Shawn Goodman comes to BU’s Readers’ Series, See page 7 Thursday, February 6, 2020 | Vol. XCVII, Issue 5 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
“We go after them”
“Scorched “Honestly, if they jump earth! me, big money!” “We got to just keep it Kill them! going; honestly, I’m Get them!” having too much fun.”
MRC sponsors first flipped career fair Event aims to encourage diversity in career networking Gitl-Yevgeniya Driker pipe dream news
new spin on the traditional job and internship fair this year as it hosted its first Multicultural Career Fair Flip. Typically, at job and internship fairs, visiting recruiters from companies nationwide sit behind tables and wait for students to approach with
The Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development put a
see fair page 4
The Free Word on Campus Since 1946
TPUSA, College Republicans make threatening remarks in leaked recording, Frances Beal Society says Jacob Kerr news editor
In a series of social media posts on Feb. 3, the Frances Beal Society leaked audio recordings and text messages that appear to show members of Binghamton University’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA), including their president Lacey Kestecher, a freshman majoring in business administration, making threatening remarks toward students and student groups. In the recording, which was reportedly taken on Nov. 21, 2019, members of TPUSA, College Republicans and the Binghamton Review discussed ideas for future events which included purposefully provoking responses from other students, according to the Frances Beal Society, a grassroots organization composed of students and community members dedicated to fighting oppression and liberating marginalized groups. TPUSA members also reportedly threatened to sue Binghamton University’s Student Association (SA) to secure funding for their organization in leaked text messages. “We have a plan — go to the SA, try and get chartered, get denied and then open up a lawsuit against [BU] for freedom of speech,” the text reads. The leak of the recording comes after two protests erupted on campus last semester. The first demonstration
Learning management system contract to expire Jackson Galati news intern
ton University through the Blackboard website, but that system might change over the course of the next two years. Blackboard is the learning management system (LMS) that has been used at BU since 2001 over the course of multiple contracts. The current con-
Students and faculty currently share learning materials at Bingham-
see blackboard page 3
Binghamton earns first victory over Great Danes since 2011 David Julien
pipe dream sports
As the clock wound down, the Binghamton women’s basketball team was sitting on a comfortable lead over the Albany Great Danes, and smiles fell across the faces of the Bearcats. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Bearcats defeated Albany in a 58-42 victory. The Bearcats (16-6, 5-4 America East) started the contest strong against the Great Danes (8-15, 4-6 AE), taking hold of the game and refusing to let it go. In the first quarter, the Bearcats were able to go on a 12-0 run, establishing a 10-point lead over the Great Danes going into the second quarter. The second quarter saw the Bearcats continue on their path toward victory. They held onto their lead for the entirety of the quarter due in large part to strong offensive showings from senior guard Kai Moon and junior forward Olivia Ramil. The Great Danes’ leading scorer, senior The Bearcats celebrated after the horn sounded on their first win over the Great Danes since 2011.
ARTS & CULTURE
see tpusa page 3
University debates BU creates replacing Blackboard new live broadcast studio
Women’s basketball overpowers Albany
see basketball page 10
occurred after BU’s TPUSA and College Republicans displayed pro-gun signage during an unofficial tabling event. Days later, when the same two groups hosted economist Arthur Laffer for a speaking event, another protest formed, resulting in Laffer being escorted out of the Lecture Hall by police. In their Twitter and Instagram posts, the Frances Beal Society wrote that TPUSA, College Republicans and the Binghamton Review “broadcast inflammatory and bigoted rhetoric, record the backlash and post it online for attention, funding and to expose protesters to harassment online.” While discussing what their next event would be, one recorded voice, which the Frances Beal Society said is Kestecher, is heard saying, “We got to just keep it going. Honestly, I’m having too much fun.” Other unidentified voices in the recording are also heard discussing the protesters and backlash against specific student groups. Pipe Dream cannot independently confirm the claims made by Frances Beal Society regarding who is speaking in the recording. One voice is heard yelling, “Scorched earth! Kill them! Get them!” The other students then join in by repeating,
Space connects faculty, students and staff with media Lakhsmi Chatterjee pipe dream news
Just underneath Binghamton University’s lecture halls, students, faculty and staff can reach millions of people through the University’s new Live Broadcast News Studio. In Lecture Hall B90, a new studio is equipped to tape and source interviews from BU to major television networks around the world. Ryan Yarosh, BU’s senior director of media and public relations, said the studio was created because news outlets frequently reach out to BU faculty and professors to speak on topics and look for live, remote interviews with them. With the new studio, the BU community can connect with some of the world’s major broadcasters at the push of a button. “Previously, when news outlets reached out to our faculty, we accommodated their requests for a live interview by using Skype and a laptop computer, which is not preferred by a majority of broadcasters,” Yarosh said. “For example, when CNN recently called to speak to a history professor about escalating tensions in the Middle East, we utilized this rudimentary setup — not ideal, but we made it work. This is commonplace.” According to Yarosh, faculty who were
alex gross staff photographer
OPINIONS
see studio page 4
SPORTS
Find out what’s new at First Friday,
Pipe Dream talks with professors about what they’re watching,
The Editorial Board condemns threats made in the recording leaked by the Frances Beal Society,
Men’s lacrosse prepares for upcoming 2020 season,
Men’s basketball picks up loss against rivals Albany,
SEE PAGE 7
SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 5
SEE PAGE 9
SEE PAGE 10
PAGE II February 6, 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
ADDress: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 phone: 607-777-2515 fAx: 607-777-2600
Police Watch
weB: bupipedream.com
SPRING 2020 eDitor-in-Chief* Sasha Hupka editor@bupipedream.com
MAnAging eDitor* Katy Wong manager@bupipedream.com
news eDitor* Jacob Kerr news@bupipedream.com Asst. news eDitors Valerie Puma Leora Schwadron Jeremy Rubino opinions eDitor* Evan Moravansky opinions@bupipedream.com Asst. opinions eDitor Elizabeth Short Arts & Culture eDitor* Gabriela Iacovano arts@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture eDitors Calendra Scahill Patrick Earns
The victim is seeking criminal prosecution, but officers have no suspect as of Wednesday evening.
The following accounts were provided by Investigator Mark Silverio of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Instagram thief FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 9:50 p.m. — Officers responded to Endicott Hall of Newing College to take a report of an online scam. The victim, a 20-year-old female, explained that she engaged in a conversation with someone on Instagram who told her they knew of an easy way to make money. The victim said she was in need of money and was under the impression that after she sent money to the Instagram account, they would send more money in return. The victim sent about $1,700 in total over three different payments to the Instagram user. The Instagram user blocked the victim after the last payment and the victim never received any money in return. The victim used Apple Pay and Cash App, but when she contacted Apple, they were unable to retrieve her payment.
But they were on a roll… SATURDAY, Feb. 1, 2:49 a.m. — An officer responded to Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4) for a shoplifting complaint. The reporting party was a 52-yearold male Sodexo employee who claimed that a table of three girls took a package of sushi and ate it without paying for it. The officers spoke to the suspects, one 18-yearold female and two 19-year-old females. They admitted to not paying for the food. Sodexo gave them a chance to pay for it without pressing charges. One of the suspects paid for all three and they were not charged.
Melanie Gulbas Pipe Dream News
left his Samsonite backpack with his iPad in it in C4 the previous day around noon. After checking the C4 lost and found with no success, the officer returned to the UPD station, where he found the missing backpack in their lost and found. The victim joined the officer at the station and was able to identify it. The victim said he was very happy to be reunited with his items.
Keep it locked SUNDAY, Feb. 2, 7:54 p.m. — Officers spoke to a student regarding a petty larceny claim. The victim, an 18-year-old male, said he went to the men’s locker room in the East Gym and put his clothing and backpack in one locker and his wallet in a friend’s locker, both secured. After one swimming session, he returned to his locker, but did not securely close it when he went back to
the pool. When he was ready to leave the gym, the contents of his wallet were still there, but he noticed $600 cash missing from an interior pocket in his backpack. Officers checked camera footage in the lower portion of the East Gym, but numerous people entered and left the locker room and they did not notice anyone carrying a fistful of cash. The investigation is still pending.
Sharing secrets
Reunited at last SATURDAY, Feb. 1, 5:30 p.m. — An 18-year-old male reported his backpack and iPad stolen from C4. UPD responded to Delaware Hall of Newing College to speak with the victim. The victim said he
sports eDitor* Justin Zion sports@bupipedream.com Asst. sports eDitors Edward Aaron Samantha Marsh
Pipe Line
photogrAphy eDitor* Ariel Kachuro photo@bupipedream.com
LOCAL NEWS
paper bag shortage
Asst. photogrAphy eDitor Sidney Slon
Broome County bus payment methods to see updates
When New York state’s new plastic bag ban goes into effect on March 1, it could mean a paper bag shortage for the state, according to Syracuse.com. Without the use of plastic bags available, many customers will pay for paper bags at checkout. Representatives from major bag company Novolex predict New York state will require roughly 4 billion paper bags when the change takes effect. Due to a lack of availability, this could mean a shortage of paper bags across the state for up to five years, until new factories are built.
fun eDitor* Annabeth Sloan fun@bupipedream.com Asst. fun eDitor
Daniel Eisenhower
Design MAnAger* Kade Estelle design@bupipedream.com Design Assts. Mikayel Harutyunyan Yingying Chen
Broome County Transit buses could see a modern makeover soon, according to WBNG. A state grant of more than $1.5 million will allow contactless pay machines to be installed on the buses, letting residents pay their bus fare by scanning a QR code with their phone or paying in advance. Binghamton University and Broome Community College students will still be able to use their student IDs as a payment method for the buses.
NATIONAL NEWS STATE NEWS
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DigitAl eDitor* Kimberly Gonzalez digital@bupipedream.com ViDeo eDitor* Nate Platzner video@bupipedream.com newsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Michelle Tan tech@bupipedream.com Art DireCtor* Max Samson
President Donald Trump acquitted of impeachment charges
New bill aims to ban retail sale of certain pets in New York state On Monday, officials proposed a new state bill that would ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits, according to Syracuse.com. If passed, the law would take effect as soon as 2021. Supporters of the proposal say it would help protect animals from mass breeding centers that are known for abuse. The proposal would still allow New York state residents to buy animals directly from breeders; however, pet stores would be unable to sell these animals. Plastic bag ban could lead to
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump of two articles of impeachment, according to The New York Times. The vote ended the 20-day impeachment trial, with senators voting mainly along party lines. The only exception was Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), who voted to convict Trump for the first article of impeachment on abuse of power, becoming the first-ever senator to vote to remove a president belonging to his own party. Romney stood with Republicans and voted to acquit Trump for the second article on obstruction of Congress.
Business MAnAger* Maryam Soomro business@bupipedream.com Business AssistAnt Samantha Agnoli businessassistant@bupipedream. DistriBution MAnAger Preston Hill distribution@bupipedream.com
Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. Positions seated on the executive board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and academic breaks. The content on the Opinions page with bylines represent the views of those authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. The content of advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. We reserve the right to reject ads for any reason. All letters submitted for publication must include the author's name, year and major. Please limit letters to the editor to 400 words and guest columns to 750 words. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Guest column submissions may be emailed to the opinions editor at opinions@ bupipedream.com, and all letters to the editor may be sent to editor@bupipedream.com. © Pipe Dream 2019
stabilizing:GIMs
TuPo:destabilizing
COMIC CLUB
A place For Everything Comics! everyone is welcome! comicclub@binghamtonsa.org
SA CHARTERED
tyler gorman pipe dream photographer Jared Hill, a junior majoring in economics, converses with a company recruiter at “Career Secrets,” an event hosted by Alpha Kappa Psi Coed Business Fraternity as a part of Career Week.
bupipedream.com | February 6, 2020
NEWS
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stephanie chin pipe dream illustrator
BU, Ithaca College collaborate on pharmacy program New partnership offers seven-year degree path Laura D’Angelo pipe dream news
For the first time, Binghamton University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) is teaming up with Ithaca College to enable students to transfer into BU’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program after three years of undergraduate study. Rachael Perry, assistant dean for enrollment management and student affairs at SOPPS, said the schools were prompted to pursue the collaboration to help facilitate the transition of Ithaca College undergraduate students into BU’s PharmD program.
“We hope that this program will attract qualified students to both Ithaca College and [SOPPS] … and that graduates from this program are able to help reduce health disparities and positively impact health care in the state of New York and beyond,” Perry said. The program is known as a 3 + 4 program, named because students spend three years at Ithaca College and four years at BU. One of its advantages is an expedited degree path, which also could save students money — a year’s undergraduate tuition at Ithaca College costs $45,274, according to the school’s official website. Candidates in good standing can also opt to spend their fourth year completing their bachelor’s degree at Ithaca College rather than going straight to BU for
the first year of the PharmD program. However, this option will prolong the length of the program to eight years, instead of the seven years that result from the 3 + 4 program. Although Perry said she hopes the new agreement will raise the number of applications both schools receive, the program’s size will be restricted to maintain a proper student-to-faculty ratio. “Our class size will remain a maximum of 90, giving us a student-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-1,” Perry said. To be considered for the program, which is located at the Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City, students must have successfully completed their prerequisite credits from Ithaca College and apply no later than Jan. 1 of the year they plan to enroll
at BU. They also need to have a minimum cumulative math and science GPA of 3.0. If a student meets these qualifications, they will be waived from the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), according to an Ithaca College news release. Gloria Meredith, founding dean of SOPPS, said the collaboration will produce qualified New York state pharmacy professionals for the future. “This agreement solidifies the mutual commitment [BU] has with Ithaca College to support the preparation of outstanding pharmacy professionals who will focus on patient-centered care,” Meredith said. “As we expand our reach throughout New York state, it is gratifying to have developed these strong connections and we look forward to enrolling
highly qualified students from Ithaca College.” It is not the first time BU’s SOPPS has established a PharmD program with another school. There is also a 3 + 4 agreement with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, agreements with Wells College, Keuka College, Elmira College and 2 + 4 agreements with Broome Community College, Onondaga Community College and Nassau Community College. Natalie Young, a junior majoring in chemistry, is planning to join the PharmD program next year. She said while she is optimistic about the collaboration, she also wonders how it will affect her postgraduate career as a pharmacy student at BU. “As a student who will be at-
tending the pharmacy school next year, I think it’s really great to see that BU is teaming up with another strong school like Ithaca College to recruit more students and ultimately mold as many qualified New York state pharmacists for the future as possible,” Young said. “But I also can’t help but wonder if this could possibly affect the size of my classes, as BU is already a school with very high enrollment.” Linda Petrosino, dean of Ithaca College’s School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, said the agreement is mutually beneficial to both schools. “We believe this program will benefit both campuses by attracting academically promising students, ultimately yielding wellprepared professionals for the field,” Petrosino said.
Leaked messages display plan for University lawsuit tpusa from page 1 “Scorched earth.” While discussing how to provoke other students, the voice said to be Kestecher is heard saying, “Honestly, if they jump me, big money,” after proposing the idea of wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat around campus. “Big money,” according to Frances Beal Society, is referring to TPUSA receiving donations after gaining public attention. Videos of the first protest in November did reach a mass
audience, collecting hundreds of thousands of views online. According to the Frances Beal Society, multiple protesters and students of color received threats from strangers as a result of the videos. The videos eventually led to President Donald Trump commending BU’s chapter of TPUSA at a national TPUSA event and bringing Kestecher to the stage to let her speak. At the beginning of her speech, Kestecher said, ” … What [the protesters] didn’t know about me is that I do jiujit-
su … ” The voice said to be Kestecher in the recording makes a similar remark, stating, “I have my jiujitsu” while discussing the potential of provoking students. Kestecher denied responsibility for remarks made in both the recording and the text messages. Emma Ross, SA president and a senior double-majoring in political science and psychology, said if groups applying for charter follow the SA’s policies, they will be chartered. Nevertheless, she said the application process is not a simple one.
“I am hopeful that students would not put the necessary time and energy into the chartering process if their goal was to be denied,” Ross said. “Having gone through and overseen the chartering process myself, it is not something to be taken lightly, but it is designed to help students succeed.” The recording cuts off midway through the conversation, and the Frances Beal Society writes that the rest of it contains explicit threats directed toward specific students. The Frances Beal Society declined
to share the remainder of the recording because of safety concerns for those named. “The general trend has been that the people harassed have been women of color on this campus and that the threats and harassment have all been racist in nature, as well as some that are misogynistic,” a representative of Frances Beal Society wrote in an email. Binghamton’s New York State University Police (UPD) said they did not receive any formal complaints of threats or harassment from students as a
result of the protests or recording. The Frances Beal Society said students didn’t trust UPD enough to make official reports. “We can also say that the threats we’ve been notified about were not reported to the University, UPD or [Binghamton Police Department],” the representative wrote. “The majority of them had absolutely no faith in the University to handle these threats, especially regarding the racial aspect behind them.” University officials could not be reached for comment.
Learning systems offer demonstrations for students, faculty blackboard from page 1 tract, which has been in effect for the past three years, will end in December 2021, and a committee comprised of faculty, staff and two undergraduate student representatives from the Student Association (SA) E-Board is looking to contract an LMS for five years that meets the University’s needs. Maxwell Hisiger, SA chief of staff for the vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) and a senior double-majoring in economics and mathematics, is one of the two undergraduates on the committee, along with John Santare, SA VPAA and a senior double-majoring in biology and comparative literature. According to Hisiger, having a diverse committee is important to ensure that the LMS will work well for everyone. “I think it’s great that the process to choose a new [LMS] has been a joint effort between faculty, staff and students as everyone uses the LMS for different purposes and hopes to get something different out of it,”
Hisiger wrote in an email. “For example, I know [Santare] and I have placed emphasis on the LMS’ mobile interface while faculty and staff may place more of an emphasis on other features.” For Dylan Klein, a senior double-majoring in English and philosophy, politics and law, a mobile interface is a must-have. He is critical of the current Blackboard app. “Sometimes I think [the app] is a little clunky,” Klein said. “I don’t have a personal computer. I have to use desktops on campus, so being able to get stuff online on my phone in an easy way is pretty important to me.” While the current Blackboard contract was initially set to expire in December 2020, the committee renewed it for another year while the selection process takes place. The committee said it is looking to see the full implementation of the chosen system by the fall 2021 semester. They are currently considering three options: Canvas by Instructure, Brightspace or Blackboard. According to Santare, the physi-
cal implementation process is something the committee keeps in mind. “Fundamentally, it would be easier to renew Blackboard because it does not require any new systems or software to be installed,” Santare wrote in an email. “I’m not an expert on the technology side of this, so I can’t explain this too much further, but that’s why there’s a strong [information technology] presence on the committee.” The outcome of the committee’s decision could fix issues some students have with the current Blackboard system. Madison Millwood, a junior majoring in biology, said she sometimes has difficulty selecting the course she is looking for. “Sometimes it’s hard to see the little links,” Millwood said. “Like when you want to find your course, I find it hard to differentiate my lab course of physics from my discussion from the actual lecture — so maybe color-coding those so I could see it better. I find I’m on the wrong course all the time because I get mixed up
— like some of my courses have three parts to it.” Despite this, others, such as Mackenzie Johnson, an undeclared freshman, find redeeming qualities in the current Blackboard system. “I think that it’s pretty userfriendly,” Johnson said. “I don’t think that it’s too difficult to learn. I’m a freshman so this is my first year using it and I figured it out pretty easily. I take chemistry so putting up videos and interacting with students through that online platform is pretty useful.” Students will have the opportunity to try out the LMS options for themselves before the selection is made. Santare said he thinks student opinions are an important part of the selection process and encouraged attendance at the system demonstrations. “The on-site [demonstrations] are an important part of the scoring process and are open to the public,” Santare wrote. “It is important that students attend these demos to make sure our
voices are heard when it comes to which LMS we prefer.” All the demonstrations will take place in University Union 108. The Canvas by Instructure demonstration will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, Brightspace will
take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 and Blackboard will be demonstrated from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21. Students can also share their thoughts on the new LMS by emailing vpaa@binghamtonsa.org.
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NEWS
bupipedream.com | February 6, 2020
Ascend panel celebrates diversity in business fields Professionals share experiences with students David Julien news intern
In an effort to start a conversation about diversity in the professional world, Binghamton University’s chapter of Ascend hosted its annual “Diversity Panel” on Monday evening. According to its website, Ascend is an organization that aims to enhance the presence of Pan Asian and Pacific Islander leaders in finance, accounting and related business fields. BU’s chapter invited speakers from a number of top professional firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Ernst & Young (EY) to speak about their experiences as minorities in the professional world and how diversity is seen in it. The panel delved into the intricacies of diversity in the workplace and how race and culture have played a role in professionals’ individual points of view in their work life. Madeleine Zhang, a member of Ascend and a senior double-majoring in psychology and accounting, said she believes discussions on diversity have intrinsic value to students hoping to enter these professional fields. “We think that it is important for students to hear about professionals that are currently in the workforce,” Zhang said. “It’s something we don’t really think about on a day-to-day basis, so
miya carmichael pipe dream photographer A professional speaks about the culture of her company and its work environment at a panel hosted by Ascend and The Bert Mitchell Minority Management Organization in Old Union Hall on Monday.
having an event that is just for this and naming it ‘Diversity Panel’ will encourage people to talk about it and start conversations.” The panel, which was mostly populated by BU alumni, empha-
sized the idea of inclusion in the workforce and how companies today are making a greater push toward a more diverse future. Jessica Eng, ‘12, an assurance manager at EY, said she sees her-
self in a unique position as both a BU alumna and Ascend alumna, and as such wanted to provide her insight on the professional world to those entering the workforce. “I was really happy to come
back and talk about my experience because I think it really helped me during my college experience,” Eng said. “I think it’s important that these conversations are had about diversity so people can see
what it’s like on the other side, network and hear about other people’s experiences too.” The panel allowed students and other attendees to ask the panelists questions pertaining to their experiences and to ask for advice as they prepare to enter the workforce themselves. After the formal discussion, attendees were able to ask further questions related directly to the panelists and network with recruiters. Daeyun Jo, a junior majoring in accounting, the experience could be incredibly important to his future goals. “I wanted to network with professionals from the Big Four and other big accounting firms so I really wanted to get to know them and ask them the questions that I have,” Jo said. “It’s a really good opportunity for us to network with professionals who will end up hiring you in the end.” From the event, students like Cindy Zhou, a senior majoring in accounting, were able to better understand the intricacies diversity and inclusion can play in the professional world and how those intricacies can enhance success in the workforce. “I thought it was really great,” Zhou said. “When I listened to the different professionals’ experiences, I realized what diversity is at work and how I can bring my whole self to work. How even as an intern or as someone who has just started working, I can bring my own value to the team.”
Tabling event switches typical job fair structure fair from page 1
Binghamton University’s new broadcasting studio was created with a gift from an alumnus.
provided by ryan yarosh
New multimedia studio donated by BU alumnus studio from page 1 interviewed were often sent to nearby studios at Cornell University and Syracuse University, given there was enough time to set up the arrangements. BU’s new studio is equipped with ReadyCam, a videography system used by television networks such as CNN, BBC, NBC and PBS to tape interviews and air them around the globe. The equipment is controlled remotely by staff from VideoLink, the video production company and system in charge of ReadyCam. The equipment includes a high-definition camera system, professional sound mixing systems, digital backdrop, headphones, amplification systems, LED lighting, broadcast microphones and a web portal that allows VideoLink to control interviews remotely. VideoLink acts as a liaison for the University and the media, handling bookings for on-air broadcasts. The studio and its equipment were provided by donations from Roger Mills Gilbert, ’76.
Casey Staff, BU’s video producer for University communications and marketing, works with the Live Broadcast News Studio to create commercials for broadcast and social media purposes and records interviews with faculty. She said the best part of the new center is having the ability to share current research. “The ReadyCam studio technology allows us to broadcast high-quality video content live to networks nationally and internationally,” Staff said. “Now we have the convenience of handling all media requests in our studio, and doing so allows our department to share the exciting research taking place here at [BU] with the world.” According to Staff, students will have the opportunity to work as student assistants or interns and help with studio and video operations. Sophia Cavalluzzi, a current intern for the office of media and public relations and a junior majoring in English, works to match up BU faculty with reporters looking for experts on specific topics.
She said the studio is a necessary addition to campus that will provide students interested in videography and media opportunities to gain experience. “[The studio] will allow us to have more of a presence and a new type of presence in the media and national community,” Cavalluzzi said. “It’s great connecting our experts to reporters, but it’ll be a great addition providing an opportunity for them to film things, do interviews … Hopefully, some interns will eventually be dedicated to just the media space in the lecture hall, since BU doesn’t offer much for those who want to go into that field.” The studio will also be open to community use for a fee. In addition to creating new opportunities on campus, Yarosh said the studio increases exposure and promotes faculty research and expertise. “This project is significant and aligns with the belief that the great achievements of our students, faculty and staff should be celebrated and shared with the world,” Yarosh said.
their elevator pitch. But at Tuesday’s event, student groups were the ones at the tables and the employers came to them. Erin Wise, assistant director of mentorship and diversity initiatives at the Fleishman Center, said the event demonstrates a different method of networking. “We’re turning the tables on a typical career fair,” Wise said. “Student organizations will be the ones setting up booths while employers circulate the room to learn more about each organization, including meeting organization members and e-boards, learning about past and upcoming programs and initiatives and ways to best inform organization members about professional opportunities.” The Multicultural Career Fair Flip was sponsored by the Student Association (SA) and the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC). It hosted 20 different student organizations and more than 25 employers. According to Wise, the event was created as part of the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development’s efforts to create more diversity-oriented career development programming. “Before the 2019 Fall Job and Internship Fair, we hosted our first diversity roundtable event, which brought together students with employers from
various organizations who are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace,” Wise said. “It was well received with positive feedback from both students and employers, so we wanted to offer another opportunity around the spring job and internship fairs to promote conversations around diversity in the workplace.” According to Wise, the event also aimed to give students time to discuss their on-campus engagements and achievements, which they may not have the opportunity to do at a typical job fair. “The goal of this new format is to showcase some of our student leaders on campus and provide a unique and interactive venue to connect with employers,” Wise said. “Student leadership is an extremely valuable skill that employers are looking for in new employees, so this seemed like a great stage for many of our student leaders to highlight their involvement on campus.” Omar Hernandez, senior adviser of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and a senior majoring in systems science and industrial engineering, said he and other members of SHPE believe the fair can grant them more opportunities than BU’s traditional career fair would. “What we’re trying to get
out of today is gaining connections and more information about the companies in and around Binghamton,” Hernandez said. “Our members are also looking into opportunities in those companies as well and this will give them a chance to get an insider point of view and a second chance that they may not have gotten at the career fair today.” Maggie Cech, treasurer of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and a senior majoring in electrical engineering, also highlighted the importance of gaining connections. “We would like to gain exposure to more local companies, build connections with representatives from these companies and build rapport with employees and those who can offer future opportunities in these companies,” Cech said. Others, including Abigail Walters, president of the Charles Drew Minority PreHealth Society and a senior majoring in psychology, agreed. “We would like to gain connections with companies and get collaborations with certain organizations to come present about what their company does,” Walters said. “We were hoping to gain more connections in the pre-med[ical] field so that they could come speak about their organization.”
lucas peterka staff photographer Student organizations meet with employers at the Multicultural Career Fair Flip in the University Union’s Mandela Room on Tuesday.
OPINIONS Weekday, February Month Day, 6, 2020 Year Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
EDITORIAL: THERE SHOULD BE NO PLACE FOR HATE HERE
Turning Point USA, College Republicans and the Binghamton Review should be investigated for the audio leaked by the Frances Beal Society On Feb. 3, the Frances Beal Society released an audio recording of what they say is a meeting between members of Binghamton University’s chapters of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), College Republicans and the Binghamton Review via Twitter — a recording that includes threatening remarks against students and student groups. The audio clip was reportedly taken on Nov. 21, 2019, just days after demonstrators protested TPUSA and College Republicans on the Spine and later protested an event featuring economist Arthur Laffer. It includes comments like, “We got to just keep it going; honestly, I’m having too much fun,” “Honestly, if they jump me, big money,” “We go after them” and “Scorched earth! Kill them! Get them!” These comments illustrate how little respect the members of the groups supposedly speaking in the audio have for important issues at our University. Instead, they ridicule those protesting against them as if their concerns are meaningless except as a method for TPUSA to garner more support and funding from the online hysteria that typically follows their grossly
inaccurate depiction of the events they incite. It goes without saying that it does not matter whether these comments were said in jest or not — implying that any student should be killed goes far beyond crossing the line of what is acceptable from individuals at this University. Additionally, although Pipe Dream could not independently verify the testimonies described by the Frances Beal Society, multiple students from the protests have reportedly said they were harassed by members of these organizations. According to the Frances Beal Society, these students did not report these threats to the Binghamton Police Department (BPD), Binghamton’s New York State University Police (UPD) or the University because they believe that these institutions wouldn’t do anything to help them. This is far from the first time students — particularly students of color — have felt the University has failed to step in when they are in danger. Incidents such as threats made against the X-Fact’r dance group in the city of Binghamton and engineering professor Victor Skormin’s racist emails and social media posts serve as examples
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of how the University has not adequately supported the safety and well-being of its students of color. That students continue to feel they would not receive assistance from the University is cause for them to review their policies on handling matters of harassment and threats against their students. In addition to the recording, leaked messages suggested that TPUSA would sue the Student Association (SA) if they were denied a charter, claiming
it would be an infringement on their freedom of speech. Charters are not given to student organizations as a pass for free speech; rather, they are a way of providing organizations with a greater means to campus facilities and funding. TPUSA and other unchartered organizations are free to exercise their right to freedom of speech without a charter, so as long as they comply with the rules of operating respectfully in a public space. There is a difference, however,
between expressing different views and making careless threats against the lives of those with other opinions. TPUSA is a group that continually seeks to generate a reaction. In September 2017, a University of Nebraska lecturer was reassigned after a video of her confronting a TPUSA student recruiting on campus was posted online. The lecturer received threats to her life. Just a year later, in October 2018, TPUSA members at Florida International University were caught sharing racist jokes and memes. There are many more examples of TPUSA’s harmful tactics at other college campuses across the country. Although it is currently unclear if the individuals in the recording were speaking in the capacity of group leaders, those who were in the recording are reportedly in leadership positions in TPUSA, College Republicans and the Binghamton Review. SA President Emma Ross wrote in an email that student groups can only face disciplinary action if those in the audio leak are speaking as representatives of their respective organizations. This, however, should be no obstacle to the University pursuing punitive action against
those who made threats. Just as with Professor Victor Skormin’s racist social media post, TPUSA has made both students and organizations on campus feel as if their safety is at risk, and while the SA may be limited in its options for responding to these threats, the University faces less restrictions. The Editorial Board condemns TPUSA, College Republicans and the Binghamton Review for their egregious remarks. TPUSA has clearly demonstrated from its recent history that it should never receive a charter. College Republicans and the Binghamton Review’s complicity and participation in their heinous behavior furthermore indicate that the University and the SA need to investigate whether the recorded conversation was an official meeting between the groups, and if so, reconsider the privileges they have as chartered organizations. Both the University and the SA have a responsibility to address these comments with action. This campus should be no place for hate — but right now, it is.
Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.
The coronavirus doesn’t justify racism and xenophobia Asian discrimination is spreading as a result of the epidemic — and it’s just as dangerous Katy Wong Managing Editor
Walking through the halls of the University Union, I noticed myself trying to suppress my cough. I woke up with typical cold symptoms that morning, but I anticipated there would be at least a few uncomfortable and disapproving glares in my direction if I showed any signs of sickness. I knew the reason for the stares wasn’t only because people wanted to avoid getting sick, but also because of my ethnicity. The coronavirus, which was first reported in Wuhan, China last month, has not only caused global health hysteria, but also increased amounts of antiChinese sentiment all across
the globe, and Binghamton University is no exception. Last week, WBNG published an article stating that two people were tested for coronavirus in Broome County. The headline alone stated that the people were merely “tested,” so why was it necessary to publish an article in the first place unless to play into people’s fear? Ultimately, the two adults were confirmed negative. Ever since the publication of that article, it’s been impossible to ignore the passing comments about coronavirus spreading on campus or how people need to “stay away from international students” and anyone they assume to be of Chinese descent. As a Chinese American student attending a college with a considerable Asian population, it’s disheartening that Asian students are targeted by insensitive, racist comments on campus that are
fueled by misinformation. I understand it’s only human to be concerned over a viral outbreak, but it is still no excuse for racism and xenophobia. Other popular media outlets have also turned to sensationalized headlines regarding the virus. Two Australian newspapers published misinformed and discriminatory headlines that implied the coronavirus is labeled by race. The first incident by the Herald Sun called the coronavirus a “Chinese Virus” on their front page, and the Daily Telegraph warned “China kids stay home,” prompting a Change.org petition to apologize for the headlines that has gathered over 70,000 signatures. These headlines are specifically designed to instill fear and give people a reason to easily turn to discrimination and stereotypes they see as justified.
In response to the virus, racist incidents are also occurring on college campuses. At the University of California, Berkeley, the health services department published a now-deleted Instagram post listing “common reactions” to the coronavirus, one of them being “xenophobia.” It’s scary to think that a place where students should feel safe and protected is now normalizing Chinese prejudice on campus. To put things into perspective, more than 27,000 cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, and about 565 people have died, yielding a current fatality rate around 2 percent. Most of those who have died were not young, healthy people, but were elderly patients or those more susceptible to health complications because of a compromised immune system. It is also believed that the
source of the virus is from Wuhan’s “wet markets,” meat markets that sell live and dead animals. These meat markets aren’t solely a Chinese practice, but people have been quick to blame Chinese eating habits for the spread of the coronavirus. In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, the meat markets are described as “a cluster of vendors in a downtown market offering carcasses and live specimens of dozens of wild animals — from bamboo rats to ostriches, baby crocodiles and hedgehogs.” Just by the wording of this statement, it is apparent that the Chinese are still seen as exotic and inhuman. These stereotypes date back to the mid-1800s, where the Chinese were targeted by not only racists living in America, but also the American government. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion
Act completely barred the Chinese from entering the United States because they were seen as dirty, threatening and simply un-American. It wasn’t until 1943 that the act was repealed, although only 105 Chinese per year were allowed entry into the United States until 1965. In 2020, I can’t help but fear that our country will fall back into the same racist ideals. With a global health emergency that’s widely misunderstood, I understand that it’s easy for people to quickly panic over bolded headlines and unconfirmed information, but it’s unacceptable to project that fear and uncertainty onto Chinese people. We’re all human and we’re all vulnerable to illness, race aside. Katy Wong is a senior majoring in English and Pipe Dream’s managing editor.
We should discuss all aspects of a celebrity’s past, good and bad Kobe Bryant’s tragic death has resurfaced his sexual assault controversy, as it should Willa Scholari Contributing Columnist
“First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure … Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.” The words from Kobe Bryant’s apology statement following the sexual assault charges against him carry even more weight now that he’s gone. And with this tragedy, the debate about his controversial past is more prominent than ever.
Bryant, human like all of us, has done both good and bad. In 2004, Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and there was extreme controversy given who he was and his status as an amazing basketball player. The charges were dropped, and learning from this major setback in his life, Bryant took steps in becoming a better person. He established his philanthropic foundation created with his wife, Vanessa, that would help homeless youth in Los Angeles and participated in multiple other organizations that help the disenfranchised. Bryant explained himself, saying, “ … Because the whole process for me was trying to figure out how to cope with this. I wasn’t going to be passive and let this thing just swallow me up. You’ve got a responsibility: family, baby, organization, whole city, yourself — how do you figure out how to overcome this? Or just deal with it and not drown from this thing? … So I was bound to
figure something out because I was so obsessively concerned about it.” It’s now 2020 and the world is mourning the death of a beloved human. With his death, every aspect of Bryant’s life has risen to the surface and there have been many articles debating the “forgotten” sexual assault case. Which brings us to the question: Is it appropriate to look past the problematic past of a celebrity when they die, or should that be part of the conversation while people mourn? While the answer varies depending on the person and situation, problematic pasts should be a part of the conversation because it’s a healthy way for society to grow and reflect. As people and a society, when we discuss topics, we learn from other people’s opinions and ideas; they can give us clarity or a new perspective. Bryant reflected on his actions, took responsibility and worked on himself to become
a better person and not let one event label him for life. There are many celebrities who don’t have the courage and strength of character that Bryant did. There are numerous incidents of documented, and probably 10 times more undocumented, cases of sexual assault within Hollywood and by celebrities. “A survey has found that 94 percent of women employed in the American film industry have experienced sexual harassment or assault. Conducted by USA Today in conjunction with the Creative Coalition, Women in Film and Television and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the survey had nearly 850 respondents across many branches of the film industry … and the vast majority reported some form of sexual misconduct.” Ninety-four percent is a ridiculously high number and it is sickening to see how prominent it is within Hollywood. Celebrities are looked up to
and should be held at a higher standard since so much attention is paid to them. The question is, why are there still so many celebrities who get away with this appalling behavior? For example, comedian Louis C.K. was accused of sexual harassment and masturbating in front of countless of women. In a New York Times article, he admitted, “These stories are true,” and after laying low, he was able to return unscathed. A more recent New York Times article was titled: “Louis C.K., Back on Tour, Looks to Accelerate His Comeback.” C.K. is performing again, as if nothing happened. The fact that he’s working again soon after admitting to harassment is troubling, and it appears that our society is letting him off the hook easily. Another example is Adam Gotsis, defensive player for the Denver Broncos. Gotsis was accused of rape in 2013 and while the case was dropped, Gotsis made no apparent effort
to apologize or recognize how serious the subject of rape is, only stating that he’s ” … relieved that everything has been taken care of … that it’s over with and I can just focus on football now.” Gotsis is still playing for the Broncos, and by letting him continue to play, we just excused the whole accusation — which is wrong because issues like that are to be taken seriously and not swept under the mat. As we mourn Bryant, we should look up to him and see how he took the initiative to grow and improve. Because, it is true, actions speak louder than words and not everyone has the strength to acknowledge their flaws like Bryant did. But as an op-ed writer, I am asking my audience to think: Why is it that celebrities seem to get “excused” for their problematic actions because of their status? Why do we, as a society, let them? Willa Scolari is an undeclared sophomore.
F UN
February 6, 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
That’s not a vape
Annabeth Sloan
Horoscopes
Sudoku Based on a true story
The Cosmos
By The Mepham Group
Level: 1 2 3 4
Daniel Eisenhower
Solution to last issue's puzzle
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Release Date: Thursday, February 6, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Take ARTH111
Super Baxio
Sarah Teper
Daniel Eisenhower
ACROSS 1 Diamond problem 5 Plush carpet 9 Test versions 14 Feminist poet Adrienne 15 It’s partially submerged 16 Valuable violin 17 Italian wine region 18 Founder of Edom 19 R2-D2 or BB-8, e.g. 20 Parvenu’s business venture? 23 Beantown NHL nickname 24 “__ whiz!” 25 Quarterback’s nonchalant move? 32 Vague time period 33 Spots for AirPods 34 One may be decorated for the holidays 35 Sprightly 36 Marmalade bits 38 __ Ren, “Star Wars” villain 39 Trig. function 40 Aloha State bird 41 Plumlike fruit 42 Down Under withdrawal? 46 Disney doe 47 It’s just over a foot 48 TSA agent’s perfected search technique? 55 Tropical porch 56 Murdoch who received the 1978 Booker Prize for “The Sea, the Sea” 57 “What’s the big __?” 58 Habituate 59 Retail outlet 60 Mattress option 61 Zaps 62 Neverland pirate 63 What this puzzle does here DOWN 1 German spouse 2 Speech therapy target
3 Tries to look 4 Plant leaf pest 5 Himalayan guide 6 “Prizzi’s Honor” director or actress 7 Word of regret 8 Excess 9 Scrubby wastelands 10 Chewed the scenery 11 Perfume that sounds forbidden 12 Surmounting 13 “Pull up a chair” 21 Arthur in the International Tennis Hall of Fame 22 Seaweed-based thickeners 25 Buckeye State sch. 26 Leading 27 Brightest star in Cygnus 28 Taken in 29 “All Because __”: 2005 U2 song 30 Steakhouse order 31 Picked dos
32 Dr Pepper Museum city 36 Postgame postmortem 37 Skin pics 38 Yukon gold rush region 40 Au pairs 41 Burlesque bit 43 “’__ the Jabberwock, my son!’”: Carroll 44 Have great plans
45 Pure 48 Mike’s “Wayne’s World” co-star 49 Obligation 50 Gets in the crosshairs, with “at” 51 Disneyland transport 52 Norse god 53 Make (one’s way) 54 Old horses 55 Put a match to
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Robert Wemischner ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/06/20
02/06/20
lucas peterka contributing photographer
Shawn Goodman reads excerpts from his novels “Kindness for Weakness” and “Something Like Hope.”
Spring Readers’ Series kicks off with Shawn Goodman Author’s novels inspired by psychology work Kyle Reina
staff writer
With heavy young adult fiction at the forefront of his writing, Shawn Goodman is the latest writer to be installed into Binghamton University’s Readers’ Series. On Tuesday evening, Goodman read excerpts from his novels “Kindness for Weakness” and “Something Like Hope.” Both novels center on troubled teenagers and how they nav-
igate obstacles in their preteens. Goodman has worked in two different facilities for troubled teens and builds his characters based off of what he learned. He recently became a school psychologist, and he sees events like the Readers’ Series as an opportunity to meet people he connects with. “It’s one of the few chances I have to be around other people who are interested in writing, and I get to talk to and meet students,” Goodman said. “Other than that, I’m in a 9-to-5, middle-class family life.” Goodman’s writing career
took an unorthodox path; he started in naivety, as his work received praise from editors, but he didn’t understand yet how the whole process worked. His career catapulted when he won a writing contest that awarded him with a publishing contract, and from there he was able to get his pieces finalized and published. Goodman said reading his work to an audience gives new light to the different aspects of his writing, as he picks up on different elements he would never have noticed without vocalizing the works.
“I notice rhythm, when it’s going well, when I wrote with a rhythm that works and then the flat spots where I didn’t do it so well,” Goodman said. “I’d go back and rewrite that if I could. I also notice in the beginning with ‘Something Like Hope,’ it was kind of slow. I realize that from reading it tonight, there was a lot of chapters of setup. It’s important I know why it’s there, but if I thought about it more, I probably would’ve skipped ahead with some more action-packed stuff.” While doing the readings, Goodman seldom tries to do any-
thing more than narrate, as he can’t impersonate his characters. “I don’t [try to portray emotion or dialogue], I just try and get through it without screwing up,” Goodman said. “I never thought of myself as a great reader. I think it’s more challenging for me than the writing part but the more you do it, you get a little more comfortable with it. I don’t think I can — I mean this is a girl protagonist and 17-year-old boy protagonist, so I just try and read it as naturally as possible for a 50-year-old guy trying to read as a teenager.” Claudian Francis, a sopho-
more majoring in economics, noticed character development more from Goodman’s narration than from her own reading of “Kindness for Weakness.” “Character development [stood out to me more] — how in the beginning the main character was very much introverted and kind of lived in his head a little bit and toward the end he opened up his mind more,” Francis said. “He started to not only be more aware of himself but also what he’s capable of, which is really cool to see that — to see how he developed his character.”
February First Friday to spotlight black history, artwork Fall in love with this month’s lineup Lakhsmi Chatterjee arts & culture
Kick off Black History Month on Binghamton’s Artist’s Row this Friday with multiple exhibitions. Check out our monthly First Friday roundup for a variety of galleries to visit. Feb. 7 — March 28 at Orazio Salati Studio & Gallery (204 State St.) “New Fiber Works” will showcase hand-painted and hand-dyed quilts with free motion quilting and Shibori techniques by Joan Lockburner Deuel.
Feb. 7 — Feb. 28 at Southern Tier AIDS Program Prevention Services (206 State St.) “Art and Soul” will feature artists of color in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and Black History Month. Artists featured include Natashaleigh Dyall, Ayana Gale and Kareemah Scurry.
(116 Washington St.) Singer-songwriter Pat Raube will perform starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 — Feb. 8 at Mabel D. Orr Fashion Boutique (118 Washington St.) “Lia Sophia Jewelry” will sell costumes from former collections at discounted prices.
Feb. 7 at Phelps Mansion Museum (191 Court St.) “Guided Art Walk” will offer free guided tours exploring art on display inside the Phelps Mansion Museum. Tours will be offered at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Artists featured include Douglas Arthur Teed, Robert Pratt and Harry Roseland.
Feb. 7 — Feb. 29 at Cooperative Gallery 213 (213 State St.) “Celebrating 20 Years in 2020” is dedicated to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the gallery with floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall art from all available current and former exhibiting members since 2000. The exhibition is curated by Judy Salton.
Feb. 6 — Feb. 29 at Artisan Gallery (95 Court St.) “Italia Rediscovered” will feature more than 40 silver gelatin images printed from negatives as seen from the lens of an unknown photographer. The photos were discovered by Greg A. Chianis when he happened upon six rolls of 35mm film negatives from the 1930s and 1940s at an Italian antique market.
Feb. 7 — Feb. 23 at the Roberson Museum and Science Center (30 Front St.) “Allegory, Symbol and Vision” will be a curated surrealist exhibition rich in symbols, parables and personal stories, many of which are weighted in personal struggles, showing how art can be used as an outlet to speak a mind’s truth.
Feb. 7 at Garland Gallery
Feb. 7 at the American Civic Association (131 Front St.) “Pan Africa Night” will feature artistic and cultural expressions of various African countries including Ghana, Kenya and Egypt. Feb. 7 at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church (44 Main St.) “Candlechant for Epiphany” will have a service of prayer, psalms and anthems sung and chanted completely in candlelight by The Men of Trinity Choir. Feb. 7 at Redeemer Lutheran Church (72 Main St.) “Christian Music Jam” will feature music videos from around the world. Singing and dancing is encouraged. Feb. 7 — March 3 at the
Bundy Museum of History and Art (129 Main St.) “Stray Cats and Caffeine” will feature art by Sarah Max. Feb. 7 — March 30 at Binghamton Photo (32 Cedar St.) “Trail of Truth” will feature black and white photographs by Arra Norton focused on the 2019 Trail of Truth, which is a marched performance art piece held annually by Truth Pharm in honor of those who have died from substance use-related causes in the Binghamton area. Jan. 3 — Feb. 29 at Marcy Swartz Gallery (5 Riverside Drive) “Places I’ve Been” will feature paintings in mixed media by Diane Lercher.
Staff picks: a pre-Oscars look at our favorite flicks What was your favorite film of 2019? Patrick Earns Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
Elizabeth Short Assistant Opinions Editor
Calendra Scahill Assistant Arts & Culture Editor
My favorite movie that came out this year was “Uncut Gems,” starring a suspiciously talented Adam Sandler. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour anxiety attack disguised as a movie about a jewelry store owner with a gambling addiction. I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie that was so effective at keeping the viewer in a constant state of low-grade terror. Even in its less tense moments, there’s an overwhelming feeling that everything could fall apart at any moment. The fact that Sandler was snubbed for an Oscar nomination despite putting up the best performance of the year is inexcusable, and I plan to be angry about it for at least a decade. My favorite movie was “Always Be My Maybe.” Ali Wong and Randall Park are brilliant together in this rom-com. The writing manages to be ridiculously funny yet sweet and meaningful, while putting together a unique romance between the two main characters. It makes you get fully invested in the story. Not to mention, they pulled off some ridiculous scenes in a way I didn’t think anyone else could.
My favorite movie of the year was easily “Avengers: Endgame.” I’m obsessed with Marvel movies, so this was the perfect way to reunite the characters in a thrilling adventure after the tense and shocking ending of “Avengers: Infinity War.” Although the movie was three hours, I barely noticed as I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. With a riveting combination of drama, comedy and action, it’s no surprise this movie broke box-office records and became the highest-grossing film of all time. Although it may not win an Oscar, “Avengers: Endgame” will always hold a special place in my heart.
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ARTS & CULTURE
bupipedream.com | February 6, 2020
Ask a professor: what’s been in your Netflix queue? BU faculty talk movies, television Kyle Reina
staff writer
Outside of the classroom, our professors consume media as much as we do, from binging television shows to catching the latest movie in theaters. Two Binghamton University professors, Hilary Izatt, an adjunct lecturer of political science, and Anthony Reeves, an associate professor of philosophy and director of the philosophy, politics and law program, sat down with Pipe Dream to talk about
their favorite flicks. After a taxing workday, Izatt often prefers TV shows that she can lounge back and casually watch without much thought. Reality TV shows and cartoons are her forte, but she also watches movies that pertain to her field for the sake of seeing them. “I’ll see every politically themed movie, but I do politics all day, so I like to tune out and I just want to watch dumb stuff,” Izatt said. Because of the easy availability of shows through streaming services, Izatt tends to binge her favorite reality television shows, including Bravo’s “Top Chef.” The show pits chefs against each other
as they vie for a $125,000 prize. “Cooking is something I’ve never been good at and these people are maniacs, and I get really into it,” Izatt said. With the recent release of Disney+, Izatt is also feeling the nostalgia of the older cartoons the service has to offer. Additionally she watches “The Real Housewives” series, and said the drama makes her life seem far more enjoyable. “It’s dumb TV, but you can turn it on and say this is horrible and my life is so much better,” she said. When it comes to movies, Izatt looks for an action-packed flick that can keep her attention. Otherwise, boredom sets in.
“I watch movies the most when I’m on [the] treadmill, and it has to be a scary, fast-paced movie or I get super bored,” she said. “We watched ‘Instant Family’ the other night, which was really funny. It’s with Mark Wahlberg and it looks stupid.” Reeves is on the opposite end of the spectrum, often exploring the themes and motifs of a TV show or movie, whether it be a gritty film or a dramatic TV show. Recently, Reeves’ top shows include “Watchmen,” “Succession” and “Unbelievable.” In all the shows, the underlying tones of the content play a huge factor for him. “Watchmen,” an HBO
series based on the eponymous Alan Moore comic series, takes place 34 years after the events of the original series. Reeves said he especially enjoyed the show’s homage to the comic series as it tackled American violence. “The counterfactual history, and the action-driven but modestly weird [and] supernatural plot oriented around very real issues of race and violence in America, is intriguing,” Reeves said. “The setting — not too distant from reality, but still distant — prompts you to look at the social world with fresh eyes and wonder about the actual. The fact that the social story is, in a sense, believable is both disturbing
and interesting.” For Reeves, Terrence Malick’s films are timeless in their dreamy and surreal aesthetics. His favorites include “The Thin Red Line” and “The Tree of Life.” Besides Malick’s collection, “Parasite” stood out to the associate professor for its wit. The 2019 black comedy, directed by Bong Joon-ho, explores class differences in South Korea. He also praised director Scott Burns’ 2019 film “The Report.” “’The Report’ was also an overall good movie, but mostly because it succeeds in exhibiting vividly the reality of the CIA torture program,” Reeves said.
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watchmen ibm.com
bupipedream.com | February 6, 2020
SPORTS
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Men’s lacrosse readies for upcoming 2020 campaign Bearcats look to improve on 2-11 record from 2019 Samantha Marsh
assistant sports editor
The last two seasons for the men’s lacrosse team have been plagued by struggles. The 2019 preseason poll placed Binghamton as tied for last with Hartford, and they delivered a last-place performance, only winning two games. The two wins, however, were the last two games of the season, so the Bearcats are hoping to take that momentum into the 2020 season. “I’m really optimistic because I like the energy that we have within our program,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin McKeown. “The guys are excited to come in every day.” This year, the Bearcats were picked tied for last with Hartford once again in the preseason coach’s poll. The team lost its top two scorers, midfielder Joe Licata, ‘19, and attack Griffin Konen, ‘19, to graduation last year, but 14 new faces were added to this year’s roster. “Certainly with freshmen, they come in at all different levels and IQs,” McKeown said. “Athletically, they come in at different spots, but they’re a good group of guys, and they’re working hard. We’re gonna see up to four, five, six of those guys on the field for us this weekend.” The team also picked up two new staff members — Quinn Collison, assistant coach and Larry Kline, assistant coach and defensive coordinator. Collison spent four years playing for Bucknell University and served as a graduate assistant for Division III Stevenson University. Kline played goalie for Binghamton, previously serving as an assistant coach for BU in 2011 and at Stony Brook and UMass Lowell before returning. Despite losing their top
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Senior defender Dan Mottes was named the only team captain going into the 2020 men’s lacrosse season.
two scorers, the Bearcats’ next highest scorer, sophomore attack Kevin Winkoff, will return to the field. Last season, Winkoff scored 14 goals and had 22 points overall. Junior attack William Talbott-Shere, who had nine goals and 26 points in 2019, will also return. On the defensive side, the Bearcats will return some of the top defenders in the America East (AE). Junior Tom Galgano was in the top 15 in the AE for
both ground balls and caused turnovers last season, while sophomore Drew Furlong was 13th in ground balls per game and junior Kyle Tiernan was second in caused turnovers. With these three returning, the defensive line may be one of the team’s strengths. Also returning to the defensive line is senior Dan Mottes, who was named the only team captain for the 2020 season. “It was a tremendous honor
when coach named me captain,” Mottes said. “I think Coach named me as captain for stuff I exhibited junior, sophomore, freshman years … I think the team has done a really good job of stepping up as leaders.” Mottes has started 41 games in his career, and last year he picked up 14 ground balls and had nine caused turnovers. Mottes has also had a 4.0 GPA for the last five semesters and has a 3.98 GPA overall.
“[Mottes is] a senior, and he’s played in basically every game since his freshman year as a starter,” McKeown said. “He’s got a great IQ for the game. He’s got a great drive. I think most importantly he’s been able to connect with us as coaches and his teammates.” This season, the Bearcats will have a challenging nonconference schedule, facing teams such as Marist and Syracuse to kick off the season.
GIMs Feb. 5 & 6 at 7 p.m. Location: UUWB03
“We lost to Marist my freshman year by one goal and it’s still kind of in the back of everybody’s heads,” TalbottShere said. “We’re making sure the young guys — the freshmen, sophomores — are going to start the season on the right foot, especially against Marist. It’d be a step in the right direction.” Face-off against the Red Foxes is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Tenney Stadium in Poughkeepsie, New York.
MEN’S LACROSSE
2020 season preview SEE PAGE 9 Thursday, February 6, 2020
Women’s basketball beats Albany for first time since 2011 basketball from page 1 center Alexi Schecter, was held to just seven points in the game. “That was the game plan,” said Binghamton head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. “We don’t wanna give them any easy, open looks … We did a tremendous job defensively. We had 16 steals. Our pressure, we actually made some things happen and turned them over and once they had a chance to set up it was rushed for them.” The pressure continued all the way into the fourth quarter. The Great Danes knocked the Bearcats’ lead down to only five with nine minutes left on the clock; however, Binghamton never took its foot off the gas and was able to finish the contest with a 16-point advantage over its longtime rivals. “Every time we came in for any media time-out, any endof-quarter situation, we were constantly reiterating the fact that being up doesn’t mean anything,” Moon said. “We fed off the energy of the fans, so I think that helped us out a lot. We stayed together, we focused on trying to execute and I think toward the end when we kept the lead we worked on taking time off the clock since time was on our side.” In the end, the Bearcats left the floor with their first win
over the Great Danes since Feb. 20, 2011. This ended a 21-game skid, including the teams’ first matchup this season and last year’s AE Quarterfinals. Moon continued to show why she is a front-runner for the AE Player of the Year, ending the game with 23 points and six steals. Moon is currently leading the conference in scoring. This week’s AE co-Player of the Week, senior guard Karlee Krchnavi, followed suit with nine points and four rebounds. Krchnavi is currently ranked 11th in rebounding in the conference with an average of 6.2 rebounds per game. Alongside Moon, Ramil and Krchnavi, senior guard Carly Boland impressed when she sunk two clutch 3-pointers to further the Bearcats’ fourthquarter lead. While sitting on a record of 16-6, the Bearcats are now 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2000-01 season. After beating Maine earlier this season, they will once again take on the defending conference champions this Sunday in the team’s next game. A victory against Maine (10-14, 6-4 AE) would place the Bearcats in third place in the conference. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 from Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.
tyler gorman pipe dream photographer Senior guard Kai Moon scored 23 points and stole the ball six times in Binghamton’s victory over conference rivals Albany.
Men’s basketball defeated by Great Danes on the road Tinsley, Sarr combine for 25 points, 17 rebounds Justin Zion
sports editor
College rivalry games are typically fiercer than ordinary contests, and the rivalry between Binghamton and Albany is no exception. Having lost to the Great Danes at home in January by double digits, the Bearcats attempted to split the season series on Wednesday night at SEFCU Arena, but a poor offensive showing against a defensively stout Albany team prevented them from doing so. For the second season in a row, and for the ninth year out of the last 10, Albany swept the season series with the Bearcats, beating them on Wednesday night, 62-49. Though the final tally indicates a low-scoring contest, it didn’t seem like Albany (1311, 6-3 America East) would have problems making buckets early on. The Great Danes put up 25 points in the first 12-anda-half minutes, making seven 3-pointers in that time frame. Binghamton (8-14, 2-7 AE) scored only nine points in the span, an early marker of the offensive
struggle it would face all game. Though Albany’s scoring dried up somewhat during the rest of the game, Binghamton failed to produce a scoring run sufficient enough to make it a close contest. “They got off to a good start shooting the ball,” said Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey. “Then, I thought our defense tightened up. Their defense was solid all night. I think sometimes these second-timethrough-the-league-type games, there’s not a lot of open space out there … I thought both teams guarded each other [well].” Sophomore guard Sam Sessoms did not make much of a mark on the game, tallying nine points on 2-for-11, or 18.2 percent, shooting from the floor. Five of his nine points came from the free-throw line. Two Bearcat forwards, freshman George Tinsley and senior Pierre Sarr, led the Bearcats in scoring with 13 points and 12 points, respectively. Sarr collected nine rebounds, while Tinsley grabbed eight. Albany’s two leading scorers this season, senior guard Ahmad Clark and sophomore guard Cameron Healy, also did not have an impact on the game, with the two combining for just nine points. Albany’s offense was
carried, though, by its bench, which outscored the BU bench, 33-7. Sophomore guard Antonio Rizzuto co-led the Great Danes in scoring with 17 points off the bench, going 5-for-13 from downtown, while sophomore forward Adam Lulka added eight points of his own on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. “That’s what it takes,” Dempsey said. “If you have a couple of guys, whether it be injuries or foul trouble in a game, [that] don’t get their normal minutes, then you need guys to step up in their stead, and those guys did that.” All of the Bearcats’ seven bench points came from freshman guard Dan Petcash. Petcash went 3-for-5 in his 21 minutes on the floor on Wednesday night, and he converted one 3-pointer. Dempsey was encouraged by the performance and said he wants to see Petcash get more playing time down the road. “We got to get him some more time here in the second half of the year,” Dempsey said. “He can help us by shooting the ball, and we’ve got to try to commit to him a little bit more here going down the stretch, get him more experience. He’s another freshman that needs minutes.”
sidney slon assistant photo editor Senior forward Pierre Sarr scored 12 points and had four steals as Binghamton fell to Albany on Wednesday night.
With the defeat at Albany, the Bearcats have established another three-game losing streak, and have lost six of their last seven contests. The team remains mired in a tie for last
place in the AE with Maine, whom the Bearcats face in their next game. Winning that game could go a long way toward qualifying for the AE Tournament, while losing it puts BU in real
danger of missing out on a postseason berth. Tipoff against the Black Bears (6-17, 2-7 AE) is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
VAR gets too much blame for controversy in soccer New review system will never please everyone
Justin Zion Sports Editor
In the Premier League, it seems that every single week there’s another controversy with the video assistant referee (VAR), accompanied by opinion pieces across media platforms about how VAR is ruining the game of soccer. The addition of video review to the Premier League has frustrated both pundits, who seem to disagree with every
decision that VAR makes, and fans, who often chant “f — VAR” whenever a decision does not go their club’s way. Soccer fans are highly traditional, and therefore often loathe to make changes to the laws of the game, which is why the football community has placed all of the blame for the controversial rulings on the recent insertion of video review into European football. Yet the reality is that VAR is doing very well at the job it is supposed to do: Enforcing the laws of the game and correcting officiating mistakes by the referees. The problem lies not with VAR, but with the laws of the game itself. Soccer is a unique sport because so many of its major rules are subjective rather
than objective, meaning they are subject to the opinion of the referees rather than to an objective measurement. What one referee thinks is a foul, another referee might not. What one referee thinks is a severe yellow card, another might deem a red. What one referee might see as an intentional play of the ball with the hand or arm, another referee might see as the arm being in a natural position. More than any other sport, the laws of soccer have wide gray areas. Given that this is the case, is it any surprise that VAR has led to such controversy? In a sport where two people watching the same play can reasonably have opposite opinions on what the proper call should be, every time VAR makes a decision, half of
viewers are going to get upset. In order to set some kind of standard, the Premier League has instructed VAR officials to only overturn “clear and obvious errors” by on-field referees, which is why there are very few nonpenalty and nonred card calls that VAR overturns. But that hardly clears things up, because on any given potential penalty or red card or handball, there are fans who will argue there was a clear and obvious refereeing error. The laws of the game are so subjective that on any given play there will be a wide swath of viewers who think VAR got it wrong. There are those who clamor that VAR got it wrong in upholding a call on the field, claiming there was a clear and
obvious error. Yet the few times that VAR does overturn the ruling of the referee, it gets accused of breaking its promise not to “rereferee” games. It simply cannot win. There are some aspects of the rules of soccer that are objective, but even when VAR deals with those, it gets bashed. There have been several occasions this season where VAR has chalked off goals that were millimeters offside. Fans have gotten annoyed at these calls, saying that VAR was not intended to chalk off goals that close. But you know what? Those plays are offside, even if it’s only barely so, and VAR’s job is to enforce the rules. If that’s a problem, then change the rules to give the attacker a few centimeters’ worth of leeway —
don’t criticize VAR for doing what it’s supposed to do. In every other major sport in the world, from American football to hockey, from basketball to baseball, video review works without major issues. Only in soccer is there a problem. Therefore, the fault does not lie with the video-review system, but with the sport itself. Prior to VAR’s implementation, there were still controversial rulings and noncalls all across the sports; VAR’s insertion into the game has only continued that, and, to be frank, there is nothing that can be done to get rid of controversy in soccer. It’s just the nature of the game. Fans need to realize that and accept it instead of pointing fingers at VAR, which is just doing its job.