Spring 2023 Issue 28-29

Activists criticize BPD after arrest video circulates

The incident occured on Jan. 1 on State Street, and is currently under investigation.

Hallie Milligan assistant news editor

Circulating videos of a Binghamton Police Department (BPD) officer kneeling on the neck of a Black-Asian man have sparked an investigation. The incident took place outside of Dillinger’s Celtic Bar and Eatery — an Irish pub located on State Street — on Jan. 1 at approximately 3:19 a.m., according to a statement

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham shared with WBNG

12 News shortly after. Kraham confirmed the incident is currently under investigation, which includes the examination of body cameras.

In a video circulating Facebook, witnesses can be seen gathering around BPD Officer Brad Kaczynski, who is kneeling on the neck and back of 24-year-old Hamail Waddell of Binghamton. Waddell can be seen asking witnesses to “get [their]

phones out,” before the video concludes with Waddell stating, “I can’t breathe.” According to a Joint Press Statement from nine separate activist groups — including the Binghamton Tenants Union (BTU), Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier (JUST) and Zero Hour Binghamton — Waddell “sustained injuries to his face, head, neck and back, and required stitches in his chin.” Waddell filed a complaint about the incident on Jan. 2.

Waddell was handcuffed prior to the maneuver under investigation, according to Salka Valerio, a community stakeholder and activist, and was charged on the scene for resisting arrest.

In an open letter written by Valerio, she said Waddell was “unfairly charged with resisting arrest,” and that Kaczynski should be held responsible for the incident.

“We have a shared responsibility for ensuring that every person is treated with humanity and basic dignity,” Valerio wrote. “When someone violates this fundamental value, there must be accountability. Without it, we are saying that actions that intentionally cause

harm and put people’s lives at risk are okay.”

In the Joint Press Statement, the activist groups argued that the kneel displayed by Kaczynski reflects the one used on George Floyd in May of 2020 and violates the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, which — as the bill reads — “establishes criminal penalties for the use of a chokehold.” The organizations also claim the restraint used on Waddell breaches the BPD Use of Force Policy, which requires officers to only use force that is “objectively reasonable and

Wrestling takes down Harvard in EIWA matchup

BU defeat Crimson

19-13, six Bearcats earn victories, DePrez gets major decision.

On Saturday afternoon, the Binghamton wrestling team traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts to face Harvard

while still looking for its first win of 2023. Six of 10 competing Bearcats won their bouts to secure BU’s second Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) win of the season, overcoming the Crimson 19-13.

“I thought we were tough today,” said Binghamton head coach Kyle Borshoff. “I think we had a good team effort across the

board. We had some guys step up and win matches, so I think if we continue to have that same effort and get a little bit better, we’re going to be in a good position come the end of February. I always talk about being ready for the EIWA [championships], and today was a step in the right direction.”

appears necessary.”

These organizations expressed disappointment toward the BPD in lieu of recent “historic” events regarding “police brutality.”

“Hundreds gave feedback in public meetings, demanding that police power be constrained, oversight increased, and portions of their budgets reallocated to things like housing, mental health services, and youth programs,” the Joint Press Statement reads. “Yet political leaders have steadfastly refused even to consider making any substantive changes to policing.”

On Jan. 6, the BPD released a statement saying they assigned Kaczynski to desk duty, according to WBNG. The BPD did not reply to Pipe Dream’s request for comment. Iris DeFino, the social media and public relations manager for JUST — an activist group against mass incarceration — and a sophomore majoring in political science, said she believes the “unjust and excessive violence” displayed by the BPD officer is reflective of “greater injustices” within the U.S. legal system.

see force page 4

BU introduces new Taylor Swift course

300-level course for 25 students, is a discussion-based class that involves reading, writing and listening to music. Hughes appreciates the small class size because it can be more challenging to have discussions in large lecture courses, and the class material is more suitable for a smaller group.

It’s no surprise that Taylor Swift has taken over the music industry, but now she is starting to impact college classrooms as well.

Binghamton University is following the lead of other schools, such as the University of Texas and New York University, by offering a Taylor Swift course for students to partake in. The four-credit, writingintensive class is being offered as a special topics elective in the music department this spring semester. It’s taught by pop and country music scholar Lecturer Phoebe Hughes, who is very passionate about Swift and her impact on the music industry.

Hughes said she loves how Swift has interacted with different parts of the industry throughout her career.

“She started as a young artist in country music from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s,” Hughes said. “This was remarkable because there were not a lot of women artists or young artists in the country industry at this time. She was able to capture a particular fanbase that was very speaking to a lot of young people, especially young women, in ways that were very compelling.”

The elective being offered, a

“Avatar: Way of Water” fails to complement its visuals with a competent plot

Kick

In this course, students will be delving into certain themes for each time period and each era of Swift. Derrick Weisburd, a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, is taking the class this semester. Weisburd is excited to explore what the class is going to offer but knows it won’t be a cakewalk.

“I can already tell we are going to be diving deep into major sociopolitical issues, and how Swift’s music plays a part of it,” Weisburd wrote in an e-mail. “It also appears that we’ll be taking a look into how the industry works, which might seem a bit challenging to those who are more passive listeners to her music.”

One topic that will be thoroughly explored is ’90s country, looking into artists such as Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain and the Chicks. The class will discuss the influence that the radio had on pop culture, and also the gender discrepancies that occurred during this time.

see taylor page 6

off the semester with these upcoming performances

Graduate students launch campaign for higher wages

Swimming and diving teams earn first victories of new year.

Men’s basketball drops game after best start to conference play in 17 years.

sourced by adelaide castro facebook

A Facebook video depicts BPD Officer Brad Kaczynski kneeling on 24-year-old Hamail Waddell in Downtown Binghamton as onlookers gather.

provided by justin hoch

Redshirt junior Cory Day won the opening heavyweight bout via 3-1 decision in BU’s dual meet loss to Lehigh on Saturday.

“Taylor Swift and the 21st century music industry” explores relevant themes of today’s music world.

“ Waddell can be seen asking witnesses to ‘get [their] phones out,’ before the video concludes with Waddell stating, ‘I can’t breathe.’”

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Happy Lunar New Year

Happy Lunar New Year and welcome to the Year of the Rabbit! 2023 marks the Year of the Water Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. This is a unique combination of element and sign, and represents a shift into a calmer time period.

The rabbit is only one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. A person’s zodiac sign is determined by the year in which they were born. Read below to learn your 2023 zodiac predictions.

Tiger Tigers will see positive changes to whatever hardships they are currently facing. Patience is vital this year for Tigers, and the most positive changes will occur if they remember to take things slow.

Ox

Oxen will experience a year of luck and new opportunities. They may travel more for work and potentially find a new partner.

Rat People born in the Year of the Rat may have a harder year than others. They should stay cautious in the areas of work and health and try to avoid miscommunication.

Pig Overall, 2023 will be a positive year for pig natives. If focused on teamwork, they will see professional success. Relationships — both romantic and platonic — will strengthen this year.

Dog

Those born in the Year of the Dog should expect a year of success and luck. They may face some hardship at work but patience will be rewarded. Listen to the ones you trust, as their advice will be helpful.

Rooster Roosters will experience many ups and downs. Don’t be afraid of hard conversations and try to approach problems in a healthy way. Single roosters may also find love if they stay open.

Rabbit

Those born in the Year of the Rabbit can expect to see favorable changes in either health, career or their relationships. They should remain positive during these changes and refrain from switching careers. It is also a good time to travel south of either their city or country.

Dragon 2023 is a lucky year for people born in the Year of the Dragon. Stress may come to those born in summer months, however few concerns will arise otherwise.Those who are single may meet a potential partner during this year.

Snake Snakes will experience a year of luck and good news. Opportunity will arise and they will have to find a work-life balance. Fortune will be found when traveling west or north, and some may find love on their travels.

Horse

Good news and professional opportunities will be in abundance for those born in the Year of the Horse. Romantic relationships will strengthen, however one should pay attention to their family’s physical and mental health.

Goat

People born in the Year of the Goat may face hardship, but they will ultimately grow from the experience. If in a relationship, one should try not to suffocate their partner and instead give them space. Hard work will be rewarded, though financial hardship may follow.

Monkey The monkey will receive praise and admiration at work, and should avoid living recklessly. Relationships during this year could create drama and arguments, and therefore they should work on communication.

PAGE III

Monday, April 3, 2017 Thursday, September 28, Monday, October 2, 2017 Thursday, October 5, 2017

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Pipe Dream is having general interest meetings (GIMs) this Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. in UUWB03. Here, some of our staff share why they decided to join Pipe Dream. We hope you decide to join our team!

Lia Richter, Copy Desk Chief

I joined Pipe Dream because I loved working in journalism in the past, so I wanted to have that experience in college. Joining Copy allowed me to develop my editing skills while working in a fun office environment with great people!

Jacob Knipes, News Editor

When I came to Binghamton University, I wanted the opportunity to try new experiences and broaden my skills. Pipe Dream was the perfect outlet for this desire, and it continues to be so as I near two years with the paper. If you want to learn about the world and about yourself, there isn’t a better student organization.

Hamza Khan, Editor-in-Chief

I always had an interest in journalism and wanted to try it out. After I picked up a newspaper with my story in it, I was hooked. It’s a lot of work putting a newspaper on the stands each week, but it’s rewarding to give students a voice.

Bella Daidone, Design Manager

I had spent a year and a half in college during COVID-19 restrictions and had grown bored of spending all of my time in my dorm. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to not only join a club and make new friends but also gain valuable design experience. I never expected Pipe Dream to become such a large part of my life, but I love all the new friends I have made, the lessons I’ve learned and being able to deliver print news to the student body.

Allison Peteka, Assistant Copy Desk Chief

I joined Pipe Dream because I worked on a publication in high school and wanted to continue it in college. Joining Copy allowed me to learn new editing skills I can use in the future and still greatly participate in content without writing. I am so thankful for all the friends I have made here.

Michael Golann, Photo Editor

I joined Pipe Dream because I wanted to learn photography as a hobby. I’ve learned a lot and worked my way up to becoming an experienced photographer and the Photo Editor of Pipe Dream. I have also connected with the staff and made a second family here.

Sam Lillianthal, Arts and Culture editor

I joined Pipe Dream because I always loved writing about topics I loved, ever since middle school when I skipped recess to write movie reviews. I love writing and sharing my work with everyone, which always sparks fun discussions.

Harry Karpen, Managing Editor

I first joined Pipe Dream because I wanted to practice my photography. During my time here, I was able to cover everything from concerts to festivals and museums. I went to events I never would have heard about otherwise. Pipe Dream allows me to leave my bubble and explore what BU has to offer.

Doris Turkel, Opinions Editor

I joined the Opinions section because I wanted a space to bring light to social and political issues I care about. Sharing news and content with students and community members is important to building and maintaining community. Working for a student paper has been a really special social and intellectual experience.

Asher Simonson, Video Editor

I originally joined Pipe Dream last semester to gain experience in my field, but what I actually found were people. People that want to be here, people that work together — people that make the act of creating fun. I joined to gain experiences, and with these people, I’m quite sure I will.

BPD use of force raises concern

“I am always so frustrated at the fact that the very institutions and officers that are to ‘protect and serve’ are the ones inflicting such injustice, harm and violence against our communities,” DeFino wrote in an email. “Time and time again, Americans have witnessed the abhorrent behavior of police officers with little to no accountability or action on behalf of the institution itself. Police brutality often overlaps with racism and the hypercriminalization and profiling of BIPOC communities, and this case is no exception.”

Alexander Gore, a junior double-majoring in political science and Spanish, also expressed concern regarding the U.S. legal system. Gore said he recognizes that not all police are “bad apples,” but he expressed concern about the “institutionalized violence” shown by the police force. Gore further feels the police force in New York state is no exception to his concern.

“I don’t know how many examples it has to take to show that there is a problem of institutional violence within the [U.S.] police force,” Gore said. “We think we live in such a harmonious state here in New York, but even here things like this happen. I think it’s pretty awful and my full support goes out to [Waddell] and his family.”c

GSEU protests for a ‘living wage’

Binghamton Living Wage Campaign” began in November.

Jacob Knipes

Students walking past the Peace Quad witnessed “over 50 people” gather in a protest last Wednesday afternoon.

The protest was a part of the latest campaign by Binghamton University’s chapter of the Graduate Students Employee Union (GSEU). The “GSEU Binghamton Living Wage Campaign” officially began in late November last year, with a series of informational Instagram posts. The campaign’s goal is to increase graduate students’ wages to match the minimum wage for Broome County as a means of reaching “financial independence,” according to GSEU.

Emily Blakley, president of GSEU and a sixth-year graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in cognitive and brain studies, said the current campaign is an evolution of a prior GSEU campaign against broadbased fees. According to Blakley, the topic of living wages was decided upon after discussions with members.

“In the beginning of the fall semester we talked to membership and found that there was a lot of interest in our wages,” Blakley said. “This is particularly a concern because, as we all know, inflation is going up like crazy and things like housing are also going up disproportionately. Our wages aren’t keeping up, and so that’s when we

really started thinking about campaigning for a living wage.”

After settling on a topic, members of the GSEU were sent a survey with several questions about their wages. According to GSEU, those surveyed reported wages ranging from $10,788 to $26,874, with an average of around $19,428 per year. This is in comparison to Broome County’s minimum living wage of $34,574, calculated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator.

Maggie Logan, chief steward of GSEU and a fourth-year graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology, described the financial difficulties most graduate students may face.

“So, some of us are struggling and some of us are really struggling,” Logan said. “But none of us are making enough to live in this area, and oftentimes are contractually prohibited from getting second jobs. So, we are kind of stuck in this position where whatever the University is giving us has to be enough.”

The “GSEU Binghamton Living Wage Campaign” has featured multiple stages so far, with one of the prominent being “Petition for a Living Wage.” The petition has amassed over 450 signatures since its inception, with a stated end goal of 1,000 total signatures by its drop date in February.

According to Blakley, the petition is currently seeking endorsements and support from various other groups and graduate student unions outside

of the BU community.

Blakley described GSEU’s end goal of delivering the petition directly to BU administration to start a conversation.

“Hopefully we will be able to either directly speak to [BU President Harvey Stenger] or our provost, and say to them here are the amount of people who support us,” Blakley said. “Our next steps after that really depend on the response of the University itself, so if we get a really positive response we will likely start working with the administration to see what we can do and to see if we have an agreement that is agreeable on both sides.”

In response to the campaign, Ryan Yarosh, BU’s senior director of media and public relations, said the New York state

budget will play a role in deciding further graduate student funding.

“Graduate students are a vital part of the research, scholarship and teaching missions of the University, and we understand the challenges and financial burdens they face,” Yarosh wrote in an email.

“Currently, we are working on plans to raise stipends for a significant number of graduate students, but much will depend upon the state budget for the University. We urge everyone to support the governor’s proposals to increase revenue for the SUNY system, especially the University centers, which have graduate programs and fund graduate stipends.”

Alongside the petition and the protest, the GSEU also underwent a postcard

campaign to help set their campaign into motion. During this, members wrote postcards to BU’s Board of Trustees with descriptions of things they cannot afford on their current salaries.

Logan emphasized that regardless of the success of these initial events, graduate students will continue to advocate for higher wages.

“It might not happen immediately, but we are not going away,” Logan said. “I am still going to need money. We are all still going to need money, and it is just going to get more and more expensive to live, so the urgency is going to only just increase as we do this.”

New lecture hall building to open in 2026

Construction on the lecture hall will begin in 2024, across from Academic A.

Next year, Binghamton University students may see the beginnings of a new lecture hall and classroom building — thanks to a $60 million grant.

The new lecture hall will be built across from Academic A and its neighboring M Lot on campus, with construction planned to begin in mid-2024. The building will contain a 300-seat lecture hall, a 180seat lecture hall, a 100-seat active learning classroom, two learning studios and 23 general classrooms that will vary from 20 to 75 seats. Three computer classrooms and an Information Commons will also be apart of the new building. The new lecture hall is not meant to replace the current lecture hall, but rather add more classroom spaces on campus for student use, according to BingUNews.

BU was granted funding from the State University of New York Construction Fund (SUCF) for the construction and design of the new building.

Donald Hall, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and JoAnn Navarro, vice president for operations, explained the purpose of constructing the new lecture hall.

“The new lecture hall is meant to expand the number of classrooms on campus, especially adding larger sized lecture rooms that can accommodate medium to large sections,” Hall and Navarro wrote in an email.

“We currently are stretched thin in terms of the classes that can be scheduled at any one time, especially those enrolled above 200. We plan on holding several information gathering sessions to allow faculty and campus to provide additional input on what features they would like to see in the classrooms and the building in general.”

Enrollment at BU has increased by 20 percent in

the past decade, according to BingUNews. With the need to also update technology in campus learning spaces, construction of a secondary lecture hall will provide space for BU to meet the demand of a growing student population and technological advances.

Hall and Navarro believe the new lecture hall and classroom building will benefit future students enrolled at BU.

“The building will provide the next generation of cutting-edge, high-impact learning spaces for the University, all with state-ofthe-art technology,” Hall and Navarro wrote.

Alice Gurevich, a junior majoring in psychology, holds mixed opinions on the construction of the new building, expressing concern over its potentially large size.

“I think there are so many students here, it will definitely accommodate a new population of students,” Gurevich said. “But it’s also so large it takes up a huge portion of campus, that I feel like to a point it’s unnecessary. There could

be a smaller building built instead of a new lecture hall.” Hall and Navarro said that after construction begins in 2024, the building should be ready for use in the fall of 2026.

Delia Willis, a freshman majoring in mathematics, shared his support of a new lecture hall and classroom building on campus.

“I think just having other opportunities to learn

different places is nice,” Willis said. “It is a good change of scenery on campus, and I definitely enjoy exploring the different types of learning environments on campus.”

The “GSEU

BU offers legal sex update option for students

The University will provide the option of choosing “X” as a gender identification.

Students will be met with a new gender identification option this semester.

Last June, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the legal implementation of a SUNY Board of Trustees mandate, requiring all 64 SUNY campuses to update their policies on the use of chosen names, pronouns and gender identity by fall 2023. Under the “chosen name and pronoun” policy, all operational systems of SUNY campuses must reflect a student’s chosen name and pronouns. Under the mandate’s “gender X” policy, when collecting sex or gender data, SUNY universities must provide individuals with the option of choosing “X” as a gender, in addition to “M” for male and “F” for female.

Currently, Binghamton University students are already able to officially change their legal name and sex in student information systems by submitting an online form with legal documentation. By the end of this year, however, students who wish to update their legal sex will also have the option of choosing “X”, in addition to the currently offered options “M” and “F” — according to Anne Guanciale, director of intercultural affairs for the Division of Diversity, Equity

and Inclusion. Guanciale explained that the legal sex change mandate dismantles a traditional gender binary system on BU’s campus.

“Offering and expanding these options in campus data systems acknowledges that traditional binary categories for gender are insufficient,” Guanciale wrote in an email. “Gender is more of a spectrum. Having students’ identities accurately reflected in campus data systems is affirming and enhances a sense of belonging.”

While a chosen name and pronoun resolution had already been approved and issued by the SUNY Board of Trustees earlier this year, Hochul’s announcement defines the policy as New York State legislation, requiring SUNY universities to follow the mandate.

Along with the inclusion of “X” as a gender option, the University will continue expanding its legal sex fields by implementing gender identity and pronouns as two new fields, Guanciale explained. Students will be able to choose from multiple options within each field, with the choice to update being “completely optional.”

A Gender X and Pronouns and Implementation Committee was formed by the University, where members of faculty met to ensure that all systems on campus that require a legal sex field are considered in the policy. Dara Silberstein, associate research professor of women, gender

and sexuality Studies, and a member of the committee, credits her “longstanding scholarship in and advocacy of feminist and queer legal rights” for her invitation to join.

Silberstein believes the policy will challenge the campus community’s contemporary understandings of gender and sexual identities.

“The implementation of this policy will normalize that gender can be fluid and should not be tied to biological determinist understandings of ‘sex,’” Silberstein wrote in an email. “My hope is that organizations/departments that are tied to traditional gender norms will be viewed as outliers. For instance, I hope that single sex social fraternities and sororities will open their memberships to gender fluid and transgender identified students.”

Instructions on how to update both fields on the BU Registrar’s website will be available in the fall of 2023, according to a Dateline Announcement.

Nick Martin, assistant director of the Q Center on campus, is another member of the committee. Martin said the Q Center is eager to support the mandate, along with their continual advocacy for tangible visibility and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community on campus.

“We are pleased that the leadership of the SUNY System recognizes that gender identity beyond the binary and pronouns are important

to our students, faculty and staff and have created a policy that will allow us to make significant progress toward an even more inclusive campus,” Martin wrote. “The Q Center team looks forward to connecting with faculty, staff and students in the coming months to ensure the intended outcomes of this mandate are met.”

Many students at BU expressed support for the mandate and its potential influence on the campus community.

Jesse La Scala, a sophomore double-majoring in English and environmental studies and a member of the Q Center staff, said the policy will help generate a sense of belonging for transgender,

BU continues construction on new welcome center

The center will be named after Charlene and Roger Kramer.

Binghamton University is continuing construction on a new welcome center at the campus’ main entrance.

Last year, the BU Council — a body responsible for certain University operations — voted to build a new welcome center on Glenn G. Bartle Drive. Currently under construction, the center will be connected by a canopy to the information booth situated at the main entrance. The purpose of the welcome center will be to provide resources to campus visitors.

The project was made possible by a $1.2 million

donation from Roger Kramer ‘72, a BU alum, and through capital funds from a SUNY construction project, amounting to a budget of about $2.5 million.

Ryan Yarosh, senior director of media and public relations at BU, described the amenities the new welcome center will offer.

“The project combines an enhanced information station, [a] welcome center with gathering space and dedicated parking area that will provide a sense of arrival to new and returning visitors to campus,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “The welcome center will enhance visitors’ first impressions of campus, engage returning alumni and build pride in the University.”

In an interview with FOX 40, BU President Harvey Stenger said the welcome center may include “brochures

available for area attractions and flatscreen TVs advertising local restaurants,” providing a marketing opportunity for local businesses.

The building will be named after Roger and his wife Charlene Kramer ‘73, who both received their undergraduate degrees from BU. Since their time as students, they made multiple financial contributions to the school over the years to improve the campus, also providing financial assistance to students through their scholarship.

Yarosh elaborated on the Kramers’ contributions to the BU campus as a whole.

“The new building will be named the Charlene and Roger Kramer Welcome Center in recognition of significant support from Roger Kramer ’72 and his late wife, Charlene Kahlor Kramer ’73,” Yarosh

wrote in an email. “In 2017, the University community celebrated the naming of the Charlene Kahlor Kramer Traditions Hallway in the Alumni Center at Old O’Connor Hall. The Kramers’ loyal support also includes student aid via the Charlene Kahlor Kramer ’73 and Roger Kramer ’72 Scholarship.”

During Roger Kramer’s time at BU, he met his wife and became the first in his family to earn a college degree.

“I have such fond memories of my time at [BU] that I wanted to give back to my school,” Kramer wrote. “Helping out with the construction of a welcome center was a great opportunity. My late wife, Charlene, and I were both the first generation of our families to graduate from college and the University helped my wife, in particular, by providing her with scholarships and work-study opportunities. We were both so grateful to have received our undergraduate degrees from [BU].”

Although this project has been ongoing since summer of 2022, students can expect the welcome center to open its doors soon. According to Karen Fennie, the communications specialist for Physical Facilities, the construction project is currently 25 percent complete, and its estimated end date is January of 2024.

Selina Chan, a freshman majoring in mathematics, was excited to hear about a new building being added to the information booth.

“I’m thrilled to see the new extension to the information center,” Chan said. “I think it’s important that the welcome center will provide information about the University and the community that surrounds it to campus visitors.”

non-binary and gender nonconforming students on campus.

“In a society where trans lives are often threatened and ostracized, it is vital we supply acceptance on a community level,” La Scala wrote in an email. “Most cisgender people do not understand the time, money and courage it takes to complete legal documents to transition in the eyes of the government — or even a trans person may not have the desire to legally transition. As a community that prides itself on inclusion, this is one of the many steps [BU] had to take in order for the documents to mirror the person they are.”

Rachel Del Fierro, a sophomore doublemajoring in psychology and

anthropology — and a staff member of the Q Center — said she is hopeful for the policy and the acceptance it can establish on the University campus for gendernonconforming students.

“I champion all efforts to make SUNY campuses, especially BU, more inclusive and supportive of gendernonconforming students, who are all too often dead-named, misgendered and otherwise discriminated against,” Del Fierro wrote. “I want everyone to remember, though, that this is just the beginning. Gender-nonconforming students deserve consistent protection and affirmation. I am optimistic that this will be the first of many changes to make that a reality.”

New music course explores Swift’s discography

taylor from page 1

“There was a series of technological changes that happened in the ’90s in terms of popular chart tabulation, and a variety of laws that went into effect that changed how people accessed and listened to the radio, internet and television,” Hughes said. “This had a profound effect on the popular music industry as a whole, but on country music specifically that led to apparent gender discrepancies.”

The class will explore themes from other Swift eras as well. Hughes said that when discussing “Lover,” the class will discuss celebrity activism. When studying the sister albums “evermore” and “folklore,” the students will be focusing on the idea of collaboration and collaborative practices. This includes discussions about featured artists on the records, and also who Swift was working with

during the creative process. The class will compare Swift’s discography to other artists during each time period, especially in the 2010s when Swift was at the top of the pop music charts.

“As she progresses through her career, the class will be listening to a lot of [Swift’s] music, and also comparative examples to get a handle on what everything sounded like at the time,” Hughes said. “There will be a fair bit of listening to have a grasp on where [Swift] falls. She is so often stylistically ahead of the curve, so it will be important to have a handle on everything.”

The comparing and contrasting does not stop there. The class will be looking at Swift’s documentaries, and at other pop icons’ documentaries as well, including Beyonce’s. The students will also be comparing Swift to her past self by discussing the re-

recordings that have come out thus far, “Fearless” and “Red” — Taylor’s Version, of course — and will even get to spend a whole day listening to every version of “All Too Well,” though students might need to bring some tissues for that class.

With assignments like writing about their first Swift experience, there is no doubt that Swifties will enjoy taking the course. However, this class also explores many relevant themes and issues in today’s society, including race, gender, sexuality and more.

“The students are not writing as fans, journalists or critics, but really as scholars,” Hughes said. “We are engaging with the material on a different level. The class will be very fun for fans, but a very thorough and insightful class for everyone involved, even if they are not fans.”

Upcoming plays and competitions for spring

The most notable events in the peforming arts.

With a new semester comes the chance to see the many amazing arts performances Binghamton University has to offer. From a cappella shows to thoughtprovoking plays, here are some exciting events being put on by BU’s best performers.

ICCA Quarterfinals

Competition (Jan. 28)

The Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella

(ICCA) is college a cappella’s biggest tournament, drawing competitors from hundreds of institutions. On Jan. 28, the ICCA Central Quarterfinal will be taking place in Watters Theater at 7 p.m.

Four of BU’s a capella groups — the Harpur Harpeggios, Binghamton Treblemakers, Rhythm Method and The Binghamtonics — will be facing off against competitors like Cornell University and Penn State University. Only the top two finalists will advance on to the ICCA Central Semifinal, and with any luck, a BU group will be among those advancing.

Stranger Things, Chapter Tamasha 2023

(Feb. 4)

While the wait for season five may still be on, the Indian International Student Union is here to quell your longing for Stranger Things content with their dance performance “Stranger Things, Chapter Tamasha 2023.” The club has cast its performers as characters from the iconic Netflix show, from Steve Harrington to Jim Hopper, and the event will also feature performances by Binghamton Bhangra, Binghamton Masti, Black Dance Repertoire, Quimbamba and SBU Junoon. The event will be held in the Osterhout Concert Theater on Feb. 4 at

6:30 p.m. It is going to be a totally tubular night so buy your tickets from Jan. 19 to Feb. 3 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for $10 at Bartle Breezeway.

Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine (Feb. 11)

On Saturday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. in the Osterhout Concert Theater, the renowned Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine will be performing. The orchestra, which will be led by conductor Theodore Kuchar, will be performing Ukrainian pieces such as Yevhen Stankovych’s Chamber Symphony No. 3 for Flute and String Orchestra, as well as Bruch’s Violin Concerto

No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6 in D Minor, Op. 60. It’s sure to be a moving afternoon of beautiful music performed by an ensemble of remarkable musicians.

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Feb. 25)

If you’re looking for an evening of laughter and fun, make sure to catch Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Osterhout Concert Theater on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. This allmale comedy ballet company has been around for almost 50 years, and their shows fuse masterful, precise dance and remarkable physicality with their equally impressive

flare for comedy. Students can get their tickets for $10. Thrive, or What You Will (Feb. 23 to 26)

Near the end of February, the BU Theatre Department will be putting on several performances of the play Thrive, Or What You Will [an epic] in Watters Theater. Written by LM Feldman, the play centers around Jeanne Baret, a gendernonconforming 18thcentury herb woman on her journey navigating the globe. Make sure to get your tickets for the show, which will be put on on Feb. 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m., as well as Feb. 25 and 26 at 2 p.m.

Samra Ashe arts & culture intern

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Binghamton University has introduced a new four-credit course that focuses on Taylor Swift and her musical eras.

‘Avatar’ sequel misses amid financial success

In December of 2022, director James Cameron released the muchanticipated sequel to the 2009 film “Avatar” — “Avatar: The Way of Water.” This second movie in the franchise brings back the original cast with some new additions to tell the story of the Na’vi people from the planet Pandora, showing different aspects and versions of the Na’vi as Jake Sully and his family journey from the Pandoran jungles to the tribes of the sea. This movie portrays the Sully family as they are forced to adapt to their new surroundings and find a home among a new environment and people, all boiling down to what a parent will do to protect their family.

When you make and release the highest-grossing film of all time that still remains at number one after all the Marvel movies and other blockbusters that have followed, there are certain expectations for the sequel. Cameron took over a decade to create “Avatar: The Way of Water,” reportedly due to wanting to ensure it was the perfect follow-up with many rewrites and massive planning. This endeavor was a costly one as the film needs to amass at least $2 billion to become profitable, which would automatically make it at least the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. So was this successful?

Currently, at $2.02 billion, the sequel reached its goal.

So “Avatar: The Way of Water” is clearly going to be profitable, that was all but certain to happen, but

does that mean it is a good movie that is worthy of these already-made sequels? While certainly popular, in my personal opinion, “Avatar: The Way of Water” was the worst cinematic experience of my life. It seems like Cameron took so much time and attention toward the visuals that the story element of filmmaking was largely ignored, creating a meandering and derivative plot that turns the already over three-hour runtime into an eternity. This may not be the worst movie of all time, but being so long makes it the worst theater experience.

As previously mentioned, the thing that can be said positively about “Avatar: The Way of Water” is that it is visually impressive. Much like this first film, despite being made almost entirely using CGI, the planet of Pandora and the Na’vi look real and detailed. Underwater scenes that usually are the detriment of CGI-heavy movies are done well and don’t look any worse than scenes shot on land. All the designs are thought out extensively to show new alien species, parts of Pandora and types of Na’vi that have adapted and evolved for life in the sea rather than in the jungle. Unfortunately, a movie being visually stunning doesn’t get someone through an incredibly long runtime. By the time someone is through marveling at the visuals and is in it enough to just see the Na’vi as people and Pandora as a world like any other, there are still around three hours to sit through.

No matter how pretty a movie is, there is nothing that can hide bad storytelling and plot. “Avatar: The Way of Water” tries to distract with long shots of CGI creatures and needless

exposition that masquerades as world-building, but when you get down to the plot and characters, the film is severely lacking. The plot of the sequel when broken down is nearly identical to that of the first film, just moved to the islands of the sea Na’vi. What plot of the movie is not taken from the first is taken in part from many other beloved films such as “Dancing With Wolves,” “Jaws” — and even Cameron’s own movies like “Terminator” and “Titanic.” The writing, while simplistic, also still manages to overcomplicate itself with its extensive worldbuilding. Cameron, arguably one of the greatest modern filmmakers, who has written and directed many classics over the decades, clearly has some sort of blind spot in his abilities when it comes to this franchise. To call this his magnum opus as many

have done would be almost laughable if it did not mean going through the grueling experience of watching this movie to know that it is far from his greatest work or anything even resembling some masterpiece. As for the characters of the film, some were just there and some you hoped would be dead by the end.

Sam Worthington is fine as Jake Sully, managing to work with the script’s poorlyassembled plot and terrible dialogue. Zoe Saldaña, who has skyrocketed in popularity since the first film in other roles, is given almost nothing to do reprising Neytiri. She spends half of her screen time crying and the other half screaming. She seems to be more of a plot device than the fully fleshed-out character that she should be after the previous film. The children of the film play a

large role in the story, yet that is only because every aspect of the plot is driven by them disobeying their parents to a tiring and infuriating degree. Many new characters introduced in this film, such as in antagonistic roles or part of the sea tribe Na’vi, are not worth mentioning as many didn’t even make enough of an impact to critique. In case you actually want to see this affront to modern cinema, I will not spoil who the main antagonist is, but I will say that they are also one-note. These great actors did the best with what they were given, with even the young up-and-coming actors’ characters being annoying and tiresome due to the actions written for their characters.

Overall, “Avatar: The Way of Water” proves that just because you had to wait for something a long time,

does not mean that time was spent making it good. Perhaps some earlier script draft was better, but this film takes all the mistakes of its predecessor and magnifies them exponentially while eliminating any likability from the first movie. While this franchise makes it clear it is visual-first and story-second, it could be argued that the story is not being made a priority at all. The entire plot is dictated by getting from one CGI set piece to the next, with Cameron hoping you do not notice the incredible amount of lipstick he’s applying to this pig of a movie. If you’re looking for a better way to spend your three and a half hours, I suggest watching any of the movies previously mentioned as they will offer much of the same plot at a better quality.

Rating: 0.5 out of 5

M3GAN: A fun and exciting horror-comedy

The film reintroduces a nostalgic and beloved genre.

Kicking off what is looking to be an exciting year for film, Universal Pictures released “M3GAN,” a sciencefiction horror-comedy about an artificial intelligence playmate in the form of a girl-sized robotic doll. The Model 3 Generative Android, or M3GAN, is the future of not only children’s toys but robotics and technology as a

whole. As the first of hopefully many M3GANs become ingratiated with her creator Gemma, played by Allison Williams, and her griefstricken niece Cady, played by Violet McGraw, it seems like M3GAN is as extraordinary as people hoped. But as the movie continues and the situations escalate, M3GAN begins to go beyond her intended functions in what she believes to be the logical extension of her programming. While this synopsis may not seem entirely original, “M3GAN’’ manages to set itself apart with its character-driven

story and heart. The idea of an artificially intelligent robot or a child’s toy turning into a horrific monster is something that audiences have seen before. The most straightforward way to describe the movie would be if David from Steven Spielberg’s “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” became akin to Chucky from the “Child’s Play” slasher franchise, with some influences from classic stories such as “Frankenstein” mixed in as well. But while this is the plot, it isn’t what people should see “M3GAN” for. The film doesn’t center around the titular robot as

much as it does on themes of loss and parenthood. Cady has recently lost both of her parents in a car crash and Gemma, her work-obsessed aunt, has to find a way to take care of her, thinking completing her pet project M3GAN is the best way to connect with her niece. The moments dealing with these emotions and the relationship between these two characters are perhaps the best in the film, even if M3GAN doesn’t appear in many of them.

While it would be easy to turn this concept into a simple slasher horror movie, “M3GAN” manages to blend

genres to not fall into the cliches of simple horror while also adding to the horrific elements at the same time. The comedic aspects of the film hit well and often amplify the feelings of dread that build up throughout the plot. Things that M3GAN does at the beginning of the film that plays for laughs get twisted into something disturbing and horrific at the climax. Incredibly gruesome moments can lead to a laugh as the audience is shown a reaction or a comedic element that further layers the scenes. Many horror comedies try so hard to do both that they fail to accomplish either as fully as they could have, but “M3GAN” maintains a balance that feels right and gets the right reactions from the audience. This could be due to the fact that James Wan and Jason Blum — prominent modern horror filmmakers — had a large part in the film’s production and were able to add their expertise in this area. The comedic elements make it more than a simple jumpscare slasher film, making “M3GAN” a great option for those who may want to get into horror and start with something more fun and grounded at first.

Where “M3GAN” really shines though are the performances. M3GAN seems either incredibly real or artificial whenever each is needed throughout the movie. Williams and McGraw really ground and sell the film and concept as Gemma

and Cady, both portraying the complex relationship and feelings between the two characters incredibly well. Supporting cast members such as Ronny Chieng as David add a lot of humor to their scenes and help flesh out the world of “M3GAN.” There isn’t a performance that takes the audience out of the plot or falls flat.

Overall, “M3GAN” takes a plot that any horror or science fiction viewer has seen dozens of times to various degrees of success and blends genres to turn it into a fun and entertaining experience. The movie’s relatively short runtime is used well and allows you to get sucked into the story while also not dragging and showing unnecessary moments. While “M3GAN” isn’t likely to win any awards or become a classic in the horror genre, it is worth watching while it’s out for some escapism and enjoyment mixed with complexity and heart throughout. It seems like if you look at past media, every generation has its take on the horrific killer doll — Annabelle, Chucky, even as far back as Talky Tina from “The Twilight Zone.” M3GAN is the newest incarnation of that trope and in many ways modernizes it in a way that a 2020s audience could enjoy it, as its a fun story with horrific elements grounding and layering the plot.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

James Cameron returns after over a decade.

Nathan Schacter arts & culture contributor

Nathan Schacter arts & culture contributor

sourced by people

While visually impressive, James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” inherits many of the flaws of its predecessor.

Track and field competes in Upstate Challenge

Both teams earn second place finishes.

On Saturday, for their first team meet of the winter season, the Binghamton track and field teams headed to Cornell for the Upstate Challenge. BU placed second in both the men’s and women’s sides out of five participating teams. Several Bearcats earned three firstplace finishes, including sweeping both the men’s and women’s long jump as junior Jenna Chan earned a personal best.

“I thought it was a great first meet back,” said

Binghamton head coach Mike Thompson. “I was happy with where the team was as a whole.”

Chan finished in first place in the first round of the 60-meter hurdles and achieved third in the final round of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.63. However, she was able to bounce back by winning the long jump with a personal best of 1810.5 feet.

“It was a really good day for [Chan] in the 60 hurdles,” Thompson said. “She’s run faster than that, but she’s pretty close to her personal best early in the season, so that’s good. She also won the long jump, and it was her personal best in the long

jump, so she probably had the best day overall out of everybody.”

Additionally, sophomores Jennifer Mui and Lucciana Robertson finished second in the 3k and high jump, respectively. Rounding out the top performers in the women’s division, senior Sophia Morone qualified for the 60 meter final with a second place finish in the first round with a time of 7.84.

“The 4x400 today was really just training for everybody,” Thompson said. “It’s so early in the season. We’re gearing up for a conference in a little over a month. [Morone] especially ran very well in the 4x400, but it’s good for them and fun for

them to get in some 4x400s early on in the season.”

On the men’s side, junior Marcus Johnson won the 200-meter as the Bearcat managed a time of 23.03. Senior Adrian Rippstein followed close behind his teammate, finishing third with a time of 23.48.

“Winning the 200 was cool for [Johnson],” Thompson said. “He doesn’t ever run the 200, so it was nice for him to do something different and to get the win. The 200 for [Rippstein] is really just training for the hurdles, so it was good to see him run well, but the hurdles will always be his focus.”

In the field events, the Bearcats found more gold

with graduate student Jake Restivo winning the long jump with a score of 22-11.75 feet. Senior Nick Malfitano also finished in second with a jump of 22-2.5 feet, and Johnson finished sixth with a jump of 21-3.5 feet.

“I thought that it was a solid performance for [Restivo] and a good performance for [Malfitano] based on what they’ve done in the past,” Thompson said. “It was an off day for [Johnson], but he’s still getting back into the swing of the whole jumping thing. He’ll be good when it really counts.”

Both the men’s and women’s sides finished second overall at the meet, but Thompson says the team

is not concerned with earlyseason finishes and has its eye on the America East (AE) Conference meet next month.

“The early season meets for us are just for us to put people in events to get them ready for the conference championships in February,” Thompson said. “I’m not exactly sure what events we are going to enter everyone into yet, but it’s just a progression. It’s all preparation for the conference championship. That’s what we’re looking at right now.”

BU will return to action on Friday, Jan. 27 at the River Hawk Invitational. The first event is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the New Balance Track in Boston, Massachusetts.

Swimming and diving sweeps St. Bonaventure

Men win 148-95, women win 121-120.

Johnny Yang sports intern

The Binghamton swimming and diving teams hosted St. Bonaventure for a dual meet on Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats swept the Bonnies despite the women’s side falling behind.

They staged a late comeback and squeezed out a 121-120 victory, while the men’s team secured a comfortable 14895 win.

“I thought it was a great day,” said Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. “Coming off our training trip, you never know how you’re going to compete and how you’re going to respond … I thought we’ve had a great week here coming back and being productive.”

In the men’s competitions, there were three double winners.

Sophomore Eli Lanfear took first place in both the 50 free and the 100 fly with times of 21.25 and 50.08, respectively.

Additionally, Lanfear earned first in the 200 medley relay with senior Ryan Maierle and juniors Lewis Lin and Jake Vecchio. They finished the race 1:32.50. Freshman Liam Preston captured the gold in the 1000 free with a time of 9:29.09 and 500 free with a time of 4:34.10. In addition,

junior Henry Shemet took first in the 200 IM and the 100 free, clocking in at 1:54.34 and 47.46, respectively.

“I think [Preston] had an amazing day times-wise, just racing at this point in the year,” Cummiskey said. “Overall, it was a great team effort.”

Other individual winners included junior Liam Murphy in the 200 free (1:42.84) and Lin in the 100 breast (58.92).

Additionally, BU took first place in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:25.12, which included Preston, Shemet, Murphy and Maierle.

“We’re at the point in the season where we’re really getting up there in volume,” Cummiskey said. “They’re all in the best shape of their season and swimming fast and ready to go.”

On the women’s side, the meet was decided during the final two individual swimming events — the 500 free and the 100 breast.

Sophomore Alexandra Switalski, along with juniors Marley Zimmerman and Skylar Ward, captured the top three places in the 500 free with times of 5:21.54, 5:22.69 and 5:29.61, respectively. Then, Binghamton would go on to secure the top two places in the 100 breast, courtesy of junior Courtney Moane and sophomore Lauren Kuzma, with times of 1:06.65 and

Freshman Liam Preston earned first-place finishes in two events during BU’s win against St.

1:07.15, respectively.

“We knew it was going to be a close meet right down til the end, that’s kind of how we put our lineup together,” Cummiskey said. “They competed, did what they had to do and they fought for it.”

Moane was also a member of the first-place 200 medley relay with a winning time of

1:45.27, which consisted of freshmen Olivia Philbrick and Maria Pignatelli as well as junior Molly Greeley.

In the diving events on the women’s side, the Bearcats swept the Bonnies. Junior Lindsey Weissman captured the one-meter event with a final score 2:06.03 and freshman Elizabeth Tirado

took first in the three-meter event with a score of 2:19.75. Senior Ryan Cohn took second in both diving events on the men’s side.

“This is our last week or two of really getting after it and putting the work in before we start cutting down for champs,” Cummiskey said. “We’ll be ready to go for

provided by jonathan cohen

next week and hopefully have some more energy for senior day and have a good day.”

Binghamton will host Marist in its annual senior day meet on Saturday, Jan. 28. First race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the Patricia A. Saunders Aquatic Center in Vestal, New York.

Bonaventure on Saturday.

Jared Castro sports contributor

provided by darl zehr

Sophomore Jenna Chan secured first place in the long jump at the Upstate Challenge on Saturday.

Men’s basketball drops conference game to Maine

good job of — not turning the ball over other than our last two games. That’s what stood out the most.”

The Binghamton men’s basketball team has managed the program’s best start in America East (AE) conference play in 17 years so far this season, coming into their trip to Maine on Sunday. The Bearcats were looking to win their fifth straight game, but despite the Black Bears not having a conference win yet this season, the visitors were unable to take care of business on the road, losing 78-57.

“I thought [Maine] was way more physical than us,” said Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders. “They forced us into a bunch of turnovers, which we’ve been doing a pretty

BU (8-11, 4-2 AE) went down 5-0 early before senior guard Jacob Falko found a cutting junior guard Armon Harried for an easy rim rattler to put the visitors on the board. After stopping Maine (712, 1-5 AE) on the next possession, the Bearcats found graduate student guard Christian Hinckson in transition for a three to quickly tie the score up at five. Despite starting to get going on offense, the Bearcats struggled to control possession in the first 10 minutes, accumulating seven turnovers in that time. The Black Bears took advantage and climbed to a 23-8 lead.

“If you’re not getting shots at the basket because you’re turning it over, then

it’s hard to get any kind of flow or momentum,” Sanders said. “I did think we were trying to play a little too much one-on-one early in the game, and not running stuff the way we need to run it.”

Harried finally put a stop to the Maine run with an and-one layup with just under nine minutes left in the half.

Binghamton continued to chip away at its deficit for the remainder of the first, as graduate student forward Miles Gibson hit a mid-range jumper to bring the deficit down to eight. Despite cutting the lead to single digits, both sides went back-and-forth for the remainder of the frame. In the last minute, Hinckson dropped in two layups to bring BU into the half down 36-25.

“And then we compound [giving up transition

baskets] with turnovers and giving [Maine] the opportunity to get out in transition to score easy baskets, it makes it worse for you,” Sanders said. “Especially when you’re not getting easy baskets. I kind of felt like we were lucky to be down only 11 at halftime.”

Binghamton opened the second half scoring with senior guard Dan Petcash hitting a corner 3-point shot. Petcash, who led the team in scoring on the day, followed that up with a drive into the lane for a layup to score the visitor’s first five points of the period.

“I thought [Petcash] was solid,” Sanders said. “I liked the way he drove the ball to the basket, and then I thought [senior forward Taveion White] played really hard. Got us some offensive rebounds and

stuff like that, but other than that, we didn’t really have anybody else that could really get going.”

Turnovers were a theme again for the Bearcats in the second half as they gave up possession five times in the first 10 minutes. Additionally, finding consistent scoring was an issue as no player except for Petcash, who finished with 13, found themselves in the double-digits.

“I’m going to attribute a lot today to Maine,” Sanders said. “They played really well. They were more aggressive than we were. They were guarding us. This had more to do with the way Maine played and how aggressive they were … I just kind of felt like we thought we were going to show up and just win.”

Defensively, BU struggled to contain the Black Bear shooters

from beyond the arc. The hosts had an efficient day, shooting 8-17 from three while Binghamton shot 2-13. Coming into this game, the Bearcats had an 8-0 record when outshooting their opponent from three and were 0-10 when their opponent outshoots them.

“We won four games in a row, and I think we were feeling good about ourselves,” Sanders said. “Sometimes you need to kind of come back down to Earth a little bit, and that’s what this game does. Now we gotta do everything to come out and play against a really good Vermont team.” Binghamton returns home for the next matchup against Vermont on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Wrestling secures first EIWA victory of season

After falling at the first hurdle in the 125-pound class, the Bearcats (3-9, 2-2 EIWA) found their first win of the meet after sophomore Ivan Garcia bested his Harvard (0-2, 0-1 EIWA) opponent by an 8-1 decision in the 133-pound bout. Graduate student Michael Zarif also found a win early on for Binghamton in the 149-pound weight class, scoring a takedown in the process. The graduate student accumulated 1:22 of riding time in the bout to earn an 8-3 decision.

Despite this, the hosts kept pace with BU, taking the 141 and 157-pound matches for themselves.

“Really good effort across the board,” Borshoff said. “Even at 149 [pounds] Zarif got a nice win. Ivan Garcia is obviously at [133 pounds] as well. And those upper-weight guys did a great job.”

Going into the 165-pound matchup, the visitors trailed the Crimson 10-6. Sophomore Brevin Cassella’s 3-2 decision victory, however, was able to shift the momentum of the meet in BU’s favor. Then

at 174 pounds, redshirt junior Sam DePrez gave Binghamton its first lead of the meet with a 10-2 major decision victory. DePrez’s win gave the Bearcats a 1310 advantage and not long after, fellow redshirt junior Jacob Nolan extended that lead by another three points with a 7-2 decision. Both Bearcats secured takedowns in their respective bouts.

Binghamton’s victory, however, was sealed by sophomore Dimitri Gamkrelidze, who battled at 197 pounds against his Harvard opponent. Tied at 1-1 after regulation, the

Bearcat secured a hardfought win in overtime for BU.

“Getting that lead back going into 197 [pounds], we were at a point where if [Gamkrelidze] won his match it kind of closed out the duel and put us in a position where we couldn’t lose,” Borshoff said. “It was really encouraging to watch him go out there and gut out a win in overtime. He wrestled 167 pounds for us a couple weeks ago, so to be wrestling 197 right now and getting wins is big for our team.”

The meet was rounded

out by the heavyweight bout, as No. 18 ranked redshirt junior Cory Day fought at 285 pounds against a fellow ranked opponent. Although a Harvard decision victory closed out the day, BU had already secured the match victory, leaving the final score at 19-13.

“It’s always nice to come off a win,” Borshoff said. “We have a short turnaround — we have Hofstra coming to Binghamton on Thursday this week. We need to keep momentum rolling, but every match that’s wrestled is independent of every other result. It’s great to

get the win, but we’ve got to stay focused on continuing to improve in certain areas. Hofstra has got a good team so we’re going to have to compete hard, and we’re going to have to gut through a lot of matches and find a way to win that duel too.”

Binghamton will return home for its next dual meet as they face Hofstra University on Thursday, Jan. 26. First bout is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

jonathan cohen

points and three steals in BU’s 78-57 loss against Maine on Sunday.