Spring 2017 Issue 9 by Pipe Dream

Monday, February 13, 2017 | Vol. XCI, Issue 9 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

SEX ISSUE 2017

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Binghamton Entrepreneur opens hemp business in Broome County BU junior Kaelan Castetter hosts launch party for hemp-infused white wine brand Sovereign Vines Brendan Zarkower, Andres Gomez & Erica Prush Pipe Dream News

A student who founded the first hemp company in Broome County has officially launched his first hempinfused wine. Friday night at Despina’s Mediterranean Taste, Kaelan Castetter, a junior majoring in business administration, hosted a launch party for Sovereign Vines. This product is the first hemp wine varietal from his student-run startup, Innovative Bottling Inc. “We believe that this is innovation

in wine,” Castetter said. “We think the United States is ready for it.” Around 100 people attended the event, including local politicians Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. Castetter’s business has received support from Binghamton University as well; he is in frequent contact with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships office and has two Career Development Centralized Internship Program interns working for him — one as an accountant and one as a laboratory technician. Laura Holmes, assistant director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Partnerships, has been a main point of contact for Castetter at the University. “Kaelan [Casetter] came to us close to two years ago with this idea,” Holmes said. “It’s a great story, beginning with his dad.” Castetter’s father, Jim, attempted to launch a similar product in the 1990s, but was restricted by government regulations on hemp. Since then, regulations have changed, allowing Castetter to reignite the initiative with himself as CEO and his father as president. “The most rewarding part of this launch is watching him be successful,” Holmes said. “My students are like my

kids; I’m proud of them the same way. And I’m a huge supporter of the hemp movement in New York.” Castetter attributed his successful launch to the support of his friends and the Broome County community. “I knew that there was an opportunity to do what my dad had done,” Castetter said. “I was looking for something new that I could do that would really mean something. I joined [the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity] and Rohan [Nayyar] was the vice president, and they really gave me a lot of support. Also, Binghamton itself is really an environment that inspires confidence.” The legal status of hemp is somewhat

complicated and frequently changing. In August 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Assembly Bill A9310A, legislation introduced by Lupardo that allows for the transportation, processing, sale and distribution of hemp in New York. Federal rules also apply to hemp products. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which Castetter said regulates hemp food and beverage products at a federal level, has declared hemp-infused beverages may be sold, so long as they do not use marijuana-themed advertising or contain any traces of

SEE WINE PAGE 2

Panel offers internship advice Students protest travel ban implications Former interns give search, application tips Alexandra Hupka News Intern

Approximately 40 undergraduate students met in Binghamton University’s Appalachian Collegiate Center on Thursday to discuss navigating internship searches at the Mountainview Spring Semester Internship Panel. The event, which was held for the first time, was organized by several Mountainview College resident assistants (RAs). Henry Castillo, an RA in Windham Hall of Mountainview College and a senior majoring in economics, said that the event was designed to give students information on searching for and obtaining internships. “We aim to put an emphasis on internships through events like this,” Castillo said. “Students get encouragement and inspiration from listening to their peers.” The panelists were BU undergraduate students who have had prior internships. Panelists answered questions from the

audience and talked about their own experiences at locations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Kapetanos & Belibasakis, LLP, the High School for Community Leadership and the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development. They also offered advice to students seeking internship opportunities. Panelist Delisa Hamichand, a junior majoring in English, stated that internships are important for students because they help them explore career options. “It’s scary to start off looking for an internship, but it is necessary and something that you have to do to progress,” Hamichand said. “It’s helpful to figure out what field you want to go into.” One attendee wanted to know more about ways to balance academics and work during the academic year. Panelist Ioanna Pefanis, a senior double-majoring in political science and English, interned

SEE PANEL PAGE 2

ARTS & CULTURE

GSO organizes demonstration, administration stands in solidarity

Peter Brockwell Pipe Dream News

Binghamton University students and faculty gathered on Thursday to protest President Donald Trump’s recent executive order blocking entry to the United States to citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Walking across campus from the Pegasus Statue to the Couper Administration Building, the protesters chanted phrases like “You can’t ban BU” and “Education is a right. Fight, fight, fight.” Morteza Sarailoo, a fourth-year graduate student studying electrical engineering, organized the protest along with the BU Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and 49 similar student groups across the country. International graduate students communicated through a Facebook group called “Academics United - No to Visa and Immigration Ban” to organize events at the same time and stand in

solidarity nationwide. Protesters expressed their disagreement with Trump’s executive order, issued on Jan. 27, which suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and halted all immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia for 90 days. The groups chose to protest because they said they felt the order was illegally targeted at certain groups and stood against the stated values of the Constitution. Sarailoo noted that the language of the order could potentially allow the government to extend the ban as long as they wish, something he feels is illegal. “We don’t care if you call it a Muslim ban or a ban of people from certain areas in the world,” Sarailoo said. “It’s discrimination against humans based on fear, and it is not something that we feel should be practiced in this country. I think the order is against American

SEE PROTEST PAGE 2

OPINIONS

Bad sex — but a good soundtrack — in “50 Shades Darker,”

BU alumna celebrates success with her first novel,

See page A4

From our columnists: “Make America bang again,” orgasm inequality, the science of sex and more,

See page B5

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Binghamton University students and faculty gather in front of the Pegasus Statue to protest President Donald Trump’s recent executive order blocking entry to the United States to citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

SPORTS

Women’s basketball falls to conferenceleading New Hampshire,

Men’s basketball falters late against UNH,

See page A8

NEWS

bupipedream.com | February 13, 2017

Internship panelists offer job search help PANEL FROM PAGE 1 with the Fleishman Center during the spring 2015 semester. She said that working during the school year was difficult, but far from impossible. “It mostly is about being straightforward with the people you are working with,” Pefanis said. “It’s doable if you keep those lines of communication open.” Others asked about the best ways to look for internships and learn about opportunities. Jacob Groezinger, a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, said that he obtained his internship at Deloitte by networking with recruiters. “I demonstrated a lot of interest and built relationships with recruiters,” Groezinger said. “By the time that recruiters started hiring for internships, they knew I was a good candidate. You have to start early and be

Jonathan Flores/Contributing Photographer Hosted by community resident assistant members, approximately 40 undergraduates attended Mountainview College’s Spring Semester Internship Panel Thursday evening.

proactive about it.” After the panel, students mingled and socialized over pizza. Laura O’Neill, a career and professional development consultant in residence at the Fleishman Center, helped facilitate the event. She said

that peer-to-peer interactions afforded by events like this can help students learn how to network. “The best teachers on campus are your peers,” O’Neill said. “When students talk with other students, they can learn so

much. You want to listen to other students and their experiences.” Many attendees like Ji Ni, a junior majoring in economics, said they came to the event because they wanted help with finding summer internships. “I am trying to see what

other students got out of their internships,” Ni said. “Hopefully, I can apply that to my own experience.” Adrian Rivera, a junior majoring in economics, said that he felt the panel allowed him to gain perspective on the

internship process from students much like himself. “I came because most of the people on the panel were people we can relate to,” Rivera said. “Just learning what they did to succeed is something we can learn from and emulate.”

Student launches hemp wine company WINE FROM PAGE 1 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The grapes for the wine come from Glenora Wine Cellars, and Cayuga grapes are the base of the white wine blend. The wine is bottled at a Sovereign Vines facility in Johnson City. Shayan Khan, a senior majoring in political science, said that he liked the aesthetic of the wine and that he had purchased a bottle after sampling it. “I like sweeter wines and a lot of people don’t,” Khan said. “A lot of people like drier wines.

This one’s really in the middle — not too sweet. It has a kind of earthy taste. I think that’s the best way to describe it, but I don’t exactly know what hemp is supposed to taste like.” According to Lupardo, the hemp industry could play a crucial role in revitalizing the Southern Tier’s economy. She said that many companies will be able to use hemp as a raw material. “Up until recently, all of those raw materials had to be imported from Canada or Europe,” Lupardo said. “Now those business will be able to use homegrown products in states

like New York and a few others that are allowing this industry to grow.” Lupardo said that she hopes hemp will provide rejuvenation for some of the currently fallow farmland in the Southern Tier. “It shows that we can have a rebirth in manufacturing, not necessarily building shoes or widgets or computers, but [by] using an agricultural commodity that could be processed into multiple uses,” Lupardo said. “It’s really going to be the thing for our economy and a very different thing than we’ve seen before.” Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Sovereign Vines, Broome County’s first hemp company, introduced its hemp-infused white wine blend at a launch party Friday evening.

BU competes in Recyclemania 2017 Faculty explores 'active learning' Over 600 Universities face off in eight-week event

Teaching method linked to higher success, retention rates

Stacey Schimmel & Melanie Gulbas

Joseph Cunningham

Pipe Dream News

For some schools, an eightweek recycling competition forces them to undertake new green initiatives, but at Binghamton University, students, faculty and staff have continued their usual recycling habits. Recyclemania is a competition from Feb. 5 to April 1 involving over 600 universities across the United States and Canada, including other New York schools such as Cornell University and Stony Brook University. There is no prize for the greenest school, but the competition is meant to encourage environmentally friendly habits. The Recycling and Resource Management office oversees recycling efforts on campus and monitors BU’s participation in the competition. According to Resource Recovery Manager Martin Larocca, his office collects recyclables on a daily basis, and student assistants and interns record information about the contamination rate, or the percentage of mistakenly recycled items. “The contamination rate is 17 percent at the moment and we’re aiming for below 10, that’s one of

our long-term goals,” Larocca said. “Hopefully with programs like Recyclemania and the increased awareness, we’ll be able to get to that fairly quickly.” During the competition, the Recycling and Resource Management office also highlights the importance of recycling on campus through presentations in residential communities, tabling in the Tillman Lobby of the Old University Union, B-Line and Dateline posts, Twitter and free giveaways such as water bottles, pins and brochures. The dorm presentations focus specifically on the recycling containers students have both in their dorm rooms and on their floors, and explain items that should be recycled and those that are commonly recycled but should not be. “If people are aware that they should be recycling, they should be conscious of what they’re doing and how they’re disposing of that material,” Larocca said. Larocca said he commonly sees polymeric foam, plastic utensils and plastic bags in their contamination reports, all of which should not be recycled. The recycling rate in 2011 at BU was 23 percent and has risen to almost 31 percent currently. They have also been working with

Information Technology Services to rid campus of cathode ray tubes, or old computer monitors, and Larocca said Recyclemania is a great vehicle to make students and staff aware of recycling them now instead of holding onto them. Along with cathode ray tubes, the office is increasing awareness of how to dispose of confidential documents through specific blue slit containers across campus. Records Management Officer Cindy Knickerbocker said that Recyclemania also provides confidential shredding. “I see Recyclemania as an opportunity for departments to purge records that have met their required retention time or to dispose of convenience copies that are taking up valuable space on the campus,” Knickerbocker said. “Now is the perfect time to manage your paper records.” Whitney Davis, a senior majoring in psychology, said that if she sees an opportunity to recycle, she always tries to make an effort. “If I see a recycling bin in the library, I’ll throw my papers in it,” she said. “It may seem small, but I know that every little bit helps.” Students can check the recycling and resource management website for recycling updates that follow Broome County guidelines.

Contributing Writer

On Friday afternoon, Andrea MacArgel, an instructional designer for Binghamton University’s Center for Learning and Teaching, hosted an information session for educators on how they can help students improve their quantitative problem-solving skills. The session focused on one method for quantitative problem-solving called active learning. Active learning is a process where students will actively involve themselves with another student’s work in order to solve a quantitative problem by verbalizing all of their thoughts. Research on active learning has shown positive effects on student success metrics and long-term retention of knowledge. “Active learning is designed with two roles — a problem-solver and a listener,” MacArgel said. “The problem-solver is verbalizing all of their thoughts, including methods that they choose to take to solve the problem. The listener will give their complete attention to the problem solver by simply observing. The listener should listen carefully and ask the speaker to slow down or clarify if needed.” She said that the listener role

in active learning should not seek to solve the problem on their own, but should instead ask probing questions that may help the solver derive their own solution. “[The listener] should not help with solving the problem, but rather ask, ‘What are you thinking’ and ‘Can you explain what you are writing?’” MacArgel said. “They should not give hints and should not solve the problem for themselves.” Active learning methods are currently being implemented in several classes at BU. Calculus classes, for example, have utilized the process of active learning by having students first learn the lecture material at home, so that when students come to class, they can work with other students to solve problems. MacArgel brought together professors, lecturers and teaching assistants for the information session. She said that anyone who is leading a class can implement methods like these, no matter their field of study. The event attracted educators from a wide variety of fields, including calculus, physics and microbiology, all of whom came with the goal of reformatting their classes to better serve students’ needs. Caitlin Light, a research educator for the Freshman

Research Immersion program, said she hoped that her students will be willing to give active learning a try. She said that paired learning, when two people work together, is helpful for students to work on critical problemsolving skills. “Oftentimes, students say they think they understand the material and then when they take the quiz or complete the homework, the majority of the class does very poorly, and this can be very frustrating as an educator,” Light said. “I also felt way more comfortable working in a pair rather than working in a group, which can be scary for my students.” Kunal Sharma, a graduate student studying mathematics, said that articulating how much prior information each person in the pair is working with can be very important to reaching a solution to a problem. “Even though they may have learned it before, my partner may not remember how to solve each problem,” Sharma said. “There are hidden assumptions that we often make, and at certain times we do not know how students are prepared. I feel that this can create a lot of uncertainty in how much the student is really understanding.”

Graduate Student Organization leads protest against executive order PROTEST FROM PAGE 1 values and is undermining the values of the American people.” GSO President Plash Sachdeva, a second-year graduate student studying computer science, spoke about the unity between the international students on campus and the rest of the BU student body.

“We just want to show our support to the people affected by the ban because international students are a family on campus who are here legally,” Sachdeva said. “They are students, and we are all welcome students here.” Speaking at the rally, protesters stressed the importance of diversity and free speech in academia, and they said they

feared that these values would be limited because of the inability to travel imposed by the ban. At the administration building, they were met by University President Harvey Stenger and Provost Donald Nieman, who expressed their support for the protesters and stressed that BU did not share the values seen in the ban. Stenger noted the large

international student population on campus, with more than 3,000 students attending the University from over 100 different countries. He felt that the presence of international students helped to create a sense of community felt on campus and in the surrounding area. “What we have always believed in is that by having students

come here and be educated here, that the world would become smaller,” Stenger said. “And the world would become friendlier, because we would have learned from each other. By banning certain countries from coming here, that goes in the opposite direction.” He continued, noting that the University had been working

closely with the 81 students and four faculty members from the affected countries. “We have been working with them closely to make sure they understand that we are here to support them and to protect them,” Stenger said. “And to make sure that they are safe within our University and within our community.”

PAGE III Monday, February 13, 2017

Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902 Phone: 607-777-2515 FAx: 607-777-2600

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Spring 2017 editor-in-ChieF* Jeffrey D. Twitty editor@bupipedream.com MAnAging editor* Rohit Kapur manager@bupipedream.com

neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick Brendan Zarkower oPinions editor* Caleb D. Schwartz opinions@bupipedream.com Arts & Culture editor* Odeya Pinkus arts@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture editors Rachel Greenspan Georgia Westbrook sPorts editor* Orlaith McCaffrey sports@bupipedream.com

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Performers representing University of Michigan during Bhangra Fever VII in the Osterhout Concert Theater of the Anderson Center. Noted as one of the biggest South Asian dance competitions in New York, Binghamton University hosted 10 Bhangra teams located throughout the United States.

Asst. sPorts editors Noah Bressner Kyle McDonald PhotogrAPhy editor* Kevin A. Sussy photo@bupipedream.com

Pipe Line

Police Watch

temporary offices at Community College.

LOCAL NEWS Vestal zoning board denies Hayes student housing construction request The owners of Hayes Community in Vestal have had their application to build additional housing units denied, according to WBNG. The owners wanted to build more apartments that are smaller and have fewer parking spots, which would require a waiver due to town code restrictions. After discussing the proposal, the Town of Vestal’s Zoning Board of Appeals decided to deny it. Officials said they felt it is important to consider the people already living there. Tenney blames federal government for delay on opening Binghamton office Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said federal government is preventing her from opening offices throughout the 22nd District, according to Binghamton Homepage. Although she was sworn in at the end of December, she said that her staff could not begin the process until she was officially sworn in on Jan. 3. Her staff has been working from

Broome

Greater Binghamton Airport grounds commercial flights for one month The Greater Binghamton Airport’s main runway will undergo repairs costing approximately $9 million, according to TWC News. The repairs will close the runway for the entire month of May, limiting the amount of flights that can depart from the airport. Delta Air Lines Inc. passengers will be impacted the most severely. STATE NEWS Lobbyists call on New York lawmakers to increase antismoking funding Anti-smoking advocates are encouraging New York to increase funding for programs that help smokers quit and discourage young people from picking up the habit, according to WBNG. Groups including the American Heart Association and American Lung Association said that the state spends far less on tobacco control than is recommended by federal authorities.

“The judiciary is not supreme. A district judge in Seattle cannot force the president of the United States to change their laws and our constitution because of their own personal views.”

— Stephen Miller, senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

Driver hits police car THURSDAY, Feb. 9, 10:31 a.m. — The police lieutenant responded to a report of a civilian vehicle backing into a patrol vehicle on Bunn Hill Road, said Investigator Dennis Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The patrol vehicle was parked in the northbound lane, assisting another motor vehicle accident, when a 59-year-old male driving a 2014 Toyota Prius parked in front of the patrol car and reversed to speak with the officer in the car. While backing up, the back of the male’s car made contact with the push bar on the front of the patrol car. Nobody was hurt and the male’s car was fine, however, the push bar on the patrol vehicle was damaged. It will be repaired. Bobcat vehicle strikes student THURSDAY, Feb. 9, 3:09 p.m. — An officer responded to Roosevelt Hall of Hinman College after receiving a report that a student had been struck by a Binghamton University-owned Bobcat, Bush said. The student, a 20-year-old male, stated he had been walking down the sidewalk between the Hinman Dining Hall and Cleveland Hall of Hinman College behind the Bobcat, which was brushing snow off of the sidewalk. The student said that when the Bobcat reached the end of the sidewalk, the Bobcat spun around to go back up the sidewalk toward the student. He reported that the Bobcat stopped and the operator made eye contact with him and reportedly motioned for him to walk around the right side of the Bobcat. The student stated that he could not do so due to the snow, and pointed at the snowbank to convey this to the operator of the Bobcat. The student said that the operator motioned again for him to walk around this side before stepping into the snow and walking around the Bobcat, but had only taken a few steps when the Bobcat began to move up the sidewalk. The student claimed that the Bobcat struck his left knee. He stated that he was not injured and denied medical treatment, but said that he wanted to report

Asst. PhotogrAPhy editor Kevin E. Paredes

Samuel Ditchek Police Correspondant

the incident as he felt that the operator was being negligent and reckless. The officer spoke with the operator and her supervisor about the incident. The operator claimed that she had waited for the student to walk around the Bobcat and start walking away before moving, and that she had absolutely not hit the student. Student found with orange cone, fake IDs SUNDAY, Feb. 12, 3:50 a.m. — The police lieutenant was on patrol on East Drive when he observed a student walking along the sidewalk holding an orange cone, Bush said. The lieutenant stopped and asked the student where he had gotten the cone. The student stated that he had picked up the cone near Delaware Hall of Newing College. The officer asked the student, an 18-yearold male, to put the cone back, and followed him in his patrol car. Once at the location where the student found the cone, the lieutenant noticed that the student had multiple IDs in his wallet. The lieutenant asked the male to produce his ID. The student gave the lieutenant a New York driver’s license and a fraudulent Maryland driver’s license, which falsely indicated that the student was over 21. The officer asked the student what he was doing with the cone, and the student responded that he was taking it to his dorm building to put it over some food somebody had left in the stairwell a few days ago. The student stated that the food was gross and that he wanted to cover it up. The officer informed the student that he would be reported to Student Conduct for attempting to steal the cone and for possessing a fraudulent driver’s license. Student voices complaints about reckless driving on campus Student voices complaints about reckless driving on campuswithout a boot being placed on the vehicle. Officers spoke with the female and TAPS staff to put together a solution that was satisfactory to both parties. TAPS agreed to take the boot off the vehicle if the female paid for a $6 day pass. The female was advised to pay her parking tickets.

Fun editor* Elizabeth A. Manning fun@bupipedream.com

design MAnAger* Teri Lam design@bupipedream.com design Assts. Airi Kojima Casey Tin CoPy desk ChieF* Shauna R. Bahssin copy@bupipedream.com Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Gabrielle Teaman neWsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com editoriAl Artist Elizabeth A. Manning

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Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. *Positions seated on the Executive Board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations. Pipe Dream accepts stimulating, original guest columns from undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Submissions should be 400 to 500 words in length and be thus far unpublished. Submissions must include the writer’s name and phone number, and year of graduation or expected year of graduation. Graduate students and faculty members should indicate their standing as such, as well as departmental affiliation. Organizational (i.e. student group) affiliations are to be disclosed and may be noted at Pipe Dream’s discretion. Anonymous submissions are not accepted. Any facts referenced must be properly cited from credible news sources. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Submissions may be emailed to the Opinions Editor at opinions@ bupipedream.com.

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editorial room :destabilizing

ARTS & CULTURE From book-hungry Bearcat to novelist

Author Libby Cudmore, '05, draws inspiration from her college years Rachel Greenspan, Georgia Westbrook & Stephanie Kirincic Arts & Culture Imagine this: Tomorrow, you open your mailbox to find a mixtape addressed to a girl who lives in the apartment below yours in a trendy Brooklyn neighborhood. When you go downstairs to pass along the tape, you find your neighbor dead on the ground. Do you listen to it? This is the dilemma faced by the protagonist of Libby Cudmore’s crime fiction novel, “The Big Rewind: A Novel.” Cudmore, a 2005 graduate of Binghamton University, published her novel with William Morrow and Company of HarperCollins Publishers in February 2016. At BU, Cudmore studied English literature with a concentration in creative writing. She discovered the genre she would one day publish in — crime fiction — by taking an Arthurian literature course with professor Michael Sharp. “He made us read ‘The Long Goodbye’ by Raymond Chandler, and I finished it in one sitting,” she said. “[That novel] showed me that this is what I want to write for the rest of my life.” She was also inspired by her parents, who encouraged her love of reading and writing. “My mom, Nancy, was a great storyteller and my dad, Dana, was a writer/journalist, so I grew up writing and reading and telling stories with my sisters,” Cudmore wrote in an email.

Place is also an important factor in Cudmore’s writing. She was born in Oklahoma City, the hometown of her novel’s main character, and she grew up in Cobleskill, New York. “I’d say that my desire to get the hell out of a go-nowhere town has been the biggest driver in my career,” Cudmore wrote. “I worked my ass off so I wouldn’t have to go back there. That meant no wild parties, no screwing around, write write write, submit, write more, push harder, never give up, study up, get good grades, don’t get derailed by drama and general mucking about. And it worked. My first book was published to rave reviews and I write for a living. Dream accomplished, dream continuing.” “The Big Rewind,” which Cudmore calls a hipster mystery, is set in current-day Brooklyn, where protagonist Jett Bennett finds her neighbor slain. The novel follows the wild adventures of Jett and her best friend, running around New York City to find the killer. This is the fourth novel she’s written, although the first three were as part of her master’s thesis in the Stonecoast MFA program in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. “The Big Rewind” has received positive reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist and also received a starred Kirkus Review in 2015. The idea for the actionpacked novel came to Cudmore while she sat on the bus, listening to a friend’s 10-year-

Photo provided by Libby Cudmore Libby Cudmore, ‘05, was inspired to write crime fiction after taking an Arthurian literature course class with English professor Michael Sharp.

old mixtape. “I was thinking about the kind of relationship people have with music and about, ‘Wow, what if somebody found this tape?’” Cudmore said, “What would they assume was the relationship between the person who made it for me and myself?” “The Big Rewind” partially takes place in Binghamton, inspired by Cudmore’s time living in the city during college. “Part of [‘The Big Rewind’] takes place in Binghamton,” Cudmore wrote in an email. “My years there were very happy and truly formed who I am as a writer.” While at BU, Cudmore also started a writing club,

to encourage writing as a social activity, an attitude she continues to hold today. She shared that her friends from BU are still very present in her life. “I started the Pen is Mightier [Fiction] Writing Club, which was a) an excuse to hang out with my writer friends and b) a dick joke, which I am not above,” Cudmore wrote. “We had a lot of fun, did some great writing and I’m still close with a lot of the people who were part of it. My wedding in 2015 was basically a 10-year reunion of College-in-the-Woods, including 2 of my 3 bridesmaids.” In addition to being a published author, Cudmore is a journalist for the blog Classic

Album Sundays; the Captain’s Blog at yachtRock.com; Vinyl Me, Please; and newspapers the Hometown Oneonta and the Freeman’s Journal. She said that journalism aids in her creative writing, inspiring her more and more. “It helps me make characters that aren’t static,” she said. “People are complicated.” Cudmore is encouraging of young writers who want to make it a career and said that the most important step is having designated time every day to practice your craft. “I get up at 6:15 every morning and put water on for coffee,” Cudmore wrote. “While that’s boiling, I make

my morning playlist, then fill up the French press and wait for that to brew. The writing project varies daily. If it’s an article, I just sit down and bang it out. The beginning stages of a novel are different. I start them in notebooks, and I build all my notebook from scratch, specifically for a project … Writing by hand really helps me think something through.” Cudmore is proud that she has been able to combine her passions for music and writing, and suggests that aspiring writers take a similar approach. “Write the story you want to write,” she said. “Write what you are passionate about.”

'Fifty Shades' turns 'Darker' with sequel

Though cinematography succeeds, plot lacks excitement of first movie Joshua Rosenthal Contributing Writer

Photo provided by Universal Pictures “Fifty Shades Darker,” starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, was released in theaters on Feb. 10.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to see the sexiest movie in theaters: “The Lego Batman Movie.” Instead, I chose “Fifty Shades Darker,” the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015). Both are based on books in the hit “Fifty Shades” trilogy by E. L. James. Both the books and the movies have become phenomenons, for better or for worse, and have brought openly erotic literature into mainstream cultural consumption. You’re unlikely to find someone without something to say about the controversial series. “Fifty Shades Darker” takes place some time after Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey’s breakup at the end of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Ana seems to have moved on with her life, until Christian returns, promising a more “normal” relationship than before. Against her better instincts, Ana accepts, and the two begin a new relationship, all while combating threats to their relationship, like a scorned

ex-girlfriend and a new boss. “Fifty Shades Darker” has a great score and soundtrack. Both films in the series were scored by legendary composer Danny Elfman, and “Fifty Shades Darker” has a number of original pop songs, including “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by ZAYN and Taylor Swift and “Not Afraid Anymore” by Halsey. The songs are good, and give the movie some music-video appeal. The movie is well-filmed, with impressive cinematography of Seattle landscapes and high-rise apartments. But of course, there are the more controversial and, in some cases, just plain bad, parts of the movie. First and foremost: the sex. It’s still a pretty big portion of the film, but it doesn’t serve a plot purpose like it did in the first movie. In “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the BDSM (bondage/ discipline, domination/ submission, sadism/masochism) sex, and Ana’s feelings about it, drove the conflict of the movie. In “Fifty Shades Darker,” the sex scenes feel more unnatural, and it seems they’re only here

because a “Fifty Shades” movie needs sex scenes. Granted, there are more sex scenes in this movie than most (and in all honesty, better-shot sex scenes than most other movies), but the sex in “Fifty Shades Darker” isn’t as naughty or obscene as it was in “Fifty Shades of Grey.” “Fifty Shades Darker” aims to be a relatively more traditional love story, and in turn becomes much duller that the first film. The movie features several romance movie clichés multiple times over, including two scorned lovers, two jealous romantic rivals and even a potential death scare to boot. The screenplay was written by E. L. James’ husband, Niall Leonard, so if nothing else, nepotism can be blamed for the poor narrative. And the narrative is terrible, but really it’s more boring and mundane than just awful. “Fifty Shades Darker” could be any other Lifetime movie with some pornographic scenes edited in. Even with the dreadfully dull story, there’s something strangely endearing about the

growing relationship between Ana and Christian. In the first movie, Dakota Johnson, who plays Ana, and Jamie Dornan, who plays Christian, could create absolutely no chemistry between each other, and the story gave them little reason to be together, other than really great sex. In “Fifty Shades Darker,” however, their connection was admittedly more believable, and I found myself actually rooting for the two, despite how misguided their relationship is in the first place. Overall, I don’t see much point in recommending the movie one way or the other, because at this point “Fifty Shades” is such a phenomenon that you should know whether or not it’s for you. It’s poorly written, but has a great soundtrack and is occasionally sexy. When you go see the movie, you already know what you’re getting because the film differs minimally from the first. If you liked “Fifty Shades of Grey,” you’ll probably like “Fifty Shades Darker.” If not, skip the sequel.

weekend Alex Niman Contributing Photographer

SPRING 2017

warriors

If all warriors carry bows and arrows, then it’s safe to say that Cupid would be a weekend warrior too, right? We hope that you found someone who makes your heart flutter, and if not, then at least someone who will romantically text “u up?” on Valentine’s Day. The Rat might not be the ideal place to find your one true love, but it is the ideal place to find a new fake ID if you look on the ground for long enough. Remember everyone, the only thing that lasts shorter than love is your partner.

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Cross-Section of Giraffe Part 69

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RESEARCH DAYS April 19-21

Abstracts due Feb. 24 Undergraduate and graduate students, you are invited to showcase your research, scholarly and creative work! All formats are welcome, including posters, displays, slide presentations and video. Two poster sessions are planned: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, April 21, in the Mandela Room. To submit an abstract, visit go.binghamton.edu/researchdays.

Questions? Contact Rachel Coker at rcoker@binghamton.edu. Sponsored by Academic Affairs, Division of Research, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, McNair Scholars Program, Undergraduate Research Center

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@BingBBallBlog FOR LIVE BASKETBALL UPDATES Monday, February 13, 2017

Binghamton's comeback bid thwarted by Wildcats Despite Carmody's career-high 18 points, Bearcats fall to first-place New Hampshire, 76-69 Orlaith McCaffrey Sports Editor

Rebecca Kiss/Pipe Dream Photographer Sophomore guard Rebecca Carmody put up 18 points for the Bearcats in their loss to UNH.

Sophomore guard Rebecca Carmody sat on the bench as a team assistant tended to her skinned elbow, but her gaze remained focused on the action unfolding before her. Two minutes later, she was back on the floor, driving to the basket, sinking a layup and drawing a foul. Despite the career-high 18 points Carmody scored on Sunday afternoon, the Binghamton women’s basketball team fell to first-place New Hampshire, 76-69. With 6:35 remaining, Carmody nailed two free throws to cut the Bearcats’ deficit to just five points. She sunk all six of her free throw attempts and went 6-for-14 from the field, keeping BU (12-14, 7-6 America East) in the game against the first-place Wildcats (21-4, 11-1 AE). “[Carmody] used her athleticism to get by her defender,” said BU head coach Linda Cimino. “Her advantage is that she can get by people and she was able to do that today, and she finished at the rim, which was great.” In the third quarter, the Bearcats found themselves in

a 15-point hole, thanks to the stellar play of junior center Carlie Pogue, who also had a career game, draining 32 points for the Wildcats at Lundholm Gymnasium. “Carlie [Pogue] just had a monster game; she was able to finish and we got the ball inside to her,” said UNH head coach Maureen Magarity. According to Cimino, the Bearcats were unable to execute their plan to stifle Pogue, who has reached double-digit scoring in all but one conference game this season. “[Pogue] made some tough shots,” Cimino said. “Our game plan was to provide really good ball pressure so they had harder post entries, but we were unable to follow through with that.” Although the loss marks BU’s second loss to New Hampshire this season, the Bearcats scored 69 points against the Wildcats — whose opponents have averaged only 62 this season. “We know we can play with the best; we played New Hampshire well both times we played them,” Cimino said. BU’s offensive success was due largely to its ability to execute

ball screens at the top of the key and Carmody’s ability to drive to the basket. The Bearcats, who have been consistently outscored in the fourth quarter this season, made the final 10 minutes of this game their best. They recorded 19 points to the Wildcats’ 16 and came close to tying it up. “We made shots [in the fourth quarter],” Cimino said. “We were able to get some steals and we were able to come down and convert on their turnovers.” BU committed eight fewer turnovers than New Hampshire and scored 20 points off turnovers. With the loss, BU drops to fifth place in the AE with three conference games remaining. Earlier this season, they were tied for the second spot. “We’ve got a couple of days rest now, which is going to help us,” Cimino said. “We’ve got to put ourselves in a position to be successful in the playoffs and going forward.” The Bearcats have a week off before they are set to return to the court on Saturday against Stony Brook. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

BU's rough patch continues after falling flat late Without Ahearn, men's basketball drops close game to New Hampshire for fifth straight loss

Noah Bressner Assistant Sports Editor

The only happiness that emanated from the Binghamton men’s basketball team’s bench came from the faces of junior forward Caleb Stewart and freshman guard Tyler Stewart — two redshirts smiling and cracking jokes at the end of it. The rest of the bench, though, looked down with despair as the clock wound down in the Bearcats’ 63-55 loss to New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon, a stunning reminder of how cruel college basketball can be. After leading by as many as 21 points in the first half, BU (12-16, 3-10 America East) fell apart in the second. The Bearcats struggled to communicate on the court, fumbling passes before field goals were even attempted. In the final 20 minutes, BU shot just 24 percent from the field, compared to a 50 percent clip in the first. While BU faltered in the second, the Wildcats (15-11, 6-6 AE) pounced. UNH slowly inched its way back into the game, finally tying BU after senior guard Jaleen Smith hit a highly contested jump shot from inside the paint with 7:56

left. Less than a minute later, New Hampshire embarked on a 14-4 run to close out the game. After leading for the first 33 minutes, the Bearcats failed to keep pace, losing their fifth straight game in the process. “That was certainly not an easy one to swallow,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It’s tough to walk off the court with a loss. But give New Hampshire credit, we played great early … and they were able to hang in there and creep back into the game.” Early on, BU’s press stumped the Wildcats. The Bearcats forced eight of UNH’s 10 turnovers in the first half before they were forced to back off in the second half with a lack of depth. “I had to back off of the press in stretches because we didn’t quite have the depth,” Dempsey said. “Especially when we got into foul trouble.” BU’s lethargic performance in the second half was amplified by foul trouble and injuries. Slipping closer and closer to fouling out, senior guard John Rinaldi and sophomore forward Thomas Bruce found themselves bogged down by fouls, limiting their minutes

in the period. After battling the flu for much of the past week, junior forward Willie Rodriguez tallied just three points in 25 minutes. Junior forward Bobby Ahearn sat out for the second straight game with a broken nose. Sophomore guard Timmy Rose led BU in scoring against UNH. He tallied 21 points in 31 minutes on the floor, shooting 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. This season, Rose has averaged 7.4 points per game. “With losing Bobby [Ahearn], he’s one of our top scorers, we’ve been struggling to score lately,” Rose said. “I just try to do whatever it takes to help my team and these past couple of games it’s been trying to score more.” Against New Hampshire, Dempsey fiddled with the Bearcats’ typical starting lineup. Rinaldi started a game for the first time in 99 career games, and sophomore guard John Schurman played 14 minutes despite averaging 5.2 minutes per game so far this season. BU is set to continue AE play against Stony Brook on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, New York.

Michael Contegni/Staff Photographer Sophomore guard Timmy Rose scored a career-high 21 points in BU’s 63-55 loss to UNH.

Bearcats gear up for intense nonconference schedule After missing the playoffs in 2016, BU looks to make strides behind experienced roster Samuel Ditchek Pipe Dream Sports

Binghamton women’s lacrosse head coach, Stephanie Allen, sounded like Philadelphia 76ers rookie phenomenon Joel Embiid as she urged a crowded media room to trust in the process during the preseason press conference Wednesday afternoon. “We go in expecting to compete and win, and have a stronger record than the year’s past,” Allen said. “For us, it’s about doing it the right way and trusting in the process, knowing that we’re closing the gap in certain games is a program and is based on the culture.” Entering her fifth campaign as head coach, Allen has aimed to create a winning culture for a program that is coming off its best season to date. Despite finishing 6-11, Allen is confident that being prepared, disciplined and focused will be paramount for this squad. “For those of you who got to come out and watch a little

bit of practice today, I think you can probably say that you saw something different energy-wise, attitude-wise, intensity-wise and [last but certainly not least,] competitive wise,” Allen said. “Our program is deeper than it’s ever been before, and I think we got the experience that we have been waiting on for a couple years now.” A deep and experienced squad will definitely be needed in order to thrive in BU’s rigorous upcoming season. The Bearcats will go head-to-head against multiple notable nonconference programs including Colgate, Dartmouth and Ohio State. Three future Bearcat opponents — Syracuse (No. 4), Stony Brook (No. 7) and Cornell (No. 13) — finished among the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association top-20, with Albany and Ohio State also receiving votes. “Our goal is to amp up our nonconference schedule as much as possible,” Allen said. “For us, it’s really important, that we’re going out there and playing the

same level of competition that we’re going to see in conference.” Hoping to improve upon what was an already noteworthy year, former leading scorer and current team captain, senior midfielder Callon Williams, also believes that there is an entirely new mentality all around on both sides of the field. “People are putting in extra work outside of the practice time and conditioning, so that’s the main difference,” Williams said. “People are really bought in to what coaches are doing and also what we want to accomplish as a team.” In terms of returning members, all but one attacker from last year’s lineup will be suiting up for the Bearcats. Williams, who set the program’s single-season record for free position goals (17) and free position goals per game (1.00), will be joined by redshirt junior attacker Brianne Arthur, who set a BU record for goals scored by a freshman (34). At midfield, senior Valerie

DeNapoli and sophomore Rebecca Golderman hope to continue their successes from last season. Golderman was the first Bearcat in program history to be selected as the America East Rookie of the Year, racking up 27 goals and 30 points over 15 games in 2016. DeNapoli, who will be starting for the third consecutive year, recorded 36 total ground balls, forced 15 turnovers and secured 20 draw controls last season. With no major loss, aside from Allie Rodgers, due to graduation, both the defensive and goalkeeping end are in stable positions to maintain a solid degree of success behind the play of junior goalkeeper Emma Jehle and senior attacker, Amanda Marsh, senior defense Caroline Fraylick and senior defense Sharon Bossert. BU is set to open its season with a nonconference matchup with Lafayette on Thursday. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

Raquel Panitz/Staff Photographer The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team finished sixth in the America East last season.

February 13, 2017 | bupipedream.com

SEX ISSUE

Alexandra Mackof & Odeya Pinkus Pipe Dream Editors

We are proud to present Pipe Dream’s 2017 Sex Issue. Over 1,100 students answered our survey, and were open and honest with us. From kinks and fetishes to favorite unorthodox sex locations, our respondents bore it all. Throughout this issue you’ll find topics ranging from wrestling-related sex

positions to Binghamton’s drag scene. Like every year, we learned a lot and gained insight into the sex lives of students on campus. We learned that not everyone is doing it, even though it may seem like it. Many students are virgins, and others reported losing their virginity toward the end of their college careers. And in terms of one-night stands, they aren’t happening nearly

Wrap it before you tap it: free condoms on campus LifeStyles, Trojans among offerings for students trying to get it on Staff Reports When talking about sex on campus, safe sex must be addressed. Of the people who responded to the sex survey, 61.2 percent said they always use protection, but of those who do use protection, an overwhelming majority make condoms their go-to. Condoms are free from a variety of places, such as Decker Student Health Services Center, Real Education About College Health (REACH) and the Rainbow Pride Union — as well as Family Planning of South Central New York located in Downtown Binghamton — so there really is no excuse for not using them. So, what are the options and what should be avoided? LifeStyles Condoms: These are the most common condoms you’ll see around campus. These come in most of the free packs you get throughout your college career, starting with orientation giveaways and continuing through Marketplace and REACH handouts. Pretty standard in nature, they are frequently given the reputation for

breaking more easily than their name-brand counterparts. There’s the possibility that since they’re readily available and easy to get ahold of, they are used by some who may not be well versed in proper condom application. They also might not be the right size for the guy in question. But they also could have been laying around for a while, exposed to the elements or just plain flimsier. They are definitely better than nothing, but be extra conscientious when using them. Trojan Brand Condoms: Trojan Brand Condoms are also frequently available, but they are slightly less easy to come by across on campus. These are pretty standard, and your average user will have few to no complaints. They come in a variety of types, ranging in thickness, lubetype and ribbing, but pretty much any of them will do the job when you’re trying to get down and get it in. Trojan Brand Condoms’ Magnum Condoms: Magnum Condoms are made by Trojan and are meant for the more wellendowed walking among us. These

can be harder to find around campus, and their rarity means they should only be left for those who truly need them. When a condom is too small, not only can it split more easily but it can also cut off necessary circulation and cause discomfort. People commonly complain about condoms breaking, but there is just as much of a risk if you use a condom that is too big. Don’t try and impress your partner by pulling out a Magnum to show off; if you don’t need it, it will quickly become apparent, and if it slips off mid-intercourse you’ll have a lot of explaining to do. Miscellaneous: Glow-in-the-dark condoms can be dangerous. For all our heterosexual friends doing the deed, it is important to be aware that vaginas are easily disturbed ecosystems. Any extra chemicals down there, combined with friction, can lead to some nasty irritation or infections. And as for flavored condoms; sugar is a favorite diet staple for yeast. That being said, boys aren’t safe here either. One of our sex survey respondents told us a horrific story where they used a “Fire & Ice”

as much as it may seem. We also learned there are a lot of unsatisfied customers out there — many students reported that they wished their partner would pay more attention to their own pleasure, and vice versa. But that’s just the beginning, and you might even see one of your own crazy stories inside. There’s plenty to see, so flip through our pages and check it out.

if you use protection, what kind do you usually use?

81.8% 47.0% 6.6% 4.1% 4.0% 1.5% 0.4% 0.3%

Condom, which ended up burning their urethra and completely ruining the mood. Proceed with caution. And if you really want to see what’s going on so badly that you want your penis to glow, just get freaky with the lights on.

... pretty much any of them will do the job when you're trying to get down and get it in

contraception

Survey says not all BU students play it safe

to you

Despite accessible resources on campus, some students skip contraception Gabriella Weick Assistant News Editor

Fortunately, most Binghamton University students responded to Pipe Dream’s sex survey saying that they use contraception; however, a concerning amount did not. According to the survey, 61.2 percent of respondents always use contraception, while 29.5 percent sometimes use it and 9.4 percent never do. A 2015 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 62 percent of women of reproductive age (15-44) use at least one form of contraception, about equal to the amount of respondents at BU who also always use contraception. The most popular forms of contraception among respondents of the survey were condoms at 81.8 percent, while the birth control pill came in second at 47 percent. According to the same Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report,

nationally, only about 26 percent of reproductive-aged women use the birth control pill and 15.3 percent use condoms. Other forms of contraception among BU respondents were far less popular, with the thirdplace method being intrauterine devices (IUD) at 6.6 percent, fourth-place “other” methods at 4.1 percent and in last place, at 1.5 percent, using an implant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, 10.3 percent of women of reproductive age use an IUD — which is more than the average for our respondents — and 1.3 percent use an implant — which is about equal to the Pipe Dream sex survey statistics. Still, 4 percent of BU survey respondents said they do not use any form of contraception. On a scale of one to five, with one being “Not Important” and five being “Extremely Important,” 64.5 percent of respondents said that using contraception was “Extremely Important” — a five — for them, and 22.7 percent ranked

the importance as a 4. Only 4.2 percent said that contraception is not important to them. In addition, 55.5 percent of BU students have never had a pregnancy scare, but 27.8 percent reported that they personally have, while 16.7 percent responded that their partner had. BU has various resources to learn more about contraception usage and how to practice sexual health. Real Education About College Health (REACH) are peer mentors who work across campus promoting education and outreach on health issues, including sexual health and HIV or AIDS, and provide free contraception and lessons on how to stay healthy. Ariane Lucchini, a student assistant at REACH and a junior majoring in psychology, said that REACH’s outreach is practical and important because all students should learn more about how to practice safe sex. “College in general is a confusing place,” she said. “You can get a lot of info from various

How important is

friends and people, but REACH is there to share real info and provide students with resources to [do] their own research, as well.” At Decker Student Health Services Center, students can access gynecological and women’s health services, including pap smears, pelvic and breast exams and pregnancy tests, as well as receive birth control prescriptions, emergency contraception and free condoms. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are also available through appointments. Off campus, Family Planning of South Central New York Binghamton on Hawley Street, Southern Tier AIDS Program on Riverside Drive and United Health Services on Vestal Parkway provide similar services for maintaining reproductive and sexual health while at BU. Ultimately, unprotected sex can lead to STDs and pregnancy, so remember to use protection and the resources around you to stay healthy and safe.

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22.7% 6.6% 2.2% 4.2% Casey Tin/Design Assistant

To the left, to the left: How to optimize your dating app, online profile Show off your best self — and best selfies — on Tinder, Grindr and more with Pipe Dream's tips and tricks Jeffrey Twitty Editor-in-Chief

If you haven’t met a significant other on a dating app, you’ve probably heard about someone who has. The beginning of that relationship probably involved some cheesy pickup line, a phone number exchange or even an awkward request to “do something sometime,” but it definitely started with a first impression. To make the most of your dating app profile, follow these tips to ensure that your experience goes as right as your swipes. Setup — You did it. After months on the fence and some convincing from a few concerned friends, that little app is finally (back) on your phone with endless opportunities. Now it’s time to set

up your profile. Apps like Tinder, Bumble and Bae help to expedite the setup process for new users by importing information and photos from Facebook and Instagram onto the user’s profile. However, some apps allow users to opt for a more anonymous approach. Grindr lets its users create an account using an email address and manually enter everything from age to body type. Her, a dating app developed by and for LGBTQ women features an “incognito mode” where subscribed users can sign in with their email and opt to only have their profiles shown to users that they have “liked.” Photos — While apps connected to your Facebook and Instagram accounts may just draw from your photos, these might not be the pictures you want to use.

What if an older photo of you with an ex is flowed in? That isn’t going to help anyone in this process. Use this part of your profile to get creative. Most people will probably spend no more than a few seconds when deciding whether to “swipe right” on you or not — and most might not even get further than the first photo, so take that one into special account. Are you into sports? Are you close with your friends and family? How much do you identify with memes? Your first photo is the best place to show — rather than tell — potential matches your interests and what you’re all about. Remember that people will respond to something that they find interesting or attractive. For the non-naturally photogenic, selfies can make a great option as well, especially with

the right angling and lighting. But shy away from having nothing but selfies on your profile. You don’t want to look like you don’t have any friends or activities in your life. Then again, it’s also a good idea to ditch large group photos — you don’t want the other person to have to go through a “Where’s Waldo” situation. Bio — With bios, it’s best to keep them short and sweet. School and class year is always a safe bet, but if you have a fun fact about yourself, feel free to add that in as well. Bios can also be a good place to lay out your interests and intentions. Dating apps are often framed as a tool for finding easy hookups, but phrases like “looking for something serious” and “not into hookups” may make finding what you are looking

for a tad easier. Opening Line — Now that your profile is filling up with connections, it’s time to get social. With your first message, it’s important to think outside of the box. This is especially crucial with timed apps like Bumble, which only allows users 24 hours for an opening message. Your connection might have dozens of matches to choose from, so it’s important to make yours stand out. But no matter your choice of opening line, GIF or photo, it’s most important to remain respectful. DM slides can be fun and funny, but if you get vulgar or offensive, you’re probably just going to disgust the person on the other end. Remember that the person reading your message is a human with thoughts and

feelings. Don’t run the risk of getting blocked, reported or even worse: screenshot and roasted in a group chat.

With your first message, it's important to think outside the box

SEX ISSUE

bupipedream.com | February 13, 2017

Through Binghamton's drag scene, local queens and kings find family Long-standing community continues legacy of self-expression and empowerment through entertainment Odeya Pinkus Arts & Culture Editor

On your average Tuesday night out in Downtown Binghamton, you can choose from flip night at The Rathskeller, trivia at The Colonial or karaoke at Tom & Marty’s. However, if you venture a few blocks down Court Street, you’ll find a weekly celebration that’s fit for a queen. Welcome to Trash Tuesday, where everyone is welcome to, as local drag celebrity India Bombay would say, ‘let their freak flag fly.’ After a day of serving up Frenchstyle cuisine, Tranquil Bar & Bistro on Pine Street becomes a hotspot for the drag community. Hosted by Bombay, the weekly event offers a place for kings and queens to hang out, perform and interact with other members of the community. One by one, the entertainers will dance and lip-sync all around the restaurant. With drink specials, festive lights and the occasional flow performer, Trash Tuesday is a place that is as open and accepting as it is energetic. And at the center of this energy is Bombay, who introduces each performer and brings her personality to the night. Lively and outspoken, she’s a queen that isn’t new to this game. That being said, she says the art of drag wasn’t always in her plan. “I hated drag queens,” Bombay said. “I wanted nothing to do with them. I didn’t understand.” But one fateful night in Downtown Binghamton changed all of that. Before getting involved

with drag, Bombay, who when not in drag goes by Adam, recently came out to his friends. Bombay, then an 18-year-old Adam, was convinced to check out an event called Trash Thursday, held at the now-closed Merlin’s Dance Club, Wine Bar and Lounge. “I’d never been in a gay bar before,” she said. “I’d never been around that many gay people before and let alone a drag queen.” But then, Adam met Katrina, a queen who not only inspired his career, but much of the Binghamton drag scene in general. “A giant ginger wig piled on her head, and I was like, ‘Oh, she’s kind of pretty,’” she said. But Adam wasn’t as impressed by everyone, to which his friend challenged him to do better. “So in the long run, a dare turned into a 15-[year]-long career as a drag queen in Binghamton,” Bombay said. Still, to call it just a career is an understatement. “[Drag] just helped me accept who I was, helped me become part of the community, discover a family,” Bombay said. “I’ve had friends come and go, and I’ve seen some amazing performers, had great friends die. I’ve seen drag queens getting beat up.” Bombay says that when she first started out, drag wasn’t nearly as accepted as it is today. “We were still very underground, you know, hide in the car when we were driving around so people didn’t see you,” she said. But being under the radar did not mean they were unpopular. “We used to pack Merlin’s out,”

Bombay said. “You could barely get in the door.” In October 2015, Merlin’s Dance Club, Wine Bar and Lounge closed after 40 years. Merlin’s was not the only LGBTQ bar in the area. Squiggy’s at 34 Chenango St. provides for the community. Still, when Merlin’s closed, Bombay says that the drag scene died down for a bit. “It kind of just petered out for a minute,” Bombay said. But as they say, when the Merlin’s door closes, another one opens. “The focus was taken off the bar and geared more toward the community and the family aspect and the celebration of the LGBT community,” Bombay said. She says that the local pride celebration opened the eyes of many community members. “They’re like, ‘Oh, here’s these guys, normal guys, for the most part, that are incredible entertainers,’” Bombay said. Bombay said she hopes to see more involvement from Binghamton University. She hopes to see interaction between the pride coalitions in the city of Binghamton and BU. “There’s an amazing, untapped pool of potential at BU, not just performers, but people that could do great things for this town, this community,” Bombay said. And at the end of the day, the community of drag is a vital aspect of it all. “They’re like my family,” Bombay said. “Sisters and brothers in arms. If I can’t count on anyone else, I can count on them.”

Shawn Fleming/Staff Photographer Performers take the stage at Tranquil Bar & Bistro Tuesday Night for Trash Tuesday, a weekly event hosted by local drag celebrity India Bombay.

Pipe Dream's guide to baring it all

nude

From the bedroom to the bar, how to take perfect nudes Staff Reports The majority of Pipe Dream’s sex survey respondents — 66.7 percent — admitted to bearing all for the camera and sending a nude photo. Whether it’s through Snapchat, iMessage, text or social media, Binghamton University students are getting down in the DMs. First of all, there are two key rules to follow before hitting the send button. The first and most important: confidence. If you don’t feel it, fake it for the photo. People frequently stress about whether or not they are taking “good” naked photos, and the reality is that if the person you’re sending them to wants to see you in your birthday suit; they already find you attractive. Remember that, because realizing that you turn someone else on can help you feel more comfortable and overthink less. The second rule of thumb is more practical — leave your face out of it. Let’s face it: your face isn’t what they’re looking for. If the person you are sending photos to wants to admire

your smile, they’d check your Facebook, or your Instagram, or they’d FaceTime you or utilize literally any other medium. The reality is that while you’re hopefully sending pictures to someone who won’t share them with the world, you never know. And even if their intentions are good, you never know when your steady hookup is letting friends borrow their phone or leaving their social media logged in on someone else’s computer. But the plus side is that you don’t have to worry about what your face looks like in the picture. Do you smile? Grimace uncomfortably? Make eye contact with the camera or look away? Now, you can avoid this dilemma altogether, while staying anonymous if things go awry. Now for the actual picture, you have options. Read your audience, and think about what you are trying to highlight. If you’re looking to show off how many squats you’ve been doing at the gym, try angling the camera below your butt to get the full effect of your curves. If

you’re looking to send a classic dick pic, we recommend you leave out an awkward object for size reference and keep it classy. There are references devoted to just this — critiquemydickpic. tumblr.com — so we’ll leave the details to the experts. Sometimes, you just want to go all-in. For both guys and girls, pick a flattering pose that is both subtle and sexy. Identify your favorite assets, such as your perky boobs or defined adonis belt muscles (the defined V-shape some guys have on their lower abs). Start by focusing on the parts of yourself that you are proud of, and the rest of the pose will fall into place. Bonus tip: If you’re trying to send a picture on the go, perhaps to entice a late-night booty call, use a photo-secure app such as Keepsafe so that you can always have a photo on hand. But, if all else fails and you’re caught high and dry, we’ve heard that the bathrooms in The Rathskeller have great lighting. Nothing sets the mood like someone puking in the neighboring stall.

40.7%

Have you ever sent a photo of yourself to anyone?

67.9%

Yes

46.8%

26.0% Yes, but not with my face in the picture

24.0%

If you have sent a nude photo, through what medium did you send it

5.0% 4.6% Snapchat

33.3%

Text I haven’t Facebook E-mail message sent a nude

3.3% Other

1.9% Twitter/ Instagram Casey Tin/Design Assistant

SEX ISSUE

February 13, 2017 | bupipedream.com

now

MESSAGES Sex Survey 2017

Pipe Dream The results are in, and from DM slides to dildos, Binghamton University students have a wide array of ways they like to get down. We’re happy to see students exploring their sexuality, whether it’s with sex toys or through masturbating. After all, you have to know how to love yourself before you can even think about anybody else. Students are showing each other lots of attention, and still favoring doggy-style to do it. Cowgirl is making a comeback, surpassing 2016’s second-place favorite of missionary. Most people are craving consistency in a partner, and we’d love to talk to the 2.5 percent of people who somehow have a partner they don’t want. Take a look at the data, and be sure to page through the rest of the issue for additional statistics and stories from the survey.

Identity 55.9%

40.2%

Female

Number of sexual partners Year I'm a virgin: 11.3% 1-3: 41% 4-7: 23.6% 8-12: 11%

Male

How often do you have sex?

Freshman: 14.8% Sophomore: 18.9% Junior: 29.9% Senior: 27% Graduate Student: 9.2%

13-17: 4.4% 18-25: 2.8% 26+: 6%

Agender: .8% Non-binary: .7% Transgender: .3% Gender-fluid: .4% Choose not to disclose: .2% Other: 1.6%

Never: 13.4% 1-10 times a year: 19.3% A couple times a month: 24.5% Once a week: 9.9% 2+ times a week: 26.8%

Every day: 3.5% Other: 2.7%

Age when you lost your virginity

Sexuality

Choose not to disclose: 0.7% Asexual: 0.6%

Pansexual: 1.6% Other: 2.9% Homosexual: 6.0%

33.6%

31.9% Bisexual: 14.3%

33.6%

10.5%

10.6% 22+ 11.3%

< 15

Heterosexual: 73.8%

20-21

16-17

virgin

Favorite Postion? Doggy Cowgirl Missionary Other Spoon Reverse Cowgirl Standing

18-19

36.8% 24.1%

Do you have a consistent Ever had a threesome? sex partner?

22.4%

Yes: 53.7% Yes, but I don't want one: 2.5% No, but I want one: 34.7% No, and I don't want one: 9.1%

4.9% 4.6% 4.5% 2.8%

Yes: 10.7% No, but I want to have one: 44.2% No, and I don't want to have one: 45.1%

How often do you masturbate? What do you wish your partner knew? How to make me orgasm

Daily: 10.7% A few times a week: 38.8% Once a week: 8.6% A few times a month: 14.8% Once a month or less: 8.2% Never: 8.8%

Please, for the love of god, no teeth

when to be gentle and when to be rough That the female orgasm takes time to achieve That butt stuff could be fun maybe? The clitoris matters

What sex toys have you used? Dildo: 41.6% Vibrator: 73.6%

Fleshlight: 10.5% Butt plug: 12.9%

Cock ring: 15.3% Anal beads: 5.4%

Blow up doll: 1.6% Other: 13.9% Teri Lam/Design Manager

SEX ISSUE

bupipedream.com | February 13, 2017

Design: Airi Kojima/Design Assistant, Map data: Kevin Heard/ArcGIS Online

SS Sex Stories

I was tied up, naked, covered in oil and his grandma walked in. In high school I was dating my teacher, and we were getting naughty in his house. I asked him to talk dirty to me to get me going, and he took it a bit too far. He started off a little aggressive and called me a whore right off the bat, and I was like, “Aight, fine, whatever.” Then he moved onto more refined insults and called me a skank, which made me a bit concerned. Finally, he went all the way and called me a “dirty-trailer-park-trash-whore.” I live in a trailer park. Moral of the story, don’t date a 40-year-old science teacher.

OK, BUCKLE UP. I was a virgin when I first started dating my girlfriend so she was my first everything. Now, on an eventful Friday night with friends, we were all drinking and playing “Never Have I Ever.” I stated that I never ever had a girl get me off and at that moment my girlfriend made it her mission to fix that. So, we have her room on Monday night, and I was incredibly nervous — I didn’t know what to expect. So, we’re getting all hot and heavy and she starts jerking me off. [...] it’s an hour later and she’s still plowing through it like a champ, switching hands every so often. [...] after who knows how long, I get there. The catch is, after all that pent-up energy, I shoot so hard it hits up to my face and into my open mouth. I instantly freak out and start coughing [and] she falls to the floor laughing. So, long story short: my first hand job from a girl ends with me and [a] mouth full of cum. To this day, after tasting how nasty that stuff is, I feel so bad any time she offers to swallow. One time, I accidentally got punched in the face while giving a blowjob. While studying abroad, I visited London and went on a pub crawl where I met a 26-year-old Australian dentist. She and I went back to my hostel and had sex on the bottom bunk of my triple-bunk bed, which was located in an 18-bed room. Among the visitors in that room were a family who had [their] grandma with them, and a German high school class on a field trip. I’ve never experienced such exhilaration during sex as I did that night.

SEX ISSUE

February 13, 2017 | bupipedream.com

OPINIONS Monday, February 13, 2017

Coming to our senses How we can address orgasm inequality Emily Houston

Contributing Columnist

Elizabeth Manning/Editorial Artist

TALK DIRTY TO ME We learned a lot about our fellow Bearcats from reading this year’s Pipe Dream sex survey. For one, it’s hard to see campus, and the city for that matter, in the same way after seeing all the different places students got it on. Some of your sex stories made us laugh or cringe, while others just left us with more questions than we started with. One thing that stood out to us were the responses to the question “What’s one thing you wish your partner knew about sex?” Of more than 200 responses to this question, nothing was too out of the ordinary: I wish my partner knew more about this body part. Go slower! Go faster! Be gentler. Don’t be afraid to be rough. It hurts when they do X. I’ve always wanted to try Y. While these responses were

pretty much what we could have expected, reading them showed that a lot of students have a problem with one of the most important parts of sex: communication. Most, if not all, of these issues could have been solved if people were more vocal about what they want from their partner. Don’t get us wrong, it’s far from easy to have candid conversations about sex with a sexual partner, especially if you are casually hooking up, in a new relationship or lack experience with your partner’s body or sex itself. You may worry about insulting your partner’s sex skills, embarrassing yourself or being judged. Yes, talking about sex can make things a little weird, but

what’s weirder is thinking it’s okay or normal to finish up and realize you’re still unsatisfied. In the short term it might be uncomfortable, but being able to communicate openly about sex will drastically improve relationships, sex and your feelings toward them in the long term — emotionally and physically. Plus, it probably won’t be nearly as awkward as you think. Chances are your partner won’t judge you for stating your preferences, and if they do, they aren’t treating you with the respect you deserve. You’re already getting naked and doing the deed, even if you’re new to hooking up (with each other or in general); when you’re baring it all you might as well make

your wants known. If anything, the results of the survey should be encouraging. There are hundreds of students out there who have questions, desires and fantasies that they are waiting to try. If you’re one of the 44 percent of respondents who has never had a threesome but wants one, you can’t have one without first gaining the courage to ask for it. If you’re one of the women complaining yet again that a partner can’t find the clitoris, give them some pointers. Sex can be a learning experience for everyone, and if college is going to be full of hooking up, it might as well be educational. Don’t be afraid to put your preferences out there; it could open you up to a whole new level of intimacy.

Views expressed in the opinion pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece which represents the views of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial, above. The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.

straight women. This data speaks to an entirely different issue than women’s lack of sexuality, but rather to the fact that guys don’t seem to know how to pleasure the girls that wind up in their dorm rooms on Saturday nights. Everyone knows that the easiest route to male orgasm is through penetrative sex. However, it is a misunderstood fact that this is also the best way to the female orgasm. According to Dr. Elisabeth Lloyd, author of “The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution,” during sexual intercourse about 25 percent of women never or seldom experience vaginal orgasm — but 90 percent of women are able to orgasm from clitoral stimulation. Lloyd’s research shows that women are just as capable of having an orgasm as men. In heterosexual relationships, however, they are less likely to have one because penetrative sex is the norm and the source of men’s sexual fulfillment. Whether the reason men don’t give their female partners an orgasm is because of their lack of knowledge of the female anatomy or their unwillingness to participate in sexual acts that don’t result in their own pleasure, I cannot say. However, not all of the responsibility for orgasm inequality can be placed on women; communication goes both ways. Communicating with your partner is imperative to your own sexual happiness, and offering tips about what does and doesn’t feel good will only lead to your own satisfaction. Whatever your case is, why should men get all the fun? You deserve to be satisfied just as much as that guy from The Rathskeller who ended up in your bed this morning.

There’s an epidemic rampaging throughout the world of heterosexuality, one that dates all the way back to Adam and Eve and exists just as prevalently today: orgasm inequality. According to a 2014 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, men have a significantly higher rate of orgasm than their female partners — a whole 22 percent. While men reported having an orgasm in 85.1 percent of their sexual encounters, the study found that women only experienced orgasm 62.9 percent of the time. If interpreted incorrectly, this data is dangerous. These numbers may seem to suggest that because men orgasm at a higher rate than girls, women are inherently less sexual beings — if one assumes that a higher rate of orgasm correlates with a higher sexual desire. But this interpretation reverts us to Victorian ideals, in which women are seen as passionless creatures lacking desire for sex, designed to tame men and their hypersexual inclinations. It is now 2017 — we know damn well that men are not the only ones who enjoy taking someone back to their apartment after a drunken night on State Street. However, this study becomes even more enlightening when these statistics are compared to homosexual relationships. Male orgasm rates have little statistical difference in relation to sexual orientation, less than a 1 percent difference. In comparison, however, women’s rate of orgasm varies drastically based upon their sexual orientation: lesbian women have an orgasm rate of 74.7 percent. — Emily Houston is a This is almost a full 12 percent sophomore double-majoring in higher than the rate of orgasm for English and political science.

Make America bang again

What our country needs now is sex; let's get over our cultural taboos Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

With all the recent doom and gloom in the world, it’s hard to feel optimistic. I’ve already had two dreams in which I ate all of my birth control pills in desperation. That’s where sex comes into play. Sex improves blood pressure, boosts the immune system and helps stave off stress, depression and anxiety (unless you have anxiety about sex, in which case, sex increases anxiety). One source of sexual anxiety is often religion. Recently, I perused Pope

John Paul II’s “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” which outlines the tenets of the Catholic faith and interpretation of the Bible, out of sheer curiosity, and also because I love a good spook every now and then. While I typically don’t seek sex advice from people who have never had it, let’s be honest: the church is hot. The whole “submission” and “torturing heretics” and “having to say 10 Hail Marys” thing is stimulating. Like all great dystopian novels, religion has a significant hold on the who, what, why, when and where of sex. The dogmatic myths that discourage against sexual behavior must be buried

along with all the other religious hoopla. By now we all know masturbation doesn’t cause warts or blindness, only nearsightedness and the occasional astigmatism. Just as the church abolished “limbo” (where unbaptized babies perform the dance for an eternity), religious institutions should recognize the benefits behind sex and masturbation. To be fair, oral sex for women is permissible in the Catholic Church (ladies, it took a long time, but they’re finally throwing us a bone). A man is allowed to help his wife orgasm orally after doing it God’s way first. Unfortunately, men are not allowed to receive oral sex because ejaculating

anywhere besides your wife’s vagina is a waste of perfectly good man-nectar and should either be used for procreative purposes or jarred and mixed with shea butter to reduce pores and improve complexion. In conjunction with our religious convictions, this nation’s prudishness is reflected in our vanilla sex habits. According to one study, almost half of all Americans have sex at least once a week, however, only 48 percent of Americans find themselves to be sexually satisfied. People should not be having obligatory or unsatisfying sex. The United States totes itself as being the leader of the free

world, but we can’t even free the nipple. Our nation exists in a sexual paradox in which teenage pop stars perform scantily clad booty drops, but kids the same age are not required to receive sex education or receive a subpar one which exists through a basis of fear, not proactivity. Basic anatomical questions, such as how many orifices a woman has, are debated until an embarrassingly late age. While you don’t need sex to make you happy, having sex is a hell of a lot easier than finding real happiness. Sex is natural, and if more Americans don’t start screwing, we may to find ourselves in a sex culture not

unlike Japan’s, which boasts of “vibrator bars” and a television show, “Orgasm Wars,” in which a gay contestant has to make a straight porn star ejaculate. So embrace your fetishes and find someone who can make your dreams come alive. Whether you get off to that sex scene in “Titanic” or that other scene where the steerage passengers are trying to get into lifeboats, there’s someone out there for everyone. On my calendar, 2017 is the Year of the Freak. — Kristen DiPietra is a junior double-majoring in English and human development.

The science behind sex

Neurochemistry, evolution and genetics rule intercourse — and that's not a bad thing Savanna Vidal

Contributing Columnist

The quintessential stereotype of a college student is something like this: a penniless young adult experiencing lots of sleepless nights, whether at the library, out on the town or hooking up with someone. It is easy to attribute the sexual activities of collegeaged students to their newfound freedom, highly stressful lives or even daddy issues. However, the desire and pleasure of having sex is controlled by a slew of chemicals and structures

within our brain, coupled with evolutionary behaviors ingrained into our very being, making sex purely a scientific matter. It all starts on the dance floor of The Rathskeller or with swiping through Tinder profiles. Our eyes send an image to the visual cortex. Then, the information moves to the area in our brain responsible for making decisions, while also controlling our social behavior and emotional reactions: the prefrontal cortex. This region judges whether the person is physically desirable in less than 1/4 of a second. At the same time, the rostromedial tegmental nucleus region of the prefrontal cortex

evaluates if the person would be specifically beneficial to you. This means that, beyond just assessing someone’s surface looks, our brain is also looking to see if they would be a fitting mate. This process, occurring almost instantaneously, is the basis of desire. Whether it be innocent or sexual, it is impossible to deny our brain’s affinity toward someone. Next comes the typical human mating strategy: flirting. Whether it be a cheesy pickup line or extended eye contact, we all have our own tactics when trying to earn the interest of our potential mate. Flirting was necessary for our human ancestors to

determine if a mate was worth it without first taking the risk of becoming pregnant. These conversations or physical gestures are ways of gauging someone’s physical health and their probability of producing the best offspring. Our impressions of intelligence, skills and qualities become vital in determining whether or not we would consider reproducing — or simply having sex — with them. After passing levels one and two of the sex game, you have unlocked the third and final level: actually engaging in sexual intercourse. This activity has been designed, by the process of evolution, to be as enjoyable

as possible. If people weren’t inclined to have sex, the results would include a lack of offspring for future generations and the eventual demise of the human species. That being said, the pleasurableness of sex is a result of the sheer necessity for it. During sex, multiple areas of our brain release dopamine, the neurotransmitter behind pleasure. The higher the levels of dopamine, the greater the rush you feel while experiencing sex. Genetics also plays a role in the sexual experience. The DRD4 gene, sometimes referred to as the “slut gene,” has a variant that causes people to seek out higher

rushes of dopamine, which can be achieved through sex. In 2010, a study by Justin Garcia, ‘12, concluded that those with a certain variant of this gene tend to be more sexually promiscuous and are more likely to have onenight stands. Not only does sex create life, but it also plays a crucial role in how we live our lives. Whether you have never had sex or have a triple-digit body count, neither is anything to be ashamed of. After all, it’s out of our hands and under the authority of evolution, neurochemistry and genetics. — Savanna Vidal is a sophomore majoring in biology.

SEX ISSUE

bupipedream.com | February 13, 2017

Dancing with the dominant: learning consent with kink and bondage Part of a growing community of BU students practicing BDSM, one undergraduate shares his experiences Rachel Greenspan Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

“Yeah, you like that?” It’s 10 a.m. and Red can’t help but giggle, giving dirty-talk advice in the middle of a dining hall. Red, a Binghamton University underclassman and a former bondage instructor, is a dominant, or dom — one of the many roles one can play in the realm of kink, fetish and BDSM (bondage/ discipline, domination/submission and sadism/masochism). In most BDSM relationships, like the ones Red looks for, the other partner is a submissive, or sub. He discovered the world of kink at 15, the same age when he lost his virginity. “I think I got into it out of a natural evolution of things,” Red said. This natural evolution started when Red found erotic literature online. Eventually, Red, who preferred to remain anonymous, wrote his own erotica. Through his writing, he discovered his dominant sexual self. “For me, dominance is more about command,” he said. “It’s more about me taking the lead.” Red analogizes his role with that of ballroom dancers — one

dancer leads, choreographing the next steps, while the other follows. “It’s putting a path forward and having your partner follow you,” Red said. According to the results of Pipe Dream’s sex survey, more students have been experimenting with kink each year. In 2014, only 21 percent of respondents had experimented with bondage. That percentage has been growing steadily in the three surveys conducted since. Our survey this year revealed 33.7 percent of students — a 12.7 percent increase in three years. It’s not only BU students who are getting more into kink; Red says that BDSM has become so prevalent in our culture that most people are willing to talk about it. “I’m honestly more surprised when people aren’t into kink at all than [when they] are,” Red said. Last week, T-Mobile debuted a BDSM-themed advertisement during the Super Bowl. The ad, starring actress and comedian Kristen Schaal, depicts a Verizon Wireless customer asking a representative from the phone company how he’s going to “punish” her for going over her data limit. John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, tweeted the ad with the hashtag

“#TheSafeWordisUnlimited.” “If they’re running Super Bowl commercials about domination and submission, I guess it’s been destigmatized a little,” Red said. It isn’t difficult to attribute the increasing cultural conscience of kink to the success of the “50 Shades of Grey” franchise. Since its debut in 2011, the book series published by Penguin Random House has sold over 100 million copies. Despite its financial success, “50 Shades of Grey” has sparked controversy over what many call an unhealthy relationship between now-famous fictional couple Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Red explained the problematic nature of the sexual encounters in “50 Shades of Grey.” He said that in a real BDSM relationship, there is an “oxymoron” of dominance — the submissive is the one to truly call the shots. “The submissive is the person who sets the boundaries, the barriers,” Red said. “If there’s a line, you cannot cross it. With the relationship in ‘50 Shades of Grey,’ there is none of that.” However, fear not: “50 Shades of Grey” is a far cry away from being the only option for erotic literature. Thanks to the internet, any and all

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor According to this year’s results from the Pipe Dream’s sex survey, 33.7 percent of students have experimented with bondage — a 12.7 percent increase since 2014.

kinds of writing are accessible. Red said to look at sites like literotica. com, as well as to explore Tumblr. But, he heavily advises that people interested in BDSM steer clear of misleading pornography. “The good, healthy, substantial porn that you can find is few and far between,” Red said. Elizabeth Alexis, Student Association representative for SHADES and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said that students who are interested in exploring should look into oncampus communities.

Alexis used to attend meetings of the Binghamton Kinksters, a low-profile group of BU students who enjoy kink. The group meets monthly at CyberCafe West on Binghamton’s West Side, renting out a private room. It’s not a sex club, Alexis said, but rather a place for socializing and making friends. Sarah Walsh, a Real Education About College Health intern and a sophomore majoring in English, said that despite these online forums and clubs, the general public doesn’t understand kink. “There is a lot of negative

stereotyping and connotation that goes along with the BDSM and kink community,” Walsh said. “It’s important to remember that as long as it’s safe and consensual, there’s really nothing to worry about.” Red echoed this concern for consent, expressing the necessity for respect, which comes from clear and open communication before (and during) sex of any kind. “It’s nothing but abuse if there’s no respect between two partners,” Red said. “Don’t engage if they don’t respect you.”

From the wrestling room to your bedroom, sporty sex positions to try Spice up your relationship this Valentine's Day with moves like the screwdriver, banana split and camel clutch Staff Reports It’s not uncommon to see a picture of two people wrestling and think, “That really looks like sex.” You might have even seen such a picture and been inspired to try a new move with your partner. If this sounds like you, here are a selection of spicy wrestling moves to up your relationship. We’ve adapted them from the mat and the ring and moved them over to

the bedroom. Cradle Ride There are many variations of the cradle move out there, but the common thread between them is that they are a combination of spooning and hitting it doggystyle. To start, one partner should be on their hands and knees, while the other partner positions themself at a slight angle toward the back of the first partner. After sliding in, try raising and lowering your bodies together. For a position

and feel that is most similar to wrestling, lower your bodies as close to the bed or floor as you can. Banana Split From the cradle ride, try moving into the banana split. Roll over and start with one partner lying on top of the other like you are spooning but facing up. If you’re on top, wrap one leg around your partner and have them hold the other folded up against your chest. It’ll be a tight squeeze but once you are in position, they

What to do when you see them do it How to handle walking in on a roommate during sex Katherine Scott Contributing Writer

The scenario everyone fears when moving into a double dorm room: walking in on your roommate having sex. It’s something you never want to imagine, let alone experience. So for the newbies — or the veterans — of double dorm room life, here are some dos and don’ts for minimizing the psychological damage that this situation can incur. DO NOT: Scream or yell. It won’t solve the issue at hand. The best way to deal with it is to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb neighbors. Keep the volume down. DO: Apologize — even if it’s not your fault. This accomplishes two important things: one, it ensures that you’ve gotten the couple’s attention, and two, will decrease the chances of starting a fight with your roommate. DO NOT: Start a fight on the spot. Take the high road. DO: Get out as quickly

as possible. If you were just grabbing something you needed, then take it and go. But do not feel like you aren’t allowed in your own room because you do pay the same amount as your roommate to live there. Because of their state of dress (or, more likely, undress), they are stuck where they are. Be as expeditious and efficient as possible. DO NOT: Stand still and stare in shock. They’re naked and afraid. Point your head to your side of the room. You can even hide them from view with your hand. It is key to remember that this is embarrassing for every party involved. DO: Say sorry again right before you ditch the room. “Sorry!” in this context becomes a word that has many meanings. It can be used as a shocked greeting, a way of expressing your discomfort and a farewell. DO NOT: Let this affect your day. It is unfortunate that this happened, but everything can be fixed.

DO: Communicate your discomfort to your roommate afterwards. Give yourself enough time to gather your thoughts without being emotionally irrational. If this is a recurring problem and your roommate’s sex life is directly affecting your ability to go to your room freely, speak with your resident assistant. DO NOT: Stay silent and not talk it out. If your roommate becomes a repeat offender of never letting you know when they need privacy, then it will never get fixed. DO: Make sure you and your roommate find a way to solve this issue. If it was a mere miscommunication, you both need to discuss how things can be made more clear. In the case of a lack of communication altogether, ensure that each roommate is dedicated to changing this. And, last but not least, the final DO: Laugh about it, because it’s college — this happens to everyone.

Elizabeth Manning/Editorial Artist

should enter you from behind. Having difficulties? Arch your back at different angles or modify leg positioning. Camel Clutch This isn’t so much of a move as it is a hold, but either way, it can easily transition to the bedroom. Start lying facedown and have your partner straddle you in a semiseated position. They should pull up your shoulders to arch your back as they slide in. To add extra support, wrap your arms around

their legs with your upper arms resting on their thighs. Screwdriver The screwdriver is basically a standing version of the 69 position, so it requires one partner to have a lot of upper-body strength. Both of you should start off standing and your partner (or whoever is stronger) should pick you up around the waist so that your feet are in the air and your body alignment is belly to belly. Wrap your arms around your partner’s

waist, and have them wrap their arms around yours. There might need to be some shifting of heights to line things up. There are many variations to this move if neither of you has the necessary strength to lift up the other. Instead of sticking your legs straight up in the air, bend them at the knees and rest them on a sturdy surface. If that even seems like too much work, you can turn the whole thing horizontal and go for some classic, mutual oral sex.