Spring 2017 Issue 8

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Political & Love affairs meet in ‘The Mikado’ see page 4

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Thursday, February 9, 2017 | Vol. XCI, Issue 8 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Gov. Cuomo promotes free SUNY tuition plan In visit to BU, governor discusses 2017 State of the State and executive budget proposal for NY Pelle Waldron Assistant News Editor

Raquel Panitz/Staff Photographer More than a hundred people crowded the Binghamton City Hall to voice their opinions in response to the recently proposed Welcoming Cities Resolution.Councilman Conrad Taylor, a junior majoring in political science.

Students, faculty show support for Welcome Cities Resolution Roosevelt Institute hosts 'Take Action' meeting City Council fails to vote on Taylor's proposed bill Binghamton City Council meeting, which is designed as a symbolic gesture to show refugees and immigrants in the Roughly 30 students gathered in the Binghamton area that they are welcome Fine Arts Building on Tuesday night for and an important part of the community. an “Emergency Take Action” meeting to Brianna Cea, president of the Roosevelt discuss local politics. Institute and a sophomore double-majoring The event was hosted by the Roosevelt in political science and philosophy, politics Institute at Binghamton University, a and law, said that the event was designed to branch of a national policy think-tank that encourage students to get further involved aims to empower students by teaching them in local politics. about public policy and how to advocate for Students attending the event discussed change in the local community. their course of action for the council At the Take Action event, students were meeting and made signs in support of the preparing to support the Welcoming Cities Resolution that was debated at Wednesday’s SEE ACTION PAGE 2 Alexandra Hupka

Jillian Forstadt

News Intern

Contributing Writer

More than a hundred people crowded Wednesday night’s Binghamton City Council meeting to voice their opinions in response to a recently proposed “Welcoming Cities Resolution.” The resolution was introduced by City Councilman Conrad Taylor, a junior majoring in political science. According to him, the resolution is an effort to ensure his constituents from other countries feel safe living in Broome County. The resolution came about after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an

executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven countries from entering the country for 120 days. “There are folks from these organizations and in our community who feel really disheartened by what they’re seeing,” Taylor said. “It is my job as their elected official to introduce a resolution to make the very important critical statement that Binghamton is a welcoming city for immigrants and refugees.” The meeting was held in Binghamton City Hall and was attended by BU students,

SEE COUNCIL PAGE 2

Anonymous donor gives $300K for advanced studies Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention will conduct research in the field Hannah Walter Contributing Writer

In December 2016, an anonymous donor gave a $300,000 gift to help fund the launch of the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP) at Binghamton University. The institute will develop a certified minor and graduate certificate for BU students, as well as facilitate research in the field. It will be the ninth institute for advanced studies hosted at the University, among the Center for Israel Studies and the Evolutionary Institute. The donor has also pledged undisclosed additional funding over the next four years. Owen Pell, ‘80, a partner at White & Case LLP in New York City and litigator for cases concerning human rights and reparations, will facilitate the program. Pell is also the chairman of the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, a national organization that trains government officials on genocide and

mass atrocity avoidance. Pell originally introduced the idea for the I-GMAP to Provost Donald Nieman because he believed that further investigation into this subject was not only a great educational opportunity but also imperative in averting disasters. After hearing the idea, Nieman compiled a comprehensive proposal to give to potential donors that explained in detail his vision for the program. “We see the need for research and new ideas in how to understand the causes and ways to prevent genocide and mass atrocity crimes,” Pell wrote in an email. “Finding a major research university that was willing to make the commitment not only to teach about this subject in an organized and coordinated way, but to invest resources in having faculty and graduate students work on developing new courses and curricula in this field was crucial.” Associate professor of public administration Nadia Rubaii and professor of philosophy Max Pensky will

co-direct the I-GMAP. “The overarching goal of the I-GMAP is to elevate the quality, visibility and use of scholarship in the prevention of genocides and other mass atrocities, and to ensure that Binghamton University students and graduates are aware of historical and current examples, understand the multitude of factors which predict these events and have the personal resolve, knowledge and skills to do their part in preventing or stopping future incidents,” Rubaii wrote in an email. The University has recently begun looking for space to house the I-GMAP, and research proposals for the program can now be submitted by faculty and doctoral students. Starting next year, undergraduate students can declare a genocide and mass atrocity prevention minor and learn about the topic in a newly formed class, Fundamentals of Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, taught by Pensky. The minor will also require

students to take already existing classes from various disciplines. In the spring of 2018, the University plans to host an annual conference that will be open to students and researchers. “The conference will bring together scholars from Binghamton and other universities, as well as practitioners who work with governments and non-governmental organizations in preventing mass atrocities,” Nieman wrote in an email. “The purpose is to share cutting edge research and promote interchange between scholars and practitioners who can use this knowledge to better understand the conditions that give rise to mass violence and use it to prevent mass atrocities.” Rubaii and Pensky are currently in the process of developing one of the country’s first genocide prevention master’s programs. As of now, only George Mason University’s genocide prevention program in the School for

Governor Andrew Cuomo paid a visit to Binghamton University on Tuesday, unveiling his 2017 executive budget proposal and announcing a plan to make SUNY schools’ tuition free for middleclass families. Over 100 BU students, faculty and local community members attended the talk, given in the rotunda at the Innovative Technologies Complex. Cuomo stressed the need for local governments, specifically in places like Broome County, to work together to better the lives of their constituents. “Government nowadays is a place of action,” Cuomo said. “We have little problems, we have big problems, we have complicated problems. There are no simple solutions, and now is not the time for the timid to be in executive positions.” Since 2011, $25 billion has been invested in upstate New York and $3.69 billion has been invested in the Southern Tier, creating 6,000 new jobs. Despite this, property taxes are still high; Wayne County boasts the highest property taxes in the country according to Cuomo. A solution to the problem, he said, is to find ways for local governments to work together. Broome County is home to 196 local governments, and instead of serving as autonomous authorities, collaborating under the direction of the county executive and looking at ways to save money can bring high taxes rates down. “Find ways to share services, so you reduce the costs,” Cuomo said. “Find efficiencies, maybe you can co-locate, not everyone has to have their own building. Maybe you can share some of this expensive equipment. Find ways to save money, and the county executive will be the leader of that effort.” Initiatives like this would then pave the way for programs to help advance the middle class, according to Cuomo. The free tuition plan, titled the Excelsior Scholarship program, would give free tuition at SUNY schools to students coming from a family making less than $125,000 per year. “What we did 50 years ago is say high school should be free,” Cuomo said. “It’s in our collective interest that everyone has a high school education. Today it is in our collective interest that everyone

SEE CUOMO PAGE 2

SEE $300K PAGE 2

Deputy chief of police gives self-defense tips to faculty, staff Madeline Bay teaches interactive session on defending against, preventing attacks Amy Donovan Pipe Dream News

Madeline Bay, the deputy chief of police at the Binghamton University Police Department, gave safety tips to faculty and staff on Monday about how to react in lifethreatening situations, as well as how to use different self-defense tactics to prevent assaults. The class was sponsored by the University Center for Training and Development, which exists to provide support and training for faculty and staff. It was open to anyone and is part of a

series of events sponsored by different departments and offices on campus throughout the school year, such as the Residential Life Office. Bay began the session by preaching basic safety tactics, such as locking your car as soon as you get inside your vehicle. She also said it’s important to let people know where you are just in case something happens to you. She went on to discuss various selfdefense tactics and stated that there are three weapons anyone can use at any time: your brain, voice and body. It’s important to rely on your brain, according to Bay,

ARTS & CULTURE

because you have to be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. “When it comes to self-defense, 90 percent of it is brain work,” Bay said. “Your brain is going to be your No. 1 weapon.” She said that using your voice, by shouting “no” or “help,” is also important when dealing with an attacker because it alerts people nearby. In terms of using your body, Bay demonstrated how to correctly punch an attacker, how to properly kick one in the groin and how to get out of a chokehold. Participants were able to practice with Bay and each other to master the different maneuvers.

When using self-defense, Bay said it is important to maintain eye contact with your attacker. “Once you look away from the bad guy you give him the power, so you want to keep that confidence, even if on the inside you’re screaming, ‘Oh my god,’” Bay said. “If you keep that eye contact it shows confidence.” She also said that if you are ever in a position where you have to use selfdefense, it is important to not feel bad about injuring your attacker.

SEE DEFENSE PAGE 2

OPINIONS

Michael Contegni/Staff Photographer Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks to students, faculty and community members in the rotunda at the Innovative Technologies Complex on Tuesday.

SPORTS

Skip the florist and make your own Valentine’s Day bouquet,

The Phelps Mansion Museum opens fashion exhibition this week,

Syrian assistant professor shares her story,

Men’s lacrosse hopes to defy preseason ranking,

Q&A with MLS SuperDraft selection Robert Moewes,

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