BINGHAMTON REVIEW Editor-in-Chief Contents
P.O. BOX 6000 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902-6000 EDITOR@BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Founded 1987 • March 1, 2016 Sean M. Glendon
Managing Editor Jordan Raitses
Copy Desk Chief Thomas Casey
News Editor
Raymond Page
Social Media Manager Haim Engelman
Business Manager Yuval Hananya
Associate Editors Antonia Mallozzi William Schneider
Staff Writers
Alex Carros, Howard Hecht Laura Grasso, Joseph Gunderson Patrick McAuliffe, Max Newman
Contributors
Eli Weissman David Keptsi Kayla Jimenez Jessica Szymeczek
Special Thanks To:
Intercollegiate Studies Institute Collegiate Network Binghamton Review was printed by Gary Marsden We Provide the Truth. He Provides the Staples
NIGHT OWL NIGHTMARE?
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by Kayla Jimenez
6 All Aboard the Trump Train! by Luke Kusick 7 A Judge to Tip the Scalia by David Keptsi 8 Tales from a Faraway Hin-dom by Patrick McAuliffe 10 Is There Even a Parade? by Jessica Szymeczek 11 Inside View of the Flint Water Crisis by Eli Weissman 12 The Ironic Success of Black Lives Matter by Alex Carros 13 Shit Buzzfeed Says Act V by Howard Hecht 14 Citizens on Patrol by Raymond Page 15 Our Letter to Binghamton’s Campus
Departments
3 Editorial 4 Campus Presswatch 5 What You Missed
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Direct feedback to editor@binghamtonreview.com 2
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March 1, 2016
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EDITORIAL Dear Readers,
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From the Editor
lot has happened since the February issue. Locally, the Student Association’s President has resigned. Jordan touches upon this situation in this issue. Parade Day will be here before we know it, and Jessica has some tips that you should check out to survive. Sodexo’s Night Owl policy change has been implemented, and with worker unrest ongoing, Kayla discusses the state of Night Owl and Sodexo. Speaking of Sodexo, Patrick’s Sodexual Encounters series is coming to a close. Speaking of a series coming to as close, Howard’s Shit Buzzfeed Says series has entered its final act. The semester is now fully under way, meaning tests, papers, projects, and presentations are unavoidable. Binghamton Review is here for you, and to ease the pain, we will be giving readers two issues throughout the month of March. Another one? Another one. Hopefully DJ Khaled is proud. On the national scale, the Primary system is well under way, and we are witnessing the beauty of the American political system unfold. This has led to many candidates being forced to face a harsh reality they will not be the next President of the United States of America. With Donald Trump still dominating the polls on the right, Luke manages to find enough positive things to say to create a plea in favor of the businessman. We’ve got ourselves a real race going on within both parties, and the sudden death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia sent shocks through the political system, as gridlock could potentially leave the
Supreme Court with only eight sitting Justices until after November’s election. On this topic, David elaborates much more on the Antonin Scalia situation in his article. To round out the topics of this issue, guest writer Eli discusses the water situation in Flint, Michigan, and is able to bring a unique perspective to the table - recently, he travelled to Flint to volunteer. Alex has a bone to pick with Black Lives Matter, and alleges hypocrisy throughout the movement. Finally, Ray describes a recent ride-along with police, and you can read the Editorial Board’s response to Dillon Schade’s resignation. Enjoy! In February, we were also blessed by Yeezus Christ - Kanye West released (kind of released? who knows anymore?) his seventh solo studio album, The Life of Pablo. After delays and a very odd rollout including Tidal, a Madison Square Garden fashion show and plenty of Twitter rants, the long awaited sequel to Yeezus is here. It’s still early on, but it has been ranked as a middle-tier West album, meaning it is a far above average hip hop album. If you haven’t listened yet, go do so immediately. And, if by some unfortunate series of circumstances, you haven’t listened to Mr. West’s previous albums, listen to his discography chronologically leading up to The Life of Pablo. You’ll thank me later. Sincerely,
Sean Glendon
Our Mission
Binghamton Review is a non-partisan, student-run periodical of conservative thought at Binghamton University. A true liberal arts education expands a student’s horizons and opens one’s mind to a vast array of divergent perspectives. In that spirit, we seek to promote the free exchange of ideas and offer an alternative viewpoint not normally found on our predominately liberal campus. It is our duty to expose the warped ideology of political correctness that dominates this university. We stand against tyranny in all of its forms, both on campus and beyond. We believe in the principles set forth in this country’s Declaration of Independence and seek to preserve the fundamental tenets of Western civilization. Finally, we understand that a moral order is a necessary component of any civilized society. We strive to inform, engage, and perhaps even amuse our readers in carrying out this mission.
Views expressed by writers do not necessarily represent the views of the publication as a whole. editor@binghamtonreview.com
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CPampus resswatch *Disclaimer: Press Watch is normally a section dedicated to light-heartedly poking fun at other Binghamton University publications. Due to recent events on campus, there is no room in this edition’s Press Watch for such a tone.* “UPDATING: Students groups call for Schade’s resignation” Alexandra Mackoff - February 17, 2016 “The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted an open town hall meeting on Thursday evening to further its call for Student Association (SA) President Dillon Schade’s resignation. Pipe Dream was prohibited from covering the meeting. According to Ruslan Klafehn, the SA Vice President for Multicultural Affairs, SA student groups are exempt New York State open meeting laws and therefore are allowed to prohibit press coverage of public meetings.” It would seem as though this was the only interaction that Pipe Dream had with the Student Association Executive Board prior to President Dillon Schade’s resignation. The only other mention of reaching out to the members came after the resignation, when Pipe Dream reached out to interim President Zachary Vigliani. “Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Services Milton Chester said he understands students are upset over the issue, but does not believe that Schade is responsible for the Tinder profile message. ‘The Person that I have come to know is not consistent with that type of language,’ Chester said. ‘Dillon is saying that he didn’t do that. He didn’t put that there. In my opinion, given what we know about Dillon and his character and who he is and what he’s done, he deserves the benefit of the doubt on this.’” I guess one character witness on behalf of Dillon Schade is better than nothing? This counts as fair and balanced journalism, right? “EDITORIAL:
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Dillon Schade must Resign” The Editorial Board - February 19, 2016 “The fact of the matter is that students do not feel comfortable with Schade as their president - and rightly so. Whether or not Schade is responsible for the language that appeared on his Tinder profile is not yet clear, but what is clear is that he is an elected representative who has lost the trust of a large segment of the students he represents.” What is the definition of a large segment of the student population? 1%? 5%? 10%? Were there surveys of students or interviews conducted? While some students were clearly offended, many other students were both supportive of Schade and his character. The wording also implies that the truth does not matter in this instance. “BREAKING: SA President Dillon Schade announces his resignation” Nicolas Vega - February 19, 2016 “However, the requests for him to step down did not go away - the Pipe Dream Editorial Board also called for Schade to resign.” Nicolas’ pride here is bothersome. He is quick to claim responsibility for forcing the resignation of the Student Association President for Pipe Dream, although Pipe Dream did not mention reaching out to Dillon Schade at all throughout this process. According to Pipe Dream’s website, the Staff Editorial represents the views of The Editorial Board, which “is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinion Editor, Sports Editor, and Release Editor”. Nicolas Vega, who wrote this article is the Editor-In-Chief of Pipe Dream, while Alexandra Mackof, who wrote the article prior to the previously addressed Editorial is Pipe Dream’s News Editor. Clearly, both of these two were in favor of Dillon Schade’s resignation, as they were represented by the Editorial written by the Editorial Board. It is quite possible that one of them actually authored the Editorial, yet both
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Written by our Staff of them covered the unfolding of the story throughout the process? At best, that doesn’t seem appropriate. And who wrote the article after the official resignation speech? Oh, of course... “SA President Dillon Schade gives resignation speech at Student Congress” Nicolas Vega - February 23, 2016 “Schade also criticized Pipe Dream’s coverage of the events, and said that he was not given an opportunity to speak for himself.” He’s not the only one with such a criticism. But hey Dillon, if you ever want to tell your side of the story, you’re more than welcome to do so over at Binghamton Review. “Pipe Dream spoke with Schade about his Tinder profile last Monday afternoon, but he declined to go on the record. On Tuesday, Pipe Dream reached out again and was referred to Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Services Milton Chester.” You’re telling us this NOW? After the fact? This would have been pretty important to let readers know as the process was ongoing, don’t you think? The Constitution of Pipe Dream lays out two goals: “1) To provide Binghamton University and the surrounding community with news as ethically and thoroughly as possible; 2) To provide as close to a professional journalistic experience for Pipe Dream’s staff as possible.” The handling of this situation was quite poor, and quite possibly unethical. The news was presented in a manner that was far from thorough, and even if there was no bad intent, it couldn’t have possibly been presented without bias. If a Tinder profile is means for resignation, negligent journalism must be as well right? Binghamton Review expects better from you Pipe Dream.
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WHAT YOU MISSED Pour some out for the fallen candidates. On the Democratic side, the suspension of D-List movie president Martin O’Malley’s campaign allowed for the beginning of the epic Bernie Sanders vs. Hillary Clinton battle that we’ve all been waiting for. After disappointing performances in the early Primaries, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie and Jim Gilmore, said goodbye to their 2016 presidential dreams. And with that, it’s time to say goodbye to the JV presidential debates. After finishing in a very distant fourth place in the South Carolina primary, Jeb! Bush became the latest presidential hopeful to suspend his campaign, ruining his family’s chances for a presidential three-peat.
DWI convictions, which is quite literally unbelievable.
Being the saints that they are, Google has begun to target fake Download and Play buttons within ads. What a time to be alive. Speaking of Google, the company also surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable company with the former’s market cap being $547.1 billion to the latter’s $529.3 billion.
After a successful year year in 2014, the legal marijuana market in America increased 17.4 percent, bringing sales for the year to $5.4 billion.
A Boston police officer was sentenced for his involvement in tipping off the Academy Homes Street Gang about an ongoing investigation. Officer Brian Smigielski will face a whooping $5,000 fine and year of probation for his actions. A 62 year old man from Texas will be doing life in jail for a DWI. While this may seem a bit harsh, it wasn’t Ivy Ray Eberhardt’s first DWI. In the words of LeBron James regarding his Miami Heat championship aspirations: “Not two. Not three. Not four. Not five. Not six. Not seven.” Since the 1980s, Mr. Eberhardt has 12 DWI arrests that have led to 10 editor@binghamtonreview.com
With the Zika virus running rampant, El Salvador is encouraging women to avoid pregnancy until 2018. While this sounds good in theory, the lack of birth control available combined with the extreme illegality of abortions in the nation make this quite an interesting situation. Brooklyn has become the least affordable housing market relative to income in the United States. According to reports, “a resident would need to devote 98 percent of the median income to afford the payment on a median-priced home of $615,000.”
With low gas prices, President Obama has proposed a $10-per-barrel charge on oil to oil companies, which would be used to fund highspeed railways, autonomous cars and other eco-friendly travel systems. A study on work flexibility by consulting firm Bain and Co found that men were twice as likely to have flexible work hour requests rejected. Around 60% of working men desired flexible hours, but there was resistance from management. One man was told that “part-time is traditionally only something we make work for women.” According to the FDA, “100% Parmesan cheese” may have cheaper cheeses like cheddar, swiss, and mozzarella in it... or wood pulp.
A Ted Cruz ad attacking Marco Rubio featured actress Amy Lindsay, whose colorful filmography features Confessions of a Lap Dancer, Secrets of a Chambermaid, Pleasure Zone: Volume 2, Radio Erotica, Passion Lane, Bikini Airways and other hits. The ad was removed when the Cruz campaign noticed. A Ronald Reagan appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States was found dead on February 13 at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in Shafter, Texas. Antonin Scalia died in his sleep from natural causes, but the lack of an autopsy has led to conspiracy theories regarding the circumstances of his death. Scalia’s death leaves a 4-4 split of conservative and liberal judges, which has the potential to impact the presidential election. President Obama plans on nominating Scalia’s successor, while the Republican Senate has promised to block any nomination until after November’s presidential election. In a series of events sounding eerily similar to those in Flint, Michigan, residents of Crystal City in Texas have found that their formerly drinkable water has become black and resemblant of oil. The city, which dubs itself the spinach capital of the world, is also in the middle of a corruption scandal, in which the mayor, city manager, mayor pro tempore, a city councilman, and a former councilman were arrested earlier this month. A 45 year old male Uber driver was accused killing six people and injuring two more during a seven hour rampage, in which the driver picked up and dropped off passengers in between randomly shooting and killing other civilians. BINGHAMTON REVIEW
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ALL ABOARD THE TRUMP TRAIN
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All Aboard the Trump Train! By Luke Kusick
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or all Bernie Sanders fans, Obama sympathizers, leftists, communists or whatever you identify as cause we’ve finally come so narcissistic that we can identify as anything and force others to not tolerate it but accept that that is what we are, this article isn’t for you. Return to your safe spaces and coloring books and let the right wing do the talking now. By the way if you have ever used the word “triggered” seriously, this article isn’t for you. If you’ve stuck around this long, welcome libertarians, conservatives, populists, republicans and cuckservatives, then we need to talk about Trump. For months and months I wanted to deny the inevitable. I was standing side by side with the leftists calling him a fascist, racist, extremist and all the other ad hominems they throw at him. I was positive Trump would lose momentum every single day. The media would hype up one statement of his or another, Jeffrey Tucker would right his 17th argument about how he’s a fascist and Fox News was telling me how rude he was to Megyn Kelly. The “right,” including me, was more than happy to purge him from our ranks and to tell us that it’s only the ignorant, racist, redneck types that like him and that he is not a “true conservative.” That was before he never fell in the polls. That was before he came in second in Iowa and won New Hampshire and South Carolina. The Trump train keeps on rolling and it has become nearly certain that Trump is going to be our next President as the election season continues to roll on. The issue now is “is he right wing,” “is he a fascist/racist/ whatever –ist you want to use to label Trump” and his principal views. In order to really consider whether or not Trump is a right-winger we have to understand what it means to be right wing since the right wing in this country has essentially collapsed. During the 1960s-1980s, Democrats who were pro-Israel left the establishment left in order to join the right, holding on to most of their democratic views including being the policemen of the world. The right wing, traditionally the anti-interventionist group in America began to slowly change and more and more support larger interventionist policies. The neoconservative movement has done nothing but damage the reputation, integrity and movement of the right wing in America and Donald Trump is a change from that movement. Unlike the establishment favorite Marco Rubio, Trump is not concerned with getting people out to vote by simply saying he will lower taxes. Unlike the establishment, he is not throwing red meat out to the plebs; rather he is offering issues on the culture that no other candidate wants to deal with. He is going against the Reagan conservative archetype. That is what we need! Holding on to the ghost of Reagan not only disenfranchises most people but also doesn’t get anything accomplished. Sitting around in a circle jerk about how great Reagan was and how we need more Reagans doesn’t progress, or restore, the right wing to its former glory. Rather it causes us to try to self-purge the only real populist, the only real right-winger left amongst a gang of big government, cultural leftists on stage.
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What is the issue that Trump is actually getting at that no one wants to talk about? Immigration. For years the right has given ground on this issue, including Reagan. In 1986 a law was passed to grant temporary work visas, amnesty to all illegals who had come prior to 1982 in exchange for a wall and stronger border security. What happened? Well, it’s obvious we gave the left an inch and they took a mile. A vote for Trump is a vote to stop giving the left what they want. A vote for Trump is a nice big slap in the face to the years of “compromise” where the left gets everything they want and the right gets to be the enemy. A vote for Trump is a declaration that we in the right are no longer compromising with the left and that we are here to stay. We will no longer push leftists ideas from the past, instead we will Make America Great Again, or how about make the right great again. Libertarians, I’m one of you and I get it, Trump is pretty statist. But we need to think strategically here, Trump is the only shot we have for the next four years to have a candidate who can fundamentally change right wing politics in America. Trump is the only one who can single handedly lead us to a more traditional right wing ideology while at the same time inspiring and gather support from everyone. He has successfully done what Ron Paul couldn’t: get the spirit of the paleoconservatism back into the hearts of Americans. He has inspired the populace and it is now inevitable that he will win the GOP nomination. So before you go out and cast an obligatory vote to Gary Johnson for the third time, how about we try something actually new. Cuckservatives…. I’m sorry but I really cannot imagine a future with you in them in the right. All your talk about amnesty, foreign interventionism and just lack of charisma make you about as appealing as a leftist girl with blue hair. But that can change if you come on board to the new Right wing. Come on over and try to do something over than selling out your own constituents. Come on other to the Right side of politics and we will forgive all your transgressions and all of your attempts to destroy us from the inside. If none of this rhetoric has changed your mind and you may still be devoted to voting for Rubio because… to be honest I can’t see a reason to support him or you’re gonna vote for Gary Johnson and throw your vote away consider how angry the left is getting at Trump. Can’t you see the Huffington Post headlines already? “AMERICA IS RACIST FOR CHOOSING TRUMP” and can’t you already hear the jimmies of the left getting rustled by the Donald? I sure can! At the very least he’s a middle finger to the SJWs, the safe spacers, the feminazis. I think it is well worth your time to vote/support Trump. So come on America, come on right-wingers of the world let’s Make America Great Again.
March 1, 2016
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A Judge to Tip the Scalia:
A JUDGE TO TIP THE SCALIA
How Justice Scalia’s Passing Will Impact Congress
By David Keptsi
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ith the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, a vacancy has been left within the supreme court. Why should we care? Mainly because until a new justice is appointed, the 5-4 conservative majority that Republicans used to possess is now gone. The balance of judges is now even, which bodes poorly for both Democrats and Republicans alike. A majority opinion is essential for the passing of any legislation that may be interpreted as unconstitutional (and there is surprisingly quite a bit). Democrats want to fill the vacancy as soon as possible with a liberal justice in order to gain them a majority in the court, which would become particularly impactful considering the fact that Supreme Court justices don’t have any term limits. Republicans understandably want to delay nomination of a new judge until Obama is safely out of office and Hillary Clinton loses her party the election with her almost France-esque talent of being defeated. As of now, the Republicans may seem to have the advantage as they hold a senate majority and will be able to consistently block any nominations made for quite some time. However, Obama has on his end a 17 day window from January 3rd to January 20th, 2017. This is because on the 3rd a new congress must convene while January 20th is the last day of Barack Obama’s tenure as president. If, in the upcoming congressional elections, Democrats are able to retake a senate majority, Obama will be able to easily nominate and confirm a new, liberal judge before he leaves office, rendering months of Republican filibustering useless. It is important to note that whatever insults the two parties throw at each other during this political confrontation, both sides have attempted to gain a judicial majority during election years before. In 1912, Republican William Taft nominated Mahlon Pitney who was shortly confirmed by a
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Republican senate. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson had two Justices nominated and confirmed by a Democratic senate. In 1932, Republican Herbert Hoover nominated Benjamin Cardozo. In 1940, Democrat Franklin Roosevelt nominated Frank Murphy. As shown, such actions were certainly not uncommon and even the great Republican Messiah Ronald Reagan was guilty of doing so when he nominated Justice Anthony Kennedy during an election year(oddly enough, he was confirmed by a Democrat controlled senate, perhaps indicating a more bipartisan inclined culture at the time). Ultimately, there isn’t really a tradition of holding off on nominations during an election year as some may claim. The truth is that both parties have attempted to stack the cards in their favor before. And while there may not necessarily be much of an ideological issue with this situation as both parties are looking out for their constituents by either preventing or ensuring the nomination of a new justice, the fact remains that this is a decision that may have too much impact in today’s political affairs. In order to prevent such issues in the future, it may finally be time to think about instituting term limits on Supreme Court justices. As both parties continue to polarize further and further it seems unwise to allow a candidate elected to a four year term to be able to make a decision that can last for several decades, especially
as average life expectancy continues to increase (where are our death panels when we need them?). And while the nomination of a new justice may be just one of a myriad of issues this election season, it’s possible the Supreme Court and its newest member may be the ones determining the outcome of an election in the future. If anyone doubts the sway that a single Supreme Court judge may have, he/she should think back to the 2004 presidential election. Note the case of Bush v. Gore where justice Scalia was instrumental in the 5-4 majority vote that denied Al Gore a recount and ensured George W. Bush the victory. Supreme Court justices can easily be kingmakers in this case and it is important not to underestimate their impact. I hope something will be done in the future to prevent such conflicts. Personally, I would recommend having those judges who voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act to replace their own (likely private) insurance with the one they helped push through and have them die while waiting in line for a doctor’s appointment. Otherwise, it seems the cycle will only repeat itself, with the arguments getting more and more vicious each time as both parties continue to polarize. And as that occurs, I can only wait in the vain hope that the political horseshoe theory eventually takes effect and we end up with a bunch of agreeable bi-partisan politicians.
A judge both parties will like? Fuggedaboutit! BINGHAMTON REVIEW
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TALES FROM A FARAWAY HIN-DOM
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My Awkward Sodexual Encounters: Tales from a Faraway Hin-dom By Patrick McAuliffe
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or the final installment in my tale of dining hall reviews and Sodexual encounters, I wanted to be as thorough as possible in Hinman. It’s a rather good dining hall, even questionably worth the airfare to get there from Dickinson. I’ve enjoyed this experience, and I hope you, dear reader, have enjoyed reading about my experience. Onward! If I haven’t dropped enough hints throughout my column already, Hinman dining hall is so bloody far away. It’s convenient if you have lots of classes in the lecture halls or you’re a library nut and don’t feel like taking the hike to Mountainview. However, in a similar way to CIW, the dining hall is fit snugly among the residence halls, forming a self-contained living community that gives off a feeling of isolation. It’s an area that fit my expectation of “residential community” when I first visited Binghamton. Inside the building, like Mountainview, there are two levels, with the main dining area on the second floor. The former Night Owl (God rest its soul) resembled CIW’s convenience store and grill on the opposite floor as dining (in Hinman’s case, on the first floor). I am honored to have visited it during the first semester. Sometimes I
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still walk its hallowed aisles. Upstairs, a quaint little dining area awaits you. Condiments and plastic cutlery divide the two sides of the dining hall in one of the most accessible and obvious places of any dining hall. The soup and salad bar is also quite visible directly behind the cash registers, with the other stations (including pizza, a deli, Pacific cuisine, and a grill) surrounding it. The major flaw in this design is that everything seems rather tight, making it hard for large groups of people to stand in line or buzz about getting sodas or soup or what have you. Many of the stations also seem smaller than at other dining halls. The deli is only capable of up to two workers at a time, and the grill’s counter space is a bit limited. If you are claustrophobic, might want to stay away from Hinman at around noon. The major item I took away from Hinman (after paying for it, of course *clears throat*) is the pizza. The pizza station has the most variety of pizza out of any dining hall. Unlike the others, the types of pizza don’t change day-to-day, but all at once they cover every base. Veggie? Got it. Meat lover’s? Sure. Various types of meat? Yeah. Hot sauce? No problem. The only problem is that the dough used
to make the slices feels like hot, wet, greasy paper. If it was made a bit thicker, Hinman pizza could have a shot at competing with regular pizza places. The dining area itself is rather spacious and offers many levels at which to eat your food, with regular tables and high chairs throughout. Hinman’s hours aren’t bad either, covering a solid 12 hours on weekdays (8 to 8) and, like every dining hall except C4, opening at 11am on weekends. I’m not a big fan of the 11am opening time, although it makes sense if people are sleeping in after a long night of whatever you kids are into these days. I think a solid time would be 10am. Just putting it out there. Since this is my last installment, I’d like to rank the dining halls that I’ve acquired sustenance from throughout the year so far. In fourth place is C4, mainly for its mediocrity. It’s like a generic-brand product: nothing particularly special, it’ll be there if all else fails, and you don’t go in expecting stellar quality. In third is CIW because of the strange hours and the loss of one of its only redeeming qualities, Night Owl (goodnight, sweet prince). I’m sorry, Mac and Cheese, but there are too many negatives. In second is my recent eatery Hinman, with solid hours and solid choices, just a bit too far away and a bit too small. This leaves Appalachian as the best dining hall on campus. Despite the labor required to get there, the quality of their food and the politeness of their staff make such a journey worth it. Since it is such a rare treat for non-Mountainview residents, the even stranger hours have little effect on us ground-dwellers. It’s time for me to sign off from non-political food commentary, but I’ll be back in later issues railing against SJWs and arguing for rational self-interest, so stick around! I’m glad I did this. Now I have more Sodexual experience under my belt (which is also becoming tighter). Happy eating!
March 1, 2016
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Night Owl Nightmare?
NIGHT OWL NIGHTMARE
By Kayla Jimenez
Night Owl (NOWL): a staple of on-campus life here at Binghamton University. Whether you’re up late studying, returning from an evening of drinking Downtown, struggling to quell your late night munchies, or in dire need of a midnight snack, NOWL is essential to your existence. Prior to this semester, each of the dining halls (College in the Woods, Hinman, Appalachian, and Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center (C4)) provided a late night option, but that is no longer the case. Sodexo decided last semester that the C4 and Appalachian Dining Centers are to be the only remaining NOWL locations in operation beginning in the Spring 2016 semester. One month into the transition, I wonder what brought about this change and how on-campus residents are reacting. To appease the unrest that ensued following residents’ adjustments to the new NOWL system, the remaining locations have stepped up their game. App and C4 are hosting more choices at each location, including new healthier and self-serve options as well as classic NOWL favorites, making the trip is worth the few extra steps.We are #blessed with the new menu additions, such as quesadillas, wings, waffles, pancakes, and a sandwich/salad bar. Increased variety and the potential to actually consume a seemingly nutritious meal are trade-offs many students are willing to make. While on the quesadilla line, I had the time to converse with fellow student Stephanie Brudermann, a freshman majoring in engineering; she said, “I’ve been waiting in line for a quesadilla for, like, twenty minutes, but these quesadillas are dank… it’s worth it.” The quesadillas as well as many other of the new and traditional menu features are, in fact, dank. Yet so far, the quality of the food has decreased consistently since the implementation of the two NOWL system; the quesadilla line often lacks a variety of ingredients, running out of steak and chicken on multiple occasions. It is seemingly
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unusual for Sodexo to serve such tasty and nutritious snacks, especially at Night Owl. This is what concerns me: why, suddenly, did Sodexo change the NOWL game? What brought about this decision in the first place? According to Casey Slocum, the marketing coordinator for Sodexo, the reduction of Night Owl locations is an attempt to battle long lines and extensive wait times. It’s simple math: halving the number of NOWLs operating will also decrease the length of lines. Just kidding- that reasoning is completely illogical. With half the amount of NOWLs, residents from all five communities are forced to use only two NOWLs, which in reality only lengthens the lines due to the increase and influx of people at each facility. From my vast experience with NOWL in the last month, I can assure you that the lines have not improved whatsoever; in my opinion, they’ve gotten slightly worse. Slocum’s statement is questionable. She is the marketing coordinator for Sodexo; it is her job to advertise for and maintain the reputation of Sodexo here on campus. If not to improve our experiences at NOWL, why did Sodexo eliminate the College in the Woods and Hinman locations? With all of the recent drama surrounding Sodexo’s relations with its Binghamton employees, it is likely that
the change in NOWL operations had little to do with increasing consumer satisfaction. A transition in Union representation for the Binghamton Sodexo workers has led to countless negotiations between Sodexo and its employees, and these negotiations have gone nowhere. Workers are frustrated with their low wages and lack of benefits. Rumor has it that late night and NOWL employees requested higher pay for late and overnight shifts, but Sodexo refused to meet such demands, leaving the NOWLs understaffed and in need of cut backs. Was this decision part of a margin-increasing plan? Is Sodexo profiting from this? Was the transition necessary because employees are refusing to continue taking Sodexo’s sh*t? For now, the answer is unclear. While we may be distracted from these changes and their underlying causes while stuffing our faces with mozz sticks and quesadillas, let’s not forget that Sodexo is here to make profit, and their decision to take away the College in the Woods and Hinman NOWLs is likely the first of many changes we are going to see on campus as tensions increase between Sodexo and its employees. If we want to continue to enjoy late night snacks and meals, Sodexo needs to reevaluate its relationship with its employees and make crucial changes… it is necessary for the survival of NOWL.
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IS THERE EVEN A PARADE
BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM
Is There Even a Parade? By Jessica Szymeczek
it processes! The starting line is located at the Broome County Public Library. The race begins at 1 pm and has a $20 race fee as well as a sign up fee of $2.50. If you’re feeling the luck of the Irish this season and can run a 7-minute mile for men and a 6-minute for women, you can join the ‘Elite Heat!’ First place will receive $500, second place $100 and third $50!! Spots are limited! After the race all runners will receive a free beverage if they show their runners bib- if you’re 21 and over, yes that does include alcohol. If you’re interested in this event or want to sign up, more information can be found at www.paradedaymile.com . Now on to the main event! At 1:30 pm the Parade will begin at the corner of Court and Fayette Streets (at St. Mary’s) and will run west on Court, crossing the bridge and finish up at the American Legion Post 80 (near Main and Walnut Street). According to bingpop.com, this year’s Grand Marshall is Susan Connors, the Maid of Erin is Emma Wagaman, and the Official Starter is John Chapman. There’s even a theme: Irish Rising Centennial!
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The parade features several Celtic and Marching bands to celebrate Binghamton’s rich Irish history. Binghamton’s Parade Day made Elite Daily’s “The 13 Best College Parties In American You Must Go To Before You Graduate.” It also landed number 10 on Bro Bible’s “The 15 Best College St. Patrick’s Day Parties In the U.S.” Let’s go Bearcats, that’s something to be proud of! Last year, the Binghamton University Chief of Police posted a safety message for all students found at www.binghamton.edu/police/paradeday2015.html. A reminder that although it is a day of fun, let’s be- somewhat smart and responsible about it. Don’t drive if you’re planning on drinking. Try not to drink yourself to the hospital. BEWARE THE PUNCH BOWL, and always use the buddy system, especially at night. Now to end off on a more enjoyable note. I’d like to harass you guys with some St. Patrick’s Day corny jokes. Enjoy, or don’t. It’s not everyone’s favorite thing. Everyone is not as big a nerd as I am.
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very Binghamton student’s favorite time of year is approaching, ah that’s right Parade Day *cue emojis of beer glasses clinking together*. The only day students are actually excited to wake up at 7:30am- Irish coffee? Yes, please- and everyone is Irish and proud. Parade Day is a time to let loose, make bad decisions that your friends will tease you about forever, and wake up the next morning with a giant hangover and a few regrettable pictures. But what else is there to do other than drink -and puke- your brains out? This year, Saturday, March 5 will be the 49th annual Parade Day! According to the “Binghamton Parade Day” Facebook page, the day will kick off, as usual, with a mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church at 11:30 am located at 37 Fayette Streetsome of us will need the prayers. Shortly after the mass the Parade Day Mile will be taking place. The race is open to anyone who is interested in joining. Participants dress up in exciting and festive St. Paddy’s Day outfits and race the route of the Parade before
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See you guys there! And don’t forget to wear your Green! March 1, 2016
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INSIDE VIEW OF THE FLINT WATER CRISIS
Inside View of the Flint Water Crisis By Eli Weissman
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bout a week and a half ago, I decided to follow up on a thought that most of us have from time to time. We’ve all heard in the news, from whatever source it might be, of the troubles affecting our fellow human beings in distant and sometimes not so distant places. I believe the thought that crosses most of our minds is that we wish we could do something to help. Recently, the news has been filled with images and stories coming from Flint Michigan depicting poisoned water and people in need of help. I decided that I was going to try and personally do something about it. I found a couch surfing website and signed up. I was able to find a free and safe place to crash for the week and then drove 12 hours out to Flint. What I found in Flint were great people, in a great crisis and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. Some of us think Binghamton is bad, let me tell you, it is nothing compared to Flint. Just from driving around I was able to see blocks of houses boarded up and former factories and local markets closed down. I quickly realized that the water was not Flint’s sole problem but that it also suffered from a terrible economy and a dangerous atmosphere. Ever since GM and other large industries outsourced, taking the jobs with them, Flint has been filled with squalor. Unfortunately, this is a common problem in the area now known as the “rust belt” of the USA. However, in this specific city, on top of the already struggling economy, the lead poisoned water occurred. For two years the water in Flint had dangerously high levels of lead and for two years government officials ignored the problem. It all started when Flint officials decided to switch the city’s water source from Detroit, their neighboring city, to the Flint river in an effort to cut costs. One of locals mentioned, “We all knew that Flint river was polluted, no one ever drank from there to begin with.” However, the issue that caused the lead poisoning stemmed from the reaction of chemicals in Flint river to the old piping system of
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the city. I am not a chemist but from what I understand the chloride ions in Flint River were corrosive enough to loosen the lead from the pipes into the water stream. There were several tests on the water before it became apparent to the citizens that something was wrong. City officials told members of the board in charge of the city’s water to drink from water bottles instead of from their faucets. City officials not only withheld information but had the audacity to hike the water bill up 35% or more for people there. While volunteering, I learned about what it was like living in Flint by talking to my fellow volunteers. Their reasoning for why they were not told about the water ranged from soft theories pleading to ignorance and miscommunication amongst officials, to hard theories about deliberate corruption by those seeking to profit off of building new infrastructure. The common belief was that in order to fix the problem they would need to either redo all the piping in Flint or find some chemical to flush out or contain the lead. The federal government is going to be sending aid to Flint, but the federal government should make sure that the money actually goes to the people of Flint. The government should make sure that locals will be hired to work on the piping infrastructure in order to boost their already suffering economy. Someone should also be held seriously responsible for this crisis because the effects of the lead contamination will be felt for generations. For example, lead poisoning has been known to affect children much more than adults. Particularly, lead poisoning can affect children’s IQ, behavior, and growth. These are problems that no one deserves, especially a city already so downtrodden. The reason I decided to share the experience I had in Flint was to show my friends in Binghamton how serious the problems are there and why we should all care. We should not turn our backs and ignore the plight of our fellow citizens. A problem for some of us is a problem for all of us.
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THE IRONIC SUCCESS OF BLACK LIVES MATTER
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The Ironic Success of Black Lives Matter By Alex Carros Black Lives Matter: why it’s impending failure is a boon for race relations in the United States For the past few years, Black Lives Matter (commonly shortened to BLM) has made a name for itself in the ongoing dialogues concerning race relations in the United States. Following multiple high profile shootings of black men by white police officers, many young men and women have claimed that law enforcement in this country persists in unfairly treating and abusing African Americans. This is indeed hard to dispute when confronted with the evidence. There does seem to be an amount of racism built within the Justice Department and its enforcers. While we at the Binghamton Review do appreciate a healthy amount of distrust for the government, many of the ideologies voiced by BLM call for more and more aggressive authoritarianism. Combined with their loud, obnoxious, and often race-baiting rhetoric, I take solace in the fact that BLM is doomed. You would think that the progressive left would take lessons from the utter failure that was the Occupy Movement, but you would be surprised at how stubborn it can be. With no clear structure, leader, or goal, BLM will nodoubt repeat the many mistakes that undid its spiritual predecessor. It is admittedly hard to argue with the base claims put forward by Black Lives Matter; it seems a weekly occurrence that a police officer shoots an unarmed black man for reasons unknown. And while many of us rightly sympathize with these legitimate grievances, it is remarkable how this movement comes to the conclusion that more, and not less, authoritarianism is the solution: speech codes, mandatory race quotas, reparations, and censorship. Having attended a BLM meeting last semester, I saw first-hand these tenants in their ideology. Creating an Orwellian dichotomy of “ally” and “adversary,” they clearly advocated the policing of certain words and ideas. Take for example, the nonsense
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that racism cannot exist from a black person to a white person. “Prejudice plus power” is the alliterative explanation, yet seems to avoid the dictionary definition of the word: racial prejudice or discrimination. There is no mention of privilege, power, historical oppression, etc. They would argue, however, that the concept of race was created to bridge a divide between white and black colonists in the early-Enlightenment. This is correct, I concede, yet they very disingenuously leave out how authoritarians have always manufactured divides amongst the masses: language, religion, geography, culture, etc. In fact, why does a movement designed to help bridge racial divides create a separation within its adherents? Why can’t people just be a part of Black Lives Matter, and not relegated to “ally?”
“They protest authoritarianism in law enforcement and yet practice it themselves with their incessancy on safe spaces and word policing. Luckily, they have made no real impact on American legislature or culture, and most likely never will.” The answer is that BLM, along with its offshoot ConcernedStudent1950, is chiefly concerned with narcissistic entitlement and an immunity from criticism. They have actively bullied journalists to this end, and I can already see how they will label me a racist for not immediately and unconditionally supporting them in their efforts, and for refuting the silly notion that they are the next Civil Rights Movement. They have no clear leader, no clear set of goals, and no clear structure, and simply shout from the rooftops that government-enforced
change is necessary. In fact, the closest thing they have to leader is Shaun King, a white man who was willing to throw his own mother under the bus by saying she cheated on her husband in order to desperately prove his own race. Let’s contrast this with the actual Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s: a clear leader (MLK Jr.), a clear goal (Civil Rights Act of 1964), and clear structure centered on the NAACP. Their methods were also fundamentally different from BLM. They wanted smaller, more limited government to do away with Jim Crow and hostile law-makers in the South. The Civil Rights Act was thus, in essence, a libertarian measure: it actively and purposefully had the government limit its own authority concerning race. Instead, BLM wants everyone to simply stop thinking for themselves and fall in line with their assertions that they, as white people, owe them something because of slavery. Ignoring the fact that no one alive is responsible for the Atlantic Slave Trade, many of our ancestors weren’t even on this continent at the time. It is for these reasons that BLM is doomed for failure; they protest authoritarianism in law enforcement and yet practice it themselves with their incessancy on safe spaces and word policing. Luckily, they have made no real impact on American legislature or culture, and most likely never will. They are too obnoxious, too preachy, and too chaotic to have anyone with self-respect fall in line with their unashamedly racially divisive rhetoric. Take, for example, the mob they formed in Dartmouth back in November, where they shouted “Fuck you, you filthy white fucks! Fuck you and your comfort!” to students simply trying to study. I, however, support you in these efforts. The more you bully and shout, the more enemies you make, and the more you are doomed for failure. Maybe after that we can have an actual debate on how to fix racial issues in the US.
March 1, 2016
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SHIT BUZZFEED SAYS ACT V
Shit Buzzfeed Says – Act V: Goodbye, BuzzFeed By Howard Hecht I give up.
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t’s with a heavy heart I come out and say this, but I just don’t care anymore. And I’m honestly not sure why anyone else would, to be completely honest. If you’re a loyal reader, you’ve been following this serial since October 2015. That’s a long ass time, and I appreciate your support. For that reason alone, I do feel it necessary to at least explain myself to you all. It’s the least I can do. In my last correspondence, I described my infiltration of BuzzFeed’s headquarters. Under the fictional name of “Drawoh,” I was able to build a reputation and work my way up the ranks. Ultimately, my plans for dismantling the company failed when my video “People Try Drinking Their Own Pee For The First Time” became a rousing success. What I had assumed would destroy the organization had only increased their popularity. I was a failure. There was nothing else I could do, so I continued working for BuzzFeed. But, just last week, I cracked. I couldn’t help myself. I had to say something, anything, to stick it those click-baiting bastards. “I hate BuzzFeed,” I screamed from atop my work desk, late one Tuesday afternoon. “I came in here to try and sabotage you bastards, and it blew up in my face.” In that moment, the woman from the video I’d produced stood up from her desk. “You,” I said, pointing at her. “You drank your own piss on camera – how does that make you feel? That
you drank your own piss for likes and views and shares?” The woman looked around the room, and so did I. No one was angry. No one was upset. They just looked a bit puzzled. “Drawoh,” said the woman. “Do you think any of us really take this shit seriously? It’s a just a job.” I was floored. And shortly after, I was fired. “You could’ve been a star,” said my editor, as I packed up my desk. “You could’ve been one of the greats.” “Thanks,” I said. “I don’t know what to say.” “Don’t say anything. I think we’ve all heard enough.” As I walked out of BuzzFeed’s office, with all my junk stuffed in a single cardboard box, I turned back and looked at my editor one last time. He smiled at me, and said: “You’re a real jerk, Drawoh.” And that was how my employment with BuzzFeed was terminated. I can’t really say I have any regrets. Sure, there were a few things I wish I could’ve done a little differently, but that’s all in the past now. Maybe if I’d had them eat their own feces, the video would’ve gotten the reaction I was hoping for. Never mind. I shouldn’t even kid myself. That would’ve been even more successful, and kudos to whatever idiot actually does pitch that. I’m sure the higher ups over at BuzzFeed will love it. Regardless, I have now reached a point in my crusade in which I don’t care about BuzzFeed anymore. I’ve
been outside it; I’ve been inside it. There’s nowhere left to go. The company is still as successful as when I started this serial. And I’m part of the reason why. But who cares, you know? Maybe clickbait articles really do make some people happy. I could’ve had it all wrong from the start. Wasn’t it Karl Marx who said, “Religion is the opium of the people?” Well, forget that. Clickbait is the new opium of the people. And maybe that’s alright, if it helps them sleep at night. As for me, I suppose I’ll get by. Sure, I won’t have any more articles to write, but it was fun while it lasted. And now, maybe, I can finally move onto something else. Yeah. Something even better than BuzzFeed – like weather.com. Just kidding, but definitely check that shit out for yourself. That place does clickbait even better than BuzzFeed. Their headlines (about weather!) are some of the best of the worst, if I do say so myself. With all that out of the way, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy my time working against and for BuzzFeed. In my own way, I guess I did end up enjoying the content BuzzFeed produced. Maybe that was their plan from the start – whether you love or you hate them, you’re going to look at their content. Even if it’s trash, it’s going to be consumed. No matter what your opinion of BuzzFeed is, it’s definitely sticking around. And so, signing off, in true BuzzFeed fashion:
CLICK THE NEXT PAGE TO READ ABOUT HOW WE’RE A BUNCH OF BIGOTS! editor@binghamtonreview.com
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CITIZENS ON PATROL
Citizens on Patrol:
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My Ride Along with Binghamton’s Finest
By Raymond Page
It was Saturday, February 21, 11:20 p.m., and I was about to embark on a wild and exciting adventure, voluntarily spending an evening with a policeman, patrolling the mean streets of Binghamton on the graveyard shift. “I must be crazy,” I thought to myself, “but here goes nothing.” With reluctance, I kissed my girlfriend goodnight, grabbed my keys, pet the pups and headed for the door; and while this was far from my first weekend spent in the company of police, it was however, the first occasion that I was actually welcomed as an invited guest as opposed to the possible alternative; and believe me when I tell you, the distinction is not so subtle. I’ll take handshakes over handcuffs any day. So this was my first “ride-along,” as commonly referred to by law enforcement agencies nationwide. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would I ever do this? Well, I assure you that the cause was a practical and worthy endeavor. Interning at Binghamton University, I am part of a small group of students seeking to improve off-campus safety, while raising awareness and acting as an intermediary of sorts in an effort to forge a means of communication between the Binghamton Police Dept., the University Police Dept., and the student body. Upon my arrival I was prompted to sign a waiver, and although I did not read it thoroughly, I suspect that it constituted a forfeiture of rights to some extent, legally declaring that I will not sue the department for injury sustained, with the added stipulation that I promise not to manifest as a demonic entity or infuriated apparition, vengefully haunting members of the department in the unfortunate event of my untimely demise. Okay, so it probably didn’t say anything like that, but all jokes aside, I was fully aware of the risks as I anxiously slipped on my bullet proof vest, fastened the Velcro straps and put my game face on. It was go-time and I was ready to rock. And so it began… The first 30 minutes flew by without a hitch. We cruised the streets of downtown Binghamton with a watchful eye. But the night was young and it was only a matter of time before we received our first call, which was in response to a domestic violence claim on Clarke Street. We arrived on scene to find a young woman standing outside of her apartment, sockless, donning a tank top and pajama pants, visibly hysterical, shivering and scared. She claimed to have been assaulted by her boyfriend, adding that he may have been intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. As to be expected, the boyfriend was non compliant with the officers, completely uncooperative to say the least. He carried on about his constitutionally protected freedoms that, “according to him,” were being violated. But from my perspective, that was grossly inaccurate. What I witnessed was three well-tempered professionals trying to diffuse a situation with an enraged and unruly suspect. The next transmission was a radio dispatch, deploying all local units to Rutherford Street in response to an anonymous
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tip regarding the suspicion of a possible gunshot. The response was impressive. Racing to the scene, sirens blaring, weaving in and out of traffic and dodging clueless motorists along the way, the immediacy of the situation was palpable. We combed the dimly lit streets with extreme caution in search of a potential suspect. But this effort was to no avail. Whatever had allegedly transpired was over and not a creature was stirring. But the thrill of the hunt had been exhilarating. If you’ve ever witnessed a school of piranha attack, you know what I mean. The bait hits the water and the piranha instinctually bind together acting as one solitary unit, striking in a combined effort to eliminate their prey. Maneuvering through the inherent uncertainty of their tumultuous environment, they glide with a calculated precision and deliberate intensity, effortless and unilaterally, up until the moment that it’s time to attack. At this point their efforts are intuitively synchronized, with one common characteristic among them: Kill or be killed. Now, needless to say, this was a very memorable display, demonstrating the collaborative strength in numbers. It was synergy at its best. As the evening concluded, and the clock was nearing 2 a.m., we received one final call. A fight had broken out on the corner of Main and Oak Street. A bloodied suspect stood alongside his girlfriend in front of Binghamton High School and was questioned by officers. Refusing to wait for medical personnel, who were already dispatched and en route, the suspect became increasingly aggressive, asserting his rights and demonstrating uncooperative behavior. I kept thinking how humorous it was. When confronted by police, suddenly, everyone becomes a lawyer. It’s quite an impressive metamorphosis. All of a sudden the entire population is qualified to practice law, fully equipped with a juris doctorate, and an expansive wealth of knowledge as it pertains to legality with respect to the infringement of their collective rights. I still can’t decide if these people are annoying or outright comical. But the saga continues. The suspect eventually fled the scene, evading the officer and leaving his girlfriend behind to fend for herself. Five minutes later, he returned, but this was a serious mistake. He should have left well enough alone, as this action would prove to ruin his evening in a big way. Swatting at an officer’s hand, the suspect was tackled to the ground and cuffed. Now, I don’t believe that he purposefully assaulted the officer with malicious intent, however, his body language was hostile and his movements were aggressive. Police do not know what a person is capable of. This is expressly why they must be prepared to protect themselves at all times and by all means necessary. Unfortunately, this young man learned that lesson the hard way. During the altercation, one of the officers sustained a finger injury. The young man was taken into custody and charged with both obstructing governmental administration in the 2nd degree and resisting arrest. The suspect and his girlfriend are
March 1, 2016
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BINGHAMTONREVIEW.COM current Binghamton University students. As a notable mention, these two “partygoers” had come from an annual publication party, which was hosted by a very well known, reputable and respected journalism outlet on the BU campus, and while I can drop a dime, I apologize, but I just can’t give you the whole dollar. Rules are rules and specification was expressly prohibited by the BPD. Additional details may be obtained by submitting a request through the Freedom of Information Act. As a journalist, I report the news in a factual and detail-oriented fashion, bound by an oath of integrity and non-partisan objectivity, devoid of personal perspective, passion or prejudice. However, this is not a news story, as it is rooted in personal experience and written in the first person narrative. Acting in accordance with the wishes of the Binghamton Police Department, as per their request for anonymity–which included all parties involved–specific details regarding identity, case numbers, addresses or identifiable criteria of any kind has been purposefully omitted.
OUR LETTER TO BINGHAMTON’S CAMPUS As a Binghamton University student, residing off-campus in the downtown region, I assure you that personal safety should never be taken for granted. It is imperative that students remain cautious and fully cognizant of their surroundings at all times. The presumption of safety is an illusion and the police can only do so much to ensure your wellbeing. When possible, it is advisable to walk in groups of three or more. Keep headphones off; keep to visible, well-lit areas and maintain a safe distance from shrubbery and bushes, particularly in dark and desolate conditions. Inform friends of your whereabouts and intended destination when traveling locally, on foot or otherwise. When approaching your vehicle, exercise caution, carrying your keys in hand. Students are well advised to walk with a whistle and or pepper spray to be used as protection in the event of an attack. But most importantly, use your common sense and employ sound judgment while enjoying an evening off campus. Life is a precious gift; it is fragile and irreplaceable. Please, do not take it for granted.
Our Letter to Binghamton’s Campus Dear Binghamton University Students,
The recent events on our campus are a reflection of the struggles taking place in college campuses across this country. A group on campus accused a public official (in this case a student instead of a faculty member) of being racially insensitive and, without any public debate or judiciary procedure, forced him to resign from office. The Black Student Union and the other cultural groups on campus instigated a riotous uproar in response to our Student Association president, Dillon Schade, having a racial slur on his Tinder profile. The story begins with the Black Student Union publishing an open letter, which expressed their outrage over the incident in question and racism on campus as a whole. In the letter, the BSU (with several other multicultural organizations) publicly demanded that Mr. Schade resign from office. He responded the next day, claiming that someone else had changed the profile description (as a prank or distasteful joke). Dismissing his defense as a weak excuse for a poor personal decision, the groups continued to demand his resignation. They got their way. Without any form of due process, the multicultural groups on campus imposed their version of the truth on the remainder of the student body. Bowing to the pressure, Dillon Schade resigned from office “with thanks,” humility, and a stern refusal to back down. While the BSU and other multicultural groups were able to get him to resign, they were not able to break him completely. In the penultimate paragraph of his resignation email, Mr. Schade hopes his struggle will serve as a “reminder to all students how a silly prank or anonymous comment on social media can personally scar one’s life.” These are not the words of someone who has given up. Binghamton Review will stand by Mr. Schade until someone unequivocally ties the offending post to him. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments (granting citizens due process and innocence until proven guilty) may not apply in the “court of public opinion,” but that does not make it any less important. Once Mr. Schade is proven guilty, we can discuss his punishment. We must keep in mind that an enraged portion of students may cry for their version of justice, but the so-called “silent majority” still has a voice. Last year’s social justice movement, Students for Change, used YikYak to divide public opinion on campus. So far, the majority of posts pertaining to these events have been in support of Mr. Schade, and we hope that he takes some consolation in the fact that public opinion is on his side. We urge students who feel that these groups have wronged Dillon Schade to express their opinions even if only through an anonymous forum like YikYak. If you wish to publicly show your support, sign this open letter by writing “I support Dillon Schade” and sharing this on Facebook. We must show solidarity with Mr. Schade and not allow the BSU to bully and disgrace him.
–Binghamton Review Editorial Board
This is a re-print of a letter we published online. We have since reached out to the BSU and Dillon Schade and are awaiting responses.
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