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Thursday, February 28, 2019 | Vol. XCV, Issue 11 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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Meeting lacks details on proposal progress Town-Gown Advisory Board discusses proposal updates for less than half of meeting, focuses on project presentation Valerie Puma & Stephen Anku pipe dream news
john atkinson contributing photographer Students, faculty, city officials and community members gathered in the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator on Tuesday evening for the second Town-Gown Advisory Board meeting of the year.
Students discuss concerns at Sweeps Candidates field questions on mental health, communication
Coming together for the second Town-Gown Advisory Board (TGAB) meeting of the year, city officials, community members, professors and students were met with a presentation on Binghamton University’s plans to revitalize areas of Johnson City for its health sciences campus, but learned little about the details of TGAB’s progress on proposals put forth by subcommittees in October. The meeting, held in the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator on Tuesday evening, lasted almost two hours, but board members spent about 30 minutes discussing the status of their committee proposals. Of the 33 members on the board, 25 attended the meeting. The board consists of five subcommittees, focused on student housing, safety, promoting and cultivating positive community
engagement, transportation and parking and dangerous underage drinking. Each subcommittee proposed at least one plan or project at the TGAB meeting on Sept. 21, and TGAB publicly announced five proposals that had been funded at a meeting on Oct. 24. At Tuesday’s meeting, each subcommittee described their initial proposals and said they were doing well. Only two, the underage drinking and promoting and cultivating positive community engagement subcommittees, provided a detailed update on the status of their project. The underage drinking subcommittee’s project focuses on gathering information from underage students in Binghamton in an effort to form a data-driven approach to combating dangerous drinking. The project received $20,000 in funding and is being conducted in partnership with the Binghamton Campus Community Coalition (BCCC), which aims to reduce underage drinking and substance abuse and includes representatives from the Binghamton mayor’s office, Binghamton Police Department, Broome County Health Department, local business owners and offices on campus that deal with students at risk for alcohol and drug abuse.
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EVP proposes space allocation committee SA considers redistributing office, storage spaces Phariha Rahman & Kyle Dunnigan pipe dream news
Student Association (SA) groups may see a change in how their spaces in the University Union are distributed. During an SA Congress meeting on Jan. 28, Executive Vice President Michelle Dao proposed the creation of a new SA committee that would be in charge of overseeing the space allocation
process to more than 300 student organizations. According to Dao’s report in the SA Congress minutes, the goal of the committee will be to decide who the space goes to and to revamp the space allocation process to be more fair and equitable. “There’s a lot of spaces upstairs where people have violations, so it is also a matter of encouraging organizations to clear up the spaces and to increase traction upstairs so that it will be seen as a used space instead of a storage space,” Dao said in her report. Bradley Goldman, president of Hillel,
an SA Congress representative for offcampus students and a senior majoring in accounting, said he was ambivalent about the possible changes. “I don’t really have an opinion either which way, but it’s necessary for an organization as large as the Student Association to reanalyze itself,” Goldman said. “It’s trying to make sure that is the most fair because there are over 300 different student groups.” However, Goldman said he hoped the change would not affect Hillel. “We are probably one of the most active groups in terms of lounge usage,”
Goldman said. “People are always in [and] out, it’s really a hub for so many students. I can’t imagine Hillel without that space. But at the end of the day, it’s up to the discretion of the Student Association, but I don’t see Hillel losing that space.” Space is allocated to groups who score the highest on a rubric that will be graded based on how well the organization has complied with SA policy, how the group would make use of its space, whether or not they have a large
see space page 3
Nicole Kaufman
contributing writer
As SA Executive Board and Binghamton University Council candidates presented platforms and plans for the 2019-20 academic year, students voiced concerns about transparency and mental health at SA Sweeps on Wednesday night. Mental health resources on campus have been a topic of discussion for several years, particularly after the University Counseling Center (UCC) moved to a brief therapy model, which aims to help students reach personal goals and provide solution-based care. The move left students who require long-term therapy unable to access it at BU. Shannon Doherty, a sophomore majoring in history, said that sparking a discussion for mental health was a crucial issue that needed to be addressed by candidates. “The conversation needs to be out there,” Doherty said. Other students discussed the importance of transparency and communication, particularly in the aftermath of a canceled Fall Concert, when students who paid for tickets were left unsure for weeks whether the concert would be rescheduled or their money would be refunded. There have also been other issues with communication, such as when SA Congress failed to make meeting and committee minutes available for public access for the entirety of the fall semester, a situation SA Congress officials said arose from difficulties with their website. SA Sweeps, which initially began when candidates would “sweep” through
Groups discuss racism in LGBTQ community RPU, SHADES address prejudice in queer apps, spaces David Julien
contributing writer
According to a study conducted by Stonewall, an LGBTQ charity, in conjunction with YouGov, a data analytics firm, 51 percent of people of color within the LGBTQ community have said that they have experienced some type of racism within the community. In recognition of this reality, Binghamton University’s Rainbow Pride Union (RPU), in partnership with SHADES, hosted an open discussion on the issue on Monday, Feb. 25. RPU aims to promote education and awareness for the LGBTQ community and is currently the oldest gender and sexual diversity group at BU since its founding in 1971. SHADES, which was founded in 2011 at the University, specifically strives to empower LGBTQ students of color. According to Ruth Fatolitis, treasurer of RPU and a junior doublemajoring in environmental studies and French, discussion on the underrepresentation and prejudice surrounding LGBTQ people of color is
see sweeps page 4
see racism page 3
ARTS & CULTURE
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer Rainbow Pride Union (RPU) and SHADES host a discussion titled “Racism in the Queer Community” on Monday evening in the University Union.
OPINIONS
SPORTS
Make your wardrobe stylish and sustainable with these tips,
First Friday Folk Fest showcases budding artists and encourages community gathering,
The Editorial Board scrutinizes the city of Binghamton’s blue-bag policy,
Pipe Dream Sports faces off against BU golf team,
Men’s basketball falls to Hartford,
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PAGE II Thursday, February 28, 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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College Progressives hosts a DIY patch-making night on Tuesday.
Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS
Mayor gives “State of the City” address Binghamton Mayor Rich David gave his annual “State of the City” address on Wednesday night emphasizing public safety projects, improvements in housing and blight and economic development within Downtown Binghamton. In his speech, David also discussed plans to rebuild and redevelop parking garages on State and Water streets, break ground on a parking garage at 7 Hawley Street and begin work to establish the Downtown Entertainment and Cultural Organizations District. Additionally, he highlighted progress in tackling
the opioid crisis in Binghamton and combating homelessness, particularly among veterans. New York DEC says IBM plant in Endicott will get further cleanup State environmental officials are proposing new efforts to decrease public exposure to remaining hazardous chemicals in Endicott from IBM’s former North Street plant, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Cleanup efforts at the plant began more than 30 years ago, after it experienced a toxic spill, for which IBM has never offered an explanation. The new plan would continue and enhance groundwater extraction efforts, cover areas where contami-
nation exceeds safe levels with materials to minimize exposure and continue indoor air quality monitoring in homes affected by the spill. STATE NEWS
Jumaane Williams elected as NYC public advocate Jumaane Williams was elected as New York City advocate on Tuesday night, notching a victory in a highly contested race with 17 candidates, according to The New York Times. Williams, who currently serves as a Democratic councilman for Brooklyn, previously ran for lieutenant governor of New York unsuccessfully. During his victory speech on Tues-
day, Williams pledged to fight for New York City’s most disadvantaged residents, including people of color and those living in public housing, combat gun violence and work toward criminal justice reform. His victory in the public advocate race could give him a platform to seek higher office in the future. NATIONAL NEWS
Cohen details Trump’s role in hush-money scheme during testimony Michael Cohen, former lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, alleging that Trump and his
company’s chief financial officer instructed him to pay off a porn star and keep Trump’s role in the deal under wraps, according to The Wall Street Journal. Cohen also said Trump had lied to the public about his business interests in several foreign countries, including Russia. In his closing remarks, Cohen called Trump a racist and said he was concerned Trump would not allow for a peaceful transition of power if he failed to win the 2020 presidential election. Republicans noted that Cohen has previously pleaded guilty to lying under oath before Congress and has been convicted of tax fraud. Cohen said he lied to protect Trump, who tweeted from Hanoi, Vietnam that Cohen was lying to reduce his prison time.
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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 2019
stabilizing:alexanders
sweeps:destabilizing
“My loyalty to Mr. Trump has cost me everything — my family’s happiness, my law license, my company, my livelihood, my honor, my reputation and soon my freedom.” — Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former attorney, in his testimony before members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday.
The following accounts were provided by Investigator Robert Meddleton of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Keynote speaker FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 8:50 p.m. — Officers were dispatched to the Mandela Room in the University Union after receiving reports of an irate and intoxicated male. The 21-year-old suspect was attending a closed forum with six speakers discussing how religion impacted their lives. During the forum, he got hold of the microphone and began speaking to the crowd. He was told to stop and leave the event and got into a heated exchange with the event organizers. He told officers he hadn’t said anything that deserved such a response. He admitted to being intoxicated, and officers gave him a ride to his off-campus residence. Two backpacks, six cartridges SATURDAY, Feb. 23, 1:15 a.m. — Officers were dispatched to Appalachian Collegiate Center in Mountainview College after an employee found a blue backpack left in the store. The officers brought the backpack to the station and inventoried it. While doing so, they were unable to identify the owner but found an unopened cartridge of concentrated cannabis oil. Later that morning, the owner of the backpack came to claim his property. When questioned about cannabis oil that was found in his bag, the suspect, a 19-yearold male, said it belonged to a friend. When the suspect came to the station, he was carrying another
Christine DeRosa Pipe Dream News
backpack. While questioning him, an officer asked if he had any drugs on his person. The suspect said he didn’t and emptied his pockets, but when his backpack was searched, five more oil cartridges were found. The suspect was placed under arrest and is set to appear in Vestal Town Court. Suspended Mercedes SUNDAY, Feb. 24, 1:04 a.m. — A security guard at the Information Booth on Glenn G. Bartle Drive contacted UPD after a black Mercedes-Benz went through the gate without stopping to present ID. The officers located the vehicle, which was driven by a 23-year-old male, near Delaware Hall of Newing College. Upon running the vehicle’s license plate through a police database, officers learned it was suspended because the vehicle lacked insurance. The suspect said the vehicle belonged to his friend, but was given two traffic tickets for driving a suspended vehicle and operating a vehicle without insurance. The vehicle was towed to its owner’s residence. Playing catch SUNDAY, Feb. 24, 3:28 p.m. — Officers responded to the turf field at the East Gym after receiving reports of two individuals walking in an area blocked off by a locked gate and fence. The officers located the suspects, a 20-year-old male and a 21-year-old male, who told the officers they jumped the fence to play catch with a baseball. Officers escorted them off the turf and advised them not to go onto the field without speaking with staff at the East Gym.
bupipedream.com | February 28, 2019
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BU establishes research institute for women, girls Alumna donates more than $1M for institute Lakhsmi Chatterjee & Gillian Mathews pipe dream news
Starting this fall, female students at Binghamton University will have the opportunity to conduct and participate in research through the Ellyn Uram Kaschak Institute for Social Justice for Women and Girls. By funding projects and pairing professors with students, the newly formed institute aims to encourage and empower women at BU to engage in research on campus. It will be established using funds provided by Ellyn Uram Kaschak, ’65, who recently made a donation of more than $1 million to the University. Kaschak declined to state the exact monetary value of her gift. Susan Strehle, a distinguished
service professor of English at BU, will serve as director of the new institute. Strehle said she has been working closely with Kaschak, a clinical psychologist and a professor emerita of psychology at San Jose State University, to develop and organize projects focused on attaining social justice and the empowerment of women around the world, specifically through education and providing equal access to resources in developing countries. “Our plan is to recognize and celebrate the research work that currently exists on campus while supporting new opportunities made possible with the funding from her donation,” Strehle said. According to Strehle, the institute will be a campus-wide initiative, not attached to a single college but drawing on the different schools, including Harpur College, the College of Community and Public Affairs
and the Decker School of Nursing, for support. Donald Nieman, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, wrote in an email that the institute will support high-quality scholarship and innovative interventions. “The financial support the institute provides will support student and faculty research, projects designed to make a difference in women’s lives, conferences and visits to campus by individuals working in government and nongovernmental organizations to address critical problems affecting women and girls,” Nieman wrote. “All of these activities will help us create an intellectual community on campus around issues confronting women.” Two years ago, Kaschak spoke at TEDxBinghamtonUniversity with her talk, “Seeing is Believing, or Is Believing Seeing?” which focused
on her research with individuals who have been blind since birth and how they conceptualize both race and gender. At the time, Kaschak also donated to the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention and supported activities related to violence against women. Nieman said his office reached out to Kaschak several years ago and got her reconnected with the University, which led to her speaking at TEDxBinghamtonUniversity in 2017 and becoming more involved with campus research on women’s issues. “As a scholar, she believes in the power of research,” Nieman said. “As an activist, she believes that research should be directed to inform action and as a Harpur graduate, she knows that Binghamton faculty and students are smart, energetic and committed to using their intellect
to advance the public good.” The institute has plans to host an inaugural celebration in September. Kaschak will be in attendance to recognize the research work that currently exists on campus while supporting new opportunities made possible with the funding from her donation. It also intends to host an international spring conference on women, peace and security that will be co-sponsored by the Human Rights Institute and the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom. According to Strehle, the conference will be held in April 2020 in honor of the United Nations resolution recognizing the important role women play in conflict resolution around the world. “It will bring scholars and practitioners from around the world to Binghamton to discuss
critical issues in the rights and position of women globally,” Nieman said. Chloe Levine, an undeclared freshman, said she hopes this institute will help encourage more women to conduct research. “I learned in a [medical] ethics class that women are less likely to be chosen as research subjects or given grants to conduct research themselves,” Levine said. “An institute that is meant to help women specifically will make a difference.” Jannatul Naima, a freshman majoring in biology, said she believes the institute will make BU more inclusive as a campus. “I believe that this institute will help to bring women together and build a stronger community on campus,” Naima said. “An opportunity to encourage women to conduct studies and let voices that may not have been heard before be heard.”
Presentation highlights Johnson City Revitalization project board from page 1 According to Sean Massey, a TGAB member and associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at BU, the committee has been analyzing data collected from students on intoxication and sexual encounters and aims to continue its research throughout the 2019-20 academic year. “We’ve been exploring a set of data collected over the past five semesters regarding intoxication and the question of consent during sexual encounters,” Massey said. “We’re preparing for the fall semester, when we’d plan to have a team of research assistants, in groups of two and wearing distinct T-shirts, go around campus and State Street, possibly attend parties, with the intention of interviewing students at the start of the evening to ask about their motivations, expectations and the precautions they plan to take related to drinking, recreational drug use and sexual activity.” The subcommittee for promoting and cultivating positive community engagement announced its “Cry, Laugh, Create” proposal in October. The project aims to encourage BU students and Binghamton residents to share personal
stories and build relationships. Myra Sabir, associate dean of BU’s College of Community and Public Affairs and associate professor of human development, said the project has been successful so far, and participants have seen positive changes while connecting with others. “We’re looking at [how,] over time, people tend to stabilize their housing and find some family stabilization, they return to school, parenting things change,” Sabir said. “We’re measuring all those [positive changes].” Other committees had plans that were less detailed. Representatives from the student housing subcommittee said they are considering a number of options for a new proposal in May, including an online program specific to off-campus housing and a landlord credit program that would require landlords to meet certain standards to be advertised by the University. The subcommittee did not provide details on the status of its current proposal, which aims to train interns to inform and assist students with off-campus housing. Randall Edouard, co-chair of TGAB, interim dean of students and assistant vice president for student affairs, said he wants
students to know how much the University cares about, and wants to positively impact, the surrounding community. “There are projects going on here that directly impact the communities, and it’s all about finding out about the people of the community and interacting with the University,” Edouard said. “We wanted to have a board that was functional and real, so we put out our proposals, fund them and execute them.” Edouard also touted the variety of active proposals being undertaken by subcommittees, and the range of ideas being considered for new proposals in May. “There’s a whole bunch of projects to improve safety, the streets, businesses, so on and so forth,” he said. “It’s really gearing toward being a win-win for everybody. Our president, provost and president of student affairs wanted to have a board that was functional and real — gotta put your money where your mouth is.” The rest of the meeting was devoted to the presentation, which was given by John Frazier, the project’s leader and a SUNY distinguished service professor of geography, and Kevin Heard, associate director of the Geography Information Systems
john atkinson contributing photographer The Town-Gown Advisory Board meeting discussed subcommittee proposals, however, many of the reports lacked details on the progress of the projects.
(GIS) core facility and an adjunct lecturer of geography. It discussed the Johnson City Redevelopment Project, an initiative that aims to create a ‘story map’ of Johnson City, including videos, photos and other data, to assist with the revitalization of the area. Kaitlyn Smolar, a sophomore majoring in human development, said she was excited to hear about the project and was previously unaware how many changes will likely be taking place in Johnson
City in the future. “It’s interesting to see how big of an impact this has on every sector of the community,” Smolar said. But even that project is moving slowly. Although it’s been three years since the project began, Frazier said the revitalization of Johnson City and the redevelopment project’s effects will not be palpable for several more years, as the team is in the process of surveying
students’ and community members’ preferences and needs. “What’s going on there is a slow process — everybody wants to know, ‘What’s happening right now?’ It’s tied to economic development, so you don’t really realize that the impacts are going to happen, but they’re not going to happen overnight,” Frazier said. “We’ve gotta watch carefully. I encourage my own students to stay engaged with it, and you’ve got to be patient, but observant.”
Students discuss SA to develop space allocation rubric dating app racism space from page 1
racism from page 1 needed. “I want people to get a sense that racism in the LGBTQ community isn’t just an abstract thing that we have a PowerPoint about,” Fatolitis said. “It’s something people experience in their actual lives.” At the discussion on Monday night, organizers and attendees engaged in an open conversation on the issue. Attendees identified driving forces behind prejudice within the community, ranging from a lack of queer people of color in movies and media to a shortage of resources catered to queer youth of color. However, the discussion highlighted technology’s role in perpetuating racism in the LGBTQ community, specifically through the toxic environment often found on queer dating apps, such as Grindr, which has recently come under fire for racist rhetoric. According to attendees, user profiles often list the user’s sexual preferences, which can include certain races and exclude others. In an effort to respond to the problem, Grindr launched its Kindr video initiative, which sought to tackle racism through community guidelines, stricter enforcement policies and a sixpart series of awareness videos.
Nevertheless, this type of discrimination is something Jorwell Perez, a junior majoring in human development, said he has come to know personally. “I have seen firsthand the types of things that are said on these apps,” Perez said. “But more so in the hypersexualized way. Guys will always write things like ‘speak Spanish to me’ on these sites.” Those in attendance also discussed possible solutions to this issue, envisioning the LGBTQ community as a more inclusive space for its members. Helene Vasquez, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering, said she was excited to participate in such an open conversation and discuss her experiences. “I liked it — it wasn’t what I was really expecting,” Vasquez said. “I expected close-minded people and that wasn’t anybody.” For Daniel Miranda, secretary of SHADES and an undeclared freshman, discussions like these are important in recognizing the racism that lies within the LGBTQ community. “We need to have this discussion [among] the community because it is evident,” Miranda said. “I feel like people who are not people of color sometimes don’t realize the racism that is in the community so this is a good conversation to have.”
membership and whether or not they have good and consistent governance, as stated in the SA Management Policy handbook. In an email, Dao wrote that space is in high demand, and the new rubric and committee will help ensure it is being used to its maximum potential. “Space allocation is a privilege that organizations apply for,” Dao wrote. “By following the proper procedure and creating a fair and equitable rubric with the committee, the resulting space allocation decisions should be reflective of a more fair and equitable outcome in addition to maximizing our capacity to help our student groups.”
Yasmine Nartey, vice president of the African Student Organization and a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said student organizations should be made aware of how they will be evaluated for office space. “I guess it would be nice to know the criteria in reallocation,” Nartey said. “Like, who’s to say or who’s to judge on how well we use the room.” According to the meeting minutes, the committee is still in the planning stage and it will assess the office spaces and basement storage cages in the University Union and storage space in Old Rafuse Hall of Old Dickinson Community through inspections. Dao said
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organizations will be contacted after the first committee meeting, which has yet to be scheduled. The proposed committee plans to ensure that office space is used actively and is not being used as storage space. But Nancy Huang, historian of the Astronomy Club and a junior majoring in physics, said it’s difficult for SA-chartered groups to find storage space, and the committee should not penalize groups for using their offices to store gear and supplies. According to Huang, her club has struggled to find a place to store their telescopes. “I think it’s much easier to reserve a room than get storage space, but meeting space can happen anywhere,” Huang said.
“Last year, most of us lived on campus and there’s just not enough space in a dorm room you have to share with other people. Now some of us live off campus but then we have to drive back-and-forth to bring all our telescopes, all our materials to campus. That’s just a lot of labor whereas we could just have it in the Union where we could bring it out easily because a lot of our events are in the Union.” According to Huang, when she went to the SA to request a space to store her group’s equipment, she was told there was no space available. “They told me to ask another club if we could share their space, but other clubs need their own space too,” Huang said.
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Students talk mental health, transparency at SA Sweeps feature 21 Savage. Maya Kallman, a sophomore double-majoring in business administration and graphic design, is a candidate for VPP, but was unable to attend SA Sweeps. Pizzuto, who currently serves as the SAPB’s comedy chair, said there was quite a bit of unpredictability and the pandemonium surrounding the 21 Savage concert. “Communication is extremely important — that would definitely be a priority to me,” Pizzuto said. “I know even I was sitting in my apartment waiting to know. ‘Should I go to the concert? Should I not? When should I show up?’” As part of her communication platform, Pizzuto said that she plans to concentrate on increasing student knowledge of organizations and events. “I want all students to know about all the opportunities available to them,” Pizzuto said. But Carr said communication wasn’t the only issue with Fall Concert. She advocated for planning the concert, and other campus events, more aggressively and productively to ensure they happen at ideal times. “A lot of people don’t know, [but at] Binghamton Airport, they don’t
have the proper safety equipment to clean up the snow,” Carr said. “That’s why I want to have the concert earlier in the semester.” Carr also said she hopes to improve diversity within campus events, ensuring all students feel represented and at home. “As a EOP student and a person of color and also a woman on campus, it is hard to navigate through spaces that I might not be represented in,” Carr said. As a member of the SAPB’s Concerts Committee, Wright had a front-row seat to the cancellation of Fall Concert. He said his experience will allow him to avoid pitfalls in the future. “Dealing with having the concert earlier, making sure that we have communication with Binghamton Airport, all those things are important,” Wright said. “A lot of it deals with how we are communicating with our Events Center staff and how we are communicating with people who are involved at a larger state.” Candidates for SA President fielded a wide variety of questions, from concerns about sexual assault and harassment to student outreach. Emma Ross, a junior double-majoring in political science
and psychology, Christopher Li, a junior majoring in accounting, and Arsenije “Arsh” Markicevic, a junior quadruple-majoring in physics, philosophy, economics and philosophy, politics and law, described their platforms, which hit on the future of the SA and its organization. Ross, who has served as a campus organizer for It’s On Us, a national campaign against sexual assault on college campuses, said BU needs to continue to focus on expanding resources for students impacted by sexual harassment. “A lot of this happens behind closed doors and its important that we give student leaders the tools to have effective conversations about sexual assault,” Ross said. “It’s not about you need to step in, it’s about here are your resources when something happens and we’re here to support you if it does.” Ross said further expansion of mental health resources is not only crucial, but can help begin a discussion on sexual assault. “I believe that your education should be your priority,” Ross said. “As the student government we should be here to help you focus on that.” Amid the discussion of sexual
assault, Li said that he was a selfproclaimed feminist. “I really want to put women first,” Li said. “I’m male and I understand that I have a lot of privilege going through life. I want to be able to use that privilege to be able to help women be able to fight and combat these issues.” Li is also advocating for an expansion of the SA E-board, which he hopes will help bridge the gap between the SA and the student body. Markicevic also aims to increase student outreach and involvement. He aims to create a more active, involved campus community by focusing on people as individuals through his “You Matter” initiative. He said that he hopes this will increase attendance to events like SA Sweeps. “My campaign slogan is ‘Open and United,’” Markicevic said. “I want the SA to be as open to the student body as possible.” Melanie Cruz, a sophomore majoring in psychology, said she attended in hopes of learning about the candidates running for student government positions. “I think it’s important to be educated on who you’re voting for,” Cruz said.
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“A few of my friends from high school are coming up to visit, and we’re going to watch the parade and probably get brunch at the Colonial.”
“I’m going Downtown with my friends to celebrate my last Parade Day at Binghamton. I hope it will be a lot of fun.”
“For Parade Day, I’m going to hang out with friends Downtown. I’ve never been to Parade Day before, so this will be a cool, new, fun thing.”
a junior majoring in mechanical engineering: “I have to work.”
a sophomore majoring in business administration: “I’m making cookies.”
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campus communities to attend each of their government meetings, now take place in one room, and all undergraduate students are welcome to attend and discuss candidates’ platforms. Each candidate was given two minutes for an opening statement, which was followed by rounds of questions from students separated by their respective communities. Candidates also made a two-minute closing statement. This year, three positions — BU Council student representative, SA president and SA vice president for programming (VPP) — are opposed. BU Council candidates Franklin Richards, a first-year graduate student studying public administration, and Richard Caldicott, a junior double-majoring in political science and philosophy, both addressed mental health heavily in their platforms, with Caldicott advocating for a change to the brief therapy model of care provided by the UCC and Richards arguing that campus mental health resources could benefit from expansion and reorganization. Caldicott said that the shortterm care model currently used by
the University is not effective for all students. “We need to extend awareness and accessibility for mental health resources on campus,” Caldicott said. “We need to continue to re-examine our mental health resources on campus.” Richards, who has worked as a residential assistant in Dickinson Community, said his experience dealing with his residents gave him an understanding of the importance of adequate mental health resources. “They need to have a certain reorganization within the UCC,” Richards said. “Whether it is bringing in outside additional help that can aid the counselors that we do have now to continue to serve the University.” Candidates for VPP focused on ways to improve the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) and its communication with the student body. Lillian Carr, a sophomore majoring in economics, Jillian Pizzuto, a junior majoring in Spanish and Christopher Wright, a junior double-majoring in economics and political science, discussed their plans for the position, and tackled questions surrounding the cancellation of Fall Concert, which was supposed to
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OPINIONS Thursday, February 28, 2019
BLUE BAG BLUES
For students who live off campus, the city of Binghamton’s blue-bag garbage system is a constant source of frustration.
max samson editorial artist
The city requires residents to use city-mandated blue bags to dispose of all household garbage. For a sleeve of five large bags, residents pay $6.95. A sleeve of medium bags costs $3.95. Both of these prices were increased by 20 cents in 2016, and the bags have seen gradual price jumps in previous years. On the surface, this doesn’t seem like a hefty expense. However, taking into account that most Binghamton University students who live off campus have several roommates, garbage piles up quickly and often requires the use of multiple bags per week. Some students have reported paying $7, $10 and even $12 per week on blue bags. That weekly cost adds up and places a financial burden on all city residents, not just BU students.
The blue-bag policy was implemented in 1991 as a way to make residents pay a proportionate fee for how much garbage they produce, providing an incentive for people to produce less waste and to recycle. Before the current system, property taxes paid for trash collection completely, including the “tipping fee,” which is the cost for the city of Binghamton to dump its garbage at the Broome County Landfill. Now, the amount of money residents spend on blue bags covers the tipping fee. This effectively transfers the expense of garbage disposal from property owners to renters. The Editorial Board understands the rationale behind the blue-bag system, but finds a number of issues with it. Consider
that a five-pack of large blue bags costs almost $7 at Wegmans. For the same price, you could buy a 25-pack of large Hefty trash bags. If the blue bags were of higher quality, perhaps this could be rationalized, but that is not the case. Many students, including members of the Editorial Board, feel the blue bags are flimsy, rip easily and have actually declined in quality in recent years — even as prices have gone up. Since the system is mandatory, the least the city of Binghamton could do is make sturdier bags at prices and quantities comparable to other garbage bag brands. Additionally, if the goal is to reduce waste, the Editorial Board is doubtful that the blue-bag policy has done much to reach this goal. In fact, people often use other garbage bags when
collecting trash in their homes and then place those bags inside the mandated blue bags when it’s time to take out the trash. This ultimately creates more waste as multiple plastic garbage bags are disposed of. Moreover, there have been multiple instances when stores like CVS and Wegmans simply run out of blue bags. Even if the bags are in stock, they can also be difficult to access. Not all city residents live near a store where they can easily buy the bags, and students without a car and elderly citizens who may not be able to drive must estimate the number of bags they’ll need until they can get to a location where the bags are sold. Since garbage will only be picked up if placed in the blue bags, people who cannot find the bags in stores or don’t
buy enough while on a shopping trip are forced to keep their trash in their homes until the next garbage pickup, usually another week away. In fact, in August 2017, the city temporarily waived the blue-bag requirement, allowing city residents to put out up to six trash items per day without using blue bags. The policy was waived for two weeks after Binghamton Mayor Rich David received complaints about properties where trash had accumulated in yards or on porches. It is the city’s responsibility to ensure that stores are sufficiently stocked up with the mandated bags, and the city should make sure they are accessible to all residents. The Editorial Board suggests the city of Binghamton reevaluate its blue bag system. We
are not proposing the policy be abolished, but there are surely improvements that can be made. For instance, the bags could be made available for purchase in bulk, eliminating the need for residents to restock weekly and making the blue bags more cost effective. As mentioned previously, the quality of the bags should also be improved to reduce the number of rips and thus lower the number of bags that have to be used. It is clear that this is a system that affects students and community members alike, and is one that isn’t working for anybody. It’s not the first time residents have voiced concerns about the blue-bag policy, and it certainly won’t be the last if the city doesn’t modify its current system.
Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.
Why do we inconsistently condemn racism? Discrimination against Asians seems relatively normalized Sean Morton Contributing Columnist
We are part of an era that has been undeniably cracking down on social issues concerning race, gender and sexuality more than ever before. While steps are clearly being taken in the right direction, I have noticed and personally experienced a largely overlooked inconsistency that continues to remain unspoken about — that is, the inconsistency within our intolerance of racism. Being half Japanese, with some identifiable Asian traits, I’ve heard just about every possible racist joke directed at myself or other Asians. These jokes would more than qualify
for the “decade-old-resurfacedcelebrity tweet Hall of Fame” that has been putting a lot of big names in hot water recently. Occasionally, when the creativity levels were particularly low, I’d even get some slurs such as the word “chink,” although “Jap” was a much more popular cheap shot of choice. They don’t come from stereotypical, run-of-the-mill, football-jersey-wearing bullies with daddy issues, but rather regular kids just like myself, including some of my friends. In fairness, context matters. As stated, a lot of these jokes came from my close friends, who are comfortable enough with me to make these remarks on a mutual understanding that nothing is taken seriously. In fact, just about every race among my friends falls subject to some lighthearted banter, and I’ve
admittedly made some light jokes back at my friends in these playful settings. Although I personally have never taken offense from racially charged jokes about my heritage, regardless of intent, I can still differentiate the contexts between meaningless lighthearted banter among friends and remarks from people I don’t know quite well enough for their jokes to be reaching such lengths. Growing up, I can unfortunately say that I’ve experienced my fair share of the latter. I attended an extremely politically correct private school in New York City until the ninth grade, where we were strictly taught and made aware of social acceptance, with a rigid emphasis on certain groups such as African Americans or homosexual people. My second-grade teacher
taught us that love can exist between two men or two women and that it was no different from love between a man and a woman. We were taught black history since as early as I can remember, and the teachings consistently reinforced the long-lasting and damaging effects that the subordination of such groups has caused and continues to cause. Any form of discrimination or belittlement was strictly prohibited and constantly enforced through a “no hate zone” policy in the school, and rightfully so. Thus, jokes toward such groups were seldom attempted, even outside of school. Granted, we did learn our fair share of Asian history as well. Fourth grade was dedicated to Japanese culture and U.S. immigration during the late
19th and early 20th centuries, but that was it — historical events. What we didn’t learn, for instance, is that the term “zipperhead” was derived from the zipper-like appearance of the heads of dead Asian troops from being shot or tread over by military vehicles during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Yet under the school’s zero-tolerance policy, the same kids who would squint their eyes at me and say “ching chong” for easy laughs would reel back in horror on the occasion that someone would call something “gay” or direct a racially suggestive joke at one of the three black kids in our grade, which usually resulted in classmates seeking the aid of teachers for intervention. I don’t recall a single instance of classmates intervening when some of the jokes were directed
at me or other Asians, or other races for that matter. Despite growing up in a relatively sheltered environment, I can’t name how many times I have heard slurs referring to Asian people, Jewish people or Hispanic people in the form of a joke directed at people of the described race, myself included. I also cannot, however, name a single time I have witnessed a slur directed at a gay person for being gay, or a black person for being black, as a joke or not. The use of targeted racial slurs, jokes and remarks are either all OK or not OK, and abiding by an invisible “hierarchy” of intolerance to racism is as hypocritical as the very ideology that conceives of racism in the first place. Sean Morton is a junior majoring in English.
If found guilty, Jussie Smollett’s actions are abhorrent Falsifying hate crimes does harm to vulnerable communities Elizabeth Short Columnist
The country listened in horror as “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett released news that he had been the victim of a vicious hate crime. He claimed that two individuals approached him, hit him, poured chemicals on his face and hung a noose around his neck, all while yelling racist and homophobic slurs, as well as chanting “MAGA country.”
Things quickly took a turn when Smollett was charged with a felony for filing a false police report and turned himself in to the Chicago Police Department on Feb. 21. After both the Chicago PD and FBI began investigating the alleged hate crime, two brothers were arrested as persons of interest. The two stated that Smollett, whom they knew through a personal training partnership, paid them to stage the attack. Speculation as to what prompted Smollett to stage the attack has ranged all the way
from dissatisfaction with salary to being upset with the lack of response when he received a threatening letter just a week before the alleged attack. The way this story has unfolded is strange, to say the least. The story went from horrific attack to shameful hoax at breakneck speed. Investigations are still in progress, but even I have to admit that as more details are released, things are looking worse for Smollett. Smollett being found guilty would raise an immense number of issues. Whether he was upset about his salary or had concerns about
his safety, this was the absolute worst way to go about addressing his problems. Furthering your own personal position at the expense of marginalized groups is unacceptable, even if you are a member of said groups. Not only do Smollett’s actions hone in on the already hateful spotlight often placed on LGBTQ individuals of color, I can guarantee that his case will be used as a tool to place doubt on survivors of real hate crimes. What he did will make things so much harder for everyone else. Perhaps the worst part of the situation is that he likely knew how the public would
react; he played on people’s fears and the current political climate to further the coverage of the story. If the allegations are true, Smollett used his personal identity as a biracial gay man to his advantage. Maybe he felt that being a celebrity would give him a parachute that separates him from others, but that is not the case. Everyone is made up of different characteristics and identities, all of which play a role in defining us — but that is only a part of the truth. While there is so much about us that isn’t defined by race, sexual orientation or
gender identity, there is no part of your identity that allows you to have a “free pass” when it comes to discrimination. You can be LGBTQ and be racist; you can be a person of color and be transphobic; you can be disabled and be classist; mix and match any of the above and it still rings true. Smollett attempting to exploit himself only reflects poorly on him. If convicted, he’ll get the notoriety he desired — not for his work, but for being a terrible person. Elizabeth Short is a sophomore double-majoring in biology and English.
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The first Mainstage production of the spring semester, “Baltimore,” will take place over the first two weekends in March at the Watters Theater.
Mainstage production explores campus racism ‘Baltimore’ will debut on March 1 at Watters Theater Sean Carr
contributing writer
This Friday, the Binghamton University Theatre Department will put on its first Mainstage production of the semester, “Baltimore.” With a plot focused on a racist incident in a college dorm, the play injects a realistic backdrop of a university with broader themes of political unrest. Written by Kirsten Greenidge, “Baltimore” takes place in an unnamed university in the Northeast during the beginning of the fall semester. When a student plasters a racist and hateful image onto another student’s door, the entire campus erupts as it is forced to confront a side of society that many often prefer to sweep under the rug. At the center of the action is Shelby, an African American resident assistant who works in the dorm where the incident takes place.
The dramedy balances heavy themes of contemporary racism with comedic moments sprinkled throughout its one hour and 40-minute run time. Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., director of the show and a senior lecturer in Cornell’s department of performing and media arts, emphasized the timeliness of the Mainstage production. He said the events of the play are especially relevant in the wake of similar racist incidents at the University, including racist drawings that were found in Newing College in 2017. “I just think it’s a really great play for this age,” he said. “I think it demands so much from the students, and they have to really get authentic because they’re dealing with the issues that happen in the play right now in their lives. ” According to co-assistant director Cindy Dias, a sophomore majoring in theatre, Simmons pays extensive attention to viewpoints from nearly every side of the production. “He’s not like any other
director I’ve worked with before,” she said. “He wants to make sure that everybody feels that their stamp is left on the production. It’s just a very supportive environment.” It’s this supportive environment that has allowed the cast of “Baltimore” to flourish within their roles and bust out remarkable performances. Robert Edwards, a senior majoring in theatre, portrays Bryant, a college freshman trying to stay neutral within the politically charged atmosphere of his college campus. He said that he felt passionately obligated to take part in this show. When asked if his politically progressive mindset conflicted with tapping into the character of the neutral Bryant, Edwards said he chose to approach the role from its core. “Being a black man and coming into college is something I have experienced, so going in through that lens helped me get into it,” Edwards said. Savannah Young, an actress in the show and a freshman majoring in biology, said she finds
excitement in how “Baltimore” aims to challenge the audience with difficult questions. “I see this role as a duty for this campus and for myself to perform and relay this message to everyone,” she said. Simmons said that the roles in “Baltimore” are roles actors usually don’t get to play as students. “It’s very rare that you get to play this kind of role at the college that you’re going to,” he said. “[The actors] get to lean on their experience, but at the same time, they challenge themselves to really bring their full selves to the play.” Baltimore will be opening its doors this Friday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. on campus at the Watters Theater in the Anderson Center. For opening night, the price for admission for students will be discounted to $5. This deal is only available at the Watters Theater Box Office. Other performances include 8 p.m. showings on March 2, 8 and 9 and a 2 p.m. showing on March 10.
Be sensible and sustainable with these fashion tips Explore minimalistic options and thrift shops Patrick Earns
contributing writer
We live in the era of fast fashion: a creative business model where trends come first and quality comes never. Companies like H&M, Zara and ASOS thrive by selling cheaply made clothing that will fall apart when it’s already out of style. You might need to replace your wardrobe each time the weather changes, but these remarkably low prices mean you can stay in style without breaking the bank. It’s a good deal for all, but the environmental costs associated with fast fashion are numerous, from the water required to produce each article of clothing to the greenhouse gases emitted by textile factories. With the right mindset and a few simple changes, you can reduce your impact on the environment and still have a wardrobe worthy of compliments. Spend more on the basics Basics are the white T-shirt,
the black jeans or the boots you can wear with everything. These items form the background of most outfits and look good without detracting from the louder pieces that really define your style. Spend more on these and be careful to look for fabrics that will hold up for a long time. Run away from polyester blends and look for the holy grail of 100 percent cotton. You’ll spend more upfront on clothing, but you’ll be a more ecofriendly consumer and save money in the long run by not having to replace everything you own each year. Check out your local thrift stores There’s no reason to buy brand-new clothes if you can find a perfectly good hand-me-down. Binghamton has a wide variety of thrift stores, such as Plato’s Closet in Vestal and the Salvation Army in Downtown Binghamton, that offer gently used clothing for bargain bin prices, which is good for both the planet and your wallet. Through buying clothes that have already been purchased and discarded, you’re effectively recycling and improving your
to make sure you can think of three outfits you can make with the new article using clothes you already own. If you can’t do that, it’s probably smart to leave it on the rack.
ariel kachuro assistant photography editor While thrifting this season, look for high-quality clothing that’s beneficial for both the environment and your wallet.
look without any unnecessary environmental damage. If you’re willing to spend some time looking through the racks, you can come across clothing steals for under 10 dollars that would sell for extraordinary prices if bought new.
Think about what you’re really going to wear Many people own a ton of clothes that they’ve worn once or twice that hide out in the back of their drawers. There’s nothing wrong with having some clothes
for special occasions that you wouldn’t wear to your 8 a.m. chemistry lecture, but in general, you should focus on buying what you can re-wear. A good rule of thumb when you see an article of clothing you’d like to buy is
Develop a sense of personal style One of the biggest causes of needless clothing purchases is ‘style confusion.’ This is when a person has vague ideas of how they’d like to look, but they’re not sure how to construct a wardrobe that fits that goal. Style confusion then leads to buying a variety of clothes that don’t work with each other, filling your closet with nothing you can wear. To cut down on your environmental impact, figure out how you want to present yourself through the way you already dress and buy the clothes you’ll need for that style. If you don’t know where to start, there are tons of online resources where you can find inspiration albums filled with pictures of different outfits and styles, such as Pinterest boards. When you learn what you like and where to find it, shopping becomes easier and a lot less frequent.
bupipedream.com | February 28, 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
Festival features folk music Chenango Stage will host the event on First Friday Haley Applebaum
contributing writer
A great way to liven up the dreary winter season is to add some variety to your music library. Everyone has heard of on-trend artists like Ariana Grande, Panic! at the Disco and Drake, but there are also many underground artists who remain unrecognized in today’s music industry. All artists on this list have less than 2,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with some having less than 100. Check out our playlist of hidden gems to tune in to less mainstream music without having to do all the digging.
provided by woodshed prophets Woodshed Prophets are one of three acts playing First Friday Folk Fest at Chenango Stage.
[…] a pretty diverse group,” Gliha said. For the purposes of the Fest, the music is geared toward earlier and more recognizable styles of folk music. While some people may associate folk with older crowds, Ebbers defines the genre as “music that comes from a representational standpoint of culture.” “The True Folk TV project is founded in discussing how folk music just as a categorization of music has evolved from a Woody Guthrie-esque, narrative-driven, singer-songwriter [style],” Ebbers said. “A kid in Brooklyn making music with GarageBand on his laptop could equally be considered a folk musician because it’s music of people.” For student musicians hoping to get listened to, these music enthusiasts offer plenty of advice. According to Gliha, the most important thing to keep in mind is the love for music. “It’s great to go out and make a couple bucks on the weekend, but you got to like doing it,” he said. Ebbers encourages “bedroom musicians” to step outside of the
comfort of their creative space and take advantage of everything the local music scene has to offer. “Get out into the community, interact with people putting on shows in your backyard,” he said. “I know a lot of times in Binghamton people will moan and lament and say there’s no culture in Binghamton, but really there’s a DIY, budding resurgence outside of True Folk TV in general in the nooks and crannies of the area.” Friday’s show is an example of this little-known phenomenon in Binghamton. It is also an opportunity for musicians to meet up-and-coming performing musicians and promoters like Ebbers. Ebbers hopes the show will break down barriers caused by the unspoken feeling about student and ‘townie’ interaction. “With the townies and the students, I know there’s an air of separation, but I think everyone kind of wants the same thing and wants to interact with each other,” he said. “So anything that can bring folks together, I’m all about it.”
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Uncover these underground artists Michael Mongelluzzo
contributing writer
The Chenango Stage will host its second annual First Friday Folk Fest on March 1 from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Chenango Street. For a $5 cover at the door, visitors will get to see three acts ranging from a solo artist to a full-fledged band. The event is hosted by Grassroots Xpress Cafe, The Chenango Stage and True Folk TV, a project meant to promote budding artists and encourage community support for local artists. The event will feature music by Alex Creamer, Woodshed Prophets and Galen Clark & Connor O’Brien. Folk Fest, described by Matt Ebbers of True Folk TV as “a roots music celebration,” originally began as a promotional event for a friend back in December. Now, the festival is a concert series held every three months at First Friday. Ebbers, a Binghamton native, said he is often surprised by the diversity of people who show up to support folk music. “I saw some younger students that I know would often show up […] it’s really a mixed bag who ends up walking through that door,” Ebbers said. One of the featured guests, Woodshed Prophets, is a “power twang” country and rock hybrid band hoping to introduce a unique sound. Originally from Binghamton, Woodshed Prophets have released two albums available on Spotify and Pandora. While Folk Fest is a new development in the Binghamton scene, Woodshed Prophets are a fixture in the community. Band member Ed Gliha said the demographics of the group’s audience are usually varied. “It’s all over the board: we have a lot of young people, we have a lot of middle-aged people
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If you like the Rolling Stones, try: “All Dressed Up” — Hunck Hunck has the highest number of monthly listeners on this list, with 1,959. This group from London self-identifies their music as ‘sob rock.’ Their members include Kieron Johnston, MichaelJames Dent, Frederik Tyson-Brown, Thomas Wykes and Danny Geffin. They released the single “All Dressed Up” in 2016.
If you like Birdy, try: “Quiet Company” — Nuclear Club Nuclear Club members David Curran, Adam Streets, Mark Marshall, Ross Fraser and Marc Hill started the band in 2016 from Glasgow, Scotland. With 19 monthly listeners, they released “Quiet Company” in 2018 on the album “Pop Psych.”
If you like The Killers, try: “That Way” — Don’t Tell Dena This band should sound familiar to fans of The Killers. With 204 monthly listeners, Don’t Tell Dena started in 2015 with members Chris Krummrich and Sean Kanaly. The Oklahoma City-based group later added Campbell Young and Triston Lightner. The group categorizes their music as psychedelic indie rock and released “That Way” in 2017 on the album “Phases of the Moon.”
If you like Cage the Elephant, try: “Uphill Tack” — Pretty Voices This garage-pop band from St. Petersburg, Florida is actually the combination of two former bands, The Crippled Masters and The Popular Mechanics. Matt Grimshaw, Roger Peterson, Mike Whitaker and Nick St. Hilaire have only six monthly listeners on Spotify and released the album “Jangular” in 2016, on which the track “Uphill Tack” appears.
If you like AC/DC, try: “Little B.” — The Raunchies The Raunchies released “Little B.” on the EP “Falk” in 2015. Members Gianluca Amato, Federico Ferrigno, Francesco Fiore and Luca Fiore have 25 monthly listeners on Spotify. This rock-and-roll band hails from Rome, Italy.
If you like Foster the People, try: “Red Wine” — Follies & Vices This indie-pop duo from Seattle, Washington has 1,387 monthly listeners. Members Rob and Tanner released the single “Red Wine” in 2019.
If you like Owl City, try: “Time Ain’t On My Side” — These Modern Times This alternative pop band from Stockholm, Sweden has 101 monthly listeners on Spotify. Björn Aldén, Kristofer Arbeus, Vladas Dominus, Johan Enbuske and Lars Haukeland started These Modern Times in 2015 and released the EP “People Lie” in 2016. “Time Ain’t On My Side” is a single featured on this EP.
If you like Twenty One Pilots, try: “Pretty People” — Phantvm Described as electric pop, Phantvm has 28 monthly listeners on Spotify. Hailing from Cincinnati, their members are Bax and Jace on vocals and drums, respectively. They released the single “Pretty People” in 2018.
F UN
Thursday, February 28, 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
Dark humor
Nate Walker
Be safe on Parade Day <3
Sarah Teper
Be afraid
Sudoku
Daniel Eisenhower
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Going to the dentist
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Release Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Horoscopes
Hannah Nathanson
Aquarius: Beautiful? Ocean in a mason jar. Blue iPhone light after 12. A heart that stays beating no matter how much sand is stuffed into it, no matter how much the dying oak whines for it, no matter how much it all slips over the sides. Pisces: Beautiful? Lavender bath bomb next to Sea Breeze candle. Hozier playing through bluetooth. So much going wrong that there’s nothing to be mad about. Sitting in your own sorrow, you become homeless inside of yourself. Aries: Beautiful? Blood. Fall. Elbows. Tattoo sleeves, but never on you. Yelling at a stone person living in a museum. Sitting in a waiting room but never being called. Alternative universe forever. Taurus: Beautiful? Plans that never change but are consistently canceled. Private jet in just-learned-to-drive pink. Building a hut in a forest that is always green but in secret, that you couldn’t leave even if you tried, that you believe in because there’s nothing else to know. Gemini: Beautiful? Two-sided but between a light light light light lime and a highlighter shade of yellow. A never-ending email exchange. A successful and legitimate wire between two cans and the people talking between them, the kids that grow into the adults in the office chairs being fearless.
Cancer: Beautiful? Caring so much about a place that your ashes become part of the landscape, that you’re willing to talk about the living in past tense. That you develop when place develops when you develop and so on. Leo: Beautiful? Independently searching for something to complete you and never finding it. A bittersweetness. Driving to the water to see a sunset through an array of clouds. Expecting gold and getting silver, getting copper, and not saying anything. Virgo: Beautiful? Knitted beige sweater on favorite uncle through winter. The idea of saying what you mean but never being forced to say it. Anticipation that never climaxes, people that never leave, wind that never quits. Libra: Beautiful? Having someone to please and knowing how to please them. An alarm clock ringing from a cellphone. Overflowing energy that knows how to control itself. Scorpio: Beautiful? Mosaic. Walking under a bridge and then, instantaneously, walking over it. Taking knife to the quiet to hear truth. Standing on a chair for an entire day, moving into a haunted house and inviting your mom to see the new place. Sagittarius: Beautiful? Realizing you can’t deliver what you promised and doing nothing about it. Getting away with it. Ocean in a beer bottle. Racetrack body, thin-spread jam and rubber band jump roping. Capricorn: Beautiful? Penny always landing on its head. Birds that mate for life and then die. Glass that changes what you’re looking at. Distorted wwreality. Playing video games on a couch you won’t remember, casually killing zombies.
ACROSS 1 Brewery in Golden, Colorado 6 Fast-food package deal 11 Color variant 14 Gelatin garnish 15 French word of farewell 16 24-hr. cash source 17 *Wonderland feline known for disappearing 19 Nonstick spray brand 20 “Hints from” columnist 21 Weaken from disuse 23 Manhattan area to the right of Central Park, on maps 25 __ a soul 26 Corp. symbols 27 Stopgap remedy 31 Small jazz groups 34 “Designing Women” actress Delta 35 Senate approval 36 One of a bath towel pair 37 Rocky outcroppings 38 Capone facial mark 39 Prefix with dermis 40 Laundry slide 41 7-Down and such 42 Virus-transmitting insect 44 __ Francisco 45 Sting or smart 46 Musical wrap-ups 51 Free sample restriction 54 Title savant in a 1988 Oscarwinning film 55 Invest in 56 *Da Vinci’s “La Gioconda,” to some English speakers 58 Scratch (out) 59 Dog-__: folded at the corner 60 In finer fettle 61 “Absolutely” 62 Swiped 63 Gothenburg native
DOWN 1 Secret stash 2 “Straight Outta Compton” actor __ Jackson Jr. 3 Some German cars 4 Italian rice dishes 5 Religious rifts 6 Gave a darn 7 Neruda wrote one to common things 8 Layered mineral 9 ’50s-’60s nonconformists 10 Run faster than 11 *“Have a nice day” graphic 12 Great Salt Lake state 13 TV award 18 Egyptian fertility goddess 22 “Mork & Mindy” planet 24 Largest ring of latitude 28 Hard-to-ignore impulse 29 Start of Popeye’s existential maxim 30 Gen-__: postboomers
31 The bad guys 32 Auctioned auto, perhaps 33 *Celtic peepers of song 34 Champagne choice 37 Idle talk 38 Kin by marriage 40 Oversees, as a gallery collection 41 Social outcasts 43 “__ Sera, Sera” 44 Stretch across
47 Slowly wear down 48 Expression shared by the answers to starred clues 49 Relaxed, as rules 50 Hunter’s trap 51 Do as you’re told 52 Zap for dinner 53 Courageous one 57 Country singer Tillis
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bupipedream.com | February 28, 2019
SPORTS
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mikayel harutyunyan design intern
Binghamton collects $315,500 for marquee games BU took on Michigan, ND among other top teams Edward Aaron sports intern
When the Binghamton men’s basketball team announced its 2018-19 schedule last summer, a few nonconference matchups immediately stood out to Bearcats fans. The team was set to travel to Northwestern, Notre Dame and Michigan. This set up a much more challenging slate of nonconference games for Binghamton than in past years. “In spite of breaking the school record the last two years in nonconference wins, it didn’t
produce much when we got to America East play,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey at the team’s preseason media day. “I decided to play a bigger schedule — just focused on putting the guys in some different environments against some bigger, stronger teams and trying to grow through that process and have them better ready for what we’re gonna see in January and February.” It is common for mid-major schools like BU to schedule road games against power conference opponents. Although unlikely to yield a victory for the mid-major school, facing off against big-time opponents can provide valuable opportunities for student-athletes and fans. The chance to play or
attend games in notable venues can be a great experience for everyone involved. These games also provide national television opportunities that are generally unavailable to mid-major schools during conference play — something that appeals to fans and provides strong marketing opportunities for the school. The games against Northwestern and Michigan were both televised on ESPNews and the Big Ten Network, respectively. “It’s certainly exciting to go play in those venues, and we have some great TV opportunities,” Dempsey said. “I think that you know what you’re preparing for, too, because we’re just a couple of weeks away here from playing
in some big-time atmospheres against some big-time opponents, so it certainly adds some urgency to your preseason.” In light of these commonly known benefits, perhaps the most important reason why mid-major teams schedule games against major conference opponents is for the guaranteed payout. In order for powerhouse teams to fill out their nonconference schedule, they pay mid-major schools that they expect to beat handily to come play them. These guarantees can be substantial. According to public records, the men’s basketball program received $95,000 guarantees each for playing in games against Michigan and Notre
Dame. The team also received a $90,000 guarantee to play against Northwestern. The women’s basketball program also partook in similar matchups this season. The team received an $18,500 guarantee for its trip to play Notre Dame and $17,000 for its game against Marquette. The two basketball programs earned a combined $315,500. As expected, both Binghamton teams lost all of their guaranteed games. Most notably, the men’s team was close against undefeated No. 2 Michigan until the final 10 minutes of the game, when the Wolverines finished on a 28-9 run and won by a margin of 22 points. These buy games usually
end with results in favor of the purchaser, but this isn’t always the case. Syracuse University, home of New York’s strongest college basketball program, participated in several guaranteed games during its nonconference season. Most notably, the team was defeated in the Carrier Dome by Old Dominion last December. Binghamton has had ups and downs thus far in conference play, and whether or not these games helped the team on the court this season is questionable. However, the guaranteed payouts and exposure received from playing Northwestern, Notre Dame and Michigan have likely helped the program this season and in the future.
Pipe Dream’s editors take on Binghamton golf team Lane, Ottman handily defeat college journalists Justin Zion
assistant sports editor
It’s almost March, and the spring season for the Binghamton golf team has almost arrived. Five tough invitationals are lined up on the schedule, including the Big Sky Conference Championships in Boulder City, Nevada. But before the season even began, two members of the golf team faced an even greater challenge when senior Zak Ottman and sophomore Justin Lane competed in a putting contest in the golf team’s putting facility in
the West Gym. Their opponents? Myself and Sports Editor Samuel Ditchek, two of Pipe Dream Sports’ finest young golfers. Having watched golf all my life but never having played the game beyond a mini golf course, I was curious to see the difficulty level of some of the putts that golfers had to face and the level of skill required to make them. So I recruited Ditchek to see how we stood against two members of Binghamton’s golf team in a fun, competitive putting contest. We knew that their abilities far outmatched our own, but being graduates of Wii Sports Golf and Sega Genesis’ PGA Tour Golf, perhaps we could hold our own. Ditchek and I met BU head
coach Bernie Herceg in the West Gym lobby. He led us to the team’s facility in the basement where Ottman and Lane were waiting. Formerly a racquetball room, the facility featured a surface that replicated an actual putting green, along with a small bit of fairway. Tons of holes were splayed across the green, creating a multitude of possible putts. Our contest was an 18-hole team match play. Whoever shot the best on a putt won the hole for his team, and the team with the most holes won would be declared the winner. Each shot was to be chosen by the winners of the previous hole. With the rules explained and Herceg looking on and shouting
HOUSING
encouragement, the competition began, and things began to go downhill for the Pipe Dream team almost immediately. The trickiest part of putting was reading the speed of the green correctly. The putting surface in the golf team’s facility was much quicker than the average mini golf course; a little tap sent the ball a long way. After a few practice shots, though, I started to temper the force with which I putted and more or less got the hang of it. Ditchek was not as fortunate. He sent putt after putt flying by the hole and off the green. “Playing the greens was definitely a challenge for someone who exerted too much strength in nearly every single shot,” Ditchek said. “Over the course of the day I did get a better feel for how to hit the ball in terms of force.” Lane and Ottman were solid, as expected. Having practiced on that putting green countless times, they were aware of every hill, dip and
curve on the surface. Ottman, in particular, was raking in one-putts one after another, putting him and Lane well ahead of Ditchek and I very quickly. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Pipe Dream side, however, as I, by majority, did manage to win a hole here and there. In one instance, my putt rode along the edge of a slight ridge and curled back perfectly right into the hole, but it wasn’t nearly enough to dig ourselves out of the hole we were in. The Binghamton golf team defeated Pipe Dream, six holes up with four to go. Since we played so terribly against Ottman and Lane, we decided to switch up the teams and play a nine-hole competition. Ottman and Ditchek were pitted against Team Justin (Lane and I), and Ottman summarily secured his second win of the day by outshooting Lane, as Ditchek and I proudly acted as dead weight. Perhaps the most exciting
moment of the day was when Ditchek finally broke through and secured a one-putt. After a few attempts where the ball, hard-struck, went in and out of the hole, Ditchek finally got some good luck and sunk a hole-in-one, his first and only one-putt of the afternoon. In the end, though, Ottman was the dominant golfer that day with a 3-0 record, as he captured the final match when he was paired with me. By virtue of his perfect day, Herceg jokingly vowed to name the room after Ottman. Leaving the Zak Ottman Putting Room, I thought that I had performed reasonably well for someone who had never putted on an actual green in his life. Though the yawning gap between myself and the collegiate golfers was plain, it seemed that developing the knack for putting is within reach for anyone who practices honing their finesse, accuracy and overall skill.
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CALL: (607) - 222 - 7323 christine derosa staff photographer Pipe Dream Sports Editor Samuel Ditchek and Assistant Sports Editor Justin Zion competed on the putting green against Binghamton golfers Justin Lane and Zak Ottman.
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Pipe Dream battles BU SEE PAGE 9
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Freshman guard Sam Sessoms tied a school record with a career-high 34 points as Binghamton was downed by Hartford.
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer
Men’s basketball overpowered by Hartford at home Sessoms’ 34 not enough in poor defensive showing Edward Aaron sports intern
Led by freshman guard Sam Sessoms’ 34 points, the Binghamton men’s basketball team was able to stage a rally in the second half and cut Hartford’s lead to 10. Unfortunately for BU, it was too little too late. The Bearcats (8-21, 4-10 America East) struggled defensively, falling by a score of 96-76 to the Hawks (16-13, 9-5 AE). “I said coming into it it’s the toughest matchup in the league for us, Hartford is,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “The way they can pass the ball, shoot
the ball, we’re playing so much zone defense. I just thought they picked us apart because they have five guys that can pass and five guys that can shoot.” The 96 points Hartford scored demonstrated the major defensive struggles Binghamton faced during the game. Senior forward George Blagojevic finished the game with a seasonhigh 32 points. He started the game 13-for-13 on field goals before missing a layup with 14 minutes left in the second half. “We had to pick our poison — Blagojevic, he killed us,” Dempsey said. “They came in, they played a really, really good game. Our kids showed a lot of heart, got back into the game. Sam had a super second half to kind of give us a pulse there.” The best sequence of the
game for Binghamton happened in the second half. After a 2718 run by Binghamton to start the second, Hartford’s lead was cut to 73-63. Fourteen of those points were scored by Sessoms, who set a new career high with 34 in the game, tying the school record. Earlier this season, Sessoms approached the record, scoring 32 in a loss to UMass Lowell. “My jump shot just was falling,” Sessoms said. “Once I start making threes, I’m a lot more difficult to guard. I’m known for driving to the basket and making tough layups, but once my jump shot is falling, you got defenders with happy feet — they don’t know whether to back up or get up on me.” Hartford closed out the game strong in what ended as
a 20-point victory in its favor. The Hawks’ depth plagued the Bearcats in a game that they dominated with the exception of a mid-game run. The game was notable for the lack of free throws attempted by Binghamton. It took until the final four minutes for Binghamton to attempt one. Throughout the game, Hartford did not commit any shooting fouls. “We had a tough matchup tonight, but we’re playing better,” Dempsey said. “We’re playing with more confidence, we’re trying to send our seniors out with some wins here down the stretch and a push in the conference tournament, and that’s what we’re focused on.” Sessoms’ success during this game and throughout the
season is one of the few bright spots to take away from this year’s Binghamton team. “Every time I get a shot up, whether it’s off the wrong foot or something, I always think it’s going to go in,” Sessoms said. “I’m a real confident guy, especially when there’s a night like tonight, every shot I took I felt like it was going to go in.” The presumptive AE Rookie of the Year is a solid building block for a Binghamton team looking to improve within its conference. “I think the most comforting thing is that [we] have him for so long,” Dempsey said. “He’s special. He’s going to help us build a program, he’s going to help us get guys to come here to play with him, he’s going to help us put butts in the stands.
It’s really exciting.” Binghamton has just two regular season contests remaining. The team will travel to Maine before hosting Albany in its regular-season finale. Throughout Dempsey’s time as a head coach, Binghamton has yet to win more than five AE games, and Dempsey seems focused on exceeding that total in his seventh year with the program. “We just really want to get refocused after losing tonight,” Dempsey said. “I’d really like to get to six conference wins … You try to continue to move forward, and you can’t get to six if you don’t get to five, so five is the one we’re after on Saturday.” Tipoff against the Black Bears on Saturday, March 2 is set for 11 a.m. from the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.
Women’s basketball struggles on offense in loss to Hawks Pesky Hartford defense forces 27 BU turnovers Samuel Ditchek sports editor
Despite entering the game riding a three-game winning streak, the Binghamton women’s basketball team turned the ball over a decisive 27 times in a 13-point defeat to Hartford. The Hawks (20-9, 13-2 America East) led by as many as 17 as they sought revenge against one of the only two conference opponents to defeat them this season. Hartford came through with vengeance, downing the Bearcats (12-16, 7-8 AE), 63-50. “It’s kinda hard to stay in a game when you have 27 turnovers, unfortunately. But they did a really good job and we were a little bit too loose with the basketball,” said BU head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. “And of course, they [the Hawks] wanted revenge, but we’re going to regroup and we’re going to get it together.” Escaping a pesky full-court press was by no means an easy task, evidenced by the fact that Binghamton scored only seven points in the opening quarter. The Bearcats remain in last place in the AE in turnovers, averaging 18 per game. Hartford, on the other hand, forces a conference-best 24.8 forced turnovers for a +9.38 turnover differential. Binghamton is also no stranger to rough first periods. Two weeks
sidney slon pipe dream photographer Freshman guard Annie Ramil recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Hartford.
ago from yesterday, the team faced off with the UMBC Retrievers and recorded just one point in the opening frame. “It’s forty minutes and you can’t look at the past, at that first quarter. We saw it at UMBC — I hate to bring that one back, but it happens,” Shapiro Ord said. “For whatever reason, we were just
not playing the way we played the first time against them [Hawks]. Unfortunately, with the turnovers we had it was tough.” Although the Bearcats were able to come back in the contest against UMBC, the squad was not as fortunate in its showdown with the Hawks. BU entered the break with 16 turnovers and only 19 points,
seven of which were provided by junior guard Kai Moon. Looking to make a push in the second half, Binghamton continued to make its presence felt on the glass. Even though the team was limited to seven second chance points, the Bearcats corralled 40 rebounds for the entire game, with 13 coming on the offensive end.
BU strung together 31 points in the second 20 minutes as junior guard Carly Boland and sophomore forward Olivia Ramil combined for 18 points in the half. “With 27 turnovers, it’s still the game that it was where it could’ve really got out of hand,” Shapiro Ord said. “They [the Bearcats] just kept battling to the end — there was
not one minute that they put their heads down. That’s a positive thing going forward as far as building a culture here. The girls are doing a tremendous job of how they are reacting.” While errors largely defined the contest for Binghamton, one major bright spot was freshman guard Annie Ramil’s performance. A. Ramil secured her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 boards to her name in just 22 minutes of action. In their home finale on Saturday, the Bearcats will be hosting their annual Senior Day, recognizing those who are set to graduate this semester. BU will honor senior forwards Kennedi Thompson and Rebecca Carmody, as well as redshirt junior forward Corrinne Godshall. “Senior night is going to be emotional for a few of them, and for me because this is my first group and they have given everything they can,” Shapiro Ord said. “From Rebecca Carmody playing a lot, doing what she does and her leadership ability to Corrinne and Kennedi who show up every day to practice to work hard, to give everything they can, even though they don’t get a lot of playing time. What they do as far being great teammates.” Tipoff against conferenceleading Maine is set for noon on Saturday, March 2 from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.