Spring 2014 Issue 4 by Pipe Dream

Alexis ohanian ReDdit Co-Founder

Q& a

Pipe Dream Sat down the internet entrepreneur for an exclusive interview. See page 2

The Marketplace Math Release calculated how much it costs to eat every meal at the Marketplace, see page 7

PIPE DREAM Friday, February 7, 2014 | Binghamton University | www.bupipedream.com | Vol. LXXXV, Issue 4

$21M to Broome for flood relief Experts say money is insufficient for damages

Reddit co-founder visits BU Alexis Ohanian talks career, future of web Nicolas Vega Jacob Shamsian Pipe Dream Editors

Madeline Gottlieb Contributing Writer Two and a half years since flooding displaced 30,000 Broome County residents, SUNY Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier (SUNY BEST) detailed the progress of the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program and Binghamton University’s Small Business Development Center. Broome County received $21.66 million to implement reconstruction plans. Projects include rebuilding infrastructure, housing and public facilities, as well as

See SUNY Page 5

Though they couldn’t “ask him anything,” Binghamton University students were treated to a night with Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of the website Reddit. Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit in 2005 along with his University of Virginia roommate Steve Huffman, visited BU as a part of his 200stop, 77-university book tour. His talk, which brought more than 400 people to the Mandela Room on Thursday evening, covered his experience of founding Reddit, his ideas on entrepreneurship and how crowdsourcing is changing the way audiences connect with content creators.

Michael Contegni/Staff Photographer

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, speaks in the Mandela Room Thursday night. Ohanian, who visited BU as part of a 200-stop, 77-university book tour, is on the road to promote his new book, “Without Their Permission,” which details his different business ventures, the importance of net neutrality and his advice for other entrepreneurs.

Attendees were given postcards when they came into the Mandela Room. Ohanian told them to write a goal they wanted to accomplish and that at the end of his book tour, he

would mail the postcards back. Hopefully, he said, everyone will read their postcards and will have accomplished their goal. “Whether you want to have

BU competes in RecycleMania 461 schools to participate in 8 week recycling challenge said. “We compare ourselves to schools of similar size. If you compare a school of 16,000 to a school of 2,000 people, the results are going to be very skewed.” Cooley agreed and said there were a variety of awards offered each year that give schools the opportunity to showcase their strengths.

Alana Ingham/Contributing Writer

BU is once again gearing up for an eight-week marathon of recycling madness. RecyleMania, which this year has 461 schools competing, is a contest among colleges in the United States and Canada to see who can recycle the most paper, plastic, metal and cardboard in a nearly two-month stretch.

a nearly two-month stretch. “This year there’s 461 schools competing with at least one school in each state A routine participant of and most Canadian provinces,” RecycleMania, Binghamton said Alex Cooley, program University is gearing up manager of RecycleMania. “The once again for an eight- grand champion is awarded for week marathon of recycling the highest percentage of trash recycled. Other notable awards madness. RecyleMania is a nationwide include per capita which is contest among hundreds of most recycled per person. You colleges across the United can go online week by week States and Canada to see which and see how your school may can recycle the most paper, rise or fall.” According to the plastic, metal and cardboard in

Joseph Hawthorne Pipe Dream News

RecycleMania website, BU’s best numbers were in 2010, when the University placed 22nd out of more than 600 schools. Last year, BU languished closer to the middle, finishing in 235th place out of 523 schools. However, Martin Larocca, resource recovery manager in Physical Facilities, said those statistics did not tell the whole story. “We’ve been doing pretty well. Compared with other SUNYs, we are competitive,” he

Once you’ve educated people, you hope they will make the decision to hold on to to their trash another few steps until they see that recycling bin — Martin Larocca BU resource recovery manager

See RECYCLE Page 6

Ohanian said that college an IPO one day or whether you want to win a Nobel Prize, students should be the most whatever it is, let me know open to trying new things when you do it,” he said. because most do not have to “‘Cause I want to take all of the credit for it.” See REDDIT Page 5

BU tweets to the top in Shorty Awards University in first place in social media competition Carla Sinclair Contributing Writer Students who spend more time on Twitter than they do in the library may finally be able to put those hashtagging skills to good use for Binghamton University. The Barnes & Noblesponsored Shorty Awards seek out the best social media users around the world. Students at BU are looking to join the ranks of Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien and George Takei, who have all won in previous years. And it looks like they may not be far off. At the time of printing, BU was in first place with 91 nominations, ahead of the University of Houston, currently at 87 nominations. “We believe that what happens on social media can impact society as much as what happens in the movies or on TV, so we’d better encourage people do great things on social media,” said Greg Galant, executive producer and co-founder of the Shorty Awards. “What makes the Shorty Awards unique is that anyone on social media can win. Anyone can be nominated with just a tweet.” Barnes & Noble partnered

We believe that what happens on social media can impact society as much as what happens in the movies — Greg Galant Shorty Awards co-founder

with the Shorty Awards to create the #BNCollege Shorty Awards, to judge the “most social media”-savvy school in the country and its impact on the community. Last year’s winner was West Virginia University, who created a video campaign to rally students. The Academy selected them for the creativity of their tweets and how well they engaged the entire campus with the campaign. “The Shorty Awards are a fun and creative way to tell the world what we here

See SHORTY Page 6

NEWS

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2014

Alexis Ohanian Pipe Dream's question

Alexis Ohanian co-founded Reddit in 2005. He left the website in 2009, and since then, he’s advised other entrepreneurs, invested in startups and worked as an activist for open Internet laws. In his new book, “Without Their Permission,” Ohanian talked about the “democratization of content” on the Internet and how Internet users don’t need the permission of long-standing industries to create their own companies. The democratization of the web is changing the way ventures are funded, through websites like Kickstarter and Crowdtilt. Before his talk on Thursday night, Ohanian sat down with Pipe Dream to talk about topics ranging from his new book to Reddit’s favorite dinosaur.

A: Q: A:

Q: A:

answer

session with the co-founder of Reddit

Pipe Dream: In your book, there’s this quote: “There’s a unifying message here: the Internet is already doing awesome things, and it’s just in its infancy. No one knows what’s coming, but we’re certain that the status quo is due for some serious disruption and that it’s up to the innovators to push us forward. That’s where you come in.” What do you think are the major disruptions that we’ll see in the next few years? Alexis Ohanian: One of the ones I’m really excited about has been ushered in by crowdfunding. In the last few years, Kickstarter obviously has risen to prominence as a crowdfunding platform for the arts, and I think it’s just the beginning. They took something that was just generally thought of as not being an industry — like “come on, funding creative projects?” — and shown that there’s a real business there, there’s a real demand there. There’s going to be more evolutions not only there, in terms of getting creative projects funded or nonprofit projects funded. But I think more broadly, crowdfunding especially with the JOBS Act is going to see new dimensions as more people are enabled to take the chance to invest in something they believe in. And maybe it’s a prototype, maybe it’s a watch like the Pebble or maybe it’s their local bakery. I don’t know. But I think that’s going to be a huge change for the coming years. PD: There’s another question related to that. You also talked about how startups have transformed different businesses and paradigms — travel, nonprofits, education, etc. Do you think there’s anything that startups culture can’t change, or will be particularly resistant to change? AO: Any industry with large, powerful incumbents who are controllers, who have such significant gates that they keep, that it’s going to be really hard for new entrants. I think — what’s an example of that? Education is starting to happen, that’s been one that’s taken a while, and in the last couple of years, it’s been really interesting. Health, oh man, health is another huge one, because obviously there are more natural barriers there. And for good reason. Things like the FDA have a very important role. But I think there are a lot of industries that are due. Health insurance is another big one that I think is starting to change. But we’ll see. Generally, if there’s an industry with really entrenched incumbents who have been resistant to change and new competitors, that’s going to be where the difficulties are. And even government, for that matter, I think is due for a lot of improvement in terms of using software to have a government that just better represents us, the people. That’s another one. But it’s coming. It’s already happening. PD: Your book is really optimistic about a lot of the changes that are coming with technology, like what crowdsourcing can do. But I was wondering, is there anything you’ve ever put online that you think has been taken wrongly? Because when you put something online, as you said, it kind of goes out of your control. So is there something you put online and it’s gone out of your reach in a way that you disapprove of? AO: I think one of the things as creators in the Internet age that we have to accept is that we never have control in the first place, and the Internet shows that really well. And so at the end of the day, I’m sort of resigned to the fact that the things, the ideas I put out there in the world, are up to other humans to process and interpret.

Q: A: Q: A:

Q: A:

Using this platform is awesome. And before somebody tries to give me too much credit for it, I always say: ‘Some company made this microphone, right? You can give the company some credit. But what makes it amazing is the person PD: Is there anything in particular that has taken talking into your idea of crowdsourcing and has been using it in a way that you don’t approve of? it.’ And I’m AO: It’s funny. Crowdsourcing, as a concept, very happy has been around forever. Humans pitched in $5 around town to help friends build a barn. Whether that Reddit is it’s the Internet, whether it was platforms before it. I did not invent crowdsourcing and I think, looking at it whether it’s through history or whether it’s in a microphone the present or it’s in the future, it’s ultimately up to people. And so I realize I have no control over for you and people at the end of the day and just sort of hope for the best. 110 million PD: In the first part of your book, you spoke about the projects you worked on. At first, you had the other people. idea of the mobile buying app, and then there was Reddit and Hipmunk, etc. Do you have projects that you regret not working on more, that you It’s the think would have become big if you had the time to invest in them? individuals AO: I’m going to say this, but I’m also going who really to remind myself of the caveat that “ideas are worthless,” right? And so you can’t get too hung up about this stuff. My Mobile Menu was way make it too early, but I invested in a company called OrderAhead, which basically was exactly that; it worthwhile. was just much better executed at the right time, once we had smartphones everywhere. Another example would be — I had mocked up something that was starting to look like Crowdtilt, that started to look like Kickstarter, which was allowing people to sort of crowdfund ideas that they cared about, and didn’t follow through. And so that’s one of those where I was really excited to then invest in Crowdtilt because I was like, “Well, I didn’t get to invent this myself, but here’s someone else doing it.” And it validates the idea, but at the end of the day, every idea is derivative, so I don’t get too married to them. PD: I have one more question — what is your favorite dinosaur and why is it the Lambeosaurus?

AO: Oh, Lambeosaurus. I love how that meme has grown. We even got a ticket response to try and change the spellcheck in Firefox for it. Or was it Chrome? I think it was Firefox. Anyway, yeah, it’s the Lambeosaurus. Just look at it. It’s amazing.

Interview by Jacob Shamsian | Assistant Release Editor

PAGE III Friday, February 7, 2014

Pipe Line State News

Average Binghamton Weather

NY Senate advances bill to curb welfare spending The New York Senate has passed legislation to establish penalties for spending welfare funds on liquor, lottery tickets, cigarettes or strip clubs, saying there’s $122 million in federal funds at stake. States that fail to take steps to curb using debit cards to get cash from ATMs at casinos and liquor stores by Feb. 22 face possible loss of federal aid. Sen. Thomas Libous, a Binghamton Republican, says his bill, which died previously in the Assembly, is especially needed now. An Assembly spokesman says the change can be done administratively, and the Senate’s bill goes far beyond what federal law requires. Troy restaurateur Sarah Fish, a former welfare recipient who stood with Libous on Tuesday, says there’s little accountability in public assistance. The bill’s sponsors say most recipients use assistance responsibly.

Western NY school locked down, but no gunman found Police in Buffalo have found no sign of a gunman after searching an elementary school where someone reported seeing an armed man. The Harvey Austin Elementary School was put in lockdown shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday after the report came in to police. About 15 patrol cars responded to the scene and an Erie County Sheriff’s helicopter hovered overhead as police with dogs searched the building. Police spokesman Michael DeGeorge said shortly before 5 p.m. that no sign of a gunman was found and students would be released soon. He said the report came from outside the school, with the caller saying a man with a gun was in or near the school. Police could not immediately determine if the report was legitimate.

NY names three members of casino siting board A college president and New York City’s former comptroller are among three members appointed to the state board that will select casino operators. The New York State Gaming Commission on Thursday announced that former city comptroller William Thompson, Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz and Paul Francis, a high-level adviser to the last three New York governors, have been appointed to the Resort Gaming Facility Location Board. New York voters in November passed a state constitutional amendment to allow Las Vegas-style casinos. The five-member siting board is scheduled to request applications for four casino licenses in upstate New York in March. Casino sites and operators are scheduled to be announced in the early fall. Board members are not paid, but receive expenses.

Biden says NY airport like a ‘third world country’ Vice President Joe Biden says New York’s LaGuardia Airport could use some major improvements — and that’s putting it mildly. Biden says if he blindfolded someone and took him to LaGuardia Airport he’d think he was in “some Third World country.” Biden made the LaGuardia comment as part of a comparison with the Hong Kong airport. He says Hong Kong has the type of modern facility travelers would expect to see in the United States. His remarks came during an event Thursday in Philadelphia in which he stressed the need for infrastructure improvement. Biden focused mainly on Amtrak, which just unveiled its new Cities Sprinter electric locomotive. But he says the nation’s ports and airports also need to be upgraded. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates LaGuardia. It hasn’t responded to a request for comments.

File Photo

A major snowstorm hit BU Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, dumping more than 8 inches of snow on campus and causing a state of emergency in Broome County. Despite the poor road conditions, classes resumed Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. According to The National Weather Service, eight to 12 inches of snow already has fallen along the Southern Tier between Elmira and Binghamton.

Police Watch A lighter take on campus crime

Are those chemistry books? ‘Cause you are overreacting MONDAY, FEB. 3, 9:39 a.m. — A 19-year-old female was not given all that she paid for in a transaction with a 22-year-old-male, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim made arrangements to buy a number of textbooks and case studies of the books as well. The victim paid the suspect, and the suspect sent over the books, but he did not email over the case studies. The victim contacted the police, and when they approached the suspect, he admitted to allegedly forgetting about the case studies and promptly went over to Glenn G. Bartle Library and sent over the case studies. We fix that with a 2 x4 TUESDAY, FEB. 4, 12:50 p.m. — A 50-year-old male’s car was involved in a hit-and-run in Parking Lot H, Reilly said. The victim allegedly parked the car in the lot earlier that morning, and when the victim came back later that afternoon, he noticed damage to the car. There was a light 4-inch-by-4-inch dent on the car as well as a 2-inch-by-2-inch patch of paint on the ground next to the car. There are no known suspects or witnesses at this time.

Some folks can’t take a hint MONDAY, FEB. 3, 10:25 p.m. — A 20-year-old female allegedly bothered a 19-year-old male in College-in-the-Woods’ Mohawk Hall by going to his room when he did not want her there, Reilly said. The suspect went over to the victim’s room, and the victim repeatedly told the suspect to leave and that he did not want her there. The suspect thought that the victim was joking, so she stayed. The victim threatened to call the police and eventually did when the suspect would not leave. When the police arrived, the suspect stated that she thought that the victim was joking and left to go back to her room in Mohawk.

Motorola makes cool phones? WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5, 3:21 p.m. — A 31-year-old male’s phone was allegedly stolen in Hinman Dining Hall, Reilly said. The victim left his Motorola phone in a locked room in the dining hall. He believes that the phone, which is reportedly worth upward of $500, was stolen from that room sometime during that afternoon. There are no known suspects or witnesses at this time.

National Universities Salisbury U fraternity barred until at least 2015 Salisbury University says a fraternity suspended after accusations of hazing a pledge has violated its suspension by continuing to recruit members and will have to wait even longer to return to campus. Salisbury University says Sigma Alpha Epsilon will be off campus until summer 2015 because it violated its suspension, and it will be on probation through summer 2017. The fraternity will be eligible for a review in the summer of 2015 to determine if it can return in the fall of 2015. The fraternity’s original year and a half suspension was supposed to be up for review this semester. The fraternity’s national headquarters says it has suspended the chapter’s charter. University officials say the charter was not suspended two years ago when the university initiated sanctions against the fraternity.

Corrections A correction in Tuesday’s issue misspelled the name of a rabbi who spoke on campus. He is Rabbi Barry Barron, not Baron. stabilizing: free food at the marketplace/Sing-a-longs

This Day in History February 7th 1926 Carter G. Woodson announces the second week of February as “Negro History Week,” as it marked the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In 1976, the United States government would expand the week into Black History Month.

“As far as this thing being a copycat of the story I wrote, who knows? My initial reaction was skepticism.” Joe Kissack, author of “The Fourth Fisherman,” who claims Jose Salvador Alvarenga’s tale of surviving at sea steals from his story.

everyone's sick :destabilizing

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2014

NEWS

Management company employs students Downtown student housing to offer internship credit, affordable apartments Rachel Bluth News Editor

RentBing, a recently formed rental company in Downtown Binghamton, will provide students with another living venue as well as an opportunity to get involved. Alice Kweller, a graduate student studying accounting, recently bought property on Court, Gorgeous Washington and East Clinton Streets to convert them into student housing,

some of which are already available for rent. What sets Kweller’s properties, and the management company RentBing, apart is the level of student involvement in the running and management of the properties. Gurbaksh Bhullar, a senior majoring in economics, is the assistant property manager of RentBing. Bhullar is working with Laura O’Neill from the Career Development Center to increase student involvement in the property by creating a creditbearing internship with RentBing for

undergraduate students to use and expand upon the marketing skills they’re learning at BU. The management is also trying to cater specifically to students with 10-month leases. With options starting at $600/month, Bhullar says RentBing is trying to distinguish themselves from other, more expensive Downtown housing options, which he called a “glorified dorm room.” Alex Jaffe, who graduated from BU in 2012 with a degree in human development and is working on his

Photo Provided

Alice Kweller, a graduate student studying accounting, has recently bought property on Court Street, Gorgeous Washington Street and East Clinton Street in hopes of converting them into student housing. Rent will reportedly start at $600/month, and management is also trying to cater specifically to students with 10-month leases.

master’s of public administration, was one of Kweller’s first tenants. “I personally don’t love the hotel/ dorm style that you get when you go to places like Hawley or Twin River Commons — they are all the same,” he said. For students who aren’t paying for luxury student housing like Twin River Commons or 20 Hawley Street — which start at $820 and $845 per month respectively — the next best option Downtown is often what Bhullar calls “slum lord” housing. “[RentBing is] an alternative to the abundance of neglected properties presently available,” Bhullar wrote in an email. “Additionally, we are responsive and available around the clock and value our business as it IS our business; we’re not absentee landlords with a few bedrooms scattered around; frankly, it’s in our best interest to care for our tenants.” For tenants like Jaffe, this handson approach is beneficial for the kinds of needs students have. According to Jaffe, when his pipes froze because he and his roommate “stupidly turned off the heat before going home for winter break,” their landlord was there with space heaters within 30 minutes and stayed for hours until everything was working again. However, he said that the landlords weren’t overly invasive. “Some people have those landlords that are showing their apartments without telling you, or just showing up,” Jaffe said, noting that Kweller “always gave us notice.” Kweller, who grew up in Queens and went to Cornell University for her undergraduate degree, wrote in an email that she thinks the city of Binghamton is in the middle of an

urban renewal. “Whether students are aware of it or not they are actively contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area,” she wrote. “It is amazing to see young educated people walking the streets, shopping and contributing to the community.” According to Bhullar, RentBing is improving its properties to make more available to students. “We’re in the process of renovating all our units, with rapid progress being made daily,” he wrote. Jaffe said he would recommend signing with RentBing to his friends. ”Everyone that comes over really loves our apartment and cannot believe the price that we pay for it,” Jaffe said.

Whether students are aware of it or not they are actively contributing to the revitalization of the downtown area — Alice Kweller BU graduate student, building owner

Panel discusses flood relief funds SUNY continued from Page 1

rebuilding structures that did not stand up to the storm, and may push out to projects concerning emergency evacuations to accommodate more people. However, this money allotted to the Broome County area is a fraction of the $600 million given to the state for community reconstructions. “This money will barely scratch the surface of what we need to do,” said Vince Pasquale, co-chair of Broome Community Reconstruction Committee. “We won’t be able to address all of the projects that need to be done, but it’s a good start.” The program, established this past summer, provides funds to areas still struggling with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. “The primary purpose of this effort is to rebuild resilience. We want to protect the future of the community assets,” said Julie Sweet, regional lead of the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program in Broome and Tioga Counties. According to Pasquale, there were over 100 suggestions from residents who gave their opinions of what they wanted from the program. New York Rising members picked programs out of these suggestions that furthered goals of improving infrastructure and emergency evacuation procedures.

NEWS

www.bupipedream.com | February 12, 2013

“Among all we have to do, we can’t lose sight of the regional issue of long-term flooding resilience,” Sweet said. “We need to look at how to prevent floods as best as we can. We’re trying to advance to these solutions as effectively as possible.” Rochelle Layman, regional director of BU’s Small Business Development Center, gave a separate presentation on this Binghamton University site that provides financial compensation to small businesses affected by the recent storms. The group advises people and helps them fill out grant applications to the State of New York Small Business Storm Recovery Program to receive compensation for losses to their businesses from the recent storms. “When you come to the SBDC, an advisor there will go through a number of steps with the business owner, including review and compile eligible losses, complete and submit an application,” Layman said. This is not the first time the University has hosted a stormrecovery assistance program. BU provided the Events Center as shelter to displaced residents during Tropical Storm Lee. “[Binghamton University] hosted a bunch of meetings for us, including the meeting when the projects were announced. Though we’re not provided by the University, their connections and relationships have contributed,” Pasquale said.

Ohanian visits campus REDDIT continued from Page 1

deal with the pressures of living in the adult world. He recommended learning how to code through websites like Codecademy and HackBU, and not being afraid to fail at first. “If you learn nothing else from this, please, go forth and suck,” he said. “This is the time to try new stuff and suck at it. You’re more creatively free now than you probably will ever be in your lives. “ Afterward, Ohanian had a “fireside chat” with Ben Eisenkop, a BU doctoral candidate who gained fame on Reddit by answering sciencerelated questions under the moniker “Unidan.” During Ohanian’s interview with Eisenkop, they talked about Eisenkop’s project on Experiment.com, where he is trying to crowdsource money to fund his study of crow movements. Eisenkop calculated that scientists have an only 3 percent chance of receiving grant funding from the National Science Foundation, and said that Experiment.com was a way of raising independent funding. Ohanian details his own different business ventures in his book, “Without Their Permission,” including the importance of net neutrality and his advice for other entrepreneurs. Shortly after leaving Reddit in 2009, Ohanian began working for Y Combinator, a

MORE THAN 90% OF NYIT STUDENTS HAVE JOBS WITHIN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

Dan Beim/Contributing Photographer

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian speaks to students, faculty and staff Thursday evening in the Mandela Room. Ohanian’s talk, which brought more than 400 people to the hall, covered his experience of founding Reddit, his ideas on entrepreneurship and how crowdsourcing is changing how audiences connect with content creators.

company that helps startup businesses with money, advice and connections. He also runs his own startup investing and consulting company, Das Kapital Capital, and in 2010 co-founded Hipmunk, a website that organizes hotel and flight information from other travel websites. The talk was hosted and organized by the Women in Business club. “This is definitely the biggest event that we’ve ever had,” said Camille Barron, a senior majoring in economics who helped organize the event. “I think it’s awesome because Women in Business is a relatively new club; our

original E-Board hasn’t even graduated yet. I think it’s exciting because an event like this really puts us on the map.” Ohanian encouraged audience members to not be afraid to try new things, saying that failure is just a step toward achieving one’s full potential. “You made it [to Binghamton] because you’ve done well on tests and you’ve done well in classes,” he said. “But life has failure. Life has setbacks. Sucking is the first step to being sorta good at something.”

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BU in first for Shorty Awards SHORTY continued from Page 1 are at Binghamton already know: This campus is truly outstanding and has embraced social media to celebrate the school’s authentic spirit and attitude,” said Ryan Yarosh, director of media and public relations at BU. “Not only could this help generate some positive publicity for the University, but we can easily make it to the finals of this competition.” The winner is selected from seven finalists, including the top four most tweeted about, and three who are picked by the Shorty Awards nominating board, which is composed of professional journalists. The nominating board picks the winner based on a number of factors, including the creativity of their social media platforms, interaction with followers and innovation using social media.

“Of the 64 campuses within the SUNY system, Binghamton has the largest, most engaged Facebook following,” Yarosh said. “And it doesn’t stop there. Look at our Instagram, YouTube channel, Twitter. We are clearly tops in SUNY, but it’s time to move beyond that.” Binghamton University has 29,296 likes on Facebook, 8,389 followers on Twitter and 2,997 followers on Instagram. “All the accounts expand the social network of our school, which brings us a lot of opportunities and updates we wouldn’t really have otherwise,” said Jose Cruiz Junior Arturo Madrigal, a junior majoring in biology. “The bigger reach we have, the better.” The nomination period began Jan. 7 and ends Feb. 18. “It would bring a lot of good attention to the school, definitely,” said Hannah

Premo, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience. “I feel like we need some outlet for competition anyway.”

This campus is truly outstanding and has embraced social media to celebrate the school’s authentic spirit and attitude — Ryan Yarosh BU Spokesperson

University recycles for prize RECYCLE continued from Page 1

“Schools with the least trash tend to be small schools or community colleges,” Cooley said. “Different categories recognize school achievement differently. Even schools that may not be recognized as largely sustainable or environmental schools can win awards because of who they are.” Larocca, who has run RecycleMania at BU since 2011, added that over the past few years, BU has made recycling more accessible to students and faculty around campus. “We’ve been replacing smaller blue bins with

larger ones, and I know there is a recycling bin in almost every hall,” Larocca said. Larocca said that one of the most important goals was to keep educating the student body. “Our standard practice is education first. Giving presentations to the student body, explaining recycling procedures and tabling at different events,” he said. “Once you’ve educated people, you hope they will make the decision to hold on to to their trash another few steps until they see that recycling bin.” Week by week, the RecycleMania website will tally the results of all colleges participating. As of Thursday night, BU had not yet posted any numbers.

2014 GRAMMY AWARD WINNER BEST R&B PERFORMANCE

SNARKY PUPPY Coming to Binghamton University! Thursday, March 13, 8 P.M. Tickets and information: 607-777-ARTS or anderson.binghamton.edu This tour engagement of Snarky Puppy is funded through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Jazz Touring Network program with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. www.midatlanticarts.org

RELEASE

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2013

Festivals on the

Horizon

It might feel like winter may never end as you sit and wonder if you’ll ever recover feeling in your extremities, but don’t despair — the season of music festivals is soon to be upon us! It’s a truly magical time when music enthusiasts around the world gather together for one weekend to dance and frolic in the sun to the industry’s premier bands. If you ever want to feel the same unbridled joy you experienced the first time you went to Disney World as a child, I suggest you pack some muscle tees and shorts and check out one or all of the festivals going down this year. — Rosibel Tavares | Contributing Writer

South by south west The first to kick off the season, South by Southwest (SXSW) is the most cultured of all festivals. Not only does it host the best up-and-coming acts in the business, having been a platform for artists such as John Mayer and James Blunt, but this seasoned pro has also expanded into an interactive film festival. SXSW boasts musical acts on hundreds of stages as well as showings of noteworthy indie films. This year, expect to see a diverse showcase with artists like St. Vincent, Talib Kweli as well as other features, like a preview of the new season of “Portlandia” with creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein and speaker Neil deGrasse Tyson. Coming live to you from Austin, Texas.

When:

March 7-16

Coachella The most famous of American music festivals, Coachella sets up camp in the desert of Indio, Calif., for two consecutive weekends. Coachella has attracted some of the biggest artists of our time, even reviving legends from the dead as it did two years ago when a hologram of Tupac performed alongside Snoop Dogg. Notorious for delivering an epic lineup, Coachella hits the mark once again this year — headliners include Outkast, Muse and Arcade Fire. If you still don’t have plans this spring break, how about partying with Big Boi and André 3000 in the desert?

When:

April 11-13 and 18-20

Governors Ball If you are looking for something closer to home, Governors Ball is your best bet. Calling Randall’s Island home, right off Manhattan, this is New York City’s very own music festival. Relatively new to the festival scene, Governors Ball is making a name for itself by beckoning all music lovers from the area with the best new talent across genres. This festival attracts an eclectic crowd with a diverse array of headliners ranging from Nas to Animal Collective. This year’s lineup does not disappoint, with headliners such as Jack White, Phoenix and, in their second festival appearance, Outkast.

When:

June 6-8

Bonnaroo For the quintessential festival experience, I suggest venturing down to Tennessee. This is your chance to breathe, eat and sleep music for an entire weekend. Instead of leaving the grounds of the festival, you camp out every night with your fellow concert-goers, allowing you to catch as many gigs as possible. Although the lineup for this year will not be announced until later this month, you can potentially catch performances by Prince, Elton John or newer acts like Sleigh Bells and Cage the Elephant.

When:

June 12-15

Lollapalooza Living up to its name, Lollapalooza is truly one of the finest festivals you could ever attend, attracting thousands to the heart of Chicago every year. Not only do you get to catch amazing sets by some of the biggest bands in the biz, but you get to explore the beautiful city of Chicago by day. Since Lollapalooza is one of the last festivals of the season, its lineup has yet to be announced, but rumor has it that Arctic Monkeys, Danny Brown and maybe even the elusive Daft Punk will be making an appearance, so keep your ears peeled to see who else might show up.

When: August 1-3

RELEASE

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2013

Mastering the art The drama of TV comedy of the internship Why television comedies are not keeping up Rebecca Porath | Staff Writer It used to be that you could graduate with a decent GPA and walk right into the real world, welcomed with a plethora of job offers. Today, though, when employers are looking through hundreds or even thousands of resumes, a stellar GPA is certainly not all it takes for a name to jump off the page. With over 1.6 million students graduating in the class of 2014 in the United States and a seemingly endless shortage of jobs, it’s clear that one has to do more than study and volunteer around campus. So what’s the real key to landing a job, or even a spot in a top grad school? The answer can be found in a meaningful internship. While internships are talked about frequently, many students may feel overwhelmed by the word; they may feel they are lacking tools and are afraid to take the challenge head-on. Laura O’Neill, the academic internship program coordinator at Binghamton University’s Career Development Center (CDC), addressed some of our most frequently asked questions about this imperative key to success. Release: How important is it for students to have internships while in college? Laura O’Neill: Internships are a great way for a student to explore career options, gain professional skills and experience, network and get letters of references from their site supervisor. The number of employers hiring their interns for full-time positions grows every year. R: When should a student create a resume, and how often should it be updated? LO: A resume should be updated at the end of each semester: When a student participates in anything noteworthy on or off campus, it should be recorded as soon as possible. The Career Development Center offers resume help on a daily basis through CDC walk-in hours and also the quick reference guide available on the CDC website. R: Can students from any major obtain a useful internship? LO: Students from all majors should

be getting experience, whether it’s lab, research, volunteer, internships or service learning. Internships are available for students locally, regionally, statewide and internationally. Students need to be proactive in their internship search. They need to identify their field of interest they would like to explore, their preferred location and then, research the field and companies they are interested in. LinkedIn, Internships-USA, Wetfeet Guides and GoinGlobal are some good places to start. R: Is it difficult to find a paying or credit-earning internship? LO: It is not difficult to find a creditearning internship … as a matter of fact, many companies/organizations require students to receive academic credit for their internship. Internships that pay are available; students just need to be proactive and research the possibilities. Credit is always a good thing, but it’s about getting the experience that is important. R: Can students find internships for any time of the year? Are some seasons easier than others? LO: Internships are available any time of the year. They have options. CDCI is most popular during fall and spring semesters. This semester we have almost 400 students participating in on-campus, local and regional internships for credit. The number of students interning during summer and winter sessions for credit is also growing. R: Any other tips or advice that you think is important to know? LO: A student will be that much more marketable if they have some kind of experience (internships, research, volunteering, service learning) on their resume during their college years. The Career Development Center has plenty of resources and professional staff to provide answers to each student’s individual needs. So whether it’s paid, unpaid, for credit or just on a volunteer basis, internships are just plain valuable. Not only are internships significant for future employment, but they will also help you, as a future employee, to hone your skills and find what you really love. For more information, go to the BU Career Development Center website or stop by during the CDC’s office hours.

Katie Kravat | Release

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” may have taken home two Golden Globes, but that doesn’t mean that anyone other than the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has ever actually seen it. Like a long line of comedies before it, “Nine-Nine” struggles to boost its ratings amid a mass of equally unmemorable comedies and threateningly popular dramas. The struggle has existed since the dawn of reality series and new-era, dialogue-driven dramas beginning, perhaps, with “The Sopranos” and ending with “Breaking Bad.” Even the undying detective- and doctor-themed shows continue to receive generous ratings (“Law and Order: SVU,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) in comparison to TV comedies. This doesn’t mean comedies are bad. Some of the greatest shows around are those laugh-out-loud sitcoms. “Seinfeld,” “Scrubs,” “The Office” (during the Michael Scott years) and “How I Met Your Mother” (its earliest seasons) come to mind. What each of these comedies have in common, in addition to today’s highest-rated comedies — “The Big Bang Theory” and “Modern Family” — is their writing. For a comedy to succeed, it’s got to have that cunning wit paired with an endearing quality that makes you fall in love with its goofy characters (aka “Bang’s” hilariously nerdy Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons). Unfortunately, for most comedies, a lot of the writing revolves around punch lines and hit-or-miss jokes, which fail to garner a big enough audience to stay on the air. Plus, it’s harder than ever before to write original funny material without repeating what has already been done. Why do you think comedians struggle for so long? Dramas fare better because they have the ability to draw you in with their swerving story lines and emotional intensity. They blur the line between what is morally acceptable, exploring more diverse, captivating stories that all at once introduce us to something new while simultaneously relating us to the

Photo Provided by CBS

characters. We may not be meth makers or drug dealers, but how many of us were rooting for Walter White? Because an hour-long episode of “Breaking Bad” typically has a more complex plot, it makes the audience more invested in its characters and more prone to attachment. That being said, characters are more expendable. The power of the unexpected always keeps the audience tuned in, even if nothing happens until the end of the episode. With a comedy, characters are often unchanging; the drive of each episode usually comes from the situation within it, not an overall story. Whereas dramas incorporate action, romance and plot twists, comedies stick to their basic premise. Many networks, namely CBS and NBC, bank on their comedy lineup, but it doesn’t always work out as they intend. A lot of the fault lies in the marketing and advertising of the shows. When a new comedy airs, it’s mostly gimmicky jokes in tandem with a gaudy laugh track — that’s when you know that the 30-second commercial is the best you’re going to get. The commercial should highlight the show’s intellect and relatability to make it stand out. That’s why “Modern Family” is so successful — it features a funny predicament that everyone can relate to, and it teaches moral lessons

while making you laugh. For newer comedies, those gimmicky one-liners are just not going to cut it. One commercial will tell you that it’s not worth your time. While this sounds like comedybashing, it’s not. In fact, many people’s favorite shows are comedies. People don’t always want to watch an hour-long procedural, but would rather enjoy a half-hour sitcom. One thing that most comedies have in their favor is their tendency to gain a cult following. It’s true that their niche market is the reason for their lower ratings, but it’s also true that this market is often what saves them from going off the air. Great cult comedies include “Community” and “Arrested Development” — “Community” was saved by its fan following, and “Arrested Development” was brought back as a limited-run series on Netflix. Indeed, comedies have a lot of help from nontelevision viewing sources like Hulu, Netflix and DVR. The bottom line is that a show is only as good as its writing. If it leaves you dwelling on what happened long after the episode has aired, it has done its job. While there may be no precise formula for success, watching success stories like “The Big Bang Theory” may be a step in the right direction.

Go big or go home and watch these 5 sporting events The Super Bowl is only the beginning, with the Olympics and March Madness coming soon Rebecca Porath | Staff Writer Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, many non-sports fans may think the days of watching televised sports events are done until next February. But this is not so. Here are some of the most anticipated upcoming sporting events and why you should be excited for them! 1. Sochi 2014, Feb. 7-23: The Winter Olympics often get a bad rep. The Summer Olympics may be more glamorous, with more standout stars, American victories and recognizable sports. Yet, there’s something pretty magical about snow sports, in that the sports are unique, arguably more challenging and extremely diverse. What to look forward to: Shani Davis in speed skating, Ted Ligety in skiing, Lolo Jones in bobsled and snowboarding’s golden boy, Shaun White. Additionally, look out for the Jamaican bobsled team, which has qualified for the Olympics this year, women’s ski jump, which is now an event, and human rights activism caused by the harsh LGBT laws in Russia.

2. The NBA All-Star Game, Feb. 16: Even more anticipated in professional basketball than the championship is the AllStar Game, where the league’s greats will all come together in The Big Easy this year for an outstanding showing of talent and entertainment. What to look forward to: The unbelievable display of skill that will be shown by players such as Kyrie Irving of the Cavaliers, Paul George of the Pacers, Blake Griffin of the Clippers, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks and of course, Lebron James of the Heat. 3. March Madness, beginning March 18: To many basketball fans, March Madness is the high point of the year, between both professional and college-level play. So start readying your fantasy rosters, and brackets, because with all of the talent in college this season, March Madness can ensure excitement and fierce competition. What to look forward to: While many of the teams as a whole are fantastic, specific star players such as Duke’s Jabari Parker, Syracuse’s Tyler Ennis and Kentucky’s Julius Randle are

definitely players to watch. 4. Golf Masters, April 10 to April 13: The world’s greatest golf players will once again unite in Augusta, Ga. in the hopes of winning the coveted green jacket. What to look forward to: Many sportscasters believe that Tiger Woods has a chance to win his first Masters since 2005, which would become his fifth overall win. 5. FIFA World Cup, beginning June 12: Four years ago, nearly half of the world’s population tuned in to watch the World Cup that took place in South Africa. This

year, the World Cup will take place at one of the most anticipated locations for the event: Rio, Brazil. With the world as its stage, the tournament will be sure not to disappoint. What to look forward to: Crazy soccer fans, in addition the heavily favorited Brazilian team, which has the chance to win on their home court. So don’t fret too long, sports fans, because as long as we have something to look forward to, we can forget that Bruno Mars was the best part of Super Bowl XLVIII.

The Associated Press

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2013

SPORTS

SBU gets last run in win over BU Bearcats lose eighth straight Erik Bacharach

Brook’s 8-2 run in the final 1:45 that dealt Binghamton a 58-53 loss. For a full recap of Tuesday’s The Binghamton men’s basketball team took to the game, visit bupipedream.com/ Events Center hardwood sports/basketball. Tuesday night, energized, motivated and ready to set an early tone against Stony Brook. But the Bearcats (419, 1-9 America East) have shown an ability to start fast before, only to surrender an insurmountable, momentumsquashing run to their opponent shortly thereafter. That wasn’t the case against the Seawolves. Fueled by a season-high crowd of 4,635 and an ESPN3 audience, the last-place — Tommy Dempsey Bearcats went punch-for-punch BU head coach with the first-place Seawolves (17-7, 9-1 AE), but it was Stony Assistant Sports Editor

I thought we still were good enough [Tuesday night] to win

Tycho McManus/Staff Photographer and Michael Contegni/Staff Photographer

Madray could be out for year after falling hard in practice Freshman's MRI "doesn't look good" Ari Kramer Sports Editor As if one tough loss weren’t enough for the Binghamton men’s basketball team, Tommy Dempsey said Tuesday night that Nick Madray might miss the rest of the season. Madray, who fell in practice over the weekend and suffered an injury to his hip/lower back/ groin, missed Sunday’s loss at UMass Lowell and Tuesday night’s 58-53 nail-biter to Stony Brook. “We got MRI results

[Tuesday], and they weren’t good,” Dempsey said, “so it’s looking like he could be done for the year.” Madray, the highestrated Binghamton freshman, averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds through 21 games before sustaining the injury. Though he had fallen into a shooting slump, Madray’s 3-point clip stands at 38 percent. Even with a healthy Madray, the Bearcats (4-19, 1-9 America East) would have needed a miraculous run through the conference championship to

reach the NCAA tournament. Instead, the most severe blow comes to Madray’s opportunity to develop as a collegiate power forward. Madray earned the reputation of a stretch four: a 6-foot-9 forward capable of stepping out and knocking down 3-pointers, but not holding his own against stronger post players. Through 21 games, the freshman made notable progress around the rim and on the glass, but that improvement track could be cut short.

Binghamton vs. Stony Brook

For updates on Binghamton basketball, follow @BingBBallBlog on Twitter.

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2014

OPINION

We need a complex view of history Coke ad critics Black History Month is particularly significant in today's climate Molly McGrath Columnist

Every February, social media becomes awash with the same old controversy around Black History Month. A range of racist attitudes are expressed through online forums. Perhaps the most significant was a YouTube video made by a young white woman stating that she “doesn’t believe” in Black History Month and refuses to celebrate it because we live in a post-racial society. Other sentiments include the perceived double standard in the lack of an official White History Month. The sole purpose of Black History Month is neither to indicate racism’s continued prevalence nor to serve as restitution for the heinous crimes committed against black people. Black History Month is important because of the failure of many American classrooms to teach the narratives of marginalized groups as told by the marginalized themselves. It is not that students are unaware of the existence of slavery or the Civil Rights

Movement, but that these events are told through the perspective of the oppressor, or white sympathizer. Yes, we can’t expect scholars to find a plethora of firsthand accounts from slaves because many were illiterate. I am still not pleased by the fact that three of the four books I read in high school that discussed the plight of black people in the U.S. were “Uncle Tom’s Cabin, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Though these books are highly relevant and reveal much about the time period in which they were written, I found Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” to be the most compelling, as it was written by a woman with firsthand experience. Her novel is one of the works of black literature incorporated into the mainstream American literary canon. It is inappropriate that black history is primarily told by white authors. We owe our students, regardless of their race, a more complex vision of their nation’s

past. It is not that white people are unable to contribute to this conversation. Some may interpret this article itself as part of the problem. I’m a white writer commenting on Black History Month. What gives me a right to take part in the conversation? My argument isn’t merely a defense of Black History Month, but a discussion of its importance for American students of all races. American textbooks simplify the motivations of key figures, choosing to portray these figures as heroes instead of men and women socialized in their respective epochs. For example, Abraham Lincoln is painted as a patriarchal, benevolent “freer of slaves.” Although it is true that he worked to pass the Emancipation Proclamation, this law still left those in the border states temporarily enslaved, and it did not do anything to provide for the incorporation of freedmen into society. He also made the decision to run on the ticket with Andrew Johnson, a

Isn't it curious that a discussion of black history seems to peter out after the Civil Rights Movement?

Southern Democrat who held deep-seated hatred for the black race and vetoed radical Republican attempts to build protective institutions for freedmen. A hundred years passed between the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A teacher might place “Jim Crow laws” and “sharecropper” as vocabulary words on a quiz, but barely touch upon nearly 100 years of marginalization and suffering. These gaps in understanding are dangerous. Isn’t it curious that a discussion of black history seems to peter out significantly after the Civil Rights Movement? In omitting these facts or choosing not to focus on them, American textbooks push a nationalist agenda upon the reader. It’s as if to say, “Yes, slavery existed in America, and then, legal discrimination, but the good guys — Lincoln, JFK — came to the rescue, and everything was hunky-dory.” If we need a separate Black History Month because we fail to tell black stories the other 11 months of the year, so be it. — Molly McGrath is a junior double-majoring in history and political science.

miss the point

Political pundits—not different languages—divide us as Americans David Forrest Contributing Columnist

I was among the 111 million Americans who watched the Super Bowl last Sunday. When it was all over, I thought that the game, as well as the commercials, had left something to be desired. However, the fallout from a seemingly harmless CocaCola commercial more than made up for the game’s lack of excitement. In case you missed it, CocaCola aired a commercial, titled “It’s Beautiful,” that featured scenes of American diversity and multiculturalism with an unusual rendition of “America the Beautiful” playing in the background. The advertisement was nothing more than a continuation of Coca-Cola’s long-standing “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” ad campaign that has been around since the 1971 Super Bowl. The ad portrayed America in a more realistic light than the typical ad; it depicted America as a melting pot of different races, cultures, beliefs and languages. While this fact alone may have upset some people, the vast majority of the people opposing the ad seemed to be upset with the commercial’s rendition of “America the Beautiful.” This group includes Glenn Beck, who said on his radio show that the ad’s purpose was “to divide us politically.” The performance certainly was unique — in the commercial, “America the Beautiful” was sung by children in a total of seven languages, including English, Tagalog, Spanish, Hebrew, Hindi, Keres and Senegalese-French.

The fact is, it doesn’t matter what language the song is sung in. “America the Beautiful” is a song celebrating American unity, an ideal that is patriotic in any language. Others incorrectly argued on Twitter and other social media sites that the commercial’s rendition of the song was an insult because it was not in English, which many believe to be America’s official language. In reality, the United States has never had an official religion, or, more relevantly, an official language. As a nation founded on the ideals of freedom and tolerance, it goes against our very fabric to try to impose either of them on anyone. Therefore, I suggest that those insisting that people speak English in America reflect on their family’s history. Odds are, their ancestors once spoke a different language, too. Returning to Beck’s point, I believe that it is not the wide range of languages and cultures that divide us as Americans. Rather, we are divided by our differing political views. But it doesn’t have to be that way. After all, we form most of our opinions based on what the media tells us. News pundits from all cable news channels sensationalize stories to increase our level of interest. Worse still, you can hear an entirely different spin on the same news story depending on which channel you tune in to. Given a choice, people will tune in to the channel that reinforces their beliefs, thus leading to the intense polarization that has defined current American politics. If people created their own opinions, the American political landscape would look very different.

The US has never had an official religion or an official language

— David Forrest is a junior majoring in political science.

Have an opinion? Contact our Opinion Editor, Michael Snow, by emailing opinion@bupipedream.com

In India, a short-term stay can have long-term effects An experiment of travel and study in a foreign land yields friendship, reflectiveness and purpose the natural high. Yet as our memory is distanced by the cadence of routine, a few will Justin Kalin leave and more will follow, Columnist staying in touch when time permits, like all good things that come to an end. But there is no pause to the We finally landed after 15 lasting adventure of a diverging hours, friendly strangers stirred path, each of us riding along the by little more than introductions amusing churn of an indefinite and a readiness to discover stretch. Driven by those who India. As time progressed and bring meaning to our lives, we grew close, muffled beneath alone we gaze fondly out the the buzzing of our group perpetual reel of the window, all dynamic, a few of us poked at a the while remembering the bus reckless if not exhausted cliche; that housed the canvas. on this day and the next, how Though we may have fallen will we change the world? A few short by nothing less than fumbled, myself included. The mortality, I will always believe rest did not bother to entertain we made the world — our what appeared to be empty world, the only world we know sarcasm. — a better place. Bonded by two of the most While I may touch the educational, challenging, surface of our stay, there is so emotional, spiritual, reflective, much that cannot be expressed celebratory, inspirational … by a column, an essay or a unforgettable weeks of our verbal recount. Not even the college years, cohesion lifted swaths of photos and videos

consuming our Facebook pages can describe the subtext of study abroad. I can only begin to give credence to the fun, insightful and beautiful people who made my winter break remarkable. Please take this as a humble token of my gratitude. India taught me that the best education is the education that brings you back to yourself, that attachment to life is the essence of fear and that even the most intractable circumstance can be overcome with the courage of conviction. And in response, there is no such thing as vision without first realizing the dream. Reaching for inspiration with a diffused mind is to carry out that dream. India reminded me of the inherent dignity of a personal account, the intricate reward of immersing oneself in the vast diversity of time, place and setting. Because there is no mantra to replace the world, we unveil to ourselves.

By interacting with anyone and everyone, I observed the greatness in simplicity; how capable we are to care about others through the simplest acts of kindness and that a smile from the heart is the greatest gift of our shared experience. India gave me confidence. It is in India that I found the strength to let go, to step further outside my comfort zone. It is in India that I developed a deep appreciation for the unadulterated learning that comes from being a 21-year-old adult in an ancient civilization. It is in India that a tour about business, culture and modern history transformed into lessons on laughter and spontaneity. On our way

through Old Delhi for a quick bite, the group navigated traffic in a surreal game of Frogger, each step more captive than the last. Stop and start in fractions of a second, turned to shuffle like a spy on the ledge of a balcony as motorcycles accelerated between midsentence directions. In these moments drawn out by coursing adrenaline, the five senses came to life. But it was Bhangra dancing until my feet would blister, the overwhelming hospitality of an entire people and the awakened smiles of an orphanage in Rajasthan that set that bustling p a n o r a m i c moment into an unlikely moment of serenity. What

There is no mantra to replace the world we unveil to ourselves

I felt throughout India is a human spirituality that comes from being connected to the world we perceive, the only world we know. It is a synergy of the senses bright as a flashbulb, the sixth sense of love. Thank you to the students, faculty, staff members of the Office of International Programs and the country of India for helping renew this love within me and the learning it made possible. In the words of our friend Surat Singh, “May eternal learning stand for eternal progress.” And in the eternal wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, “He who strives never perishes.” May we all strive to make our world, the only world we know, a better place. And in our mortality, we may learn what it is to never perish. — Justin Kalin is a junior majoring in accounting.

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2014

OPINION

Response: I'm not a feminist Zimmerman deserves a K.O. Women's position today isn't as bad as you thought

Charity boxing match a farce; pay it no attention

best anti-feminism essay every written, “scapegoating an entire group to explain the unachieved goals of its own members … always ends in grievance.” Men don’t walk around searching for promiscuously dressed women to take advantage of. Rape is not a mainstream thought for the common man. I wish you wouldn’t define a gender based on an act performed by sick individuals, both men and women. If every time I walked out of my house wearing a short skirt or tight pants, fearing that I would be raped, I would think twice about my own trust in the human race. Fortunately, this is not the norm for the society in which we live. We live in a country where women don’t have to hide their bodies to protect themselves. We live in a country where women can travel alone and not get publicly gang-raped on a bus and then murdered. There are places in this world where that does happen. In India, that did happen. I have enough faith in our society to not be in constant fear of such a tragedy. And I hope you would too. You claim that women need feminism so they don’t need to feel burdened by having a vagina. But feminism is not what makes a woman strong. Being a bra-burner and man-

attacking “defenseless people.” That’s right, Kanye’s history of attacking defenseless people. Last month, Kanye allegedly assaulted an 18-year-old in a Beverly Hills medical office after he got into an argument with Kim Kardashian. Ironically, Kanye did not shoot or kill him. This feels like a weird dream. I think that last week, before there was any talk of a celebrity boxing match, had I emerged from my bedroom in the morning and told my apartment mates, “Last night I dreamed that George Zimmerman was boxing Kanye West,” they would have laughed at the utter ridiculousness. Now, this could possibly become a reality, and it’s not funny; it’s horrifying. It’s scary to live in a world where George Zimmerman’s name is ever used in the same sentence as Kanye West’s, or any other celebrity for that matter. It’s nauseating to imagine the amount of money Zimmerman will be making from a publicity stunt like this, an opportunity he would have never had, had he not taken the life of a defenseless child. Should I also be expecting to hear soon that Casey Anthony is having a dance-off with Miley Cyrus? To be fair to The Game and DMX, I can understand their intentions. Zimmerman not only took away a child’s life and got away with it, but actually gained fame and fortune from it. Now

Julianne Cuba Columnist

In Tuesday’s piece “Feminist? You better believe it,” a number of claims were made that I don’t agree with. For one thing, phalloplasty is surgery for the construction or reconstruction of a penis — to make it larger, wider or just all around better-looking. SoCal Phalloplasty, formerly known as Beverly Hills Surgical Specialists, is well-known for offering these surgeries since 1995. In fact, Dr. Brian Rosenthal of SoCal Phalloplasty was the first surgeon in the United States to perform a penis enlargement surgery using “injectable hyaluronic acid gels.” But I digress. I feel that your postulations against the male population are not only wrong, but also sad. They assume the worst in society, for both men and women. And they assume that feminism is the only solution to the make the world a better place. But feminism is an inexhaustible ideology that will forever see women as the victims, and men as our tyrants; there will never be a sufficient outcome. As Barbara Kay said in the

Feminism is not what makes a woman strong

hater, as you say, is not what makes a woman strong. A woman doesn’t need feminism to not feel bad for having multiple sexual partners, or for having none. A woman doesn’t need feminism to not have an eating disorder, or to not get plastic surgery. And a woman doesn’t need feminism to become a CEO. She needs confidence, intellect and trust. Women are not taught to feel ugly. No one I have ever met, man or woman, has told me I should feel ugly. We are taught to feel good in our skin, and now, more than ever, campaigns are being created to spread that notion. Dove, the well-known skin care brand, just celebrated the 10-year anniversary of launching its “Real Beauty” campaign. And just recently, American Eagle created a campaign to use real models in their lingerie advertisements. In the transcript for its advertisement, the company proudly states, “We know that real women have curves. We have wrinkles. We have stretch marks. Now you’ll be able to see those imperfections in new ads from American Eagle.” We should be proud that the “Real Beauty” movement has taken such a strong foothold in our society that it is continually growing. I am not a feminist, but I do not feel the need to apologize for being a woman, and I certainly do not feel bad for speaking my mind. — Julianne Cuba is a senior double-majoring in history and Chinese.

Madison Ball Columnist

Recently George Zimmerman told Radar Online about his plans to participate in a celebrity boxing match for charity on March 1. Interestingly, no specific charity or percent of proceeds was mentioned. “Boxing isn’t new to me. It’s something I had picked up well before the incident and it’s something that I liked, I enjoyed and I kept up with it and I was able to lose a tremendous amount of weight and get a healthy lifestyle,” he told Radar Online. Isn’t it strange how quickly Zimmerman transformed from helpless man — who, according to testimony from his defense, was a horrible boxer and had no choice but to shoot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin — to an experienced, confident boxer ready to take on any opponent? Rapper The Game, who has a picture of Trayvon Martin’s face tattooed on his left leg, has eagerly requested to be Zimmerman’s celebrity opponent, seemingly an ideal opportunity for revenge. DMX has also expressed that he wants to box Zimmerman. Unfortunately, Zimmerman’s standards are just a little too high for The Game and DMX. Monday, Zimmerman announced he would like to fight Kanye West instead. His reasoning is particularly interesting; according to TMZ, Zimmerman wants to fight Kanye because of his history of

that he’s asking for someone to box him, who wouldn’t want to kick Zimmerman’s ass, especially if it were legal? I won’t attempt to make an argument against reacting to violence with more violence. That’s not my concern. My concern is that it doesn’t matter how negative the attention is that he’s receiving, because he’s still receiving it. My concern is that George Zimmerman is setting an example to the world that you can kill another human being and become a celebrity. My concern is that, though people asking to fight him may think they are honoring Trayvon Martin, they are feeding into Zimmerman’s fame, and putting money in his wallet. It’s difficult for me to imagine this fight actually taking place, and I’m not sure if it’s because this still feels like a bizarre dream or if it’s because I believe that once the hype settles down, these people will see Zimmerman isn’t worth their time. Either way, it’s crucial for both Zimmerman himself and everyone following to realize that George Zimmerman has no place accepting applications for a celebrity anything. It’s very important that this fight and any future events glorifying criminals and degenerates be stopped or at least ignored.

Zimmerman has no place accepting applications for a celebrity anything

— Madison Ball is a junior majoring in political science.

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www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2013

Binghamton drops eighth consecutive game Despite keeping pace with Stony Brook in first half, poor shooting leaves BU behind Ashley Purdy Assistant Sports Editor Second-half shooting woes doomed the Binghamton women’s basketball team on Wednesday night. The Bearcats (4-19, 1-9 America East), who have lost eight straight, hit a wall after a decent start and scored just 16 points in the final 20 minutes, as Stony Brook ran out to a 6242 victory on Long Island. “It’s a matter of us and just being able to knock down open shots. It’s pretty much that simple,” BU head coach Nicole Scholl said. “Our players just need to have the confidence. We’ve had our opportunities, we just need the confidence.” The Bearcats started off neck and neck with Stony Brook (16-7, 7-3 AE), never trailing by more than six points. They pulled in especially tightly in the final two minutes of the first half, when with 1:15 remaining, senior guard Vaneeshia Paulk converted a 3-pointer to tie up the score, 24-24. The half ended 26-26 with Binghamton on an 8-2 run. Opening the second half, the tit-for-tat rhythm continued, culminating in a 32-32 tie after sophomore guard Kim Albrecht drained a shot with 15:09 remaining. The remainder of regulation, inefficiency and poor shooting plagued Binghamton. From 45.8 percent accuracy on an 11-of-24 clip in the first half, the Bearcats plunged to just 23.8 percent on 5-of-21 in the second.

“We had a lot of good looks at the basket, and we just couldn’t knock down our shots. We had the position to get to the free throw lines and our free throws [Wednesday] night weren’t good either,” Scholl said. “So I think a combination of the two, and then Stony Brook was doing a good job of capitalizing on our missed free throws and missed shots and got some of these transition buckets and kind of just built a lead from there.” That sudden shift gave the Seawolves the opportunity for an 18-1 run spanning 10:44. Freshman guard Kori BayneWalker netted 16 of her gamehigh 18 points during the half, seven of which came during the game-changing run. The 5’5” freshman completed all four of her attempted field goals and put away 10 of 11 free throws. “[Bayne-Walker]’s a good player. She’s very deceiving in her size and how she plays,” Scholl said. “We didn’t do a good job defending her, and we kind of let her get out in transition a little bit.” BU experienced its own individual successes, however, highlighted by Albrecht’s teamhigh 16 points, also a careerhigh. After missing Sunday’s loss at New Hampshire, Albrecht finished Wednesday night with four treys and a pair of rebounds. “It’s great to see her back in action,” Scholl said. “She suffered a little bit of an ankle sprain and has been out for a few days. I thought she came back and looked fresh and was

Xindi Tian/Contributing Photographer

Sophomore guard Kim Albrecht drained a career-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers, during Wednesday night’s loss.

very shot-aggressive.” Paulk and junior guard Sherae Swinson each contributed nine points to follow Albrecht. Additionally, sophomore guard Kandace Newry posted a game-high and career-high six assists. Next up, BU heads to Maine on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Cross Insurance Center in Orono, ME.

by the numbers

By the Numbers

5 Double-doubles earned by sophomore guard Jordan Reed this season-

Margin in Stony Brook-s win over men-s basketball Tuesday night-

Fans in attendance at Tuesday night-s men-s basketball game- a season high-

4,635

Freshman forward Nick Madray-s --point percentage through -- games-

Points scored by sophomore guard Kim Albrecht against Stony Brook-

20-7

BU vs. Stony Brook

DATE

Feb. 9 LOCATION

Cross Insurance Center

2:00 p.m.

Former CAA rivals set to face off in first EIWA match Jeff Twitty Contributing Writer After an impressive 23-18 victory over Boston University, the Binghamton wrestling team will hope to ride its momentum into tonight’s match at Hofstra. The Bearcats (4-10, 3-7 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) fell 2319 in last year’s meeting and placed third — one spot behind the Pride (5-6, 3-2 EIWA) — at the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championship. But according to Binghamton head coach Matt Dernlan, the rivalry between the Bearcats and Hofstra — former foes in the defunct Colonial Athletic Association — transcends the wrestling mat. “It’s a good rivalry,” Dernlan said. “It’s upstate versus Long Island, public versus private. A lot of these guys have been seeing each other [on the mat]

Junior 125-pound David White-s overall record in wrestling matches this year-

TIME

Bearcats prepare for Hofstra since high school.” In their first season in the EIWA, Binghamton and Hofstra have produced similar results. Neither team could beat Princeton, but each defeated Drexel and Boston University. And when they competed at Cornell’s New York State Championships earlier this season, Hofstra edged Binghamton by just 18 points. The similar skill level between the two teams bodes well for a tight, hard-fought battle on Friday. The match should also serve as a gauge on Binghamton’s first season in the conference. Against the Pride, the Bearcats will look to strike first and avoid having to work their way from behind as they did last Friday against Boston. “[Hofstra] is a very strong team,” Dernlan said. “We have been working on building momentum for the past month,

and we need to get on the attack early.” Also, a stress for this weekend is the accumulation of “bonus points” — points given for big wins, falls (pins) or technical falls. Looking to have a big match for BU is 125-pound junior David White. White is scheduled to match up against fifth-year senior and two-time NCAA tournament qualifier Jamie Franco, down from the 133-pound spot he held in the 2012-2013 season. But White certainly won’t be the only one looking to have a big day. “They all have a great opportunity,” Dernlan said. “We just need to continue with a winning mentality.” Binghamton’s match against Hofstra is set for 7 p.m. at the Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in Hempstead, N.Y.

Wrestling Schedule BU vs. Hofstra

Points earned by Binghamton-s wrestling team against Boston University on Sunday-

BU vs. Maine

BU vs. Buffalo

BU vs. Bucknell DATE

DATE

Feb. 7

Feb. 14

Feb. 21

LOCATION

Mack Sports Complex

Alumni Arena

West Gym

TIME

7:00 p.m.

www.bupipedream.com | February 7, 2013

SPORTS

SBU gets last run in win over BU Bearcats lose eighth straight Erik Bacharach

I thought we still were good enough [Tuesday night] to win

Tycho McManus/Staff Photographer and Michael Contegni/Staff Photographer

Binghamton vs. Stony Brook

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SPORTS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

BU drops eighth straight Page 14

Friday, February 7, 2013

SET DOWN SBU ousts upset-minded Bearcats with late run See Page 15

Tycho McManus/Staff Photographer