Spring 2018 Issue 10

changes who gets to play the hero See page 6

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Monday, February 19, 2018 | Vol. XCIII, Issue 10 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

BU TAPS hires new executive director

Blight continues on West Side Litigation halts house renovation on corner of Chapin and Seminary Valerie Puma

Tanya Husick aims to address UDC, Johnson City parking

Pipe Dream News

After nearly a decade of legal litigations halting progress on repairing and maintaining 26 Seminary Ave., the residence has become dilapidated and covered in graffiti, with no solution in sight.

Although residents on Binghamton’s West Side have become accustomed to viewing this home, which sits on the corner of Seminary Avenue and Chapin Street, Sarah Prechtl, a first-year graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering, said the building’s unsightly appearance has impacted the

Erin Kagel Pipe Dream News

Binghamton University’s new executive director of Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), Tanya Husick, has said she intends to prioritize transportation issues at the University’s Johnson City and Downtown Binghamton facilities.

Husick was picked to lead TAPS at the beginning of the semester after the sudden departure of Brian Favela in July 2017.

“My intent is to work collaboratively to implement sustainable projects and programs,” Husick wrote. “I am very interested in developing a comprehensive transportation plan that looks at both the infrastructure and programmatic transportation needs for the main campus, the new Johnson City campus, the University Downtown Center and the Innovative Technologies Complex.”

Husick, a Pennsylvania native, holds a bachelor’s degree in urban geography from University of Pittsburgh and a master’s of planning from the University of Southern California. She has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, and most recently served as a transportation planner for University of Connecticut Transportation Services. Previously, she was also a senior transportation planner at Cornell University and a project manager for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Cornelia Mead, the assistant vice president for student affairs administration and auxiliaries and the interim executive director of TAPS following Favela’s departure, led the hiring process.

“What set her apart was her strength in transportation planning [and] an ability to understand all the pieces of the big picture,” Mead wrote in an email. “With the development of our health and science campus in Johnson City, her experience, which includes higher education institutions as well as municipalities, will be especially valuable to the University.”

Favela, who held the position for a little over a year, created several new programs to address growing student concerns about parking on campus, including developing new phone apps to track buses, placing more Zipcars on campus and creating new carpooling incentives. Husick said

SEE PARKING PAGE 3

neighborhood itself.

“I don’t know much about the house other than it looks like a trap house, but that just means cheaper rent for me,” Prechtl said. “I personally have never suffered at the expense of this house, so it doesn’t bother me too much.”

The legal battles that created the building’s neglected state originally started as an attempt to renovate it. According to court records, the property’s owner, Isaac Levin, alleged in 2010 that the Binghamton City

SEE BLIGHT PAGE 4

Kevin Paredes/Photograpy Editor The house at 26 Seminary Ave. has been vacant for almost a decade amid litigation issues between the city and the homeowner. This home is one of several dilapidated buildings located on the city of Binghamton’s West Side.

PULSE banquet honors campus women of color Group presents awards, $250 Cardona scholarship Allison Detzel & Danielle Gutkovich Pipe Dream News

Nearly 100 students, faculty and community members, illuminated by string lights, gathered to celebrate women of color at the sixth annual Powerful United Ladies Striving to Elevate (PULSE) Banquet on Saturday evening.

The banquet, organized entirely by women, featured student performances, a recognition ceremony and the presentation of the annual Joanna E. Cardona Scholarship.

PULSE was founded in 2007 to serve women of color on campus and aims to provide a safe space and a network for both professional and personal empowerment. The organization strives to create an open environment where

women of color can discuss their issues freely, encourage one another and gain recognition for their accomplishments.

Today, PULSE holds a number of annual events, including the banquet, a women’s leadership conference and a breast cancer walk.

This year’s banquet, titled “Once Upon a Time,” followed a fairy-tale theme.

Each member of the executive board showcased one wish calling for justice, equality and female empowerment.

Mariam Traore, president of PULSE and a senior majoring in business administration, said the banquet included a female DJ and an entirely female waitstaff. It also featured student performances from the Black Dance Repertoire and the BU Gospel Choir, as well as other singers and poets.

Members of PULSE used the banquet as a platform to address the issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault

SEE BANQUET PAGE 2

Jonathan Flores/Pipe Dream Photographer Singers, dancers and performers were featured at the sixth annual PULSE banquet, which recognized powerful women of color at Binghamton University.

MRC seeks new SUNY applications rise 9 percent multilingual staff Cuomo attributes increase to Excelsior Scholarship

Search committee reviews three candidates for position

for the position were interviewed by the MRC’s search committee and gave presentations outlining their vision for the program.

McKenna Hage The MRC TIP provides trained Contributing Writer multilingual staff and student volunteers to translate and interpret for students The Multicultural Resource Center and families with limited English (MRC) is one step closer to finding a new proficiency. TIP aims to help overcome Translation and Interpretation Program language and cultural barriers and (TIP) coordinator.

Last week, the top three candidates SEE MRC PAGE 2

ARTS & CULTURE

Cuomo and implemented in April 2017, made New York the first state in the nation to offer a tuition-free college program. It works with existing initiatives like New York’s Tuition Gillian Kenah News Intern Assistance Program to erase tuition costs for families that make under SUNY schools may see more students $110,000 per year, a cap that is set to taking tours around state campuses. increase to $125,000 in the 2019-20 In a press release issued on Feb. academic year. Currently, roughly 6, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced 53 percent of New York state fullapplications are rising at New York’s time students are attending school public colleges and universities, tuition-free at a SUNY or CUNY college attributing the increase to the or university.

Excelsior Scholarship.

SUNY received a 9 percent increase The scholarship, spearheaded by in unique student applications for

OPINIONS

fall 2018 processed through the SUNY Application Services Center.

According to Cuomo, the application increase is a sign that the scholarship is working as intended to ease costs for middle-class families.

“The Excelsior Scholarship opens the door to higher education and a brighter economic future, and this increase in applications is proof positive that students are seizing this unprecedented opportunity,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Students who apply to the

SEE SUNY PAGE 2

SPORTS

Get over your cold with our remedies — and without medicine,

Yoga event to benefit VINES Farm Share program,

Contributing columnist Jacob Hanna discusses the need for reform in the Broome County Jail,

Baseball drops two of three games in opening series,

Watkins becomes program’s scoring leader,

See page 6

See page 7

See page 5

See page 9

See page 10

2

NEWS

Application stats Percent increase Number of full-time from Fall 2017 freshmen at SUNY Schools taking 15 Applicants to four-year SUNY schools or more credits

9%

15%

Applicants to Binghamton University

Fall 2016

Fall 2017

37,270

41,282 Cory Bremer/Design Manager

bupipedream.com | February 19, 2018

SUNY, BU see increase in freshman applications SUNY FROM PAGE 1 scholarship are required to complete 30 credits per year, a requirement designed to increase the number of freshman students taking 15 or more credits. In fall 2016, there were 37,270 full-time freshmen who took 15 credits or more within the SUNY system. Last semester, 41,282 students took 15 credits or more, an increase of nearly 11 percent.

Binghamton University received over 38,000 freshman applications for fall 2018 — a 15 percent increase from last year, according to the University’s Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Admissions also received an increase in transfer student applications. The wave of prospective students marked BU’s fourth consecutive year receiving a record number of applications.

By December 2017, the Admissions Office had already offered 3,000 students the chance to enroll, which is the earliest the University has released student

application decisions in recent years.

Additionally, student deposits to confirm enrollment are up 9 percent from last year.

Ryan Yarosh, director of media and public relations at BU, said the Admissions Office has set a goal to accept qualified students earlier in hopes of raising the acceptance rate of highly qualified students.

“One of our goals this year has been to review and offer admission to outstanding students earlier in the admissions season,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “We believe that this will help us increase the rate of acceptance among the top students.”

University President Harvey Stenger said the new record in freshman applications confirms the University’s esteemed research, rigorous academics and advanced facilities, which all contribute to the student experience.

“This increase in applications speaks directly to the phenomenal research, outstanding academics and state-of-theart facilities which engage and challenge our students,” Stenger said.

Candidates present plans for translation position MRC FROM PAGE 1 assists on- and off-campus resources during emergency and nonemergency situations.

Tanyah Barnes, the assistant director of the MRC, is leading the search committee for the new TIP coordinator, which also includes representatives from International Student and Scholar Services, the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives and the Dean of Students Office, as well as the president and events coordinator of the Asian Student Union and a TIP student volunteer.

Barnes said candidates must possess strong language fluency, as well as the ability to work with and support students, develop language programs and assist in

translation and interpretation.

“Because it is a very specialized position, we don’t often see very large candidate pools,” Barnes said.

Alexis Seo Hong, Yoonki Hong and Shunwen Wu are all contenders for the position.

Each showcased their strategies to increase on- and off-campus engagement of multilingual students in the MRC and across the University during their presentations.

Seo Hong, who received a master’s in public administration from BU in 2017, is fluent in Korean and previously worked as a freelance translator before interning in the University’s Admissions Office, where she wrote Korean subtitles for videos.

She discussed improving the

center’s social media presence to raise awareness for MRC initiatives and events, specifically through the development of hashtags on the MRC’s Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat pages.

Seo Hong said she is also interested in working with various academic departments to create courses related to diversity, such as UNIV 101Z: Black Lives Matter, a freshman-only course offered in fall 2017 which examined the movement and its role in providing framework to address inequalities within black communities.

In her presentation, she said MRC should partner with diverse local businesses and campus groups, such as Ebishura Sushi, to sponsor informational workshops and cultural activities.

“I know the language barrier, I understand the culture barrier and know the feeling of ‘I don’t belong here,’” Seo Hong said. “So I could use my personal experience to be in their shoes, and try to communicate and understand what is going on and try to help solve this problem.”

Yoonki Hong said in his presentation that he wants to facilitate more personal connections with students within the MRC. Hong received a doctorate in sociology from BU in 2014, and while he was a graduate student, created and taught a course that studied East Asian globalization. He suggested increasing the MRC’s visibility on campus through event sponsorship, student organization collaboration and advertising

in student publications, such as PRISM and Asian Outlook.

The third candidate, Shunwen Wu, is expected to receive her master’s in student affairs administration from BU in May. Wu, who is also a TIP volunteer, wants to use poll and survey findings to tailor her plan for the coordinator position. She said the MRC should ask inclusive questions about diversity that can be answered by anyone in order to create a larger framework for engagement.

As president of the BU Parents Collective, a student organization comprised of graduate students with young children, she also suggested working with local schools to help kids foster pride in their heritage and language skills.

“I want to do my part to engage

with Binghamton,” Wu said.

The presentations are one of the final steps in the hiring process. The search committee will review feedback from presentation attendees, complete reference checks and make their recommendation to the hiring department, which will make the final decision on who to hire.

Student feedback is a critical factor in the search committee’s recommendation, Barnes said.

“Because the MRC serves our student body, it’s important to us to have student input at all phases,” she said. “We will be looking at the student feedback just as much as we are looking at our faculty and staff feedback.”

The hiring department is expected to make its decision in early March.

SUNY enters int'l climate coalition Annual banquet talks #MeToo, calls for justice

System aims to reduce carbon emissions Hannah Walter Pipe Dream News

SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson announced on Feb. 7 that SUNY has joined the international University Climate Change Coalition as part of an effort to make the system’s 64 campuses carbon neutral.

The agreement promises the institutions will lower their carbon footprint as well as continue to develop and expand toward a carbon-neutral campus, similar to the Paris climate agreement, which President Donald Trump withdrew from in June 2017.

The coalition, which was formed at the 2018 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, is a partnership between 13 North American research universities and university systems, including the University of Toronto, Ohio State University and La Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. The University of California system is also in the coalition. The U.S. members of the group were responsible for almost a quarter of all environmental science research by institutions in the United States, according to the National Science Foundation.

The coalition will focus on collaboration with local businesses and governments to achieve regional goals. Later this year, it plans to release a report highlighting both its achievements and most successful policies.

Johnson has previously prioritized climate change research and advocacy within the

BANQUET FROM PAGE 1

Jacob Hanna/Staff Photographer Sean O’Brien, the treasurer of Democracy Matters and a sophomore majoring in political science, speaks to attendees at a club discussion on clean-energy reforms.

SUNY system. During her State of the University System Address on Jan. 22, she unveiled the initial plan to source 100 percent of electricity from zero-net carbon sources, as well as install renewable energy systems on all 64 SUNY campuses by 2020. In a statement, Johnson said she predicts this goal will be reached before schedule, and joining the University Climate Change Coalition will help accelerate this timeline.

“By joining the coalition with other leaders in higher education, we take that effort international,” Johnson said. “On behalf of SUNY, we are proud to join the University Climate Change Coalition and I am thankful to my fellow university leaders for their partnership in this effort.”

Binghamton University has already made efforts toward

becoming more energy efficient.

Currently, the University sponsors transdisciplinary clean energy research, has a recycling program and has a management system in place that monitors energy use. Additionally, parts of the Innovative Technology Complex’s campus recycle water, have solar panels and use geothermal heating to warm buildings. Soon, the University will also finish the construction of Nuthatch Hollow Living Building, a structure that is net-positive in its energy and water usage and maintains a low carbon footprint.

Some students are also facilitating the emergence of sustainable energy practices on campus and in the local area. On Tuesday, Democracy Matters held an event focusing on community solar and clean energy reforms.

The group encouraged students

to write letters on the topic to their local representatives.

Sean O’Brien, the treasurer of Democracy Matters and a sophomore majoring in political science, said he believes progress is being made, but would like to see the SUNY system and BU continue to reform their energy usage.

“I feel the goals of establishing a 50 percent renewable energy generation by 2030 and the goal of fully sourcing their electricity from zero-net carbon sources are both solid indicators that the SUNY system is headed the right way in their fight against global warming,” O’Brien said.

“However, I do feel SUNY could do more to address this issue and I hope that this coalition will give [BU] specifically more incentive to increase [its] role in the fight against climate change.”

directly, as well as raise awareness on how they affect women of color. The #MeToo movement was referenced when students recited sexual assault statistics and recognized Tarana Burke, a black woman and a civil rights activist who first started using the phrase in 2006.

In between performances, various awards were presented to other organizations and PULSE members, including the Organization on the Rise and the Womenpreneur awards. Traore said the event provided heightened recognition for minority women who often aren’t recognized.

“Historically, women of color aren’t awarded for the things that they do,” Traore said. “This is an event where we complete that mission.”

The final award of the night was the Joanna E. Cardona Scholarship, which is presented annually to a female student who has demonstrated a commitment to helping other women. The scholarship awards $250 to the winner, which can be used for college expenses. The scholarship honors Cardona, who currently serves as PULSE’s staff adviser and helped establish the organization in 2007.

The winner of this year’s scholarship was Ramona Singh, a sophomore majoring in economics. According to Traore, Singh directly impacted the community by helping a local

person out of homelessness.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, applicants must attend at least three PULSE general body meetings, meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 and submit an essay.

This year, applicants responded to the statement “Empowered women empower women.”

“We don’t want people to just speak on things that they do on campus, but how they impact the community because we, as college students, have a great impact on this community, so we want to see some positivity,” Traore said. “Some of the essays are really beautiful.”

Courtney Small, a senior majoring in mathematics who attended the event, said her favorite part of the PULSE Banquet was the awards ceremony.

“People need that little push of encouragement and enthusiasm,” Small said. “So I’m glad they’re acknowledging everybody who has done little things around campus.”

Shavae Lewis, president of the Charles Drew Minority Pre-Health Society and a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said the banquet also allowed oncampus organizations to support one another.

“As president of a fellow student organization, I wanted to come out and support the student body,” Lewis said. “The event is to empower and strengthen women of color. PULSE, as an organization, has been doing that all year.”

O PINIONS FFUN PAGE UN III Thursday, Monday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September February October October April 3,19, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2018 2017

address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 phone: 607-777-2515 fax: 607-777-2600 weB: bupipedream.com

Spring 2018

Playin' for love

editor-in-Chief* Noah Bressner editor@bupipedream.com

Managing editor* Shauna R. Bahssin manager@bupipedream.com

news editor* Sasha Hupka news@bupipedream.com

asst. news editors Amy Donovan Jillian Forstadt Yuri Lee

opinions editor* Emily Kaufman opinions@bupipedream.com

asst. opinions editor Savanna I. Vidal

arts & Culture editor* Georgia Westbrook arts@bupipedream.com

asst. arts & Culture editors Kara J. Brown Rachel Greenspan

sports editor* Samuel Ditchek sports@bupipedream.com

Terrell Julian/Contributing Photographer Heman Armstrong, a senior majoring in cinema, and Bimbola Bamgbose, a senior majoring in human development, hosted Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program’s annual “Love Games.”

Police Watch

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS Man indicted for hitting state trooper with vehicle James Giacalone, 36, of Glen Aubrey, was indicted on Friday by a Broome County grand jury after hitting a state trooper with his vehicle on Jan. 2, according to WBNG. State police were trying to bring Giacalone into custody on a separate charge when he led officers on a vehicle chase, authorities said. During the chase, Giacalone crashed his vehicle into a utility pole and then drove into a state trooper, who fired his gun at Giacalone and shot him in the face. The shot was not fatal, and Giacalone continued to drive away in his vehicle, state police said. He was indicted on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer and one count of assault.

Binghamton Zoo welcomes prickly friend The Binghamton Zoo welcomed a new baby porcupine on Feb. 3, according to WBNG. This porcupine is the third baby of Mattie and Zoey and will be dependent on its mother for the next few weeks.

STATE NEWS CProposed bill would halt puppy mill sales A proposed bill in the New York State Senate would prevent pet stores in the state from buying dogs or cats from puppy mills and other large commercial breeding facilities, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The bill, proposed by state Sen. Michael Gianaris, would require pet store owners to get their animals from shelters or humane societies. However, it would not prevent private or household breeders from selling animals directly to the public.

Cuomo addresses ‘copycat’ threats Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a statement on Friday calling for an increase in patrols at schools throughout the state after two schools in upstate New York received “copycat” threats following the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, according to WBNG. Cuomo said New York has no tolerance for threats of violence and these incidents will be handled quickly and aggressively.

The following accounts were provided by Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police.

No marijuana, I promise WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14, 1:54 a.m. — An officer was patrolling West Drive when he noticed a vehicle traveling 14 miles per hour over the speed limit.

The officer stopped the vehicle and began talking with the driver. While speaking with the driver, the officer noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The officer asked the driver if there was any marijuana in the vehicle or if he had smoked in the vehicle, but the driver said he did not use marijuana. Both occupants were asked to step out of the vehicle while it was searched, and the officer found an ounce of marijuana in the glove compartment.

The driver was given tickets for speeding and unlawful possession of marijuana and will appear in Vestal Town Court.

Turn yourself in THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 6:04 a.m. — An officer traveling on West Access Drive noticed a vehicle fail to keep right and performed a traffic stop. The officer spoke with the driver, a 20-year-old male, and noted that he seemed very irate and stated he had been getting stopped often by UPD while driving on campus.

The driver eventually gave the officer his license and registration. While the officer was issuing the driver a ticket, the vehicle began to move backward. The officer asked the driver to put the

photography editor* Kevin E. Paredes photo@bupipedream.com

Sasha Hupka News Editor

car in park, and the car stopped moving. The officer finished issuing the ticket and explained it to the driver. When the officer asked him if he had any questions, the driver pulled away quickly from the curb, almost striking the officer. Later, the driver came to UPD to complain about being stopped unnecessarily. Officers explained the reason for the traffic stop, and he was issued another ticket for reckless driving.

Gone in a flash THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 6:51 p.m. — A 22-yearold male reported his camera equipment missing. According to the male, he had taken the equipment with him on an Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) bus around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. While riding on the bus, the male set his equipment on the seat next to him. When he arrived in Downtown Binghamton, he exited the bus but accidentally left the equipment behind. The equipment is valued at approximately $1,000. UPD contacted OCCT, however, the camera equipment has not been turned in to any of their drivers. The case is still under investigation.

Checking the roof FRIDAY, Feb. 16, 11:15 a.m. — Officers received a report that there were two individuals on the roof of Onondaga Hall of College-in-theWoods. Upon arriving at the hall, nobody appeared to be on the roof, but officers encountered two Physical Facilities employees who said they had been on the roof looking around and checking for damage. Officers advised the employees to contact UPD before accessing the roof area in the future.

New director brings 20 years of experience PARKING FROM PAGE 1 she intends to continue his work, as well as form new initiatives of her own.

“Mr. Favela developed a great foundation and instituted a number of beneficial programs,” Husick wrote in an email. “I plan to continue these programs and look

asst. sports editors Evan Cole Grace Palumbo

to both increase the utilization of these alternative transportation options and implement new programs as well. My primary goal is to work collaboratively with the University leadership, faculty, staff and students to improve the transportation programs and infrastructure on and off campus.”

Susan Crane, the director of parking services, wrote in an email that the office is eager to have Husick working with them.

“Tanya brings a fresh perspective to the TAPS team,” Crane wrote. “We are looking forward to working with her utilizing her experiences in both transportation and parking.”

asst. photography editor Rebecca Kiss

fun editor* Nate Walker fun@bupipedream.com

design Manager* Cory Bremer design@bupipedream.com

design assts.

Khaled Pendleton Goaming Lyu

Copy desk Chief* Bridget McCusker copy@bupipedream.com

asst. Copy desk Chief Sarah Molano

digital editor Alana B. Epstein digital@bupipedream.com

newsrooM teChnology Manager* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com

asst. newsrooM teCh. Manager Michelle Tan

editorial artist Annabeth Sloan

Business Manager* Maryam Soomro business@bupipedream.com

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 Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and academic breaks.

The content on the Opinions page with bylines represent the views of those authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board.

The content of advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board.

We reserve the right to reject ads for any reason.

All letters submitted for publication must include the author's name, year and major. Please limit letters to the editor to 400 words and guest columns to 750 words. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Guest column submissions may be emailed to the opinions editor at opinions@bupipedream.com, and all letters to the editor may be sent to editor@bupipedream.com. © Pipe Dream 2018

stabilizing:w/post

rush:destabilizing

4

NEWS

bupipedream.com | February 19, 2018

Geography department showcases campus research Stenger highlights local GIS impact Lia Berger & Rosalie Coschignano Contributing Writers

Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger opened the third annual Geography Information System (GIS) Day on Friday as he declared his intent to use GIS technology on campus and in the town of Vestal.

The event, hosted by the geography department and the GIS and Remote Sensing Core Facility at BU, provided a forum for faculty and students familiar with GIS to demonstrate its potential applications.

GIS, a technological system that uses geological information to collect and interpret data, can be utilized across a wide range of fields including archaeology, anthropology and communications.

Various presenters who attended the event showcased research across each of these fields involving GIS. Stenger said he hopes to utilize GIS story mapping, an interactive dataorganizing mechanism that creates overviews on specific areas of research and makes gathering information easier, to track the development of urban growth throughout his revitalization project in Vestal, where he aims to create more jobs.

“I have personal attachment to this program,” Stenger said. “When I became president of Binghamton University, I realized I had a chance to change [the economic state of the area].”

Lucius Willis, adjunct lecturer of geography at BU; Kevin Heard, adjunct lecturer of geography and associate director of the GIS Core Facility; and University Provost Donald Nieman were also in attendance.

The day featured a poster competition between graduate and undergraduate students who created presentations of research in varying academic fields incorporating GIS. Attendees had the chance to vote for their favorite poster before the event began.

One presenter was Dylan Davis, a first-year graduate student studying anthropology, who presented his research on irregular fractures within soil in South Carolina. He used GIS to compute an algorithm that would pinpoint topographic anomalies, such as mounds and rings, where human activity was distributed across the area. Many of these fractures turned out to be previously overlooked artifacts.

“Without GIS, I wouldn’t be able to do my research,” Davis said. “It would all be manual, so the extent of what I could do would be very limited.”

The overall winner of the committee’s choice and the attendee’s choice awards was Dylan Stackpole, a junior majoring in geology, whose research involved the link between lack of transportation and obesity in the city of Binghamton. Stackpole plotted the main food outlets in the city of Binghamton, including supermarkets and grocery stores, and used the city’s transit system to determine which of these were most accessible by consumers.

He found that it was much easier to

Rosalie Coschignano/Contrinbuting Photographer Dylan Davis, a first-year graduate student studying anthropology, presents his research at the third annual GIS Day, hosted by the geography department, on Friday.

access less healthy food options within the city, which contributes to obesity and malnutrition.

Faculty members within the geography department also presented their own research. Brendan Lavy, visiting assistant professor of geography, discussed using GIS to track where trees were most commonly excavated in Austin, Texas.

Chengbin Deng, assistant professor of geography, also presented his research on geotagging BU students’ tweets from the 2015 school year using geospatial data, demonstrating how geographers can take advantage of social media using GIS. Willis, who organized the event, highlighted the importance of GIS in everyday life.

“GIS has been gaining importance in not only multiple disciplines on campus, but in general usage throughout the world,” Willis said. “Because of that, especially because it’s becoming more and more important to more and more disciplines at the University, it’s useful to explore the ideas and inspire people to come and take a look at what’s going on.”

Legal battle prevents development of 26 Seminary BLIGHT FROM PAGE 1 Council had violated his rights by preventing him from altering his house due to zoning regulations.

Since then, the case has been at a standstill in regard to what changes the owner, as well as the city, can legally make to the building.

Ylli Dema, a first-year graduate student studying biomedical engineering, said most of the neighborhood is unaware of the legal complications regarding the building. However, she often wonders what the building might become in the future.

“I personally have always been confused as to why it hasn’t been flipped into a good student house because it’s a pretty good location for it,” Dema said. “I think someone should buy it and flip it.”

Although there have been several changes in elected members, the City Council is still concerned about the building’s effect on the neighborhood’s appearance. Deputy Mayor Jared Kraham said this particular property has been in the court system for years, preventing any activity or development surrounding it.

“While it was under litigation there was little that could be done from a redevelopment, a strictly ownership or even a code-enforcement standpoint,” Kraham said. “It’s been difficult because without getting out of litigation, it’s hard for me or anyone else in the city to discuss next steps.”

In March 2009, under the approval of former Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan, the city council passed Ordinance 410, which states, in Section 36, that official site plans must be approved by the City Planning Commission for any existing

building to be permanently altered.

Certain aspects of Ordinance 410 are important to Levin’s case, particularly Section 5, which specifies the difference between a one-unit and a two-unit dwelling, such as a duplex. According to court records, Levin’s original application to the Department of Planning, Housing and Community Development and the Zoning Board of Appeals was for a one-unit dwelling, but the alteration plans that he submitted would have changed the building into a two-unit dwelling.

“Some code-related violations

have been issued over the years, and because there was active litigation, obviously our Code Enforcement Department was legal about what could and couldn’t be done,” Kraham said.

“So that’s the only city role that we’ve had.”

According to court records, after Levin received the Zoning Board’s initial denial to renovate his house, he relabeled the blueprint’s rooms in an attempt to get approval. In response, the board stated that a permit is necessary to convert a singlefamily residence into a twofamily residence, and regardless

of how Levin labeled the plans, it was clear that the house would become a two-unit dwelling.

“These issues kept them contacting the property owner in [regard] to violations,” Kraham said. “Because it was under litigation, I don’t have a comment about redevelopment, but it goes without saying that it’s a notorious eyesore on the West Side of Binghamton.”

According to Kraham, there are similar cases of blighted houses throughout the the city, and until litigation is resolved for 26 Seminary Ave., the house will remain in its current state.

Passion to Action: Democratic Access Join faculty, community members and student leaders to discuss proposed changes to state laws and federal policies that may impact the role you play on Election Day.

THURSDAY, FEB. 22 7-8:30PM UU-120

IMAGES DUE MARCH 2 Faculty, staff, students and postdocs are invited to participate in the Art of Science competition, organized by the Office of Research Advancement.

Share photographs and images that capture some aspect of research.

Prizes will include a Go Pro camera for Best in Show and Polaroid OneStep2 cameras.

For contest guidelines and to enter, visit http://go.binghamton.edu/artofscience

OPINIONS FFUN UN Thursday, Monday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September February October October April 3,19, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2018 2017 2017

L' Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP

Pope Francis meets the Roman Curia at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.

Why can't the Catholic Church properly handle sexual abuse?

With the start of the Lenten season, we must continue to advocate for change Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

This Lenten season comes at a critical time for Catholics, in which some are describing a schism occurring in the faith based on politics, dogma and shifting priorities.

Perhaps the biggest crisis occurring in the Catholic Church is the recent resurgence of the sexual abuse epidemic, which has steadily rocked the foundation of the Church for three decades.

Two weeks ago, it was revealed that Pope Francis was aware of the sexual abuse and subsequent cover-up within a Chilean church.

In 2015, he received an eightpage letter from the victim, Juan Carlos Cruz, which graphically detailed the abuse enacted by the Rev. Fernando Karadima.

Critics point out that this new information greatly contradicts the pope’s avowed dedication to ending child abuse and his zero tolerance policy for coverups. Pope Francis’ credibility was doubly marred when he dismissed accusations against Bishop Juan Barros’ participation in the scandal as “slander.”

To his credit, the current pope has made laudable efforts to combat sexual abuse and corruption within the clergy. In 2014, he founded the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, consisting of an initial assortment of clergymen, lay people and one sexual abuse survivor, Marie Collins. Last year, The Irish Times reported that Collins resigned over a lack of cooperation within subgroups of the Vatican. Among her frustrations was the bureaucratic reluctancy of church officials to respond to victims of abuse. This

past December, Peter Saunders, another survivor who was added to the commission, resigned, citing similar grievances. In a report by The Tablet, Saunders explained that “the commission didn’t do what I thought it was set up to achieve.”

Naturally, there will be mistakes made in any organization designed to tackle sexual abuse. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests faced its own scandal last year when its founder, Barbara Blaine, stepped down amid allegations of exploiting clients by taking kickbacks from lawyers in exchange for clientele.

These aren’t simple mistakes.

Rather, they compromise the welfare of children and young adults. Perhaps the fatal flaw of the pope’s initiative was its proximity to the Vatican. If the Church created and perpetuated an injustice but still refuses to

acknowledge part of the problem, then what reasonable belief do we have in their ability to solve it?

There’s been a significant debate over what role the Catholic Church should occupy in response to the crisis.

2004 precipitated the first of many church bankruptcies over payments for victims of pedophilia. However, through his efforts, Francis has expressed that monetary compensations are not enough. The situation requires great humility on the part of clergy people, which many have heartily provided. The Church has admitted — in one capacity or another — that they have failed.

Now, they must re-evaluate their entire requirements for the priesthood rather than weeding out what they claim are a few bad apples. To some Catholics, lifelong sexual abstinence is unnatural, unreasonable

and prolongs arrested sexual development.

Adopting a more humane position toward homosexuality and allowing priests to marry are just some of the ways to detoxify the nature of the clergy.

Last year, Francis alluded that this option was not off the table. Shortly after Collins’ resignation, there were talks of creating a separate panel for abuse survivors, thereby eliminating their role in the current commission. This logic is an imperative for making sure the Catholic Church is not the sole organization addressing victims.

Meanwhile, the organization maintains its draconian grip over the reproductive rights of men and women around the world — denouncing birth control, sex without the purpose of procreation and condoms even in areas where HIV and AIDS are prevalent.

Carol Glatz, a writer for the National Catholic Reporter, lamented what she perceives to be a negative attitude toward the Church and its initiatives to combat sexual abuse. In her January 2018 article, “Failures offer opportunity to improve protection efforts, expert says,” Glatz explains that victims should not expect the pope to get things right all the time, and we should abstain from judging him for using offensive or misinformed language.

While Lent may be a time to embrace patience and forgiveness, we cannot lose sight over past transgressions and the lives that were ruined by a predatory institution. In this case, failure is no longer an option.

— Kristen DiPietra is a senior double-majoring in English and human development.

Fighting for reform in the Broome County Jail Eight people have died in nearly seven years

Jacob Hanna

Contributing Columnist

Yet another person has died in the Broome County Jail, the eighth in nearly seven years. On Jan. 25, Broome County Sheriff David Harder confirmed it, then took another day to release name of the person who had died.

We do not know the cause of death; we have only the sheriff’s word to go on, which is that the man died of a heart attack. This is difficult, considering that Harder has previously been, to put it lightly, economical with the truth. In talking about a previous death, Harder stated

that to reveal information about that death would violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, but the New York State Commission of Correction, through a spokesperson, stated that it was left to Harder’s discretion whether to release that information. Furthermore, there is doubt among legal firms familiar with the act that releasing that information would violate the law at all.

It is clear that the jail at large, doesn’t care about the well-being of their prisoners.

For example, Alvin Rios, an inmate who died in the jail in 2011, suffered from withdrawals and trembling, but did not receive assessment from a

physician. Indeed, the report on the subject of Rios’ death from the Commission of Correction noted that Rios was left in “an emergent life threatening status without proper medical attention.”

We’ve seen there is a culture of lies in the Sheriff’s Office, which we can assume comes from the bottom upward — for someone like Harder to be in power, a criminal justice system like the one we have in place must allow for that kind of culture. But mere dishonesty is not all that is wrong with the jail and the system it occupies.

In 2016, 75 percent of the 505 inmates in its occupation were not there because they had committed a crime, but

because they could not afford to post bail. They were not there because they were violent fiends who were unable to integrate into society; they were in this debtor’s prison for the so-called crime of poverty.

There are so many more problems, such as the horrible medical care, the refusal of medication to those who are incarcerated and the brutality that occurs within the jail perpetuated by its guards, such as holding children in solitary confinement — a practice recognized by international organs such as the United Nations Committee Against Torture as being “unacceptable” — that cannot be covered within the scope of this column.

As residents of this community, we have a moral imperative to care.

Not just for the fact that caring about others no matter their situation is moral, but because Binghamton University has been complicit in the actions of the Binghamton Police Department writ large. Lest we forget, it was almost a year ago from the writing of this column that the University proposed, then, after overwhelming protest, that a blue-light telephone box system be installed on the West Side of the city of Binghamton, which would serve to increase the already omnipresent policing of these areas. This would not just have been done by their mere presence, but also by the

cameras that would have been installed on top of them as well.

What can we do? We can go out into the community and work against the system of mass incarceration of which the jail is a part. We could work with a group such as Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier, which aims to dismantle that system in the long term. We may also study alternatives to policing in general, such as systems of restorative justice.

Critically, we need to be more active than we are now.

These are all good starting points to helping stop the continuation of cruelty in jails.

— Jacob Hanna is a sophomore majoring in economics.

Hollywood's representation of the military isn't real Response to Joshua Hummell's Feb. 12 column

Brian Deinstadt

Columnist

In his most recent piece, columnist Joshua Hummell discusses the problems he sees with Hollywood’s portrayal of terrorism. Hummell’s criticism primarily revolves around the race and religions of characters in films such as “The 15:17 to Paris.”

Riddled with non sequiturs, Hummell’s column speaks more to his personal issues with movies about military conflicts than it does to any pressing issues in the

film industry as a whole.

In his opening remarks, Hummell pays deference to the gallantry of American heroes “in the face of real terrorist threats,” but then curiously goes on to understate the same threats.

Islamic terrorism is the specific one in this case, a phenomenon largely hyperbolized by Hollywood in Hummell’s view. A glaring problem here is that he analyzes Hollywood only through the lens of several different films that happen to have mainly white protagonists, then criticizes the entire industry for lacking diversity.

Why are the main characters

in these movies mostly heterosexual white males? This is not “emblematic of real life” according to Hummell, but it is, actually, insofar as these particular stories. Does this mean that all heroes have those characteristics?

Most certainly not. In “The 15:17 to Paris,” in fact, one of the three main characters, Anthony Sadler, is African American. But this does not even matter, nor does the fact that the other two are white.

All that matters is that all three of them are heroes who bravely put their lives at risk to ensure the safety of hundreds of others.

Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of this event speaks not to the biases of

the filmmakers, but to the reality of what happened.

Hummell’s obsession over race does not end there, as he laments the nonexistence of films about events such as the 2015 church shooting in Charleston. A film could “easily be made” about such an event, according to Hummell, and surely it could, but what purpose would that serve, exactly?

Hummell also confusingly insists that a film should be made about the 2016 Orlando shooting, which was perpetrated by an Islamic extremist, but then goes on to say how Muslims are unfairly represented.

In a study Hummell introduces that reviews the time between 2008 and 2016, there were 201 terrorist attacks, in which “Islamic extremists only made up 63 cases.” There were 3.45 million Muslims living in the United States in 2017. That means over 31 percent of terrorist attacks in the United States come from individuals within a group that represents about 1 percent of the overall population.

We should be careful not to take movies too seriously.

The theater is a place for entertainment and the demand from audiences for such inevitably leads to dramatization

and hyperbole. Moreover, the theater should not be the first place where an individual solely interested in the truth should go.

Despite what Hummell’s analysis would lead one to believe, there are plenty of films that depict heroes of all colors and creeds.

If the goal is to gauge whether any of these films have value, we should do so on a case-by-case basis, rather than declaring that the entire industry is corrupt because a few films fail to fit a certain political narrative.

— Brian Deinstadt is a senior double-majoring in political science and English.

ARTS & CULTURE 'Black Panther' redefines the superhero movie Jake Shereck Contributing Writer Excitement and anticipation for Marvel’s “Black Panther” has been building for months and its release did not disappoint.

Ryan Coogler, the first African American director of a Marvel Studios film, turned the comic into a vibrant world with captivating characters and beautiful cinematography that has significantly etched its place in cinematic history.

The studio’s newest project features a nearly all-black cast, each member of which significantly helped to create some of the most fleshed-out characters in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe through their outstanding performances.

Chadwick Boseman stars as the titular hero T’Challa, or the Black Panther, and his performance illuminates the character’s charisma and moxie.

Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, is a fierce antagonist to T’Challa and is perhaps the most enthralling character in the whole film.

He has a valid justification for wanting change, but because of his method of making that change, he becomes the villain. Additionally, characters including Okoye, played by Danai

Gurira; Shuri, played by Letitia Wright; and Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o, each get ample screen time, allowing them to provide more depth to the conflicts in Wakanda. Although they are supporting characters, they are just as exuberant as the main characters.

The film, which was released on Feb. 16, takes place after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” in which T’Challa returns to his home of Wakanda to assume his position as king following his father’s death.

He faces opposition from other Wakandan tribes and outside invaders, and therefore he must rally his council and troops to secure the safety of his country.

Coogler does a great job at creating a visually beautiful film by utilizing bright colors and elegant compositions.

Certain scenes like T’Challa’s coronation and his trips to the ancestral plane especially stand out because they are wonderfully colorful. The film’s scenic beauty has much to do with the work of its production designer, Hannah Beachler, and of costume designer Ruth Carter, who both drew inspiration from African culture for their designs.

There is also beauty to be found in the film’s action scenes. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, these

of these scenes are elevated by the film’s soundtrack, “Black Panther: The Album,” curated by Kendrick Lamar, and the score by Ludwig Göransson.

As I left the theater, I knew I had seen something epic.

The

scenes show off Wakandan technology, like suits made of vibranium, Wakanda’s heavily guarded metal, and holographic cars. These tools put a new spin on typical action movie scenes, like the car chase scene and the final battle scene.

Many

film was thrilling and unique, but it still maintained Marvel’s distinct charm with its superb acting, delightful soundtrack and gorgeous cinematography.

More importantly, “Black Panther” is the first film of its kind. Ultimately, the film defies the racist Hollywood myth that films with black leads do not sell, and its cultural impact has already been felt across the country: It had the fifth-highest grossing opening weekend of all time.

Marvel Studios Disney This image released by Disney and Marvel Studios shows Chadwick Boseman in a scene from “Black Panther.”

Cold season's got you — but so does Pipe Dream

Survive the sniffles with these cheap and simple remedies you can try in your dorm Kara Brown Assistant Arts & Culture Editor You’ve been sick for days. Your tissue supply is quickly dwindling and every time you message someone for notes you feel like more of a burden. Although you’re sticking to a regimen of cold medicine and orange juice, you still can’t breathe and you’re willing to try anything. Before you dive too deep into the wormhole of cheap remedies from the internet, read up on Pipe Dream’s top choices.

Gargling salt water Good news: Your grandmother was on to something every time she told you to do this. According to a 2010 article in The New York Times, gargling salt water can not only lower inflammation in the throat, but it can also loosen thick mucus, which can be a home to allergens, bacteria and fungi. For best results, dissolve 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle for a few seconds and then spit out.

Kevin Paredes/Photography Editor Gargling salt water, drinking ginger tea or taking vitamin C supplements are medicine-free ways to beat the common cold.

Sleeping with a potato in your sock This remedy went viral when

Facebook user and mom Debbie Vigan posted about putting sliced potatoes into her baby’s sock.

According to the post, which now has over 300,000 shares, after Vaughn’s son spent the night with potatoes in his sock, his cold was gone. Many users have speculated that the potato draws out toxins, but according to blogger Jordyn Smith of CafeMom, there is no scientific evidence that this remedy works. Still, pediatrician Dr. Jarret Patton told CafeMom that testing the method won’t hurt. He said that if it’s working for people, they should keep doing it, but if it doesn’t work, they shouldn’t feel discouraged.

start now, though — if you only start taking vitamin C after you get sick, it won’t have the same benefit.

Vitamin C supplements If you’ve spent this cold and flu season downing Emergen-C and Airborne, you might not have noticed results unless you were actually sick. According to WebMD, taking vitamin C isn’t helpful in preventing the common cold, but the National Institutes of Health suggests that regularly taking vitamin C supplements might shorten the duration of the common cold and make your symptoms less severe. You have to

Honey Due to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, honey has long been championed as a remedy for a sore throat. A 2012 study also found that honey helps to suppress coughing. In the study, children between one and five years old who had upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons of honey at bedtime, and parents reported that the honey seemed to reduce nighttime coughing and improve sleep.

Ginger tea Ginger is a go-to remedy for stomach ailments, but it can also help keep you warm when you’re shivering from the cold or flu.

Ginger is a diaphoretic, meaning it promotes sweating, so it works to warm your body from within, according to Medical News Today.

To make ginger tea at home, allow 20 to 40 grams of fresh ginger to steep in hot water for a few minutes. For more flavor, you can add lemon or honey.

A look ahead: the week at Binghamton University Avoid that midsemester slump by getting out of your room and trying new things MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Dip Into Diversity

Culture at Chenango: Black History Month Edition

Harpur Edge: Racial Justice Deliberation Info Session

Positive Expressions Night

Black History Month Keynote Speaker

MRC is partnering with Binghamton University Dining Services to host this semester’s first installment of the Culture and Food Series from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the Chenango Room.

The event will feature traditional foods to celebrate the culture of the African diaspora. This event is co-sponsored by Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program, BU’s chapter of the NAACP, the BU Gospel Choir and the Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Society.

Restricted to Harpur College students, this event focuses on discussing the pros and cons of different approaches to achieving racial justice. The event will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Harpur Edge office, in Library North Room 1105. Light refreshments will be served. The event is co-sponsored

by BU’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Office of the Dean of Students and other organizations. RSVP online through Harpur Edge.

The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) invites you to sample dips, ranging from s’mores dip to guacamole, while chatting about diversity. The event will be held from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Mohawk Great Room in College-in-the-Woods. An MRC intern will lead a discussion about inclusion and microaggressions.

Pamphlets from the Q Center and International Student and Scholar Services will also be available.

M-HOPE is hosting its third annual Positive Expressions Night this Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the University Undergrounds. The event will feature a student art walk and an open mic, and refreshments will be served. RSVP to the event on B-Engaged.

On Friday, actress Regina Hall will speak in Old Union Hall in the University Union. This year’s Black History Month keynote speaker is best known for her role in the “Scary Movie” series, but she has also appeared in several other movies, including 2017’s “Girls Trip,” with Queen Latifah. The event, sponsored by the Black Student Union, will be held at 6 p.m.

7

ARTS & CULTURE

February 19, 2018 | bupipedream.com

VINES to host Farm Share Yoga on Wednesday Local nonprofit warms up winter with event benefiting community produce program Nikkolette Sather Arts & Culture Intern VINES is looking to stretch its reach this Wednesday with its third annual Farm Share yoga event.

The class is open to the public with a pay-what-you-can structure and all proceeds will directly support the VINES Farm Share program, which provides local produce to community members at a discount.

Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments, Inc. (VINES) is a volunteerled nonprofit organization that builds community gardens in the Binghamton area. VINES has expanded from one to 12 community gardens over the past 11 years, according to its website.

The organization, which began in 2007, runs its Farm Share program, a weekly subscription service that local residents can use to purchase a box of fresh vegetables from five local farms all within 60 miles of Binghamton. The group began its annual Farm Share yoga event to support this effort two years ago.

Kate Miller-Corcoran joined the VINES team in 2015 as the Farm Share program coordinator, but she also works closely with volunteers. According to MillerCorcoran, the yoga event is designed to build community when it’s too cold to work on the gardens.

“We wanted to give our Farm Share members and members of the community a chance to come together during the winter,” she wrote in an email.

VINES hosts various events throughout the rest of the year, including a farm-to-table dinner in the spring that features locally grown produce. The Farm Share yoga event also allows the community members to meet and connect with each other, while supporting VINES and its programs.

“It seemed like it would be a great opportunity for some winter exercise and could also raise some funds for our Farm Share program as well as bring awareness to the program for people who have never heard of it,” Miller-Corcoran wrote.

Since its birth over a decade ago, VINES has become involved

with the Binghamton community in many ways. The group now manages other programs such as the Binghamton Urban Farm, a summer youth employment program called Grow Binghamton and the Green Thumb Workshop series. Grow Binghamton is a six-week program that teaches anyone from the ages of 14 to 21 skills like how to maintain a farm and how to get involved in community service. The Green Thumb Workshops instruct on a variety of culinary and gardening topics through interactive activities taught by horticulture and nutrition experts from around the Binghamton area.

VINES gives members who are facing economic hardship a 25 to 50 percent discount off of their produce, partially supported by the proceeds from the yoga event, and the program also accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

The yoga class this Wednesday is an hour long and is taught by Tina Fetten, a yoga and standup paddleboard instructor and adjunct lecturer of health and wellness studies at Binghamton

Be Greek,

Provided by VINES An example of a Farm Share offering from VINES. The organization is hosting a yoga class on Wednesday to support the program.

University. She also teaches at the Binghamton Zen Den on Chenango Street. This will be her third year teaching the Farm Share yoga event, which is designed for people of all levels of yoga experience.

Miller-Corcoran said that those who own their own yoga mats should bring them, as the event will have a limited number of provided mats.

The event will be held on

Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 42 Chenango Street in the Library Lounge of The United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton.

The snow date is Feb. 28.

Special Mock Criminal Law Class Just for Binghamton Students Coker v. Georgia, is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that helped to define the meaning of "cruel and unusual punishment." This case is the focus of a special one-hour mock criminal law class taught by Michael A. Simons, Dean of St. John’s University School of Law.

KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA IS COMING TO BINGHAMTON! And we’d love to meet you. www.BeKappa.com/Binghamton VISIT FOR THE LATEST DETAILS Questions? Email BinghamtonKappa@kkg.org #BingKKG

Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 Time: 1–3 p.m.

Location: UUW-324 To get a copy of the two-page summary case, Coker v.

Georgia, prior to the mock class, please contact pre-law advisor Alexander Jablonski ajablons@binghamton.edu.

Representatives from St. John's Law will also be on hand to talk about the law school admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to find out what law school is really like, to get insider information about the admissions process, and to learn more about St. John’s Law.

F UN

Monday, February 19, 2018

Science has gone too far

Wakanda forever!

Nate Walker Post-it

Daniel Eisenhower Sudoku

Annabeth Sloan

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to Thursday's puzzle

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

2/19/18

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 19, 2018

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle 1 5 9 14

I'll be missin' you

Nate Walker

15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 30 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 49 51 52 56 58 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69

ACROSS Money Omit Mansion or hut In __ of; as a substitute for Bring on board Carve a slanted edge Mongolia’s capital Porterhouse or New York Suffix for count or govern __ house; realtor’s event Planks Feel bad about having done Burn Moments Toiled Freshwater fish Youths Not vivid in color Nervous Eur. nation Rising time, for many __ the bullet; face a difficult situation Ruby & topaz Build Spring and fall Rent payers Taps gently __ Vegas Piece of veal “__ does it!”; cry of vexation Yrbk. section Clothing protector Brotherly As silly as a __ Talk wildly Sinful habit Stopped Was in the red One-dish meal

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 31 32

DOWN 1 Board game 2 Feels sick 3 Aegean & Red

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

33 34 37

Attila the __ Molded Windy day toy Actor Jeremy For each Soak up Alpha’s follower Trip __; stumble on Deceased Moose cousins __ hunter; outlaw chaser Pasture cries Awakens Firstborn Uses a dagger WWII journalist __ Pyle Terra __; clay pot material Most wily “Tosca” and “Falstaff” Bird who said “Nevermore” Vote into office Car door dings Ulna’s place

©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

41 43 46 48 50

Upper house Annoying bug Unlocked Joyous “Turkey in the __” 52 Canary’s home 53 Come __; find 54 __ on; trampled

55 Misplace 57 __ nothing to do with; shun 58 In a __; miffed 59 Marathon 60 Assassinated 62 To and __ 63 Winnebagos & others: abbr.

9

SPORTS

February 19, 2018 | bupipedream.com

Women's lacrosse drops close game to Purple Eagles Despite hat tricks from Kennedy and Arthur, Binghamton handed first defeat Samantha Marsh Contributing Writer

After an exciting openingday win, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team picked up its first loss of the year in a close match against Niagara.

Even though the Bearcats (1-1) opened their match against the Purple Eagles (1-0) on Saturday afternoon with a promising 3-0 lead in the first two minutes, their quick three-goal surge was not enough to take the win as BU fell in a contested 8-7 loss.

After the first three goals were netted by redshirt senior attack Brianne Arthur and senior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy, both squads played a game of back and forth. The Purple Eagles earned a total of three goals and the Bearcats came away with two more of their own, putting the score at 5-3 when the first half ended.

“We expect big things from [Arthur] and [Kennedy] as well as their fellow offensive players out there,” said BU head coach Stephanie Allen. “[Arthur and Kennedy] did a nice job of taking advantage of some weak defensive play, and [Kennedy] utilized her speed out there to gain some fastbreak situations.”

Niagara’s slow and steady pushback during the first half of the game was enough for the Purple Eagles to find their stride in the second half. Less than four minutes into the half, Niagara netted two goals, tying up the score at 5-5.

Binghamton did not surrender its advantage easily, though, and Arthur posted another tally for the team.

Within minutes, however, Niagara bounced back and scored two goals to put them up 7-6. With just seven minutes left in the game, the Purple Eagles upped their lead to 8-6. The Bearcats tried to bounce back from the deficit, and it looked possible when Kennedy converted on a shot with five minutes remaining.

Binghamton ultimately fell short, and Niagara took the victory, 8-7.

“We struggled with execution [Saturday], both with our ball-handling and offensive strategy going into the game,” Allen said.

Both Arthur and Kennedy scored hat tricks, contributing to six of the team’s seven points, while the other goal was scored by freshman attack Paige Volkmann, who was named the America East Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Week last week.

“[Volkmann] is a dynamic and creative player that gives us options,” Allen said. “We like to use her speed, and she works incredibly hard on the ride.”

Binghamton’s pair of goalies, senior Emma Jehle and sophomore Taylor Passuello, were solid in the net and saved 12 out of the 20 shots on goal.

Jehle logged five saves while Passuello had seven.

“I thought we had really good play in between the pipes from both of our goalkeepers,” Allen said. “I thought that they came up with some key stops for us.”

Last season, the Bearcats edged out Niagara 11-10, but a role reversal took place on Saturday afternoon as Binghamton faced its first loss of the season and broke its eight-matchup winning streak against Niagara that dated back to 2006.

“Everything is fixable,” Allen said. “We just need to have better execution and decision-making.”

Binghamton is scheduled to return to the field on Thursday, Feb. 22 for an away game against Lafayette.

The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. from the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Kathrine Scott/Pipe Dream Photographer Senior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy posted a hat trick for the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team in a razor-thin loss to Niagara.

Men's lacrosse seeks another playoff berth In Moore's absence, BU turns to strength in numbers Marcus Budashewitz Contributing Writer

Rebecca Kiss/Assistant Photo Editor The Binghamton men’s lacrosse team looks to build on last season’s success despite losses in its first two games.

Binghamton men’s lacrosse’s 2017 season was an inspiring turnaround from the year before. Its record rocketed from 4-10 to 11-5.

However, the season ended on a sour note with a 20-8 loss in the America East Championship to Albany. While the improvement may be deemed a success by comparison, the Bearcats are hungry for more in 2018.

“The big thing everyone’s been asking about is last year, but we know this is a whole new year,” said senior midfielder Stephen Petrelli. “We have a bunch of new guys playing different roles, but we just want to focus on each day and each practice.”

BU’s combined record of 8-19 in 2015 and 2016 certainly painted a grim picture for any championship

aspirations. Undeterred by the rough stretch, the Bearcats made a complete turnaround last year and now feel as if they are close to a championship.

“As freshmen, we had a goal initially of winning rings and championships, and as seniors, those goals are still in front of us,” said redshirt junior defenseman Sal Fama. “After our first two years we weren’t sure if we’d ever get close, so last year was a big step for us.”

Binghamton graduated eight seniors last year, including an integral player in the program, attack Tom Moore. Last season, Moore led the Bearcats in both goals and assists and was named the Binghamton Athletics Male Athlete of the Year.

“It’s now on us to step up and prove it. We’ve taken the culture that we built last year and it’s something we instill every morning,” Fama said. “The ‘We over me’ concept is

one of the pillars of our program and the chemistry of this team is really our biggest strength.”

While players like Moore have left the program, there is no shortage of new talent coming into Vestal. Eleven freshmen currently sit on the roster and second-year BU head coach Kevin McKeown has high hopes for many of them.

“The two freshman goalies [Hunter Greco and Robert Martin] have been doing a great job, and [freshman defenseman] Kyle Tiernan at the long-stick midfield position will be out there for us,” McKeown said. “We have five or six guys at least making us think about inserting them in game situations.”

After a surprisingly strong season last year, it will be a challenge to keep the momentum going. BU fell in its first two bouts, both of which were on the road. The Bearcats understand how the competition views them this season.

“A lot of people are doubting us, saying that we just had our run last year, and following all that hype has been a big part of our journey,” Fama said.

In the face of losing some standout players, one thing that the Bearcats have going for them is depth. It will be difficult to fill the 73-point void left by Moore, but the team hopes contributions across the board can do just that.

“At the midfield we’ve had a lot of different guys running with the first group,” McKeown said. “I think with four of our five top scorers returning, we’ll have more strength in numbers than last year.”

Binghamton dropped its first two games on the road to No. 10-ranked Syracuse and Colgate but hope to get back on track as it opens up at home against Canisius on Tuesday.

Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. from the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

Baseball rallies to avoid sweep in opening series Lackluster pitching costs Bearcats first two contests against Northwestern State Yedidya Naiman Pipe Dream Sports

After committing six errors and many more unforced mistakes over its three-game series this weekend, the Binghamton baseball team (1-2) walked away with a victory and two losses against Northwestern State University this weekend during a three-game series in Louisiana.

In the opening game on Friday, junior pitcher Nick Gallagher took the mound. Amassing six strikeouts over his 3 1/5 innings of play, his start was flawed by five walks, including two with the bases loaded. Sophomore pitcher Jake Miller relieved him and pitched until the end of the seventh inning.

He allowed no hits, but due to back-to-back errors, the Demons (2-1) scored their third run during the sixth inning of play. Down 3-2, Binghamton had opportunities in both the eighth and ninth innings to tie it up, but stranded four base runners in those two frames to lose the opener. Although the Bearcats’ pitching staff struck out 12 batters, four HBP, seven walks and three errors ultimately cost

them the game.

Binghamton’s pitching woes continued the following day when redshirt senior pitcher Jacob Wloczewski took the mound. Over 4 1/10 innings, Wloczewski struck out seven players, but walked three and hit three batters. In addition, he threw three wild pitches, ultimately giving up three earned runs. In contrast to the previous game, the bullpen struggled, giving up five earned runs over 3 1/5 innings, along with two walks and two more hit batters.

In addition, the defense gave up an unearned run.

The pitching staff was not alone in its struggles Saturday, however. The Bearcats only put up six base runners throughout the game, and as a team, struck out 15 times out of only 30 atbats. After 11 free passes Friday, the Bearcats gave another 10 in the second game of the series, falling 9-1.

After two very disappointing games, Binghamton finally got its composure Sunday as the team clobbered Northwestern State, 10-3. The pitching finally picked up as starting senior pitcher Nick Wegmann pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits. The pitching staff finished the day

Rebecca Kiss/Assistant Photo Editor Senior outfielder CJ Krowiak went four-for-six with two RBIs in baseball’s only victory of its opening series.

with three earned runs on eight hits. Additionally, Binghamton’s offense finally found its groove on Sunday, reaching base on 22 of its 40 plate appearances, tallying 15 hits, six walks and a HBP. The

defense continued its struggles, surrendering another unearned run after tallying two errors.

Standout senior outfielder CJ Krowiak helped lead the way for the Bearcats during in the

final game, hitting a single in the second inning that drove two men home as BU secured an advantage that it kept for the remainder of the game.

Next up for the Bearcats is

a three-game series against Liberty from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25. The games will be held in Lynchburg, Virginia. First pitch from Liberty Baseball Stadium is set for Feb. 23 at 3 p.m.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE

BU falls to Niagara SEE PAGE 9 Monday, February 19, 2018

Women's basketball defeats River Hawks on senior day Imani Watkins secures all-time scoring record at Binghamton with 2,027 points

Julian Guevara Pipe Dream Sports

With just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, senior guard Imani Watkins stepped back and sunk a 3-pointer, bringing the entire crowd to its feet in applause.

This 3-pointer put her in first place all-time for scoring at Binghamton, breaking Bess Greenberg’s previous record from 2001 of 2,024 points.

Even though Watkins only finished with five points, the Bearcats (19-8, 10-4 America East) handily defeated the visiting River Hawks, 52-38, on BU’s Senior Day. “Today was a special game for us to honor [senior center Alyssa James] and [Watkins], who have done so much for our program and me personally as a coach,” said BU head coach Linda Cimino. “It’s a bittersweet day for us, but I’m really proud to honor them in front of all their friends and family and I’m definitely happy to get the win.”

BU was dominant defensively, holding UML (4-23, 1-13 AE) to just four points in the second quarter.

James also earned a major milestone on Saturday when she snagged her 1,000th career rebound in the second half, ultimately finishing with a doubledouble. Early in the game, she

demonstrated her scoring abilities in the post, finishing with a gamehigh 11 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks while adding four steals and two assists.

“I think it was just a matter of circumstance,” James added.

“This is the second time we have played this team now, and their personnel, at least postwise, hasn’t changed much.”

Binghamton controlled the tempo throughout the game. In the opening minutes of the first period, BU forced UML to take a timeout after opening up an 8-2 lead. Junior forward Rebecca Carmody fended off three defenders in the paint to curl in the timeout-forcing layup.

Despite the quick timeout, BU did not take its foot off the gas. The team worked together and had seven different players score, showcasing the Bearcats’ depth and chemistry.

“It’s confidence, that’s all it is, and I think that the more confidence we have, the better we play, pass, shoot and defend,” Watkins said.

“Going into Albany next week, all those things are going to matter and everyone is starting to see now that we don’t care who scores, we don’t care who takes the shots. If it goes in, it goes in.”

Carmody and sophomore guard Carly Boland stepped up in

particular on Saturday, contributing in a variety of ways. Carmody finished with eight points, four boards, two dimes and a steal, while Boland scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added a rejection and a steal.

“We played really good team defense tonight and I think that we have to continue to improve our team defense in order to win, especially against Albany and Hartford,” Cimino said. “More importantly, we have to take care of the ball. The two teams that we play next week lead our conference in steals, so I’d like to see us play more consistently for 40 minutes both offensively and defensively [by] giving up [fewer] offensive rebounds and turning the ball over less.”

Sophomore guard Kai Moon continued to contribute in multiple facets of the game. Moon tied James’ game-high 11 points while dishing out six assists, blocking three shots and corralling four rebounds and a steal.

“We don’t care who gets the blocks, we don’t care who gets the rebounds, as long as at the end of the game we’re on top,” Watkins said.

Despite UML’s 1-13 conference record, the River Hawks played even with the Bearcats in the second

Ariel Kachuro/Contributing Photographer Senior guard Imani Watkins became the Binghamton women’s basketball’s all-time scoring leader in a home victory over UMass Lowell.

half, matching their 21 points.

Sitting just a game behind The difference between turnovers Albany and Maine for first place in the second half was just one, in in the conference, Binghamton Binghamton’s favor. is set to pick up play this coming

Thursday, Feb. 22 against the Great Danes. Tipoff for BU’s home finale is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

BU downs Buffalo on the road Bearcats earn AE victory Nelson propels Bearcats to twelfth win Men's basketball tops SBU, falls to UML Yaakov Spivack Pipe Dream Sports

Provided by BU Athletics Redshirt junior Joe Nelson took down a nationally ranked opponent to power wrestling to a victory over Buffalo.

Edward Aaron Pipe Dream Sports The Binghamton wrestling team capped off an impressive regular season with a road victory over Buffalo on Thursday, Feb. 15. The Bearcats (12-5, 6-1 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) defeated the Bulls 2214 in a nonconference matchup at the Alumni Arena in Amherst, New York.

“I was most happy with us coming in here, to Buffalo, and overturning a result from the past two years,” said BU acting head coach Kyle Borshoff. “They had beaten us the last two seasons, and we came away with a win tonight.

Overall, it was a great team effort.”

Binghamton was crushed 31-9

by Buffalo (5-11, 2-5 Mid-American Conference) last season, losing eight matches to two. The Bearcats fell 24-12 the year before. This year, the tables turned, and BU came away with a strong victory, beating Buffalo in six of the 10 matches.

Thursday’s defeat marked Buffalo’s sixth straight loss in dual play.

The match began with an 8-5 decision in favor of BU redshirt junior Joe Nelson of the 125-pound weight class. He defeated No. 20 redshirt junior Kyle Akins of Buffalo.

“Nelson came out right away and got a win over a nationally ranked opponent, so great performance

on his part,” Borshoff said. “And the rest of the guys that came away with wins put in workman-like performances. They went out and did what they had to do.”

The Bearcats won five straight matches from the 149-pound weight class to the 184-pound weight class, with continued notable performances by their middleweights.

The match was noteworthy for senior Steven Schneider, who participated in his final career dual at Binghamton. In Thursday’s dual, he defeated redshirt junior Brett Perry, 8-6. Last year, while ranked No. 15 in the country, Schneider was upset by Perry, 7-6. Schneider finished his senior season with a 15-6 record and ranked No. 13 in the 184-pound weight class. For his career, Schneider was 95-41 in dual matches during his time as a Bearcat.

“I do want to mention [Schneider], just because it was his last career dual for this program, and he’s just done a fantastic job all year,” Borshoff said. “He overturned a result from our dual meet last year, he lost to the guy he beat tonight, so he finishes his career with a dual win.”

Binghamton finished the season with 12 victories in dual play, its most since the 2011-12 season. With the regular season over, the Bearcats now look ahead toward postseason play. BU will be competing in the EIWA Tournament in early March,

and then the NCAA Championships a few weeks later. Borshoff’s focus now shifts to preparing for the most important wrestling events of the year.

“We’re going to take a few days off here, I want to make sure everyone gets rested up, relaxed, recovered,” Borshoff said. “They’re going to get some downtime here, and then we’re going to pick it up with our training and make sure we’re peaking for the conference tournament and rolling that into nationals.”

Last season, two wrestlers, Schneider and Dylan Caruana, ‘17, who is now the assistant coach, advanced from the EIWA Championships to the NCAA Championships. After one of the team’s best seasons in recent years, Borshoff is optimistic that his team will have similar success this season in postseason play.

“These dual performances have prepared us, we’ve wrestled a lot of really tough opponents and we’re winning the close matches now,” Borshoff said. “And that’s what’s going to help us in the conference tournament.”

The Bearcats will begin postseason play at the EIWA Championships on Saturday, Mar. 3 and Sunday, Mar. 4. This year, the championship will take place at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

This Thursday and Saturday, the Binghamton men’s basketball team took on Stony Brook and UMass Lowell, respectively. The match against the Seawolves (1117, 6-8 America East) ended in a 69-57 win at home, snapping BU’s prior seven-game losing streak, while Sunday’s game against the River Hawks ended in a 74-69 loss.

The Bearcats (11-17, 2-11 AE) took an early 14-4 edge. The Seawolves, however, were not to be taken down so easily. Scoring three after three, the team rallied in an attempt to tie. The score was brought to within one numerous times before a made free throw from Stony Brook junior guard Jaron Cornish finally tied the game at 23. Two 3-pointers from BU sophomore guard Fard Muhammad and junior guard J.C. Show were enough for the Bearcats to take back control of the scoreboard, for the time being.

With less than a minute on the clock, Cornish hit a three to seemingly take Stony Brook back into the game, bringing the score to within three points. After a missed dunk from junior forward Thomas Bruce, and then a missed three at the other end of the court, the Bearcats decided to hold for one. With just seconds remaining in the first half, Show passed to Muhammad, who sank a triple, increasing the Bearcats’ lead to six points. At the half, the score was 32-26.

The second half initially featured several of offensive executions from the Bearcats.

While the Seawolves were able to bring the score to within four points, a 9-2 stretch sparked by another 3-pointer from Muhammad was enough to force the game out of reach. Stony Brook and BU each put together impressive offensive efforts to close out the half, but the deficit became insurmountable as both teams piled on the points.

“My teammates were just finding me,” Muhammad said.

“I think our intensity was just opening things up for everybody.

When it came to me I just played my role, I knocked down shots and helped us win.”

Led by Muhammad’s 22 points, including five-of-eight shooting

from beyond the arc, Binghamton was able to come out with the lead comfortably.

“I was proud of our guys,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey.

“I think you learn a lot of life lessons from sports, and one of the things that I keep talking to these guys about is your heart’s gotta stay in it regardless of the results, and you have to find purpose and passion in your performances, and you have to keep believing. If you lose faith and you lose hope, then you have no chance. I saw a group that played with a lot of passion, with a lot of purpose tonight, and stayed together all year long. It was nice to see our guys rewarded with a good victory here at home, because they’ve been fighting their way through a struggle.”

Sunday’s game at UMass Lowell (10-16, 4-9 AE) saw a tightly contested first half, featuring numerous runs from both teams.

A layup from Muhammad tied the game at nine with just over six minutes played. Following this, a 9-2 run from the River Hawks fueled by a basket inside from redshirt sophomore forward Connor Bennett handed the team to a sizable seven-point lead. With just over three minutes in the half, a jumper from Muhammad paved the way for BU to embark on a 7-0 run, capped off with a long ball from Muhammad. At the end of the stretch, the scoreboard read

30-27 in favor of UML. Both teams came out strong to begin the second half. The score remained close for the first several minutes of the half, but a scoring onslaught from the River Hawks took the team to a 14-point advantage with just under two minutes on the clock.

Not willing to go down without a fight, the Bearcats displayed a ferocious energy, tacking on 17 points during these final minutes.

The River Hawks, however, scored just enough points to still come away with the win, defeating BU by five points.

“I thought we just fought really hard right to the end,” Dempsey said. “There was a stretch where we just decided that we weren’t finding enough in our offense, and we had to get four guards out there, spread the court and attack … and I think that as we continue to move forward with this roster, we’ll see a lot more of that … I think when you’re having a tough year, you’re looking for a positive down the stretch, and that was a group that, when down the stretch, will all be back. I liked the way they looked and I was proud that there was no give in them, and no quit, and we fought for 40 minutes.”

The Bearcats will next take on the Vermont Wednesday, Feb. 21. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. from Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, Vermont.

Mia Katz/Contributing Photographer Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad found a scoring rhythm over the weekend as the Binghamton men’s basketball team split its two matches.