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Thursday, August 31, 2017 | Vol. XCII, Issue 3 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
Uber, Lyft increase BU transit options
Dunkin’ Donut Prices By Location
Amy Donovan Assitant News Editor
Cory Bremer/Design Manager
Prices surge at new Dunkin' New campus coffee spot charges more than local franchises Orla McCaffrey News Editor
The Dunkin’ Donuts location in the Tillman Lobby in Old University Union is charging up to twice as much for some of its items than other local locations. Pipe Dream compared the prices of 90 of the same menu items on campus, across the street on Vestal Parkway and at the corner of Main and Schiller streets on the West Side in the city of Binghamton. We found that 60 of the 90 items were more expensive on campus than at both locations, and only 10 were cheaper on campus than in both locations. Iced coffee, bagels and fruit-flavored iced tea had some of the largest price discrepancies among locations. If you purchase a medium iced coffee twice a week from the Tillman Lobby
location, you can expect to pay $42 more over the 15-week semester than if you had gotten your fix at the Main Street location, and $39 more than if you’d made your purchase at the Vestal Parkway location. It costs $11.99 for half a dozen bagels (without cream cheese) on campus, but just $5.99 at the Vestal Parkway location and $6.79 at the Main Street location. A dozen bagels costs $19.99 on campus, $11.99 in Vestal and $12.49 on the West Side. According to Tom LaSarso, Binghamton University Dining Services general manager of retail operations, Dunkin’ Donuts independently set the prices. “We don’t play a role in that, so I wasn’t aware of [the price differences],” he said. The owners of the campus location, Santina Christian and Ben Vanderlinde,
Uber began operating in upstate New York on June 29, increasing the travel options for Binghamton University students making Walmart runs, going out on the weekends or racing back to Nite Owl. Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft became legal in upstate New York after the state’s Fiscal Year 2018 Executive Budget included legislation that modified insurance laws, allowing the apps to operate across New York state. A predominant concern that has arisen since the legalization of ridesharing apps in upstate New York is the effect on local cab companies; Ali Waad, the owner of A&B Taxi in the Binghamton area, said he hasn’t seen a change in his business since Uber started because he offers the same perks as ride-sharing apps. “I’m matching the price with Uber and that’s No. 1,” Waad said. “They’re charging with credit cards or debit cards and I’m doing the same thing.” Waad, who spoke with Pipe Dream in May about Uber, added that competing with Uber is like competing with any
other cab company, and that he doesn’t know of any other cab drivers who have switched to Uber. Students like Daniel Gadasi, an undeclared sophomore, said they are taking advantage of the additional form of transportation. Gadasi said he prefers Uber over the local cab companies. “I think Uber is the best thing that’s ever happened to Binghamton — it’s amazing,” Gadasi said. “It is definitely more convenient and I find it to be cheaper.” According to the rate estimator on Uber’s website, an UberX (which seats one to four people) from Old University Union to State Street in Downtown Binghamton ranges from $10 to $14. If four students split the Uber, the cost would be between $2.50 and $3.50, making it cheaper than a cab company’s flat rate of $4 per person on the weekends. During peak hours when there is a high demand for rides, though, Uber is allowed to charge extra, creating a price surge. Alon Levy, an undeclared sophomore, said he uses both Uber and local cabs
‘84, own nine other Dunkin’ Donuts locations in the area. Christian said multiple factors contribute to the higher prices on campus, including the cost of higher-quality materials. “We brought in more compostable/ biodegradable items at an increased cost stepping away from the traditional polystyrene foam cups one would typically see in other locations,” she wrote in an email. Christian also pointed to a more complex operating system and increased labor demands as responsible for driving prices upward. “Operating on campus also comes with different expenses that we do not typically encounter much like other unique locations such as an airport, etc.,”
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SEE UBER PAGE 2
Shawn Fleming/Pipe Dream Photographer Since the start of the semester, students have been taking advantage of Uber and Lyft, the ridesharing services that have been operating in upstate New York since June 29.
Bike Share begins Cayuga opens following remodel fifth year on campus bike shop located in the basement of Old University Union. Hong Choi, treasurer of the BU Bike Share and a sophomore majoring in finance, said that the repair process includes an appointment between the bike shop volunteers and the client to determine the best way to fix their bike. “They bring it in, and we look at it with the client,” Choi said. “We discuss what we need to do with it. Sometimes it is a just an adjustment, but sometimes we need to order parts. Usually they leave the bike here and when we’re done with the repairs, we email them with a time they can pick it up.” This semester, the Bike Share will be implementing the BU BUC$ system to allow clients to pay for repairs more easily. Right now the bike shop only accepts cash, but Vanderaa said this will be changing in the coming weeks. “We are hoping to implement the BUCS system so that we can charge for some of the consumable parts that we often replace on peoples bikes,” Vanderaa wrote. “This will allow us to standardize and and collect money for those parts in a more sustainable and effective way.” Daniel Yarmarkovich, a senior majoring in French, said he only used the Bike Share a few times per semester, but that he had always had a good experience. “Ideally, I wish you could rent the bikes overnight, because there are a lot of students who live close to campus
bathrooms,” Brice said. “The electrical service of the [College-in-the-Woods] buildings was not made to accommodate After nearly a year of renovation, the usage of modern college students, so Cayuga Hall of College-in-the-Woods the new panels and wiring are essential opened to residents this semester with to providing for the draw of laptops, TVs, private bathrooms, overhead lighting and video game consoles, a myriad of chargers infrastructure updates. and other electronics.” The renovations mark the first major The building now offers corridor construction updates to the residence hall private bathrooms in a cluster of three per since it first opened to students in 1972. wing instead of common bathrooms with Jasper Baur, a resident of Cayuga Hall an assigned gender, which are still present and a sophomore majoring in geology, in Seneca Hall, Oneida Hall and Onondaga believes the new features and renovations Hall of College-in-the-Woods. have made it one of the premier spots to Other updates include new furniture live on campus. in every bedroom and lounge, overhead “I like [the renovations] a lot; it lighting in every student room and new maintained the [College-in-the-Woods] appliances in the building’s kitchen on aura, yet also improved the quality of the third floor. Additionally, the flooring, life,” Baur said. “The overhead lights, wireless access points and laundry room for example, just brighten up the whole were all remodeled or upgraded. All rooms were repainted and the bedroom doors were replaced to be brighter in color. Cayuga Hall is the first of four buildings to undergo renovation in College-inthe-Woods; there is a tentative plan to complete renovations in all buildings by fall 2020. Seneca Hall is currently closed to students for renovations that are scheduled to begin at the end of next month. Brice said the University and the Residential Life Office strive to make Binghamton a more comfortable place to live and learn, and that he believed the renovations worked toward that goal. “I believe that Cayuga is a far better place to study and engage in communitybuilding for our residents today than it was in fall of 2016 when we began work on the Courtney Mitchell/Contributing Photographer building,” Brice said. Julia Carmel, a junior majoring in Cayuga Hall was the first building in College-in-the-Woods to undergo renovations, including English, has lived in College-in-the-
SEE BIKE PAGE 2
SEE CAYUGA PAGE 2
Samuel Abaev
Pipe Dream News
Sasha Hupka Assistant News Editor
Getting around campus quickly can be tough, but for students aware of the Binghamton University Bike Share, lectures, the library and the gym are only a ride away. This semester marks the beginning of the fifth year of operation for the Bike Share, which started in fall 2013. At its beginning, the student-run program only had seven bikes, which were donated by Outdoor Pursuits. At its peak, the Bike Share had roughly 20 bikes available to students. Now, the program maintains eight bikes to rent out. According to Benjamin Vanderaa, president of the BU Bike Share and a senior majoring in systems science and industrial engineering, the number of bikes available to rent depends on the needs of the student body. “We have pared down our bikes to the 8 best this semester and, so far, that seems to be sufficient for the program to operate,” Vanderaa wrote in an email. The bikes are available to any student and are completely free to rent, provided that renters return the bikes without damage. Students can rent the bikes at the information desk in the Tillman Lobby in the Old University Union from noon to 8 p.m., and are allowed to keep the bikes for up to five hours. While the bikes are in their possession, students can go anywhere, on or off campus, with the exception of the Nature Preserve. In addition to renting bikes, the Bike Share also repairs them through the
ARTS & CULTURE
room, and it definitely just looks and feels nicer. The bathrooms too are exemplary, and they’re probably the best bathrooms on campus, even better than the ones in Newing or Dickinson.” JJ Brice, associate director of operations and crisis for Binghamton University Residential Life, acts as the primary liaison to Physical Facilities for the upkeep of the residential buildings. Brice was one of the primary departmental representatives involved in the project planning meetings with Physical Facilities for the Cayuga Hall renovation. He said he believes the changes will improve the quality of life for residents. “A lot of the choices we made were influenced by the student experience and feedback we received, including the addition of overhead lighting, furniture choices, brighter finishes and private
updated bathrooms and improved lighting. “I like [the renovations] a lot; it maintained the [College-in-the-Woods] aura, yet also improved the quality of life,” said Jasper Baur, a Cayuga resident and sophomore majoring in geology.
OPINIONS
SPORTS
BU alumna now co-founder of hair-care brand DevaCurl,
Cozy up in the Marketplace with a book from the Fireside Lending Library,
The Editorial Board discusses retail dining on campus,
Men’s soccer edges defending Patriot League champion,
Cross country set to kick off season on Saturday,
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