Spring 2018 Issue 26

Monday, May 7, 2018 | Vol. XCIII, Issue 26 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

SPRING FLING Nikkolette Sather

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Spring Fling brought the jams this year featuring a new student band, Gnarwall, hip-hop artist DRAM and headliner Foster the People.

Gnarwall, a seven-piece hiphop/funk band, formed in fall 2017 after a few friends decided they wanted to combine their talents and find other members.

The group started rehearsing right away and decided to compete in this semester’s Battle of the Bands on March 24.

Winning this competition meant that Gnarwall would open for Spring Fling this year.

Joe Vitale, a sophomore double-majoring in German and history, is one of the founders of Gnarwall and started recruiting friends to join in fall 2017.

“We started last semester, with a different core lineup than right now,” Vitale said.

“Coming into this semester, we had auditions and recruited my friend Ben, as well as others and since then we have really grown as a band over this time.”

The group’s name, Gnarwall,

REBECCA KISS | PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

may seem funky to some, but it goes along with the band’s vibes and the aesthetic it strives to create.

“We were going through names and landed on the name Gnarwall, a combination of an animal and funky beats hitting off the walls,” said Sam Wolff, a junior majoring in finance.

Despite the group’s quick start and rather short time practicing with one another, Gnarwall still won Battle of the Bands.

“We got together in the fall and our number one goal was to perform at Spring Fling,” Wolff said. “It’s crazy that we actually achieved that.”

Their set list for Spring Fling had a variety of original tracks each individual contributed to, including a medley of Chance the Rapper songs and Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness.”

“The hardest part of figuring out our set list was figuring out what to cover,” Wolff said.

“For Battle of the Bands we had to write originals and covers, but for this we figured out our last cover within a week of this

SEE SPRING PAGE 6

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

PAGE II Monday, May 7,3,2, 2018 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017

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

Medieval melodies

Web: bupipedream.com

SPRING 2018 editor-in-ChieF* Emily Kaufman editor@bupipedream.com MAnAging editor* Bridget McCusker manager@bupipedream.com

neWs editor* Sasha Hupka news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Amy Donovan Gillian Kenah Yuri Lee oPinions editor* Jessica Gutowitz opinions@bupipedream.com Asst. oPinions editor Savanna I. Vidal Arts & Culture editor* Katy Wong arts@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture editors Shauna R. Bahssin Nikkolette Sather sPorts editor* Samuel Ditchek sports@bupipedream.com

KOJO SENOO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Three Grammy-recognized vocalists, Anonymous 4’s Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek and Roomful of Teeth’s Eliza Bagg and Martha Cluver, perform at Modern Medieval on Friday afternoon in the Binghamton University Art Museum.

Asst. sPorts editors Evan Cole Grace Palumbo PhotogrAPhy editor* Rebecca Kiss photo@bupipedream.com Asst. PhotogrAPhy editor Ariel Kachuro Fun editor* Nate Walker fun@bupipedream.com

design MAnAger* Cory Bremer design@bupipedream.com

“Two young men, through no fault of their own, wound up frightened and humiliated because another campus visitor was concerned about their clothes and overall demeanor, which appears to have simply been shyness. The very idea that someone — anyone — might ‘look’ like they don’t belong on a CSU admissions tour is anathema.”

— Tony Frank, president of Colorado State University, on two Native American brothers, Thomas Gray and Lloyd Gray, who were pulled from a university tour on Friday after a parent reported them to campus police.

design Assts.

Khaled Pendleton Gaoming Lyu CoPy desk ChieF* Sarah Molano copy@bupipedream.com Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Lia Berger digitAl editor Jillian Forstadt digital@bupipedream.com neWsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Michelle Tan tech@bupipedream.com editoriAl Artist Annabeth Sloan

business MAnAger* Maryam Soomro business@bupipedream.com distribution MAnAger Laura Staff distribution@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:blazing

hazing:destabilizing

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

Rip it off WEDNESDAY, May 2, 11:15 p.m. — Officers responded to a stairwell in Broome Hall of Newing College to investigate damage to a wall-mounted temperature sensor, which controls the building’s sprinkler system. Officers checked cameras in the stairwell and observed video footage of a 19-year-old male ripping off the temperature sensor as he walked by. The suspect looked at the broken sensor on the ground and walked away. Officers located the suspect, who said he accidentally broke the sensor. Later, while being questioned by UPD, the suspect admitted he did it on purpose. He was arrested and received a ticket to appear at Vestal Town Court.

Witness to the rescue THURSDAY, May 3, 10:07 a.m. — An 18-year-old male contacted UPD after he witnessed a black Jeep back into a white BMW in Parking Lot M4. The witness wrote down the plate numbers of both vehicles and an officer was able to locate the 21-year-old male driver of the black Jeep. Upon questioning, the driver said he wrote a note on the vehicle before leaving the scene; however, the officer was unable to locate the note.

Yuri Lee Assistant News Editor

Eventually, the driver admitted he did not leave a note on the vehicle. According to the driver, he was freaked out by the witness watching him and decided to leave the scene. The suspect was issued a traffic ticket and will appear in Vestal Town Court.

Lyft extortion FRIDAY, May 4, 1:51 a.m. — Officers patrolling campus noticed a crying 19-year-old female sitting on a bench at a bus stop near West Drive.

Upon questioning, the female said she had taken a Lyft cab from Downtown Binghamton to campus and was dropped off at the bus stop before realizing she had left her ID and phone in the car. The female said she borrowed a phone to call the driver, whom she was familiar with. When she called, the driver said he was busy and he needed $50 to bring her belongings back. When the victim said she did not want to pay $50 and just wanted her phone and ID back, the driver pretended to not understand English and hung up. An officer called the driver and informed him that if he did not return the female’s belongings, he would be arrested for larceny. The driver came to the Information Booth and returned the female’s phone and ID. She declined to press charges; however, an officer spoke with the driver and warned him about the consequences of refusing to return the items.

Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS

Landowners fight against proposed power line New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) is facing pushback from residents of Broome, Cortland and Onondaga counties over a new power transmission line that would run from Lafayette, New York to Johnson City, New York, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The 345-kilovolt power line is generating outcry from landowners, who are seeking to stop the project from infringing on their properties.

The line is part of NYSEG’s efforts to comply with the New York Independent System Operator’s efforts to upgrade electric transmission infrastructure across the state.

Cornell University to reform Greek life Cornell University has announced a series of reforms for its Greek life groups after multiple misconduct and hazing cases, according to the Ithaca Journal. The reforms, including immediate chapter suspension for substantiated acts of hazing, will be implemented immediately and will continue until fall 2021. Cornell has one of the oldest Greek life systems in the country, with 63 fraternity and sorority chapters on campus.

Man shot in Downtown Binghamton A 29-year-old Binghamton man was shot in the face early Sunday morning after a brief exchange with another individual, according to WBNG. Both the victim and the shooter ran from the scene.

Police report the suspect was male and wearing dark clothing.

He may have been accompanied by another man.

bupipedream.com | May 7, 2018

NEWS

3

Brindisi talks platform for congressional campaign Democratic candidate runs against Tenney Hannah Walter

Pipe Dream News

On May 3, Utica State Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi spoke to a room of students and community members about his campaign to become the next congressman for New York’s 22nd district. Brindisi is running uncontested in the Democratic primary, with a platform centered around health care and the local economy.

The seven-year assemblyman is attempting to unseat Republican incumbent Claudia Tenney, who recently gained national notoriety after making a controversial statement on gun violence following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Brindisi gave an overview of his platform, concerns and goals, specifically talking about his experience working in Oneida County. He discussed his push to create more technical job training for young people, his fight against merging telecommunication companies and his goal to subsidize dairy farms, which is the district’s largest agricultural export.

For his campaign, Brindisi said he plans on talking about issues that he believes affect residents the most, such as the economy and the opioid crisis.

“People always ask me, ‘What committee do you want to be on when you get to Congress?,’” Brindisi said. “Tenney chose the financial services committee,

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi discussed his candidacy with students and community members in Lecture Hall 10 on Thursday night.

which is great if you’re on Wall Street, but this area could really use someone on the agricultural committee, the transportation committee — someone who can actually get something done for this area.”

Brindisi told the crowd that he was tired of the lack of action in Congress and wanted to be elected so he could help enact real change.

“I decided to get involved in this run for Congress because I’m just not happy with the direction

Washington is going in,” Brindisi said. “It seems like folks in Washington just don’t know how to work out their issues so they retreat to their sides and nothing gets done.”

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo also gave her endorsement at the event.

Lupardo said she trusts Brindisi to work successfully with others and address the needs of the district.

Afterward, both politicians answered various questions from the audience.

Lupardo spoke candidly about the decision over whether she or Brindisi should be the Democratic nominee for Congress. In the end, Lupardo said this was not her time and she had full confidence in Brindisi’s abilities.

“When you run for political office, it’s a political calculation and it’s also about where they see themselves in the future,” Lupardo said. “I was trying to tell [Brindisi] that it’s not really about you so much, about your aspirations, about your interests

JACOB HANNA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

in being in Congress but it’s really about the future of the country.

I told him something like, ‘You need to go to Congress to save the planet.’”

Brianna Cea, a senior doublemajoring in political science and philosophy, politics and law and the founder and CEO of Generation Vote, a progressive advocacy group, said it was important that students get involved and learn about the candidates in order for them to have their voices heard.

She said Generation Vote decided

to support Brindisi because of his dedication to issues that students really care about, such as the environment and criminal justice reform.

“At Generation Vote, we hope to flip the political process upside down by training our student to not only mobilize on candidates, but also on issues,” Cea said. “We support candidates like Brindisi who are willing to actually incorporate youth voice into their platforms and campaigns.”

Koffman incubator hosts startup summit Lecturer talks mixed methods research

Companies attend workshops, pitch ideas Valerie Puma

Pipe Dream News

In celebration of the one year anniversary of the opening of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, startup companies, investors and Binghamton University students gathered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a startup summit that showcased demos, pitch events and speeches.

Dan Mori, director of business incubation for the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator and moderator of the event, said the startup summit was designed to provide pitch opportunities for the incubator’s current companies looking for investors. According to Mori, an important aspect of the incubator is to guide people who are looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship.

“Everything that we’re about is helping people realize that there’s a different path in life,” Mori said. “You don’t necessarily have to get a job. If you have a passion or an idea, you can pursue it as a startup. We wanted to celebrate that, and let people know that [entrepreneurship] is a possibility for them.”

Since the incubator first opened one year ago, the building has reached nearly 90 percent occupancy, meaning 90 percent of the workspaces within the incubator are actively being used by people with startups.

In addition, the incubator has helped startup companies raise around $10 million in funding and is currently assisting 35 startup companies.

The incubator now has six programs — the Accelerator Program, the Business Incubation Program, the Southern Tier Clean Energy Incubator, I-Corps, STARTUP NY and the B-Innovative

Distinguished scientist speaks at Edgar W. Couper Lecture Lia Berger

Assistant Copy Desk Chief

VICKY SU | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator held an entrepreneurial summit to give startup companies the chance to pitch their business ideas to investors.

Incubator.

“For every company that has touched our program in the past year, we [were] trying to highlight them in a way that was most appropriate for them,” Mori said. “The purpose of the event was to inspire entrepreneurship, and also showcase the successes we’ve had and highlight the companies within our program.”

The event included workshops by Enhance VR, a company based on virtual reality simulators that was founded by Matt Gill, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, and Muckles’ Ink, a commercial screen-printing company co-founded by Casey Coolbaugh, ’13.

According to Emma Baudendistel, administrative assistant at the incubator, throughout the dinner, students and entrepreneurs alike could talk to company representatives

and investors in a more casual setting.

“Everyone who paid to come to the event [got] free food from the trucks, and [could] walk around and meet with company representatives as well as the investors,” Baudendistel said.

“The purpose of the dinner [was] to celebrate the event itself, OutNow’s official launch and to let aspiring entrepreneurs to network with professionals.”

After the workshops, a “Fundamentals of Funding” panel allowed professional investors to explain what they are looking for in the companies and startups they fund.

“All the student companies who pitched [at the event] are looking for investors and for real equity,” Mori said.

“They come saying, ‘Hey, I want this amount of money, and in exchange, I’ll give you a piece of my company,’ just like ‘Shark Tank.’ All these

people are looking to raise money and grow and scale their companies.”

During the second round of pitch events, startup companies My Lil’ Healthbot, Enduraphin, BRASH, OutNow and Parlor City Vegan were given ten minutes to present their company and their pitch, followed by five minutes of Q&A led by the panel of investors.

Bar Stern, co-founder of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Pad and a first-year graduate student studying biomedical engineering, said his company decided to attend to gain experience with pitching.

“It was very exciting getting to talk to the investors and present our pitch to them,” Stern said. “After some people came up to us and showed real interest in what we are doing, [it] felt very good and validating.”

For $10 general admission

and $5 for students, those who attended the event later had the option to attend a dinner and networking event outside.

The dinner was a part of OutNow’s launch party, where a DJ played music and food trucks provided refreshments for guests. The food trucks came from local businesses including Binghamton Hots, The Colonial, Smokey Legend BBQ and Lupo’s S&S Char Pit and Kool Treats Ice Cream.

Illan Weiner, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience, heard about the incubator at the beginning of the fall semester and learned about the startup summit via email.

“I [went] for the whole day, so I got to see the workshops, speeches and pitch events,” Weiner said. “I’m not an entrepreneur, but I think all of this has been really cool and interesting.”

Each year, the Edgar W. Couper Endowment Fund for Educational Excellence brings one distinguished scientist to speak at Binghamton University. On Friday, the fund brought Anthony Onwuegbuzie, the former president of the Mixed Methods International Research Association and a professor of educational leadership at Sam Houston State University, to BU’s campus for its 26th annual lecture.

The fund honors the late Edgar W. Couper, who was the chairman of the committee that founded the University in 1950. Upon his death in 1988, his friends and family created the Edgar W. Couper Endowment Fund for Educational Excellence at BU, which grants Couper Fellowships each year to one or two doctoral students in the Graduate School of Education.

Roughly 30 graduate students and faculty members attended the lecture to hear about Onwuegbuzie’s research, which involves using mixed methods to address social and behavioral scientific topics, such as children with special needs, children living in war zones and disadvantaged populations such as minorities.

Mixed methods, a type of scientific research that synthesizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods, aims to give a bigger picture of a scientific question. Neglecting one side, according to Onwuegbuzie, leaves out critical perspectives.

“You could end up only getting part of the picture,” Onwuegbuzie said. “For

SEE COUPER PAGE 4

4

NEWS

bupipedream.com | May 7, 2018

Speaker focuses on dualism in scientific research COUPER FROM PAGE 3 example, lots of quantitative studies look at how something works. So by looking at statistics and saying for ‘x’ percent, something works and for the others it didn’t, that’s great information. But it doesn’t tell you how or why it works. So without the why and the how, you only have some of the information. So the qualitative and the quantitative need to work together.”

Scientific language consistently separates quantitative and qualitative methods of research, splitting them into what Onwuegbuzie referred to as false dichotomies, such as subjective versus objective, facts versus values and change versus order.

For Onwuegbuzie, it is better to abolish this language, which uses phrases such as “qualitative research” and “quantitative research,” and instead use terms like “research” to promote dualism.

“By using more unified language, you become more inclusive,” Onwuegbuzie said.

“You’re not shutting out one type or the other. You get into a situation where it could become inhibitive because the language is so jargonistic. And I think focusing less on language and more on findings and meaningmaking is the way we can improve the situation.”

According to Onwuegbuzie, mixed methods can extend past

scientific research to everyday decisions such as house hunting. When purchasing a house, buyers take into account quantitative factors, such as cost and square acreage, while also considering qualitative factors, such as comfort and physical appearance.

For Onwuegbuzie, it is especially important that up-and-coming researchers strengthen themselves in both disciplines.

“There [are] too many students who graduate even with doctorates who might be strong in one but weak in the other,” Onwuegbuzie said. “I’d like to see doctoral students take both quantitative and qualitative classes, but further in the future that we get rid of these quantitative and qualitative courses and replace them with courses where you learn both of them in the same course. That’s so much more powerful.”

According to Marla Mallette, an associate professor in the department of teaching, learning and educational leadership, Onwuegbuzie was brought to campus by popular demand.

“I sent out an email to all the faculty and students and asked them to nominate people, and then I sent out the nominees and everyone got to vote,” Mallette said. “Dr. Onwuegbuzie was the most popular choice.

I’m hoping that attendees come to value mixed methods. It needs to be spread more.”

MARYAM SOOMRO | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER During the Interfaith Trip, students visited multiple houses of worship, including Temple Israel, a synagogue located in Vestal, and heard from religious leaders who taught them about their respective religions.

Religious groups hold Interfaith Trip Students visit various houses of worship Simra Aziz

Contributing Writer

In an effort to bring various faiths together, Hillel at Binghamton, Newman House and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) came together on Sunday for a day trip to visit multiple houses of worship for the fifth annual Interfaith Trip.

In the past, the trip has only included stops at a synagogue and a mosque, but this year, in addition to stopping at the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier and Temple Israel, students also stopped at Newman House, a Catholic church located on campus.

Nadiya Al-Noor, the interfaith chair for the MSA and a secondyear graduate student studying

‘The Hyphen’ talks identity Students reflect on immigrant experiences

student affairs administration and public administration, said she believes this event is important because people can learn about the similarities and differences between the religions.

“I think the purpose is to expose people to different beliefs and things they haven’t seen before,” Al-Noor said. “They can get to know the things we have in common. There’s a lot more similarities than there are differences which we need to recognize before we can go off on our own and help humanity.”

At each place of worship, students were met by a religious leader who welcomed them and spoke with them about their religion. In addition, the group was given tours, shown what types of practices happen in which rooms and taught about the respective religious texts. On the bus ride between stops, the

attendees took part in discussions about their own personal experiences with religion and what they had learned.

Marley Weiner, a rabbi for Hillel, said she wanted one of the takeaways to be about how people experience religion as opposed to just knowing facts about it.

“We don’t want people just saying, ‘This is what I know about Judaism,’ but rather, ‘This is my experience as a Jew,’” Weiner said. “It’s one thing to learn the facts and history of a religion, but another to see how people integrate themselves into it.”

Ariel Cohen, the Interfaith Trip co-chair for Hillel and a junior majoring in human development, said she believed the trip allows the different organizations to strengthen a sense of community.

“I think this trip will be good to strengthen the interfaith community and relations on

campus,” Cohen said. “All three of us have really strong organizations individually, but there isn’t a lot of interaction between us. It’s a great way to learn about other faiths, practices, cultures and ways of life.”

Around 20 students attended from each of the three organizations and were given matching shirts for attending the trip.

Paty Acipreste, the president of Newman House at BU and a senior triple-majoring in Spanish, economics and Latin American and Caribbean area studies, said the event was an effort to create a tolerant environment.

“I feel like there has been a lot of division in the world, especially between religions, so we’re really making an effort to collaborate and build tolerance so we can have better relations,” Acipreste said.

CORNING COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Phariha Rahman Pipe Dream News

Bringing the topic of immigration to Hinman College, resident assistants hosted an event on Thursday night titled “The Hyphen” in an effort to discuss the different identities children of immigrants face.

Several Hinman RAs, including Liesel Ramlall, a senior doublemajoring in political science and English; Kandace Keating, a senior majoring in accounting; Julianne Nicolette, a senior majoring in human development; Helen Moore, a senior doublemajoring in English and psychology; Tori Pena, a senior double-majoring in psychology and anthropology; and Lance Kim, a sophomore majoring in English, coordinated the event, which focused on the experiences of immigrants and their children in the United States. The name of the event referred to the concept of the hyphenated American, the use of a hyphen between an ethnicity and “American,” including “Asian-American” or “African-American.”

Attendees first watched an installment from the PBS video series “Hyphen Nation.” Each of the nine episodes in the series focused on a different individual who discussed their experiences living with a hyphenated identity in the United States.

In the episode shown at the event, a man named Ayman said he grew up with the feeling that he didn’t belong in the country of his birth as well as the country of his parents. He mentioned “Khawaja,” a Sudanese word meaning foreign, which was often used to describe anyone raised outside of Sudan.

ARIEL KACHURO | ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Hinman College resident assistants show an episode from the PBS video series “Hyphen Nation” during the discussion of their hyphenated identities.

The event coordinators shared their own experiences. Many of them grew up in another country or were the children of people who did.

“I’m half-Japanese and halfItalian, and I was born and raised in Japan,” Nicolette said.

“And then I came here, to a very opposite, white area in Long Island and I didn’t meet anyone who looked like me or had similar experiences until I came here.”

The RAs introduced a series of prompts, including ‘When did you realize you were not white?,’ ‘What type of family pressures did you experience growing up?’ and ‘Do you ever feel excluded from your community?’

Attendees shared their own experiences, which included feeling pressured to be “white,” feeling pressured to honor their parents’ sacrifices, feeling alienated from their heritage, being ethnically ambiguous and helping their immigrant parents navigate American society.

Before and during the event, attendees ate wontons, empanadas, Korean fried chicken and ice block custard, which were made by Moore and Ramlall.

The organizers of the event also aimed to prevent students from feeling isolated.

“We want everyone to feel like they belong somewhere, that they feel valued and like they have people to support them, and so this is that space,” Nicolette said.

Keating also advised attendees to power through these feelings of isolation caused by issues of identity.

“I know it took me a long time, but here I am at 22 and I’m able to have such in-depth discussions [about it with my friends],” Keating said.

For a more a large-scale solution, Keating said people should educate themselves on the issue.

“It’s just on society to just become more accepting,“ Keating said. “Just educating people on how these little things bother people, [such as] micro-aggressions. Having conversations make people more aware, and being aware is the first step to having a more accepting society.”

Despite the struggles described by those present at the event, according to Pena, being an immigrant or the child of one does also have its advantages.

“We are able to have a different perspective,” Pena said. “And we’re able to tell stories of people who worked really hard.”

Summer Classes at Corning Community College Lighten next year’s course load!

Take a course or two at Corning Community College this summer.

Online and on campus selections.

Check out your options and register today.

Ask about nancial aid availability!

607.962.9151

admissions@corning-cc.edu

bit.ly/ccc-summer-2018

SPRING FLING

BRIDGET MCCUSKER | MANAGING EDITOR

WARRIORS

It’s the day you’ve waited for all semester, Spring Fling Warrior. The sun finally came out after months of cold, and you were feeling a little too optimistic when you mixed all that vodka with soda from the Marketplace. Maybe you made a Cinco de Mayo joke in poor taste. Maybe you blacked out waiting in line for the Tilt-a-Whirl. Maybe you actually liked Foster the People. Cherish these moments, Spring Fling Warrior, because it’ll be the last time you have fun until Bar Crawl.

ARTS & CULTURE

REBECCA KISS | PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Indie-pop band Foster the People headlined Spring Fling 2018 after being welcomed onstage by hip-hop artist DRAM and student band Gnarwall.

performance and had to get it down and learn it.”

Gnarwall said it loves to create original songs and work on new tracks together. For Vitale, sensing each member’s contributions in their music is key to their sound.

“For collaboration on the songs, someone brings a riff and we all add our own flair to it,“ Vitale said. “You can hear each of us individually on the track.”

After Gnarwall hyped up the crowd, DRAM — short for “Does Real Ass Music” — continued

to keep the mood going after a brief intermission.

DRAM kept the party vibes going with his performance, keeping the crowd enthusiastic and on its feet.

His Top 100 Billboard hit “Broccoli” seemed to be the highlight of his performance, with not a person in the crowd not singing along.

DRAM kept his carefree and positive attitude going through constant conversations with the crowd in between every song, creating a connection to keep the audience engaged. He repeated the

phrase, “Spread love,” to match his upbeat demeanor.

His set list included an array of his songs from “Broccoli,” to “Cash Machine,” to “Cha-Cha,” to “Outta Sight,” with most songs he performed coming from his album “Big Baby DRAM.” His songs were catchy and easily had the crowd swaying back and forth to his beats. Even if the audience didn’t know the words, it was hard not to enjoy his performance.

Foster the People seemed to

set a more laid-back atmosphere unlike Gnarwall and DRAM, a perfect setting during sundown.

“Coming of Age,” from their album “Supermodel,” started off their set list right with a strong guitar solo in the beginning, the blue lighting entrancing the audience, bringing it down from a long day of Spring Fling festivities.

Foster the People were a popular choice to bring in for Spring Fling; the band is one of the top performing names at 2018 summer festivals, like Firefly

Music Festival in Delaware, and brought in an overwhelmingly positive response from most of the student body.

“The concert was definitely entertaining,” said Kasia Rybczyk, a senior majoring in biology. “I think Foster the People ended on a good note with ‘Coming of Age’ and ‘Pumped Up Kicks,’ even despite the topic of the song.”

The indie-pop band performed “Don’t Stop,” which has a catchy melody that compelled the audience to sing along to the lyrics.

“From the time I got there I think DRAM really connected better with the crowd,” said Victoria Roselli, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience.

“Foster the People seemed to connect better toward the end of their performance with their deep messages in between songs.”

Their set list featured a variety of their hits over their career, including their most popular single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” which they performed as their encore, and their new song, “Sit Next to Me.”

Artists collab Downtown World Night Market showcases cultures Renelle Pereira

Contributing Writer

The city of Binghamton’s first World Night Market withstood gusty winds and scattered downpours with ease on Friday, May 4.

Accuweather kept putting out “severe thunderstorm” alerts throughout Friday evening, but that didn’t stop the people of Binghamton from coming down to the Martin Luther King Promenade to experience a unique international bazaar.

World Night Market was held in Downtown Binghamton and showcased how the Binghamton community serves as a mosaic for a number of different cultures. Its location made the promenade look alive and bustling with enthusiasm and energy.

Marie McKenna, president of EatBing and co-owner of Lost Dog Cafe, spearheaded the event along with her team and said she was frustrated that not many events happen along the river.

“I want this city to notice

how many people are on the riverwalk right now, and copy it to have more events like this, and bring more people together,” McKenna said.

Tents were set up along the promenade with some of the Binghamton area’s most popular restaurants serving food and drinks as people browsed the artisan booths.

Sylvia Kerber, owner of Caselle Italian Imports in Johnson City, said she was enthusiastic about the future of the involved independent businesses.

“It’s great because for the first time, we’re in a venue where we can charge and it’s not only donations,” Kerber said. “All of the artisans and restaurants have come here together and hopefully that will help us grow.”

Kerber said she thinks a farmers market could be a good idea that could probably come from this festival and really help in the exposure of local businesses.

Throughout the evening, different performers from surrounding areas took the Peacemaker’s Stage to perform various dances and songs

spanning across different cultures and traditions.

Some of the performers said they hoped their acts would help build some curiosity around various cultures’ traditions and histories, while also gaining additional exposure to help them branch out of Binghamton.

“I hope [the performances] make a difference,” said Lauren Puente, a dancer with Goeman’s Storytelling Circle Dance. “With our dance group, we bring our own energy and our own sense of being unique, and it would be nice for people to have a general curiosity about us.”

The people of Binghamton attended the World Night Market without knowing what to expect, but the crowd appeared to be enjoying the event. Lionel and Ladene Bourne, a married couple, were two of the many people who came for a different experience involving numerous artisans from all over in one location.

“We’ve gone to night markets in Taiwan, and so we were anxious to come,” Ladene said. “We were hoping that Binghamton would step up to the plate, and they did.

It’s wonderful.”

KOJO SENOO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPGHER At World Night Market, more than 14 local musicians performed as attendees shopped from local artisans and food vendors.

PROVIDED BY BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY An attendee of the 2016 Open Studio Night, hosted by the art and design department.

Art dept. showcases seniors

Open Studio Night teaches artistic mediums Marcus Budashewitz Contributing Writer

During its Open Studio Night event, the Binghamton University art and design department displays the work of both BU’s students in the department as well as students who pursue art outside of the classroom.

The event presents a chance to appreciate students’ artistic efforts as well as an open opportunity for the public to learn several skills, including painting, sculpting and printmaking.

The event is an opportunity for attendees to get a glimpse of the creative process. A drawing and printmaking demonstration will take place in the studios, while the Visual Media Center on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building will host a large-format laser cutting and largeformat inkjet printing.

As attendees learn the ropes of how to produce art in mediums such as drawing, photography and design, the Senior Majors Exhibition will take place in the Elsie B. Rosefsky

Memorial Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Building at 6 p.m. — creating a dual purpose of teaching new artists and exposing upcoming artists to the public. The exhibition is dedicated to displaying the works of seniors graduating with a bachelor’s in art or design.

Francis Chang, a lecturer of art and design, says he believes Open Studio Night is a way to connect the community with the art department.

“There’s a lot of great work being made every semester in the department, and it doesn’t always get to be seen by many people outside of the class context it’s created in,” Chang said. “This is the opportunity to showcase the work of our talented students to their peers as well as to the larger BU community.”

Other faculty members, like Hans Gindlesberger, an assistant professor of art and design, reiterated that Open Studio Night joins two communities in one creative event.

“This exhibition is an opportunity for the exhibiting artists to reflect on how their creative vision has developed over the course of their studies and for visitors to observe the ways in which artists engage

issues and concepts that are shared with areas of research across the university,” Gindlesberger said.

Events such as these also allow for those who may not be familiar with fine arts to become acquainted with what might be demanded of an artist in the major or in the field. There are six different concentrations that a student can focus on if they are to earn a bachelor of fine arts, and professors of art and design stated they hope Open Studio Night can open people’s eyes to the opportunities presented.

“As faculty in the department, I also hope a lot of those attending will see what we do and will consider majoring or minoring,” Chang said.

“I think our program has a lot to offer within Harpur College and I hope to see awareness of our students’ talent and dedication continue to grow.”

Open Studio Night is free to attend and will take place on Tuesday, May 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building. A student awards ceremony will occur at 6 p.m. in the Grand Corridor to honor the work of a selection of artists who have distinguished themselves in categories.

bupipedream.com | May 7, 2018

ARTS

7

Musical theatre BFA approved by BU Faculty Senate Advanced program seeks SUNY support Shauna Bahssin

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

When assistant professor Tommy Iafrate joined Binghamton University’s theatre faculty in fall 2015, he was brought in to lead the department’s effort toward creating a musical theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program. As of Tuesday, May 1, Iafrate and the theatre department got one step closer to materializing the program when the BU Faculty Senate approved the department’s curriculum proposal.

The proposed program wasn’t met without hesitation, though.

Throughout the process of creating the BFA — a degree that requires more credits and advanced performance

training than the bachelor’s in theatre — the department faced questions about hiring new faculty members, recruitment processes, curriculum and diversity initiatives both from its own professors and the BU Faculty Senate.

“The department has been gearing up for this for a long time,” Iafrate said. “They did so by hiring me, by hiring David Wynen [an assistant professor of theatre], by hiring a musical director position so that we have all the tools we need, and when we put through this proposal we didn’t have to ask for more.”

Originally, the musical theatre program was conceived as a concentration of the alreadyexisting bachelor’s in theatre, a 40-credit major. The department moved toward a BFA in order to ensure that students were taking more coursework in acting, singing and dance to prepare

them for the competition they may face in the field after they graduate.

“There were so many courses that we wanted to include, because we want to train experts as singers, as dancers, as actors,” Iafrate said. “There simply wasn’t enough space within a bachelor’s of arts degree, which has all sorts of specifications about liberal arts and sciences classes and maximum number of credits due to other general education requirements — there was no way to do it. We ended up going the BFA route just because there was more flexibility in terms of how many credits we could require.”

At the Faculty Senate meeting, the program passed with almost every voting member — 42 professors out of 45 — in agreement. Concerns in deliberations came from Fernando Guzman, a member

of the BU diversity committee and a professor of mathematics, who expressed concerns about how diverse the proposed degree would be in terms of faculty on behalf of the committee.

“This proposal comes short of what is required from any degree proposal … all proposals coming to the Faculty Senate are to include a statement to address concerns of diversity and inclusion,” Guzman said.

“These statements should include a plan to recruit students from underrepresented groups, to include faculty from underrepresented groups … the diversity committee recommends to the Faculty Senate that these proposals get sent back to be corrected.”

While the department is not able to hire more faculty at this time, it intends to recruit students for the new program directly from high schools that service

traditionally underrepresented minorities. Since 2016, the theatre department has made efforts in creating more diverse productions, including producing shows that feature people of color in principle roles, like this year’s production of “Smart People,” a drama about race, class and gender between four Harvard University scholars.

Another measure the department has taken to be more accessible is creating audition workshops to help guide students who may be new to theatre through the casting process.

“In the last several years, the department’s been trying very hard to attract students of diversity to come audition for our productions so that we can serve them onstage and make sure that we’re telling all sorts of different stories,” Iafrate said. “I think that the concerns of the committee — which are

completely valid — are not just looking at the students we attract, but also the faculty, and I could not agree more — we need to have a more diverse faculty.”

The theatre department will be meeting with the University’s diversity committee in order to make a plan for hiring a more diverse faculty in the future.

At the time the BFA proposal was submitted to the University Senate, a condition of passing the program was to not bring on any new professors.

The theatre department will look next to BU’s administration and provost to approve the program. If the University passes the degree, the department will conduct a SUNY-wide proposal to approve the BFA program.

This process will likely delay the program’s establishment at BU past fall 2018, which was the earliest anticipated date of coursework being offered.

WHRW 90.5 FM station member Kit White dies at age 68 White remembered as ‘Gospel Time’ DJ Nikkolette Sather

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Minister Kit White, a station member at WHRW 90.5 FM since 1970, died at the age of 68 due to unknown circumstances.

She was the host of WHRW’s show “Gospel Time,” which aired every Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m to noon.

Originally, the show had a slow start, as White would only play her music when the music theory classes tapes broke. Since its start, the show has grown tremendously and become well-recognized

by most in the Binghamton area, according to an email from Jeffrey Goldberg, general manager of WHRW and a senior majoring in geography. “Gospel Time” preceded “Apprentice Dentist,” an airtime slot used to teach station apprentices how to operate WHRW’s technology, and was dedicated to “the divine inspiration to the words and music of the black church” coming from “the most diverse station in the nation,” which she claimed at the end of every broadcast.

“She was always a shining light for all of us, and always ready to help us out of a dark place, staying around as long as needed until your problems were solved,”

Goldberg wrote in an email.

White made an impact on many with her calming words and was willing to help anyone out of a dark place. She put enthusiasm and care into each and every one of her shows.

“Kit White was one of the most caring people I have ever known,” Taylor Mileski, the program director of WHRW and a junior double-majoring in sociology and graphic design, wrote in an email.

“Every Sunday when I would come into ‘Apprentice Dentist,’ she always would make it her job to make me smile at least once, especially in the beginning of my job as [program director] when I was nervous about doing it, which

she was successful at doing.”

White was able to bring a smile to her peers’ faces and her gentle character did not go unnoticed.

Her friends at WHRW will miss her positive attitude and her dedication to the show.

“I am so thankful to have known and talked to Kit to the extent that I did. We have lost not only a fantastic DJ with so much care and pride in her show, but also a strong and inspiring member of the Binghamton community,” Mileski wrote.

A memorial service was held Sunday, May 6, on WHRW PROVIDED BY FERDINAND MONTALVO from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. for Left to right: Mike Crane, general manager of WHRW from 1981-82, and Kit anyone to share their stories White, a member of the station since 1970, sit together at WHRW’s 40th Binghamton_Summer 18.qxp_Layout 1 3/2/18 1:57 PM Page 1 about White.

Anniversary Gala.

SUMMER SESSION IN NEW YORK CITY

SUCCESS doesn’t stop for SUMMER Binghamton students, headed home for the summer break?

If so, enroll in Summer Session at Suffolk County Community College and get a head start on next semester or even make up a course.

750+ undergraduate and graduate courses Online, classroom, and hybrid formats.

Visiting students welcome.

www.lehman.edu/summer

Both the eight-week and first five-week sessions start on June 4th, with another five-week session starting July 9th.

Make the most of your break with Summer Session at Suffolk.

Enroll in fall classes, too! Call 631-451-4111 or visit us online.

sunysuffolk.edu/SummerSessions

Fun

Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017 Monday, May 7,3,2, 2018

Los pollos hermanos

Nate Walker Badass mother clucker

Sudoku

Daniel Eisenhower

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle

Egg

Annabeth Sloan

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

RELEASE DATE– Monday, May 7, 2018

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Mmmmm yes, I love cock

Daniel Eisenhower

ACROSS 1 “I’m all __ it”: “Yes” 4 Pennies: Abbr.

7 “Later, dude” 10 Mil. strongholds 13 Long Island university 15 Demonic laugh 17 *Official emergency status 18 Month that once was eighth 19 Walked (on) 20 *Angler’s skill 22 One getting private lessons 24 Go down to defeat 25 __ Martin: Bond’s car 28 Garlicky sauce 32 Frozen over 33 *#1 hit 39 Venue for exercise swimming 41 Old golf club named for its copper alloyplated face 42 *One who rats to the cops 44 Spanish Mrs. 45 Selassie worshiper 46 Type in 48 Arduous journey 51 In style again 54 *Floater in a luxurious bath 58 “__ end up” 62 Existing independent of experience, in logic 63 List including nachos, sliders, wings, etc. ... and what the starts of the answers to starred clues comprise?

65 Another year of Time, say 66 “Canyon With Crows” artist Georgia 67 ’60s radical gp.

68 Antlered beast 69 Opposite of ENE 70 Birthday gift for a tot

DOWN 1 Almanac item 2 Smell often funky 3 Decorate anew 4 Basic technique in EMT training 5 Stealing 6 Move laterally 7 Coll. hotshot 8 Female leadership org.

9 Grub 10 One-named Milanese model 11 If-__: conditional statements 12 NCO nickname 14 Resulted in 16 “MASH” nickname 21 Wine label number 23 7-Up nickname 25 Afflicts 26 Ella’s style 27 Wrong-key error 29 Beatles’ “Let __” 30 Other, in Oaxaca 31 Car borrowed from a dealer 34 One-footed jumps 35 Landed 36 Whispered “Hey!” 37 The Auld Sod

38 Stern area 40 Trademark Buster Keaton hat with a culinary name 43 Clothing 47 “I didn’t do it” 48 Nicholas II was the last of them in Russia 49 Caught, as dogies 50 Gets by working

52 “Funny bone” spot 53 Hardwood trees 55 Boxer Riddick 56 It borders Siberia in the game of Risk 57 Defraud 59 Strain to lift 60 Recon collection 61 Chop __ 64 Remote button with left-pointing arrows: Abbr.

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

By Lila Cherry ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

05/01/18

05/07/18

OPINIONS Monday, May 7, 2018

STEP SOFTLY, SOPPS

Annabeth Sloan Editorial Artist

As Binghamton University expands into Johnson City with the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) and Decker School of Nursing, it must be cognizant of rising concerns about the economic dynamics of the area.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has allotted $60 million for the construction of SOPPS in the hopes that the school would bridge the divide between the seemingly old-fashioned manufacturingbased economy and the developing futuristic economy of innovation and technology. Though the Editorial Board acknowledges that this is a necessary and benevolent ambition, we harbor apprehension about the manner in which it will be carried out. The University may not fully realize the effect it will have on the community it is entering, and may unintentionally create a larger divide than it is bridging.

The University posits that the Johnson City campus will bring drug, device and supply companies into the community and create jobs. There has been no consideration, however, given to the residents of the community who may not be equipped or trained to fill these potential new positions in these industries. Shifting the economy of an area requires work to grow and maneuver the skill set of the population.

Though the University is initiating these changes, it has taken no apparent action to help adapt the labor power of the community to the newly developing economy it is fostering.

If the people living in the community don’t have the skills of this industry and don’t have the opportunity to learn them, they will be forced out of their homes to find work.

As students begin to further integrate themselves into the Johnson City community, they will inevitably start living in the area, replacing those community members who had to flee with students who are only around for part of the year. Though this can bring new income into the area, it can lead to the gentrification of the community as well.

We have seen a similar gentrifying effect occurring in

Downtown Binghamton as well as on the West Side of Binghamton.

Downtown has begun to flourish in recent years, with more and more restaurants opening up to serve the growing student body.

Unfortunately, this development has come at the cost of some of the community’s citizens. As students have moved into these areas, they have driven rent prices through the roof. Many of the community members can no longer afford their homes, and have had to relocate themselves and their families.

Though there are some potential problems with BU entering Johnson City, there are potential benefits to reap

from the implementation of the Johnson City campus. Johnson City is a generally economically underprivileged community, as it used to be primarily an industrial and manufacturing community, and SOPPS will hopefully do as Cuomo said it will and bring drug companies to the area to create jobs for its inhabitants. However, throwing money — even $60 million — at the community will not necessarily revitalize it. The community needs real, thoughtful policy and action in order to grow and flourish.

The University does have a responsibility to the communities it is a part of, but that responsibility

is not purely economic. BU must acknowledge that there are no easy solutions to the larger issue of poverty, and Johnson City is no different. The construction of the Johnson City campus may be a step in the right direction, but alone, without job training programs, it is simply not enough. In the coming months, as construction concludes and students, faculty and staff begin to come into the area, the Editorial Board urges the administration and members of the campus community to tread lightly, listen to the response from local residents and be mindful of the neighborhood they are entering.

Senior Columns

Senior Column: A final thank you

Graduation is a time for appreciating the people who got you to this point Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

In true college fashion, I wrote this senior column within the hour it was due on a bus. Oh god, this transition to the real world won’t be pretty. How do students who have been taught to lament capitalism and the patriarchy apply the skills they’ve learned into something meaningful? For those of us without immediate job prospects, how do we adjust to a summer of anticipation, anxiety and eventual employment?

Some of us are experiencing feelings of doubt about these past few years. Did we really receive the quality education we were

promised at orientation, or were some of us cheated with easy A’s or inadequate professors? It took me a long time to understand that my professors were responsible for teaching me. Going to class and skating by barely opening a textbook is passive learning.

We may have been rewarded for it with impressive grade-point averages, but the real education we’ve gained is measured by our activities outside of the classroom.

I came to college with the goal of becoming a better writer. And while it’s still not where I would like it to be, I understand that no professor can ever help that. I’ve had phenomenal teachers over the past four years who have cared enough about their students to provide genuine feedback on their work and to ensure growth

throughout the semester. I’ve also had Pavlovian professors who conditioned their students to reproduce their ideals rather than counter them.

I’m grateful for my college experiences outside of class, which I believe helped me to achieve my goal of becoming a better writer. Joining Pipe Dream, writing satire for The Bing Butt, creating and writing for the sketch comedy show Binghamton Night Live and doing stand-up comedy are the richest and most memorable experiences I have from college. I’m grateful that my love of comedy will be passed down through a show I was able to make only through the dedication of the Hinman Production Company, whose members have a strong passion to make people

laugh and create something bigger than themselves.

There are a few people I wish to thank for making my college experience: To my mom, who would have loved to go to college: You always listened to me when I complained about my trivial college drama even though I sounded unappreciative of being at such a great university. Thank you. Also, you were right when you told me my hair would fall out if I tried to be a vegetarian because I wouldn’t do it right. But you still let me have my phase. You are the first person I come to when times are tough, and you always will be.

To my dad, who would have loved it if I had picked up an instrument, learned a new language or studied a

better major: I know you still think these things and you’re absolutely right. But thank you for never pressuring me and for encouraging me to make my own mistakes.

To Fraser Leslie, the guy who lived next door to me freshman year in Rafuse 203 and we made out in the lounge that one time during Mutant Mania: I never thought I would still be with a freshman hookup, but I’m glad life happened that way.

To my niece, Francesca, who was born my first semester during my first and only a cappella semester show: I’m so excited to watch you grow up firsthand and not on Facebook.

I probably won’t stay in contact with more than two people I’ve met at college. The

connections I have made here are not strong enough to endure time, distance and apathy. But I will always cherish their kindness and wisdom and time I’ve had with them.

The class of 2018 is walking away not only with a diploma, but with a choice. The choice to move up in the world and be the generation our parents say we can be, or not to. If my nihilist classmates have taught me anything, it’s that nothing matters. (But really, it does).

Thank you Bing and thank you Pipe Dream for letting me write this column the hour before it was due, in true college fashion.

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

Senior Column: Apathy isn’t a sign of indifference Experiencing two institutions shaped my attitude about my future Joshua Hummell

Contributing Columnist

As a senior about to graduate, the question most asked of me is whether or not I am excited to graduate. In all honesty, I feel apathetic. My experience in college has been twofold. As a transfer student, I split my time evenly at both Onondaga Community College and here, and because of this, my experiences at both colleges have been short. While some people may look at this as a negative, especially as I missed out on the sacred experiences of

freshmen and sophomores, I look at it positively. I learned how to jump into new situations.

There is no time like the present when you know there’s not going to be a long time for something. For the first semester at Onondoga Community College, I just took classes and went home. It was a very lonely time.

Most of the interactions I had were with my co-workers at the Target I worked at, a few friends at school and the occasional visit to my other friends’ colleges on weekends. I grew envious of their experiences.

By the second semester, I was signed up for several clubs, joined the honor society on

campus and met new people as much as possible. When I came to Binghamton University, I had learned my lesson; I was signed up for a few clubs my first week on campus and I was meeting as many people as I could.

I learned to focus on my education. As a transfer student, I can tell you that it is very difficult to enter a new institution right after you just got the feel for a previous one. I knew all the professors, the heads of departments and the best places to study. Then, when I transferred to BU, I had to jump in and meet new friends while taking courses that were more challenging than those I had taken before. Frankly, it was a very

stressful time and it showed in my GPA for my first semester here.

The second semester, however, I felt a little more relaxed and even went to my professors’ office hours. They challenged me and helped me develop myself academically to the point that I became comfortable writing for the school newspaper, something I had never dreamed of doing.

I think this is the reason for the apathy. I’m not worried about my future. After talking to many of my friends, I discovered that most of them feel excited about new opportunities, whether it be a job, gap year or graduate school, and at the same time, they are nervous for those very same reasons.

In addition, after attending both schools, I have learned not to overthink my future. Before I attended Onondoga Community College, I had the community college mindset, which means I thought college would just be an extension of high school. It turns out I could not have been more wrong. I was academically and socially challenged in more ways than I thought I ever would be.

Before I went to BU, I had in my imagination that it was going to be the greatest institution ever and I was going to have the greatest time. As I’ve written before in Pipe Dream, there have been some disappointments at BU since I began. This isn’t to say it was a bad

time; it has been great, but I played it up in my imagination a bit too much.

As a senior about to graduate, my feeling of apathy has to do with my experiences. I have a job after college that is taking me across the world, and an unknown future lies ahead. I’m neither nervous nor excited for whatever it will be, because whatever it will be, it will be. In any case, both institutions have prepared me for this. No matter the situation or job, I’m ready to devote my time to it and jump right in.

— Josh Hummell is a senior double-majoring in classical and Near Eastern studies and history.

10

OPINIONS

bupipedream.com | May 7, 2018

Senior Columns

Senior Column: Minors can be major

Peripheral interests can mold what you truly learn in college Simone Scheurer

Copy Editor

At the end of this article, it’s going to say that I am a senior majoring in human development. That is a lie. Not really, but for the past 10 years, I should have known better.

When people ask me my major, I say these words exactly, every time: “Human development. It’s kind of like social work, but not really.

Also, I’m minoring in theatre.”

Generally, no one cares about your minor. It’s the hobby you wish you could study full-time, but know that it wouldn’t make sense or get you any money or fame.

In Pipe Dream, I’ve been

a copy editor for about a year and a half. I’ve never written an article, and I’ve never wanted to. I don’t even know why I’m writing this one. But in the many things I’ve learned about copy editing, one of the most common things we see is attributions: John Doe, a sophomore majoring in vaping.

And we never publish minors because who cares, right?

Well, as it turns out, the reason I always tag on my minor to people is because at this point, it matters more to me than my major. Sorry, HDEV. My major doesn’t deserve the reputation it gets in the professional world. Some of the classes we take should be mandatory.

If I hadn’t chosen this as my major, I never would’ve been forced to face the injustices people deal with every day. I’m

“Generally, no one cares about your minor. It’s the hobby you wish you could study full-time, but know that wouldn’t make sense or get you any money or fame.” grateful for it. That being said, I have no interest whatsoever in pursuing a career in human development, whatever those two words are meant to mean together.

I’ve been involved in theatre since I was 11. I met my best friends through theatre. To be clear, I am not an actor, nor will I ever be one. Only true friends remember my cameo in “Fame” when I was a sophomore in high school — someone called

for a mic and I brought them one. The crowd went wild. Just kidding. I have only worked backstage. I have painted, I have stage managed, I have loved, I have lost and theatre has been the only constant. And now, my love lies with costumes.

If I give any advice to people younger than me, it’s to learn to eat lunch by yourself, never change for anyone and try your best to do what you love. It’s not always realistic and being a

Senior Column: A contrarian’s farewell Columnist

In January 2016, I transferred to Binghamton University with hopes of turning my academic career up a notch. There is no doubt I got what I expected, with classes and faculty challenging me in ways I had not experienced before. As an English major, one of the first steps I took was looking into a school paper for which I could write. In Pipe Dream, I found it, and thus began my career as a columnist for BU’s largest and oldest student newspaper.

My aim as a writer for Pipe Dream has always been simple: to challenge students’ strongest political dispositions. I took this approach not to be difficult or even to voice my personal opinions, but to introduce some diversity of thought to a campus that is rather politically one-sided. This would eventually lead me to express views on abortion, the wage gap, social-welfare programs and other contentious issues. It should go without saying that I received a bit of flak for my positions.

I proceeded to write controversially despite such

opposition because I saw something extremely destructive happening on college campuses, including ours.

Namely, civil and honest debate regarding facts has been replaced by a pseudo-intellectual, totalitarian doctrine of radical leftism and identity politics. This phenomenon was not new when I arrived. It had been occurring for the better part of the last decade, but has certainly grown worse since the 2016 presidential election.

Instead of thinking on their own, people have engaged in groupthink, which leads to narrow, politically motivated conclusions.

Instead of championing the facts, people have made their feelings paramount. Instead of being united by truth, people have been divided by tribal identity. Not only do all of these trends lead to a more bitter, polarized state of politics, but they also undermine American values, such as individualism and freedom.

In light of such dogmatism, I implore students to take an alternative approach. Question everything. Hear opinions from each side and assess the factual basis for both. Watch CNN and Fox News.

Read The New York Times and National Review. Absorb information insatiably, to the point where being anything but intellectually well-

teaching me that memes can even be made about printers.

I love you a lot, Kara. That’s as sappy as I’ll get.

Thank you to my Tom. I hope we never break up, just so I don’t regret writing about you in a Pipe Dream article.

All my love to Team Valor, and we really need a new group name. You guys are my best friends and you’re never getting rid of me.

And lastly, thank you to Andrea, Marisa and Sandy for providing me a place where I feel comfortable and for answering all my questions.

Never did I think I’d feel as strongly as I do for you strong, weird, candid women.

— Simone Scheurer is a senior majoring in human development.

Senior Column: Living in the present

Absorbing all biases leads to a more educated stance Brian Deinstadt

doctor or lawyer will always get you more money than being a costume stitcher, but keep your hobbies, kids. Maybe you’ll make them a career one day.

Maybe doing two credits in the costume shop will change your life. Who knows? Why not do it?

Nothing matters.

So that’s my spiel. In other news (ha ha), I love this paper and being a part of it. I love copy goddesses Shauna, Bridget, Sarah and now, baby Lia (sorry for calling you a baby at the first meeting, but you are one and there’s nothing I can do about it) and I adore everyone else on this team of weirdos who live for grammar. Thanks for enduring two-hour shifts of doing homework and laughing at Police Watch.

Thanks SA Ink for always letting me print stuff and

Overthinking prevents enjoying the current moment

rounded would be impossible. Few better opportunities exist than the four years spent at college to learn as much as you can and decide which path in life is the most meaningful.

Instead of partaking in the protest and hysteria, cherish this time and the unique freedom it gives you — time that, for me, is now coming to an end.

I would like to thank BU for accepting me back in November 2015. I would like to thank Pipe Dream for amplifying my voice, despite it being of a different tone.

I would like to thank my professors, who bequeathed knowledge to me that I will cherish for a lifetime. And I would like to thank my friends, for making the path toward graduation all the more worth it.

As I leave college and this polarized state behind, I reflect on the words of Abraham Lincoln: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” So let’s go ahead and not destroy ourselves.

Seems reasonable enough, right?

Farewell, BU. It’s been a privilege.

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

Brad Calendrillo

Columnist

Throughout most of my life, I have worried about the next step. From worrying about where to go to middle school in fifth grade, to worrying about my high school decision in eighth grade, to stressing out about college options as a junior in high school, the overwhelming concern about my future was always prevalent.

By always thinking about the future, I was missing out on the immediate moments that were right in front of me. Of course, planning my future is important, but I should not worry my life away. Also, reflecting too much on the past can lead to not living in the present, which is something I used to have a problem with as well.

To this day, I still struggle with overthinking about the future. For instance, graduation is right around the corner, and I still have to decide between two different graduate programs.

I am struggling to make a decision since I am considering

which program will better shape my future.

Although my worries have not gone away, the difference now is that I do not let these concerns about my future ruin my present. However, this transition was not easy, and my experience at Binghamton University played a large role in this new mindset.

Because of its sense of community, this campus has provided me with a wonderful undergraduate experience for which I knew I had to live in the present. Yes, a time of great change is ahead of me, and yes, I need to make a decision soon, but continuously making the most out of my undergraduate career is just as important, if not more important. Before I know it, it will all be over.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to take a break from my worries and thank everybody who made my experience at BU truly special.

Thank you to all of my closest friends. If you are reading this, you know who you are. Thank you to all of the inspiring instructors that I have had at BU who have helped me with my confidence and have always

cared about my well-being and success.

Thank you to all of the student organizations I had the honor to be a part of and, for some, be in charge of.

Specifically, a special thank you to Bowling Club, French Club and Pipe Dream. I will never forget my time spent doing what I love with these organizations.

Each one constantly served as a reminder to enjoy the good moments while I still can, as I will not be in college forever.

For life in general, tomorrow is not guaranteed. Therefore, live life to the fullest every day rather than having a life spent worrying.

Relax and breathe. Show gratitude and appreciation for what you currently have, because it can be lost in an instant. Enjoy the little things, such as the rare nice weather that Binghamton provides. The future will work out, and everything will fall into place eventually. I am leaving my undergraduate career unsure of exactly what the future will hold, but thankful for the experiences that taught me to live in the present.

— Brad Calendrillo is a senior majoring in English.

Senior Column: Finding my identity Letting go of inhibitions allowed me to grow

Kara Bilello

Columnist

How the hell I pulled off two majors in three years is beyond me.

What I do know, however, is that I’ve grown. I remember walking into my linguistic anthropology class freshman year covered in mud from rowing practice that morning. I remember walking around at midnight with my friends, pints of Ben & Jerry’s in hand. I remember walking across the Spine in a leotard and tutu for ballet on days when it was too hot outside to put on warm clothes.

I have so many stories from my three years here, and 600 words is nowhere near enough to sum them up. But I want to try, and in doing so, I want to share a few of

the lessons I’ve learned.

Number one: You are good enough just as you are. You do not have to pretend to be another person or hide whatever passion feeds your soul. My life opened up when I started ballet again for the first time in years following injuries. Do whatever it is that brings you joy, whether that’s riding in the back of your friend’s Jeep with the cover off or sitting in your bed on a Sunday morning with your laptop and Hulu.

Number two: Stop worrying so much about your body. As someone recovering from anorexia nervosa, I’ve come to realize that college is a breeding ground for conversations about how to get that perfect summer beach body, how someone feels guilty for eating ice cream at a birthday party or how someone labels themselves as “fat” — as if this is a derogatory term rather

than a part of your body; fat is not a feeling — when they nourish themselves. In these last two weeks before graduation, I’m not looking back and remembering the times when I ditched plans to avoid food.

I’m remembering and holding onto those late-night runs for McFlurries with my roommates, the Korean food from Man Nam that reminds me of home and all of the time that I spent worrying about things other than food.

Number three: You are not your struggle. You have an identity outside of your anxiety/depression/ apathy. Be honest and accepting not only with others, but with yourself, too.

Number four: Ask for help. You have more people on your side than you know, both when you need to have a party for the halfassed paper that you didn’t think you would finish and when the

worst possible thing happens. You are not alone.

I’m running out of ways to say thank you to the people who have been there, whether it be in the form of therapy, tough love or laughter. Thank you to my freshman year resident assistant — and all those following — for putting up with me. Thank you to my rowing friends for tolerating all of my complaining and celebrating when we got close to medaling.

Thank you to my ballet friends for checking my pirouettes for me and getting me back to my triple.

Thank you to my roommates and my team and my cat.

I have screwed up the ideal image of college in more ways than you could imagine, but I’ve defined myself, too. And to the surprise of all of my anxiety, things seem to just fall into place sometimes when you relax a little and let go

of your plan. Your mental health, sanity and, oftentimes, relaxation are more important than having a 4.0. I have been a part of Pipe Dream for every semester that I’ve been at Binghamton University and can’t imagine my college experience without it.

I am absolutely terrified for what comes next. I have a future at Columbia University for the next two years studying for my MFA in nonfiction and Spanish translation, and an entirely new life awaiting me. And God knows I’m nowhere near ready to leave the world of education quite yet.

So I’m diving in head-first and letting go of the familiar to have a brand new perspective ready for me to experience. I hope you can do the same.

— Kara Bilello is a senior doublemajoring in English and Spanish.

“Be honest and accepting not only with others, but with yourself, too.”

bupipedream.com | May 7, 2018

SPORTS

11

Baseball takes only one game in series against Maine Bearcats’ playoff hopes continue to dwindle Julian Guevara

Pipe Dream Sports

Jonathan Flores Pipe Dream Photographer Junior pitcher Nick Gallagher struck out seven batters and earned a victory in Binghamton’s first game at Maine on Saturday.

Going into its second-to-last conference series of the season, the Binghamton baseball team desperately needed to pull out at least a couple of victories in order to remain in the playoff picture, as it is slotted to play second-seeded UMBC next weekend.

The three-game series in Maine began on Saturday with a doubleheader that the two teams split, with BU (13-28-1, 7-14 America East) winning the first game, 7-4, and Maine (15-28, 9-9 AE) taking the nightcap, 4-2. The Black Bears ended up winning the rubber match as well, 6-1.

“We’re putting ourselves in that hole — we had a couple of defensive breakdowns [Sunday] early on in the game,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki. “We had a chance in the first inning with the first two batters on base and we didn’t execute, so there’s no magic recipe. It’s just about playing good, quality baseball and we haven’t been able to do that for the

majority of the year.”

In the first game, Binghamton jumped ahead to an early lead in the first after senior outfielder CJ Krowiak knocked a leadoff single through the left side of the infield.

Krowiak eventually reached third with just one out, and senior infielder Luke Tevlin drove him in with a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to allow Krowiak to tag up.

This lone run seemed to be enough for junior pitcher Nick Gallagher, who started the game on the mound. The experienced righthander tossed six strong, scoreless frames. Gallagher, however, ran into some trouble in the seventh, where Maine plated all four of its runs.

“I don’t need to tell our guys anything, I think they know that we’re underperforming right now,” Sinicki said. “So we’re just hoping that they can do what we know they are capable of doing.”

Gallagher earned the win for his impressive outing, allowing just one earned run, four hits and one walk while striking out seven Black Bear hitters. Junior left-handed pitcher Robert Brown earned his third save of the season for his 2.1 innings of scoreless pitching. Both

pitchers were able to be relaxed on the mound, as senior shortstop Paul Rufo swung a hot bat, finishing 3-for5 with two RBIs in BU’s seven-run offensive performance.

The doubleheader proved to be a tale of two Binghamton offenses.

After plating seven runs in the first game, BU was held to just two runs in the second game. Maine came from behind following Binghamton’s early offense, propelling it to a 2-0 edge in the fourth inning.

“Unfortunately, we’re looking at the end of the line soon and if we don’t make some kind of quick relation, then this season will end before we want it to,” Sinicki said.

“So there’s no magic words at this point, especially when you have a group of guys who are veterans, they have been through this and they know what it’s all about.”

The Black Bears found some late-game momentum and recorded all four of its runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings of the seven-inning game.

Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Wloczewski earned the start on Sunday for the series finale, but junior infielder Jeremy Pena of Maine had nothing but victory on his

agenda. The leadoff hitter started the game with a long, fly-ball triple to center field; he then scored on a wild pitch, giving Maine a 1-0 advantage with its second batter of the game at the plate.

Senior catcher Jonathan Bennett, who went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs, also led the Maine offense. The veteran catcher hit a two-run home run that gave Maine a 4-0 lead and knocked Wloczewski out of the game in the bottom of the third.

“At this point, desperate times call for desperate measures, so we have to find a way to compete at the highest level possible this coming weekend,” Sinicki said.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Reid VanScoter tossed 4.2 innings of strong relief work. After coming into the game in the third inning with one out, he retired the next two batters in order and stayed on until he was replaced by junior righthanded pitcher Cal Lawrence in the eighth. VanScoter allowed just one hit in his 4.2 innings on the mound.

Binghamton is scheduled to return to the diamond this coming Tuesday for a doubleheader at Siena College. First pitch from Loudonville, New York is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Taken every day, PrEP can keep you free from HIV. You can reduce your chance of getting HIV if you use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body.

Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. Among people who inject drugs, by more than 70 percent.

Contact UHS Binghamton Primary Care at 762-3300.

Our Navigator will set up an appointment and assist you with insurance and prescription information.

A collaborative program of UHS Binghamton Primary Care, and the Broome County Health Department.

PODCAST

Pipe Dream Bearcast FOR INTERVIEWS AND ANALYSIS Monday, May 7, 2018

BEARCAT BRIEFS TRACK AND FIELD Justin Zion

Sports Intern

Rebecca Kiss Photography Editor Senior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy was one of three Bearcats to post a hat trick in BU’s America East semifinal loss to Albany.

Binghamton ends historic season Women’s lacrosse falls to Great Danes in playoffs Justin Zion

Sports Intern

The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team’s historic season came to a close Friday night in Stony Brook, New York. Facing Albany in the semifinals of the America East (AE) Tournament, the Bearcats (89, 5-2 AE) surrendered a late-game scoring run to the Great Danes (98, 6-1 AE), ultimately dropping the game, 16-10.

Friday’s game was the first ever AE Tournament game for the Binghamton women’s lacrosse program. The team accumulated a record eight wins and five conference victories, making this season the program’s most successful since it was founded in 2002.

“It’s been a great season and I could not be more proud of the women on this team,” said BU head coach Stephanie Allen, per bubearcats.com. “We would have liked to have won tonight, but as a whole, the season was a success.”

Yet despite breaking all of these barriers, it was the barrier the Bearcats couldn’t break that ultimately ended their season, as the team still has not found a way to take down Albany. The two programs have played 17 games against each other since 2002, and Albany has won each and every one of them.

In Friday’s showdown, two young players in particular proved to be the Bearcats’ undoing. Albany freshman attack Kyla Zapolski blasted the Bearcats with five goals to lead all scorers. Great Danes sophomore midfielder Sam Tortora, meanwhile, contributed a hat trick of her own, along with four assists — four more than the entire Binghamton team accumulated.

It was a Tortora-assisted goal that began the scoring for the game, giving Albany an early lead less than two minutes into play.

The Great Danes put up three more over the course of the next 10 minutes before Binghamton scored its first of the game nearly 15 minutes in, courtesy of senior attack Tiffany Ryan.

The latter half of the first half

featured the Bearcats settling in, slowly eating away at Albany’s lead. Senior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy contributed two goals during this period, and the Bearcats ultimately managed to pull within one. A player-up goal by Zapolski with nine seconds on the clock put the halftime score at 7-5.

Thriving off the momentum they gained from their steady comeback in the first, the Bearcats burst out of the gates to start the second, scoring three unanswered to take a one-goal edge. With such a burst, it seemed that Binghamton could truly have been on its way to finally taking down its in-state rivals, but the feeling did not last long.

The Zapolski-Tortora duo began to heat up, propelling Albany ahead. Zapolski scored twice in the second period on assists from Tortora, while Tortora herself scored two goals as the middle of the half was dominated by Albany.

By the time the 8-0 run was over, less than 10 minutes remained on the clock, and the Bearcats were in a seven-goal hole. They went on to lose the game by six. Kennedy, Ryan and redshirt senior attack

Brianne Arthur each scored three times in the losing effort.

Despite the disappointing loss, the weekend was not without Bearcat successes. The AE Tournament banquet, held the night before, saw several Bearcats honored. Kennedy earned a spot on the first team all-conference for the first time in her career, while five Bearcats made the second team all-conference, including Arthur and junior midfielder Rebecca Golderman. In all, eight Bearcats received accolades at the banquet.

Having eliminated Binghamton, Albany moved on to the championship game of the tournament yesterday, where it took on the host team, No. 1 Stony Brook, who crushed New Hampshire in the other semifinal game. Stony Brook defeated Great Danes, 22-14, extending its streak of AE championships to six consecutive seasons.

As for Binghamton, the team has finally achieved its long-time, ever-elusive goal of reaching the AE Tournament. Having lifted that curse at long last, it seems as though the program is finally ready to take the next step forward.

The Binghamton track and field team participated in the America East (AE) Outdoor Championships this past weekend at UMBC, with several Bearcats winning titles in their respective events.

Graduate student Keishorea Armstrong headlined the Bearcats’ performances, taking home the honor of women’s Most Outstanding Field Athlete.

The highlight for the team on Saturday, the first day of the two-day meet, was Armstrong’s performance in the long jump, taking home the title with a distance of 20-1. The victory marked Armstrong’s fifth AE long jump title, and her eighth overall AE title.

Sophomore Samantha Beyar was the other big winner on Saturday for Binghamton, winning the pole vault title with a height of 12-5½. Beyar also won the indoor pole vault back in February, bringing her total number of titles to two.

On Sunday, freshman Brittany Korsah highlighted the women’s team’s performance, taking first place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.18 seconds. Korsah made school history in the event, breaking a five-year-old school record.

Elsewhere, Armstrong captured third place in the triple jump on Sunday with a jump of 12.36, while senior Oyin Adewale took fourth place in the women’s shot

put with a throw of 13.62 meters. The Binghamton women’s 4x1 relay team also took fourth place in its event with a time of 46.98.

On the men’s side, the decathlon event, which took place over the course of both days, was captured by sophomore Troy Zanger, with a total of 6,701 points.

Zanger took victory in four out of the ten legs of the decathlon en route to his victory.

While Zanger’s victory was the men’s team’s only title of the weekend, there were numerous secondplace finishes. In the men’s 100-meter dash, sophomore Greg Matzelle finished a close second to UMBC’s sophomore Brian Nelson.

The two were separated by less than a tenth of a second. In the 1,500-meter run, graduate student Eric Holt finished .06 seconds behind the winner, graduate student Jacob Johns of Maine, while in the high jump, second place went to sophomore Jack Fitzgerald with a height of 2.07 meters.

Overall, with 22 events scored for both sides, both the men and the women finished in the middle of the pack, each taking home fifth-place finishes out of nine teams.

Up next for track and field is the Eastern College Athletic Conference/ Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Championships for those who qualified. The meet will take place from Friday, May 11 to Sunday, May 13.

Softball rolls past Hartford in regular season finale Bearcats secure fifth seed in AE Tournament Edward Aaron

Pipe Dream Sports

In its final series of the regular season, the Binghamton softball team swept Hartford in three games, winning 7-2, 11-9 and 12-2. The Bearcats (16-23, 9-9 America East) locked up the fifth seed in the 2018 AE Tournament with their victories. The Hawks (10-32, 0-18 AE) finished in last place in the conference for the fifth straight year. For the third time in four years, Hartford failed to win a conference game.

In her final regular-season appearances as a Bearcat, senior outfielder Jessica Rutherford powered the Bearcats to victory in all three games. Throughout the series, Rutherford went 9-for-11 with four doubles, a home run and six RBIs. She also improved her career batting average to .389, the highest in program history.

“I was just seeing the ball well,” Rutherford said. “It was a good day weather-wise, so I was just out there having fun swinging the bat, hoping it went well.”

The series began with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

During the first game, the Bearcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning, including a double and a two-run home run hit by sophomore pitcher Rozlyn Price.

The Bearcats ultimately won, 7-2.

Game two was a beyondproductive offensive performance for both teams, with the Bearcats scoring runs in five out of the six innings. It was in this game that the Hawks showed the most resilience. With BU up 2-0 in the third, Hartford hit a three-run bomb, taking the lead. In the top of the sixth, Hartford tied the game at five and in the top of the seventh, the Hawks hit a grand slam to cut their deficit to two runs. However, Binghamton did not let up and preserved the save, capturing the game 11-9.

“I just really liked that our offense was working from the start of the game all the way through,” said BU head coach Michelle Johnston. “I think they were pretty confident offensively in knowing that even when Hartford got ahead, we could get back.”

Saturday’s series finale marked senior day for the Bearcats.

Rutherford, infielder Kate Richard, infielder Carrie Maniccia and infielders Stephanie Bielec and Jillian Bovitt were honored for their time as Bearcats, which included

one AE Championship and two regular season titles.

“Our seniors have meant so much to this program,” Johnston said. “We really appreciate all the work that they put in.”

After allowing one unearned run in the top of the first inning, the Bearcats went to work in the bottom frame. While the bases were loaded, sophomore infielder Kassidy Seary hit a two-RBI single to propel Binghamton to a 2-1 edge.

Singles by sophomore catcher Sara Herskowitz and freshman outfielder Lauren Martinez contributed to three more runs and the Bearcats took a 5-1 lead, prompting a pitching change by Hartford.

“I thought as soon as [BU] got some momentum they kind of ran with it,” Johnston said. “I think that’s exactly what we need for next week.”

The Hawks’ new pitcher was welcomed to the game by facing Rutherford, who hit an RBI single, extending the Bearcats’ lead to five, but appeared injured on the play and exited the game. Rutherford returned two innings later. “[Rutherford’s] fine,” Johnston said. “She’s got a sore spot on her foot, and the ball hit her right where that spot is. She was ready to come back a little sooner than when I put her back in.”

Rachel Tomei Staff Photographer Senior outfielder Jessica Rutherford now has the highest career batting average in Binghamton softball history after going 9-for-11 against Hartford.

In the bottom of the third, Rutherford returned to the game, reigniting the crowd with an RBI double, one of four runs the Bearcats scored in the inning, which culminated in a 10-2 margin.

As a result of leading by eight runs or more in the bottom of the fifth inning, the forfeit rule applied, and the Bearcats won 12-2, securing the sweep over Hartford.

With the regular season over, Binghamton’s focus turns to the 2018 AE Softball Tournament, which it will be hosting at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The fifthseeded Bearcats will take on the fourth-seeded Maine Black Bears on Wednesday in their opening matchup of the double-elimination tournament. With a win, BU will face first-seeded Albany on Thursday.

With a loss, they will play the loser of the Stony Brook versus UMBC game later Wednesday afternoon.

“We haven’t had the best start [to the season], but we can always come back,” Bovitt said. “I’m really confident in what we have going for ourselves right now.”

First pitch in the Bearcats’ 2018 AE Tournament debut is set for 11 a.m on Wednesday, May 9.