Spring 2023 Issue 43-44

Five speakers discussed their passions and overcoming challenges at the 13th-annual event.

Vera Then news intern

TEDxBinghamtonUniversity

“Unleashed Radiance” this past Sunday in its 13th-annual conference. Held in the Osterhout Concert Theater in the Anderson Center, this year’s TEDx showcased speakers from various fields whose passions drive their work and their efforts at bettering their communities.

The theme, “Unleash Radiance,” was to leave an imprint on those passionate within their hobbies and careers that want to give back to their community, according to the TEDxBinghamtonUniversity website.

Three professional speakers, an undergraduate student and an alumna spoke at the event, discussing topics surrounding the challenges they have faced and the skills they have acquired throughout their career.

see TEDX page 3

TEDx: UNLEASH RADIANCE

In line with the event’s theme, three professional speakers, an undergraduate student and an alum spoke on their careers and helping

SA E-Board confirmed, BU Council in dispute

The confirmation of the board had been slowed by the processing of election grievances.

Jacob Knipes news editor

2,039 students have spoken. The 2023-24 Student Association (SA) executive board is confirmed, while the Binghamton University council representative race remains contested.

The campus-wide election took

place Sunday, March 12 through B-Engaged, where students were presented with a ranked-choice ballot. Alongside BU council representative, the positions to be determined were president, executive vice president (EVP), vice president

for multicultural affairs (VPMA), vice president for finance (VPF), vice president for student success (VPSS) and vice president for programming (VPP).

The main challenges faced by the joint Elections and Judiciary

Committee in managing the election were related to various “administrative procedures,” according to Christopher Ribarić, the chair of the committee and a sophomore majoring in accounting.

see results page 3

Baseball sweeps Lafayette in home opener SAPB comedy show a standout success for students

Comedians Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker took the stage to an energetic crowd.

Casey Monahan arts & culture contributor

Binghamton University welcomed Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker at the Osterhout Concert Theater on Thursday, March 16, for the Student Association Programming Board’s (SAPB) annual comedy show. The two received major laughs from the audience as they discussed a variety of topics ranging from the meaning of life to what Colin Jost smells like.

Bearcats win third consecutive series, set to face Penn State for one game on Tuesday.

Jack Oh sports editor

For the first time this season, the Binghamton baseball team opened its doors to the Bearcats Baseball

10

Complex for a weekend series against Lafayette. After winning game one on Friday, the Bearcats took both games of the doubleheader on Saturday to complete the threegame sweep over the Leopards.

“Winning three games on a weekend is difficult in college baseball no matter who the opponent is, where you’re playing [or] what the conditions are,”

said Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki. “So I’m really happy that we were able to find a way to get all three wins … Are we quite where we want to be yet as a ball club? Not yet, but we’re getting there. We saw some good things and we just have to keep moving forward and working hard like the guys do all the time.”

see baseball page 10

The two comedians are relatively new to “Saturday Night Live,” with their most notable contributions being their segments on Weekend Update where they tell anecdotes about their life or their opinions on certain topics. Prior to “Saturday Night Live,” Longfellow was featured in the “Netflix is a Joke” Festival, and Walker was a writer for the animated series “Big Mouth” and Freeform’s “Everything’s Trash.”

Victoria Manfredi, SAPB Comedy Chair and a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, described how the show came to be.

“I discovered [Longfellow] and [Walker] when they debuted on ‘Saturday Night Live’ this season and thought they were hilarious and would be a great act to bring to campus,” Manfredi wrote in an

email. “I think bringing comedy to campus is important to give people a chance to experience a type of show they might not have seen before.”

Manfredi introduced the show and apologized for the late delay as the two comedians were stuck in traffic. Despite the delay, the audience warmly welcomed them as they came on stage and acknowledged the mishap.

The show began with a coin toss to decide whether Longfellow or Walker would start, which resulted in Longfellow reluctantly going first. His deadpan and muted comedic style were reminiscent of the late “Saturday Night Live” alum Norm Macdonald, whom he later mentioned was a source of inspiration for him. His jokes revolved around stories from his childhood and his time at Arizona State University. The most notable part of his set was his discussion of his relationship with his stepfather, Terry, whom he’s also mentioned on Weekend Update and other standups online.

Longfellow also interacted with the audience by inquiring about BU’s most interesting aspects, also talking about his own school experience. He half-jokingly said he went to Arizona State University because it had a 99.8 percent acceptance rate and was basically his only option since he was never very school-oriented.

see comedy page 6

HBO’s biggest new show leads to middling results, CannaMarket unifies Binghamton cannabis community,

Contributing columnist Nicolette Cavallero raises concerns over a new TikTok trend,

Women’s lacrosse hosts UMBC in home opening AE game, Wrestling competes at NCAA Championships,

The Free Word on Campus

divya gottiparthy staff photographer

the community.

megan patterson staff photographer

Junior outfielder Tommy Reifler totaled

hits against Lafayette in Binghamton’s 3-0 sweep over the weekend.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

2023 TEDX Guest Speakers

Caitlyn Archibald, freshman double-majoring in biochemistry and history

Q: What involvement have you had on campus that feels relevant to your talk?

A: “I’m part of the women’s rugby team. I’m surrounded by the strongest women I’ve ever encountered before. I absolutely adore these girls, and just the strength and support I feel from them. They really just support me in every avenue, and they’ve really shown me that I shouldn’t be scared of being a strong, powerful advocate for feminism — and I should be able to talk about things that make society uncomfortable and it shouldn’t make them uncomfortable, but I should be able to talk about it freely. I would say the rugby team [is] a really big support system I have that really impacted me.”

Sherrell Dorsey, entrepreneur and journalist

Q: As social media and multimedia become more prevalent, how do you view the landscape for entrepreneurship and development in journalism?

A: “[There are] so many more mediums now that exist, as you mentioned, for storytelling in new ways and accessing audiences and meeting them where they are — which is typically on their smartphones. And so from the journalism standpoint, the role of a journalist is still very important in terms of getting the facts right, getting the information correct, as you know. So I think journalists and publications as a whole really have to work hard to become the voice of authority because we have so many social media influencers now where a lot of people get their news and information from. If you can build a strong following and a platform with interesting content — content that really connects with people and isn’t just about gatekeeping, then you can really create some interesting feedback loops that people can trust.”

Shantay Carter, ‘00, nurse and mentor

Q: What led you to create your nonprofit, Women of Integrity, Inc., and where do you hope to see it go in the future?

A: “Women of Integrity [Inc.] came about kind of out of necessity. I had just gone through a bad breakup and kind of fell into a depression — so I needed to kind of channel that negative energy into something positive. So you know, just when I sit in my basement, it’s like, ‘What can I do? And this came about. I know I said I liked helping young people. I was a [resident assistant] while I was here. So it kind of gave me the background skills, but I just knew [who] I wanted to be and [that I wanted to] make a difference, and I always like working. I think going through the breakup made me want to be able to impart what I’ve learned from that to younger girls. They wouldn’t have to go to that or the women just in general, and I kind of think that’s what made me spark the spark that made me create the nonprofit. So I always tell people that Women of Integrity, Inc. saved my life. This year, we celebrate 13 years [and] we’ve been able to service hundreds of girls over the years.”

Priyanka Naik, sustainability chef

Q: What advice do you have for people trying to implement eco-friendly cooking practices?

A: “My advice for really anything is to lead by example. Something I would say to younger adults and younger generations is regardless of what access you have to social media and how things are changing and whatnot, I think the essence of seeing your friends do something always influences you. So that’s why leading by example becomes very important, which is kind of how I use social media. To me, my social media community is like my friend group, essentially — I’m showing examples of what I do in the hopes that I’m showing them something new and helping lead them in a certain way. I think if someone cares about being more eco-friendly, I would advise them to start doing it and show their friends.”

Jason Richberg, Suffolk County legislator

Q: How did your experience at Wilberforce University, a private Historically Black College and University (HBCU), impact your approach to politics, considering also your involvement with Kappa Alpha Psi, a historically Black fraternity?

A: “Many, many years ago, there was a show called ‘A Different World,’ which was based off of HBCU, and it was sort of my first real idea of what a historically Black college was about, and going to a historically Black college, especially a small one, was great because it’s a different experience. The folks who I met there, [including] the administration and professors, pushed me in a direction to be uncomfortable, but also put me in a position to engage [in] new experiences. I was put into a different couple of fellowships and internships that pushed me in new directions, which if I didn’t go to I wouldn’t be sitting here today. I wouldn’t be an elected official.”

Read our full interviews with the TEDx speakers at bupipedream.com

X-Fact’r Step Team Presents: Circus Palooza

Among the speakers was Sherrell Dorsey, an entrepreneur, journalist and the founder and CEO of The Plug — a digital news and insights platform covering the Black innovation economy. Dorsey discussed how attendees can design their own stories for a better future, explaining that they have to remove biased language and ignore negative stereotypes in stories. In doing this, Dorsey said they will be able to correct our history and find communities who have largely been overlooked or unacknowledged.

Other speakers included Jason Richberg, a Suffolk County Legislator, Shantay Carter, ‘00, a nurse and mentor, and Priyanka Naik, a sustainability chef.

Caitlyn Archibald, a freshman double-majoring in biochemistry and history,

spoke about the importance of feminism, as well as how to recognize privilege. Archibald explained that common phrases said since elementary school days, like “boys will be boys” or “girls mature faster than boys,” are excuses used to validate inappropriate behaviors that have been instilled since childbirth.

“Asking some young boys to grab chairs and move tables during elementary school was not ill-intended but continues to belittle women and enforce the separation between genders,” Archibald said.

“At the same time that impressionable boys absorb the lessons about how to earn respect in the world of men, they get the complimentary message that what is considered feminine has less value than what is considered masculine. It is a short

step from there to the belief that women should be subordinate to men and sexually available to them.”

A 15-minute intermission followed Archibald’s speech, where students from BU Professor Samuel Elikem Kwame Nyamuame’s African dance ensemble performed the Ghanaian recreational dance called “Kpanlogo.”

After intermission, Richberg discussed his upbringing and how he came to be elected to 15th legislative district. He spoke on the challenges he faced, his difficulty in understanding how loud his distractions were and accepting his need to be more patient, and ended his talk by having attendees reflect on their own purpose.

Carter followed, focusing her speech on how turning pain into power can create

resilience. She talked about her journey from nursing to creating a nonprofit organization, and how the hardships she faced led her to create strategies for success.

These strategies, which she refers to as “Nurse Carter’s strategies to maximize success,” include collaboration, connect and confidence.

“Collaboration, learning to work with others to be able to inspire change and to make an impact — you always want to surround yourself with positive likeminded people who are going to support you and take you to the next level,” Carter said. Two — connect, you have to be vulnerable and show empathy, you have to be able to be vulnerable so they can see the real you, and in being vulnerable you have to be willing to be open to share yourself

and your journey honestly so people can relate to you. Three — confidence. Confidence is knowing who you are, knowing that you are worthy, knowing that you are enough and you are destined to create greatness.”

The last speaker was Naik, who spoke about three principles that could change one’s mindset, as well as how helping the environment can be beneficial for mental health. The three principles were to “let go of what you know,” to “open your mind” and that “our actions have an impact.” Developing a new mindset can lead to an ecofriendly life that can help people be more open to new ideas, according to Naik.

Sophia Yazdi, a freshman majoring in economics, explained why she chose to attend the talks.

“I decided to come

because I really wanted to hear about new ideas, and I think I’ve watched a lot of TED talks over the years and they always have some sort of new take on an idea,” Yazdi said. “I think it’s really interesting to see how someone else might view a topic and it really sort of can change your perspective on things.”

Mwende Wagner, a freshman majoring in sociology, said she also enjoyed listening to the talks.

“I also think that in general, it just sounded like something fun to do,” Wagner said. “You know, there’s a student speaker who was also a freshman — as we watched — so it’s kind of cool to see that students are involved in campus events like this.”

The challenges led to a delay in the confirmation of election results.

“In the past, this website has been buggy and prone to crashing,” Ribarić wrote in an email. “Luckily this year we didn’t have too many issues. Working in an election with so many moving parts such as the [Graduate Student Organization (GSO)], [Judicial Board (J-Board)] and the candidates has also been difficult, as everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to grievances, voting tabulations and the like.”

The results were officially confirmed by a unanimous vote at an emergency SA Congress Meeting last Friday.

Coming out on top of the five-person presidential field was Elisheva Ezor, a junior double-majoring in business administration and mathematics. Ezor, a newcomer to the SA, gave her thanks to the joint Elections and Judiciary Committee for their work in the election. She did, however, express concerns with information barriers she encountered in the process.

“I had to go out and really talk to people, and I think it could be really cool to see the Elections Board for next year, and maybe I’ll get involved with this, come out with more resources,” Ezor said. “Not just factual information, but maybe also an interview with

somebody who has really gone through the process and their advice. Because, on paper, getting an endorsement is so much different from that process.”

While results were originally planned to be confirmed at last Tuesday’s SA congress meeting, Ribarić said the process of hearing and managing grievances from candidates caused the announcement to be pushed back. Ribarić explained that the BU council representative race has seen the most delays due to the complexities of coordinating with the GSO, as graduate students also vote for the position.

tedx from page 1 bella daidone

“Finding a time that works for everyone is difficult, as we need a certain amount of people present from each body for decisions to be made,” Ribarić wrote. “The grievances filed to these committees also concern potential Election Day violations, which may result in punishments that affect the results, which is why the BU council representative election is the only race that does not have any projected results as we need to wait for the grievances to be closed for us to move forward.”

The other contested executive board race this year was for VPMA. It is projected that Khalimah Choi Owens, the current advising head office director to the VPMA and a junior double-majoring

design manager While the Binghamton University council representative race remains unclear, an unofficial look at next year’s Student Association’s Executive Board has been provided.

in economics and integrative neuroscience, won the role in the three-candidate race. Meanwhile, EVP, VPSS, VPF and VPP saw single-candidate races where each candidate secured their respective role.

Chance Fiorisi, the EVPelect and a sophomore majoring in political science, described how joint campaigning played a role in his approach to the

election cycle.

“If I did not have the ability to endorse and support my personal preferences for SA president and VPMA, then I feel as if I would have been less inclined to engage in the campaign itself since I was running unopposed,” Fiorisi wrote. “So, I do appreciate the fact that I was able to give support to my fellow

candidates!”

As this election cycle has mostly come to a close, Ribarić said his biggest takeaway was the high enthusiasm among students for leadership positions.

and cooperation throughout the process,” Ribarić wrote. “Admittedly, no process is perfect and this one is no exception. If J-Board was at full capacity, things would have been easier on them at this stage, as now we are in the period where grievances are falling on them.”

First marker of Freedom Trail revealed at UDC

12 other markers, alongside a Harriet Tubman statue, will follow on the trail.

The Binghamton Freedom Trail has begun, with its first marker revealed.

The marker was unveiled on the morning of March 10, Harriet Tubman day. With the first marker placed in front of Binghamton University’s Downtown Center (UDC), the trail will continue with the placement of 11 other markers around Binghamton. When completed, the Freedom Trail Markers will be placed in various iconic Binghamton City landmarks, from the Phelps Mansion to the Martin Luther King Jr. statue.

The Freedom Trail Project was assisted by a $400,000 grant from New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul’s toward BU’s Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity. The trail, which will recognize Binghamton’s history of civil rights, acknowledges Binghamton’s integral role as a part of the Underground Railroad. A nod to the city’s abolitionist history, each of the 12 markers on the trail identifies major sites that were once visited by Underground Railroad conductors and abolitionists like Tubman.

Tubman will also be memorialized through a statue at the UDC.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham shared some words about this new project, articulating his optimism

for the future through the new initiative.

“The statue and the Downtown Binghamton Freedom Project Trail project as a whole, bring the important work of the Tubman Center into the City of Binghamton, making it visible and accessible to residents and visitors,”

Kraham wrote in an email.

“It is my hope that for decades to come this new statue and this Freedom Trail will educate and inspire the next generations of changemakers.”

Kraham acknowledged Binghamton’s “infamous history with racism and hate” but asserted the positive role the city has played throughout the years.

“But Binghamton’s past is so much richer on the right side of history — that history needs to be told and resourced and celebrated,” Kraham wrote. “The new Freedom Trail will change how Binghamton, as a community, represents itself and our values in the public sphere.”

Binghamton was home to people and places that had a remarkable place in history, like figures in the women’s suffrage movement, the fight for civil rights and the abolitionist movement, which the Freedom Trail honors according to Kraham.

Anne Bailey, director of the Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity, spoke at the unveiling of the statue this past week, citing a lesson she learned from Tubman.

“The word is vision — this is the word inspired by Tubman that I carry

with me everyday,” Bailey said. “She had a vision, and thus, she had a purpose for her life. Vision gives you purpose and it gives you the ability to work and to live for something bigger than yourself, and there is nothing greater than that.”

Bailey gave a message to the audience, reminiscing on what she learned from Tubman’s life.

“If you do not know what that vision is yet, then that’s OK — seek it,” Bailey said. “Seek vision and purpose as Harriet Tubman did and maybe a couple hundred

years later they’ll still be calling her name.”

Five selected artists are currently under consideration to design the statue, and their designs are slated to be reviewed at UDC on April 20. Public input will finalize the selections, and it will be erected to cement New York state’s past as a leader in the abolitionist movement.

Kelly Mui, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience, expressed anticipation for the statue and the representation it would provide.

“This statue would bring awareness to an underrepresented community here, and I think that opportunity to provide some exposure would be a great addition to the city,” Mui said.

“Binghamton has a long and underrated history, and this is an amazing chance to showcase the positives through a leading historical figure that has been important for the city.”

Daniel Owens, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience, noted the historical

Student-made syrup shared at Maple Day

Students made the syrup from scratch, collecting sap on campus.

Binghamton University’s Environmental Studies department held its thirdannual Maple Syrup Day.

On Friday, various homemade syrups were displayed in the E.W. Heier Teaching Greenhouse in Science III. The syrups, organized by tone from

light to dark, were made from start to finish by students in Environmental Studies 336: Sweet Harvest: Bees and Maple. The course is taught by Sara Velardi, an instructor in the Environmental Studies Department, who has organized Maple Day twice previously, with the first time being in Spring 2020.

The event features student research and data collection that starts at the beginning of the spring. It falls around the same time as New York State’s Maple

Syrup weekend, which occurs during the last two weekends of March.

Students tabled inside the Greenhouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event was originally scheduled to be held outdoors near the Spine, but was relocated due to weather. Signage was used to explain the research conducted and types of syrup on the table. Students offered distinct flavors of maple syrups for spectators to try, ranging from light amber to more thicker, bolder tones.

Velardi elaborated on how students make syrup, from tapping trees on campus to boiling the sap.

“We collect sap from a maple grove on campus, near the ropes course by East Gym,” Velardi said. “At first, that’s only 2 to 3 percent sugar. Then, you boil down the sap until it gets to around 66 percent [sugar]. We try to do a boil every weekend. From there, it’s really just an evaporation process, trying to get rid of all the excess water from the sap that

comes directly from the tree.”

Velardi explained that a dozen trees were tapped this year as part of the project. Students were assigned specific trees throughout the semester to collect sap from once a week. The varying shades in the final product result from differences in tree characteristics, temperature and other factors, according to Velardi.

Velardi said she finds it important for students to understand and interact with natural resources on campus.

“I think there’s a lot of value in learning a skill to make something from nature,” Velardi said. “A lot of my students come out of this class saying, ‘Oh, this is something I can do at home. This is something I can do with my family.’ Many students also enjoy being outside during the day and being around the trees.”

Students in the class attended the event to display their results and talk about the process with student attendees. Matthew Baker, a senior majoring in environmental studies, shared his instructor’s sentiment when describing why he enjoys the course.

“As students, we’re used to being locked in our classes [during lecture],” Baker said. “Being a senior, I wanted to take classes that were more fun and interesting. Here, we work hands-on with maple trees and learn all about the

importance of having such a statue in Binghamton, recognizing both the city’s past and present. “I’ve heard a lot about the negative history here in Binghamton, but I’ve also come to learn that the city has played a critical role in many leading movements,” Owens said. “I hope that the statue and the Freedom Trail will provide some much needed exposure that paints the city’s past in a good light and for it to highlight marginalized communities here.”

process. I like going down and collecting the sap to see how much my tree has made. I even got to name my tree, Frank. Overall, I love being able to get outside.”

While students collect sap from the trees frequently, the amount of sap collected can vary week to week. Baker outlined two main factors that can contribute to sap production in the maple trees.

“It’s all about temperature and pressure,” Baker said. “In Binghamton, we have some hot days, and then a lot of really cold days. Those temperature differences allow the sap to flow up and down the tree. Sometimes, I’ll come back and there will be buckets full of sap. But other times, there will barely be any at all.”

During the day, students passing by walked into the Greenhouse, where mall sample cups were filled with different syrups available for attendees to try out.

Colleen Duggan, an undeclared freshman who attended the event, said she enjoyed trying the homemade syrups.

“I came over here to see the Greenhouse for the first time,” Duggan said. “I thought it was really cool, and I would like more people to know about it. I enjoyed trying the different types of maple syrup. It is interesting to see how their syrup compares to brandname syrup that we buy in grocery stores.”

The event was held in the E.W.

Natalie Pan news contributor

provided by binghamton.edu

The first marker on the trail is located outside the Binghamton University Downtown Center.

Adam Shemesh news contributor

Monday, April 3, 2017 Monday, October 2, 2017 Thursday, October 5, 2017

Tuesday, March 21 2023

Medical tourism shows U.S. health care inadequacy

Government-funded universal health care should be accessible

Samantha Rigante Opinions Columnist

On Friday, March 3, four American citizens took an unexpectedly common journey to Mexico, one of them hoping to obtain a medical procedure across the border. Soon after driving through the Mexican city of Matamoros, they faced cartel gunfire, and all four were subsequently abducted. When Mexican officials finally found them, two were dead. The cartel associated with these killings has apologized, and five of its members have been arrested.

The whole affair, however, raised concerns surrounding the phenomenon of “medical tourism” — the process of traveling abroad in order to undergo medical procedures for less cost. According to the Mexican Council for the Medical Tourism Industry, nearly one million Americans travel to Mexico each year to undergo medical procedures that would be prohibitively expensive in the

United States. This is despite the fact that border towns, including Matamoros, are among the most dangerous medical tourism destinations. Many of these procedures, including cosmetic, dental and other medical surgeries, are far less expensive in Mexico, and American citizens risk their safety because they cannot afford the prices of medical care in the United States. According to the Associated Press, the price of a tummy tuck surgery in South Carolina could cost anywhere from $7,000 to $9,000, while in Matamoros the same surgery may only cost between $2,500 and $4,500.

The killing and abduction of the four citizens has brought to attention not only the dangerous circumstances surrounding medical tourism but also the outrageous prices of health care in the United States. Traveling long, unsafe distances to other countries simply because health care is too expensive is unheard of elsewhere around the world, especially in places that guarantee their citizens government-funded, public

health care. According to Johns Hopkins University, “Americans on average continue to spend much more for health care — while getting less care — than people in other developed countries.”

Especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, more Americans will be putting their lives at risk simply because they cannot afford health care — especially reproductive care — within the United States. Women are already traveling across state lines in order to get abortions, which is especially the case for poorer women in southern states that have outlawed abortions — and the potential criminal risks involved have put many in danger as well. Not only is there a threat from cartels or other dangerous organizations, such as what occurred in Matamoros, but many of these medical procedures are often less safe because “quality and safety standards, licensure, credentialing and clinical criteria for receiving procedures are not consistent across countries and hospitals. If surgeries are conducted in substandard

conditions, for example, the risk of poor results or complications is higher.”

America’s health care system is broken. No one should have to travel long distances simply because the health care system in their country is too expensive or inaccessible. In a 2019 Gallup poll, nearly 25 percent of Americans said they delayed getting medical treatment for a serious illness purely because the costs of treatment were too high, and even more Americans have trouble paying bills or totally covering the costs of their medical care altogether, leaving travel as the last solution for health care. Even those who have medical insurance sometimes must travel because their insurance will not cover many of the costs associated with medical care in the United States.

An obvious solution to the ever-increasing problem of the cost of health care in the United States is to introduce government-funded universal health care, as many countries across the world have. According to a study done by

to Americans

the National Institute of Health in 2020, establishing a system of universal health care in the United States is not only economically practical but may be less expensive than the singlepayer system we currently have in place. Providing citizens with affordable health care is something that many countries have already instituted, and the United States continues to lag behind by not implementing such a system.

A major reason that the United States has not yet adopted universal health care is political pressure and the insurance and pharmaceutical lobby. The Republicans in the U.S. Congress mainly oppose a nationalized health care system on the basis that it would raise taxes — but only for the wealthiest people in this country. Attempting to institute a nationalized health care system will not be an easy task, as many politicians are against it and will have a hard time getting it through the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Despite this, however, steps are currently being taken within

the United States to lower the cost of some drugs, including the recent cap on insulin prices. Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, one of the largest producers of insulin supply in America, announced that they were going to curb the inflation of insulin prices. Additionally, the Biden administration has introduced legislation in an effort to force pharmaceutical and insurance companies to lower the cost of insulin.

While the United States is moving in the right direction toward alleviating some of the problems with the health care system, the measures being instituted simply do not go far enough. It’s time that America followed the rest of the world’s lead and established a health care system that works for everyone so that medical tourism and situations like the one that occurred in Mexico do not become the norm.

Samantha Rigante is a freshman majoring in philosophy, politics and law.

Mikel Arteta has elevated the Arsenal Football Club

Arteta’s signings and tactics finally show success

Theodore Brita Opinions Columnist

It is currently an incredible time to support Arsenal Football Club. The team from N5 is five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and has played some wonderful football over the course of the season (8). Especially since the World Cup, there have been multiple dramatic victories, which are essential to securing important points in the title race. It now seems hard to remember, but this club was in crisis mode for much of 2021. In current manager Mikel Arteta’s first full season, Arsenal suffered through a poor campaign and finished eighth in the Premier League. The 2021-22 season started with three straight losses, which included a defeat to newly promoted Brentford and a 5-0 loss to Manchester City. After the third loss, it seemed that Arteta would not

be in his job much longer. Much of the fanbase, including myself, wanted him fired and replaced. Thankfully, the Arsenal owners showed more patience than the fans and trusted in Arteta and the squad to find solutions. The Club righted the ship by the end of the season, and despite missing out on the top four, the signs of improvement were clear for all to witness. This season, the team has exploded into genuine title challengers and one of the most exciting clubs in Europe. While there are many factors that have contributed to Arsenal’s incredible resurgence, much of the credit must go to manager Mikel Arteta. He has revolutionized the way Arsenal play on a weekly basis and reconnected the fans with the players.

Towards the end of the 202122 Premier League season, the ideas behind Arteta’s tactics became increasingly evident as the squad continued to gel and become more accustomed to each other. However, this

obviously evident chemistry took some time to build.

Arteta took the Arsenal job in December 2019 and of the players featured in his first starting XI, only Granit Xhaka and Reiss Nelson remain regulars at the Club. (1) But many of Arteta’s signings since then have become crucial to Arsenal’s current tactical setup. Martin Ødegaard, who Arsenal signed on a permanent deal after his loan for only 30 million pounds in the summer of 2021, has become the team’s captain and creative hub. (2) One only has to watch his performance away at Tottenham or in the second half comeback at Aston Villa to realize he has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season. His willingness to lead by example and his outstanding work rate have made him an excellent captain despite not fitting into the traditional mold of passionate leaders who typically captain Premier League sides. Oleksander Zinchenko, another bargain of a transfer brought

in by Arteta for only 32 million pounds, has been crucial to Arsenal’s play this season. (7)

(3) Although Zinchenko is nominally a left back, he drifts into the midfield when Arsenal are in possession, allowing yet another technically gifted player to be on the ball frequently. His unique player profile means Arsenal are often able to force their opponents into defending for long stretches due to his strength in possession.

The success Arteta has had in the transfer market has allowed Arsenal to truly implement his tactics to their full extent this season. The results have been nothing short of spectacular. Arsenal have accumulated the second most expected goals and the second fewest expected goals against, behind only Manchester City in both categories. (4) Their play has also been incredibly entertaining to watch. In possession, the entire Arsenal team besides goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will often be in the opposing half for prolonged

stretches of the game. When they lose the ball, Arsenal press in an organized and willing fashion that creates many goal scoring opportunities through winning the ball back in dangerous areas. This highly aggressive setup has meant that Arsenal average more touches than their opponents in nearly every area of the pitch besides the opposing penalty box. (4) This is a risky style that can leave them susceptible to counter attacks, but center backs William Saliba and Gabriel alongside defensive midfielder Thomas Partey often limit such opportunities and provide a solid base for Arsenal to attack once again after they win the ball back.

Perhaps most importantly, Arteta’s tenure has coincided with a notable growth in fans’ connection with the club. The Emirates Stadium, which was formerly prone to accusations of being a soulless bowl, is now incredibly loud and vibrant. A supporter’s group known as the Ashburton Army attend every

home game with the effort of making the atmosphere around the Emirates more intimidating and it is safe to say they and the broader stadium crowds have succeeded. (5) Various chants praising Arteta and the Arsenal players ring out with incredible volume in and around the stadium before, during and after matches. The hype around Arsenal is well and truly back and approaching a fever pitch as the title run-in begins. Excitingly for fans, the current team is set up to compete for the long term. Arsenal are the second youngest team in the league based on average age and numerous key players such as Bukayo Saka and Saliba have signed contract extensions. (6) Even if Arsenal do not go on to win the league this season, the 2022-23 season appears set to be remembered as the one in which Arteta brought Arsenal back to the top.

–Theodore Brita is a junior majoring in political science.

‘Stay at Home Girlfriend’ trend is problematic

TikTok trend romanticizes financial dependence.

these videos are concerning.

lifestyle where they spend their days going on hot girl walks, doing reformative Pilates and doing wholesome housework.

spend a great deal of time on TikTok. I am up to date on all the trends, know all the sounds and have post notifications turned on for my favorite stars.

One thing that has frequently made its way onto my For You page these past few months has been the “Stay at Home Girlfriend” trend. If you haven’t come across this internet phenomenon yet, it, according to Vogue, “showcases a ‘day in the life’ of mostly young — approximately 20-somethingyear-old — child-free females who stay at home while their partner goes to work.” These women present a carefree

One influencer, @ asshliciouss, started video showing off the money that her boyfriend left in order to pay off her cards. Another video started with a girl saying, “I got all my household duties done nice and early so he decided to take me out today.” Another influencer, @septoctnov, has made her whole brand the stay-at-home-fiancé lifestyle. While this may seem like the perfect life, it may also be a sign of a dangerous turn of events.

The “Stay at Home Girlfriend” trend is a concerning trend that threatens women’s financial independence and romanticizes rigid gender roles. There are many reasons why

First, many of these women are constructing their entire lives around their boyfriends. Their daily goal is to perfect their home and appearance in a way that always seems to cater to their male partner. According to Distractify, “In many of these videos, the girlfriend’s routine will consist of waking up, making coffee, drinking some type of green juice, tidying up the bedroom, journaling, doing laundry, working out, etc. It seems their main daily goal is to take care of their appearance while completing minimal housework/running small errands for their man.”

In other words, their only dayto-day goal is to be a caregiver to their partner. Many of these women may lack satisfaction and fulfillment in their careers and have little to no social

schedule outside of their boyfriends. As someone who has always been interested in the fight for women’s equality, this is a concerning concept. These influencers’ lives may seem beautiful online, but they could be filled with emptiness and subservience. The trend may also impact younger generations. These videos have millions of views, and these creators have thousands of followers, many of whom are at a very impressionable age. Adolescents may see these videos and think this is the lifestyle they should pursue. They could also inevitably find themselves in a world of emptiness and subservience, all due to a TikTok trend that showcases women as trophies.

Furthermore, this trend may make women vulnerable to abusive situations. Financial

independence has been historically impossible for women. In fact, women couldn’t even open their own credit cards until 1974. With women reverting back to situations where they don’t have their own jobs or their own credit, we may see an increase in women who become trapped in abusive situations.

When women are financially dependent on men, they can become unable to escape abusive situations due to financial dependency. There may also be an increase in financial abuse, which entails men not allowing women to have the resources or things they need. This is very reminiscent of a time before women could achieve independence and were trapped in these dangerous relationships. The world can become an even scarier place

for women if we romanticize this abuse and dependence. If a couple decides that one of them should stay home because it works best for their lifestyle, that is okay as long as there are still forms of independence and equality. Scheduling times in the day to go out of the home to spend time with friends and family, having an at-home virtual business or keeping separate bank accounts would help with this imbalance. There is nothing wrong with staying at home, but making it a trend and ignoring the dangers and history of women’s dependence allows for misinformation that hinders the fight for women’s rights.

–Nicolette Cavallaro is a senior majoring in psychology.

Nicolette Cavallaro Opinions Columnist

BU’s Osterhout Theater hosts SNL comedians

“I thought the Great Depression was a magician until I was like 15,” Longfellow said.

Walker’s comedic style greatly contrasted with Longfellow’s by being more upbeat and animated. He began his set by facetiously becoming emotional about how many people say he looks like Pete Davidson, and also talking about his relationship with his father. The latter topic often fell short in terms of comedy due to its bittersweet nature, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

He also expressed his feelings about Justin Bieber’s ability to “successfully” appropriate every culture, and asked the audience a variety of questions — ranging from students’ majors to how much people love their fathers. Toward the end of his set, he decided to proclaim something that he felt college students need to hear but no one will say.

“Some of you are supposed to be carpenters,” Walker said. “Some of you are supposed to be fitness instructors. Just drop out of school!”

Both comedians in different instances shouted for the student journalist to reveal themselves and then went on

to read previous articles from other school newspapers about their performance. Based on the excerpts they chose, the reviews appeared to be backhanded yet complementary. In this show, however, the reviews seemed predominantly positive.

Audience member Emily Goldberg, a sophomore majoring in psychology, said she and her friends enjoyed the show.

“I don’t really watch [“Saturday Night Live”] so I didn’t know who they were,

but my friends asked me to go,” Goldberg said. “I thought they were pretty funny though. I actually laughed at their jokes.”

The show ended with a Q&A with the audience, where the two comedians indulged about what occurs at “Saturday Night

Live” and what the auditioning process was like, also offering a demonstration of their Lorne Michaels impressions. The two were asked what the meaning of life was, and Longfellow responded quickly.

“Smoke weed everyday, get

bitches, get money,” Longfellow said. The two ended the show saying they may or may not explore what the bars of Binghamton have to offer, before thanking the audience and saying their goodbyes.

Dance thesis takes inspiration from sculptures

A thesis was delivered in the form of dance this past Thursday. “Atmospheres and Environments” was held in the Fine Arts Building in Studio A, and was inspired by the sculptural works of Louise Nevelson.

René Neville, the choreographer and director of the production and a second-year graduate student studying theatre, explained her inspiration behind centering the production on Nevelson’s work.

“I first saw her work in a museum in Washington D.C., and they had one of

her large sculptural works, the kind that takes up a full-length wall, and it was quite stunning,” Neville said. “I found her work beautiful. She worked in creating her sculptures in black and then she went through a white period and then a bronze period. What I saw was something from her white period, and it was a part of ‘Dawn’s Wedding Feast.’”

Neville also recalled when she found a book on Nevelson’s art in a used bookstore in Ithaca, which inspired the name of the production.

“Atmospheres and Environments” is composed of five acts — “The Voyage Through Woods,” “Moon Garden,” “Civilizations,” “Space and Place” and “Epilogue.” While these separate parts are mesmerizing on their own,

when it all came together it created a beautiful and intricate through-line of individuality, harmony and form.

The second act, “Moon Garden,” had an overarching theme of unity that made its presence vivid both in the music and performance aspects. The music reflected a mystical attitude that was prevalent in the dancers’ emotions as well as their synchronous hand movements throughout the act. There was a feeling of liberation in the dancers as they looked upward and held out their hands as if they were reaching for the moon itself.

As the audience continued to watch several different pairs of dancers, there was an intensity in their movements compared to the first act “The Voyage Through Woods,” which

was more airy and freeflowing. “Moon Garden” ended with the dancers coming together and all reaching upward in the same direction as the music faded to a close and the lights went dim — leaving the audience with an eerie yet spiritual feeling.

Neville described the process of how she brings these movements to life to emulate Nevelson’s sculptures.

“All of these shapes you see we can do with our bodies,” Neville said. “It’s easy to form a circle with an arm, form a circle with a leg — and the head is a circle itself. It’s starting to translate some of seeing the assemblage into, ‘How can you put it into the body?’

Then the idea of thinking of these dancers as sculptures, pieces of a sculpture and then coming to life and

continuing to fill up the space.”

This idea of what space can be was played with during the fourth act “Space and Place,” where space was depicted as having a vital role in the individual’s life and an atmosphere that colors one’s thinking and awareness. The act began with the dancers walking out one by one and the artist, who imitated Nevelson, molding each dancer into the space they occupy. Initially there was no music, which made the scene hauntingly beautiful.

As the last dancer came out and the artist positioned them, there was a sudden burst of energy from each dancer as a bright song immediately began to play and each dancer had their own interpretation of bubbly and swaying movements. There was a carefree sense that was electric.

Stamatia “Tia” Dimitriou, ‘22, described her experience performing.

“I think it’s one of the most unique things I’ve ever experienced,” Dimitriou said. “I feel like it takes a very creative mind to be able to look at somebody else’s creative work and be inspired by that to create your own.”

Another performer, Claire Goldstein, a junior double-majoring in psychology and art and design, agreed with Dimitriou.

“I think it’s been a really great process,” Goldstein said. “I enjoyed learning the dances and getting back into dance. It was fun to be a part of the cast, and I like [Neville’s] ideas and how they came into fruition.”

The “Epilogue” proved to be both an emotional and powerful ending. It featured two dancers who stunningly created a deep connection through their intricate movements, intense expressions of vulnerability toward one another and the way in which they would mirror each other at certain points.

Neville described how during the rehearsal process she had each dancer contribute their own phrase study to the final performance.

“I wanted them to feel that they actually contributed to the story and that was a perfect way,” Neville said. “Obviously for a dancer the best way because you’ve created your own movement piece that gets intertwined and embedded and incorporated.”

Rene Neville was largely influenced by Louise Nevelson’s works. Revati Gelda arts & culture intern

michael golann photo editor

stunningly explores themes of unity and self-expression through dance.

kai depalma photo intern

SAPB’s 2023 installment of their annual comedy show proved to be a rousing success.

The pair caused uproarious laughter.

As states across the country begin the process of decriminalizing cannabis, it is clear that cannabis culture is here to stay in the United States. While the opening of Downtown Binghamton’s Just Breathe was a sign of the times as New York state was beginning its own legal cannabis sales, so is the monthly Finger Lakes CannaMarket that takes place in Binghamton.

The Finger Lakes CannaMarket is comprised of pop-up markets that have taken place throughout the Finger Lakes region of New York state, with CannaMarket events occurring regularly in Ithaca and Binghamton. Its intention is to create a healthy and safe event to showcase local cannabis businesses and celebrate the growing cannabis community.

The CannaMarket hosted at the Polish Cultural Center this weekend shows how post-legalization cannabis culture began in New York state. Despite the small size of the event space, it can be easy for the average smoker to become overwhelmed. With around 30 different vendors, CannaMarket

offers everything a weed enthusiast can imagine and more. Out of the woodwork of upstate New York, artisans of all kinds have applied their craft to marijuana and put it forth on display. This ranges from handcrafted pipes and bongs to homemade cannabis infusions of all kinds — even including actual cannabis growing and cultivating. Whether you smoke it, eat it, drink it, vape it, grow it, buy it or sell it, there is something here for everyone.

Kenneth McLaurin, one of the CannaMarket organizers, shared his thoughts on the event.

“The way we see it, if you can have wine festivals to celebrate and learn more about wine, cannabis enthusiasts should also have a space to come together and talk about the intricacies of cannabis,” McLaurin said. “People are still approaching cannabis in a traditional way. Cannabis is legal, coming together to have a positive cannabis experience is legal.”

Those attending should try and pace themselves as they walk past the tables. Some vendors will have tables with literal pounds of marijuana in plastic bags open for you to look at, accompanied by labels telling you the strain — whether it’s a

sativa or indica — and THC percentage. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sniff of “Cheetah Piss.” The vendors you find here will be overwhelmingly nice. While of course, the vendors are trying to sell their products, they also want to share this passion of theirs with you.

One of the most notable tables was the Cannananas General Score, offering homemade Rice Krispies, red velvet cookies and

chocolate chip cookies. Besides offering a small sample of their baked goods, the vendor was also open to talking about the process by which she made them. Like most vendors at the CannaMarket, most weed found here is grown locally, so quality and safety are assured.

The people at the CannaMarket aren’t only open about their weed, they are open about anything in

the cannabis community.

Not sure how to use resin?

One vendor will walk you step by step on what is their preferred way to smoke it. Never smoked a bong before? Another will tell you what the hole at the side is for. With so much cannabis, there is no room for gatekeeping. This isn’t to say that CannaMarket is some bacchanalian festival of druggy delight. It is truly

CannaMarket attendance at an all-time high HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’: not the best of us

the first growth of the open cannabis community here in Binghamton. “CannaMarket is about making a community with people who usually are more likely to be isolated because of past stigma,” McLaurin said. “What we see here as a result of cannabis culture is generational, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Everyone enjoys cannabis.”

Roll up your sleeves and look for bites America, because HBO has an undead hit infecting the nation — “The Last of Us.”

With a season finale viewership of 8.2 million, this 2023 fungal-zombie TV show has cemented itself as the first true success story of its kind. That is to say, “the video game adaptation.”

Adapted from the 2013 video game masterpiece of the same name, “The Last of Us” has accomplished on film what “Tomb Raider,” “Assassin’s Creed” and Dwayne Johnson’s “Doom”

could not — something at all. “The Last of Us” is not dead on arrival, financially or critically, and that should be considered a miracle in its own right. That being said, simply having a pulse does not make a great TV show. It may be good enough to play on the level of its TV contemporaries, but “The Last of Us” is little more than exactly that. Good enough.

The plot of “The Last of Us” stays quite true to that of the game. The year is 2023, 20 years after the outbreak of the cordyceps virus, a mutated version of a real-world fungal infection. The virus spreads primarily through a bite, controlling the minds of its hosts. In other words, mushroom zombies. The United States has become

a disparate collection of survivors, raiders and “QZ”s — blocked-off cities controlled by martial law.

This brings us to Joel, a Texas man who lost his teenage daughter in the chaos of 2003. He has little to live for — that is, until a certain characterdeveloping teenage girl falls under his care. Ellie, a sharp-witted 14-year-old, needs to be transported across the country. The reason is gravely important, the money is good and Joel is the only man available for the job. He accepts, and conflict — of course — ensues.

Let’s start off with what the show does right. The visuals are passable-togood, the sound design is expert and the music is as perfect as it was in the

game. And let’s not forget to mention the many wonderful performances that side characters manage to bring to the table. But its setting, however, is truly something special. Set design goes a very long way in “The Last of Us,” successfully bringing the evocative world that cowriters and creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin — of “Chernobyl” fame — penned to screen. Whatever actually happens in the show — ”good” TV or “bad” — it is securely surrounded by this hopelessly depressing and utterly lovely world.

But let’s talk more about Druckmann and Mazin’s writing. Without it, we couldn’t have our touching story of what is essentially a “father” and “daughter”

finding love in a hopeless place — something which would make for a much longer Rihanna song, to be sure. Granted, theirs is a story that is really and truly moving, but there’s one major flaw here. To put it simply — all this writing of hopelessness just can’t help itself.

Exhibit A — flashback episodes. These flashbacks are given the artistic respect of being allowed to play out uninterrupted and in long form — a bold faith in writing one rarely sees on the screen these days — but a decision that considerably stutters the forward-moving narrative. Fifty minutes at a time for that matter. Other shows, although less “inspired” for doing so, maintain their pacing by simply intercutting their flashbacks into the main plot of an episode periodically. The writers of “The Last of Us” seem to be under the impression that their flashback episodes are impactful enough to exist independently — pacing be damned. And they’re wrong.

Not only do these episodes feel like a stoplight on a freeway, but they also take away time, precious time. Time that is desperately needed elsewhere. Where else, exactly? Well, in the most important part of the whole show — Joel and Ellie’s relationship.

For a show that is so willing to take its time, it rushes the most delicate part. In the video game iteration of “The Last of Us,” Joel and Ellie’s interpersonal character growth was a recipe for success. Here, however, it’s a recipe too hastily followed.

Perhaps it is the delivery of the lines, most of which are too obvious. That’s not to say Bella Ramsey is wholly to blame for Ellie’s overstated performance, however, the dialogue written for her is simply not meant for 14-year-old girls. Apocalypse or not, high school freshmen do not sound like that — seriously, why do film and TV demand that every teenager sound wise? But these lines, like everything else in the JoelEllie relationship, are the symptoms of a time crunch. The pacing is once again to blame.

Episodes four to six and eight to nine, as a result of extended flashbacks, play a major game of catch-up in developing Joel and Ellie’s relationship. Touching moments, once hours apart in the video game, happen too frequently and decisively. The viewer is not stupid — they know that this love is inevitable. But it must still develop organically — the writers must never be noticed, and “The Last of Us” sees several moments in each episode where character development is visibly planted.

There are still incredibly poignant moments to be appreciated. Infected new friends and surprise cannibals are liable to twist your guts in the best way possible. “The Last of Us” is not a bad show, but it’s not great, either. Interesting asides and cool details, as many as there are, cannot cure what are at the end of the day overconfident and unrestrained writing decisions.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

provided by kimberly mouroao arts contributor

CannaMarket showcases a vast variety of cannabis treats, strains and goods.

provided by men’s health

Last of Us” stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, and has nine episodes in its first season.

Women’s lacrosse overcomes UMBC at home

Binghamton extends winning streak to four games in AE opener.

The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team hosted UMBC on Saturday afternoon, in its first game of America East (AE) play. In the 2022 season, BU defeated UMBC 20-14 in a high-scoring affair. The Bearcats continued the pattern, forcing another matchup full of goals, defeating the Retrievers 18-13 and extending their winning streak to four games, a program best.

“Really proud of this team,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “UMBC is a very talented group, and we knew that we were gonna have our work cut out for us today. More than anything, I’m proud of our draw crew … our offense had an outstanding day.”

After winning the first draw control, UMBC (6-3, 0-1 AE) got on the board less than a minute into the match to take an early lead. However, BU (64, 1-0 AE) quickly responded as sophomore midfielder Abigail Carroll found the back of the net, tying the score at one. Not long after, she scored another two goals to put Binghamton up 3-1 and complete her hat trick. Later in the frame, sophomore attack Olivia Muscolino added two goals of her own, capping off a 7-0 run by BU after the Retrievers’ opening goal. At

the end of the first period, the Bearcats found themselves up 9-3.

“I was impressed with the team’s ability to find each other out there,” Allen said. “Just their knack for reading the defense, really keeping their heads up — so overall just proud of our offensive unit today.”

UMBC struck first once again in the second period, but the Bearcats answered quickly as junior midfielder Kristen Scheidel connected with sophomore attack Marisa Tancredi to make it 10-4.

Tancredi scored two more goals in the frame, completing her hat trick. Both teams went back and forth for the remainder of the period as BU continued to lead the Retrievers 14-8 entering halftime.

“I think we’ve had a pretty steady and consistent performance defensively,” Allen said. “Today, probably not our best day on that side of the ball, but we came up with stops when we really needed it, especially in the fourth quarter.”

Coming out of the break, UMBC got the scoring started yet again, converting consecutive goals to cut its deficit to four. The third period saw less offense as BU was outscored by the Retrievers 4-1.

The Bearcat defense struggled toward the end of the quarter as UMBC scored two straight goals in the final five minutes to cut its deficit to just three going into the final frame.

“We’ve just got to fine-tune some stuff within our unit play,” Allen said.

Binghamton flipped the script in the final period, scoring two goals to open up the final frame, courtesy of junior midfielder Hayley Weltner and Muscolino. The Retrievers added one more goal to their total, but that would be their last score for the rest of the match. Late in the frame, Tancredi netted her

fourth goal of the game as BU secured an 18-13 victory over UMBC.

“We’ve really been gelling lately and I thought the confidence they gained from the win on Wednesday really helped today’s performance,” Allen said. “Overall, I think they’re looking for each other, they’re reading the defense better and with that comes the result that you saw today,”

Carroll led all Bearcats with five goals for the second match straight, bringing her scoring total to 28 goals on the season. Muscolino and Tancredi were not far behind, scoring four of their own. In addition, Weltner broke the single-game Binghamton draw control record with 14.

“Dominating performance by [Weltner],” Allen said. “Just really proud of her and the skill

set that she’s been able to finetune and show up with on game day. It’s good to take care of the home games and get one under our belt … today was a good start to the conference season.”

Binghamton is slated to face UNH in its second AE matchup on Saturday, March 25. First draw control is set for 1 p.m. at the Wildcat Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire.

Men’s lacrosse blows past Merrimack on the road

Winters tallies 13 saves and scores first career goal from 55 yards out.

The Binghamton men’s lacrosse team traveled to North Andover, Massachusetts on Saturday to face off against Merrimack in its first America

East (AE) matchup of the season. The visiting Bearcats got off to a strong start, scoring 10 first-half goals while only letting up four to the Warriors.

A back-and-forth third quarter — followed by a solid Binghamton defensive effort in the fourth — allowed the Bearcats to maintain their lead and win 14-7.

“It was a great team win,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin McKeown. “I thought

we did well in all facets … [I] thought [sophomore goalie Connor Winters] did a great job in goal, so I’m really proud of the guys to get the first conference win on the road.”

BU (5-2, 1-0 AE) started the first quarter strong with goals from freshman midfielder Will Feldmann and sophomore attack Gage Adams giving the Bearcats an early 2-0 lead over the Warriors (4-3, 0-1 AE). However, Merrimack responded

with a goal of its own to cut the Binghamton lead to one. After each team traded goals again, two consecutive scores from sophomore attack Matthew Keegan gave the Bearcats a 5-2 lead going into the second quarter.

“I thought [Binghamton assistant coach Tyler Perrelle] did a really good job of preparing the guys during the week,” McKeown said. “[Merrimack’s] goalie is very good, and we

didn’t want to necessarily take the first shot. We wanted to work our possessions and have longer possessions and we did that, and I think doing that allowed us to get some higher percentage looks.”

The second quarter started off with a goal from Merrimack that cut BU’s lead to 5-3. After that, however, Binghamton bombarded Merrimack with four unanswered goals to make the score 9-3 with three minutes to go in the half. The first goal of the run was from Keegan, who completed his hat trick. Winters followed soon after, scoring as a goalie and hitting the back of the net from 55 yards out. Binghamton used the momentum to score two more unanswered from junior midfielder Ethan Insinga and senior midfielder Quinn O’Hara, respectively. After the run, a goal from Merrimack and a last-second goal from BU made the score 10-4 going into the second half.

“When the goalie scores the guys get fired up for sure,” McKeown said. “I know our sideline was pretty excited for him.”

The third quarter saw both teams alternate goals, with each team scoring twice in the quarter. The fourth quarter had less offense but saw more action from Binghamton. On offense, the Bearcats scored two consecutive goals in the fourth, coming from Adams and redshirt junior

midfielder Thomas Greenblatt, respectively, to give BU a 14-6 lead. Greenblatt had his first goal of the game in the quarter, netting his only score to add to his game-high six assists. On defense, Binghamton did not allow a goal until the final seconds of the game, which made the final score 14-7.

“I think we handled our oneon-one matchups really well,” McKeown said. “We felt like we matched up with them pretty well … and we gave [Winters] some shots that were savable.”

Binghamton managed control of the game offensively, shooting 34 shots on goal compared to Merrimack’s 20. Individually, Keegan’s four goals brought his scoring total to 23 goals on the season. In addition, Greenblatt had seven points in the contest, including tying the program record with six assists in the first half.

“[Keegan and Greenblatt] are doing a great job,” McKeown said. “[Greenblatt] is seeing the field on a really high level, being able to find open guys [and] play through some pressure. [Keegan’s] doing a great job dodging, playing offball and finding the back of the net. It’s nice to have those two guys out there on our side.” Binghamton will head home to continue AE play against NJIT on Saturday, March 25. First faceoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

Kyle Beame sports contributor

michael golann photo editor

Junior midfielder Ethan Insinga scored three goals in BU’s 14-7 win over Merrimack on Saturday.

megan patterson staff photographer

Junior midfielder Hayley Weltner set a BU single-game record with 14 draw controls in BU’s 18-13 victory over UMBC on Saturday.

Johnny Yang sports intern

Pipe Dream Bearcast

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Baseball wins third consecutive series

baseball from page 1

For the first time this season, the Binghamton baseball team opened its doors to the Bearcats Baseball Complex for a weekend series against Lafayette. After winning game one on Friday, the Bearcats took both games of the doubleheader on Saturday to complete the three-game sweep over the Leopards.

“Winning three games on a weekend is difficult in college baseball no matter who the opponent is, where you’re playing [or] what the conditions are,” said Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki. “So I’m really happy that we were able to find a way to get all three wins … Are we quite where we want to be yet as a ball club? Not yet, but we’re getting there. We saw some good things and we just have to keep moving forward and working hard like the guys

do all the time.”

After two scoreless innings, junior outfielder Tommy Reifler led off the bottom of the third with a double into left-center field. This sparked the Bearcat (87) offense as they loaded the bases with no outs. After picking up two outs, BU plated its first run of the day as sophomore infielder Nick Roselli drew a walk to bring in one run. However, Lafayette (3-16) tied the game in the top of the fifth with a double that was hit deep into center field.

Binghamton broke the stalemate in the bottom of the eighth after an error by the visitors allowed the hosts to steal a run. During the next at-bat, junior shortstop Isaiah Corry added to the lead, hitting a sacrifice fly into center field. After that, senior outfielder Cavan Tully followed Corry up with a single slapped into left field to give the

hosts a 4-1 advantage that they ultimately protected to win game one.

“Our team works really hard,” Reifler said. “Our coach says it’s a game of throwing the ball and catching the ball, and as we get outside more, we’re doing a really good job of sticking to that. We don’t get outside very often, but the chances we get, we’re looking better each day, so we’re looking to keep it going in the future.”

Game two saw both sides remain stagnant for its majority, as it was scoreless through four innings. The Leopards, however, broke the tie with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to take the first lead of the game. Despite this, the Bearcats answered in the bottom of the inning, plating four runs spearheaded by an RBI single from junior outfielder Mike Gunning

and a two-RBI double from senior first baseman Kevin Gsell. In the next inning, the visitors managed to knot the game up at four courtesy of a two-run single. After holding Lafayette in the top of the seventh, BU had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the inning. Gsell led off with a double into right center, and three batters later, sophomore outfielder Logan Haskell had an opportunity to win the game with a runner on first and third. Haskell laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Gsell to score the winning run and secure Binghamton’s 5-4 walk-off win.

“I think it just speaks to the character of the guys we have in the program,” Sinicki said. “Fortunately, we have a lot of experience in the program right now. So I think, the guys who have played a lot of innings

for us, they believe in themselves. They believe in each other … So again, really credit to our guys for hanging in there and finding a way.”

The final game of the series was an offensive battle as both teams scored in the first inning.

After six innings, the Bearcats held an 8-5 lead with contributions from both sophomore infielder Devan Bade and Gunning. However, in the seventh and eighth innings, BU scored six unanswered runs to break the game open and take a comfortable 14-5 advantage. The Leopards were only able to score one more run in the top of the ninth as Binghamton cruised to a 14-6 win to complete the sweep.

Five different Bearcats had multiple hits in the final game, including Reifler, Tully, Corry, Gunning and Bade. Reifler and Gunning

both drove in three runs apiece to cap off productive weekends.

“We always tell the guys every year that we’re not ever gonna be good enough where we can just let one or two guys carry our team,” Sinicki said. “We have to have contributions from everybody, and [that] may not happen every single game, but we need our bottom-of-the-order guys to chip in when the top-ofthe-order guys aren’t doing it … I’m really happy with the fact that a lot of guys are contributing, and it’s not just one or two players.”

BU will return to action against Penn State on Tuesday, March 21. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College, Pennsylvania.

Wrestling ends season at NCAA Championships

Three wrestlers compete, Nolan grabs two victories.

After qualifying in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships, three Bearcats participated in the NCAA championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma over the weekend. Although no BU wrestler grabbed a win in the main bracket, redshirt junior Jacob Nolan highlighted Binghamton’s tournament with two victories in the 184-pound consolation bracket. BU exited the weekend with just those two wins as it wrapped up its 2023 season.

“I thought [Nolan] did a good job and I’m excited

that everyone’s coming back,” said Binghamton head coach Kyle Borshoff.

“[Nolan’s] got another year and [redshirt junior Cory Day] and [sophomore Brevin Cassella] have two more years. It’s an awesome event, and I’m excited for next year.”

Nolan entered the championships as the No. 19 seed in the 184-pound weight class. Despite dropping his first bout on Thursday morning, Nolan rebounded with his performance in the consolation bracket. The redshirt junior’s first victory came in the form of a 12-1 major decision over his Gardner Webb opponent. The win marked his third-ever victory at the NCAA championships, and his first by way of a major

decision. Nolan capped off his performance on Friday with a 7-5 decision victory over his Virginia competitor, but ultimately lost in the next round to the eventual eighth-place finisher.

“[Nolan] did well,” Borshoff said. “He lost a tight match early in the event to the guy that eventually placed seventh. Then he dropped his next match a little later on to the guy that placed eighth. So both his losses that he took came to guys that finished as All-Americans. He’s gotten better every year and he’s competed for us, so he’s right there in that conversation with the top eight guys, and I think he’s got a lot to build on.”

Day and Cassella were the other two Bearcats to appear at the championship

meet, but were unable to grab individual wins. Cassella participated in the tournament for the second straight season, but couldn’t repeat his 2022 performance where he won his first career match at the NCAA championships. After losing by decision in the first round of the 165-pound bracket, the sophomore was defeated by decision again in his consolation appearance. Day, on the other hand, made his first appearance at the tournament in the heavyweight class. The redshirt junior followed the same path as Cassella, dropping his only two bouts.

“[Day and Cassella] wrestled hard,” Borshoff said. “They didn’t win but they wrestled hard. I think at the end of the day for both of those guys

it’s just keeping things in perspective from where they started when they came to Binghamton. [Cassella], I think his first EIWA tournament he finished 0-3. [Day], took him three years to get into our lineup at all, and [he] started at 184 and moved up to heavyweight this year and got to the NCAA tournament.”

BU finished its season at Tulsa with three different qualifiers and two wins at the championships courtesy of Nolan. Nolan’s victories elevated his season record to 22-9 while Cassella and Day finished with a 20-8 record and 18-12 record, respectively. All three wrestlers are slated to return to Binghamton for the next season and Borshoff hopes to see improvement in his players over the offseason.

“[The offseason] is gonna be trying to figure out how to change that mentality in practice a little bit,” Borshoff said. “I’m excited to have [Assistant Wrestling Coach] Lou DePrez on staff, and I’m gonna have him in the room trying to help drive that point home as a guy that’s placed at this tournament. It’ll be good to have him in there driving that point home [that] we gotta wrestle harder. That’s something that we’re gonna change in our training over the next 12 months, and at the end of the day, we’re not gonna change anything drastically because we’ve improved. I think we have guys that are close but need to get over the hump.”

Redshirt junior Jacob Nolan earned two individual victories at the NCAA Championships over the weekend.

Michael Carbone assistant sports editor