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Thursday, August 29, 2019 | Vol. XCVI, Issue 3 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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University budget Golf to be decentralized Returns to Action for Fall Departments to undertake budgeting responsibility Melanie Gulbas pipe dream news
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Binghamton University is pursuing a new budgeting process that will hold individual departments responsible for their own budgetary targets, according the BU President Harvey Stenger’s summer 2019 quarterly report. The new process comes in the wake of new financial challenges, and is part of an effort to ease the University’s hiring hold, which has been in effect since December 2018. Although tuition increased by $200, the maximum amount allowed by the State University of New York (SUNY) system, for the 2019-20 academic year, and the University received a onetime offset of $109.5 million in collective bargaining support from New York state, BU still faced a $5 million shortfall this year — the result of contract negotiations between New York and United University Professions (UUP), a higher education union for faculty, professional staff, contingent employees and retirees of the SUNY system. In an effort to reduce University costs, Stenger and other administrators implemented a hiring hold and budget reductions. The new, decentralized budgeting
process will be phased in over the next three years, and schools and departments will have to be responsible for meeting their own budgetary targets. “I appreciate that the deans and chairs, as well as the vice presidents and directors, have been working to hold the line on hiring, and I especially want to thank the faculty and staff who’ve stepped forward to temporarily fill any holes that have developed as a result of the hold,” Stenger wrote in his report. But not everyone is on board with the new plan. Matthew Johnson, chair of the psychology department and a professor of psychology, wrote in an email that he was initially pleased when he read that Stenger was implementing a new, decentralized budgeting process. He thought the psychology budget would increase, since the overall University enrollment has increased and the number of faculty members have decreased. “When I inquired about the specifics of this new budgeting process, I was informed that the president was referring to the need for the colleges/schools to absorb the base budget cut of $920,000 for this year on top of the $400,000 from last year,” Johnson wrote. “I was also informed that this cut was being distributed within Harpur College by the dean.”
Rodriguez, Mandel selected as team captains Justin Zion
sports editor
As the month of August nears its close, the Binghamton golf team is gearing up for the start of the 2019 fall season. With five invitationals scheduled over a seven-week span, the team has the opportunity to showcase the strides it made over the offseason and defend the one championship it achieved last year. Though the last time the team as a whole played in a competitive golf tournament was in late April during the Big Sky Championships, Binghamton head coach Bernie Herceg maintains that he has seen improvement from the members of his squad. Some have also competed individually in tournaments over the summer break. “I would say the majority of them have definitely improved,” Herceg said. “Some of them really had a heavy summer tournament schedule, so when it comes to improving, the level that they’re at, talent — so the more tournaments they
see budget page 2
see golf page 7
Local leaders call for Medicare for All bill to be passed Activists rally near Rep. Anthony Brindisi’s office Stephen Anku
pipe dream news
For the second time in less than two weeks, protestors gathered outside of Rep. Anthony Brindisi’s office in the Metrocenter in Downtown Binghamton to advocate for health care reform. The Broome-Tioga Green Party of New York and the Unitarian Universalist
Congregation of Binghamton (UUCB) hosted the rally on Wednesday afternoon, calling on Brindisi to support H.R.1384, the Medicare for All Act of 2019. The bill would establish a national health insurance program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes all U.S. residents and covers hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services and long-term care. It would prohibit cost-sharing and other service charges such as co-payments,
and stipulate that HHS negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. Rally participants were invited to take turns speaking at a microphone. Christine Niskanen, secretary for the Broome-Tioga Green Party, said she helped organize the event as an opportunity to directly and publicly appeal to the congressman. “We want to pressure Brindisi into supporting the bill, but he wants to shore up Obamacare instead,” Niskanen said. “But over 40 million people can’t afford it.” The Reverend Douglas Taylor, minister
of UUCB, voiced his concerns about the current cost of health care and how it was affecting members of his church and community. “So the system again and again is failing people in my congregation in a variety of ways,” Taylor said. “I’m usually giving up, like, $20 to somebody on the street so they can get a dinner. Now I’m giving a couple of hundred dollars to people in the congregation so they can afford their insulin.” The group maintained that one of the biggest advantages of the bill would be
a reduction in expenses and time from ridding the system of private insurance, outlining several examples of insurance bloat and red tape as they took turns telling their personal experiences with rising health care costs. “They’re producing the wealth for the companies, and this is done with the complete agreement of the Democrats and Republican parties — they’re supported by the corporations,” Rick Sprout, chairperson of the Broome-Tioga
see medicare page 3
Study focuses on nicotine use BU Ph.D. student receives study grant Ph.D. dissertation compares blood pressure, smoking Jake Kerr
Victoria Brown, ‘14, awarded for research in women studies
news editor
Binghamton University students and faculty are sporting 24-hour blood pressure monitors around campus and at home for a new research study focusing on nicotine use. The study uses an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM), consisting of a standard blood pressure arm cuff and an electronic recording device typically worn on the waist, to measure variations in subjects’ blood pressure throughout the day and night. Susan Mueller, a second-year Ph.D. student studying nursing, is heading the research for her dissertation. Once research participants are fitted with the ABPM, they go about their routine as they would any other day. For the next 24 hours, the monitoring system will take a blood pressure reading every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes throughout the night. The monitor gives
see nicotine page 2
Erin Kagel
pipe dream news
john atkinson pipe dream photographer Susan Mueller, a second-year Ph.D. student studying nursing, tests out an ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) for her research on the connection between blood pressure and nicotine use.
ARTS & CULTURE
Victoria Brown, ‘14, a lecturer in the women, gender and sexuality studies program and Ph.D. candidate at Binghamton University, spent 2015 working in Spain for her field study on women’s labor in Almeria. Now, she’s the recipient of a grant for her work. Brown received the grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a nonprofit organization that works to promote equity and education for women and girls. Since August, AAUW has awarded more than $4 million in fellowships and grants to scholars, research projects and programs. Brown earned her master’s degree in anthropology from BU in 2014. As a sociocultural anthropologist, she
OPINIONS
has dedicated her Ph.D. studies and dissertation to examining gender vulnerability and women’s labor within a capitalist system. “I’ve always been fascinated by questions of women’s labor and how women’s labor sustains capitalism, as a mode of production, as a way of living, as a structuring framework to our lives,” Brown said. “I’m interested in not just what we traditionally think of as work, I’m also very interested in reproductive labor — the hidden underbelly and, in my opinion, purposefully occluded side of labor in this world under systems of capitalism. That would be work like mothering, pregnancy, breastfeeding, sexuality [and] household labor.” Brown’s field study took her to El Ejido, Almeria, a small Andalusian town in southeastern Spain with an agricultural-based economy. The village primarily exports vegetables to northern Europe on a counter-seasonal cycle,
see grant page 2
SPORTS
Take advantage of the blue skies with local runs
Learn about our staff’s plans for Labor Day
The Editorial Board examines the strained relationship between students and locals
Assistant sports editor Edward Aaron gives advice for the amateur fantasy football player
Abby Wick and Lauren Spinnato captain women’s soccer
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 8
PAGE II Thursday, August 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,29, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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This Day in History Aug. 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina makes landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast, displacing 1 million people and killing more than 1,000.
“I am every girl he did this to, and they are all me. And today we stand together, those that are present and those that aren’t.”
— Actress Anouska De Georgiou, after she and more than 16 other women were denied a trial
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LOCAL NEWS
Local officer claims racism, bias in Binghamton Police Department Patrol officer Christopher Hamlett recently filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights claiming he was denied a promotion because he is black, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Hamlett stated in his complaint that he has applied for a detective position a number of times since his original hiring in 2004, but because of racial biases, he was denied. Of the 137 officers on the Binghamton Police Department’s staff, fewer than 10 are minorities
and just four are black, according to the report. BPD has yet to respond to the claims. An investigation will be conducted. Sheriff’s Office phone scam plagues Binghamton area The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is warning community members to be aware of a phone scam involving callers posing as official law enforcement, according to WBNG. Several individuals have received calls from unknown individuals that are identifying themselves as deputy sheriffs. The caller warns the victim that they have missed their jury duty and must complete paperwork and pay a fine
to avoid being arrested. The caller may also request that victims meet the “deputy sheriff” in the parking lot of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office to pay the fine. The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is asking people who have received the calls to report it by calling 607-7781191, extension 1. STATE NEWS
Marijuana decriminalization law takes effect in New York state A New York law decriminalizing marijuana officially took effect in the state on Wednesday, according to CBS New York. The statewide
law makes smoking marijuana in public only punishable with a fine rather than jail time. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the law, which will allow individuals with low-level marijuana convictions to automatically have their records eradicated, last month. This law will also consider marijuana possession under two ounces a violation rather than a criminal offense. Although the decriminalization law passed the state legislature, lawmakers did not legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Cuomo said he will continue to work to legalize recreational marijuana in the coming legislative session.
Gillibrand drops out of 2020 presidential race Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York officially dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Wednesday, according to The New York Times. Gillibrand’s candidacy focused on issues relating to women’s equality, restoring familial values and fighting climate change. Gillibrand announced her withdrawal after failing to qualify for the third Democratic primary debate. Gillibrand has yet to announce who she will endorse for the Democratic nomination.
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Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. Positions seated on the executive board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and academic breaks. The content on the Opinions page with bylines represent the views of those authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. The content of advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. We reserve the right to reject ads for any reason. All letters submitted for publication must include the author's name, year and major. Please limit letters to the editor to 400 words and guest columns to 750 words. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Guest column submissions may be emailed to the opinions editor at opinions@ bupipedream.com, and all letters to the editor may be sent to editor@bupipedream.com. © Pipe Dream 2019
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The following accounts were provided by Investigator Mark Silverio of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Mohawk altercation SATURDAY, Aug. 24, 3:14 p.m. — Officers responded to the fifth floor of Mohawk Hall of College-in-theWoods for a verbal argument reported by a Residential Life employee. Two students, an 18-year-old male suspect and an 18-year-old female victim, were verbally and physically fighting. Some of the victim’s property was damaged during the altercation, including a perfume bottle and some makeup. The door to her dorm room was also damaged after the suspect punched it. The female was kicked in the knee during the altercation. Officers made contact with the two students and arrested the suspect. He will appear in Vestal Town Court. Lost laundry SATURDAY, Aug. 24, 8:29 p.m. — A
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17-year-old male approached an officer making rounds in Endicott Hall of Newing College. He told the officer that his clothes, which included three pairs of shorts, two shirts and other miscellaneous items, were missing from one of the dryers in the laundry room. The officer escorted him to the laundry room to check the other dryers, the garbage and the lost-and-found, but the male could not locate his clothes. The officer checked security footage from the area, but was unable to identify a suspect. The investigation is ongoing. Modern art SUNDAY, Aug. 25, 10:08 p.m. — Officers responded to a call from Residential Life employees in Johnson Hall of Dickinson Community. The callers reported marks on the walls of the fifth floor hallway. The suspect, a 19-year-old male who is unaffiliated with the University, was arrested after officers found he had taken a marker and drawn along the length of the walls. The suspect is set to appear in Vestal Town Court.
bupipedream.com | August 29, 2019
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BU announces partnership with Kenyatta University Collaboration to focus on education, research Laura D’Angelo pipe dream news
Students and faculty at Binghamton University will soon have the opportunity to travel to Kenyatta University (KU), located in Nairobi, Kenya, as a result of a new research and educational partnership between the two schools. The new partnership was discussed in BU President Harvey Stenger’s summer 2019 quarterly report, where he highlighted a visit from three KU officials to BU’s campus. “Kenyatta University is widely respected by its peer institutions, ranking among the top colleges and universities on the African continent,” Stenger wrote in the report. “Like [BU], it is a young university, founded less than 40 years ago. But in that short time, it has earned a reputation for academic
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excellence in the arts, sciences, engineering, humanities, nursing, medicine and social sciences — programs that correspond to [BU’s] own stellar offerings.” Aondover Tarhule, vice
provost and dean of BU’s Graduate School, wrote in an email that the process of choosing a school for the partnership was extremely complex. During the selection process, BU aimed to strengthen
its global brand and create collaborative research opportunities for students and faculty. “In reviewing where and with whom to develop a new partnership, the University uses a matrix of variables, including prior or existing relationships, compatibility or complementary programs and, of course, mutual interest and potential benefits, among several others,” Tarhule wrote. “Having concluded such analysis led by the graduate school, as well as visits to Kenyatta University by myself and Hiroki Sayama, professor of systems science and industrial engineering, it was clear that Kenyatta University is an excellent partner for Binghamton University.” Tarhule’s visit to Kenya in fall 2018 with Sayama ultimately resulted in the partnership. Sayama wrote in an email that the partnership with KU will bring value to BU’s research initiatives. “Kenyatta University is one of
the highest-ranked universities in Kenya (and East Africa, more broadly),” Sayama wrote. “They have a wonderful campus and very strong students, with many advanced research projects going on. They are also very strong in non-STEM domains, including the humanities, social studies and performing arts. I believe there will be many areas of mutually beneficial collaboration between Kenyatta and [BU].” Sayama wrote that he also hopes to be involved in improving the socioeconomic development of Kenya through the partnership. “As a graduate program director, I hope we can recruit strong students from there,” Sayama wrote. “But more importantly from a broader perspective, Kenya and East Africa are eagerly looking for ways to develop [a] strong workforce to improve their social, economical and industrial systems in their region. It would be great if
[BU] could play an important role in their socioeconomic development through collaborative development of educational programs and research projects.” Tarhule said the vice chancellor of KU also stressed the importance of socioeconomic development in the region while visiting BU. “Binghamton University’s philosophy is that partnerships should be mutually beneficial,” Tarhule wrote. “In the case of this partnership, Kenyatta University is interested in developing capacity in systems science, an area in which Binghamton University has considerable expertise. On its part, Binghamton University seeks to increase its visibility in Africa as part of an overall diversification strategy to complement our current recruitment markets. Kenyatta University is an excellent partner that can help [BU] establish its presence, first in East Africa and perhaps, Africa at large.”
Students, faculty participate Victoria Brown, ‘14, in blood pressure research focuses study on gender nicotine from page 1 an audible warning a few minutes before taking the reading. About 60 students and faculty make up the two test groups, one representing nicotine users and the other representing those who do not use nicotine. Only Universityaffiliated people are permitted into the test groups, as the study is primarily funded by the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities, a group that aims to promote healthy living on university campuses throughout the United States, according to their website. Journals are also given to the participants so they can document their activities and location while their blood pressure is being measured. After the 24-hour session is complete and the data is uploaded to a Microsoft Excel sheet, the journal entries will be added so they can be statistically analyzed and researchers can compare participants’ actions to their blood pressure. “My curiosity doesn’t stop at just smoking,” Mueller said. “I want to
know how blood pressure is affected when they drink a Pepsi or go for a run, so that’s why we have them fill out the journal.” The results of the test are prepared for participants a few days after the session, a free report that is typically worth $200, according to Mueller. A month after the session, participants also have the opportunity to earn a $25 stipend for filling out a follow-up survey. Gary James, co-investigator of the Interdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Program (ITURP) and a distinguished service professor of anthropology, is assisting Mueller with the research. ITURP is a Decker School of Nursing initiative that works to promote campus research, including Mueller’s study. James said his involvement in Mueller’s study is primarily as the ABPM professional, after having a hand in developing the instrument and also working in the Decker School of Nursing from 1998 to 2013. According to James, the ABPM helps solve a major issue standard blood pressure tests have. “We have this conundrum that
people seem to have exactly the same blood pressure whether they drop dead to a heart attack the next week or they live to be a hundred,” James said. “[The ABPM] got developed to look at what your blood pressure is like when you’re not in the doctor’s office, initially used more for a cardiological purpose, to actually do a 24-hour evaluation of somebody’s cardiovascular system.” Now the ABPM has moved beyond health services and is being used for research for the same mobile advantages. James said this instrument will now help accurately measure blood pressure during dayto-day activities. “When I was working on all this stuff as a biological anthropologist, I recognized that you can do some other things with this,” James said. “Because what are people doing out there? They’re behaving, they’re smoking, they’re drinking alcohol, they’re having sex, they’re doing whatever it is that they’re doing and you can actually chart what their blood pressure is with regard to what they’re doing and how they’re feeling.”
grant from page 1 made possible by the extensive use of plastic greenhouses, according to Brown. “If you get up high on a mountain and you look across, you’re going to see just miles of plastic greenhouses,” Brown said. Brown found El Ejido to be the ideal spot for her field study not only for the unique economy and setting, but for the population and political developments taking place. El Ejido is perceived as the birthplace of Vox, a political party in Spain established in 2013, which represents the far-right of Spain’s political climate. This area also has a high migrant population, which has allowed Brown to examine the relationships and interactions between migrant and native workers, primarily women. “I’m very interested in the
relationships that are made and forged between women migrant farm workers that are working in El Ejido and their encounters with ‘native’ Spanish citizen women, and what those relationships produce, and what they learn from each other even though these are certainly hierarchies of power,” Brown said. “I’m very interested in finding out what these relationships of difference and solidarity between different groups of women might be able to lead to, what kind of futures unfold through these solidarities or lack thereof. One of the effects of this, I’ve already discovered, has been the rise of far-right and anti-immigrant, as well as perhaps less emphasized antifeminist groups and politics.” Kim Churches, CEO of AAUW, said in a press release that Brown’s work is the type of research AAUW wants to see more of in academia.
“In the 130 years that AAUW has been providing funding, our fellows and grantees have contributed so much to their schools, their communities and to society at large,” Churches said. “We know that this year’s recipients will continue in that esteemed tradition, and we are honored to provide the resources they need to excel in their academic work and to ultimately make a difference in the world.” According to Brown, she will use the grant to help complete her dissertation. “It is, and always has been from day one, the plan to use my research and any qualities I might have that could be useful to better the position of working class, particularly women, and raising them up,” Brown said. “The grant is a way to finish your dissertation and apply for jobs and really make this project what is has the potential to be.”
New budget process aims to ease faculty hiring hold budget from page 1 According to Johnson, the new process will negatively impact the psychology department, among others, if the hiring hold continues, since cuts to the departments’ budgets still occur unilaterally. Several other department heads refused to comment on the matter.
medicare from page 1 Green Party. “I used to work at the free clinic. We had a person that came into the clinic that had burned her leg at home. She worked at Walmart for several months and asked about benefits, and her manager, a friend of hers, told her to meet him in the parking lot. He drove her to the Department of Social Services, saying, ‘If you want benefits, that’s where you go.’ The taxes that we pay go to support them.” During the rally, Brindisi was at a public forum in Utica, New York. But in an emailed statement, Brindisi said he cannot support the bill. “There is no question that there are serious problems with our current health care system and I am ready and willing to meet with anyone who has ideas on how to [fix it],” Brindisi wrote in response to the rally. “Many
“Indeed, my experience since this announcement has been that the provost has further cut psychology’s revenue without consulting or informing the dean’s office or me,” Johnson wrote. “Therefore, I no longer expect the department of psychology to benefit from the new process and anticipate further concentration of budgeting decisions by the
hardworking families rely on their health insurance to cover their medical needs, only to be hit with high deductibles, surprise emergency room bills and unaffordable prescription drug costs. We need to work [toward] solutions that can get passed now, with Democrats and Republicans, that can bring those costs down, expand coverage and protect people with preexisting conditions.” In the face of Brindisi’s reluctance, Taylor said he questions the priorities of health care providers and the government. “When we look at the way that our current health care system is being run, the driving value that is the priority is efficiency,” Taylor said. “It is long past time for us to bring compassion to the top instead of efficiency, for how we manage health care in this country.”
provost and president.” Stenger also wrote that the University is looking to increase its graduate student enrollment in order to generate revenue to reduce budget challenges. “Meanwhile, as I mentioned, we’re meeting our enrollment targets, and should be able to weather our fiscal challenges,” Stenger wrote.
provided by victoria brown Victoria Brown, ‘14, is a recipient of this year’s American Association of University Women Dissertation
Demonstrators gather at the Metrocenter in Downtown Binghamton to demand Medicare for all.
valerie puma assistant news editor
OPINIONS Thursday, August 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,29, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
BRIDGING THE TOWN-GOWN GAP The divide between students and the local community is wide - but it doesn’t have to be that way In Binghamton, there are endless ways to engage with the local community, from shopping at your corner store to attending events like the recent Porchfest and the upcoming LUMA. With the city’s wide array of places to eat, drink, shop and explore, there’s little reason to not take advantage of the unique opportunities to get involved with the community at large. There are, however, some unfortunate ways that the student body interacts with the more permanent residents of the Binghamton area that have slowly tarnished the image of Binghamton University as a whole. Some local traditions established by Binghamton residents, like Parade Day, have been taken over by students and evolved into days of drinking and debauchery. Other student favorites, like Santacon, see thousands of 18 to 22-yearolds unexpectedly descending upon the city like locusts to a crop. Imagine for a moment if you were born and raised in Binghamton, missing the
days where excessive noise and property damage were not semiannual affairs. It’s easy to dismiss this as a typical college town dilemma and conclude that there isn’t much that can be done to change it. But although the relation students have with their community may never be perfect, that doesn’t mean it has to be this way. It is still worth it to make an effort to improve towngown relations. The distance between these rivaling factions is so ingrained in the campus culture that it’s reflected in the lingo of the BU students, who have developed a name to distinguish themselves from those who do not attend classes alongside them.
“Townie,” the designation given to non-students in Binghamton, has taken on a negative connotation, perpetuating a narrative of a natural barrier
between those who live here and those who come for a higher education. Binghamton, a city that once thrived on its industry, has unfairly become victim to an
economy that revolves around the University. There have been times when the Binghamton Police Department has appeared surprised by massive influxes of students in the Downtown area because the University Police Department had not notified them of the plans, preventing them from preparing the necessary safety measures. One notable example of positive Universityc o m m u n i t y interaction can be seen with the TownGown Advisory Board, which, while a work in progress, has at least attempted to develop a conversation around how to unify the two taylor hayes pipe dream illustrator demographics.
The charitable work done by the fraternities and sororities of BU also serve to mitigate some of the less-than-appropriate instances of student partying. Anyone in the area can go beyond these groups to accomplish similar goals, too. Something as simple as going to the Saturday morning farmers market or volunteering with the local chapter of the Red Cross can help close the gap that keeps student-local animosity alive. All this isn’t to say that fun can’t be had. An argument can be made that part of being a college student is going out and enjoying yourself. But that fun becomes an issue when it damages the already strained relationship with the local community. Working to establish a healthier bond with the community isn’t going to create results immediately, but every step forward is an important one. With Labor Day weekend just ahead, the Editorial Board asks that you remember BU is not just a school; it’s part of a larger community — and so are you.
Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.
The debate on climate change prevents nations from taking it seriously The fires in the Amazon are a human issue, not a political one Kaitlyn Liu Contributing Columnist
The Amazon rainforest is known for its astounding biodiversity, size and importance to the rainforest ecosystem. In fact, the Amazon rainforest alone is responsible for 20 percent of Earth’s oxygen, thus earning itself the nickname of Earth’s “lungs.” However, satellite pictures showing the devastating aftermath of record-breaking fires have been circulating the Internet for the past week in hopes of raising awareness to the seriousness of the fires. So, what does it mean when our planet’s “lungs” are burning? While rainforest fires are not atypical, with many farmers burning vegetation for agricultural purposes, deforestation has increased by 80 percent this year, denoting a serious change in typical fire patterns. Many view Jair
Bolsonaro, Brazil’s current president, as the person to blame for this change in deforestation rates. Bolsonaro’s notoriously pro-business attitude toward the Brazilian agriculture industry has undoubtedly contributed to this dangerous trend. Farmers invigorated by this support have begun to use self-declared “fire days” to purposely set fire to the Amazon in order to make space for grazing cattle. The president’s unabashed support has earned him the name of “Captain Chainsaw.” Therefore, the burning Amazon means something that conservationists have long attempted to express: Conservative politicians will stop at nothing to further their corporate greed. The global interest in climate change has seen a sharp increase in recent years. Eightytwo percent of Democratic respondents in a CNN poll claim it is very important that presidential candidates for the 2020 election take “aggressive action to slow the effects of climate change.” While
Democrats seemingly agree on the importance of delaying climate change, Republicans rarely support environmentalism with the same ardor. As climate change discussion has risen in political debates, so has the politicization of the climate crisis itself. While Democrats such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have thrown their support toward the “aggressive action” Democrats seek, Republicans are quick to call policy proposals such as Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal “radical.” In fact, many Republicans openly deny the climate crisis at all, with Trump himself once claiming it was entirely a hoax created by China. The denial or ignorance of climate change, specifically on behalf of conservative politicians, is most likely due to the typical pro-business stance Republicans are known for. Similar to Bolsonaro, many conservatives are unlikely to support ethical business policies because of the accompanying profit loss they bring. For example, Bolsonaro
declared during his election campaign that Brazilianprotected lands were an “obstacle” to economic growth. In a similar vein, Bolsonaro recently denied a $20 million pledge from the G-7 to fight the Amazonian fires without an apology from Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, for his previous statements condemning Bolsonaro’s lack of action. Although climate change awareness in the political scene appears to have greatly increased, French scientific historians Christophe Bonneuil and JeanBaptiste Fressoz boldly claim that “this story of awakening is a fable.” What Bonneuil and Fressoz claim to be the false “story” of climate change in their book, “The Shock of the Anthropocene: The Earth, History and Us” is one that many of us have learned and unknowingly assented to — one of an unknowing past and a suddenly conscious present. While CNN’s poll, along with popular opinion, serves to suggest that awareness will aid in the slowing of climate change
effects, environmental activists have opposed industrialization for much longer than this story insinuates, with written dissent dating back to the 1850s. Bonneuil and Fressoz then claim that this story only serves to depoliticize what atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen calls the Anthropocene: our current geological age. Prior to this term, many geologists believed that humans were still in the previous age, the Holocene. In saying this, Crutzen then suggested that human impact had propelled our planet into an entirely new geological epoch than before. This epoch — the Anthropocene — is dominated by humans, characterized by industrialization and precariously influential on Earth’s geological cycles. Bonneuil and Fressoz’s book states that humans, with our destructive and political industrialization efforts, must be understood as a massive geological force if we are to delay climate change. Therefore, Bolsonaro’s decision to endorse business practices that dismantle
the entire globe’s ecological stability must be condemned. Bolsonaro’s encouraged infringement on such vital rainforest grounds sets an extremely dangerous precedent for future political and corporate business practices. This may truly only be called a “precedent” because of the Amazon’s importance on a worldwide scale, given that smaller acts of corporate greed all add up to our current climate in dismay. The unnecessary division of climate change into a Democratic or Republican issue only further delays the improvement of Earth’s climate crisis. In order to create meaningful and progressive change, the myth of our late awakening to environmental degradation must be dismantled so that Earth’s most pressing issue can finally garner bipartisan support. In taking universal responsibility for our greed, we take the first essential step to mending our broken planet. –Kaitlyn Liu is a sophomore majoring in English.
Separating problematic politicians from their policies doesn’t work Casting Sean Spicer in “Dancing with the Stars” doesn’t exonerate him from his actions Annick Tabb Columnist
When “Dancing with the Stars” announced the cast for the show’s 28th season, many were shocked and angered to hear that former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would be joining the show’s lineup. Spicer’s prominent role in the Trump administration made the show’s choice an incredibly controversial one; even the show’s host, Tom Bergeron, publicly said that the decision went against the advice he gave to the show’s producers. Spicer said that he hopes that Bergeron
will come to realize, “ … what a great example it was of being able to bring people of really diverse backgrounds together to have fun with each other, engage in a real civil and respectful way and maybe show millions of Americans how we can get back to that kind of interaction.” Spicer also stated that he hoped that the show would be a “politics-free zone.” But it is important to keep in mind that President Donald Trump does not enact his policy alone and that Spicer and other people who choose to work for him should not be spared from judgement or criticism. To allow Spicer to participate in a televised dance competition without forcing him to acknowledge his role in helping Trump
disseminate hateful rhetoric does the public a disservice. Some people are more optimistic. Spicer’s fellow Dancing with the Stars competitor Karamo Brown tweeted, “I’m excited to sit down w/ him and engage in respectful conversations. Only way things get better is if we try to educate those who have different POV than us … I’m bringing my personal message of love, equity & inclusion to the dance floor. I want it to eclipse & triumph over divisiveness & hatred.” While Brown’s sentiments might have come from a place of empathy and willingness to create common ground, it is hard to listen to them considering everything that Spicer was responsible for during his brief term as White
House press secretary and communications director. The Spicer who will arrive on the dance floor ready to perform a tango is the same Spicer who originally claimed that Hitler did not use chemical weapons during the Holocaust before making an apology on CNN, which drew additional criticism. It is the same Spicer who falsely claimed that the crowd who gathered to watch Trump’s inauguration was “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe,” and who defended the president when he incorrectly claimed that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election. “Sean Spicer doesn’t get to be a folk hero,” writes Kevin
Fallon for The Daily Beast. “He doesn’t get to be the fun-loving, humanizing catalyst that bridges a cultural divide.” The poor and dangerous choices that Spicer made during his time in the White House should not be brushed aside now that he no longer holds a political position. Spicer is not the only former member of the Trump administration who is attempting to weave their way back into society’s good graces. Anthony Scaramucci, who served as Trump’s director of communications for 10 days, appeared on the second season of Celebrity Big Brother. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s press secretary until July 2019, has recently also announced that she
would be joining Fox News as a contributor. Giving these people the opportunity to emerge as pop culture personalities allows them to gloss over their stints in Trump’s White House. As Kurt Bardella writes for NBC News, “The reality is Trump’s racist, sexist, destructive agenda is not an agenda of one … The people who help him do this are not innocent bystanders. They are not being coerced into participating. They are not helpless.” Treating former Trump employees like they are blameless and worthy of a second chance further normalizes their inexcusable behavior. –Annick Tabb is a senior double-majoring in political science and English.
Spice up your school week with these delicious deals Eat your heart out with these restaurant specials Allison Khin
contributing writer
If you’re a new student at Binghamton University, your local culinary experience might be limited to the Nirchi’s slices you’ve been snagging at general interest meetings (GIMs). However, if you’re ready to see what else the Binghamton food scene has to offer, Downtown restaurants offer a variety of regular deals on a weekly schedule. With semesterly events like Restaurant Week and seasonal festivals like Spiedie Fest and Wingfest, the triple cities’ restaurant scene is blooming. For students over 21 who are sick of gas station drinks, there are also plenty of drink specials. Treat yourself on a school day with any of these specials: Monday Burger Mondays: $5 burgers (must sit at the bar and get a drink) Strange Brew: $5 mac and cheese Peterson’s Tavern: $5 Moscow mules Sake-Tumi: $20 unlimited sushi Cortese Restaurant: Half-price spaghetti and meatballs South City Publick House: Half-price burgers Tuesday The Colonial: $5 burgers (11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.) Garage Taco Bar: $3 tacos Sake-Tumi: $1 per piece of sushi and $1 sake shots Caribbean Patty World: 50-cent wings (8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 205 Dry: $10 off any bottle of wine
pipe dream archives Lost Dog Cafe’s rigatoni ala vodka, one of Binghamton’s most famous dishes, is discounted on Wednesday nights.
Wednesday Lost Dog Cafe: $12.95 for rigatoni ala vodka with side salad 205 Dry: $2 off any whiskey or whiskey cocktail and $2 off prohibition burgers Little Venice: Half-price bottles and carafes of wine (11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Dos Rios Cantina: $5 margaritas House of Reardon: Half-price drinks and starters (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Craft: $5 milkshakes (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
tyler gorman pipe dream photographer Craft offers deals on milkshakes on Wednesdays.
Thursday Citrea: $10 personal pizza and local craft beer meal Thai Time: $8 drunken noodles and two-for-one drinks 205 Dry: $5 margaritas Sake-Tumi: $1 per piece of sushi and $1 sake shots Dos Rios Cantina: Half-price mega margaritas Peterson’s Tavern: $5 build-your-own burger (5 p.m to 10 p.m.)
sidney slon assistant photography editor On weeknights, students can find cheap meals at a variety of Downtown Binghamton restaurants.
Avoid the early semester slog with these community jogs The Binghamton area hosts several fall 5K runs Sean Carr
contributing writer
Even as the fall semester begins winding up, summer is still in full swing. Despite the beautiful weather, many students opt to shut in and either focus on studies or binge Netflix or Hulu. Many neglect a beautiful day or just forget how to spend time outside when school comes around. If you’re looking to get some outdoor time and cardio in while supporting local causes and getting involved in the community, check out these local 5K (3.1 mile) races: Sept. 14: Glitter & Glitz Run, 10:00 a.m. — Vestal Coal House (204 Stage Road, Vestal, NY 113850) Multiple glitter stations are spread throughout the course, ready to throw glitter at you while running. Sign-up for the race includes a free T-shirt. Sept. 14: Kopernik’s SecondAnnual Race to the Stars, 6:00 p.m. — Kopernik Observatory & Science Center (698 Underwood Road, Vestal, NY 13850) This race fundraises for the titular observatory. The course has you running through the
As upstate New York enters fall, students running outside can witness changing foliage and blue skies.
local roads around the observatory and finishing at the observatory for awards and an after-party. Registration comes with a free T-shirt.
Sept. 15: Love’s 5K Fun Walk/ Run, 9:00 a.m. — Vestal Coal House (204 Stage Road, Vestal, NY 13850) This race fundraises for the
tyler gorman pipe dream photographer
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and is held by Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. Registration comes with a free T-shirt.
Staff picks: plans for a rainy Labor Day “How will you spend your Labor Day if it’s too rainy to Labor Dage?” Valerie Puma Assistant News Editor
Jake Kerr News Editor
Evan Moravansky Opinions Editor
Oct. 5: Second-Annual Synergy Pump N Run 5K, 1:00 p.m. — Vestal Coal House (204 Stage Road, Vestal, NY 13850) A 5K race that tests running
ability along with pure strength, participants have the chance to take off 20 seconds from their time for every successful bench press they complete at packet pickup. People can also simply run or walk the race itself. Proceeds from the race will go to the M-EALS program. Refreshments are provided at the finish line. Oct. 12: Boys & Girls Club Pumpkin Run 5K, 10:00 a.m. — Vestal Coal House (204 Stage Road, Vestal, NY 13850) Racers have the option to either walk or run the course, with medals and pumpkins given to those who place overall as well as within their age group. Post-race activities include a pumpkin costume contest and a pumpkin decorating contest. Complimentary cider and doughnuts will be at the finish line. Oct. 27: Heroes and Villains 5K, 11:00 a.m. — Vestal Coal House (204 Stage Road, Vestal, NY 13850) Dress up in costume as a hero or villain to run or walk the course. Medals will be given to all participants, as well as awards for those who place and those with the best costume. Post-race refreshments will be provided alongside live music. More information on the races can be found at triplecitiesrunnersclub.org
Welcome to the BU Community!
“If it’s too rainy to Labor Dage, I might see how the weather is in Ithaca to visit Buttermilk Falls State Park, but if it’s too gloomy everywhere, I’ll stay in and watch spooky movies with my friends.”
“I’m planning on driving far away from Binghamton and will probably go on a hike somewhere instead.”
“Baking snickerdoodle cookies for several hours.”
The Sweet Tastes of Fall Sasha Hupka Editor-in-Chief
“If the weather’s terrible, I’ll probably just head to a friend’s house, watch some Netflix and have drinks and snacks inside.”
DAILY 7 AM — 6 PM cidermillendicott.com
F UN
Thursday, August 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,29, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
Taking an escalator
Annabeth Sloan Horoscopes
Sudoku
The Cosmos
By The Mepham Group
Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle
I missed him a lot today
Daniel Eisenhower
© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Release Date: Thursday, August 29, 2019
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Something smells fishy
Kevin Brown
ACROSS 1 Respond to “Let’s give it up for ... ” 5 Moves like Tinker Bell 10 “... thou damned whale!” speaker 14 Gad about 15 Like some whiskey barrels 16 Lawless character 17 Turkmenistan neighbor 18 Huge herbivore 20 Cookie with a whimsical name 22 Biden’s 2008 debate opponent 23 “Fresh Air” airer 24 Although 27 Led Zeppelin’s “Whole __ Love” 31 Critical layer 33 Torch-wielding group in “Frankenstein” 36 The grapevine 39 From the beginning 41 LED component 42 Brute 43 Custom 46 “__ Como Va”: Santana hit 47 Penny pincher 48 Composition 50 Dalí contemporary 51 Summer in la ville 54 One to the manor born 58 It comes full circle as you work your way through 20-, 36-, 43- and 58-Across 63 It’s stressful to live in it 65 Counterclockwise arrow function 66 Countless years 67 Monastery wear 68 Monopoly card 69 Name on a box of bricks 70 Useful thing 71 Gaelic language DOWN 1 Like pretzel rods 2 Doone of Exmoor
3 Be of service to 4 Eyeliner applicator 5 Driver’s warning 6 “The Wizard of Oz” actor 7 “Just messin’ around” 8 Mortise insert 9 Nose (around) 10 Salchow kin 11 “Take it” 12 Smart gameshow vowel purchase for “D _ _ M AND GL _ _ M” 13 English lit degrees 19 Data disk 21 Recognize 25 Sweepstakes submission 26 Titter 28 Stir 29 The Chipmunks, e.g. 30 Go gaga over 32 Herpetologist’s employer 33 Famiglia nickname 34 Being broadcast
35 Support for a king? 37 Chances 38 Tuition add-ons 40 Rather small 44 Fountain near the Spanish Steps 45 Chimed 49 Slangy greeting 52 Puccini opera 53 “__ World”: “Sesame Street” segment
55 Dumb move 56 High-yield deposits 57 Wear away 59 Petro-Canada competitor 60 Swearing in a monastery? 61 Not working 62 House in a bush 63 Bit of animation 64 Anonym in a landmark case
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Ed Sessa ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
08/29/19
08/29/19
7
SPORTS
bupipedream.com | August 29, 2019
Binghamton golf prepares to kick off fall campaign golf from page 1 talent — so the more tournaments they compete in, they’re just gaining more and more experience.” Though most of Binghamton’s other athletic programs have to cope with a great deal of turnover at the start of a new season, this has not been the case for the golf program in recent semesters. At the start of the 2018-19 season, the team faced no departures and even added to its ranks. This season, the roster once again remains mostly the same, with the only departure being that of Zak Ottman, ‘19, who graduated last spring. Seniors Ryan Rodriguez and Tom Mandel became co-captains in Ottman’s absence. “His leadership will be missed,” Herceg said of Ottman. “But there’s no doubt the guys are really looking forward to the year. We have three seniors on the team … and we’re looking forward to their leadership and really helping the team with their experience, [both] with our scores and being a stronger team going forward.” The Bearcats began their preparation for the upcoming season on the first day of classes and continued into last weekend. Each player’s performance during these practices will determine who Herceg will place into one of the five available slots on the official team that will compete in the Bearcats’ first tournament of the season. Though the lineup has yet to be announced, last year’s leading Bearcat golfers, Rodriguez and junior Justin Lane, are likely to get the nod.
Of the five invitationals scheduled for the fall, the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational is the most important to the team. It is the annual invitational that Binghamton University hosts and the one that saw the Bearcats victorious a year ago. This year’s edition is slated for the first week in October. But before that major event, BU will kick off its season with the Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate in Verona, New York. This will be the fifth consecutive year that the Bearcats will participate in this invitational. “We have experience there,” Herceg said. “We have experience on this course, and we’ve gone over the golf course individually, myself with them, in preparing for it accordingly when it comes to the tee shots and other things that are going to be needed for that golf course.” On the whole, Herceg has high expectations for the team this season. Most of the players on the golf team have been under his tutelage for some time now, and Herceg believes that this experience will carry the team a long way this year. “I really feel this is one of our most strongly talented teams starting the year off in a while,” Herceg said. “And I’m very excited for how we’re going to perform in the fall.” The Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate will take place over a two-day period, starting on Sunday, Sept. 1 from Verona, New York. alison bowers contributing photographer Senior Ryan Rodriguez was named co-captain of the golf team along with senior Tom Mandel for the 2019-20 season.
Now hising Franc
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provided by binghamton sports information office The Binghamton golf team won the team championship at the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational last season, its first tournament victory in more than three years.
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GOLF
BU readies for opener SEE PAGE 1
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Abby Wick and Lauren Spinnato lead Bearcats in 2019
After earning a starting role last season, senior midfielder Abby Wick was selected to lead the Bearcats in 2019 as a team captain for the Binghamton women’s soccer team.
Women’s soccer’s senior captains join Bearcast Edward Aaron
assistant sports editor
Experienced and diverse, the senior class of the Binghamton women’s soccer team is ready to compete for a championship in 2019. With the season just underway, the improved chemistry on the squad is evident, and much of that chemistry can be attributed to the leadership from this year’s seniors. At the forefront of the group, senior captains Abby Wick and Lauren Spinnato have instilled experience on their team throughout the preseason. They discussed their time as studentathletes and friends on this week’s episode of Pipe Dream’s Bearcast. “I feel like we’ve learned a lot over the years based on other people’s senior leadership, so we’ve kinda taken what we believe worked better from their tactics,” Spinnato said. “We tried to take those things that worked the best and really emphasize it this season and go from there.” Following a successful spring in which the team improved significantly and moved past the challenges of last season, Wick and Spinnato, along with junior defender Erin Theiller, were named team captains for 2019. “You can definitely tell we’re already starting better than we did last year,” Wick said. “There’s definitely a better energy and
more excitement to tackle the season and get going.” Spinnato, a defender from Cold Spring Harbor, New York, has been a starter on the back line for all four of her seasons with the team. She is majoring in human development and hopes to pursue a Master of Business Administration following graduation. Wick has seen much more competition for playing time throughout her career. The midfielder from Yardley, Pennsylvania didn’t play as a freshman and came off the bench as a sophomore, but stepped into a critical starting role in midfield as a junior. She is double-majoring in English and cinema. Off the field, Wick and Spinnato have been close friends since they began their time at Binghamton University. As fall athletes, the two arrived on campus a few weeks before classes started in their freshman year to prepare for the season. Throughout that time, as the class as a whole bonded, a friendship developed between the pair. Now, as seniors, they live together with the rest of their class in an apartment in Downtown Binghamton. Along with other activities, Wick and Spinnato enjoy cooking together, especially making Wick’s patented dish — pasta with hot sauce. “It’s not just me and Abby who are really close, but our whole class,” Spinnato said. “It’s a whole new type of energy.” This year’s senior class also
includes forwards Sydney Corda and Ryan Reilly and defenders Sam O’Malley and Barbara Badeer. They are an exceptionally close group of athletes on and off the field. In addition to being roommates, the group visited each other several times throughout the summer. Their trips included time to watch the U.S. women’s national team win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Wick’s beach house on the Jersey Shore. “It’s fun to be leaders on such a fun and easygoing team that gets along so well this year,” Wick said. “It’s not like we have to do much. We all get along and we’re all leaders, so it’s really fun.” After splitting their first two games of the season, the Bearcats are off to a solid start to their 2019 campaign. Several new contributors have emerged among returning players and a strong freshman class. From a leadership standpoint, the sentiments echoed by Wick, Spinnato and Theiller appear to be reflecting well across the entire roster. “It’s not even just about us being captains, but about the 25 other girls behind us being their own leader than can take over the role when we’re not in the game or on the sideline or on the trip,” Spinnato said. Early on in their final seasons as Bearcats, both Wick and Spinnato have one clear goal on their minds — winning the 2019 America East Championship.
john atkinson staff photographer
john atkinson staff photographer Senior defender Lauren Spinnato has been a starter on the back line for her entire career as a Bearcat.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we have the capability and the talent and the work ethic to get there,” Wick said. “Everyone’s
so excited.” To listen to the full podcast, subscribe to the Pipe Dream Bearcast at bupipedream.
com/sports, Apple Podcasts or Google Play.
Fantasy football preseason advice for casual players Winning the draft and waiver wire as an amateur
Edward Aaron Assistant Sports Editor
With NFL regular season just one week away, many fantasy team owners — myself included — are preparing for their upcoming fantasy football drafts. Some fans spend months preparing for their drafts, coming up with all sorts of analytics and putting in hours
of research. Others simply wing it. I fall more so into the latter category, but with that said, I don’t go into a draft without any sort of game plan. Every year, I put forth the same strategy to build my roster. While it is not based on statistics or analytical research, it seems to yield teams for me that compete for a title every season. If you’re looking for in-depth advice, check out ESPN, but if you just want to have fun playing fantasy, not put too much work into it and be able to compete, here is my fantasy football advice for the casual fantasy player. First, angle for late first
round pick positioning: In most online leagues, the draft order is randomized, but if you are in a league that has drawings or allows players to choose their preferred positioning, choose the latest pick possible. Although you will miss out on several of the top prospects, mainly the best of the running backs, under the typical snake draft format, it will yield you the first pick of the second round. You will be able to get two very good players, as opposed to one of the best players. Next, use the “no running back” strategy: Assess the minimum number of required running backs in your league and
don’t take more than that number early on in the draft. Focus on drafting many running backs late in the draft. If you take chances on several underrated players late in the draft, one or two are bound to work out. Also, watch the waiver wire early in the season. After an injury to a starting running back, be the first to submit a claim for their backup. The exception to this strategy is if you are in a league with two required running backs and you have a top-five pick. If Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara or others are available, take them, and then implement the depth running back strategy later in the draft.
Stock up on wide receivers early: Use at least three of your first four picks at the wide receiver position. As previously stated, only take a running back in the first round if you can get one of the top available running backs at the top of the round. Otherwise, aim for a value running back pick in the third, fourth or fifth rounds. Plan to fill all of your week-one flex positions with receivers. Plan out your first four picks: As soon as you find out your draft position, decide who you want to pick in each of the first four rounds. Whether it be specific players or a specific type of players, have an expectation
for what the top positions in your lineup will look like after the first few rounds, and include contingencies in your plan. Perhaps as important as anything one can do at the draft, watch the waiver wire like a hawk. Be sure to pick up any player who has a breakout start to their season. Even if they don’t have a clear role in your lineup immediately, injuries happen, and they can always be used as trade bait. Don’t be afraid to make a lot of moves, and make sure to follow up a casual draft performance with constant attention throughout the season.