Pipe Dream’s
fall TV preview See page 6
Thursday, September 14, 2017 | Vol. XCII, Issue 7 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
TAPS executive director departs BU prematurely Brian Favela steps down after initiating license plate recognition software Sasha Hupka Assistant News Editor
Kevin Paredes/Photo Editor Jack Hogan, a freshman majoring in business administration, uses a virtual reality headset at the PricewaterhouseCoopers booth Wednesday evening during Big Four Night hosted by Beta Alpha Psi honors society. The event was one of many career-oriented functions happening this week.
Those with a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of five years of management experience and a deep knowledge of parking may want to apply to be the new executive director of Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) at Binghamton University. The position, currently listed as available on the University’s website, was left open after Brian Favela, former executive director of TAPS bid BU farewell in July. After leaving the University, Favela began working as a regional manager for Republic Parking System in Houston, Texas, where he is currently employed. According to Meghan Schofield, assistant director of marketing for TAPS, Favela left the University voluntarily, for personal reasons completely unrelated to his job performance. “He did outstanding work in his short time at the University,” Schofield wrote in an email. “We were disappointed that he wasn’t able to continue and he enjoyed the opportunity to work at Binghamton.” Favela was hired at the beginning of the spring 2016 semester. Prior to working at BU, Favela served as the senior director of parking operations and transportation at the Texas Medical Center for almost four years. At the time Favela was hired, the University was facing growing student concern about parking on campus. To address these issues, Favela made
plans to utilize technology to make parking easier and more accessible for students. During his time as executive director, phone apps were developed to track buses and additional Zipcars were placed on campus. Furthermore, Favela helped create new carpooling incentives for students willing to offer others a ride. According to Cornelia Mead, assistant vice president for student affairs administration and auxiliaries, many of Favela’s initiatives are still in progress and will continue to be implemented over the course of the semester. “We have implemented ‘license plate recognition’ and the sticker-free campus permit system,” Mead wrote in an email. “A new parking lot is under construction west of the Bartle Drive entry. We will have a new bike share program in place later this fall. We have increased campus shuttle service.” Mead also added that TAPS was happy to see ride-sharing through Uber and Lyft come to the University, although she said TAPS could not take credit for it. The search for Favela’s replacement is ongoing. According to the job listing, TAPS is looking for an individual with a broad knowledge of parking, transportation and transit systems operation who is experienced in setting strategic initiatives and vision for large organizations. “The position was created to attract someone who could integrate parking and transportation strategies and
SEE PARKING PAGE 2
Campus community Snapchat strategy takes over commemorates 9/11 Jillian Forstadt
Assistant News Editor
Student organizations honor victims through volunteer work, flag display Amy Donovan Assistant News Editor
On Sept. 11, 2001, 15 Binghamton University alumni lost their lives. Sixteen years later, student organizations memorialized the victims, hosting a gooddeed marathon and planting 2,996 small American flags along the Spine. For the past 13 years, Chabad and Hillel have hosted the Mitzvah Marathon on 9/11. The demonstrations are designed to pay tribute to victims’ lives and encourage students to do a mitzvah, or a good deed, in their honor. Mariah Stein, the president of Chabad and a senior majoring in human development, said she believes people are starting to forget 9/11. “It’s something that happened a while ago and people are starting to connect less and less, so having something like this, even if it’s just for a second, it gets people to remember it,” Stein said. The Mitzvah Marathon featured different booths where students could donate to the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, make sandwiches for a local soup kitchen or cards for sick children and troops overseas. Additionally, students could participate through a blood drive held in the University Union’s Mandela Room, where they received stickers reminding them that “a little light dispels much darkness.”
After students finished making their sandwiches or writing their cards, they wrote their names on cards that featured a picture of a 9/11 victim and posted them to a fence on the Spine. Troy Parker, a senior double-majoring in political science and history, said he made sandwiches to remember the victims in a more positive light. “Obviously it’s a very difficult day for some people and it’s an important day for the country where we can come together, and I think things like this are helpful no matter what the day is, but today especially,” Parker said. Betty Cohn, director of engagement at Chabad and a junior studying in biomedical ethics in the individualized major program, worked with participants in creating cards for sick children and veterans as a part of the event’s theme of promoting positivity. “I think it is very important because it is usually a sad day and we’re really trying to have people do good deeds today and do really good things and try to generate some positively in the day,” Cohn said. As the sun began to set on Sept. 10, members of the College Republicans and the Binghamton Review planted one flag for each victim along the Spine. Each flag represented one victim of the attacks. According to Anthony Covelli, president
SEE 9/11 PAGE 2
You’re likely to catch a glimpse of the life of your classmate, your professor or an alumnus on Binghamton University’s social media through the Snapchat Takeover program. Through the initiative, individuals and organizations can request to be featured on BingBearcats, the University’s popular Snapchat account. For 24 hours, highlighted individuals will take viewers through a variety of moments, ranging from campus events and extracurriculars, to courses and office hours. According to John Brhel, media and public relations coordinator for the University, the intent is to showcase a day in the life of those within the BU community. “We look at this as the campus’ account, something we can share with the entire community which distinguishes it from other accounts we maintain,” Brhel wrote in an email. While the account, first launched in spring 2015, had relatively few views at first, it gained traction with the addition of the Snapchat Takeover program in summer 2016. Since then, the University communications team has achieved recognition from the SUNY Council for University Advancement, winning the award for best use of the social media. Prior to the academic year, the program was partially managed by the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB), headed by Max Maurice, former vice president for programming. According to Maurice, now a firstyear graduate student studying electrical engineering, his team acted as a middleman between the student groups requesting
Rebecca Kiss/Assistant Photo Editor The BingBearcats Snapchat account typically receives 2,000 to 3,000 views per post. “Our audience has benefitted by seeing the diversity of experiences that our students have, whether it’s leading a dance team, engaging in summer research or no joke being a dog,” said John Brhel, media and public relations coordinator at BU.
a takeover and the communications department, creating a form that was available on the SAPB B-Engaged website. This, he said, was especially helpful once the volume of requests spiked after the fall takeovers led by Maurice — specifically, Fetty Wap’s performance. While a takeover may help boost an event’s attendance, Maurice said that the program primarily helps to spread awareness of activities to campus
community members. “I wanted to make Binghamton [University] seem as ‘lit’ as possible,” Maurice said. The account typically receives 2,000 to 3,000 views per post. There has been a steady rise in followers over the last two years, with current and prospective students, as well as alumni and community
SEE SOCIAL PAGE 2
PRISM is a new, vibrant and all-inclusive multicultural magazine.
PRISM
Interested in contributing? Contact editor@bupipedream.com to learn more