Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Vol. XCVI, Issue 1 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
Starbucks truck replaces Hinman store
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Students line up outside the brand-new Starbucks truck.
Dining hall construction leads to mobile coffee shop Gillian Mathews news intern
Three years ago, Binghamton University celebrated the grand opening of a new Starbucks in the Hinman Dining Hall. Now, the dining hall closed
for construction. But coffee addicts can still get their fix at the mobile Starbucks truck, a temporary replacement introduced by the University over the summer. Currently, the truck can be found in Hinman College near the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center. In order to keep students updated, the University will be posting the location of the truck at any given time via the @BingCampusFood
Twitter account. Information pertaining to the location, hours and menus can be found on BU’s Sodexo website on the “What’s Open Now” page. To begin, the truck will be open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. According to Deanne Ellison, director of Auxiliary Services, the truck
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR If you’re new to campus, welcome! If you’ve been here for a while, welcome back! And either way, welcome to a new year of Pipe Dream! I’m glad you’re here. Pipe Dream is your student newspaper, and since 1946, we’ve reported on Binghamton University’s campus and the Binghamton community. Through the support of our readers, we’ve been here for as long as BU has existed, with the goal of providing accurate, objective coverage while telling as many of your stories as possible. In short, we’re here to showcase your voices. Every academic year, we make changes to help facilitate this mission, and this year is no different. In the paper you’re holding right now, you’ll notice articles from multiple sections have been placed on the front page — different people pick up Pipe Dream for different reasons. Throughout the coming months, you can expect to see other changes, including new features on our website and social media profiles aimed at audience engagement and interaction. We’ll also be working on expanding our content and producing it in a variety of ways, from podcasts and videos to photo stories and traditional articles. But ultimately, the changes we make only count for so much. What really matters is you, because it’s impossible to amplify BU’s many voices and share campus stories without your help. We want to
hear about your roommate who is writing and producing a play that tackles societal norms. We want know what you think about the candidates running to be district attorney in Broome County, and we welcome your thoughts about how campus policies and changes impact your lives. Pipe Dream needs you to talk to us. We need you to take a stand about things you’re passionate about. And we need you to hold us accountable when we miss the mark. Above all, we need you to care — about your campus, your communities and those around you. So this academic year, I encourage you to email me at editor@bupipedream.com with questions, concerns, letters and story tips. You can find guidelines on submitting letters printed in the Opinions Section at bupipedream.com. You can also give me a call at 607-777-2244, visit our office in University Union West Room B03 or message me via Pipe Dream’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. However you’re most comfortable communicating, we’ll be here to listen — and we hope you’ll keep an eye out for us this semester.
Citizens rally against high prescription drug prices Advocacy groups, local leaders hold press conference Leora Schwadron news editor
As thousands of activists across the country gathered for the “People Over Pharma Profits” National Day of Action, local health care advocates and patients held a press conference and protest in Downtown Binghamton, calling on the United States Congress and the Trump administration to take action to lower drug prices. The protest, held on Tuesday in front of Rep. Anthony Brindisi’s office at the Binghamton Metrocenter, aimed to raise awareness about expense of prescription drugs and pharmaceutical companies’ role in maintaining high prices. Protesters wore necklaces made out of empty prescription drug bottles and held
signs with slogans such as “People over drug profits,” “I’m a health care voter” and “Health care is a human right.” Leaders of Citizen Action of New York and Indivisible Binghamton, who coordinated the event, said they hoped their demonstration would push Brindisi and other members of Congress to implement reforms. Linda Quilty, a member of Citizen Action of New York and Indivisible Binghamton, said protesters were focusing on a bill introduced by Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett that would allow the government to negotiate lower prices with drug manufacturers and break the patents of pharmaceutical companies that refuse to come to the table in good faith. “We have actually met with Anthony Brindisi about health care bills coming up,” Quilty said. “Even though this is not a fix-it for all, it’s a big step in the right direction, because right now it is written that [the government] can’t negotiate
prices with Medicare.” In an emailed statement to Pipe Dream, Brindisi wrote that his team is working with other representatives to introduce legislation to address the issue. “I hear from families all across our district that drug prices are too high, and no family should have to choose between lifesaving medicine and putting food on their table,” he wrote. “We need to do everything we can to bring down drug prices in this country.” But Cecily O’Neil, a member of Citizen Action of New York and Indivisible Binghamton, said health care access is an issue that crosses political and social lines, which is why publicly raising awareness about the issue is important. “Anyone can end up having a disease or injury that requires specialized medications, so there needs to be more oversight and accountability because it
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ariel kachuro photography editor Reverend Fred Brooks speaks about the price of prescription drugs in front of a group of protesters.tgk tgk tg
Documentary provides blueprint for urban restoration “Main Street Rising” screening was followed by a panel Gabriela Iacovano
Arts & culture editor
A locally produced documentary released this summer explores one upstate New York town’s path to developing a bustling downtown area, providing a blueprint for how Binghamton might follow suit. “Main Street Rising,” produced by WSKG Public TV & Radio’s Brian Frey,
was shown Monday at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. Originally premiering June 3 on WSKG TV, the hour-long documentary explores “Main Street” as a hallmark of American life, focusing on the development of Corning’s Market Street. Frey said he had the Triple Cities in mind while producing the film, inspired by the downtown rebuilding efforts of several towns in the region. “I always thought it was interesting how downtowns could revitalize themselves using their historic architecture, so I decided to make this
ARTS & CULTURE
film that looked at how main streets are rebuilding themselves using some of the lessons learned from what Corning did in 1972,” he said. The film chronicles the work of figures like Jane Jacobs, who spoke out against the adverse effects of urban renewal on city dwellers, and Norman Mintz, who was instrumental in the revitalization of Market Street. Clips from “It’s A Wonderful Life” and images of lively midcentury towns illustrate the cultural significance of urban centers as fixtures of Americana. The screening was followed by a
discussion with Frey and panelists Dave Currie of the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC), Eliana Epstein, a second-year graduate student studying sustainable communities and Binghamton Food Rescue volunteer, Marshall McMurray of MCM Realty and Eva Duarte, ‘11-’13, owner of barbershop Dapper Rascal Studio. Audience members examined how the strategies shown in the film could be implemented in the Triple Cities, touching on topics like gentrification, food insecurity, aging populations and the role of outsiders and community leaders in shaping the
OPINIONS
neighborhood. In particular, Duarte emphasized a need to eliminate the divide between students and locals. “It’s way easier when we work together and learn from each other,” she said. “I’ve always loved learning from the older generation that guides me, and the younger generation needs to learn that we came into this older, beautiful city and we have to respect it and uplift it. That’s one of the cornerstones of why I started my business.”
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SPORTS
Plan your Porchfest with a guide to performing artists
Professor Alexi Zentner discusses his latest novel, ‘Copperhead’
Contributing columnist Miranda JacksonNudelman condemns social media for its role in enabling white supremacy
Binghamton volleyball readies for 2019 campaign
BU soccer teams prepare for upcoming seasons
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