Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | Vol. CII, Issue 6 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
Public Service Commission approves NYSEG rate hikes NYSEG, which serves over 40 percent of upstate New York, has drawn past criticism for frequent outages and billing issues. Karolina Aras
news contributor
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously approved large rate hikes for New York State Electricity and Gas (NYSEG) customers. Responsible for overseeing and regulating the utilities and services
provided to New York state residents, the PSC has approved a three-year rate plan for NYSEG and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) customers. The decision follows the adoption of a joint proposal that aligns with the state’s climate objectives and aims to benefit customers. In a press release, PSC announced that under the plan, customers will see an average monthly increase of $9.94 in their utility bills starting in November. This increase will be followed by an average monthly increase of $8.88 beginning in May 2024.
See NYseG page 3
Fiona sUllivan design intern In November, NYSEG customers will see an average increase of $9.94 per month, followed by another $8.88 hike in May 2024.
Ex-College Republicans president sentenced Disavowed by the group, Jon Lizak received 36 months probation for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Riots. Luca Carrese
news contributor
Jon Lizak, the former president of Binghamton University’s College Republicans, was sentenced Friday for his involvement in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. Along with four other men, Lizak entered and remained in the Capitol Complex for around
30 minutes, according to a Department of Justice sentencing memorandum filed on Aug. 31. At one point, security footage showed Lizak and his codefendants in a conference room in the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the thenSpeaker of the House. On May 22, he pled guilty to a single count
Men’s soccer defeats UMass Lowell
of “parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building,” a misdemeanor offense, and on Oct. 13, he was sentenced to 36 months probation and a special assessment of $10. Lizak’s defense memorandum argued for a probationary sentence as the best course of
Stephen Folkerts
arts & culture writer
caspar carson photo editor Graduate student back Devin Heanue assisted on a goal in BU’s 2-1 win against UMass Lowell on Saturday afternoon.
See seNTeNceD page 3
ʻJewish Encounters With Jazzʼ commemorates Jewish history and music Performers Allen Lowe and Lewis Porter displayed their love for jazz through music and cultural dialogue.
See soccer page 10
action, contrasting the DOJ memorandum, which conveyed the government’s request for a 75-day sentence and $500 in restitution. The document expanded on the specifics of the criminal case against Lizak.
Last Thursday night, a small crowd of students, community members and musicians filed into Casadesus Recital Hall. Hugs were shared, seats were found and
Jonathan Karp, associate professor and undergraduate director of Judaic studies at Binghamton University, introduced the first installment of a three-part series called “Jewish Encounters With Jazz: International Perspectives.” The event attempts to illuminate the history of Judaism and jazz in the United States through both lecture-style speaking and live jazz performance.
See JAZZ page 5
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY’S OFFICIAL FINANCIAL PARTNER We’re here for you all around campus, including our branch in The Union, the Financial Wellness Center at the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, and the Visions Center for Student-Athlete Excellence. We’ve got you covered for your money matters during college and beyond. And remember, you can also get the exclusive Bearcat debit card at the Visions branch in The Union! Show your BU pride by stepping around town with this card. The Union Branch Hours Mon – Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sat, Sun: CLOSED
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ARTS & CULTURE
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OPINIONS
SPORTS
“The Rest” continues ideas of living freely and authentically from Boygenius’ debut album,
BSU commemorates 55th anniversary with Fashion Show,
Palestinians’ struggle for freedom should be supported,
Women’s soccer earns tie against Maine,
Swimming and diving teams compete at Bucknell Invitational,
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PAGE II Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017 Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Men’s soccer vs. Cornell
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Number 15 gains posession at 1000th game.
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stabilizing:pinochole
schedule:destabilizing
bupipedream.com | October 24, 2023
NEWS
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Increases draw criticism from elected leaders NYseG from page 1 The plan was created after months of criticism directed at NYSEG’s customer service, marked by poor reliability, customer service issues, frequent power outages and billing problems, according to Commissioner John Howard. It incorporates new gas safety measures, promotes clean energy adoption, introduces a vegetation management program to prevent power outages, bolsters physical and cyber security and enhances customer assistance. Rory Christian, the commission’s chair, touted the plan as a significant step toward benefiting customers and statewide goals. “With today’s decision, NYSEG and RG&E are required to pursue important energy-efficiency
initiatives, among other progressive policies, to advance the goals of New York state’s nation-leading climate change targets while mitigating bill impacts for most low-income customers, as part of New York’s energy affordability policy,” Christian wrote. Local elected leaders, including state Sen. Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, have voiced their concerns regarding the decision to raise rates, specifically mentioning the potential impact on families. “While the three-year rate plan approved by the [PSC] reduced NYSEG’s original proposal by 50 percent, any increase in utility costs represents a financial burden for working families, students and businesses in the Southern Tier,” Webb wrote in an email. “Access to
electricity and heat should not be considered a luxury. They are basic needs that every family utilizes in their home and small businesses in their operations every day.” Lupardo, who represents the 123rd Assembly District, added how she plans to advocate for her constituents and stakeholder groups. “To offset financial hardships on the horizon, we will need to dramatically expand our utility affordability programs, along with who is eligible to apply,” Lupardo wrote in an email. “And we need to have an honest conversation with all parties about what going all electric entails so that we can chart a future that is affordable and equitable.” NYSEG, a subsidiary of the Avangrid company, provides electricity and natural gas services to
about 40 percent of upstate New York. Shelby Cohen, Avangrid’s media contact, said that the plan will allow NYSEG to invest in its infrastructure to improve reliability and efficiency. She added that NYSEG has enacted a post-pandemic plan to improve customer service, including updating its website and app to make it easier for customers to read or submit their meter readings. She also shared specific ways NYSEG has improved in customer satisfaction and has already seen positive results. “The company has significantly reduced estimated bills, is achieving high satisfaction with customers who contact customer service and is consistently answering those calls within 30 seconds more than 80 percent of the time,” Cohen wrote in an email.
In an Oct. 12 statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned the state’s Energy Affordability Program, which aids ratepayers who cannot afford utility increases. Initially, she strongly disapproved of the rate increase, calling it unreasonable. She directed her Department of Public Service (DPS) to thoroughly examine the proposal to protect upstate New York families from unfair rate hikes. Morgan Adams, a junior majoring in biology, described the financial impact of these increases. “The $9 increase is annoying, because students living off campus already have so many different expenses to cover between tuition, rent [and] groceries,” Adams said. “Many students struggle to find a job that fits into their busy schedules to help
cover these expenses. Even if utilities are included in the rent, that just means that rent will increase because landlords will pass the cost onto the tenants, sadly.” Fiona Guo, a senior majoring in business administration, expressed her frustration with these increases as a college student living off-campus. “As a student that pays for all their expenses living off campus, this price increase makes it that much harder for me to cover all my costs,” Guo wrote. “My job has been paying me the same rate for a year while everything else has gotten more expensive, making it harder for me to stay afloat during the academic year. It is also extremely frustrating seeing that the only reason I was made aware of this price hike was through [this interview].”
Lizak pleads guilty to single misdemeanor count seNTeNceD from page 1 “One of the most important factors in Lizak’s case is that he and his group spent significant time in the U.S. Capitol building, accessing and entering numerous sensitive areas including Speaker of the House Pelosi’s conference room,” the memorandum read. After 2:51:40 p.m., Lizak’s group exited the building through the Senate Carriage door, after which the group proceeded to the north side of the Capitol. One of Lizak’s associates, Joseph Brody, 23 of Virginia, used a metal barricade to assault a police officer, while Lizak was nearby, according to the DOJ filing. Afterward, images showed Brody, with Lizak nearby, in the middle of a pile of destroyed media equipment on the Capitol grounds. Arthur O’Sullivan, the College Republicans’ treasurer and a senior double-majoring in biology and classical studies, denounced Lizak’s actions at the Capitol and said the legal consequences were justified. “Having read his case file and conviction, I believe that Lizak got his just desserts,” O’Sullivan said. “He clearly knew what he was doing, and caused significant damage in the wake of his crimes. Hopefully this case will be a deterrent against all forms of political violence.” During his time at BU, Lizak joined a suit filed against the University
soUrced FroM a deparTMenT oF JUsTice arresT WarranT According to the Department of Justice’s sentencing memorandum, Jon Lizak, who graduated in May 2022, entered the office of then-U.S. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi and stood nearby when a codefendant used a metal barrier to assault a police officer.
by the Young America’s Foundation and the College Republicans — the organization he was president of. The suit stemmed from a November 2019 Turning Point USA and College Republicans joint tabling event, when a display of pro-gun signs was met with student protest. Lizak graduated from BU in May 2022, according to a filing from Kevin Keating, his attorney. Keating did not respond to a request for
comment. Gregory Robinson, the chair of the political science department and an associate professor of political science, said that misinformation can impact a broad subset of the population. “One thing to keep in mind is that while there is a stereotype that election deniers […] are middle-aged and older, conspiratorial thinking is something that all people,
including college-age young adults, are susceptible to,” Robinson wrote in an email. “I think our University, and every college and university for that matter, hopes that among the skills our students will learn are critical thinking and information literacy.” The DOJ memorandum read that Lizak had not made any statements showing remorse for his actions on Jan. 6. Less than a month later, on Sept. 25,
the defense memorandum included a statement from Lizak, where he stated “I was wrong.” Robinson expanded on the current political climate’s impact throughout society, saying that when people “desperately” want something to be true, it can be difficult to convince them otherwise. “Unfortunately, whether it’s on college campuses or anywhere else, this all seems like it’s going to
get worse before it gets better,” Robinson wrote. “We cannot have one of our two major parties refusing to acknowledge election results unless they win. We cannot long survive the Republican Party excusing the lawlessness of Donald Trump, both because of the direct harm it causes to our democratic institutions, but also because of the example it sets for grassroots actors.”
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NEWS
bupipedream.com | October 24, 2023
City Council approves $4.5 million bond ordinance The funds will go toward repairs at the home of the Mets’ double-A affiliate. Eytan Saenger
news contributor
On Oct. 11, Binghamton’s City Council voted to approve a new bond ordinance for improvement projects at Mirabito Stadium, the home of the Rumble Ponies, the double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. The $4.5 million ordinance was unanimously approved in a 7-0 council vote and will go toward improving the stadium’s ailing drainage system, which the team’s owner said was necessary, in order for the Rumble Ponies to be able to play their required number of games. The organization has been the only professional baseball team in the Binghamton area since 1992 and remains an integral part of local culture. The team has recently seen increased attendance to their games, according to a June report indicating a 52 percent increase in attendance compared to 2022. Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham described the finances involved in managing the city’s $99 million annual budget, 10s of millions of which is spent annually on upgrades to infrastructure.
“Major League Baseball set forth the expectations for the 2024 season, and the city is responsible for the work under the 2021 lease agreement,” Kraham wrote in an email. “When we signed that lease, the city decided keeping professional baseball in Binghamton was an investment worth making. It was met with a lot of positive feedback from residents at the time who did not want to see our community lose another institution … We’re keeping our commitment — to the team and the residents — with this work to the stadium.” In the deliberations, Aviva Friedman ‘14, a Working Families councilwoman, who eventually voted in favor of the ordinance, said she struggled with the decision. “I don’t love it,” Friedman said, adding that she hoped the city would fix the infrastructure in the area. The bond ordinance’s passage comes after several investments in the city’s infrastructure, including a recently announced plan to build a $40 million affordable housing project in Binghamton’s First Ward. The legislative move follows multiple minor league teams and stadiums being forced to shut down across the country over the last few years. Kraham expanded on
caspar carson photo editor The ordinance, unanimously approved by Binghamton’s City Council, will fund repairs to Mirabito Stadium’s drainage system, a renovation deemed necessary by Rumble Ponies ownership.
the partnership between Binghamton and the team. “[Binghamton] has a great relationship with Rumble Ponies ownership and staff,” Kraham wrote. “The Sobotkas — [the family owning the team] — have made clear they are committed to keeping professional baseball in Binghamton and improving the community however they can in the process.”
The move fits into a broader goal of Kraham’s administration — investing in the local entertainment industry, improving resident quality-of-life and ensuring a memorable Binghamton experience for Binghamton University students, encouraging them to stay after graduation. In a statement, the Rumble Ponies thanked Kraham, acknowledging
the need to keep baseball in Binghamton. “Our thanks to [Kraham] for his ongoing work to keep professional baseball in our city,” the statement read. “While many areas have lost their teams as their stadiums have fallen out of compliance, [Kraham] has worked side-by-side with the Rumble Ponies as a problem solver to make sure that baseball remains
alive in Binghamton and accessible to everyone in our community.” Seth Schlank, a junior majoring in psychology, said he was fond of Binghamton’s local baseball scene. “Rumble Ponies games have been great,” Schlank wrote. “Mirabito Stadium always has been an amazing time to catch a ball game.”
Amanda Finch appointed to administration She will serve as dean of students and an assistant vice president of student affairs. Katelyn Pothakul news contributor
Binghamton University recently appointed Amanda Finch as the new vice president of student affairs and the dean of students. Finch’s elevation comes after Randall Edouard, the former dean of students, vacated the position last year. The two were final contenders for the vacancy in December 2019, when Edouard was selected. Finch has since worked at SUNY Oneonta in various student affairs roles. Her experience advocating
for college students spans 16 years and multiple different institutions, including Clemson University. In a Dateline announcement to the campus community, Finch expressed her enthusiasm for her new role. “[BU] has an excellent reputation, as well as a sense of community, that I felt immediately during my time on campus,” Finch wrote. “I’m really looking forward to working with the very impressive, engaged and active student population at [the University]. I’m also thrilled to be joining a team of dedicated and accomplished colleagues who clearly put students at the center of their work.” Activities and organizations overseen by the Dean of Students Office include
Fraternity and Sorority Life, Late Nite and the Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education (CARE) Team — which was developed by Eduoard as a resource for increasing mental health challenges by providing students with professional case managers on campus. According to the position overview on the student affairs website, the assistant vice president of student affairs and the dean of students reports directly to Brian Rose, the University’s vice president for student affairs. They must also serve as a Student Affairs Leadership team member to advise on planning, policies and personnel decisions within the Division of Student Affairs. The position is described as a highly collaborative position, requiring strong
communication with academic faculty, campus staff and undergraduate and graduate student body. They also work closely with the Town Gown Advisory Board, a committee established to foster positive relations between local residents and the University. “To borrow from the Harpur College motto, [Finch] brings a rich perspective on student success that comes from a breadth and depth of administrative experiences serving college students,” Rose wrote in an email. “While all of our finalists demonstrated a passion for supporting students, what distinguished [Finch] was her authenticity and commitment to innovation that appealed to the students, staff and faculty who participated in the search.” Finch graduated from
Hartwick College in 2001 with a bachelor’s of arts in psychology and earned a master’s of science degree in higher education from Old Dominion University in 2007. She began her career in South Carolina as the associate director of community and ethical standards for Clemson University and eventually returned to Oneonta, where she was director of student conduct and community standards and then the associate vice president for student development. In a LinkedIn post, Finch shared her appreciation and gratitude to those she previously worked with at Oneonta. She will enter her new role in January 2024. “I’ve had the pleasure of serving the students, my colleagues, and the community
of SUNY Oneonta for the last 15 years and am grateful for every opportunity that has been afforded to me,” Finch wrote. Jo Keenan, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, described the benefits of the campus resources supervised by the dean of students. “The resources available to students on campus are really useful,” Keenan wrote. “I’ve made use of a few of them myself, and it’s both convenient and practical to offer necessary services like therapy, from the University Counseling Center or referrals from the CARE team, as well as health appointments from Decker Student Health Services Center on campus. It shows the students that the University wants them to do well for themselves.”
caspar carson photo editor The Dean of Students Office oversees several activities and organizations, including Fraternity and Sorority Life, Late Nite and the Consultation, Advocacy, Referral and Education (CARE) Team.
A night of honoring Jewish history and jazz JAZZ from page 1 To expand to an international perspective, the following events in the series will be the showing of a film called “The Jews and the Blues,” addressing the impact of jazz in Israel, as well as a lecture on Jews and jazz in Soviet Russia entitled “How they Swung in Odessa: Jews and the Birth of Soviet Jazz.” At the start of the concert, the room held emotional weight as Karp called to mind the tensions and difficulties of the past week for the Jewish community. “I think we’re all reeling from the horrific reports and images from Israel,” Karp said. “It’s my hope that tonight’s event, which has been long in the planning, will offer some momentary and needed respite.” After this acknowledgment, Karp introduced the two speaker-performers of the event, Allen Lowe and Lewis Porter. Lowe, on saxophone, was Artist of the Year in 2021 for the Jazz Times Readers’ Poll and has written multiple books and essays on jazz history. Porter, on piano, teaches Jazz Studies at Rutgers University and has written biographies for jazz greats John Coltrane and Lester Young. Karp noted that both speakers are not only incredibly well-versed and insightful scholars in the realm of jazz history but also talented performers. This proved true as Lowe and Porter pontificated, improvised and jested with each
other throughout the night. “We don’t necessarily agree upon everything,” Porter said. “But hey, I just told you, we’re Jewish. The point isn’t agreement. The point is interesting, different points of view.” Porter noted that Jewish musicians are overrepresented in jazz in terms of non-Black players, composers and historians. Between various songs and crash courses on jazz history, Lowe and Porter attempted to explain this phenomenon. They postulated that the Jewish fascination with the art form may have come from the cantorial tradition, as well as the fact that the sheer beauty and counter-culture of the art form could appeal to Jews struggling with identity in the United States, albeit in different ways and to different degrees. David Floyd, chief cataloging librarian for Judaic studies at Binghamton, spoke to the importance of Lowe and Porter’s instrumental approach on a complex and sensitive topic, especially in relation to how Judaism interacts with the Black art form of jazz. “I think trying to engage in a conversation about Jewishness and jazz is a big challenge, so I like that they chose to play most of the conversation,” Floyd said. “I think the selection was smart. I like it when a concert is just a museum piece, but there’s this integration of ‘half from the past, half from the present’ and people playing their own compositions.”
Allen Lowe and Lewis Porter render a musical dialogue around Black and Jewish culture and influence.
The musical element highlighted the blend of cultural influences, along with the touch of Lowe and Porter’s personal composition and adaptation of several songs from Black and Jewish composers, many of them show tunes. The music was raw and exaggerated, filling the room with exuberant energy. After the performances, Porter responded to a question about how he and Lowe improvised jazz solos. “This is the thing that always drives musicians crazy,” Porter said. “You’re improvising, so that means whatever goes, right?”
Porter proceeded to slam his arm on the piano discordantly. “No, it’s not whatever goes,” Porter said. “It’s a discipline you study for years and years. I know a number of very accomplished classical musicians … They try to improvise jazz, and they sound like beginners.” Famous Jewish jazz saxophonist Stan Getz came up in conversation a few times throughout the event. Karp further elaborated on Getz’s humility and uniqueness in his attempt to adapt Black jazz to his own art. “[Getz] never failed to acknowledge his indebtedness to the great Black jazz masters
from whom he learned,” Karp said. “That’s part of what made it possible for him to adapt the music to express his own identity. This is beautiful. What isn’t beautiful is what might be called cultural theft. That’s different. That’s the phenomenon of taking without acknowledging the debt and claiming full credit and reward for somebody else’s work.” Porter and Lowe approached the topics of identity and appropriation with a depth of understanding, nuance and self-deprecating humor. Their vast knowledge and soulful performances had the audience consistently laughing, nodding
provided by robbie Manners
their heads or tapping their feet. At the end of the night, Karp asked Porter and Lowe to explain in a few words the reasons for their personal love for jazz as an art form. “Tremendous warmth,” Porter said. “Very rich color. And really, imagination.” Lowe delivered his response with just as much feeling. “It’s just the smartest, most interesting creative art form I’ve ever seen,” Lowe said. “The great thing about jazz is that it serves as both an art form and entertainment, and you rarely find any form that is so profoundly good in both those areas.”
Existence and connection in Boygenius’ EP From the good, the bad to the hopeful, the EP’s four songs offer an intimate look into the human experience. Victoria Stargiotti
arts & culture writer
After a whirlwind couple of months of tours, it seems that the Boygenius trio are ready for a bit of respite — and the release of their EP “The Rest” certainly allows them to go out with a bang. Although the EP sends a slightly different message from that of their recent album release, “The
Record,” it still highlights artists’ unique writing styles and how each part of the trio is able to support each other on a variety of songs. This selection of songs picks up where their album left off, expanding the ideas of friendship and long-term connection into a greater sense of the human
soUrced FroM billboard Boygenius’ “The Rest” develops ideas about wanting to live more freely and dangerously.
experience. The bookend songs, “Black Hole” and “Powers,” are the most abstract of the four, highlighting fragments of life and sensation in a kind of all-encompassing exploration of what it means to experience existence and connection. A great feat that Boygenius has achieved with these is the creation of a clear tone throughout the EP, despite the fact that there are only four songs, and they each have such different major themes. They focus on minute details and feelings that contribute to our humanity, ideas that continue to permeate the listener’s thoughts as they listen to “Voyager” and “Afraid of Heights.” The middle two songs of the EP are certainly more faithful to what we know to be the general style that Boygenius writes — still, they are anything but repetitive. The energy of “Black Hole” compliments the slightly softer, yet still upbeat tune of “Afraid of Heights” and the ideas about fear and desire to
live more dangerously presented in this second song only further develops the overarching theme of a kind of external look into the human experience. The one piece that at first glance does not seem to fit quite as well with the overall theme of the EP is “Voyager.” This does not discredit the lyrical and melodic beauty of the song, and there is something to be said for the intimate lens it places upon relationships and intermingling of love and fear that often occurs as people become close. This song tells a story that is more specific than the others which does make it stand out as somewhat out of place within this EP. Still, part of the reason it stands out so much is because it is so rawly honest about having weaknesses and sometimes giving into them, a rawness which is emphasized by the acoustic guitar and soft harmonies which accompany Phoebe Bridgers’ singing. “Powers,” a song about sensation and the transfer of
energies, builds you up and cools you down again in just four minutes. It leads away from the specificity of the second and third songs and back into more existential themes. It is about impact and connection. This song emphasizes the idea that there is power in every movement we make and every person we come into contact with, ending the album on a positive and uplifting note. Clocking in at just over 12 minutes, “The Rest” certainly leaves the listener feeling rejuvenated. In only four songs, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers are able to pull on every heartstring, maintaining a clear message even as each song moves from high energy to low, regretful to encouraging. Just as we all face ups and downs, this EP somehow manages to pinpoint exact moments that define life — the good, the bad and the hopeful — and bottle them up in these songs — the intangible items that connect all of humanity.
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ARTS & CULTURE
bupipedream.com | October 24, 2023
BSU hosts Homecoming Fashion Show BSU celebrates Black culture and fashion trends by referencing various social movements. Jaiden Del Rosario
arts & culture writer
The Black Student Union (BSU) kicked off Homecoming Weekend with a celebration of their 55th anniversary this past Friday. BSU’s annual Homecoming Fashion Show, which took place in The Mandela Room, featured work from various designers, along with performances from the Black Dance Repertoire (BDR), MajorNoir and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Paris Defreitas, publications coordinator and social-cultural coordinator of BSU and a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, explains the purpose and mission of BSU’s annual event. “While we hold events for the community to have fun, there is a message behind everything we do since the start of our organization in 1968,” Defreitas wrote. “Our theme this year, ‘The Legacy Continues,’ is to honor those before us who have made Binghamton a safe place for Black students on campus and to demonstrate we are still here today doing exactly that.” The event called for recognition and appreciation of Black culture through decades of fashion trends sparked by Black creators and historical movements, which were organized by five separate scenes and two performances, hosted by Elizabeth Plantin and Kiya Floyd. Peta-Gaye Williams ’98,
reflected on her time as a BU student participating and attending the fashion show. “I’m just happy to be here,” Williams said. “It’s, again, the nostalgia … I’m excited to actually see students here do what I did.” Harkening back to BSU’s establishment in 1968, designer SSBD New York opened the show with a modern take on ’70s fashion. Models were dressed in a cross between streetwear attire and ’70s flair with the designer’s signature bomber jackets paired with styling choices, like bell-bottom jeans, flannel skirts and trousers. Scene 1: 1968 was a complex reflection of the Civil Rights movement as models posed holding up the Black Power Fist alongside their demonstrative posters in hand. Scene two, named New York, Stand Up, covered a mixture of New York-style hip-hop and streetwear trends of the late ’90s and even 2020s. Hip-hop, rap and drill music from these years played as models with baggy jeans, balaclavas and jean skirts — staple streetwear fashion — walked and danced down the runway. Blue and purple lights complemented the cool tones of the clothes designed by Official by Sade, adding to the ambiance of the set. The models of this scene posed multiple times throughout the runway — walking either individually or in groups — and engaged with each other as they passed one another along the walkway. These scenes were followed by a performance from BU’s very own BDR, which showcased dancers wearing ’90s inspired Black fashion trends such as white tees, light wash baggy jeans, baseball caps and head scarfs.
BSU’s Homecoming Fashion Show featured Black culture and street style throughout the decades.
Rachelle Bird, president of BDR and a junior majoring in social work, expressed her goals for the show. “BDR is still here and here to stay,” Bird wrote. “It’s sort of an unspoken tradition for us to perform at BSU’s annual Fashion Show and to be able to continue the tradition, to show out on their 55th anniversary, is a true blessing.” Dancers started with a reference to classic ’90s dance battles and eventually jumped off stage, pulling on the energy from the crowd. Bird remarked on the feeling before performing at the fashion show. “A highlight of my experience preparing for the show has to be the moment right before getting on that stage,” Bird wrote. “There’s
a different kind of nervous, yet exciting energy in the air coming from both the dancers and the crowd.” The impact of the fashion show extends beyond a demonstration of artistry in the Black Binghamton community. It also serves as a means to facilitate a multilayered conversation among Black individuals, highlighting the beauty and richness of Black history through visual arts, allusion to social movements, dance and creative style. In addition to scene four, Avant-Garde, and performances by MajorNoir and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, hosts Plantin and Floyd called an unexpected best dressed competition. Members of the audience had the opportunity
david barshay staff photographer
to walk the runway and show off their outfits for the night. Through this segment of the show, both current and former Binghamton students were given the opportunity to engage with the event, emphasizing the organization’s mission of continuously empowering Black students within the BU community. Denise Matthews-Bush ’92, former member of the BSU E-Board, discussed her hopes for the event. “I think it’s about seeing the next generation doing their thing,” Matthews-Bush said. “And this is something that’s going to shape them — we’ve [all] probably gone on to get additional degrees after leaving Binghamton, but Binghamton feels like where it started.”
The Homecoming Fashion Show came to a close with the final scene, Still Fine 55. Pride in BSU’s deep-rooted Black history was celebrated with their motto, “unity through heritage,” and upheld by the organization’s alumni. Defreitas expressed gratitude toward the show’s success and larger impact. “Both BSU alumni and current students have expressed how amazing our show was, and it is beautiful to see the community come together to support BSU,” DeFreitas said. “All of the proceeds go toward our Youth Program, so I’m very appreciative that people showed up to support our initiative for mentoring Black and Brown youth from the local Binghamton community.”
ASU celebrates Asian culture and traditions ASU’s theme of “Memoria” offers a nostalgic and comforting atmosphere with its performances. Caitlin Tucker and Lia Richter arts & culture writer editor-in-chief
The Asian Student Union (ASU) held their annual Asian Night on Saturday, with the theme “Asian Night 2023: Memoria.” The event was held in the Broome County Forum
Theatre from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ASU is an umbrella organization for many of the Asian groups on campus, and 13 different organizations performed at the event. These performances included a Taekwondo showcase and musical acts, like the OKPOP group and PhilippineAmerican League’s (PAL) Tinikling dance. Sharon Zohirova, events coordinator of ASU and a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, described the planning and purpose behind the night. “Traditionally, ASU has a
Binghamton Bhangra performs a traditional South Asian dance
showcase of Asian talent across campus,” Zohirova said. “I feel like this is a really important display, and I wanted everyone who wanted to be involved to be involved … It’s a way to unify a lot of the Asian community on campus.” The night started off with a skit that explained their theme of nostalgia, appreciating where you are in life right now, acknowledging how life can change and practicing gratitude about what you have. The skit spanned the entirety of the show, as ASU interns would act in a video shown every few acts, portraying
future versions of themselves looking back on their college years. Sebastiano Marini, multimedia chair of ASU and a junior majoring in cinema, shared the process behind all the videos presented that night, including E-Board introductions and the skit. “[The E-Board introduction] was very candid [and] not scripted,” Marini said. “We wrote [the skit] for a couple weeks, shot for a week or two and then edited for a week.” Throughout the night, various performers took the
stage to show dances, songs and fashion. The Vietnamese Student Association showcased a traditional Vietnamese fan dance, and Binghamton Bhangra displayed some of the dances they’ve been working on. During intermission, there was a fashion show that presented traditional garments of various Asian cultures. Audience members were cheering and laughing the entire night. Winnifred Jing, ASU E-Board alum and a senior majoring in philosophy, attended the event to support the people she knew during the organization’s biggest
bella daidone managing editor
event of the year. “This was a change from before where in past years we were on campus,” Jing said. “It was nice to see them pull this off at a different venue with different tech, and still do really well. I thought it was really nice.” Chris Sandel, an undecided freshman, also attended the event to encourage his friends and shared his thoughts at the end of the night. “I think everything was really cool,” Sandel said. “I was happy to see my friends have fun. Good job to everyone who performed.” The night ended with the final clips from the skit and a 20-minute performance from OKPOP, a K-Pop group based in New Jersey. The group switched between singing their own music and comedic bits. OKPOP shared how being invited to this event “was an honor.” Brto, a member of the group, explained the goals of the music troupe. “We want to inspire everybody,” Brto said. “We don’t want to limit who we are inspiring. We just want to inspire everyone to do something, make something, be passionate about something and not to give up on their dreams.” Zohirova shared how she felt the event went overall. “I’m glad people are leaving with a smile on their face,” Zohirova said. “It definitely represented parts of me I haven’t really seen represented otherwise on campus. I’m really grateful to ASU and the Asian community on campus for that.”
OPINIONS Tuesday, October ,2017 2023 Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,24 2,5, 2017 2017
Palestine’s anti-colonial struggle deserves support Israel is responsible for deplorable conditions in Palestine.
Theodore Brita Opinions Columnist
An anti-colonial struggle is one in which an oppressed nation seeks to liberate itself from the shackles of imperialism and the violence that accompanies it. Cuba and Spain. Haiti and France. Kenya and Great Britain. Given the events of the last 75 plus years in the Middle East, it is appropriate to add Palestine and Israel to this list. Since its creation in 1948, the state of Israel has enforced a long, slow and painful death on the people of Palestine with the explicit backing of powerful western nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in the world’s largest open air prison with nowhere to escape repeating Israeli state violence. None of this is to say that Palestinian actors such as Hamas are blameless.
Hamas’ tactics of kidnapping civilians are reprehensible and should be condemned universally. Hamas, however, is a terrorist organization with relatively limited power and few backers. Israel is a fully developed state with an army and an air force that also receives billions of dollars in aid from the United States alone. This is not even close to a symmetrical power dynamic, which explains why the people of Palestine are suffering under the yoke of Israeli colonialism. Many of the deplorable conditions that exist in Palestine, and especially the Gaza Strip, are the direct result of Israeli policies and decisions that are designed to decrease quality of life for the Palestinian people. Since 2007, Israel has imposed an embargo on Gaza by land, air and sea which serves as a form of state-enforced retribution for Gaza’s entire population. Meanwhile, nearly 50 percent of Gaza’s population is under 18-years-
old and will likely suffer a serious children’s rights crisis due to the current conflict. Palestinians in Gaza can only receive essential supplies such as food, water, hospital supplies and electricity if Israel permits them to. After Hamas took Israeli civilians as captives in the recent attacks, the Israeli government turned off the power and water supply to the Gaza strip. The consequences of this will likely be horrific for people in Gaza who have nothing to do with Hamas and amount to a cruel form of collective punishment. Hospitals will be undersupplied as Israel enacts a bombing campaign that will result in thousands of fatalities. Internet access in Gaza will be highly limited and clean water and food will be extremely difficult to come by. In a move that will surely exacerbate these long-existing tragedies, Israel’s current right-wing government is using its own intelligence
failure to justify a military campaign that will lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Days before the attack, United States intelligence agencies attempted to alert Israel’s government of a growing threat from Hamas. After Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) general in charge of activities in Palestine stated that Hamas had “opened the gates of hell.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that Israel would “return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known.” So far, the IDF’s response has lived up to these grim promises. Human Rights Watch has reported that Israel had used white phosphorus in attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, which would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. The Israeli Air Force has also devastated Gaza with bombing that has already killed more than 1,500 Palestinians at the time of writing, including 500
children. This number will most likely continue to rise. The disparity in power between Palestine and Israel is typical of a colonial dynamic. Israel has a fully staffed and well-equipped army and air force. Meanwhile, Palestine has no army or air force. Hamas can fire rockets into Israel, but Israel’s Iron Dome defense system is typically highly effective at intercepting incoming rockets before they can make an impact. The Iron Dome intercepted most of the rockets launched by Hamas in the recent offensive. Palestine has no such advanced defense system. While Israel receives billions in aid from the United States annually, Palestine received about 500 million dollars from the United States from April 2021 to March 2022. This represents about an eighth of the value of the aid package the United States is preparing to send to Israel right now. In a further reflection of this imbalance in power,
United Nations data shows that far more Palestinians than Israelis have died since 2008. There is simply no way to describe Israel other than as a colonial state due to the obvious power it holds over all aspects of the lives of Palestinian people. In the coming days and weeks, American media and politicians will demonize the Palestinian people and paint them as the villains in this conflict. The lines between Hamas — a terrorist group — and the Palestinian people will be blurred and obfuscated. This narrative is plainly untrue, no matter how much it is parroted and drilled into American minds. The Palestinian people have struggled under the cruelty of Israeli settler colonialism and apartheid for far too long. It is time to recognize this reality and support their struggle for freedom.
Theodore Brita is a senior majoring in political science.
Halloween is no excuse for ignorant costumes Cultural sensitivity of costumes must be assessed.
Alexis Fischer Opinions Columnist
With Halloween approaching, recognition of privilege is more important than ever in order to be sensitive to ignorant costumes. Of course, dressing up in costumes displaying blatant cultural appropriation is racist, but many white people fail to realize that costumes that aren’t obviously appropriation still aren’t always acceptable — it’s just as important to think about the context of a costume. A big concern on Halloween, especially
on college campuses, is that privileged individuals may be insensitive to cultures and fail to take into consideration a costume’s related history. This obliviousness forces others to wonder if their culture will be mocked over the holiday festivities. Halloween shouldn’t be used as an excuse to be racist or offensive. The most obvious rule for dressing up on Halloween is to avoid incorporating other ethnicities into a costume. Not only is it derogatory because of the potential sexualization of such costumes on this holiday, but also because appropriation coming from privileged people sends a
hateful message to people who practice what they are mocking. The New York Times highlighted that Halloween’s cultural appropriation “is often about which group has the power to take symbols, styles or language from another.” This emphasizes the responsibility of those who are privileged to refrain from abusing their power. Henu Josephine Tarrant, a New York-based performer and artist of the Hopi, HoChunk and Rappahannock tribes has made a statement regarding costumes mocking her cultures. She explains, “When you really look at it and you really study these tropes and stereotypes and what they mean and how they affect us as Native people, you
know they’re all rooted in a historically violent past.” She continues to state that such costumes are “a reflection of how we look to [non-Native Americans] and what we are to them.” White people must recognize their position here, and it’s their obligation not to take advantage of their status. Appropriation is not limited to ethnic cultures. I want to emphasize that a costume ignorant to a nonethnic cultural identity is just as offensive as a racist costume. A few examples include mimicking language, gender or physical appearance — all demeaning to a person’s culture. For instance, the New York Times explains that “dressing in drag can denigrate the struggles of
gay and transgender people.” In addition, costumes that stem from body shaming are also inappropriate. “Outfits that make fun of people’s size, objectify human beings or otherwise make light of a person’s lived experience are all inappropriate.” Offensive costumes also include anything mocking situations that people have no control over. Popular costumes I’ve seen include those of inmates and homeless people. If a costume is categorized as “an outfit that’s never created or donned voluntarily in reality,” dressing up in such clothes would be a mockery. Halloween — or any other day — should never be used as an exception to moral judgment and sensitivity to
others for the sake of a joke or a flattering look. Some sociologists have proposed the idea that Halloween is often seen as a safety bubble for racism. This rings true for other forms of hate including sexism, homophobia, body shaming and certainly many more biases. There is no excuse for degrading other parties — and yet those with white supremacy complexes use the holiday as an opportunity to behave that way. For this reason, I encourage anyone dressing up to know the context of their costumes this Halloween and each one following. Alexis Fischer is a senior double-majoring in English and environmental studies.
Living at home after graduation eases transition Living at home allows college grads to save money.
Julia O’Reilly Opinions Columnist
I remember graduating from high school. I really was that 18-year-old who thought she had it all figured out. Future job — planned. Friends — piece of cake. The next four years were going to be a seamless transition into “real life.” With “real work” and “real money” to pay my “real rent.” I had the steadfast confidence of Elle Woods getting into law school — “What, like it’s hard?” But after a lovely reality check consisting of endless biology major coursework, struggling for internships and two summers of back-breaking waitressing in a seafood restaurant, I realized that this “real money” is hard to earn and even harder to hold onto. What with paying for food, books, clothes and such. And the occasional, much-to-often
$5 bar cover and sequential drinks to follow. So, now a little over two years in, with a semester abroad on the horizon and what seems like no time before caps, gowns and unemployment, I pose the question — are a few years at home following graduation smart for a college graduate, or is moving out right away a better choice? Accredited Schools Online wrote about Sandy Fowler, a business owner, and her daughter Emma, to highlight the jarring change of reintroducing a college graduate into their home dynamic. One of the main points that were touched on was how this decision can infringe upon a 20-something’s agency and independence. Emma explained that “The graduate is used to making many more of their own life decisions … This may clash with unspoken expectations of the parents, who are likely not adjusted to their child’s new
autonomy.” The reintroduction of a child into the home is like manipulating any equilibrium that has been established. It is an “x-factor” that will have consequences for the inner workings of the system as a whole. Emma also points out that this system that had always operated with regard to the “pre-college child” must adapt to the new circumstances, and even then, may be unsuitable to the people involved. “Both parties have certain expectations based on an old dynamic that doesn’t apply anymore,” Emma says. “And that often leads to misunderstandings and arguments.” The mutual misunderstanding between this new take on “my roof, my rules” and a college student’s formative independent experience on their own could put strain on the relationship between a child and their parents. This forces them to reestablish an equilibrium that could incite resentment on
either side. But what this side of the argument fails to acknowledge is the human variable. As much as college simulates real life, nothing can prepare a freshly graduated college 20-something from getting knocked on their ass by reality. Sometimes growing pains that are associated with reestablishing that home dynamic and a few arguments are actually still optimal as opposed to the alternative — beginning this “real life” on an unstable foundation of financial insecurity. Everyone says that staying home will allow a newlychristened adult to “save up”, but they don’t actually analyze the logical premise of this concept, especially from the vantage point of today’s economic climate. Forbes speaks on the topic regarding millennial college students, claiming that “Millennials are earning 20 percent less than their parents did at the same age. Meanwhile, the cost
of major monthly expenses has soared in recent years.” For most, this is simply an unfeasible standard to adhere to without a crutch of some kind. This immense gap concerning the cost of living between generations is often overlooked and hidden within the expectation that a college degree is enough for one to land on their feet post-grad. According to Moving.Tips, living at home in a temporary arrangement allows a new graduate to accumulate money from a steady income while avoiding high living expenses because of shared utilities. They claim that your “bank account will increase and before long you’ll have enough money for an apartment deposit and rent — or even for a down payment on a house.” This is even more true of people who are dealing with loans or college debt. Rather than being subjected to this constant state of being above water financially and having to chalk out allotments of income
for rent, utilities and essentials, living at home relieves some of this pressure for the long-term goal of creating a foundation to continue to build on. College students are often accustomed to conditional independence, freedom that exists within the bubble of less responsibility. To expect them to translate this mindset to a “real-world” way of life without some kind of relief is naive, especially with the way in which this “real-world” has evolved over time. Today’s world is not perfect, and these young adults can’t be expected to be either. College graduates should be allowed to “make their own mistakes” without it costing them the quality of their first life as an adult. So that maybe one day they can pay it forward to their own kids, in whatever beautiful, messed-up “real-world” they find themselves on the brink of joining. Julia O’Reilly is a junior majoring in biology.
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Tuesday, October 2023 Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,24, 2,5, 2017 2017 2017
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Michael Waxman/Fun Editor
Pipe Dream Fun Staff
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SPORTS
bupipedream.com | October 24, 2023
Swimming and diving opens season at Bucknell Women earn gold, men finish second. Jacob Knipes
assistant Sports editor
After its annual green vs. white meet, the Binghamton men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams opened up their fall season at the Bucknell Invitational over
the weekend — with the women placing first overall and the men taking home second. “We had our inner squad a couple of weeks ago, which went really well,” said Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. “But we’re just competing up against ourselves there, so not a ton of expectations or pressure. We were hoping just to continue to
kind of build off what we did there and see some of the same things when we go up against somebody else. I think we probably exceeded that a little bit.” Leading the way for the Bearcat women Saturday in individual events was a freshman Haley Nowak, in her debut for BU. Nowak swept the fly events, winning the 100 and 200 with a time of 57.13 and
Freshman Haley Nowak swept the fly events for BU at the Bucknell Invitational on Saturday.
2:05.52, respectively. Meanwhile, freshman Juliette Phillips got a win of her own in the 200 IM, clocking in at 2:07.84. “There’s always a little bit of an unknown with your freshmen coming in and how immediate of an impact are they going to make or how are they going to adjust to how we train and college life,” Cummiskey said. “But our hope was that
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our freshmen would help us immediately, and if nothing else help us dig deeper and fill in some spots. But [Phillips], obviously, won the 200 IM and can do a lot of different things very strongly. [Nowak] looked great yesterday and will be an immediate impact.” The returning Bearcat women also put together some wins at Bucknell. In the breaststroke contests, sophomore Maria Pignatelli took the 100 with a time of 1:04.38 while junior Lauren Kuzma completed the Bearcat sweep by finishing the 200 in 2:20.79. Meanwhile, sophomore Olivia Philbrick won the 100 back in 56.73, the 50 freestyle was won by senior Molly Greeley with a time of 24.03 and senior Maddie Hoover won the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.91. “[The upperclassmen] have been kind of stalwarts for us,” Cummiskey said. “So I think that group finished on a pretty strong note last year. I don’t think we necessarily started off as great last fall. So our hope was that we can kind of start ahead of schedule — or ahead of where we were last fall — and build off of the end of last season to really kind of take a step forward this year.” Following up on his America East (AE) allconference season last year, junior Elijah Lanfear won three individual events for the men at Bucknell. Lanfear captured gold in the men’s 100 backstroke with a time of 49.59, clocked in a 20.57 in the 50 freestyle and finished in 1:40.89 in
the 200 freestyle. Senior Eric Kroon swept the breast contests for BU, finishing the 100 in 56.26 and punching in a 2:06.34 in the 200. Also taking individual first place was senior Henry Shemet, whose time of 45.58 tied him for first in the 100 freestyle. “We want our guys — especially our top guys — to perform and be ready to compete, and we need that to have the success that we want to have,” Cummiskey said. “So the men have done well. As a whole, they’ve, I think, been ahead of where we were last year in the fall. They’re working hard. They’re a close group.” Both sides also took home wins in their respective 200-yard freestyle relays. For the women, a quartet of freshmen Ava Olsian, Pignatelli, Hoover and Greeley earned firstplace honors with a time of 1:36.18. Meanwhile, taking gold with a time of 1:22.10 for the men were senior Sandon Karinsky, sophomore Liam Preston, Lanfear and Shemet. “I think the relay is always our kind of litmus test of where your team can be,” Cummiskey said. “And we’ve got a lot of options for all of our relays of who could be on them, so to have the success we had with multiple relays yesterday was nice to see. We’ll be interested to see how things play out.” BU will continue its season with two meets next weekend, starting at Holy Cross on Friday, Oct. 27. First race is set for 5 p.m. at Hart Center Pool in Worcester, Massachusetts.
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Men’s soccer squeezes past UMass Lowell soccer from page 1
BU scores two goals in three minutes to overcome Riverhawks.
Emily Ciarlo
assistant sports editor
Coming off two losses at home, the Binghamton men’s soccer team took on UMass Lowell and got back in the win column, earning a 2-1 victory on the road. After a rainy and scoreless first half, the River Hawks got on the board early in the second half. However, BU secured the victory after scoring two goals in the span of three minutes to take the contest despite the game’s poor weather conditions. “Of course, we took [the weather] into account,” said Binghamton head coach Paul Marco. “We trained in a wet surface the night before, so I
thought the guys handled the conditions quite well.” UMass Lowell [2-9-3, 0-5-0 America East (AE)] opened up the game four seconds into the half with an immediate shot, that went out top left. Not long after, Binghamton (4-8-2, 2-1-2 AE) responded with two shots of its own in the span of 22 seconds, but both were stopped by the River Hawks’ goalkeeper. UMass Lowell only had one more attempted shot in the first half, which came in the 31st minute but the River Hawks failed to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, the Bearcats controlled the first half with 13 shots, including six that would find their way to the net. Despite all of Binghamton’s attempts and its 13-2 shot advantage, the game remained scoreless going into halftime.
“I thought we were extremely good in the first half,” Marco said. “We just didn’t have a goal to show for how well we were playing, and you know you go in and then the guys come back out and how they start the second half sometimes is a reflection on the first half sometimes it isn’t.” As the weather conditions worsened, both teams looked to get on the board early on in the second half. In the 50th minute, the River Hawks took advantage of mistaken positioning by the Bearcats’ defense and found the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead over the Bearcats. Although the River Hawks only attempted two shots in the first half, UMass Lowell was able to put more pressure on Binghamton’s goal, holding a 9-8 shot advantage in the
second half. “In this case, I thought we were still quite good in the second half and then to go down a goal just by miss positioning on our part,” Marco said. “We kind of got a little bit maybe overly confident that we could deal with them, and we weren’t as touch tight.” Despite the pressure from UMass Lowell, the Bearcats’ offensive and defensive lines would work together to even the score and keep the River Hawks off the board. Just nine minutes after the River Hawks’ goal, a free kick pass from graduate student back Devin Heanue found senior back Will Noecker — who tipped in the ball to tie the game at one. “We were on top of the game attacking so much we then were letting our defensive shape slip a little bit,” Marco
said. “But after their goal, I thought we then really started to push we got another goal back right away.” Two minutes after BU’s first goal, freshman forward Anthony Randazzo got off a shot, looking to give Binghamton the lead, but it was stopped by the River Hawks’ goalkeeper. However, the Bearcats did not stop attacking the UMass Lowell goal. Just a few seconds later, in the 62nd minute, redshirt freshman back Cailen Thomas scored the eventual gamewinning goal, giving BU a 2-1 lead. “We get the winner shortly after it,” Marco said. “And then continue to try to get more goals which was great to see.” After taking the lead, the Bearcats’ defense continued to work to keep UMass Lowell from finding the equalizer.
Even after the River Hawks picked up their pace of play, Binghamton maintained its advantage for the rest of the game to secure a 2-1 win on the road, while also being awarded three points in the AE standings. “We’ve been talking about needing three points in this game to stay alive for playoffs and to try to continue to extend our season,” Marco said. “I thought the guys were outstanding, I mean what a great team performance yesterday [with the] conditions, the opponent [and] everything. Our guys just continue to work hard and improve through the game.” BU will return home to continue AE conference play against Bryant on Friday, Oct 27. Kickoff is set for 6:07 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.
Women’s soccer draws with Maine 2-2
Bearcats remain atop of America East (AE) standings. Thomas Hemmer
sports contributor
As the final whistle sounded on Sunday, the America East (AE) women’s soccer playoff picture became clearer as Binghamton and Maine, the two top teams in AE standings, settled for a 2-2 tie after the Bearcats were able to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the first half. In the process, BU increased its unbeaten streak to eight and remained in first place in the conference. “It’s nice that we at this point have succeeded in terms of getting the quarterfinal bye and having a home semifinal,” said
Binghamton head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “So I’m disappointed about the goals, but to have the team come back and set ourselves up in a good spot — if you told me at the beginning of the season we’ve got to get a result, we’d be happy with that. So we’re still in good shape.” After trading chances through the first four minutes, the Black Bears (9-1-5, 4-1-2 AE) found an opening. A foul by Binghamton (5-4-6, 4-03 AE) in the third minute gave Maine a free kick in the offensive zone. Instead of sending it toward the Binghamton net, Maine sent the ball to the corner. Eventually, the ball was sent into the Bearcats’ box and to the back of the net as Maine went up 1-0. After Maine’s goal,
Binghamton had several close chances of their own. In the 14th minute, freshman forward Paige Luke was able to break in and receive a pass to get a breakaway opportunity. However, Maine’s goalkeeper was able to keep her shot out of the net. Minutes later, a Bearcat foul would lead to a Maine goal. In the 18th minute, the Bearcats committed a foul and gave Maine a penalty shot. The Black Bears made the most of their opportunity, putting the ball away to go up 2-0. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to deal with a couple of key moments on fouls that led to a couple of set-piece goals,” Bhattacharjee said. “We really have not been giving up set-piece goals throughout the course of the season. So it’s one of
those things that ended up being an equalizer tonight. But again, you know, we’ll learn from it. We might have an opportunity to see Maine again, so hopefully if that happens we’ll be able to control a little bit better.” The teams would continue to trade chances after the second goal. The Bearcats eventually broke through in the 35th minute. After being awarded a corner kick, senior defender Lexi Vegoda skied the ball into the box. The ball then went to graduate student midfielder Olivia McKnight, who shot it over the Black Bears keeper and into the net to make it a 2-1 game going into halftime. “I think it was critical to get on the board before the half,” McKnight said. “The corner came in. [Vegoda] has great balls every time.
Graduate student midfielder Olivia McKnight scored a goal in BU’s 2-2 draw against Maine on Sunday afternoon.
A couple of girls fought for the ball. I just took a touch and found the open goal. I knew we needed that goal, everyone was pressing forward and putting their bodies on the line. Getting that goal before the half definitely lifted our spirits and then we knew we could come back and either tie or win.” The second half started similarly to the first, with both teams trading time on the attack. In the 59th minute, the Bearcats were able to create space deep in the offensive zone. Graduate student defender Grace Vittoria then crossed the ball to Luke close into the Maine box. After receiving the pass, Luke then put the ball past the keeper to tie the game at 2-2. “[Luke’s] finish was just class,” Bhattacharjee
said. “So really, really well done. For us, we’ll take it, you know — like I said, they’re a good defensive team. They’re hard to break down. The fact that we got two goals, especially being down from that 2-0 deficit. You know, we’ll get on a roll from here and get ready for Thursday.” The game would become increasingly physical as the half went on. Neither team looked to settle for the tie, as both teams had their chances during the match’s final minutes. Ultimately, the score would remain as it was, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Binghamton will hit to road to take on NJIT, in its final regular season matchup, on Thursday, Oct. 26. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Lubetkin Field in Newark, New Jersey.
CASPER CARSON PHOTO EDITOR