Fall 2017 Issue 27

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Thursday, December 7, 2017 | Vol. XCII, Issue 27 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Speakers explore local bail reform

Broome, BU offers SOPPS pathway

Citizen Action panel examines county jail

Pharmacy School introduces transfer program to BCC

Conner Torpey

Jacob Kerr & Eric Lee

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writers

In 2016, 75 percent of the 505 inmates housed in Broome County Jail had yet to be convicted of a crime. Instead, they were unable to make bail, confined until their trial date.

In response to these statistics, students in WGSS 282C: Activism, Feminism and Social Justice, taught by Dara Silberstein, executive director and visiting assistant professor of women, gender and sexuality studies, organized “Beat Bail and Avoid Jail.” The discussion, held Tuesday night, featured guest speakers who aimed to promote conversation about bail reform.

Binghamton University students and faculty participated in the guided conversation, led by a panel of guest speakers including Bobby Black, a Binghamton area resident and a former regional state board director of Citizen Action of New York, a grass-roots organization that addresses social issues throughout the state and Adam Wilkes, an intern at the Southern Tier chapter of Citizen Action of New York and a senior majoring in sociology. The conversation spanned a wide range of issues, including the implications of bail reform.

“Bail reform is one of those things that can bring a lot of structural change to a community without requiring a huge cost to taxpayers,” Wilkes said. “It’s one of those things Republicans and Democrats can get behind.”

Bail, which is used to prevent people accused of crimes from running or avoiding trial, can be posted after an

In October, three racist drawings were found in campus dorms: on Oct. 6, a drawing featuring racist pictures of black people was found in a lounge in Endicott Hall of Newing College; on Oct. 8, a racist message was found in a bathroom in Onondaga Hall of Collegein-the-Woods; on Oct. 24, a sticky note with a swastika on it was found in Digman Hall of Dickinson Community.

Following the first incident, students specifically criticized language used in the news addition that stated the drawings were “characterized as racist” instead of racist.

Students Tuesday said the administration has a history of not doing enough to address the concerns of students of color.

“The Binghamton administration, who reportedly serves everyone equally,

A new partnership between Broome Community College (BCC) and Binghamton University will offer eight BCC students each year the opportunity of guaranteed acceptance to BU’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) doctoral program.

During a news conference held in the BCC Decker Health Science Center on Nov. 28, BU President Harvey Stenger and BCC President Kevin Drumm announced a joint program that will allow BCC students to transfer to SOPPS after earning their associate degree, potentially receiving a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

BU and BCC already have a joint admissions program, the Binghamton Advantage Program (BAP), in which students take a year of classes at BCC while living on BU’s campus. If BAP students maintain a GPA of 3.0, they’re automatically accepted to BU for their sophomore year.

Francis Battisti, the executive vice president and chief academic officer at BCC, said he thinks the new program will benefit many students.

“This will be excellent for the students,” Battisti said. “Especially financially, because students can now stay home and still receive a doctorate.”

Typically, students getting their pharmacy degree would spend a combined eight years of schooling split evenly between undergraduate and graduate programs. Through the new initiative, however, students will spend

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Kojo Senoo/Staff Photographer Urenna Nwogwugwu, ’17, discusses her experience as a student of color at Binghamton University during “BU Student Speak Out Against Racism” on Tuesday night. The event was hosted by students in the College of Community and Public Affairs and held at the University Downtown Center, where students weighed in on racist incidents that have occurred on campus.

Students speak out on racism Speakers criticize BU's response to incidents Orla McCaffrey & Stella Huang Pipe Dream News

Ignorant comments in class. Racial slurs hurled from moving cars. Not feeling safe walking from the library to a dorm room at night.

These are just a few of the experiences related by Binghamton University students of color Tuesday night at “BU Student Speak Out Against Racism,” an event hosted by students from the BU College of Community and Public Affairs at the University Downtown Center.

According to organizers, the event was scheduled in response to the racist incidents that occurred on campus in October and what speakers said is

a lack of appropriate response by the administration. Speakers were invited to speak for a maximum of three minutes.

Briana Jones, a senior majoring in human development, quoted James Baldwin, a U.S. writer and social activist, to describe how she’s felt during her time at BU. “To be a negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time,” Jones said to the approximately 100 people gathered.

Jones said her experiences over the last 3 1/2 years have made her feel frustrated, hopeless and powerless.

“I’m angry that I even have to be at this podium today,” she said. “I’m angry because we’ve been having the same conversations about racism over and over again and this University still thinks a quick B-Line message is enough.”

BU criticizes proposed tax bill Group talks business

aspects of cannabis

Revised tax law could count graduate stipend as income Sasha Hupka

Green Wolverine aims to educate, provide network

Assistant News Editor

Binghamton University released a statement Wednesday afternoon outlining how the tax bill passed in the Senate last week will negatively affect the University and its students.

The B-Line news addition, penned by BU President Harvey Stenger and Provost Donald Nieman, said the bill would increase costs for enrolled students and deter others from pursuing a college education.

“We strongly believe the proposed changes will discourage individuals from pursuing a postsecondary education, make college more expensive for those who do enroll, and undermine the financial stability of public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities,” the news addition read.

The Senate’s bill, called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, is part of the GOP’s effort to overhaul the tax code. The House of Representatives’ version of the bill, which was passed on Nov. 16 with 227 Republican votes, repeals the student loan interest deduction, which allows individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 to deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest from their taxes. According to information from the Internal Revenue Service, more than 12 million Americans

Melanie Gulbas Pipe Dream News

Pipe Dreams Archives On Wednesday, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger, pictured here at a State of the University address in 2013, and Provost Donald Nieman responded to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a proposed federal tax bill, in a statement through a B-Line news addition. Both administrators criticized the bill, stating that it would limit the accessibility of higher education.

made use of these deductions in 2015.

The House tax plan also treats employer-provided tuition payments as taxable income, a provision that could hit graduate students hard. Graduate students often work in exchange for small stipends and waived tuition. Under the House bill, tuition waivers would count as taxable income, meaning many students

ARTS & CULTURE

could be taxed for more income than they actually have. According to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, approximately 145,000 graduate students and 27,000 undergraduate students receive tuition stipends annually. The American Council

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Career-oriented clubs and organizations at Binghamton University span nearly every industry, but until recently, there haven’t been opportunities for students interested in the cannabis industry.

Now, budding entrepreneurs and business students can learn more about the industry through Green Wolverine, a student organization aimed at learning about legal business activities in the cannabis industry.

Founded at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in April 2017, the organization also has chapters at Syracuse University and University of California, Berkeley.

After hearing about the group at Syracuse University, Sam Esmaili, a junior majoring in accounting, decided to form a chapter on campus. According to its website, Green Wolverine aims to discover opportunities for success in the cannabis industry through networking and education. Esmaili said he hopes

Winter gifts and movies to warm up with,

Assistant Copy Desk Chief Sarah Molano discusses the importance of mental health in activism,

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SPORTS

OPINIONS

Alumnus travels the world through photography,

to educate members on legal business opportunities related to the growing cannabis industry.

“Cannabis plays a very relevant part in a significant percentage of college students lives,” Esmaili wrote in an email. “I want to make a club on campus that is both relatable to students and serves an educational purpose. It is imperative to note that Green Wolverine takes no stance on the legalization of the plant, rather it looks at the plant from a strictly financial standpoint.”

Adam Rosenberg, the founder and executive director of Green Wolverine and a junior studying finance at the University of Michigan, wrote in an email that he aims to professionalize the cannabis industry through education and an increase in business leaders from college campuses.

While the chapter has yet to receive a charter from BU Student Association, three general interest meetings have been held by Esmaili and his newly established executive board.

According to Esmaili, approximately 35 students attended the first general interest meeting.

The group plans on collaborating

Men’s basketball defeats Army for its fifth straight victory,

Women’s basketball looks to snap its losing streak against Bryant,

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bupipedream.com | December 7, 2017

BU students University voices tax bill concerns using host event Americans Student Loan Interest Deduction (SLID) regarding bail reform BILL FROM PAGE 1

Millions 13 12.5

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individual’s arraignment. When bail can’t be paid, they will remain in jail. Black said low-income individuals often have long stays in jail, not because they’ve been convicted, but because they can’t afford bail.

“People, when they talk about jails, they have this idea in their mind that a lot of them are violent criminals or they’ve committed these terrible crimes and that’s why they’re in there on bail,” Black said.

According to Caitlin Maguire, a sophomore double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and environmental studies, the event served as a capstone experience for students in Silberstein’s class and allowed them to focus on engaging in applied learning outside the classroom. Maguire said although it was occasionally stressful, organizing the event for their final grade was rewarding for her and the students in her group.

“The focus was never really the grade, but making sure that we achieved what we set out to do and created something we were proud of,” Maguire said. “I know I’ve gained more tangible organizing skills from this class than in any other I’ve taken at [BU] so far.”

According to Black, between 70 and 82 percent of prisoners in Broome County Jail are impoverished, and remain in jail until they go to trial.

“About four out of five people in Broome County Jail are poor,” Black said. “It’s essentially a debtor’s prison.”

Despite having direct connections to the greater Binghamton community, few University students are aware of many issues affecting Broome County residents. This, Maguire said, is one of the reasons students have a responsibility to shed light on problems such as bail reform.

“So many of the students here only interact with members of the community on Friday and Saturday nights,” Maguire said. “We have a responsibility to rectify that largely one-way relationship.”

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on Education estimates that the House bill’s provisions would collectively increase the cost to these students by more than $65 billion by 2027.

Although the Senate bill doesn’t contain these proposals, it will be revised in reconciliation, so the final bill could include the tuition provisions. According to the statement, the University has advocated for these changes to be revised or removed.

“We have expressed our views to our congressional representative, and to our two U.S. senators, 2013 2014 2015 Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand,” the statement reads.

Other local leaders have also opposed the reform efforts. Last month, Binghamton Mayor Rich David held a press conference to discuss his concerns regarding the House version of the bill, which would collective tax increase eliminate the state and local for students by 2027 tax deduction and the historic tax credit. According to David, Cory Bremer/Design Manager these tax codes are crucial for

Students receiving stipends in U.S. per year 27,000

145,000

Undergraduate

Graduate

$65 billion

middle-class New Yorkers and the reforms unfairly target citizens of highly taxed states like New York, New Jersey, Maryland and California.

“This is a common deduction that many people take advantage of, and its elimination will have a significant impact,” David said. “The number of [state and local tax] deductions per congressional district in this 22nd District is 62,530 deductions, so that’s a significant amount.”

Despite concerns regarding the overhaul, Stenger and Nieman encouraged students to remain hopeful.

“It’s important to stress that while the situation remains fluid and uncertain, we remain hopeful that these provisions will not be in the final bill,” the statement reads. “Regardless, we stand in strong solidarity with our students and will continue to explore all avenues to advocate against this bill.”

If the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is finalized this year, its provisions are expected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2018.

Students weigh in on campus racial incidents RACISM FROM PAGE 1 ignored the actions by a few students,” said Kalissa Sawyer, vice president of the Latin American Student Union and a senior majoring in human development.

When Pipe Dream reached out to the administration for comment Wednesday, the following statement was provided by Ryan Yarosh, director of media and public relations at BU.

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“The administration is committed to working with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that Binghamton University is an inclusive, safe, and welcoming community,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “We responded to all of these incidents swiftly and we will continue to do so in the future should similar incidents occur. We take all instances of racism very seriously and have no tolerance for these types of acts.”

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During the event, multiple speakers noted that there was no one present to represent the University’s leadership.

Yarosh said the administration was not aware of the event.

Serena Wilson, a senior majoring in human development, encouraged white members of the audience to stand as allies to students of color who’ve expressed concerns, and to those who haven’t.

“We need to challenge white peers

to be allies, to listen,” Wilson said.

Proposed ways to deal with the problem of racism on campus included acknowledging its presence and pervasiveness.

“Racism is rooted in the fabric of this country and in the fabric of this state,” said Urenna Nwogwugwu, ‘17.

“Racism is rooted in every pavement and tile of this campus. Once we acknowledge that, we can create ways to educate the populace.”

BU partners with BCC BROOME FROM PAGE 1 two years at BCC and four years at BU. Students interested in this six-year program will apply upon entrance to BCC. In order to be eligible for the program, students must take all prerequisite courses while maintaining a 3.0 GPA and scoring at least a 50 on the Pharmacy College Admission Test.

Coulter Ward, the assistant dean for student affairs of SOPPS, wrote in an email that this new program is important in maintaining the relationship between both schools.

“These types of programs are necessary in creating reliable pipelines of students into our program,” Ward wrote.

Gloria Meredith, founding dean of SOPPS, said facilitating this fast-track program will allow the school to recruit promising students. “[BCC] students are highquality and this will allow the pharmacy school to recruit the best health-science students into the pharmacy program — a winwin for everyone,” Meredith said.

Battisti said the ultimate goal of the partnership is to increase the number of pharmacy students graduating from both BCC and

Pipe Dream Archives A new partnership between Binghamton University and Broome Community College allows students to transfer to BU’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

BU, but the effects of it will move beyond the schools.

“This is offering so much to Johnson City,” Battisti said. “The citizens will always need quality care and the increase of local pharmacy graduates will only add

to it.”

BCC and BU students who are accepted into the program will work in the new Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City, expected to be completed in 2018.

Group pursues SA charter GREEN FROM PAGE 1 with other drug policy-related groups on campus, including Binghamton Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP).

Grant Loew, president of SSDP and a senior majoring in environmental studies, wrote in an email that he hopes Green Wolverine at BU explores the inequality that surrounds the cannabis industry.

“I am happy to have another organization normalizing the

cannabis industry,” he wrote.

“Most importantly, however, is bringing equity to the cannabis industry. We must call for the creation of economic opportunities specifically for low income communities of color which have been directly or indirectly affected by the oppressive system of racial injustice that has taken hold of our society.”

Tyler Spellman, vice president of the BU chapter and an undeclared sophomore, said he

chose to help start up a Green Wolverine chapter at BU because of his personal connection to the industry. Spellman wrote in an email that he believes medical marijuana can benefit his father, who suffers from Crohn’s disease and colitis.

“I hope this organization can help bring the student body together to speak about a very well-known topic on college campus’ especially since we don’t have a stance [on the legalization of marijuana],” Spellman wrote.

O PINIONS FFUN PAGE UN III Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September December October October April 3,2,5, 2017 28, 7,2017 2017 2017 2017

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

Stressin' Syllables

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Fall 2017

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Kojo Senoo/Staff Photographer Robert Tagoe, a senior majoring in nursing, performs at “Trap Karaoke” on Wednesday evening in the Undergrounds. The event was part of De-Stress December, a series of events hosted by the Multicultural Resource Center in conjunction with final exams.

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS Erie County seeks funds originally meant for Broome County

million.

Local real estate broker pitches to officials about building new bridge

After the Broome County Republican legislators postponed the approval of state funding for an opioid treatment center, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz expressed interest in the $2.7 million funding, according to WBNG. Poloncarz reached out to New York state officials stating that Erie County would be interested in opening an opioid treatment center and using the funds that were allocated to Broome County. The Broome County Legislature will vote on the funds in January 2018.

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

Students smoke in the woods SUNDAY, Dec. 3, 4:45 p.m. — An officer doing a walk-through of the Nature Preserve noticed the odor of marijuana and observed a group of individuals who appeared to be smoking. He approached the group and noticed a large puff of smoke around the head of a male. The officer identified the individuals as students, and asked if they’d been smoking marijuana. The students admitted they’d been smoking marijuana earlier, but said they were smoking Juul electronic cigarettes when the officer approached them. The officer educated the group on the hazards of smoking marijuana on campus. The students were not charged.

Robert Potochniak, a Vestal real estate broker, made a plea to local officials about building a bridge between Vestal and Endwell, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Potochniak created a popular online petition prior to the meeting, where he spoke to New York state Sen. Fred Akshar, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and other local officials. Potochniak’s petition had 2,539 signatures on Monday. He argued that the goal of the bridge would be to connect two communities as well as provide an Omega Zeta pledges Local schools receive green light interchange to Interstate 86. threaten student on funding proposals TMONDAY, Dec. 4, 10:15 Lisle fire destroys family’s home a.m. — An 18-year-old Voters approved four capital male contacted UPD projects at three school districts A fire in Lisle, New York destroyed to report harassment Tuesday, according to the Press & a family’s mobile home Sunday from his roommate.

Sun-Bulletin. The districts, Bing- night, according to WBNG. The The victim said his hamton, Chenango Valley and family of five was unharmed, but roommate was pledging Union-Endicott will move forward because of the amount of damage, an unrecognized on the proposals. Binghamton City the Broome County fire inves- fraternity known as School District had two proposals, tigator said the cause of the fire Omega Zeta in November. one that would improve energy couldn’t be determined. Although According to the victim, efficiency and another that would the family is OK, they are look- his roommate and two other allocate money for construction ing for their dog, Darby, who went students in the roommate’s and upgrade costs, a total of $34.7 missing during the fire. pledge class threatened him with metal butter knives taken from the dining halls. The victim said the suspects, three 18-year-old males, put the knives to his throat and told him not to tell anybody about them pledging Omega Zeta. According to the victim, the threatening “Protecting you and our constitution” behavior escalated in the following weeks. The victim said the suspects would approach him and place him in a chokehold for so long that he would almost pass Stephens Square Building out. The victim said the suspects also harassed him th 81 State Street, 5 Floor verbally, and that he feared for his life. He continued Binghamton, NY 13901 to get abused no matter how many times he spoke up Phone: (607) 238-1176 | Fax: (607) 238-1489 and, according to the victim, the harassment began Email: kilkerlaw@stny.rr.com to affect his schoolwork. Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.,

LAW OFFICE OF PATRICK J. KILKER

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Website: patrickkilkerlaw.com

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Sasha Hupka Police Correspondant

officers arrested all three of the suspects on multiple counts, including criminal menacing, criminal harassment, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal obstruction of breathing and airflow.

An order of protection has been issued for the victim against the three suspects. The suspects will appear in Vestal Town Court.

Hit-and-run driver located MONDAY, Dec. 4, 7:35 p.m. — A 19-year-old male contacted police to report a hit-and-run in Lot W. According to the male, his vehicle had been hit between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The vehicle had heavy damage on the passenger-side door and fender, and the passenger-side door wouldn’t open.

Officers searched the area and found a piece of black plastic from the suspect’s vehicle. Officers identified the vehicle and its owner and located the suspect, a 19-year-old female, at her residence in Downtown Binghamton. She received two tickets for unsafe backing and leaving the scene of an accident, and will appear in Vestal Town Court.

Officers find stun gun in student’s dorm room TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 12:30 a.m. — An officer was in Digman Hall of Dickinson Community following up on a prior incident when he heard several individuals arguing in the firstfloor men’s bathroom. He entered the bathroom and observed a group of males, one of whom was holding a plastic container.

The container held “Triple X Xtract,” a type of THC oil. The male was identified as an 18-year-old student, and another individual told the officer that the argument had started over the plastic container. The individual told the officer that he had purchased the THC oil but had discovered that the container was only half full. Further investigation produced roughly 40 containers of THC oil from the suspect’s dorm room, along with concentrated THC wax and a stun gun. The suspect was arrested and remanded to the Broome County Jail. His bail has been set at $3,000 cash, and he will appear in Vestal Town Court.

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Corrections In the Dec. 4 issue of Pipe Dream, the article “Post Malone hits up The Colonial after the concert,” stated Post Malone’s hospitality rider included: two cases of water, three dozen mild chicken wings, three orders of french fries, two large bags of Lay’s potato chips, assorted Pure Leaf teas, two bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, six cans of Red Bull energy drinks, one bottle of Hennessey cognac and five packs of Backwoods rolling papers. This list of requests was found in the concert’s press room and provided to Pipe Dream.

This rider hasn’t been confirmed as belonging to either Post Malone or his opener, Dave East. Pipe Dream regrets the error.

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stabilizing: newbie

drippy :destabilizing

ARTS & CULTURE Alumnus draws picture-perfect inspiration from adventure

Photojournalist Peter Guttman, '76, travels the planet in search of life-affirming subjects Patricia Nieberg Staff Writer

Fly to the tip of South America. Board an icebreaker to cross the great passage.

Helicopter to mainland Antarctica and hike through minus 40-degree temperatures.

This is the journey that travel photojournalist Peter Guttman, ‘76, took to reach his subject: emperor penguins. “[Photojournalism is] about stretching the boundaries of your comfort zone and basically trying to overcome fear and anxiety to basically push into new frontiers of living life as fully as possible,” Guttman said.

Guttman is a photographer, writer, app creator, artist, lecturer and adventurer who has traveled the seven continents throughout his career. He has gone tornadochasing across the United States, exploring in Panamanian jungles and gorilla-tracking in Ugandan rainforests.

As a preteen, Guttman was determined to pursue medicine and he assisted scientists Willem Johan Kolff and Robert Jarvik in researching and developing internal power sources for the artificial heart.

“When the very first article was written about me, I was 12 years old,” he said. “I was offered a job when I finished college and I could’ve been the [next] Robert Jarvik.”

When Guttman started at Binghamton University, he was

Provided by Peter Guttman Peter Guttman, ‘76, took this photo during a trip to St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island. The island is a British overseas territory about 2,500 miles from Antarctica.

on a pre-med track. However, after a short time — and a lot of thinking — his life took a new direction. He graduated with a major in geography with the goal of traveling the globe.

“I just realized that the world was so huge and vast and I really wanted to sample it in a full and complete way,” he said. “I felt that if I stayed in medicine that wasn’t going to be happening.”

After college, he worked as a tour guide, traveling and developing a photography portfolio throughout the United States. Meanwhile, he was learning the art of storytelling with his tour audiences, telling captivating tales of the trees and roads outside of the bus windows. But Guttman wanted to go beyond the boundaries of the United States, so he got a job with

Fodor’s Travel, which brought him to different continents.

He ultimately began pitching his photos to different publications, and eventually established a career in photojournalism.

“I found it vastly more compelling to follow my own dreams and impulses and explore those things that drove my curiosity in the strongest way,”

Guttman said.

In his words, the photos are a “whirlwind kaleidoscopic roller coaster” ranging from exotic Indiana Jones-style adventures to quirky local stops around the corner.

Guttman has authored eight image-driven books featuring his travels. His photography was also made into Beautiful Planet HD, a best-selling travel app.

His work has been celebrated with numerous news features and awards. Guttman was the first recipient of BU’s Alumni Achievement Award and received the George Eastman Power of the Image Award in Beijing, China.

The subject matter of his photography ranges from the seemingly mundane to the overtly spectacular. Guttman’s photos have been used primarily for photojournalistic purposes, but he considers himself an artist in his approach.

“I’m primarily going through life as an artist,” he said. “I use my journalistic talents as a tool and a skill in order to convey my artistic impulses in a manner that can help inform and educate and illuminate and illustrate my feelings and my ideas.”

After more than three decades as a photographer, Guttman still has a long list of trips to take, including hiking to the peak of Mount Everest and experiencing the culture in Yemen.

According to Guttman, his own sense of mortality drives him toward more adventure.

“The limited time we have, I see it as such a blessing and I think that’s what spurred on that first and only midlife crisis in Binghamton University,” he said.

“If I was only going to have this one limited lifespan, I was going to try to cram it with as many experiences as possible. I saw it as my only way of cheating Mother Nature was to live as many lifetimes as possible.”

Check our lists twice: Pipe Dream's movie and gift advice Queue up Netflix's festive options Skip the lines of shoppers and create your own presents

Carly Heitner Contributing Writer While some students have had holiday decorations up since Halloween ended, it’s now officially December — which means it’s time for comfort food, holiday-themed clothing and, of course, festive movies. Whether you’re looking to escape from the stress of shopping for gifts or you just want to snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and your computer, Netflix is prepared with movies to get you in the spirit. From childhood classics to new stories, there’s a flick for everyone.

“A Christmas Prince” (2017) This romantic comedy is the perfect choice to kick-start a holiday romance. If you’re looking for a more recent movie rather than a classic, this will be a jolly good match. “A Christmas Prince” tells the story of Amber Moore, a young journalist who goes undercover and travels abroad to the fictional foreign nation of Aldovia to get the scoop on a dashing prince who is set to become king. Over the course of the movie, however, we watch as Amber’s romantic feelings threaten to blow her cover.

“White Christmas” (1954) If you’re looking for a holiday classic, “White Christmas” will be your winter wonderland. This iconic movie follows two friends who team up to create a performance act but get sidetracked by their infatuation with two performing sisters. The men follow the women to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show and discover that the lodge is owned by their former Army commander, General Waverly, who is on the verge of bankruptcy. The four team up to help out the general, over a background of wit, romance and Irving Berlin songs, including the classic title song, “White Christmas.”

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) Christmas is a time to hang out with family — and what’s a better family activity than a heartwarming movie? This classic Dr. Seuss story takes place in Whoville, where Christmas-loving Whos get an unexpected visit from the Grinch, who plans to ruin their Christmas.

However, when the Grinch meets young Cindy Lou Who of Whoville, his plans start to change. This fun movie is definitely on Santa’s nice list.

“12 Dates of Christmas” (2011) “12 Dates of Christmas” will give you all the Yuletide cheer. On Christmas Eve, a young woman named Kate is set up on a blind date with a handsome man named Miles.

Kate purposely ruins the date because she wants to get back with her exboyfriend, but in a strange twist of fate, she wakes up the next morning and it’s Christmas Eve again. Like the movie “Groundhog Day,” Kate gets to relive the date 12 times to try to get it right.

“Bad Santa” (2003) If you’re in the mood for an R-rated comedy, “Bad Santa” is your gift under the tree. This blockbuster hit follows criminals Willie and Marcus as they disguise themselves as Santa Claus and an elf. By dressing up, they acquire work at major department stores, with the plan to rob them.

This movie has humor, profanity and even some romance — a surprisingly perfect recipe for a Christmas flick.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) “The Nightmare Before Christmas” brings back Halloween’s spooky mood. The animated movie tells the tale of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, who kidnaps Santa Claus. Jack’s plan is to take over Santa’s job and hand out grotesque gifts to the kids on Christmas morning. Charmingly spooky, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” makes Halloween costumes appropriate stand-ins for ugly Christmas sweaters.

Katy Wong Arts & Culture Whether you’re in need of a lastminute gift for a Secret Santa exchange or just want an inexpensive and unique option for a friend, making a do-ityourself gift is a great alternative to buying something at the store. These presents will not only impress your friends but also help you skip the inevitable long lines of holiday shoppers.

Peppermint Sugar Scrub This easy gift puts a twist on the traditional sugar scrub and is perfect for anyone who loves feeling — and smelling — festive. The scrub also provides muchneeded exfoliation for those trying to get rid of dry skin brought on by the brutal Binghamton winter.

What you’ll need: — One medium bowl — ½ cup of coconut oil — 1 cup of granulated sugar — 12 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil — Small Mason jars (4 ounce) — Twine or red ribbon — Holiday gift tags (can be handmade or bought in a store) How to make it: 1. Melt the coconut oil in a mediumsized microwave-safe bowl for about 30 seconds in the microwave.

2. If the coconut oil is still not melted, keep microwaving the bowl in 10-second increments. Wait five minutes to let the bowl cool before taking it out of the microwave.

3. Next, stir in the cup of granulated sugar and essential oil until everything is evenly combined. For the essential oil, put in 12 to 15 drops depending on whether you want the scent to be light or strong.

4. Place the scrub in the jar and close tightly. Punch a hole through the gift tag if it already doesn’t have one, and write any message on the tag. If you’re making your own tag, find a blank gift tag template online and print it out. The freedom of how you want your tag to look is completely up to you.

5. In addition to writing a personal message on the gift tag, be sure to write down that the recipient should microwave the scrub for 10 to 15 seconds before use. Pull the twine or

Kevin Paredes/Photography Editor This peppermint sugar scrub is perfect for gifting this holiday season. Pair it with other do-it-yourself presents for a thoughtful stocking.

ribbon through the tag and wrap it around the jar.

Adapted from Sugar and Soul Co. Snow Day Survival Kit Combining store-bought items with a homemade touch, this gift is perfect for anyone who prefers cozy slippers over boots on a snow day. Because you’re putting it together, this kit can be completely tailored to your recipient’s taste.

What you’ll need: — A basket or gift box — Hot cocoa packets — Marshmallows — Holiday-themed ribbon — Construction paper — iTunes or Google Play gift card — Snacks and sweet treats (homemade or store-bought) How to make it: 1. Arrange all the items nicely in the basket. What you put in the basket is completely up to you. An iTunes or Google Play gift card, which lets you download movies, games and music, is a must-have for a basket with a stay-athome theme. Beyond pre-made snacks, you can also add homemade treats like Pipe Dream’s Peppermint Bark and Toffee Bar recipes from the Nov. 20 “Unique Holiday Desserts” article.

2. Wrap some holiday-themed ribbon around the basket and tie it into a bow.

Write out “Snow Day Survival Guide” in nice hand lettering on construction paper and place it on the basket.

Marbled Mugs Having a go-to mug is essential during the winter months to hold hot cocoa, coffee, tea and other warm drinks. If you’re not the best artist, making a watermarbled mug is the perfect alternative to drawing or painting on one, because it doesn’t require a lot of skill.

What you’ll need: — Disposable foil pan — Warm water — Assortment of nail polish colors (any colors you want) — Toothpicks — White ceramic mug — Dishwasher-safe Mod Podge How to make it: 1. Fill your disposable pan with two to three inches of warm water, adding more depending on how far you want the marbling to go up the mug.

2. Next, pour small amounts of nail polish into the pan, pouring more or less depending on how much color you want.

3. Working very quickly, use the tip of the toothpick to swirl the nail polish around the surface of the water to create the marble effect.

4. Quickly dunk your mug into the nail polish water, going straight down and straight up.

5. Move the mug onto a paper towel to let dry, avoiding rubbing the painted surface.

6. Once the mug is dry, apply a light coat of dishwasher-safe Mod Podge so your mug is protected when washed and dried.

Adapted from The Sweetest Occassion.

OPINIONS Thursday, December 7, 2017

Acknowledging mental health in activism It's necessary for activists to focus on their own well-being while fighting for others Sarah Molano Assistant Copy Desk Chief

Jorden James/Editorial Artist

Learning to pave your own path Being unsure of your future career is challenging, but there are numerous ways to narrow it down Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

At the end of a busy semester, many students are preparing to go home and indulge in wintertime activities like drinking caramel-flavored beverages and talking to relatives who have hearing aids on the phone. For college seniors like myself who have no idea what they want to do, the holiday season will be comprised of updating our LinkedIn profiles, stretching our resumes to the point of lying and applying to jobs that may or may not sound promising.

Some of our friends have been working toward their career goals since freshman year. Some have been proactive in obtaining internships in several fields, distilling attractive options from careers that are not as appealing.

And then, there are the

dregs of college society. The kids who have no idea what the hell they want to do, but they need to figure it out before their childhood room becomes an Airbnb.

It’s time to start separating dreams from reality.

At the same time your little cousin is learning the truth about Santa Claus, you will learn the truth that becoming a professional ventriloquist is not in the cards. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to accomplish our dream goals, but we may need to put them on hold until we find a steady and comfortable employment opportunity.

So how does one find a job when they have no idea what path they want to follow? After three full days of applying to jobs, I find that I’m qualified to impart all of my newfound wisdom on any unemployed undergraduate peasants who are reading this.

I would advise everyone, from freshmen to seniors, to start with the basics.

Make an appointment

with the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development to update resumes, write cover letters, create a LinkedIn profile and learn about alumni networks and other networking opportunities.

All of these tasks can be daunting if you have trouble making your trivial college experiences appear meaningful.

Make sure to market your perpetual confusion and insecurity as “openness” and “willingness to try new things.”

In discovering what you want to do, you will also discover what you don’t want as a career. Try watching TV shows and movies and seeing what jobs your favorite characters have. Do they look like they’re having fun? Ask yourself, would you want to be the next Don Draper, Michael Scott or Liz Lemon?

Another method of process of elimination can be done with the help of your family. At Christmas, go around to every relative and

ask them every job they’ve ever had and whether they’d give them a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down.” This is probably the best career filter out there.

Rejection will be frustrating. Although you may want to seek help from a medical professional if you’re rejected from over 50 jobs, it’s OK. Of course, an alternative to working would be befriending a bitter older neighbor and eventually have him bequeath you his Gran Torino upon his gang-related death, but we can’t all have a Hollywood ending.

If you experience stress during your job search, remember all the important things in your life that keep you going. Whether it’s your family, your education or the fact that this is the best your skin is ever going to look, let it give you the strength to be both persistent and obnoxious.

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

prevalent in immigrant communities and communities of color.

We need to watch ourselves as well. I’ll be the first to tell you that sometimes you get so swept up in organizing, wanting to attend a million different meetings and be at a million different protests, that you don’t really take care of yourself. And watching your people get shouted down, attacked and even killed, like the many instances of black people getting killed by police, does something to your mental health that’s hard to explain.

I’ve heard my black friends detail how traumatizing it is to see a new video of a black man getting assaulted or killed by the police on their news feed every day. For me, watching the continued neglect of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and the lack of media coverage about it since it’s “old news,” messes me up mentally.

Though I’ve made it clear that activist communities need to be better at this, the lack of mental health treatment needs to be addressed in many other circles.

In general, all communities could benefit from taking mental health more seriously. College students as a whole have a pretty big problem with depression and anxiety. According to a 2015 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, a survey for college students, 35.3 percent of respondents reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult for them to function, and 57.7 percent indicated feeling overwhelming anxiety. With the winter upon us, it only gets worse due to seasonal affective disorder, or what we all know as seasonal depression.

We, as activists and as students, need to look out for each other. No meaningful action can be taken if the people taking the action aren’t taken care of first. Whether it be urging Binghamton University to take more steps in caring for marginalized groups or turning to community organizations, more needs to be done. And no offense, but therapy dogs, while adorable and a great distraction, don’t do much for us mentally.

If you’ve followed my columns, it’s clear that activism is important to me.

However, something is often forgotten in this ongoing fight for social justice — caring for our mental health. Of course, this is not a problem limited to activists, but it’s a part of our activism that we need to talk about.

Organizing, protesting and constantly arguing for your own humanity is taxing.

It’s debilitating. There are so many of us who are confronted with people arguing that we’re angry for no reason, that there’s no injustice against our people.

We are constantly told that what we’re fighting for is a lie. And on top of that, we’re also told how we should react to instances of injustice — be peaceful, don’t yell or use curse words, don’t protest in the streets.

At every turn, we are told how to act.

At every turn, even when we make some progress, it only gets harder to take the next step. A lot of the time, meaningful action happens in many small steps; steps so small that it’s hard to see that we’ve made any progress in the first place.

It’s a constant struggle, on top of the struggles we already face as people of color and LGBTQ people, and that others face as people in poverty, people with disabilities and the like.

Something we forget as activists is the need to take care of ourselves and each other. A core tenet of many activist organizations is the importance of caring for the community. But we often neglect that caring for a community includes caring for the mental health of the people who make up that community.

Community organization often includes feeding people, taking care of children and youth programs. These are important and undoubtedly necessary, but we also need mental health support groups and more counselors who reflect our own communities. We need to address the huge — Sarah Molano is a junior majoring in mental health stigma that’s incredibly English.

Personable professors benefit students College students gain more from their classes when professors care Brad Calendrillo

Columnist

Many of us probably remember a lecture hall packed with hundreds of students freshman year for a general education requirement with the stereotypical professor who taught directly from the textbook. If not, you’re lucky and you did not miss out on much. If you do, you’re not alone.

Even after freshman year, it’s common for college students to have several professors of this sort. I have heard friends say too many times, “My professor

doesn’t even take attendance and the class is a waste of time, so I don’t even go.” College tuition is not cheap, so it’s unfortunate to be paying for higher education while taking courses that lead to this mentality.

When I tell others that I would eventually like to teach in the field of higher education, many doubt that I would be able to have a fulfilling and engaging experience because they likely think of the stereotypical college lecturer. I am sometimes told that it would not be as rewarding since it is more difficult to see students’ progress.

However, professors should show more empathy to their students and let them know

they care.

As an education minor, the education courses I have taken at Binghamton University helped me realize that it is possible to be present as a mentor for students not only in kindergarten through 12th grade, but on the college level as well.

Most notably, professors like David Archer, who teaches in the department of teaching, learning and educational leadership, emphasize the importance of teachers showing empathy toward their students. At the same time, it is clear to me that he also genuinely cares about my well-being. After being a high school teacher for many years, he uses his same caring personality

while teaching at BU. Similarly, my English and creative writing courses at BU were all taught by professors who made close connections with their students and provided as much of a personalized experience as possible. They also were concerned about their students’ improvement.

Admittedly, it is likely much easier to give college students a more individualized experience in smaller classes, as the majority of English, creative writing and education courses are.

However, professors in a larger lecture should try their best to let students know that along with the teaching assistants, they are also there for them as guides

or mentors whenever possible.

Of course, professors post their office hours, but students would benefit if professors made it clear that students shouldn’t be intimidated by the large class size.

Professors should be more open to working around their busy schedules to coordinate appointments with students.

Even in a large lecture hall, being flexible and having a more hands-on approach also helps. According to American Public Media, Eric Mazur, a professor of physics at Harvard University, had little success in the classroom when he lectured, taught from the textbook and passively asked, “Any questions?”

But when he told the class to discuss the answer to a question with one another, it inspired discussion. The students likely felt more comfortable and trusted by the professor in this classroom environment. They felt more like equals rather than just students who are lectured to.

Being a student at a university does not mean teachers should no longer be there for you as mentors. I can guarantee that if I go into higher education, I will be open, personable and empathetic with my students.

— Brad Calendrillo is a junior majoring in English.

Fostering a comfortable setting in academia

Universities should create an environment in which students are open to expanding their horizons Taylor Falter

Contributing Columnist

It should go without saying that the point of a university — or more broadly, education as a whole — is the expansion of one’s worldview via exposure to new perspectives. So, it would naturally follow that the point of universities would be to create environments where people feel free to exercise their viewpoints.

If such an environment is not present, then establishing

one should be a top priority for any university.

But a recent study from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education found that 54 percent of college students report having to censor themselves in class at some point during their college career. Such a statistic should raise at least some level of concern about the atmosphere currently pervasive throughout academia.

If over half the student population does not feel that they can comfortably share their views in an academic setting, then what is the point of an

academic setting? If academic settings are not the place for varying viewpoints to be expressed openly and for new and engaging perspectives to be brought to the table, then where is?

The failure of academia to make itself into a sphere of discussion whereby people are comfortable engaging with the subject material in a way that is genuine and truly representative of themselves is a huge cause for concern.

Yet, there is a notable lack of such a reaction from academia to the emerging trend of

campuses apparently not being a medium for the type of real and unfiltered dialogue that allows one’s worldview and perspective to evolve. The consensus does not seem to be that the lack of a perception among students that they can honestly express their own views constitutes a fundamental problem with the culture surrounding academia.

Rather, there is a startling indifference to the emergence of this trend. This phenomenon seems to have been taken in stride, indicating that there is some greater end that justifies the inhibition of a fluid and

genuine discussion in an academic setting.

It would seem that the general consensus in higher education is that the environment that is currently present on colleges nationwide is one that is best suited for learning, and that the current issue of people feeling uncomfortable sharing their perspectives is simply a negligible side effect. This indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of what universities and higher education are.

The end goal is to create environments that allow for one to expand their perspectives

and learn more, thus the trend of students feeling unable to express themselves — and consequently engage in substantive and meaningful dialogue — constitutes a failure of the most fundamental possible sort.

Creating such discussions must be the end goal of academia.

Either the point of academia is to present new ideas and challenges, or it isn’t. And if the former holds true, then something is going to have to change.

— Taylor Falter is an undeclared sophomore.

OPINIONS FFUN UN Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September December October October April 3,2,5, 2017 28, 7,2017 2017 2017 2017

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Start 'em or sit 'em: Week 14 VISIT BUPIPEDREAM.COM/SPORTS Thursday, December 7, 2017

Alabama deserves playoff spot College Playoff Committee perfected this year's bracket Justin Zion Pipe Dream Sports

Ariel Kachuro/Contributing Photographer Redshirt freshman guard Tyler Stewart scored 12 points in Binghamton’s victory over Army on Wednesday night.

Men's basketball marches past Army Victory brings winning streak to five, BU's longest since 2008 Samuel Ditchek Sports Editor

As senior forward Willie Rodriguez approached the charity stripe with an opportunity to ice the game, the Events Center crowd rose to their feet and applauded as the Binghamton men’s basketball team secured a 71-66 win over Army. The Bearcats (6-4) secured their fifth straight victory for the first time since the 2008-09 season, a campaign in which BU reached the NCAA Tournament.

“For now, to actually start winning like this is a great feeling for all of us,” said junior guard Timmy Rose.

Entering the contest, BU found itself down in the all-time series with Army, 8-2. The Black Knights (5-3) came into the night on a six-game winning streak against Binghamton with 16 points as the average margin of victory in those matches.

Not deterred by the lack of historical success, Binghamton raced out to an early 8-0 lead to give the Black Knights a quick deficit. Despite battling through a strong full-court press, BU was able to string together several

jumpers and convert easy buckets inside. BU head coach Tommy Dempsey didn’t take credit for the team’s fast start; rather, he suggested that the team was simply ready to play and ready to win.

Although the Bearcats’ offense began to stagnate as Army’s full-court pressure forced BU into deep shot-clocks, junior forward Thomas Bruce kept the Bearcats in the game with his arsenal of post-moves and shot-blocking ability. Bruce set a career-high of five blocks with 2:55 remaining in the first half alone.

“I think that five blocks at halftime really sends a message,” Dempsey said. “It’s not just the blocks — it psychologically affects the game when you have a guy in the middle like that. It builds the confidence of our perimeter defenders because they know their job now is to not give up threes and [Bruce] can take care of the twos.”

Even with the early advantage, BU struggled to create a wide margin while the Black Knights fought their way back with sharp 3-point shooting (71 percent)

and forcing eight Binghamton turnovers in the first half. At the break, the Bearcats held on to a small 38-34 advantage.

Seeking to build on its lead, Binghamton began the second period with a 6-0 stretch. Junior guard J.C. Show set the tone for the half, pump faking from the corner and eluding his defender to hit a pull-up jumper from long range. Army responded, however, through hard-nosed defense while capitalizing on points off turnovers.

“Getting it inbounds was really difficult,” Rose said.

“They’re a great pressing team, they’re well coached and I was cramping up a lot of the game.”

As the end of the showdown neared, the Bearcats struggled to inbound and bring the ball up court. But undeterred by the relentless Army defense, the Bearcats knocked free throws down the stretch and secured a statement-making victory.

“It took a full 40 minutes to be that team defensively, and we were up to the task,” Dempsey said. “We weren’t perfect, especially on the offensive end, but we were very connected as a

group defensively, guarding that 3-point line hard.”

Although this contest was not a game of long runs, BU exemplified its ability to close out tight matches against tough opponents. It held an above .500 team that was averaging 83 points with four players in double-figure scoring to just 66 points.

The two main storylines one could take away from this game was Binghamton’s proven success in front of its home crowd and when it crashes the glass effectively. BU is now 6-0 when outrebounding opponents (37-30 against Army) and it improved its home record to 4-0.

“We just had to stay mentally tough and focused throughout the end of the game,” Show said.

“The more times we’re able to close games out and finish on the right end of the scoreboard is going to give us more confidence to do it in future games.”

Seeking to earn its sixth consecutive victory and seventh win overall, Binghamton will hit the hardwood again on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Loyola. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Baltimore, Maryland.

BU aims to snap two-game losing streak Women's basketball stresses free throws to prep for Bryant Michael Steinberg Pipe Dream Sports

A little over a week ago, the Binghamton women’s basketball team were 4-2 entering a match against Bucknell, the defending Patriot League conference champion. The Bearcats lost that game despite pulling within two points with 37 seconds remaining. In their next game against Yale, with the Bearcats down by six, senior guard Imani Watkins forced the game into overtime, capping off a 6-0 stretch with 12 seconds left. Once again, the effort was not enough as the team fell, 73-69. Now the Bearcats, at 4-4, hope to return to the win column in tonight’s away game against Bryant. Despite back-to-back losses, the Bearcats are confident they can win.

“I think pound-for-pound, we have a better team,” Watkins said.

“I think that everybody just has to come to play, and I think if we all do our jobs and come prepared that we’ll win.”

BU statistically leads the Bulldogs (1-7) in all major categories: scoring offense and defense, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals.

Sophomore guard Kai Moon believes that if the team gives its full effort, it should be able to pull off the win. “[It is essential to] play good, hard-nosed basketball for a full 40 minutes,” Moon said. “Because I think oftentimes when we lose, it’s

mental lapses that we’ll have.”

The Bearcats have faced a few mental lapses recently, especially concerning foul shooting. Against Yale, they converted just seven of 17 free throws, or 41 percent, compared to Yale’s 13-for-16 performance, or 81 percent. Both Watkins and Moon said the team understands it needs to shoot free throws better. Monday’s entire practice was dedicated to free throws to up their game.

“We understand our record would be a lot different if we made our free throws and those little things win games,” Watkins said.

Moon also confessed her contribution to the teams’ losses. She shot 1-6 from the field, scoring three points against Yale after leading the team in scoring with 23 points against Bucknell.

“I think mentally I kind of took myself out of the game in the second half,” Moon said.

However, the Bearcats are not shying away from these losses or letting them break their spirit. Instead, they are looking back at game film and finding ways to improve.

“You have to understand that it’s never really a loss — it’s a lesson,” Watkins said. “While it goes on the record as a loss, every game should be a lesson and I think we take those [losses] and we learn from them and we try to implement them in the next game.”

Moon and Watkins are still very confident in the team’s talent

Featuring national anthem protests, college basketball scandals and constant brainnumbing debates, 2017 did not need any more sports controversies. Yet that is exactly what college football fans got when the four teams that advanced to the College Football Playoff to earn a shot at a national title were revealed on Sunday afternoon. Three of the four teams chosen undoubtedly deserved the bid, as Clemson (121), Oklahoma (12-1) and Georgia (12-1) each convincingly won their respective conference championship games.

The fourth spot, however, was not easily awarded, and the debate on who should get in raged from midnight to noon on Sunday.

It all came down to Alabama and Ohio State. Each of these teams had good arguments supporting their cause. The Crimson Tide (11-1) won every game they played this year except for their loss at Auburn (10-3), whereas the Buckeyes lost twice.

Ohio State (11-2), though, boasted more impressive victories than Alabama and also sported a conference championship victory, which the Crimson Tide did not. In the end, the committee chose Alabama, citing a consistent level of high play that was enough to elevate them even over the Big Ten Champion Buckeyes.

“The selection committee favored Alabama’s full body of work over that of Ohio State,” said Kirby Hocutt, chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “It was consistent over the course of the year as we saw Alabama play week in and week out.”

Naturally, this decision was extremely controversial, as many experts had predicted that Ohio State would be given the nod. Citing a better strength of schedule, more quality victories and a conference championship (criteria that the committee expressly states are key factors), many believed that, although the decision was extremely tough, the final spot should not have gone to Alabama. While Ohio State does have the edge over Alabama in all of these categories, those who make this claim are missing a key part in the decision-making process that the committee undergoes.

Taking this factor into account, it becomes clear why Alabama was indeed the better choice.

Since the inception of the College Football Playoff, the selection committee has stressed

certain factors and metrics that they value highly in making decisions. Among these are the aforementioned conference championships and strength of schedule, as well as other factors such as head-to-head matchups and common opponents that did not apply to this particular decision. In the categories that did apply, Ohio State edged out Alabama in almost all of them.

Being that this is the case, it would seem obvious that Ohio State is the right choice despite its two losses. So then why didn’t the committee choose the Buckeyes?

As it turns out, there’s a little snag in the way the committee evaluates teams.

The above criteria are stressed as key factors only if the two teams being evaluated are “comparable.” If they aren’t, meaning that the committee can make the determination that one team is simply better than the other, a decision made based on careful study of the teams’ play through film study and other such methods, then that wins the day, and the other criteria are not applied. The committee, therefore, determined that Ohio State was not comparable to Alabama, and gave Alabama the fourth spot based on it being simply better.

On the outside, this qualification seems like a sneaky gimmick embedded in proverbial fine print, but when you look at the way the two teams have played this season, you can see where the committee is coming from. Ohio State has some great wins, but they also had some bad losses, including a 31-point thrashing by unranked Iowa (75). Alabama, on the other hand, played well on a consistent basis, like the committee said, and hit its only snag of the season playing Auburn, the Southeastern Conference runner-up, on the road, in the hostile environment of its top rivals. Ohio State has looked good, but it simply hasn’t looked as dominant as the Crimson Tide.

One cannot say that the committee made the absolute right choice because there is no correct choice in such a decision. Both teams had strong arguments to present to the committee, and asking the committee to choose between Alabama and Ohio State is like asking a chocolate lover to choose between Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers.

Had Ohio State gotten in, that decision would have been just as justifiable, but considering the criteria that the committee considers and the issue of “comparable teams,” it seems to me like the committee’s choice was a valid one.

College Football Playoff Bracket

Jonathan Flores/Pipe Dream Photographer Sophomore guard Kai Moon looks to bounce back after scoring just three points on one-of-six shooting against Yale on Saturday.

despite its recent slide.

“I think we have a really good team. I think we have something special,” Watkins said. “Our offense is gonna come. We have a pretty solid offensive game. I just think we have to defend better and win the rebounding battle and get to the line.”

Moon looked to the team’s fight and spirit for optimism. Down six points to Yale with under a minute remaining in regulation, Binghamton showed resiliency in its ef-

fort to force overtime on Saturday.

“We came back from being down quite a few points to send the game into overtime,” Moon said.

“And I know [BU head coach Linda Cimino] is really happy and pleased with our effort we gave. Our effort, I think, has always been there.”

Now the Bearcats will have to tap into that fight and passion to defeat the Bulldogs Thursday night. Tipoff from Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Clemson

Alabama

Georgia

Oklahoma