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Thursday, January 26, 2017 | Vol. XCI, Issue 4 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
SA president proposes new legislation Bill would change election structure, institute ethics rules Brendan Zarkower Assistant News Editor
During the Student Congress meeting on Monday, the primary topic of debate was Student Association (SA) President Nicholas Ferrara’s proposed legislation involving an overhaul of the SA operating rules. Over winter break, Ferrara completely redrafted the management policies and procedures (MPP) and the SA bylaws, combining the two documents into one. This is part of a wide-ranging effort to simplify the way the SA does business. “The SA has not significantly reworked its election policy since 2012 and what is written no longer reflects our current practices,” wrote Ferrara in an email. “For example, the SA did not conduct elections digitally the last time the policy was significantly revised despite digital elections changing many important dynamics.” As it currently stands, SA election rules require a candidate to receive 40 percent of the total vote to declare victory. This system is a version of the “first past the post” system, which means that students select only one candidate, and the candidate that gets the most votes wins — provided that they reach the 40 percent threshold. Ferrara’s proposal would change this
SEE SA PAGE 2
TAXI TROUBLE Shawn Fleming/Staff Photographer Cabs line up in front of the Admissions Center Tuesday evening, days after almost every cab company in the Binghamton area went on strike.
Binghamton cab drivers went on strike Saturday night in reaction to OCCT bus pickup site changes Pelle Waldron Assistant News Editor
Almost every cab company in the Binghamton area went on strike Saturday night, leaving many students without a ride back to campus. Off Campus College Transport runs a late-night bus line on weekends called the Downtown Express, which serves as a shuttle for students who have spent the night in Downtown Binghamton. The pickup location, which used to be situated near the intersection of Hawley Street and Washington Street,
was moved this past weekend to the intersection of Hawley Street and State Street. Because the section of State Street between Hawley Street and Court Street is barricaded on weekend nights, the buses now line up directly in the intersection under the stoplight. Brian Favela, the BU executive director of transportation and parking services, said that this new location was safer for students waiting to get on the buses. “The changes, still being evaluated, simply create a “loading cue” to provide a more orderly manner for the buses to
be boarded,” Favela wrote in an email. “The new location is two bus lengths away from the previous location and is now more visible to the police officers working State street at these times.” The taxi cabs, which comprise multiple independent companies, usually line up on the north side of Hawley Street between State Street and Washington Street on the weekends, and the new pickup location for the buses interferes with this area. Colin Ryan, a sophomore majoring in geography, said that when he and his friends were leaving the bars
on Saturday night there were many students trying to get back to campus, but the bus line was packed and many students were left without rides. “All of the cab drivers were out there but they were outside of their cars, just standing around,” Ryan said. “We went up to them and asked if they could take a few people; they said they were on strike. We tried asking them more about it because we were confused and wanted to get home, but they were being unresponsive and not very
SEE CAB PAGE 3
Parking availability updated via social media International programs Transportation and Parking Services now keeping track of empty spaces
showcased at spring fair
Alexandra Hupka
International education office provides more than 1,000 study abroad experiences
News Intern
In an effort to ease parking-related stress, students, faculty and staff can now view Binghamton University parking availability through social media. On Monday, BU Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) began a new initiative in which updates about empty parking spaces will be posted throughout the day on Facebook and Twitter. The service will be heavily focused on helping commuters find spaces during peak hours, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. According to Brian Favela, executive director of TAPS, parking on campus is most congested between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He said that he is hoping that the social media updates will help commuters find parking quickly and easily. “We want to decrease the amount of time it takes to find parking,” Favela said. “[People] can check Twitter and Facebook before heading to campus and
eliminate searching for a parking space upon arrival.” Meghan Schofield, assistant director of marketing at TAPS, said that these services will also be provided during large-scale events such as commencement. In addition, some of the parking availability posts will be available on the University’s social media accounts, and she said that there is also a plan in the future to expand the service to the digital entrance signs on Glenn G. Bartle Drive and the Bunn Hill Access Road. Reactions from the University community were mixed. Many students, such as Sophia Calidonna, a junior majoring in political science, liked the idea but were concerned about possible hazards. “It’s a good idea, but people will be checking it as they are driving, and I’m not crazy about people potentially checking their phones for parking availability with all of the foot traffic around campus,” Calidonna said. Matthew Yoli, a senior majoring in business administration, said he felt that the social media updates would be ineffective, and do nothing to fix
the larger problem of a severe lack of parking space. “If more parking lots aren’t added, putting parking availability information on social media is not going to be helpful,” Yoli said. “It really is a matter of adding parking on campus.” Other students said they were concerned that spaces would fill up too quickly. Alexander Hymowitz, a senior majoring in political science, said that it would be difficult for TAPS to update commuters on parking availability quickly enough. “I feel like they will not be able to keep up with the amount of traffic coming on and off campus,” Hymowitz said. “Parking is going to fill up faster than they can update.” Despite these potential issues, some students embraced the new idea. David Alexander, a junior double-majoring in economics and cinema, said that he thought the social media updates would make parking easier. “It will make getting to campus and parking easier, and it will help people budget their time,” Alexander said.
Hannah Walter Contributing Writer
The Binghamton University Office of International Education and Global Initiatives held its second spring Education Abroad Fair on Monday to inform students about various international study opportunities offered through the University and the
SUNY system. The event, held in the Old University Union, aimed to inform students about the 50 BU-sponsored programs, as well as over 1,000 SUNY programs. There were also stations that focused on other matters concerning studying internationally, such as scholarship
SEE OIP PAGE 2
SEE PARK PAGE 2
Summer program funds student research Approximately 20 BU undergraduates will receive $3K each for studies Stacey Blansky
Program is an eight-week program available to all undergraduate students at BU who want to pursue research. This summer, approximately 20 Beginning in 2012 with only two undergraduate students will receive scholars, the program came about as a up to $3,000 to conduct research in a result of a University-conducted survey field of their choice with guidance from of undergraduates, faculty and alumni, Binghamton University faculty members. which found that undergraduate research The Summer Scholars and Artists was perceived to be the No. 1 most Contributing Writer
ARTS & CULTURE
valuable component of higher education for the coming decade. Janice McDonald, director of the Undergraduate Research Center and the Office of External Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, explained why the program is an excellent opportunity
SEE SUMMER PAGE 2
Klara Rusinko/Pipe Dream Photographer Will Tregidga of the International Division of the University of Otago speaks to a student about study abroad possibilities.
OPINIONS
Keep track of your 2017 with a bullet journal,
BU alumni go from hitting the books to writing them,
See page 4
See page 4
Columnist Giovanna Bernardo explains why students should stay local after graduation,
See page 5
SPORTS
Former men’s soccer goalkeeper Moewes selected in MLS SuperDraft,
Men’s basketball defeats Hartford for second straight victory,
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See page 8
2
NEWS
BU offers funding for summer research SUMMER FROM PAGE 1 for students in all majors. “We want students to pursue these types of opportunities because they are so important,” McDonald said. “They help reinforce what you’ve learned in the classroom. They help you decide if this is what you want to do for a career. Until you try something, you don’t really know.” McDonald stressed the importance of undergraduates getting involved with research, regardless of their major. She said research should not be reduced to only science, technology, engineering and mathematics concentrations, since it limits students’ abilities to fully explore their passions. “When we say research, we mean scholarly investigation in any field,” McDonald said. “For an artist, it is practicing their art. For someone in the humanities, it can be writing poetry or critiquing literature.” In order to be eligible for the program, students must be returning to BU for a full year after summer session. Most commonly, sophomores and juniors apply for the program, but freshmen are also considered. To be accepted, undergraduates must select a faculty mentor to work with whose job is to oversee the student for the duration of their research project. McDonald said that she thinks the application process is beneficial for students because it forces them to narrate their research interests on paper, show the steps they want to take to achieve a research goal and consider future careers. Last summer, program participants had a diverse set of majors including English, physics and music. Alexandria Tricoche, a senior majoring in biology, participated in the program last year. She tested the infectivity of a Lyme disease pathogen in mouse organ tissues for her research. “I am hoping to build a career in infectious diseases post-grad, so being on this project was on track with the kind of research I want to conduct in the future,” Tricoche said. “Being able to have my own project with funding through the Summer Scholars and Artists Program was really valuable because it allowed me a lot of freedom to learn more about my research, as well as
be independent and confident in my skills in the lab, and as a researcher in general.” In his 2016 program project, Carle Wirshba, a senior doublemajoring in music and integrative neuroscience, explored how music affects people’s understandings of emotional reality from a compositional perspective. He examined musical pieces and orchestration techniques from the 20th and 21st centuries and focused on five core emotions that could have been extracted from the compositions: joy, sadness, anger, fear and disgust. “I truly believe the Summer Scholars and Artists Program is one of the best programs we have at Binghamton University,” Wirshba said. “It provides students with such a remarkable opportunity to learn, grow and explore their scientific and creative interests regardless of their career path or major. It allowed me to combine both my fields of study in a way that would not have otherwise been supported at the undergraduate level, and for that I am forever thankful.”
When we say research, we mean scholarly investigation in any field ... For someone in the humanities, it can be writing poetry or critiquing literature — Janice McDonald URC Director
bupipedream.com | January 26, 2017
Cab drivers strike over OCCT pickup location CAB FROM PAGE 1 helpful or anything.” The cab drivers, acknowledging the toll this change has taken on their business, also cited safety concerns due to the new pickup location. The owner of All Star Cab, who asked to be referred to only as Raz due to the sensitivity of the subject, said that traffic coming from the South Side of Downtown Binghamton can pose potential threats to student safety. “A lot of people drive coming from Number Five restaurant, a lot of times they don’t notice that State Street is closed and that is very dangerous,” Raz said. “They need to move [the pickup location] somewhere else because it is unsafe for the kids, and at the same time not to mention every individual cab driver is out there trying to feed their families.” Jake Soriano, a junior double-majoring in environmental studies and art, said that he received a call from a friend who was stranded Downtown on Saturday night,
and after giving him a ride back to campus, returned to help others out. “I was only picking up friends of mine who had called before I realized how bleak things were looking,” Soriano said. “At that point, my friend and I started picking up others — people we didn’t know — off of the streets, people that were wandering aimlessly.” According to Raz, the effect of the strike was visible, as many students were left for hours without a way home. “They were all over the place, arguing, fighting; they were there for hours, and they were not happy,” Raz said. “I understand why they were not happy, due to nobody driving, it was a big deal.” On Monday, the cab drivers met with Binghamton Mayor Richard David, who told them he would speak with BU officials about the change and possible solutions. According to Glenell Jaquez, the public relations coordinator for OCCT, no changes had been made as of Wednesday night. Check bupipedream.com for updates.
Teri Lam/Design Manager This past weekend, OCCT moved the pickup location for the Downtown Express bus line.
SA pres. brings election proposal to Congress SA FROM PAGE 1 process to a single transferable vote (STV) system. Under this voting procedure, voters would rank candidates in order of preference instead of only selecting one. According to Ferrara, this process is significantly more equitable for all candidates. “STV allows voters to rank candidates so that if their preferred candidate proves nonviable their vote is not wasted but instead used on their
second choice,” Ferrara said. “It eliminates the possibility of vote splitting and allows voters to vote for whoever they think is best without having to strategize about other voters’ preferences. It would also shorten the election season and allow more time to train the winners since it does not require runoffs.” Those in attendance generally responded positively to these proposed changes. “The voting system is a great idea that honestly should have been passed sooner,” said
Richard Hoffer, the SA treasurer and a senior double-majoring in business administration and mathematics. “It in no way would have resulted in different outcomes and expedites the process of runoffs in a fair way. It provides even more data on preferences than the old system, without any additional issues in terms of counting votes or collection.” Another important aspect of the proposed rules are the changes to ethics regulations for decision-making members of the
SA. As it stands, Student Conduct and the University Judicial Board members are expected to recuse themselves from decisions regarding groups with which they have a conflict of interest. However, this does not always occur. The new rules would make explicit what comprises membership in an organization and ensures accountability for those who don’t recuse themselves. The legislation will likely be voted on during the next meeting of Student Congress on Feb. 6.
Parking services provides online updates PARK FROM PAGE 1 Some faculty members also appeared to be excited about the idea. Marina Zalesski, a lecturer of Russian studies, said that she hopes the social media updates will help her in the morning. “It is a wonderful idea,” Zalesski said. “Last semester was one of the worst I can remember for parking at the University, and this might help
alleviate these problems.” As the social media updates take effect, Schofield encouraged students, faculty and staff to share their thoughts with TAPS via social media, or by calling or emailing the TAPS office. Social media updates will be posted on the “Binghamton University Transportation and Parking” Facebook page, and at @BingU_TAPS on Twit ter.
Caleb Schwartz/Staff Photographer A driver looks for parking in Parking Lot L Wednesday afternoon. Transportation and Parking Services will provide parking lot availability through messaging on its Twitter and Facebook pages during peak parking hours, Monday through Friday.
Students explore international education opportunities at semesterly fair OIP FROM PAGE 1
opportunities and the University’s global studies minor, which requires students to study abroad. The Education Abroad Fair has been held in the fall for over a decade, but last year the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives added this event in the spring semester as a way to advertise its summer and fall semester programs. Students that had already been on the trips tabled for their particular program to answer potential questions students had. Allana Benton, a senior majoring in English, spent one semester in Florence, Italy and tabled for the BU-sponsored program there.
“I spent the fall semester in Florence, Italy and I loved it,” Benton said. “Now, I just wanted to share my information with everyone. Studying abroad pushed me to get to know myself better, try fun, new adventures and be more open to meeting people.” Brendan Burns, a sophomore majoring in political science, spent three weeks of his summer in Peru through a University program, and said that he wanted to share his experience with other students as a way to encourage them to travel, especially since the fair was where Burns figured out where he wanted to go. “I wanted to study abroad because it sounded like such an
awesome time, but I didn’t know where to start,” Burns said. “This event is where I actually found out about the Peru program and was able to get involved. I think this helps students to see all their different options and explore a little bit.” Advisers in the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives, such as Nicole Humphrey, a BU study abroad coordinator, said she believes that the fair allows students to be exposed to a wider selection of locations to study abroad in. “Sometimes students are not aware of all the different options that are out there,” Humphrey said. “There can be a kind of a mindset of what study
abroad or education abroad means. Students see photos online of people just going to Spain or Italy, which are great locations, but there’s so much more out there than just that. Here, students can see all of the different programs that are available so they can realize all the different possibilities.” The event allowed students who want to study internationally, like Robyn Lippa, a sophomore majoring in mathematics, narrow down exactly what they want out of their experience and to ask specific questions. “I am unsure of what kind of program I want and where I would want to go,” Lippa said. “I have a general idea, but by
coming here, I can better figure it out and see how I can actually get there.” Kerry Stamp, the associate director for education abroad, said that this event can help introduce students to the SUNY system’s international learning options while encouraging them to experience it for themselves. “When students are just walking around, something will often catch their eye,” Stamp said. “They will tell me that they did not know a certain program was available and how it would be perfect for them. The fair is a really great opportunity for students who are just getting started to explore what is out there.”
Studying abroad pushed me to get to know myself better — Allana Benton BU Senior
PAGE III Thursday, January 26, 2017
Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515 FAx: 607-777-2600 Web: bupipedream.com
IN KNEAD OF DOUGH
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Pipe Line UNIVERSITY NEWS Outages reported from telecommunications Verizon and AT&T cell carriers experienced a technical failure on Tuesday when trying to dial into campus, according to B-Alert. People on campus are encouraged to dial 911 in the case of emergencies if other numbers or Binghamton’s New York State University Police are inaccessible. As of Wednesday night, the problem appeared to be resolved. LOCAL NEWS Local resident gets national attention for proposal to rename Main Street in honor of Trump A Binghamton resident’s proposal to rename Main Street in Binghamton as Trump Street has garnered attention from media sources. The proposal was first floated by Binghamton resident John Solak, who told a local radio show that the city should provide balance to its existing Clinton Street, despite Clinton Street not being named after anyone related to Bill or Hillary Clinton. Although the mayor’s office said that the proposal was not under consideration, Solak’s plan was covered by the New York Post and most local media sources.
Police Watch
Law enforcement seeking suspects in Dunkin’ Donuts burglary Two suspects are wanted in connection with the burglary of a Dunkin’ Donuts in Apalachin, according to WBNG. The men are believed to be connected to burglaries in Broome, Chemung and Tioga counties. Tioga County Sheriff’s Office is not commenting at this time. STATE NEW Cuomo defends START-UP NY while proposing changes Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended his tax-free business economic development program on Tuesday as he prepared to make changes to the often-criticized program, according to the Times Union. The program has been criticized for only creating 400 jobs with a $53 million budget, although the state claims that 4,000 jobs total are in the pipeline. Cuomo wants to rename the program the Excelsior Business Program and ease eligibility requirements by allowing businesses to create one job over five years rather than one job every year, which would lessen the burden of reporting mandates.
Alexandra Hupka Police Correspondant
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 1:53 a.m. — An 18-year-old female went to the police to report an instance of harassment, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim stated that she had been in a study lounge in Hughes Hall of Hinman College on Monday when she ran into the suspect, a male acquaintance. She spoke with the suspect, and he asked if he could come over to her room. The victim agreed, and took him to her room, where the victim and the suspect began watching television. The suspect then tried to kiss the victim, who pushed him away. The suspect continued to try to kiss her and she told him that she was not interested in any physical contact, including kissing. The victim then told the suspect that she needed to leave and that he should go. The suspect left the room without any further incident. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 5:31 a.m. — Janitorial staff contacted UPD to report criminal mischief in the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center, Reilly said. The janitorial staff stated that they had been cleaning the ground floor women’s bathroom when they noticed a hole in the wall. The staff said that the hole was not present the day before. Police believe that the damage occurred between 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday and 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Roughly $150 in damage was caused. The case is under investigation and a work order has been placed.
“Federal agencies are going to unapologetically enforce the law — no ifs, ands or buts. The American people get the final say who can and cannot enter our nation.”
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 11:56 a.m. — An officer pulled over a vehicle on West Drive with an expired inspection sticker, Reilly said. The suspect, a 25-year-old male, stated that he had left his wallet at home and had no identification, but was able to produce a vehicle insurance card and vehicle registration. The officer checked the vehicle’s license plate information with the DMV and discovered that the vehicle’s registration was also expired. The suspect was given two tickets — one for the expired inspection sticker and one for the expired vehicle registration — and was advised to fix these issues before driving again. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 12:16 p.m. — A 19-year-old female reported that cash had been stolen from her wallet, Reilly said. The victim stated that she had eaten at the College-in-the-Woods Dining Hall between 10 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. She said that she had then left the dining hall, and afterward she realized that she had lost her wallet. The victim went back to the dining hall and retrieved her wallet from the manager’s desk. The manager stated that the wallet had been found by a student, who had given it to a Dining Services employee. The employee then turned the wallet over to the manager for safekeeping. When the victim opened the wallet, she discovered that approximately $200 had been stolen from the wallet. Some of the smaller bills originally in the wallet remained and the victim’s credit and debit cards were still in the wallet. The victim then filed a police report. UPD interviewed the employee and the manager. There are currently no suspects and the case is still under investigation.
STUDENT CONDUCT TOWN HALL
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— Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, on President Donald Trump’s ordering of a border wall.
Corrections
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For a Town Hall Meeting to gather ideas, hear suggestions, and discuss possible changes to the Code of Student Conduct Wednesday, 2/1/17 at 5 pm Wednesday, 2/15/17 at 5 pm Location: University Union, Rm. 102 Don’t miss the chance to let your voice be heard.
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stabilizing: shank
quantico :destabilizing
ARTS & CULTURE Shoot for your greatest year yet Combine planning with doodling in a bullet journal Gabriella Weick Contributing Writer If you’re hoping to maintain your 2017 resolution of staying organized, there’s a new way of journaling that keeps your to-do list, calendar and diary together, all conveniently located in one pocket-sized notebook. Bullet journaling emerged as the idea of Brooklyn-based designer Ryder Carroll in 2013, as a technique to stay organized and efficient. The idea of using dotted pages to journal continues to gain popularity for all types of journal-users, as it allows users to create short, bulleted statements and to draw neat frameworks for planning their future. 1. To start, you’ll need a journal you like and a pen. The bullet journal website suggests you purchase the official Bullet Journal, but any similar notebook can really do the job. A dotted Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 bullet journal
Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Bullet journaling, a DIY alternative to pre-printed planners, is a way to stay organized according to your own schedule.
are good alternatives; as long as you have the dotted layout, you’ll be in good shape. Any pen or pencil is fine, but it all depends on how much time you want to put into making your bullet journal. Oftentimes, creative people who use bullet journals use colored markers to make elaborate designs and signifiers, while busier journalusers might just opt for plain black and blue ink. How you choose to design your journal and log your thoughts is all up to you, so make it as colorful — or as neutral — as you please. 2. Research some popular designs, or create your own that fits your needs. The creators suggest a system called rapid logging, a method
that advises utilizing index pages, page numbers, short sentences and bullets. This being said, feel free to stray beyond this and make something that best fits your needs. The rapid logging layout includes planning your year, month, week and day and signifying what tasks or ideas you have using bullets. Using the dots on the page, you can create neat calendar layouts, customize them for size and design, and neatly place bullets and text. The future log is a suggestion for staying organized a year in advance, by planning out big events for all of 2017. Then comes the monthly log, where you can create a bird’s-eye view of each month’s tasks. Finally,
the daily log is for day-to-day journaling of whatever you want to plan that day. The index at the front of the book ties it all together, so you can easily access each section of the journal. Signifiers, or small marks next to tasks, represent various assignments: • A simple bullet is any thought, task or diary entry — Dashes are meant to represent notes for that day, month or year ¡ Open circles stand for events Once the task is completed, you cross out the bullet or draw an arrow to migrate the task to another day. However, because the book is versatile and rules don’t have
to be followed, many people who use bullet journals take the liberty to include anything and everything in the journal. Events, notes, thoughts and reminders can be creatively cataloged, but also which movies you’ve seen that year and how many cups of water you drink per day can be artistically incorporated into how you plan your bullet journal. Journal-users can draw calendars, write to-do lists or brainstorm ideas for class. Various Instagram accounts post new styles and designs to inspire fellow people who use bullet journals, and popular accounts include @journalspiration and @craftyenginerd. 3. Don’t be discouraged.
The bullet journal was created as an alternative to a normal journal or pre-printed planner, but if the upkeep of designing your own planner sounds like too much, it might not be for you. If you forget to journal, don’t fret; the point of the bullet journal is to stay organized according to your own schedule, so don’t be discouraged if you fall behind in journaling or planning. You might feel pressured to create beautiful designs and make the bullet journal into a hobby, but remember that it’s all for your own benefit and fun, so make it your own. Whether simple and neat or colorful and creative, it should be designed to fit your organization goals.
Intersectionality and TV Former BU students pen their way to success Movies and shows to look out for soon Ariel Taub Arts & Culture Especially today, intersectionality is often at the forefront of discussions regarding oppression and discrimination. We can find these themes in forms of art, including television. These shows explore aspects of race, sexuality and identity that often go neglected, and can be found across popular viewing platforms. For a fresh take on film, check out Pipe Dream’s picks. “One Day at a Time” — This Netflix revival aired in January 2017 and focuses on a Cuban-American family living in Los Angeles, California. The show was originally on air in the 1970s and 1980s, and had a focus on gender, with it’s portrayal of a single mom working to raise her kids. In this new reboot, one of the daughters in the show is exploring and navigating her queer identity. Lydia, played by Rita Moreno, is the matriarch of the family, helping to market the show as intergenerational and relevant to viewers of all ages. “Chewing Gum” — “Chewing Gum” is an English TV show which first aired in 2015 and was added to Netflix in late 2016. The series stars Michaela Coel, a British-Ghanaian actress, who plays Tracey, the show’s religiously restricted and sexually frustrated main star. The show is a
spinoff of a play Coel did for a senior project at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. “Chewing Gum” takes look at the dialogue centered on race, religion and closeted homosexuality. Despite its heavy underlying themes, the show remains refreshingly hopeful. “Brown Girls” — This web series written by Fatimah Asghar is set to come out in February 2017. The show follows two women of color, best friends who are navigating relationships, dating and parental expectations, among other things. The conversations are similar to conversations you might have with your close friends, and the dialogue is dryly humorous with explicit discussions of sex and feminism. Highlights from the show include quotes like, “I’m not going to begin to give you a lecture on what you don’t know about feminism.” “Appropriate Behavior” — If films are more your speed, “Appropriate Behavior” is a good choice, having won awards at the Sundance Film Festival. The main character of the film is Shirin, a young bisexual PersianAmerican woman played by Desiree Akhavan. Following a breakup with ex-girlfriend Maxine, Shirin goes through a personal journey, with the film exploring themes of acceptance and identity.
Photo provided by Netflix English TV show “Chewing Gum” was added to Netflix in late 2016 and explores aspects of race, religion and sexuality.
From memoirs to dystopian novels, books by past Bearcats McKenzie Delisle Staff Writer As college students, we know that there is nothing scarier than the future. We are constantly haunted by the search for graduate schools, internships and employment. Luckily, there is a long list of successful Binghamton University alumni who have paved the way to success, some as authors. For proof of this in print, check out this list of published works written by some of our very own. “Not Your Mother’s Rules: The New Secrets For Dating” by Sherrie Schneider, ‘80, and Ellen Fein In 1995, BU alumna Sherrie Schneider and friend Ellen Fein cowrote “The Rules,” a compilation of the dos and don’ts of the dating world. However, times have changed since the ’90s, and after seeing the nuances technology has brought to dating, Schneider and Fein teamed up with their daughters to give us an updated guide. The newer self-help book is lighthearted and comical while remaining honest to the worries of any bachelor or bachelorette. It includes a “Text-Back Times Chart,” as well as advice on how to escape obnoxious booty calls and so much more. “Brother One Cell: An American Coming of Age in South Korea’s Prisons” by Cullen Thomas, ‘92 University alumnus Cullen Thomas’ novel “Brother One Cell” teaches us to get out and see the world — legally. The memoir tells the story of his drug-related arrest in Seoul, South Korea, where he spent time teaching after graduation. On the search for an adventure with a new degree in hand, Thomas did find something life-changing during his stay in a prison cell for three and a half years. His story not only explores what got him into jail, but the differing social norms and communication barriers that are inherent in imprisonment in a foreign country. “Hothouse Flower and the
Photo provided by The Voyager Company Author and illustrator Art Spiegelman retells the story of the Holocaust through the eyes of cats and mice in “Maus.” Although Spiegelman never completed his degree at BU, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate of letters degree in 1995 following his success as a writer.
Nine Plants of Desire” by Margot Berwin, ‘84 If you’re into the sultriness of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” BU alumna Margot Berwin is the next author to look out for. Her novel “Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire” takes Lila, a cautious young woman, on a much-needed journey through Mexico to discover nine plants that are, according to legend, destined to bring her the life of prominence, passion and wealth that she’s been yearning for. According to Elle Magazine and Penguin Random House Audio, the novel has been bought by Sony Pictures and the cinematic version will
star Julia Roberts. “Red Dust and Bones” by Sandy Samson (Timothy Masters, ‘80) BU alumnus Timothy Masters wrote his science fiction novel “Red Dust and Bones” under the pen name Sandy Samson, and in his book presents a futuristic United States. The novel examines a failed society, where a U.S. base on Mars is under attack. Through the storytelling of two narrators, the reader discovers that the attackers might not be foreigners, but rather U.S. traitors. “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” by Art Spiegelman (Honorary Degree) As both the author and
illustrator of “Maus,” Spiegelman retells the story of the Holocaust through the eyes of cats and mice, with the graphic novel format offering something different from other well-known Holocaust literature. The novel depicts the experience of his own Jewish parents while they were living in Poland during the Holocaust, and also touches upon his failing relationship with his father and the heartbreaking loss of his mother. Although Spiegelman never completed his degree at BU, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate of letters degree in 1995 following his success as a writer.
OPINIONS Thursday, January 26, 2017
Give Broome a chance The area offers rich opportunity for college graduates Giovanna Bernardo
Columnist
If I were to ask a bunch of Binghamton University students if they were considering staying in the area after graduation, they would either look at me like I was crazy, or give the standard “I couldn’t stay here any longer than four years.” I get that; I’ve lived in this area my entire life, so I recognize that in addition to the freezing winters, Binghamton just isn’t as appealing as fast-paced cities like New York City or Boston. That’s why when I started college, I imagined finishing my degree, staying local for a few years to establish myself financially and then quickly moving to a big city in order to further my aspirations in public relations and marketing. Having met and made friends with people all over the United States and the world during my time here, I frequently asked myself what a place as small — and seemingly dull — as Broome
County could possibly offer a young professional like me. However, that mindset has slowly been deteriorating since my freshman year. In the last few years, I have been exposed to innumerable reasons why I should — and will — stay here long after graduation — and why you should consider staying too. In the past few months, The Agency, Broome County’s primary economic development agency, has developed a campaign showcasing why Broome County is an ideal place for professionals in any field to live, work and thrive. I work as an intern for The Agency and saw this campaign come to life over the summer. “Broome: A Good Life” highlights why a lot of local professionals choose to live in Broome County, a place where you can have an ideal personal and professional life balance. Around here, the average commute time is less than 20 minutes and no matter what field you’re in, you are surrounded by both established professionals and up-and-comers. Eugenie Zynda, owner of The Shop, a cafe in Downtown
Binghamton, is featured in this campaign. She chose to come to and stay in Broome County because she is “able to build a successful business, while keeping the creativity flowing” in her “amazing community of friends, artists, academics and fellow entrepreneurs” here. There are countless businesses in Broome County — both big and small — owned by people like Zynda, who saw an opportunity in this area and wanted to capitalize on the inevitable success of entrepreneurship here. This includes Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (which began right here in 1948), Lost Dog Cafe, Modern Marketing Concepts, Inc. and more. Enterprising business owners can feel right at home in Downtown Binghamton, in close proximity to trendy restaurants and cafes (like The Loft at 99 and Strange Brew Cafe), innovative startups (like CommuniKey), and incubator space (like The Agency’s startup incubator, The Center). Broome County isn’t just ideal for entrepreneurs, though; individuals in the healthcare or
psychology fields can get involved with the research happening at multiple United Health Services locations and Lourdes Hospital, as well take advantage of BU’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, starting when it’s opened later this year. Those in the biology, animal science and agricultural industries can utilize Cornell Cooperative Extension’s connection to agricultural outlets all over the state, as well as the new Regional Farmers’ Market right on Cornell Cooperative Extension’s site. And engineers can become involved with the endless opportunities at Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC, BAE Systems, as well as Lockheed Martin. You may not have envisioned it that way, but Broome County could be the type of place you always wanted to end up, where you can enjoy your life, your work and thrive. You just have to give it a chance. — Giovanna Bernardo is a senior double-majoring in English and political science.
Makeup is not just make up
Cosmetics should be seen as creative self-expression Emily Kaufman
Contributing Columnist
“Take your girl swimming on the first date,” suggests a popular internet meme, so that her makeup will be ruined and you’ll see what she really looks like underneath that mask of deceit. Glittery eyelids, plum-colored lips and perfectly filled-in eyebrows are made to seem like a part of the grand scheme women have supposedly orchestrated to confuse all men. Although this may seem ridiculous, it is a widely held belief that women only wear makeup to appeal to men and to trick men into thinking they’re beautiful. The fact of the matter is that makeup is not restricted to one gender and people do not use makeup in order to trick or deceive others. People of all genders use makeup as a creative form of self-expression. Makeup dates back to ancient Egypt, where men and women frequently used it. Even King Tutankhamun’s tomb was
riddled with cosmetics. Despite its history, it is typically taboo for anyone other than women to wear makeup in the Western world. Makeup is associated with femininity and trickery rather than creativity and art. Not coincidentally, women are also associated with femininity and trickery. These parallels have been established, and when people transverse these clearcut boundaries, they are seen as outcasts. We, as a society, must rethink and reject the archaic restraints put on something as simple and harmless as makeup. Social media is home to many people who have established large followings by breaking gender stereotypes with their makeup tutorials. Many men have makeup-related YouTube channels and have found great success. For example, James Charles, famous for his YouTube tutorials, recently became the first male CoverGirl spokesperson. At just 17 years old, he has already broken gender stereotypes and found success that many people never find. However, these boundaries are still not completely broken,
as nonbinary people are not often recognized in this field. Although Charles has made some progress, we still have a long way to go in breaking these stereotypes. Popular makeup artists on social media have also proven that makeup does not exist to hide oneself or to deceive others. The thousands of tutorials available online illustrate that it is an art form and a means of self-expression. It takes skill, technique and knowledge and there are no limits to how unconventional one can get. Browsing through Instagram, one can find tutorials for vibrant eyeshadow, ombre lipstick and creative renditions of classic winged eyeliner. Each tutorial brings a new technique or idea and each person uses artistic license to create something original. If this is not the definition of art, then what is? Although makeup is generally a creative outlet, there is a fine line between using it as such and using it to attempt to reach an unrealistic standard of beauty. The beauty industry is worth $80 billion and is projected
to reach $90 billion by 2020, profiting from insecurities that stem from these truly unattainable standards. Models are often portrayed in magazines with a natural look, when in reality, they have had their makeup professionally done and their faces photoshopped to perfection. This perception of “natural” beauty is not natural at all. Although makeup is a great form of self-expression and people can wear makeup for any reason they choose, no one should need makeup to reach a poorly defined idea of beauty. We, as a society, must let go of our past judgments and accept that cultural changes occur. Makeup, something that provides creativity and passion, should not be restricted. There is still a long way to go, but social media’s considerable impact on our society will help get us there. And if you’re still thinking of taking a crush swimming on the first date, just know their waterproof makeup can withstand it. — Emily Kaufman is a sophomore majoring in English.
PIPE DREAM
ADVICE Welcome to Pipe Dream Advice, where advice columnist Kristen DiPietra offers suggestions to make your life better. Submit a question at bupipedream.com/advice and you could be featured in next week’s issue!
Dear Kristen, My girlfriend is self-conscious about her body. I think she is very attractive, but I can’t make her believe that. How can I help her believe that she is attractive as she actually is? I think it’ll help in bed. Sincerely, “Concerned SO” Hello “Concerned,” It’s wonderful that you’re so invested in building your girlfriend’s confidence. Unfortunately, confidence is difficult to build through words alone. Initiate gentle kisses, looks, touches and playful grabbing of her body (if she’s into that). It will show that you can’t resist how tempting she is. Communicating your appreciation for her body nonverbally will make it hard for your girlfriend to ignore the message. Catch her when she’s off guard — when she’s reading in bed or making a sandwich. Tell her specifically what you love about her. You don’t have to launch into a corny metaphor, but focus on things that you genuinely find attractive, like the scar below her lip or the way her eyebrow fans out. Touch it, say it, and maybe in time she will love it as well. If she’s very self-conscious or embarrassed of certain areas — say the hair on her big toe for instance — don’t push her. Don’t feel bad if she doesn’t believe you. It’s not up to you to convince her. Ultimately, she has to realize her own beauty. Yours truly, Kristen Dear Kristen, I’m a sophomore with a strong desire to major in theatre. My parents — who are paying for school — do not support this and want me to pick a major that will guarantee that I make money. I have to decide my major soon; what should I do? From, “Undecided Undeclared” Dear “Undecided,” Education is an investment. Many of us go to college because we enjoy learning, but the ultimate goal is to eventually get a job — preferably one that pays well. I can understand why your parents are hesitant about your choice. A life in theatre can be rewarding, but it can be full of uncertainty and rejection. At the end of the day, your parents are paying for your education, which is a gift itself. If you can, major or minor in theatre, but tack on another major that you enjoy and that your parents find valuable or more relevant to today’s workforce. Increasingly, one’s major has nothing to do with the profession they eventually wind up in. Plenty of people stumble into theatre by pure talent, luck or coincidence. Gerard Butler was a lawyer before he landed on the big screen. Unless your parents are forcing you into one specific major or career, I’m sure you can have a sound discussion about why you love theatre and how you can make a decent living doing it. Show your parents how you plan to make it work, even if that means having a plan B. Fortunately, most of theatre education is about experience. There are plenty of ways to get your theatre fix at Binghamton University without committing to a major or Mainstage productions. Studentrun theatre groups such as the Hinman Production Company and the Dickinson Community Players may have more flexible schedules if you find another major to be too demanding. There are also local community groups such as the Endicott Performing Arts Center and the Cider Mill Playhouse. Good luck, Kristen
How a new third party could enter the scene
A closer look at the reform necessary to create a much-needed viable political alternative
Sarah Tucker
Hooman Ibrahim
Contributing Columnists
The United States’ political landscape has been dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties for more than a century. Many U.S. citizens apathetically underestimate the prospect of alternative political parties. However, recent political events in the country have made clear the need for a third party rooted in genuine leftism. The U.S. political spectrum has been simplified by the binary of liberalism and conservatism. The political climate has rendered one political party diluted in political ideology, while leaving the other increasingly more unstable. The Democrats, who supposedly represent the left in
the United States, have lobbied for pharmaceutical companies at the expense of public health, failed to challenge the prison industrial complex and remained virtually silent on the use of drones on civilian populations abroad. The Republicans, conversely, have adhered more closely to their ideological background and alienated those who do not share their political agenda, thus making their party unviable to millions of marginalized peoples. This political instability of the right led to the rise of President Donald Trump’s candidacy. Although he alienated millions with his racist and sexist rhetoric, one demographic was enthralled by Trump’s economic promises: the white working class. As one of the segments of our society that has suffered the most due to outsourcing of jobs like in the de-industrialized Rust Belt, the working-class white population voted in droves to support a candidate they believed would enhance the U.S. economy. Bernie Sanders similarly enjoyed
support from white working-class voters. Whereas Trump’s base of support was racially homogenous, Sanders’ platform was far more inclusive as his vision of social democracy was able to bridge the gap between minority groups and the white working class. Although the juxtaposition between Sanders and Trump is apparent, they share a major commonality: neither was the political establishment’s first choice. Part of their appeal was that neither were truly party members and the ideas they conveyed resonated with people. Recent surveys reveal that almost 60 percent of U.S. citizens believe a third major political party is vital for our political system. Because Sanders’ leftist platform successfully served as a nexus for minorities and the white working class, this new third party should be one rooted in the politics of the far left. However, the current electoral system in place prevents third parties from succeeding in the United States. In political science, Duverger’s law states that voters
do not want to waste their ballot so they vote for whomever they think actually has a chance to win, thus third-party candidates find it difficult to win a congressional or state legislative seat. Many electoral reform activists favor scrapping the electoral college to open up the possibility of a third party successfully winning an election. But a better solution exists — replacing our winner-takeall system with a proportional representation system, which has become the predominant voting system among advanced democracies. The United States, Canada and Great Britain are the only Western democracies that still use winner-take-all systems. In addition to discriminating against third parties, the winnertake-all system has substantial drawbacks, such as preventing full representation of a large amount of voters and creating legislatures that do not accurately parallel the views of the public. Individuals supporting minor parties are forced to decide among wasting their vote on a candidate who cannot win,
voting for the lesser of two evils or abstaining. Our current electoral system is engineered against minor parties to safeguard the two major parties from any competition. In a proportional representation system, legislators are elected in multimember districts instead of single-member. The amount of seats awarded to a party depends on the level of support among voters. As a result, both working class whites and minorities receive fair representation. Proportional representation systems were created to address the numerous issues created by plurality-majority voting systems; they produce more precise representation of parties, better representation of minorities and women, a higher chance of majority rule and little-to-no room for gerrymandering. Not only will alternative political parties and movements find new strength and potential influence under such a system, but voters will appreciate the change too. Nations with proportional representation systems enjoy higher voter turnout than their winner-take-
all counterparts. Adoption of a proportional representation system would be most feasible on the local level and for congressional elections since only city charters and a 1967 federal law would need to be modified. Some states have already successfully implemented proportional representation systems in local elections, using the system to elect representatives fairly. The debate over proportional representation has just begun in this country, but it is clear that the public desires fairer and more democratic elections that would support a multiparty system. A recent exit poll revealed that significantly more college students in 2016 desired a third party compared to 2012. If we want to successfully establish a more leftist party that unites the white working class and minority groups, we should carefully analyze this electoral reform as a viable option. — Hooman Ibrahim and Sarah Tucker are seniors majoring in business administration.
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www.bupipedream.com | TKMonth ##, 20##
Thursday, January 26, 2017 BREAKING NEWS
Elizabeth Manning Trebuchet>Catapult
A World of Difference
Nate Walker
GIM Season Be Like RELEASE DATE– Friday, September 7, 2007
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 Enthusiastic about 5 Florist’s staple 9 Unit 14 Auto repair company since 1971 15 Teamster’s pair 16 “Here Comes Santa Claus” cosongwriter 17 Start of a quip about a poor investment 19 Al and Dick, lately 20 They’re stereotypically green 21 MLB semifinal 22 Regulator of some traffic: Abbr. 23 Gangster movie effect 25 Associate 29 Quip, part 2 31 Take advantage of a sellout, in a way 33 “The Godfather” composer Nino 34 ___ Bo 35 Brew 36 Quip, part 3 37 Make malteds, e.g. 38 Its flag features a six-pointed star: Abbr. 39 LAX postings 41 Hard thump 43 Quip, part 4 46 Stews 47 2004 Dow 30 addition 51 Nittany Lions’ sch. 52 Cougar, e.g., briefly 53 It may be picked out 54 Pay 57 End of the quip 59 Not blind 60 Get in the game 61 Tiny globe 62 Dispensed, with “out” 63 Union jack? 64 IRS data
DOWN 1 Not as friendly 2 Three-nation pact of the ’90s 3 On-the-sly event 4 Tic-tac-toe loser 5 It’s usually a yellow light 6 It paid about 501 at the 2007 Kentucky Derby 7 Short turns? 8 Capt.’s heading 9 Plain 10 None too comfortable 11 Sport __ 12 Contemporary of Ernst 13 Phonic lead-in 18 Up to the point that 22 Printing choice 24 Brainstormers’ cries 25 Some chairs, briefly 26 A lot 27 “The Fountainhead” architect 28 Trip over the mountains 30 Proper type
Nate Walker
31 Fish dish 32 Program source 35 Isn’t used 36 Beavers, perhaps 37 Dench of the screen 39 Spewed out 40 Connecting, on signs 41 Doesn’t give a choice 42 It’s not good to be left in it
44 Base boss 45 Mimieux of “The Time Machine” 48 Tunes (out) 49 One may be donated 50 Cries out for 52 Choice list 54 55-Down mate 55 54-Down mate 56 Tatami, for one 57 Roam 58 Six-pack components
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
xwordeditor@aol.com
By Bruce Venzke & Stella Daily (c)2007 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
09/07/07
09/07/07
Elizabeth Manning
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SPORTS
bupipedream.com | January 26, 2017
Admit it, you're not going to watch the NFL Pro Bowl
Kyle McDonald Assistant Sports Editor
Pipe Dream Archives Former Binghamton goalkeeper Robert Moewes was drafted No. 52 overall in the MLS SuperDraft.
Moewes, '16, selected in MLS Draft Two-time AE Goalkeeper of the Year picked by Toronto FC
Noah Bressner
Assistant Sports Editor
After spending 16 years at the helm of the Binghamton men’s soccer team, head coach Paul Marco knows how good competition in the NCAA can be. Robert Moewes, who played two seasons under Marco as the Bearcats’ starting goalkeeper, left Marco in awe. It came as no surprise, then, when Toronto FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) soccer club, selected Moewes with the eighth pick in the third round of MLS SuperDraft last Tuesday. According to Marco, Moewes still wasn’t drafted high enough — he was the fifth goalkeeper picked in the draft. “I really feel like he’s one of the top goalkeepers in the country,” Marco said. “When the first two rounds went by and he didn’t get picked, I was disappointed and I guess that’s a light word.” Moewes is the first BU soccer player to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft, and the highest-
drafted BU athlete in any sport. Prior to last season, Moewes transferred to Duke as a graduate student after spending three years at BU — the first of which he was forced to sit out due to NCAA regulations. Moewes was named America East (AE) Goalkeeper of the Year for two straight years, and led BU to an AE Championship game appearance in 2015. At Duke, he was named the team’s MVP in his final year of eligibility. “He’s trying to prove that they made the right decision in selecting him,” Marco said. “Being a professional is hard; there aren’t that many professional players considering all the players who played in and graduated from college.” Armed with an intimidating stare, Moewes impressed at the MLS Player Combine before the draft. Moewes’ selection, which took place over conference call, was far from glamorous. But now, his focus will turn to immediately
impressing Toronto FC. Moewes could serve as Toronto FC’s third-string goalkeeper or start his career with Toronto FC II, which serves as a reserve team for the MLS club. Quillan Roberts, who served as Toronto FC II’s starting goalkeeper for much of last season, has yet to be re-signed. “You have to look at where he’s starting, where he falls in the Toronto Academy when he first gets there,” Marco said. “Then, you’re trying to project out his potential. I think that his potential can still grow.” Moewes recorded a .736 save percentage at Duke, allowing just 1.36 goals per game. Marco believes Moewes has the ability to succeed in the MLS as long as he remains driven. “When he’s motivated, I think he can accomplish great things,” Marco said. “He was absolutely outstanding, just incredible. His body language just oozed ‘confident’ … if that stays with him, I think we’ll see him play on
TV very soon.” Moewes spent the fall semester at Duke pursuing a master’s in management studies, but now plans to finish his degree at a later date. He graduated from BU’s School of Management last spring. “I hope that Robert [Moewes] looks back at his time in Binghamton and speaks highly of his time with us,” Marco said. “He had certain goals that he set out to achieve here. We had some very frank conversations when he was about to graduate, and I knew well ahead of time that he was going to be leaving us.” Moewes was one of four MLS draft picks to have played in the AE, an increasingly competitive conference in Division I men’s soccer. Vermont forward Brian Wright was drafted No. 20 overall. Wright ended BU’s season with an overtime goal in both 2015 and 2016. “Well, we’re certainly excited that [Brian Wright] graduated,” Marco said.
This year’s NFL playoffs have been rather underwhelming. Just two of the 10 games have been decided by one possession. The other eight games — including the conference championship games — were blowouts. However, most NFL fans would gladly watch another week of uncompetitive games than the NFL Pro Bowl — the league’s allstar game. A game featuring the NFL’s best athletes sounds like a mustwatch, but this is far from the truth. After multiple attempts at increasing attendance and television viewership, it’s time to eliminate the Pro Bowl. Canceling an all-star game may seem drastic, but the NFL knows this game has been failing for years. In 2016, 8 million viewers watched the Pro Bowl on ESPN. Ratings have declined every year since 2011, when the game hit 13.4 million viewers. Last year’s game was the lowestrated Pro Bowl since 2006. Eight million viewers may sound like a big accomplishment, but this isn’t the case for professional football, which is the most-watched sport in the United States. So far this postseason, the lowest-rated game — between Houston and Oakland — earned 25.1 million views. As boring as that game was — and it was extremely boring — it still pulled in 17.1 million more viewers than last season’s Pro Bowl, and will undoubtedly have better numbers than this year’s Pro Bowl. On the other hand, the reason the Pro Bowl is still around is due partly to its ratings compared to other sports’ all-star games. The 2016 NBA and NHL all-star games drew in 7.6 million and 1.6 million viewers, respectively — both lower totals than the Pro Bowl. As easy as it is to compare the
Pro Bowl to other all-star games and think it’s doing well enough to be kept around, a ratings juggernaut like the NFL shouldn’t be comparing its ratings to other sports. In 2016, the NFL had 33 of the 50 most-watched sporting events. The Olympics were a distant second with 12 events, while the MLB, NBA and NHL combined for just four. Instead, the Pro Bowl should be compared to other NFL game ratings. In 2016, just five of 267 games had lower viewerships than the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is meant to be a game of the best players in the league, yet it can barely draw more viewership than the NFL’s worst regularseason games. The main reason viewership is plummeting is because of the quality of players competing in the game. In 2010, the NFL moved the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl in hopes of increasing ratings. However, this prevents players who are in the Super Bowl — often the best players on the best teams — from taking part. A record 133 players were selected to play in the Pro Bowl in 2016. That number may seem significant, but the Pro Bowl is only supposed to have 86 total players. Many players decline their Pro Bowl invitation because of injury. This not only devalues the selection to the Pro Bowl, but creates rosters with second and third-option players. The Pro Bowl isn’t worth watching if it’s not the best against the best, so obviously this contributes to the lack of viewers. There’s no reason to have another dangerous NFL game. A Boston University study concluded that 90 of 94 deceased NFL players’ brain tissue tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Avoiding another game — even if it’s as uncompetitive as the Pro Bowl — is vital to the health of these players. With the lower number of stars leading to dismal viewership, the game should be canceled. If viewership isn’t enough for the league to cancel it, then player safety should be.
America East releases preseason lacrosse rankings Conference coaches' poll places Binghamton men's, women's squads at bottom of league Kyle McDonald Assistant Sports Editor
The America East (AE) Conference released its preseason coaches’ polls for men’s and women’s lacrosse on Wednesday, with both Binghamton squads near the bottom. The men are ranked last at seventh, while the women are one spot higher at six. BU’s women’s team is coming off a 6-11 year in which it struggled in conference play, finishing the season with a 2-4 record. This
season, the Bearcats return their top scorer, senior midfielder Callon Williams. She led the team in goals (29) and assists (9). Also returning is BU’s second-leading scorer, sophomore midfielder Rebecca Golderman, who tallied 27 goals last season. The Bearcats have lost two key pieces of their defense, Allie Rodgers and Erin McNulty, to graduation. Rodgers led the conference in caused turnovers per game (2.18) and ranked second in ground balls per game
(2.47). McNulty started 11 of BU’s 17 games, ranking third in the conference in goals-against average and save percentage. As for the men, new head coach Kevin McKeown has his work cut out for him. The squad, which finished 4-10 last season (2-4 in the AE), lost its two main sources of offense, Zach Scaduto and Johnny Maher, to graduation. The scoring burden this season will fall heavily on juniors Ben Kocis and Thomas McAndrew, and senior Matt Kaser. Kocis
put up 29 points last season while McAndrew and Kaser put up 19 points each. Sophomore Joe Licata, who impressed in his first season as a Bearcat with 18 points, will also be a key in the offense. Both teams will kick off the season at home, with the Bearcat women playing against Lafayette on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. and the men against Colgate at noon on Saturday, Feb. 18. The games will be held at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.
Rachel Tomei/Pipe Dream Photographer Kevin McKeown will begin his first season as head coach of the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team.
COMMENTARY
End the Pro Bowl SEE PAGE 7 Thursday, January 26, 2017
Binghamton thrashes Hawks for second straight win Beck's stellar night propels BU to victory over Hartford Samuel Ditchek Pipe Dream Sports
After pulling off an upset win against Stony Brook on Sunday, the Binghamton men’s basketball team took care of business Wednesday night with a 21-point victory over Hartford. Both squads came out of the gates stagnant and disinterested, with each team slowly trading buckets amounting in a combined 65-point first half. Despite a lethargic start, BU (1111, 2-5 America East) defeated Hartford (6-16, 1-6 AE), 76-55. For the Bearcats, the matchup with the Hawks appeared to be a much-needed win due to the lack of success Hartford has had thus far in the regular season. Prior to tipoff, Hartford had been outscored by an average of 16 points in the AE and had lost seven of its last eight games. In their previous matchup against New Hampshire, the Hawks were blown out, 81-56. With a career-high 16 rebounds by sophomore center Thomas Bruce and an impressive nine-assist performance from sophomore guard Timmy Rose, the Bearcats seemed to be firing on all cylinders and corralling every rebound in the second half. Three-point shooting, especially in the second half, powered BU to its second conference win of the season. The lights-out beyond the arc performance from senior guard Marlon Beck and company gave BU the spark it needed in order to capture the win. BU shot a stellar 80 percent from deep and
Kevin Paredes/Assistant Photography Editor Senior guard Marlon Beck tallied 15 points and went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc to lead BU over Hartford, 76-55.
an adequate 47.5 percent for the entire game. “For me, I kinda feel like once I get to see one shot go in it gives me personal momentum,” Beck said. “I try to bring a lot of energy to every practice, every single game — day in and day out — and my teammates really feed off of that.” The game not only featured a confidence-boosting win, but
it also carried historic potential, as two players had the chance to surpass the 1,000-point milestone. Although neither junior forward Willie Rodriguez nor Beck was able to achieve this accolade, their performance Wednesday leaves them eight points and 15 points away, respectively. If Rodriguez had made it to the 1,000-point mark this game
he would have done so more quickly than any other Bearcat in the Division I era after just 75 games. “He’s [Rodriguez] not worried about getting 1,000 tonight, he knows he’s going to get it,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “I don’t even think it was on his mind, I don’t think he was trying to get it.” Despite their static start
to conference play, Dempsey affirmed that the Bearcats will stay motivated going forward and will hope to carry the momentum from back-to-back wins into their upcoming games. “This group has done an unbelievable job going about their business, win or lose even when we had a five-game skid, I never felt like we had a bad practice,” Dempsey said. “We
were a bit embarrassed because we didn’t view ourselves as an 0-for-3, then an 0-for-4, then an 0-for-5 team, but I just told them that if we keep grinding, that stuff would work itself out.” The Bearcats are set to continue AE play against Maine on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.
BU drops heartbreaker in overtime
Despite impressive comeback, Bearcats fall to Hartford
Provided by BU Athletics Redshirt sophomore guard Jasmine Sina put up 17 points in Binghamton’s 76-73 double-overtime loss to Hartford.
Orlaith McCaffrey Sports Editor
Heading into its matchup against Hartford, the Binghamton women’s basketball team knew that no matter the outcome, the final margin between the two squads would be narrow. This proved to be the case on Wednesday night, as the Bearcats (10-10, 4-3 AE) dropped a closely contested battle to the Hawks (14-6, 5-3 AE) in double overtime, 76-73.
It was freshman guard Carly Boland who kept the Bearcats’ hopes of taking sole possession of second place in the AE alive. Boland, who has hit a number of clutch threes this season, sunk one from the left wing with 19.2 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 60 and send the game into overtime. Boland’s last-minute heroics, though, were not enough to earn the Bearcats their fifth conference victory. The end of the first overtime
period seemed like déjà vu, except this time it was Hartford freshman guard Sierra DaCosta who landed a free throw to knot it up at 70 and keep the Hawks in the game. DaCosta led Hartford with with 23 points, including three 3-pointers, while sophomore guard Lindsey Abed contributed three 3-pointers and 13 points. Although the game ended on a close note, the Bearcats trailed for much of the first half and fell behind by as many as 12
in the third quarter. As soon as the final period began, though, BU took control, mounting a 17-4 run to take a 51-50 lead halfway through the fourth quarter. Junior guard Imani Watkins, who had been held to just 3-pointers in the first half, came through for Binghamton, nailing key jumpers to increase the Bearcats’ advantage. Providing a potent presence behind the arc was redshirt sophomore guard Jasmine Sina, who sunk five 3-pointers, including one with just over a minute remaining in the first overtime period to give BU a 70-65 advantage. After starting the season slowly, Sina has found her stride of late, netting 15 and 17 points, respectively, in Binghamton’s last two games. For the seventh consecutive time this conference season, the Bearcats were out-rebounded, grabbing 13 fewer boards than the Hawks. BU struggled with offensive rebounds, getting just 11 throughout both halves and overtime periods. Hartford junior forward Darby Lee was particularly lethal in this area, pulling down 13 rebounds of her own. BU’s closest chance at pulling off the win came when freshman guard Kai Moon hit a layup followed by a free throw to give the Bearcats a 73-71 lead. The Hawks, however, refused to be defeated on their own turf, scoring five straight points to secure the win and second place in the AE. The Bearcats are set to return to the court on Saturday against Maine. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
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