Spring 2019 Issue 23

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Hip hop trio Injury Reserve headlined at WHRW’s Moefest on Saturd See page 6

HIP-HOP TRIO

INJURY RESERVE HEADLINED AT WHRW’S MOEFEST ON SATURDAY

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Monday, April 29, 2019 | Vol. XCV, Issue 23 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

DOT announces $1.1M Vestal Parkway project Zeta Psi holds Souza memorial fundraiser Construction to add new sidewalks to seven locations Leora Schwadron pipe dream news

Town Square Mall

Lineva was lying in the middle of the road with a high blood alcohol content level, Siddiqui should not have fled the scene of the crime. Ryan Yarosh, BU’s senior director of media and public relations, said the University supports the project and the safety improvements it will make for students and the community. “We applaud any investments that enhance pedestrian safety, especially a project like this, which provides better safety for our students as well as the community,” Yarosh said. Pamela Sharlach, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said she thinks the sidewalks will also improve transportation for students. “I think the sidewalks are a good idea, and they will definitely make it

see parkway page 4

Sycamore St. Glenn G. Bartle Dr.

Main St.

Target

Bunn Hill Rd.

Binghamton University

Martha Rd.

Around 200 people braved the cold weather and rain on Sunday to honor Binghamton University student Joao Souza with a memorial soccer penalty shot tournament at the East Gym Field. Last year, Souza was fatally stabbed in his dorm room on the ground floor of Windham Hall of Mountainview College. Souza, originally from Brazil, was a freshman majoring in engineering and a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. The event, organized by Zeta Psi, raised funds to pay for a memorial soccer game in Souza’s honor in his hometown in Brazil. According to the fraternity, funds will also be donated to children in Brazil who aspire to play soccer but cannot afford equipment. Zeta Psi has currently raised more than $4,000 for Associação Esporte e Vida, a nonprofit organization in Brazil that brings soccer equipment from the United States to Brazil. Jonny Schulman, a member of Zeta Psi and a sophomore majoring in psychology, spoke to the crowd about Souza before the event began. “I met Joao the first night of college our freshman year, and although I only knew him for what some may consider not a very long

Sunset Rd.

pipe dream news

Jason Garnar said the new sidewalks will allow more people to safely move around the area. “The safety of our residents is extremely important, especially in a highly traveled area like the Vestal Parkway,” Garnar said in the press release. “New sidewalks will help provide safe access for county residents, including Binghamton University students, to many businesses in the area.” The sidewalk comes more than two years after junior Stefani Lineva died in a hit-and-run along Vestal Parkway. Lineva, who was found lying against the concrete median in the middle of the highway, was struck by a vehicle driven by Aizaz Siddiqui on Dec. 3, 2016. Siddiqui was convicted of a hitand-run in September 2017. At his trial, prosecutors argued that although

African Rd.

Christine DeRosa

Airborne Ave.

Event raises more than $4K to buy soccer equipment for children

Students and residents alike can soon expect new sidewalks along Vestal Parkway. This past week, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced plans to begin a $1.1 million project that will ultimately lead to a sidewalk system that will run alongside Vestal Parkway. Currently, the parkway is one of the busiest areas of the highway in Broome County, according to Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, and has essentially no pedestrian access. The project aims to improve

pedestrian safety and mobility on Vestal Parkway between Binghamton University and Main Street in the town of Vestal, according to a NYSDOT press release. The project’s construction is planned to have a minimal effect on commuters. Keeping in line with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “Drivers First” initiative, sidewalk construction will be designed to minimize impact on traffic to adjacent businesses. The press release also said that no work will take place during the 2019 concert series or on federal holidays that occur between May and November. The project will include eight sidewalks installed at busy locations where none currently exist, including Glenn G. Bartle Drive, Town Square Mall and near Memorial Park on Main Street in Vestal. In the press release, Broome County Executive

see souza page 3

kade estelle design intern

Muslim Student Association holds ‘Islamic Awareness Week’ Events aims to destigmatize Islamic culture, religion Gillian Mathews

contributing writer

In an effort to promote awareness of Islam and break down stereotypes and misconceptions of the Muslim community, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted a variety of events during Islamic

Awareness Week. From April 22 to 27, the MSA held events highlighting unity within the Muslim community. Hebba Ahmad, secretary of the MSA and a junior majoring in biology, said Islamic Awareness Week has been an annual event held by the MSA for several years. Each year, members use the week as an opportunity to organize activities that pertain to the culture and history of Islam in an attempt to promote and encourage students to

become knowledgeable and engaged in Islamic culture. “Since these events have been going on for at least four to five years prior to my becoming an officer, I’ve been participating in for quite some time,” Ahmad said. “We all come to college from completely different places and we all grew up with a different sense of identity, so it’s nice to have these events where people can embrace these parts of our culture together and help others to learn

as well.” Members of the organization came together to kick off the week with a calligraphy writing session at Glenn G. Bartle Library. A significant part of Islamic culture, calligraphy has a distinctive role in the religion, architecture, science and mathematics. Other events centered on creating a Tasbeeh, a set of 99 beads to count as a means to keep track of prayers, and educating non-Muslims about the hijab,

a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women. Alina Mufti, a freshman majoring in biomedical engineering, said she believes the way media portrays certain aspects of Muslim culture affects how people perceive important items in the religion, such as the hijab. “There seems to be a stigma, and to us, it is more about how you get to choose what you want to show the world and

see msa page 4

Brindisi visits BU for climate change forum Attendees pose questions on Green New Deal, agriculture Sofia Mena

pipe dream news

kojo senoo pipe dream photographer Students pose questions for Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) on Thursday evening during a public forum on climate change.

ARTS & CULTURE

Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) visited Binghamton University on Thursday evening for a public forum on the climate crisis, his first visit to the University since being elected to represent New York’s 22nd congressional district in 2018. The forum was organized by Generation Repairing Our World (GROW) and was co-sponsored by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and Generation Vote. Before Brindisi spoke, Molly Patterson, an assistant professor of geological sciences and environmental studies at BU, and Carl Lipo, associate dean for research and programs in Harpur College, director of the University’s

OPINIONS

environmental studies program and a professor of environmental studies and anthropology, led a brief introduction to the climate crisis. Patterson showed the evidence of temperatures and carbon dioxide levels having increased dramatically in the last 40 years while presenting predictive models of climate changes and the resulting economic costs. Lipo discussed feedback mechanisms which could be implemented to help slow climate change and prevent environmental damage. Patterson and Lipo encouraged students to utilize their power and to continue initiating conversations, questioning lawmakers and demanding change. While Brindisi spoke, members of the different organizations at the University posed questions to him on topics such as the Green New Deal,

see forum page 3

SPORTS

Evolution Dance Company presented student-choreographed dances at its annual showcase,

Local writers shared stories at the Writing by Degrees writers’ conference at the UDC,

Contributing columnist Sophie Miller emphasizes the need for trial and error in college,

Baseball sweeps Hartford in threegame series,

Men’s lacrosse takes season closer against UMass Lowell,

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