HELP FIGHT FOOD WASTE THIS WEEKEND See Page 5 Monday, May 13, 2019 | Vol. XCV, Issue 27 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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Town-Gown Advisory Board talks proposals, sees criticism Frances Beal Society says plans ignore community Valerie Puma
assistant copy desk chief
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer Members of Binghamton’s Town-Gown Advisory Board (TGAB) discuss project proposals at their last meeting for the 2018-19 academic year on Thursday night at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator.
Binghamton’s Town-Gown Advisory Board (TGAB) met Thursday night at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator for its last meeting of the 2018-19 academic year, where subcommittee representatives gave summaries of project proposals for the upcoming academic year and members of the Frances Beal Society spoke out during the public comment portion of the meeting, calling the proposals too University-centric. The meeting began with a presentation by Scott Reigle, senior transportation planner for the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (BMTS), who showed the board plans for the Two Rivers Greenway, a project that creates walking and biking trails along the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers, separate from automobile traffic. Jared Kraham, co-chair of TGAB and executive assistant to the mayor of Binghamton, said the Two Rivers Greenway project is important to town-gown relations because “vibrant” communities are walkable cities, such as Boston and New York City. “They have river trails and waterfrontbased walking trails,” Kraham said. “To get Binghamton into the community we want it to be, this is a very integral part … That’s what it takes to improve the community, [beautify] it and [create] a sense of place.”
Continuing with themes of commuting, TGAB’s Transportation and Parking subcommittee presented its two proposals for next year: installing four bicycle stations in Broome County, at the intersection of Leroy and Murray streets, the University Downtown Center, the Broome County Junction bus station and a grocery store that is currently being built at 435 State St. in Binghamton’s North Side, and improving shared Off-Campus College Transportation (OCCT) and Broome County Transit (BCT) bus stops throughout Binghamton, according to Tanya Husick, Binghamton University executive director of Transportation and Parking Services. “We’re asking for money to build up to four additional shared bus stops,” Husick said. “What we’d be doing is putting in shelters with seats, lighting, [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant. The reason for this is to improve the overall experience for bus users, increase ridership and decrease single-occupancy [vehicle] use. It’s important for the transit-dependent to have these amenities.” Other proposals came from the Dangerous Drinking and Underage Drinking subcommittee, Truth Pharm, University professors, the Student Housing subcommittee and the Promoting and Cultivating Positive Community Engagement subcommittee. The Dangerous Drinking and Underage Drinking subcommittee’s project proposal focused on the risk assessment, harm reduction and
see proposals page 3
Student Fifteen students to speak at commencement creates move-out startup Speeches to focus on college careers, post-graduate plans Kimberly Gonzalez contributing writer
Binghamton Off-Campus Project aims to decrease waste David Julien
contributing writer
As the 2018-19 academic year comes to a close, many students will be moving out of their off-campus houses and apartments, leaving behind unwanted belongings. To help combat this waste, a group of students has created the Binghamton Off-Campus Project, an initiative that aims to reduce waste by donating students’ unwanted items to the community. The project was started in 2018 by Binghamton University student Christina Fuller, a senior majoring in human development. Fuller, a Johnson City resident, wrote in an email that it stemmed from a discussion with her father and aunt regarding the amount of waste produced by BU students during the month of May. “My dad had read that BU students produced about 14 tons of garbage upon move out,” Fuller wrote. “After talking to a few students and landlords, I realized that a lot of this ‘garbage’ wasn’t actually garbage at all. It was items in good shape that were being left behind simply because students didn’t know what else to do with them.” With the help of the Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (IDEAS), an environmental
see moving page 3
Highlighting their college careers and future aspirations, 15 students will speak at 15 Binghamton University undergraduate commencement ceremonies this weekend. To be considered to be a student
speaker, a student must submit an application to their respective school. According to Elisabeth Faughnan, director of special events and commencement, most students are interviewed by their schools, but some schools choose to conduct a blind vote. There are also honorary degree recipients that speak during commencement ceremonies. These recipients, who can be nominated by anyone, must be approved by SUNY to
receive their degree. “Commencement is a huge group effort between myself and a wonderful team of about 46 people all across campus,” Faughnan wrote in an email. “We meet monthly in preparation for commencement, and this group includes members from each school, Physical Facilities, [the] Events Center, [the] Anderson Center, [Binghamton’s New York State University Police], Parking, Student Records, Dining Services, [the]
Educational Communications [Center], Communications and Marketing, [Services for Students with Disabilities] and more.” Faughnan wrote that student speeches are mandatorily reviewed, but rarely edited. Jessica Alzona, a senior majoring in nursing, will be speaking at the Decker School of Nursing ceremony and wrote
see commencement page 3
Forum discusses bail reform, incarceration Community members voice concerns about jail conditions Jackson Galati
contributing writer
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer Community members gather at United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton on Thursday evening for the Broome County Bail & Jail Community Forum.
ARTS & CULTURE
OPINIONS
Discussing New York state’s new bail reform laws, students, faculty and community members came together at United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton on Thursday evening for the Broome County Bail & Jail Community Forum. A panel of activists and experts from the Greater Binghamton area spoke at the event along with professional football players Michael Thomas, a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and Antoine Bethea, a safety for the New York Giants. Thomas and Bethea discussed how incarceration has affected their communities and why they now work to help other communities struggling with the same issue. “We’ve got a passion for this,” Thomas said. “And when you have a platform, you need to use that to try and make real change.” On April 1, the New York state Legislature passed a bill that eliminated
see forum page 3
SPORTS
Look to the community for local summer fun,
Open Studio Night showcases a diverse range of pieces,
Graduating seniors reflect on their time at BU,
Kyle Borshoff named Pipe Dream’s Coach of the Year,
Softball eliminated on day three of conference tournament,
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