Spring 2024 Issue 11

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 | Vol. CII, Issue 11 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

City Council, Mayor battle for sixth district seat Following a November tie, both sides have claimed authority over filling the vacancy, a dispute that has escalated to court.

Luca Carrese news intern

A disagreement between Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham and newly-elected city councilmembers over who possesses the authority to fill a vacancy on Binghamton’s City Council has made its way to the Broome County Supreme Court.

In last November’s general elections, a tie between incumbent Republican Philip Strawn and Rebecca Rathmell, his Democratic challenger, in the sixth council district resulted in a “failure to elect.” On Jan. 4, Kraham appointed Strawn to fill the post

until an eventual special election in November. The following day, the council unanimously voted to appoint Rathmell to the position.

In clashing statements, both sides have acknowledged that the fate of the vacant seat will most likely be decided by a judge.

“This appointment ensures a continuity of constituent services and representation for [sixth] district residents until a special election can be held in November for the remainder of the term,” Kraham wrote in a press release.

“The City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, general counsel for the New York Conference of Mayors and outside counsel for the City found the appointment authority in this ‘failure to elect’ situation rests with Binghamton’s Mayor under state law.”

See council page 3

design manager aleXa ValadeZ In clashing statements, both the Mayor’s office and the City Council have acknowledged that the fate of the vacancy will likely be decided by a judge.

Court orders congressional maps redrawn The ruling ordered the Independent Redistricting Commission to restart the process of drawing district lines.

Brandon Ng news editor

After the Court of Appeals threw out statewide Democrats’ congressional gerrymander and ordered an upstate court to draw new maps, Republican candidates won 11 of 26 seats in 2022.

Now, following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s appointment of a new chief judge early last year, the newly composed court sided with Democrats,

A recall of this year’s Golden Globe Awards Cultural phenomena such as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” won big, while Netflix original films did not perform well.

Eli Engler

arts & culture writer

The 81st Golden Globe Awards took place on Jan. 7, 2024, celebrating the best films and television series from 2023. The

awards ceremony was hosted by comedian Jo Koy and was the first Golden Globe Awards ceremony since 1982 not broadcasted on NBC and instead shown on CBS. Furthermore, after the Hollywood Foreign Press Association dissolved in 2023, Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge Industries acquired the rights to the Golden Globes. Here are the biggest winners and losers of the 81st Golden Globe Awards.

See awards page 6

ordering the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) to restart the process, six months before the 2024 general elections.

The decision, issued last month from New York’s highest court, has farreaching implications that will impact the battle for control over the House of Representatives. Republicans,

who hold a razor-thin majority in the House, have experienced a tumultuous term, from the historic removal of Kevin McCarthy from the speakership to trouble containing the most conservative members of their conference.

Locally, further redistricting is expected to shake up the race for the

19th Congressional district, which currently includes Binghamton, Ithaca and Cortland and stretches to the Massachusetts border on the east. In 2022, Rep. Marc Molinaro, a Republican, narrowly defeated Democrat Josh Riley, winning 50.8 percent of the vote.

See court page 4

‘Mean Girls’ isn’t as fetch as the original 2004 film A thorough and honest review of the 2024 musical adaption of “Mean Girls.”

Karlie McGann

arts & culture writer

Director Mark Waters’ hit high school comedy, “Mean Girls,” has gained a significant cult following since its release 20 years ago, becoming a cultural phenomenon due to its witty critique of the social structures and expectations that plague teenage girls. Former “Saturday Night Live” writer and

cast member Tina Fey originally wrote the film’s sharp, endlessly quotable script, which was partially inspired by Rosalind Wiseman’s parenting advice book “Queen Bees and Wannabes.” Fey, in collaboration with composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin, has also developed the story into a 2018 Broadway musical of the same name.

The film adaptation of this musical, also titled “Mean Girls,” follows an almost identical plot to that of the 2004 movie — homeschooled teenager Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) moves from Kenya

back to the United States, where she is thrust into the unfamiliar territory of North Shore High School. She quickly befriends artsy outsider Janis ‘Imi’ike (Auli’i Cravalho) and her flamboyant best friend Damian Hubbard (Jaquel Spivey), who introduce her to the cliques that form the school’s social pyramid. This includes a trio of popular girls dubbed “The Plastics,” consisting of dim-witted Karen Shetty (Avantika), insecure, approval-seeking Gretchen Wieners (Bebe Wood) and vicious queen bee Regina George (Renée Rapp).

See fetch page 6

Womenʼs basketball overcomes UMass Lowell on the road Bearcats pick up first win of America East (AE) play.

Karlie McGann

sports contributor

jacob gressin photo assistant Graduate student guard Denai Bowman tied her season high with 21 points in Binghamton’s 70-65 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon.

ARTS & CULTURE

After dropping four straight games to start America East (AE) conference play, the Binghamton women’s basketball team bounced back at UMass Lowell with a 7065 win over the River Hawks. The game went back-and-forth between the squads before a strong fourth quarter run closed out the win for BU. “[After this win] I’m hoping

OPINIONS

that they see how successful they can be and continue to believe in themselves,” said Binghamton head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. Just seconds after tipoff, the Bearcats (6-12, 1-4 AE) kicked off scoring after sophomore forward Camryn Fauria sank a three-pointer off of an assist from graduate student guard Denai Bowman. The River Hawks (3-15, 3-3 AE) then forced several turnovers and steals, allowing them to gain a one-point lead halfway through the quarter.

See basketball page 10

SPORTS

The adaption of the ‘Percy Jackson’ series proves to be successful,

Ways to make the most of a Binghamton winter,

New Year’s resolutions can lead to self-improvement,

Swim and dive sweeps Wagner on senior day,

Wrestling splits doubleheader at home,

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 5

SEE PAGE 10

SEE PAGE 9

Page II Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

A snowy start to the semester

jacob gressin photo assistant

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stabilizing:pinochole

schedule:destabilizing

bupipedream.com | January 23, 2024

NEWS

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Dispute reaches Broome County Supreme Court council from page 1 Both candidates were present at the council vote that elevated Rathmell to fill the vacancy. Robert Cavanaugh II, who represents the third council district, cited Binghamton’s City Charter, which states that the power to fill a City Council vacancy rests with the council. Footage of the meeting showed Rathmell’s swearing-in after the vote and Strawn speaking with residents who attended

the meeting to share his perspective.

Nate Hotchkiss ‘12, who represents Binghamton’s fourth council district, described why the council chose Rathmell after Strawn’s mayoral appointment.

“At the core of it, in our conversations with the Mayor prior to the appointments, [we] firmly believe that the City Charter gives us the authority to make the appointment

in the case of a vacancy,” Hotchkiss said. “We think that a failure to elect results in a vacancy, and vacancies are handled by our City Charter. We’re in a home rule state, so our local law should supersede any state laws.”

Kraham’s original statement, released a day before the vote, said any appointment made by the City Council would be “unlawful” and “could lead to a costly legal dispute.”

On Jan. 8, Kraham and Strawn sued the council, its President Hadassah Mativetsky and its clerk Sarah Dinhofer in the Broome County Supreme Court, requesting an injunction preventing the council from interfering with Strawn’s appointment.

On Wednesday, Judge Joseph McBride set further proceedings for Feb. 16.

“Respondents have nonetheless attempted to block [Strawn’s] lawful

appointment, in derogation of their ministerial duties,” the complaint reads.

“Among other things, [Mativetsky] and the city clerk purported to initially reject Councilman Strawn’s oath of office and certified appointment filings and Mativetsky refused to allow Councilman Strawn’s name to be recorded in the official book of appointed City officials.”

Hotchkiss expressed the council’s position on the

dispute.

“To us it seems like a cut and dry legal situation,” Hotchkiss said. “We don’t think it will take the judge a long time to come to a conclusion … We don’t anticipate it dragging out. Based on whatever the judge says we’ll either honor [Rathmell’s] appointment or the mayoral appointment. We’ll just have to live with whatever decision comes.”

Stenger delivers ‘State of the University’ address Themed “2023: A Record Year,” the speech highlighted University achievements in academic excellence, athletic success and research.

Vera Then

news intern

On Thursday, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger delivered his annual State of the University address, themed “2023: A Record Year.”

He spoke to faculty, staff and students at Watters Theater in the Anderson Center, highlighting achievements in enrollment, academic excellence, athletic success and research.

Stenger began the address by announcing the University’s “recordbreaking” enrollment figures. With a total of 18,454 students for the 2023-24 academic year, BU has seen a 3.7 percent increase in enrollment over the past five years. He said that BU continues to attract a diverse range of students, evident in the class of 2027, which saw a record 58,400 applications.

International and out-ofstate applicants have surged, with 585 new international students representing 50 nations.

Addressing challenges in higher education enrollment, Stenger acknowledged potential future challenges but expressed confidence in the University’s ability to navigate them.

“Continued growth is possible, but it will come with challenges,” Stenger said. “An enrollment cliff in higher education is coming, meaning colleges will be recruiting from a smaller pool of students. But I’m confident that Binghamton’s academic reputation, the programs it offers, its faculty and the value of SUNY’s tuition will maintain the University’s status as a premier destination for students.”

Stenger also discussed the expanding role of BU students on the global stage. Albina Martynenko, a freshman majoring in business administration and Vlada Lisova, a sophomore majoring in accounting,

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger spoke to faculty, staff and students in the Anderson Center’s Watters Theater on Thursday.

advocated for change in Washington during a Ukraine Action Summit, also helping to found the Ukrainian Cultural Association, which will hold fundraisers to support Ukrainian refugees and assist with their college applications.

Ana Sanchez-Bachman, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, Lívia Maciel Braga, who is pursuing a master of science in sustainable communities and Cynthia Tan, a former BU student, represented the University at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, helping with negotiations during a global conference on gender and environmental data.

“Our mission as an institution of higher education is in part to prepare our students to be able to

make a difference in the world,” Stenger said. “That our students are making a difference as students speaks to their talents and passion as well as the opportunities our faculty, staff and programs provide.”

Stenger mentioned the Athletics Department winning the America East Commissioner’s Cup in 2023 for the first time in its 22-year Division I history and celebrated the accomplishments of student-athletes in various sports, including conference championships in women’s soccer and volleyball.

Student-athletes maintained a 3.42 GPA during the spring 2023 semester, marking the 12th consecutive semester above 3.2.

Proposals from faculty, staff and students will

be solicited to refine and reshape University values for the Road Map initiative, which has guided BU for 11 years. Providing additional insight into the campaign’s strategic planning, Stenger highlighted the importance of feedback from the campus community. He also shared news about the progress of the EXCELERATE campaign, which had quickly surpassed its initial goal of $220 million.

Mia Raskin ‘23, a first-year graduate student pursuing a master’s in business administration, spoke about her experience working closely with Stenger in the Road Map program.

“We have a really amazing opportunity to work side by side with [Stenger] as his Road Map interns.” Raskin said. “We help just give our two cents on different

initiatives that are happening on campus and use the Road Map as like the steering way of making decisions almost.

And so hearing him speak today was really exciting to be a part of this community that continues to grow.”

Stenger elaborated on current and future construction and renovation projects. A new $60 million lecture hall and classroom building are set to be completed by fall 2026, and an expansion of the Chenango Room.

Other projects include the construction of the Fieldhouse next to the Events Center, the Charlene and Roger Kramer Welcome Center and a two-story, 75,000-square-foot addition coming to the East Gym that will double the size of the FitSpace and add court space and track. The Bartle Library’s

aidan emery staff photographer

third-floor renovations are expected to be completed this fall.

Expressing confidence in the University faculty’s “ability to continue delivering groundbreaking research,” Stenger touted the FDA’s approval for a drug treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a grant for the Freedom Trail project and recognition for advancements in lithium-ion batteries.

“The idea I want to leave you with as we head into 2024 is that [BU] is on an outstanding trajectory,” he said. “[BU] students are talented individuals who are primed for success.

Universities, faculty and staff are doing remarkable work that advances our understanding of the world and inspires students to follow in their footsteps.”

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NEWS

bupipedream.com | January 23, 2024

Decision represents win for Democratic Party court from page 1 “I think voters are tired in New York of having to go through a redistricting process, as we have multiple times this last year, that just want it to come to a close,” Molinaro said at a press conference after the court’s ruling. “I want competitive districts that reflect the interests, the communities of commonality and the diversity that exists in upstate New York.”

Over the last two decades, voters have passed several redistricting reforms, including one in 2014, which took redistricting authority away from the State Legislature and vested it in a 10-member commission composed of four Democrats, four Republicans and two unaffiliated with either party. Following the 2020 Census, the IRC deadlocked and the legislature’s Democratic majority passed a law granting the body power to draw new maps.

The initial maps, projected to award Republicans four seats, were then criticized by legal and political experts for their overt partisanship. An upstate court drew the district lines used in 2022, though lawsuits remained. The court’s majority opinion said that constitutional requirements superseded court-mandated ones.

“In 2014, the voters of New York amended our Constitution to provide that legislative districts be drawn by an [IRC],” Chief Judge Rowan Wilson wrote. “The Constitution demands that process, not districts drawn by courts. Nevertheless, the IRC failed to discharge its constitutional duty. That dereliction is undisputed. The Appellate Division concluded that the IRC can be compelled to reconvene to fulfill that duty — we agree.”

With a slim majority in the House, Republican leaders have relied on Democratic votes to pass legislation funding the government. Their functional numbers have shrunk further after the expulsion of George Santos, McCarthy’s retirement, resignations and medical leave.

Riley, running against Molinaro again, emphasized his platform, not mentioning the court’s ruling.

“I’m running for Congress because upstate New Yorkers deserve a representative who fights for them, not the extremists and special interests,” Riley wrote in an email. “Someone who will strengthen the middle class, protect Social Security, keep our communities safe and defend a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.

That’s what I’m focusing on.”

sourced from history.nycourts.gov A previous iteration of the court struck down maps passed by the Democratic supermajority in the State Legislature, deciding they violated redistricting procedure, which led to Republicans winning 11 of 26 seats in the House of Representatives.

DOJ seeks death penalty for Buffalo shooter A year after he was sentenced to life in prison without parole in state court, Payton Gendron, an avowed white supremacist, now faces federal hate crime charges.

Grace Scullin news intern

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the Buffalo supermarket

shooter and an avowed white supremacist.

In 2022, Gendron murdered 10 in a racist attack on a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, later pleading guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder and hate-motivated domestic terrorism. Last February, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a state court.

While capital punishment is not legal in New York, the DOJ is now pursuing separate federal

hate crime charges against Gendron. If found guilty, Gendron could be sentenced to death.

The court filing declaring intent to pursue capital punishment cited the planning behind the shooting. Originally from Conklin, New York — just under 20 minutes away from Binghamton University — Gendron was enrolled at SUNY Broome before the shooting. He traveled 200 miles to the predominantly Black East Side neighborhood in

sourced from the wall street journal Payton Gendron, who previously pled guilty to state charges of murder, attempted murder and hatemotivated domestic terrorism, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole last February.

Buffalo to carry out the attack. Gendron chose this location specifically to “maximize the number of Black victims,” according to Trini Ross, the United States attorney for the Western District of New York.

Prosecutors also cited the racism behind the shooting as justification for the death penalty.

Gendron’s weapon was reportedly marked with racial slurs and references to the “Great Replacement,” a racist and antisemitic conspiracy theory alleging a plot to eliminate white people. He also streamed the shooting on Twitch, a live-streaming service.

Before the shooting, Gendron posted material promoting racist ideologies and white supremacy online, including a 180page document that included the names of other mass shooters he admired. According to Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, another document found during the investigation showed his intent to target African Americans.

“The document also detailed the defendant’s hateful beliefs, specifically his hatred for African Americans, Jewish people,

immigrants and other minorities,” Flynn said.

Gendron’s defense team expressed disapproval in response to the DOJ’s filing in a statement. They noted that Gendron was 18 when he committed the crime and that he is already serving a life sentence with no opportunity of parole.

“Rather than a prolonged and traumatic capital prosecution, the efforts of the federal government would be better spent on combatting the forces that facilitated this terrible crime, including easy access to deadly weapons and the failure of social media companies to moderate the hateful rhetoric and images that circulate online,” Gendron’s defense team said in the statement.

The DOJ’s decision marks the third attempt to pursue the death penalty during President Joe Biden’s administration, which is generally opposed to the death penalty despite the lack of an official policy. Following a 2021 moratorium — or symbolic suspension — issued by Attorney General Merrick Garland, two other death penalty cases have been pursued with only one resulting in a successful

prosecution.

Family members of the victims were informed of the DOJ’s decision before the filing was officially made. While some agreed with the decision, others, like Mark Talley, the son of victim Geraldine Talley, did not.

“As far as I’m concerned, I think he’s getting off the hook getting the death penalty because he won’t get that suffering that I want,” Talley said. “As long as I’m alive, whether God gives me 20, 30 or 60 years, I [want to] be able to see him suffer.”

Madelyn Payano, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said that students should familiarize themselves with the case.

“Though I think it’s a difficult and delicate case to discuss, I would argue that everyone must take responsibility for their actions and that doing the wrong thing will always have consequences,” Payano wrote. “Students at [BU] should be concerned about this, since it’s important for all of them to know about the current global events and for the majority of them to strive to become better informed about hate.”

OPINIONS Tuesday, January 2024 Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,23, 2,5, 2017 2017 2017

Resolutions are fleeting but important

Resolutions may be bullshit, but they represent a great step forward.

Nicolas Scagnelli Opinions Columnist

New Year’s resolutions are a popular tradition.

“New year, new me” is a common phrase you’ll hear a lot during this time.

Funnily enough, no one ever finishes them. How many people do you or I know that fall off from their resolutions after the first couple weeks or days of the new year?

I’ve seen many bemoan resolutions, saying how they’re useless and a way for people to feel like they’re improving while just

remaining stagnant. While I see where these people are coming from, screw that.

Many resolutions may fall through the cracks, but the influx of resolution-goers can help inspire a select few to forever change their lifestyles for the better.

First off, only nine percent of Americans see their resolutions fully.

That’s not a great stat. So yeah, it’s easy to argue against the usefulness of resolutions. Why even bother with them if the follow-through rate is so minuscule? Well, it’s not that simple. I am always going to advocate for positive change. While the positive change here may

be small, when one dives into the deeper numbers and finds out what’s really going on, it makes for a much stronger case. Get your calculators out, there’s going to be a lot of numbers here.

In the United States, only 38.5 percent of adults actually make resolutions.

I used to think everyone, or at least most people, made them. Nowadays, that’s pretty uncommon. I believe many people nowadays have a bit of a defeatist mindset when it comes to resolutions.

Resolutions have a negative stigma of being very temporary. I feel like this has a lot to do with the seasonal nature of them.

Resolutions come around once a year, and the truth is, many people just have trouble sticking to it. Not a ton of people are making them anyways. If it were a social media trend on the other hand, then maybe more would participate.

Perhaps, more resolutions are being substituted away for people trying to make a permanent, year-round change through other self-improvement techniques. Over 40 percent of adults in the United States make use of selfimprovement materials.

That isn’t necessarily limited to books like “how to be popular for dummies.”

Self-improvement content

is so vast and expansive in our modern age. It’s a fad in its own right. I take part in it for Pete’s sake. I’m crazy about anything related to self-improvement. Whether it’s videos regarding workout techniques, tips with dieting or strategies as to how to save and invest money, self-improvement is a wide umbrella. One could argue that this way is for the better. Resolutions are quite temporary, they come and go, but committing to a positive lifestyle change — THAT is what will make long-lasting change. Right?

The answer is yes, but also no. While many people let go of their resolutions as time goes on, not everyone

does. A resolution can be fleeting, but a commitment to self-improvement should be a year-round thing. If you ask me, out of one thousand people, if only a handful of these people stick to their plans and continue their new, healthy lifestyle of improvement, it’s a win.

Yes, it would be a lot better if more people stuck to their goals, but that’s not necessarily realistic. In a perfect world, everyone does their best to improve as much as they can, but this is the next best, most realistic thing.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

Global trade centers are still pivotal to global politics Nations reliant on trade hubs need viable access to resources.

Deniz Gulay Opinions Columnist

Today’s world is connected more than ever when it comes to technology — the devices and systems we use to communicate in the modern world are beyond the imagination of the people in centuries past. However, the one aspect of our civilization that is arguably the most essential is also something as old as humanity itself — trade.

Today, almost anything used in our daily lives owes some aspect of it to a material or a component made somewhere else. From phones to cars, clothing to food, minerals to fuel and everything in between, our everyday items require either raw resources or processing in a foreign country before being used by us. This is our modern world of interconnectedness and the routes used for international trade are now

more important than ever in global politics. However, there are strategic choke points which are under the threat of conflicts that can put the global economy in danger.

A very relevant example of conflict is in the Red Sea. Most people became aware of its importance after a container ship infamously got stuck in the Suez Canal and demonstrated how vital this sea passage truly is as the world economy suffered significantly from this brief incident. An enormous amount of goods and resources flow through the canal and it has historically been a crucial link between the East and the West ever since its opening more than 150 years ago. Currently, the escalation of conflict between Houthis in Yemen and the United States, which broke out due to the war in Palestine, is the biggest threat to trade reliant on this route as ships have reportedly been attacked with missiles and commandeered on several

occasions by rebel forces. A coalition of United States-led nations are currently taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter this threat, yet the future of this route remains uncertain in the face of rising hostilities and the possibility of yet another war in the Middle East.

Another choke point in global trade is the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey.

Being the only sea route between the Black Sea and the rest of the world, historically, it was and still is a hub of vital strategic importance. Though it does not get much attention, it still exists as one of the few linchpins of not only global trade, but also military strategy.

The Montreux Convention of 1936 was created to protect the sovereignty of Turkey against foreign threats. Yet, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, there is a possibility the Turkish government may consider using the control of the strait as a weapon to exert diplomatic influence.

Currently, Russia is the nation with the most significant strategic interests in the region as the strait is the only gateway through which its southern seaports can be accessed, consequently making the strait itself a key strategic target to have influence over.

The “Grain Deal,” which ended last July, was a key step toward preventing military escalation — without any motivation to pursue such agreements in the future, the possibility of this region becoming the target of a geopolitical crisis remains likely.

And the third such region with strategic importance is the South China Sea, more specifically the Malacca Strait.

Along with the Red Sea, it is one of the key places forming the link between Asia and the rest of the world by sea.

Strategically, it is vital to both China, due to the “Maritime Silk Road,” as well as the United States, due to a link with what is known in military strategy as the First Island Chain. Rising

political tensions due to the Taiwan issue and the United States-China rivalry poses a threat to the global economy as a potential conflict or even a mere incident affecting the trade through this region could have immediate and immense consequences for the global economy. This makes the region consequently the most vital of all geopolitical linchpins, which are important for global trade, and its future currently rests in the hands of the diplomatic strategies pursued by two major powers of the world.

These are only three of the many other important geographic points through which trade pass around the world — more than 11 billion tons of goods pass through these choke points and when combined, they represent an overwhelming majority of the yearly international trade around the world by sea. This makes them strategically important in politics and diplomacy too — it is in the

interests of competing nations to have influence over these routes as international trade has become an indispensable tool for the national economies of our age.

Nations reliant on resources from abroad — Germany, China, Japan and, of course, the United States need such trade hubs, which is why their political strategies will evolve around ensuring the safety of their trade and, thus, preserving their economic interests. As a result, it is important to consider trade routes’ strategic value in regards to decisions made by governments as well as international relations. As international disputes escalate into conflicts more and more frequently, these choke points are the theaters where such conflicts carry the potential to ignite another major conflict between nations around the world.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.

Vote in the 2024 election

Voting out of duty is integral to a healthy democracy.

Sean Reichbach Opinions Editor

I don’t care for whom.

Many voices will enter your Instagram reels, or your TikTok feed or even your school email account over the coming weeks and months. There will undoubtedly be targeted ads from Republican candidates, or Donald Trump’s campaign, inciting you to vote in both the Republican primary and in the general presidential election.

Likewise, there will be people from Joe Biden’s camp who will attempt to persuade you into voting for the Democratic ticket. After all, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, or really don’t care for anything political at all, the youth vote is perhaps the most appetizing on the menu for political candidates who are struggling to expand polarized voting bases.

We all are tired with the whole “this election is the most

important of our lifetimes” argument that seems to be cycled through every single election cycle. Or, at least, I’m really tired of it. Democrats use the argument when they don’t have an actual alternative platform that will attract people to vote for them instead of just saying “Republicans are evil and a spawn of Satan, and sure we also suck but we won’t decide what you can or can’t do with your body,” and Republicans use the argument when their standard “Sure, we’ll take away your social security slowly over time, but, hey, at least gas prices will be down a dollar” argument isn’t enough.

Now, I’m a Democrat who often votes for progressives in local elections that lose to more generic Democratic candidates, so I’m well aware of what it feels like to be tired and frustrated with the political process. In fact, I don’t think a single candidate I’ve ever voted for in a primary has ever won that election. I’m even willing to admit that for the past few months I’ve strongly

considered not voting for Biden in the general election this fall. I would never vote for a Republican personally, so, for me, this would likely mean I would not cast a ballot in the presidential election for any candidate. But, each time the desire to just sit it out and spectate the true shitstorm that the second half of 2024 is going to be due to the presidential campaign raises its head, I remind myself of the importance of our generation on the outcome.

Appealing to duty is a very hard political argument to make in a country that so often ignores the pain and suffering of its citizens while appeasing corporate entities, their many lobbyists, and representatives throughout the political system. However, it is our duty as citizens to vote in 2024. Forty-one million members of Generation Z will be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, making us a more powerful voting block than in any other election so far. At the same time, we are also an extremely diverse

electorate, who care about the widest spread of political issues of any generation that will be turning up to vote at the polls in November.

National politics, unfortunately, influences the entire political system. One of the issues that I deeply care about, for example, is the appointment of federal judges.

Federal judges take up the controversial cases that may ultimately reach the Supreme Court upon appeal and can directly impact everyone throughout the country, so their appointment is of crucial importance to anyone who cares about reproductive rights, voting rights or, really, any rights that you hold dear. As of November 2023, President Biden has nominated 145 judges to the district courts, the appeals courts and the Supreme Court. Of the judges that he has appointed, women account for 66 percent and non-white judges account for 66 percent as well. This is perhaps one of the handful of excellent steps forward Biden has made, slowly cutting away

at a group of judges who don’t represent the diversity of the United States. It also means less conservative decisions and more liberal decisions based on how laws actually impact people day-to-day, rather than interpretation of how laws were meant to be enacted. This is, perhaps, an obscure issue for the typical voter, but just this single issue gives me reason to vote for a specific candidate.

I don’t really care for either candidate’s general platform, but, by finding this single issue that makes me care, I have enough reason to feel obligated to vote.

We tend to criticize those who vote out of obligation, while emphasizing the importance of voting because you passionately support the platform of a candidate. But, in a democracy as diverse as ours, where candidates need to standardize their platform to attract donations, voting out of obligation due to single issues or issues that matter most to you is perfectly acceptable. If, for example, you are pro-life and this issue matters to you,

then you may vote Republican despite relying on Medicare or government assistance.

Single-issue voters choose their preferred candidate over a single issue that matters to them more than any other issue, and if you can locate something that matters this much to you, then you can find in yourself a reason to feel a sense of duty to vote to support the candidate who is on your side of the issue. A single reason to vote is enough.

What I’m trying to say by bringing up single-issue voting is that it really doesn’t matter if you agree with Biden or Trump on their entire platform — or even on a majority of their platform. Find the one thing, or handful of things, that you care about deeply. Choose the candidate that will be less risky to the success of your issue and just take a small amount of your time to cast a ballot.

Please.

Sean Reichbach is a senior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and economics and is Pipe Dream’s Opinions Editor.

w

A recap of the 81st Golden Globe Awards awards from page 1 Winner: Barbenheimer The cultural phenomenon of Barbenheimer continued its box office success with an impressive performance from both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” at the Golden Globes. “Barbie” had nine nominations and two wins — including Best Original Song and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, becoming the inaugural winner of the latter award. “Oppenheimer” had the most wins of any television show or film with five Golden Globe wins. The film won Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. and Best Original Score. Only time will tell if Barbenheimer continues its success at the Academy Awards.

Loser: Jo Koy Koy hosted this year’s Golden Globe Awards and, generously speaking, received mixed reviews.

While some comedians expressed their support by expressing how difficult awards ceremony hosting gigs can be, the general reaction to his opening monologue was quite poor.

Koy made several unfunny jokes about “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie” and Meryl Streep.

Furthermore, Koy was often the only person laughing at his jokes and, according to Justin Curto of Vulture, threw his writing staff under the bus whenever his jokes did not land. Although no one is saying that hosting an awards ceremony is easy, Koy certainly did not do

himself any favors with his performance.

Winner: International Films Although historically international films not predominantly in the English language have not done well at American awards ceremonies, recently that trend has changed with films like “Roma,” “Parasite” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” receiving acclaim outside of the best international feature film categories at awards ceremonies. The 81st Golden Globes continued this trend as “Anatomy of a Fall,” a French film, took home Best Screenplay in addition to Best Foreign Language Film.

Furthermore, three of the six Best Motion Picture - Drama nominees were international films, including “Anatomy of a Fall,” the British and Polish film “The Zone of Interest” and the South Korean film “Past Lives.”

Loser: Netflix Original Films Netflix had four of their original films nominated multiple times at the Golden Globes, but unfortunately all four films came out emptyhanded. Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” lost all four of its nominations and “May December” also received four nominations without a win. “Nyad” picked up two acting nominations for Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, but won neither.

Lastly, “Rustin” also received two nominations and did not win either. Fortunately for Netflix, their original shows were more successful as “Beef” won three Golden Globes and “The Crown” won one.

sourced from hollywood reporter Emma Stone won the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.”

Winner: Poor Things Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” has emerged as one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2023, winning Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Emma Stone at the Golden Globes.

“Poor Things” is likely to be a contender for a lot of major awards this awards season.

Loser: Blockbuster Animation 2023 was a big year for animated blockbuster films, with hits like “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Super Mario Bros.

Movie,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and Pixar’s “Elemental.” Unfortunately, these films failed to win a single Golden Globe, with the Studio Ghibli film “The Boy

and the Heron” taking home Best Animated Feature Film and both Spider-Man and Mario losing in Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and a musical category.

Winner: The Holdovers “The Holdovers” was one of just five films with multiple wins at the 81st Golden Globes, along with “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Poor Things.” The film won Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Paul Giamatti and Best Supporting Actress for Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Both Giamatti and Randolph cemented themselves as awards contenders with big wins at the Golden Globes.

Loser: Bradley Cooper Actor-director Bradley Cooper directed and starred

in the 2023 film “Maestro” about legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. Although “Maestro” seemed like it would be a big awards contender this year, the film failed to win any Golden Globes and Cooper lost both for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director to Murphy and Nolan, respectively, for “Oppenheimer.”

Winner: Prestige Television Streaming services like Netflix, HBO and Hulu have opened the door for many prestigious television shows to be made and this year’s Golden Globes celebrated many of these fine shows.

HBO’s “Succession” received nine nominations and won four awards in the Drama category. Hulu’s “The Bear” likewise dominated the Musical or Comedy category,

winning three awards. Lastly, Netflix’s “Beef” won all three Golden Globes it was nominated for in the Limited Series category.

Loser: Only Murders in the Building Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” lost all five of the Golden Globes it was nominated for. “The Bear” won Best Series, Best Actor and Best Actress in the Musical or Comedy category, thwarting Steve Martin, Martin Short or Selena Gomez from winning.

The show’s best chance for an award was probably Best Supporting Actress for Streep, but she lost to Elizabeth Debicki for “The Crown.” At least Gomez had a viral moment as a photo of her whispering something to Taylor Swift took the internet by storm.

‘Mean Girls’ isn’t as fetch as the original fetch from page 1 After Regina invites her to sit with them at lunch, Cady is taken under the wing of The Plastics.

Though Damian and Janis are initially excited for their new companion to give them dirt on The Plastics’ activities, things start to turn for the worse when the clique unveils to Cady a “Burn Book” in which they

write cruel comments about every girl in their grade.

After Regina spitefully gets back together with her ex-boyfriend and Cady’s crush, Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), and Cady learns of how she used to torture Janis about her sexuality, Cady resolves to get revenge on her — not realizing that she might lose sight of herself in the

Bebe Wood, Reneé Rapp and Avantika as “The Plastics.”

process.

Despite the familiarity of the story, this film is distinctly different from the original in the sense that there are musical numbers interspersed throughout, most of which are derived from the Broadway stage production. This doesn’t mean that this movie is an exact adaptation of the musical, though — many

of the original songs, including “Where Do You Belong,” “Stop” and “Fearless” have been cut, while Cady’s introductory number “It Roars” has been rewritten and replaced with the pop song “What Ifs.” In fact, most of the musical numbers feel more like pop songs than show tunes, which works at some points but not at others. “What

sourced from plugged in

Ifs,” for example, is fine but forgettable, while Rapp’s vocals on “World Burn” will likely ring in the audience’s minds long after the movie concludes.

Unsurprisingly, Rapp is pitch-perfect as the notorious Regina, a role that she took over on Broadway before the show’s closing.

She brings a confidence and nastiness to the character that would make the average high school mean girl tremble in fear. Rapp would be the highlight of the film were she in it more. Avantika, too, is hilarious as Karen, and her showstopping Halloweenthemed number, “Sexy,” is by far the funniest song (and moment) in the movie.

However, the film belongs to Spivey and Cravalho, the friendly but occasionally misguided narrators, who bring an infectious energy to the dynamic duo of Damian and Janis. Their new, refreshing takes on the characters are entertaining and humorous without being overwhelming.

From a directional perspective, the film is largely inconsistent. Similar to the pop song quality of the musical numbers, directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr., in their directorial debuts, do well at some points but not at others. For instance, the aspect ratio expansion during the long-

take transition between “A Cautionary Tale” and “What Ifs” is impressive and highly effective, as it literally draws viewers into Cady’s world. Despite this, some of the other songs (most disappointingly, “World Burn”) are shot like individual music videos rather than parts of a cohesive feature film, causing a kind of cinematic whiplash as the movie cuts back and forth between dialogue and singing.

However, the biggest disappointment might be Fey’s script. Where the 2004 film was smart and funny (albeit sometimes dated or offensive), this musical adaptation feels too refined — there is no edge, no wit and a frustrating attempt to inject TikTok into every plot point. Some lines are recycled from the original, but their delivery is often clunky rather than classic. A few of the new jokes land, but not as frequently as those in the original movie or even the musical. The titular “Mean Girls” are unpleasant, sure, but the script doesn’t let them be truly mean. The performances from Rapp and Rice are perfectly catty, but it feels like they’re holding something back.

Overall, “Mean Girls” is carried by the talent in its main cast, but simply isn’t “fetch” enough to live up to the classic original comedy.

bupipedream.com | January 23, 2024

ARTS & CULTURE

7

Six things to do in Binghamton in the winter From hiking to sleding to ice skating, here are a few activities to get you through a winter in Binghamton.

Sophia Caroaselli

arts & culture writer

As January unfolds, students are settling back into Binghamton University for the spring 2024 semester. Since spring is still a few months away, it’s time to embrace winter.

As everyone acclimates to the frosty roads, snowy sidewalks and freezing cold temperatures, the search for an enjoyable winter diversion becomes vital.

This list serves as your compass, guiding you toward a variety of enjoyable winter activities in and around Binghamton.

From cozy indoor escapes to refreshing outdoor adventures, the aim is to provide options that will not only offer temporary relief from the cold but also allow you to fully appreciate the distinctive charm of winter. As you settle into your routine and keep up your academics, don’t forget to create memories in this wintry landscape.

1. Greek Peak If you’re in search of a thrilling winter hobby, look no further than

Greek Peak Mountain Resort. Just a short drive from Binghamton, it’s the perfect destination for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports and activities. Whether you’re an experienced skier/snowboarder or a novice looking to learn, Greek Peak offers an array of trails suitable for all skill levels. From calm slopes for beginners to challenging runs for the more experienced, you’ll find a slope that suits your style. The mountain features a dedicated terrain park with jumps, rails and obstacles. It also includes rental shops onsite so you can conveniently gear up.

2. Hiking Winter doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors.

Binghamton and its surrounding areas offer a large range of hiking trails that look even more magical when covered in snow.

Bundle up in warm layers, grab your hiking boots and head out to discover the serene beauty of winter landscapes. Places like the nearby Chenango Valley State Park or the BU Nature Preserve offer excellent hiking opportunities, with trails ranging from easy strolls to more complex hikes.

3. Winter Festival Visiting one of the local winter festivals is a great way to celebrate winter.

These festive gatherings offer a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the spirit of the season, connect with the community and enjoy a wide collection of wintertime activities and treats. Broome County Parks’ Winterfest, in particular, is a highlight of the season, featuring several winter-themed events and attractions.

Winterfest promises an experience that captures the magic of winter. In addition to Winterfest, there are other local winter festivals and events happening in and around the Binghamton area.

4. Ice Skating One essential winter activity is ice skating, and the Binghamton area has just the places for students to take part. The SUNY Broome Ice Center and DICK’s House of Sport in Johnson City are excellent spots for ice skating enthusiasts of all levels.

Skating under the winter sky while surrounded by the sounds of laughter and the beauty of snowfall is an amazing experience that captures the essence of the season. So, gather your friends, hit the rink

caspar carson photo editor The Southern Tier offers a wide variety of winter activities for college students.

and make some wonderful memories.

5. Uncorked Creations For those looking to add a touch of creativity to their winter days, Uncorked Creations offers a fantastic opportunity to explore your artistic side.

Located right in Downtown Binghamton, this art studio provides an inviting space where you can participate in entertaining art classes

or choose a ceramic for freestyle painting. Gather your friends or go solo and join a painting session where customers can unwind, socialize and escape the winter chill.

6. Sledding Next time snow begins to cover the Binghamton area, grab your sled, toboggan or even a makeshift cardboard slide and head to one of the many local hills that

transform into the perfect sledding location during this time of year. The University’s campus itself offers some great sledding spots, with the rolling terrain providing exciting slopes for students to enjoy.

Additionally, local parks such as Otsiningo Park and Recreation Park also offer excellent sledding opportunities.

‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ review The rendition of the popular young adult series by Disney+ is proof that book to TV adaptations are possible .

Emily Maca

arts & culture intern

Disney+ ended the year successfully with its new young adult show “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”

Many fans had been on the edge of their seats waiting for the show to premiere after Rick Riordan, author of the beloved young adult book series of the same name, pitched the idea of the show to Disney back in 2019. Anticipation for the show has continued since the subsequent casting of Percy Jackson and the rest of the show’s cast.

With its incorporation of Greek mythology and the typical woes preteens and teens face as they begin the transition from childhood to adulthood, the show and the

books have become beloved fixtures on many people’s bookshelves.

The show follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson, the titular character played

by Walker Scobell, as he begins to embrace his new identity as the son of Poseidon and begins to acclimate into his new life as a demigod, though it isn’t easy. Upon learning that he is a demigod, Percy is accused by Zeus of stealing his lightning bolt, making the transition much more difficult as he is alienated by the other half-bloods at camp who doubt that he successfully killed a minotaur minutes before arriving at Camp Half-Blood — a sanctuary and training camp built to protect demigods.

Additionally, Percy is also reeling from the loss of his mother Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) who seemingly dies trying to get Percy to safety. Percy finds himself leaving camp as he embarks on a quest

to find the real thief and to rescue his mother from the Underworld, though he is not alone in this endeavor.

Percy is accompanied by his best friend, Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), a satyr tasked with protecting Percy, as well as Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), a daughter of Athena who has been living and training at Camp HalfBlood for five years. Together they embark on a quest across the country, fighting many Greek mythological monsters and discovering the kind of people they want to be — in Annabeth and Percy’s case, what it truly means to be a demigod.

The show has only aired five episodes as of Jan. 15, with the remaining three episodes being released in the coming weeks. Critics and fans alike have been dishing out praises to the actors, show writers and Riordan as well.

Since the show deals with preteens and the struggles of

Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri star as the iconic trio of Percy, Annabeth and Grover.

growing up, which can be a sensitive topic, the show has done a great job portraying just how impactful these struggles can be to anyone, from teens to adults. It portrays a journey of selfdiscovery and discovering one’s true potential, as well as being able to achieve one’s goals even in the face of adversity. Incorporating those struggles into a teen show is very important, as it will be what shapes the minds of the children watching.

As the show is aired on Disney+, it was created with the idea of appealing to a new generation of preteens as well as longtime fans of the series. Since the show is meant to cater to a younger audience, with the main characters being around the ages of 12 to 16, much of the acting is juvenile in the sense that no unnecessary violence is presented in the episodes.

Out of many praiseworthy aspects, viewers particularly enjoy the loyalty to the

source material. As the show progresses, many have been noticing all the similarities with the first book of the series, “The Lightning Thief,” as well as the many new additions that cater to a wider audience as well as the original fans of the book. Much to the delight of the fans, many aspects of the novel have been kept in the show including the famous chapter titles being used as episode names, like the opening chapter title “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher.”

However, other aspects such as the three main actors have changed from the book to the TV series. There was initial discourse about the casting of the main three characters of the show — Percy, Annabeth and Grover — with many saying that they did not agree with the casting as it was not faithful to the descriptions of the characters in the books.

Jeffries and Simhadri, who play Annabeth and

Grover respectively, were the targets of many racist comments on social media after the casting of their characters was announced.

Riordan, as well as many other cast members, were quick to show their support to Jeffries and Simhadri, as he defended them saying “If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me.”

Considering that the show has been praised by critics and fans alike, currently averaging a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96 percent, the casting is no longer put into question considering the impressive way that the actors have brought the beloved characters to life.

The last three episodes of the show are being released within the next couple of weeks, and many are expecting it to be as impressive as the first five have been thus far.

sourced from hollywood reporter

Fun Page Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017 Tuesday, January 23, 2024

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Date : 2024-01-21

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4) More adorable 9) Eye problems 14) Scary exclamation 15) 18 or 21, typically 16) Ado 17) Australia's "ostrich" 18) Engaged in disorderly play 20) Striped predator 22) Travel in a windjammer 23) Bagel spread 26) Chicken selection 30) Stay clear of 32) Infielders and outfielders make them 34) Spy novelist Deighton 36) Synagogue scroll 38) Largest island in the Marianas 39) "A Prayer for_ Meany" 41) River through Alaska

43) Admire amorously 44) Change the furnishings 45) When pigs fly 47) Laugh-track sound 48) Non-Christian priests 51) God-fearing 53) Mast extensions 55) Problem with pipes 58) Tennis units 60) Put off 'til later 61) Used fists 67) Count on both hands?

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9) Anger 10) What U sometimes means 11) "Mayday!" signal 12) Common title word 13) Feeling blue 19) Add to the staff 21) "Bad" place in Germany 24) Nautical shout 25) Second showing 27) Affleck flick 28) Much in demand 29) Syllables sung while skipping 31) Roused 33) Merganser's relative 34) Manor master 35) Still-life subjects 37) Hardly a palace 40) Black, along the Somme 42) Campbell of "Scream" 46) Driver's levy 49) Was a gossip 50) Galley notation 52) Godfrey's instrument 54) Kind of camera 56) Skein fliers 57) _ & Young (accounting firm) 59) Normandy town 61) Games' companion 62) Lennon's bride 63) 4 x 4, briefly 64) Card game winner's cry 65) Dinghy thingie 66) Thurman of Hollywood

bupipedream.com | January 23, 2024

9

SPORTS

Wrestling defeats No. 18 Army, falls to Army Binghamton splits weekend doubleheader.

Emily Maldonado sports intern

After sweeping its dual meet against Drexel and Buffalo last Saturday, the Binghamton wrestling team took on No. 18 Navy and Army at home on Sunday.

Binghamton concluded their doubleheader with an 18-17 win against Navy and an 22-11 loss against Army.

“Matchups make matches in wrestling,” said Binghamton head coach Kyle Borshoff. “Navy is a better matchup for us. They are highly ranked, but it’s a better matchup for us.

We kind of knew the Army duel was going to be a little tougher.”

Opening the doubleheader against Navy, the first match saw Binghamton win and take a lead of seven points while Navy sat with zero. The Bearcats and the Midshipmen each exchanged blows and fought to take control of the scoreboard. On the heels of the 157-pound matchup, the Bearcats lost their lead to Navy by one point, making the current score 8-7.

Eventually, Navy would take the lead at 14-7.

However, during the 184-pound matchup, the tides turned for the Bearcats. Redshirt senior Jacob Nolan began the match gaining three points

with a quick display of skill.

Navy attempted to close the gap gaining two points in the second period, but Nolan took seven points in the third period and won the match. Then graduate student Lou DePrez handed out takedowns left and right to earn 19 points in his match, the highest amount of points a Bearcat scored in their bout against Navy.

Upon the conclusion of this match, the score jumped to 17-15 with the Bearcats trailing behind Navy by only two points.

The final match saw redshirt senior Cory Day competing in the 285-pound matchup, and the Bearcats’ final chance to settle the score against Navy. An early takedown

by Day set the Bearcats in an early lead in the first period. Navy attempted to take the advantage by gaining two points in the second period but Day didn’t let that happen. After another takedown by the redshirt senior, the score was brought to six points.

With the final match now concluded, Binghamton stood strong and ended up victorious against Navy with the final score at 18-17 points.

“Toward the end when you kind of seal the victory, the emotions kind of settle in and you realize that you just won a dual meet for your team and that’s a really exciting moment,” Day said.

Binghamton’s second duel of the day was against Army. The Black Knights

Redshirt senior Cory Day won his bout at 285 pounds to secure a 18-17 win for BU over No. 18 Navy.

had the Bearcats on the ropes for the first six rounds, where Army defeated every opponent Binghamton sent their way. The Bearcats were down by 16 points and needed to close the gap with Army quickly. During the 165-pound matchup, junior Brevin Cassella bested his opponent and ended his match with a two-point lead over Army, the final score

coming to 3-1.

Nolan also had a close bout in the 184-pound matchup. He gained an early lead after getting two points, but Army was quick to match him. After a stalemate, the redshirt senior pulled ahead and won the match 3-2. During the 197-pound matchup, DePrez garnered the most points against Army yet

Provided by Binghamton Athletics

with an 18-2 win. bringing the meet score to 11-19.

It would not be enough, however, with the meet’s final score being 22-11 as Binghamton fell to Army.

“These duel meets are hard,” Borshoff said. “It’s not easy to go and wrestle the Navy and Army back to back. Not a lot of people do it, but were not afraid to do that, and that’s the

reason why we’re going to be successful at the end of the year.”

The Bearcats are set to face Harvard and Brown on Saturday, Jan. 27 for their final home doubleheader of the season. The first bout is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Men’s basketball downed by UMass Lowell BU remains winless in America East (AE) conference play.

Tyler Griff

sports contributor

Coming off a 8262 loss to Vermont, the Binghamton men’s basketball team continued America East (AE) play against UMass Lowell, and were defeated 80-60 — as the Bearcats’ losing streak extended to four games. BU never held the lead in the 20 point defeat.

“We have to be tougher mentally,” said Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders.

“We’re shooting ourselves

in the foot all the time.”

Binghamton (8-9, 0-4 AE) found themselves in turnover trouble to open the first half, with two quick turnovers from the Bearcats helping UMass Lowell (144, 5-0 AE) establish a quick 6-0 lead. Senior guard Armon Harried would soon respond with a two-handed slam to put BU on the scoreboard, courtesy of a pass from graduate student guard Dan Petcash that split UMass Lowell defenders.

The Bearcats then went on a 6-0 run to tie the game 8-8 by the first media timeout.

“The first six or eight points of the game were from our turnovers,”

Sanders said. “We have to correct that and then I think that will give us an opportunity to be a better defensive team.”

The game remained close throughout the first 11 minutes of the game as the score read 20-18 in favor of the River Hawks. However, UMass Lowell went on a 23-7 run for the rest of the half to gather a significant lead. The Bearcats attacked the rim in an attempt to limit the River Hawks’ scoring outburst, as layups from senior forward Tariq Balogun, graduate student guard Symir Torrence and senior forward Nehemiah Benson gave BU signs of

life. However, the Bearcats failed to capitalize interior scoring opportunities and cut into their deficit. At the end of the first half, the River Hawks led 43-25.

“I thought we executed offensively pretty well,” Sanders said. “In terms of finishing, the guys have got to get to the rim and finish shots. I thought a few late passes could have helped us out. We held the ball a little too long. Finishing was definitely a problem, but again, I liked the way we executed things.”

After the River Hawks opened the second half scoring with a pair of free throws, Harried converted

jacob gressin photo asisstant Senior forward Tariq Balogun totaled 17 points and five rebounds in BU’s 80-60 loss to UMass Lowell at home on Saturday afternoon.

on back-to-back layups for BU. As both teams traded baskets, UMass Lowell sank a mid-range floater with ten minutes left to extend the score to 67-43 for their largest lead of the game thus far. Sophomore guard Chris Walker responded for BU, coming off the bench to knock down a pair of threepointers — the team’s only two three-pointers of the game. “[Walker] has been doing well,” Sanders said. “It was one of those games where [Chenery] was not playing, so those minutes are going to go to someone else. And I thought [Walker] played well in the minutes he got, so if we can continue to play like this then he’ll give himself a chance to be on the floor more.”

As the second half winded down, Binghamton was unable to get back into the game — ultimately losing 80-60. BU shot just 38.5 percent from the field which allowed UMass Lowell to jump out to a sizable lead early on, and Binghamton’s lack of threepoint production prevented

the team from mounting a comeback late in the game.

The River Hawks were also able to capitalize, scoring 21 points off Bearcat turnovers, while shooting 52.7 percent from the field.

Balogun led the Bearcats in scoring with 17 points.

Harried finished with 16 points and had team-highs in rebounding and minutes with seven rebounds and 34 minutes played. Torrence had eight points, five rebounds and six assists, and Walker finished with six points—all from the three-point line—and four rebounds.

“Our schedule now gets harder,” Sanders said. “We have to go on the road and play New Hampshire and Maine, two tough teams.

We have to worry about what we need to do to get better and get prepared for our next series.”

Binghamton will take on UNH on Thursday, Jan. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, New Hampshire.

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Women’s basketball prevails over UMass Lowell basketball from page 1 Though a two-and-ahalf-minute scoring drought followed, a free throw from sophomore guard Meghan Casey put the Bearcats back on the board, kicking off a five point run that set up a 12-11 lead for BU to end the period.

“We were able to [prioritize] our offense and do a good job defensively,” Shapiro Ord said. “We were able to get a lot of stops, and that’s what really helped us get back into it. Combining the stops really helped.”

With two quick layups, the River Hawks gained the lead to open up the second quarter until Bowman drained a jumper just over two minutes in to make it a one-point game. The game remained close as the Bearcats made up for the lack of scoring on the defensive end. Later in the quarter, redshirt sophomore guard Jadyn Weltz recorded a steal and drove it down the floor for two more points for BU. However, the River Hawks’ defense started to overpower the Bearcats, building a 10-point lead at 35-25. Despite this, the second period ended on a higher note for BU after freshman guard Kaylee Krysztof, who drained a three-point shot to make it a 35-28 game at the half.

“[The team] talked about [believing in themselves and working harder] during halftime,” Shapiro Ord said.

“You can’t hold anything back, you gotta play hard … you can’t leave anything out there.”

The Bearcats came alive offensively in the third quarter with BU scoring 12 points off of six River Hawk turnovers throughout the period. Weltz tied the game at 41 after laying one in, drawing a foul and converting from the charity stripe for three points. The scoring stalled again after the game was brought back to a tie, which was broken by a jump shot by Bowman off of an assist from Casey. Despite this, late baskets from the River Hawks allowed them to take a three-point lead going into the final quarter.

“We needed to really find our offense, and I thought we did,” Shapiro Ord said.

“We talked about doing your job and really attacking them, and I was really proud of them. They put up better shots. Especially [Weltz] and [Bowman] were attacking the rim a lot and at the free throw line, and I think they both did a terrific job.”

The Bearcats and the River Hawks began the fourth quarter going neckand-neck after both sides made free throws early on.

jacob gressin photo assistant Graduate student guard Denai Bowman tied her season high with 21 points in Binghamton’s 70-65 win over UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon.

The momentum began to shift after Coleman grabbed an offensive board off her own miss and converted, resulting in two more points for BU. However, it was a layup and subsequent free throw from Coleman that cemented the Bearcats’ lead for the rest of the game.

Although Coleman and Fauria fouled out with only

seconds left of play, two free throws from Casey allowed Binghamton to secure a 7065 victory.

Bowman led all scorers with 21 points and finished the day in sixth place on Binghamton’s all-time scoring list with 1,356 career points. Weltz was not far behind with 20 points, while Coleman seized a

career-high 11 rebounds.

Binghamton also had 13 bench points, eight of which came from Casey.

“The nice thing is [the roster is] deep,” Shapiro Ord said. “I have been playing a lot of people, and everyone who came in off the bench stayed ready and did a tremendous job.

Like [Casey] … she also

did a really good job with handling and putting us in situations to be able to get shots.”

The Bearcats will travel back home to take on UNH on Thursday, Jan. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. at the Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Swimming and diving teams sweep Wagner Men win 203-92, women record 192105 victory.

Suhiliah Lall sports intern

To begin its winter campaign, the Binghamton men’s and women’s swim and dive teams hosted Wagner on Saturday afternoon, with the men and women earning a 203-92 and 192-105 win, respectively, in their final home meet of the season.

As the team celebrated senior day, six pool records were broken by the team in the contest.

“It was a great, great meet,” said Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. “You know, that’s certainly a special

group of seniors. Our first class that we brought in and have seen all the way through, so a group we’re definitely going to miss.”

The men’s team contributed to four of the six pool records the team set this weekend.

The 400 yard medley relay composed of fifth year Mark Crocker, seniors Henry Shemet and Eric Kroon and junior Eli Lanfear set a new record with a time of 3:19.75. Individually, Shemet recorded a time of 1:51.97 to take first in the 200 Yard IM while Lanfear came in first in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 45.30, both new pool records. Lanfear also contributed during the 200 yard freestyle relay — with seniors Liam Murphy,

Sandon Karinsky, and sophomore Liam Preston — where the men earned their final pool record of the day with a time of 1:23.38.

“You know, a lot of great swims,” Cummiskey said.

“The two relays were fast and that was their goal.

And, you know, [Shemet] had the goal of the 2:00:00 which was a great swim.

And [Lanfear’s] been trying for that 100 record for a while.”

Kroon swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100-yard with a time of 56.69 and the 200yard by clocking a time of 2:05.49. Also adding firstplace points in the men’s win was Murphy in the men’s 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:40.49.

In the 200-yard butterfly, senior Jake Vecchio placed first coming in at 1:51.38 while freshman Cullin Cole earned his first career gold in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.56. Taking first in the diving events was senior Will Maurer scoring 249.68 in the one meter dive and freshman Dylan Norby scoring 235.58 in the three meter dive.

On the women’s side, senior Courtney Moane set a new pool record of 1:03.71 to take gold in the 100-yard breastroke.

Moane also came in first alongside senior Maddie Hoover, sophomore Olivia Philbrick and freshman Haley Nowak in the 400yard medley relay with a time of 3:53.49. The final record set for the women

Junior Lauren Kuzma placed first in the 200 breast and 200 IM, contributing to BU’s victory over Wagner on Saturday.

was by junior Lauren Kuzma in the 200-yard breaststroke punching in at 2:17.25. Kuzma also took gold in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:09.71. “[Moane] lowered her a hundred breaststroke, which was her goal.”

Cummiskey said. “[Kuzma] had a great swim. She was trying for the record and crushed it. You know, that’s the second fastest time in program history behind her own school record. So, it was a good swim.”

Hoover dominated the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events coming in first at 1:53.29 and 5:18.54 respectively.

Nowak also contributed to the Bearcats’ victory with wins in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.00 and

the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:09.63.

Meanwhile, senior Skylar Ward took her first gold of the campaign in the 1000yard freestyle, clocking in at 10:44.14. Finally, freshman Ava Lee swept the diving events, placing first in both the one meter dive with a score of 226.88 and the three meter dive scoring 199.35.

“We’re in a good place,” Ward said. “I think it’s perfect coming into the championship season. It’s going to put us in a really good spot.”

BU will hit the road on Saturday, Jan. 27 to compete against Marist. First swim is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, New York.

provided by dave williams