Spring 2018 Issue 24

Our film critic’s take on

See page 5

Monday, April 30, 2018 | Vol. XCIII, Issue 24 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

BU Council seeks new student delegate

Students stay silent to protest intolerance

Four candidates run for student representative

Q Center holds 'Day of Silence' demonstration on campus

Gillian Kenah

Allison Detzel

The Binghamton University Council is seeking a new student representative for the 2018-19 academic year. The BU Council, which consists of nine unpaid members appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and one student representative elected by the University’s student body, helps supervise University operations. The other members of the BU Council include Kathryn Grant Madigan, the chair of the council, University President Harvey Stenger and Provost Donald Nieman. According to Madigan, the student representative influences the big decisions made within the University. “The student representative serves as the advocate and ‘voice’ of the BU students to ensure that the students’ interests and concerns are not only brought to the attention of the president and senior leadership but serving as a vital resource for the BU leadership, thereby influencing the planning and policy making throughout the academic year, at the highest levels of governance,” Madigan wrote in an email. “It is about

Students dressed in all black remained silent on Friday afternoon as they lined the walls and held signs in an attempt to bring attention to the violence, harassment and discrimination that the LGBTQ community faces on a daily basis. The Day of Silence is a national student-led event developed by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, originating from a 1996 protest at the University of Virginia. Participants take a vow of silence for the day to exemplify the silencing of LGBTQ voices and bring awareness to the infrequently discussed challenges that the LGBTQ community faces, such as employment and housing discrimination, homelessness and high rates of abuse and suicide. The protest was organized by Binghamton University’s Q Center and lasted from noon to 4 p.m. Kelly Clark, director of the Q Center, said the structure of the event was changed to better fit a college environment. “Some of our students may remember Day of Silence from middle or high school,” Clark wrote in an email. “Translating the day to college is a bit trickier, as we recognize that students may genuinely not be able to be silent for the day, [for example], in classes or work [or] internship environments, so [our protest] will be done a little differently.” Instead of taking a vow of silence for the entire day, student volunteers signed up for 30-minute shifts of silence. Nadiya Al-Noor, the graduate assistant for programming and events at the Q Center and a second-year graduate student studying student affairs administration and public administration, said she believes it to be a more effective approach than the traditional Day of Silence. “In my experience, I’ve always hated the Day of Silence,” Al-Noor said. “The purpose of the Day of Silence is to make people think and be aware of these things that are happening, but if you’re silent and don’t do anything else with that, it doesn’t really help. So we decided to say: ‘What’s a way to use silence to scream a message?’ So I thought, a protest where we can’t be missed, where people who go through a public place are going to

News Intern

Pipe Dream News

SEE COUNCIL PAGE 2

NYSEG grants BU third award since 2014 University receives $400K for Smart Energy Building Jacob Kerr

Pipe Dream News

Binghamton University was presented with a $400,000 grant from the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) this past Thursday. The award — the third in the past four years from the corporation — brings NYSEG’s total contributions to the University to $1.2 million. NYSEG’s award is part of a program that puts money into the Binghamton community’s effort for cleaner energy. The grant was presented by Carl Taylor, ‘98, president and CEO of NYSEG, at a news conference on Thursday in the Smart Energy Building at the Innovative Technologies Complex (ITC). There, Taylor and BU President Harvey Stenger spoke about how the grant will help the Smart Energy Building and the University community. Awards like this one, according to Taylor, will help fund new research at the University, which will bring in new technology and businesses to campus

SEE GRANT PAGE 2

ABOVE: Kevin Paredes Photography Editor, BELOW: Pipe Dream Archives Multiple employees at Jazzman’s Library Tower Cafe spoke to Pipe Dream about the sexual harassment allegations against employees Jimmy Alvarez and William Gonzalez.

Jazzman's employees suspended amid harassment claims Jillian Forstadt

Assistant News Editor

Two Jazzman’s Library Tower Cafe employees, Jimmy Alvarez and William Gonzalez, were suspended on April 16 after numerous sexual harassment allegations were made against them, according to four people who work at the cafe. The allegations led to an investigation into the behavior of Alvarez, a supervisor, and Gonzalez, a barista, which began shortly after the death of BU senior Haley Anderson, who worked at Jazzman’s. Four employees said Anderson frequently complained that Gonzalez’s comments and messages made her uncomfortable, but she never officially reported the harassment. Anderson refused to attend shifts that Gonzalez also worked, according to one employee. In the weeks following Anderson’s death, nine female employees brought their own complaints to Binghamton University Dining Services’ (BUDS) human resources department, one employee said. Four employees said Anderson’s death served as a catalyst for the women to come forward. “This started with women banding together and saying ‘Enough is enough,’ but a lot of the male staff members have stepped forward as well and come out and said that they have not only witnessed this happening — they’ve heard about it,” a female employee said.

A petition in defense of Alvarez and Gonzalez was published on Change.org on Wednesday and stated that the two were suspended and in danger of losing their employment after being accused of “offering complimentary food and beverages to members of the community.” Though the four Jazzman’s employees who spoke with Pipe Dream said this was not the reason Alvarez and Gonzalez were suspended, the petition has garnered more than 2,300 signatures as of Thursday evening. A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised $1,800 to support Alvarez and Gonzalez, who have been suspended without pay, according to the crowdfunding page. Four employees said many of the women working at the cafe chose evening shifts to avoid interacting with Alvarez and Gonzalez, who typically worked in the morning. Most staff members knew about the harassment, according to the employees who spoke with Pipe Dream. One employee said Gonzalez

was known to touch female workers and ask them suggestive questions. Gonzalez and Alvarez could not be reached for comment. Three employees said Randy Kellar, human resources manager for BUDS, began interviewing employees at the cafe in the week after spring break. One employee praised the human resources office for its conduct during the investigations, which are ongoing. Jim Ruoff, resident district manager for BUDS, said he can offer little information at this time. “All parties involved will remain on leave,” Ruoff said. “After the investigation is concluded, we will determine the best course of action to take. I appreciate everybody’s thoughts and concerns.” One employee said he has worked at Jazzman’s for three years and wanted to dispel the misinformation about the men’s suspensions which had been published as part of the petition. He said the petition, while well-intentioned, was ultimately misguided. Another employee, who said she has seen many other employees complain about the behavior of both men during her time at Jazzman’s, said the popularity of the petition has jeopardized over a months’ worth of effort. “This whole disinformation campaign is really threatening all of the hard-won peace that everyone had fought for,” the employee said.

SEE PROTEST PAGE 2

'Poetry Matters' talks social justice, politics Democracy Matters co-hosts poetry night at The Belmar Yuri Lee

Assistant News Editor

According to Winter Clark, president of Democracy Matters and a senior double-majoring in philosophy and the individualized major program, one of the event’s goals was to give marginalized individuals a chance to speak. “People are free to share poems and whatever else they feel comfortable doing, but there is a broad theme of social justice so we’re hoping to uplift the voices of some marginalized folks tonight and to have this as a space where that could happen,” Clark said. Wu, future public relations chair for Democracy Matters and a junior doublemajoring in history and philosophy, politics and law, said he chose to perform Jacob Hanna Staff Photographer at the event because he likes poetry and Winter Clark, president of Democracy Matters and a senior double-majoring in philosophy

Larry Wu faced a small crowd of 20 people in the dim backroom of The Belmar Pub and Grill before spitting out, “Man, I ain’t got no time for no politics,” as part of his performance for “Poetry Matters” on Friday night. The event, the result of a collaboration between Democracy Matters, Binghamton University’s Slam Poetry Club and the Southern Tier chapter of Citizen Action of New York, aimed to use poetry as a way to discuss fair elections and the individualized major program, spoke at “Poetry Matters” on Friday night at The Belmar Pub and Grill. and social justice.

ARTS & CULTURE

OPINIONS

Binghamton natives talk film on podcast,

BFA students showcase artwork Downtown,

Contributing columnist Theodora Catrina discusses the effects of competitive college admissions,

See page 5

See page 5

See page 7

SEE POETRY PAGE 3 SPORTS

Golf competes at the Big Sky Championships,

Softball defeats Maine in a three-game series,

See page 9

See page 10

2

NEWS

bupipedream.com | April 30, 2018

Students to vote online in election on May 3 COUNCIL FROM PAGE 1 making a genuine contribution to the future of Binghamton University.” Adam Wilkes, the current student representative and a senior majoring in sociology, said the role of the student representative involves working closely with the other council members to resolve issues concerning the University.

Joshua Gonzalez, a first-year graduate student majoring in geography. Pipe Dream: What is your platform? Joshua Gonzalez: Expanding mental health resources on and off campus; expanding resources and advocacy for survivors of interpersonal violence; expanding on- and off-campus safety efforts [and] strengthening relationships with offices, holding them accountable and advocating for their available resources. PD: Do you currently hold any elected positions on campus? JZ: [I am] vice president for multicultural affairs [for] the Student Association. PD: Why did you decide to run for BU Council? JZ: I am running because I believe I am qualified for the job. My relationship to administration and my work with multiple student groups and offices gives me the knowledge needed in order to accurately portray the thoughts of the student body. I want to be the representative that has their ear on the ground and the representative that can accurately portray what the students want. There have been many issues that have fallen on deaf ears or that have been pushed to the side, I want to bring these issues to light. I believe that with my unique position as a 3+2 student, I have the mindset of a graduate and undergraduate student, and can better assess what each population needs.

“The student representative is a full-voting member of the council,” Wilkes wrote in an email. “As outlined in state law, the Council collectively oversees all major plans of President Harvey Stenger, names buildings and locations and oversees student conduct policy. The Council receives a presentation each month from a different administrator — ranging from athletics to infrastructure — on all the aspects of the University’s growth.”

Four candidates are running for the position: George Bezama, a first-year graduate student studying business administration; Harry Bittker, a junior majoring in political science; Joshua Gonzalez, a first-year graduate student studying geography and Michael Harel, a junior majoring in political science. The election will be held on Thursday, May 3 and students will receive a link via email to vote between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

George Bezama, a first-year graduate student studying business administration.

Michael Harel, a junior majoring in political science.

Harry Bittker, a junior majoring in political science.

PD: What is your platform? George Bezama: [There will be] no categorical tuition increases under my tenure; focus on quality as opposed to quantity, for both staff and students; increasing of the integrity, reputation, and value of [students’] hard-earned degrees [and] working to make the physical campus more functional and aesthetically pleasing. I intend to be a voice for all students, and entertain for contemplation all their ideas and proposals, only leaving the final decision to merit and pragmatism. PD: Do you currently hold any elected positions on campus? GB: I do not hold any elected positions on campus. However, I have local government and business experience and [I] am a part of the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). PD: Why did you decide to run for BU Council? GB: I enjoy challenges. I also want to make sure the [students] get the value for their degree and years of work they put towards them.

PD: What is your platform? Michael Harel: Guarantee the B-Alert system is efficient and supplies students the information they need to feel as safe as possible; emphasize mental health education during orientation to generate increased awareness on campus; improve level of care at Decker Health Services; provide a wider variety of food options for those with special dietary restrictions; [implement] a zero tolerance policy with regards to incidents of racism and prejudice, whether committed by student groups or faculty [and] make myself available to listen to any student concerns. PD: Do you currently hold any elected positions on campus? MH: I do not currently hold an elected position on campus, and this is my first time running for a student government position. [I] consider myself [an] outsider. PD: Why did you decide to run for BU Council? MH: I decided to run for BU Council because I want to have the ability to create change.

PD: What is your platform? Harry Bittker: My safety initiatives address emergency preparedness for students, off-campus housing and creating a safety stakeholders group. On health, I’ll work to promote healthy interpersonal relationships [and] address the mental health crisis. To address diversity and inclusion, I want to recruit more RA applicants of color, address the University’s bias incident response procedures [and] improve access to free feminine hygiene products. I also want to improve access to open source materials, and advocate for more funding for conference travel for graduate students. PD: Do you currently hold any elected positions on campus? HB: I’ve served in the Student Association Congress for two years, previously on the finance committee and as chair of the elections and judiciary committee. This year, on the student life and academics committee, I’ve worked with others on projects regarding mental health on campus, improving feedback processes for Dining Services. I’m also involved in the SUNY Student Assembly [and] I’m also a two-term member of the Harpur College Council. PD: Why did you decide to run for BU Council? HB: In a role as expansive as the Council’s, you have to be able to understand multiple perspectives. This position would allow me to channel everything I’ve learned over the past three years into improving our community and empowering our students. I’m running because I can see the big picture, and I understand how to make students a bigger part of it.

Activists draw attention to LGBTQ issues Grant to expand energy efforts PROTEST FROM PAGE 1

be confronted with these messages, disturbed by them and think about that, ‘This is what my friends go through, this is what my loved ones go through, this is what my professors and co-workers go through.’” The signs held by protesters included statements such as, “My parents think it’s a phase,” “My mom wishes I was dead instead” and “I have been homeless.” At the end of each shift, the sign was flipped to reveal a message: “I will not be silenced.” “The sign a participant is holding may not reflect their personal reality,” Clark wrote. “But the phrases are based on the experiences faced by disproportionate numbers of LGBTQ people. The protest, deliberately held in an area with high traffic, is meant to confront those living in comfortable ignorance with the uncomfortable truth.” In the middle of the lobby stood a sign without an attendant. This sign, which read “I am not here anymore,” represented the 40 percent of LGBTQ people who consider suicide. Brian Warm, a junior majoring in business administration who participated in the protest, said the location of the event helped expose its message to people outside the LGBTQ community and incite a reaction from students, faculty and staff. “People have been kicked out of their homes, they’ve been bullied in school, they’ve been kicked out of housing,” Warm said. “I think that events like this are very important because it shows the whole [BU] community what’s really going on, whereas when we just have events at the Q Center and things specifically catered toward the LGBTQ+ community, not everybody is involved.” Zeguorney Khan, a senior majoring in biology, said she passed by the protest and felt it could inspire a lot of conversation about the discrimination LGBTQ people face. “It’s really powerful,” Khan said. “LBGTQ people go through so much stuff that a lot of people don’t Kojo Senoo Pipe Dream Photographer even realize. People shouldn’t have to suffer alone A poster was placed in the center of the University Union’s Tillman Lobby during the Day of Silence demonstration on Friday in honor of the 40 percent of LGBTQ people who contemplate suicide. or in silence.”

GRANT FROM PAGE 1 many lighting systems to and the local area. “We hope these funds that assist in capital investments will attract new businesses to the area and to stay in New York state,” Taylor said. BU also received two $400,000 grants from NYSEG in 2014. All of the grants will contribute to maintenance of the Smart Energy Building and improving the efficient energy technologies found in the complex. The Smart Energy Building is a relatively new addition to the ITC, opening in 2017 after five years of construction that cost around $70 million. The building houses facilities for research and education for physical sciences and engineering. At the press conference, Stenger said the award would help the University grow. “This most recent $400,000 allowed us to add equipment we probably could not have afforded without it,” Stenger said. The University has also upgraded its energy efficiency outside the ITC, according to Sandy DeJohn, the utilities manager and sustainability coordinator for BU. Besides converting

LED, BU also converted from using coal to using wood chips to produce energy. System changes like these are an effort to reach energy efficiency goals. “Binghamton University has committed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 through sustainability efforts and renewable energy projects,” DeJohn wrote in an email. The city of Binghamton is also attempting to provide cleaner energy alternatives. In August 2017, Binghamton was recognized by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority as a clean energy community, the first city to be recognized as such in the Southern Tier. According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority website, in order to receive the award, local governments must complete at least four high-impact actions. Binghamton achieved this recognition by replacing all 6,700 street lamps, installing electric vehicle charging stations, streamlining the regulatory process for solar projects and retraining code officers on the best way to maintain an energy-efficient building.

PAGE III Monday, April 2018 Thursday, Thursday, Monday, Monday, September October October April30, 3,2,5, 2017 28, 2017 2017 2017

Poetry connects students, residents POETRY FROM PAGE 1 wants to raise awareness for issues that are affecting his community. “Art is beautiful, so when you get the chance to come out and speak out about stuff that you see in your communities, why not take a chance?,” Wu said. “Art is something that you can’t fake. Genuine art will always speak for itself, so that’s why I feel like it’s important.” With an abundance of free tacos and easy access to the bar, the event also allowed students and locals to informally meet and relax as they listened to poetry performances. For Clark, it was important that the event involved the whole community and not just students. “We’re interested in bringing the community together — we have student works here and obviously The Belmar is a local business and we’re super excited to be here giving them business,” Clark said. “We really do see this as a community effort and kind of just a fun thing to do on a spring Friday night.” Jim Mack, a Binghamton area resident who performed his

address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902

Dancin' away

poems for the event, said he chose to attend “Poetry Matters” to connect with other political poets. “Some of my poetry is political so I thought this would be a good occasion to showcase some of that poetry here and meet some other politically oriented poets,” Mack said. “Poetry is critical to politics, [and] the arts generally are really good at conveying those [political] messages.” Some of the poems performed at the event included “Speck on the Flag,” “War Leaves Acne Scars,” “On the State of the Revolution” and “Masculinity.” Attendees were also entered to win prizes, which were donated by local businesses and included a style guide, a wicker basket, socks and patches. According to Wu, events like “Poetry Matters” allow people to progressively start thinking about current issues. “We’re not obviously going to solve any big problems, but these things are a process and if people have the right mindset and people are constantly exposed to Kevin Paredes Photography Editor it, gradually people will be more Quimbamba Latin Dance Team performs at the sixth annual El Polvorín Latin Festival in the Mandela Room Saturday conscious and awake [toward] night. issues,” Wu said.

phone: 607-777-2515 fax: 607-777-2600 weB: bupipedream.com

Spring 2018 editor-in-Chief* Noah Bressner editor@bupipedream.com Managing editor* Shauna R. Bahssin manager@bupipedream.com

news editor* Sasha Hupka news@bupipedream.com asst. news editors Amy Donovan Jillian Forstadt Yuri Lee opinions editor* Emily Kaufman opinions@bupipedream.com asst. opinions editor Savanna I. Vidal arts & Culture editor* Georgia Westbrook arts@bupipedream.com asst. arts & Culture editors Kara J. Brown Rachel Greenspan sports editor* Samuel Ditchek sports@bupipedream.com asst. sports editors Evan Cole Grace Palumbo photography editor* Kevin E. Paredes photo@bupipedream.com asst. photography editor Rebecca Kiss

“She burns facts and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s lies. It’s probably lies.”

Pipe Line and firefighters to leave work in order to tend to an emergency, Meth lab found in Vestal home according to the Press & SunBulletin. The first responders will On Thursday, the Vestal Police have to use paid vacation, holiDepartment and New York State day or compensatory leave time Police searched a home in Stew- to respond to emergencies. They art’s Trailer Park where they may also take unpaid leave to found a meth lab, according to address situations. WBNG. The owner of the home, Raymond Scott Dickerson, 49, STATE NEWS was charged with unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, Schneiderman announces reckless endangerment, tamper- new website to combat opioid ing with physical evidence and epidemic unlawful disposal of methamphetamine laboratory material. Police New York State Attorney General say a meth lab was found in the Eric Schneiderman announced same home in July 2017. the launch of a new website, CleanYourCabinet.com, which Garnar signs bill to change aims to help New Yorkers locate Broome County emergency disposal sites for their unused responder policy prescription drugs, according to the New York State Office of the On Friday, Broome County Ex- Attorney General. The website ecutive Jason Garnar signed an lists agencies and sites that will executive order that will allow discard the unused medication active emergency responders with no questions asked.

— Comedian Michelle Wolf, mocking White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

LOCAL NEWS

This Day in History April 30, 1789 The first presidential inauguration is held in New York City, where George Washington assumed the presidency.

fun editor* Nate Walker fun@bupipedream.com

design Manager* Cory Bremer design@bupipedream.com design assts. Khaled Pendleton Gaoming Lyu

Police Watch The following accounts were provided by Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Car crash WEDNESDAY, April 25, 4:52 p.m. — Officers responded to a car accident on Vestal Parkway. A 49-year-old female said she was stopped at a red light when she was rear-ended by another vehicle, driven by a 20-year-old male. The collision caused damage to both vehicles. The female’s car had multiple cracks and scratches on its rear bumper, and the male’s vehicle had heavy front-end damage. A tow truck was contacted to transport the vehicles to a garage. The male was issued a traffic ticket and exchanged insurance and contact information with the female. Both drivers refused medical attention. Temper tantrum THURSDAY, April 26, 8:16 p.m. — A 34-year-old male Binghamton University Dining Services (BUDS) employee called officers to the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center after another employee broke a machine used to track employees’ hours at 8:05 p.m. Two witnesses told officers that the individual, a 36-year-old male, had been struggling with the machine and punched it because it was not working as it should have been. The machine, which is valued

Copy desk Chief* Bridget McCusker copy@bupipedream.com

Yuri Lee Assistant News Editor

at $1,000, was cracked after the employee punched it. BUDS will handle the incident internally. Gettin’ high FRIDAY, April 27, 1:15 a.m. — Officers walking near Endicott Hall of Newing College noticed an odor of marijuana and observed two individuals, a 19-year-old male and 18-year-old female, lighting a blunt. The male told the officers that the blunt was his, but he intended to share it with the female. The green leafy substance in the blunt tested positive for marijuana and the male was given an appearance ticket for Vestal Town Court. Email harassment FRIDAY, April 27, 3:10 a.m. — A 19-year-old male contacted UPD after being harassed with multiple messages from an unknown suspect’s email account. Police believe the case is related to a previous report generated by the victim after a female he befriended on Facebook extorted $1,000 from him. In that case, the female threatened to share a video of him exposing his private parts to his family and friends. In the emails, the unknown suspect asked the victim why he was not contacting them. The victim said he felt threatened and did not want this individual to continue contacting him. He was advised by UPD to block the email address. The case is still under investigation.

asst. Copy desk Chief Sarah Molano digital editor Alana B. Epstein digital@bupipedream.com newsrooM teChnology Manager* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com asst. newsrooM teCh. Manager Michelle Tan editorial artist Annabeth Sloan

Business Manager* Maryam Soomro business@bupipedream.com distriBution Manager Laura Staff distribution@bupipedream.com

Pipe Dream is published by the Pipe Dream Executive Board, which has sole and final discretion over the newspaper’s content and personnel. Positions seated on the executive board are denoted by an asterisk. Pipe Dream is published Mondays and Thursdays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and academic breaks. The content on the Opinions page with bylines represent the views of those authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. The content of advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of the Pipe Dream Executive Board. We reserve the right to reject ads for any reason. All letters submitted for publication must include the author's name, year and major. Please limit letters to the editor to 400 words and guest columns to 750 words. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream. Guest column submissions may be emailed to the opinions editor at opinions@bupipedream.com, and all letters to the editor may be sent to editor@bupipedream.com. © Pipe Dream 2018

stabilizing:dino

gannett:destabilizing

4

NEWS

bupipedream.com | April 30, 2018

Two-day event raises awareness of sexual assault Speakers discuss college activism, LGBTQ issues Lia Berger & Yuri Lee Pipe Dream News

One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Within the LGBTQ community, transgender people and bisexual women face the highest rates of sexual violence, according to the Human Rights Campaign. These statistics, along with many others, were highlighted at “Moving from the Margins into Action,” a two-day event hosted by Heath Promotion and Prevention Services in an effort to raise awareness about sexual assault on college campuses. It included programming from the Multicultural Resource Center, the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Q Center and Binghamton University’s 20:1 Bystander Intervention Program. The first talk, located in the Mandela Room in the University Union, featured keynote speaker Annie Clark, co-founder of End Rape on Campus, a survivor advocacy organization. Clark gave a talk on campus activism and ending rape on campus, focusing on “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary chronicling Clark and her friend Andrea Pino’s experiences filing a Title IX lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where they were both sexually assaulted as undergraduates. Title IX, a federal civil rights law, states “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance,” according to the United States Department

Terrell Julien Contributing Photographer Keynote speaker Annie Clark, co-founder of End Rape on Campus, spoke to students in the Mandela Room in the University Union on Thursday evening as part of a two-day event hosted by Heath Promotion and Prevention Services.

of Justice. Clark said the University of North Carolina’s response after she reported the incident was centered around victim-blaming, giving her few resources. “I didn’t have the vocabulary to address the problem [of the University’s response] fully, but something didn’t feel right,” Clark said. It was only when she began teaching at the University of Oregon and hearing similar stories from students that she realized campus rape isn’t unique to the University of North Carolina — it is a nationwide epidemic. In her talk, Clark emphasized the importance of supporting

survivors and fighting rape culture and societal myths, such as the belief that half of rape accusations are fake and the notion that men cannot be raped. “‘I believe you’ is a really important thing to say because we live in a society that tells exactly the opposite,” Clark said. “We have to remind survivors it’s not their fault.” Yitzhak Maurer, president of the IFC and a junior double-majoring in classical and Near Eastern studies and anthropology, helped organize the event. According to Maurer, hearing from people like Clark is especially important because of how widespread sexual assault is in relation to Greek life.

“I don’t think it’s just waiting on the administration or waiting on the student body — we all need to work together to push these ideas, tell survivors we believe them, have more events like this to have conversations and end the normalization of rape culture,” Maurer said. At another talk, Kelly Clark, director of the Q Center, spoke on Friday afternoon in the University Union. She said she was invited to give a talk on sexual assault and LGBTQ communities because LGBTQ individuals face higher rates of sexual assault than other populations. “Health Prevention and Promotion Services really felt it

was important for us to not just have a general big conversation, but to actually look at some subpopulations on campus,” Kelly said. “Because the LGBTQ population is so affected, overly affected, I was one person they invited.” According to statistics read during the event, the prevalence of lifetime sexual assault ranged from 12 to 15 percent among gay and bisexual men and from 16 to 85 percent among lesbian and bisexual women, compared to 2 to 3 percent for straight men and 11 to 17 percent for straight women. “Homophobia and transphobia is not just discrimination in the moment,” Kelly said. “I could bully

someone and hurt their feelings in the moment, but it actually sets up the environment for violence to happen. The dislike, the mistrust, the hatred for LGBTQ people sets up their lives to be more violent and I think we see that in the statistics.” Dylan Tarleton, an intern for the 20:1 Program and a sophomore double-majoring in sociology and Japanese studies, said he chose to come to Kelly Clark’s talk so he could educate himself. “I’m just, like, a white guy so I kind of need to go to places like this to hear from people who are actually part of these communities to actually learn from this,” Tarleton said.

Women's luncheon promotes empowerment, networking Mentors talk experiences in male-dominated fields Ariana Benhuri

GE TA

Co Op 3 mp en su le m to te m d up er eg se to re ss e on & io e ns no ye ar nav de of ai gr la stu bl ee dy e s in tu de th re nt e s mo Ca M nt lc ic hs ul r us An Ch obi at em olo om g is try y y Ph & ys Ph ic ys s io & lo M gy or e

HE AD -S TA RT TH IS SU MM ER

Contributing Writer

718.260.5500 • WWW.CITYTECH.CUNY.EDU/SUMMER NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

CITY TECH

300 Jay Street Downtown Brooklyn facebook.com/citytech • @citytechnews

www.citytech.cuny.edu

In an effort to help undergraduate women advance in traditionally male-dominated fields, WE SPEAK BU (Women Empowered Support, Protect, Educate, Advocate and Know at Binghamton University) hosted its annual “Shattering the Glass Ceiling” networking luncheon on Wednesday afternoon. The luncheon, held in the Mandela Room in the University Union, was specifically geared toward networking female students at Binghamton University with professional women in multiple fields. According to Lara Levine, treasurer of WE SPEAK BU and a senior majoring in accounting, the event was meant to create an opportunity for students to meet women working in male-dominated fields like finance and engineering. “We wanted to create a place where girls can have the chance to talk to other women personally in the fields they’re interested in and provide insight on the obstacles they had to overcome,” Levine said. Ana Mateo, the secretary intern and activities coordinator of WE SPEAK BU and a junior majoring in anthropology, said there aren’t enough networking events at the University, especially those specifically for women. “There aren’t a lot of networking luncheons on campus and there definitely isn’t one just for females,” Mateo said. “Getting to know other women in the same field as you and listening to how they got through everything is extremely comforting.” Unlike regular career fairs, where hundreds of students, both male and female, try to get 30 seconds of a professional’s time,

the luncheon utilizes a unique arrangement designed to create an intimate atmosphere. Several tables were scattered around the room, each labeled with different fields such as medicine, finance, engineering and politics. Each table had several attendees and an assortment of mentors, who were made up of both BU alumni and volunteers. Both parties were able to share past experiences and ask specific, goal-oriented questions amid a generous assortment of fish, pasta, vegetables and beans. Victoria Tagarelli, ‘13, now an information assurance engineer for Lockheed Martin, said engineering is a very underrepresented field for women. “Engineering needs to become more diverse and inclusive,” Tagarelli said. “Women very well have the capabilities to take part in the field and excel. I’m really excited to be here and provide insight and advice on the necessary steps I took to get to where I am.” Rebecca Mancusi, one of Tagarelli’s mentees and a junior majoring in biomedical engineering,

as Shamsher Dhillon, an internist for United Health Services and staff physician at BU, also said they enjoyed having the opportunity to talk to the younger generation of upcoming professionals in their respective fields and to be able to offer them guidance. “I honestly haven’t been in touch with any students in the pre-medical field, so I really loved chatting with them and helping them find potential internship opportunities,” Dhillon said. Maria Grisales, a freshman majoring in accounting, said she was glad to hear about other women’s experiences. “I’m really happy I heard about this event,” Grisales said. “Listening to these particular women’s experiences really helps me prepare for what’s to come.” Rachel Maiman, a junior doublemajoring in political science and English, said she spoke about her passion for law and Binghamton anti-sex trafficking legislation with mentor Donna Lupardo, member of the New York State Assembly representing the 123rd

“We wanted to create a place where girls can have the chance to talk to other women personally in the fields they’re interested in and provide insight on the obstacles they had to overcome." — Lara Levine Treasurer of WE SPEAK BU said she felt really encouraged after speaking with her mentor. “I felt really motivated and inspired after speaking to [Tagarelli],” Mancusi said. “Being able to talk to a woman in this field and spring a similar past is very rare.” Many mentors at the event, such

Assembly District. “It’s becoming more and more challenging for women to run for elective office,” Lupardo said. “I really want to change this stigma. By talking to younger women, I can make it less intimidating for them and help foster their political pursuits.”

ARTS & CULTURE

Six BFA students display work in Downtown exhibition The capstone projects debuted on Thursday Theodora Catrina Contributing Writer

Several Binghamton University seniors debuted artwork in the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery on April 26. The featured students are part of BU’s bachelor’s in fine arts (BFA) program in the art and design department, a degree that was reinstated at the University last spring. The Downtown Binghamton gallery has assembled an exhibition that showcases six current BFA students’ final projects after a semester of research and artistic production. The works include digital paintings, drawings, prints and 3D pieces. The BFA program was brought back last year as an option for students seeking a more challenging degree in the arts. The BFA curriculum at BU is a comprehensive study of visual arts, requiring 74 credits to complete the major, compared to the 40-credit Bachelor of Arts. John Brunelli, ‘97, who graduated with a BFA, currently directs the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery. Brunelli worked with the students over the course of the past semester to prepare for the exhibition. Brunelli taught the senior exhibition seminar for the program this semester, a two-credit capstone course that consists of classes covering exhibition preparation, publicity, portfolio presentations, current

Jonathan Flores Pipe Dream Photographer Exhibition visitors viewing works of art in the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery on Thursday evening. Six BFA students from Binghamton University displayed their capstone projects in the exhibition.

exhibition opportunities, the candidate’s exhibition and critique. The class is required for all BFA candidates. “It’s been not only a semesterlong project of putting this exhibition together, but it really culminates all of their undergraduate years leading up to their graduation with a BFA degree,” Brunelli said. “It is a representation of what they’ve

been working on for the past four or five years.” Caitlin Ironside, one of the featured students and a senior double-majoring in graphic design and psychology, reflected Brunelli’s statement, noting that the extended coursework lived up to the challenging reputation the BFA maintains. “It’s been a long and arduous process, but it’s all been worth it

in the end,” Ironside said. The exhibition features a variety of styles of artwork, emphasizing the individuality of each artist while connecting them to each other. The installation is divided by medium, with half of the space focusing on digital work and the other half displaying drawings, paintings and prints. Brunelli stated that installing

the diversity of mediums within the exhibition proved to be both difficult and rewarding. “One of the challenges, but also one of the beautiful aspects of the exhibition, is that all of the artists that are shown here in the BFA show are coming from different disciplines within the art department,” Brunelli said. Kayla Madden, a senior majoring in graphic design,

created the 3D piece titled “Acing the Apocalypse,” which was displayed in the center of the gallery. The diorama-like work features blood-spattered, ripped pages from a zombie apocalypse survival guide arranged on a bed of grass. Madden said she drew the inspiration for the piece from a project she had done earlier in her artistic career at BU. “It was spawned during a project I did my sophomore year and I kind of took it and evolved it from there,” Madden said. “I feel like I’ve definitely grown in leaps and strides at [BU] — when I first came I was a computer science major. The fact that [BU] offered a graphic design major was a bridge between working with computers and working as an artist.” The work of Ironside, Jorden James and Bethany Gordon, ‘17, are all computer-based. James, a senior majoring in art and design, said that since digital art rarely materializes in a physical form, it’s a shock to interact with his work in a gallery setting. “I work digitally, so it is rare that I actually get to see my work physically,” James said. “I do so much, but it is expensive to print stuff, especially highquality prints like you see here. It’s like seeing your name up in lights — seeing the reality and the physicality of your artwork, it’s wonderful.” The exhibition will be open through April 30 at the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery at 186 State St. There will be a closing reception with artist talks on Monday, April 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Local film buffs find success with podcast Haskins and Esquivel share critiques on Epic Film Guys Sarah Buerker Staff Writer

Podcasts have been around since iPods had click wheels, but the platform has exploded into a renaissance over the past few years. From politics to art, it seems like there’s a podcast for just about every topic you could think of. “Epic Film Guys” is a podcast about movies, run by Nick Haskins and Justin Esquivel, two Binghamton area natives, who discuss the latest films, award shows and actors every Monday and Thursday. Before starting their podcast, Haskins and Esquivel published on a different popular platform: YouTube. Like the podcast, their channel was also focused on movies, and their connections in the Binghamton area helped them build a following and lay the groundwork for what would later become their podcast. One of their most popular videos on the channel features the pair at the annual Zombie Walk in Downtown Binghamton in 2014, where they talked to attendees dressed as the undead about the zombies in film and TV. “Justin probably knows everyone in the Southern Tier, which started us off on a really good foot,” Haskins wrote in an email. “If you can think of some business or some creative/ artistic type in the area, odds are Justin has had direct contact with them or collaborated directly with them. At least one of us popped up at various locations whenever someone famous descended upon the area. We collaborated with a local filmmaker and started doing higher-productionvalue pieces like the Zombie Walk 2014 video or the Halloween video.” The YouTube channel came to an end after Esquivel moved from the Binghamton area to Washington, D.C., in 2015 and the distance made it nearly impossible to continue creating content for the channel. Starting the “Epic Film Guys” podcast served as the perfect way for

Haskins and Esquivel to continue to share their takes with their movieloving audience because they could connect remotely. Not only did the podcast serve as a solution to the distance, it introduced the men to a community of other likeminded creators. “Once we got the podcast moving in the right direction, I took to Twitter — back then we had like, 85 followers or so — and started searching for other podcasts,” Haskins wrote. “#PodernFamily was something I kind of just got swept up in back in December of 2015. I wasn’t there when it first started, but the core group of shows basically came together and decided that we’d be stronger together as a community working for a common goal, and that we could achieve better exposure this way.” Last May, the “Epic Film Guys” used their following to spearhead an event called “Livestream for the Cure.” The 12-hour livestreamed show raised money for the Cancer Research Institute and included interactive games for listeners, collaboration with other creators and the hosts’ usual banter about movies. “Cancer has affected my life a number of times, from losing a good friend who was only in his early twenties, to losing my mother-in-law last year,” Haskins wrote. “This year, I wanted to go for double the goal, but decided to make the event span the entire weekend! So, this year we’re doing 30 hours from May 18 to the 20 to raise money for cancer research and I want to top $5,000.” The podcast has come a long way since 2015. Today, the pair boasts over 14,000 followers on their Twitter account and the podcast is approaching its 150th episode. Despite their show’s growth, Haskins said that its roots are in the Binghamton area. “I’d also love to do live episode recordings at a local bar or brewery as well and get the crowd involved in the fun,” Haskins wrote. “Binghamton always be our ‘PodHome,’ as it were. I’d love to grow our local footprint even more, so please: come check out the show! Listener discretion is advised; we are not safe-for-work.”

Provided by AP Newsroom This image released by Marvel Studios shows, front row from left, Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan in a scene from “Avengers: Infinity War,” which premiered on April 27.

'Infinity War' unites Marvel heroes The film impresses, grosses $630 million Josh Rosenthal Arts & Culture

Looking back, it really is incredible to think about the journey leading up to “Avengers: Infinity War.” It’s been almost 10 years since “Iron Man” was released, at roughly the same time of year in 2008. This fact isn’t lost on Marvel Studios, which celebrated the decade milestone by incorporating it into its logo — and by releasing what is easily its biggest feature to date. There is arguably no other movie studio that has achieved what Marvel has, crafting a cinematic universe that builds and expands, finally culminating in a grand design. The effort leading up to this feat must be commended. But what needs to be discussed is this film itself. Fortunately, it was pretty good as well. “Avengers: Infinity War” is

directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo and features many heroes from the past Marvel Cinematic Universe movies as they team up to defeat the ultimate villain, Thanos. Thanos seeks a collection of Infinity Stones, which together will give him the power to destroy all life in the universe. Given how many characters are in this movie, even someone with only a casual knowledge of the Marvel movies will be happy to see some of their favorites. I was expecting to see all the past heavy hitters appear in the movie, but was pleasantly surprised by how many supporting characters from previous movies appear, too, even though some are just cameos. Unfortunately, a tradeoff of having so many great characters in a movie is that no one really has a chance to shine or steal any scenes. Ironically, the only exception to this is Thanos himself. As great as many of the past Marvel movies have been,

a common critique is that the movies’ heroes are portrayed as likable and complex, while the villains are often shallow and generally unmemorable. An important attribute of a great villain is that they truly believe they’re the hero of the story, while also demonstrating their power to be a real menace. In “Avengers: Infinity War,” Thanos contains both qualities in spades. His plans, while horrible, make a scary amount of sense. And as he collects the Infinity Stones, his powers increase exponentially, making him one of the most powerful villains we’ve ever seen. Thanos’ appearance in a movie has been building up for years, ever since we saw him at the end of “The Avengers” in 2012. It would have been a massive blunder by the studio if he ended up falling flat, but fortunately, he comes away being one of the best comic book movie villains ever. Another setback is that the film is forced to address

too much, between the many characters, locations and set pieces, which leads to a fairly long run time at 2 hours and 29 minutes. While it can feel long at times, it’s hard to say that much of that time is wasted during the movie, as every scene really furthers the plot of the movie. The fact that there is just so much plot to get through is a natural result of 10 years of buildup. At the time of publication, “Avengers: Infinity War” has broken the record for biggest weekend opening of all time, sitting at a massive $250 million. With its hype, you’ve probably already seen the movie. But if you haven’t, I would definitely recommend it. Granted, you won’t get much out of it if you haven’t seen, or liked, any previous Marvel movie — but with 10 years and 18 movies under Marvel’s belt, chances are at least one caught your interest. If that’s the case, please watch “Avengers: Infinity War,” if only to see Thanos pulverize your favorite hero.

OPINIONS Monday, April 30, 2018

There is a variety of birth control methods available. Students can get Plan B from Decker Student Health Services Center, though it may be difficult to obtain.

Kevin Paredes Photography Editor

Why is it so difficult to get Plan B from Decker? Unnecessary formalities block students from an important service Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

Two years ago, I needed Plan B. I needed the morning-after pill, a pill that is taken to prevent fertilization up to 72 hours after conception. The drug is sold in most drug stores around the country and poses no serious side effects. As a sophomore living on campus, I heard that Decker Student Health Services Center, located conveniently behind my residence hall, sold the pill to those who needed it. I went, expecting a simple transaction, but was met with an obstacle. If I wanted Plan B,

I would have to sit and endure a 30-minute appointment with a nurse practitioner, in which they would discuss the pill with me and possibly what led to my needing it. I didn’t stay for the discussion. I took the bus to Walmart and bought the pill over the counter. There was no look, debate or deliberation on the part of the salesperson. He rang me up, smiled and even wished me a good day. I wondered on the way home what that appointment would have entailed. I was informed that they would describe what to expect from the drug, but would I be forced to give a reason as to why I needed the drug? Would they assume the sex was consensual in the first

place or that I hadn’t already had a method of birth control that failed during intercourse? There is a range of circumstances leading up to a woman’s need for Plan B. I realized in that moment that if I had been raped, and for whatever reason decided not to report it and sought Plan B from Decker Student Health Services, I would be forced to either lie about my circumstances or come clean about my being there. No woman should be forced to give an explanation of why she needs a drug that is relatively safe and sold in drug stores around the country. To be fair, Decker Student Health Service’s website lists all the possibilities of why a woman would need the pill. They also

list two community resources, Southern Tier Women’s Services and Family Planning of South Central New York, where women can get the pill over the weekend to fill the 72-hour recommended window of effectiveness. They do not list Walmart or CVS, which may be more convenient for women without cars. A large draw for women to receive the pill from Decker Student Health Services is not only the locational convenience of being on campus, but its cost. Its website advertises the pill as $15 — although they say price is subject to change — which can be $35 less than the retail price of other drug stores. Alternatively, an appointment with the nurse is a wonderful option for women to talk about

what to expect from Plan B and why they should take it. While I had researched the side effects and specific function of Plan B, it’s always nice to have a health professional explain it rather than sift through online medical jargon. However, the appointment shouldn’t be compulsory. Some women experience a sense of stigma or shame that accompanies the drug and they might feel that a mandated appointment with a health professional is a lecture or perhaps a wake-up call. Additionally, there is the timesensitive component of Plan B, which loses its effectiveness after 24 hours. For women in college busy with work and classes, they may not have time to afford a

half-hour appointment with a nurse practitioner. For my final column, I did not intend to discredit the staff at Decker Student Health Services and the otherwise wonderful work they do. They may not necessarily have control over the policy or understand its potential impact on young women at a vulnerable period. But women on this campus should be aware of this policy before they come across it on their own. Some women may truly benefit from the appointment, while others could do without it. What’s critical is the need to decide for themselves. — Kristen DiPietra is a senior double-majoring in English and human development.

Validating the 'Friday Scaries'

It can be stressful to have no plans when the weekend comes, but it's OK to go with the flow Georgia Westbrook

Arts & Culture Editor

For me, Friday doesn’t signal the release from the doldrums of the week. Rather, it signals a fresh wave of anxiety about what my plans are for the weekend. My “Friday Scaries” send me into a vortex of worry each week without fail, and as I head toward graduation, and the ultimate lifelong weekend of postgrad life that follows, I wonder about how

to spend my time. Though it seems like everyone is going out each weekend night — at least according to Snapchat and Instagram — logically, I know it’s only a tiny fraction of all of the students who go to Binghamton University. If even 1,000 people go out on a Friday night, there are still at least 10,000 other students who are doing something else, a number that usually includes me. But I don’t broadcast the fact that I’m not doing anything exciting, so I don’t really know what other people who aren’t going out are

doing and it makes me wonder if I am doing the right things — whatever that might mean. Plus, because I don’t like to go out, due to a combination of social anxiety and other reasons, my weekends don’t have any social structure. If I don’t reach out and make plans with friends, I get sucked into lonely days split between the library and work. And so it goes that as Friday afternoon approaches, I begin to worry about how I’ll fill up each weekend. In the spirit of full disclosure, I scan B-Line with hope, but there is

never anything that fits what I’m looking for. Part of my problem with weekends is that I don’t know what I am looking for. I do a lot of things I love at BU, but in general, college has left me little time to really develop hobbies and interests that can sustain me after I graduate. It seems like a small thing to have asked of my undergraduate years, but as my young adult life stretches ahead of me, I dread coming to the weekends and having them be empty. Watching Netflix and taking Buzzfeed quizzes

aren’t hobbies, but after I give my energy to schoolwork and everything else required of me, I have little left to give to learning something substantial to occupy myself with. Part of college is learning to be alone and to be happy with yourself, but I wish I had learned something practical to fill my time, too. As each school year has come to a close, and now particularly as college is ending, I wonder if I should have spent more time at house parties or at the bars — or whether I should be happy that in a time when I felt like I should

be doing one thing, I did what I actually wanted to do instead. These questions lead me into their own trap with the word “should.” Whether I wish things had been one way or another, they were the way they were. I made the choices I thought were right at the time and then moved forward from there. I don’t want to look back on college and think about what I “should have” done, I want to remember fondly what I did do. — Georgia Westbrook is a senior majoring in art history.

Student input is essential to a democratic campus When they're not included in decision-making, they can feel disconnected from their university Joshua Hummell

Contributing Columnist

In my short career as a college student, I have attended Onondaga Community College and Binghamton University. Both have limited student input in school affairs. At my old school, the Onondaga Community College administration decided that the quad and the library were outdated and needed to be renovated. So, they renovated them. I suppose it’s not a surprise that only a few students knew what it was going to look like and not one student had input in the project. Onondaga Community College also seemed out of touch with the events that impacted students.

While I was attending Onondaga Community College, a student died walking from a party on one of the coldest nights of the year. There was a brief statement from the administration and a reminder of counseling services, and then nothing more. No student input at all. Had the student died from lack of transportation? Did he die because the college was ignoring that fact that students who were minors had access to alcohol? Is there a way we could prevent this from happening in the future? There could have been a forum that addressed these questions, but instead, the students were left in the dark. I originally thought that this was only representative of community colleges, and I remember thinking that once I went to a larger, four-year university, there would be

more student input. However, I was wrong. Student input at BU could be as simple as having a forum that allows students to ask questions about events that occurred and have a direct way to vent their frustrations so the University knows what they are. However, BU seems to be content sending an email or posting something to B-Line to address issues. This is one-sided and unfair to the students on campus who have been affected by the events. Take, for example, the students who were peacefully protesting racism on campus — their posters were taken down and they were threatened with arrest. That happened on March 28. The first time students were able to vent their frustrations in front of the administration was at a free speech event on campus on

April 11. There should have been a forum well before then, and specifically about that issue. In the case of the recent stabbing, many students have complained that they do not feel safe on campus. A forum could identify how students can feel safer, whether it be with self-defense classes or better emergency procedures. This would allow the University a chance to respond accordingly to student concerns. Student input can also allow students to participate in the development of the future of the campus. Let’s say the University has some grant money to remodel some of the older classrooms in the Fine Arts Building. Typically, the administration will determine the outcome of the remodels without asking the students their opinions. Not one form

of government in the United States would be allowed to be as autocratic as this. It sidesteps the democratic principles that we have as Americans. Take, for example, a real case: the pedestrian pathway I discussed in an article from October 2017. There are two groups working toward its completion, the first being the local city of Binghamton government and the New York State Department of Transportation, which have held several town hall meetings discussing the plans of the walkway and welcomed civic engagement with the plans. The second, BU, has not had any. This stark difference is an example of how BU treats student input. Allowing student input would only benefit the University. By seeking student input, the University would gain a better idea

of how to react to incidents, such as the stabbing that occurred in Mountainview College. Students would be able to take pride and feel safer in their community as well as gain a better appreciation for civic input. The University seems to be ignoring that we are all very intelligent human beings, hence our choice to attend BU. So by ignoring the students in this way, BU is losing some of the greatest opinions, ideas and resolutions that its own students have. Why not use our intelligence to further improve our campus? After all, we are allowed to participate in the communities that we come from, so why not allow us to be involved with one we voluntarily chose to be a part of? — Joshua Hummell is a senior double-majoring in classical and Near Eastern studies and history.

7

OPINIONS

April 30, 2018 | bupipedream.com

Competition in high school can lead to discord in college High-stakes admissions processes can carry over to college life and cause divides on campus Theodora Catrina

Contributing Columnist

I remember my first few days at Binghamton University vividly. Moving away from home and being thrown into a new environment is a shock, and it’s hard to forget. I recall the first few conversations I had with my current suitemates perfectly. Most of them were centered around a common theme: why we didn’t want to be at BU. One of my suitemates said, “I got into Cornell, but couldn’t afford to go.” Another girl chimed in with a similar sentiment, and then another one said that she regrets coming here, even though we had only been here for less than two days. Our conversation then evolved to where we applied

to school and where we were admitted, our SAT scores, the number of Advanced Placement classes we took and our class rankings. These topics seemed drawn out. After four years of agonizing over college admissions, I wondered why this chapter of our lives hadn’t finally ended. To me, it seems that hypercompetitive environments in high school led to these conversations. Instead of focusing on the four years ahead of us, we were reliving the accomplishments and hardships we had faced the past four years. It is evident that the competitive atmosphere in high schools across the nation is generated by increasingly selective college admissions. Each year, admission rates decline and prestige rises. In 2016, Stanford’s acceptance rate

stooped to 4.8 percent, down from 5 percent in 2015. Although BU does have a selective admission process, admitting less than half of applicants, the effect of the competitive nature of high schools is evident on college campuses. Being admitted into a school that the majority of students do not get into is an accomplishment — it signals something about how diligent of a student you are, and how inherently intelligent you are in comparison to other applicants. One of the first questions my current roommate asked me was if I actually had wanted to go to BU or if I had gotten into a better school. As my freshman year continued, I realized that this was a recurrent attitude among many people I met. Although this attitude may be concentrated

among freshmen, it manifests itself in different ways. For example, when compared to other schools, BU lacks school spirit. Maybe this results from the absence of a football team, or because BU sports are not the unifying power that other schools seem to have. However, the attitude that students have about attending school here, feeling they should have gotten into a better school or wishing they could’ve afforded their dream school, is a strong reason for the underwhelming school pride. This atmosphere is not encouraging and does not promote solidarity within each incoming class. Being an incoming freshman is always scary, and when your peers make it evident that they don’t want to be at this school, the adjustment to college life becomes harder.

Ultimately, with prestigious schools continually becoming more selective, it is difficult for students who achieved in high school and feel as though they should be at a better school to not reach their own standards. At the same time, as selectivity and expectations of applicants becomes increasingly rigorous, a spot at prestigious schools is more and more coveted. And for students who worked to achieve one of these spots in high school and did not end up there, it is difficult to attend a school that is perceived to be weaker academically. These sentiments are exemplified at BU, where there is a stereotype of people either being Ivy rejects or students who could not afford the hefty price tag private schools often carry. This stereotype is damaging,

and it makes it increasingly difficult for incoming students to take advantage of all that BU has to offer, despite all of the opportunities that exist. From club sports to political clubs and Greek life, there is a place for everyone. BU offers numerous freshman research programs, such as Freshman Research Immersion and the Dickinson Research Team. Multicultural groups and on-campus internships allow students to flourish academically and socially, and it is necessary to take advantage of these opportunities. Ultimately, a common sentiment across campus is that BU is what you make of it, so take advantage of what you can. — Theodora Catrina is a freshman majoring in math.

Hallucinogens should not be classified as Schedule I drugs Far more dangerous drugs like alcohol and nicotine are legal and readily available Nicholas Walker

Guest Columnist

Many of us pledged to “just say no” to drugs in the D.A.R.E. program during our primary education years. We were brainwashed into thinking all drugs — and all people who use them — are bad. Interestingly, tens of millions of Americans are addicted to or dependent on legal drugs like nicotine, caffeine and alcohol. Giving us a drugabstinence education only breeds ignorance about drugs that should be legalized, like hallucinogens. Let me correct the record. To start, not all drugs are equally detrimental to our health. The Controlled Substances Act rates drugs based on their potential for abuse and harm. This scale ranges from Schedule I, like heroin and ecstasy, to Schedule V, like codeine in cough syrup. For unwarranted reasons, hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, peyote and magic mushrooms are listed as Schedule I. A brief background on common hallucinogens will help clarify. Peyote is one of the oldest known hallucinogenic drugs and was consumed by the Aztecs. When areas of the United States were colonized by foreign powers,

peyote was outlawed as a method to suppress the Native American culture. Currently, though, peyote usage is legal in the Native American Church. The long history of hallucinogens continues: Some believe “magic mushrooms” were first consumed in 9000 B.C. by North African tribes. LSD, although a newcomer to the world of tripping, is a synthetic compound that causes potent hallucinations. It became an important cultural symbol of the 1960s and ’70s, thanks to groups like the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd. Like peyote and magic mushrooms, LSD is listed as a Schedule I drug. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Schedule I drugs, substances or chemicals “have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse.” I would consider tobacco and alcohol, both widely abused, as drugs that fall under this category. Cigarettes and other nicotine-based products are addictive and known to be carcinogens. Thanks to Juul Labs, high school and college students are becoming the first generation of nicotine vape addicts. Little do they know, tobacco is linked to an estimated 480,000 deaths per year. Furthermore, alcoholism

has plagued this country since Europeans began colonizing it. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, one in 12 adults in the United States suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence and an estimated 88,000 deaths are attributed to alcohol use every year. Obviously, there is always risk involved with drug use. Deaths from hallucinogens occur from accidents, suicide or eating poisonous plants. Very rarely do hallucinogens cause death because of overdose. It would take 37 pounds of magic mushrooms to kill someone. There are no reports that psilocybin mushrooms are psychologically or physically addictive, and use does not lead to dependence. For LSD, tolerance develops rapidly, though dependence or addiction does not occur. The same can be said for peyote. Similar to the need for sex ed, high schools and other institutions should educate students about the risks and rewards of drugs used by the youth, whether it be caffeine, tobacco or mushrooms. After all, we can all see that abstinenceonly sex education has had great success where it is taught. Hallucinogens like LSD, magic mushrooms and peyote should be legalized since they are less addictive and carcinogenic than

Pipe Dream Archives

alcohol and tobacco. However, these drugs must be respected for the danger they pose. Users of psilocybin would be wise to consult a mycologist, an expert on fungi, since magic mushrooms look very similar to toxic mushrooms.

Similar to alcohol, LSD must be regulated, otherwise dangerous chemicals like 25I-NBOMe can be added. Next time you’re at a bar at night, annoyed at the obnoxious environment, just think how

different the scene would be if everyone was sharing a mystical trip together. — Nicholas Walker is sophomore majoring biomedical engineering.

a in

It's OK to love something without declaring it as a major Your area of study doesn't define your entire scope of interests Evan Moravansky

Guest Columnist

Imagine this: You have a bright future ahead — you earned decent grades in high school, high enough to land a comfy seat in the premier public Ivy of your resident New York state. College is scary when you first arrive, but it easily becomes the best time of your life. Two years go on like this and life is great. Sounds like a dream, right? A test grade comes back that settles a smidgeon of doubt in your head. You tell yourself it’s a fluke, that you’ll recover with the next test. A few weeks later, it turns out you underperformed

HOW

DO

I

SUBMIT?

again, and you chalk it up to too much time on Fortnite when you should’ve been hitting the books. Next test is going to be your saving grace, you tell yourself. I think you see where this is going — and if you don’t, you failed that test, too. Looks like you’ll have to withdraw or fail. How lovely. Mom would be proud! Normally this can be forgiven; you just suck it up and try again. Here’s the problem with that: It’s the third time you did this in two years and you need these classes to graduate with the degree of your choice. With a heavy heart, you resign yourself to withdrawing a third time, but thankfully, not from college entirely. What’s left to do when you

must face that you aren’t meant to be a musician, engineer, doctor, lawyer, teacher or, in my case, astrophysicist? Admit it! Tell yourself the truth: Maybe this isn’t meant for me. Next, talk about it. Talk to your friends, your family, your adviser and most importantly, yourself. You want to be secure in your decision, so give yourself time to explore your options and ultimately feel good about what you’re doing. I’ve spent a good while ruminating about how I should best handle the pickle I find myself in. Luckily, it’s not a big dill (ha ha). I can choose to look at it from two angles — either I grovel in self-pity for a potentially dead-before-I-even-started career, or I can see it as the

Guest Column A full-length column that argues a particular point of view Can be a response to previously-printed columns 500-650 words in length Accompanied by a headshot portrait (taken by our photography staff)

liberation it truly is. Sticking to a life goal is a respectable avenue, but so is letting the winds of life carry you to unforeseen heights of greatness. Before I get too poetic, allow me to elaborate. The Washington Post reported that only 27 percent of college graduates end up working in a job related to their major, and even more dismally, only 13 percent of people in the workforce enjoy their work. Fortunately, there’s no reason that you must be confined to these despairing odds when you find yourself at the career crossroad. I’m satisfied knowing my newfound English major allows me to maintain my involvement in physics through research and clubs. Before you put this paper

down, I encourage you to think about your passions. No, really, think about it right now. What do you like to do in your free time? Be it pumping iron or watching Vine compilations, there’s something there worth pursuing, like a nursing or cinema major. Channel your energy into pursuing what makes you happy and the success you seek might just end up finding you. As for me, I’ve accepted that physics will only be a smaller part of the picture, and that’s OK. I don’t know what kind of career I’ll end up in, and there’s a good chance you don’t either. Uncertainty doesn’t equate to failure. I’ll still go for the minor and leave Binghamton University with a degree reflective of the work I’d

Letter to the Editor A response to any of the content in Pipe Dream, including opinions columns, editorials, news, arts and culture and sports stories Should end with a signature (e.g. From, Your Name) 200-500 words in length

love to do. Wouldn’t you want to do the same? I love English. I’d always find myself writing poems in the margins of my physics notes, never the other way around. Hell, I’ve written over 500 poems in the last two years alone. Does that not scream an English major? I’m volunteering to change my career path because I knew it was the wiser option, but if you happen to love your practical major, keep at it. If another major better suits you, however, ask yourself what Stephen King asked me: “If God gives you something you can do, why in God’s name wouldn’t you do it?” — Evan Moravansky is a sophomore majoring in English.

Voices A free-form piece that shares your unique story or experience Less formally structured than a column, meant to share an experience in a meaningful way, not necessarily to argue a point Varying lengths Optionally accompanied by a headshot portrait (taken by our photography staff)

F UN Monday, April 30, 2018

Scary times

Nate Walker Priorities

Sudoku

Nate Walker

By The Mepham Group

Level: 1 2 3 4 Solution to last issue's puzzle

Fish wish

Annabeth Sloan

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

4/30/18

RELEASE DATE– Monday, April 30, 2018

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Sad bois, sad bois, watcha gonna do?

When you find that rainbow connection

Daniel Eisenhower

Daniel Eisenhower

ACROSS 1 Harley rider 6 Approved 10 “The lady __ protest ... “: “Hamlet” 14 Where one may be taken for a private word 15 Golfer’s warning 16 Slender woodwind 17 Fruity 12-Down topping 19 Drive or reverse 20 The “S” in “CBS”: Abbr. 21 Little green veggie 22 Vast chasm 23 Craftsperson using scrap metal, glass, etc. 26 “400 Richest Americans” magazine 30 Nagging troubles 31 Nimble 32 Stick a toothpick in, as a snack 34 “Bye, Luigi!” 38 Tax filing option for married couples 41 High-school kid 42 “On Golden __” 43 Rodeo lasso 44 Film critic Pauline 46 “Town Without Pity” singer Gene 47 Restriction for quarantined patients 51 One who’s done for 52 Old studio letters 53 Olympic sword 57 Ridesharing company 58 Feature of the time periods hinted at by the starting letters of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across 61 Range in Europe 62 Country’s McEntire 63 Cove, e.g. 64 Viral internet phenomenon 65 Former couples 66 Like yesterday’s fashions DOWN 1 Parts of cote tales?

2 Kids’ road-trip game 3 White wine apéritifs 4 Cut and paste, e.g. 5 Word with room or center 6 Plenty of times 7 TV cop with a lollipop 8 Big Band __ 9 Rep.’s opponent 10 Bone-shaped treat 11 Follows orders 12 Browned bread 13 Word sewn on a towel 18 Composer’s work 22 Dined 23 Spectator’s bit of disapproval 24 Tony or Hugo 25 Judge’s apparel 26 Like greyhounds 27 S-shaped molding 28 Ready on the vine 29 Poetry that doesn’t rhyme 32 Popular vodka, popularly 33 Square root of 100

35 Persia, today 36 Required poker bet 37 “__, can you see ... ” 39 Zoo primates 40 “Divergent” films heroine 45 Oxygen is about 21% of it 46 Luther’s sect: Abbr. 47 Duke or earl 48 Hr. after noon

49 Many a casinoowning group 50 Gumbo vegetables 51 U.S. island territory 53 Author Ferber 54 Buddies 55 Seers? 56 Ninety degrees from norte 58 Luigi’s three 59 Whammy 60 Cry from a pup

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

By Matt McKinley ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

04/26/18

04/30/18

9

SPORTS

April 30, 2018 | bupipedream.com

BU fails to reach postseason Men's lacrosse falls to top AE team Stony Brook Grace Palumbo

Assistant Sports Editor

Seeking retribution after a disappointing season thus far, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team looked to earn a victory in its last game of the season during a home match on Friday night. Taking on a Stony Brook team, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the America East (AE) standings, the competition from the Seawolves (7-7, 5-1 AE) proved too much to overcome, and the Bearcats (411, 1-5 AE) ended the season with a loss to SBU, 15-9. “I don’t think we played as well as we could have tonight,” said BU head coach Kevin McKeown. “It’s a little bit disappointing for our seniors who have to end it this way.” Rebecca Kiss Assistant Photo Editor BU began the game on the Senior midfielder Stephen Petrelli had an impact all over the field in his final game as a defensive end, blocking shots Bearcat, contributing two goals, one assist and three ground balls in a loss to Stony from Stony Brook until the Brook on Friday.

Seawolves were able to post a goal just four minutes into the game. Senior attack Thomas McAndrew responded quickly with a goal for the Bearcats, with the shot assisted by senior midfielder Stephen Petrelli. However, the Seawolves sealed the quarter with an additional two goals, putting the score at 3-1 and cementing a lead that the Bearcats were unable to overcome for the remainder of the game. During the second quarter, the Seawolves lengthened their advantage by tallying six more goals. The Bearcats, for their part, recorded two scores, one from senior midfielder Joe Grossi and another unassisted from Petrelli. The Seawolves’ strong offensive attack forced Binghamton to primarily focus on its defensive play, however. In the first half of play alone, redshirt sophomore goalie Kevin Carbone put up eight saves to help ward off additional SBU goals. With the score at 9-3 at

the beginning of the second period, it was clear the Bearcats still held some optimism for the remainder of the game. The team came onto the field strong and netted a shot in the first minute of play, courtesy of Grossi. From here, BU was able to answer almost every goal the Seawolves put up during the third quarter, but could ill afford to exchange points. McAndrew posted two unassisted goals to fuel the 12-7 score as the quarter drew to a close. As the game continued, the play appeared to become increasingly aggressive. By the fourth quarter, the Bearcats, still looking to make a comeback, seemed more competitive than before. Three unanswered goals from Stony Brook pushed the score to 15-7. In the final minutes of play, BU was able to put up two consecutive goals, but the effort was not enough. The game ended at 15-9 in favor of the Seawolves.

“I think if we had the ball a little bit more, we might have had some more opportunities, but I think the better team won tonight,” McKeown said. The end of Friday’s match marked the end of the season for men’s lacrosse as well. Having finished sixth in the seven-team AE Conference, the Bearcats failed to qualify for the postseason tournament. For seniors such as Petrelli, Grossi and McAndrew, this means that Friday’s match was also the last of their Binghamton careers. “I don’t know if our consistency was there, throughout the year, but I give our seniors credit,” McKeown said. “We had a tough start to the season and we were able to pull it together a little bit at the midway point and go close to 500 from there on out, so it’s obviously not what we want but it was comforting to see that and hopefully we can take some lessons from this moving to the future.”

Golf finishes in sixth at Big Sky Championship Lane leads promising Binghamton roster Justin Zion

Sports Intern

The Binghamton golf team wrapped up its season this past weekend with an appearance at the Big Sky Championships in Boulder City, Nevada. The Bearcats found themselves behind after a rough first round from which they did not recover, ultimately placing near the bottom of the leaderboard in sixth place out of eight schools. Despite the disappointing start, the team did put together a strong final round on Sunday, ending the season on a positive note. The Bearcats collectively shot a final round of 287, good for one under par and the fourth-best score of the day. “To end on a high note like that just shows the players on our team and others what our potential is and what we can accomplish when we play to our capabilities,” said BU

head coach Bernie Herceg. “With us being a younger team, it shows these guys we can be right in the thick of things.” Freshman Justin Lane posted his highest placement on the individual leaderboard in his young career, finishing in 10th place with a total score of plus-two on 218 shots. Lane earned the distinction of top rookie finisher in the entire tournament, and also posted the second-highest placement in the Big Sky Championships in Binghamton history (Kyle Wambold finished in seventh in 2016). Sophomore Ryan Rodriguez and junior Zak Ottman did not place far behind Lane, both finishing in a tie for 12th with four other players. Each had scores of five over par for the weekend on 221 shots. Ottman’s final round of 69 was the best round of any Bearcat all weekend. This is the second time that the Bearcats played a tournament at the Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City this spring season, as the Jackrabbit Invitational took

place there in early March. The return to Boulder City benefited Binghamton, as it was able to play on a familiar course. “It definitely helped,” Herceg said. “It helps being more comfortable off the tee, because it is a tight course on some holes … If we happen to go back there one more time for a championship we can be better because we’ll just have that many more rounds out here.” Unfortunately for BU, the team was entrenched in the bottom half of the leaderboard for the entire championship and was never in contention for the top spot. That honor went to Northern Colorado, who staved off a challenge from Southern Utah in the final round to win the title. The tournament turned into a two-horse race between the two schools by the end of the first round, as the third-place team was ten shots back off the lead. Northern Colorado gained the lead after round two and held it throughout the final round on Sunday to beat

The Binghamton University Interfaith Council & Alpha Phi Omega Present

#FEEDBING

T RIVIA NIG H T Tuesday, May 1 7:30-9PM (doors open at 7) Old Union Hall

tion of 3 n

Kosher snacks will be provided

onperisha

Bryson Lester Provided Photo Freshman Justin Lane finished 10th in the Big Sky Championships this past weekend.

invitation this spring season. “Overall, I’m really looking forward and I’m excited about the future just because of the talent these guys have,” Herceg said. “As some of these younger guys

ble food it

ems

PRIZES for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams! All donations will go to the Bare Necessities Food Pantry, UUW-205

UNPACKING THE 2020 CENSUS

Tuesday, May 1 6-8 p.m. UU-215

Congratulations Class of 2018! Book the

gain more and more experience, they’re gonna have better scores … It’s just gonna help our overall team scoring and [help us] come together like we can and compete at the level that we’re capable of.”

Learn about how the 2020 Census will affect underrepresented communities and what actions can be taken.

4) Tickets $3 ($10 for team of

OR a dona

out Southern Utah by three shots. The race for the individual title was even closer and more dramatic. It was a back-and-forth affair between Northern Colorado senior Andrew Romano and Southern Utah senior Fidel Concepcion atop the individual leaderboard. Concepcion led after round one, but Romano flipped the script to take a three-shot lead after round two. On Sunday it looked like Romano was going to get the edge, but a bogey on 17 kept Concepcion alive, and he birdied two out of his last three to force a tie. Romano went on to win the tiebreaker. For the Bearcats, the result was not what they had hoped for, but they still take many positive things away from this tournament. For the first time since joining the Big Sky Conference, the Bearcats placed three golfers in the top 15 of the Big Sky Championships. The team also got much contribution from its younger members this year, as a freshman has had the top finish for Binghamton in each

Century Room FOR YOUR GRADUATION PARTY

Call (607) 729-0164 to speak with a manager

10% Off Your Next Event CopperTop Tavern Vestal 4700 Vestal Parkway (607) 729-0164

CopperTop Tavern Vestal 4700 Vestal Parkway (607) 729-0164

Use this coupon and receive 10% off your next event in the Century room at the CopperTop Tavern, located in Vestal, NY. Expires: 5/31/18. CENTROOMCOP0418

Buy Any Full Price 12" Pizza of your choice

Get 1

12" Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza for $3.99 Valid Monday-Wednesday on both dine in or take-out orders. One coupon per guest. Valid at CopperTop Vestal location only. Expires: 6/1/18.

CopperTop Tavern 4700 Vestal Parkway

PIZZABLACK0418

PODCAST

Pipe Dream Bearcast BUPIPEDREAM.COM/SPORTS Monday, April 30, 2018

Baseball falls out of playoff picture with losses to SBU Bearcats stymied by Stony Brook's pitching Julian Guevara

Pipe Dream Sports

Following the opening doubleheader of a three-game series against Stony Brook this past weekend, Binghamton appeared to be outmatched by the visiting Seawolves both offensively and defensively. BU (11-25, 7-11 America East) scored just one run in the two important conference games, as the Seawolves (23-19, 9-9 AE) plated eight. SBU swept the doubleheader, 5-0 and 3-1, but was overpowered by the Bearcats in the third game, 8-5. “It’s been a struggle,” said BU head coach Tim Sinicki. “It’s no secret that it has been a struggle on offense. But it was good to see the guys come in today, shake off yesterday’s tough losses and come out and put some runs on the board, so hopefully that’s a positive sign and a step in the right direction.” Once again, the Bearcats were forced to attempt a comeback after falling behind 3-0 in the top half of the second on Sunday. Binghamton’s offense got itself on the board in the home half of the second inning after senior first baseman Luke Tevlin drove a double to the right-center gap with no one out. This small rally ended up scoring two Bearcats, making

Ariel Kachuro Pipe Dream Photographer Senior catcher Jason Agresti hit his first home run of the season during Sunday’s victory against Stony Brook.

it a 3-2 game in favor of Stony Brook. BU’s offense was not done taking advantage of prime scoring opportunities. A big five-run fifth inning started when senior shortstop Paul Rufo worked a leadoff walk. Junior outfielder Anthony Meduri followed with a line drive that the pitcher booted into shallow right field, allowing Rufo to advance to third with no one out. “At this point, the guys just kind of have to trust themselves,

a lot of these guys have been there before and have been part of winning teams,” Sinicki said. “So sometimes you just have to let the guys work through it because ability-wise it’s there, but sometimes you just run cold.” Then, senior catcher Jason Agresti stepped into the box and on a 2-1 count drove a towering shot to right-center field, just clearing the 365-foot marker for his first home run of the season and providing BU with a 6-3 lead

still with no one out in the inning. The Bearcats continued to bring the offense. Senior outfielder Pat Britt and Tevlin knocked back-toback base hits. Freshman infielder Jake Evans followed the trend and hit a hard grounder up the middle, but off the pitcher’s foot, allowing the ball to roll into shallow left field and scoring another run and opening up a 7-4 edge. With only one out in the inning, the Bearcats’ offense was relentless at the plate. Sophomore

infielder and pitcher Greg Satriale worked a walk and turned it over to the top of the lineup with the bases loaded. Senior outfielder CJ Krowiak stepped up to the plate and drove a fly ball deep enough to score Tevlin from third, scoring run number eight for Binghamton. “We need everyone ready to go next Saturday and Sunday,” Sinicki said. “So it’ll be all hands on deck, but we have to get our guys some opportunities to play some games and get some at-bats before the big

series at Maine.” Stony Brook’s starting pitchers proved to be superior to Binghamton’s pitching staff in the first two games. During the matches, SBU’s starting pitching tossed 14 innings, allowing just one run between the two starters. Anchoring the Seawolves’ offense was sophomore infielder Nick Grande. The power-hitting shortstop left the park once in each of the first two games, adding to his impressive .403 batting average. Following Grande was senior outfielder Andruw Gazzola, who collected five hits in the opening doubleheader. BU’s offense was kept in check by Stony Brook’s impressive pitching effort, combined with its sharp defense that stole base hits from the Bearcats left and right. This was not how the narrative played out in the third game, however, as Binghamton’s pitching staff kept the strong SBU lineup in check. Redshirt senior pitcher Jacob Wloczewski started the game on the mound for BU, earning his second win of the season for his six innings of four-run ball. Junior pitcher Robert Brown came on in relief and got the job done, allowing just one unearned run and earning himself the save in three innings of relief duty. Binghamton has a quick turnaround and is set to play an afternoon game this coming Tuesday against St. Bonaventure. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Olean, New York.

Bearcats down Black Bears BU wins first series at Maine in its history Samuel Ditchek Sports Editor

let the second game of the series slip away. Gibson, who got the start in game two, managed six innings and allowed three earned runs and six walks. Even though it was objectively one of her better starts in recent outings, Binghamton’s defensive mistakes ultimately cost her another victory. Richard, who had her second two-run single of the day, put BU in the driver’s seat for a majority of the match. The Bearcats scored six times in the top of the seventh inning off of Richard’s team-best 27 RBIs of the year, yet Binghamton recorded two different errors in the bottom of the frame that sealed the defeat. Senior right-handed pitcher Molly Flowers registered her third victory of the season over 0.2 innings for the Black Bears. Logging her second start of the series during the rubber game, Price threw 2.1 solid innings and failed to allow a single earned run in the 3-1 victory. Not only did Price get the job done from

43 feet, but she also helped the Bearcats secure the win with a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning. After Price’s early exit, freshman pitcher Chelsea Howard took care of business with six strikeouts and zero earned runs in relief. “I just really liked the way we played today,” Johnston said, according to Binghamton Athletics. “They are working together as a team and starting to play with confidence. Chelsea and our entire defense did a great job.” With all of their road series wrapped up, the team will head home to take on the Great Danes in the long-awaited debut of the new softball field. Albany (23-13, 9-4 AE) currently ranks second in the conference, only trailing UMass Lowell. BU is set to face off with the Great Danes in a one-game series on Wednesday from the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Capturing its first America East (AE) series in nearly a month and its first-ever series win at Maine, the Binghamton softball team downed the third-place Black Bears this past weekend, taking two of three games. With only four games remaining in the regular season, all of which are against conference opponents, the Bearcats (13-22, 6-8 AE) picked up some much-needed victories as they hope to build confidence and momentum heading into postseason play. The spread between BU and Maine (19-21, 8-5 AE) kicked off on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader. Although Binghamton took game one, 4-1, it ultimately fell to the Black Bears in the nightcap, 9-8. After struggling mightily in several previous starts, sophomore starting pitcher Rayn Gibson unsurprisingly did not earn the starting gig in the first game of the weekend. Sophomore starting pitcher Rozlyn Price, apparently taking over Gibson’s usual role, posted her fifth win of the year in efficient fashion. BU head coach Michelle Johnston could not have asked for a better start to the series from her starter as Price tossed six innings, fanned four batters, surrendered only one hit and kept Maine off the scoreboard. In addition to the success achieved on the mound, Price received no shortage of offense from her teammates in the opener. Senior third baseman Kate Richard drove in two runners off of a single in the top of the third inning. Just two innings later, senior outfielder Jessica Rutherford helped fuel the offense with an RBI double and later scoring on a wild pitch. Despite tallying eight runs and 10 hits, five more than the Black Bears, BU committed four Jonathan Flores Pipe Dream Photographer errors and allowed seven runs Senior third baseman Kate Richard hit two two-run RBI singles over the in the bottom of the seventh to course of the doubleheader on Saturday.

Rebecca Kiss Assistant Photo Editor Senior outfielder Jessica Rutherford drove in Binghamton’s only run on 2 for 3 at the plate in its uninspiring loss to Syracuse.

BU earns AE playoff berth Women's lacrosse earns vicory over UNH Samantha Marsh Contributing Writer

The cheering from the crowd boomed as senior attack Katie Gaudet netted her second goal of the season and secured the win for the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team during this past Saturday’s game against the New Hampshire, defeating UNH (6-10, 4-3 America East) for the first time in program history and securing its No. 3 seed in AE Conference standings, behind only No. 2 Albany and No. 1 Stony Brook. While it was a solid day for the Bearcats (8-8, 5-2 AE) as a team, things were just as bright on an individual level. Senior midfielder Jacqueline Kennedy broke the career caused turnovers record, pushing her career total to 77 caused turnovers and surpassing the previous record of 74 set by Allie Rodgers, ‘16. In addition to this, Kennedy netted two goals to contribute to the Bearcats’ win. Redshirt senior attack Brianne Arthur also showcased her offensive skillset out of the field while she netted five goals, bringing her total to 42 goals — 15 more than the second-highest

scorer on the team. Between the pipes, senior goalie Emma Jehle also had a noteworthy performance, corralling seven saves over the course of the match. “I thought Jehle did an amazing job in the net,” said BU head coach Stephanie Allen. “Our defense worked on the looks we were expecting to see, but I thought that they had a couple different personnel out there that were unexpected to us, and we managed to hold our own.” BU came out onto the field strong and logged its first goal less than two minutes into play, courtesy of Arthur. However, UNH’s freshman midfielder Elizabeth Blanding quickly fired back and netted a goal of her own. Senior attack Tiffany Ryan joined in and scored two more goals for the Bearcats to put them up 3-1. In two free position shots, UNH tied the score at 3-3, but Arthur netted another score to end the period. “For us, it was about being aggressive offensively and not sitting back on our heels,” Allen said. During the second half of the game, the Bearcats never surrendered their lead. About 30 seconds into the period, junior midfielder Rebecca Golderman earned her 27th goal of the season and powered Binghamton to a 5-3

advantage. Senior midfielder Carly Wooters of UNH found the back of the net next, but freshman attack Paige Volkmann and sophomore midfielder Alissa Franze both followed with goals of their own. Arthur scored twice before the Wildcats got back on the board with a goal from senior midfielder Rebecca Sennott. Kennedy immediately launched a shot past the UNH goalie to counter as this sequence went on to occur again — UNH scored and Kennedy fired back, landing another goal. Arthur then added to the tally, netting her fifth and final score. UNH snuck in one last goal before Gaudet sealed the game with the last point of the match, giving BU a victory by six and clinching a spot in the AE Tournament. “I’m just incredibly proud of our performance,” Allen said. “Something we’ve talked with them about all season is stepping up under pressure and managing the game, which I thought we did really well in the second half. We executed exactly up to our expectations.” The game honored Binghamton’s 11 seniors, whose final playing times are upon them. The Bearcats are set to travel to the AE Tournament held May 4 through May 6, which will be hosted by No. 1 Stony Brook.