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
SEE PAGE 6
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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PAGE II April 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April29 3,2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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Relay for Life
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christine derosa staff photographer Binghamton University hosts Relay for Life, a national event in which participants stay up all night to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, this Friday in the Events Center.
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LOCAL NEWS
Broome County state of emergency lifted The month-long state of emergency in Broome County caused by a sharp spike in fentanyl-related drug overdose deaths was lifted on Thursday, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. In March, there were 12 drug-related deaths in Broome County, four times the number of deaths in January and February, which each had three. According to a statement from the Broome County Executive’s Office, the drug-related deaths have since dropped “back in line with preemergency levels” and authorities launched preventative strategies to be implemented for the future. Binghamton SWAT situation peacefully resolved After several hours of negotiation on Friday night, an armed man inside a home on Stuyvesant Street surrendered to the Binghamton Police Department, according to WBNG. According to police, officers responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. for a possible hostage situation and successfully negotiated with the man, who was taken to the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at Binghamton General Hospital after expressing suicidal thoughts. The two women who were inside the multifamily home, according to the police, did not feel like they were taken hostage, but called the police because of what the man was saying. Authorities are currently look-
ing into the man’s background, including whether he could be a former felon, which could lead to charges. NATIONAL NEWS
Measles outbreak causes quarantines at two Los Angeles universities Quarantines have been issued for students and staff at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and California State University after they may have been exposed to measles, according to the Washington Post. The students and staff who have been quarantined either have not been vaccinated or cannot verify that they have immunity. The quarantines could last for up to 21 days, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and come amid a surge of measles outbreaks across the country — a reported 695 cases spanning 22 states. Harvey Weinstein’s trial delayed until September Harvey Weinstein’s trial on charges of rape and sexual assault has been postponed to Sept. 9, rather than June 3, according to WBNG. A New York City judge announced the delay on Friday following a closed-door hearing, which focused on trial strategy and potential witnesses. The film producer has been charged with raping an unidentified female acquaintance in his Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006.
This Day in History April 29, 1992 Four Los Angeles police officers shown beating Rodney King, an unarmed, black motorist, in an over a minute-long video are acquitted of any wrongdoing in the arrest. Hours after the verdicts are announced, protestors in South Central Los Angeles block freeway traffic and begin beating motorists, looting numerous stores and setting fires, starting the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
“Now our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. But moving forward this must serve as yet another wake-up call that antisemitism is a growing and deadly menace. The Holocaust is a reminder of the dangers of unchecked antisemitism and the way hate can infect a society. All Americans must unequivocally condemn it and confront it wherever it appears.” — Sara Bloomfield, director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in a statement after a shooter opened fire inside a synagogue in Poway, California, on Saturday, the last day of Passover. The attack, which killed one and injured three, occurred exactly six months after the deadly Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Mark Silverio of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Retreat! MONDAY, April 22, 8:15 p.m. — An 18-year-old female contacted UPD after noticing a bird that was not moving outside of Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4). She said she tried to encourage it to fly away, but the bird stayed put. Officers responded to the area and determined the bird, which was a raven, was not severely injured, but may have flown into one of the windows of the nearby buildings. Officers tried to catch the raven in a box, but the bird could not be captured and flew waist-high at one of the officers, who ran away from it. Eventually, they corralled the raven into a cardboard box using brooms. The raven was released in the Nature Preserve. At least they tried MONDAY, April 22, 11:20 p.m. — Officers responded to Seneca Hall of College-in-theWoods after receiving a marijuana complaint. A Residential Life employee detected the odor of marijuana coming from a room and contacted UPD. Two 19-year-old males admitted to smoking marijuana and produced a grinder, a bag of marijuana and a water bong to Residential Life staff. Upon arriving at the scene, UPD spoke to the residents, who said they were trying to blow smoke out of the window to avoid being caught. Officers confiscated the marijuana and paraphernalia. They also confiscated a bottle of vodka. The residents consented to a room search and no other contraband was found. The residents will appear in Vestal Town Court.
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Don’t jump TUESDAY, April 23, 9:24 p.m. — Officers responded to Windham Hall of Mountainview College after four 18-year-old males and a 19-yearold male became trapped in an elevator. The males said they were unsure of what happened, but when officers reviewed video footage from the elevator, they determined that the occupants were jumping simultaneously, while the elevator was in motion, activating the elevator’s emergency brake. The occupants were stuck in the elevator for approximately 45 minutes before an elevator repairman was able to reset the elevator and get it back in working order. No physical damage was done to the elevator. The males apologized to the repairman and the officer let them go with a warning. Mute WEDNESDAY, April 24, 8:25 a.m. — A 58-year-old male bus driver contacted UPD after a 26-year-old male refused to get off a Broome County Transit bus. Officers responded to the University Union bus stop and told the passenger this was the last stop on the bus driver’s route and all passengers had to exit, but the suspect did not move. The suspect did not talk to officers and stared straight ahead without acknowledging anyone. Officers had to physically remove the suspect and once off the bus, he became combative. He was handcuffed and taken into police custody. Before being transported to the Broome County Jail, the suspect was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that he was healthy and capable of speaking, should he choose to. The suspect was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. He would not speak for the duration of his time with officers, approximately six hours.
bupipedream.com | April 29, 2019
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Climate forum draws students, community members forum from page 1 food and agriculture, disaster preparedness and cooperation with constituents on these issues. Brindisi was asked whether he supported the Green New Deal, a proposed program in Congress in the wake of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last year. While Brindisi said he recognized climate change as the greatest global threat we face today, he is not a co-sponsor of the deal. He also said he believes the text does not include enough detail for him to feel confident in it, citing its omission of hydroelectric and nuclear energy as sources of clean energy. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Brindisi was also asked how will he reform the United States’ food system to cut fossil fuel dependence to zero. Brindisi said lawmakers should be focusing on carbon emissions on farms, and in order to increase preparedness for flooding and other climate catastrophes in the area, he said he plans to support investment in infrastructure to mitigate such catastrophes. Brindisi added that more forums should be organized to educate people on the science behind the issue. “This is one way we can stay engaged in the process, so I can be there listening to your concerns, [and] I can take what you’re saying down to Washington, and then we have to mobilize,” Brindisi said. “Because it’s very difficult when you have divided government, and you have some folks in Washington who have their heads buried in the sand when it comes to this issue — it’s scary. They don’t believe in the science whatsoever.” Brindisi also answered various questions from audience members, including students and community members, ranging from fishing industry concerns
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer
Students pose questions for Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) on Thursday evening during a public forum on climate change.
to the possibility of a carbon tax. He emphasized the importance of investing in green infrastructure and said he supports the Climate Action Now Act, which aims to put the United States back in the Paris Agreement. George Elliot, a freshman double-majoring in environmental studies and anthropology, said he hoped
the forum would generate an informative and productive discussion for students and community members while expressing constituent concerns to move Brindisi’s stances in a favorable direction. “We want this to be an educational event, both for the audience members as well as for the congressman,” Elliot
said. “We also wanted this to be an opportunity for Brindisi to impress us with his responses and an opportunity for us to follow up with [our] responses. It was kind of like a foot in the water for him to establish where he stands on these issues, where we can move him on these issues and what tactics are appropriate for these issues in this area.”
Isabel Jordan, a member of Generation Vote and GROW and a freshman majoring in environmental studies, said the forum was an attempt to maintain an active and positive relationship with Brindisi and community members following his election. “We don’t want to let a relationship between constituents
and elected officials to die after an election — it needs to keep going, and they need to be held accountable, so we appreciate, as young people, that he took the time out of his busy schedule to actually be here,” Jordan said. “That being said, we do need to push him to be bolder and be creative, because climate is very politicized.”
SA Congress votes to end SA Gives Program to be terminated for 2019-20 academic year Jeremy Rubino news intern
christine derosa staff photographer Students wear shirts to honor Joao Souza, a freshman who was killed in his dorm in Windham Hall of Mountainview College in April 2018, during a memorial soccer game fundraiser at the East Gym.
Funds to be donated to Brazilian soccer nonprofit souza from page 1 amount of time in the grand scheme of things, it felt like I knew him for a lifetime,” Schulman said. “He put my life on a completely different course that would be way better than my life would be without him.” Schulman also said Souza spread positivity everywhere he went and was a model human who lived a life worth celebrating. Alessio Campos, founder and president of Associação Esporte e Vida, said he met Souza through Souza’s father, Alex, in 2012. According to Campos, Souza’s father would send him videos of Souza playing soccer and the group would discuss the sport. “That kid was amazing,” Campos said. “This kid can be a professional soccer player if he wants to — he will be. I
always told Alex to [get] his son to play more and then he entered high school and played at a high level.” According to Campos, Brazil has inadequate children’s soccer teams and soccer can be life-changing for children there, so he created his organization to help. “Joao’s father told me you guys were doing something very nice to help and I asked him to help me,” Campos said. “I helped 500 kids in Brazil, and with your kindness, we are going to do a lot of stuff for the kids.” After Campos’ introduction, the penalty shoot-out began, with two teams taking turns for their chance at the goal. Each team member, dressed in memorial shirts honoring Souza, took two shots at the goal in hopes of getting their ball past the
goalkeeper. Organizers raised money by selling tickets to the tournament, shirts in Souza’s honor and snacks. They also set up a GoFundMe. Jasmin Randhawa, a sophomore majoring in business administration and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, said she decided to participate to support the cause. Randhawa was on a team with her sorority sisters and she spent time warming up with her group before taking their shots. “I’m here to support my brothers,” Randhawa said. “It’s a great cause and Joao loved soccer.” Cat Bouadze, a sophomore majoring in economics, said she attended the event to honor Souza. “I knew him in high school,” Bouadze said. “I wanted to come support the cause.”
SA Gives, a fund run through the Student Association (SA) that rewards student groups for volunteer work, will not be returning for the 2019-20 academic year because of administrative challenges, according to SA Congress minutes from April 8. According to Kevin Darrell, vice president for finance and a senior double-majoring in accounting and mathematics, the fund was removed because of management policy changes made by the SA Congress, including the removal of the Community Discretionary Account. “For the 2018-19 fiscal year, only $500 of the $1,500 in the fund had been utilized,” Darrell wrote in an email. “Additionally, it was difficult to make Congress representatives attend [and] be motivated to want to be a part of the committee which makes up SA Gives.” Darrell also wrote that he was not involved in the termination of the program. While SA Gives was active, student groups that would like to hold a community service event would submit an application for a grant that would reimburse the group for the event. In partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), the SA Gives Review Committee would review the application and approve or deny the funds. According to Laura Reindl, assistant director for communications at the CCE, the CCE has held a supporting role to SA Gives by marketing the program to student groups. “The CCE has served in a supportive role over the last few years, helping the SA Gives Committee vet applications and market the program,” Reindl wrote in an email. “We were happy to support the Student Association’s efforts to prioritize community engagement among SA-chartered organizations.” Harry Bittker, BU Council student representative and a senior majoring
in political science, helped draft the bill to end SA Gives. Bittker wrote in an email that the fund was designed to encourage more students and student groups to conduct volunteer service, but the program itself did not help increase volunteer efforts, although SA-chartered organizations have become more involved with community service. “What we’ve seen among student groups is that student leaders are collaborating with other organizations and forming stronger partnerships, a trend that’s been present beyond volunteer efforts,” Bittker wrote. “But at the same time, while all this progress is being made, the SA Gives fund wasn’t really driving it. I could count on one hand the number of applications the fund has received over the past two years.” Bittker added that representatives that presided on the SA Gives Review Committee needed to be trained to become a certified treasurer in order to administer the fund, which he wrote was not worth the time. “Especially because of low utilization, the amount of training involved in operating the committee at a high standard would have been almost more time intensive than the work of the committee itself,” Bittker wrote. Bittker wrote that the money
allocated to SA Gives will be distributed into the SA’s account, but will be added to funding for the SA’s philanthropic organizations. “Our total allocation to student organizations this year increased by about $45,000, through a process in which the Finance Committee evaluates each request based on the group’s performance during the year and the merits of their proposal,” Bittker wrote. “Of that $45,000, about $6,500 was given to primarily philanthropic organizations, which, in aggregate, is really reflective of both the operational strength of these organizations and the impact they’re having on campus and beyond.” Brianna Manginelli, a sophomore majoring in human development and an e-board member for She’s the First, a nonprofit organization that aids women in low-income countries to receive an education, said she disagreed with the end of SA Gives and asserted that volunteering is essential toward working together as a society. “I believe as an optimally functioning society, it is necessary to work together, and I see volunteering as prime action to back up that statement,” Manginelli said. “To hear that the SA is ending SA Gives is a shame, because it’s taking money away from a good cause.”
miya carmichael contributing photographer SA Gives, a program through which SA-chartered groups can earn funding by volunteering, was marketed to student organizations by the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). SA Congress voted to end funding for SA Gives for next semester.
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bupipedream.com | April 29, 2019
ASL Club signs songs at sixth-annual spring concert Student groups unite to hold inclusive event Stephen Anku
contributing writer
The terms sign language and concert are not usually associated together, but in its latest show, the American Sign Language (ASL) Club made a case for the pairing. The club hosted its sixthannual spring concert this past Thursday at the University Union Undergrounds. They were joined by other student groups including Note to Self, Binghamton Glee Club and the Harpur Harpeggios. Each song was performed in ASL by members of the club in tandem with song recordings, and the student groups that contributed to the concert were accompanied by ASL translation on the side of the stage. Victoria Fabrizio, president of the ASL Club and a senior majoring in mathematics, described the concert as a long effort in the making. “We started planning right at the start of the semester,” Fabrizio said. “And we’ve been practicing for two months, ever since the middle of February.” The performers sampled music from a variety of different artists and genres, with selections ranging from older songs like “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5, to recent hits such as “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers as well as Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s song, “Shallow.” Christopher Wright, secretary of the club and a junior double-majoring in political science and economics, said the ASL Club faced difficulties in its preparations, as they were
liat katz contributing photographer
Members of the American Sign Language Club sign a song at their sixth-annual spring concert on Thursday.
responsible for translating all the songs that were to be performed by each group at the event. “It’s a very different grammatical structure than English,” Wright said. “But my favorite part was learning all the songs and practicing, even just messing up.” According to the American
Sign Language University, an online ASL curriculum resource center, one main difference between the languages involves pluralization. In spoken English, pluralization is indicated through the use of prefixes, whereas in ASL, people must sign a quantifier sign, reduplicate the sign or
incorporate a number directly into the sign. Free pizza and popcorn were also offered to students as they watched the performances. Some attendees found themselves singing along to the soundtracks of songs. Kaitlyn Chavez, a senior majoring in psychology, said her experience
at the spring concert challenged some of the preconceptions she held regarding ASL. “I thought it was going to be more awkward or quieter, but it was energetic and fun instead,” Chavez said. “My favorite song was ‘Seasons of Love.’” A total of 11 songs were performed over the course of the
evening, punctuated by bouts of applause from the audience. Hannah Reichelscheimer, a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said the concert was a unique experience for her. “The concert was very different,” Reichelscheimer said. “It’s like integration with all of your senses.”
Week of events highlights Islamic culture on campus msa from page 1
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer Muslim Student Association (MSA) President Mahmoud Almady, a senior majoring in accounting, speaks at the MSA’s banquet on Friday.
Vestal Parkway to see sidewalks in seven locations parkway from page 1 easier to get around,” Sharlach said. “Being able to walk to places would be something very convenient and I could see myself using these paths.” The project also aims to improve community health by providing residents with easier ways to walk places rather than taking a car, according to the press release. “Pedestrian improvements along Route 434 and throughout New York state allow people to safely walk to their destinations, cutting down on carbon emissions and boosting their personal health,” Lieutenant
Gov. Kathy Hochul said in the press release. Devon Close, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, said she is glad the project is supposed to have a positive environmental impact. “Today, more than ever, it is important we think about how our actions affect the environment,” Close said. “Hopefully the sidewalks lead to more people walking instead of driving, which will be good for the environment.” The project is part of a series of ongoing infrastructure additions that NYSDOT is making across the Southern Tier region, and is expected to be completed this fall.
what you don’t,” Mufti said. “And by giving women that choice, it can be really empowering.” With Ramadan coming up, the MSA decided to hold a “Fasta-thon” on Thursday to prepare participating students for the upcoming month of daily fasting. After abstaining from food and drink for the day, members then came together for Iftar, a meal eaten to break the daily fast during Ramadan after the sun goes down. According to Naseeb Ally, vice president of the MSA and senior majoring in accounting, members wanted to choose a theme of unity for the banquet. “We felt it was very important this year to address the divide in our cultures,” Ally said. “Our goal was to promote the idea that we are all the same and how important unity is in today’s world but especially on a college campus.” Students and community members were encouraged to attend the banquet to learn more
about Islamic culture and come together to enjoy food and a guest speaker. Throughout the night, attendees participated in a Maghrib prayer, the fourth of five prayers required for a practicing Muslim each day, and a Qirat competition, where students competed to determine who could best recite prayers from the Quran, focusing on enunciation and pronunciation to add different meanings to the text. At the banquet, current MSA members also announced the 2019-20 MSA E-Board. Haleema Qamar, a firstyear graduate student studying biomedical engineering, said although the banquet was the first MSA event that she had attended, she enjoyed a sense of community. “It was very interesting to get to know different people in the community during the banquet because even though we are united by religion, we are all so different and it gave us an opportunity to become closer despite those differences,” Qamar said.
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OPINIONS Monday, April 29, 2019
The anti-vaxxer movement perpetuates a phobia of autism Individuals with autism are painted as undesirable or damaged Miranda JacksonNudelman Contributing Columnist
The recent resurgence of preventable disease outbreaks has been influenced by the growing anti-vaccination movement. One of the most popular reasons behind antivaccination, its relationship to autism, is influenced by a societal autism phobia and the belief that the disorder is worse than a death-inducing pandemic. Recently, the revival of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States has mounted to proportions that haven’t been seen in more than a decade. Specifically, cases of measles, the mumps and the whooping cough are on the rise. In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 695 cases of measles outbreaks from 22 states, the highest number reported since its 2000 eradication in the United States. The outbreaks throughout New York state are among the largest and longest-lasting reported since the measles elimination. Generally, the introduction of diseases in communities with a highly vaccinated population pose little threat. Yet, when a disease is introduced in areas where few people possess vaccinations, the action constitutes an enormous effect on the whole community. The decision to refuse vaccination or not vaccinate enough decreases both an individual’s immunity to preventable diseases and weakens herd immunity in their communities, threatening the
lives of those around them. The recent rise in outbreaks is tied to an overall decline in vaccination rates. While immunizations are widely regarded as safe and effective ways to promote health and prevent the spread of diseases, the consensus is not unanimous. The polarization concerning vaccination beliefs has become strongly influenced by a growing anti-vaccination movement. Although not a new ideological campaign, its magnitude in present day positions it as a global and convoluted beast. Similar to many other societal movements in the 21st century, the anti-vaccination crusade pulls much of its power from social media. Numerous and diverse social media platforms allow anti-vaxxers to prolifically spread and amplify their rhetoric directly into mainstream focus. Fueled by safety concerns, political and religious beliefs and a substantial amount of misinformation, anti-vaxxers cite a wide range of reasons motivating their decisions not to vaccinate themselves or their children. Arguably the most popular of these is the belief in the connection between vaccination and autism. Despite having been disproved countless times, the argument that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine causes autism is alive and well. Among the incomprehensible amount of outspoken celebrity anti-vaxxers are actors Jenny McCarthy and Robert DeNiro, who are both parents of autistic children. They perpetuate misconceptions by broadcasting their beliefs that vaccinations contributed to their childrens’ disorders.
As the anti-vaccination movement gains traction, so does the rhetoric linking vaccines to autism.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also turned to Twitter on numerous occasions throughout the years to express his belief in this false correlation. This kind of fearmongering of misinformation aided by social media only results in furthering negative stereotypes associated with autism spectrum disorders. As support for the connection between autism and vaccinations retains its societal foothold despite evidence otherwise, it’s clear that the deeper reasoning
behind such a stance is simply inscrutable autism phobia. Condemning immunization due to the belief that it’ll completely alter someone’s DNA such that it results in autism is a baffling enough thought on its own. Yet underlining their vaccine condemnation is the condemnation of autism itself. It paints autism as some devastating curse to individuals and society, as the most serious trauma a parent could ever endure. On top
of all the stereotypes already associated with autism, now people with autism must also bear the categorization of “vaccine-injured.” All of the resources that went toward investigating whether or not vaccines cause autism took away from the otherwise important direction of research figuring out ways to improve the lives of autistic people and their families. This dehumanizing discourse stands as an obstacle to a powerful embracement of
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neurodiversity, as well as human diversity in general. It takes the rightful position of autistic people from center stage of the conversation and places them on the back burner in a marginalized position. It further reveals the backward viewpoint that the actuality of a person with autism is worse than a potentially fatal, yet completely preventable, pandemic. — Miranda JacksonNudelman is a sophomore majoring in political science.
College students should be granted more room for error Students need to be able to explore their options before deciding on a career path Sophie Miller Contributing Columnist
Wannado City was an amusement park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There were no roller coasters, Tilt-A-Whirls or zeppole. Instead, kids spent the day indoors, trying out different professions. You could be a firefighter, a police officer, a doctor, a writer, an archaeologist, a model, a nail technician, a chef, a bank teller, an actor and more. Going to Wannado City meant participating in a day of trial and error. It allowed little kids to figure out what they liked
and didn’t like. Why isn’t there a Wannado City for college students? At 18, we are expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. When we apply to colleges, we have to have some semblance of an idea of what we want to do. We have to decide while we’re applying to college. When applying to Binghamton University, we already have to know if we want to be in Harpur College, Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Management (SOM), Decker School of Nursing or more. While still in high school, you have to know if you are going into engineering or arts and sciences. Once you enter college, you are confined. There is not much room
to figure out what you like. Your intro classes are broad, rushed and condensed. History 103A: Foundations Of America is not necessarily enough to help you decide that you want to be a history major, but you’re terrified of falling behind, so you don’t spend time on history classes. You just move on to your next general education requirement, checking off boxes toward getting your degree. Most of us don’t declare a major until junior year. While that sounds like we have some time to figure it out, we don’t. We don’t spend the first two years of college trying new things and deciding what we like, and then spend the last two getting our degree. From freshman year, we take classes
geared toward our major, fulfilling requirements and applying for internships. By the time you declare your major, you’re halfway done with it. Not only is there a limited amount of time to try new things because we’re told we need to graduate in four years, sometimes we aren’t even allowed to figure out what we want. For example, you can’t take business classes unless you’re in SOM, but what if you’re an English major who wants to go into marketing or open a publishing company? While taking our classes, we also fight to get internships. While internships are important for résumé building, they are also useful for getting experience. An intern-
ship allows students this trial and error that classes do not. If you get a marketing internship and hate it, you may realize that marketing is a career choice you can cross off your list. If you love it, you may decide it’s what you want to do for the rest of your life. The problem is, if you are even able to get an internship, you can only get one you are qualified for. If there is an opportunity to shadow a doctor, it will go to a pre-med student, which is definitely fair, but means that because I did not choose that career path in high school, or early in college, I can never try it out. The chemistry major will never know if she loves law, and the engineering major won’t know if he really enjoys art, because once
your high school self picks a path, you are stuck. I believe allowing students more time to explore their options and opening classes to students of all majors is the first step to fixing this problem. I also believe that short internship programs and shadowing opportunities should be available to students of all majors. College students need their own Wannado City. We need to be able to try and fail to realize we are in love with things we could have never pictured ourselves doing, to explore and to get reassurance that we are on the right path, or to completely change our paths if we aren’t. — Sophie Miller is a sophomore majoring in English.
Why are pregnant people so closely scrutinized? Going through pregnancy is difficult enough without the judgment of others Annick Tabb Columnist
Earlier this month, the Kensington Palace announced that Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, would be keeping the birth of their first child private. Unlike Prince Harry’s parents and brother and sister-in-law, the couple will not partake in the tradition of presenting their child to the public — standing on the steps of the hospital mere hours after Markle gives birth. The duchess has also opted to choose her own OB-GYN over a royal physician.
The steps that have been taken to keep the birth reasonably personal and away from prying eyes were not well-received by the British press, who have spilled gallons of ink criticizing what seems to be Markle’s every move even before she announced her pregnancy. While the duchess’ situation is a relatively unique one, it has the power to open the floor for conversation about what is expected of and projected on people who are pregnant. Pregnancy, childbirth and child raising are all grueling undertakings and are not made easier by the judgments and interference of others. Part of the problem seems to lie in the fact that pregnant people are often expected to love every single moment of their
pregnancy. They are supposed to accept every bout of morning sickness, food aversion and fatigue with a smile. They are supposed to not ever complain about the pain they are in because any discomfort, no matter how excruciating, will not matter once they are holding a baby in their arms. “It seems like more and more there is tremendous pressure on pregnant folks to move through life as if pregnancy doesn’t affect them, with standard-setting for what pregnancy ‘should’ look like coming from elite athletes and Hollywood stars who are having, by and large, atypical experiences,” Ragen Chastain wrote for Ravishly. In the article, she told the story of a pregnant friend who had asked her husband to wash
the dishes even though he had cooked the meal. The husband responded by saying, “If Serena can win an Open pregnant, I don’t understand why you are having such a hard time with basic stuff.” Serena Williams winning the Australian Open while she was pregnant is proof of the human body’s power and resilience, but it should not be used to shame other people who live completely different lives. It is also important to note that Williams was bedridden for six weeks after giving birth because of life-threatening complications and has been open about her experience with postpartum depression. The fact that pregnancy and childbirth can have serious physical and mental repercussions is often downplayed, and
pregnant people are expected to remain silent even if they are really struggling. Pregnancy should not be viewed as a competition, and everyone’s experience is and should be their own. The interference does not end after a child is born. New parents seem to be judged whether they decide to go back to work relatively quickly after giving birth or to stay at home with their child full-time. Parents in the United States are granted up to 12 weeks of job security after the birth of a child. The United States does not mandate paid parental leave unlike other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which grants up to 39 weeks, and Canada, which gives a year. For many people, not having paid leave makes it impos-
sible for them to stay at home with their babies for any length of time. On the other hand, not being able to afford childcare may force a parent to stay at home. The choice to continue to work or remain at home is a personal one and should be honored, especially when it is related to finances. The process of bringing a child into the world is not one that should be taken lightly. Expecting and new parents should not be expected to sugarcoat how they are feeling. They should be granted the freedom to make their own decisions without other people’s unwanted advice or judgment. — Annick Tabb is a junior double-majoring in political science and English.
OSHUN and Injury Reserve headline Moefest 2019 Festival featured music, food and student tables Gabriela Iacovano
Assistant Arts & culture editor
Despite an ominously snowy start to the day, WHRW 90.5 FM’s annual Moefest drew an energetic crowd with two headlining acts and an evening of food, crafts and activities. Saturday evening, a stage and tables were set up on the grass and pavement outside Classroom Wing. Live music started at 5 p.m. with student DJs Buzi and Roni as well as student band natural born kissers. While the event started late and some student acts had to be cut from the bill because of inclement weather, a sizable audience gathered within a few hours as attendees danced to the DJ sets and crowded together in anticipation of the headliners. Throughout the evening, attendees could visit tables from student organizations like Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (IDEAS), Binghamton Production and Mixing, Frances Beal Society and College Progressives. WHRW provided a free vegetarian hot dog stand, cotton candy machine and tie-dye
station, and other student groups brought glitter, face paint, free Yerba Mate and more. Triple Cities Vintage, a local vintage clothing company, set up racks of clothing in Lecture Hall for attendees to browse and purchase. Sari Richards, a freshman double-majoring in English and philosophy, politics and law, said the activities offered throughout the evening were engaging. “I like the whole craft feel,” she said. “I always want to have parties and add crafting stations to them because that’s what people want to do, and that’s what this is like.” The headliners took the stage as the sun began to set, and the crowd became more energetic as the night went on. Last year’s Moefest was headlined by indie-pop outfit Jay Som. This year, the concert featured hip-hop and soul duo OSHUN and hip-hop trio Injury Reserve. In sharp contrast with Jay Som’s laid-back performance last year, Injury Reserve’s set saw audience members moshing, crowd-surfing and climbing onto the speakers and stage. Liz Nutig, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said she appreciated both the relaxed, positive vibes of OSHUN and the intensity of Injury Reserve. “In the beginning it was colorful
miya carmichael contributing photographer Binghamton University’s radio station WHRW 90.5 FM hosted Moefest, an annual music festival featuring student bands, DJ sets, opener OSHUN and headliner Injury Reserve.
and happy and then at the end the energy was really powerful,” she said. “I liked all of it.” Nutig added that she was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who came out despite the weather.
“I feel like despite the weather, people showed up,” she said. “I thought it was going to be sad and snowy, but it was exciting and wonderful. I’ve never moshed that much in my life.” Taylor Mileski, general manager
of WHRW and a senior doublemajoring in sociology and art and design, wrote in an email that she was happy with the turnout of the event. “Despite weather-related setbacks, we were able to pull off
an event that we are proud of,” she wrote. “The crowd responded really well to our new direction in regards to the genre of main musical guests. We hope that next year will be even bigger, better and more diverse. I’m excited to see what comes next.”
Downtown art gallery features senior BFA students The exhibition displayed a variety of mediums Krishna Patel
arts & culture intern
On the evening of April 26, the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery in Downtown Binghamton opened its doors to showcase the work of seven graduating Binghamton University seniors in the BFA Exhibition “Put It on the Fridge.” The gallery opening, hosted by the Brunelli Gallery and the BU art and design department, displayed the curated work of students who are part of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in the department. While the rain poured down on State Street, the gallery’s doors were open to a warm and lively atmosphere. Guests were welcomed with snacks and refreshments. The gallery featured a wide variety of art forms from students, such as interactive computer exhibitions, traditional canvas paintings, prints and illustrations. Rachel Ceparski, a senior majoring in biology, said she was excited by the diversity of artistic expression within the exhibition. “I love the diversity,” Ceparski said. “Every piece of work you look at is different within itself. It’s so cool that they’re each almost a different medium, and you can see so many different types of art. Art itself offers so many different ways to be good.” The gallery featured a diverse crowd of people, including students, faculty and community members. The room had a social atmosphere, as guests mingled and observed the artwork. The artists discussed their work and answered questions while celebrating their four years of hard work. Many students came in support and recognition of their friends and classmates, including Ceparski. “I have two friends whose art is in the show right now, and they invited me here,” Ceparski said. “I think it’s really awesome. I know the work that went into doing my friends’ own pieces. It’s cool to see their final products and also everyone else’s. I know how much work they put into it, and I think they look awesome.” Guests also had the opportunity to view the artwork
of other BU students they may not have previously known. Haley Han, a junior majoring in art and design, said she was excited to see the work of her peers. “Some of these artists, I’ve never seen their work before,” Han said. “The talent here is really impressive. I’m really interested in the artwork here that students have to present, because I’m an art student myself.” The works featured included illustrations inspired by Coin Laundry in Binghamton, cartoons about the struggles of adulthood and an interactive projected display of plans for Nuthatch Hollow, a BU living building project. Lily Newland, a senior majoring in art and design, presented her work at the exhibition. Her curated artwork featured three portraits — one of her grandfather, one of her mother and a self-portrait. “I wanted my work to be anecdotal and have a very personal theme, but also have this ephemeral, dramatic narrative in a way that even though it’s very personal, most people can also relate to and get an emotional and psychological sense of what is depicted in the imagery,” Newland said. Newland used a variety of intricate techniques in creating her work. “I really tried to expand my use of different mediums,” she said. “I used charcoal, pastel, an airbrush with ink in it and stencil work.” Newland also reflected on her time as an art and design major
with a drawing concentration at BU. “It’s been a wild ride and definitely a lot of fun,” she said. “A lot of people in the art department are graphic designers, so being a drawing major sets you apart, and you have to find your own way, but a lot of the staff have been really supportive.” For John Brunelli, gallery director, “Put It on the Fridge” connects BU with the local community and art scene while displaying the hard work of graduating art students. “It’s a great opportunity for a gallery that’s based in the community, owned by my brother and I, who are alumni of Binghamton University,” Brunelli said. “It creates a conversation between the community and the University, and I think it’s important to build that bridge.” For many of the seniors, the exhibition was their first time presenting their work to a larger audience outside of a studio. However, the event aimed to provide a valuable experience for guests and students alike. “It’s really awesome to see my work in a really beautiful setting,” Newland said. “It’s out there in the world and not just existing within a studio space. I think sometimes the problem with your own work is that you’re so close to it that you don’t really know how people are going to receive it, so when it’s out there in the world, it really gives you a chance to take in how people react to it, and I think that’s the most exciting part of it.”
christine derosa staff photographer On April 26, the Brunelli Gallery opened its doors to the community and displayed the artwork of seven graduating seniors in the Binghamton University Bachelor of Fine Arts program.
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer Nathaniel Mackey, a poet, author and Reynolds Price professor of creative writing in the English department at Duke University, read from his main works to commemorate a new exhibition at the Binghamton University Art Museum.
Nathaniel Mackey reads poetry at BU Art Museum Poet’s work is thematically tied to current exhibition Lakhsmi Chatterjee arts & culture intern
On Thursday, poet and author Nathaniel Mackey performed a reading of his main works at the Binghamton University Art Museum. The reading commemorated a new exhibition, “Some Bodies: Gober, Ligon, Prince,” in the Main Gallery. Mackey, a Reynolds Price professor of creative writing in the English department at Duke University, is the author of six books of poetry, the most recent being “Blue Fasa” in 2015. Born in Miami, Florida, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English from Princeton University in 1969 and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1975. In 2006, he won the National Book Award for Poetry for his book “Splay Anthem.” Mackey’s poetry mainly deals with African mythology, rituals and music. Mackey has also been editor of Hambone, a literary magazine, since 1982. At the event, Mackey read several poems from a variety of his books while presenting the works of art that inspired each one. The works were
predominantly from African American artists, including a sculpture by animator Ed Love, a jazz recording by saxophonist Archie Shepp and a painting by Bob Thompson. “Different forms of art form different inspiration for others,” Mackey said. “Don’t passively consume it — take on its energy and let it mean something to you.” Several of the poems Mackey read were long-form, taking about five minutes to read with different emotions emphasized in each line. “My love for long-form poetry came from a wish that a poem never ends,” he said. “My teachers throughout school taught me about the importance of poetry and how it should become a practice to read and learn as much as you can.” Alhaji Bah, a junior majoring in film, attended the event as a requirement for his African American literature class, but said he enjoyed the message Mackey sent through his reading and the inspirations he had. “I noticed that the paintings he took inspiration from were mostly from the ’60s and ’70s and you could tell how psychedelic some of them looked,” Bah said. “But they
dealt with African American struggles and spirituality, which are aspects rarely put together in art.” Alan Warwick, a Binghamton resident, attended the event to learn more about Mackey’s work. “Mackey seemed so knowledgeable about everything he talked about,” Warwick said. “Hearing the passion in his voice drew me more into the topics of spirituality and music.” The exhibition, which is on view until May 18, features works of art donated by Art Bridges, a foundation dedicated to sharing works of American art with audiences across the country that engage viewers and make them question how social and personal forces shape us. The exhibition was put together in part with the help of Tom McDonough, an associate professor of art history at BU. “In each of the works on view, the artist takes up and transforms a pre-existing structure — whether object, text or image — in order to reflect on aspects of contemporary American identity,” McDonough said in a press release for the exhibition. “Class, race, gender and sexuality are all put into play in these works.”
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Chris Fleming ‘shuffles’ into the Admissions Center Comedian is known for his Youtube skits and songs Gabriela Iacovano
Assistant Arts & culture editor
Known as Gayle WatersWaters to some and Gigi the Christmas Snake to others, comedian Chris Fleming graced Binghamton University’s campus with a lively, intimate stand-up set on Thursday night. Organized by the the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB), the event drew a sizable crowd to the Admissions Center Theatre, a room usually used as a lecture hall. Brian Walsh, a senior majoring in English, opened with a brief comedy set as the room filled beyond capacity, with attendees cramming themselves between rows of chairs and covering the floor. Clad in a purple blazer and blue velvet pants, Fleming began his set by interacting with the audience members huddled around his feet and making quips about the venue, which grew hotter and stuffier as the evening progressed. While the comedian’s hour-long set included familiar bits such as the “Grad Student Shuffle,” it mostly consisted of material that cannot be found on YouTube. A series of jokes about theatre school, The New Yorker, boba tea and more was met with laughter and applause. Fleming said that despite his notoriety for certain YouTube skits and songs, he tries to keep his material fresh while touring. “You’ve gotta keep moving, and I’ve been grateful for people willing to move with me,” he
said. “My creative partner, Melissa Strype, is really adamant about not going through the same doors twice … so that has kind of pushed me.” After his set, Fleming stuck around to meet fans and take photos. As she waited in line for the meet and greet, Sophia Hall, a sophomore double-majoring in biology and art and design, said she was a fan of Fleming’s YouTube videos, which she started watching this year. “He has the analogies that just capture everything so perfectly,” she said. “[He has] a way with words.” Sarah Wood, a senior majoring in human development, is also a fan of Fleming’s videos, and said the comedian’s stage presence matched his online aesthetic. “He was basically how I thought he would be in person, outfit and all — the energy is very cohesive,” she said. Wood is vice president of the Women’s Student Union (WSU), and she said about half of the WSU E-Board had come to the show in support of Fleming. “I think comedy a lot of the time uses being a jerk as a crutch, but his comedy is very much not that — it’s not based on demeaning other people,” she said. “That’s the big reason I think a lot of us like him. Our lens as feminists is to not be into comedy that’s degrading to folks and that’s hard to find, so he’s a great example of that.” Fleming said his shows, especially his college shows, usually draw people from his internet fan base. “These days it’s mostly people who are the kind of Tumblr army that I’ve been building over the
Comedian Chris Fleming, best known for YouTube series “Gayle,” performed for students on April 25.
past decade,” he said. “I think people who show up are typically familiar with what I’m doing now, which is a nice thing.” Fleming said that while he
worried about attendees of the BU show becoming delirious because of the “Rainforest Cafe vibe” that developed as the crowded room got more and
more humid, he thought the show was a success. “I love colleges … you never really know what the venue is gonna be, so I find it to be a really
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fun, enthusiastic space,” he said. “It was a lovely crowd. They were really sweet and hopefully, they’re not too dehydrated right now.”
Poets, writers gather at UDC for conference Poet Joy Ladin gave keynote speech Patrick Earns
contributing writer
isaiah king contributing photographer Evolution Dance Company’s annual showcase, titled “Isolation,” displayed a variety of dance styles.
Evolution Dance Company holds annual showcase “Isolation” featured student choreography Makoto Toyoda
contributing writer
Students, parents and faculty filled Chamber Hall in the Anderson Center this past Sunday to attend Evolution Dance Company’s (EDC) annual spring showcase. The show, titled “Isolation,” featured a variety of student-choreographed and student-run performances. EDC, a recreational dance group that began at Binghamton University in 2006, is open to performers of all skill levels and styles. Throughout the year, members aim to improve their technique and give students the chance to gain a host of experiences, such as teaching, choreographing, learning and performing dance. EDC performs at both local and on-campus events, with their work building up to their dance show every spring. This year, the recital included a variety of music, dance styles and performers. The opening act was a somber routine to the Billie Eilish song “lovely.” The choreography alternated between serious ballet and contemporary dances to songs such as “Run with You” by Keren Ann, to upbeat, energetic jazz and hip-hop dances to “The Way I Am” by Charlie Puth, “7 rings” by Ariana Grande and “Burnin’ Up” by Jessie J. “Isolation” also included guest
performers from the Hula Hoop Club. Using bright and vibrant hula hoops of different pastel colors, the nine dancers twirled the rings over and around their bodies to a mix of powerful electronic music. Jada Harris, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, expressed enthusiasm for the event. “I’ve always loved to dance, and I just wanted to see how [Binghamton] contribute[s] to the dance community,” Harris said. “I know a couple of people in the show, so [I’m here to support] the arts.” Harris said that one of the most memorable performances was “Work Song” by Hozier, performed by the the Contemporary I class. The piece, choreographed by Samantha Maguire, began with dancers lying in a V-formation on the ground and explored many facets of dance through floor work, leaps, jumps and poses. Members of EDC surprised the audience with a classic song for their finale, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston. Beginning with every group taking a bow in order of performance, the stage slowly grew to include every club member coming together to do a synchronized dance to the chorus. The dance was carefree and energetic as the performers loosened up from the more strict choreography they demonstrated earlier in the show. Toward the end, EDC members strayed away from choreography altogether,
jumping and dancing freely on stage with their friends. “Isolation” closed with rounds of applause and cheers from attendees. Harris, who has also been part of the dance community at BU through Jazz Nutcracker in the fall semester, reflected on the showcase. “I thought it was really fun,” Harris said. “It’s nice to see [the University] showing love to dance and arts and it was nice to see a variety of different styles.” She encouraged students to attend events in the arts more often. “Just to show love to the school — it’s always nice to support everyone and see the community coming together,” she said.
After Anita A. Shipway, a Broome County resident and a member of the Binghamton Poetry Project, read her poem about a woman suffering from agoraphobia, spending years trapped inside her home, she was met with a scattered applause, and promised she would end on a high note with her final poem. “Usually things are either slightly [comical] or slightly depressing,” Shipway said. “I thought I’d end on a lighter one.” On Saturday, Shipway read her work as part of a panel featured in Writing By Degrees, a free creative writing conference held at the University Downtown Center. The biennial event features visiting writers and community members as well as Binghamton University faculty and graduate students. The theme of this year’s conference was “Community,” and the wide variety of panels and readings were chosen with the intention of emphasizing the social aspect of creative writing. The lineup included a poetry and nonfiction reading about grief, a panel focused
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on underrepresented bodies in fiction and a collection of essays on the difficulties of publishing work. The keynote address was given by Joy Ladin, an acclaimed poet who has received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as a Fulbright scholarship. Her panel, “The Future is Trying to Tell Us Something, and I’ve Been Trying to Hear,” was a discussion of her growth as a writer punctuated by readings of poems written in different periods of her life. Ladin said much of her work revolves around her identity as a transgender woman, both in terms of her pain before transitioning and her attempts to redefine her identity as she began to outwardly present as a woman. Discussing how she survived a young life racked with gender dysphoria, Ladin emphasized the role that writing played in helping her express her suffering in a productive way. “I saw poetry as a way to be alive,” Ladin said. It was the only way to be alive.” Throughout her life, Ladin said she did not feel fully masculine or feminine, existing somewhere in the middle. She said she now sees this aspect of her experience through a positive lens. “Realizing that I can’t fit
into the gender binary perfectly, no matter how much I want to, gives me the license to be a more whole person,” Ladin said. As Ladin grew older and became more comfortable with her gender identity, her work began to evolve and cover broader topics than her personal struggles. Some of her more recent work focuses on the fallout of the 2016 presidential election, as well as her Jewish faith. Ladin said that learning to write about something other than her own inner turmoil was a difficult change. “If you’re not going to write about the mess you are, what are you going to write about?” Ladin said. “It’s a terrible problem.” Lisa Marie Paolucci, a Brooklyn resident pursuing a doctoral degree in English education at Columbia University, said she made the trip to the conference in order to receive insights on her dissertation research focused on creative writing. Discussing the lessons she learned from the conference, Paolucci talked about the collaborative spirit inherent in improving as a writer. “We would do well to remember that all of us are here as writers and should work to help one another succeed,” Paolucci said. “I think that was one of my biggest takeaways.”
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Monday, April 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April29, 3,2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
FUCK the metric sytem
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Nate Walker
ACROSS 1 Area with pews 5 It’s saved for a rainy day 9 Monster party 13 Constrain 14 Singer Adams 15 Spanish “this” 16 In first place 17 Does really well, for a weekend golfer 19 Sophs, come Sep. 20 “Who Dat Girl” rapper __ Rida 21 Corkscrew pasta 22 “Next time’s for real” 26 Hurry, old-style 27 Leaf-clearing tool 28 Hairy spider 33 It stings 36 Cardiologist 40 Energy unit 41 Looks through, as a keyhole 42 Tennis immortal 45 Spanish “that” 46 Jewish deli meat 53 Learn from A to Z 54 Little newt 55 Bloke 56 “America’s Got Talent” judges’ concern 58 With 62-Across, handyman’s assortment, and a hint to what’s in each set of circles 60 Latvian seaport 61 De __: again 62 See 58-Across 63 Cocktail garnish 64 Gets the picture 65 Keep up (with) DOWN 1 ’60s jacket style 2 “What __!”: “Ick!” 3 By way of 4 See 28-Down 5 Musk’s electric car brand 6 Limited in scope, as a committee 7 Grande opening
8 Illinois city that symbolizes mainstream America 9 Lifelong pal 10 Clinton’s first Defense secretary 11 Sporty Ford, to devotees 12 Big name in spydom 13 Pilgrimage to Mecca 18 Clock sound 20 Guitar neck features 23 Whaling direction 24 Pub order 25 Copy on a transparent sheet 28 With 4-Down, fairy tale’s last words 29 Fizzy prefix 30 Tattered cloth 31 Word with class or case 32 Blues legend John __ Hooker 33 Storage container 34 Approximate fig.
35 WWII arena 37 “__ my case” 38 Exec’s hire, perhaps 39 “Tell the truth!” 42 Starlike 43 Fox News anchor Smith 44 Wading birds 46 Five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Ledecky
47 Missouri river 48 “Pet” irritation 49 High dos 50 Greek marketplace 51 Smelling of mold 52 Lithographer James 53 No. on a new car window 57 Misery 58 CD predecessors 59 Breakfast grain
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Jerry Edelstein ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
04/29/19 02/06/19
04/29/19 02/06/19
9
SPORTS
bupipedream.com | April 29, 2019
Men’s lacrosse defeats UMass Lowell in 2019 closer K. Winko ’s four goals seal BU’s second victory Samantha Marsh pipe dream sports
Senior midfielder and cocaptain Tim Mattiace recorded his first career goal in his last-ever lacrosse game at Binghamton University, assisting the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team in its 9-7 win over UMass Lowell. After starting the season with 11 consecutive losses, the Bearcats (2-11, 2-4) ended the season with two consecutive victories. “I’m really happy for our seniors to be able to go out with two wins and finish on a high note,� said BU head coach Kevin McKeown. The Bearcats started the game off with a bang when senior attack Griffin Konen netted a goal less than five minutes into play. This fired up UML junior attack Dylan Rhatigan, as he went on to secure three goals in a matter of five minutes. In the second period, sophomore attack Jackson Rieger and freshman attack Kevin Winkoff were a dynamic duo. Rieger added another goal while Winkoff was able to complete a hat trick. Out of Winkoff’s three goals, two were assisted by Rieger, while the third was assisted by Konen. Mattiace’s goal came at the end of the second period to finish off the half and put the Bearcats in the lead at 6-3. The third period was only marked by one goal from Konen, but UML (5-9, 2-4 AE) began to
fire back in the fourth period. Rhatigan netted another goal, but Konen and Winkoff answered with scores of their own. Konen finished the season with 21 goals, the second highest on the team behind senior midfielder Joe Licata, while Winkoff ended the 2019 campaign with 14. “Kevin [Winkoff] was great,� McKeown said. “He had back-toback four-goal games. His ability to shoot the ball has always been there, and for him to end the season like this is awesome.� Although the River Hawks were facing a five-goal deficit, they did not let up at the end of the game, tallying three more goals until time ran out. Despite UMass Lowell outshooting Binghamton 43-31, the Bearcats were defensively sound, as the team scooped up 34 ground balls and caused 21 turnovers, while redshirt junior goalie Kevin Carbone recorded nine saves. Mattiace led the team with six ground balls, while sophomore defender Kyle Tiernan paced the Bearcats with two caused turnovers. Tiernan finishes in the No. 2 spot in the America East Conference for caused turnovers, with 24 on the season. With this being the last game of the season, senior captains Licata and Mattiace will be putting down their sticks, but McKeown said he is proud of the way they led the team and performed. Licata led the team with 22 goals for the season, 12 assists and 10 ground balls, while Mattiace had one goal, 19 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.
christine derosa staff photographer Freshman attack Kevin Winkoff led the team with four goals in Binghamton’s final game of the 2019 season, a 9-7 victory against UMass Lowell.
“Tim and Joe did a great job this year,� McKeown said. “They kept everybody focused and they kept everybody working hard, and I think that really showed at the
end when we became a little bit of a different team, which can be attributed to their leadership and work ethic.� Despite only winning two
games this season and winning just four the season prior, McKeown is optimistic for next year. “Not that we’re going to be
living off of these two game wins, but I think that it’ll help these guys have a little bit of a better feeling going into next year,� McKeown said.
Women’s lacrosse stifled by Vermont in season finale Binghamton suers largest defeat since 2002 Edward Aaron sports intern
As the snow and rain poured down on the Bearcats Sports Complex, the gloomy weather set the tone for what was a lifeless finish to the 2019 season for the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team. The Bearcats were blown out by Vermont, losing 23-3. Despite being eliminated from playoff contention last Friday after falling to Stony Brook, BU (2-15, 2-5 America East) played a competitive game against Canisius midweek, but it appeared that there was nothing left in the tank for the team on Saturday afternoon. “We had some good practices post-Canisius, and really felt like we came into today prepared,� BU head coach Stephanie Allen said. “For us, it’s tough to be playing without the game having a lot of meaning, but I think we just stepped out on the field flat today and lacked execution, but that certainly was not the case in our training the last two days.� Losing by 20 goals is abnormal for Binghamton, and has not happened since the team’s first year as a Division I program in 2002. The 2002 team lost by 20 or more goals five times. Despite a strong start in the nonconference season, the Catamounts (8-7, 2-5 AE) had faltered as of late, dropping six consecutive contests, including five AE matchups, entering the game. Vermont’s 23 goals match
the highest single-game total in school history. Meanwhile, the Bearcats had started to hit their stride recently, rigorously defeating UMass Lowell, a team that overthrew Vermont and Hartford. “It was just compounding mistakes today, all of the little things really building up,� Allen said. “For us, [it was] the ground balls, the draw controls, taking care of things on the offensive end and defensively, like understanding the game plan. It wasn’t one thing or another out there today — it was really just compounding mistakes all over the field.� Vermont dominated all facets of the game, but its dominance on draw controls sealed the blowout victory, holding a 20-7 advantage in the final statistics. This allowed the Catamounts to jump out to a 7-0 lead before senior attack Olivia Batista was able to put Binghamton on the board in the 13th minute. The only other scorer in the game for BU was senior midfielder Rebecca Golderman, who scored near the end of both halves. While the lopsided defeat in the season finale and a 2-15 record will rest in the minds of the Bearcats, it is important to look back at how things have gone for Binghamton this season. With the loss to Canisius last week, Binghamton finished its nonconference slate winless for only the second time in school history and the first time since 2003. The team was competitive in the majority of its matchups, but struggled to close out games. Most notably, the Bearcats
squandered late leads in the first week of the season against Niagara and Colgate and later in the season against Lafayette. While several games were within reach, there were no particularly easy matchups on the schedule. There were similarities in scheduling from last season, as seven nonconference matchups from this year were the same as last year. Changes in 2019 consisted of playing Atlantic Coast Conference member Syracuse instead of ACC opponent Boston College, and matchups against Dartmouth and Harvard as opposed to Fresno State in 2018. Last season was the most successful in school history, with an experienced team and the program’s strongest class of seniors ever, but that team still finished with 3-5 record in the nonconference season. “You’ve gotta play the best to beat the best,� Allen said. “For us, if we kinda back off of our scheduling and prepare with easier or lower-ranked opponents, I don’t know [if] that truly prepares us for what we’re gonna face in conference. We’ve got a tremendously strong conference with a lot of parity, [but] this year was just not our year. But I think if we came in not prepared as far as the level of opponent, we would’ve seen probably even worse results.� All that matters in the postseason race is the team’s record against AE opponents, but Binghamton entered conference play winless and with little momentum. This was most evident in the team’s loss to UMBC, in which BU surrendered a two-goal lead with three minutes remaining and fell in overtime. If
the Bearcats had defeated UMBC, they would have been able to reach the AE postseason with a win over Vermont. In spite of a difficult 2019 season, there were several sophomores and juniors that
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established themselves as starters throughout the season, and Allen has optimism about her team heading into the offseason as the team looks to return to the postseason next year. “I think there’s a lot of
brightness to our future,� Allen said. “We’re returning a number of players. We’re sad to obviously lose this senior class and wish we had them sticking around a little bit longer, but I think we’re excited about what is returning.�
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john atkinson contributing photographer The Bearcats were unable to return to the postseason in 2019 after finishing with a 2-5 conference record.
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MEN’S LACROSSE
Bearcats defeat UML SEE PAGE 9
Monday, April 29, 2019
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer
Redshirt junior outfielder Daniel Franchi recorded seven hits and two RBIs in Binghamton’s series sweep over Hartford.
Baseball sweeps three-game series against Hawks Bearcats score 19 runs across weekend matches Justin Zion
assistant sports editor
The Binghamton baseball team brought its best to the diamond this weekend, sweeping the defending America East (AE) champion, the Hartford Hawks, in three games. The Bearcats’ pitching staff shut down Hartford (13-26, 7-8 AE), allowing only three runs in the entire series, while Binghamton’s bats came to life in the three-game slate.
The most dominant performance put forth by the Bearcats (18-17, 8-6 AE) came in the first matchup of the series, a 12-1 blowout on Saturday afternoon. The game was all but over at the end of the first frame, during which BU piled on seven runs in its first turn at the plate. The Bearcats as a team garnered seven hits in the inning, enough to chase Hartford senior starter Billy DeVito (2-3) from the game after just a third of an inning at the mound. Redshirt sophomore reliever Alex Moconyi cleaned things up from there, but the damage was already done. Redshirt
junior infielder Alex Baratta led the Bearcats with two RBI singles in the frame, totaling three RBIs for the entire game. The Bearcats’ success from the batter’s box was supplemented by strong performances from the mound. Senior right-hander Nick Gallagher (2-4) got the start for the Bearcats, going six innings and giving up no runs and only two hits while striking out five Hartford batters. Senior pitcher Robert Brown gave up a single run in three innings of relief. The nightcap on Saturday was tighter, but BU still seized control and never quite surrendered it.
Binghamton scored the first six runs of the contest, and the Hawks were kept off of the scoreboard until the top of the sixth. Junior starting pitcher Ben Anderson (7-2) continued his masterclass of a season, pitching a complete, seven-inning game that featured eight strikeouts and only two earned runs. Offensively, every single Bearcat who went to bat earned at least one hit, save for Anderson. Five Bearcats drove in a run during the contest, including senior outfielder Sean Trenholm, who led the Bearcats with a 3-for-4 outing from the box, one RBI and two
runs scored. The balanced offense from Binghamton led the team to a 6-2 victory in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. It was the third game, played Sunday afternoon, that was the closest of the series. The Binghamton bats finally died down, leading to a defensive contest between the two teams. The pitchers on each side were solid through six frames, both of them bending, but not breaking over the course of the first twothirds of the game. The match entered the seventh scoreless. In the bottom of the seventh, the tie was finally broken in the
Bearcats’ favor. Hartford junior left-hander Drew Farkas, pitching in relief, threw a wild pitch that allowed redshirt junior outfielder Daniel Franchi to score. It was only one run, but one run was all the Bearcats needed, as the BU pitching staff conceded no runs in the contest. Binghamton finished the game victorious, 1-0. The Bearcats will attempt to keep their winning streak alive in their next contest, a single nonconference game against St. Bonaventure at home. First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. from the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.
Softball collects two wins over Black Bears at home Martinez’s blast propels BU to series victory Lance Kim
contributing writer
Sophomore shortstop Makayla Alvarez came to the plate with runners on first and second base. Cheering with her team, sophomore pitcher Chelsea Howard watched from the dugout. “I’m calling it right here — she’s gonna smack one,” Howard said to one of her teammates. Howard’s hunch was correct, as Alvarez mashed a three-run home run to activate the mercy rule, ending the final game between the Binghamton softball team and Maine and rewarding Howard with a win. The Bearcats ecstatically gathered around home plate, swarming Alvarez in jubilation. With the win, Binghamton (1727, 6-12 America East) wrapped up its regular season in dramatic fashion against conference rival Maine (11-27, 3-11 AE). After dropping the first game 8-2, the Bearcats rallied to take the next two, putting themselves in prime position to qualify for the America East (AE) Tournament in May. On a rainy Senior Day on Saturday, freshman pitcher Morgan Bienkowski (4-6) pitched a complete game to lead the Bearcats to a 3-1 victory. After dropping the opener, the win had massive implications for seeding in the AE, with Binghamton and Maine battling for the sixth and final seed in the conference tournament. On Sunday, the two teams were deadlocked in a pitching duel until the bottom of the fifth. Howard (3-3) faced a few close
Sophomore outfielder Lauren Martinez posted two hits, including a three-run home run, in BU’s 2-1 series win over Maine.
calls, but blanked the Black Bears for five frames. Maine freshman pitcher Emily Reid (3-13) had her no-hitter broken up in the bottom of the fifth — an inning that became an offensive explosion for the Bearcats. Head coach Michelle Johnston seemed to instill positivity, and it paid off. “We saw what happens when our defense is working behind [our pitchers], what we can do,” Johnston said. “Our bats were
a little quiet in the early part of this game, but things can change pretty quickly, and that’s how it happened today.” In the bottom of the fifth, the Bearcats had nine batters reach home safely — all without recording an out. After sophomore utility player Sarah Benn broke up the no-hitter, classmate outfielder Lauren Martinez hit her second home run of the season, a threerun shot. Martinez was mobbed at
home plate as her team began to drive in runs. “I honestly didn’t know it was going out, but it went out, and I was pretty excited about it,” Martinez said. The next three hitters in the lineup loaded the bases for junior catcher Sara Herskowitz, who doubled to clear the bases and score three RBIs. Two batters later, Alvarez came to the plate and sealed the victory for BU with
her three-run blast. Alvarez drove in a team-high five RBIs during the series, capping off a 9-0 victory with her home run. “They gotta know they’re capable of [taking over offensively] at any point,” Johnston said. The win left the Black Bears needing a series sweep over thirdplace Stony Brook to save their season. With Binghamton having a bye the final week of the season, the Bearcats will need a favor from
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer
their SUNY rival, the Seawolves (25-16, 9-6 AE), in order to guarantee a spot in the postseason. If the Seawolves can avoid being swept by Maine, Binghamton will qualify for the AE Tournament. If BU qualifies, it will face either UMass Lowell, Albany or Stony Brook in the AE Tournament starting on Wednesday, May 8. The championship will be hosted by the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut.