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GIMs Monday, February 4, 2019 | Vol. XCV, Issue 4 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
February 6th & 7th @ 7:30pm
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
Students live in converted study lounges as BU sees overcrowding Amy Donovan
assistant news editor
rebecca kiss photography editor Twenty-eight students have lived in converted lounges in Hinman and Newing Colleges since the beginning of this semester.
@ 8:30pm
At Binghamton University, 28 students have spent their first weeks of classes living in converted lounges located in Hinman and Newing Colleges. The temporary living situation was implemented to accommodate an overflow of transfer students and spring admits. Depending on the size and configurations of the lounges, each temporary dorm houses four to six students. There are currently 11 students who are still waiting to be relocated to permanent housing, and seven in the process of relocating. According to Paola Mignone, the interim director of Residential Life, while BU admits new students every semester, more students committed to the University than in previous years. According to Ryan Yarosh, senior director of media and public relations at BU, enrollment numbers have increased by around 300 students since last year, with almost 17,800 undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled. “More and more students are interested in Binghamton and with that comes an influx of students who want to live on campus,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “It’s not uncommon to start the semester with slightly more students than we can accommodate and I commend the [Residential] Life team for coming up with a
creative solution.” It is not the first time the University has grappled with overcrowding. In fall 2017, approximately 200 students were housed in forced triples at the beginning of the year, and in fall 2016, roughly 160 students found themselves living in temporary housing with an extra roommate. For this semester, ResLife decided to convert two lounges in Hinman College and three lounges in Newing College into temporary dorm rooms, rather than making existing rooms into triples, as BU has done in the past. According to Mignone, students are receiving a discount for the number of days they’re in temporary housing. “Relocating students out of temporary spaces and into more permanent spaces is a priority,” Mignone wrote in an email. “We are working quickly and diligently to offer students a permanent room to move to as spaces become available.” Students such as Anna Siu, an undeclared freshman temporarily living in a lounge in Bingham Hall of Newing College, have posted signs to their doors to indicate the rooms are dorms to prevent residents from walking in. For these students, the only way to get out of temporary housing is to find and take an open spot in a dorm, which can be located in any of the seven housing communities on campus. Siu said students were allowed to turn down a room option if it wasn’t in a living community they wanted, but had to take the second option ResLife
see housing page 3
Chancellor County sees spike in opioid-related deaths opposes Title IX proposal Recent increase in overdoses tied to fentanyl-laced drugs Hannah Walter pipe dream news
Proposed changes see nationwide backlash
Since the start of the new year, there has been an uptick in overdoses in Broome County linked to fentanyl-laced drugs. Although government departments have yet to release information on how many fatal overdoses occurred in Broome County in January, Truth Pharm, an addiction advocacy group, estimates there
were at least five fatal overdoses in one week alone. Last year, the Broome County District Attorney’s Office reported four fatal overdoses in January 2018 and 13 overdose deaths during the entire first half of 2018. Neighboring Chenango County has also seen an increase in overdoses. According to Truth Pharm, the Addiction Center of Broome County and the Southern Tier AIDS Program, the recent uptick in overdoses can be attributed to a new supply of opioids in the area compromised with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. According to
reports from local residents who use and sell drugs, these contaminated opioids are named “Juice Stamp.” To combat the increase in overdoses, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar planned a Narcan training event with local grassroots organizations on Jan. 26 to raise awareness about the problem and train local residents to use and carry Narcan, an overdose reversal drug. Marissa Lamphere, the opioid overdose prevention coordinator at the Broome County Health Department, said training people in overdose reversals is the key to stopping the recent increase in fatalities.
“We know from 911 overdose calls to the emergency services, hearing from grassroots organizations, talking to our treatment providers, that there has been an increase in overdoses,” Lamphere said. “Because of that, we wanted to try to do something. We know that Narcan saves lives. We know that there’s a lot of civilians in our communities that have been trained in Narcan and that it is working. Our fatal overdose number was down by over 50 percent in the county for 2018, partially because so many more
see opioid page 3
Kelly Coyne
pipe dream news
SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson condemned the Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX rules in a public letter released on Tuesday. Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education, has been receiving backlash from thousands of universities across the nation since the release of rules in November. Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act protects students from discrimination on the basis of sex and sets guidelines for sexual assault accusations. The Department of Education’s proposed changes would include narrowing the definition of sexual harassment and allowing for live cross-examinations in trial proceedings. Andrew Baker, Binghamton University’s Title IX coordinator, said BU will continue to provide the same support, outreach and resources it currently does in Title IX investigations, regardless of the proposed changes. However, the changes could amend how mandated reporters, such as faculty and staff, are defined, allowing some professors and staff members who are currently obligated to report sexual harassment or assault complaints to stay silent.
see proposal page 3
Professor conducts research in Antarctica Molly Patterson studies lakes beneath ice sheet Laura D’Angelo news intern
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer Molly Patterson, an assistant professor of geological sciences and environmental studies at Binghamton University, participated in a scientific research project called Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA).
ARTS & CULTURE
Not many people can say they have visited Antarctica, but Molly Patterson spent part of her winter break conducting research on the southernmost continent. In December, Patterson, an assistant professor for geological sciences and environmental studies at Binghamton University, participated in a scientific research project called Subglacial Antarctic Lakes Scientific Access (SALSA). The project aimed to achieve a better understanding of interactions between the Antarctic ice sheet and the rivers and lakes that exist beneath the ice. “In a very simplistic statement, we drilled into subglacial Lake Mercer, which is part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and are attempting to examine how the breaking up of rocks by active glaciers
OPINIONS
provide the [remobilization] of very old organic carbon to promote life in extreme environments,” Patterson wrote in an email. The project involved a team of 50 scientists, support staff and technical staff using specialized tractors, sleds and skiequipped aircrafts to establish a remote field camp roughly 500 miles from the South Pole. Once there, researchers explored the Mercer Subglacial Lake, which lies beneath West Antarctica’s Whillans Ice Plain and is over twice the size of Manhattan. Using hot water to drill through the ice, the team was able to gather clean samples of lake water, ice and sediment. They also filmed video underwater, capturing footage of an environment that has been isolated from the ocean and atmosphere for millennia. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation. Patterson got involved with SALSA in January 2017 while she was on another expedition
see antarctica page 3
SPORTS
Sloth makes special appearance in Downtown Binghamton,
Binghamton Art Museum features Argentinian and Cuban American art,
Contributing columnist Tiffany Dun advocates for living a minimalist lifestyle,
Wrestling defeats Sacred Heart for fifth straight dual win,
Women’s basketball overpowered at home against Albany,
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 4
SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 8
PAGE II Monday, February 4, 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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Pipe Line Three men charged for attack on pizza delivery man Officers arrested and charged Rashaun Godbay, 19, of Binghamton, Stefphon Godbay, 18, of Binghamton and Thomas Decker, 19, of Endicott, with second-degree robbery for planning and executing an attack on a Domino’s Pizza employee on Wednesday, according to WBNG. While the employee was delivering food to an address on Cary Street, he was approached by two men who claimed they were the customers. One man allegedly took the food delivery while the other punched the delivery man, according to the Binghamton Police Department. The deliveryman suffered wounds to the face and mouth. The suspects were arraigned in Binghamton City Court and sent to the Broome County Jail without bail. New York State Police investigating strip search allegations at East Middle School
view techniques designed to assist victims in recalling details of traumatic incidents and an investigator with training and experience in dealing with child victims, according to the statement. STATE NEWS
Deputies arrest suspect who opened fire at Denny’s The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Justus Holmes, 24, of Salina, who is accused of firing into a group of customers and employees in the Town of Salina Denny’s on Sunday around 4 a.m., according to The Post-Standard. The suspect entered the Denny’s and approached another man aggressively before shooting him, according to police. Then, the man opened fire on employees and customers, injuring two of them before leaving the restaurant. All three victims are expected to survive their injuries. NATIONAL NEWS
After Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the New York Education Department and the New York State Police to investigate the alleged strip search of four 12-year-old black girls at East Middle School in Binghamton, the New York State Police announced on Thursday that it will investigate the accusations, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. In an official press release, Keith Corlett, acting state police superintendent, announced his department will investigate the alleged incident in consultation with the Binghamton Police Department and Broome County District Attorney. The team assigned to the case includes an investigator who is specially trained in inter-
Virginia governor declines to resign following racist photograph Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is facing increasing pressure to resign from his position after a racist photo was discovered in his 1984 medical school yearbook page on Friday, sparking controversy, according to NPR. On Friday, Northam apologized for the photo, which shows two men, one dressed in blackface and another dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan. However, he said he didn’t recall appearing in the photo at a press conference on Saturday. Democratic and Republican leaders from across the nation have called on Northam to step down.
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“Whether he actively participated or passively was present, he not one time up until this point acknowledged that this took place, objected to that behavior or stated that, ‘I had a different upbringing and I was part of a southern culture that embraced this racist, vile behavior and I’m a changed man now.” — Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” speaking on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who has given shifting explanations of a racist photograph in his 1984 medical school yearbook depicting a man in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe.
Students watch Super Bowl LIII on Sunday night in Hinman College.
Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Robert Meddleton of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Blocked WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 11:32 a.m. — A 55-year-old female employee contacted UPD to report that a male, an acquaintance of hers, has been calling her work phone on multiple occasions. The employee said the suspect had previously slandered her. The suspect has a long history of mental health issues and the victim has notified authorities concerning the suspect a number of times. The employee has since blocked the suspect’s number and the suspect has made no further attempts to contact her. Slippery Conditions WEDNESDAY, Jan. 30, 5:03 p.m. — Officers responded to West Access Road near Hillside Community after receiving reports of a car crash. The first driver, an 18-year-old male, said that he was driving downhill on the road when the icy conditions caused his vehicle to drift after his brakes locked. He skidded head-on into another driver, a 20-year-old female, causing her airbags to deploy. Harpur’s Ferry was called and the second driver was transported to Lourdes Hospital. Her injuries are unknown. The first driver did not report any injuries.
This Day in History
sidney slon pipe dream photographer
Melanie Gulbas Pipe Dream News
Up in Flames THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 6:34 p.m. — Officers responded to the University Union to investigate a possible arson near the Tillman Lobby. When the officers arrived, they found a burnt garbage can. Although heavy smoke was emitting from inside the container, officers determined the fire was no longer burning. They interviewed witnesses in the area, one of whom said they had grabbed the fire extinguisher from Dunkin’ Donuts and extinguished the fire. Investigators suspect the fire may have been set intentionally and are investigating the incident. Unlucky Threes THURSDAY, Jan. 31, 10:34 p.m. — Officers were dispatched to Nyack Hall in Hillside Community after receiving reports that a Residential Life employee found marijuana in an apartment. The employee said she found an open metal grinder which contained a green, leafy substance during a fire safety check. The suspect, a 19-year-old male, admitted that the material was marijuana, but refused to allow anyone to search his room. When officers asked the suspect for identification, he produced a fraudulent Rhode Island driver’s license. Officers also found a box cutter in the suspect’s room, which is a violation of the University housing license that prohibits blade-based weapons. The box cutter, fraudulent identification and marijuana were confiscated. The suspect was referred to Student Conduct.
K&K‛s The Old Teahouse
Feb. 4, 1789 The first Electoral College convenes and George Washington is unanimously elected as the first U.S. president.
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bupipedream.com | February 4, 2019
NEWS
3
Potholes appear in campus roads Work in Arctic to further climate change research Physical Facilities to repair roads in spring
Phariha Rahman
antarctica from page 1
Potholes can become a recurrent part of driving on Binghamton University’s roads, and this winter is no exception. As students returned to campus after winter break, some began noticing rougher pavement. According to Karen Fennie, communications specialist for Physical Facilities, there is a reason that winter roads tend to be more broken. “Potholes occur when water seeps through cracks in pavement and freezes, causing it to expand and the pavement to break up,” Fennie wrote in an email. “After the water melts and cars apply continuous pressure on the asphalt, potholes form. It’s pretty typical.” Fennie wrote that the state of the University’s roads is about the same as it has been in past winters. Physical Facilities intends to fully repair the potholes in the spring when temperatures are warmer. “At this time of year, only temporary patching is possible with a ‘cold patch,’” Fennie wrote. “We will [repair potholes] when
with a team of scientists that sailed to the Ross Sea as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program. Her role in this expedition involved recording the sediments scientists were recovering from the continental shelf, adjacent to the Ross Ice Shelf, to gain a better understanding of how these sediments were laid down by the interactions of ice sheets and organic processes. “On that expedition one of the principal investigators, Dr. David Harwood from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, approached me about the potential of joining the SALSA science team as a collaborator in order to help lead the sedimentological [and] geological interpretations from the sediment cores that were obtained from beneath the lake,” Patterson wrote. “I would have been crazy to say no and my department has been extremely supportive in both of these intense field-based research efforts.” According to Patterson, the project was logistically daunting. It required researchers to set up the camp a year in advance and brave Antarctica’s uncontrollably harsh weather conditions for two months without close contact to family. Nevertheless, for Patterson, the project was rewarding. “Sometimes science can be petty, isolating and ugly, but this experience truly made me realize the best results come from working as an integrated community with diverse ideas and approaches which ultimately culminates in finding unique solutions and carrying out groundbreaking science,” Patterson wrote.
pipe dream news
sidney slon pipe dream photographer Binghamton University’s paved roads see potholes during the winter season.
conditions allow. The roads have to be relatively dry to do this.” Benjamin DeAngelis, political engagement coordinator at the Center for Civic Engagement, said he notices the potholes frequently while commuting to and from work. “My car is very low to the ground, so I’m always trying to go around them,” DeAngelis said. Others, like Lesia Hrycyna, a senior majoring in Russian, are concerned about the damage the potholes could cause to their vehicles. “It’s an issue because they are on the main roads,”
Hrycyna said. “It’s okay when nobody else is on the other lane and you can drive around, but other times you can’t, so you worry about what damage can happen to your car.” But some students, faculty and staff haven’t noticed the potholes. Hehuanyu Li, a senior majoring in biology, said she believes the campus roads are in good conditions. “I hardly notice there being any potholes,” Li said. “The roads seem fine to me.” Despite the potholes, many drivers on campus have greater concerns than road conditions, such as parking accommodations.
Li said markers for where commuters can and cannot park is misleading. “You can’t park outside the East Gym, but it’s not marked,” Li said. “I feel like they should mark places where you can’t park.” DeAngelis said the lack of parking across campus presents problems for both faculty and students. “Sometimes the faculty lot is full, but the student lot has spots and sometimes the student’s lot is full, but the faculty parking has spots,” DeAngelis said. “You’ll get ticketed if you park in the wrong lot even though you have nowhere else to park.”
According to Patterson, SALSA involved both discovery and hypothesisdriven science, integrating multiple fields, including biology, geology, glaciology and hydrology, in its research, which could provide context for understanding the impacts of climate change. “Relatively new studies have demonstrated that the Antarctic subglacial environment contains a dynamic ecosystem where life, ice, water and rock form a web of complex interactions,” Patterson wrote. “It is anticipated that carrying out crossdisciplinary research will allow us to learn new information about both Earth’s past and present subglacial processes such as carbon cycling and water-ice dynamics. Specifically, understanding the dynamic interactions between water and ice is important for understanding the stability of ice margins and potential sensitivities to environmental change.” By paying special attention to previous conditions of Antarctica, Patterson hopes to discern the continent’s future in a world where temperatures are rising. “Of growing international scientific interests is better understanding the existence of ancient seaways across parts of Antarctica or at the very least how far inland sectors of the Antarctic ice sheet retreated inland during some of the most recent warm periods in Earth’s history,” Patterson wrote. “By understanding Antarctica’s past dynamic nature will hopefully allow scientists to better understand the dynamic nature of the future and quantify the downstream influence on sea level change. What happens in Antarctica does not stay in Antarctica.”
Professor teaches skills in Dominican Republic Students occupy study lounges Debate team director travels to high school
Christine DeRosa pipe dream news
Following a suggestion from a Binghamton University parent, a faculty member traveled to the Dominican Republic last week to teach debate and public speaking to high schoolers. Joseph Leeson-Schatz, director of debate at BU, taught debate skills at the Ashton School, which educates students ranging from seventh to 12th grade. His lessons focused on improving their public speaking skills and teaching them how to conduct research. The trip to the Dominican Republic was suggested by the mother of a BU debate team member, who reached out to Leeson-Schatz to see if he would be interested in traveling to the Ashton School to work with the students. Orisley De Los Santos, a debate team member and a junior majoring in English, wrote in an email that she was once a student at the Ashton School and thought
provided by joe leeson-schatz
Binghamton University’s debate team holds a meeting.
her mother’s suggestion could lead to an important trip. “I thought that it would be a good experience for the students in Dominican Republic, because they don’t have any official coaches and mostly coach themselves,” De Los Santos wrote. “My mother asked me who she could contact so she could fly
them over there and help and we thought Joe would do a good job since he is [my] debate coach.” According to Leeson-Schatz, he quickly agreed to the trip and was excited to work with students from another country. “Having the opportunity to travel and work directly with students from another country
was something I’ve always wanted to do since the instruction you can provide is always better in person than over the internet,” Leeson-Schatz wrote. Orestes De Los Santos, a student at the Ashton School and De Los Santos’ younger brother, wrote in an email that the trip helped him learn how to teach
other students debate skills. “I have been debating for about three or four years now so I’ve become a coach in my school, but recently it has been hard to teach the other debaters new strategies [and] tips,” De Los Santos wrote. “But after the workshop, I have found some new ways to help the other students.” According to LeesonSchatz, the trip also provided an opportunity to recruit international students to the University and its debate team. In the past, the BU debate team has had international students from South Korea, Japan and the Dominican Republic; however, it has never established contact directly with elite high schools such as the Ashton School. “While I was there, on top of working with students from [the] Ashton School, we also arranged for a day for me to work with seven different high schools in the Dominican Republic,” Leeson-Schatz wrote. “After my trip, I know that many are considering applying to Binghamton even though they might not have known about our University beforehand.”
Groups organize Chancellor drafts open letter Narcan training proposal from page 1
opioid from page 1 people have Narcan.” Narcan is an overdose reversal drug that attaches to opioid receptors in the brain, blocking out the drugs and counteracting their effects on the central nervous and respiratory systems. At the training, attendees learned to use the nasal spray and were provided with a free kit that includes two sprays, gloves, a mask and alcohol wipes. Instructors also provided literature on harm reduction techniques to help protect users, such as using clean needles, using in the presence of others and testing drugs with fentanyl strips before injecting them. Diane Semo, a rainmaker at Truth Pharm, almost lost her daughter to opioids when she overdosed in the bathroom at Wegmans three years ago. Semo said overdoses often
occur in public places, and somebody carrying Narcan can save a life, even in places where they least expect to. “Had that woman that found her been carrying Narcan, she could have revived her immediately instead of having to wait for the ambulance,” Semo said. “You can come across anybody — in a restaurant, at a gas station, in a parking lot. I think everyone should carry Narcan, whether they know somebody affected or not.” Steven Brandt, 47, of Endicott, said he heard about the event through local media and decided to attend so he would know how to aid someone if the situation ever arose. “Having the ability to help out is important and I’m just interested in making sure that if it ever comes to the need, I’ve got that ability,” Brandt said.
“The group of individuals required to report information to the Title IX coordinator may become smaller if the proposed regulations remain unchanged,” Baker wrote in an email. Even if the proposed changes are enacted, most faculty and staff would still be required to report information under another federal law, the Clery Act, which requires universities receiving federal funding to disclose crime statistics, including sexual assault and harassment, provided those crimes are disclosed to campus police or categories of faculty and staff designated as campus security authorities. Baker also noted that New York state has other laws in place to protect students during Title IX investigations. “NYS Education Law 129-B, which concerns sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence, and has substantial overlap with current Title IX regulations, will continue to remain in effect and require much of what we do now to remain unchanged,” Baker wrote.
The changes could also impact the Office of Student Conduct, which may be required to alter what information it communicates to both parties once an allegation of sexual assault or harassment is raised. Another relevant change would give both parties increased opportunity to access evidence collected during the investigation, which could add to the length of the process. Breanna Langett, a senior double-majoring in history and classical and Near Eastern studies, said she thinks Title IX should still be aligned with laws like 129-B to maximize protections for students. “It’s important to be protected under all laws so there is a common ground for all universities and colleges,” Langett said. “One college should not have lesser protections than another as it is not fair to the student.” Along with the inconsistencies in state and federal law, Johnson’s letter states there is no evidence the proposed regulations are aimed at reducing discrimination on the basis of sex. In a statement released in November, Johnson said she took
pride in New York’s “Enough is Enough” legislation, which combats sexual assault on public and private university campuses. She also named two free web-based tools for victims and survivors of sexual assault or interpersonal violence, including the Sexual Assault and Violence Response and a Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course. “It is from this foundation that we will present our expertise during the public comment period for the Department of Education’s proposed regulations for Title IX and look forward to submitting comments that are reflective of the views of our campuses, students and their families,” Johnson said. Margaret Shea, a junior majoring in sociology, said she thinks the proposed Title IX changes should be made more apparent to students. “I was not informed about the Title IX changes to the Educational Amendments Act,” Shea said. “I do believe students have the right to know about the changes in their educational experience, whether the impact is noticeable or not.”
housing from page 1 offered, leaving them few options if the room was in an undesirable location, living arrangement or living community. “We were pretty pissed about that because we weren’t given the option to stay here as temporary housing,” Siu said. “We thought they were going to give us more options and the right to choose the room we wanted. I thought we could choose but we couldn’t.” Siu, who is being relocated to Dickinson Community, said she’s annoyed she will have to move a second time. “At first, we were like, ‘Why don’t we just stay in this room since everyone was already moved in here?’” Siu said. “We don’t want to move to a different place because it’s such a difficult process.” Hannah Loffman, a junior majoring in human development and a resident of Bingham Hall, said ResLife did not inform permanent residents of the building about the temporary housing situation. Loffman said she believes the temporary living situation takes away from the communal aspect of living communities. “I just know for myself, I wouldn’t have wanted to come to college and be stuck in this awkward situation of using the public restroom or needing to share a bathroom with six other people and to have taken away from students’ study spaces,” Loffman said. Residents living in the temporary housing were informed of the living situation prior to the start of the semester. However, Emma Roy, a junior majoring in accounting and living in temporary housing in Bingham Hall, said she wasn’t sure what to expect when she moved into her temporary home, despite the notification. “It was mostly just like, ‘Well, we don’t have enough space for you so we have a converted lounge,’” Roy said. “There were no pictures of it or reference of it. All we were told is that we’d get a desk, a wardrobe and everything.” Lia Berger contributed reporting to this article.
OPINIONS Monday, February 4, 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
Why do we elect officials we disapprove of? Despite low approval rates, members of Congress are often re-elected
mark reinstein shutterstock
Members of the 115th Congress convene in a joint session in January 2017.
Emily Houston Columnist
According to a Gallup poll, on the day of the 2018 midterm election, congressional approval was at a mere 21 percent. However, Americans that same day chose to re-elect 91 percent of incumbents in the House of Representatives and 84 percent of U.S. Senators who were up for re-election. If congressional approval was so low, then why did incumbent members of Congress experience such staggering levels
of re-election? This paradoxical relationship between congressional approval and re-election rates is observable throughout much of U.S. history. Though both have fluctuated, one fact remains the same: Americans have re-elected incumbents even when they did not approve of Congress as a whole. Since 1974, the first year that Gallup began publishing its public opinion polls, the average re-election rate has significantly exceeded that of congressional approval. On average, the gap between the percentage of politicians who are re-elected and Congress’ approval rating is over 58 percent; while the average approval rating hovers
around 30 percent, incumbent members of the House and Senate have an average success rate of 88.5 percent. Our founding fathers had a few things in mind when they decided that whoever served in the House of Representatives should be determined by popular vote. (Remember, we only got the ability to directly elect our senators with the 17th amendment in 1913). Elections were of course supposed to be a way for the people to choose their government representatives, but their frequency — every two years — was also intended to give the people the capacity to put a check on the legislators
currently in power. Don’t like how the current Congress is doing things? Change who gets to be in it — vote for someone new. So if elections were supposed to be a chance for us to switch the makeup of our governing body when we decided they were doing a bad job, why are we continually voting for a Congress that we don’t really approve of? I could try to justify this gap to you with a bunch of political science jargon that even polisci majors are barely interested in, but I’m less concerned with why it’s happening than with how to change it. We need to keep in mind that this country was founded on the belief that
the people have a right to government representation. Remember the whole Boston Tea Party thing? The founders were so pissed that they didn’t have any representation in the British parliament that they threw a bunch of tea in the Boston Harbor — it was the classic “taxation without representation” thing. But because of their efforts, your ability to get the right kind of government representation is so much easier than theirs; you don’t need to road trip to Boston, you just need to head to the polls to vote for a representative that you’d approve of if they got a seat in Congress. Now, I’m not gonna lie to
you and say you single-handedly can influence the makeup of our government; you can’t. No one person’s vote decides who wins in Congress. On the other hand, it is entirely nonsensical to vote for someone who doesn’t represent your values. If you don’t like who is representing you in Congress, then stop voting for the person who’s already there, no matter what party they might belong to. Incumbents already have a host of advantages on their side as current members of Congress — they don’t need your vote, too. — Emily Houston is a senior double-majoring in political science and English.
Having fewer possessions can be more fulfilling Over time, Americans have prioritized quantity over quality Tiffany Dun Contributing Columnist
Four years ago, I did something crazy — I packed up two suitcases and moved halfway across the entire globe, from Melbourne, Australia, to upstate New York. Whether willingly or not, I had to heavily cut down on a lot of my clothing. My old scrappy T-shirt that was really comfy but not so flattering? That had to go. My 12 pairs of sneakers? Nope, I could only bring one. After my first year abroad, I thought to myself, “Do I even know what’s in my closet at home?” The answer, unsurprisingly, was no. And while I did buy a fair few things while being over here, I certainly didn’t have nearly half the amount of stuff that I had in my room at home. Having a minimal wardrobe and lifestyle was, in fact, quite liberating. I realized I did not need 20 going-out tops and that sharing clothes with my friends was a lot more fun than buying new ones for every weekend.
HOW
DO
Whether we are willing to admit it or not, living sustainably is important to every single one of us. We all need to be a little more green, and one perhaps unconventional way to do it is to have less stuff. Maybe you’ve heard this before, or maybe this is your first time reading it, but some individuals have shown that having less stuff equals more happiness. What we sometimes don’t realize is that having more clothes means more laundry, more commodities means more clutter and more things creating a mess means more time cleaning up. Think of a time when you were happiest. Was it when you were camping? Traveling? Perhaps on a boat? The one thing that these experiences have in common is that you were likely to have had a small bag of things with you and not your entire wardrobe. Among other things, this likely gave you more freedom and more time to focus on the things that are really important, like your family and friends who were with you. So here is me suggesting that less stuff might actually equal more for you. In recent decades,
I
SUBMIT?
Americans have become very good shoppers. But where does this lead us? Huge credit card debts, massive environmental footprints and certainly not more happiness. Unfortunately, consumerism is a driving force in today’s economy. In every ad, we see a new sweater that we need or a new accessory that we just must have. Since the 1950s, we have been buying more stuff in ever-increasing amounts. It’s also important to note that things these days are not even built to last. Apple revealed that its $2,000 MacBooks are expected to last around four years, while iPhones are only meant to last three. This means that after just three or four years, you are forced to buy another new phone or laptop. As we keep consuming, these big companies are reaping the profits and our environment (and bank accounts) is paying the costs. So what can we do about it? We, as consumers, can demand better stuff. If we only buy quality things, then companies will be forced to stop producing the things that don’t sell. What we often don’t realize is that literally every single thing we
goodmood photo shutterstock Living a minimalist lifestyle allows you to focus on the more important things in your life.
buy and throw out ends up in a landfill or the ocean. Before you buy something, think to yourself, “Is this going to make me happy for a long time?” If the answer is “no,” then you probably don’t need it.
Guest Column A full-length column that argues a particular point of view Can be a response to previously-printed columns 500-650 words in length Accompanied by a headshot portrait (taken by our photography staff)
So next time you’re at the mall, perhaps think of investing a bit more money in things that you will love for years rather than weeks. A $150 pair of snow boots that will last might be more worth it in the long run than the
lower quality pair on sale for just $20. This semester, try living like a practical minimalist! Have less, and be more. — Tiffany Dun is a senior majoring in psychology.
Letter to the Editor A response to any of the content in Pipe Dream, including opinions columns, editorials, news, arts and culture and sports stories Should end with a signature (e.g. From, Your Name) 200-500 words in length
Latin American art debuts on campus The exhibition premiered at the BU Museum Jan. 31 Alisa Darson
contributing writer
Graduate student Darren Yu won the title of 2018 Vice East Coast Beatboxing Champion.
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer
Darren Yu wins beatboxing title Yu is a staple at BU’s cultural events Calendra Scahill
contributing writer
A graduate student’s passion for beatboxing has catapulted him both on a local and national platform. Darren Yu, a first-year graduate student studying business administration, won the title of the 2018 Vice East Coast Beatbox Champion when he placed second at the regional competition held in Boston this past December. Going by his stage name “Ghost,” Yu also performs with Sofar Sounds, a music company that hosts shows in large cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo in an intimate music venue. Although he has traveled across the country throughout his fourand-a-half-year beatboxing career, it all started here in Binghamton. Yu first started beatboxing in his dorm room in Dickinson Community when he was an undergraduate student at Binghamton University. Making unique sounds with his voice was always an amusing pastime, but Yu seriously started working on beatboxing when he began watching tutorials and videos of prominent beatboxers. By mimicking the sounds and routines of distinguished beatboxers SkilleR and Reeps One, Yu quickly taught himself the art. “I didn’t have any sounds to start off with, obviously,” he said. “But I [had] the 26 letters of the alphabet and there’s like, a bunch of consonants in it so I just use[d] the consonants
and tried to say them as fast as possible in the same way [SkilleR] was doing it and eventually the sounds just got sharper and sharper and that’s how I learned relatively fast.” Along with watching videos, Yu learned a lot about beatboxing through fellow students who shared his same enthusiasm for the art. Unfortunately, the beatboxing club did not exist when Yu was an undergraduate, so he and other students created a temporary beatboxing community where they could support and learn from each other. “We made, technically, the first beatbox club to try to find the other beatboxers and eventually I started learning all of the little things about, you know, what it means to be a performer, what it means to be a beatboxer,” he said. “It seems that there is quite a legacy now that there’s another beatboxing club.” Starting off with short performances for his dorm community, Yu worked his way to performing at some of Binghamton’s most prominent showcases such as Asian Night, China Night, Japan Night, Korean Night, the Men of Color Award Show and the Spring Fling Student Show. He now has four shows scheduled for this month alone including the Chinese American Student Union and Vietnamese Student Associations’ Lunar New Year Banquet and the Asian Creative Network Showcase in New York City. This summer he will be attending beatboxing competitions in Atlanta, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago and Poland. Despite his many accomplishments, Yu said he wasn’t the best when he first began beatboxing and owes
his success to his experiences and overwhelming support in Binghamton. “I had a privilege that many, many performers, not just beatboxers, just performers in general, don’t get, and it’s support even when I’m bad,” he said. “It’s just the accumulation of support and positive experiences that I think really brought me forward, because it’s not just about motivation or discipline. Support is actually more important than both of those things. When you see people who love and respect what you’re doing, it just completely changes your outlook on whatever you’re trying to pursue.” When it comes to new, aspiring beatboxers, Yu said to always remember to cherish the reason why they started pursuing the art in the first place. “Don’t burn out,” he said. “The thing about [the] art is when you don’t feel supported, when you’re not seeing yourself progress as fast as possible, or when you’re doing it for the wrong reasons … it’s easy for [it] to become something else that isn’t a fun, creative outlet or a competitive outlet. You always want to keep in touch with the reason why you’re beatboxing because burning out from something that you absolutely love to do is one of the most painful things.” Although Yu was content performing at local shows, the turning point in his beatboxing career came when he started competing. “It was the particularity and the skill element of competitive beatboxing that drew me to it, like seeing people do things that I didn’t realize were possible,” he said.
“[Beatboxing is] not only just an art and a performance, it’s also a sport, and this is really where the sport element of it comes out is these competitions.” Although the competitions can get fierce, Yu said he still loves meeting and forming relationships with the tightknit beatboxing community. “It’s not just about the competition. Like, of course, I love performing, but it’s also the fact that I’m meeting people who are so supportive and we all connect with each other,” he said. “Even though there’s such a fundamental difference in our lifestyle[s], like I look at someone and I try to understand who they are and they try to understand who I am, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.” Throughout his experiences, Yu has developed his own style of beatboxing, which stemmed from his love for dubstep, a genre of electronic dance music. He says much of his progress comes from creating his own flair. “[Dubstep artists] combine a lot of sounds and arrange it in a way that creates an effective power and entropy and I was just very attracted to that dark energy,” he said. “That’s why I’m twice as good as I am now from when I graduated because I feel like I’ve found my style of beatboxing, this dark electronic style.” By pursuing his passion and connecting with people who share his sentiment for beatboxing, Yu said he has found a sense of belonging. “We have this language in common,” he said. “The American beatbox community — it’s everything. It’s the best thing ever. I feel like I found a religious church to just be a part of or something like that.”
Last Thursday, the Binghamton University Art Museum welcomed a new exhibition titled “Visions and Imagination: Cuban American and Argentinian Art.” The opening featured a public reception at the main gallery and a discussion held by curator Lynette Bosch, a professor of art history at SUNY Geneseo. Many pieces in this collection were donated by Jorge and Norma Gracia, each of whom spoke to the audience about some of the works they permanently gifted to the museum. The art in this exhibition is comprised of exclusively contemporary Argentinian and Cuban American artists. It includes various mediums like oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, ink and composite photo collage and explores themes of philosophy, self-discovery, culture, religion and spirituality. The works are all connected through their shared cultural background and historical narratives. Jorge Gracia, a SUNY distinguished professor at the University of Buffalo, discussed his love of collecting Cuban art as a Cuban American. Jorge and Norma Gracia donated 13 of the pieces on display from their own private collection. The first pieces the audience encounters are by Mauricio Nizzero, an Argentinian artist whose work is based on short stories by Jorge Luis Borges. Nizzero’s work is constructed on paper using ink and coffee, uncommon yet effective materials. The piece students see on the posters around the Fine Arts Building advertising the collection is titled “Foraging People” by Carlos Estévez. Created with pencil and gouache on Nepalese lokta paper, Estévez provokes questions about the human consciousness through the dark and mysterious drawing of a head. Several works in the collection induce a sense of disquiet. Armando Mariño’s “The White Peacock,” for example, embodies this sense of the unusual with its juxtaposed imagery and significant contrast in color. A particularly striking piece by Cuban
American artist DEMI stands out on a wall in the middle of the floor. Hairless and handless human figures, presumably children, dominate the large canvas. The painting is vibrant in its energy and livelihood, but there are mysterious undertones. “Some of [the pieces] seem to disturb you a little,” said Emily Seale, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry. The localization of this particular collection paired with Latin American history appeals to students’ appreciation of multicultural perspectives, including Eddie Yuan, a senior majoring in economics. “These artists need a platform, and Binghamton is a pretty good one,” Yuan said. “I think that it really expands Binghamton’s horizons in art history, because we’re located in upstate New York, in what feels like a thousand miles away from all major events that surround New York state. So art, and exposure to any form of art, is always needed.” All contributing artists have been based in New York at some point in their lives, whether to procure degrees, create art or settle down in places like Manhattan or Catskill, NY. According to Bosch, this was intentional. “One of the goals was to introduce [audiences] to Cuban American artists working in New York state so that we could gravitate in the area,” Bosch said. Jorge Gracia said that he was always looking for places that wanted to accommodate these kinds of artists and works, and Binghamton was the ideal location. “This particular exhibit was created because I was looking for a place that would actually have interest in this material — in other words, Latin American works,” Gracia said. Apart from the artists and themes explored throughout the paintings, the art of collecting art is in itself celebrated here. “I’ve lived with these pieces for a very long time,” Gracia said. “So it was extremely difficult to part with them. You have them on top of your desk, or your living room, and now […] But overall, it’s been fun. I feel very good, very grateful, that [people are] interested in this collection.” The exhibition will be open to the public until March 14 with a free admission fee.
katherine scott pipe dream photographer On Jan. 31, the BU Art Museum premiered its exhibition Visions and Imagination: Cuban American and Argentinian Art,” created by curator Lynette Bosch.
Sloth hangs out in Downtown hotel Wildlife organizations collaborated on the event Lakhsmi Chatterjee arts & culture intern
khaled pendleton design assisstant Over 30 different animals were showcased at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Downtown Binghamton from Feb. 1 to Feb. 3.
Dozens of families flocked to the DoubleTree by Hilton in Binghamton in hopes of meeting a sloth at the Natural History Exhibition this weekend. While attendees were not allowed to pet it, they were able to caress some smaller animals like ferrets, rabbits and armadillos. The Foundation for Animal Rescue and Education teamed up with Little Ray’s Nature Centres and ZooAmerica to bring the exhibition to Binghamton for the first time. It is currently on tour around the United States and Canada.
The interactive exhibition, held from Feb 1. to Feb. 3, featured over 30 live animals from Little Ray’s Nature Centres in Ottawa, Canada. It is one of the largest exotic animal rescue centers in North America and specializes in educational exhibitions for various zoos, nature parks and botanical gardens. Ferrets, bunnies and guinea pigs were in pens across the room with workers at each station answering questions and letting attendees pet them while snakes, toads and other reptiles were left in enclosed habitats. Every half hour, a worker presented animals to the audience. Cameron McSheffrey, a wildlife educator at Little Ray’s Nature Centres, started off his presentation by reminding the
audience about the dangers of owning exotic animals as pets. “Many of the animals we get are sent to us because their owners didn’t do research before buying them online, so make sure you always check out what an animal needs before you decide to keep it,” he said. The main event was a sloth named Flash who was featured at the end of the presentations. It was carried around the room so people could take pictures of it on top of a sloth plush toy. Jennifer Pichurin, an undeclared freshman, said that her favorite part of the event was getting to pet animals like the ferrets and rabbits. As a prevet student, she plans to work with animals in the future. “Even though interacting with animals [will literally be my job], it’s always great to just
relax and pet them for a while,” Pichurin said. However, Daniel Morales, an undeclared freshman, was upset that he couldn’t pet the sloth. “I only came for the sloth and the fact that I didn’t get to touch it made me livid,” Morales said. “But the bunnies made up for it.” McSheffrey thought that the exhibition was important to get people interested in protecting animals and treating them responsibly. “Most of our audience is made up of families with little kids who are probably thinking about getting a cool pet for them,” McSheffrey said. “If we can educate them about what animals need and the importance of research before buying, we can make the world a safer place for them.”
Weekend
ROSE COSCHIGNANO PIPE DREAM PHOTOGRAPHER
WARRIORS
You braved the cold for another weekend in glorious Downtown Binghamton, Weekend Warrior. You got all dolled up only to have your makeup ruined by the flood coming through the Tom’s ceiling, but that special someone still bought you a drink. Too bad he has a girlfriend. Maybe they’ll break up by Valentine’s Day.
Now hising Franc
Show this coup
on and get 10%
off
F UN
Monday, February 4, 2019 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
The bird is the word
Daniel Eisenhower Horoscopes
Hannah Nathanson
Aries: You accordion boy. You harmonica girl. You melody-making kids. You chordstrumming children. If there’s someone you think is cool but haven’t met in person, never meet them. It’ll break the illusion. If there’s someone you know in person that you think is lame, never see them again. Write them into a song. Taurus: What role are you going to play tonight? If you can’t close your eyes, don’t worry about sleep. Some things will change, but not soon enough. Tonight, be a watering can. Say a prayer that the seeds will bloom by bending your elbows into 45 degree angles and biting the inside of your mouth 14 times. Gemini: That’s what they would’ve wanted, and you know that, so you do the opposite. You’re very good at disobedience for a part-time lover. You’re very naive for a part-time adult. Download the text messages and save the photos, take the evening to process. You’re very bad at filling out paperwork for a part-time person.
Sudoku Binghamton was a mistake
By The Mepham Group
Ashley Sanchez
Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle
© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Release Date: Monday, February 4, 2019
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Konkey dong
Annabeth Sloan
ACROSS 1 Gather in a pile 6 City transport 9 Assume the role of 14 Dashed in the direction of 15 Fireplace remnants 16 Baseball’s home __ 17 Military decoration 18 China : cha :: U.S. : __ 19 Resistance member 20 Misdeed exculpation 23 Garden product word 26 Lyricist Gershwin 27 Ages and ages 28 Word after photo or black 29 Done tidily and without stress 33 Skillful 34 Early riser? 35 Wyatt of the Old West 39 Bedouin abode 40 Takes out the sloop 42 Classic cookie 43 Mediocre 44 Suffix with alp 45 Models for some Adam and Eve art 46 Precisely 50 Texter’s “I believe” 53 Louis XIV, par exemple 54 Badminton partition 55 Originally called 56 Exercise mantra 60 Minotaur’s island 61 Overtime cause, in sports 62 Seashore 66 Brother of Moses 67 Right-angled pipe shape 68 Came to a conclusion 69 Slope 70 Prefix with -lexic 71 Gives medicine to DOWN 1 Pitcher’s asset 2 West of “My Little Chickadee”
3 Plus 4 Ollie’s partner 5 Single singer 6 WWII Philippine battleground 7 Manipulative sort 8 Causing disgrace 9 Cooks’ protective wear 10 Sheet music symbol 11 Forbidden 12 Consumed eagerly 13 Disposes of on eBay 21 60-min. periods 22 Subjects, usually, in grammar class 23 Bitty biters 24 Show with horses and bulls 25 Warning signs 30 Model Kate married to Justin Verlander 31 Willow twig 32 South Korea’s capital 36 Elizabeth of cosmetics 37 Creator of yummy “pieces” 38 Entourage
40 Do what he says or you lose 41 Made sacred, as with oil 45 Observed 47 “Murder on the __ Express” 48 Marx co-author 49 Cultural funding org. 50 Machu Picchu builders 51 Point of a fable 52 Wagner work
57 Huge amount, as of homework 58 Slick, like a garage floor 59 Forbidden thing, and what each of four long answers is? 63 Spots on television 64 Understand 65 NFL scores
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Winston Emmons ©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/04/19
02/04/19
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Pipe Dream Bearcast FOR INTERVIEWS AND ANALYSIS
Monday, February 4, 2019
Women’s basketball edged by Great Danes at home A. Ramil sets careerhigh in nine-point defeat Evan Cole
assistant sports editor
Coming off an impressive victory over first-place Hartford last Wednesday, the Binghamton women’s basketball team fell to Albany at home on Saturday. In a battle of two teams among the middle of the America East (AE) standings, the Great Danes (9-13, 6-3 AE) disrupted the Bearcats (913, 4-5 AE) with their length on both ends of the court, extending possessions with offensive rebounds and harassing BU defensively. While BU competed well for most of the game, Albany took the advantage in the second quarter and led for the remainder of the game, earning a 71-62 victory. “You always want to protect your home court,” said BU head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. “You want to get your wins at home, so that was a tough one. Their inside game brought it tonight. Some players that haven’t scored stepped up for them. They had some players that typically don’t score the way they did and they knocked down some shots tonight.” In the first half, the Bearcats’ frontcourt was plagued by foul trouble. Sophomore forward Olivia Ramil started at center and committed three fouls in the half, and starting forwards senior Rebecca Carmody and sophomore Kaylee Wasco recorded two fouls apiece. This created the opportunity
for some of BU’s bench to produce, and freshman guard Annie Ramil answered the call, putting up eight points in the first half. Despite the foul trouble, Binghamton fought hard to enter halftime only trailing by three, with Albany leading 29-26. “I think we let them dictate a little bit more the way we played,” Shapiro Ord said. “We needed to be a little more aggressive on both ends.” BU opted for a smaller lineup in the second half, with junior guard Karlee Krchnavi replacing Wasco. As a result, Albany’s length began to put more pressure on BU, particularly on defense. The Great Danes’ big-to-big passing opened up the Bearcats’ zone repeatedly from the mid-range. Albany had a well-balanced offensive attack, with five different players scoring in double digits. “With foul trouble, it was tough to continue to have our length out there together,” Shapiro Ord said. “But again, they did a good job with their high-low and being real physical inside.” Binghamton was again plagued by poor ball security, committing 19 turnovers in the game. Already leading the conference in turnovers, lackadaisical play has hurt the Bearcats throughout the season. “A lot of our turnovers are unforced,” said junior guard Kai Moon. “I think that’s kind of been our Achilles’ heel this season. Communication helps that. I think we gotta get on the same page … We can’t have mental lapses, and we
sidney slon pipe dream photographer Freshman forward Annie Ramil scored a career-high 13 points, completing all seven free throw attempts in a losing effort.
gotta [have] a next-play mentality.” Moon led Binghamton in scoring, totaling 20 points with five 3-pointers. Annie Ramil finished with a career-high 13 points, getting to the free-throw line seven times and shooting 100 percent from the charity stripe. Carmody
played well despite foul trouble, scoring 17 points, grabbing nine rebounds and swiping four steals. Saturday’s loss drops Binghamton to sixth place in the AE standings, trailing Stony Brook and Vermont by only one game, adding pressure on the Bearcats to
win soon to boost their seeding for the playoffs. After the Bearcats’ next matchup with SBU, Binghamton takes on New Hampshire, UMBC and UMass Lowell, who have currently combined for four victories in conference play, opening an opportunity for BU to
rack up wins throughout February. The Bearcats return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 6 when they will take on the Stony Brook Seawolves. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m from the Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, New York.
Men’s basketball struggles against Albany, falling 64-50 BU fails to overcome opening 19-point deficit Edward Aaron sports intern
Eight minutes and 43 seconds into a matchup against Albany, senior forward Caleb Stewart drove in a jumper, and thus the Binghamton men’s basketball team was finally on the board. After trailing 19-0 to start the game, it took nearly half of the first period for Binghamton to score. The Bearcats (6-17, 2-6 America East) played from behind for the entire contest, eventually falling 64-50 to the Great Danes (8-15, 3-5 AE). “Being down 19 to nothing, on the road, in front of a packed house is a very steep hill to climb,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “But we battled our way back. We showed really good poise during that stretch; it was hard not to feel rattled because we couldn’t score.” Throughout the scoreless drought, Dempsey did not call a timeout, instead using the media break to speak to his team. After
christine derosa staff photographer Graduate student guard J.C. Show contributed 10 points as the Bearcats’ hopes of a comeback came up short against Albany.
finally getting on the board, Binghamton went on a 23-7 run, cutting Albany’s lead to just three points. The teams headed to the locker room with the Great Danes
leading 31-25. In the second half, the Bearcats were able to cut the deficit to four early on, but Albany pulled away, extending its advantage
and ultimately taking the contest 64-50. “There were two positives,” Dempsey said. “One that we hung in and we kept battling after the
big deficit. I thought we played a hard 40 minutes. It wasn’t always pretty but I thought we played very hard. And then the second positive was certainly the play of the big fellow inside. [Freshman forward Calistus Anyichie] gave us a great game.” Anyichie finished the game with 10 points, seven boards and three steals off the bench. For Albany, redshirt freshman guard Cameron Healy was the difference-maker. After scoring 12 of his team’s first 19 points, he finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds. In the first doubledouble of his career, Healy finished with a career-high in points and a program-record nine 3-pointers in the game. “[Healy] put on a show,” Dempsey said. “He made some ungodly difficult, long contested threes, and you gotta take your hat off to him. He was super — he was the difference in the game.” The 19-0 start by Albany jumps out as a particularly difficult way to start a game, but the Bearcats have been plagued by slow starts in several of their AE matchups,
one of the many elements that has led to the team’s lack of success in conference play. “We’ve had a really tough start to the conference schedule,” Dempsey said. “You can’t tell me anyone’s played a harder schedule than that, I’d like to see it.” While Dempsey is right that Binghamton has had to play the three best teams in the conference on the road, the AE season is at its midpoint, and every team in the conference has played the same exact opponents, facing all eight other teams once. In those three games against Stony Brook, UMBC and Vermont, the average margin of loss was nearly 17 points, with the team failing to score more than 50 points in any of the matchups. As the Bearcats prepare to face each of their AE opponents again, Dempsey and his team might need to rethink their approach if they want to turn their season around. Next up for the Bearcats is a home matchup against Stony Brook on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
Wrestling bulldozes Pioneers for fifth straight victory Trampe, Garcia pick up decisive dual match wins Lance Kim
contributing writer
The Binghamton wrestling team dominated at Sacred Heart University last Friday, producing a 34-7 result over the Pioneers. The Bearcats captured their victory wins in a row, bringing them to a 5-3 record on the season with a 5-1 record in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). The meet capped off a four-game road trip, which featured stops at Columbia, Harvard and Brown before wrapping up in Fairfield, Connecticut. Having taken eight of 10 bouts, head coach Kyle Borshoff appeared very satisfied with his team’s performance. “Right now we’re wrestling well,” Borshoff said. “Obviously, a
win’s always nice to get. [The] guys wrestled really hard and the fight has been there for the entire team.” Redshirt sophomore Audey Ashkar took the first bout by pin, followed by wins for redshirt freshman Zack Trampe and junior Anthony Sparacio that raised the BU lead to 14-0 after the first three bouts. In the 149-pound weight class, redshirt junior Frankie Garcia recorded a major decision against senior Chris Cornell. Winning by large margins was something that the Bearcats emphasized coming into the match, and BU came through with five of their wrestlers defeating opponents by eight points or more. “One of the things that we talked about this week was starting to put bonus points up on the board, not being content to win by four or five points,” Borshoff said. “When we get to the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament, bonus
points become a big factor.” Heavyweight redshirt freshman Joe Doyle put his coach’s words into action, taking a 13-0 major decision over freshman Dante DelBonis. Trampe and Garcia added their own major decisions with 20-4 and 15-2 victories, respectively. Redshirt senior Vincent DePrez made quick work of his opponent, sophomore Joe Eiden, to the tune of a pin within two minutes. After a tumultuous start to the season with losses to Buffalo and Army, the Bearcats continue to cement their standing as a force in the EIWA. Borshoff highlighted the spirit of the team, especially the performance of freshman Christopher Barker. “When the individuals go out, whether they’re winning or losing right now, they continue to inspire their teammates,” Borshoff said. Following a tense first round
ariel kachuro assistant photography editor Redshirt junior Frankie Garcia captured his second dual match of the season against Sacred Heart, earning a 15-2 major victory.
in which neither wrestler scored, Barker took a 3-0 advantage with a takedown. Pioneers sophomore TJ Calas cut the lead to 3-2
with 1:38 left, but Barker held on for a dramatic first win in a Bearcat singlet. “Chris has spent most of the
season redshirting and competed twice last weekend for us, losing both matches. [He] got his first dual win in his third match,” Borshoff said. “Hopefully, Chris can build his confidence.” The Bearcats are enjoying success, with five more total meets before the EIWA Championships in early March. They will hope to close out the season successfully, with potential for a 10-3 record heading into the conference tournament. The wrestling team will get to play in front of their home fans for the next two weeks, before finishing up in Ohio. “[We’re] excited to get back to Binghamton next weekend,” Borshoff said. The Bearcats will take on the Hofstra Pride and Drexel Dragons on Sunday, Feb. 10. The doubleheader will begin with Drexel at 2 p.m. at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.