acted as an orientation and declaration of purpose for new board members.

According to Jared Kraham, Binghamton deputy mayor and co-chair of the board, city and University officials have been working together to plan the first meeting and set up the board.

“Tonight will kind of set the tone, set the stage for the subcommittees to kind of drive a

lot of the conversation,” Kraham said. “[It will] set the playing field for what I think will be a very productive series of meetings going forward.”

Binghamton Mayor Rich David made opening remarks and highlighted goals for the board.

“This is a group that is going to roll up its sleeves and get to work,” David said. “This is not something where we’re just going to meet, have a talk and meet and continue to talk, this is about action, this is about making our community better.”

Following the opening remarks, Edouard discussed the importance of the board and its overall purpose, which he defined as facilitating communication, identifying issues related to campus interactions, increasing accountability and finding solutions.

“There’s a lot that we need to do,” Edouard said. “There’s a lot that we are going to do. But what is key is enhancing the town-gown relationship between Binghamton University and the

surrounding neighborhoods. We formed this board in order to make sure that we can do that.”

The meeting also included an opportunity for the subcommittees to meet for the first time, and for the public to voice ideas, questions and concerns. Brianna Cea, the president of the Roosevelt Institute and a junior doublemajoring in political science and philosophy, politics and law, shared thoughts and suggestions with the board.

“It’s great seeing students working with elected officials and it’s really important that the board engages with the public,” Cea said. “This year’s board is setting a precedent for future town-gown relations and it’s important that they set a positive one.”

Although subcommittees will meet frequently, the board will only meet two more times this academic year. A date for the next meeting has yet to be set, but it is expected to fall sometime in February.

infestations, water infiltration and various fire safety issues, according to Costello. If one doesn’t currently live at the residence, the permission of the property’s landlord is needed.

Costello said once a request is filed, an inspection will take place within five days.

He noted the importance of knowing your rights as a tenant as well as your responsibilities, including knowing whose job it is to take out the garbage or shovel the sidewalk. Costello said he’s working with the University to come up with an effective way to inform students about their rights as renters.

Karen-edis Barzman, an associate professor of art history, regularly invites Costello to her class to discuss the various resources of his office. Barzman’s applied learning course, ARTH 483E: Zombie Revolution: Reclaiming Vacant Properties in Binghamton, New York, aims to look at the city’s housing policies

and the effect of vacancy on residential neighborhoods and the Downtown area.

Barzman wrote in an email that she believes college students should be aware of their rights when renting a property.

“Even in this relatively depressed housing market, rent is going to cost you a big chunk of the money budgeted for college expenses,” Barzman wrote. “You have rights. You don’t have to settle for a leaky toilet, for dripping faucets, or worse, appliances that don’t work, heat that is intermittent, doors or windows without secure locks, vermin etc.”

The main informational resources at BU for off-campus housing include Off Campus College, which encompasses offcampus programs and services.

This year, these resources included a Housing and Safety Fair held in September. But Costello said when his office attended this year, he was only able to speak with around 25 students.

Elkouby said she can only talk to a maintenance person, not her landlord, about her apartment’s problems. She said none of her roommates thought to request an inspection before they signed their lease.

She cited the competition to secure off-campus housing as a main reason her group signed a lease early last fall.

“I know from my experience and others’ that they sign up for housing situations where the conditions are much less than ideal,” Elkouby said.

Costello said he hopes to create more of a dialogue between his office and the University to ensure students know of the resources available to them.

“We just want people to have a positive experience — we want them to be safe and we want them to stay,” Costello said. “If they have a good experience as a student, it’s going to make them more inclined to want to stay because they’ll think it’s a good place.”

Grants total nearly $294K OPIOID FROM PAGE 1 Network of South Central New York, said this will allow for a comprehensive approach to facing the opioid crisis affecting the Southern Tier.

“I think the diversity of approach here is really targeting the resource to the particular activity in the community and organization that needs it,” Salo said. “So it’s not a one-size-fitsall, and I think that real strength of the AmeriCorps program and a real strength of this project.”

The program aims to serve five primary counties of service — Broome, Cortland, Delaware, Madison and Tioga — as well as seven additional, secondary counties in the region. According to Lupardo, the wide reach of the program would not be possible without collaboration across the

community.

“It’s very gratifying to see how many different agencies and people are coming together to address it,” Lupardo said.

“Whether it’s addressing it from the prevention side, early intervention, treatment or recovery services, all of the partners are working collaboratively.”

A pilot program was launched in March of this year in which three AmeriCorps members worked on the opioid issues in the area. Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said expanding this program is a vital step in combatting the opioid crisis.

“We’ve shown that on the small scale in the last few months that this works and this saves lives, so now we’re literally quadrupling the amount of people that we have

out on the ground, working to do these really great things,” Garnar said.

Luann Kida, community schools director of the Broome County Promise Zone, said that Miesha Marzell, an assistant professor in the social work department at Binghamton University, has expressed her interest in contributing to the project. As a researcher, Marzell has a background in the etiology and prevention of high-risk substance use.

AmeriCorps members will receive site-specific training as well as group training from the the network. According to Salo, the program recently enrolled the first two AmeriCorps members to the project and is actively recruiting graduating BU students and others for the program. Those interested can apply at www.rhnscny.org.

PAGE III Thursday, October 26, 2017

Family income cap to rise to $125K EXCELSIOR FROM PAGE 1 credit verification to HESC, which then determined overall eligibility based on both family income and credit requirements. BU received a second list of eligible students and calculated the award based on each student’s financial aid package. According to Amber Stallman, director of financial aid and student records, the new scholarship placed pressure on the Financial Aid Services office at the start of the fall semester.

aDDress: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 phone: 607-777-2515 fax: 607-777-2600 web: bupipedream.com

Fall 2017

Coloring in the blind spots

eDitor-in-Chief* Gabriella A. Weick editor@bupipedream.com

“The start of the semester is always a busy time for us and there were certainly questions from students and families regarding the Excelsior scholarship,” Stallman wrote in an email. “I am very proud of how our team handled the implementation and absorbed the new program into our daily operations.”

Scholarships are still being awarded by HESC, but the bulk of awards for this year arrived in time for the start of the semester.

Managing eDitor* Noah Bressner manager@bupipedream.com

news eDitor* Orla McCaffrey news@bupipedream.com asst. news eDitors Amy Donovan Jillian Forstadt Sasha Hupka opinions eDitor* Emily Kaufman opinions@bupipedream.com asst. opinions eDitor Savanna I. Vidal

Pipe Line

Sean Lastig/Contributing Photographer

LOCAL NEWS

STATE NEWS

State grant funds for opening of Binghamton opioid recovery center

New York to ban use of electronic cigarettes in bars and restaurants

Voices Recovery and Community Outreach Center opened to Binghamton residents at 340 Prospect St. on Tuesday, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Funding for the center was made possible by a grant of $1.75 million from the New York state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. The center is intended to help families of those recovering from addiction and will house employment readiness, yoga, music and art classes.

Lourdes Hospital changes name As of Tuesday, Lourdes Hospital on the West Side is now known as Ascension Lourdes, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The name change comes with the rebranding of Ascension, a national health care system of which Lourdes is a part.

The renaming is part of an effort to unify all Ascension holdings across the United States. The name change was announced in a 30-minute ceremony with the hospital’s administrators and staff.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Monday that will ban the use of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers in bars and restaurants in New York state, according to the Press & SunBulletin. The bill is a part of the Clean Indoor Air Act that banned the use of cigarettes in bars and restaurants 14 years ago. The ban is set to take effect Nov. 22.

Weinstein Co. subpoenaed by NY attorney general As part of ongoing investigations, The Weinstein Company was subpoenaed Monday by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The office is currently investigating whether the company violated New York state civil laws. The investigation comes after Harvey Weinstein, the company’s founder, faced dozens of sexual harassment and misconduct accusations from women.

Schneiderman’s office is looking into whether Weinstein’s company violated New York City human rights laws in addition to state civilrights laws.

This Day in History Oct. 26, 2001

Former President George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act into law, expanding the surveillance capabilities of U.S. intelligence and legal agencies.

Local artist Bruce Greig paints a trailer outside the “Check Your Blind Spot” campus bus tour on Wednesday, Oct. 25 near the Bartle Library Pegasus Statue. The Binghamton University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion hosted the interactive program in which students could address unconscious biases and their role in advancing diversity.

arts & Culture eDitor* Georgia Westbrook arts@bupipedream.com asst. arts & Culture eDitors Kara J. Brown Rachel Greenspan sports eDitor* Samuel Ditchek sports@bupipedream.com asst. sports eDitors Evan Cole Grace Palumbo

Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police.

Money stolen from wallets in Hinman SUNDAY, Oct. 22, 12:37 a.m. — Two 19-year-old females contacted UPD after money was stolen from their wallets in two separate incidents in Roosevelt Hall of Hinman College. According to the victims, both incidents occurred while their wallets were left unattended in their unlocked dorm room.

The victims said the first incident occurred on Sept. 25. In that incident, one of the victims had $30 stolen and the other had $40 stolen. The second incident occurred on Oct. 20, and the victims collectively lost $115. Officers interviewed the victims’ suitemates, who expressed concern over the stolen money, but they said they hadn’t seen anything unusual in the suite. Officers advised the victims to begin locking their door. The case is still under investigation.

Graffiti found in Hillside SUNDAY, Oct. 22, 5:04 p.m.

— Officers were in Saratoga Hall of Hillside Community on an unrelated call when a University employee informed them that some graffiti had appeared near the south entrance to the building.

The officers were led to the graffiti and observed that it appeared to depict a penis with the word “hi” above it. A work order was placed to paint over the graffiti, and officers advised the employee to contact UPD if any other graffiti appeared.

Fraternity brother arrested for theft SUNDAY, Oct. 22, 7:06 p.m. — An officer on patrol stopped a vehicle with a broken headlight. After approaching the vehicle, the officer noticed a large, octagonal metal object in the backseat of

Sasha Hupka Police Correspondant

photography eDitor* Kevin E. Paredes photo@bupipedream.com

the vehicle. The object was facing down, but the officer said it appeared to be a stop sign. The officer also observed an open case of beer on the floor of the passenger side of the vehicle, as well as a set of tools, a pumpkin, a sombrero and a live lobster. The officer informed the driver, a 19-year-old male, that he had been stopped due to the malfunctioning headlight. The driver told the officer that he was on his way back to the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity house in Downtown Binghamton. When questioned about the stop sign, the driver admitted to taking it off a post located at the intersection of Brown Road and Fuller Hollow Road in Vestal.

The officer then asked the driver and his passenger, a 20-year-old male, about the beer. The males indicated that the beer was from a friend and did not belong to them. The officer placed the driver under arrest for possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of alcohol. Upon arresting and searching the driver, the officer found a forged Pennsylvania driver’s license, and informed the driver that he would also be charged for this. The driver was transported back to the station, processed and given a ticket for Vestal Town Court. UPD has contacted the Vestal Highway Department and the stop sign has been replaced.

Fake ID found in lost wallet MONDAY, Oct. 23, 3:15 p.m. — A wallet was found and turned into UPD. An officer searched it to determine its owner and found a forged Maine ID card. The owner of the wallet, a 19-year-old male, was contacted, and when he arrived at the station he was questioned about the Maine ID. The male was informed that he could be charged for possessing the forged ID, but officers referred him to Student Conduct.

“With respect and humility, I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it.”

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on the Trump administration, during his speech announcing that he would not seek re-election in 2018 on Tuesday.

LAW OFFICE OF PATRICK J. KILKER “Protecting you and our constitution”

PATRICK J. KILKER, ESQ.

Stephens Square Building 81 State Street, 5th Floor Binghamton, NY 13901 Phone: (607) 238-1176 | Fax: (607) 238-1489 Email: kilkerlaw@stny.rr.com Website: patrickkilkerlaw.com

asst. photography eDitor Rebecca Kiss fun eDitor* Nate Walker fun@bupipedream.com

Design Manager* Cory Bremer design@bupipedream.com Design assts.

Shawn Fleming Jonathan Flores Copy Desk Chief* Shauna R. Bahssin copy@bupipedream.com asst. Copy Desk Chief Bridget McCusker Digital eDitor Alana B. Epstein digital@bupipedream.com newsrooM teChnology Manager* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com asst. newsrooM teCh. Manager Michelle Tan eDitorial artist Jorden James

business Manager* Andrew Genussa business@bupipedream.com asst. business Manager Maryam Soomro businessassistant@bupipedream.com Distribution Manager Elisabeth Standard 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 Mondays and Thursdays 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 emailed to the Opinions Editor at opinions@bupipedream.com.

stabilizing: prism

sf's disease :destabilizing

Your Invitation to Explore The College of Community and Public Affairs

Prospective Grad Student Day 10:45 to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct 27 University Downtown Center

Community Research and Action PhD Public Administration Social Work Student Affairs Sustainable Communities Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership

RSVP to: bit.ly/CCPAProspective

ARTS & CULTURE Professor turns arithmetic into artistic inspiration

Alex Feingold creates stone and metal sculptures that explore geometric principles Georgia Westbrook Arts & Culture Editor For Alex Feingold, a professor of mathematics at Binghamton University, art and math go hand in hand. His office in Whitney Hall of Old Dickinson Community feels more like an art classroom than the office of a mathematics professor, but after looking a little closer at the sculptures around the room, you’ll begin to notice patterns — and that’s exactly what he wants.

Feingold, who has been at Binghamton since 1979, makes mathematical sculptures. Though they look like works of abstract art, the sculptures are based on mathematical principles and equations.

At his first conference as a new Ph.D. in 1978, Feingold met Helaman Ferguson, who was at Brigham Young University at the time. When Feingold visited Ferguson’s home for dinner after the conference, he found several carvings in the latter’s garage.

Ferguson offered to teach Feingold to make the carvings and he took him up on the offer — though the process started strangely.

“He took me outside to a fence — I thought it was just a stone fence, but it was actually a storage place,” Feingold said.

“He pulled off a rock … and he said, ‘You wanna make that into something?’”

They began making the piece by drilling a hole in the center of the soft stone. Then, they used

files to shape it into a torus, or a doughnut shape.

“It has a surface on it, a raised edge, and if you follow either the surface around or the edge, you’ll see that it goes around several times and then through the hole and then back to where you started,” he said.

This tactile exploration of shape was ultimately a beautiful model of the math behind the torus, too.

Feingold echoes this sentiment in his written artist’s statement.

“I like best those small sculptures that can be picked up and handled, so that the tactile impressions of the hands are just as important as the image seen by the eyes,” he wrote. “Surfaces, edges, curvature and texture are the local characteristics felt, but the larger global design is what appeals to the intellect and connects to the wider world as well as to mathematical concepts.”

Though Feingold has produced many variations on the torus knot, he did not stop there. He has also produced several kinetic sound sculptures, which make a soothing noise when set in motion, and sculptures that meditate on other geometric ideas like the Mobius twist (which is a strip with a single twist that, if followed, would never cross an edge).

When Feingold was particularly interested in metal mathematical sculptures, he worked closely with Jim Stark, who formerly worked in the art department on campus as a sculpture instructor. Stark assisted Feingold in learning the processes

necessary for making bronze and iron castings and allowed him to study alongside students. Now, Feingold mainly works in stone or wood when he is creating sculptures by hand. Instead, since the closure of the foundry in the sculpture studio on campus, he has also expanded his work into the world of 3-D printing, which is arguably the opposite of the carving he has previously done.

“We’re not talking about removing, we’re talking about an additive process that builds up in layers,” he said.

While working by hand forced Feingold to work mainly with approximations of mathematical equations, 3-D printing has allowed him more exactness in the forms he creates. He began by using the graphics program Rhinoceros to scale his existing works to different sizes. This program, he explained, allows the user to model the shape with the mouse or to input a formula.

Even though the sculptures Feingold creates are intimately tied to his research, he said they should be recognized as art, rather than as something with a purpose.

“I’m not making useful stuff, just surfaces,” he said.

Feingold has exhibited his sculptures across the country as far as Minneapolis and at various mathematical conferences, including the Bridges Conference.

He continues to work on his sculptures when he is not teaching, and has expanded to selling his 3-D printed work online.

Provided by Alex Feingold This “ribbon sphere” sculpture was created by Alex Feingold, professor of mathematics at BU, in fall 2008. Feingold makes art based on math equations..

This HalloWeekend, take your look to the next level

DIY costumes for State Street and beyond

Use your makeup kit to enhance your outfit

Melanie Gulbas Staff Writer

Melanie Gulbas Staff Writer

Let’s face it: Halloween is right around the corner and you still haven’t picked out an outfit, so you’re reading this article.

Instead of stressing out or buying a generic costume, create your own with these simple and fun do-it-yourself tips.

Gumball Machine This costume is quirky and unique, so the chances of finding a doppelganger on State Street are slim.

What you’ll need: — Black or white cropped tank top — Red high-waisted skirt — An assortment of different sizes and colors of craft pompoms — Black felt — White felt — Hot-glue gun — Fabric glue — Safety pins How to make it: 1. Place a piece of cardboard inside your tank top (so you don’t glue the two sides together) and lay it on a flat surface.

2. Organize the pompoms of your choosing all over the shirt — these are the gumballs in the machine, so arrange them with that idea in mind. Start gluing the pompoms to the front of your tank top with the hot glue.

Hold them in place until the glue cools.

3. Next, create the “metal” plate for the front of the machine. Cut the black felt into a rectangle, approximately 5 inches by 7 inches. Cut the white felt into a slightly smaller rectangle.

4. Cut another piece of black felt into “25¢,” small enough to fit in the white rectangle (or use a black marker to write it).

Glue this onto the white felt and then onto the larger black felt rectangle using fabric glue. Once dried, fasten it to the center of your skirt with safety pins (or glue it if you don’t mind not being able to reuse the skirt).

5. Finally, put on your tank top and skirt, and complete the outfit with a pair of red heels.

Adapted from Instructables

Halloween is the perfect excuse to try out fun makeup you wouldn’t wear any other time. Try out some of these unique looks to find your ideal aesthetic this Halloween.

Pop art: Everything about pop art is dramatic and surreal, which makes this look super fun to create.

What you’ll need: — Foundation — Liquid black eyeliner — White eyeliner — Mascara/fake eyelashes — Eyebrow pencil — Red lipstick — Lip liner 1. To start off, apply your normal foundation for an even base.

2. Fill your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil, but make them darker than you normally would.

3. Then, use liquid liner to line your eyes with an overdramatic wing. Apply the liner to the bottom of your lash line as well.

Usually your liquid liner should remain as close to the lash line as possible, but that doesn’t have to be the case for this pop art look. Draw a line on your eyelid between your brow bone and your crease and connect it to the tip of your wing. Apply white eyeliner to your inner lash line and finish off with mascara and fake lashes.

4. Next, use liquid liner to draw a line from the middle of your eyebrows to the bottom of your nose and then draw two small vertical lines to accentuate your cupid’s bow (the dip between your nose and lips).

5. Use liquid liner to draw a line on your cheekbones and your jawline. Draw two horizontal lines on the top and bottom of your collar bone and draw two vertical lines down your neck.

6. Over-line your lips with the liquid liner so your lips look larger than usual. Fill it in with a deep red lipstick. Apply a small amount of white eyeliner to the bottom lip and smudge it to create the illusion of comic-book lips.

7. Lastly, take a fine makeup

Provided by PopSugar Take costume inspiration from Cher and Dionne, played by Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash, respectively, in 1995’s cult-hit comedy “Clueless.”

Cher and Dionne from “Clueless” This look is perfect to do with your best friend and is super easy — plus you’ll have an excuse to hit up thrift stores in the area.

What you’ll need: For Cher: — Yellow-and-black plaid skirt — White tank top — Yellow button-up cardigan — White knee socks — A cellphone Tuck your tank top into the skirt and either wear the cardigan normally or tie it around your waist. Pair your outfit with sneakers or heels and keep your cellphone handy since Cher is always talking to someone.

For Dionne: — Black-and-white plaid skirt — White tank top — Red button-up cardigan — Black knee socks — Black purse — Black-and-white hat Just like the Cher costume, tuck the tank top into your skirt and throw on the cardigan.

Dionne always carries a purse on her shoulder, so be sure to pose with yours. She also has a signature hat, but any blackand-white one will do.

Poison Ivy Costume: If you’re more into the villainous side of Halloween, this disguise is perfect for you.

What you’ll need: — A large bag of artificial ivy leaves — Black or green bodysuit or leotard — Black or green highwaisted, form-fitting skirt — Sewing needle — Green thread — Floral wire — Floral tape How to make it: 1. Start off by separating the leaves from each other and laying them out on the bust of your bodysuit. Sew them down, making sure you don’t sew the front of the bodysuit to the back.

2. After the bodysuit is completely decorated with leaves, you can begin to sew the leaves to the skirt in the same fashion.

3. Craft a crown by cutting a piece of floral wire to fit around your head (plus an extra 2 inches).

Form it into a circular shape and twist the ends together with the extra wire overlapping. Select your first leaf and attach it to the loop with floral tape. Continue adding leaves until you get your desired look. Pair your outfit and crown with green heels.

Adapted from Instructables

brush, dip the back of it into your lipstick and create red dots all around your face to echo the comic-book effect.

Adapted from a look by YouTuber Claire Dim. Fairy: Shimmer, sparkle and shine your way down State Street.

What you’ll need: — Foundation — Eyeshadow primer — Teal eyeliner — Teal eyeshadow — Pink eyeshadow — Black liquid eyeliner — Pink glitter — Mascara/fake eyelashes — Silver rhinestones — Eyelash glue — Nude lipstick 1. To begin, apply your foundation as usual.

2. Apply eyeshadow primer all over your lids and blend pink eyeshadow into your crease. Apply a shimmery white shadow onto your lid (right below your crease).

Line your top lid with black liquid liner and line your bottom lash line with teal eyeliner. Smudge it out with a small brush and teal eyeshadow. Then, apply mascara or false lashes.

3. Use the pink glitter as your blush and apply it to your cheeks. Use eyelash glue to stick rhinestones around your eyes and on your temples.

4. Finish the look with a nude lip.

Poison Ivy: Make all of your friends green with envy when they see your wicked look.

What you’ll need: — Foundation

— White face paint (if you have medium to dark skin) — Eyeshadow primer — Green eyeshadow (dark and light shades) — Yellow eyeshadow — Black liquid eyeliner — Green glitter — A bag of tiny leaves (or cut tiny leaves from the larger ones you used for the costume) — Eyelash glue — Mascara/fake eyelashes — Red lipstick 1. Start off by applying your regular foundation. Then, apply eyeshadow primer to your lids.

2. Use an eyeshadow brush to sweep light-green eyeshadow over your lid. Next, add darker shades of green to the outer corner of your lid and blend it up into your crease. Blend yellow shadow into the middle of your lid.

3. Create a wing with liquid liner. To complete the eyes, apply mascara or fake eyelashes.

4. If you have medium to deep skin, use white face paint to contour your forehead, cheekbones and jawline. Layer dark-green shadow over the white (or put it directly on your skin if you are fair-toned). To make the effect more intense, add green glitter mixed with eyelash glue on top.

5. Use eyelash glue to attach tiny leaves above your eyebrows.

For a bolder look, glue more under your eyes in a curved line that follows the shape of your eye.

6. Finish the look by applying a deep-red lipstick.

Rebecca Kiss/Assistant Photography Editor Alfi Amin, a sophomore majoring in biology, models the pop art makeup look.

This look can be achieved with any black liquid liner and a steady hand.

5

ARTS & CULTURE

October 26, 2017 | bupipedream.com

Sasheer Zamata, comedian and 'SNL' actress, to perform at BU

SAPB will bring the star and activist to campus on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. for show in LH 1 Gabby Iacovano Arts & Culture On Saturday, Nov. 4, Sasheer Zamata will be the second “Saturday Night Live” star to bring stand-up comedy to Binghamton University this semester.

Most recently, the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) sponsored the Family Weekend comedy show, which featured Colin Quinn of “Saturday Night Live,” Joe List of “Conan” and Chris Gethard of “The Chris Gethard Show.”

Zamata’s performance will be in Lecture Hall 1.

Raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Zamata attended the University of Virginia, where she founded an improv group. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she moved to New York City in 2009 and started performing regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. In 2013, she began co-hosting “Primetime: Would You Fall for That?”, an ABC News hidden-camera show that brought psychological experiments to the streets of New

York City. She has also appeared in sketches for CollegeHumor, MTV’s “Hey Girl” and Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer.”

Zamata joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in January 2014 and stayed on the show for three seasons before leaving in May 2017. During her time on “Saturday Night Live,” she gained popularity for her impersonations of Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Diana Ross, Taraji P. Henson and more.

Not only has Zamata thrived in acting and comedy, but she has also dedicated herself to social and political issues. In 2015, she was named a celebrity ambassador to the American Civil Liberties Union. Her outreach with the organization has focused on the fight for women’s rights — specifically the challenges faced by women of color. She has used her platform to speak out against sexism, racism, colorism and Eurocentric beauty standards.

In an interview with Elizabeth Siegel for Allure magazine, Zamata said that she has gotten comments from black fans who are inspired by her presence in

Download the B

the entertainment industry.

“I am darker than a lot of women who are on TV, and my hair is natural,” she said.

“To a lot of people, it’s really important to see me on TV, and I’m so happy to be there and do that.”

Last semester, SAPB brought “Saturday Night Live” writer Anna Drezen and “Saturday Night Live” comedian Aidy Bryant to campus. Highlights of their show included excerpts from Bryant’s diary, awkward interactions between audience members and jokes about BU’s status as a public Ivy. BU students praised Bryant’s “woman-centered” approach to comedy, and audience members can probably expect similar content from Zamata. “Pursuit of Sexiness,” a web series costarring and co-created by Zamata and comedian Nicole Byer, focuses on the New York City dating scene from the perspective of two single women.

Libby Aliberti, Student Association vice president for programming and a senior majoring in biology, said she was excited to hear Zamata’s

Provided by Seeso Sasheer Zamata performs a monologue during her stand-up show, “Pizza Mind.” The former “SNL” star will bring her talents to campus on Nov. 4.

take on current events.

“I think she’s a great comedian, and also semiactivist, she’s big with women’s rights,” she said. “I loved her on

‘Saturday Night Live’ and I also think she’s going to have some great things to say about society lately.”

The show will be held on

Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Lecture Hall 1.

Admission is free, but students should RSVP to the event through B-Engaged.

ing Hots app an

* FIND A SECRE T MENU

d get 10% off

ON THE APP *

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU SHOW UP?

You’re full of potential and eager to get ahead, but one thing’s missing—your college degree.

Whether you took a break after high school or you stopped out of college with less than 60 credits, earning your Associates Degree now through the NYU School of Professional Studies Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies can change your life!

VIRTUAL INFO. SESSION Tues., November 14, 7 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE Sat., December 2, 9 a.m.

REGISTER sps.nyu.edu/appliedUG/events18

From the first day you step into our classrooms, you’ll develop applicable work-related skills, while building your confidence and benefiting from a wealth of university and career development resources.

New affordable tuition makes a world-class NYU education attainable. * Bachelors degree programs available for those who have earned 60 transferable college credits or more.

For information: visit sps.nyu.edu/appliedUG/associates18 or call 212-998-7100

CHOOSE FROM PROGRAMS IN: Business, Health Administration, Information Systems Management, Liberal Arts New York University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. ©2017 NYU School of Professional Studies.

OPINIONS Thursday, October 26, 2017

Changing the dialogue around gun violence It is usually focused on mass shootings, but they are outliers Taylor Falter Contributing Columnist Jorden James / Editorial Artist

DO YOUR HOMEWORK Everyone at Binghamton University knows that the beginning of the fall semester comes with the inevitable stress of finding housing for the following school year.

With the on-campus housing deadline approaching in mid-November, we’re forced to figure out where we’re living for the following year before we’ve even taken midterms.

If you’re a freshman, you’ll probably choose to live on campus again next year. That in itself is stressful, since you may have not had a chance to meet a concrete friend group or choose the community you want to live in.

On the other hand, if you decide to join the nearly 9,000 other students who live off campus, a new set of challenges presents itself: You have to figure out who you’re living with, if you want to live in a house, apartment or luxury apartment building, if your potential landlord is trustworthy and if your lease is fair. If you’re a transfer student, you’re barely accustomed to the University and you have to almost immediately search for a place to live in city you don’t know yet.

It can be incredibly hard to figure all of this out when you’re adjusting to a new

school year since there are so many different options from which to choose, and it can feel overwhelming to weigh every option that fits within the timeline the University creates.

But, the Editorial Board hopes that you stop to consider the weight of signing a lease and committing to the legal document that determines your living situation; once it’s signed, there’s an extremely restrictive chance to go back on it. We encourage you to use the free resources the University provides in the Off Campus College website along with ones the City of Binghamton does, and hopefully your housing process can be as smooth as possible.

It might seem easier to just sign a lease for the first place you see, but patience is key. A lot of people don’t realize the seriousness of the legal document; when you sign one, you’re committing to live in a place you might not see again for almost a year until you move in. Anything can change over the course of a year and you could end up

with a place you didn’t initially sign up for.

The first step is to research your potential landlord or property management company. Keep in mind that the person who shows you the property can and will say anything to get you to sign a lease. A simple Google search should provide you with reviews of the landlord or management company. Take these reviews seriously. There are other landlord registry websites provided by the University that can assist you in your search.

Use your judgment and common sense — you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that has terrible reviews or failed a health inspection, so don’t sign a lease with a company that doesn’t have positive reviews and legitimate credentials.

Don’t let anyone pressure you into making a decision before you have had the chance to do your research.

Take advantage of the city of Binghamton’s free code inspections as well. It’s better to discover a moldy basement

or a leaky ceiling before you sign than after you’re forced to live there.

Once you’ve decided on a landlord to sign with, be sure to thoroughly read your lease.

It’s best to have a lawyer read it before signing, and the University even offers legal services to students. Take advantage of these services and ask any legal questions you might have. Not many students know that it’s possible to add clauses into your lease to make it more fair and balanced, and this is something with which the University’s legal services can help. Off Campus College also provides a sample lease on their website to compare to the one you might sign.

Finding a place to live off campus has the potential to be a nightmare, and we wish that the University’s housing deadline were later so students would have more time to find the most ideal place to live. However, we must work with what we have.

If you do your homework, you can hopefully find a safe place to call home.

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.

issue of gun violence relegated to preventing mass shootings?

Psychology has an answer for this in the base-rate fallacy, which refers to when people judge that an outcome will occur without considering any prior knowledge of the probability that it will actually occur. This can also be influenced by events that are dramatic or graphic. While mass shootings might be statistical outliers, they are highly emotionally stimulating and consequently exert a strong influence on the human mind.

The consequence of this is that issues are presented not in the context best-suited for their discussion, but in the contexts which render them most emotionally provocative. This is a poor criterion for choosing the mediums through which we discuss issues, as such discussions will produce solutions that are poorly calibrated to address issues. Thus, what we have is an issue that is not relegated only to gun control, but rather one that most explicitly manifests itself in that debate.

None of this to say that mass shootings are no big deal and we shouldn’t discuss policies aimed at deterring them. Rather, it is to say that they are an exceptionally poor conduit for discussion regarding the topic of gun violence as a whole, yet it effectively serves such a roll. The tendency to collectively ignore this represents a very fundamental issue with the state of politics in the United States.

If we continue to allow irrational dispositions to dictate public dialogue, without any concerted effort at a more empirically informed discussion, then it should be no surprise when our dialogues fail to produce proposals for policies that would be genuinely effective. We are so wrapped up in disputes over the ends that we fail to overlook the basic, blatant flaws in the means through which we attempt to reach them.

Discussion on the issue of gun violence in the United States follows a life cycle that generally resembles this: the issue is widely ignored, a mass shooting happens and it becomes the pre-eminent political issue for a brief period of time, then everybody gets bored and the political discussion reverts back to old topics.

The Las Vegas shooting will most likely follow a similar life cycle.

The Sandy Hook shooting, which garnered unprecedented amounts of media attention, resulted in public support for gun control rising about 7 percent and news stories mentioning gun control increasing fivefold, according to the Pew Research Center and FiveThirtyEight. However, this brief surge of public interest proved to have little lasting value.

Here’s the point — while the debate over gun policy and the proper response to it is highly polarized, it’s clear that the dialogue on the topic is centered around mass shootings. The amount of attention the issue receives corresponds with how recently a significant mass shooting occurred and how severe it was. It’s hard to imagine the topic existing in U.S. politics as anything outside a source of emotional recourse following mass shootings.

The holistic issue of gun violence in the United States goes far beyond mass shootings. Of the roughly 8,000 murders committed using a gun in the United States per year, mass shootings comprise a very small portion of that total when mass shootings are defined as shootings that kill four or more people, according to the FBI. Mass shootings are statistical outliers, not the norm, and consequently, whatever effect a given policy has on them can’t be extrapolated to the broader issue.

— Taylor Falter Why is our discussion on the undeclared sophomore.

is

an

Wealthy individuals must decrease their consumption The affluent contribute to more pollution, deforestation and depletion of resources Georgia Kerkezis Contributing Columnist

A common argument made by environmentalists is that in order to decrease environmental degradation, we must decrease consumption. While this statement is accurate, it is not specific enough. Advocating for a general decrease in consumption does not suggest who exactly should be responsible; it may be interpreted as implying that all people must limit their spending equally.

To more successfully combat environmental degradation, I

argue that this statement must be modified: Wealthy individuals must decrease their consumption.

I argue this because, on average, wealthy individuals spend more money to consume more goods, and therefore, contribute more to pollution, deforestation and depletion of resources. Resource consumption and environmental degradation are directly related. For example, the more fossil fuels we burn, the more emissions we put into the atmosphere. The world’s richest 10 percent have emitted half of the Earth’s greenhouse gas emissions, while the world’s poorest half have only emitted 10 percent. This statistic shows how the wealthy are more at fault for the

degradation of the environment.

Thus, they should be the ones most responsible for combating it.

Wealthier individuals are also more able to adapt to the phenomena of environmental degradation, such as rising sea levels, deforestation and reduced productivity of farmland. They can afford to rebuild after a destructive event. They can buy a new house in a different area where the effects of climate change are not as severe.

Poorer individuals, on the other hand, are less able to adapt. They simply don’t have as much money to relocate, rebuild or redesign their homes and communities. Thus, they are at a serious disadvantage as climate change continues

to worsen.

I also argue that wealthy nations must decrease their consumption as a whole. The United States is one of the largest environmentally degrading countries in the world. Studies vary depending on what type of environmental impact is examined, but the United States never fails to exist among the top polluters. The U.S. Department of Energy found that the United States was the second-largest emitting country of carbon dioxide emissions, with China taking the lead. This study was performed six years ago and newer studies do show improvements in the reduction of the United States’ pollution.

However, these improvements are too minuscule to offset the damage still being done to the environment. Coupled with the direction President Donald Trump seems to be taking the country, these improvements may very well be reversed.

Thus, if Trump will not encourage the United States’ fight against environmental degradation, then we as individuals must take initiative. We must make more conscious day-to-day efforts to limit our consumption. We can each do our small part by decreasing our consumption of things such as gasoline (don’t drive your car as much), plastic water bottles (use a reusable one) and clothes (do you

really need that $90 sweater from Urban Outfitters?) to name just a few.

The point of this article is not to assign blame — I aim to inspire the people who are able to make a difference to do so.

The United States, as a wealthy nation, is morally obligated to take responsibility for the environmental degradation it has caused. Individuals are also morally obligated to do the same. If not for the sake of saving the environment, consumption by wealthy individuals must be decreased to ensure that environmental justice ensues.

— Georgia Kerkezis is a sophomore majoring in environmental studies.

Understanding feminism in the wake of the accusations against Harvey Weinstein Response to Mayim Bialik's 10/13 New York Times op/ed

Kristen DiPietra Columnist

Amid the “shocking” allegations and exploits that have emerged from the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal, one response stood out above the rest. “The Big Bang Theory” star and proclaimed feminist Mayim Bialik offered her own take in her New York Times opinion piece, “Being a Feminist In Harvey Weinstein’s World,” which was met with accusations of victimblaming and (gasp) not being a true feminist.

In her piece, Bialik indicts

the entire entertainment industry for “reward[ing] physical beauty and sex appeal above all else.” She aptly expresses her contempt for Weinstein along with her lack of shock. The most controversial part of her piece, or at least the one that garnered the most attention, was the behaviors she engages in which she implies free her from unwarranted attention: “I still make choices every day as a 41-year-old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise.

I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don’t act flirtatiously with men as a policy.”

I credit Bialik with providing sympathy for the victims and

offering her fresh perspective as someone who identifies as not a “perfect 10.” I think it’s possible to have two conversations, one that forces men to re-evaluate how they view, approach and interact with women, and one that compels women to not rely heavily on physical beauty and sexuality.

They’re not exclusive.

Bialik isn’t guilty of victimblaming, but she engaged in something far worse: Bialik elevated herself above the victims by citing her physical appearance as the primary reason she was able to evade harassment.

The notion of respectability politics, in which members of a marginalized group attempt

to conform to mainstream values and to appear less as a marginalized person, does not address larger injustices. Engaging in these conscious efforts to not be marginalized — perhaps as a coping mechanism — does not change one’s status. Bialik, no matter how she looks and dresses, operates within a patriarchal society.

Bialik can censure Hollywood’s objectification of women all she wants, but she still took a job on a show that is rife with misogyny. To a viewer like myself, her character is not so much the big, bold feminist scientist her actress wishes to play, but comes off rather cold, prudish and shrewish.

She states, “As a proud feminist

with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms.” To be completely honest, I’m still confused about the point Bialik is trying to make. Is she trying to conflate being a feminist with not altering one’s appearance or meeting men in hotel rooms?

Does anyone who engages in these behaviors automatically disqualify as a feminist? Bialik’s specific use of feminism implies a very narrow definition.

Bialik makes a convincing argument for women to reject the male-dominated industries that regularly harass, objectify and degrade women. But if women

were to make a stand against every industry that exploits them, they would never wash their hair, wear clothing or even work out at a gym.

As someone who likes to do all three of these things, I still consider myself a feminist like Bialik. We believe in equal rights, equal pay and stand against the exploitation of women in all industries and institutions. But we can’t simply divorce ourselves from these sexist practices that are so engrained in our everyday lives. We can’t pick and choose which industries are feminist and which are not.

— Kristen DiPietra is a senior double-majoring in English and human development.

OPINIONS FFUN UN Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,26, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017 2017

The Hero We Need

Nate Walker

It is a Nice Tie Though

Nate Walker

Smart Boy: Meeting

Sudoku

Annabeth Sloan

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to Monday's puzzle

Horoscopes

The Cosmos

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

10/26/17

FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 26, 2017

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Rosary piece 5 Peruses 10 Sign of an old injury 14 “The __ Ranger” 15 Command 16 Ring of light 17 Hostels 18 Student’s record 20 Greek letter 21 Flower stalk 22 Washing machine cycle 23 Abhorred 25 Color 26 Island formerly known as Formosa 28 Took a chance with 31 Actress Kirstie 32 Frozen rain 34 Prefix for place or pronounce 36 Not naked 37 Secret agents 38 Gush forth 39 Tit for __ 40 Actress Bo __ 41 Longest river in Europe 42 Annually 44 Shade of red 45 Actor Kilmer 46 Bee product 47 Light parody 50 Cause of distress 51 Conjunction 54 Entrepreneur 57 Do as told 58 Mimicked 59 Scared to __; petrified 60 Escape 61 “A __ home is his castle” 62 Prescribed amounts 63 Koppel & Cruz DOWN 1 Radar screen image 2 Phanerozoic & Proterozoic

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 21 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 35 37

Destroy totally __ Moines, IA Corrupt Miscalculated Actor Sandler Lion’s lair Yrbk. section Loud, highpitched cry Abel’s killer European mountains Learn by __; memorize Pie bottom Stick around Flabbergasted Goes quickly Diplomacy Ease, as another’s fears Be stinky Possessing some job skills San __, CA Nimble Tell a whopper Waterbird Peddle

©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

38 __ as a boil 40 Uncomfortable current of air 41 Weathercock 43 Steers clear of 44 Calendar pages 46 Speediness 47 Con game

48 49 50 52 53

Family member Frank; candid Unfair slant Requirement Coloring agents 55 Use a plus sign 56 Zodiac lion 57 Many a time

TWITTER

@PipeDreamSports FOR LIVE COVERAGE Thursday, October 26, 2017

Men's soccer defeated by Hofstra at home

Rebecca Kiss/Assistant Photography Editor Sophomore forward Haris Brkovic netted his fifth goal of the season in Binghamton’s 2-1 loss to Hofstra on Wednesday night.

Bearcats unable to overcome the Pride's early two-goal edge Grace Palumbo Assistant Sports Editor

The lights were bright on the field Wednesday night, but the Bearcats exited the field appearing disappointed against Hofstra in their last nonconference match of the season. The Pride took the win, 2-1, in a disheartening loss.

“They scored a couple of good goals early and I felt we didn’t really start the game well,” said BU head coach Paul Marco. “Once the game settled in, I thought we were quite good. We were very good in the second half — we just didn’t get enough to show for it. I was disappointed in the outcome of the game and felt like we should’ve gotten more from the game tonight.”

Binghamton began the game on the defensive end, as Hofstra’s offense stormed the field. BU was only able to hold off its opponents 6 1/2 minutes before the Pride scored its first goal. Hofstra maintained its dominance and netted another

shot just four minutes later, taking an early 2-0 edge.

With just 13 minutes until the end of the half, sophomore forward Haris Brkovic took control of the ball and scored his fifth goal of the season. The Bearcats’ excitement was evident as the team jumped and celebrated together before retaking the field. Their energy was not present for the remainder of the game. “[Brkovic’s] certainly shown some tremendous growth this year,” Marco said. “I really think that if he figures it out, he’s gonna be a force in conference.”

Brkovic, hot off his breakaway goal, strived, along with the rest of the Bearcats, to make another shot before the end of the half, but their attempts proved futile against the Pride. The teams went into the locker room with the score at 2-1.

Refreshed following halftime, the Bearcats took the field with renewed excitement, maintaining notable hustle against a competitive Hofstra team. BU’s

offensive only managed three shots throughout the half, but each was a close chance. Junior midfielder Connor McKnight narrowly missed in the 72nd minute, shooting far wide to bury the shot.

Binghamton was successful in holding Hofstra to zero goals and zero shots on goal in the second half, as the margin remained at 2-1 for the rest of the game. The Pride took home the victory, and the Bearcats suffered their second consecutive loss ahead of their last two America East (AE) Conference games.

“I think the tone of the locker room was disappointment,” Marco said. “We felt like we ran out of time, and then it wasn’t just about tonight’s performance. I hope this team has learned a valuable lesson.

We still have a lot to play for, but the lesson we will reflect back on this year when we see the body of work that this team has done, that’s really the feeling a little bit tonight. We’ve played really

well and we’ve just let games slip through our fingers.”

Right now, the Bearcats stand at sixth place in the AE standings. In order to move on to the AE Tournament, they cannot afford another loss, as only the top six teams move on to the 2017 tournament. With only two matches left in conference play, against second-place UVM and third-place UAlbany, Binghamton will need to be playing at its best.

“I really enjoy this group of guys, they’re a terrific group to work with,” Marco said. “Their understanding of what it takes to win and be a league team is a work in progress right now, and hopefully we can figure out a little bit more before Saturday because I do think that this team, this year, has still more to do.”

The Bearcats will take the field next in a conference match against the University of Vermont on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Virtue Field in Burlington, Vermont.

Week 8: Start 'em or sit 'em Evan Cole Assistant Sports Editor

Fantasy Football Quarterback Start: Tyrod Taylor (BUF): Fresh off of a strong performance against the Buccaneers, Taylor now faces an extremely soft Raiders defense.

Taylor’s rushing ability provides him with a high floor, and the Raiders’ struggling secondary allows for great upside as well.

Philip Rivers (LAC): Rivers has had an inconsistent season but has still proven capable of exploiting a weaker matchup. Going up against a Patriots defense that was dismantled by Josh McCown, Rivers has potential for a monster performance this Sunday.

Sit: Alex Smith (KC): Despite being shockingly solid for most of this season, Smith has a daunting matchup against the Broncos this Monday night.

His upside is significantly lower this week, as there are more enticing options for quarterback.

If you’re desperate: Andy Dalton (CIN): Dalton has performed decently since the Bengals’ firing of offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. The Colts’ secondary is extremely hampered, and with the amount of weapons Dalton has, he possesses multiple-touchdown upside.

Running back Start: LeGarrette Blount (PHI): Blount has struggled outside of the red zone this season, yet he remains the Eagles’ top running back. Plus, in a dreamlike matchup against the 49ers, he should receive plenty of carries near the opponents’ goal line, providing a high ceiling.

Tevin Coleman (ATL): Coleman fell flat in a great opportunity against the Patriots, largely because of the Falcons trailing early.

Now facing the Jets, Coleman will see plenty of touches, as Atlanta is expected to be leading or at least competitive, given this matchup.

Sit: Ameer Abdullah (DET): Abdullah’s role has been marginalized this season, recording over 15 carries just twice to this point. With Matthew Stafford battling an ankle injury, the Steelers

should be more focused on stopping the run, capping Abdullah’s potential.

If you’re desperate: James White (NE): White has provided a steady floor this season, especially in points-perreception leagues. The Chargers are one of the worst teams in the NFL when it comes to stopping receivers out of the backfield, so White has a high ceiling this week.

Wide receiver Start: Adam Thielen (MIN): With Stefon Diggs nursing a groin injury, Thielen is currently the Vikings’ top receiving option.

Facing the Browns, Thielen should see plenty of targets and has big play potential against their soft secondary.

Marvin Jones Jr. (DET): Jones is another receiver who has vaulted up the depth chart due to injury. Golden Tate is unlikely to play, leaving Jones the possibility of seeing doubledigit targets.

Sit: T.Y. Hilton (IND): The Colts’ offense has been anemic without Andrew Luck, and now facing a very physical Bengals defense, Hilton lacks enough upside to warrant a start.

If you’re desperate: Nelson Agholor (PHI):

Agholor has quietly produced a big play threat for Philadelphia, scoring a touchdown in each of his last three games. Now facing a depleted 49ers defense, Agholor should be able to break free for another long touchdown this week.

Tight end Start: Hunter Henry (LAC): Henry is finally seeing enough playing time to justify a start. Henry also faces a fantastic matchup in the Patriots, and should be targeted often in what could be a shootout.

Jared Cook (OAK): Cook faces a Bills defense that has been surprisingly poor at covering tight ends. Cook has high upside as he should get open frequently.

Sit: Jack Doyle (IND): Doyle is another victim of the Colts’ lack of strong QB play.

It’s hard to envision him producing with Jacoby Brissett at the helm against a stingy Bengals defense.

If you’re desperate: Tyler Kroft (CIN): Kroft has flown under the radar as a solid replacement for Tyler Eifert, who was recently placed on injured reserve. Kroft has touchdown upside against the Colts this week.

Men's Soccer By the Numbers 11

Points scored by sophomore forward Haris Brkovic

The Bearcats’ total assists this year

.846

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Chris Shutler’s save percentage

Binghamton’s total goal differential in the second half of games

1.50

16 +7

BU’s average goals scored per game Jonathan Flores/Design Assisstant

BEARCATBRIEFS TENNIS Eric Lee Contributing Writer

It may be getting colder in Vestal, but the Binghamton men’s and women’s tennis seasons are still in full swing. Both teams finished up play at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional, which began last Wednesday at the Hamlin Tennis Center in New Haven, Connecticut and ended this past Monday.

On the women’s side, sophomore Samara Eisenberg competed in the singles competition. She dropped her opening singles match in three sets to freshman Linnea Sjoberg of Bryant, 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3. Alongside senior Olga Ostrovetsky, Eisenberg competed in the doubles tournament as well.

However, the duo lost their match to Columbia, 8-3.

On the men’s side, junior Ludovico Cestarollo, who earned a first-round bye, led the Bearcats with a three-set sweep against Darthmouth junior Roko Glasnovic, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3, to enter the

round of 32. He proceeded to push No. 2 seed sophomore Jackie Tang of Columbia, but ended up falling in two tiebreakers, 7-6, 7-6.

“Ludovico played two very strong singles matches on the weekend,” said BU head coach Nick Zieziula. “Despite dropping the match to Tang, he showed how far he has come.”

Junior Valentin Bouchet, the Bearcats’ other singles competitor, dropped his opening match, but came back to defeat players from St. Francis (6-3, 6-7, 10-7) and Yale (6-3, 6-4).

The men’s tennis team sent two teams to the doubles competition, but neither was able to make it past the first round.

The women’s tennis team will next compete at the Buffalo Invitational on Nov. 3 to Nov. 5 in Buffalo, New York, marking the conclusion of its fall season.

The men’s tennis team will play its next matches at the Navy Invitational on Oct. 27 to Oct. 29 in Annapolis, Maryland.