Spring 2024 Issue 20

The battle for the Binghamton City Council’s sixth district seat has reached a conclusion following a legal dispute between Republican Mayor Jared Kraham and the council’s Democratic supermajority. In November, the district’s voters failed to elect a new representative when Democrat Rebecca Rathmell and Republican incumbent Phil Strawn won 550 votes each. Both Kraham and the newly-elected council claimed authority over the appointment, a disagreement that made its way to the Broome County Supreme Court.

A resolution offering support to unhoused students was recently presented to the Student Association (SA) Congress for its consideration.

The “Resolution to Address Student Homelessness at Binghamton,” proposed on March 26, will address housing insecurity among students. A National Center for Education Statistics study found that an estimated eight percent of undergraduate students have been unhoused in the past 30 days, including about five percent of graduate students. The bill was written to increase campus resource awareness and collect essential items for those in need, calling for the vice president for mul-

Menʼs lacrosse defeats Vermont in overtime

ple second chance opportunities.”

Binghamton (5-5, 3-1

One week after a resounding 15-6 victory against UMass Lowell, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team picked up its third straight America East (AE) win Saturday afternoon, defeating Vermont in overtime. After taking an early 2-0 lead, BU found themselves down 8-5 at halftime. However, Binghamton outscored Vermont 5-2 in the second half to force overtime. With the game knotted at 10, an overtime goal from junior attack Gage Adams gave BU an 11-10 win over the Catamounts. “I was pleased with the outcome,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin McKeown. “I thought our guys competed really well, especially in the second half. We competed well in the first half too, but we were a little sloppy with the ball, turning it over and giving up a cou-

ticultural affairs (VPMA) office to bring back the Campus Sleepout, an event uniting the campus community to draw attention to the unhoused student population.

Logan Blakeslee, an off-campus representative and a senior double-majoring in history and political science, wrote and presented the resolution, highlighting the rising homelessness rates in the Southern Tier following COVID-19.

“I have met students that have dealt with this issue and have per-

A resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and increased humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians was presented for the Binghamton City Council’s consideration last month.

It was introduced by Amari Pavati, a sophomore double-majoring in geography and classical studies who serves as president of the New Yiddish Bund of Binghamton — a student group building community for Jewish students whose views may diverge

sonally devoted my time and resources to helping them get back on their feet,” Blakeslee wrote in an email. “Some are lucky enough to stay with a friend for a limited period of time, while others have had to take shelter in their cars. I do not know if BU deviates significantly from the national average for college student homelessness — [about eight] percent — but until that number is zero, it demands our immediate attention.”

Reviving the campus sleepout,

from more established campus organizations. Supporters include Veterans for Peace and Peace Action — local grassroots organizers that have long called for a ceasefire.

The resolution will be sent to elected leaders in higher offices — President Joe Biden, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, Gov. Kathy Hochul, State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo MA ’83 — if it passes.

“A cease-fire resolution from the Binghamton City Council [sent] to our federal representatives amplifies Binghamton voices that have been concerned for months,” the resolution’s executive summary reads.

Rainn Wilson, Emmy-nominated actor best known for his portrayal of Dwight Schrute on the critically acclaimed sitcom, “The Office,” shared his personal journey with mental health and spirituality to a sold-out crowd on Wednesday as part of Binghamton University’s

which was last held in 2019, would draw attention to campus resources and “make the issue of homelessness visible on our campus,” Blakeslee added. During the bill’s presentation, SA Congress members questioned why the VPMA office was named as opposed to other SA offices and decided that the event’s organization will be delegated to other members if the task is better suited to another office.

Distinguished Speaker Series. This year’s installment was planned by Campus Activities in collaboration with the Student Association Programming Board’s (SAPB) insights committee.

Democrats appoints consultant Michael Kosty

In February, Judge Joseph McBride ruled for the council’s Democrats but stipulated that the appointee must be a Republican, tasking Broome County GOP Chairman Benji Federman with making the pick. Federman then nominated Strawn, though the council chose to appoint Michael Kosty, a sales consultant at Matthews Auto Group, instead. In a statement released Tuesday, Kraham said he considered pursuing further legal action but has since decided to look ahead to November. “With a special election just months away, I am stepping in to end this circus,”

Kraham wrote. “Residents have made it clear they are sick and tired of this issue. They want City Council to get back to work. While our case for overturning this appointment is strong, forcing City Council to comply with the law would cost taxpayers 10s of thousands of dollars in additional legal expenses. It would mean restarting a legal process, and months more of litigation.” He accused the council of breaking bipartisan precedent, referencing past cases of unanimous consent of candidates nominated by their party chairs. Before the vote to appoint Kosty on March 22, Michael Dundon, who rep-

resents the seventh district, argued that the appointment would help the council move forward, emphasizing his distance from the original dispute. Strawn disagreed, saying that if the council truly wanted to move forward, they would not have appointed Rathmell in January.

“This legislative body has already spent more than enough time and taxpayer money on an issue that has long been settled in our favor,” wrote Councilwoman Kinya Middleton, the majority leader. “It’s about time that we can focus fully on the important issues at hand — Binghamton still has the [third]-highest

poverty rate in the state, food deserts are increasing throughout our city and news of shootings has been constant. Addressing these issues is our top priority as we work to best serve Binghamton and the many constituents we work diligently to represent on a daily basis.”

Both Rathmell and Strawn are running in the November special election. In an emailed statement, Rathmell reiterated her commitment to serving the district’s residents. accusing Kraham of “throwing a fit” in the face of a Democratic-controlled council.

“What should, however, be considered a ‘clear and

willful violation’ of local law was the Mayor’s lawsuit against council in the first place — particularly given members’ repeated attempts to recommend alternatives to court that would have effectively avoided the ‘damage for taxpayers’ he now claims to care so deeply about,” Rathmell wrote.

She said Kraham had “become far too accustomed to” manipulating the council’s previous 4-3 Republican majority. The Democratic near-sweep last November represented a major comeback for the party, which organized to unseat multiple incumbents.

Though the dispute has

ended, Federman criticized Democrats for allegedly ignoring the will of voters and the judiciary. “The court order was clear — the City Council must appoint a Republican in consultation with the Republican chairman,” Federman wrote in a statement. “City Council’s action [appointing Kosty] was illegal — plain and simple. These Democrats would rather break the law and violate a court order than work on behalf of Binghamton residents. We look forward to City Council being held accountable for this unlawful act.”

Resolution calls for hostage return, aid increase

“Binghamton’s contribution to the military via local contractors and manufacturers, as well as the importance to residents, give the City Council the right and responsibility to pass the resolution calling for a cease-fire.”

The general public can request legislation for the council’s consideration under Binghamton’s City Charter. The mechanism was used in February when a resident proposed dissolving the Binghamton City Police.

If the council approves the legislation, Binghamton will join other municipalities across New York state, including Ithaca and Albany, in calling for a permanent cease-fire. Across

the United States, the peace movement has won support from many major cities, including Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle and Minneapolis.

Pavati presented their resolution to the council on March 25. At the meeting, Councilmen Robert Cavanaugh II and Michael Dundon said they wanted to avoid overshadowing local work and expressed hesitation at weighing in on international geopolitical crises as local legislators. In contrast, Councilmen Olamni Porter and Nate Hotchkiss appeared supportive of advancing the legislation.

Kinya Middleton, the chamber’s majority leader, said she heard and understood both positions and that the council could ad-

dress local issues and take a moral stand.

As the humanitarian crisis continues, the State Department has concluded famine has likely struck civilian populations and the Aid Worker Security Database has said Gaza is the most dangerous place for aid workers since Oct. 7. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, a United Statesbased nonprofit, prompting an apology from the Israeli government after international condemnation.

“Numerous humanitarian aid organizations have insisted that a cease-fire is the only way to [ensure] lives in Gaza are saved from the imminent famine,” Pavati wrote in an addendum

to their proposed legislation. “Similarly, a ceasefire without ensuring the [United States] reinstates its funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and continual funding to other organizations will not avert disaster either. Both are needed to save Palestinian lives in Gaza.”

In a recent Security Council vote, 14 member states supported a binding resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire during the holy month of Ramadan, which would then lead to a lasting and sustainable cease-fire. The United States abstained from the vote, allowing its passage in a break from longstanding diplomatic tradition. As the movement for a

permanent cease-fire has grown internationally, local activists have advocated in parallel. Late last month, community and student leaders came together to rally for Palestine at the University Downtown Center, urging divestment from Israel’s military and an academic and cultural boycott of Israeli institutions.

[HYPERLINK https://www. bupipedream.com/news/ community/activists-rally-for-palestine-at-udc-demanding-university-implement-bds/150945/]

“City Council has to recognize that we are contributing to the famine and genocide, and they represent people who want that to change,” Pavati wrote.

“I believe it’s absolutely in the scope of their powers to

act as an amplifier for their constituents. City councils — including in Binghamton — have passed similar resolutions numerous times when the circumstances are this horrific.” The resolution is set to receive a vote at an April

caspar carson photo editor

As calls for a permanent cease-fire grow on the international stage, activists in Binghamton have advocated in parallel, including at a rally at the Binghamton University Downtown Center late last month.

Donations to both shelters and on-campus resources will be collected at the sleepout. Shelter staff and those who have experienced homelessness will have the opportunity to share their experiences while administrators will spotlight student resources like the homeless liaison.

Blakeslee said he was inspired to continue this event at the University after working on the 2019 Annual Homeless Awareness Sleepout at SUNY Broome.

“At this event, I heard a lecture from a [United States] veteran who became homeless after his service in the Marines,” Blakeslee wrote. “He described the serious nature of the problem and the stressful decisions that homeless people must make each day in order to survive. It is tragic that many students have to endure those same conditions.

I believe that the combined efforts of the student body can help alleviate the problem at a time when the cost of living is rising faster than wages can keep up with.”

“Every day I see people with carts picking up metal to redeem at Weitsman’s salvage,” Douglas Garnar, a former professor at SUNY Broome and the sleepout event’s fundraiser, wrote in an email. “People ring the bell at our church daily for food and clothing. There are multiple reasons for homelessness — addiction, spouse [or] child abuse, LGBTQ issues and even climate change — note that county has suffered two once in 500 year floods which left some people homeless and reduced housing in the area.

I strongly believe that the measure of a civilization is how it treats its marginalized fellow human beings — using this metric, we are not doing very well.”

Karima Legette, the University’s first homeless liaison, was appointed in August 2023 as part of a larger SUNY initiative to install liaisons in each of its 64 campuses to connect students with available resources. The new position’s purpose is to ensure students have their basic needs met, reducing the number of students living in unstable conditions who withdraw or are suspended.

Resolution called for VPMA to organize sleepout University anticipates $5 million for AI research

The funding is contingent on the passage of Gov. Hochul’s Empire AI Consortium. Sarah Lettieri news contributor

If New York’s State Legislature approves an executive project, Binghamton University will be awarded $5 million to facilitate artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. The donation from Bloomberg L.P. cofounder Tom Secunda ‘76, MA ‘79 is contingent on the passage of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed Empire AI Consor-

tium and will allow the University to play a significant role in the initiative. Upon approval from the State Legislature, the initiative will strive to make New York state the nation’s leader in AI innovation through a series of projects.

“[Secunda] visited campus recently with [Hochul] and met with faculty studying how to use AI to solve important societal issues ranging from health care to information security,” said University President Harvey Stenger. “His gift will advance [BU’s] research efforts and Empire AI will provide essential links to other institutions across the state.”

The consortium’s founding institutions, which include Columbia University, Cornell University and the Simons Foundation, will be further supported by public and private investment. Additional funding will come from Secunda, who has been named as a private investor since Hochul first announced the project on Jan. 8.

While those involved in the initiative, like SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr., are confident that groundbreaking innovations in fields like education, ethics, health care and climate science are fast approaching, the exact direction Empire AI will take on campuses like BU and throughout New York state remains undefined.

“How do we shape the future of AI and ensure that it makes the world a better place and bends toward the public good,” Stenger wrote in a Press & Sun-Bulletin guest column.

He emphasized that University faculty are striving to answer this question through their work on projects like robotic seeing-eye dogs.

Both Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and New York State Sen. Lea Webb have been outspoken about their endorsement of Empire AI and that the University’s participation in the project will benefit the local economy.

“I would define ‘responsible’ in this context as using

the power of AI exclusively for the public good such as advances in medicine and the protection of critical infrastructure such as energy, food, water, telecommunications and banking,” Lupardo wrote in an email.

Other schools, including Cornell and the University at Buffalo, highlight a desire to harness AI’s potential to improve society in a variety of different areas.

The University at Buffalo, whose vice president co-chairs the SUNY AI task force and was entrusted with creating a five-year plan for AI in education, believes public universities’ involvement in the project will prevent the technology from being exploited for personal use and ensure the research conducted under Empire AI remains responsible.

Secunda’s involvement in Empire AI may extend beyond providing $125 million in private funding alongside The Simons Foundation. According to venture capitalist Fred Wilson, the consortium was originally Secunda’s idea, one they discussed last summer during a conversation about their common philanthropic interests and endeavors.

“[Secunda] is a convincing person,” Wilson wrote in his blog. “He convinced me that this was a good idea last summer and he went on to convince [Hochul], the top universities in New York state and his fellow philanthropist Jim Simons.”

Media rumors of NYC’s urban decline are not true New Yorkers refuse to let their city be defined by its past.

Michael Toscano Opinions Columnist

New York City in the 1980s was a rough place. The Big Apple faced numerous societal issues and was teetering on the brink of collapse. The city was bankrupt, with violence and poverty at historic highs. Images of graffiticovered subway cars, abandoned buildings on fire and garbage-filled streets serve as stark reminders of a dark period in the history of this city.

Today, it’s a popular talking point in the media that New York City is once again on the decline. Many claim that crime is soaring, and the city is no longer safe. Yet, as we compare the New York City of today to that of the not-so-distant past, it becomes clear that the prevailing narrative of New York City’s urban decline couldn’t be farther from the truth.

As a lifelong New Yorker, I have only been around for a 20-year snapshot of the city’s long history.

As college students, many of us have been to our fair share of social gatherings, whether it be a frat party, a house party or a night out at the bar with friends. Likewise, we have probably all seen or experienced a man approaching an uninterested woman and hitting on her. More often than not, she will respond, “Sorry, I have a boyfriend,” regardless of her relationship status or sexuality. I have recently seen some online discourse surrounding this common occurrence — of people wondering why women won’t simply say they are not interested. You don’t owe strangers anything, so why should you feel the need to apologize? However, the distinction between “sorry, I have a boyfriend” and “no, not interested” is crucial.

However, my father, a child of the 1950s who grew up in the Bronx, has seen it all. He has witnessed a complete transformation of New York City, living through its highs and lows over seven decades. For New Yorkers like my father, these alarmist claims of urban decay and disaster fall flat on their head. Having survived New York City at its worst, he says the city today has improved tremendously and does not even come close to how it was in those days.

Primarily, the people who fall for these claims are those looking at the city from the outside in. Without being on the ground, commuting to work each day, and living in the city, it’s easy to get caught up in the sensational headlines spun by publications such as The New York Post, and New York Daily News. These right-leaning tabloids fill their front pages with shocking headlines, amplifying isolated incidents across the city and making crime seem much more prevalent than it is in reality.

One such headline in The New York Post reads, “NYC serious crimes hit levels unseen in two decades last year even as Mayor Adams claims ‘crime is down.’” Headlines like this certainly get clicks, but their arguments often crumble under the smallest scrutiny. In this particular article, The New York Post claims that assaults in NYC reached historic levels in 2023. The article reads, “For the second year in a row under Adams, overall crime was on the rise — driven by a historic surge in assaults, which neared 28,000 for the first time in the city’s publicly recorded history.” This claim certainly appears alarming, however, it only takes one Google search of past NYC crime statistics to demonstrate how misleading it is.

According to historic NYPD crime data, NYC assaults peaked at a height of 92,105 in 1990. Therefore, claiming that New York City reached 28,000 assaults “for the first time in the city’s publicly recorded history” is laughably misinformed and an alarming example

of journalistic deceit. As a journalist, it angers me to see a professional news organization blatantly promoting a narrative of fear with misused data.

Would you believe me

if I told you that New York City is one of the safest big cities in the United States?

Despite all of the shocking headlines that you’ve heard recently in the news, this is indeed true. According to research by the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, New York City is among the top 15 percent of cities across the United States in safety. This ranking is extraordinary for such a large city and starkly contrasts the prevailing narrative of crime and decline. Unfortunately, favorable statistics like these are ignored by the news media in favor of sensationalism.

The South Bronx, by far ground zero for the crime and urban decay of the 1980s, is today a vibrant, up-and-coming community, thanks to increased investment and revitalization efforts. The borough of the Bronx

as a whole has seen unprecedented development and investment over the past decade, sporting the most building applications of any borough. New luxury condos are emerging on the Bronx side of the East River and tenants face rents as high as $5,345 for a two-bedroom apartment.

With all of this investment and wealth concentrated within New York City, urban decline on the scale of the 1980s is highly unlikely to occur ever again.

I am not claiming that New York City is free of problems. From the homelessness crisis and migrant crisis to issues of education and wealth inequality, the city faces several complex challenges with no easy solution. However, acknowledging these challenges does not undermine the city’s decades-long progress.

In addition, NYC crime has risen slightly in the years since COVID-19, but it is still a drop in the bucket when compared to the crime rates of the 80s and 90s. In 1990, during the peak of the New York City crime wave, murders hit an all-time high of 2,605. In the three decades since, the murder rate has dropped significantly from this all-time high, with only 386 cases in 2023. When you look at the numbers, this trend remains true for all types of crime. The fact is, New York City is safe, no matter how many headlines say otherwise. The New York City of today may not be perfect, but it stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of its residents, who refuse to let their city

It can be the difference between life and death.

On March 17 at 2:20 a.m., twin sisters were stabbed in Brooklyn, New York for rejecting an unwanted advance. Nineteen-year-old Samyia and Sanyia Spain were in Slope Natural Plus Deli in Park Slope with family and friends when 20-year-old Veo Kelly, who has since surrendered to the police, began to aggressively make advances toward the young women. According to what a witness told NBC4, “One of them guys complimented two girls, walked in with their friends and they said, ‘no, we’re not attracted,’ so he called them names. They called him names back. He walked out. He walked down the block angry.” After the twins left the store, Kelly followed them, stabbing Samyia in the neck and chest and killing her and stabbing and injuring Sanyia in the arm. Since then, Sanyia has clarified that the argument escalated when Kelly

expressed the desire to connect over social media — “She said she wasn’t going to follow him back. That’s it. She said no.”

While tragic, the attacks on Samyia and Sanyia are not an anomaly. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive tracking mechanism for rejectionbased killings, but it is evident that they contribute to the overarching epidemic of femicide in the United States. The United Nations (UN) defines femicide as “intentional killing with a gender-related motivation. [It] may be driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination toward women and girls, unequal power relations between women and men or harmful social norms.” Under this definition, the attacks against the Spain sisters would be considered femicide.

There seems to be a misguided perception that femicide is only a problem in developing countries. However, the United States

ranks at 34th for deliberate female homicides with 2.6 killings per 100,000 women. While the Spain sisters were attacked by a stranger, according to the UN, “current and former intimate partners are by far the most likely perpetrators of femicide, accounting for an average of 55 percent of all intimate partner and family-related killings.” This statistic reveals an alarming truth that we, as women, are never completely safe. It can sometimes feel as if we have to earn our rights to be treated as human beings while men are coddled for being monsters. Too often, when a woman commits a crime, she is heartless, but when a man does it, he is said to be suffering from mental illness. Even regardless of someone’s mental health history, women should not have to feel like their lives are at risk after unintentionally bruising a man’s ego.

While rejection killings and other forms of femicide

are not something that can be stopped overnight, there are steps women can take to help protect themselves, whether while at a frat party or while grabbing a late-night snack at a deli. For instance, when going to a party, go with a group of friends and make sure not to separate from them. Having eyes on each other and making sure everyone gets home safely reduces the possibilities of harm, such as alcohol or drug intoxication, petty crimes and violent crimes. Offenders are less likely to go after a group, so it is important not to put yourself in a vulnerable place of isolation. Additionally, using the classic “sorry, I have a boyfriend” is less damning than telling someone you’re flat-out not interested in them. For starters, it is more effective. Once a man finds out a woman is taken, whether she is telling the truth or not, they will feel a sense of respect they did not have before, not wanting

to cross a boundary into another man’s “territory.”

While this logic is deeply rooted in misogyny, I can speak from experience that it is, unfortunately, the mindset of many men. To be clear, it is never the fault of a woman for a man’s violence against her. In the case of the Spain sisters, telling Kelly they were not attracted to him was not what killed Samiya and injured Saniya. The blame lies on no one but Kelly. However, it is essential to take every measure you can to ensure your safety when rejecting a man. Until the world takes gender-based crimes seriously, it is up to us to look out for each other. Jordan Ori is an undeclared sophomore. Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions

SAPB brings Rainn Wilson to Binghamton

Both of the organizations share similar objectives to inform and inspire the University community through campus-wide events, humanizing prominent speakers who students have grown up watching onscreen in the process.

Chelsea Kaden, chair of the SAPB insights committee and a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, explained that SAPB was increasingly inclined to bring high-quality programming to BU after previous appearances from fan-favorites like Giancarlo Esposito and, more recently, Brittany Broski.

“After the success of our fall keynote speaker featuring the amazing [Esposito], I would say that we did feel slight pressure to bring someone of equal prominence,” Kaden wrote in an email. “However, we felt more strongly that we wanted to bring someone who would get students just as excited to see. The goal of SAPB is student enjoyment and engagement, so this is why we take the creation of our survey and the results so seriously.”

The event was hosted by Kaden and Vice Chair Atticus Fauci, a sophomore majoring in economics, who guided Wilson’s talk in a live inter-

view format and inquired about consequential moments throughout his career as an actor and author. A brief Q&A session toward the end of the event allowed members of the audience to interact with Wilson themselves, which included several jokes and references to his time on “The Office.”

Wilson, who described himself as a “totally geeky, suburban kid from Seattle,” grew up with divorced parents in a household where he was essentially raised by classic American sitcoms of the 70s and 80s such as “Mash,” “Taxi” and “The Bob Newhart Show.”

“I would watch the kind of comedic side characters — Radar O’Reilly, Jim Ignatowski and Howard Borden — in TV sitcoms and I loved what they did so much,” Wilson said. “I loved the physical comedy and the odd humor … In my head, I was like, ‘I want to do that.

I want to do what they’re doing.’”

Wilson began participating in theatre throughout high school and college at the University of Washington in Seattle, attributing his compulsion toward the craft to an “[obvious] genetic component” upon discovering that his birth mother had also been an actor.

As a sophomore in college hoping to pursue acting more seriously, Wilson tried his hand for roles in local productions when he came to the realization that he would need more training to make it in the real world. Wilson explained that he was finally convinced to make that commitment while watching the critically unacclaimed movie-musical adaptation, “A Chorus Line,” a film that ironically drew out that “beautiful, mystical” revelation that would define the rest of his life.

By the time he had secured his breakthrough role in the American adaptation of British sitcom “The Office,” Wilson had already graduated from the Tisch School of Arts at New York University 15 years prior and was doing theater for a decade — balancing callbacks, rejections and miscellaneous side gigs to pay the bills.

“I was the first person to audition for ‘The Office,’” Wilson said. “Literally day one, first person signing in on the call sheet at the casting office. I still have a copy of that.”

Like many other members of the cast, crew and critics, Wilson said he did not anticipate the lasting success of the series, which evaded constant

threats of cancellation and suffered from slaughterous reviews upon its release in 2005. He later theorized that perpetual attraction to “The Office” could be explained by the balance of comedy and “real, human moments” exchanged between characters, a decision implemented by head writer and showrunner Greg Daniels. “No one really foresaw what was going to happen,” Wilson said. “And now I just saw a thing that said we were the fourth most streamed show in the history of all television.”

Despite his gratitude toward “The Office” and the opportunities that followed the show, Wilson explained that he felt “chronically dissatisfied” and “constant not-enoughness” with the direction of his career and discussed his daily struggle with crippling anxiety.

“There’s so many different things that anxiety could be telling you that you need that you’re disregarding,” Wilson said, who recommended that the audience practice self-care and reach out for support if needed. “And then you live as a victim to this kind of unsettled state to dukkha, to anxious discontent.” Wilson embarked on a

spiritual journey in search for a greater sense of peace and purpose, tracing back to his roots in the Baháʼí faith, which embraces religious beliefs from around the world in pursuit of a unified future. To share his newfound discoveries about humanity and society, Wilson co-founded the production company SoulPancake in 2006 and published his bestselling book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution” in 2023.

Jennifer Keegin, associate director of campus activities who organized the event in collaboration with SAPB’s Insight Committee, expressed her appreciation for Wilson’s vulnerability.

“We love [Wilson’s] positive messages about Joy and taking care of personal mental health,” Keegin wrote. “His popularity with ‘The Office’ is one thing — but also his work with SoulPancake and his books that he’s published. We have had many big-name speakers in the past.”

“[Bahá í] has informed my whole life and career,” Wilson said, discussing the similarities between the creation of art and the making of prayer.

“And I will say there was a period of time when I struggled with the fact where I was play-

‘Total Eclipse of the Art’ exhibitions

BUAM hosted an exhibition that showcased astrological works ahead of the April 8 solar eclipse.

Van Thum arts & culture writer

As the April 8 solar eclipse draws near, the Binghamton University Art Museum (BUAM) has unveiled an exhibition fit to honor the event.

The pop-up exhibition, cleverly entitled “Total Eclipse of the Art: A pop-up exhibit celebrating celestial bodies,” that features works that involve the sun, moon and stars across time and space.

The total solar eclipse, which cross North America on Monday, April 8, is the first solar eclipse visible in the United States since 2017. Roughly 31.6 million people live in the path of totality, or the area where the moon will fully eclipse the sun. In Binghamton, the eclipse will begin at 2:08 p.m., and will last until 4:34 p.m. However, Binghamton will not reach totality during the duration of the eclipse.

Jessica Petrylak, the co-curator of “Total Eclipse of the Art” and the art preparator and communications assistant at BUAM, wanted to engage the student body on a level they would relate to.

“It is beneficial for the museum to engage with

our community on topics and events that are relevant to their day-to-day,” Petrylak wrote in an email. “This eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that engages everyone. I think through this exhibition, we see a common fascination with celestial bodies. We can always count on artists to preserve these memories and fascinations through the visual arts.”

The exhibition features a number of different styles and mediums of artwork.

One of the first pieces visitors see when entering the room, “Sun” by Lora Mogenstern, challenges expectations with a mosaic-encrusted dish. The bright yellow and gold contrasted with black and brown catches a viewer’s eye as much as the shine of the piece. Other works include “HINC ALIQUANDO ELUCTABAR” from “Dialogo dell’imprese Militari et,” a woodcut by an unknown artist dating back to 1559, and “Flowering Plum and Moon,” a 1920s polychrome wood block print by Ohara Koson, featuring stark white petals against a black background.

The display of multimedia works in the exhibition was no accident. Amanda Lynn, the other co-curator of “Total Eclipse of the Art” and the coordinator of education and public programs at BUAM, discussed that she and Petrylak were striving to inspire students as well as showcase their collection through the

multimedia display.

“We worked to try and incorporate multiple mediums to highlight our multifaceted collection and hope to inspire students and staff to come explore what we have to offer here at BUAM,” Lynn wrote in an email.

When asked why she thought this exhibition was important, Lynn mentioned that the hope is to expand the idea of what a viewing experience of the eclipse could

entail.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we hope that by being a part of the festivities, we can help visitors make connections to the eclipse and enhance their viewing experience,” Lynn wrote.

The exhibition was designed to engage the student body in a way that would relate to their viewing experience, much like the BUAM itself. Eliana Ellerton, a gal-

lery guard and art education assistant at the BU Art Museum and a first-year graduate student studying history, said she wants students to know that this event could really appeal to the student body.

“We’re a university art museum, so everything that we do is centered [around] not just the general public and the promotion of art, but also for the overall benefit of the students who go here,” Ellerton said. “The eclipse

ing one of the most annoying, dorky, sycophantic, weirdo characters in the history of television and then I had all these spiritual ideas and connections by playing this paper salesman, beet farmer. What the hell?” Wilson continued to explore themes of encouraging potential and building capacity, an experience that he said was especially attainable within a collaborative campus community which sets the stage for a “rich lifelong process” of learning. He advised BU students to take advantage of this period of their lives and take part in a journey of self-discovery.

“The 20s is a time to grow, learn, thrive, read, fall in love, travel the world and make a lot of mistakes,” Wilson said. “It’s fine to make a ton of mistakes in your 20s. Don’t hurt yourself or anyone else, don’t be stupid, but make some mistakes and then you’ll gain some maturity by the time you’re in your 30s. When you’re 32, everything will still be there for you. It will all be waiting for you.”

that is coming up is a once in a lifetime event … so not only do we want to promote these great artists, [but we also want to] engage the student body intellectually.”

“Total Eclipse of the Art: A pop-up exhibit celebrating celestial bodies” will be shown through Thursday, April 11 in the Kenneth C. Lindsay Study Room in the Lower Galleries, and is free and open to the public.

cole JimineZ contributing photographer

The Binghamton University Art Museum anticipates for the solar eclipse with a celestial pop-up exhibit.

BU Speech and Debate wins National Championship

Binghamton University’s Speech and Debate team won at the Cross-Examination Debate Association’s (CEDA) National Championship hosted by the University of California at Fullerton from March 22-26, preserving their legacy as one of the top programs in the country.

The historic accomplishment comes after BU won the District Qualifiers earlier this month, with an undefeated streak of 12-0 against the likes of Cornell University and Dartmouth College — preceded by success at several other debate competitions since the start of the season. The first-place win also marks the second time an institution based in New York state has won the championship title, with the other being New York University over 20 years ago.

The partnership that led Binghamton to victory consisted of Eli Louis, a senior majoring in Africana studies, and Akif Choudhury, a junior majoring in economics. Louis and Choudhury were ranked as the second and 19th best speakers in the country at the CEDA tournament, respectively.

“A lot of time is spent practicing the clear articulation and delivery of arguments, so being able to successfully apply what we’ve practiced gives a rewarding experience,” Choudhury wrote in an email.

According to Joe Schatz, the director of the Bingham-

“The

The Bygones highlight their musical compatibility with their debut album, consisting of 13 tracks.

ton Speech and Debate team, the University consistently competes at the national level against other programs on full scholarships and three times the coaching staff. Rather than strictly recruiting talent out of high school or participating in regional novice debate, the “underdog” program prides itself on involving members of all experience levels and backgrounds. Approximately 30 members meet with their team and coaches for hours each week, familiarizing themselves with research, strategy and skill-building often over late nights and weekends.

Schatz, who attributes Binghamton’s success to their collaborative and supportive team dynamic, elaborated on the similarities among students who join the program.

“Our students have always been incredibly clever, dedicated and hardworking,” Schatz wrote in an email. “They all have found ways to carve niches for themselves in the academic literature so that they can become an expert [in] a way that sets them apart from other teams in the country who approach debate in a more normative way.”

Binghamton’s team is divided into two sections — one oriented around the various arts of speech like poetry, prose and humor, and the other on policy debate, of which this team primarily competes in. The sections then travel to compete at different regional, national and occasionally international intercollegiate tournaments up to seven or eight times per semester.

This year’s debates focused on whether or not the United States should reduce its nuclear arsenal, a topic

previously voted on by the community last May. Both BU students and their coaches have been hard at work since September, planning both basic and specific arguments for the upcoming season. During nationals, teams had to be prepared to defend either the affirmative or negative side over 14 rounds of debate averaging two hours each.

David Michael Woodward, the team’s head debate coach, explained that members completed their preliminary research on nuclear weapons and their impact on society, government and military prior to the start of the tournament, allowing the team to successfully interpret and add on to their arguments before each round.

Woodward further discussed how the team crafted their approach.

“Most if not all of our strategies were based on philosophical strategies, oftentimes discussing the racist or sexist practices that had existed in the design, use and testing of nuclear weapons,” Woodward wrote. “But there were other debates where we looked at more postmodern thinkers such as Jean Baudrillard and others.”

As they battled their way through the breakout bracket at CEDA Nationals, two of Binghamton’s teams ended up debating against each other, guaranteeing the University a spot in the final four for the second year in a row. The opportunity allowed two graduating members, Kate Marin, a senior double-majoring in psychology and linguistics, and Sonnie Picallo, a senior majoring in philosophy, to end their under-

graduate debate careers on a monumental win. Marin and Picallo ranked eighth and ninth at CEDA Nationals, respectively.

Despite the intensive time and energy commitment to the team, Picallo explained how this was a fulfilling end to their Binghamton debate career after first joining during the peak of COVID-19.

“Watching the Binghamton Speech and Debate Team win one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year and ending my eight-year-long debate career in one day was a lot, but I truly could not have asked for more out of our performance,” Picallo wrote in an email.

As the team advanced to the finals after defeating CSU Long Beach, BU went up against Wake Forest who

were the reigning 2023 and 2022 champions. Despite Wake Forest’s nearly 200year old program founded in 1835, BU managed to beat them on a 5-2 decision.

This month, Louis and Choudhary represented Binghamton in the National Debate Tournament hosted at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In recognition of the team’s achievements, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar has officially proclaimed March 25 “Binghamton University Speech and Debate Team Day.”

“It’s exciting that it all paid off,” Schatz said. “The work that Eli and Akif put in is really truly amazing. In fact, the entire squad this year were all among the best students I’ve gotten to work with over my close to two and a half decades coaching debate at Binghamton.”

On April 4, The Bygones released their debut album — an impressive 13-track record that blends timeless sounds and sophisticated musicianship with indie pop-rock.

The new duo is composed of Joshua Lee Turner and Allison Young, known primarily for their respective YouTube channels that feature their virtuosic vocal, guitar and songwriting skills. Turner’s channel has amassed 703,000 subscribers since its inception in 2007, where he posts his original songs and

guitar work, collaborations with other artists and covers of musicians including Leo Kottke and the Rolling Stones. Known for her oldies-style vocal technique, Young has garnered 150,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she posts original songs and covers of music from bygone days.

Ever since their 2018 cover of “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, which has reached 4.7 mil-

lion views, Turner and Young launched their duo project. Their self-titled debut album contains the best of their respective skills, featuring both Turner’s stunning guitar work and Young’s pristine vocals. The album opens with a short instrumental introduction followed by the dreamy, retro-inspired track, “How Do You Waste a Day?” The doubled drums create a unique in-

die sound as Turner and Young sing about spending a lazy day with a significant other. Paired together, the following tracks are the highlight of this album. “Whatever That Is” is a beautiful, modern and reflective love song about a relationship growing stronger with time. The lyrics “it’s whatever that is / don’t have to name it, cause it changes as we grow / now look at the both of us” are both affecting and sweet, giving the song both a sense of sentimentality for the past and appreciation of the present. The next track, “Can’t Quit You,” is a country-pop gem that shines with its memorable, catchy melody. The lyrics are refreshingly straightforward, merging Young and Turner’s vocals on lines such as “I know what I’m headed for / and I got to, I got to stop laying in a puddle on your floor.”

The same can be said about “Stars Turn Cold,” an upbeat song that encompasses elements of pop, rock and indie, featuring impressive guitar work from Turner and a remarkable saxophone solo to finish out the track.

The second half of the record features a tonal shift for two tracks, “Falling in Love with Broken Hearts” and “The Clover Saloon.” Although the album can be described on the whole as eclectic, featuring a unique blend of indie, rock, pop, folk and country, these two tracks feel tonally disparate and slightly jarring compared to the rest of the record. That being said, they display Turner’s and Young’s passion

for classic country music, and their musicianship in the two tracks shines through.

As the most complex and layered song on the record, “Glad” demonstrates Turner and Young’s unique sound and reflects the album’s explorations of love, appreciation for the present, and contemplation of the past. “Secondhand Store” stands out similarly to “Stars Turn Cold,” containing the perfect mix of Turner’s electric guitar, Young’s vocals and their memorable melodies.

Though less pop-oriented, “Interlude,” “Asteroid Day” and “The Collector” work together to develop a quieter side to this album. “The Collector” has a timeless quality to its acoustic instrumentation and the beautiful blending of the duo’s vocals. The last track on the album, “If You Wanted To,” is truly a standout song that features a tonal shift that is truly extraordinary on the first listen, with unique percussion and understated horns as Turner and Young sing, “if you really wanted to be here, you would / if you really wanted to love me, you could.”

“The Bygones” is at once fresh and timeless, demonstrating an impressive showing

Alexis Yang arts & culture editor

A series of events celebrating research, scholarship and creative activity

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Community-Engaged Learning and Research Showcase

Research Days Keynote with communications strategist Amy Aines

4 p.m. Monday, April 15, Monday, UUW-325

Art of Science exhibit opening reception

4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, Center of Excellence Atrium

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition

Noon-1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, UU-Mandela Room

Campus-wide Student Poster Sessions

9 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, April 19, UU-Mandela Room

Earth Day Festival 2024

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 19, along the Lois B. DeFleur Walkway

Amy Aines

Baseball drops series to UMass Lowell

Driscoll records sole win for BU over the weekend.

Luca Caresse sports contributor

Coming off a road sweep of Middle Tennessee, the Binghamton baseball team suffered a series loss back at home to UMass Lowell over the weekend. After winning the series opener 5-1 on Saturday, the Bearcats dropped both games on Sunday’s doubleheader to the River Hawks, 7-5 and 17-4, respectively.

“’[Our performance overall was] not good enough,” said Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki. “You can’t get a performance like you got yesterday out of [Driscoll] and then come out and lay an egg today. That’s just not acceptable. I can’t put my finger on it. We just weren’t good in any phase of the game today. Unfortunately, it’s a bad day at the ballpark. It’s not what this program is about.”

Led by senior pitcher Gabe Driscoll’s complete game of one-run baseball, the Bearcats [12-15, 3-6 America East (AE)] recorded a 5-1 win over the River Hawks (11-17, 4-4 AE) in the series opener. Driscoll added nine strikeouts while only surrendering four hits, one walk and one run on 111 pitches. In his first at-bat back from injury, junior second base Nick Roselli sent a changeup 420 feet over the right field fence for a two-run home run in the first inning. Senior outfielder Tommy Reifler went four-forfour and scored three runs for the Bearcats. In the second inning, Roselli added a sacrifice fly, while junior outfielder Logan Haskell added two RBIs to

round out BU’s scoring. “It’s as good as we’ve ever had an ace pitch for us,” Sinicki said. “[Driscoll] was everything you want an ace to be. He controlled the game. He wanted to go out and finish. He had really good stuff. That’s what you want your ace to do. I’m glad [Roselli] hit [his home run]. It was almost storybook, but [Roselli] would trade [his home run] for three wins this weekend, I know that.” The Bearcats dropped the opening game of Sunday’s doubleheader 7-5 after holding a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning. Senior pitcher Nelson Berkwich gave the Bearcats five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four. Junior third baseman Devan Bade drove in two runs on two hits, while graduate student first base Sam Haney added two hits, including an RBI double in the seventh inning. However, UMass Lowell put up a four spot in the top of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead, which it maintained the rest of the way.

“You can’t be up 4-2 and throw four straight balls to walk the leadoff hitter and set the stage for [UMass Lowell taking the lead in the sixth],” Sinicki said. “I thought a couple balls fell in that we should have caught and from there, the rest of the bullpen didn’t get the job done. Disappointed in the way our bullpen pitched today. It’s hard to find good things to say when we played like we did today.”

In the rubber game, BU opened up the scoring with two runs in the first, but the River Hawks scored a run in every inning from the second to the sixth. Reifler, Roselli and

senior outfielder Mike Gunning collected multiple hits for BU — with Gunning driving in a run in the seventh to make the game 10-4 — but the River Hawks added three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to cement a 17-4 win.

“You jump out to a two-nothing lead and then you just can’t have balls go into the backstop and giving a team an opportunity to literally walk their way back into

the game and then take their lead,” Sinicki said. “We’ve got to block those. We’ve got to be better both on the throwing end and the receiving end. That immediately opened the door for them and then the bullpen just imploded. It was a bad effort by everybody.”

On the weekend, Reifler led the Bearcats with six hits, while Roselli collected three RBIs in his first weekend back from injury. Driscoll’s performance

on the mound Friday brought his ERA down from 4.10 to 3.50 while moving to 46 strikeouts on just seven walks for the season. “[Driscoll’s] been a lot better more times than he hasn’t been,” Sinicki said. “That’s what we need out of that guy in that number one spot. [Reifler and Roselli] are veteran guys, and we expect them to be the guys that kind of lead the way for us. But if you’re just going

to rely on one starting pitcher and a couple guys in a lineup, you’re going to end up losing two out of three more than you win two out of three.”

The Bearcats will look to bounce back as it hosts Le Moyne on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the Bearcats Baseball Complex in Vestal, New York.

Track and field partakes in two competitions

At Colonial Relays, men finish eighth, women place sixth overall.

Emily Maldonado sports intern

This weekend, the Binghamton men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Delaware and Virginia to compete at the William and Mary’s Colonial Relays and Delaware Invitational. At the Colonial Relays, the women’s teams placed first and sixth while the men’s team finished eighth overall. Then, at the Delaware Invitational, four Bearcats finished in the top five.

“It was a great weekend overall for all of our event groups, throwers, distance

runners, sprinters [and] hurlers,” said Binghamton head Coach Mike Thompson. “Everybody had a nice solid weekend.”

At the Colonial Relays, the top performers on the women’s side included senior Jenna Chan who competed in the 100 hurdles and won with a time of 13.88 seconds. In addition, sophomore Alyssa Armitage captured first place in pole vault with a height of 12-10.5. Fellow sophomore Sydney Leitner took second place in the 10k race with a time of 35:18.06.

The Bearcat’s hot streak continued during the 1600 sprint medley. The group of graduate student Gabby Hyatt, graduate student Sophia Morone, junior Hil -

lary Abankwa and freshman Vicky Mordvinova placed first, finishing with a time of 4:06.22.

“On the women’s side of the Colonial Relays, [Leitner] shattered the school record in the 10k,” Thompson said. “She ran really well. [Chan] ran a really solid early season race in the hurdles.”

The men’s team found similar success as well at the Colonial Relays. Senior Marcus Johnson took first place in two events after clocking in a time of 52.76 in the 400 hurdles and a leap of 47-0 in the triple jump. Freshman Liam Cody finished first in the 1500 with a time of 3.58.17, 67 milliseconds faster than the second-place finisher.

Finally, junior Joey Cardascia ran the clock in a time of 47.95 in the 400, good enough for third place. “On the men’s side, [Johnson stood out] for sure for hurdles,” Thompson said. “That’s one of the best times of all time for us. [Johnson is] looking great. Honestly, I think he might be able to get the school record later this year. He also did well in the triple job. Got first in the triple jump.” While competing at the Delaware Invitational, some new Binghamton records were set. During the hammer throw, redshirt freshman Brian Luciano set a new record for the second-longest throw for a freshman in program history at 188-4.5. Luciano also

holds the title for the first longest throw for a freshman with a throw of 196-6, which he set at the Raleigh Relays last week. “[Luciano’s] ultimate goal was to make it to the regional championship,” Thompson said. “He’ll need to throw a little bit further than his best to do that. But it was just another opportunity for him to throw, and I think it was a solid performance for him.” Additionally, on the men’s side at the Delaware Invitational, freshman Jose Iraola-Ceely finished third with a throw of 161-2.5.

For the women’s team, senior Gianna Hoose secured second place in the hammer throw with a throw of 165-1 and junior Erin Waters fin -

ished fifth with a throw of 152-4.5

“The Bucknell meet is just another means toward our goal of doing well at the conference meet,” Thompson said. “So I think we’re right on track. I think all of the event groups are starting to come together. So we have about a month before the conference meet. We just look to improve each weekend leading into that.” The Bearcats will return to compete at the Bucknell Outdoor Challenge starting on Saturday, April 13. First event is set for 10 a.m. at the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Track in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

emery

photographer Senior pitcher Gabe Driscoll tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts in Binghamton’s 5-1 win against UMass Lowell in the series opener.

However, Vermont continued to put pressure on Binghamton, finding the net two more times before the half. The Bearcats and Catamounts traded goals to end the half as BU trailed 8-5 going into halftime.

“They won a couple faceoffs during that stretch,” McKeown said. “They had a couple looks offensively that we adjusted to well as the game went along. I think the guys settled in and just stayed the course and kept competing.”

The third quarter opened with a five-minute scoring drought. Binghamton ended this drought with three consecutive goals, starting with Adams scoring his second goal of the game. The Bearcats continued to pepper the Vermont goal with shots, tying the game at 8-8 thanks to goals from Ferris and Keegan. BU controlled possession during their scoring run with face-off wins after each of their three goals and they continued to protect the net, forcing Vermont into a 13-minute goalless drought. Nonetheless, the Catamounts got back on the board at the 2:23 mark in the quarter to take a 9-8 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“It’s huge to have possession in our sport,” McKeown said. “I think the mo -

mentum, especially when you make a couple of bigtime saves at the end of the game, that gives the team confidence and you know that we can pull this one out.”

The fourth quarter began yet again with a six-minute scoring drought as both teams maintained strong defensive performances. Vermont broke the stalemate, scoring again to take a 10-8 advantage with 8:39 left. In the next four minutes of play, Binghamton tied the game up at 10 as Ferris and freshman attack Andrew Girolamo each buried one in Vermont’s goal.

The Bearcats were not able to attempt a shot in the final five minutes of regulation, but pivotal saves from junior goalie Connor Winters forced overtime. The overtime period lasted 63 seconds, with BU winning the initial face-off. The Catamounts were nearly able to force a turnover on the first possession, but a ground ball from Ferris secured the Bearcats possession and set up a shot from Adams that bounced straight into the back of the Catamounts net, securing an 11-10 win for Binghamton. “With three weeks left, there’s still a little less than half of conference play left,” McKeown said. “We’re kind of focused on one at a time.

We know that if we take care of our business, we’ll end up where we want to be, which is the postseason.”

Winters had a season-high 18 saves, extending his streak of 10+ saves

After forging a comeback 10-9 victory against Vermont last week, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team returned home on Saturday afternoon and recorded a dominant 23-4 against Youngstown State to finish its nonconference slate. The Bearcats came out of the gates firing, capturing the first six goals of the game in the first six minutes and leading 10-1 at the end of the first quarter. After this point, the Bearcats did not look back, scoring 13 more goals down the stretch to earn the victory.

“I think that our focus heading into this week [was] to dictate the tempo,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “The last couple of games, we’ve had to play from behind and we talked about this being a game that we really wanted to get a fast start and, you know, start playing in a way that teams had to play catch-up to us.”

Binghamton (7-6, 2-1 AE) started strong, getting the first goal of the game only 20 seconds in, courtesy of senior attack Madison Murphy. Following the first goal, the Bearcats then scored five more within a six-minute frame. This came courtesy of two goals from junior attack Olivia Muscolino, and one each from sophomore midfield -

er Emma Blloshmi, senior attack Gabriella Meli and Murphy once again. Youngstown (0-13, 0-3) got on the board at the 7:22 mark in the period. Soon after this goal, though, Binghamton went on a four-goal run in two minutes to take a 10-1 lead going into the second period.

“I thought today was really strong in execution on both sides of the ball,” Allen said. “[I’m] just proud of our team. [We] had some players that got in the game today that really stepped up and owned the opportunity and was excited to see them excel.”

In the second quarter, the Bearcats’ offense did not slow, exploding for seven more goals in the period. On the other end of the field,

to nine-games. Two Bearcats had hat tricks in the game, with Adams scoring three and Ferris setting a career-high of four goals.

“On the defensive end, letting [Vermont] get eight

Binghamton’s defense continued to put the pressure on, holding Youngstown State scoreless throughout the period. Going into halftime, the Bearcats led 17-1. Youngstown controlled the draw at the start of the third quarter, but BU quickly gained possession back. The ball found sophomore attack Jess Robinson, who passed it to sophomore attack Carla Curth, who found twine. Only a few minutes after this goal, the ball made its way to Murphy, who then scored her fifth goal of the game. The Penguins then made their way to the net, getting on the board once again for the first time since the first period. Blloshimi scored the final goal of the period to give BU a commanding 20-2

goals in the first half, I think we tightened some things up in the second half,” McKeown said. “[Winters] came up huge with some really big-time saves.” BU will continue its AE

lead heading into the final period.

“I think it’s just really important to have those opportunities where players can learn from live game situations and face somebody that they’re not familiar with,” Allen said. “That’s when the adjustments have to be made, and I thought everyone did a really great job with that today.”

As the Bearcats entered the last 15 minutes of play, sophomore goalie Cheyanne Carson-Banister entered the game for senior goalie Sofia Salgado. Once again, BU came out early in the fourth quarter as Muscolino scored her fourth goal of the game. The Penguins then captured the next two points of the game, making the score 21-4. Bingham -

slate against UMBC on Saturday, April 13. First faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

ton controlled much of the remaining minutes of the match, with the ball finding freshman midfielder Keira Bauer, who found the back of the net for her first career goal. With 44 seconds left, Curth capped off the decisive 23-4 win for BU with one final goal.

“It was super exciting,” Allen said. “[Bauer] came out and played two different quarters for us on the draw as well [and] I thought she did exceptional. But to see her have that first goal in her career was pretty exciting.” The Bearcats will resume AE play at home as