Spring 2024 Issue 22

Lawsuit alleges jail detainees forced into unpaid labor

The lawsuit claims that a pretrial detainee was punished by prison officials for declining to work unpaid on his day off. Joseph Brugellis

A new federal lawsuit alleges that pretrial detainees at the Broome County Correctional Facility were forced to perform unpaid labor, despite being promised pay by jail officials.

The civil rights action — filed April 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York — described the experience of 39-year-old pretrial detainee Thomas Florance while he was held in the jail from November 2023 to February 2024. He was assigned to work for Trinity Services Group, a contracted food services provider in correctional facilities.

The lawsuit alleges that Florance agreed to work after hearing from correctional officers and fellow prisoners that Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar would begin paying inmates for their labor. On

Feb. 14, prison officers placed Florance in disciplinary confinement after he refused to work on his day off, according to the court filing.

Attorneys from Legal Services of Central New York, the not-forprofit organization representing Florance, first learned about his employment back in February.

Florance filed an internal grievance against being placed on “keep lock” status — a form of solitary confinement — on Feb. 15. The grievance was returned to him that same day and allegedly included a handwritten message from corrections officer Philip Stephens saying the complaint was “not grievable.” Florance was then held on keep lock for seven days before his release from jail around Feb. 21, the lawsuit claims. Andrew Pragacz, president of the activist group Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier and an adjunct professor of sociology at Binghamton University, said the organization is aware of many other detainees who were forced to work at the jail.

Neon Trees headlines Spring Fling concert

Students gathered to enjoy the classic and familar food, music and rides, which traditionally mark the end of the year.

Jaiden Del Rosario and Sophie Hsu arts & culture contributors

Fun began on the Peace Quad as students gathered together for rides, food and games during this year’s Spring Fling. The festival

portion ran from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by a concert, beginning at 6 p.m., that featured headliner Neon Trees and openers Husband Material and Laundry Day. The event was organized by the Student Association’s Programming Board (SAPB). Food trucks, including Birdsong Cafe and Macarollin, lined a parking lot by the Peace Quad, where students waited in long lines to ride the Gravitron and the Swizzler — rides that made a comeback from last year’s Spring Fling. Classic carnival treats, like deep-fried Oreos, caramel apples and funnel cake were sold in old-fashioned themed food trucks in front of the Library Tower.

Danna Kutcher, the SAPB’s concerts chair and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, described the logistics of planning the concert, a long-awaited event every year.

Feminist Collective hosts annual ʻTake Back the Nightʼ rally

The rally and Survivor Speak Out closes a weeklong series of Take Back

Night events.

Sarah Lettieri and Victoria Stargiotti

The Feminist Collective, a student activist organization centered around intersectionality, anti-capitalism and abolitionism, organized its annual Take Back the Night rally this past Thursday. With Sexual Assault Awareness Month coming to an end, students gathered on the Peace Quad with

signs, standing in solidarity with survivors and calling out Binghamton University’s lax attitude toward sexual violence cases. It began with speeches addressing Take Back the Night’s history and the long-standing threat of sexual violence on college campuses, with the first speaker being Aleena Paulson, the organization’s president

Q Center hosts Lavender Celebration

The event celebrated the achievements of graduates who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Christina Forte

The Q Center hosted its eighth-annual Lavender Celebration on April 27 to recognize the achievements of graduating students who are part of Binghamton University’s LGBTQ+ community.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Old Union Hall, this year’s Lavender Celebration consisted of a brunch, remarks by administrators, speeches by a professor and graduate student, a rainbow

and a junior majoring in political science.

KT Fitzgerald, the collective’s senior advisor and a senior double-majoring in psychology and women, gender and sexuality studies, and Isabelle Beatus, the organization’s vice president and a senior double-majoring in political science and sociolo-

gy, also addressed these topics while highlighting available resources for victims and those interested in actively combating rape culture. In her opening speech, Paulson described the campus culture that permits sexual violence by accepting it as a part of the college experience.

Women’s lacrosse defeats Bryant on senior day

Bearcats clinch share of AE regular season title for first time in program history.

Emily Maldonado sports intern

In its regular-season finale, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team clinched a share of the America East (AE) regular season title for the first time in program history by toppling Bryant 20-8. After grabbing an early lead 5-2 in the first quarter, the Bearcats continued to grow their lead to secure their sixth-consecutive win going into the AE tournament.

“Across the board, we had a lot of highlights from today,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “[Junior attack Olivia Muscolino] coming up big with nine points for us out there, we had five different players with hat tricks and [senior goalie] Sofia Salgado having 11 saves in net.

[These are] all people that were a part of the equation and had to play big today in order for us to

come up with this type of victory.”

Bryant (9-6, 3-3 AE) opened up scoring with a goal at the 12:33 mark. Binghamton (10-6, 5-1 AE) was quick to respond as 22 seconds later, senior attack Madison Murphy would net BU’s first goal of the match. Soon after, senior attack Gabriella Meli and Murphy netted back-to-back scores to make it 3-1. Bryant would score to get within one, but the Bearcats continued to create offensive pressure. Muscolino etched the fourth goal into the scoreboard while sophomore midfielder Emma Blloshmi netted the fifth, as BU ended the first quarter with a 5-2 lead.

“We’ve talked about it for half of the season, just how many threats we have out there there on the offensive end and why we’re so hard to defend,” Allen said. “We set each other up when somebody’s not having a day, they work hard to create [options] for their

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

jared chen contributing photographer

The graduate speaker, Izzie De Jesus ‘21, described challenges she has faced as a queer person of color.

the

MODA Showcase

Detainee was placed in disciplinary confinement

“This is really not a case just about [Florance],” Pragacz said. “We’ve been hearing about people being forced to volunteer for quite some time. I know that [Akshar] would like to reduce this issue to a single individual, but it is not. We’ve heard through conversations with both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people that unsentenced, unconvicted, legally innocent people have been forced to work and threatened with punishment or punished if they do not work.”

The lawsuit says that Broome County and Trinity Services violated both federal and state law by not paying Florance for his work. Attorneys are asking the court to award monetary compensation, punitive damages and lost wages. Pipe Dream reached out to Trinity Services and the Broome County Executive’s Office, but both did not respond to requests for comment. The Broome County Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Akshar, in a statement to Pipe Dream, disputed several of the lawsuit’s claims. He wrote that any pretrial detainees who wish to work must sign up first and that no workers have ever been promised payment. He also claimed that no solitary

confinement unit exists in the jail and any detainees placed in segregated housing are given “at least [seven] hours of free time” for activities, meals, programs and other services with fellow inmates.

He emphasized that Florance was arrested three separate times and spent a total of 50 days in custody, rather than two-and-a-half months straight. Florance spent six hours in custody following his first arrest in November, according to Akshar. The lawsuit said Florance worked approximately 494 hours in total — slightly more than 20 days — for the county and Trinity Services, while Akshar wrote Florance had only worked 14 hours.

“Due to classification and intake procedures, as well as Florance’s start and end dates in the voluntary work program, Florance was only able to work for [nine] days total,” Akshar wrote. “Even if Florance had worked 24 hours a day for [nine] days straight during that period, he would have not even cleared half of what the lawsuit claims. All shifts worked by any incarcerated individual are tracked and recorded in detail and again, [Florance] worked two shifts — 14 hours total — after he volunteered for the program.”

Cassidy Lape, a staff attorney for Legal Services of

Central New York, wrote in an email that Akshar’s claim that no pay was promised was inconsistent with other reports to her office from current and former incarcerated workers. Pragacz said he was skeptical of the sheriff’s statement, noting that any incident of forced labor violates the rights of pretrial detainees. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits “slavery [or] involuntary servitude” unless applied to an individual who was “duly convicted” of a crime. Ak-

shar wrote that the Sheriff’s Office is “exploring potential policy changes” to allow individuals incarcerated at the jail to be paid, even if no state guidelines or laws require it.

A number of lawsuits have been filed over the past few years against officer conduct in the Broome County jail. Taej’on Vega, a Black and Latin American individual who was beaten and called racial slurs by jail officers, won his federal lawsuit last year.

Makyyla Holland, a

transgender woman who was housed with cisgender men and assaulted by officers after refusing a strip search, reached a $160,000 settlement in her lawsuit against the county Lape expressed her belief that a ruling in favor of Florance would benefit the community.

“The resolution of this lawsuit in favor of the inmates would have a positive impact on Broome County if those who engaged in the work program at Broome County Jail were compen-

sated for their work,” Lape wrote. “Having funds available to you improves your overall experience while incarcerated and also helps you keep your connections to the community. Further, earning while incarcerated would also assist folks to make the transition more easily from being incarcerated to re-entering the community with less dependence upon other services.”

Students stand in solidarity with survivors

She emphasized the impact sexual violence has on its victims and the detriment it can put on a person’s ability to continue pursuing their education.

“It has become rather normalized within our campus culture to ignore sexual assault as a norm of getting a degree, rather than as an incredibly malicious and vile act that places victims at a disadvantage,” Paulson said.

The E-Board mentioned @shareyourstorybing — an Instagram account that began anonymously sharing survivor stories in June 2020. The account has a story highlight on its page highlighting allegations of negligence by University administration and police, and over 800 experiences of sexual violence have been shared. These testimonies speak to the disappointing way these prevalent issues are handled by the University, they say.

The University did not immediately respond to Pipe Dream’s request for comment.

Following the rally, the Feminist Collective held a Survivor Speak Out in the University Union Undergrounds.

Beginning in the 1970s, Take Back the Night rallies target violence against women, particularly cases of physical and sexual assault that often occur at night. Historically, the march’s purpose has been to create a space for women to reclaim their bodily autonomy and demand safety for themselves and others. Paulson joined marchers in demanding change at the University and on college campuses everywhere, and she expressed her belief that, by coming together, women can inspire change and promote liberation from historically upheld misogynistic and violent cultures.

Resources for survivors were promoted during the speeches, like the Violence Abuse and Rape Crisis Center (VARCC), a space located on the third floor of Old Johnson Hall that provides resources to those who have faced interpersonal violence, and the Crime

Victims Assistant Center, a free off-campus resource open to any crime victims unaffiliated with BU.

According to Mia DeVito, the Feminist Collective’s secretary and a junior majoring in sociology, the organization strives to create a welcoming space for survivors and to connect them with resources geared toward support and advocacy. She emphasized the importance of increasing these resources’ availability to freshmen, describing the “Red Zone,” the period of time between orientation and winter

break when students are statistically more vulnerable to sexual violence.

E-Board members also raised demands for divestment, as the Feminist Collective is a member of the Divest from Death Coalition, a group of student organizations urging the University to adopt principles of the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. They highlighted the University’s partnerships with Israel and the defense industry as proof of the institution’s investment in mechanisms of violence, which they

say negatively impacts both the campus and global communities.

“We demand the University divest from weapons manufacturing companies, defund the police and reallocate these funds to the VARCC, increase culturally competent mental health providers and generally more support services for survivors,” Beatus wrote in an email.

The rally concludes the week of programming dedicated to Take Back the Night, which includes events like Chalk the Walk and poster

making. Organizers said they believe that engaging students in Take Back the Night programming, as well as other stands against sexual violence, has become increasingly difficult in recent years, and for future rallies, they are thinking of ways to expand its reach.

“This rally is how we show the student support for these demands and encourage University action,” Beatus wrote. “We hope that anyone who participates in the rally feels that solidarity and community, here on campus and internationally.”

kate mcdermott staFF photographer

Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar and Broome County Jail administrator Robert Charpinsky are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

kate mcdermott staFF photographer Participants gathered on the Peace Quad to stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault, advocate for more comprehensive resources and address the administration’s alleged negligence when resolving sexual violence cases.

The two-day event held on Friday and Saturday highlighted local efforts to combat climate change.

Ella

Connors neWs editor

A local climate change summit was held this past weekend to highlight ways in which Broome County can become more environmentally sustainable.

Spearheaded by Binghamton University, Broome County Planning, the American Red Cross, United Way of Broome County and Southern Tier 8, the summit spanned April 26-27 in the Health Sciences Building in Johnson City and the Innovative Technologies Complex. On its first day, individual organizations in the area that received targeted invitations — including municipalities, nonprofit organizations and for-profit, private organizations — gathered to develop climate change action or adaptation plans. The second day of the summit was open to the community, educating and offering interactive activities for attendees.

“If people have an understanding of what’s hap-

pening and have an idea of how they can interact with organizations or what they can do in their day-to-day lives, it’s more likely for them to actually take action to reduce climate change impacts or to mitigate or prepare themselves for it,”

Martin Larocca, a University sustainability manager, said. “Because if you are just telling people ‘climate change is happening, here is the science,’ it may bounce off. They may accept it [or] just move on.”

The first day began with Jeff Smith, the president and co-founder of Tier Energy Network, providing an overview of the impacts of climate change on Broome County. In the talk, Smith emphasized the successes achieved with technology, tourism and education and areas that can be improved upon. Following the talk, attendees chose between three simultaneous panels based on their interests — Infrastructure & Resiliency, Food Insecurity & Agriculture and Health and Society. The afternoon’s structure mirrored the morning’s, with a focus on Energy, Refugees & Social Services and Housing.

Gillian Sloan, a planner with the Broome County Planning and Economic De-

velopment department and the coordinator of the Sustainable Broome Initiative, said the event included local governments, organizations, professors, students and community members who all wanted to better understand climate change and become involved locally.

“This event, in my opinion, has aided in the already present push toward action planning for climate change, sustainability [and resilience] in our region,” Sloan wrote. “There are many other initiatives working independently of one another, but now, I believe we will all understand that working together and [collaborating] will have a larger positive effect on making true change.”

The summit’s second day began with a climate simulation exercise using EnROADS, an online simulator that explores climate solutions across different sectors. Attendees then had the opportunity to speak with presenters to learn more about their organizations and topics like climate anxiety, energy and waste management.

Some groups presenting at the summit included Network for Sustainable Tomorrow, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Binghamton 2

Degrees, the United Way of Broome County and Church in the Wild.

Alyssa Weber, a 1MReady ambassador and a junior double-majoring in geography and environmental studies, said the 1MReady campaign encourages students to monitor their carbon footprint — ultimately contributing to the larger fight against climate change on an individual scale.

“We want to institute what’s basically a culture change,” Weber said. “Once we get individuals involved and aware of their carbon footprint, we’re thinking that they’ll actively try to

fight climate change. Once everybody is on board with that, they’ll be able to support bigger movements like legislation changes and contacting their local representatives. We’re basically starting from the ground up.”

Speaking with attendees about her work with children and senior citizens, Kira Hawes, a recycling and composting educator, discussed her experience managing a community compost site at the Cornell Cooperative Extension — spotlighting her efforts to fill the composting gap in Broome County.

Pam Mischen, the Uni-

versity’s chief sustainability officer, said the event contributed to a larger effort to make climate change more “pressing and present.” She offered different activities to attendees to learn more about their food choices, where their food comes from and the carbon emitted as a result of their food choices.

“We’re trying to get the word out to students that you’re primed, you understand climate change is happening, but also that you have a responsibility to try to keep it from being the worst-case scenario,” Mischen said. “And there are so many things you can do.”

Local organizations hold climate change summit University receives funding for recruitment program

The initiative plans to prepare mathematics majors to be middle and high school teachers.

Grace Scullin neWs intern

Nearly $1.2 million in National Science Foundation funding has been awarded to Binghamton University for an initiative that recruits students

for careers in STEM education. The initiative, “Preparing Prospective Secondary Mathematics Educators through a Teacher Education Program Grounded in Community, Equity and Inclusion,” plans to train 24 4+1 mathematics majors to be middle and high school teachers over the next five years. Focused on supporting underprivileged school districts, it plans to address teacher shortages and inequities in STEM.

The grant, announced by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, will be used to award scholarships from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which provides grants to higher education institutions to support training for STEM majors to enter the education field.

“Having a good teacher makes a world of difference for our students, and this nearly $1.2 million in federal funding

for [BU] will go the extra mile to ensure we can fill the gap in STEM teaching jobs for Southern Tier communities,” Schumer said.

Stemming from a partnership between local school districts, the Endwell Master Teacher Program, the University’s department for mathematics and statistics and the department for teaching, learning and educational leadership, the initiative will create a mentorship

program to foster engagement with community schools and support the 24 scholarship recipients. A new course will train students to provide after-school STEM tutoring for middle and high school students.

It will also address equity and diversity concerns in master’s programs for secondary mathematics education. By implementing strategies like increasing local school engagement and addressing biases, the initiative hopes to meet both students’ and schools’ needs.

To recruit students, the researchers aim to work with undergraduate advising, the Center for Civic Engagement and the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development to share information about the Noyce scholarship program. The initiative will focus on recruiting mathematics majors and education minors, and its leaders plan to visit the required MATH 330 course to present information about the scholarship. Additionally, they will host a workshop every fall semester with local teachers to inform education minors about the scholarship and potential career opportunities in secondary mathematics.

“Our multiple approaches will attend to those who may or may not have previously considered a career as a secondary mathematics teacher and will provide a greater probability of recruiting the proposed number of diverse and academically strong Noyce recipients,” wrote Amber Simpson, an associate

professor in the department of teaching, learning and educational leadership, the lead researcher for the grant and a co-assistant director for the Institute for Justice and Well-Being: Advancing Equity through Community Schools.

The scholarship provides several tiers of higher education grants to train future STEM educators. To receive a grant, the scholarship requires institutions to focus on supporting high-need school districts. The University received a Track 1 grant for scholarships and stipends, which will be provided to students working in local secondary schools.

The initiative was announced amid a national teacher shortage, with demand for teachers outpacing the supply of new educators. High turnover rates and stagnating wages are significant factors in the shortage — a teacher in 2023 made eight percent less than the average worker’s wages. For STEM teachers, this shortage is more profound, as careers in education often pay much less than other STEM careers. Simpson said the University will work with Southern Tier schools to address the shortage and provide resources for these students.

“We built upon many of the good things already happening in the department of teaching, learning and educational leadership, as well as building upon the partnerships we have with local school districts,” she wrote.

divya gottiparthy staFF photographer

The nearly $1.2 million grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Scholarship Program, which provides grants to train future STEM educators.

caspar carson photo editor

The second half of the summit was held at the Innovative Technologies Complex on Saturday.

OPINIONS

‘Zombie laws’ are dangerous to women’s rights A recent abortion ban normalizes judicial overreach.

Samantha Rigante Opinions Columnist

The state of the judicial system and the federal courts in the United States today is, simply put, appalling. The notion of judicial review, which allows courts to determine the constitutionality of legislation, has gone too far, and the judicial branch, which is designed to check and uphold the integrity of the executive and legislative branches, has essentially become a political tool for parties to use as they wish. The court system, which was once thought of as an impartial and guiding branch, has lowered itself to the level of politics and is clearly ruling on issues that overreach its enumerated power in the U.S. Constitution, a principle that the new Arizona Supreme Court ruling on abortion exemplifies.

On Tuesday, April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law effectively banning abortion — even in cases of rape or incest — punishing any woman who has an abortion or

anyone who helps someone obtain an abortion. They make a singular exception for “the mother’s life.” This law, which was created before Arizona even became a state, had been blocked after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1973 Roe v. Wade case, but, since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe, the law made its way back to Arizona’s legislature.

How did Arizona arrive at this stage in politics in the first place? Immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich “persuaded a state judge [to] lift an injunction that blocked enforcement of the 1864 ban.” As such, the Arizona Supreme Court, which had expanded in 2016 from five to seven justices — all appointed by Republican governors — ruled that the 1864 law could constitutionally be enforced. However, the decision will not take effect for at least two weeks, pending decision in a related case.

When the 1864 law was

written, Arizona was not a state, women were not allowed to vote and numerous other laws were in place that we find both morally and legally repugnant today — not to mention that the law was created in the middle of the Civil War.

Maternal mortality in 1864 was extraordinarily high at least partly due to the fact that, in cases where the mother’s life is at stake due to complications with a fetus or other pregnancyrelated issues, doctors did not have the tools to intervene safely. However, these laws that were initially passed in the mid-19th century were rarely enforced, as women often did not know they were pregnant until far later, and these laws were mainly designed as a first step toward the licensing of medical professionals and were primarily enforced in cases of an abortion patients’ death.

Whatever the intent was 160 years ago, the law became — and still is today — a way to prevent women from having agency over their bodies as Republicans continue to seek an abortion ban for “moral” reasons.

These old laws that come back into modern politics are known as “zombie laws” — laws that simply exist on record for years, being neither repealed nor enforced. The 1864 abortion law is one such example, as it was deemed unconstitutional after Roe was decided, but was never actually repealed. Abortion laws are not the only “zombie laws” that exist — there are also numerous laws discriminating against LGBTQ+ people which were never actually repealed, but are simply unenforceable due to the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, a case that gave same-sex couples the constitutional right to marriage. If, like Roe, Obergefell were ever overturned, these “zombie laws” gain authority and push our country back in time.

Laws that push our country back more than 150 years are unacceptable and no one — especially not federal courts — should be able to rule that they are enforceable. It is not any court’s place to take the role of legislating, especially when those laws concern real people’s lives, and by enforcing

these “zombie laws,” the courts are effectively taking that role. Since the overturning of Roe in 2022, abortions have not decreased, but the amount of women unable to safely obtain one if their lives are at risk has. Surprisingly, this case has awoken some Republicans too — even Kari Lake, who has suddenly realized that turning the clock back this far is simply too harmful to women.

Groups, including Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, are attempting to stop this law from being fully enforced and, smartly, are attempting to pass an amendment in Arizona’s State Constitution that will maintain the right to a safe abortion up to a certain point for women. The president of Arizona Planned Parenthood said in a statement, “We know that it is now more important than ever to provide care to as many patients as we can, while abortion is still legal in Arizona, and we are swiftly expanding our services to meet the increasing needs of our community. We will not be intimidated or silenced by anti-

abortion extremists, because we know the overwhelming majority of Arizonans support the right to abortion. We will continue to use every avenue to fight for a future where all Arizonans can make decisions about our lives, our bodies and our futures.”

The United States cannot be allowed to continue this backsliding into an era where women have no control over the right to abortion and their bodies. It is not any court’s place to continue enforcing laws because of purely partisan motives, as both lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court have been doing. It is time to enshrine and reinstate a federal right to abortion and to allow women to have a say over what happens to their bodies.

Samantha Rigante is a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law. Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial.

U.S. must practice conflict prevention in Middle East

Theodore Brita Opinions Columnist

As tensions between Israel and Iran have recently heightened, the United States has found itself in the inevitable position of choosing whether or not it should intervene in the increasingly tense conflict. After Israel bombed an Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month, Iran responded to the attack with a series of drone and missile strikes that were largely unsuccessful. These tit-for-tat attacks, against the backdrop of Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, have sparked fears among world leaders that the skirmishes could lead to a regional

Nicolas Scagnelli Opinions Columnist

Having friends and family is a damn blessing.

I truly believe that if you’re fortunate enough to have people in your life who genuinely care for and love you, you’re in a good place. Unfortunately, life isn’t that simple. It can often be tough to reach out or talk to these people in your life. But, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it shouldn’t be. No matter what the case is, you should always reach out to people you love when something is on your mind because it will only benefit you.

Learn from past failures and prevent a violent future.

conflict in the already volatile region. President Joe Biden has already urged Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond further to Iranian attacks, especially after Israel showed that it could effectively repel an aerial offensive. The United States, so far, has basically given Israel carte blanche for its war in Gaza. It cannot do the same if Israel chooses to escalate the brewing conflict with Iran.

The United States does not have a strong history of success in recent Middle Eastern conflicts. The 2003 invasion of Iraq quickly became a massive foreign policy blunder that led to much of the ISIS-led violence that broke out in Iraq and Syria in the following years.

Similarly, the United States spent nearly 20 fruitless years attempting to build democracy in Afghanistan before finally throwing in the towel in 2021 and admitting defeat to the Taliban. If the United States was to involve itself directly or even indirectly in a conflict between Israel and Iran, there is no telling of the negative consequences that could emerge in the Middle East. Nations such as Iraq and Syria, which have already suffered greatly in recent years, could be caught up in the crossfire between arguably the two most powerful militaries in the region. Furthermore, if the United States acts to aggressively back Israel, other superpowers could choose to involve themselves, just as Russia did when Vladimir

Putin supported Bashar AlAssad during the Syrian Civil War. There is already growing evidence of an emerging strategic partnership between Iran and Russia that would make a conflict between Israel and Iran even more dangerous and deadly.

Perhaps the greatest hope for de-escalation is if the United States chooses to strong-arm Israel into backing down from more skirmishes with Iran. President Biden informed Netanyahu that the United States would not participate in any sort of offensive action against Iran before Iran launched drone strikes. However, the United States must do more to prevent Israel from escalating the conflict than even this measure. President Biden could publicly call for

a reduction of hostilities or stem the flow of weapons to Israel if they will be used in action against Iran. It appears that the best course for the United States to take would be to pressure Israel and Iran — by whatever means necessary — to avoid a regional conflict and manage to stay out of a war if one does break out.

Such pressure would likely be far more effective on Israel given the historically frosty relationship that has existed between the United States and Iran. Additionally, based upon obvious precedent, the United States can clearly choose to influence Israeli foreign policy if it wishes to.

This is clearly a highly volatile time in the Middle East. Although it would be an unusual right step forward for United States foreign policy, it

Open up more Vulnerability is important for your mental health.

is time for President Biden to learn from our country’s past failures and avoid entering another potentially endless and unsuccessful war in the region. Furthermore, the United States should use all of the resources at its disposal to halt the conflict between Israel and Iran. The United States historically has not acted with much intelligence or moral clarity in the Middle East. De-escalating the emerging conflict would be an important step in beginning to rectify this legacy. Theodore Brita is a senior majoring in political science. Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial.

These videos would say things like “sharing your feelings is for the weak,” or “if you cry in front of your girlfriend, she’ll grow unattracted to you.” This is such an interesting topic to me because I’ve resonated with this despite also wanting to open up.

I have had arcs of “I can’t be vulnerable in front of people,” keeping all of

This is all coming from a guy who has had his fair share of trouble with communication. I was never great about opening up emotionally, especially as a kid and well into my teenage years. I wish I could pinpoint when my hesitation all started, but I honestly can’t say. When it comes to talking to people about your feelings, especially as a man, I feel like the discourse is completely screwed — many times, I will find videos on social media platforms of men telling other — often young — men to not share their feelings.

my personal emotions to myself. I’ve also had moments in which I opened up to the people in my life and told them how I felt — it honestly comes and goes.

I want to make it clear that this whole “your girlfriend will leave you if you open up to them” idea is bullshit. If you are dating a kind, caring person, and you open up to them about anything that is deeply bothering you, they will 1,000 percent support you and be there for you. Believe me — I know because I’ve had these heavy feelings while in relationships. In a couple of relationships, I would struggle to open up and be vulnerable to my girlfriend at the time, and, every time, they would say that they wanted me to open up.

I’ve had more girls say to me that they want me to cry in front of them, rather than

not cry at all. Now, does this mean you should cry to your girlfriend every day about every little thing? No. But, if there’s something going on in your life that is deeply hurting and bothering you, whether it’s a personal or external matter, opening up can potentially make your partner more comfortable around you. I’m all for being strong and stoic, but sometimes it helps to let the walls come down. Take it from me. I had a personal quandary bothering me for a year. Yes, a literal year. I didn’t talk to ANYONE about it, because I didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t want them to look at me differently for being weak or whatever bullshit I fed myself at the time. Once I eventually did, I talked to a ton of people close to me in my circle about it — friends and family alike. It opened my eyes. The whole time I

kept everything in, I felt like a crazy person — I felt like I was torturing myself, and I couldn’t for the life of me fix it alone — that is, until I talked to people who I loved and respected and got their input. Opening up made me feel better in a way that I never imagined possible. It took a weight off my shoulders — a weight that had been burrowing into my muscles for a literal year. Finally getting that outside perspective on my issues made everything so much clearer and easier. It felt so freeing — I cannot comprehend that I let this stuff stew inside me for as long as I did. I feel ashamed that I did, because I know I would have been way better off if I just sat down with someone I cared about and told them what was ailing me.

So yes — long story

short, talk to people. No matter what is bothering you. Talk to your friends, your parents, your girlfriend, boyfriend, talk to your dog, talk to anyone. It can’t hurt. Mental health is a super important facet of our lives. While it’s gotten more attention in our modern society, it is still brushed away by many people. So, screw that. Open up when you need it to the people in your life. It’ll make you closer to them and bring them closer to you. Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English. Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial.

‘Everybody Talks’ about this year’s Spring Fling

“The most difficult part of planning is probably handling all of the moving parts,” Kutcher wrote in an email.

“There are a lot of small details that go into the event, such as making sure the artists and [Binghamton Sound, Stage and Lighting] have everything they need, there’s enough water, every lot and room is reserved, and a lot of small details that can slip through the cracks if you’re not on top of it. Thankfully, I had the most amazing team to help me with everything needed and this was one of the smoothest concerts I’ve been a part of.”

Student organizations

tabled along the Spine and the walkway by Marketplace. They had games and offered information to students passing by. Green, pink and blue balloons and bouquets of colorful feathers lined the stairs from the University Union up to the Spine — which also featured classic carnival games to win stuffed animal prizes and vendors along Harpur’s Quad.

Despite the intermittent rain, the crowd kept their energy alive for the Spring Fling concert as BU’s own Husband Material, a student group that won this year’s Battle of the Bands, opened the show with cover songs by artists like Jungle and Amy Winehouse. After, LAUNDRY DAY took the stage for an energetic performance. They closed their act by covering Miley Cyrus’s “Party In The U.S.A.”

The headliners, Neon Trees, evoked nostalgia with a booming set as they amped up the crowd. They performed hits like “Animal,” “1983” and “Everybody Talks,” setting the tone for a great end-of-year sendoff.

“This semester was probably the easiest decision yet, since Neon Trees won the survey by a landslide,” Kutcher wrote. “We were so happy when they were available, and it was clear that this survey was an accurate reflection of the student body by the amazing turnout of the concert.”

Neon Trees ended the show by bringing LAUNDRY DAY back onto the stage for the final song of the night — the band’s most popular song “Everybody Talks” — as they came together to sing, scream and dance together. Chris Allen, Neon Trees’ lead guitarist, told Pipe Dream why he loved performing for live audiences.

“I grew up going to live events and watching bands, and I just always wanted to do that,” Allen said. “I didn’t think that I’d ever get the chance to do it as a career or anything, but you know, in high school and after that I played with people. This is really just amazing that I could do this.”

Though she will graduate at the end of the year, Kutcher expressed her aspirations for future SAPB events and concerts.

“For next year’s planning, I’m looking forward to seeing more creative ideas to make each year better than the last,” Kutcher wrote. “While I won’t be a student anymore, I know that SAPB will continue to bring the most amazing events for the student body, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Lavender Celebration honors LGBTQ+ students

cording ceremony and the Pride Awards. Nick Martin, the Q Center’s associate director, explained the celebration’s significance.

“Lavender Celebration is an important recognition of hardships that LGBTQ+ students face during college linked to their systemically marginalized identities, as well as a celebration of their persistence and success in the face of those hardships,” Martin wrote in an email. “A celebration like this is identity-affirming for queer and trans students and highlights their important contributions to the University community among friends, family and supporters.”

The color lavender has a long history of significance in the LGBTQ+ community. A combination of the pink triangle gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps and the black triangle to identify lesbians as

war prisoners in Nazi Germany — the light shade of purple was reclaimed and turned into a symbol of pride during the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, according to Martin. This was apparent at the Lavender Celebration, where tables were adorned with lavender tablecloths, flowers and sachets of dried lavender as centerpieces.

Attendees served themselves various brunch foods from a buffet line and situate themselves at their tables to listen to speeches. Opening remarks were by Martin, Karen Jones, the University’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and Matthew Winston, Jr., the executive director for alumni engagement. In her speech, Jones emphasized the work that the Division of DEI is doing to create a more inclusive campus environment and the importance of living life authentically.

“Regardless of who

decides what legislation they’re going to impose, what regulations they’re going to write, who’s occupying the seat of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — we have a right to live, we have a right to exist,” Jones said.

Izzie De Jesus ‘21, a third-year graduate student studying higher education and student affairs, gave the graduate address at the celebration. In her speech, she discussed challenges she has faced as a queer person of color, the importance of respecting yourself and prioritizing mental health, as well as the overarching theme of the Lavender Celebration.

“In a world that often overlooks or marginalizes the LGBTQ community, this celebration serves as a resounding declaration that we are here, and we are never going away,” De Jesus said. “The Lavender Celebration is a testament to our progress and the work that still lies ahead.”

Mansha Rahman, a sophomore double-majoring in art and design and Spanish, expressed their excitement and gratitude for the annual celebration.

“Lavender Celebration is just this huge celebration of the queer community on campus that [BU] has not always had, and I’m really grateful for that,” Rahman said. “I’m really grateful for the celebration, to see a lot of my really good friends that are graduating and I’m really excited for my own celebration in two years.”

Following the speeches was the graduate cording procession, where graduating LGBTQ+ students were announced and given a rainbow cord they can wear at their commencement ceremonies in May.

While Lavender Graduations are not unique to BU, a distinctive aspect of the event was the Pride Awards, where students and faculty members were nominated based on their

contributions to BU’s queer community. The awards — including the OUTstanding Grad Award, Activism Award, “Sunshine” Award, Community Service Award and Faculty/Staff Advocacy in Action Award — were given to one nominee of each category, along with a trophy.

Luis Hernandez, a senior majoring in biology who serves as the president of SHADES, a campus organization for queer students of color, was the recipient of the Community Service Award. Hernandez expressed his appreciation for the Lavender Celebration.

“It was really nice having an official closing for this chapter of my life,” Hernandez said. “I think it was very nice to see a space for queer people to be recognized, because sometimes we don’t get that recognition outside in regular spaces … I really put a lot of time and effort into the queer com-

munity, so I’m very grateful that I was recognized for all the hard work I’ve put in.”

Rahman conveyed the importance of hosting annual Lavender Celebrations at BU.

“I think it goes without showing that the LQBTQ community needs better representation everywhere in the world,” Rahman said. “I think it needs to become more apparent that there is a very, very large LGBTQ community on campus … LGBTQ+ people go through a lot in their education to be able to get where they are, and to be able to graduate with a degree and be out and proud … that’s why I think it’s just so incredibly important that we have this every year.”

karlie mcgann staFF photographer

Students were able to go on rides and get carnival food throughout the day.

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laVeNDer

Graduate student performs thesis project

Graduate student

Alnara Tleugazinova put on “I Used To Have a Dream,” a testimony of pursuing one’s passion.

Deborah Sridhar arts & culture contributor

Alnara Tleugazinova, a second-year graduate student studying theatre, performed her one-woman show in Binghamton University’s Studio B as part of her graduate thesis. Titled “I Used to Have a Dream,” the comedy-drama production took place from April 19-20 at 8 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m.

Attendees began arriving at the studio a half hour before showtime. They settled into their seats — observing the stage management team’s last-minute preparations. The curtains rose — revealing Tleugazinova struggling with the pull of a rope tied around her waist. Sensing the audience’s confusion as to where the story is headed, Tleugazinova’s character — the Dream — goes back to the story’s beginning.

The space the audience sees her in is called “oblivion,” where the forgotten dreams of the dreamkeepers reside. The Dream explains that she is the dream of Medina, her dreamkeeper who longs to become an actress but doesn’t pursue her desire, as she remarks, “there are no guarantees, huh?”

While Medina — who appears over a voiceover for most of her performance — becomes a mechanical engineer in fear of becoming a failure in acting,

the Dream shares her passion for the arts with the audience. A variety of trophies scattered in the background indicate just how serious she is about succeeding in acting, but she is unable to do so unless Medina pursues her calling.

Tleugazinova, who also wrote and directed the performance, shared her inspiration.

“It’s based on my life, [and] it’s based on my experience,” Tleugazinova said. “I have a completely different background that’s not tied to the arts at all. I used to be an engineer. I have several degrees in that field. I’m a mechanical engineer. The first time I arrived here and shared that information with people here, they kept asking me … ‘what made you change your mind and come here and completely change your focus?’ … I was struggling to respond to that question in a proper way.”

Tleugazinova explained that though she has always had an interest in the arts, it was more of a hobby. However, her love for the arts continued to grow throughout the years, and when she got an offer from BU, she decided it was time to explore it.

“Basically, it’s about a dream,” Tleugazinova said. “[The Dream] represents a dream of being an actress. She’s dumped in a place that’s purgatory, and she’s trapped there, and she cannot get out of there […] it’s her personal journey — what it takes of her to get out there.”

Elizabeth Mozer, Tleugazinova’s thesis advisor and an as-

sociate professor in the theatre department, elaborated on the project’s purpose.

“It’s an opportunity for a student to apply all of their learning that they’ve garnered during their time here,” Mozer said. “Not all acting graduate students make their own shows.

What [Tleugazinova]’s done is double — she’s not only acting in a play, but she wrote it … She spent a lot of time in the studio alone. The purpose of it is to learn how to be self-sufficient, how to apply all the teachings, how to put them into practice, have performance opportunity [and] performance experience.”

Tleugazinova shared how she initially didn’t plan on performing a one-woman act for her graduate thesis.

“The first draft of the script

consisted of several characters — I had been working on them for several months — but then we dropped that idea because this project was supposed to be about me, about my journey, rather than long conversations between several characters and trying to find out what’s going on in this play,” she said.

The stage lighting contributes to the Dream’s emotions, turning yellow-gold when she’s happy, red for something sinister and purple when she’s conflicted. The Dream invokes the audience’s sense of humor by snapping into a light dream sequence when she dances to music that starts and stops with the clap of her hands.

The entire performance is done through a series of monologues from the Dream — some

of them interactive with the audience. Things come to a head when the Dream realizes that by encouraging Medina to dwell on her dreams, she is unable to live happily. The Dream settles for being just a dream instead of Medina’s reality, saying she can continue to live by making art in her “oblivion.”

Just as the Dream accepts this, a plot twist has Medina calling the Dream back as she decides to audition — making this decision the first step to chasing her dreams. The Dream dramatically voices her frustrations, earning a chorus of laughter from the audience. This brings the audience back to the opening scene where the Dream fights the pull of the rope — revealing that it was Medina calling her to come

back.

After a scene change, the audience meets Medina wearing a denim jacket, black shirt and red pants. Smiling brightly, she introduces herself to the casting agent, who is intrigued by her engineering background. Medina performs a short song in Kazakh about her homeland. She is more courageous and optimistic about her dream now, and the curtains close as she concludes the production with the mantra — “there are no guarantees, huh?” — encouraging the audience to follow their dreams instead of holding onto their fears.

African Student Organization hosts fashion show

This year’s fashion show celebrated the richness, diversity and cultural traditions of Africa.

Revati Gelda arts & culture editor

The African Student Organization (ASO), hosted their annual Threads of the Motherland fashion show this past Saturday in the Mandela Room. This year’s fashion show, themed “A Night of Opulence,” showcased a wide range of high-fashion clothing that represented different cultural aspects of Africa through a variety of designers.

Hawa Fofana, ASO’s educational coordinator and a junior double-majoring in global public health and biology, described the

inspiration behind the theme.

“The inspiration behind this year’s fashion show was to showcase the beauty of Africa, just in a different light,” Fofana said. “Our theme was opulence — we wanted to show the richness of Africa and all the beauty that our clothes come with, our culture [and] our traditions … That’s sort of something we’re trying to tap into, opulence. Our culture itself is something that should be celebrated.”

Pink flowers lined the outer portion of the stage and a red carpet gave the feel of a classic fashion show. Guests were welcome to take photos with an ASO backdrop or a 360 photo booth.

The first line of outfits fell under the category of “umbala,” which depicted a vibrant display of colors as the models wore a

variety of greens, blues, yellows and pinks. The dresses — which included frilly sleeves, detailed beading and corset bodices — created beautiful silhouettes. Models wore more casual outfits as well, including floral-patterned halter tops styled with ripped jeans and sparkly heels.

Some models walked out in pairs or trios, and in those instances, they were dressed in complementing outfits. Fofana explained the wide range of stylistic choices seen through the clothing.

“We had a bunch of different designers,” she said. “Some were more urban, some [were] more traditional and all the designers incorporated both traditional and modern things … the clothes are a good [encompassment] of both sides like the

new and the old of Africa, which is what we’re trying to emulate.”

The second line of outfits fell under the category of “omenala,” which means “the culture of the people.” This line included jaw-dropping pieces, including a full-length gold gown, a mermaid dress with purple and green frills along the bottom and a trio who came decked out in royal purple.

After a brief intermission and an E-Board introduction, the next clothing line centered around the idea of love versus lust. Laila Hamza, ASO’s president and a junior majoring in human development, described the reasoning behind adding this theme to the fashion show.

“We didn’t just want to do a regular, boring scene,” Hamza said. “We wanted to showcase

what most college students go after — which is mostly lust.”

Outfits in this round included a duo who wore matching gold and purple looks and a trio where one model showed off glittery bell bottoms with pink and blue accents.

After this round, Hamza and Hawa took to the stage alongside two members from Malik Fraternity Inc. to present the Passion for Impact Scholarship.

— a $500 award recognizing immense creativity, leadership skills and community engagement.

Hamza described the last line of looks — “ASO to the wiase.”

“We wanted to do a streetwear take on African styles,” she said. “So we used African designers, who then used their old prints and their old designs

to showcase streetwear, but also [make it] classy.”

The organization’s take on this line included models dressed in black and white tracksuits wearing futuristic sunglasses, sweaters with white polos underneath that were styled with pleated skirts and one model who came out in a red ski mask, matching sweatsuit, big gold hoops and a money gun.

Fofana explained what she hoped this year’s fashion show would illustrate for attendees.

“I just hope that we put on a nice, entertaining show that [reflects the organization] and Africa as a whole,” she said. “Not the black and white picture that people sometimes try to portray, but something more exciting and extravagant.”

Alnara Tleugazinova’s one-woman show was based on her experience

several engineering degrees. blake

Administration: D

Binghamton University’s administration needs to pull it together.

Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, the student body has continued to be largely divided, and the administration has been unresponsive in effectively addressing the issues at hand.

When Pipe Dream has reached out for University comments regarding protests on campus, specifically about support for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and the implementation of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), the responses we have received from administration have been lackluster, if existent at all. One particular statement in response to students’ demands for the University to divest from the Israeli military and its suppliers, including Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems, the University vaguely expressed support for Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian students. What the statement failed to address was any of the specific demands that protesters had concerning divestment and University funding for these entities.

The statement consisted of three full sentences that ultimately said nothing at all, emphasizing a disregard for students’ care and investment in real issues. Administration should be able to address students’ concerns in a timely manner and, after two full semesters of protests and campus division, they have failed to do so immensely. They have not only been unsuccessful in mending a negative campus climate, but in failing to appropriately respond, they have contributed to it.

Administrators have disregarded students’ best interests on several other occasions this semester. The continuous efforts to turn recreational fields into turf, despite backlash from the

student body, highlights a lack of attentiveness to the students’ opinions. Student employees were also asked to volunteer at the Student Employee Appreciation event, an incident that, although the administration claimed was an accident, demonstrates gross carelessness on their part.

Despite many shortcomings on their end and their lack of involvement students’ affairs, the administration has allowed for students to organize rallies and protests as well as voice their opinions at the latest SA Congress meeting, which went well past midnight, while voting on the BDS resolution. Though this is seemingly the bare minimum, it does not go unnoticed.

Understandably, these circumstances are unprecedented and we recognize that navigating them successfully is difficult. However, after two semesters, administration needs to do better— if not for their own sake, for the sake of students.

SA: C+

Our assessment of the Student Association (SA) this semester weighed on us.

On one hand, they, as student leaders, shouldered an immense burden representing the countless competing interests and perspectives of our campus community while balancing an academic course load.

On the other hand, many of the SA’s elected representatives were consumed with infighting and personal attacks, which distracted from deliberations over issues important to the student body during one of the most eventful semesters in recent memory.

The Editorial Board’s assessment of the SA would be remiss without mentioning a defining moment of the semester — the SA Congress passing a resolution in support of the BDS movement

during a marathon meeting. We commend the SA for providing a thorough debate and a platform for issues students care about deeply to be heard.

We also applaud the SA for its various successes, including work on a Plan B vending machine, collaborations with outside groups, such as Sonic Connections, to enhance programming for students, creation of the Title IX Peer Advisors Program and a resolution to revive the Campus Sleepout to raise awareness on student homelessness.

For the second year in a row, the SA’s E-Board experienced difficulties with ranked-choice voting during election, which resulted in a runoff election to decide the vice president for programming. Despite a lively campaign period, this error created uncertainty at a point in the semester when students needed confidence in the SA.

Interpersonal issues within the organization, as noted in a previous editorial, also gave us pause. As student leaders, we expect those in the SA to pursue their goals with professionalism. The revolving door of representatives with secret recordings of each other combined with petty personal arguments at a time that required maturity, sensitivity and respect was disheartening to see.

Though we recognize the struggles many in the SA have faced given uncertain times, the Editorial Board hopes that next year some in the SA can reflect on their organizational mission and refocus on issues deeply important to students.

Campus Climate: C+

BU’s campus has been alive, tenacious and resounding this semester. The BDS resolution and the ongoing war in Gaza remain the most divisive issues on campus as student groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the Yiddish Bund of Binghamton and BU’s Zion-

ist Organization (BUZO) and their allies continue to rally for their causes. A glance around the Union lobby or Old Union Hall at the April 16 SA Congress meeting should be enough to indicate the state of disunion on our campus as students self-categorized into two predominant groups.

BUZO has been vocal about BDS’ potential to fuel antisemitism and jeopardize Jewish students’ well-being. Other multicultural organizations have also consistently identified Islamophobia and a lack of support for vulnerable Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students on campus. While it is too soon to confidently tell the impacts of the resolution, it is clear that, after a semester of student activism, the feeling of a safe and inclusive campus is still not a guarantee for all students.

Even on a national scale, doxxing, harassment and other intimidation tactics continue to pose material threats to BU students and their right to free speech. The delicate nature of this ongoing conflict in Gaza, combined with the administration’s inadequacies, has resulted in a volatile campus climate, one that necessitates student protestors cover their faces with masks and scarves at a SA Congress meeting, ignore phone cameras thrust in their faces and private their social media profiles.

Amid the division and peril, microcosmic displays of community prevail, serving as an emblem for what we hope our campus will embody in our lifetime. The Divest from Death campaign, for example, is an incredibly diverse coalition bolstered by over 20 student organizations, including the Latin American Student Union, Muslim Student Association, Arab Student Association, Disabled Student Union and SHADES. A rally held at the University Downtown Center in March displayed equal

levels of kinship as local organizations, such as Veterans for Peace and the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier, joined forces with students all over New York State through SUNY BDS.

At the SA Congress meeting, Old Union Hall quickly maxed out on capacity, though more dedicated students waited outside for hours. Inside, students were seen handing out snacks and water and volunteering their seats to those that had been standing — acts of care that reflect the resiliency our on-campus collectives are capable of.

Fostering productive debates on campus is not a lost cause. A program hosted by Hillel in February, “Two Truths, One Land,” in which Palestinian activist Noor A’wad and Orthodox Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger shared their stories and engaged in a conversation, highlighted peace and cohabitation as a non-mutually exclusive goal, not only in Gaza, but also on our campus.

We recognize the potential for mutual understanding everywhere on our campus. From watching the solar eclipse together on the Peace Quad to attending a vigil for Ukrainian refugees, we hope our campus can find solace in recognizing shared humanity.

SAPB: A

Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) brought some impressive entertainment this semester, ranging from “The Office” actor Rainn Wilsonto internet sensation Brittany Broski. SAPB has continued to keep up community engagement as well by hosting studentand staff-centric events, such as the Student Flea Market and their Professor Spotlight series.

In early February, SAPB had Jake Ewald — the lead singer of Slaughter Beach, Dog, as their final BUMP

show of the year. Later in the month, they hosted their highly anticipated Battle the Bands, with Husband Material taking home the win as student opener for this year’s Spring Fling. March was packed with a slew of events for students to enjoy. SAPB started off on a high with the Student Flea Market in mid-March and, for the first time, introduced student artists alongside vendors. This new addition continues to show SAPB’s commitment to fostering a student-led community at BU. The SAPB also highlighted faculty through their professor spotlight series. This semester, they featured Anne Bailey, a history professor, who gave a talk on her experiences as an author, former United Nations speaker and African studies researcher.

SAPB finished off the month strong as the Anderson Center saw a packed crowd for Broski, an internet celebrity and comedian. Her announcement was met with overwhelming praise and was by far, SAPB’s crown jewel for spring semester’s entertainment.

SAPB rounded off the semester with their annual Spring Fling, featuring Neon Trees, students’ alleged top choice, as this year’s concert headliner and Laundry Day as the opener.

We believe that the SAPB has continued to offer high-quality entertainment and events for students. We recognize their dedication to enriching the BU student experience and hope that they continue to keep up the level of commitment for next semester.

Read the full editorial at bupipedream.com.

This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings.

Softball sweeps Bryant at home

After a 2-1 series loss to UAlbany last weekend, Binghamton women’s softball rebounded with a pivotal series win in America East (AE) play to Bryant in a matchup of the conference’s top two teams less than two weeks from tournament play. En route to securing a 30-win season for the fourth time in program history, the Bearcats’ bats came alive with a combined 15 runs to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader before a walk-off in extra innings Sunday earned the weekend sweep.

“It’s obviously huge [sweeping Bryant],” said Binghamton head coach Jess Bump. “The conference is super tight this year, between [teams ranked] one and three it’s just a game or two [gap]. We knew these games were going to be really important. I was really proud of how [the team] locked in. I don’t think it matters who we’re playing right now — we’re playing our game and doing what we gotta do.”

Bryant (30-14, 12-6 AE) started the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader with a two-run home run before the Bearcats (3114, 13-4 AE) responded with a five-run second via a two-run home run from graduate student infielder Alex Musial and RBI doubles from redshirt junior

outfielder Brianna Santos and senior pitcher Allison L’Amoreaux. Senior utility Shelby Carvalho concluded the inning with an RBI single to give Binghamton a 5-3 lead. The Bearcats added two more runs in the sixth with home runs from junior outfielder Sarah Rende and L’Amoreaux for a 7-3 win.

“We worked really hard the last two weeks offensively,” Bump said. “[Binghamton assistant coach Michaela Transue] has done a great job with our hitters — she has them locked in. [Players] are coaching each other and talking to each other throughout the game. As coaches, that’s all we can really ask for.”

Game two was postponed to 6 p.m. Saturday, but the Bearcats wasted no time getting on the board after putting up four runs driven in by L’Amoreaux, Carvalho and sophomore outfielder Bella Farina in the first two innings. Driving rains briefly hit Vestal, postponing the game again before the Bearcats added four runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead. The game was called after sophomore pitcher Olivia Kennedy struck out Bryant’s last two hitters in the fifth. Overall, Kennedy threw a five-inning shutout with seven strikeouts, zero walks and only three hits surrendered.

“Our team has a lot of fun and we continue to use that to our advantage, even when we’re down,” Bump said. “I think we’re playing super relaxed right now and we know that’s how we play our best. [Kennedy] threw a gem [in game two]. Our pitchers feel confident because our offense is going right now.”

In the weekend finale Sunday morning, the Bearcats opened up with a five-run first before Bryant added a combined seven runs in the ensuing three innings to take a 7-5 lead. An RBI off the bat of Santos in the fourth brought the game to 7-6 heading into the seventh. Then, down to their last out in the final inning, Farina drove in

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1

the tying run to force extra innings. After L’Amoreaux shut the Bulldogs down in the top of the eighth, she walked the game off with a two-out RBI double to secure a weekend sweep for the Bearcats.

“Excuse my expression, but [L’Amoreaux] is a dawg,” Bump said. “She’s going to go out there and win a game. She just threw a great seven innings, including five innings without giving up a run towards the end and then she walked it off for us at the end. [As a team] we know

that if we get down we just gotta continue to chip away and get runs in bunches.”

On the weekend, L’Amoreaux collected seven hits, drove in four runs and added 14 innings on the mound with 10 strikeouts to take home two wins for the series. Carvalho collected five hits while driving in seven runs, including a three-run home run in Sunday’s win. The series win put Binghamton in first place in the AE while Bryant fell to second.

“[I’m] super proud of [Carvalho], she’s worked really hard the last two weeks and she had some great at-bats this weekend,” Bump said. “We’re not going to change anything, we’re taking it one pitch at a time and we want to take that mentality into the tournament.”

The Bearcats host UMass Lowell next weekend in its series of conference play before the America East tournament kicks off Saturday, May 8. The first pitch of the first game is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

Binghamton caps off series with walk-off win.

Luca Carrese sports contributor

provided by nathan brinck

Senior pitcher Allison L’Amoreaux pitched seven innings of two-run softball and hit a walk-off double in the final game of the weekend against Bryant to secure the series sweep for Binghamton.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Women’s lacrosse defeats Bryant on senior day

teammates and it’s a lot of fun to watch when things start clicking.”

Bryant opened the second quarter with its third goal at the 12:50 mark. BU responded during a man-up opportunity when Murphy scored her third of the night and secured a hat trick. Bryant scored its fourth after forcing a turnover, but BU then scored twice with backto-back goals from sophomore attack Carla Curth and senior midfielder Kristen Scheidel. Despite the Bulldogs managing a goal with 56 seconds left in the quarter, BU went into the half with an 8-5 lead.

“[We had] Salgado, [senior defender Zoe Congdon] down on the defensive end and [senior midfielder Emma Conroy] really hammering it home and doing what they do best,” Allen said. “It was an exciting day for them.”

The Bearcats started the second half strong, scoring four unanswered goals in the first 3:18 of play.

Muscolino and Blloshmi both scored once, and Meli scored two straight goals on 2 free-position attempts. At the 9:06 mark Bryant was awarded a free position attempt, and Bryant scored its lone goal of the quarter to

cut BU’s lead to six BU got on the scoreboard yet again with back-to-back goals from Blloshmi and freshman midfielder Mia Forte. Binghamton continued to find the back of the net with three more goals, as Curth scored once and Muscolino twice. Heading into the fourth quarter, BU held a commanding 17-6 lead.

“This class [of 2024] has built this winning mindset,” Allen said. “They’ve believed from the beginning and they’ve gotten others on this team to buy in with them. To see all of them that play on the offensive end get a goal in the back of the net today too was a lot of fun.”

Keeping the momentum going into the fourth, senior midfielder Hayley Weltner opened the period with a free-position score. Soon after Conroy capitalized on a free position attempt, to give the Bearcats a 19-6 lead. The Bulldogs and Bearcats then traded goals, and the scoreboard read 20-7 Binghamton heading into the final 6:04 of play. Bryant added a goal in the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough as the Bearcats finished with a resounding 20-8 win. With the win, BU also claimed a portion of the AE regular season title for the first time in program history. Binghamton also

tied its single-season record for wins with 10.

“These girls have just given their all this season,” Allen said. “These players

believe in what we are capable of doing and they trust in each other. I’m really proud of this team and excited for this program and what’s still

ahead this season.”

No. 2 Binghamton will take on No. 3 UMBC in the AE semifinals, which will be hosted by UAlbany from

Mary Grimes hired as new women’s basketball coach

Grimes joins Bearcats after three-year tenure at Le Moyne.

Former Le Moyne women’s basketball head coach Mary Grimes was introduced as the new leader of Binghamton University’s women’s basketball program at a Friday afternoon Events Center press conference. Grimes joins BU off the back of a 2023-24 campaign, where was named Northeast Conference Coach of the Year after leading Le Moyne to a 15-win season and an appearance in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament tournament.

“It’s been a great process

learning about what Binghamton is,” Grimes said. “There’s some familiarity, being in the America East (AE) before [at UAlbany] and understanding that this is a top-notch institution. I think we’re going to present an exciting brand of basketball [at Binghamton].

We’re going to be fun to watch. I’ve met the team, they’ve got great personalities [and] they’re very likable young women. [Fans] are going to get a personal experience when they come to [Binghamton] women’s basketball games.”

Grimes’ most recent season with Le Moyne saw the program transition from the Division II to Division I level. In her prior two years with the Division II Dolphins, Grimes led the team to two Northeast-10

(NE-10) titles and two berths in the Division II tournament. She took home NE-10 Coach of the Year in 2023.

“The fact that [Grimes] can recruit, that she can relate [and] the fact that she’s good with the X’s and O’s all kind of made it a great package,” said Eugene Marshall, Jr., the University’s athletic director “I had the opportunity to watch [Grimes] coach on a couple of occasions, and she has the total package. She’s very humble. It’s not about her, it’s about the team. It’s not about what happened in the past, it’s about the next [championship] ring. I think the [women’s basketball players] resonated with that.”

As an assistant coach, Grimes helped lead fellow AE school UAlbany to five con-

secutive AE conference titles as the Great Danes went 60-4 in regular season play during the final four years of her tenure. After departing UAlbany, Grimes spent two years as an assistant coach at Xavier before heading back upstate to coach the program at Le Moyne. Grimes, a Detroit native, had a successful college basketball career at Siena where she was a two-time team captain, helping the Saints reach the women’s NCAA tournament in 2001.

“I’m going to tap into all those experiences [at UAlbany and Le Moyne],” Grimes said. “Being familiar with the [AE] conference, understanding the recruiting process. I’m a heavy recruiter in New York. I want to own the Thruway [in recruiting]. That’s where it starts. Get-

ting out there and understanding the [AE] bodes well for me.”

The change in leadership follows a 14-17 season for the Bearcats, as they went 8-8 in AE play. After falling to Maine in the conference semifinals, the Bearcats parted ways with head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord after six seasons at the helm in hopes of more success with its talented cast.

“We took over the program at [UAlbany] and we just used the talent we had and figured out how to win games,” Grimes said. “Then we recruited the talent to win [AE] championships.

Then we recruited the talent to win a first-round game in the NCAA tournament. It starts with that recruiting process and getting the talent that’s needed to win.”

Among those present to introduce Grimes as the new head coach was junior guard Jadyn Weltz, the Bearcats returning leader in total points scored, assists and steals from last season. Weltz spoke both of how the team has handled the process of finding a new coach and the team’s enthusiasm with Grimes taking charge.

“From the team’s perspective, I can definitely say we’re all excited,” Weltz said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for the future. We have all the pieces now and the opportunities are endless with that. We’ve been here [working] for the past month and we’re not stopping. Regardless of who filled the [head coaching] position we were going to be ready and continue to work.”

Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5. First draw control is scheduled for 4 p.m. at John Fallon Field in Albany, New York.

Luca Carrese sports contributor

provided by jonathan cohen

Binghamton Athletics introduced Mary Grimes as its new women’s basketball head coach in a press conference at the Events Center on Friday afternoon.

karlie mcgann photo contributor

Junior attack Olivia Muscolino had a career-high nine points with four goals and five assists in BU’s 20-8 win against Bryant on Saturday afternoon.