Celebrate Halloweekend at Slaughterland Screampark, See page 7
Thursday, October 24, 2019 | Vol. XCVI, Issue 17 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
Six players leave BU during offseason
District attorney candidates face off Korchak, Battisti and Gelson talk about law experience, Broome County incarceration rates Laura D’Angelo pipe dream news
Besselink exits men’s basketball team two weeks before opener Edward Aaron
assistant sports editor
College and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, touted his insider experience as the current chief assistant district attorney of Broome County. “I took my first job back in 1989 at the Bronx County District Attorney’s office because I wanted to work in the most
With just two weeks to go before the start of its 2019-20 season, the Binghamton men’s basketball team received surprising news on Monday. Redshirt freshman guard Michael Besselink left the program to pursue a professional basketball career, the athletics department confirmed on Tuesday. “Mike informed the coaching staff and the team on Monday that he decided to return home to Finland to pursue an opportunity to play professional basketball,” said Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey. Besselink was in his second year with the program. He redshirted his freshman season while recovering from an injury suffered in preseason training. He was expected to step into a starting role on the team in 2019-20. And he became the
see debate page 1
see basketball page 9
District attorney candidates Paul Battisti, Debra Gelson and Michael Korchak debate at SUNY Broome Community College on Wednesday night.
With just 13 days until the election for the Broome County District Attorney seat, SUNY Broome Community College (BCC) held a formal debate between district attorney candidates Paul Battisti, Debra Gelson and Michael Korchak at the Angelo Zuccolo Little Theatre in the Student Center on Wednesday night. At the debate, each candidate discussed their ideas and visions for
improving the legislative framework of Broome County Family Court, and their thoughts on how to decrease the amount of crime that occurs within Broome County. The November election contains three candidates: Battisti for the Republican party, Korchak for the Libertarian party and Gelson for the Democratic party. The debate was made possible through the
collaborative efforts of SUNY Broome, the League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties, the Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement, the Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Vote Everywhere at BU and WSKG Public Media. For many BU and BCC students, the debate was their first encounter with the candidates. Korchak, a graduate of Holy Cross
john atkinson staff photographer
City scraps Columbus Day protesters plead not guilty housing zoning proposal Community members, BU students fill courtroom Lakhsmi Chatterjee pipe dream news
Landlords voice opposition to proposed plans at public hearing Richard Jannaccio
Binghamton community members and Binghamton University students gathered at the Binghamton City Court on Monday morning for the first court appearance of four protestors who were arrested at last week’s Columbus Day Parade protest. On Columbus Day, about 20 people linked arms to create a human chain on
Court Street with the goal of stopping the parade for ten minutes — a minute for each of the 10 inmate deaths that have taken place at the Broome County Jail since 2011. After four protesters were arrested at the parade for disorderly conduct, Progressive Leaders Of Tomorrow (PLOT), the organizers of the protest, created a Facebook event titled, “Pack the Court for Binghamton Protesters,” which called for citizens to attend the arraignment. New York state law holds that disorderly conduct is a violation, not a crime, that can carry a sentence of up to 15 days in county jail and a fine
of up to $250. At the Binghamton City Court, students, members of PLOT and community members crowded the courtroom to witness all four protesters plead not guilty to the violation. They were subsequently released and are due back in court on Nov. 4. Since the protest, community members and students have taken strong stances on both sides. Only a few hours after the Columbus Day Protest, Binghamton Mayor Richard David held a press conference to say the protesters did not coordinate their actions with the local police or city officials, which made the protesters’
behaviors “radical and reckless.” “If they were on the side holding up banners or signs … it’s a public event,” David said. “But you don’t have the right to all of a sudden interfere with the function and administration of the parade.” BU College Republicans wrote an open letter to PLOT condemning their protest at the parade. According to John Restuccia, president of College Republicans and a junior majoring in political science, it was the protesters’ disregard for the community that
see protest page 3
contributing writer
The Binghamton City Council voted to go back to the drawing board on Wednesday night instead of continuing with a proposed zoning plan that would have heavily impacted off-campus student housing in residential areas of the city. About 45 people attended the public hearing on Wednesday, including landlords who rent to students and homeowners. Most spoke in opposition to the changes, which included a measure that would ban new construction or conversions that would result in a single-family house having more than four bedrooms. The law would create a new classification, “congregate living,” which would allow some houses in certain residential areas to have up to 10 bedrooms, but to take advantage of the code, landlords would need to get special permits and deal with increased requirements for large, multi-bedroom homes. One of the landlords who spoke, Mark Liscia, of Binghamton, owns property on the West Side that would be affected by the zoning proposal. Liscia came armed with a large zoning map mounted on oak tag, bringing along his attorney, Russell Maines. Maines said the city is trying
DICK’s CEO, Binghamton native speaks Downtown Ed Stack discusses new book, assault-rifle removal decision Richard Jannaccio contributing writer
Binghamton native Ed Stack was back in town this week to promote his new book and give a keynote speech at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton, continuing his advocacy for the need for improved gun control. Stack, chair and chief executive officer of DICK’S Sporting Goods, grew his $8.6 billion nationwide retail business from two mom-andpop stores in Binghamton in 1948. Recently, Stack has been featured in the news after he ordered the destruction of $5 million worth of assault-style, semiautomatic rifles. Stack’s presentation was held during a Binghamton University Forum event on Tuesday, exactly two weeks after the release of his book, “It’s How We Play the Game: Build A Business. Take A Stand. Make A Difference.” Stack autographed book sales in the hotel lobby and met attendees after his speech. The event was sold out and drew approximately
see zoning page 3
see stack page 3
ARTS & CULTURE
tyler gorman pipe dream photographer Ed Stack, chair and chief executive officer of DICK’S Sporting Goods and a Binghamton native, gives his keynote speech at the Binghamton University Forum event held at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton on Tuesday.
OPINIONS
SPORTS
BUJA returns with its annual Ghost House,
Local pop-up shop brings handmade designs to the West Side,
The Editorial Board places a critical eye on Stenger’s interest in starting a School of Fine Arts,
Men’s soccer draws against Bucknell on the road,
Men’s and women’s tennis compete in weekend invitationals,
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