Fall 2016 Issue 25

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 | Vol. XC, Issue 25 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Celebrating 70 Years as the Free Word on Campus

Rainbow Pride Union looks at sexual racism in dating LGBTQ organization explores impact of stating racial preferences on online dating biographies Amy Donovan Pipe Dream News

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Students voice their opinions Monday evening during Student Congress in Old Union Hall. Over 200 people attended and shared reactions to an email involving discriminatory rhetoric.

Hundreds voice distress at student congress SA committee member resigns following comment made in GroupMe Pelle Waldron Assistant News Editor

In the run-up to the election of a new Student Association (SA) Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), a screenshot of a GroupMe message suggesting “tar and feathering” be used as a consequence for campaign violations prompted cries of a hostile atmosphere for minority groups on campus at Student Congress.

The message was written by Jeremy

Rosenberg, a senior triple-majoring in economics, environmental studies and geology and a member of the Planning, Research and Elections (PRE) Committee, which is in charge of coordinating student elections on campus. It was directed at potential candidates Raul Cepin and Julia Townsend, who has since dropped out of the race, after they both allegedly violated campaigning guidelines.

Cepin posted on Facebook announcing his campaign, and removed

BU alum designs highestselling virtual reality game

Andrew Eiche, '07, details journey from engineering major to video game designer Chloe Rehfield Pipe Dream News

“Job Simulator” is currently ranked as the No. 1 virtual reality game on PlayStation 4 and the 17th most popular game overall, surpassing once top-tier games such as “Batman: Return to Arkham” and “Battlefield 1.” Designer and programmer of the game Andrew Eiche got his start at Binghamton University and visited campus on Monday night to talk about his career journey.

Eiche, who graduated from BU with a degree in computer engineering in 2007, gave a lecture to about 25 students as part of BU’s “Cool Connections, Hot Alumni” series, a program that enables students

to connect with successful alumni faceto-face. Sitting at a conference table at the Alumni Center in Old Dickinson Community, Eiche called his talk “Finding Your Path” and discussed the transition from obtaining his specific college degree into his current career outside of engineering.

As a student, Eiche was involved in multiple clubs and organizations such as WHRW, Pipe Dream, the University Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Harpur Jazz Ensemble and founded the BU Pep Band. He also liked to code and learn about computers. A week following his graduation at BU, Eiche jumped right

SEE VR PAGE 2

it down after being notified that he was not yet allowed to advertise his campaign.

When the question of penalties was raised In the PRE GroupMe, Rosenberg wrote “Tar and feathering,” followed by another comment stating “Sorry I’m losing my mind.”

The screenshot quickly circulated, and Cepin posted it to Facebook saying he was “very concerned for [his] safety and other students who come into

SEE SA PAGE 2

The Rainbow Pride Union (RPU) at Binghamton University, an organization with a goal of providing a safe space for members of the LGBTQ community, hosted “It’s Just a Preference” on Tuesday night to discuss sexual racism on popular dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr.

Brandon Bocanumenth, the marketing director for RPU and a junior majoring in psychology, and Angelina Brooks, an e-board member of RPU and a sophomore majoring in linguistics, led a discussion centered on sexual racism on dating apps. Sexual racism is defined as any form of racial prejudice within dating or any sexual relationship or encounter.

The two argued that although many people believe stating they do not date a specific race is just a personal preference, it is actually a form of sexual racism. The two also mentioned that sexual racism is very prevalent specifically within the LGBTQ community, and the event was held to raise awareness.

“I think it’s definitely important to examine all aspects when you are in a minority group like this,” said Sarah Voegler, an e-board member of RPU and an undeclared freshman. “A lot of people don’t look at racism in the LGBTQ community, so I definitely think it’s vital to reach out to individuals in the community that are feeling marginalized because we’re already a marginalized

group, why push that further?”

The event began with an icebreaker game in which everyone picked a printed copy of a Tinder or Grindr profile bio from a jar that stated someone’s racial preferences. Sexual racism is not always explicit, Bocanumenth said, and can also include certain microaggressions such as claiming that someone is attractive for their race or stating specifically that they were not interested in Asian men or black women. Other bios included euphemisms such as “no spice, no rice” in order to exclude certain races.

People shared different instances in which they experienced sexual racism. Brooks stated that according to an OkCupid study, Asian men and black women are two groups that are discriminated against the most. The study stated that Asian men and black women received the worst ratings from other races on the app in 2014.

Other topics discussed the fetishization of different minorities, which is not excluding a particular race, but rather only being interested in one race. Bocanumenth said that this is another form of sexual racism that is at the other end of the spectrum, but can also be harmful.

Christian Garcia, a junior doublemajoring in Spanish and sociology, said that he came to the event because of the obscurity of the topic.

“It’s interesting to hear different point of views involving certain LGBTQ topics that aren’t talked about that

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Team explains decision to cancel classes On snowy days, BU admins meet at 5 a.m. to decide if campus remains open Jillian Forstadt Contributing Writer

On Monday, Nov. 21, classes at Binghamton University were not canceled despite the effects of Winter Storm Argos, the heaviest snowstorm to hit the Binghamton area on record.

The decision to have classes remain in session was made by the University’s decision team, which assembles whenever the weather creates uncertain circumstances. The team is made up of 12 people who represent the different sectors of the University, including student affairs, academic affairs, Binghamton’s New York State University Police, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS), risk management and University communications and marketing.

The group scheduled a conference call for 5 a.m. Monday to assess the weather

conditions and consider a plan. According to Ryan Yarosh, director of media and public relations, the final decision was made by President Harvey Stenger, but not without a unanimous consensus from those on the call.

Several factors were considered by the team when deciding whether to cancel classes, including the decisions of other universities within an hour’s drive of campus, the operating status of Broome County Transit and the conditions of the roads surrounding the school. The cost of canceling a day of instruction, however, is an overarching factor.

Due to the fixed dates for the end of the semester and commencement, BU does not make up missed days of instruction.

Decision team member Provost Donald Nieman said that the decision was not taken lightly due to the value of the day missed, which is measured by how much

the University spends in the day.

“Based on the University’s academic expenses a day of instruction costs approximately $2 million,” Nieman said.

“The University doesn’t lose these funds.

However, students lose out on instruction that has a value of approximately $2 million.”

The decision team based much of its conclusion on the availability of the campus transportation services, including the Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) and TAPS. Brian Favela, executive director of TAPS, said that the operations are dedicated to serving the community and will do so based on the needs of the University in the safest possible way.

“If the University decides to remain open during inclement weather, we will continue to run our operation in the safest

SEE CANCEL PAGE 2

Binghamton University helps found platform for scholarly articles The Conversation works to function as an academic and research journal with potential for widespread news coverage Alana Epstein Pipe Dream News

Binghamton University is a founding partner of The Conversation U.S., an online publication striving to be at the apex of journalism and research.

The aim of The Conversation is to promote a better understanding of current affairs and complex issues, similar to a news source but with more of an academic leaning. BU is one of

19 U.S. research universities that, in October 2014, signed on to the creation of a new way for professors and other academics to share their research in a forum edited by professionals in journalism and academia.

According to BU director of media and public relations Ryan Yarosh, partnering with The Conversation is a great opportunity for professors to spread their writing to a larger community.

“The exposure this offers for not only our faculty, but for the University as a whole is tremendous,” Yarosh wrote in an email. “The Conversation U.S.’ Creative Commons model enables authors to reach a very large audience and authors from Binghamton have been republished in outlets including Time, [Huffington] Post, Quartz and many more.”

A Creative Commons license is a type of public copyright license which allows

for the free distribution of otherwise copyrighted works. The Conversation’s licensing allows professors to retain the intellectual property rights to their research while simultaneously allowing media outlets to adapt their writings for mass media publication.

According to Ari Fertig, an editorial liaison for The Conversation, all articles are authored by university scholars and then edited by The Conversation’s journalists, who are employees of the

website. This ensures that the knowledge conveyed in published articles can be accessible to the widest possible audience. The benefits for the professors and the universities are intertwined — both gain potential large-scale exposure and distribution of their writing.

“We offer expert analysis of the big issues of the day, as well as the latest research news and breakthroughs,”

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bupipedream.com | November 29, 2016

Research journal pushes profs. to publish papers PUBLISH FROM PAGE 1 Fertig wrote in an email. “We are on a “creative commons” license – that means that any of our articles can be republished in full. We are regularly picked up in outlets like Time, Newsweek, Washington Post, Salon, and many others. That way, the article has a much larger reach than it otherwise would.”

BU faculty have already published 17 articles on The Conversation, which have reached over 1,718,473 people in the last two years. According to Yarosh, research published in The Conversation will mainly come from faculty, but there

will also be options for graduate students to submit work as well.

“This unique digital tool enables scholars to collaborate with journalists, writing thought provoking articles for the masses,” Yarosh wrote.

Fertig said that The Conversation will be a great tool to enhance research and debate at BU. “We are a way to help Binghamton scholars explain their research,” Fertig wrote.

“We are also a place for Binghamton University experts to bring their research and knowledge to public debates – to engage on the big topics of the day.”

Sexual racism within dating apps explored RPU FROM PAGE 1 often, or in pop culture as much as they should be,” Garcia said.

The event ended with ideas about how to help stop sexual racism. People stated that a good place to start is to directly call people out on dating sites if their bio features sexual racism. Others said facilitating a conversation is an important part of spreading awareness.

Christian Arispe, an undeclared freshman, said that he believed the event helped bring light to something that many people don’t know about.

“The thing with sexual racism is that people are uneducated,” Arispe said. “Even though the meeting was kind of small, it does make a difference because now more people know what’s going on, what to expect and how to approach it.”

Stephen Ruiz/Contributing Photographer Andrew Eiche, ‘07, speaks with students in the Alumni Center Lounge Monday evening. Eiche discussed the transition of obtaining a specific college degree to working in a field outside of engineering.

Alum details career as VR game designer VR FROM PAGE 1

into work at Lockheed Martin in Owego, where he stayed employed as an electrical engineer for eight months. However, he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to be more creative, so he scrapped all previous plans to move up in the company to follow his original passion: game design.

“It’s great if you know you’re going to do this one thing, if that’s the path you set forth on,” Eiche said. “But it’s totally okay if you like something else and take a turn toward that. You don’t have to do what your degree tells you to.”

Eiche dedicated himself to learning basic coding for video games through independent reading and classes at Montgomery College in Maryland. He worked at companies like General Dynamics Corp. as a developer, creating personal games on the side to improve his résumé, and eventually fell into a more stable employment at the government corporation Booz Allen Hamilton, where he would stay for the next five years designing apps for government agencies like the IRS. In February, Eiche found a new job at a small startup in Austin, Texas called Owlchemy Labs, a video game company that solely produces virtual

reality games — the lead game being “Job Simulator.” Other works include “Dyscourse,” “Jack Lumber” and “Rick and Morty Simulator: Virtual Rick-ality.”

Despite losing company benefits like stock options and healthcare, Eiche said he found great solace in moving to Austin to fulfill his dream as a game developer. The position allowed him to combine both of his interests, he said, and he became a project manager, designer and programmer there.

Eiche said working for Owlchemy enables him to create great connections while still maintaining fun in the workplace.

“We make everyone feel welcome,” he said. “We do all sorts

of things in our games. It’s been a crazy few months. We went to Conan O’Brien and had him play ‘Job Simulator.’”

With the rise of virtual reality games and newer platforms like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation 4 virtual reality games on the horizon, Eiche said the future for a virtual reality game development company like Owlchemy looks promising.

Eiche’s company recently raised $5 million from HTC , Qualcomm: Wireless Technology & Innovation and other private investors and Eiche said they are looking to be on the forefront of virtual reality game development.

Planning, Research, and Elections chair addresses concerns at student congress SA FROM PAGE 1 contact with the harasser,” that “the history of tar and feathering is a particularly problematic one for African Americans” and that a lack of response from Jesse Wong, the chair of PRE and a senior majoring in industrial systems engineering, “indicates an alarming negligence with regards to cultural competency.”

On Monday evening over 200 students attended Student Congress. The normally brief meeting lasted three hours, and the issues of the past week’s events were debated, culminating with a student being asked to leave after a brief confrontation.

Jermel McClure, Jr., the vice president for multicultural affairs and a junior majoring in political science, opened up the discussion on the topic and cited his concern for the welfare of students.

“One of my jobs is to make sure that students on our campus feel safe, and when we have death threats and when we have hate speech on our campus, that prevents students from being able to do so which is very

problematic,” McClure said. “Not only does it create divides within the cultural or social sphere of our campus, it can also impact students when it comes to their academics.”

The validity of sanctions imposed on Cepin were also discussed, and he and McClure arguing that PRE had overstepped their boundaries.

The SA constitution’s bylaws state that a candidate may use Facebook to advertise their campaign but a section of the actual constitution, which supersedes the bylaws, states that PRE must conduct “fair elections.” In the past, this has been interpreted as giving the committee the right to impose restrictions on campaigning, although this is never explicitly written in the constitution.

According to Wong, the sanctions were administered in accordance to how it has been done in the past, and previous election candidates were restricted from campaigning until a deadline outlined by the committee. He also spoke about the comment that was made, and offered an apology for the events that have taken place.

“I, the PRE chair, have accepted the resignation [of Rosenberg], and he will no longer be a member of congress or PRE,” Wong said. “I sincerely want to apologize on behalf of PRE for what has been going on.

Myself and the current members of PRE do not condone this racism.”

Cepin reiterated that cultivating a culture of racism on campus would not be tolerated, and he and other attendees called for Nicholas Ferrara, the president of the SA and senior majoring in political science, to take action in response to racism.

He also accused the SA president of calling the situation “foolish” in an SA E-Board meeting.

“There are problems on our campus, and the responses are very slow,” Cepin said. “The SA did not send an email out until they found out [people were coming to the congress meeting], and Nicholas Ferrara … was saying that this comment was not that serious.”

Ferrara responded to these accusations, claiming that he referred to requesting Wong to step down as “foolish.” The SA also eventually issued an

announcement through SA-Line on Monday, a week after the initial incident took place. Ferrara also took suggestions from those in attendance of ways in which he could work in the future to foster inclusivity on campus, such as expanding office hours and attending multicultural student groups.

“I’m very, very sorry that this happened, as myself, as Nick, but also on behalf of the Student Association and I want to work diligently to make sure that it doesn’t happen again,” Ferrara said. “I am going to do everything in my power to make sure something like this doesn’t happen ever again.”

The sanctions against Cepin were disapproved by Congress with one “yes” vote, 21 “no” votes and one abstention. Additionally a piece of legislature introduced

by Cepin, which called for a black leadership council on campus, was passed with 25 “yes” votes, 2 “no” votes and 4 abstentions.

Reports from members of the Student Association and chairs of committees wrapped up the meeting. Six candidates were approved for the vice president for academic affairs ballot.

Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Bryana Snyder, a junior majoring in human development, speaks on behalf of the Planning, Research, and Elections committee Monday night during Student Congress.

In inclement weather, admins weigh decision to cancel classes CANCEL FROM PAGE 1 way,” Favela wrote in an email.

“There may be delays to service or we may cancel some routes that are not needed during these weather events, i.e. runs to Walmart or late night service to Downtown.

Essential routes will run as long as the University remains open, i.e.

[Innovative Technologies Complex], Campus Shuttle, [University Downtown Center] and Daytime Downtown routes.”

David Husch, director of transportation and a member of the decision team, added that should

the team decide that classes need to end early in the future, typically OCCT will continue its runs for two hours after classes have ended.

Yarosh noted that communication between both the team and the community is essential to managing the impact of snowstorms like Argos effectively.

“Communication is key and the main reason why we utilize every tool at our disposal when needed,” Yarosh wrote in an email.

“From Facebook to Binghamton. edu our goal is to make sure the latest weather-related information is readily available on each and every appropriate platform used

by students, faculty and staff when needed.”

Evan Margolis, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, said that while the Facebook and email announcements are helpful, there are more effective ways in which BU could communicate with students who live Downtown.

“Word travels faster on campus than it does off campus, so people who live Downtown are at a loss,” Margolis said. “There should be another way to communicate during dangerous weather, like a text blast. That way, everyone would know if classes are canceled immediately.”

PAGE III Tuesday, November 29, 2016

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

Pipe Line

Balling Out

LOCAL NEWS

STATE NEWS

Johnson City Police Department investigating series of car break-ins

Third hunting fatality this year recorded in New York

The Johnson City Police Department says it is investigating after an increase in reports of car break-ins, according to WBNG. Several thefts have occurred in parked vehicles on the village’s north side. Police are encouraging civilians to stay vigilant and to report any crime to local authorities.

Deceased State Sen. Thomas Libous’ felony conviction vacated for one hour, then overturned A federal appeals court threw out former Sen. Thomas Libous’ felony conviction of lying to the FBI, only to take the unusual step of withdrawing its ruling a short time later, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. Libous was convicted in July 2015 for lying to the FBI about using his influence to get his son a job at a politically connected law firm, which forced him from office after 27 years as a senator. Libous’ estate was attempting to have the conviction vacated in order to reclaim the $50,000 fine he paid before his death. His estate’s attorney declined comment about the apparent mix-up as he sought an explanation from the court.

Web: bupipedream.com

Fall 2016 editor-in-ChieF* Jeffrey D. Twitty editor@bupipedream.com MAnAging editor* Rohit Kapur manager@bupipedream.com

Another hunter has died from wounds related to a fatal shooting, according the Press & SunBulletin. The hunter, a 45-yearold woman from Rochester, was with four other hunters when she was shot in the abdomen.

She was the third person to be killed during the hunting season in New York state this year alone since the firearm hunting season got underway on Nov. 19.

According to state authorities, no deaths were recorded during the 2015 hunting season.

neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com Asst. neWs editors Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick Brendan Zarkower oPinions editor* Caleb D. Schwartz opinions@bupipedream.com Arts & Culture editor* Odeya Pinkus arts@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture editors Kara J. Brown Georgia Westbrook

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY NEWS Ohio State University attack leaves 11 injured, suspect killed.

An Ohio State University student drove a car into pedestrians and then proceeded to stab multiple people with a knife on campus Monday morning, according to ABC News. Eleven students were injured and are being treated for stab wounds and injuries by motor vehicle. The incident was originally reported as an active shooter, and university police issued a shelter-in-place alert around 10 a.m., which was lifted when the scene was reported secure two hours later. The suspect, who was shot and killed by police, was identified as Abdul Razak Ali Artan.

This Day in History Nov. 29, 1890

Navy wins the first Army-Navy football game, 24-0, at West Point, New York.

sPorts editor* Orlaith McCaffrey sports@bupipedream.com Kevin Sussy/Photography Editor Senior forward Kristin Ross and freshman guard Carly Boland high-five their team after coming off the court in Binghamton’s game against Brown on Sunday.

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

Police Watch

A lighter take on campus crime

Knocked Out FRIDAY, Nov. 18, 10:30 p.m. — Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male in Smith Hall of Hinman College, said Investigator Patrick Reilly of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The 18-year-old male was not a Binghamton University student and had been visiting a friend. When police arrived, the male was in the bathroom and was unconscious. He was being held up by his friend and he was covered with vomit. According to his friend, he had consumed an unknown number of vodka shots. Harpur’s Ferry transported him to United Health Services Binghamton General Hospital.

How Did They Get Caught …?

TUESDAY, Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m. — Officers responded to a report of a larceny from a vending machine in Hunter Hall of Mountainview College that was called in by a machine technician, Reilly said. He had been

Alexandra Hupka Police Correspondent

refilling the vending machine when he noticed that the amount of money in the machine did not match the amount of items sold. Officers were able to identify three suspects, all of whom lived in the hall. The officers spoke with the suspects, all of whom admitted to taking the items.

The suspects, one female and two males, stated that they “felt very ashamed” of their actions. The suspects were referred to Student Conduct.

Have a Seat WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23, 3:17 p.m.

— Officers responded to a call from a Residential Life official in Seneca Hall of College-in-theWoods, Reilly said. The ResLife official reported that they had been doing a health and welfare check-in a six-person suite in the hall when they noticed fake IDs and a stolen chair in the common room. Officers returned the stolen chair to the Appalachian Collegiate Center and confiscated two fake driver’s licenses, which were checked into evidence and were marked for destruction. Currently, there are six suspects, all of whom live in the suite.

“It is both unfortunate and disrespectful that this announcement comes the day after this country celebrates Thanksgiving — a historic exchange of goodwill between Native Americans and the first immigrants from Europe. Although the news is saddening, it is not at all surprising given the last 500 years of mistreatment of our people. ” — David Archambault II,

chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, in response to the closing of a campsite where demonstrators are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Fun editor* Elizabeth A. Manning fun@bupipedream.com design MAnAger* Teri Lam design@bupipedream.com design Assts.

Bethany J. Gordon Airi Kojima CoPy desk ChieF* Shauna R. Bahssin copy@bupipedream.com Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Gabrielle Teaman neWsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Henry Zheng tech@bupipedream.com editoriAl Artist Elizabeth A. Manning business MAnAger* Michael A. Contegni business@bupipedream.com Asst. business MAnAger Andrew P. Genussa businessassistant@bupipedream.com distribution MAnAger Justine L. Seliger 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 Tuesdays and Fridays while classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, except during finals weeks and vacations.

Pipe Dream accepts stimulating, original guest columns from undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. Submissions should be 400 to 500 words in length and be thus far unpublished.

Submissions must include the writer’s name and phone number, and year of graduation or expected year of graduation.

Graduate students and faculty members should indicate their standing as such, as well as departmental affiliation. Organizational (i.e. student group) affiliations are to be disclosed and may be noted at Pipe Dream’s discretion.

Anonymous submissions are not accepted.

Any facts referenced must be properly cited from credible news sources. Pipe Dream reserves the right to edit submissions, and does not guarantee publication. All submissions become property of Pipe Dream.

Submissions may be emailed to the Opinions Editor at opinions@bupipedream.com.

stabilizing: hbd

Corrections On Monday, Nov. 21, it was incorrectly published in the Opinions column “How allowing sorority parties can reduce sexual assault” that fraternity brothers are 300 times more likely to commit sexual assault. The study referenced concluded that fraternity brothers are three times more likely to commit sexual assault, not 300 times. Pipe Dream regrets the error.

congress :destabilizing

ARTS & CULTURE

Lil Manning/Editorial Artist

Ways to warm up your State Street ensembles Layer with flannels and thick tights to maintain a stylish aesthetic without freezing Isabel Dietrich Contributing Writer As the first delicate snowfall begins to turn into an ugly gray slush, it seems only right to take a long, hard look at your weekend wardrobe. Thick sweaters, bulky jackets and warm hats might not be the most flattering look, but on your walk back up to your dorm, you might wish you had a The North Face jacket on. But even if you don’t want to dress like you are going sledding, you don’t have to freeze on your night out. There are plenty of ways to stay warm and look hot.

A durable winter jacket

in Binghamton is a must, no matter where you are going. The key is to make sure that your outerwear is cheap enough so that if you lose it, you will not have wasted a huge investment or lost something nice. Instead of your Canada Goose coat, opt for something cheap. Make a run to Goodwill or another usedclothing store to find a jacket that will keep you warm, but won’t deplete your budget. If you find a few especially cheap options, grab two in case you lose one. A cool, vintage jacket, like a denim or corduroy option, might be a bit out of your fashion comfort zone but will definitely

calming playlist Whether it’s the winter blues, the stress of finals or the upcoming holiday shopping requirements that have you down, this time of year can be a lot to handle for everyone. It’s these stressful situations that can necessitate a good playlist. While music might not cure everything, a relaxing soundtrack to your life definitely can’t hurt. Here are Pipe Dream’s recommendations for where to tune in, so you can tune everything else out.

1. “Better Together” — Jack Johnson If guitar strumming is what soothes your soul, then Jack Johnson has to be the first person you look to. This song is like a good friend that you can keep inside your pocket — there to cheer you up, but not overwhelm you.

2. “Once Upon a Dream” — Emile Pandolfi So maybe piano is more on-key for you, in which case we recommend the stylings of pop pianist Emile Pandolfi. This rendition of the classic from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” is pure joy and love wrapped into 3 minutes and 55 seconds. Stick with Emile if you want more Disney covers, like the theme from “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid” song “Part of Your World.”

3. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World” — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole So you’re not currently on a beach in Hawaii, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to feel like you are. If you listen to this song and close your eyes, you can almost feel the cold drink in your hand as a soft ukulele strums in the background. This song is a mash-up, so wait until the end of the song for an emotional reminder of all of the beautiful aspects of life.

4. “Red Red Wine” — UB40 When you need a reminder that the weekend is coming up, just play this song that is literally about alcohol. But aside from its subject matter, it’s somewhat slow, but still uplifting enough to give you hope that the weekend is only a few days away.

5. “New Soul” — Yael Naim Maybe you remember this song from when it was on an Apple commercial, or maybe you don’t, but either way it’s a perfect way to end this playlist. It has an upbeat nature that’s a perfect ending to this chill-out playlist. If you’re taking a break from work and are dreading getting up, then listen to this before snapping back into attention and restarting your day.

Bethany J. Gordon/Design Assistant

spice up your style.

When thinking about what top to wear, remember that formfitting attire is always in season. Tank tops are temporarily retired, but a longsleeved crop top or lace-front tee is a perfect swap. This latter style comes as short-sleeved and longsleeved — so you can pick one up now and wear it in spring as well. If you elect to wear a crop top, pairing the style with highwaisted jeans will ensure that you can still look fashionable without sacrificing warmth.

Cardigans and flannels are always good options as they present the opportunity for

layering. They pair well with virtually any type of shirt. If you’re feeling preppy, go for a patterned shirt and pair it with a solid cardigan on top. For an edgier look, try a flannel with a cool graphic T-shirt or crop top. If you get warm once inside The Rathskeller, you can tie your flannel around your waist. Cardigans and flannels also have the added the benefit of repurposing warm-weather shirts for everyday wear, so you can get double the mileage out of your wardrobe.

For bottoms, the thick leggings and denim that took up most of your fall wardrobe

still remain viable choices.

Ripped jeans are still a wearable choice, but if it’s particularly windy or snowy, skinny jeans or flared jeans paired with platform shoes are better choices for a long night out. If you stocked your fall wardrobe with dresses and skirts, you can continue to wear these styles this winter, by adding a pair of black or gray tights — make sure not to just get stockings, a thick pair of tights will keep you warm.

As far as footwear goes, boots are your best bet. Whether you choose to add a heeled bootie to a dress and tights combination or throw on Timberland boots

with skinny jeans, you cannot go wrong. Thigh-high boots can cover more skin without sacrificing style. Be careful of the weather, though. If it’s snowy or rainy, you may want to wear something more durable for the conditions, or risk getting your feet soaked and cold.

What you wear when you go out really comes down to comfort, and in the winter, comfort might depend on your warmth. As long as you choose the right clothes for you to combat a cold night on State Street, you’ll be able to make it to the bars and back without getting frostbite.

BU resource counters abuse

LGBTQ Center offers support for domestic violence survivors Stephanie Kirincic Staff Writer This semester, Binghamton University introduced the LGBTQ Center on campus, providing an educational and social resource for those within the community, as well as their allies. According to Kelly Clark, the LGBTQ Center director, “the purpose is to support LGBTQ students, faculty and staff in their success on campus.”

Besides providing a safe space and relevant programming, the Center is also a resource for those dealing with domestic violence.

It has been found that domestic violence occurs in the same rates in same-sex relationships as it does in straight relationships.

Domestic violence in samesex relationships seems to stem from the relationship models that are common in U.S. culture.

“I think that part of the reason we see same-sex

domestic violence is because the relationships that we know and are aware of tend to be malefemale with a dominating male,” Clark said. “Other relationships may tend to mimic that kind of relationship because that is what we know.”

However, the ways that individuals dictate the power and control in their LGBTQ relationship are different than those in a straight relationship.

A unique threat present in samesex relationships is that of being outed by an abusive partner.

“Imagine a young person gets to college and develops a relationship with someone they meet and all of a sudden, in an abusive cycle, the person says, ‘If you don’t do what I say, I’m going to call home and tell your mom that you’re gay and I’m your boyfriend,’” Clark said. “If you have not come out to your family, this would be scary and make you feel forced to stay in the relationship.”

For individuals who are

transgender, one partner may withhold hormones from the other, disrupting their routine in order to maintain control.

Alternately, if someone identifies as a transgender woman, their partner may withhold their razor to keep them from shaving their facial hair.

“Because of this othering in society, when people are made to feel less than, broken, psychotic — ‘There is something wrong with you,’ ‘We need to pray away the gay’ [or] ‘We need to send you to counseling,’ abusers play into that as well,” Clark said.

“They feed into insecurities.”

Although the ways in which a partner is abusive in LGBTQ relationships are different from those in heterosexual relationships, the abuse revolves around the same central theme. “[It] is still definitely based on power and control,” Clark said. “I always try to tell people love is an action verb, not a feeling. It is a behavior.”

The LGBTQ Center is a safe

space for students to disclose information. Clark says the Center is a place of support for any student who wants to come in and discuss what is going on and what support is available for them.

“It is so hard to get up the courage to come in, but the research is pretty clear,” Clark said. “Violence on its own doesn’t get better. It typically gets worse.

We know that there is a cycle of abuse, then a make-up period, then abuse again. What we see is that over time it becomes more intense. We are here to support you to help you overcome this.”

The LGBTQ Center on campus is located LS-G549, in the ground floor of Bartle Library. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. For immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

OPINIONS Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Disability, not a definition We should stop infantilizing those with disabilities Kristen DiPietra

Columnist

Elizabeth Manning/Editorial Artist

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION

Early last week, it came to light that an offensive comment had been sent in the Student Association (SA) Planning, Research, and Election committee GroupMe. The committee had been discussing possible penalties for an alleged campaigning violation for the vice president for academic affairs’ special election, and one member suggested that “tar and feathering” be the punishment.

Hundreds attended the Student Congress meeting on Monday night to voice their concerns over the message. Although Jeremy Rosenberg, the student who wrote the message, resigned shortly after, attendees were looking for a larger statement and response to the issue.

While this issue was not the SA E-Board’s fault, its fallout was the fault of the E-Board.

At no point in Monday night’s meeting was Rosenberg the main topic of discussion. His statement was the driving factor, but at no point did he

directly address the students at the meeting or give any sort of statement. His quick resignation left no sense of accountability, and students were left distressed and in need of a place to look for an explanation.

That place then became the Student Congress meeting, and those accountable were the SA E-Board.

The reality is that Rosenberg’s actions cannot be held to reflect the views of the entire SA. His statement was not supported or reciprocated by any members of PRE, Student Congress or the executive board. Rosenberg does not represent the beliefs of the SA. But while the larger SA cannot be held directly accountable for the incident, there is a fault in its lack of transparency.

Instead of receiving an official statement

from Rosenberg or PRE, students relied on a screenshot and word of mouth to inform them of the events. On Monday, an email was sent out by the SA E-Board that condemned “hate speech and racialized death threats” but did not provide an explanation of what had happened to prompt the email. Nor were there any official statements regarding the reasons behind Rosenberg’s resignation.

Such ambiguous language and lack of transparency surrounding serious events can build mistrust and fear among students at a time when our campus needs to work toward open and honest dialogue. The email provided no series of events, no factual explanation and no outline of what processes are in place.

Students made it clear on Monday night that there is

concern over representation within the SA. While the responsibility of changing this falls both on the SA and on the advocacy of the students that it represents, matters can only improve with increased transparency.

There is no simple solution to preventing discriminatory behavior. The SA constitution forbids engaging in discriminatory or preferential policies or practices, yet does not specify what these policies and practices are — nor can it.

While members of the e-board were criticized at Monday night’s meeting, it cannot be expected that the e-board members take full responsibility for those underneath them. Progress cannot be made if individuals are not held accountable for their actions.

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

think it was just yesterday, or two days ago. Yeah. And um, again, if that was mocking an individual, if that’s accurate, then, no, you don’t — I — it’s terrible, its terrible,” Palin said.

This year the anti-abortion organization, Americans United for Life, launched the “Infants’ Protection Project,” which seeks to hinder abortion specifically for the basis of a fetus with a disability. They have likened abortion to eugenics, and use people with disabilities as pawns to advance their anti-choice agenda. They have perpetuated the stereotype of individuals with disabilities as helpless.

Americans United for Life and other pro-life groups can crusade well enough without exploiting individuals with disabilities as poor, defenseless creatures that need to be rescued from the horrors of Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice agencies. Many people with disabilities, specifically Down syndrome, are pro-choice, and do not want their condition to be appropriated to advance a political agenda.

Jamie Brewer, a model and actress most frequently known for her work on “American Horror Story,” has Down syndrome. No, she does not suffer from the condition, nor does she languish or desire to be “normal.” On the contrary, Brewer thrives. “It’s a true inspiration being a role model for any young woman to [encourage them] in being who they are and showing who they are,” she said. Despite never issuing her stance on abortion, Brewer is often used as a poster child for the pro-life movement.

Brewer should be celebrated as a paragon of success in the Down syndrome community, but should not be exploited for a cause we don’t know she supports.

People with disabilities do not need able-bodied individuals to be their knights in shining armor.

Yet, all people should speak up when a group is being cruelly harassed for their conditions. We must stop infantilizing people with disabilities, but continue to respect their needs and be sensitive to the challenges they face.

The Saturday before the presidential election, 12-year-old J.J. Holmes woke up at 3 a.m. to embark on a two-hour drive to Tampa with his mother and sisters. Holmes, who has cerebral palsy, was attending a rally for President-elect Donald Trump, intending to voice his criticism of Trump for his mockery of a reporter with a disability.

The fledgling political junkie used his computer vocalization device to communicate “Dump Trump” and “Trump mocks the disabled.” Trump supporters drowned out Holmes’ device, which warranted laughter from the president-elect. After Holmes’ mother and sisters echoed Holmes’ chants, Trump called for their removal from the rally and they were physically and verbally harassed by zealous fans.

Individuals with disabilities remain one of the largest marginalized groups in our country, and one of the most exploited. In 2010, Sarah Palin went on a tirade against Seth MacFarlane for an episode of “Family Guy” that involved Chris Griffin dating a classmate with Down syndrome. The Broadwaystyle number “Down Syndrome Girl” was in poor taste, but the overall message of the episode was clear: People with Down syndrome are no better and no worse than people without Down syndrome.

In the episode, Ellen, voiced by an actress with Down syndrome, proved to be mean, sarcastic and a downright bitch. Yet, Ellen was human, not endowed with an angelic quality often ascribed to people with disabilities.

“Down’s syndrome is a challenge, not a disability,” said Andrea Friedman, the actress who voiced Ellen. “You work hard, as hard as you can. I grew up with a normal life.” Friedman also criticized the former governor of Alaska for coming to her defense, implying that Palin was exploitative of people with Down syndrome.

Yet, when radio host Michael Smerconish asked Palin about her thoughts of Trump’s mockery of a disabled reporter, Palin claimed — Kristen DiPietra is a junior ignorance of what had happened. double-majoring in English and “Oh, yeah, I saw the footage, I human development.

Why we need to think differently about addiction The current discourse is degrading and detrimental to those considered addicts Hooman Ibrahim

Contributing Columnist

When I first learned that my friend Dan, a student in the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, had passed away a few months ago, I was devastated. Even more alarming than the news of his unfortunate death were the circumstances surrounding it: he overdosed.

I felt an immediate sense of incredulity, since the last time I saw Dan, he told me how going to a rehabilitation facility had transmuted his perspectives on using substances. But only a week after this exchange, I received word about his untimely death.

Both prior to and after his passing I had heard both close friends and mere acquaintances refer to him as an “addict.” They spoke with such confidence, as if

their diagnosis was the essence of all of Dan’s problems. It felt as if they were totally writing him off in a dehumanizing manner. Although he clearly died from the misuse of a substance, something about the negative connotation of the word “addict” haunted me. It seemed so dismissive to just call someone an “addict.”

Sadly, this word completely encapsulated who my friend was to some people. They didn’t see Dan as a kindhearted, honest and brilliant son, brother, friend and student.

They just saw an addict.

Dan’s ordeal is very analogous to the internal conflict numerous people face. Using substances provided Dan a platform to escape — from his own demons and from the society which rendered him nothing more than an outcast.

In retrospect, I can see that the way people perceived him as a stereotypical substance abuser only exacerbated his dependency on drugs, and the more he fell into that

trap the more people saw him as a social pariah, synthesizing a vicious cycle. This kind of thoughtless discourse on addiction, which only serves to degrade people as opposed to help them, is what we all need to reconsider altering.

Perhaps one of the most detrimental facets of modernity stems from our increasing lack of genuine human interactions. As a society, we have sacrificed real connections for the convenient world of social media. Yet, it is this same cheap simulation of social interactions that has contributed toward an atmosphere where people would rather use labels to pigeonhole others to avoid determining what social difficulties they’re going through.

The prevalent discourse today on addiction inculcates us to only highlight how someone is addicted but fails to give us a medium for compassion. Thus, people battling addiction are not perceived of as ill but are scolded to stop. One simply

wouldn’t tell a loved one to stop having a cold, yet the contemporary beliefs on fighting addiction would have us echo this absurdity.

In the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s annual report, it was revealed that the number of people who use drugs and those with drug use problems have increased from 208 million and 26 million in 2006 to 247 million and 29.5 million in 2014 globally. Additionally, in the same report it was found that the use of opiates have been increasing, and unsurprisingly the number of heroin related deaths in the past 10 years have similarly been increasing.

These disconcerting metrics coupled along with the fact that the world has become significantly more dependent on social technologies to take place of genuine human contact shows critical insinuations about our society. Our lack of human interaction is a catalyst of addiction, and we cannot solve our problems by continuing to push away those who need our attention

the most.

It’s no secret that the city of Binghamton, like the rest of the country, is facing a major drug epidemic, which was only intensified by our country’s faulty war on drugs. The city has recently been flooded with heroin, and the lack of a response from former Broome County Executive Debbie Preston has been pitiful. Instead of offering solutions and investing in rehabilitation, Preston’s camp only offered excuses and claiming it was not financially viable to open longterm treatment centers.

Most Binghamton University students could never fathom a student overdosing, but it has happened. As students, we tend to gravitate toward the illconceived notion that BU and the city of Binghamton are two separate spheres, and that the local community’s problems are peripheral, therefore they cannot affect us. Dan’s death proves otherwise.

If we, as students, take the time to realize that we can enhance our own environment, it won’t just be people walled off in academia who benefit. Subsequently, as a society we need to re-evaluate how we maintain our social relationships with one another. The absence of human interaction has in turn made us more self-centered and has presented us with the falsehood of control and the illusion that we have time. The mistake I made the last time I saw my friend was believing that I would see him again, and that we would have the time then to talk about what he had been through and how he was doing.

I didn’t make time when I should have. In life, our time is finite and control is limited, but if someone battling addiction engages with you, don’t take their presence for granted. Connect with them.

— Hooman Ibrahim is a senior majoring in business administration.

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www.bupipedream.com | TKMonth ##, 20##

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 Get Lit Jeezy

Sad Harveys

Elizabeth Manning ANGST COLUMN!!!!!!!!!!

DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR WHILE YOU STUDY FOR FINALS AND RUSH TO WRITE YOUR PAPERS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROMPTED

BY SOMETHING I'VE SEEN OR EXPERIENCED BUT YOU SHOULD DO IT ANYWAY. AND I DO NOT MEAN CHANGE YOUR DRAWERS WHEN YOU ARE LITERALLY STUDYING IN THE LIBRARY. NO ONE NEEDS TO SEE THAT. NOT EVEN AS COMIC RELIEF. AND I SWEAR TO GOD ROHIT IS GOING TO YELL AT ME FOR THIS. I BET YOU JEFF WILL AVOID TO LOOK ME IN THE FACE BUT HIS EYES WILL SAY, WHY, LIL? THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANT. THIS ISN'T WHAT PIPE DREAM WANTS. BUT THIS ISN'T EVEN WHAT I WANT SO CONGRATS YOU PLAYED YASELF MAJOR KEY ANOTHER ONE BLESS UP DAB AND DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!1111111 Elizabeth Manning

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@BingBBallBlog FOR LIVE BASKETBALL UPDATES Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Women's basketball falters late against Brown

Despite four-point lead at halftime, second-half foul trouble seals Binghamton's fate Orlaith McCaffrey Sports Editor

Clutching a 37-33 lead at halftime on Sunday afternoon, it seemed as though the Binghamton women’s basketball team would avenge its buzzer-beater defeat at the hands of Brown last season.

After a dismal third period, though, BU (1-5) once again fell to the Bears (3-3), 83-72.

With BU ahead, 21-20, after the first 10 minutes of play, the two squads remained within points of each other for much of the second period. With less than two minutes left in the second, junior guard Imani Watkins went on a six-point run to put BU up by four heading into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, BU and Brown traded threes until the Bears cut Binghamton’s lead to just one point. Following this exchange, however, the period unraveled for the Bearcats, who were outscored, 22-10, in the frame. “[Brown] came out after halftime and they knocked down shots,” said BU head coach Linda Cimino. “[Sophomore guard Shayna] Mehta found her way.

She struggled in the first two quarters and then she came out and she knocked down seven of 11 from the field in the second half, so I think that was the biggest difference.”

Mehta tallied 13 points in the third quarter, helping the Bears to an eight-point lead by the end of the period. Her 29 points on the day were a game and season-high and a major reason BU gave up 83 points — the most they allowed

since Princeton scored 96 in December 2014.

“It’s hard to win a basketball game when we give up 83 points, so we need to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” Cimino said.

Watkins once again led the Bearcats offensively, putting up 21 points. She now tops the America East (AE) Conference and is No. 11 among all Division I players with an average of 22 points per contest.

According to Watkins, BU’s struggles were due largely to its poor defensive performance.

“We had lapses in our defense,” Watkins said. “It’s a game of runs. They made a run, we didn’t respond.”

BU’s defense was without the assistance of junior forward Alyssa James, who played just six minutes in the first two periods in an attempt to remain out of foul trouble. The attempt proved futile, though, as she fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“Obviously you can’t be as aggressive defensively when you have kids in foul trouble,” Cimino said. “I think we had four kids in foul trouble the whole game today and that definitely deterred us from pressuring the ball, and that allowed them to get some open looks.”

The real difference on the day proved to be the number of times each team made it to the freethrow line. Brown and BU scored similarly from the field, but the Bears added on 23 points from the charity stripe while the Bearcats added just 10.

“Our goal every game is to make more free throws than the

Provided by BU Athletics Junior guard Imani Watkins was honored in a pregame ceremony for becoming the 15th player in program history to score 1,000 points.

other team attempts,” Cimino said. “In the second half, obviously, at the end of the game, you try to foul to get the ball back and hope that they don’t make their free throws. They obviously knocked

down their free throws. They were in the bonus every quarter today and that really hurt us.”

In a ceremony prior to Sunday’s game, Watkins was honored for recording the 1,000th

point of her college career in BU’s loss to Sacred Heart last Wednesday. She is the 15th player in program history to reach this mark and the first to do so since the 2011-12 season.

The Bearcats are set to return to action on Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Rothman Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Binghamton splits four games over Thanksgiving break

Perovic and Show lead Bearcats to victory over Long Beach State before loss to FIU Samuel Ditchek Contributing Writer

Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Redshirt sophomore guard J.C. Show scored 22 points in the Bearcats’ 74-57 loss to FIU on Sunday.

After a hard-fought performance against Long Beach State on Thursday night, the Binghamton men’s basketball team fell to FIU on Sunday.

Despite facing a seven-point deficit at the conclusion of the first half against LBSU (1-7), the Bearcats (4-4) scored 55 points in the second to put away the 49ers, 72-64. The victory marked one of BU’s best offensive performances in several years.

“We got every 50-50 ball, made big shots and played harder and more together than Long Beach, and it showed up over the course of 40 minutes,” said BU head coach Tommy Dempsey. “To score 55 points in the second half … that showed incredible fight.”

In the decisive second, BU shot an efficient 52 percent from the field and drained seven 3-pointers against the 49ers.

LBSU was picked to finish first in the Big West’s preseason media

poll and has made national postseason tournaments in four of the last five years.

“That’s as big of a win as we’ve had in my time here,” Dempsey said. “We played like a family and that’s what you have to do when you are undermanned.”

BU captured the win behind the lights-out shooting of junior forward Dusan Perovic and redshirt sophomore guard J.C. Show. Both Bearcats were influential in sparking the second half, contributing 21 points apiece in the contest.

BU was unable to carry its success into its road trip-ending matchup against FIU (2-4), coming up short, 74-57. The matchup was BU’s fourth in six days.

“In order to win, we had to play harder and I didn’t feel like we did,” Dempsey said. “I wish we had played better tonight, but it was more about how well FIU played.”

Show continued to display his offensive prowess by tallying

a team-high 22 points in the contest, surpassing the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season. He shot 45 percent from beyond the arc and went 8-for-14 from the field.

Bouncing back from a sixpoint performance against Long Beach State, junior forward Bobby Ahearn recorded 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore forward Thomas Bruce contributed eight points.

Over the past several games, opposing teams have exposed BU’s undersized frontcourt.

BU was out-rebounded by five against Long Beach State and by 14 against FIU. “You have to give FIU credit … they played great … they forced their will on us with size and athleticism,” Dempsey said.

“They needed to win on their home floor and we weren’t able to keep up tonight.”

BU is set to host Mansfield on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

Afflicted by hamstring injury, Rodriguez sits out from road trip planned in part for him Noah Bressner Assistant Sports Editor

Binghamton head coach Tommy Dempsey was looking for a spark. Struggling late in the first half two weeks ago against Central Connecticut State, the BU men’s basketball team looked to junior forward Willie Rodriguez. The Bearcats’ biggest offensive threat came off the bench, playing just nine minutes before re-aggravating a hamstring injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage.

The Orlando, Florida native was unavailable to play in Binghamton’s (4-4) fourgame Florida road trip over Thanksgiving break, which had been planned after Dempsey promised to play a series of games close to Rodriguez’s home.

“It’s tough for him to not be able to play on this trip through

Florida, but it’s still our job to do what’s best for the student athlete,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey had also promised guard Romello Walker a game closer to home. But Walker, who hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has since transferred to Midwestern State, meaning that neither of the players who were initially responsible for Binghamton’s Florida trip played in it.

Over the course of the trip, Rodriguez has received treatment three to four times per day for his hamstring. Dempsey, however, plans on exercising caution before re-inserting him into the lineup.

“It just hasn’t healed as quickly as we had hoped,” Dempsey said. “He’s feeling good and starting to feel better. I think he’s close to returning to action but we want him really close to

100 percent because he’s just so important to the future of our season.”

Despite Rodriguez’s inability to play, his family appeared at all four of Binghamton’s games.

“They understand that as much as part of this trip was to bring him home to play, his long-term health is more important than anything else,” Dempsey said.

In 2015-16, Rodriguez was the Bearcats’ leading scorer, recording an average of 15.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Rodriguez excels at driving to the basket and finding points inside the paint, but has played in just one game, allowing junior forward Dusan Perovic to benefit from extended playing time. Perovic has started six of Binghamton’s eight games.

“Dusan [Perovic] has been

really important to our good start,” Dempsey said. “He’s healthy now, but last year he was coming off ACL surgery and he never really found a groove.”

Binghamton’s road trip consisted of four games in five days. The Bearcats faced Ave Maria, Florida Gulf Coast, Long Beach State and FIU. BU’s games against FCGU and LBSU were part of the non-bracketed segment of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

“These road trips are really nice for team bonding and getting the guys away from campus,” Dempsey said. “You spend a lot of time together and eat all your meals together. It’s early in the season and we’re just trying to grow as a basketball team and grow together as a group. I think these trips help you do both.”

Pipe Dream Archives Junior forward Willie Rodriguez sat during Binghamton’s four-game road trip after aggravating his hamstring injury earlier this season.