Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | Vol. LXXXVIII, Finals Issue
Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
Where will you land this summer?
Make it Geneseo Landing in Red Hook, Brooklyn! Geneseo Landing in Red Hook brings you the best of Geneseo and Brooklyn for an unforgettable summer experience. Sign up today for online summer hybrid courses with site visits to Brooklyn. ARTH 173 History of Western Art: Neoclassic to Contemporary with Dr. Alla Myzelev GEOG 377: Urban Geography with Dr. Jennifer Rogalsky ENGL202: Reading as Writer: Writing NYC with Dr. Jess Fenn INTD 288: Intro to Visual Culture with Todd Goehle PLSC 140: International Politics with Dr. Changkuk Jung You can also take a variety of general education, major, study abroad, internship, directed study, graduate and online courses through Geneseo’s Summer Program: Session IA (1st quarter): Session I (1st half): Session II (2nd half): Session IB (1st third): Session IIB (2nd third): Session IIIB (3rd third):
May 16 - June 3 May 16 - June 24 June 27 - August 5 May 16 - June 10 June 13 - July 8 July 11 - August 5
Sign up for Red Hook Landing plus summer session courses at www.geneseo.edu. For more information on Red Hook Landing courses, email Maddy Smith at smithma@geneseo.edu.
TURN TO PAGE 10 TO SEE
PIPE DREAM'S 2016 REPORT CARD
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | Vol. LXXXIX, Finals Issue | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
Celebrating 70 Years as the Free Word on Campus
Survey shows Rx drug use
BU senior reflects on assault
Over a quarter of students report study drug abuse
Odeya Pinkus
Survivor speaks out to spread awareness, share her experience
Pelle Waldron
Arts & Culture Editor
Assistant News Editor
Faced with increased workloads towards the end of the semester, some students may be inclined to use study drugs to aid with writing late-night essays and studying for tests. Adderall, Ritalin and similar types of medications are most frequently prescribed to people who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs are amphetamines, or stimulants, and work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. While it seems contrary to increase dopamine for someone who is trying to focus, it actually has the opposite effect. People with ADHD are always seeking stimulation, so with the medication, minor distractions are less likely to take their attention and they can focus on studying or whatever it is they need to do. In Pipe Dream’s drug survey, 304 people, or 26.6 percent of the 1143 who participated said they use some form of study drug without a prescription. The reasons and frequency of this vary — but cramming and casual studying top the list of reasons for using these drugs. Dave Werner, a psychology professor at BU, has taught courses on drugs and behavior. He said that while these drugs can help those they are prescribed to, they can have harmful effects on people who take them for other reasons. “These substances are being prescribed for individuals who have a chemical imbalance, that is helping to restore that chemical imbalance,” Werner said. “People who are taking it who may not need it may be looking for a quick fix for an ‘enhancement,’ but there can be deleterious effects associated therein.” According to Werner, the most common negative effects after taking the drug are sleep deprivation and
SEE DRUGS PAGE 4
also passionate about fostering food justice, or sustainable food, within the Binghamton community. They plan to grow their own vegetables now that the winter is over, in addition to acquiring food through gleaning. Also known as dumpster diving, gleaning involves gathering food that is not yet spoiled or whose packaging is slightly damaged from grocery store dumpsters.
On June 11, 2015, Binghamton University senior Lindsey Redgate was attacked in her off-campus house. Now, nearly a year later, she is speaking openly about the assault as an advocate for change and empowerment within the local community. Redgate was living on Conklin Avenue with six other housemates. She said she felt safe living in her South Side house for two years, but between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. that morning, a stranger climbed through her first-floor window, which had been open a few inches. “I didn’t hear him come in,” Redgate said. “I woke up to being punched in the face.” Redgate said the man is now being charged with rape in the first degree and burglary in the first degree as a sexually motivated crime. The police were able to find and charge him about two months after the incident occurred. Currently, Redgate is turning her experience into empowerment, and encouraging others to take important safety precautions when living on their own.
SEE GENOME PAGE 4
SEE SAFETY PAGE 2
Raquel Panitz/Pipe Dream Photographer Graduate student Maximus Thaler, who studies evolutionary biology, speaks about the Genome Collective in Downtown Binghamton. Alongside fostering sustainable food within the Binghamton community, the Collective looks to show how it can provide a sense of community and social support.
Students live collectively
Communal house Downtown home to sustainable, ethical lifestyle Peter Brockwell
February, and is located at 65 Park Ave. on the South Side of Binghamton. The Collective is made up of four people Students have many housing who are dedicated to living as a group, options, including staying in dorms building a community through fostering on campus and renting apartments or strong, interpersonal connections. houses in Downtown Binghamton. But This is achieved through gathering on Binghamton’s South Side, a different and cooking food together, sharing way of living is taking shape. possessions and making decisions as a The Genome Collective is a group. cooperative house that was started in Members of the Collective are Pipe Dream News
Website helps students find finals week study spots StudyBing consolidates info on quiet spaces, de-stress activities for end of semester Jeffrey Twitty Assistant Sports Editor
This finals week, Binghamton University students will no longer have to synchronize their watches to ensure they get a study spot on campus. StudyBing, a website pioneered by BU’s dean of students office, will assist BU students in their search for the perfect individual or group study spaces. The initiative was part of a collaborative
marketing campaign between BU’s libraries, the dean of students office and community partners to promote locations across the BU community where BU students can study, snack and de-stress during finals week. “We worked to bring more building administrators together, including all of the campus libraries, so we could have a more comprehensive list of all buildings, dates and hours available to students, 24/7,” Linda Salomons, BU’s student
development program coordinator, wrote in an email. “Even though the libraries already have extended hours, it helped to put all of the campus and UDC locations on one calendar so students only need to go to one webpage.” The StudyBing website launched on May 3 and features a live calendar listing hours for campus study locations and complimentary food deals along with information about overnight parking services and stress management
techniques. According to Salomons, the project came in response to an especially hectic finals week in fall 2015. “We heard a very valid need and concern back in December, and we immediately wanted to respond. Clearly there is a lot of stress among students as the semester comes to an end and as they prepare for finals,” Salomons wrote. “The Division of Student Affairs and
SEE STUDY PAGE 4
Mein Bowl violates health codes Harpur profs. get Chicken, beef dishes teaching awards served at unsafe, low temperatures
Ann Merriwether, Maxim Pensky and John Frazier recognized by student votes
Brendan Zarkower Pipe Dream News
Alexis Hatcher Binghamton University Dining Services, operated by Sodexo, is subjected to regular health inspections by the New York State Department of Health (DOH). During the last inspection of the Marketplace, which took place on April 5, 2016, five violations were found. One of the violations was labeled as a critical violation, meaning that the violation relates directly to factors that could lead to foodborne illness. The source of the violation, according to a Food Service Establishment Inspection Report, was Mein Bowl. According to the report, the Asian-fusion dining spot stored both chicken and beef at temperatures lower than called for by safety guidelines. “Cooked chicken thighs found in hot hold at Mein Bowl at 125-130°F,” reads the report. “Cooked beef at 112-120°F, reheated to 165°F then hot hold at no less than 140°F.” The minimum required temperature for “hot holding,” or storing after
Pipe Dream News
Kevin Paredes/Pipe Dream Photographer Students wait to be served at Mein Bowl in the Marketplace. The Asian-fusion dining spot stored both chicken and beef were being held at temperatures lower than called for by safety guidelines.
cooking, is 140 degrees, meaning that beef found at Mein Bowl was nearly 30 degrees colder than the DOH’s required temperature. According to Thomas LaSarso, director of retail operations at Binghamton University Sodexo, the company took immediate action to remedy the situation at Mein Bowl. “During the course of a random,
ARTS & CULTURE
Need to stay caffeinated? Check out our reviews of on-campus coffee,
See page 6
unannounced inspection, hundreds of hot and cold foods in the Marketplace were tested for proper cooking temperatures as well as proper holding requirements,” LaSarso wrote in an email. “Unfortunately, one item, chicken at the Mein Bowl outlet, was found to be held at a temperature lower than
SEE DINING PAGE 5
For the first time ever, Binghamton University’s Harpur College of Arts and Sciences honored its professors entirely on the basis of student nominations and votes. The winners of this year’s Harpur College Teaching Award were announced on April 27, and two undergraduate professors, one graduate professor and one department were honored. The winners included Ann Merriwether of the psychology department, Maxim Pensky of the philosophy department and John Frazier of the geography department. The collective department award went to the professors of the geology department. Emails were sent out to the Harpur College student body inviting them to anonymously nominate up to two instructors they
SEE HARPUR PAGE 5
OPINIONS
Photography students display their work on First Friday at Jungle Science,
See page 7
Senior Editors reflect in their senior columns,
See pages 10 & 11
Kevin Sussy/Pipe Dream Photographer Pictured from left to right: Ann Merriwether of the psychology department, John Frazier of the geography department, and Maxim Pensky of the philosophy department pose in the University Union.
SPORTS
Miceli shines for track and field at AE Championships,
See page 13
Nelson will not return as men’s lacrosse head coach,
See page 14
2
NEWS
bupipedream.com | May 10, 2016
EOP receives $40K from Bing. resident
Adam Weitsman donates money to expand academic support program
Alana Epstein Pipe Dream News
As a lifelong resident of Binghamton, Adam Weitsman has seen Binghamton University benefit the local area. As a way to return that favor, he donated $40,000 toward BU’s Equal Opportunity Program (EOP). The owner and CEO of Upstate Shredding, the East Coast’s largest privately held scrap metal processor, Weitsman said he felt compelled to donate after watching a close friend go through the program and become a successful businessman. The EOP provides access, academic support and financial aid to lowincome and promising students at BU. The money will go to expanding the EOP, which provides academic and career services and counseling, and toward its specific initiatives like the $1M Book Fund that aids participating students with the cost of textbooks. “There are a lot of very smart, talented people that have faced hardship in their personal lives that affect their readiness and ability to attend college,” Weitsman wrote in an email. “Binghamton University’s Educational Opportunity Program is a great resource that gives those that are willing to work hard and have the academic prowess to excel in school and beyond the chance to succeed. We need more programs like these that benefit those that truly need the help and it is an honor to be able to do our part so that EOP can help even more people.” According to EOP Director Calvin Gantt, this donation will help students who are eligible for maximum financial aid but still struggle to pay for textbooks and other necessities. “Although most of these EOP students are carrying the maximum load possible, their budget simply does not allow for them to request
additional assistance,” Gantt said. “Thus, the donation from Mr. and Mrs. Weitsman will help us to support the efforts of some of these students to meet this very basic need. And, given that this is a longer term problem due to the fact that state and federal aid is not keeping up with the actual costs of college, the EOP department has launched a $1M Book Fund initiative to support students long term.” Upstate Shredding operates in 16 locations throughout New York and Pennsylvania. The company has been a long time corporate citizen and is known to give back throughout the communities they operate in. This is the company’s first donation to BU, and Weitsman said he hopes that it will help increase the EOP’s influence. “My hope is that the money goes towards further awareness for the program,” Weitsman wrote. “There are a lot of people that I know can benefit from EOP and equally as many folks that can help ensure that the program continues to grow and succeed.” The EOP has had a very high graduation rate at 76 percent, which is 6 percent higher than the University’s overall rate. According to Gantt, this number will only continue to rise as more and more alumni and contributors like Weitsman give back with generous donations. “We have had an amazing track record of success at BU, and in order for us to continue to keep our graduation and retention rates up, we have to call upon all of our alumni to support these efforts,” Gantt said. “Again, I recognize that this is not just an issue for EOP students, but many first generation, low-income students that attend BU as well as colleges around the country. The contribution from the Weitsmans goes a long way to helping EOP students realize their full academic potential.”
Stephen Ruiz/Contributing Photographer Students and faculty gather at the Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life on Thursday evening to celebrate their 30th anniversary. While enjoying refreshments, attendees reminisced with photographs showing the Center’s accomplishments throughout the years.
Chabad center celebrates 30 years at BU
Faculty, students gather to acknowledge organization's contributions Amy Donovan Staff Writer
The Chabad Center celebrated its 30 year anniversary as a central part of the Jewish community in Binghamton. Over 250 Binghamton University students, faculty and Binghamton residents gathered on Thursday to celebrate Chabad’s accomplishments and impact on the University. Chabad is a part of a worldwide network of Jewish centers called Chabad Lubavitch. It is a Jewish community center located right outside of campus where students, both Jewish and non-Jewish, can attend Shabbat services, dinners and other religious and recreational activities. Rivkah Sloanim, the education director at Chabad and an organizer of the event, said that she and her husband Rabbi Aaron Sloanim came to BU 30 years ago because there was a need among Jewish students for a community center that had a full-time professional
staff. They founded the Chabad Center at BU in 1985. Guests gathered at Chabad for a cocktail hour and enjoyed food and drinks while looking at a timeline of photos displaying some of Chabad’s accomplishments and contributions to the University. These included various religious events held throughout the year, the weekly Shabbat services and social programming like the Chabad Café. Attendees could also write a letter on a Torah scroll in honor of a loved one. This ceremonial action is considered an important honor because of the importance and long lasting nature of the Torah scroll. Zachary Alexander, the treasurer of the student executive board at Chabad and a junior majoring in accounting, helped organize the event and said it is important to celebrate all that Rabbi Slonim and his wife have done for BU’s students. “The Rabbi and Rivky came here 30 years ago and really started with
University to offer public health program
Dean of graduate school announces plans for masters degree by Fall '18 David Zeiger
nothing,” Alexander said. “They started in an apartment and they’ve touched so many lives over the years and it is just unbelievable to see the transformation that they’ve had over the span of 30 years.” After the cocktail hour, guests sat down to listen to a lineup of speakers from the University and Chabad communities. Brian Rose, the vice president of the division of student affairs, praised Chabad for its impact of the development of BU students. “Binghamton’s mission is not simply to produce competent accountants, engineers, nurses and scholars. Rather it is to provide our students with the capacity to lead lives of deeper meaning, belonging and purpose,” Rose said. “That is how Chabad so beautifully complements our institutional aspirations through their ministry.” Deborah Tirsun, a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, spoke at the event on behalf of students involved in
Student turns assault into empowerment
Contributing Writer
SAFETY FROM PAGE 3
In the New University Union on Wednesday, May 5, over a dozen faculty members gathered to listen to the dean of the graduate school, Susan Strehle, introduce plans for a graduate program in public health. This program will seek to provide students with the skills to analyze and address threats to human health both globally and locally. Strehle stated that this master’s in public health (MPH) is a vital degree in health sciences fields and is frequently taken by students who go on to become healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and social workers. She said the program will provide graduates with the necessary skills and credentials for careers in public health, and is expected to begin between fall 2017 and fall 2018. “They will work for the Centers of Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health and in health departments,” Strehle said. “Locally, in just the Broome County Department of Public Health, there are over 300 employees. ” She indicated that the public health program will be run out the graduate school office, and will be located in the Johnson City Health Sciences Complex with the Decker School of Nursing and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. It will overlap academically with a variety of specific departments including biology, anthropology, mathematics, environmental science, nursing and management. Examples of classes in the major include bio-statistics, epidemiology and global health. “The campus has become far more trans-disciplinary than any other campus in the SUNY system.” Strehle said. “This is a
“I want to just advocate for safe housing for students who choose to live off-campus or students who are already living off-campus right now,” Redgate explained. According to her, increasing safety measures includes implementing dead-bolted windows and motion-sensored lighting. “[I] encourage them to ask their landlords as many questions regarding safety, things that you might not think about,” she said. For Redgate, this is not only an issue of safety, but an issue of who can and cannot afford safe housing. “[My house] seemed safe to me,” Redgate said. “But then there are housing [options] like [20] Hawley and Twin River [Commons], and things that come with all the amenities.” These amenities can include electric keys and surrounding gates. But for these amenities, students must pay extra, and for many that is not an option. Redgate said that although not everyone has access to this kind of housing, everyone deserves to feel secure. “Landlords who own these properties need to feel pressure, maybe from the students, maybe from the University,” Redgate said. “Some sort of pressure to up their security for the wellbeing of their tenants.” Almost 12 months after her assault, Redgate is speaking about these issues hoping to inspire empowerment and strength. Sharing her story is a key to this, she said, since according to her silence fuels oppression. At the time of the attack, Redgate was taking a summer course on social justice at BU, which she said helped her cope after the incident. “I felt so liberated, I felt
Katherine Scott/Contributing Photographer Dean of the graduate school, Susan Strehle, speaks in the New Union on Wednesday to faculty members. She plans to introduce a master’s in public health at the University by fall 2018.
perfect fit for a program in public health which is an inherently interdisciplinary program.” Strehle presented the new program as a part of a Universitywide initiative to double graduate enrollment at the University from 3,000 to 6,000 students by 2020. Strehle said that the University cannot just expand enrollment in current programs because of limited budgets. “We can’t just shoehorn students into existing programs,” Strehle said. “We need to add master’s programs, though not in fields which the University is paying students’ tuition and stipends, but by offering professional programs in fields where students will pay to have them.” Yvonne Johnston is on the steering committee for the public health program and is a
research associate professor at the Decker School of Nursing, and has a Ph.D. in public health from SUNY Albany. She states that this program will provide opportunities to expand enrollment while providing students with a practical and sought after degree. “When students call the graduate school asking about available programs, they often want to know if Binghamton has an MPH.” Johnston said. “It is in high demand, so we are working to provide it for potential students.” Katherine Wander, an assistant professor in the department of anthropology and an attendee of the lecture, stated that she believes that the program has a lot of potential. Wander stated that studying public health is significant
to both the local and global community, especially due to the rising threat of climate change. “As temperatures change, mosquitoes’ habitable environments change, and they bring with them mosquito-born illnesses, such as West Nile, Zika, and even malaria could come to the United States,” Wander said. “Climate change is going to have an effect on economics, and nothing is more important to public health than socioeconomic status.” Johnston also stressed the importance of the public health field to society. “All you have to do is look at Flint, Michigan, to realize why it is vital to have people knowledgeable about public health,” Johnston said. “Public health touches every aspect of every person’s life.”
Chabad. She said that Chabad is a place where students can find support and a sense of community. “It’s a family, a place where students are made to feel welcomed and loved,” Tirsun said. “Chabad is a safe place where there is no judgement and students of different backgrounds can come together and enjoy being a part of a united and inclusive Jewish community.” Rabbi Levi Slonim, the director of programming and development at Chabad, said that while it is important to reflect on past accomplishments, it is also necessary to look forward to future ones. “It’s important as a community to gather, to take a step, to reflect on the achievements of the past and to focus on the way forward,” Slonim explained. “It’s all about looking at the past and forging a way forward and seeing what we can do to strengthen everything and re-double our efforts.”
compassion,” Redgate said. “I think that’s where a lot of my empowerment came from.” Redgate also said she wants to change the language used surrounding assault. She highlighted the word “victim,” and stressed the importance of limiting its use. “For some reason that word does not resonate with me well,” Redgate said. “I think that what I’ve endured and what others who have been through have similar experiences have endured need to be recognized as survivors and not victims of this, because it really is life altering and every day is a different journey and you interact with people differently every single day than you used to.” Redgate said that for those who might have had a similar experience, a key to moving forward is not being afraid to reach out to others for support. “Asking for help is hard on a daily basis, on a regular basis” Redgate said, “and it’s hard to ask for help in a crisis too.” Her case will eventually be taken to trial, and she says that as an advocate, she invites people to come to the trial. “If I can move people by my experience,” Redgate said, “that is what is most important to me at this point.”
I felt so liberated, I felt compassion — Lindsey Redgate BU Senior
PAGE III Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902
COMMENCEMENT DETAILS
Phone: 607-777-2515 FAx: 607-777-2600 Web: bupipedream.com
Commencement speakers revealed Gabriella Weick Assistant News Editor
With Binghamton University commencement in under two weeks, the administration prepares to welcome alumni, honorary degree recipients and students to speak at the ceremonies. At Friday’s doctoral ceremony, Marc Lawrence will speak and receive an honorary degree. Lawrence is an alumnus of Harpur College, and graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s in English. He is a screenwriter, director and producer best known for films such as “Miss Congeniality,” “Music and Lyrics” and “The Rewrite.” John Bartle, grandson of former BU president Glenn G. Bartle, will be speaking at the College of Community and Public Affairs commencement on Saturday. Bartle currently works at the University of Nebraska, Omaha as the dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service and also teaches public administration. BU students Nicolette Roselli and Justin Hayet will serve as the student speakers for the ceremony. Daniel Black will be the speaker at the School of Management ceremonies. Black, currently the Americas Recruiting Leader for Ernst & Young, graduated from BU in 1994. He is currently involved in developing Ernst & Young’s global talent acquisition strategy. In addition to Black, BU senior Jacob Weiss will speak to fellow graduates. Alums Ken Zaslav, Gary Levine and Lynda MarkoeAnticey will serve as the speakers
at the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences ceremonies. Zoe Liebmann, Elizabeth Gellis and Robin Stieglitz will be the student speakers at the events. s in Richmond, Virginia and will speak at the 8:30 a.m. ceremony. Levine, who received his bachelor’s in theatre in 1974 and his master’s in arts management in 1976, is the president of programming for Showtime network and will speak at noon. Lynda MarkoeAnticey, ’88, the vice president and head of human resources and charitable partnerships at J.Crew Group Inc., will speak at 3:30 p.m. Camryn Benjamin and Estacy Porter, both graduating students, will speak at the Decker School of Nursing commencement on Saturday. Benjamin will be receiving her bachelor’s in nursing, and Porter will receive her community health nurse practitioner degree. Finally, Tyler Mehlman and Tremayne Stewart will speak to their fellow graduates at the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science ceremony. Mehlman will receive his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, and Stewart is receiving his bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering this spring and his master’s degree in computer engineering next year. According to Ryan Yarosh, the director of media and public relations, the University will confer over 3,500 degrees for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candidates during the commencement ceremonies next weekend, and over 22,000 guests are expected on campus.
Yom Ha'atzmaut
Spring 2016
editor-in-ChieF* Nicolas Vega editor@bupipedream.com
MAnAging editor* Emma C Siegel manager@bupipedream.com
neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com
Asst. neWs editors Carla B. Sinclair Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick
reAL oPinions editor* Lawrence Ciulla opinion@bupipedream.com Kevin Sussy/Pipe Dream Photographer Greg Scala, a sophomore majoring in mathematics, serves food to students at Yom Ha’atzmaut, an Israel Independence Day celebration held on the Peace Quad.
Arts & CuLture editor* Odeya Pinkus arts@bupipedream.com
sPorts editor* E.Jay Zarett sports@bupipedream.com
Pipe Line UNIVERSITY NEWS
and Macintosh computers in counterfeit currency. Moriarty and the Information Commons, Weidow were additionally charged Terrence Deak Appointed Interim public computing areas (Pods) with selling heroin. Dean of Harpur College and lecture halls, according to a Binghamton University news brief. STATE NEWS Provost Donald Nieman The computers will be updated announced on Tuesday that over the summer and the latest Former New York Assembly Terrence Deak, a professor of version of Office will be available Speaker sentenced to 12 years in psychology, will serve as interim for use by the beginning of the fall prison dean of Harpur College during the 2016 semester. 2016-17 academic year, according Sheldon Silver, 72, has been to a Binghamton University news LOCAL NEWS sentenced to 12 years in prison brief. The University will conduct after being found guilty of seven a national search to replace former Local mother and Son Arrested corruption-related charges, dean Anne McCall, who has On Gun, Drug Charges according to the Binghamton accepted a position as provost at Homepage. Silver was also fined Xavier University of Louisiana. Mary Moriarty, 38, and Dylan $1.75 million and must forfeit Weidow, 19, a mother and son, $5 million in proceeds from the Pods Computers Updating were arrested on drug and weapons criminal enterprise. The former to Office 2016 for Fall 2016 charges on Friday in Endicott, leader of the New York State Semester according to Fox 40. Investigators Senate, Dean Skelos, is scheduled say they recovered approximately to be sentenced on his own Information Technology 500 bags of heroin, a .22 caliber corruption charges on May 12. Services will update to Microsoft rifle, unlawfully possessed Office 2016 on the Windows prescription pills and $260 in
Asst. sPorts editors Jeffrey Twitty Orla McCaffrey
PhotogrAPhy editor* Franz K. Lino photo@bupipedream.com
Asst. PhotogrAPhy editor John S. Babich
Fun editor* Benjamin B. Moosher fun@bupipedream.com
design MAnAger* Samantha Webb design@bupipedream.com
design Assts. Aleza Leinwand Sihang Li
FAke oPinions editor* Katherine H. Dowd copy@bupipedream.com
Police Watch Unlocked and Loaded SATURDAY, May 7, 7:30 p.m. — Police were contacted about a petty larceny in Mountainview College’s Cascade Hall, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim, a 21-year-old male, said that he had noticed his iPod Classic with Beats earbuds was missing from his room in addition to seven cans of beer. He also said that he leaves the room unlocked. The next day, he contacted UPD to inform them he had found the iPod and earbuds. The seven cans of beer are still missing.
A lighter take on campus crime Derek Schuster Police Correspondant
Arm and a Leg SATURDAY, May 7, 9:41 p.m. — Officers on patrol were notified of an incident in the paid parking lot, Reilly said. The wooden parking gate arm had been broken off in the lot, and an investigation revealed the suspect to be a white male who was wearing a red long-sleeve shirt. He apparently broke the arm off while he was walking through the area. The case is still under investigation. Spring Flung SATURDAY, May 7, 10:08 p.m. — UPD were called to
report criminal mischief in Glenn G. Bartle Library, Reilly said. Officers found powder consistent with that of a fire extinguisher throughout the third floor. Two workers said that they remember a suspicious male entering the library with a backpack that looked like there was a fire extinguisher sticking out of it, and then leave five minutes later without the extinguisher. Officers were unable to locate the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.
Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Rachel Greenspan
LeAd Web deveLoPer* William Sanders web@bupipedream.com
neWsrooM teChnoLogy MAnAger* Rohit Kapur tech@bupipedream.com
Asst. neWsrooM teCh. MAnAger Henry Zheng
editoriAL Artist Elizabeth Manning
business MAnAger* Michael A. Contegni business@bupipedream.com
distribution MAnAger Nathan Dodge distribution@bupipedream.com
This Day in History May 10, 28 B.C.
A sunspot is observed by Han dynasty astronomers during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, one of the earliest dated sunspot observations in China.
“What the North Carolina government has done is inconsistent with the people of North Carolina." — Josh Earnest,
the White House press secretary, in describing the North Carolina law limiting bathroom use for transgender people.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST ISSUE OF PIPE DREAM FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR. HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE FALL!
Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. *Positions seated on the Executive Board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Tuesdays and Fridays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations. Pipe Dream accepts stimulating, original guest columns from undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Submissions should be 400 to 500 words in length and be thus far unpublished. Submissions must include the writer’s name and phone number, and year of graduation or expected year of graduation. Graduate students and faculty members should indicate their standing as such, as well as departmental affiliation. Organizational (i.e. student group) affiliations are to be disclosed and may be noted at Pipe Dream’s discretion. Anonymous submissions are not accepted. Any facts referenced must be properly cited from credible news sources. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Submissions may be e-mailed to the Opinion Editor at opinion@bupipedream.com.
stabilizing: night squad
12 days :destabilizing
4
NEWS
Do you use study drugs?
65%
bupipedream.com | May 10, 2016
Collective houses alternative lifestyles
No
26.9%
Yes, but I do not have a prescription
8.1%
Yes, and I have a prescription
If you do not have a prescription, why do you take study drugs? For cramming
GENOME FROM PAGE 3
How many milligrams do you take at once? 25.1%
For casual studying
11.7%
Recreationally
10.9%
For losing weight
13.3%
11.4%
2.7%
10 mg
20 mg+
7.9% 15 mg
3.2%
1.9%
5 mg
other
How frequently do you use study drugs without a prescription? A couple of times a year
18.9%
A few times a month
5.9%
About once a month
5.1%
A couple of times a week Every day
1.6%
19.7% No
0.5%
Not sure 8.7%
How do you obtain study drugs? From a friend
21.1% 8.9%
Friend of a friend I am prescribed the medication Stranger
Do you think you would do significantly worse in school without study drugs?
7.5%
9.6%
0.7%
Yes *The percentages do not add up to 100% because the numbers only represent students who admit to using study drugs. Bethany Gordon/Design Intern
Students report prescription, study drug abuse DRUGS FROM PAGE 3 anhedonia — the inability to feel pleasure. While these drugs aren’t addictive in the traditional sense, when taken frequently it can become hard to perform at the level a student is used to without them. “People who have taken these, when they’re off of it, actually have an inability for memory recall, and it gets to the point where people continue to take them even to perform at a base level,” Werner said. “So you can get addicted to them from a
performance perspective.” Most people surveyed claimed to only take study drugs a couple of times a year, but 13.1 percent said that they take them at least once a month. Madeline Bay, the deputy chief of Binghamton’s New York State University Police, said that it is hard for officers to judge the prevalence of study drugs on campus because most often they encounter them while they are in a student’s room for another reason. However, she said that there are risks associated with the drugs, and students who have previously undiagnosed health
problems could be at risk. “The main danger has to do with the students’ health,” Bay wrote in an email. “Many times students are taking prescription drugs that haven’t been prescribed to them personally — therefore they don’t know what the effects really are, how the drug will affect them, and if there are any dangers to them due to allergies, mixing them with other medications they have or side effects due to any medical conditions they have.” According to Garrett Fitzgerald, the director of the Alcohol and Other Drugs
Program at BU, it is very normal for students to have trouble concentrating. However, correct study habits such as consistent sleep, exercise and healthy diets are much more important than taking stimulants. “What I see as the biggest concern is the misconception of what a study drug would do for you,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not going to help you study. It might help you stay awake, it might help you focus. But if you’re studying in ways that are ineffective, it’s not going to increase your productivity.”
Maximus Thaler, a firstyear graduate student studying biology, is a founding member of the Genome Collective. He said that the Collective could provide an example for Binghamton residents as well as BU students by exhibiting how it can foster community and healthy social support. “I feel really strongly that this is a way of living that is more conducive to who I am as a person,” Thaler said. “I think it’s a way of living that is more suitable to many, many people. And as a society, we don’t know it yet.” The group is currently searching for like-minded people to join the collective, although involvement would not require living with them in the house. To help inform potential members, they have put together a questionnaire on their website, genomecollective. space, that details the Collective lifestyle. Rebecca Herman, another founding member of the Collective and a Binghamton resident, said that the questionnaire is meant to be informative rather than function as an application. “It demonstrates interest,” Herman said. “We’re probably going to meet and talk with every person who applies regardless, but it shows us that they are serious about this community — not just looking for an empty room.” Sean Massey, a professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at BU, as well as a former Binghamton city council member, is the landlord of the house that holds the Genome Collective. He said he spent time living in a housing cooperative in Austin, Texas, and that he is supportive of their goals and hopes that more people get involved.
“I’ve had experience living in this way, and it’s certainly not completely out-of-the-blue unique,” Massey said. “People around the country, around the world do it. This is, I think, a sort of healthy and sustainable and human way to live.” In the future, Thaler said that he hopes the Collective can expand beyond just the current members of the house and exist as a created community. “I think it’s really important that this place has a life beyond its individual members,” Thaler said. “The self is the thing that stays the same as everything else changes, so my goal for this house is that it could stay constant even if we all moved away. I will know that I have succeeded in this project when I can leave and the house can still function.”
I think it's a way of living that is more suitable to many, many people. And as a society, we don't know it yet — Maximus Thaler BU Graduate Student
VISITING STUDENTS WELCOME AT LEHMAN COLLEGE Over 800 Graduate And Undergraduate Course Sections 1-Step Application/Registration Process Low In-State Tuition Convenient Bronx Location Easily Accessible From Manhattan, Yonkers, And Lower Westchester By Car, Train, Or Bus
2 16
SUMMER REGISTRATION IS OPEN SESSION 1 6/1 – 7/6 SESSION 2 6/1 – 7/14 SESSION 3 7/11 – 8/10 SESSION 4 7/18 – 8/18 ONLINE SESSION 7/18 – 8/5 FULL SEMESTER 5/31 – 8/18
www.lehman.edu/summer (718) 960-8036 ronald.banks@lehman.cuny.edu
5
NEWS
May 10, 2016 | bupipedream.com
Dining violates health codes DINING FROM PAGE 3
Kevin Sussy/Pipe Dream Photographer Pictured from left to right: Maxim Pensky of the philosophy department, John Frazier of the geography department and Ann Merriwether of the psychology department pose in the University Union. According to Plassmann, 778 students nominated 326 different instructors for the award.
recommended. Immediate response was taken by Dining Services team in accordance with the inspector which included the product being removed from service.” He emphasized that Sodexo remains committed to food safety. “Binghamton University Dining Services considers food safety to be a top priority,” LaSarso wrote. “We strive to provide safe, quality foods at all our venues.” Mein Bowl, like Tully’s and Moghul, is an independently operated sub-contractor of Sodexo, which means that the day-to-day operations are overseen by Mein Bowl management.
Other violations recorded at the Marketplace were minor in nature and not considered direct risks to food safety. These include missing thermometers in several locations, employees found eating in the store room and severely damaged deep fryer baskets at both Mein Bowl and Pandini’s. According to the DOH, highrisk facilities like school kitchens are generally inspected twice per year and each inspection lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. On campus, each dining area is treated as its own food service establishment and is thus individually inspected. In addition to the Marketplace, the Events Center, Chenango Room and each residential dining hall are all inspected.
Among the resident dining halls, Appalachian Dining Hall in Mountainview Community has fared the worst. Between its last two inspections on September 28, 2015 and April 14, 2016, the eatery has racked up a total of 17 violations, one of which was labeled as a “critical” violation. The critical violation found during the April 2016 inspection was for a roasted garden vegetable soup found at 130 degrees just after being put out, ten degrees colder than the DOH’s minimum safe temperature. The only facility on campus with zero health violations in the last year was John Arthur Café, which is also the only permanent food service facility on campus not run by Sodexo.
Professors honored by students BU website aids study spot search HARPUR FROM PAGE 3
learned the most from during the 2015-16 academic year. Florenz Plassmann, associate dean for graduate studies and research, spearheaded the project. Students could vote for any faculty member, including full-time professors, adjuncts and graduate student instructors. According to Plassmann, 778 students nominated 326 different instructors for the award. “Half of Harpur instructors inspired at least one student to nominate them,” Plassmann said. “I think that indicates that good teaching isn’t just concentrated in a few departments, but is enormously widespread.” In order to account for professors who teach smaller classes and reach fewer students, the awards for undergraduate professors were determined based on a ratio, with the number of nominations being divided by number of students taught. These professors were then split into
two categories: professors who taught fewer than 150 students and professors who taught 150 or more students. Pensky won the award for small classes while Merriwether won the award for large classes. “It really meant a lot to me because students voted on it and it was based on learning,” Merriwether said. “I try to be engaging because I want them to think critically. I want them to take what they learn in class and apply it in the real world.” The award recipient for graduate professors was chosen based on total number of nominations. “It’s very meaningful to me because I’ve been teaching for a long time,” Frazier said. “I enjoy teaching graduate students because they’re our future and they’re very demanding, so to be recognized by that group was very flattering to me.” The award for most popular department was based on a ratio, dividing the total number
of nominations per program by number of students taught. Leanne Minkoff, a junior majoring in English, previously took the oceanography course in the geology department, and said she remembers the class being very rewarding. “My professor had a lot of experience,” Minkoff said. “I feel like the geology department overall is probably one of the more interactive departments.” The winners will have their photos displayed on the Harpur College wall next to Jazzman’s in Glenn G. Bartle Library throughout the 201617 academic year. Due to the popularity of the awards among students and professors, Plassmann plans to make this an annual endeavor. “This is the first year that we did this, so we hope to get feedback from students and faculty about what we should think about,” Plassmann said. “We’ll take all of this into account and try to do better next year.”
STUDY FROM PAGE 3 especially the Office of the Dean of Students, wants to do the best we can to alleviate any of that stress or concerns students may be experiencing.” Off campus, the University Downtown Center (UDC) is keeping its doors open until midnight every night this finals period. But for off-campus students looking to stay up even later, community organizations in the city have also teamed up with StudyBing to lend a helping hand. The City Lights Café, an offshoot of the Binghamton First Assembly of God church will be open next week from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. to provide free coffee and pastries to studying students. The café, located on 254 Washington Street in Downtown Binghamton, can hold roughly 205 people and will be extending its hours for the second time this academic year. On the heels of a successful student turnout in
December, Associate Pastor of Outreach, JJ Hefley, is ready to welcome students back. “Our whole purpose for doing this, for students, for anybody, it just to serve the community and communicate the hope that we have and the love that we have,“ Hefley said. “[We wanted to] communicate that we care about the students and we care about the University and that we’re here to serve.” As the University continues to expand its reach — both across the region with satellite campuses and across the world with an expanded enrollment — Salomons hopes that StudyBing and all of its partners can assist in guiding students through the most hectic week of the year. “As the campus community continues to grow, we need to make sure that we continue to meet the needs of the students,” Salomons wrote. “We are here to serve and help them to be successful.”
As the campus community continues to grow, we need to make sure that we continue to meet the needs of the students — Linda Salomons BU program coordinator
$4 FO 95 RA
LL
PE
ON
LIN
RC
EC
RE
OU
Earn Summer Credits at a World-Class College This summer, take advantage of a great opportunity to catch up on—or accelerate—your studies. With expert faculty, a wide range of course offerings, and small, personalized classes held in mornings, afternoons, and evenings—or online—St. Joseph’s will give you everything you need to
RS
ES
2016 SUMMER SESSIONS Summer Session 1: Monday–Thursday, May 23—June 20 Summer Session 2: Monday–Thursday, June 21—July 19 Summer Session 3: Mondays and Wednesdays, May 23—July 20
get ahead this summer.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 24—July 14
Explore our classes and registration details at:
Weekend College Summer Session: Alternating Saturdays through Sundays, May 21—August 28
sjcny.edu/summer
DI
1-Credit Courses: Visit sjcny.edu/summer
TRADITION. INNOVATION. EXCELLENCE.
T
ARTS & CULTURE
Survive finals without sacrificing taste Pipe Dream ranks five campus coffee offerings Nicholas Terepka Staff Writer What’s the most popular study drug? Adderall? Ritalin? The answer, of course, is caffeine. But where on campus should you go to get your fix? Pipe Dream’s got you covered. In the spirit of trying not to fail, I drank four black dark roast coffees and one medium roast coffee from campus shops to tell you which ones will go down the quickest, give you a buzz and still have you begging for more. Jazzman’s “Deep Thought” Dark Roast This is arguably the best coffee on campus. It’s not too strong and it’s not watery, but it’s got a nice chocolatey flavor that isn’t too sweet but definitely cuts through the natural acidity of the coffee. Complex but not overpowering, the “Deep Thought” coffee is definitely the absolute best coffee to drink in gallons over finals week. Whether or not it’s worth the high price is up to you, but compared to the other upscale coffees, this is the only one that won’t be ripping you off. Ranking: 5/5 Aspretto Dark Roast (CIW) Considering the low price, the fact that it’s in every dining hall and that it’s made by Sodexo, you’d never assume that the Aspretto brew would be any good,
but it is. This coffee is not as good as Jazzman’s, but it’s a very close second, and if money is an issue for you, then it’s even better. It goes down smooth, it’s slightly bitter but not acrid, and it’s got really subtle nutty undertones that make it more full-bodied than you’d expect from something that goes for around 50 cents for a large. Ranking: 4/5 John Arthur Café’s Dark Roast My family takes a lot of road trips, so by extension, I’ve had a lot of bad roadside diner coffee. You know the kind: it’s watery, a little burnt and there’s not much flavor. It’s not terrible, but it’s not very good either. John Arthur’s java doesn’t exactly taste like diner coffee, but it comes pretty close. It tastes a little nutty so it feels kind of rich, but after a while it starts to taste like plastic. This was the middle of the road as far as taste goes, and just like its flavor, the price is in the middle of everything else too. Ranking: 3/5 Einstein Brothers’ Neighborhood Blend (Medium Roast) We’ve covered the good, the best and the alright, but now we’re getting into the bad. For one, Einstein’s doesn’t even make dark roast. Secondly, despite somehow being bitter and sweet
Caleb Schwartz/Pipe Dream Photographer
Pictured: Four on-campus coffee options. Pipe Dream ranked the drinks on a scale of one to five.
at the same time, it also felt like I was drinking dishwater, which I guess could be chalked up to the fact that it’s not a dark roast. Honestly though, who cares? It tastes terrible and it’s pricey, so
you should never drink it anyway. Ranking: 2/5 Starbucks Dark Roast Where the hell do I even start with this abysmal excuse for a caffeinated beverage?
First of all, it’s expensive as hell. Second of all, it tastes like someone mixed cigarette ash with battery acid. Einstein’s was pretty flavorless, but this was overwhelmingly bitter. I honestly
do not understand why anyone would want to buy this beyond the company name. It’s sour, it’s burnt and I’m pretty sure it’s slowly eating away at the lining of my stomach. Ranking: 1/5
Bubble pops onto the scene Outside of the boxes
Bing. grad launches new social media app Haralambos Kasapidis Arts & Culture In the past few years, social media has been growing and so has its influence on us. As a Millennial, chances are you have an account for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or all three. The popularity of social media is exactly what led Joshua Ebrahimi, a 2015 graduate of Binghamton University, to create a new social media app called Bubble. The description for Bubble summarizes what it’s used for: “Bubble is a location-based social networking app that connects people in their area. Instantly view and share information with people within a three-mile radius from you.” Ebrahimi, a native of Great Neck, New York, noticed how fast Yik Yak was spreading on campus, and wanted to make it more niche. “When I saw apps like Yik Yak and Twitter, I saw that some of these apps weren’t giving any benefits to the community surrounding it,” Ebrahimi said. “They don’t really have that big effect to your local community, and that’s what Bubble is trying to do.” “It’s more like a localized Twitter [than Yik Yak],” said Ebrahimi about his creation. To sign up for the app, you enter your personal information and then add a profile picture. Though it’s not required, putting in this information places an emphasis on maintaining a personal profile rather than interacting with anonymous users as one would on Yik Yak. According to Ebrahimi, this leads to more meaningful connections. “Social media apps like these inspire revolutions in their local area as well as coming together,” Ebrahimi said. Ebrahimi believes his app can reignite the importance of a local community, something social media in general does not promote. “I want to see people engage on there, and actually meeting each other through the app,” Ebrahami said.
Katherine Scott/Contributing Photographer
Photo Illustration: a screen grab from Bubble, a recently launched app. The community-based social media app was created by Joshua Ebrahimi, a 2015 graduate, and was released three weeks ago.
My personal experience with Bubble certainly supported this idea of community. As soon as I downloaded the app, I saw that the most recent post was about the lack of croutons in a dining hall. As I scrolled down, I could see that most posts were done by students over the weekend, like one asking if anyone was interested in getting brunch at Citrea. Despite the idealistic thoughts that inspired Bubble, Ebrahimi has hit a few bumps in the road while promoting the app. He explained that it is hard to market new apps to students because they are already loyal to their favorite social media sites.
Ebrahimi currently works at a marketing agency and plans to promote Bubble in Binghamton as well as other college towns over the next several weeks, hoping this will spark downloads by new users. Though he’s focusing as much time as he can on his app, Ebrahimi mentioned he would always be rather working on Bubble than anything else. This passion for his creation inspires the advice he wants to share with students that are attempting to found their own startups. “Start right now, don’t wait [until] after school,” Ebrahimi said. “Do whatever you can to make your startup happen.”
One senior's crossword independent study
Clare Gilroy crosswords. The first part of hand), so adding the black Guest Author the course involved reading up squares in so that the puzzles on the history of crosswords, are symmetrical and so that As a true Harpur College as well as completing the New there aren’t any funky spaces is student, I’ve taken many classes York Times puzzle each day really difficult. outside of my major to follow and coming prepared with A highlight of the course the school’s guiding philosophy: comments about the puzzle. I was traveling to the American “from breadth, through depth, moved from simply completing Crossword Puzzle Tournament to perspective.” And while all of the puzzle each day (or almost in Stamford, Connecticut. It was these courses have been unique completing it, depending on the amazing to me that people came and eye opening, none have day of the week) to considering from all over the country to show impacted me as much as my the puzzle’s structure and off their puzzling skills, some independent study on crossword clues, analyzing the fills and proudly doing so in crossword puzzles. vocabulary utilized. I began to printed Toms and scarves. At the Last spring, I started delving look at puzzles in a completely tournament, I witnessed people into the world of crosswords. different way once I understood complete a fifteen-minute puzzle My friend Joe Goldin picked how they evolved and what their in just over two minutes, which up the crossword on his lunch aims were. was absolutely mind blowing. By break and brought it back with The goal of the class is far, the most exciting part of the him after work. I offered to help to produce a publishable event was meeting Will Shortz, him by shouting out whatever puzzle by the end of the legendary editor of the New York things came to my mind first. It semester. Constructing your Times Crossword Puzzle. piqued my interest, and I started own crossword is extremely One of the biggest aspects helping him more often. Within challenging, much more so than of this independent study a week, I was completing the I would have ever thought. There has been learning about the New York Times mini puzzles is a whole process involved, and crossword culture. There is a daily, available for free on the final product reflects a piece whole community of people their app. I continued the mini of art more so than anything devoted to these puzzles, which puzzles during the summer, but else. The first step is to put in I never would have known since they took me less than a your theme answers. Next, you existed. If you think about it, minute to complete, I constantly add the black squares, which there’s probably a subculture found myself craving more. to me, is the most challenging for everything. From comic Upon returning to school for aspect. There are unofficial rules books to Beanie Babies, there my senior year, I decided it was in puzzles, like that there can’t are people who are diehards time to try the “real” puzzle on be more than 40 black squares, about any topic. However, the my own. there can’t be two letter words, crossword community has Learning to do puzzles is and the placement of the squares its own impressive sense of very challenging at first. I was should be the same if you flip camaraderie. I’m proud to have fortunate to have Joe to teach the puzzle upside-down. While explored into the inner workings me minor things, like what a there are computer programs of the crossword world this Rebus is (a puzzle with squares available to assist constructors, semester, and hope to continue that can hold multiple letters), I’m working “old school” (by improving, one square at a time. or that a “?” at the end of a clue means it’s a pun. The more puzzles I did, the better I got. If at the end of the night I hadn’t completed a puzzle, I would turn to an online blog about the New York Times crosswords called Rex Parker Does the NY Times Crossword Puzzle. There, he not only gives you the answers and insight into the theory, but also his own critique of the puzzle. After reading the blog for a few months, I learned that “Rex Parker” is actually Michael Sharp, a professor of English at Binghamton University. Naturally, I fan-girled and sent him an email asking to meet him. Kevin Paredes/Pipe Dream Photographer After meeting professor Pictured: Claire Gilroy, a senior majoring in biology, completing a crossword Sharp, Joe and I developed puzzle. Gilroy collaborated with professor Michael Sharp to create a crossword an independent study about independent study.
May 10, 2016 | bupipedream.com
7
ARTS & CULTURE
Color, sing and stay sane during finals
Destressing is child's play with these tips Stephanie Kirincic Contributing Writer Whether you’re a freshman trying to fulfill Gen Ed requirements or a senior about to present a semester-long project, everyone is in the same boat riding tidal waves of stress. While the last days of school might be relentless and exhausting, deep down inside, your inner child is shouting at you to relax during this stressful time. In case you forgot, or need a reminder, here are some ways to revisit your youth to relax during these last few weeks. Break out the crayons Adult coloring books are all the rage right now as more and more people have been looking to use them to relax. Whether you’re looking for pictures of mandalas, flowers, animals or
Instead of focusing on what score you need to get to pass your class, take time out of your day to have a little adventure
even zombies, you can find a book for your interests. These coloring books are different than others because the patterns often require time and detail to complete. Complex coloring pages can allow you to turn off your mind for a short time and focus on the present moment instead of looming deadlines. Explore your environment One of the best aspects of being a child is having a true curiosity for the world around them. Instead of focusing on what score you need to get to pass your class, take time out of your day to have a little adventure. Our school is lucky to have a vast nature preserve where you can enjoy the scenery and fresh air. If you have a car or another way to get around, go explore the towns surrounding campus or take a trip to Ithaca and explore the various hiking trails with magnificent waterfall views. The opportunities are endless when it comes to exploring. Chill out with a karaoke session In between studying chapters in your textbooks, take a break to dance and sing to some of your favorite songs. Whether you’re into Drake or Disney soundtracks, one of the best ways to de-stress is by singing your heart out and hitting those high notes. Even dancing can release built up tension. Most kinds of physical activity encourage your brain to release endorphins and dancing is certainly included. This release of endorphins can decrease stress and increase joy. Catch some Zs Maybe you won’t admit it, but you definitely wax nostalgic for those afternoon naps you took in preschool. Early morning coffees will always catch up with
Kevin Sussy/Pipe Dream Photographer
Photo illustration: Kalissa Sawyer, a sophomore double-majoring in human development and Latin American and Caribbean area studies, colors an intricate design in a coloring book for grown-ups. Adult coloring books can provide an effective way to relieve stress during finals week.
your body, so it is important to remember that you’ll absorb information more effectively if you have get your energy from sleep instead of caffeine. A 10 to 20-minute nap is perfect for a boost in energy and alertness
Photos capture 'raw light' Students display work at May's First Friday Kara Brown Arts & Culture This past First Friday, the walls of Jungle Science were home to the exhibition “Capturing Raw Light,” which featured works by Binghamton University photography students. The space was full of antique quirks like ironwork and tin ceilings that, coupled with bright white walls that did not fully reach the ceiling in turn, left the space feeling laid-back and airy. The mixture of classic and modern elements provided a gorgeous yet understated backdrop that allowed the student work to shine. The University has two photography professors, Costa Sakellariou and Hans Gindlesberger. Students of both professors had work displayed in the bright and airy Court Street gallery. While some of the art was the result of projects assigned by the professors, other works were student directed. Sidney Ogunsekan, a junior majoring in business administration, had a collection of photos entitled “What’s Next” that depicted the less glamorous side of life, including one of a man sitting on a dirty orange cooler and grilling food in a parking lot, in an attempt to force the observer to self-reflect. “It’s basically an exploration of what the future means for all of us,” Ogunsekan said. “And, ‘why are we doing whatever we do and is there an end goal to anything that we do?’” “Modern Mythology,” a collection by Lia Shaked, a senior double-majoring in graphic design and psychology, featured her modern take on classical mythology. One featured “Midas,” who Shaked describes as “a Wall Street guy” in a suit, flashing cash. Another featured Hades and Persephone, in which Persephone stares into the camera looking frightened and dejected because
of her relationship, to which Shaked attributed feelings of “harassment and unwanted love.” One commonality in Shaked’s works was that she hardly used faces. In all but the photo of Hades and Persephone, the subjects were either captured from the neck down, or were looking away from the camera. Amber Decker, a junior majoring in human development, appreciated the show and what it meant for those who were featured. “I think it’s a good opportunity for students be able to get their work off campus,” Decker said. “Especially at First Friday, it’s really good exposure for them.” One work that was particularly striking was that of JohnRaymond De Bard, a senior majoring in art and design. His collection featured a jarring juxtaposition between hard and soft, showing the beautifully eerie Roberson Museum next to the long-neglected New York State Inebriate Asylum. “When people look at Binghamton they see a lot of the earth decay, but there can be a lot more to it than that,” De Bard said. “There can be sort of stories behind it.” Jungle Science has hosted this
event for the last seven to eight years, and owner Brent Williamson has enjoyed the partnership. “It’s fucking awesome,” Williamson said. “It’s just cool to have that vibe of students.” However, this will be the last year for this union, as Williamson plans to close Jungle Science in October to renovate and reopen the gallery to showcase his own work. The ability for students to showcase their work in person as opposed to just digitally was very important to Sakellariou. “I think that it’s really important to have exhibitions,” Sakellariou said. “To make photographs that are more than just being screens. Because everybody is looking at stuff on screens today — phones, computers — and that’s very lame compared to a real print.” Sakellariou was very proud of his students’ work, and like Williamson, is happy that the students get this opportunity. “Rather than just doing some kind of abstract learning,” Sakellariou said. “It’s nice to have something that happens, that comes, that you do work and then you see it — you see a final production that other people look at, and you get an incredible rush from that.”
Raquel Panitz/Pipe Dream Photographer
Pictured: Patrons observe student photography at Jungle Science. The First Friday show was entitled “Capturing Raw Light.”
and this short amount of time ends during light stages of sleep, which makes it easier to wake up and go back to your work. Play a game with friends Sometimes a good old game night is exactly what you need
to relax. A night filled with friends, a game of Monopoly and a ton of snacks can bring out your competitive side and help you forget the stresses of the upcoming weeks. If board games aren’t exactly your
style, play Mario Party or Just Dance if you have it available. If you don’t have any board or video games, charades can also be an incredibly competitive alternative. The possibilities for a game night are endless.
SPRING FLING SPRING 2016
W
Thank you for a great year of Weekend Warriors. We hope t posing for the picture. Our photographers won’t be there wit every one of you is a Weeken
Summer Storage Units Fill-up Quickly Units Fill-up Quickly
Reserve Now
5'x5' Storage Units $195.00 the entiresummer summer $180 for theforentire
RESERVE NOW We will waivesetup set up fee: We will waive fee: That's a $20DISCOUNT discount! That's a $20 Located 15 minutes from campus
(May 1st thru September 1st)
(May1st 1st thru September 1st) May Call us to reserve a unit 607-754-1640 Or visit us online at www.1stchoiceforstorage.com
WARRIORS
that you got in at least once, and that you have no memory of th cameras for the rest of the year, but remember that each and nd Warrior through and through.
9 Pipe Dream Staff
OPINIONS Tuesday, May 10, 2016
SPRING 2016 REPORT CARD Student Association: C The SA has had a whirlwind of a semester. After the first month back from break brought with it a tumultuous series of events, they did their best to minimize damage and recover. An interim president assumed the position after the previous president stepped down, and a speedy election was held for a replacement executive vice president to finish out the semester, all while elections for next year’s SA E-Board were being conducted. We have expectations for the SA to not only stay afloat internally, but to bring about change and improvement to the student body. It seemed that throughout the semester, only the bare minimum was accomplished. Offices operated, but did not bring about real change. This was a year we especially needed a VPMA to step up and really work with the student body, but it did not happen. The VPP office did work responsibly under a deficit, looking to mediate years of lessthan-responsible spending choices and they definitely made strides. All in all, we finish off the year underwhelmed, if not downright
disappointed. But we are looking forward to the incoming E-Board to start fresh and work toward improving BU for students in the coming year. SAPB: B+ While people might have mixed opinions about T-Pain’s performance, Spring Fling it was a successful event. We applaud SAPB for all their work they’ve done in working toward getting rid of the deficit. We’re glad that the SAPB decided to stick with two well-known acts as opposed to three so-so ones. We hope to see this method continued in the future. This being said, we can’t help but feel that with comedy shows, there should be more outsourcing for options. The SAPB should be reaching out to groups like Binghamton Stand Up and the Pappy Parker Players, to at least get suggestions on who to bring to campus. Options from groups familiar with comedy would certainly be of better quality than College Humor and Creed Bratton, and would come at a much smaller cost. Gym: DEverything we said last semester still holds true. While the
equipment is nice, the East Gym is still extremely overcrowded. Trying to go any other time than early in the morning is impossible. There aren’t enough benches in the gym and space is utilized poorly. The Crossfit station takes up far too much space when one considers how many people actually use it. Let’s do BU students a favor and scrap it over the summer so that something useful can be put in its place. Sports: ABoth the baseball and softball teams have had strong showings this season. The softball team has already recorded a Division I program-record 33 wins and clinched the regular season America East title for the first time in school history, while the baseball team sits in first place of the conference by four and a half games. The women’s basketball team won a postseason game for the first time since 2012 and the men’s team won its most regular season games since 2010-11. With both teams returning a majority of their rosters, each is set-up for success in the future. The only thing holding this grade back from being an A? The performance
of the lacrosse teams. Both had subpar seasons, with each missing the America East Tournament. Counseling: AThe counseling center went through changes this semester, as it transitioned from individual counseling to a brief therapy model. This new format was originally met with frustration from the student body, because many felt that they were being shortchanged on services. The reality is that the counseling center does not have enough financial resources to offer comprehensive, long-term counseling, and the changes were a way to best serve the campus community in a large scale. Since the transition, the counseling center has been efficient in meeting with students, followed up with students they have referred to outside counselors to ensure success, and continued to hold walk-in emergency hours for students who have trouble getting an immediate appointment or help. The counseling center also relocated this year, moving from their conspicuous office right by the main entrances to Bartle and into a large, modern and discreet
space above the alumni center in Old Dickinson. The office has two waiting areas, easy electronic sign-in options and comfortable and clean appointment rooms. Overall, despite a general sentiment, the counseling center has done a great job at playing the hand it was dealt resourcewise. The student body is wellsupported. Dining: BThis semester, Sodexo has made a number of changes to its offerings on campus, most notably the consolidation of the four residential communities’ Nite Owl into only two locations at Appalachian Dining Center and C4. We appreciate many of the new additions, including a sandwich and salad bar, a milkshake blender bar and longer hours. We also recognize that many students feel inconvenienced at having to leave their communities in search of a late-night snack. Sodexo also has converted the unremarkable Wholly Habeneros station into a rotating venue that temporarily serves different foods, including burgers, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes and
chick-n-bap. It is no secret that Sodexo is not a high-class dining service, but we like their initiative in attempting to provide new options to students. However, Sodexo has cut the hours of Cakes and Eggs, one of the marketplace’s most popular stations, so that no longer serves food all night. This is a disappointment to those who had become accustomed to grabbing some breakfast food after a latenight Bartle study session. It’s clear that Sodexo is trying to improve the on-campus dining experience, but their changes have yet to have any major impacts on dining overall. Binghamton University’s New “B” Logo: FThis logo is an abomination. It’s an offense to all people blessed with the gift of sight. There is nothing “premier” or “ivy” about this logo. It is wrong and it needs to be taken out behind the barn and shot. It doesn’t look good on sweatshirts. It doesn’t look good on mugs. Our baseball team looks ridiculous wearing it on their foreheads. Let’s start from the ground up and give this university a logo that it deserves.
Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.
Don't take your Binghamton experience for granted
Grades aren't everything in our flawed schooling system, but we cannot be apathetic to education SENIOR COLUMN Carla Sinclair Assistant News Editor
I remember exactly where I was when I read Marx’s “The Fetishism of Commodities” — bear with me, this won’t be about dead philosophers — my freshman year. I was in the lobby of CUNY Hunter’s West building, reading for my Intro to Political Thought final. I got an A-. Three years and a school transfer later, I’m at office hours discussing an essay. My professor suggests I use Marx as a source for my paper. “Have you ever read ‘The Fetishism of Commodities?’” he asks. I shake my head, and he
proceeds to explain it to me. It wasn’t until an hour later that I remembered that I had not only read it, but had enjoyed it and written a paper on it. Why hadn’t I remembered it, or anything about it?! How does something just slip away like that, especially when I so clearly remember all the lyrics of “Suit & Tie,” which came out around that time? Irony dictates that I wouldn’t realize the dangers of the sievelike minds of students can have until my senior year. I’ve done decently in four years’ worth of classes towards my double major, and they’ve left conceptual impressions on me — gerrymandering is bad, Russian literature is sad — but I couldn’t tell you the details
of Nash equilibria if you paid me. Maybe that’s the point of an undergraduate liberal arts education. But it still baffles me. I get it. Years of learning The Art of Bullshitting in a flawed education system has taught us to retain information just long enough to spit it on paper; students can get through college without reading most “required” reading while still maintaining a good GPA and get a job and a happy-ever-after. And, of course, college isn’t just about grades. But what does it say about how we’re going to approach things later in life if I’m able to turn in and get an A on a midterm with more help from coffee than the book I was supposedly analyzing for three weeks?
This isn’t a criticism of BU or American universities in general, though that’s probably a part of it. We pay an absurd amount for an education, which is certified through a degree. And a lot of the time, it seems like we’re neglecting that middle step, going through the motions for that piece of paper while treating the classes we take to get there with the same level of ambivalent annoyance we’d treat a YouTube advertisement you can’t skip. And that’s our fault. We’re mostly smart kids and the apathy we have towards education is seriously distressing. Maybe it’s because we don’t have a football team, maybe it’s because we’re going through an existential crisis, but owe it to ourselves to get the most out of education —
we’re here anyway, and how could that be a bad thing? I’m definitely guilty — I’ve gone to Wine Wednesday at the Colonial instead of studying more times than I’ll admit, but it’s more than that. We go to a really good school that has a mostly incredible faculty and resources that exist solely to help us; that’s primarily what being on Pipe Dream for three years has taught me. But we don’t use them. Why not? What are we doing otherwise? Netflix and the bars will always be there. It can boil down to reading the book for that gen-ed you’re taking because you have to on your bus ride to school instead of scrolling through Instagram. You might get the same grade on the test if you just fork over $5 for the Bookrags
version, but you never know — you might like it! You might learn something! And 10 years from now when someone mentions Das Kapital, you’ll know what they’re talking about. And that crippling debt will seem a little more worth it. There are so many people I owe my sanity to for being perfect little distractions, and I could never even begin to express my gratitude for them. This is an incredible little city filled with incredible people, and I’m going to miss it dearly. Don’t take it — or anyone you meet in it, or learn in it — for granted. — Carla Sinclair is a senior double-majoring in political science and English.
May 10, 2016 | bupipedream.com
OPINIONS
11
A final farewell from Pipe Dream's Editor-in-Chief
I grew to love the newsroom I spent my college years in and wouldn't have traded it for anything else SENIOR COLUMN Nicolas Vega Editor-in-Chief
I almost quit Pipe Dream. It was April 2013 and I was a freshman training to be an assistant news editor. Back then, the news assistants didn’t leave until at least 2:30 a.m., and I was struggling to adjust to the grind. It would be crazy, I told myself, to commit to an extracurricular that required me to spend eight or nine hours every Monday and Thursday night in a basement office. I was about to embark on my sophomore year of college, and I couldn’t spend that amount of time making a student newspaper. Fast-forward three years from those grueling April nights and I’m
approaching the end of my tenure as Editor-in-Chief of Pipe Dream. By my (rudimentary) calculations, I’ve spent more than 1,600 hours — or over two full months — of my life in the newsroom putting together a newspaper, not counting the extra 1,000 hours spent just hanging out. Those are 1,600 hours I could have spent studying for my classes, going to the bars on Thursdays or even learning a useful skill — coding comes to mind. Instead, I made Pipe Dream. I spent my time covering, writing and editing stories, as well as running meetings and headlining the paper. Since late April 2013, there hasn’t been an issue of Pipe Dream that I haven’t had a hand in creating. It’s remarkably difficult to put a newspaper on the stands every Tuesday and Friday, particularly as an independent organization at
a University with no journalism school or major. The amount of man-hours put in by Pipe Dream’s vast network of (volunteer) editors and contributors every issue is close to 500, and we do it knowing that most readers only pick up a copy for a few minutes. This year, on nights that were stressful — when no stories seemed to be coming out just the way I wanted them or I just felt like getting to bed before 3:45 a.m. — I wondered if I’d made the right choice by joining Pipe Dream’s staff. What if I had gone abroad and traveled through Europe? What if I had committed myself to a variety of clubs and groups that only required some of my time each, rather than one that required all of it? What if I’d joined a fraternity? But, the truth is that without Pipe Dream, Binghamton University
would have been a vastly different place for me. I read, wrote and learned about students and events that I would never otherwise have been aware of had I had a more “traditional” college experience. This was an awareness that brought with it a unique perspective to my four years at BU. That perspective was accompanied by the responsibilities of the job. The Editor-in-Chief is tasked with making difficult decisions on a regular basis. Sometimes, I messed up. Maybe something didn’t get properly factchecked or an angle in a story wasn’t as fleshed out as it should have been. When that happened, I’d receive a lot of grief from our readers. But sometimes, unflattering stories about popular individuals and organizations were covered accurately and fairly. Sometimes, a
contributor shared an opinion that rubbed some people the wrong way. I’d get grief about this, too. It can be difficult to do a job when you only get feedback once something goes wrong or someone is mad about what you’ve published. But maybe that’s what’s special about newspapers. They’re a little like municipal water providers — unnoticed, but vital. We don’t really think about them when the water is flowing good and clean, but all eyes are on them when something goes wrong. Having said all of this, I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. I’ve spent more time on Pipe Dream than most staffers, and yet it hardly feels like enough. But here’s the neat thing about Pipe Dream: though you may leave it, it never leaves you. When I’m asked about college
15 or 20 years from now, I won’t be talking about the classes or the parties. I’ll be talking about the independent newspaper headquartered in UUW B03. I’ll be thinking about the people who sacrificed their time, energy and social lives to give Binghamton University’s students a newspaper to be proud of. I’ll be thinking about the friends I made and the experiences we shared creating something special, together. And now that I’m moving on into the great beyond of the “real world,” it’ll be weird to not have the comfort of the newsroom to fall back on. But I know that if I ever need to be taken back to a wonderful period of my life, Pipe Dream’s website is only a click away. — Nicolas Vega is a senior majoring in English.
I found family at PD I took photos; I felt real I'm grateful to the people I met along the way SENIOR COLUMN E.Jay Zarrett
Sports Editor
A little known fact about me is that I love quotes and one of my favorites goes that “home isn’t a place, but a feeling. It’s where the people you love say your name.” My first two years in college, Binghamton didn’t really feel like a home. Sure, I had friends. We were on intramural teams together, wasted our time playing video games and watched sports. We’d eat meals as a group and go out on weekends. I was having fun and college was a decent experience at that point, but something felt like it was missing. I didn’t feel like I truly belonged anywhere on campus and I considered my home to still be my parents’ house. Then, I joined the Pipe Dream staff and I guess the rest is history because I found my place. I had a purpose and I fell in love with covering and writing about sports. Even though I complained, I secretly loved spending all of those late nights with some great new friends in our windowless office and I was filled with pride when I’d look at the paper and see my name on the masthead. Don’t get me wrong, Pipe
Dream wasn’t always great. Producing a newspaper is stressful, nerve-wracking, and can make a person really angry. But, it gave me way more than I ever could have imagined and that was because of the people I’ve met. A major part of my college experience became Pipe Dream, and I’ll remember covering Binghamton sports and editing articles, but most importantly, I’ll remember how thankful I was that I had the opportunity to meet such amazing people, who taught me so much about how to see the world and who I want to be as a person. So, I’m going to take the rest of this column to thank those who helped make my college experience everything I dreamed it would be and transform Binghamton into my home. Alex and Carla — It feels like ages ago, but you were the first two who made me feel included in the office. I’ll forever be grateful. Ari and Ashley — Thanks for teaching me and giving me an opportunity on staff. I hope I didn’t let you guys down. Katie and Rina — So thankful that you guys decided to stage our friendship and talk about “Friday Night Lights” in front of me on wine tour. I couldn’t have gotten through these last two years without you. Nick — Thanks for always
pushing to get the best out of me, as a writer, an editor, and through our workouts. Emma, Odeya, Mike and Sam — Texas Forever. Connor, Adam, Adam, Matt, Brendan, Jeremy and Joe — Hopefully you guys will read this, it’ll probably be the first article of mine you’ve read. We’ve been through a lot together and come a long way. Aleza — It took me forever to work up the nerve to tell you how I felt about you and I never would have imagined how everything has worked out. Without a doubt, meeting you was one of the greatest things that came out of joining Pipe Dream. Orla, Jeff, Noah and Kyle — I’m proud of everything we accomplished this year as a sports section. I have complete faith that you guys will do even better. Lastly, Mom, Dad and Rachel — I couldn’t have accomplished anything without you. Thanks for being my rock, always listening to me and telling me what I need to hear even when it’s difficult. But, most of all, thanks for being there for me regardless of the situation and teaching me what family is really all about. Love you. — E.Jay Zarett is a senior double-majoring in English and political science.
I jumped into an abyss, I found a new world to explore SENIOR COLUMN Franz Lino Photography Editor
There have been many clever and original senior columns I could attempt to outdo, but all I want this to be is a thank you note to my friends and family, a love letter to a city and an ending to a chapter in my life: A friend of mine once told me that we should seek to plunge ourselves deeply into our emotions in order to know ourselves, even if it’s not necessarily what we want to feel. Identity is located in the depths and crevices of our mind. I gave up a career in the sciences to focus my attention on materials that actually interested me, Pipe Dream and growth as a person. I couldn’t tell you which of the myriad of reasons were the deciding factors, but it was the correct decision if I’ve ever made one. My youth still tells me that the material opportunity cost will be more than fulfilled wherever I go with what it is I’ve always wanted — answers. As the photography editor of this newspaper I’ve learned that though photojournalism is supposed to be (read: pretends to
be) objective, the camera lens is the most empathetic instrument I’ve come to use. The camera robs life from people, it’s the most important moments that we wish to keep forever — it’s a horcrux (if Harry Potter should ever necessitate reference, it is here). Photography is a realm where the moment lost is a physical memory gained; simple unforgiving minutes ripped away from me manifest as beautiful, exquisite imagery. We think in images, but we cast them away so easily whether it’s a field of study (art history) or a profession (I couldn’t tell you). I urge everyone to be more selective when they photograph. In short, battling existential dread and meaninglessness, photography has been my attempt at life. I have come to the conclusion, over the past four years, that life’s greatest gifts may come to us during our search for meaning and happiness; although we may lose ourselves along the way, we always find each other. It’s a strange thing having to clutch onto every moment I can, at school where I am surrounded by the people who have made and unmade through experiences shared and sometimes not, when they usually pass without my attention. As the great Kurt Vonnegut once said, “I urge you
to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” I ask that you go spelunking in unhappiness, nose-dive into love and go deep-sea diving in fear, uncomfortable situations and euphoria. I have never lived nor loved as fully or as deeply as I have while a member of Pipe Dream’s staff and as a student at Binghamton University. In between the neat yet unevenly chipping paint clinging to the walls in the Pipe Dream photo office, or outside on the Spine enjoying the company of the friends I’ve made, I know just one thing to be constantly true: I will miss my time in such a weird and wonderful place. I have to thank everyone I’ve met during my four years here for taking my hand and plunging into the depths with me. I’ve had the best four years of my life inside the confines of this city. While I may never admit Binghamton or Pipe Dream were the sources of my unbridled joy — more often than not, stress and anxiety — I simply cannot deny the timing. — Franz Lino is a senior double-majoring in integrative neuroscience and comparative literature.
Chemistry, environmentalism helped me find myself
Through the last four years, I have grown more connected to the earth and my spirituality SENIOR COLUMN John Babich Assistant Photo Edior
One of the more common greetings we hear in college is “what’s your major?” This question, asked as an icebreaker, is used to find common interests or classes. I answer that I’m a chemistry major, and nine times out of 10 I am met with a blank look, a question of my sanity, or the expression of disgust, as though I have just said something personally offensive. I’ll concede that chemistry may not be the course of study for everyone (although every adult should have a basic understanding of this and other sciences) and that
the math and concepts in chemistry can be difficult at times, even for a graduating senior. However, it is not the molecular structures, reactions or stoichiometry that is most enlightening about chemistry. Instead, it has subtly led me on a path to spirituality. Chemistry identifies and studies matter through its interactions, compositions, and changes. I won’t get into the nittygritty of this, but for our purposes remember a few things: all matter is made of the same fundamental particles — neutrons, protons, and electrons; matter interacts and changes using or evolving energy in the process; and matter and its interaction make up everything, living and non-living. What does all of this mean
to the average person? Well, as special as one might think s/he is, this individual is fundamentally composed of the same stuff as a lamp or the sand on a beach. This connection is not, however, a negative — that is to say that life is meaningless because it is composed of the same stuff as the non-living is. Instead, a miraculous and highly improbable function of chemistry and physics yielded life, its massive diversity and the human consciousness. While developing my knowledge of chemistry here at Binghamton, I made new friends with differing perspectives, found my passion for environmentalism, and looked for a way to live through my values. I struggled at first with the notion that all we
as humans do is damaging to our home, the earth, but eventually realized that we must strive to do our best for the world and all of its inhabitants, even if the outcome may be ultimately hopeless. With this realization, I began a path to self-actualization — I didn’t want to live contrary to my beliefs and values, as this would tear me apart. I began to educate myself on the facts of climate change and, with encouragement, was lead logically to boycotting the most environmentally destructive aspect of human activity: animal agriculture. In doing so, I became a vegan, and began to reach a higher sense of connectedness to the earth. Instead of being an exploitive human, I feel myself giving back, fighting for the
rights of marginalized beings and growing more and more in line with my values. People find themselves in college — their values, goals, and aspirations. My logical, curious mind led me on a tangential path to discover an aspect of myself, as an atheist, that I wouldn’t have considered just a few years ago: my spirituality. Through the lens of chemistry and environmentalism, I’ve come to see more clearly interconnectedness of everything on Earth. You and I, the deer in the Nature Preserve, the trees and grasses, the oceans and lakes and the soil and rocks are all interchanging matter and energy constantly. Taking a moment to consider this brings the dynamism of the natural world into focus and
gives my actions purpose. It can be difficult finding a reason for doing good as ultimately nothing matters. During sophomore and junior years, this idea seemed to underlie my outlook of the state of earth and the decline we are facing. I realize now, though, that this nihilistic perspective will not allow me to make the most of my life and to improve the lives of other people, animals, and the state of our planet. Instead, I realize, we must live through our values with a sense that each one of our individual actions has an outcome to some other being, human or otherwise. — John Babich is a senior majoring in chemistry.
So a guy walks into a newspaper office . . .
Some reflections from the guy who purposely tried to get himself fired for two years at PD SENIOR COLUMN Benjamin Moosher
Fun Page Editor
How do I start this? I don’t really think that I have anything particularly exciting, inspiring, or insightful to talk about, and it’s not like Fun Page was the harbinger of social change or controversy. Furthermore, with all due respect to any other senior columns, no one’s is gonna top Katie Dowd. In fact, if you haven’t read Katie’s, go
read hers and every other one of her greatest hits on the Pipe Dream website and you’ll get enough inspiration and wisdom for years. But I’ve been on production staff for two and a half years so indulge me for a little as I produce a random smattering of thoughts. Everyone’s winging it. I stole this from a Times advice article, but it makes people, even the shittiest people, far more tolerable once you cope with this truth. The most confident kid in class, the kid who gets too messed up at parties and especially the girl or boy who
breaks your heart are all people who make mistakes, just like you. Find a way to forgive them because chances are they’re scared shitless of something out there, and chances are you are too. If there’s one thing I learned from doing improvisational comedy these last four years it’s to just say “yes” to as much as possible. Yes, exactly like the Jim Carrey movie. When people say make the most of your college experience, this is what they mean. Leave judgment at the door whenever possible and do things like join the lamest club,
hang with weird nerds or shitty jocks, swipe right, swipe right, swipe right. It won’t work all the time, but you’ll surprise yourself sometimes. Similar to the last one, but if you’re ever somewhere you don’t want to be, just lean in. I know that’s a total misrepresentation of that phrase, but it’s what I think every time there’s a “Mr. Brightside” sing-a-long at a lame party. It’s way more fun to sing along than to stand alone in a corner moping. If you’re reading and you’re anything like a younger version of
me, please, for the love of God, stop worrying about girls. Trust me, it’ll all work out. Someone out there thinks you’re hot, or at the very least “I guess he’s cute.” As far as “thank yous” here’s the list: Suite 2C, 73 Leroy, 63 Oak, the Pipe Dream Staff, Pappys, WHRW, the Telefund, Binghamton StandUp, all of my professors, my family, my girlfriend (see, told you it works out) and anyone else who deserves a personal shout out, I love you, sincerely. As a send off, and my last piece of advice, a surprising number of
people ask me how to get involved in comedy. The best answer is “do it,” which is a cop out, but applicable for any dream. Go write your screenplay, join your frat, paint your painting, whatever, I don’t care what you want to do, but it’s a lot more impressive to say “I do blank,” than “I want to do blank,” because as you get older people care less about what you want to do then what you’ve actually done. How do I end this? — Benjamin Moosher is a senior majoring in English.
##
FUN
www.bupipedream.com | TKMonth ##, 20##
BEST OF F UN '14-'16 Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The First Thing I've Ever Done On Fun Page
Ben Moosher and Kris Casey
Pandinis? More like- just kidding. It's been a blast making content for you guys for the last two and a half years. This issue is all comics that are the "best," which may not mean the funniest, but comics that have been particualry significant in my upbringing as Fun Page Editor. I hope you all enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as I enjoyed going through every Fun Page of the last two years. -Ben
Fun.
Bye everyone!
Two Bingoes
The Forced Triple #1
Ben Moosher
Ben Moosher and Nick Vega
First (Good) Stick Figure Comic
Lil's First Comic!
I’ll miss you so much!
Ben Moosher
Ben Moosher and Lil Manning
Design Fun Fun
Ben Moosher and Emma Siegel
You haven’t seen the last of me ...
First Penis Comic
Find out what happens next year on " FUN"
Ari Faranooy
The Comic That Started It All
Kris Casey
My Favorite Contribution
Nick's Favorite Thing
Seth Wegener
Ben Moosher Favorite Comic To Re-Run
Ohh, Easter?? I thought you said “Weaster.”
Pre-Veterinary Society Weekly meetings: Mondays at 8pm in the New Union Room 324. Any and all are welcome, especially animal lovers and pre-vet students!
Mike Manzi
May 10, 2016 | bupipedream.com
13
SPORTS
New owner saves Binghamton Mets from relocation
With purchase of team, Hughes aims to improve fan experience E.Jay Zarett Sports Editor
On Sunday afternoon just prior to the first pitch of the Binghamton Mets (B-Mets) game against the Akron RubberDucks, Lou Ferraro, the current B-Mets director of scholastic programs, turned to another employee and said, “This press box is unlike any other one you’ll see. We’re like a family.” For much of last year, that family was under threat of being broken apart. “It’s a very tight-knit group since we’ve been together for such a long time,” said Ferraro, who has been with the B-Mets since 1992. He added, “It would have been a hard thing to take … it would not have been the same [if the B-Mets left].” Rumors swirled about the B-Mets’ affiliate moving out of Binghamton and one report indicated that the team had already been sold. The B-Mets were expected to move to Wilmington, Delaware by the start of the 2017 season, potentially leaving the Binghamton area without a professional baseball team for the first time since 1991. But that deal fell through and in stepped John Hughes of the Evans Street Baseball Inc., who officially purchased the team on Dec. 28, 2015. Following the sale, Hughes announced that he would be keeping the B-Mets in Binghamton for the foreseeable future. “When I look at Binghamton, I think it’s an up-and-coming community,” Hughes said. “To me, it checked all the boxes of things that I would want.” Prior to the change in ownership, B-Mets games were
sparsely attended by Binghamton University students. Despite being one of the best teams in their division, the B-Mets ranked last among AA Eastern League squads in attendance in 2015, averaging only 2,676 per game. However, Hughes hopes to change this trend by drawing students to games and making them feel welcome at the ballpark. “[Students] have the atmosphere that we want to have,” Hughes said. “They’re energetic, fun and they’re here to have a good time. I would love to create a place where students can relax, hangout, enjoy the beautiful weather, enjoy the scenery, get to talk to friends and family and see a few goofy things that make you just forget about the pressures for awhile.” In his short time as owner, Hughes has made an impression on the local community, including Binghamton’s mayor, Rich David. “[Hughes] is committed to making the necessary improvements and investments to improve that fan experience,” David said. “He’s not an individual who’s just looking to squeeze as much money out of the organization as possible. He’s in it for the long term and has a very ambitious and aggressive plan to do just that.” Hughes has already begun to upgrade NYSEG Stadium, the home of the B-Mets. His investments have gone toward diversifying food options, renovating the team store and adding big-screen TVs across the stadium. Hughes has also made a concerted effort to add to the team’s promotional schedule. Live music performances have been added prior to every
Rebecca Kiss/Contributing Photographer New B-Mets owner John Hughes plans to keep the team in Binghamton for the foreseeable future.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday home game along with multiple fireworks nights, 500 pounds of candy being dropped on the field following the game on July 31 and a visit to the stadium by Syracuse University head men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim. But, Hughes says there’s even more for fans to look forward to in the future.
“When I bought the team, a lot of the things were already in place because you have to schedule that in the October, November, December time frame,” Hughes said. “[The schedule] had one show on a day … If you do multiple activities on a night, you’re going to draw from a more diverse crowd, more people with
various interests.” The biggest alteration in store for the B-Mets, however, may be a change in name. Hughes opened up to the public suggestions for a new team name and fans will be able to vote for their favorite, with a new name set to be announced following the 2016 season. Hughes views the rebranding as a way to
further ingratiate the team into the local community. “The Mets is a name that belongs to Queens,” Hughes said. “I want a name that ties this team to Binghamton, is reflective of the culture … With over 1,000 submissions, it shows that there’s a passion for it and I’m excited about that.”
Bearcat garners accolade
Golderman earns AE Rookie of the Year Award Matthew Pilotti Pipe Dream Sports
Zach Liebmann/Contributing Photographer Senior pole vaulter Joe Miceli broke the program record for the decathlon, scoring 6,734 at the America East Championship this weekend.
BU competes in AE Finals
Miceli leads Bearcat men to third-place finish Derek Schuster Pipe Dream Sports
The Binghamton’s men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the America East (AE) Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend. The men finished third while the women placed sixth, both out of nine teams. The Great Danes took the team championship on both sides for the eighth straight year. Senior Joe Miceli took home the AE title in two events and was named the Most Outstanding Men’s Field Athlete, highlighting the Bearcats’ performance at the meet. Miceli won the pole vault (168¾) and the decathlon, breaking the Binghamton program record in the latter with a score of 6,734. The wins made Miceli an AE champion for the third time in his career, as he won the heptathlon at the indoor championships this past winter. Senior Pat Heikkila took the top spot in the shot put, throwing a distance of 52-10¼. He also finished second in the hammer throw, scoring a total of 18 points for the Bearcats at the meet. BU head coach Mike Thompson was very impressed by Miceli’s performance as well as those of the
other men’s field athletes. “He performed extremely well, it’s very difficult to do the decathlon and the pole vault,” Thompson said. “The field event athletes really had a fantastic meet top to bottom.” On the track, junior Eric Holt won the 1,500-meter, putting down the fastest time in the prelims and taking the finals in the 3:56.04. Holt finished second in this event two years ago and third last year. Graduate student Jesse Garn, who won the 1,500-meter last year at this meet, had to step off the track partway through his 1,500-meter prelims due to a cramped calf muscle. Despite not being able to compete, Garn is expected to recover in time for the rest of the Bearcats’ meets. Although the Bearcats failed to meet their goal to finish second on the men’s side, Thompson was pleased with the team’s performance. “We had a couple of things happen on the men’s side that moved us to third,” Thompson said. “But I think we competed really well.” He expressed similar sentiments regarding the performance of the women’s team. “I thought that a lot of people competed really well but on the women’s side it was close,”
Thompson said. “We were really hoping to be fifth; it just wasn’t a perfect meet and we needed a perfect meet.” On the women’s side, junior Sarah Osaheni had the best finish, placing second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.04. “Sarah [Osaheni] had a really solid meet,” Thompson said. “That was really huge for her.” The 4x800-meter team ran 9:16.14, good enough to place third and break the six-year old Binghamton program record of 9:17.00. That team was composed of seniors Nina Sarmiento and Alexis Hatcher and juniors Alana MacDonald and Eileen O’Hara. “I thought the girls competed hard; we just need more depth,” Thompson said. “The people we had gave it everything they had.” Looking ahead, Thompson’s focus is on qualifying more athletes to the NCAA Regional meet. His goal is to have five athletes make the meet; so far three have qualified. The Bearcats are set to compete next at the ECAC/ IC4A Championships, hosted by Princeton, this weekend. The meet will take place from May 13-15 at Weaver Stadium in Princeton, New Jersey. Start times have yet to be announced.
Despite falling short of a postseason bid, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team was well represented at the annual America East (AE) Conference awards banquet, held on May 5. Some of its players were honored as top performers in the league throughout the season. The Bearcats’ freshman midfielder, Rebecca Golderman, earned the AE Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year Award — the first Bearcat to earn the honor in the program’s 15-year history. In a season that featured the addition of eight freshmen, Golderman was the cream of the crop. A four-year letter-winner at Guilderland High School outside Albany, New York, Golderman transitioned to college seamlessly, making an immediate impact. She finished second on the team in goals (27) and points (30), and led the team in draw controls with 38, grinding her way to an impressive freshman campaign. Notable performances included a program record-tying nine draw controls against Albany on April 6, and a twelve-game goal scoring streak. “My first reaction was pure excitement for my team, school and for myself and family,” Golderman said after learning of her recognition. The honor also reflects the play of her teammates. A common theme among the Bearcats squad this season was unity. From having Golderman’s back following a defensive mistake to aggressively pursuing ground balls and shots when she missed them, her teammates have contributed to her statistical success. Another important factor in Golderman’s initial success was the Binghamton coaching staff, which provided constant support and encouragement that allowed Golderman to strive and set the bar high for herself. “It is great for her to get acknowledgement,” BU head coach Stephanie Allen said. “She came in and made an immediate
impact and has a bright and promising future ahead of her.” In addition to being awarded Rookie of the Year, Golderman was named to the second-team all-conference and to the allrookie team. She was joined on the all-rookie team by classmate Olivia Batista and on the secondteam all-conference team by senior Callon Williams. Senior Allie Rodgers was named to the first-team all-conference team after a phenomenal year on defensive. She ended the season tied for 12th in the country with 2.18 caused turnovers per game. While most players who receive such an honor may put added pressure on themselves to achieve additional personal success, Golderman states that the award does not change her mindset. “I am looking forward to getting back on the field with
my teammates because I know next season will be exciting,” Golderman said. “I can’t wait to see what we will produce.”
My first reaction was pure excitement for my team, school and for myself — Rebecca Golderman BU Freshman Midfielder
Raquel Panitz/Pipe Dream Photographer Freshman midfielder Rebecca Golderman became the first player in program history to win AE Rookie of the Year.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Golderman earns AE Rookie of the Year Award See Page 13 FINALS ISSUE
BEARCATS CLINCH REGULAR SEASON TITLE
Katherine Scott/Contributing Photographer The Binghamton softball team set program records in runs and hits this season, tallying 336 and 438 respectively.
Offense propels BU to doubleheader sweep of Hartford, softball set to host AE Tournament Orlaith McCaffrey Assistant Sports Editor
When sophomore outfielder Jessica Rutherford crossed home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning of Saturday’s nightcap against Hartford, she had no idea the Binghamton softball team had clinched the first seed in the America East (AE) tournament just moments before. With UMBC’s upset of Maine on Saturday, the Bearcats (32-13, 14-3 AE) earned their first-ever regular-season title and became the first BU program to capture an AE regular season crown since 2010. While the Retrievers’ win secured Binghamton’s bid, the Bearcats needed little help themselves, defeating Hartford
(6-42, 2-14 AE), 9-1, 10-2, in consecutive mercy-rule victories. The Binghamton offense, which ranks sixth among all NCAA Division I teams with a .350 batting clip, was dominant once again, overpowering the Hawks with 23 hits during the doubleheader. Rutherford went 4-for-5 in the series, including a first-inning double in game one that gave BU a one-run lead it never relinquished. After tacking on another two runs in the third, the Bearcats displayed their power in the fifth when senior catcher Taylor Chaffee launched a home run over the wall in right center to plate two. After a single from junior shortstop Crysti Eichner in the next at-bat, Hawks’ sophomore pitcher Bianca Ross
was pulled from the circle after allowing six runs in 4 innings. Even with a fresh arm on the mound, Hartford failed to quell Binghamton’s offense, as senior designated hitter Griffin McIver blasted a two-run homer of her own to center to increase Binghamton’s advantage to 7-1. The power show was just the start, though, as the next three Bearcats kept the rally going, with a single by junior outfielder Gabby Bracchi serving as the final blow for the Hawks, who went down in just five innings. “One through nine for our team [in our lineup] right now is just on fire,” Rutherford said. “We’re all feeling it. It doesn’t matter who’s up; we all have faith in every single one of us.” Holding it down on the
mound for Binghamton in the opener was sophomore pitcher Sarah Miller, who allowed just one run in five innings to improve to 15-6 on the season. Senior Cara Martin continued to puzzle the Hawks in game two, holding them to just four hits. “[Sarah Miller and Cara Martin] both did a great job and I think that gives us a lot of momentum going into next week,” BU head coach Michelle Burrell said. “They just kept really good composure throughout the entire game.” In game two, Hartford struck first, going up, 1-0, in the first on junior infielder Lexi Wilkerson’s single. Despite the Hawks’ early lead, the Bearcats had more than an answer, scoring in each of the following three innings to pull
ahead, 10-2, by the end of the fourth. Three of BU’s runs were thanks to a Rutherford homer to right field in the third, marking the fourth time that Rutherford, who was named the AE Player of the Week for her performance this weekend, has gone yard this year. The remainder of the matchup followed a similar script to game one. The Hawks managed to scrape across a run in the top of the fifth, but that was all the Bearcats would give up, as Martin held on to secure the sweep. Binghamton’s first-place finish in the regular season means the Bearcats will be hosting the AE tournament, an opportunity that the team is ready to take advantage of.
“I honestly just think [the girls] enjoy playing here,” Burrell said. “I think this is a good advantage for us because they do so well here,” “Well” is quite the understatement, as BU has gone 10-0 on its own field this year and is one of only two teams in Division I softball still undefeated at home. The 2016 AE Softball Championship will kick off on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex with a matchup between No. 4 Stony Brook and No. 5 UMBC. Binghamton has a first-round bye and is set to face either the Seawolves or Retrievers in a second-round game on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
Baseball's defense flies under the radar BU men's lacrosse Binghamton's fielding percentage ranks eighth in Division I
Noah Bressner Pipe Dream Sports
It would be easy to attribute all of the Binghamton baseball team’s recent success to its offense, which has put up impressive numbers lately. Last weekend against Stony Brook, the Bearcats scored seven runs in an inning, leading them to a come-from-behind victory and a series sweep. The weekend before that, the Bearcats (23-20, 15-3 America East) scored 12 runs in one inning on their way to scoring 21 total for the game.
The visible successes of the Bearcats’ offense, however, may have overshadowed an impressive and reliable defense. BU’s .981 fielding percentage currently ranks eighth in the country. “We stress the importance of making routine plays,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki. “It’s something we do on a daily basis, as much time as we put it on offense, we try to put an equal amount of time on defense.” The Bearcats’ lineup saw a flurry of movement around the diamond in the offseason. Junior Brendan
Rachel Tomei/Contributing Photographer Sophomore center fielder CJ Krowiak has committed only one error so far this year.
Skidmore, who split his time last year by starting games at shortstop and first base, transitioned fulltime to first, while sophomore CJ Krowiak moved to center field this year after spending much of last year and his high school career in the infield. “Krowiak is probably the best athlete on the team,” Sinicki said. “We knew that it would be a seamless transition and Skidmore has worked really hard to become an accomplished first baseman. We talked about it at the end of last year, he bought into it and he’s done an excellent job.” Binghamton’s fielding percentage has improved drastically from a year ago, when it ranked just 214th in the country. The team’s 30 errors so far in 2016 are good for fifth-best in the NCAA and 29 fewer than last season. Fielding percentage, the ratio of putouts and assists to total chances and errors, can sometimes paint a murky picture of a team’s overall defensive performance. They say nothing about how many balls a player can get to. But with a focus on positioning, Binghamton’s range in the field this year has routinely helped the squad win close games. “It’s all about positioning; it’s all about patience and all of the little things,” Sinicki said. “We preach these things in practice everyday, but the guys are the ones performing in the games so the credit goes to them.” To a certain extent, BU’s pitching staff needs its defense to be good more than most teams do. Their 5.8 strikeouts per nine
innings are currently the fewest in the AE. When batters go against Binghamton’s pitching staff, they usually put the ball in play. But that’s by design, because the Bearcats pitch to contact. With the exception of senior Mike Bunal, who strikes out batters with a slider that sits in the low 90s, the Binghamton pitching staff rarely attempts to strike out batters. Instead, it aims to induce poor contact early on in at-bats, keeping pitch counts down but saddling the defense with extra work. “Because we feel that we defend at a very high level, we have our pitchers … pitch to contact early in the at bat,” Sinicki said. “If you can get early contact, you’re going to keep your pitch count low down, you’re going to be more efficient, you’ll stay in the game a little longer. And so far, it’s worked out really well for us.” Binghamton now sits atop the AE, 4 1/2 games ahead of Hartford with only six conference games left to play. Part of this success can be attributed to Binghamton’s ability to avoid mistakes in the field. “Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Sinicki said. “They’re expecting to make the play and even more importantly, they’re anticipating the ball being hit to them. Confidence goes a long way and when you combine it with good athletes and good players, it means a lot of success.” For complete coverage of Binghamton’s sweep of Stony Brook last weekend, see bupipedream.com/sports.
coach will not return
Nelson let go by Binghamton after five seasons at the helm Kyle McDonald Pipe Dream Sports
After five seasons at the helm of the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team, head coach Scott Nelson will not return to the program, BU Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott announced in a press release on Monday afternoon. Nelson posted a 24-45 overall record as BU’s head coach, including a 10-17 mark in conference play. Nelson was hired by Binghamton on May 18, 2011 and in his third season he led the Bearcats to the America East (AE) Tournament. BU went 4-1 in AE play that season and went into the tournament as the No. 2 seed. Binghamton fell to UMBC in its first-round matchup in what proved to be BU’s only tournament appearance under Nelson. Before his tenure at BU, Nelson served as head coach at Marist from 2009-2011. Nelson found success with the Red Foxes, guiding the team to two consecutive eight win seasons in his final two years. In 2011 the team finished the season with seven straight wins — a program record. Nelson was the head coach at Brown University for six seasons before landing at Marist. He led the team to a top10 national ranking in 2004 and
won the New England Coach of the Year Award that same season. This season the Bearcats went 4-10 and 2-4 in conference play, missing the postseason by one game. Binghamton struggled offensively throughout the year, averaging just 9.43 goals per game, which was fifth in the AE. After blowing a 5-0 lead to Vermont in its final regular-season game, BU’s season ended with a 17-9 loss. A national search for BU’s next head lacrosse coach will begin immediately, according to the Athletics Department. Nelson could not be reached to comment for this story.
Provided by BU Athletics Former BU head coach Scott Nelson compiled a 24-45 record in his five seasons at the helm of the men’s lacrosse team.
Kevin Paredes/Pipe Dream Photographer