Tamasha returns to Chamber Hall, See page 7 Monday, February 10, 2020 | Vol. XCVII, Issue 6 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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Hackathon emphasizes problem-solving for the future 24-hour coding event connects students, potential employers Hamza Khan
pipe dream news
Rather than sleeping in during the snowy weekend, many Binghamton University students spent their free time coding for 24 hours straight, surrounded by industry recruiters. On Saturday morning, BU hosted the seventh-annual Hackathon in the Innovative Technologies Complex (ITC). The 24-hour event involved a total of 350 students working to make their coding projects a reality. BU’s Hackathon events are organized by HackBU, a Student Association-chartered club that aims to teach students about coding. The Hackathon involves a congregation of coders that form teams with the goal of creating the best type of program based on a preset theme within a set time period, according to HackBU’s website. Participants can also gain valuable networking opportunities by interacting with the various sponsors present. Colin Fiutak, president of HackBU and a senior double-majoring in computer science and history, described this year’s Hackathon as BU’s biggest yet. “There are some sponsors that we didn’t have before,” Fiutak said. “JPMorgan Chase [& Co.] is new and Capital One is new as a sponsor. We also raised $10,000 more this year. Our previous record for sponsorship money raised was $35,000 in 2017. This year we’ve reached
see hackathon page 3
john atkinson pipe dream photographer
More than 300 students participated in a 24-hour Hackathon competition while surrounded by industry sponsors and recruiters.
Chester celebrated FlixBus to offer new Local bar by students, faculty routes in Binghamton to host science discussion Milton Chester remembered as advocate for men of color at BU Valerie Puma & Jacob Kerr pipe dream news
sistant dean of students for off-campus programs and services at Binghamton University, at a memorial service held on Saturday in the Anderson Center. Chester, who died in his home of natural causes in January, began working at BU in 2000, launching his career
Students, faculty and staff celebrated the life of Milton Chester, as-
see chester page 4
Bus company aims to provide sustainable transportation Kimberly Gonzalez digital editor
With a four-day weekend coming up in March, students could potentially
benefit from a new transportation company coming to Binghamton this week. FlixBus is a German-based transportation company in Europe that expanded to the United States in 2018, and it will soon start offering routes
see flixbus page 3
20:1 program removed from orientation
Jacob Kerr news editor
The usual conversation at Lost Dog Cafe is probably not filled with talk of amphibians and ecology, but on Tuesday night those topics will be the spotlight. The bar and restaurant is hosting “Science Pub BING: Pollutants, Parasites & People,” bringing in researchers from Binghamton University to have a casual conversation about science over drinks and food. According to its Facebook page, the event aims to connect scientific ideas with nontechnical audiences in an engaging way. “[It is] [i]ntentionally informal, designed for both folks who classify themselves [as] ‘not really into science’ as well as science enthusiasts,” a flyer on the page read. Kristine Kieswer, a freelance writer who lives in Montrose, Pennsylvania, is one of the “Science Pub BING” organizers. She previously lived in Richmond, Virginia, and attended similar events called “Science Pub RVA.” She said she wanted to organize one in Binghamton because of the growth she noticed at the University. “[‘Science Pub RVA’] was always a favorite activity and I thought it might work in Binghamton as well,” Kieswer said. “I’ve been away for a few years and was really impressed to see how much
Students say program is essential for newcomers Nicole Kaufman pipe dream news
Binghamton University’s restructuring of this year’s freshman orientation will result in the elimination of 20:1, a program designed to educate students on sexual assault awareness and prevention. The 20:1 program was named in dedication to the approximately 20 women per hour who are sexually assaulted in the United States and has educated thousands of students since its conception at the University 15 years ago, according to its official website. The program uses a peer-to-peer model where students on campus educate other students on the topic of sexual consent. Their website states that they place an emphasis on educating young men involved in Greek life and athletics. “The main goals are to: raise awareness of what constitutes sexual assault, define and explore consent, challenge perspectives and deeply held biases, challenge victim blaming and rape myths, explore and encourage bystander behavior,
see removal page 3
Jessica Hua to speak on research over drinks, food
stephanie chin pipe dream illustrator
ARTS & CULTURE
OPINIONS
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SPORTS
Movies to snuggle up to this Valentine’s Day,
Find out what your professors are listening to,
Contributing columnist Sophie Miller dissects the “Call Her Daddy” podcast,
Dan Schaffer competes in the prestigious Millrose Games,
Women’s basketball drops tight contest against Maine,
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SEE PAGE 8
SEE PAGE 5
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SEE PAGE 10
PAGE II Monday, February 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,10, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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“How did you spend your snow day on Friday?”
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“I shot for our podcast with my friend.”
“I drank some wine and played some poker.”
“I got brunch at The Colonial and then I watched movies after that — a nice chill snow day.”
Steven Morales
Jake Scarcella
Joshua Korono
“I was driving home the whole day.”
“I went to the gym. Then, after the gym, one of my friends had a snowboard in the back of his car and we went snowboarding down the back of the gym, where it’s got that big hill.”
“I went to the gym and I lifted. Then I played basketball, then I went outside and I took pictures of the trees because it was really beautiful.”
a senior majoring in biology
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a sophomore majoring in computer engineering
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a sophomore majoring in biology
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Building confidence
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a sophomore majoring in English
Monday, Feb. 10
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alex gross staff photographer Kellie Wofford speaks at the Broome County Public Library on Saturday as part of the Binghamton community’s celebration of Black History Month.
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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
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Pipe Line LOCAL NEWS
Woman charged in murder of Binghamton man Shalace Williams, 30, of Binghamton, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of James Sellers, 55, also of Binghamton, according to FOX 40. The incident occurred late Thursday night on Eldridge Street in Binghamton. After responding to a report of a dispute, officers found Sellers on the sidewalk with stab wounds. He was declared dead at the scene. According to
police, Williams and Sellers were involved in a domestic relationship, and she became a suspect in his death as officers were investigating the case. STATE NEWS
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York Civil Liberties Union to sue Department of Homeland Security On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York Civil Liberties Union said they will sue the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity (DHS), according to NPR. The move follows the DHS’ announcement that New York state residents can no longer apply to trusted traveler programs. The DHS believes a New York state law which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license and prevents immigration authorities from viewing DMV records without a judge order prevents them from properly vetting trusted traveler applicants. Court rules daily fantasy sport betting illegal in New York state
On Thursday, a New York state appeals court ruled that daily fantasy sports betting contests, like FanDuel and DraftKings, violate the state constitution, according to Syracuse.com. The decision upholds a 2018 ruling by a lower court and will likely head to the New York Court of Appeals. It is unclear whether the ruling will affect daily fantasy sports gambling, as it did not stop following the 2018 ruling. NATIONAL NEWS
Former CEO receives ninemonth sentence for college admissions scandal On Friday, a federal judge sentenced Douglas Hodge, former CEO of Pimco, to nine months in prison following his involvement in a college admissions scandal, according to The New York Times. Hodge paid $850,000 in bribes to get four of his children recruited for sports at top universities with false qualifications. He is also accused of attempting to bribe universities to admit his fifth child.
bupipedream.com | February 10, 2020
NEWS
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‘Science Pub’ aims to connect research, local community science from page 1 it’s grown — especially the University. It seemed like a great time to give it a try … [Jessica] Hua even enlisted her students to share more about what they’re working on in the lab.” The centerpiece of the event is Hua, head of a wetlands ecology laboratory and an assistant professor of biology, who will be giving a casual presentation on amphibians and the human effect on their ecosystem. Afterward, she will answer discussion questions. Hua said her lab has done public outreach many times before, but the setting is what makes this event unique. “My group has done similar events at schools, local club meetings [with] naturalist clubs and libraries, but never in a bar setting,” Hua said. “We’re excited to have this chance to connect with people we might not normally cross paths with.” On a campus dedicated to student and faculty research, Hua said they have many opportunities to discuss important scientific topics with other academics, but not always with the general
public which is also affected by environmental issues. “My lab group works on topics that are directly related to human society, yet we often only have the chance to communicate our research to other scientists,” Hua said. “Events like these are wonderful because it gives us the opportunity to reach broader audiences who might also care and contribute to solving complex environmental issues.” Cities across the country host events connecting science to the public, and Kieswer said they all tend to follow a similar concept and format. “It goes by different names, but the concept is the same — bring people together in a nonacademic environment to discuss interesting science topics,” Kieswer said. “We drink, we dine, we debate. It’s a cool learning opportunity, plus the chance to get out on a Tuesday evening and meet new people.” Ultimately, Hua boiled the entire event down to one question. “My lab does the research, but if what we learn doesn’t reach the right people who can help enact positive change, what is the point of our work?” Hua said.
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer On Tuesday, Lost Dog Cafe will host “Science Pub BING: Pollutants, Parasites & People,” an event where Binghamton community residents will have the opportunity to hear about ecology research from Jessica Hua, an assistant professor of biology at Binghamton University, in an informal setting.
Bus company seeks to offset impact of carbon footprint flixbus from page 1 between Binghamton and New York City, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Starting on Feb. 14, tickets from Binghamton to Syracuse will cost $4.99, while tickets from Binghamton to New York City and Rochester will be sold at $9.99 for the next few months. Although each ticket has an additional $2 service fee, this pricing is still about three or four times less than FlixBus’ competitors. This will likely change after the promotional pricing season is over, according to Joanna Patterson, head of business development for FlixBus. “When we launch new markets we get excited about offering promotional pricing because we want to convince as many people as possible to try the bus for the first time — so that’s where the $4.99 comes from,” Patterson said. “As we look beyond the road, what we’ll have is sort of what is akin to what you’ll see in
an airline industry … so we want it to be affordable overall but we slide the scale based on how much flexibility you have.” On its website, FlixBus brands itself as being tech-savvy and sustainable. Currently, the company partners with smaller and regional bus companies that operate in the area and provide buses and drivers, while FlixBus manages the marketing and ticketing services. According to Patterson, their business model is not concerned with taking away customers from established companies like Greyhound and Coach USA, instead aiming to introduce new consumers to the bus market. “What’s been really cool is looking at our result on the West Coast and over 60 percent of our customers had never or rarely used an inner-city bus before and only 13 percent had used Greyhound,” Patterson said. “So, although we do end up taking passengers sometimes, what’s much more exciting and attractive to us is drilling the market and con-
vincing people who might not have the best idea of what innercity bus travel [is] to try renting a bus for the first time.” The introduction of new passengers is part of the company’s model of sustainability, along with unique options in its ticketing services, according to Albert Aydin, public relations manager for FlixBus. When purchasing a ticket, the buyer can choose to give an additional donation of 1 percent to 3 percent of their ticket to the National Forest Foundation (NFF), a nonprofit organization determined to conserve and engage public interest in forests as an attempt to offset the carbon footprint of humans. “We also understand that bus travel is not 100 percent [carbon dioxide] neutral,” Aydin wrote in an email. “To counter this, we offer passengers the option to add ‘CO2 Compensation’ to their trip, thereby making a voluntary environmental contribution when completing your booking.” FlixBus also became interest-
ed in introducing electric buses into the market after it launched its first trial in San Francisco, according to Patterson. “We are and we do want to be on the cutting edge for trialing more energy-efficient buses so we have trialed some electric buses in Europe and we recently did a trial down in California,” Patterson said. “So we aren’t ready to roll electric buses on the fleet, but we do want to be the first ones there when that technology is ready.” Although FlixBus does not offer a student discount, students are one of the company’s biggest demographics, according to Patterson. Kira Hawes, a frequent bus traveler to Syracuse and a sophomore majoring in environmental studies, said the more environmentally friendly option is intriguing. “I use buses a lot to commute to Syracuse and I think having another option, especially a more environmentally friendly one, beside the traditional ser-
vices is great,” Hawes said. “I’ve actually traveled with FlixBus in Europe and had a pretty positive experience. In terms of the environmental ethics, I believe that I vote with my dollars, especially since I have the financial flexibility to do so. I’d be happy to pay more for a service I’d already be using to support an environmental organization.” With another bus company in the mix, Hawes hopes that FlixBus will offset some of the competition. “Having another bus company that gives students more options for travel times and options is needed,” Hawes said. “I’ve mainly traveled with Greyhound before and sometimes the buses get so full some people don’t get a seat and have to wait till a later time.” Theo Watson, another frequent bus traveler and a sophomore double-majoring in English and history, said he also is interested in choosing a transportation option that is environ-
mentally friendly, but is hesitant about FlixBus’ future pricing and reach. “I don’t think that they’re really going to make an impact unless they find a way to provide quality service for a lower price,” Watson said. “Also, Coach USA and Greyhound have a wider reach than just Syracuse, Buffalo and New York City, so they’re already coming in with a reduced consumer base. Unless their tickets are prohibitively expensive [and] if they really are more environmentally friendly, I would absolutely switch over.” According to Patterson, FlixBus is looking to expand to other smaller cities within New York state in the upcoming years, such as Ithaca. “We would like to expand to other places as well,” Patterson said. “Soon afterward we are going to connect to Ithaca and Binghamton will be on that line as well. Big plans are set for expanding within New York [state] and across the country.”
Coding event presents Sexual consent education networking opportunities program cut from orientation hackathon from page 1 $45,000.” The uptick in sponsor attention came with a new forward-thinking theme, according to Fiutak. “This year’s theme is ‘Hack Tomorrow,’” Fiutak said. “It’s a lot of emphasis for coding solutions to problems of the future. So there’s a category for ‘Best Clean Energy Hack,’ there’s a ‘Best Civic Engagement Hack,’ there’s a ‘Best Building a Better Future Hack.’ Basically we’re just trying to incentivize people to use their coding skills for something that’s actually meaningful to society rather than some meme generator or something.” As the event began, John Fish, an IT manager representing The Raymond Corporation as one of the Hackathon sponsors, said he was enthusiastic about seeing what participating students could create. “It’s been very interesting so far, it was nice to see such a good turnout even though the weather was a bit questionable yesterday,” Fish said. “I want to see what everybody can come up with.” Fish’s sentiments were shared by other new sponsors at the event, though for different reasons. JPMorgan Chase & Co. representative Michael
Kennedy, ‘14, described sponsoring BU’s Hackathon as a long-desired goal. “Three out of the four of [the JPMorgan Chase & Co. representatives] are actually [BU] alumni,” Kennedy said. “The three of us here and a lot of the alumni that we’ve talked to in the New York [metropolitan] area have a sense of camaraderie with [BU]. We want to give back and that’s really why we’re here. To be part of the University and help contribute to what the students are doing here at the Hackathon.” Kennedy praised the HackBU organizers for their efforts in running the event. “The HackBU club has done a tremendous job so far, we can tell, in terms of making sure everything is running seamlessly,” Kennedy said. “We’re sponsoring the ‘[Best] Civic Engagement Hack,’ so we’re really excited to see what projects we can get out of that.” The representatives of JPMorgan Chase & Co. weren’t the only BU alumni present at the event. Austin Ward, ‘18, a Capital One representative, described his successful efforts to bring Capital One to BU’s Hackathon for the first time. “I understand how great the [BU] community is and I want to give back to that,” Ward said. “Capital One has a
very strong recruitment with many schools, and [BU] was not on that list. I told myself my job was to get [BU] on that list. I’ve been working really hard over the last year and a half to make this happen and I could not have done it without the wonderful people at HackBU.” According to Ward, BU students are beginning to see stronger recruitment from companies like Capital One. He said he hopes Capital One’s participation in the Hackathon will be the beginning of a longterm trend of partnership. “Over the past two years, we’ve doubled the amount of people we’ve hired [from BU],” Ward said. “I’m hoping the trend will continue, that we’ll continue to recruit from [BU] and that our presence here will grow larger and so will the presence of [BU] alumni within Capital One.” Fiutak said investing time and effort to expand the Hackathon is a personal endeavor for him, and he hopes the event’s growth will continue in the years to come. “For me personally, [HackBU 2018] was the first moment in my computer science career where I was like, ‘Huh, I can actually do something,’” Fiutak said. “I’m just trying to recreate that for as many people as I can.”
removal from page 1 provide information on how to support victims and highlight available resources both on and off campus,” the 20:1 website reads. Gregory Orlando, a sophomore majoring in political science, conducts presentations as a part of 20:1, and wrote in an email that the program makes a strong impact on students. He said he is concerned about the message BU is sending by cutting the program from orientation. “It is reassuring for people to know that their university will have their back if push comes to shove, whereas many other universities try to push incidents of sexual violence under the rug to save face,” Orlando wrote. “Removing 20:1 from orientation says that [BU] cares more about artificial appearances than the safety of their students.” Orlando praised 20:1 for being a pioneer program, as he said it began conversations surrounding consent before others were comfortable discussing the topic. Orlando said the program will be replaced with a webinar, which he feels will be insufficient. “These discussions cannot be replicated at home on a computer screen,” Orlando wrote. “Some aspects of consent can be confusing for some people. The interactive presentations allow those people to ask questions and clarify any misconceptions they may have. The presentations also make people
aware of the resources that are offered to survivors of sexual assault, which may be hard to find otherwise.” According to Johann Fiore-Conte, associate vice president for student affairs and assistant vice president for health and wellness, the entire orientation is currently in the early stages of being reworked. Fiore-Conte wrote in an email that 20:1 will continue to be a part of regular campus programming. “We are always looking to improve our existing programming and are in the early stages of that process in regards to orientation,” Fiore-Conte wrote. Madison Gowett, a senior majoring in biology, said she considers the 20:1 presentations to be an essential part of orientation because it shows incoming students how the University and its organizations care about preventing sexual assault. “Most incoming freshmen are coming straight from high school, and I know most high schools never teach students about consent or sexual assault,” Gowett said. “The 20:1 presentation is truly one of the first times students may be learning about what consent is or isn’t.” During her experience as vice president of the Pre-Physician Assistant Society, Nikita Narsingh, a junior majoring in biology, was required to attend a 20:1 informational training. Narsingh said she is proud that BU requires students in positions of power to attend
these trainings and found the 20:1 presentations to be insightful and memorable. “I remember the 20:1 session I attended during my freshman orientation,” Narsingh said. “It was incredibly informational … and also offered so many outlets for students that might come into contact with interpersonal violence.” Narsingh said she was upset to hear that 20:1 was being cut from orientation, highlighting that the program is especially important for students who are away from the comfort of their homes for the first time. “Incoming classes need to be educated about interpersonal violence especially on a college campus their first time living away from home and being adults,” Narsingh said. “Not only do they need to be educated on the intricacies of interpersonal violence, but they need to know the resources available on this campus should they be subject to it.” Without the 20:1 program presentation at orientation, Gowett said she fears students will be ignorant to the resources available to them. “It’s a great way for victims to learn about support that they have both on campus and in the Binghamton area,” Gowett said. “I think cutting 20:1 at freshman orientation would reflect very poorly on the University, and I’m very disappointed that they would even consider it.”
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NEWS
bupipedream.com | February 10, 2020
Milton Chester honored by Binghamton community chester from page 1
ter] is that he would challenge anyone, but, in the same light, in the Division of Student Affairs. he would help anyone … Let’s He was known for passionately celebrate Milton Chester. Let’s advocating for the success of men remember that he was a powerof color on campus and for Uni- house, a fierce warrior … an agiversity outreach to youth within tator … a mentor, but most imthe community, according to a portantly, let’s remember that he B-Line announcement released was a giver, that he was generous on Jan. 7. and let’s remember that he was a At the memorial celebrating blessed, kind soul.” Chester’s life, a number of his Edouard shared a story about former colleagues and students Chester’s giving nature, telling he mentored over the years vol- the audience that after his death, unteered to speak. Nicole Sirju- the authorities found that ChesJohnson, director of the Multi- ter’s car was filled with Christcultural Resource Center, said mas gifts and toys for children, she worked very closely with although he did not have any kids Chester in the Office of the Dean of his own. of Students (DOS) for more than “When I think about [Chesfour years. ter], the character, the person, “I will share with you that we the man — he did what made him disagreed ofcome alive,” ten … often,” said Greg JohnSirju-Johnson son, a Protessaid. “However, tant chaplain I am grateful at the Greater for the times Binghamton that we were Health Center. able to agree “I am often reon what work minded that needed to be our lives teach done for our us as we live — students, and but those who also what was — Randall Edouard, leave, the lives important for that they leave, communit i e s assistant vice president also teach us. of color … I for student affairs and The lesson that could always Milton’s life count on him interim dean of students teaches is that to support me we ought to be in one way or another.” doing what makes us come alive.” Others at the memorial shared Former SA President Jermel poetry and art in Chester’s honor. McClure, ’18, was mentored by Stacy Marrow, director of Col- Chester during his undergradulege of Community and Public ate years. McClure spoke about Affairs (CCPA) career and profes- cherishing those in your life sional services, sang for Chester, while they are able to feel your and Khaleel James, Student As- appreciation. sociation (SA) vice president for “It’s important that we are multicultural affairs and a junior able to uplift and embrace the double-majoring in economics people that we care about while and human development, read a they’re still here,” he said. “It’s Maya Angelou poem titled “Still important that we commit ourI Rise.” Former students and col- selves, to really bring it upon leagues shared their stories of ourselves, on inspiring others, how Chester positively affected to do more, learn more and be their lives. more.” Chester’s passion for his comMcClure said he believes munity was admired by many in Chester would want everyone to attendance. Randall Edouard, live their lives this way in his abassistant vice president for stu- sence. dent affairs and interim dean of “Life is extremely uncertain students, said Chester was con- — you can be here one minstantly challenging and pushing ute and gone the next — but his colleagues and students — what lasts forever is the impushing them to do and be better. pact that you’re able to have “[Chester] was always there on your community and on the for students,” Edouard said. people you care about most,” “What I loved most about [Ches- McClure said.
“[Chester] would challenge anyone, but, in the same light, he would help anyone.”
ariel kachuro photography editor Randall Edouard, assistant vice president for student affairs and interim dean of students, spoke at the memorial for Milton Chester, assistant dean of students for off-campus programs and services, on Saturday.
ariel kachuro photography editor On Saturday, Stacy Marrow, director of College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) career and professional services, sang in honor of Milton Chester, assistant dean of students and director of off-campus programs and services.
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OPINIONS Monday, Weekday, February Month Day, 10, 2020 Year Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
Financial literacy and education can reduce stress felt by students Understanding the complexities of paying for college should be an open conversation Sophia LoBiondo Contributing Columnist
A 2016 study on financial stress and general anxiety in college students found that financial stress is a rising cause of anxiety. Students, especially those who do not receive financial assistance from parents or family, may be carrying an immense burden of getting themselves through college on their own, and tuition is only part of this financial burden. In a 2018 survey on how people are paying for college, 47 percent of families paid by income and savings, 13 percent of which came from the students themselves. After housing, food and textbooks, the cost of attending college becomes a lot to take on. The costs of textbooks and materials have drastically increased, averaging over $1,200 annually per student. In the past three decades, there has been a 1,041-percent increase in textbook costs since 1977, which is more than three times the rate of inflation in the United States. Unfortunately, the cost of everything college-related seems to be going up. In 2017, more than 50 percent of college students took on loans, which averaged $26,900 for four-year public schools. This means each graduate pays about $200 to $300 a month to these loans. For many, the pressure of taking on loans and getting through the semester with the additional costs of textbooks, food and other expenses is overwhelming. While we may wish that tuition costs were lower and our loans would cease to exist, there are proactive ways in which students can learn to manage their finances now to help alleviate some of these pressures and fears. I, for one, was absolutely clueless when it came to looking at colleges and understanding what it would cost me to go to school. The universities I applied to ranged from state schools costing about $20,000 a year to private schools that cost more than $80,000. While the small private schools with beautiful gothic architecture nestled in the suburbs of a nearby city enticed me, I was fortunate enough to have parents who were able to see the big
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picture of the ugly debt I would be taking on by attending one of these schools. With that, my mom sat me down at the kitchen table and made me calculate the yearly cost of each school, including the estimated increase in tuition each year. While the cost of college seemed straightforward enough, I was unaware of annual increases in tuition, as well as the extra costs and university fees that often go under the radar. Estimating financial aid, and then recalculating costs based on this aid, felt complicated, and while the scholarships I received for some schools were appealing on paper, I soon realized I would
still not be able to afford to attend some of the universities. Seeing it all on paper written in my own handwriting grounded me and helped me make the financially conscious decision to attend Binghamton University. Conversations about money are important to have as young adults taking on the massive expense of attending college, which is why it is so important to seek help from people with financial experience. While talking about money or looking at finances can be overwhelming, and a topic that many of us would rather avoid, there are resources available on
campus that can help students make financially conscious decisions and give them the opportunity to educate themselves about financial stressors they may be experiencing. BU is working with Visions Federal Credit Union “to help improve student financial literacy and financial wellness.” In January 2017, the University opened the Financial Wellness Center, located in the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development. The Financial Wellness Center can educate students on “topics such as budgeting, credit cards, saving, insurance, student loans and investments.” They also conduct
B-Money Smart Workshops that cover a variety of topics relevant to student finances. Working on financial wellness now can help students get through college with a plan, and may help them to be more successful after graduation by developing good habits and money management skills. From the daunting task of taking out loans, and eventually paying them off, to smaller tasks like paying off a credit card each month, confronting financial pressures may ultimately reduce stress by making students feel more in control of their finances. Besides utilizing resources
such as the Financial Wellness Center, students can take steps on their own, such as addressing financial concerns early on, staying organized, utilizing student discounts and setting goals for the future. These habits may make students feel more in control of things that may seem very much out of their control, such as debt and mounting costs of attending school. Financial wellness is something that students need to work for, and should not be taken on alone. Sophia LoBiondo is a sophomore majoring in political science.
Sex and relationship podcasts can be entertaining, but some are harmful ‘Call Her Daddy’ offers funny advice for modern dating, but listeners should take caution Sophie Miller Contributing Columnist
Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn will be the first to tell you that their podcast, “Call Her Daddy,” is not listed under the health and wellness section. That being said, it was recently nominated for iHeartRadio’s Best Advice Podcast. They are reaching wide audiences, boasting 1.2 million followers on their Instagram page and topping the charts on iTunes. That’s where things get complicated. On one hand, “Call Her Daddy” is empowering. Consider the name of the podcast: Its purpose is to flip power dynamics between men and women. Hosts Cooper and Franklyn have managed to create a space for all genders to talk about sex without any judgment. This is especially monumental because women don’t have many public places to discuss sex. This is important, as female sexuality is often considered a taboo topic. People often shy
away from topics of female masturbation or all the embarrassing things that happen during sex, partly because there’s a lot of inequality when it comes to sex. For example, 75 percent of men claim to consistently reach orgasm during sex, compared to only 29 percent of women. A 2018 survey reveals that 92 percent of men admit to masturbating, compared to 76 percent of women, which is a large discrepancy. “Call Her Daddy” embraces these things, talking about them and sharing stories about them. To talk so openly about these taboos normalizes them, and these are things that need to be normalized. Episodes are filled with sex tips, which empowers women to break out of their comfort zones and learn how to make sex more enjoyable for themselves. They essentially offer the sex education none of us ever got, and some of the advice they give about sex and love is amazing. For example, in episode 31, “You’re Just a Hole,” they tell girls to stop asking guys questions they know will hurt their feelings. In addition to destigmatizing
many topics, the podcast offers a space to discuss them. Every week, Cooper and Franklyn read questions, stories and tips. This is the most important part of the show. Cooper and Franklyn are two beautiful 20-something-yearolds living in New York City and sometimes, it can be hard to relate to them. It’s like listening to your older sister talk to her friends and being awestruck, but unable to really join in on the conversation. By including their listeners in the show, they reach a much wider audience. Men and women of all ages write in with different experiences, and it becomes impossible not to laugh, relate and have your deepest, weirdest questions answered. Podcasts make it easier for both hosts and listeners to be open because of the sense of security provided by the faceless aspect of the medium. While “Call Her Daddy” is empowering, it is also toxic. Much of the show is about embracing sex, but the other aspect is advice on how to survive in the world of dating and relationships. This advice consists of Cooper and Franklyn telling listeners “cheat or be cheated on,” and that “boys
love the crazy.” They tell listeners to make their hookups feel insecure. They play into the stereotypes that girls are crazy and manipulative, and that boys are liars and cheaters. These are toxic stereotypes that normalize abusive relationships. In episode 49, “Stop Ruining Your Relationship,” Cooper chronicles the times she set alarms that sounded like her ringtone on her phone so she could convince her boyfriend she was getting calls from another guy in the middle of the night. They tell girls to wear cologne so they can upset their boyfriends by coming home smelling like another guy. They promote creating fake social media accounts to stalk your love interest and those he or she is involved with. They often give tips on how to catch a cheater and simultaneously give tips on how to get away with cheating. They comment on women’s appearances, telling girls that they would rate “under a seven” to sleep around more than hotter girls. They joke recklessly about not using condoms and tell stories of toxic things they have done in the past, like going through
their partner’s phone. This advice becomes dangerous to impressionable listeners. While sex education in high schools tends to teach the basics, like how to put on a condom and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it does not prepare you for life in the real world and all the things you may encounter in your sex life. If young people who are lacking sex education turn to “Call Her Daddy” to fill in the blanks, they’ll be well informed in some aspects and misinformed in others. This includes the lack of diversity within the show, too. It’s told from a heterosexual perspective, so it is lacking the things that a podcast like “Guys We F***ked” by Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson covers. On “Guys We F***ked,” “topics range from sex politics, experiences of the LGBTQ community, the culture surrounding sexual assault, polyamorous relationships and their weekly advice-seeking emails.” There’s also “Black Girl Experience,” a sex and relationship podcast by Jasmine Danielle, which offers a more diverse perspective than “Call Her Daddy” can.
Some people love “Call Her Daddy” and some love to hate it. While the hosts run into fans on the street and receive doting messages from the #DaddyGang, they have also dealt with criticism, which they love to discuss. For example, episode 69, titled “EPISODE 69 (ft. Chlamydia)” opens with the girls reading quotes from a New York Post article totally ridiculing them. Some reviews of the show fail to see the humor, with one reviewer rating the podcast with one star and writing, “Slut shaming disguised as feminism.” That being said, it’s hard to find bad reviews out there. The issue with “Call Her Daddy” is that it is hilarious, relatable and filled with some genuinely good advice. This makes it hard for some to differentiate between what is truth, what is comedy, what is good advice and what is totally insane. “Call Her Daddy” manages to be totally empowering and toxic at the same time. One must be able to differentiate between the two, or else their platform becomes dangerous. Sophie Miller is a junior majoring in English.
F UN
Monday, February 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,10, 2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
The heaviest things in the world
Daniel Eisenhower Wisdom tooth
Annabeth Sloan
fjörk
Sudoku
By The Mepham Group
Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle
Tinder is too ironic
Sarah Teper
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Release Date: Monday, February 10, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis A man has fallen into the river
Horoscopes
Daniel Eisenhower
The Cosmos
ACROSS 1 Depletes, with “up” 5 Pod in Creole cuisine 9 Theme park that retired its IllumiNations show in 2019 14 Tall and skinny 15 Umpire’s call 16 Greek played by Anthony Quinn 17 Bit of insurance paperwork 19 Earlier offense 20 Series-ending abbr. 21 Set as a price 22 Accumulates 24 Letters shown in the “Wheel of Fortune” bonus round 26 PC panic key 27 No longer in style 34 Public tantrum 37 Hydroplaned 38 Writer Ferber 39 Novelist Levin 40 Charge card charge 43 Tarzan player Ron 44 Owlet’s home 46 With everything in place 47 ER images 49 Work out regularly at the gym 52 __ ring: foot jewelry 53 Postgame rundowns 57 Domed hall 61 Watergate pres. 62 Sigma follower 63 Soft palate part 64 Fungus on an old loaf 67 Latish wake-up hr. 68 James of “Elf” 69 Charitable offerings 70 Catch by trickery 71 Prefix with formal or final 72 Potter’s material associated with the end of 17-, 27-, 49- and 64-Across
DOWN 1 Worrier’s stomach woe 2 Seasons with crystals 3 Make official 4 Tackle moguls 5 Cancel out 6 Eccentric sort 7 Capek play about automatons 8 __ mater 9 Toll-paying convenience 10 Sports car that has two syllables in German 11 NFL analyst Collinsworth 12 Slender wind 13 Seasoned sailors 18 “Hamilton” creator Lin-__ Miranda 23 Victor at Gettysburg 25 Chaney of silents 28 Bone: Pref. 29 Pet peeves? 30 Saks __ Avenue
31 Mental flash 32 “I’m __ human” 33 Negative votes 34 Act the fink 35 First Nations tribe 36 “__ of Eden” 41 Paid for a hand 42 Use, as energy 45 In name only 48 DVR button 50 Like a generic brand
51 Designer Giorgio 54 Ring-shaped reef 55 Director Brian De __ 56 Like dishwater 57 Boring routines 58 Baking appliance 59 Fish in cat food 60 Preschool basics 61 Paper quantity 65 Grammy winner Corinne Bailey __ 66 PC alternative
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Gail Grabowski and Bruce Venzke ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/10/20
02/10/20
IISU’s Tamasha brings romantic twist to annual event Performances include traditional, modern dance Makoto Toyoda
arts & culture intern
On Saturday, the Indian International Student Union (IISU) brought excitement and energy to Binghamton University with its annual South Asian cultural showcase, Tamasha. Students and family members packed the Chamber Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., filling the Anderson Center with cheers and laughs. The evening featured a variety of acts, ranging from classical dance to a performance by South Asian a cappella group Bollywood Beats. The show also invited cultural dance teams such as Binghamton Bhangra, Quimbamba, the Black Dance Repertoire and St. John’s University’s South Asian dance team, RAAZ. Nithya Vishwanathan, president of IISU and a senior majoring in chemistry, said Tamasha allows the club to share its culture with the local community. “Our organization is a South Asian organization, but of course we are very inclusive,” Vishwanathan said. “We tend to showcase our culture to other people and invite them to be a part of it. Within the show, we try to do a lot of traditional performances, as well as pop culture performances that are actually done by our general body members. We like to also invite an off-campus team from another university to come perform as well because we like to go to their events, so it’s a way to invite them to our[s].” In past years, IISU has done spin-offs on pop culture themes such as “Harry Potter” and “How I Met Your Mother” for its showcases. This year’s Tamasha theme was “The Bachelor,” with Jona-
The Indian International Student Union’s annual showcase featured both traditional and modern performances.
than Cheru, a junior majoring in economics, as the leading man in search of love. “What we try to do with Tamasha to make it more receptive to the audience is to pick a certain theme that is very popular among the culture right now, especially college students,” she said. “We did it just because somehow ‘The Bachelor’ has been becoming popular within the last few seasons, and right now the [actual ‘Bachelor’] season has started, so it’s a nice segue to do a sort of parallel. We put a little twist to ourselves by deciding to make the women, who are meeting the bachelor, represent the dances that are in Tamasha.” The dance performances were
intercut with skit scenes that were pre-filmed by IISU, mimicking the format of the actual “Bachelor” where the man gets to meet the women. Throughout the showcase, Cheru was introduced to various girls who each represented a performance or aspect of what IISU had to offer. The personalities of the women hoping to woo the bachelor reflected the traits of the dances. While the contestant representing freshman dance was shy and ditzy, Bollywood film dance was shown through a dramatic, celebrity-like girl. One new feature IISU has added to its annual showcase is senior dance, which came as one of the last acts of the show as a way to send off the graduating members.
miya carmichael pipe dream photographer
Vishwanathan said the idea aimed to unite members. “Our vice president actually decided to incorporate [senior dance] this year,” she said. “He decided that we should have some sort of closing performance that brings everyone together to show them what IISU is really about. Once they see it, they’re like, ‘Wow, this is the end product of IISU, throughout the four years.’” Tamasha engaged the audience and got them on their feet through interactive games with the cast, such as “Dress the Bachelor” and a relay race, inviting audience members onto the stage. Preparation for IISU’s biggest blockbuster event of the year, including planning activities for the
night, starts almost an entire year in advance. “We tend to start practicing for the dances from the start of the [fall] semester, and we are promoting the show all the way up to the day of the show,” she said. “Scheduling is very hectic. We have two practices every week, and that’s [for] seven dances. So we have 14 practices in a week [and the members] really put their heart into it.” Vishwanathan noted there was a larger share of responsibilities among each executive board member this year. “One of the biggest challenges this year is we had to get rid of the co-cultural chair position on our e-board,” she said. “They are the
ones who would be planning the event in majority. We had to divide all the responsibilities of the co-cultural chair among the rest of our executive board members.” Despite the change in organization, audience members said they enjoyed the show. Vanessa Farrell, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, expressed enthusiasm for Tamasha. “My favorite part of Tamasha was the skit performed by [Bollywood Film],” she said. “This was my favorite part because of how comedic and relatable it was. Overall, the entire show was just amazing.” The climax of the night came when Cheru hosted the final rose ceremony, where the bachelor traditionally chooses the girl who will become his fiancee. However, Cheru shocked audience members by pursuing his true love, who was not one of the eight contestants. Cheru, in his role as the bachelor, proclaimed his true love for something completely different. “IISU has always been there for me,” he said. Vishwanathan agreed and reflected on the role that IISU has played through her college career. “This year, a lot of our seniors are graduating, and it’s a part of us that we are taking away with us,” she said. “IISU has been family for us. Especially as college students when you’re going away from home, you’re trying to find that family … This is just our way of saying that exists. In a college campus you can find where you belong … It will probably take some time to find it, but you will eventually find it because [BU] gives you those opportunities. Performing for the last time onstage, a lot of us will definitely be crying at the end. I would say I’m definitely emotional when it comes to this.”
bupipedream.com | February 10, 2020
ARTS & CULTURE
8
Take your mind off Valentine’s Day with these movies Flicks for celebrating while you’re single Brendan Hurley
contributing writer
While Valentine’s Day can serve as a celebration of romances old and new, it can also be a painful reminder of your relationship status. If you’re single, you may want to hide away from the PDA surrounding you and spend the night with a good movie. For that reason, we’ve got you covered with a list of flicks that will surely lift your spirits. “Spirited Away”
“Spirited Away,” created by Studio Ghibli, tells the coming-of-age story of a young girl named Chihiro who takes a dangerous journey to free herself and her parents from the spiritual realm. In this breathtaking, hand-drawn flick, you will tear up about things other than the fact that your dates aren’t going well. (Available for purchase on Prime Video and Vudu) “Lady Bird” “Lady Bird” is an exceptional film that explores the difficult-tonavigate world of teen love. It will make you realize that sometimes you put your love into the wrong
people and some bonds are stronger than others. But it will also prove that you don’t need to be with anyone to be happy. (Available on Prime Video and for rental on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu) “The Proposal” If you really want to laugh this Valentine’s Day, this is the movie for you. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, this movie will take you on a trip to Alaska for a seemingly long weekend, as the two characters begin to discover their love for each other. Also, there’s a puppy. (Available for rental on Prime
spirited away thefulcrum.ca
Video, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu) “Love, Simon” “Love, Simon” is filled with the ups and downs of love, the heartbreaking and heartwarming. You’ll realize that your friends can sometimes be the greatest loves of your life. But most importantly, this movie will show you that if you are true to yourself, things will get better. (Available for rental on Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu) “Booksmart” “Booksmart” follows the story
of two best friends on the eve of graduation who realize that they never did any of the fun high school things they wanted to, and attempt to do everything in one night. Again, it proves that the love between friends can be stronger than all other bonds. (Available on Hulu and for rental on Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu) “Inception” If you want nothing to do with falling in love, then check out one of my all-time favorite movies, “Inception.” In this movie, you will follow Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) through a mind-bending
the proposal amazon.com
journey to return home. You’ll be so confused and absorbed, you’ll forget about everything else. (Available on Netflix and for rental on Prime Video, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu) “Get Smart” Check out “Get Smart,” starring “The Office” star Steve Carell in the leading role next to Anne Hathaway. This movie will surely make you smile and lift your spirits this Valentine’s Day. If imagining Carell as a spy doesn’t distract you from your loneliness, what will? (Available for rental on Prime Video, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play and Vudu)
booksmart avalontheatregj.com
Ask a professor: What have you been listening to? BU faculty talk about their favorite tunes Gabriela Iacovano
arts & culture editor
In our latest installment of “Ask a Professor,” Pipe Dream sat down with faculty members Laurence Elder and Monika Mehta to hear about the albums they’ve had on repeat lately. Elder, an adjunct lecturer of music, has recently been revisiting Robert Glasper’s “Black Radio,” released in 2012. Glasper, a 41-yearold pianist and record producer, has released 10 albums since his 2004 debut. “Glasper is a trained jazz pianist, but his music is really an amalgamation of jazz and hip-hop and soul and funk, put together in packages that are really fresh and current and very original, so there’s something really special about him,” Elder said. “While he draws on the authenticity of the jazz roots, he’s done some things that really brought the music current.” Elder himself is a jazz-trained pianist, as well as a singer-songwriter, and he said artists such as Glasper are part of a larger trend of genre fluidity in popular music. “When you talk about genres, I think it seems like the walls are coming down more than they used to when putting something into a definition,” he said. “So much music is influenced by jazz now, but it’s not jazz — you wouldn’t put it into the category of mainstream jazz.” This fall, Elder taught Music 113: Jazz In American Music, which led him to revisit “Black Radio.” Among several other music classes, he also teaches Music 216: Musicianship I and Music 282A: Music Technology, where volunteer musicians come in to be recorded by his students. He said a class he’s teaching can inspire the music he’s listening to. When teaching his class about jazz, he also revisited the work of bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. “She writes some really edgy stuff, and did some stuff where she combined jazz with chamber music and some orchestral and symphonic works, so she’s very out of the box and yet still very faithful to tradition,” he said. He said classes about jazz history are especially interesting to teach because the genre is continually evolving. “Jazz history, unlike a lot of other types of history, is not done,” he said. “With certain kinds of music history, the books have been closed on it, but jazz is alive and well. The history is unfolding as we speak.” Mehta, undergraduate director of English and an associate professor of English, usually listens to Hindi film music generated by the Bollywood film industry. Mehta
teaches and studies film songs and said while she listens to music for pleasure, she also thinks in terms of where an album falls within the context of the industry and how it compares to other soundtracks. One of Mehta’s favorite albums of the past year is the soundtrack to “Gully Boy,” released in 2019. The film, based on the real-life stories of two rappers, follows a young working-class man in Mumbai who forges his way to rap stardom. Mehta said she’s interested not only in the album’s themes, but in its roster of more than 50 contributors, far more expansive than that
of a usual Bollywood film. “It made it, just in terms of its production, a really interesting project and something very different from a normal Hindi album,” Mehta said. Bollywood cinema soundtracks often employ playback singers and have actors lip-sync songs, but the star of “Gully Boy” sings and raps a number of songs on his own. Mehta said her opinion on this creative choice changed after seeing the film instead of just hearing the soundtrack. “I thought it might have been better if a playback singer had sung
it rather than him because he’s not so great, but when I watched the film it made sense that he was the one who did the singing because we follow this guy’s craft from just beginning to rap to becoming a star rapper, and then by the time that happens in the film, the album also changes to give him a voice appropriate for that,” she said. “So for me that becomes interesting — that listening generates one kind of reading about the voice and its appropriateness, whereas watching the film generates a different kind of reading about that same voice.” Mehta said she was particularly
struck by a track that translates as “Distance.” In the film, it’s played during a scene where the main character is working as a driver for a wealthy family, and the young woman he’s driving is crying in the car. “As the song is playing, the camera moves between shots of him driving the car and her sitting in the back and we see the strip of the car that divides the two of them, and the song itself begins to both narrate and question the class differences that separate them, that also don’t allow them to be emotionally close, that he’s not al-
lowed to hold her or hug her or say ‘What’s wrong?’ because after all, he’s the driver,” Mehta said. Hindi film music exists outside the context of films as pop music, and Mehta said this aspect of the genre makes it an especially interesting object of study. “Most people who know the soundtrack don’t necessarily know the film,” she said. “They function both as part of the film, but they circulate outside of it. It definitely makes them very interesting because the song can generate a story that may contradict the story that’s in the film.”
9
SPORTS
bupipedream.com | February 10, 2020
Dan Schaffer participates in prestigious Millrose Games Binghamton competes at Penn State invitational Marco Zembo-Palzer contributing writer
The 113th-annual New York Road Runners Millrose Games, held at The Armory in New York City last weekend, is consistently one of the most prestigious meets across both high school and collegiate athletics, drawing in upper echelon athletes from across the globe. Among the runners competing on Saturday was Binghamton redshirt junior Dan Schaffer, who represented the Bearcats among one of the most competitive pool of athletes in the world. The Allen Steinfield Men’s Mile proved challenging for Schaffer, as the lone Bearcat was pushed off of the starting line, causing his first race at the Millrose Games to be restarted. The competition was equally as threatening, with New Balance athlete Julian Oakley taking first overall with a time of 3:58.86. He was the only athlete to break the four-minute barrier in the race. Schaffer came in 10th, running 4:11.51 — 10 seconds behind his personal best and school record of 4:01.51. Although he started off his race at a respectable pace, his closing 400-meter split lacked the typical kick that would put him above his competition. “This was a great honor for
provided by joe hale Redshirt junior Dan Schaffer competed at the 113th-annual New York Road Runners Millrose Games, running the mile in 4:11.51 against competition from across the world.
[Schaffer] to be in this race,” said head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Annette Acuff, per bubearcats.com.
“It was tough for him with the restart today, but this was a good experience for him to move forward.”
Out of the 11 competing runners, Schaffer was accompanied by Eric Holt, ‘18, who clocked in at 4:05.46. Holt and Schaffer,
along with graduates Jesse Garn, ‘16, and Erik van Ingen, ‘10, in 2014, were the only four Binghamton athletes invited to the
prestigious Millrose Games. Going forward, Schaffer looks to build momentum on his strong start to the indoor season. Despite his performance at The Armory, he currently sits in 30th in the mile in overall NCAA Division I rankings, along with his current 12th-place standing in the 3K and his season-opening 14:03.06 5K time, the latter of which still holds up in 20th approaching the twilight of the indoor season. The rest of the Bearcats found themselves at Penn State last weekend, testing their fitness at the Sykes & Sabock Invitational as they await the upcoming conference championships. Senior Greg Matzelle delivered a promising performance, finishing fourth overall in the 200-meter dash at 21.84, less than two-tenths of a second off his personal best of 21.67. Senior Matt Baker placed third in the long jump, covering a distance of 22-6 ½ feet. Junior Brittany Korsah headlined the women’s performances, flying into third place in the triple jump with 38-11 feet, while sophomore Madison Krochina threw 55-2 ¾ feet to cap off the women’s events for the Bearcats. Next week, the Bearcats will compete at the David Hemery Valentine’s Invitational at 10 a.m. from Friday, Feb. 14 to Saturday, Feb. 15 at Boston University. Then, they will return to Ithaca, New York at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16 to compete at the Sunday Invitational.
Women’s lacrosse prepares for upcoming 2020 season Bearcats look to improve on 2-15 record from 2019 Joe Tonetti
sports intern
After a disappointing 2-15 record last season, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team is hoping to return to the playoffs in its upcoming 2020 campaign, which begins this week. With 10 incoming freshmen on the roster, the team is working through 2019’s mistakes to develop a new sense of optimism. “[We are] really looking forward to opening up the season at home this year,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “I’m especially excited to see the experience that was gained from last year along with the confidence that was built throughout the fall.” Last year’s season proved difficult for the Bearcats, with the team not winning a single game until April. Their first of two wins came on April 6 against UMass Lowell at home, which was immediately followed by a home rout of Hartford. The team went 0-8 away and lost every nonconference game in the season. “There were a lot of lessons learned last year and experience gained,” Allen said. “We practice game scenarios all the time and I think especially with the group
that we have here now, there’s more confidence than there’s ever been before.” This season, the Bearcats will return some of their top offensive players, including senior midfielder Amelia Biancardi, who was was second on the team last year with 23 goals. Senior attack Olivia Batista, after redshirting her junior year due to injury, scored 16 goals in 17 games last year and is the most veteran player on the team after returning for her fifth year. She is joined in the attack by junior Paige Volkmann, who scored 16 goals last season. Junior midfielder Kelly Quinn is also a top returner, after scoring 10 goals and causing nine turnovers in her sophomore campaign. Batista, senior goalie Taylor Passuello and junior midfielder Alyssa Sanchez are entering their second season as Binghamton’s team captains. “There were a lot of things that we learned going through [last season],” Batista said. “People are really just determined to get back, make those changes that we needed to, put in the extra work where it was needed outside of practice, outside of conditioning or whatever it may be.” Although standing strong at times, the Bearcats often struggled defensively in last year’s campaign, conceding an aver-
age of 13.6 goals a game over the course of the season. Despite this, Passuello was strong in net, leading the America East (AE) in saves with a total of 173 to add to her career total of 261 going into her final season. “Our defensive unit has a fresh look with assistant coach Kristin Boland in the mix now,” Allen said. “She’s really revamped some of the style of play and I think they’re an exciting group to watch.” According to the AE preseason poll, Stony Brook is forecasted to top the standings by the end of the season. Binghamton was picked to finish sixth, only beating out Hartford and UMass Lowell, whom the Bearcats managed wins over last season. Despite these odds, Binghamton is hoping its incoming freshman class and its newfound attitude could help the Bearcats upset the polls and turn the tides in their favor. “We had a really strong freshman class come in as well as our freshman class last year who had time on the field last season, so they’re so much more confident,” Passuello said. The Bearcats will kick off their season at home against Bucknell University. First draw control is set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.
john atkinson pipe dream photographer Senior attack Olivia Batista will enter her fifth lacrosse season with 37 goals and will open against Bucknell this Wednesday.
pipe dream archives Junior attack William Talbott-Shere, after scoring nine goals last season, scored his first goal of the 2020 season against Marist last Saturday.
Men’s lacrosse blown out by Marist in season opener Dolan records 17 saves in first-career start for BU Kyle Reina
pipe dream sports
Coming off of a 2-11 record last season, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team opened its season on Saturday afternoon, kicking things off with a tough loss to the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions Marist. The Bearcats dropped the game 12-4. “Today was not indicative of who we are as a team,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin McKeown, per bubearcats.com. “We didn’t start well coming out of halftime and we just let it snowball. I thought [sophomore goalie] Teddy Dolan played outstanding for us in the goal. Give Marist a lot of credit, they are a seasoned group, and it showed today.” Four different Bearcats scored in the loss. Freshman midfielder Thomas Greenblatt scored his first career goal to tie the game at one in the first quarter. After three unanswered goals by the Red Foxes (1-0), junior midfielder Jackson Rieger and junior attack Justin Roderka scored back-toback goals to cut the deficit to one heading into the locker room at halftime. At that point, Marist scored eight straight goals to put the
game away. Binghamton had difficulty clearing the ball and establishing possession as the match progressed. Throughout the game, Binghamton often started its offense from behind the goal and hoped for their attackmen to facilitate the offense, especially junior attack William Talbott-Shere. The disparity in possession was clear from the difference between the shots on goal each team had. The Bearcats finished with 12 shots on goal as opposed to Marist’s 29; however, Dolan handled the high volume of shots well, with 17 saves throughout the match. Senior faceoff specialist Peyton Smith was a force to be reckoned with for the Red Foxes, as he went 15-of-18 against Binghamton’s redshirt freshman faceoff specialist Brandon Rizzuto and sophomore defender Drew Furlong. Although Marist redshirt junior goalie Jake MacGregor had a quiet game, he handled the Bearcat shooters well, tallying eight saves. Marist sophomore attack Jojo Pirreca played an important role in Marist’s offense. Out of 14 shots and 10 on goal, Pirreca converted on four and tallied an assist to lead all players with points and goals. Pirreca was joined by Marist sophomore midfielder James Ly-
ons and redshirt junior attack Jake Weinman in the Red Foxes’ offensive production, as Lyons was an offensive threat on dodges from up top, tallying three goals and an assist. Weinman added another two goals as well. Despite its five man-up opportunities, Binghamton was unable to seize the chance on any of them; the Red Foxes had more success in man-up situations, as they scored two of their 12 goals in man-up opportunities. The Red Foxes’ defense was pestering and disruptive throughout the match, as Binghamton had 22 turnovers. Marist sophomore long stick midfielder JT Roselle was a key player on the defensive end in the game with four caused turnovers. Marist, on the other end, only turned over possession 14 times. They had more success settling into its offense and seizing opportunities to score. The Red Foxes’ attack came from all sides, as they often dodged from the wings with Pirreca and their midfielders from up top. The ground ball fight was fairly even until the second half, where the Red Foxes collected 16 ground balls against Binghamton’s nine. The Bearcats will look to rebound from their first loss at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, when they take on Syracuse at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Season preview SEE PAGE 9
Monday, February 10, 2020
Women’s basketball defeated by Maine in overtime Moon held without a field goal in second half Ryan Giglio
pipe dream sports
In a pivotal matchup in Maine on Sunday, the Binghamton women’s basketball team exchanged leads with the Black Bears all throughout the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Thanks to senior guard Kai Moon’s two successful free throws, the score was tied at 61 with 52 seconds left. Moon’s ability to take over games looked like it was coming out when the Bearcat star stole the ball from Maine’s junior forward Maeve Carroll with under 30 seconds left. The game’s fate was now solely in the potent hands of BU’s top scorer. So, as the clock was running out and Moon’s shot was in the air, Sunday seemed primed for a perfect ending. However, the would-be heroic jumper rimmed out and head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord did not call a timeout despite her team securing the rebound with two seconds left. “I blame myself,” Shapiro Ord said. “I know I should have called a timeout. I’ll kick myself for that one.” Hope for a BU victory vanished quickly in overtime, as Maine outscored its opponent 14-4 during the five-minute period while on its way to a 75-65 victory. Binghamton’s offense stalled in the extra session and the team went 0-7 on field goal
Senior guard Carly Boland started against Maine on Sunday, totaling 13 points, six rebounds and four assists overall.
attempts. “What a great game it was, but unfortunately we let one slip through,” Shapiro Ord said. “We didn’t play very well, I don’t think. This was a tough one. I thought we were going to get them, but you know, I blame myself on that last one before we went into overtime.” Moon’s 17 points and three steals led the Bearcats (16-7,
5-5 America East). However, 12 of her points came in the first half and the Black Bears (11-14, 7-4 AE) locked her down in the second half, with no scores until her free throws late in the fourth quarter. “That was probably one of [Moon]’s lower-scoring games,” Shapiro Ord said. “Typically, some of our other kids have been stepping up and scoring for us
and we didn’t get that today. I was hoping that we would continue to do that.” While Moon was quiet in the third quarter, sophomore forward Annie Ramil stepped up and scored eight of her 11 points in that quarter. Ramil also had two rebounds and steals. Senior guard Carly Boland contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, and senior guard Karlee
sidney slon assistant photo editor
Krchnavi scored eight points and grabbed eight boards. Although Binghamton’s offense did not perform as well as it could have, the score was constantly close, and BU was in a position to win for most of the game. However, allowing Maine’s “Big Three” to each have over 20 points was detrimental to BU’s efforts. Despite losing reigning AE Player of the Year and De-
fensive Player of the Year senior guard Blanca Millan, other players have stepped up to lead the Black Bears this season. Carroll led the team with 24 points and 15 rebounds on Sunday, while junior guard Dor Saar also had a double-double with 21 points and 13 assists. Freshman guard Anne Simon netted 23 points and grabbed five steals. “Maine did such a great job,” Shapiro Ord said. “We didn’t stick to our game plan, and you can’t let a team like that get 40 points in the paint and you have 26. That’s really unacceptable. You can’t turn the ball over when it’s unforced turnovers. We just got to get better and take care of what we do best, which is play good defense, attack the rim and knock down free throws at the end.” Binghamton missed four free throws in overtime and went 13of-21, 61.9 percent, in free throw attempts for the whole game. “Yeah, that’s not us,” Shapiro Ord said. “I keep telling the girls that when we play 40 minutes of basketball, it’s going to be scary, just waiting for that to happen. We’re getting there but this game we did not play 40 minutes.” The Bearcats will need to play their best on Wednesday, as they are set for a matchup against AEleading Stony Brook. “We got a big one next week,” Shapiro Ord said. “We’ll get some rest and get back to fighting.” Tipoff is scheduled for 6:31 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, New York.
Men’s basketball falls to last place in America East Bearcats defeated by Maine at Events Center Yaakov Spivack
pipe dream sports
As the Binghamton men’s basketball team looks to avoid a lastplace finish and secure a top-eight position to reach the playoffs, the team took on Maine in a mustwin game on Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. After losing
john atkinson pipe dream photographer Senior guard Richard Caldwell, Jr. shined against Maine, scoring a careerhigh 20 points despite the Bearcats losing the matchup.
the teams’ inaugural meeting earlier this season, the Bearcats were faced with falling a game behind the Black Bears and losing the head-to-head tiebreaker. Falling into an 18-point deficit in the second half, BU did not rise to the challenge. The Bearcats were defeated by Maine 82-75, and now sit alone in last place in the league. “We’re in a tough spot now,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It was a game that we kinda needed. We didn’t get it, so now we have to fight our way out of the hole. We have three of our next four at home, so we can’t give in. We gotta turn the page, get ready, try to beat Stony Brook in here on Wednesday night.” As the Bearcats (8-15, 2-8 America East) dropped their fourth-consecutive game, Maine (7-17, 3-7 AE) picked up just its second road win of the season, now holding a 2-12 record outside of Bangor, Maine. Time after time, Maine’s senior forward Andrew Fleming was a force for the Black Bears, dunking several times in
the game and finishing with 23 points. “[Fleming is] bigger, stronger, [an] all-league player,” Dempsey said. “We forced him into eight turnovers. I thought our doubles were effective on him, but he’s a man in there.” Fleming was joined by redshirt junior forward Nedeljko Prijovic and senior guard Sergio El Darwich in scoring more than 20 points. The three accounted for 69 of the Black Bears’ 82 points. Despite the dominant run by Maine to start the second half, the game was closely contested throughout the first period. The teams traded buckets on both sides of the court in the first half and the game featured nine ties and nine lead changes. With just over a minute left in the half and the score tied at 33, Prijovic scored to give Maine a two-point lead heading into the locker room. A dunk by senior guard Richard Caldwell, Jr. and a 3-pointer from freshman forward George
Tinsley gave BU a 38-37 lead early in the second half, but Maine’s imminent 18-point run all but put the game away for the Black Bears. “The early part of the second half where they came out and caught fire, I thought they made some really tough shots in that stretch,” Dempsey said. “Prijovic in particular came out and hit three in a row there. We had some good looks on the other end that didn’t go … They really played well early in that second half, [then] we were cold, and then they opened up the lead and then we had to fight our way back from there.” The Bearcats eventually stopped the bleeding with a late push and were able to make it as close as a five-point game with 25 seconds to go, but Maine held on to earn a critical victory. “We have [a] young group and we have to grow,” Dempsey said. “Nobody really loves hearing that, but sometimes it’s the reality. We have a lot of freshmen out there, our best player’s a sopho-
more and we’re struggling. So I think, mentally, we’ve lost some confidence. Although, I thought today we played with good confidence, after the last couple of performances where we didn’t play well. I thought we came out today ready to go, and I thought we played with confidence, and it just didn’t go our way.” Caldwell was one of the few bright spots for BU on the day, scoring a career-high 20 points, and both Tinsley and sophomore guard Sam Sessoms earned double-doubles. Next up for Binghamton is a rematch against the last team it defeated, Stony Brook. The Bearcats have won consecutive games against the second-place Seawolves (16-9, 7-3 AE), including last season’s quarterfinal playoff matchup. Both of those games were played on Long Island, so this marks the first time BU will host Stony Brook this season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
Wrestling drops road dual meet to Bucknell University L. DePrez earns 20th win of season with tech fall Kiernan Fischer
contributing writer
After winning four out of the first six bouts in a dual meet against Bucknell, the Binghamton wrestling team could not overcome two forfeits, and the Bearcats were defeated 25-13 on Saturday. Despite the team loss, the bouts were competitive throughout the match. “We have been talking about closing matches all week at practice,” said Binghamton head coach Kyle Borshoff. “When we are in the conference tournament, we are going to end up in close matches and it doesn’t matter if the opponent is ranked or unranked. We have to find a way to win.”
The teams started the day at 184 pounds, where No. 5 redshirt sophomore Lou DePrez had a dominating 18-3 tech fall, notching his 20th win of the season. At 197, nationally ranked Bucknell senior Drew Phipps soundly defeated freshman Sam DePrez 8-1 to cut the team score to 5-3 in favor of Binghamton. Redshirt sophomore Joe Doyle then secured a 4-2 win at the 285 weight class to put the Bearcats up 8-3. Following that, the Bearcats dropped a tough decision at 125, with freshman Carson Sauriol falling 5-3 in the bout, almost completing a comeback. “I thought our effort was a lot better [than last week],” Borshoff said. “It looked like we were fighting hard in most of the weight classes we contested and I think we closed out matches better as well.”
No. 10 redshirt sophomore Zack Trampe earned an 8-6 decision after coming back from a 5-4 deficit late in the third period to Bucknell freshman Darren Miller. Senior Anthony Sparacio followed that up with an even closer win, as he defeated junior David Campbell in sudden death overtime 6-4. “Typically when you get to sudden death the first person to score wins, so the person that puts the most effort on the mat wins,” Borshoff said. “[Sparacio] dug deep and fired off a really nice leg attack and as soon as he got a good angle the other guy kind of gave up and let us get the takedown for the win.” Those two close wins are something that the team hopes to use as a blueprint for the rest of the season. “For both 133 and 141 we really had to dig deep and come
out on top,” Borshoff said. “Last week in those close situations we lost every single match, and today we won both of those matches. And I think the two efforts today by Trampe and Sparacio are something that the other guys on the team need to follow.” After the back-to-back close wins, the Bearcats had a 13-6 lead before Bucknell won at the 149 and 157 weight classes to even the score at 13. Binghamton then forfeited the 165 and 174 weight classes to give Bucknell the 25-13 victory. Binghamton’s 174 wrestler was disqualified from participation by the Bucknell medical staff, according to Borshoff. The Bearcats will spend the next week preparing to wrestle against Cornell. The match will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Friedman Wrestling Center in Ithaca, New York.
ariel kachuro photo editor Redshirt sophomore Lou DePrez picked up his 20th win of the season with an 18-3 tech fall against Bucknell on Saturday.