BU Business Fashion Society starts up on campus, See page 5 Thursday, February 20, 2020 | Vol. XCVII, Issue 9 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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Student activity fee to be voted on
UNEARTHED
BU undergraduate students currently pay $99 per semester Jacob Kerr news editor
ideas. TEDxBinghamtonUniversity’s 2020 event is set to take place in the Osterhout Concert Theater in the Anderson Center on Sunday, March 22 and will feature a
While Student Association (SA) EBoard and Binghamton University Council elections are approaching, they will not be the only topics up for a vote on the March 17 ballot, as they will be joined by the student activity fee referendum. The student activity fee is a mandatory $99 charge per semester for all students and helps fund approximately 250 student groups. In accordance with the SUNY’s Board of Trustees Policy 3901, the fee is up for a vote every other year to determine if it will remain mandatory or become voluntary. During a SA Congress meeting on Feb. 11, Alec Somerstein, SA vice president for finance and a senior double-majoring in mathematics and business administration, emphasized the importance of the fee and said students should vote in sup-
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pipe dream archives TEDxBinghamtonUniversity’s 2020 event is set to take place in the Osterhout Concert Theater in the Anderson Center on March 22 and will feature a variety of short talks, performances and demonstrations.
10th-annual event seeks to diversify speakers, topics Gillian Mathews pipe dream news
BU hosts event for women in STEM
Preparation for the 10th-annual TEDxBinghamtonUniversity event is underway to “unearth” new “ideas worth spreading” for students and faculty members alike. The TEDxBinghamtonUniversity event is structured after the original
Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) talks, which share speeches based on original ideas for internet audiences and event attendees. After the TED talks gained international popularity, TEDx was created in 2009 to give smaller communities a similar opportunity to share
Women’s basketball defeats UMass Lowell Boland’s late block secures road victory for Bearcats Samantha Marsh
assistant sports editor
Cornell University program teaches entrepreneurship Jackson Galati & Maja Clasen pipe dream news
There has been a big push in recent years to advance women in scientific fields, but on Wednesday evening, a workshop aimed to tackle a different issue — turning women’s scientific ideas into successful businesses. About two dozen female students and faculty attended the “Women Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Women Entrepreneurs Cornell (W.E. Cornell) Ideation Workshop” sponsored by the Binghamton University Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships, the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator and W.E. Cornell. The workshop asked women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields to identify an idea which matched their passions and could be turned into a startup company. The workshop was led by Andrea Ippolito, program director of W.E. Cornell and a lecturer of engineering management at Cornell University, who has experience in working at biomedical engineering startups. The attendees participated in two rounds of a brainstorming exercise called “Crazy Eights,” where they tried to come up with eight ideas in eight minutes. The first round pushed them to come up with ideas based off of current
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time. But when the River Hawks inbounded the ball, Moon swooped in for the steal and was fouled once more, securing a 62-58 victory for the Bearcats (18-8, 7-6 AE). “I’m so happy for those kids,” said Binghamton head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. “What a heart, I mean, what a tough game we played today.” The Bearcats were down by as many as 14 points, making this their largest comeback of the season, but the team only scored four points in the first quarter and committed six turnovers. The only scorers of the quarter were Moon and junior forward Kaylee Wasco. “I kept telling them they have to attack,” Shapiro Ord said. “We
john atkinson pipe dream photographer Senior guard Kai Moon racked up 19 points to fuel the Bearcats’ comeback against UMass Lowell on Wednesday night.
Down 60-58 with less than 30 seconds left in the Binghamton women’s basketball team’s game against UMass Lowell, the River Hawks (13-14, 9-5 America East) were scrambling to tie up the game. The ball was passed off to UMass Lowell freshman guard Shamyjha Price, who went for a layup under the net but was blocked by senior guard Carly Boland. After the block, the River Hawks fouled senior guard Kai Moon, who made one of two free throws, giving UMass Lowell the opportunity to make a 3-pointer and go into over-
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Campus celebrates National Engineers Week M. Stanley Whittingham gave speech during event Richard Jannaccio & Riccardo Monico pipe dream news
Students, faculty and alumni, along with professional engineers from Broome County and neighboring counties, gathered at the Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton on Tuesday for the annual Engineers Week Dinner, which was headlined by a much-anticipated keynote speaker. The four-hour event included research poster presentations by undergraduate students and a keynote speech by M. Stanley Whittingham, the 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a distinguished professor of chemistry and materials science and
ARTS & CULTURE
engineering. Frank Roma, former president of the Broome Area Chapter of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) — the organization that sponsored the event — said Whittingham’s participation as keynote speaker was responsible for boosting this year’s attendance to a record level. “The turnout is much higher than past years,” Roma said. “It’s not every day that we have a Nobel Prize winner in the area, so we’re pretty excited about that.” The dinner was part of Engineers Week, a series of events organized by the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, such as Monday’s trivia night and Wednesday’s paper airplane competition.
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john atkinson pipe dream photographer M. Stanley Whittingham, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a distinguished professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering, speaks at the Engineers Week Dinner on Tuesday evening.
OPINIONS
SPORTS
Readers’ Series features two BU alumni,
Broome County Parks, Recreation and Youth Services to host annual Winterfest,
The Editorial Board calls for Binghamton University to educate donors on school needs,
Swimming and diving compete in the America East Championships,
Women’s tennis beats Marist, loses to St. Bonaventure,
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SEE PAGE 5
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PAGE II Thursday, February 20, 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
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“Often, late at night, I would look through that window and past those bars out into the night sky and I’d think of home, I’d think of my children, I’d think of [my wife] Patti. Sometimes I could almost feel her near me … I would say to myself, ‘One day, one day I’ll make it back to you, and hold your hand, sweetheart, and I will remember what a gracious thing it’s been to walk through life with you. Thank you for waiting.’”
SPRING 2020 eDitor-in-Chief* Sasha Hupka editor@bupipedream.com
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— Rod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, speaking to the press on Wednesday after President Donald Trump commuted his prison sentence on Tuesday. In 2012, Blagojevich was convicted of political corruption and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.
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david grinberg staff photographer Students compete in a paper airplane competition in Old Union Hall on Wednesday in celebration of Engineers Week.
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Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Mark Silverio of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. In plain sight FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2:15 p.m. — Officers responded to Onondaga Hall of College-in-the-Woods following a report of drug paraphernalia. Upon arrival, they spoke to the reporting party, a 28-year-old female residential director (RD). She explained that while conducting fire inspections, she detected an odor of marijuana from the room of the suspect, an 18-year-old female. When the RD entered the room, she found 22.2
grams of marijuana. Upon arrival, officers observed a clear baggy with a green, leafy substance on the desk in plain sight. They also found a vape pen with THC, rolling papers and a black grinder. The resident was home during the fire inspection and claimed responsibility for the items found. All items were seized and the suspect was issued a warning. A fiery valentine FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 11:13 p.m. — Officers responded to Lehman Hall of Hinman College after the fire alarm was set off in the basement. Officers met with the resident, a 20-year-old male, who
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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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was responsible for the alarm. The resident said he was trying to heat up dinner in the microwave, but burnt it on accident. Officers opened windows for ventilation and obtained permission from the Vestal Fire Department to reset the alarm. Always check your pockets SUNDAY, Feb. 16, 12:16 p.m. — A 19-year-old female resident assistant (RA) contacted UPD after she found a suspected fraudulent driver’s license in an elevator. Officers responded to Mohawk Hall of College-in-the-Woods and the RA identified the student on the driver’s license. UPD spoke
to the resident and she claimed responsibility for it. The resident was issued a warning, and the driver’s license was brought back to the station and destroyed. Loading up on power tools MONDAY, Feb. 17, 7:30 a.m. — Officers responded to the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences construction site at 48 Corliss Ave. in Johnson City for a burglary complaint. Fahs Construction Group and a number of contractors contacted UPD after realizing some of their power tools were missing and that there was damage to the interior of the building. The project
coordinator showed officers the damage inside. They said someone put a sledgehammer through drywall and damaged different work sites throughout the building. Officers went back to the station to review footage from parking lot cameras from Binghamton University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) building next door. Upon reviewing the footage, they noticed that at around 11 p.m. the previous day, an unknown suspect used a barrel to climb over the fence and then disappeared behind the building. The case remains under investigation.
bupipedream.com | February 20, 2020
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Activity fee responsible for more than $1.3M in SA funds fee from page 1 port of it. John Santare, SA vice president for academic affairs and a senior double-majoring in biology and comparative literature, wrote in an email that he feels the fee is an invaluable asset to the SA and student body. “Keeping the fee mandatory is extremely important to anyone on campus who is a part of an SA-chartered group,” Santare wrote. “You should vote yes because it ensures that funding for our 300-plus organizations does not dissolve, that [Off Campus College Transport] buses run, Harpur’s Ferry ambulances are stocked and [Support, Empathy, Empowerment, Kindness] has call handlers. It also ensures that students are still able to go to [the] fall concert, Spring Fling, comedy shows, Fall Fest and guest speakers.” In fall 2019, BU reported
that 14,021 undergraduate students were enrolled at the University, according to their official website. Based on those numbers, the fee brings in about $1.3 million each semester to support these organizations and student groups. Jonah Maryles, a sophomore majoring in art and design, said he believes most students are positively affected by these funds. “I feel as if most people don’t know what the fees are for, but still pay them,” Maryles said. “I can see both sides of the vote, but ultimately believe that a majority of students reap benefits from at least one of those resources and therefore should pay for it. If made optional, why would you willingly spend more money?” Graduate students at BU are also charged a mandatory fee, but it costs slightly less at $65 per semester. Liam Rodden, a first-year graduate stu-
dent studying education, said the thinks the fee is a positive aspect of BU, especially compared to other University fees. “Though mandatory fees can often seem erroneous or redundant, part of what makes [BU] able to serve thousands of people with moderate satisfaction is the fact that everyone pays into our services,” Rodden said. “While I would like some other fees like the gym or parking to be reassessed — this fee seems to go toward things that make everyone’s time here a little better, easier or less anxious, at least.” Santare said a vote for a voluntary fee could have a detrimental effect on the SA as a whole. “I cannot, in a single quotable sentence, stress that the future of the [SA] hinges on this vote,” Santare wrote. “If you care about any of these programs, resources or organizations, please vote yes.”
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Koffman Southern Tier Incubator Engineers Week dinner co-hosts women’s STEM event sees increased turnout stem from page 1
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macro trends, such as advances in technology like 5G and interests in personalized medicine. The second round had the audience come up with ideas based on their passions. After each round, participants paired up with other audience members to share their thoughts and get feedback. The exercise aimed to push attendees to use their areas of expertise to address the “pain points,” or issues, they see and feel like they can
“You have an initial idea, but you need a push to get started,” Ippolito said. “So what we’re hoping is this process can help them think through how that initial idea aligns to what they’re passionate about — the pain points they may be facing — and also what their expertise is.” Audience members then pitched their best ideas to a small group. Finding their top ideas signaled the end of the workshop, yet Ippolito hoped to
alex gross staff photographer Andrea Ippolito, program director of Women Entrepreneurs Cornell (W.E. Cornell) at Cornell University and a lecturer of engineering management at Cornell University, spoke at the Women Innovators and Entrepreneurs: W.E. Cornell Ideation Workshop at the Informations Technology Center (ITC) on Wednesday.
show the audience it was only the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. The next step, according to Ippolito, is customer discovery where the women start testing their ideas with potential customers. Attendees will not have to embark on that journey alone. The Koffman Southern Tier Incubator will be running short courses in customer discovery for the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program starting on April 17 and going until May 9. On May 6, it will also have a startup summit to bring together entrepreneurs and business professionals to do workshops and network. Olga Petrova, program director of XCEED, a clean-technology program within the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, and a technology licensing associate at the BU Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships, said she believes it is important for women to be able to make their STEM ideas an entrepreneurial reality. “If you are doing work on something in the lab or you have an idea, you should have the same opportunities to try and materialize that idea and bring it to market,” Petrova said. While the immediate purpose of the workshop was to help those women in attendance with their own ideas and aspirations, Ippolito believes it will have a larger impact on future generations. “What we’re hoping is that we can encourage and share the pathway more in what is the process to start a company, what are resources in the ecosystem that we can take advantage of, to propel them forward and they can be that new generation of entrepreneurs that are the role models,” Ippolito said. “You can’t be what you can’t see and so what we’re hoping is to expose them to role models throughout this process as well.”
engineering from page 1 Peter Partell, associate dean of academic affairs and administration at the Watson school, said the week is not only an opportunity to foster growth for Binghamton University students, but also a chance for interaction with surrounding communities and future generations. On Saturday, the week will end with the Community Day event. “School-age kids come to campus and interact with our undergraduate students, with a few graduate students mixed in, who come up with different projects for the students,” Partell said. According to Partell, events such as these are helpful because they cultivate an interest in engineering starting from a young age. “This is the culminating event [of Engineers Week] because we’re trying to keep young kids — the next generation — inspired,” Partell said. “Get them excited about being an engineer by building things and understanding how things work.” Roma said about 130 people made reservations for Tuesday evening’s dinner, an increase of more than 30 percent compared to past years. “We have a lot of students from [BU], students from the clubs and professors from the Watson school,” Roma said. “And I know we have alumni from [BU] because they are working in the area, which is great to see.” Among those BU alumni was Joseph Caza III, ‘08, who was presented with the NYSSPE’s 2020 Engineer of the Year award. Caza is a structural engineer and associate for Elwyn & Palmer Consulting Engineers, PLLC. “[Engineers] do a lot of work and we don’t get recognition, so it’s good that you guys come along to do these types of things for us,” Caza said when accepting the award. “I’m just truly grate-
ful for it and thank you very much.” Following the award ceremony, Whittingham was invited to take the stage by Partell. Whittingham’s nearly hourlong speech centered around his research on the lithium-ion battery, his experience receiving the Nobel Prize and the importance of renewable energy for engineering going forward. “The real issue coming up these days in energy storage is enabling renewable energy — we can store the energy,” Whittingham said. “We should be able to get into recycling — it’s going to make things more sustainable.” One of the poster presentations exhibited before dinner was created by a group of five undergraduate students, which included Evan Halstead, a senior majoring in systems science and industrial engineering, and Lydia Hanchett, a senior majoring in systems science and industrial engineering. Hanchett said being part of the event was inspirational because of Whittingham. “We actually got to meet [M.] Stanley Whittingham, and got to take a picture with him,” Hanchett said. “Last semester everyone was talking about him and the lithium-ion battery and how he just won the Nobel Prize, so to meet him, it was a really cool experience.” Whittingham ended his address with a quote from Albert Einstein, some advice on choosing a career and his thoughts about what is most valuable in life. “The message I want to leave with all engineers, and this is something Einstein said many, many moons ago — ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge,’” Whittingham said. “That’s really what I’d encourage all of you to do, young or old. Imagine what you’d like to do. And particularly for the younger folks, don’t do it just for the money, do something you enjoy doing.”
TEDxBU to feature seven speakers, student performance tedx from page 1 variety of short talks, performances and demonstrations ranging from comedian Abby Govindan to geophysicist Mika McKinnon. Emma Krempa, one of the student directors for TEDxBinghamtonUniversity and a senior majoring in business administration, said the 2020 theme is “UNEARTHED” because it aims to shed light on topics and ideas that are not usually discussed or uncovered. “At our event, no ideas will stay below the surface,” Krempa wrote in an email. “In college, we have to take a multitude of courses in one particular subject area to obtain a degree. The cool thing about events like this is that we are exposed to a diverse array of topics that may not align with our interests.” According to Krempa, a team of four student directors and a faculty adviser and license holder work together to coordinate the event and schedule speakers. Krempa said the team also took
on a graphic designer and student volunteers to increase productivity and involvement. “Each of us has specific tasks that fall under our role,” Krempa wrote. “When TEDxBinghamtonUniversity first started out, there were several students with a passion for sharing ideas that decided to apply for a license and carry out this event. Since then, we’ve continued to grow in size and in depth.” Last year, an undergraduate student host position was added for the first time to alleviate the workload of organizers. This year, Flynn Anderson, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, has been assigned to the task of introducing the variety of speakers. “In short, I will be putting smiles on everyone’s face, introducing all of the major speakers and connecting with students [and] faculty at Binghamton University,” Anderson wrote in an email. “I will be shaking hands at the door and trying to bring life to the Anderson Center stage.”
Following an interview for the student speaker role, the TEDxBinghamtonUniversity team reached out and offered Anderson the host position. According to Anderson, he wants to make the most of the opportunity and leave a lasting impression. “I really am going to push the boundaries of a host and try and humanize myself up on the stage,” Anderson wrote. “I also want everyone who goes to the event to say, ‘Hey that’s Flynn Anderson! He hosted TEDxBinghamton[University] and he was the best host ever in the history of all hosts!’” “UNEARTHED” will introduce changes to improve the diversity of the event as well as changes to the structure. One of these changes, according to Krempa, was the creation of TEDxBinghamtonUniversity Salons, which are smaller TEDx events to help spark interest in the main event. “One thing we focused on more heavily this year was getting a diversity of representation in our speakers in addition to diversity in
topics,” Krempa wrote. “Some additional changes we made to the event include more local exhibitors, a longer intermission and a new type of performance.” This year’s TEDxBinghamtonUniversity lineup features seven speakers and a performance by Beatbox Bing, an on-campus club dedicated to providing an environment for beatboxers to learn and grow in a supportive community. David Mathews, a sophomore double-majoring in integrative neuroscience and philosophy, was selected to be this year’s student speaker after submitting an application and undergoing the interview process. Mathews said he wants the audience to leave with new ideas to think about and incorporate into their day-to-day life. “Right now, the name of the game is practice, practice, practice,” Mathews wrote in an email. “I don’t want to spoil the talk for too many of my friends, so I’ve only practiced delivering the talk to a few. Simply, I hope the con-
ference gets them thinking.” The team of student directors and volunteers are set to table in various locations on campus such as the Marketplace, Glenn G. Bartle Library and the University Union to sell tickets. In addition, the TEDxBinghamtonUniversity team will be promoting the event
at the Oakdale Mall and through various online platforms to engage a wide variety of attendees. The first 100 tickets sold on campus will be $5 each and after these tickets are sold, advanced in-person ticket prices will go up to $10 each. Tickets at the door of the event will cost $15 each.
OPINIONS Thursday, February 20, 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
EDITORIAL: DON’T STRIKE OUT, BU New sports facility might boost BU’s reputation and baseball program, but it could come with long-term costs
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On Feb. 11, Binghamton University received a $60 million donation to build a state-of-the-art baseball stadium, the largest donation in BU’s history. The new sports complex, which is expected to be complete in time for the 2021 baseball season, will make BU’s field one
of the premier facilities among colleges in the nation. Plans for the upgrade includes tripling the field’s current seating capacity and constructing a brand new indoor training facility. No official, detailed budgetary breakdown has been made public as of the publication of this editorial, which may
indicate that the budget is not yet ready to be released or that the University does not plan on releasing one at all. What is clear is that the construction of the new complex will use the entirety of the donation. John Hartrick, associate athletics director of communications, wrote to the Editorial Board in an email that the donation will not include money to go toward sports scholarships or supplies for BU’s baseball team. Instead, the gift will be used solely for the complex, as the anonymous donor requested. This leads to some concerns, primarily pertaining to long-term plans for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility that will be built as a result of this generous donation. Hartrick indicated that the donor family would financially support the maintenance of the facility after its completion, but the details of that assistance were not disclosed. Although there isn’t any reason to doubt that this assistance will come, nothing is guaranteed. The donor may be able and willing to support the
cost of upkeep and repairs now, but what happens 10 or 20 years down the line? In the same respect, while administrators have rightfully been hopeful that the new sports complex will attract greater support for BU and other schools in the SUNY system, that goal might not come to fruition. Looking into the future, if donor money drops and the stadium cannot support itself, there may not be a contingency plan to save it from inevitable decay. The University has already experienced the painful reality of what happens when outside entities don’t pick up their end of the bargain. In fall 2018, New York state refused to pay for faculty raises stipulated during negotiations between United University Professions (UUP) and the SUNY system, and since then, BU has faced financial challenges. These issues culminated in a monthslong hiring freeze, which just ended last semester. In his State of the University speech in October, even BU President Harvey Stenger admitted that “we are not out of the woods” with
the monetary shortage. While the current situation BU finds itself in is not the fault of its administration, it is worrying that the school may not have learned any lessons from the experience. It also casts another layer of worry onto the plans for the new facility, as the University really does not have the funds to pick up the slack where donors leave off. All of this also does not address the vital services on campus that have yet to be fully funded. As soon as the news of the new stadium broke, many students expressed frustration with the donor’s decision to donate exclusively to a sports complex in place of underfunded institutions like the University Counseling Center. It’s important to note that any donation made to the University, if not donated to its general funds, must be spent on the donor’s specific request. The only other option BU had in this situation was to decline the donation entirely, which would have been just as unprecedented as receiving such a large donation in the first place.
The Editorial Board is thankful for any donor looking to assist in the betterment of our University, but it’s difficult to see donors continually overlook the parts of University life that would benefit most from a substantial boost in funding. The BU Foundation office, the organ in charge of the University’s donation collection, should listen to the criticism offered by the student body, even if they are unable to implement reforms to their procedures with this most recent donation. Instead, the BU Foundation office should develop better ways to inform potential donors of what parts of the University are in the greatest need of financial support. Donations to BU should be met with pride, but that becomes challenging when they skate over the facilities that students and faculty use every day. Although the new sports complex will undoubtedly be a boon to BU’s premier public Ivy claim to fame, future donors should look to bolster the rest of the University too.
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.
Capitalism limits one’s ability to choose where they live and work With a majority of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, few can afford to pursue opportunity Michael Levinstein Contributing Columnist
A 2019 American Payroll Association survey found that more than 74 percent of Americans who earn a paycheck find themselves financially dependent on their next immediate check. This cannot be explained by saying we’re all just collectively lazy. Instead, it’s a clear failure of the system. The professions included in this study arguably require the most work in our society, such as teachers, waitresses, nurses and construction workers. These are jobs that include people from all walks of life, and capitalism leaves them out in the cold. But while it’s an indictment of our society that we allow this to continue, we must first ask ourselves: How does this byproduct of capitalism affect our freedoms? In short, freedom is limited. To understand how, we must
look critically at what freedoms capitalism promises us, most importantly the false promise that we have the freedom to choose where to work and live. One of our biggest and most important expenditures as a country is health care. With employer-sponsored health insurance being the most common source of health care coverage in America, the fact that 74 percent of workers also are still living paycheck to paycheck is worrying. The 155 million people in America who rely on their boss for health insurance are effectively stuck at their job. Sure, you may have some “choice” in your health care plan, but at the end of the day the choice of whether you actually have adequate coverage is up to your employer. If you’re working paycheck to paycheck and want better, capitalism says, “Too bad, you’re stuck,” because if you leave, you risk living without insurance while between jobs. This is especially harmful if you are a person with a condition that requires regular attention, like diabetes. In that case, you
have no time to be uninsured — making access to health care a life and death matter that has already begun killing Americans unable to afford inflated insulin costs. Between living for the next paycheck and relying on your place of work for health care, you are robbed of your choice of where to work and live because leaving your job, and health care, is that much harder. For these people, the capitalist rhetoric to “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” doesn’t apply. Moving to new cities for better opportunities, not an uncommon suggestion made to those who want better work, is impossible when you can’t save the money because you’re living paycheck to paycheck. Data from the American Moving & Storage Association states that “the average cost of an intrastate move is $1,170, and the average move between states costs $5,630.” Saving thousands isn’t realistic for those living paycheck to paycheck. Capitalism necessitates a focus on the short term, which limits your future
choices. For example, more than 41 percent of people who moved out of New York state in 2018 earned $150,000 or more. That statistic for those making under $50,000 was just 8.4 percent. The rich have freedom of movement; they can afford to think in the long term. Why can’t the rest of us? Another economic consequence that prevents self-sufficiency is the potency of intergenerational wealth. A New York University study ranked different jobs on an 100-point socioeconomic scale, with higher values meaning higher prestige and pay, and looked for a relationship between participants’ job scores and their parents’. They found that “half of the Americans surveyed whose parents held toptier occupations worked in jobs ranked at 76 or higher … Half of those whose parents’ jobs were in the bottom tier were in jobs that scored 28 or under.” With the job market partially dependent on the economic standing of your parents, it’s difficult to argue that this product of the free market is
giving people “more choice” in their lives. This aspect applies not only to jobs, but to net worth as well. Research shows that millennials have on average 40 percent and 20 percent less net worth than Generation X and baby boomers, respectively, at the same age. As it becomes harder to accumulate enough wealth to be self-sufficient, our ability to make choices is diminished. So, how do we give people greater choice in their lives? The answer lies in socialized medicine and worker cooperatives. If people have health care regardless of their employment, they’re free to pursue education and move. By socializing medicine, workers finally gain the freedoms capitalism promised them. Worker cooperatives, a business structure that emphasizes profit sharing and democratic decision-making, reduce income inequality and allow more people to build wealth in their communities. According to The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the average CEO-
to-worker pay ratio in the United States is 373-to-1, while it is only 9-to-1 in the largest cooperative in the world, Spain’s Mondragon Corporation. Encouraging worker cooperatives and getting health care through the government can greatly increase workers’ freedom because they’ll have more accumulated wealth and therefore be less tied down to their jobs. Under our current economic system, jobs that are necessary for society to function aren’t paid well enough to maintain freedom of choice for all. People tell you to save; they say, “If only you would save your money you could buy what you want, live where you want and be as healthy as you want.” The problem is, if you can’t save money, like most workers, you’re left behind. The inequality that results from capitalism doesn’t afford greater freedoms to most Americans — it only confines their ability to choose where they live and work. Michael Levinstein is a senior double-majoring in political science and economics.
Letter to the Editor: Statement from DIVEST BING Guest Author
Editor’s note: This letter to the editor was written by members of DIVEST BING. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, several members of DIVEST BING attended the Bearcats’ basketball game to express our discontent with the BAE Systems-sponsored halftime show. Several students in the stands held a banner, while others distributed information in the concessions area. BAE Systems is a military contractor that profits primarily from its sale of weapons and surveillance technology to the American military and authoritarian governments throughout the world. The most striking example of this is the company’s role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, providing Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with the bombs that have been used to target Yemeni schools, farms and hospitals. BAE Systems also provides crucial military infrastructure, with one BAE Systems employee commenting, “If we weren’t [in Yemen], in seven to 14 days there
wouldn’t be a jet in the sky.” In order to recruit new engineers to design, construct and maintain these tools of oppression, BAE Systems and military contractors like them exploit poor engineering students and students of color anxious to find work after graduation. These students are lured in with promises of high starting pay and career-boosting credentials. However, BAE Systems and contractors like them do not care about the well-being of our peers, whose skills may be put to better use in industries which do not profit from murder. The fact that the University allows these companies to recruit on our campus is disgraceful and unacceptable. As DIVEST BING, we stand against the University’s complicity in industries that profit from death and human misery. We stand in solidarity with the people around the world that these companies harm, and with the students these companies seek to exploit. DIVEST BING is a student-coordinated campaign for financial transparency and ethical investment at BU.
On Feb. 12, members of DIVEST BING demonstrated against BAE Systems at a men’s basketball game.
provided by divest bing
BU Business Fashion Society suits future entrepreneurs Club explores the corporate side of style Krishna Patel arts & culture
College students interested in business-related careers have countless potential paths they could pursue. Ranging from consulting to human resources to corporate law, the options are seemingly endless. Now, students interested in exploring the business end of the fashion industry can do so through the BU Business Fashion Society, a new club on campus. The club, established this semester, was created for students who are interested in pursuing business careers within the fashion industry. Co-founders Rene Vorilas, vice president and a junior majoring in business administration, and Alexandra Lattuca, president and a senior majoring in business administration, decided to form the club when they realized BU had few resources and
connections for business students who desire to work in a field not related to finance or accounting. “[Lattuca] and I both are in the [School of Management (SOM)] but bonded over our interests in working in the fashion industry,” Vorilas wrote in an email. “She had interned at Steve Madden and Luxottica and I had interned at Brooks Brothers, yet despite all of the resources given to students for internships, we had to seek [out] these internships on our own. We realized that there was nothing for students like us to get connected with individuals in the fashion industry and learn about job opportunities so we decided to create the [BU] Business Fashion Society. We want to share that there are jobs out there for people with interests in business besides accounting and finance — and want to create a space for people to learn, create and make connections.” The new group will strive to provide both a professional and creative outlet for students in Harpur College and SOM who are looking for opportunities to
facebook The Binghamton University Business Fashion Society aims to offer new opportunities to business students.
combine their business skills with their creativity. “We find that there are many students in [SOM] and Harpur College who want to pursue careers in the industry but don’t know where to begin in their research or how to navigate the recruiting process,” said
Claudian Francis, vice president of finance and a sophomore majoring in economics. “We help provide students with the knowledge and experiences to pursue opportunities in the fashion industry.” Matthew Baker, assistant vice president of fundraising and
marketing and a senior majoring in English, said the club has helped him further his interest in the fashion industry. “I think overall it brings a sense of inclusion to the BU campus, especially for me at least,” Baker wrote in an email. “I have wanted to work in the fashion industry for quite some time, but have always felt that I significantly lacked the resources to get there at BU. So for a club to finally be accessible that’s catered to my interests is extremely welcoming and fulfilling.” Vorilas said she wants BU Business Fashion Society to be a unique, open and collaborative space for students in every level of involvement with the group. “We want to be a resource for people,” Vorilas wrote. “We send out weekly briefs every Sunday with links to relevant internships, professional development and even fun news sections! Since we are new, we are constantly adapting and changing to what our members want out of the club — so unlike existing organizations, we hope
that every person has a say as to what happens in the future of this club!” This semester, the BU Business Fashion Society has a number of events planned, including T-shirt bleaching and cutting, thrift sales, professional development workshops and a speaker series featuring employees from companies like Bloomingdale’s, Steve Madden and Gap. Through these activities, Vorilas hopes to bring awareness to the business side of the industry and encourage those interested in finance, management and fashion to find a career that fits them. “At my summer internship, I was being paid the same as my friends with finance internships while being able to come in on my own time, wear fashionable clothing … and get really valuable work experience,” she wrote. “We just want to open students’ eyes to this realm of work that they may not even know is possible, as well as provide a space for people interested in fashion and design to find people that they vibe with.”
Winterfest to embrace Broome County’s cold weather Festivities will include skating, fishing derby Netali Zaff
contributing writer
The holiday season might be over, but winter is still in full swing in Binghamton — snow, slush and all. This Saturday, the Broome County Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Services will bring together the community for a day of winter weather activities during Winterfest, a free, public event hosted at Nathaniel Cole Park from noon to 4 p.m. The event will include various activities, ranging from ice skating on the lake and sledding to a scavenger hunt and
obstacle course. There will also be guided hikes, a bonfire, crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and a fishing derby. Winterfest was coordinated by the Broome County Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Services, which brought the event back this winter after the town of Colesville stopped hosting it a few years ago. “We wanted to bring something to the community that provided winter fun and activities for people to get outside and enjoy being outdoors and in the county parks during the winter time,” said Amanda Florance, parks, recreation and youth services coordinator. “Then we started brainstorming ideas, we talked to some of our managers in the
park — that’s how we got the idea of the fishing derby.” Florance worked alongside Liz Woidt, director of parks, recreation and youth services, to organize the event. They pulled inspiration from previous Winterfests and various winter activities available in the Broome County area such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Florance and Woidt are also bringing in local organizations and vendors to the event, hoping to provide vendors with more exposure within the community and create a wider array of opportunities for the crowds. The event — like many hosted by the Broome County Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Services — is free.
According to Woidt, this allows the event to be widely accessible to the public and opens up the parks to those who may not have spent time there otherwise. “We like giving people a reason to come in and visit our parks,” Woidt said. “There are a lot of people in Broome County that don’t realize what we truly have to offer.” Florance said the event is an opportunity for attendees to engage in various unique winter activities among fellow community members, and allows more people to see what is available in Broome County. “I think it brings awareness to the parks, and it also brings people together,” Florance said. “They might learn about organizations that are in our
facebook Broome County Parks, Recreation and Youth Services is aiming to unite the community with unique winter activities this Saturday.
community, or opportunities or experiences that are provided here in Broome County that they might not be aware of.” The full schedule of
Winterfest activities is available on the Broome County Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Services’ website and social media.
BU alumni-turned-authors reflect on careers, recite works Fine Arts Building hosts latest series installment Krishna Patel arts & culture
On Tuesday, words echoed through the halls of the Fine Arts Building as the Binghamton Center for Writers welcomed Binghamton University alumni Jason Allen, ‘17, and Abby E. Murray, ‘15, as part of their ongoing Readers’ Series. Like previous installments of the series, the event was free and open to the public, who heard the authors read excerpts of their work and answer audience questions. Allen, a novelist who primarily writes fiction, memoirs and poetry, is most notably known for his book, “The East End,” and his poetry collection, “A Meditation on Fire.” Since graduating with a Ph.D. from BU, Murray has become the poet laureate for Tacoma, Washington and has published award-winning books such as “Hail and Farewell” and chapbooks including “How to Be Married after Iraq,” “Quick Draw: Poem’s from a Soldier’s Wife” and “Me and Coyote.” The audience, a mix of professors, community members and students, were welcomed into Fine Arts 258 with snacks, refreshments and both the authors’ books for sale. As the guests settled down in their seats, both authors were introduced by their former instructors, who reviewed critics’ praise of their works. Allen presented his work first, reading excerpts from his book “The East End.” In his reading, Allen presented two of the
multiple points of view the book was written in, including the perspective of Cory, a teenage character loosely based on the author himself who works in the summer mansions of America’s wealthiest in the Hamptons. Ryan Stears, a second-year Ph.D. candidate studying English, said Long Island is a setting many BU students can relate to. “I’m from out east on Long Island so when the novelist was talking about the Hamptons and the dunes, I knew exactly what he was talking about and I was immediately able to connect with that,” he said. Allen narrated his protagonist, Cory, sneaking into the home of a Wall Street millionaire while he and his wife were asleep. While in the mansion, Cory whispers to the wife, “You are ugly.” Allen showed a side of the Hamptons never seen on TV and illustrated Cory’s desperation to escape working-class Long Island. Allen shifted to reading an excerpt from the book from Leo’s point of view, a millionaire character who has a summer home in the Hamptons. Mike Campi, a junior double-majoring in English and Spanish, said Leo’s character resonated with him. “What really stuck with me was the juxtaposition of the boy on the beach listening to the ocean and the rich man in the city more focused on doing lines of cocaine but still having the complexity that wasn’t anticipated from the very beginning, in my opinion,” he said. Campi emphasized the power of complex and multifaceted characters in Allen’s works. “Really what I was taking
notes on and paying attention to was his characters and the attributes that he gave them,” Campi said. “To me, they felt very real and three-dimensional — that’s something that I strive for in my own writing.” Murray followed up Allen’s reading with a passionate recitation of a few of her poems, including “Happy Birthday Army” and “Asking for a Friend.” Many of the poems revolved around womanhood and being a military spouse. Murray introduced each poem with some background on how she got the idea for it, what inspired it and some insight into her own life. Abigail Widrig, a senior majoring in English, said she liked how Murray shed light on military family members. “What resonated with me was [Murray’s] poetry on the military because it gives an inside look on what it’s like to be a military family member
rather than a military member and I think that’s a very unique perspective,” she said. Stears said Murray’s unique point of view made her poetry
even more powerful. “She said she couldn’t really resonate with the wives of military men and I think that’s very unique,” Stears said. “She’s
offering a different perspective than the standard military wife point of view. I thought that was really cool and the poems were really beautiful.”
rose coschignano pipe dream photographer Abby E. Murray’s work focuses on womanhood and being the spouse of a soldier.
F UN
Thursday, February 20, 2020 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April 3,2, 5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017
Rollin’
Rush Pipe Dream
Daniel Eisenhower Horoscopes
The Cosmos
Sarah Teper
Sudoku
By The Mepham Group
Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle
Panda House
Tara Regan
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Release Date: Thursday, February 20, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Ninjago is always relevant
Daniel Eisenhower
ACROSS 1 Play with strings 6 Blubber 10 __ buco 14 Want in the worst way 15 Lounge around 16 Place to talk shop? 17 Tackled the job 19 Passionate 20 Second sequel’s number 21 Sacred chests 22 Thrash 23 Winter coat? 25 Range for a manhunt 28 Arizona landforms 30 TourBook-issuing org. 31 Designer monogram 32 “Hasta la vista” 33 Comic strip frames 36 Tot’s plaything ... and a feature of 17-, 25-, 48- and 59-Across 40 Forklift load 41 Stuffy-sounding 43 Many AARP mems. 46 Issa of “The Hate U Give” 47 Dire 48 Intercepting, as at the pass 53 Christmas poem opener 54 “Hasta la vista” 55 “The Daily Show” host 57 Nos. on driver’s licenses 58 Sharp turns 59 Ready to start the day 62 Succulent plant genus 63 Gumption 64 __ toast 65 Sew a patch on, perhaps 66 Possessive pronoun 67 Roundup critter DOWN 1 Deep rifts 2 New recruits 3 Hobbyist’s contraption
4 Sch. founded by Jefferson 5 Prefix with bytes or bucks 6 Oddball 7 Tons o’ 8 “The Rookie” actress Larter 9 Club alternative 10 Home of Minor League Baseball’s Storm Chasers 11 Cooking show adjective 12 Covers with goop 13 Bud from way back 18 “Grey’s Anatomy” settings, for short 22 33-Down’s purview 24 Path to the top 26 Charged 27 Normandy city 29 Trips where big cats are spotted 33 Ship owner who described Ahab as “ungodly, godlike” 34 Stand buy 35 “Good thinking!”
37 Custard dessert 38 Considering everything 39 Conduit created by volcanic activity 42 Cigarette ad claim 43 Superhero acronym involving Hercules, Zeus, Achilles and three others
44 Killian’s, originally 45 Former Southeast Asian capital 49 Gave a shot, say 50 Studio sign 51 Formatting menu list 52 It’s not hot long 56 Ones acting badly 59 “So gross!” 60 Ante61 Exacta or trifecta
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
By Bruce Haight ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
02/20/20
02/20/20
bupipedream.com | February 20, 2020
SPORTS
7
Women’s tennis defeats Marist, falls to St. Bonaventure Five Bearcats earn singles wins over Red Foxes Aidan Higgins
pipe dream sports
The Binghamton women’s tennis team competed on the road over the weekend, playing Marist on Saturday and St. Bonaventure on Sunday. The Bearcats (2-8) were able to secure a strong victory over Marist (2-4) on Saturday, but came up short in a tight match against St. Bonaventure (4-4) on Sunday. On Saturday, Binghamton lost only two matches in total against Marist. Junior Michelle Eisenberg, sophomore Regina Furer and junior Ashley Granieri each won a match in both singles and doubles. Freshman Jamie Lau, after winning her first set 7-5 but steeply losing 0-6 in the second set, recovered nicely to win 10-4 in a super tiebreak against Marist freshman Nina McAllan. Binghamton head coach Libby McGovern was impressed with the team’s performance throughout the day. “We played very well against
Marist,” McGovern said. “Everybody competed at a high level. A lot of the matches had some very close scores with several tiebreaks, a couple of three-setters. To be able to come away with a decisive victory at 6-1 means that a lot of rough matches that we played over the course of the season so far have started to pay off.” The Bearcats played at a similar level of intensity on Sunday against St. Bonaventure but were not able to capitalize on crucial points. In singles, Binghamton secured three victories with the help of Eisenberg, Furer and Granieri. However, Binghamton could not secure a doubles victory when it mattered most. Eisenberg and her sister, senior Samara Eisenberg, were on the way to do just that, but ended up losing a close match against St. Bonaventure sophomore Penelope Abreu and sophomore Andrea Roque 7-6 (7-2). The Bearcat duo of freshman Kyra Bergmann and freshman Lara Kaplan came close to a win as well, but went on to lose to the Bonnies’ senior Kahlei Reisinger and sophomore Paula Velilla 7-5.
“St. Bonaventure played a little more aggressively than we did,” McGovern said. “Not drastically so, but they definitely executed at the net better than we did and served better across the board in all the doubles matches. It makes a huge difference at that level when you’re playing a tiebreaker and losing 7-5 at third doubles, it really comes to the little things, like executing your volleys and executing your serves.” Binghamton played at a high level in both matches but tapered off slightly against St. Bonaventure on Sunday. Still, the Bearcats appear ready to bring that same intensity into upcoming matches. “What we talked about after both matches was that against Marist we executed our game plan to a very high level,” McGovern said. “When you play tight matches, every point counts. Where we got in trouble against St. Bonaventure was that we did not execute as well in the big points and even some of the lesser points that lead to the big points. It really just comes down to making sure that you’re executing your shots, executing your game plan
provided by bu athletics Junior Ashley Granieri won both her singles and doubles matches in the Bearcats’ victory over Marist, which marked the team’s second win of the season.
and making sure we don’t let things get away from us by making too many errors.”
The Bearcats return home this week to play against Eastern Michigan. The match will begin
at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Binghamton Tennis Center in Binghamton, New York.
Women’s lacrosse blown out by Syracuse at Carrier Dome BU held scoreless in first half of 20-2 thrashing Joe Tonetti
sports intern
Facing off against top competition, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team struggled against No. 4 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome on Sunday night. The Bearcats (0-2) failed to record a shot in the
first half, ultimately falling 20-2 to the Orange (3-1). “Syracuse is [a] top-five program in the nation,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “They’re incredibly athletic
john atkinson pipe dream photographer Junior midfielder Alyssa Sanchez netted Binghamton’s first of two goals in its 20-2 fall to Syracuse this past weekend.
and fast and skilled players. For us, we’re not so much focused on battles that were lost in footraces or due to some of their skill and physicality.” Binghamton started the game with a rough opening period, conceding three goals within the first five minutes of play. For the entirety of the first half, the Bearcats had no response to the Orange’s attack, allowing the team to take a 15-0 lead at halftime, including a goal two seconds before the buzzer. In the first 30 minutes, Binghamton did not record a shot and had 11 turnovers. Just over 19 minutes into play, the Orange scored their 10th unanswered goal to activate the running clock mercy rule for the remainder of the game. A far less disappointing second half followed for the Bearcats, as Syracuse went to its bench and slightly eased its attack. Although the game was out of reach, Binghamton managed to concede only five goals in the half, scoring two. Around the eighth minute of the half, junior midfielder Alyssa Sanchez scored Binghamton’s first goal, cutting the deficit to 17-1. After Syracuse responded with two more goals, freshman midfielder Jamie Golderman scored Binghamton’s second and final goal of the night on a free
position shot. The name Golderman may sound familiar to Bearcats fans, who remember her older sister, former midfielder Rebecca Golderman, ‘19. Jamie Golderman now wears the same number as her sister, No. 24, for the Bearcats. Ultimately, the night ended with a 20-2 win for the Orange at the Carrier Dome. “Across the board we played a lot of minutes on the defensive end,” Allen said. “[Senior goalie] Taylor Passuello came out in the second half and had a more composed energy about her and was able to come up with some stops, and I think our defensive unit as a whole being able to play that many minutes down on the defensive end and not give up was something that we looked at and focused on and gave those girls kudos.” Passuello was forced to defend against five free position shots in the first half, and stopped the first three. She also made four saves out of Syracuse’s 24 shots on goal in the game. Of the Orange’s 33 total shots, however, 24 came in the first period, and only nine were attempted in the second. The Bearcats defense did show improvement in the second half. In comparison to the 15-0 run in
the opening period, Binghamton resiliently held the Syracuse offense to a 5-2 margin. In addition to Passuello in net, junior midfielder Kelly Quinn picked up some of the defensive duty, causing two turnovers and picking up four ground balls. Junior defender Sam Fama also picked up three ground balls. “Moving forward, I think we’re going to focus on possession and what we choose to do with those, especially winning the draw controls more,” Allen said. “It was a tough matchup for us. I think those games are important for us to understand the physicality and the mindset that’s needed, especially as we head into conference play.” Syracuse’s only loss so far this season has come from Binghamton’s America East (AE) rivals Stony Brook, with the Seawolves (2-0) earning a thrilling 17-16 upset win at the Carrier Dome to open their season. Last weekend, the heavy AE favorites also downed Ohio State in a 20-7 blowout. Next weekend, the Bearcats will take on Mount St. Mary’s in their second home game of the season. First draw control is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.
Giants should have drafted guard over Saquon Barkley Quenton Nelson deserved selection instead of QBs Ryan Giglio Pipe Dream Sports
Dave Gettleman was wrong to draft a running back with the second pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he was right to pass over several highly touted quarterbacks available, even given incumbent quarterback Eli Manning, who is clearly past his prime. Instead, the New York Giants general manager should have selected offensive guard Quenton Nelson, whom the Indianapolis Colts picked at sixth overall. Though it’s possible that this argument benefits from hindsight, there are two reasons why it was clear at the time that drafting Nelson should have been a higher priority for Gettleman. First, a running attack was already devalued by modern football analytics. This renders the selection of a running back with a high draft pick wasteful, even if it’s the “generation talent” that Gettleman described Saquon Barkley as. Analytics suggest that a passingoriented offense is the most efficient way to score points and win games. While it may seem that
this supports drafting a promising young quarterback, I argue this was more reason for Gettleman to fortify the offensive line. This also leads to my second point. The team’s offensive line was horrendous on and off the field in 2017. Remember Bobby Hart and Ereck Flowers? Part of the reason Manning struggled at the end of his career was because of a lack of protection. As a quarterback without the ability to scramble out of the pocket to extend plays, Manning became gun-shy whenever he felt pressure, thus forcing him to either throw the ball away or check it to a nearby running back for at best a minimal gain. A line anchored by Nelson would have given the two-time Super Bowl MVP, under contract for two additional years, more protection to stay in the pocket, allowing top receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard more time to get open. If this happened, Manning potentially would have looked less old and finished. Entering the draft with the game plan of drafting Nelson would have allowed the Giants to be better constructed for the future. They still would have been in position to take Daniel Jones, who was projected as a late first rounder at best, in the 2019 draft. Additionally, Jones showed enough with his play that there’s no guarantee he won’t be
as good or better than most of the 2018 prospects. Yes, Josh Allen took the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs in 2019 and Sam Darnold can look dynamic at times for the New York Jets. However, both have been prone to questions regarding health, accuracy and turnover tendencies. Early signs of promise don’t guarantee long-term success. Do I have to remind you of Mark Sanchez, who took the Jets to the AFC Championship game in his first two seasons and then bottomed out? Then there’s Josh Rosen, who couldn’t beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick for the starting job on a bad Miami Dolphins team, his
second organization in his twoyear career. Gettleman shouldn’t even feel too much regret for passing on Lamar Jackson. No team, including the Baltimore Ravens, knew he would be as dynamic as he has been. If Baltimore did know, they wouldn’t have waited until their second pick of the first round to draft the future MVP. Gettleman thought the free agent additions of offensive tackle Nate Solder and offensive guard Patrick Omameh, combined with the selection of guard Will Hernandez with a second-round pick, would have strengthened the line. However, Solder hasn’t lived up to
the hype after signing a recordsetting contract, and Omameh only lasted half a season of the three-year deal before getting cut. While Hernandez has been solid, he hasn’t been as good as Nelson, who has already turned in two First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons. The Giants would have been better off drafting Nelson instead of Barkley and running back Nick Chubb instead of Hernandez. (Chubb was selected one pick after Hernandez by the Cleveland Browns.) Plus, planning on taking Nelson would have negated the need to sign Omameh, thus allowing that
money to be used on stopgap quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. With his higher potential, Bridgewater would have been a more useful backup option in case Manning proved to be washed up. The Barkley versus Darnold debate will be discussed in New York sports for years and will likely define Gettleman’s tenure as the Giants’ general manager. However, considering that winning is all that matters in New York, the real debate should be Barkley versus Nelson, especially if Gettleman continues to fail at building an adequate offensive line.
COMIC CLUB
A place For Everything Comics! everyone is welcome! comicclub@binghamtonsa.org
SA CHARTERED
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
BU falls to Syracuse SEE PAGE 7
Thursday, February 20. 2020
Women’s basketball earns second consecutive win basketball from page 1 can’t just rely on our outside shooting, and they knew that. We just had to attack and we weren’t playing in the mode. Once they got into it, we were fine.” The Bearcats slowly got back into the game but didn’t take the lead until the third quarter, when senior guard Karlee Krchnavi sunk a 3-pointer. Shapiro Ord decided to put in freshman guard Clare Traeger early on, and the decision proved to be vital, as Traeger was able to secure a career-high seven points and four rebounds for the team. “We had a lot of people come in and help out,” Shapiro Ord said. “I’m really proud of players like [Traeger] and of course [freshman guard] Zahra [Barnes] and [freshman guard] Cassidy [Roberts], who has been sick. Everybody was trying to help each other out. And how about Wasco, who was just working her butt off out there in the post?” UMass Lowell’s top scorer, senior guard Ren’cia Rolling, wasn’t in the game, as she is out for the season due to injury. Last time the Bearcats took on the River Hawks, Binghamton lost by 10 points and Rolling had a total of 20 points. However, sophomore guard Kharis Idom has been an effective replacement for Rolling, as she amassed a team-high 14 points on Wednesday night. “That’s a really good Lowell team,” Shapiro Ord said. “I don’t care that their point guard’s out. They still were scrappy.” The teams were very evenly matched, as the River Hawks slightly out-rebounded Binghamton 29-28, and UMass Lowell had eight steals compared to BU’s seven. The top scorer for the Bearcats was Moon, who had a game-high 19 points and three steals. Moon now has 1,385 total career points. Boland was the only other Bearcat in double digits; she had 11 points, seven assists and two blocks. Boland is now fourth
Senior guard Carly Boland blocked a crucial layup from Umass Lowell freshman guard Shamyjha Price with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
in the AE in blocks. The River Hawks had four players in double digits, but it was not enough to propel them to a
win. Binghamton players, such as freshman guard Denai Bowman, sophomore forward Annie Ramil, Traeger and Boland all stepped up
in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. This is Binghamton’s 18th win of the season — the fourth-best
john atkinson pipe dream photographer
total in all 19 years of its NCAA Division I era. The Bearcats are hoping to earn their 19th win of the season when they take on
winless Hartford on Saturday, Feb. 22 on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Chase Arena in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Swimming and diving compete at AE Championships Men’s team places second, women finish fourth Samantha Marsh
assistant sports editor
As the first day of competing at the America East Conference drew to a close, the Binghamton men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were in first place after sophomore Chris Egan’s first-place finish in the three-meter dive and junior So-
phia Howard’s third-place finish in the one-meter dive propelled the Bearcats to an early lead. Binghamton, however, couldn’t hold on to the lead for the rest of the competition, and the men finished in second while the women took fourth. The men finished behind UMBC, which has won four titles in a row and won 16 of 20 events this championship meet. “I think UMBC has been good, and they just have a program that has the tradition of being
good and winning, and they have the resources to do it,” said Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. “We had a really good senior group that performed really well this year, and we’ll look to bring in some freshmen next year that will help us compete and put us right up there with UMBC.” All of the UMBC men’s losses were to Binghamton. Egan dominated the competition in both the three-meter and the one-meter dives and took first in
provided by bu athletics Sophomore Chris Egan was named the America East’s Most Outstanding Diver after his two first-place finishes in the one- and three-meter events last weekend.
both events, earning himself the men’s Most Outstanding Diver award. In the three-meter, Egan had a final score of 277.35. He was followed by freshman Ryan Cohn, who had a score of 262.70. Junior David Walters took fourth with a score of 247.70 and was edged out by .25 points by UMBC senior Ben Parker, whom he beat in the preliminaries. In the onemeter, Binghamton took places one through four. “The divers were awesome this weekend,” Cummiskey said. “[Egan] winning both events and the men going one, two, three, four was awesome.” Sophomore Ryan Board was a huge factor for the team, as he took first in both the 100 and 200 breast. Board smashed his preliminary time in the 100 breast and broke the meet record with a time of 54.97, and the next day he dominated the 200 breast with a time of 2:01.52. These events were Board’s first and second conference titles. “[Board] had a great meet and a great season,” Cummiskey said. “He worked hard last spring and the through the summer and this year, and it really paid off for him.” Board, Egan, Cohn, Walters and junior Erik Temple were named to the all-conference team. For the women, four Bearcats were named to the all-conference team: Howard, junior Kaitlyn Smolar, sophomore Katie Schultz and junior Erica Bachiller. Howard had a score of 221.10 in the one-meter and placed second in the three-meter on the second day of the meet. She was beaten in the three-meter by New Hampshire senior Allison Stefanelli, who had a score of 264.40. Sophomore Amanda Mc-
provided by bu athletics The Binghamton men’s swimming and diving team placed second at the America East Conference meet last weekend.
Graw, last year’s women’s Most Outstanding Diver, was right behind Howard in fifth with a score of 215.60. Senior Jaime Campbell was also in the top six. “[Howard] was very good,” Cummiskey said. “She’s kind of been battling an ankle injury all year, and she figured out how to work through it and make it work. She’s definitely the heart and soul of that group with the support she gives everyone.” Smolar was also a force for the women’s side, as she took first place in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.51, fifth in the 500 free with a time of 5:00.08 and seventh in the 1,650 free with a time of 17:32.78. If Smolar swam the time she did at last year’s championship meet (17:08.63), she would have won the event. Schultz, however, propelled Binghamton in this event, as she took second place with a time
of 17:22.16. “Smolar was great,” Cummiskey said. “Winning the 200 free was great and it was awesome to see another girl win who works really hard. [Schultz] was a nice addition. We picked her up in the middle of the season — she transferred here. It was great to see her place second in the mile and fit right in and help us out.” Other top eight Bearcat finishers included senior Dylan Van Manen, senior Ross Bernstein, freshman Justin Meyn, freshman Jackson Homan, freshman Ryan Maierle, freshman Matthew Palguta, sophomore Benjamin Beldner, senior Tyler Meyers, junior Shane Morris, freshman Brandon Berger, sophomore Brian Harding, freshman Zach Ciriaco, senior Michael Gagion, senior Olivia Santos, Bachiller, freshman Manuela Matkovic and senior Rebecca Nelson.