Spring 2017 Issue 12

“A Lie of the Mind” shows the challenges of love see page 5 Thursday, February 23, 2017 | Vol. XCI, Issue 12 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Watson aims to study why int'l students choose BU Committee will research ways to make BU a more attractive destination

Allison Detzel Contributing Writer

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and the Watson Institute for Systems Excellence (WISE), a research group composed of students and faculty from the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, unveiled a new project aimed at making BU the “preferred destination” in the United States for international students.

The project, which will use research gathered by WISE to increase international enrollment and improve BU’s reputation worldwide, was conceived last spring but was officially launched at the end of January.

WISE is lead by director Krishnaswami Srihari, dean of the Watson school, and assistant director Mohammad Khasawneh, professor of systems science and industrial engineering.

Under Stenger’s direction, WISE developed a continual program to research what exactly international students are looking for in an education and what the University can do to compete in an increasingly competitive market.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) director Trisha Bello and associate director Karen Keefe-Guzikowski are on the committee as well.

WISE is gathering data from international students using its own research methods, which include surveys, focus groups and conversations with campus leaders, students and alumni. They are also using data collected from Open Doors, which is an annual statistical survey of campuses published by the Institute of International Education.

The group is gathering information about international students and their access to research opportunities, financial support and funding, study spaces, support structure for students, employment assistance and services at the University.

“Some of the questions we plan to answer include: ‘How do we ensure that international students continue to be an integral part of the student body oncampus?’, ‘How do we improve their oncampus experience?’ [and] ‘How do [we] recognize how they enrich our campus even more?’” Khasawneh wrote in an email.

Khasawneh said he believes this information is vital in order for BU to remain competitive with other universities in the area and throughout the country.

With the gathered data, the University can implement what Khasawneh referred to

SEE INT'L PAGE 2

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Sociology department chair Michael West gives a talk titled “A Discussion of the History of Black Liberation and the Emergence of the Movement for Black Lives in Culture Events” in Lecture Hall 9 Monday evening. Part of the SA Spotlight series, which highlights distinguished faculty members and their research, the talk was hosted by the Student Association Programming Board.

SA Spotlight highlights origins of Black Lives Matter Michael West, sociology department chair, discusses the significance and goals of the movement Erica Prush Contributing Writer

Donning a Snoop Dogg ‘92 T-shirt and a flat cap, Binghamton University sociology department chair Michael West addressed a room of about 50 students in a discussion about the African American struggle, the evolution of black liberation and the Black Lives Matter movement on

Monday evening in Lecture Hall 9.

The talk, titled “A Discussion of the History of Black Liberation and the Emergence of the Movement for Black Lives in Culture Events,” was part of the revitalized Student Association (SA) Spotlights series. Hosted by the SA Programming Board and the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) office, SA Spotlights aims to highlight

distinguished faculty members and their research.

West’s talk focused on the global black struggle, the fight for equality and the current direction of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“It is a radical and transformative vision,” West said. “It is an anti-racist vision, an anti-war vision, an anticapitalist vision. It is a vision for

black lives.”

West spoke about the internationalist perspective of black liberation and drew connections from colonial slavery to the global Black Power movement as a necessary background for understanding Black Lives Matter. West cited the Declaration of Independence and the U.S.

SEE SPOTLIGHT PAGE 2

Congress 2/20: Budget deliberations, new constitution SA President Nicholas Ferrara proposes revisions to community government funding Peter Brockwell News Intern

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Alex Leopold, a senior double-majoring in Judaic studies and philosophy, politics and law, expresses his displeasure with the proposed changes to community budgets.

Binghamton University Student Congress met on Monday, Feb. 20 for the final regular session before the break to discuss potential changes to the Student Association (SA) constitution, living community budgets and parking on campus.

Most of the debate centered on SA President Nicholas Ferrara’s proposal to change how the community governments’ budgets are designated.

Community governments, like Dickinson Town Council (DTC) and Hinman College Council, are funded by the student activity fee, which is collected as part of undergraduates’ tuition bills and then distributed by the SA. Previously, communities were given a flat rate of $10,000 plus $7 per student each year. The newly proposed

system would dole out $7,000, plus $10 per student per year. This change is designed to create community budgets more in line with the spending needs of those communities, according to Ferrara.

“The reason for that change is it now gives more money to the larger communities,” Ferrara said.

The net effect of this change would be significant — more than $31,000 will be cut from community budgets in total. This includes a $31,754 cut to Off Campus College Transport’s budget, which will still be by far the largest community budget at $71,590.

Changes to the SA constitution, which were also proposed by Ferrara, would create a committee made up of the treasurers of each community council and one other member of each community executive board, which would determine which student or local groups will receive funding from the SA.

The president of DTC, Sarah Kumar, a senior majoring in business administration, voiced frustration about the potential program cuts DTC would have to make because of the budget changes. DTC’s budget would be cut by $2,966 under the current proposal.

During the public comment section, Alex Leopold, the social vice president of O’Connor Hall of Dickinson Community and a senior double-majoring in Judaic studies and philosophy, politics and law, expressed displeasure with the proposed changes to the community budgets, stressing that the bill would make it more difficult for communities to get money to student groups that need funding.

Ferrara again presented a revised draft of the SA constitution that will be further examined and potentially voted on at a special meeting of Student Congress next Monday at 7 p.m.

Hilarity for Charity event University seeks new dean for Harpur fundraises for Alzheimer's Search narrowed down to four candidates, decision to come in March Pappy Parker Players, Binghamton Vibrations among performers at club's annual show Amy Donovan Pipe Dream News

Around 50 attendees gathered in the Undergrounds of the Old University Union on Monday evening to watch Hilarity for Charity (HFC), a student group at Binghamton University, host its second annual talent show fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Founded by Seth Rogen in 2012, HFC is a national charity organization that raises money and awareness for Alzheimer’s

disease research. In 2014, it was expanded to include HFC U, a fundraising competition in which the winning chapter receives a campus visit from Seth Rogen. HFC U has chapters at colleges throughout the country, including BU, SUNY Oneonta and the University of Vermont.

Admission to the show was $3, and about $300 was raised. Kayla Epstein, the president of Hilarity for Charity and a senior double-majoring in English and history,

SEE HILARITY PAGE 2

ARTS & CULTURE

Melanie Gulbas Contributing Writer

The search for a new Harpur College of Arts and Sciences dean is underway, with two candidates having already presented their plans and two more scheduled to visit within the next week.

The former dean, Anne McCall, stepped down after the fall 2016 semester and Terrence Deak, a Binghamton University psychology professor, has served as the interim dean since then. Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, an executive search firm, is assisting with the hiring process

alongside a committee of faculty members and professors at BU. The selection process began in January, and four finalists were invited to campus for presentations.

John McCarthy, the vice provost for graduate education and dean of the graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Renee McDonald, an associate dean for research and academic affairs at Southern Methodist University, gave presentations on Feb. 17 and 21, respectively. The other two candidates will be announced the day before their visits, on Feb. 23 and 27.

Harpur College dean responsibilities

OPINIONS

A cinema professor offers her Oscars picks,

Studying abroad and embracing religion in this week’s advice column,

See page 5

See page 6

include garnering resources, collaborating with other deans and supervising the entire college’s faculty.

The new dean will also be tasked with developing new programs, increasing diversity and administering Harpur College’s budget, according to the job description provided by Storbeck/ Pimentel & Associates.

Upinder Dhillon, the dean of the School of Management and chair of the search committee, said they are looking for a qualified and well-rounded individual. “[We are looking for a] creative,

SEE DEAN PAGE 2

SPORTS

Guest columnist Joshua Hummell opposes Cuomo’s underage drinking crackdown,

See page 6

Men’s basketball drops seventh straight game,

Women’s lacrosse defeats Colgate for first victory of season,

See page 8

See page 8

2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | February 23, 2017

Show raises money for Alzheimer's research HILARITY FROM PAGE 1

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Zachary Ben-Levy, a junior majoring in English, performs during Hilarity for Charity’s annual talent show fundraiser Monday evening.

said that HFC is meaningful to the members of the club because many students’ families have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

“This is important to us because we’ve seen so many students on campus affected by the disease, and in my own personal experience I’ve had a grandparent pass away from Alzheimer’s,” Epstein said. “It really reaches people a different way than I’ve seen through the other clubs I’ve been involved in.”

The first act of the night was the Binghamton Vibrations, which sang an a cappella rendition of Wham!’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” Next up the BU improv group, the Pappy Parker Players, told jokes involving Teen Vogue, sasquatches and first sexual experiences.

Lindsay Keshner, an e-board member for HFC and a senior majoring in psychology, said that the club decided to hold the talent show again because of the positive feedback it got last year, as well as to get more publicity.

“It was really successful last year,” Keshner said. “We had a lot of people come back and say they loved it, and it’s just something we can get involved with on campus. It gets our name out there considering we are a fairly new club

and it’s something fun that people can get involved in rather than just coming to our meetings.”

Other acts that performed consisted of singer-songwriters and a cover band that performed songs like “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons and “Roses” by the Chainsmokers.

HFC at BU was officially Student Association-chartered last year. In addition to hosting events like the talent show, the club volunteers in the local community by visiting Alzheimer’s care homes such as Brookdale Vestal West.

Khadijah Collins, a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said that she attended the fundraiser to support a friend, as well as to support a good cause.

“I feel like charity events like this are important to raise awareness,” Collins said. “A lot of people don’t know what’s going on in the world or why they need to raise money, so I feel like it’s an educational experience and it’s also an opportunity for us to help other people.”

Epstein said she hopes HFC can continue to raise money and awareness, even after she and the other seniors in the club graduate.

“We hope that we can make a difference, and that this can go on past all of us,” Epstein said.

West spotlights BLM movement Research examines int'l enrollment SPOTLIGHT FROM PAGE 1 Constitution as roots of racial inequality in the United States.

“The American creed — the American social contract — was originally constructed in opposition to black liberation,” West said. “Black people in the United States have had to conceive their liberation in global terms, in international terms.”

Ann Merriwether, a professor of psychology, was scheduled to be the first faculty member spotlighted back in September but the program fell through with former SA VPAA Adam Wilkes’ resignation.

Max Maurice, SA vice president for programming and a senior majoring in electrical engineering, said he revived the program with Raul Cepin, the current VPAA and a senior majoring in Latin American and Caribbean Area studies.

According to them, West was the perfect faculty member to spotlight next.

“When looking into professors to host, it was hard to ignore the positive reviews of Dr. West,” Cepin said. “It is an honor to have him present and educate the campus community, but particularly during Black History Month.”

According to Cepin, he and half of the SA Executive Board are currently enrolled in BU’s Black Lives Matter course.

Jessica Dunn, a senior triplemajoring in sociology, Africana studies and Latin American and Caribbean Area studies, said West is her favorite professor at BU because of his engaging and insightful lectures. “[West] showed how different, seemingly unrelated periods of time are tied together by this common vision that has yet to be realized, even today,” Dunn said.

Hannah Pollick, a senior double-majoring in psychology and sociology, said she appreciated West’s ability to paint the history of the black struggle clearly. She said it is important that students are constantly reminded that black people have never been able to stop fighting for their liberation.

“The struggle for black freedom is seemingly unending, and that is profoundly sad,” Pollick said.

West was positive about the future of the Black Lives Matter movement but emphasized the need for social action, especially in the era of Donald Trump’s presidency.

“Black faces in high places do not equate to black power,” West said, when reflecting on Barack Obama’s former presidency. “It is a mirage of black power. A mirage that is not even in evidence here at Binghamton University.”

INT'L FROM PAGE 1 as a “continuous cycle of change,” focusing on how the University recruits and interacts with international students. Khasawneh said he believes this will improve branding for BU on an international stage.

Khasawneh said he values current and former international students, and they have an important role to play in the project’s future.

“We would also like to obtain feedback from alumni,” Khasawneh wrote in an email. “Having a good understanding of the ‘voice of the customer’ is an important step in turning it into critical-toquality services through actionable recommendations.”

Khasawneh said the benefits of this program will reach far beyond a student’s interaction with the University during their time on campus.

“We expect the changes made to impact the entire life-cycle for international students, from the time they become aware of Binghamton University and decide to submit an application, until they graduate with excellent jobs and remain engaged through our alumni office,” Khasawneh wrote in an email.

Kevin Li, a junior majoring in business administration and president of International Connection, a student group aimed at bringing together international students from around the world, said the project is promising. “… Academic reputation is one of the major concerns for these students,” Li said. “Indeed, this is one common aspect for international students and their families to consider the aftermath of such [an] investment at BU, [but] making BU a home away from their home is what I think …

WISE should conduct. The feeling

of welcome and warmth would largely encourage international students to be part of the BU family.”

Academic reputation is one of the major concerns for these students — Kevin Li, BU Junior

BU Harpur College dean search narrowed down to four final candidates DEAN FROM PAGE 1 inspiring, collaborative and experienced leader with a record of scholarly accomplishment who can work with the faculty, staff and students toward a shared vision of becoming the premier public institution in the nation,” Dhillon said.

McCarthy spoke at BU on Feb. 16 to nearly 50 faculty and staff members. His presentation

touched on topics such as the value of a liberal arts education, funding for summer programs and increasing diversity at BU. He referenced his experience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and said that hiring and retaining a diverse range of faculty is important to student development.

“At [the University of Massachusetts Amherst], we’ve proven to be pretty effective by

starting with the composition and training of search committees, and we continue it through the process of making offers,” McCarthy said. “We’ve had some effectiveness. We have to do more to retain faculty of color and need to get together to think about that and address concerns like community building and mentoring activities.”

McDonald gave her

presentation at BU on Tuesday, and highlighted the importance of branding unique programs the school has to offer.

“You have to demonstrate what those distinctive differences are through marketing materials, websites and recruitment activities,” McDonald said.

“Potential applicants who contact the school need to know that we have programs that are powerful. The

message needs to be consistent, tight and clean.”

McDonald said that the University already has an exceptional liberal arts college and that she is excited about the opportunity to advance the resources available to students.

“I would hope that my energy and ideas, together with those of the faculty and students, would allow us collectively to further enhance a curriculum that

engages and opens students’ minds, foster a community that is intellectually stimulating and welcoming to all, and give students the tools they need to succeed in their lives and careers after college,” McDonald wrote in an email.

An announcement of the search committee’s decision is expected in March. Check Pipe Dream for updates about the remaining candidates.

PAGE III Thursday, February 23, 2017

Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515 FAx: 607-777-2600

Puppy Love

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS Two more individuals charged with assault in Binghamton Yellow Deli shooting Police have charged two of the shooting victims from Friday’s Yellow Deli shooting in Binghamton with assault, according to Binghamton Homepage. The Office of Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell said that both Shamel Hunter, 22, and Muhammed Wesley, 28, have been charged with assault in the third degree.

Both of those charged are Broome County residents, and Wesley is on parole from New Jersey. These charges are in addition to those already filed against Fuquan Campbell, 20, for the shooting. Cornwell said that Hunter and Wesley, who were unarmed, assaulted Campbell, leading to the shooting.

Web: bupipedream.com

Spring 2017

that she would probably opt for telephone town hall meetings, rather than traditional inperson forums, which she said would only be disrupted by “paid protesters” or protesters who “have no interest in dialogue.”

editor-in-ChieF* Jeffrey D. Twitty editor@bupipedream.com MAnAging editor* Rohit Kapur manager@bupipedream.com

Judge orders Time Warner Cable to pay Broome County municipalities

neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick Brendan Zarkower

A judge in Binghamton has ordered the former Time Warner Cable, now Spectrum, to pay the town of Union and the village of Johnson City more than $77,000 to settle underpayments and late fees, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The ruling, however, awarded only a small fraction of the total amount of fines and fees the municipalities were seeking.

oPinions editor* Caleb D. Schwartz opinions@bupipedream.com Arts & Culture editor* Odeya Pinkus arts@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture editors Rachel Greenspan Georgia Westbrook

Puppies rescued after rollover crash on Binghamton highway

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Students play with a dog outside of the University Union on a warm Wednesday evening.

Rep. Claudia Tenney said she canceled town halls due to threats of violence Rep. Claudia Tenney decided against holding an in-person town hall meeting after her offices received threatening phone calls against her, according to the Press & SunBulletin. Last week, Tenney told Binghamton’s NewsChannel 34

The Broome County Humane Society responded early Tuesday to a rollover crash involving a cargo van full of puppies, according to WBNG. New York State Police confirmed the crash happened around 3:45 a.m.

Tuesday on Interstate 81 South in Binghamton, near mile marker 11. Authorities have not said what caused the crash or where the van carrying the puppies was headed.

This Day in History Feb. 23, 1868

W.E.B. Du Bois, the African-American sociologist who co-founded the NAACP, is born.

“When you tell state and local police that their job is to do immigration enforcement, it translates into the unwarranted and illegal targeting of people because of their race, because of their language, because of the color of their skin.”

— Omar Jadwat,

director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

Corrections Pipe Dream strives for accuracy in all we publish. We recognize that mistakes will sometimes occur, but we treat errors very seriously. If you see a mistake in the paper, please contact Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Twitty at editor@bupipedream.com.

sPorts editor* Orlaith McCaffrey sports@bupipedream.com Asst. sPorts editors Noah Bressner Kyle McDonald PhotogrAPhy editor* Kevin A. Sussy photo@bupipedream.com

Police Watch Student reports harassment from ex-boyfriend MONDAY, Feb. 20, 11:18 p.m. — A 19-year-old female contacted University police to report a harassment and stalking incident, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The female stated that she had been jogging without glasses on earlier that day when somebody greeted her. Because she did not have her glasses on, she could not see the person at first, but once he stopped she recognized the person as her exboyfriend, a 21-year-old male who did not attend BU. The female claimed that they had a short conversation, and then she continued her jog. Later that night, while in her dorm room at Oneida Hall of College-inthe-Woods, she received a text message from the male. The male asked if she would let him into the building.

The female stated she declined to let him into the building, but the male nonetheless entered, most likely by tailgating, and went to her dorm.

Upon seeing the male outside her room, the female called the police. When officers arrived, the male had left the vicinity of the dorm.

Officers located him in another dorm building. He was charged with trespassing and will appear in Vestal Town Court.

Bulletin board set on fire in Onondaga Hall TUESDAY, Feb. 21, 4:02 a.m. — Officers responded to a fire alarm in Onondaga Hall of College-in-theWoods and discovered that a bulletin board had been purposefully set on fire, Reilly said. When officers arrived, they observed that a bulletin board in the main lobby was on fire, and quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher. The bulletin board was badly burned and all of the papers on it were destroyed.

Vestal Fire Department, a UPD investigator and the state fire investigator also responded to the

Alexandra Hupka Police Correspondant

scene. After the smoke cleared and the fire alarm was reset, officers interviewed over 100 residents as they re-entered the building. The bulletin board was removed from the area and placed into evidence.

Nobody was injured in the fire. The case is still under investigation, and anybody with information about this crime should contact the police.

Student reports cell phone missing TUESDAY, Feb. 21, 1:30 p.m. — Officers were contacted by a 21-year-old female who claimed that her phone was missing, Reilly said. The female stated that at approximately 10 p.m., she had boarded an Off Campus College Transport bus, bound for the city of Binghamton.

Upon exiting the bus, she realized that she did not have her cell phone, an iPhone 7, and took another bus back to campus to search for the phone. She was able to find the original bus, but did not locate the phone. The phone was valued at $832. The case is still under investigation.

Male reports phone scam call TUESDAY, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.

— A 27-year-old male contacted police after receiving a phone call that he believed was a fraud scam, Reilly said. The male stated that he received a call stating that he had won a contest. The person on the phone asked for his personal information. The male declined and hung up the phone. The male gave officers the number that the suspect called from.

Officers advised him that this was a typical phone scam and that he should never reveal any sensitive personal information over the phone. Officers believe that the suspect likely purchased his contact information from a company to which he had given his phone number.

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stabilizing: AYTO

giraffe baby :destabilizing

ARTS & CULTURE Laura Schorr/Pipe Dream Photographer

The cast of “A Lie of the Mind” perform in Watters Theater. The show runs on Friday, Saturday, March 10 and March 11 at 8 p.m., as well as March 12 at 2 p.m.

BU theatre dept. challenges itself in 'A Lie of the Mind'

With an eight-role ensemble cast, Sam Shepard's play brings family drama to the Mainstage Rachel Greenspan Assistant Arts & Culture Editor “Ordinary is empty.”

In Sam Shepard’s play “A Lie of the Mind,” Beth thinks playing pretend is better than being real, and uses this quote to tell her family so.

Beth is one of eight ensemble roles in this show, which is the Binghamton University theatre department’s first Mainstage production of the semester.

Set in the snowy, mid-century Midwestern United States, “A Lie of the Mind” follows the entangled lives of two families connected by the strained marriage of Beth, played by Danielle Nigro,

a senior majoring in theatre, and her abusive husband, Jake, played by Jeff Tagliaferro, also a senior majoring in theatre.

The play, performed in three acts, uses rock ‘n’ roll and alternative music to string together scenes of the lovers’ families, which are struggling with Jake’s declining mental health and Beth’s worsening brain damage as a result of him attacking her, respectively.

The audience is thrust into a whirlwind of emotion from the first moment of the production when Jake tells his brother Frankie, played by Trey Santiago, a junior majoring in theatre, that he thinks he killed his wife.

The Mainstage show, directed by theatre professor Anne Brady, will be the first Shepard play staged at Binghamton University in the last two decades. Brady said she brought the play to the department because of Shepard’s prominence as a playwright.

“I think that it’s important that we do all different kinds of playwrights, and Sam Shepard is a great American playwright,” Brady said. “A classic American playwright, I would say.”

Shepard first directed “A Lie of the Mind” off-Broadway in 1985 and the production won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle

Award for Best Play. Since its debut, the play has been a staple in theaters across the country due to its complicated and emotive ensemble of characters, according to Brady. “[‘A Lie of the Mind’] offers eight actors really juicy roles and opportunities to challenge themselves,” Brady said.

In a play with such long, passionate scenes, it’s vital for this ensemble of actors to work cohesively together, explained Marisa Cartusciello, who plays Jake’s sister, Sally.

“Luckily, we are all friends and we want each other to succeed,” said Cartusciello, a junior majoring in theatre. “We

all encouraged each other to do the best work to make sure we all felt comfortable and safe.”

Some of the difficult moments Cartusciello is referencing include fights between loved ones that test the strength of the two families. Brady explained that many of these complicated plot points and relationships are drawn from Shepard’s life.

Frankie and Jake are brothers who share a close bond, but seem quite different. Brady says that these two characters may represent the different sides of the playwright himself.

While themes of love and loss are woven throughout the play, gender roles are also examined.

Characters argue over the roles of husbands and wives, and what it means to be masculine and feminine. It is through this questioning that we learn about the dynamics of these families.

“There’s humor, there’s love, there’s longing, there’s heartache, there’s joy,” Brady said. “It offers a lot for actors and for an audience to be part of.”

“A Lie of the Mind” will run in Watters Theater of the Anderson Center on Friday, Saturday, March 10 and March 11 at 8 p.m., as well as March 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for the public and $10 for students, and are available at the box office and online.

Cinema professor talks Oscar nominations, trends in film

From 'Moonlight' to 'Star Wars,' Chantal Rodais shares her picks for this year's Academy Awards Gabby Iacovana Contributing Writer In honor of the Oscars this weekend, Pipe Dream asked Binghamton University cinema professor Chantal Rodais to talk about some of her favorite movies and performances on the list of nominations this year. Rodais has noticed a few trends among this year’s nominations compared to last year’s, most notably an effort to diversify the nominees.

“The thing that we notice this year, after the shame of last year’s obviously ‘so white’ selection, is that they’ve tried very hard to diversify,” she said. “We get a sense that there’s more diversity, but they have to do it within the limitations of Hollywood cinema, and there are so few roles for African American actors that we fall back onto the same names.

They’re trying their best now,

but it’s difficult because not many people are creating roles for actors of color.”

Rodais has also noticed a lack of novelty in this year’s selections.

“They nominate nine films for best picture, and it’s the same story over and over, and the same style,” she said. “It’s always a little bit like that, because it’s Hollywood, but I found it to be especially true this year.”

Nevertheless, there are a few nominated films that Rodais found to be exceptional. “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins, is nominated for eight categories this year. The film follows a young black man through his childhood, adolescence and adulthood, exploring themes of identity, sexuality, friendship and love.

Rodais chose it as her pick for Best Picture, Film Editing and Director. “’Moonlight’ would be my pick for the originality and innovation

in terms of cinematography and editing, and a pace that seems interesting,” she said.

“It has a unique energy.”

Another standout, according to Rodais, is “Toni Erdmann,” a German dark comedy nominated in the Foreign Language Film category.

“It’s very sharp, very smart,” she said. “It’s not Hollywood in many ways; it has a tone that’s too sharp for Hollywood and it can create an uncomfortable experience at times. I like that a lot; it promotes thinking, it promotes [a] reaction in viewers and it’s a great film.”

In the categories for Short Subject Documentary and Feature Documentary, Rodais chose Gianfranco Rosi’s “Fire at Sea” and Marcel Mettelsiefen’s “Watani: My Homeland,” respectively — films about the current refugee crisis. Rodais said that all of the documentaries nominated are

exceptionally powerful (with the exception of “O.J.: Made in America”), yet those two stand out because of their innovative styles of filming. She was particularly impressed with “Watani: My Homeland,” which follows a Syrian widow and her children for three years as they escape the civil war and start a new life in Germany.

Rodais praised Mettelsiefen’s dedication to his subject for such a long period of time.

“I like the patience, engagement and commitment of the filmmakers to their subject,” she said. “That, to me, is real documenting.”

One of the most creative stories of the year, in Rodais’ opinion, is her pick for Writing (Original Screenplay), “The Lobster.” “The Lobster” takes place in a dystopian society where singles have 45 days to find a romantic partner before they are turned into animals.

“It’s an absurd, amazing story,” Rodais said. “I like when mainstream cinema is daring, still wanting to reach a large audience, but coming in with this amazing story that makes no sense. It forces you to take some distance, and then you see the meaning.

It takes the back road to tell you something that’s happening in the world right now.”

Overall, while she saw a lack of originality, Rodais found many of the films to be innovative or unique in at least one capacity, whether it be camera work, animation, writing or production design.

While her own nominations would have been very different, she was able to appreciate the academy’s picks for their strengths while still noting their weaknesses.

The rest of her picks can be found below: Cinematography — “Silence” Adapted Screenplay — “Fences”

Actress in a Leading Role — Isabelle Huppert, “Elle” Actress in a Supporting Role — Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures” Actor in a Leading Role — Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic” Actor in a Supporting Role — Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water” Animated Feature Film — “My Life as a Zucchini” Short Film (Animated) — “Blind Vaysha” Short Film (Live Action) — “La Femme et le TGV” Costume Design — “Jackie” Production Design — “Hail, Caesar!”

Sound Mixing and Visual Effects — “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” Music (Original Score) and Sound Editing — “La La Land” Music (Original Song) — “The Empty Chair” from “Jim: the James Foley Story”

OPINIONS Thursday, February 23, 2017

Operation Prevent a bust

PIPE DREAM

ADVICE

Guest column: Why Cuomo's anti-drinking program will fail Joshua Hummell

Guest Columnist

Over the summer, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Operation Prevent, a program aimed to curb underage drinking, which, according to syracuse.com, has been used to arrest 33 minors in the Cortland and Albany areas recently. The majority arrested were in bars with fake IDs. If Cuomo believes that supporting a policy of no underage drinking would be successful, as a history major, it’s my duty to remind him of Prohibition, the war on drugs, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and of their failure.

The program is only going to push students away from the safety of bars, and they will make even riskier choices when they drink. If the alcohol isn’t in the hands of someone sober and responsible, it will go to them or a friend, neither of whom may recognize the signs of their intoxication. There will always be ways in which a student can get alcohol, and if they can’t at a bar, they will go to either a fraternity or house party. At the

bars, there are bar employees who have a liability to make sure a customer doesn’t become inebriated or injured. The bar employee can get a cab for you or give you water when they notice your level of intoxication, but at a party, they won’t always know or care enough to do so.

I think back to a death of a student last year at my former school, Onondaga Community College, where a student walked home from a party on one of the coldest nights of the year and died from hypothermia and acute alcohol consumption.

Would it have been different if he was at a bar with a person that could have noticed and given him some sort of assistance?

The real issue the state government should be tackling is binge drinking. It is a serious issue that has been felt by many students. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that binge drinking is “the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as “a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. It happens to a man

when he consumes 5 or more drinks, and to a woman when she consumes 4 or more drinks, in about 2 hours.” This leads to serious health issues. Immediate ones can be alcohol poisoning, injuries related to inebriation and poor decision-making that can lead to pregnancy or STDs. Long-term ones include liver disease, neurological dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, addiction, etc.

The roots of this problem lie in the culture in which people are growing up in. Ask yourself, what kind of effects do the copious party movies on Netflix have on you? I certainly have tried to emulate “Project X,” “Superbad,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Animal House” and others. When’s the last time you watched television without seeing an alcohol commercial?

I don’t even think there was a time.

An effective solution would promote safe and social drinking to young adults while creating a safe environment for them. It’s normal for people to want to participate in social activities — that’s why they go to bars.

There, they can relieve stress by being on the dance floor, being with friends, playing a pickup game of pool or by meeting new

people. Also, a bar limits the student from binge drinking with the cost of the drink, the amount of time before they can get another drink, and the recognition of sobriety by the servers limits the student from becoming dangerously drunk. Another solution that I find very effective is offering alternatives.

I commend Binghamton University for its Late Nite Binghamton programs, which offer live entertainment and activities for the students as an alternative to drinking, and helping to create a safe environment with its late night shuttles from Downtown Binghamton to campus.

If the governor is genuinely concerned with our safety, then he should understand that a successful program shouldn’t be based on failed policies from the past. He cannot stop the inevitable consumption of alcohol, but he can promote a safe and responsible use of alcohol while creating a safe environment for students similar to the one BU has created for us.

— Joshua Hummell is a junior double-majoring in classical and Near Eastern studies and history.

Beyond Spring Fling A large community-building tradition would boost BU Giovanna Bernardo

Columnist

When most people think of Binghamton University, I’d venture to guess some of the first things that come to mind are Baxter the Bearcat, Pantone 342 and, of course, our affordable tuition rates.

While those are positive things to be associated with, as well as integral parts of our University identity, that list seems to be lacking something.

To me, that something could be anything — an annual event, a philanthropic cause, even a specific sports team — that our entire student body, faculty, staff, alumni, etc. can come together in support of and rally behind.

Why is it that schools all over the country have that one thing they can join together in and rally around, but BU doesn’t? For some schools, it’s an annual event or a sports team — typically a football team — that inspires a shared pride and excitement in students, faculty, alumni, locals, etc.

Though the partying around SUNY Cortland’s annual “Cortaca Jug” game (where SUNY Cortland’s and Ithaca College’s football teams play each other) has gotten out of control in recent years, it is an

annual event that offered both the entire student bodies of SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College — as well as their local communities — a chance to come together and rally around their football teams.

For other schools, it’s a major philanthropic endeavor that brings their student body together, forcing a tangible passion for a common cause, as well as a shared pride for the change college students are capable of making collectively.

Pennsylvania State University’s 45th annual Dance Marathon is a prime example of this, and occurred just this past weekend.

The event, hosted by Pennsylvania State University Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, brought together thousands of students, contributors, etc. who danced for 46 hours, all while raising awareness and donations for pediatric cancer.

This year, the event raised over $10 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. These types of major events and huge philanthropic undertakings can be seen at countless colleges and universities. They become synonymous with people’s impressions of the schools in which they occur. As we continue to follow the road toward “premier,” BU needs something like this.

In the four years I’ve been a student here, I’ve seen the BU

community rally around the fact that we’re “the premier public Ivy” of the Northeast and the best SUNY school.

We’ve come together for exciting and entertaining events, such as University Fest each August, the Homecoming tailgate, [the] soccer game in the fall and Spring Fling every May — but in major, community-binding events, we’re lacking.

I’m not sure what can be done to remedy this situation, but I believe the change has to start with combining the efforts of the powerhouses that exist on this campus, such as the Student Association (SA) and Greek life, for example, to put on major events that individuals, clubs, teams and organizations can all get involved in.

The SA has a huge hand in putting on major (and fun) events each semester, like University Fest and Spring Fling, while BU’s Greek organizations raise thousands of dollars every semester for philanthropies ranging from pediatric AIDS, to breast cancer, to cystic fibrosis.

Imagine if the SA and Greek life came together to put on one big event every year. Almost every student on this campus is involved in some sort of club, team or Greek organization. If this type of event became a reality, it could capture essentially the entire student body

working toward, or supporting, a common cause and experiencing an amazing event that only BU is known for.

I realize there are countless other ways for the University community to come together, as well as an innumerable amount of factors inhibiting this from becoming a reality — but the change has to start somewhere.

We have so much more to be proud of and bond over as BU students than Pantone 342.

— Giovanna Bernardo is a senior double-majoring in English and political science.

Imagine if the SA and Greek life came together to put on one big event ...

Welcome to Pipe Dream Advice, where advice columnist Kristen DiPietra offers suggestions to make your life better. Submit a question at bupipedream.com/advice and you could be featured in next week’s issue!

I want to study abroad next spring in South America as part of a program pertaining to my major. I’ve already conducted research about the program and it sounds fun. However, it will be my girlfriend’s last semester, and I don’t want to be apart from her or my other graduating friends. What should I do?

Hello Tentative Traveler, This program will be an opportunity unlike any other. Plenty of people can tell you the cultural, academic and personal benefits you would gain from such an experience. It’s perfectly natural to have Fear of Missing Out. However, you will only have this opportunity once, and may severely regret not going to South America.

You may not always have your friends and girlfriend in your life.

After they graduate, they may be caught up with their lives, and it’s possible you’ll lose contact. Going on this trip will be a litmus test to see how well you maintain contact with them and whether they will support your decisions fully. Never let other people hinder a decision you know is right. Never let people convince you that their time is more valuable than yours.

Odds are, your friends and girlfriend are not doing this. They may support you entirely and look forward to making up for lost time or even traveling with you at another point. It’s a safe and comfortable decision to stay among friends — in a country, town and college where you feel welcome.

I encourage you to not give in to this comfort, and discover your strengths and limitations in a place where you don’t speak the language, understand the culture or feel at home. You will learn to rely on yourself more and maybe find yourself in the process. If your relationships with your friends and girlfriend are meant to last, you will find a way to communicate with them regularly.

Happy travels, Kristen Recently, I’ve been wanting to explore my faith more. I can’t explain it well, but I feel like something is missing in my life. I come from an informal “cafeteria Catholic” background, so my family was never very religious. However, I’m a full-time student, work two jobs and have many extracurriculars. Is this the time for me to explore my faith, and if so, how?

Hello Curious, At the risk of sounding cliche, it’s always a right time to question, love and learn about your religion. It’s important to determine whether your faith is truly what’s missing. Religion is not just about filling a void, but creating meaningful ways to be fulfilled and live our lives with purpose.

There are many ways to be a more involved Catholic and still have time for other demands in your life. Lent, the 40-day period of penance for Catholics, starts next week, beginning with Ash Wednesday. It may be soon, but Lent is a great opportunity to learn about sacrifice and to develop a personal relationship with God. If you’re ever confused or feel like Lent may be too big of a burden, stop by the Newman House, which is a five-minute walk right behind Newing College. This Catholic church offers services and a prominent student community. The Newman House is receptive to all and would be a great place to ask questions or attend Mass.

If you don’t have time for services, buy yourself a “learning Bible” that explains the significance of the readings. Make a goal to read a certain amount of the scripture, but don’t beat yourself up if you find it hard to follow.

Find a way of learning that is meaningful to you. Not everyone feels closer to God just by going to church or reading. Praying, being consciously more kind to others or even talking to members of your faith may help you feel more in touch with your Catholicism than traditional methods.

Good luck, Kristen

Speaking the language of success Bilingual, polyglot job candidates more competitive; don't disregard studying language Brad Calendrillo

Contributing Columnist

Your résumé is finally complete. Each detail, from the formatting to the content, looks spectacular. At first glance, the languages category may seem insignificant. It is placed on the bottom of the page, and many feel that the employer will bypass it since it is not front and center.

However, the skill of knowing a language other than English can hold more

value to an employer than one may think. In fact, especially in the modern day, it gives applicants a competitive edge in the job market. Globalization is affecting most aspects of business; having customers from a variety of backgrounds and cultures increases a company’s market base.

Since many companies want the extra business from nations outside of the Anglosphere, applicants who are bilingual or even polyglots will have a better chance of being hired, depending on the company. Moreover, according to CNN, interpreters

and translators are among the top 15 fastest-growing occupations in the United States.

Only 17 percent of Americans are able to speak another language fluently. This makes multilingual applicants high in demand for the employers who are in need of them. As a result, these candidates can be offered higher wages if they will be a valuable resource to a company.

Outside of the workforce, there are more benefits to being a polyglot. Not only can one better immerse themselves into another culture while traveling, but being multilingual improves

everyday skills regardless of the location. In fact, knowing a different language improves upon general problem-solving skills. Based on a recent study, people who know another language are better at processing information and performing creativity tasks.

Understandably, despite all of the positives that learning a new language has to offer, many believe that they do not have the time to learn. Being a fulltime student is time-consuming, especially for certain majors with a lot of specific credit requirements. Introductory-level

foreign language classes typically meet four days a week for over an hour each day, despite the fact that they are only four credits.

However, there are resources that one can use to pick up a new language at their own leisure. There are plenty of online programs out there, and for Binghamton University in particular, there are plenty of extracurricular clubs and activities to participate in to improve upon one’s language skills. On B-Line emails, you will see that there are meetings for language societies such as French Club, Spanish Club, Italian

Club, International Language Association and more, and other activities such as Spanish Table and La Table Française that meet in resident dining halls to help students learn and improve upon their language skills.

Whether it be a BU student, another college student or anyone outside of college, there are several ways to receive help to learn a new language. But the younger a person is, the easier it is to learn, so it is best to start as soon as possible.

— Brad Calendrillo is a sophomore majoring in English.

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BU heads to AE Championships Men's, women's squads aim to finish near top of conference Orlaith McCaffrey Sports Editor

What the Hawk

?

Pipe Dream Archives

Senior guard Marlon Beck scored 5 points in BU’s loss to Hartford.

Binghamton drops seventh straight despite Davis' career high Noah Bressner Assistant Sports Editor

The frustration of the Binghamton men’s basketball team could be seen on the worked-up face of BU assistant coach Bryan Goodman, who stood just off the court with his hands resting on top of his head. Goodman’s reaction to junior forward Bobby Ahearn’s foul of Hartford redshirt senior guard Jalen Ross with 56 seconds remaining told the disappointing story of the Bearcats’ 76-69 loss to the Hawks (9-21, 4-11 America East) on Wednesday.

BU head coach Tommy Dempsey pounded the floor.

Senior guard Marlon Beck stood next to the key with his hands on his hips. Hartford sealed the game after hitting seven of eight free throws in the final minute.

The Hawks handed BU (12-18, 3-12 AE) its seventh straight loss — BU’s longest losing streak during conference play in three years.

Going into their game against the Hawks, the Bearcats found themselves tied for second-tolast place in the AE. But even wins against similarly ranked teams are hard for BU to come by now. BU now finds itself in sole possession of eighth place.

While they put up a fight in the closing minutes against the Hawks, the Bearcats have consistently faltered in the second half of games this season.

With 39 seconds remaining, BU cut the deficit to three points.

By then, however, BU had already started to strategically foul Hartford players. Against the Hawks, that late push wasn’t enough.

As a team, BU struggled defensively. The Bearcats were unable to effectively guard Hartford’s offense without fouling it. BU sent the Hawks to the free-throw line 37 times and Hartford made 87 percent of its shots from the charity stripe.

BU shot 40 percent from the floor and 29 percent from 3-point range — both higher than Hartford’s marks. The Hawks shot 36.7 percent, including 8-for-28 from beyond the arc.

Sophomore guard Everson Davis led the Bearcats with a career-high 19 points in 24 minutes of play. Davis shot a 40 percent clip from the field, but went just 1-for-5 from beyond the arc. He was followed by sophomore guard Timmy Rose and junior forward Bobby Ahearn, who contributed 13 points each.

Despite working on his

shooting last summer, Davis has struggled to convert his success in practice to gametime situations. He has averaged 5.3 points per game so far this season.

Earlier this season, recorded nine wins in nonconference play — its most as a Division I program. But since then, the Bearcats have struggled against AE opponents.

An injury to redshirt sophomore guard J.C. Show late in nonconference play derailed BU’s once-lofty aspirations. Over the course of the season, BU has struggled to shoot, and its defense has been invisible at times.

The Bearcats are set to finish regular-season play against Maine on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Bearcats earn first victory of year Golderman, Ryan power Binghamton offense in second half

Raquel Panitz/Staff Photographer Junior attack Tiffany Ryan recorded a goal and two assists in BU’s 16-12 win over Colgate.

Samuel Ditchek Pipe Dream Sports

After dropping its first two games of the season, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team earned its first win of the season Wednesday. BU (1-2) defeated Colgate, 16-12, behind another stellar performance from sophomore midfielder Rebecca Golderman.

Golderman, who has logged 11 goals over three games for

the season, powered the Bearcats over the Raiders (1-1). Golderman recorded five goals on six shots and added one ground ball to go along with her four draw controls.

Aside from the offensive display by Golderman, BU as a unit played strongly following back-to-back deflating defeats to pull out a win after trailing early on in the contest.

“Colgate was a tough team that made us constantly adjust,” said BU head coach Stephanie

Allen. “I was excited to see our team respond and answer today by putting a stop to the runs.”

The Raiders held a 6-3 advantage over BU with just over 11 minutes remaining in the half as BU appeared to be still shaking off offseason rust. After trading goals with the Colgate, though, the Bearcats fought back with three straight tallies and were down by only one, 7-6, at halftime.

Although the Bearcats faced a deficit for the vast majority of the

first period, they regrouped at the half to turn the game around in the second. Down 10-8 early in the second, BU went on a run, scoring three straight goals to take the lead. They added another with 11:35 left in the contest and found themselves up, 12-10.

BU’s offense was much more efficient in the second half.

Binghamton found the net 10 times in the half, including the final three goals to ice the game.

Junior attacker Tiffany Ryan helped Golderman carried the offense by contributing four goals of her own. She also dished out two assists and won four draw controls. Ryan scored three of the 10 BU goals in the second period. Junior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy also played a big part in the win, adding three scores, one ground ball and two draw controls.

“We had multiple players step up today for us on both ends of the field and allowed us to stay within reach at every point of the game,” Allen said.

Although the Bearcats have played just three games, they have struggled with defense and goalkeeping in each of them.

Over the three matches, BU has already given up 45 goals and has only scored 35. Despite keeping Colgate in check for a majority of the game, the Bearcats will need to continue to improve on the defensive end prior to the start of conference play.

BU is set to take on Dartmouth on Saturday. Opening draw is scheduled for noon from Chase AstroTurf Field in Hanover, New Hampshire.

After competing on indoor tracks around the Northeast for the past three months, the Binghamton men’s and women’s track and field teams will take part in their season-culminating meet — the America East (AE) Indoor Track and Field Championship this weekend.

Last season, both squads finished near the top, with the men taking second for the eighth time in nine years and the women coming in third for the fourth consecutive year. Contributing to this team success were several impressive individual performances, specifically those of then-juniors Jon Alkins and Keishorea Armstrong. Both Alkins and Armstrong earned the men’s and women’s Coaches’ Awards for recording the most points during the meet.

This year, however, such success may be harder to attain.

“I think our men have a chance for second, but I think it’s going to be close,” said BU head coach Mike Thompson. “I think we’re going to be somewhere between second and fourth. I’m hoping the men are top four and the women are top three; I think that’s realistic.”

The women’s squad will be without Armstrong, who is redshirting this season to retain eligibility for next year.

Armstrong has been the most successful member of the women’s team in recent memory.

In 2015, she became just the second BU athlete to garner AllAmerican honors after placing 24th in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At last year’s indoor championships, Armstrong earned 24 points for BU, winning the long jump, 60-meter dash and placing fifth in the triple jump. She will return to the track for the Bearcats for the outdoor season.

On the men’s side, Alkins, the 2016 200-meter champion and 60-meter runner-up, is expected to lead the sprinters once again.

“Jon Alkins for the men is definitely the guy,”

Thompson said.

Senior Eric Holt, who came close to running a four-minute mile at the Boston University Last Chance Indoor Meet two weeks ago, will compete in the mile, the 3,000-meter and the 1,600-meter leg of the distance medley relay at the championships. At last year’s meet, he was second in the mile (4:12.45), but has since shed more than 10 seconds from his time. “[Holt will] be an important part of the puzzle for us,” Thompson said. “If he does what he’s capable of, then he’ll do very, very well.”

Other promising entries for the Bearcats include senior Peter Fagan — the defending AE champion in the pole vault — and junior Ted Okon, who advanced to the regional during last outdoor season.

One the women’s side, Thompson expects the 400-meter event to be a triumph of BU’s sprinters. “[Seniors] Sarah Osaheni and Ana Herbert are great; I think both of them are going to be in the top four when the final declarations come out, so they could do well,” Thompson said.

In 2016, Osaheni was third in the 400-meter with a time of 57.50.

The Bearcats will also look to its throwers to round out their performance at the meet.

Junior Brooke Bonney was the runner-up in the weight throw last year and is the AE Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after her throw of 59-5 feet this past weekend. Junior Oyin Adewale will lead BU in the shot put; earlier this month, she reset the program record with a throw of 42-10 1/4 feet.

“Brooke [Bonney] is ranked second in the weight and I think she’s capable of scoring in the shot put,” Thompson said. “Oyin [Adewale] is ranked pretty high in the shot put and she’s capable of scoring in the weight, so we hope that they help us out.”

The championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.

Zach Leibman/Contributing Photographer Senior Jon Alkins took first place in the 200-meter at the 2016 America East Indoor Track and Field Championships.