Fall 2023 Issue 2

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | Vol. CII, Issue 2 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

The Free Word on Campus Since 1946

Division of DEI relaunches UDiversity

bella daidone Managing editor Karen Jones, Binghamton University’s VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said that the department’s programs and services are “uniquely tailored to engage, inform and support campus members on topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging.”

The Institute works with constituency groups to foster an inclusive environment on campus.

Ella Connors

assistant news editor

Binghamton University’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is relaunching the UDiversity Educational Institute (UDiversity) to encourage diversity-centered training for students and faculty.

According to their website, UDiversity is committed to providing the campus community with professional development and “diversity-focused” training.

The Institute works with several constituency groups to foster an inclusive academic and residential environment for all students and staff members and aims to “increase cultural competency skills” to encourage a “deeper” understanding of diverse backgrounds and culture.

Karen Jones, BU’s vice president for DEI, expanded on UDiversity’s mission and its impact on students, staff and administrators.

“UDiversity’s primary goal is to support the Division of [DEI] in its efforts to promote and sustain an inclusive campus community,” Jones wrote in an email. “Our programs and services are uniquely tailored to engage, inform and support campus members on topics of diversity,

equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging. The relaunch of UDiversity focuses on introducing the new staff team to our various campus constituents and the larger community and providing carefully curated training and workshops, creating new opportunities to meet the needs of the ever-changing landscape in higher education.”

See dEI page 3

Joseph Tyler lifts Team USA to the gold The Binghamton University freshman lifted a total of 1,488.1 pounds at the meet.

Johnny Yang and Brandon Ng sports and news editors

Joseph Tyler, a Binghamton University freshman majoring in biology, recently competed at the

2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Junior and Sub-Junior Classic Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, powering Team USA to a gold medal. The meet brought together 653 athletes from 39 different countries.

Winning a gold medal in the deadlift and a silver medal for total lift, Tyler lifted a total

Mayor announces plans for a $40 million affordable housing project The complex will hold 102 units for families earning $40,000$60,000 per year.

Brandon Ng news editor

In August 2022, Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced a plan to revitalize Clinton Street in the City’s First Ward. Today, he announced plans for a $40 million affordable housing project.

Development of the 3.9-acre lot at 187 Clinton St., currently vacant after the demolition of a printing company and a Department of Motor Vehicles office, will be spearheaded by The Metro Group, a firm based on Long Island. The building will hold 102 units of affordable, workforce housing with commercial space on the ground

of 1,488.1 pounds. Specific event performances included a 534.6-pound squat, 319.6-pound bench press and a 633.8-pound deadlift — the highest total at the meet and a personal record.

In powerlifting, there are three separate events that an athlete must compete in — the squat, bench press and deadlift. Competitors

must also follow commands from judges for a lift to count. For the squat event, the referee will say when to squat and rack. When bench pressing, the official will tell the competitor when to start, press and rack. For the deadlift, the referee will give a down command to place the barbell on the platform after the competitor’s knees and

shoulders are locked out.

Each participant must receive a total of two out of three white lights on each lift for that specific lift to count. Failure to adhere to the judge’s commands will result in a failed lift.

See gold page 10

LUMA illuminates Downtown Binghamton

floor. Construction is set to begin in 2025.

Support for the project has come from both local and state sources. According to a press release from the Mayor’s Office, $2.95 million was awarded from the Restore New York Communities Initiative — state funding for the positive transformation of “vacant, abandoned, condemned and surplus properties.” Kraham announced that the City would allocate $2.2 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which will need City Council approval.

At a press conference with Rob Muchnick, president of The Metro Group, Kraham tied the project to his vision for a revitalized city.

See HoUSINg page 3

ARTS & CULTURE

See lUMA page 7 Kai depalma aSSISTaNT pHoTo eDITor LUMA festival captures the beauty of the human experience with ethereal and geometric displays.

OPINIONS

SPORTS

BU Art Museum’s new exhibition features Black art and Binghamton’s history,

7 Brew opens new coffee spot in Vestal,

American treatment centers are taking financial advantage of clients,

Volleyball posts winning record at Lehigh Steel Classic,

Women’s soccer defeated at home by Maryland,

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 8

SEE PAGE 5

SEE PAGE 10

SEE PAGE 9

PAGE II Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

BROOME COUNTY JAIL MUST FULFILL HOLLAND SETTLEMENT’S PROMISES Last week, a settlement was finally reached in Makyyla Holland’s lawsuit, which has the potential to aid in passing legislation to protect the rights of transgender people incarcerated across New York state.

The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of Holland, a transgender woman who experienced severe abuse when held in the Broome County Jail for six weeks in 2021. Holland explained that she was housed with grown men, denied access to needed medication, hygiene products and clothing given to incarcerated women, and beaten when she refused to strip naked in front of male guards.

Holland’s settlement is a much-needed and tremendous step forward for Broome County — and hopefully the state — in calling to attention and remedying some of the inhumane treatment suffered by transgender people in carceral facilities. However, we look to the sheriff and jail’s administration to act on their promises and be transparent about how transgender people are being treated inside.

Holland’s story sheds light on the disproportionate harm experienced by transgender people in carceral facilities across the United States.

Transgender incarcerated individuals experience

harassment and sexual abuse from other incarcerated people and staff at unequally high rates and are denied gender-affirming and medical care across the United States.

Housing transgender people according to their gender identity is one of the most crucial ways that carceral facilities can prevent uneven abuse and harm. Some federal and state guidelines exist that encourage transgender people to be housed based on their gender identities, but these standards are piecemeal and lack authority. The dire need for more comprehensive and strong policy is evidenced by the fact that in 2020, a shocking NBC News investigation revealed that out of the almost 5,000 transgender individuals in U.S. state prisons, only 15 had been housed according to their gender identities.

The Broome County Jail’s failure to provide basic resources and care for Holland was enabled by a lack of comprehensive federal and state legislation that protects incarcerated transgender people, as well as

a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. At the federal level, protections for transgender incarcerated people are piecemeal. In January of last year, the Bureau of Prisons reissued its Transgender Offender Manual, which included a requirement that prisons place transgender people in housing units on a “case by case” basis. However, conducting “case-by-case” evaluations is left up to local and state clinical facilities across the United States, which clearly allows for abuse of discretion.

Additionally, these guidelines refer to federal prisons only, not jails, where there are only 1,300 people in custody, about 1/4 percent of the overall incarcerated population.

State legislation is also lacking, with only a minority of states, such as California, Massachusetts and New York passing laws that provide protections for incarcerated transgender people. In New York, Senate Bill S6677A, passed in 2021, requires incarcerated people in state and local correctional facilities to

be “presumptively placed” with people “that most closely align” with their gender identity, as well as guarantee access to commissary items, clothing and “other materials” consistent with their gender identity. The vagueness of this language, but most concerningly, the lack of proper state enforcement mechanisms, unfortunately allow for a policy-practice gap. Additionally, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in 2022 a new policy initiative that would allow transgender people to request to be housed based on their gender identity, as well as access to “gender-affirming medical and mental health care” and clothing consistent with their gender identity.

Unfortunately, this policy is yet to be implemented, as it still awaits approval from state lawmakers.

While the increase in state legislation like this over recent years has been long needed, the insular and abusive nature of carceral facilities easily allows for abuse, as evidenced by Holland’s experience. Holland’s settlement mandates Broome

County to change its policies to comply with federal and state laws regarding the treatment of transgender incarcerated people, including housing people consistent with their gender identity, ensuring that staff respect the gender identity of people inside and ensuring access to clothing, toiletry items, gender-affirming items and medical care free from discrimination.

It is concerning, although unfortunately not surprising, that Broome County has not already been complying with federal and state guidelines and providing even minimal treatment and care to transgender people. Holland was incarcerated while Sheriff Harder was still elected, who was notorious for his lack of transparency and complicity in mass abuse and neglect occurring in the Broome County Jail. Although there have been no drastic improvements made to the jail since Sheriff Akshar was elected this past November, his “Community FIRST” plan emphasized the need for increased transparency

and accountability in the department.

We hope that, moving forward, Holland’s settlement won’t be an empty promise.

In order to ensure that the Broome County Jail is treating transgender people with dignity and respect and ensuring their access to necessary items, the jail should be mandated to report on their compliance with the settlement every month or so, as well as allow for community members to become more involved in oversight for the jail. This could be accomplished through a community-independent oversight board that is given access to information regarding what is occurring inside the jail and works to come up with solutions to pressing issues.

This settlement is a big step forward, and hopefully will set a precedent for progress in other counties and states, but it is meaningless without enforcement.

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, Managing Editor, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Sports Editor and Arts & Culture Editor.

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stabilizing:pinochole

schedule:destabilizing

bupipedream.com | September 12, 2023

NEWS

5

UDiversity seeks to increase cultural competency dEI from page 1 As part of their mission, UDiversity organizes and offers various workshops for students and staff to attend throughout the academic year. While many are structured for the broader campus community, some are individualized to fit the needs of a specific audience.

On-campus organizations can also request a targeted workshop, in order to curate a discussion tailored to an individual group’s specific focus.

Régina Nguyen, the assistant director for diversity education,

elaborated on UDiversity’s programming, which will continue to educate student organizations and faculty members on diversity and cultural awareness.

“UDiversity is supporting the Inclusive Pedagogy series led by Assistant Vice President for Diversity Nicole Sirju-Johnson,” Nguyen wrote in an email.

“New faculty members are strongly encouraged to attend, as these programs help build on a critical knowledge base.

Additionally, UDiversity continues collaborating with various student

organizations and campus partners to deliver training on cultural competency, cultural humility, bias, microaggressions and inclusive and culturally responsive organizations.

We also have a few experiential learning activity sessions that we will be rolling out in the next few months. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to join.”

Students are encouraged to apply for internship opportunities with UDiversity, in order to strengthen their personal knowledge of equity

and inclusion and gain experience as a liaison.

Student liaisons assist in planning efforts and executing events and workshops and take on the role of “student ambassador” for the Institute in order to garner support for its mission.

BU’s UDiversity program alumni include Lea Webb, the current New York state senator for the 52th District, who was the former diversity education coordinator. Webb was elected to Binghamton’s City Council in 2007 and has worked with nonprofit

organizations to establish more housing locally. She has also played a prominent role in passing equal pay legislation in Binghamton.

Lauren Peralta, the publicity chair of the Philippine-American League and a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, said that diversity education was important, especially in a college setting.

“Spreading diversity awareness is a big mission of my organization on campus,” Peralta wrote. “It has provided not only me, but many of my other fellow

peers a sense of home on campus.”

Esha Shah, a member of the Hindu Student Council and a sophomore majoring in biology, said that bonds are formed between students through mutual recognition of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

“Diversity awareness is important because it encourages acceptance and creates new friendships,” Shah wrote. “It also allows us to acknowledge the differences between people.”

Construction on complex to begin in 2025 HoUSINg from page 1

“Affordable housing is really critical to creating a thriving city,” Kraham said. “Families deserve safe, quality [and] affordable housing to raise their kids.

Seniors deserve affordable housing, so they can retire with dignity.”

The apartments will serve families earning between 40-60 percent of the average median income — about $40,000$60,000, according to Myles Monaghan, principal at

Think City Partners — a partner to The Metro Group.

Rents will start between $700-$1,000 per month, depending on unit type and the household size and income. The company is not currently planning on any market-rate apartments.

Kraham said that the project would apply for a Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant — which the neighboring Village of Johnson City recently won — from the state, describing Clinton Street as a future

“Downtown 2.0.”

“Clinton Street has the bones and the infrastructure that many downtowns would kill for,” Kraham said.

Developers will seek a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) — a financial incentive for the private sector to invest in infrastructure for a public benefit — from the City.

A recent PILOT measure pushed by the Mayor and passed by the City Council was rejected by the Binghamton City School

Board, partly for a lack of affordable housing.

Aviva Friedman, ‘14 and a Working Families city councilmember, has called for ARPA funds to be used for responsible housing projects. A vocal opponent of the failed summer PILOT, she expressed hesitation at City funds going toward a for-profit, out-of-town development firm.

“We have used a lot of ARPA money on things that I do not believe are appropriate, varying from

Development of the 3.9-acre vacant lot will be spearheaded by The Metro Group, a developer based in Suffolk County, Long Island.

inappropriate to egregious, like misuse of money,” Friedman said.

“My interpretation — I don’t yet have the hard numbers to back it up — but it seems like a [tax] break for a company that I assume is quite profitable. That doesn’t sit right with me.”

Adding that rentals were “extractive” compared to home ownership initiatives, Friedman also said that she wasn’t categorically antiPILOT, though she would wait for more information

from stakeholders before arriving at a decision.

David Muchnick, ‘23 and the son of the developer, recommended the Binghamton investment.

He described the process of conceptualizing the project.

“Students coming up with their disposable income from downstate gentrifies the area,” Muchnick said. “Locals were being left behind, and there was a space for affordable housing.”

brandon ng news editor

bupipedream.com | September 12, 2023

NEWS

4

Bundy Museum may close at the end of 2023 Cultural icon called the “creative epicenter” of the West Side.

Brandon Ng news editor

A Binghamton cultural icon might be forced to close amid a funding shortfall.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bundy Museum of History & Art was the home of Harlow Bundy, who started manufacturing time-recording clocks with his brother in 1889.

By 1924, the Bundy Manufacturing Company had grown and merged to become International Business Machines (IBM), now a global technology company. In a recent statement, the museum — which shares its campus with three nonprofits and an independent bookstore — announced the “devastating” loss of a major donor and that it may close its doors at the end of the year.

Eric Eckman, the Bundy Museum’s director of operations, art gallery director and events coordinator, described the institution’s place in Binghamton’s arts community.

“The Bundy Museum is an ever-growing community resource, with a mission of preserving local history and promoting local arts,” Eckman wrote in an email.

“The [museum] serves as a community space for the area’s vibrant local music scene, hosting numerous concerts, shows and festivals in our theater and museum grounds.”

Fifteen percent of the museum’s yearly budget is from foundations and grants, 20 percent is from

admissions fees, museum services, programs, shows and facility rentals and 65 percent is from individual donors and underwriting, according to Eckman. No funding comes from the City of Binghamton.

The museum opened in 2004 to promote the arts and preserve both the Victorian Era and the history of the Bundy family and company.

Permanent exhibitions include a 1930s barbershop which was across the street from IBM — representative of the company’s corporate culture — and the Bundy Time Clock Exhibit, an homage to the Bundy’s company through its signature product — the Workman Time Clocks.

Apart from running guided tours of the Bundy House and exhibiting both local artists and “collections of local significance,” the Bundy Museum operates several offshoot projects.

They include Binghamton Photo, a community darkroom and photography lab, WBDY-LP, an FM radio station broadcasting local artists and WordPlace, a literary center running workshops and author readings.

“We, as always, remain dedicated to this mission and expanding the work done here, which touches so many of us who have made this area our home,” the Bundy Museum’s original statement said.

In a statement to the Binghamton Homepage, Alexis Tauteroff, Binghamton Photo’s darkroom manager said that the museum did not want to raise guided tour prices because of accessibility efforts. Currently, museum members and children younger than 10 enter for free, while general admission tickets cost $7

jacob gressin photo intern Opened in 2004, the museum was created to promote the arts, preserve the Victorian Era and pay homage to Bundy family and company history.

and students and seniors pay $5.

Zachary Zehr, a Binghamton University senior majoring in geological sciences, described the museum as a “beautiful display of art” in the community. “[The Bundy Museum’s] a wonderful venue that allows [for] the growth of artists in the area,” Zehr wrote in an email. “Bands and artists that have

presented there have gone on to do amazing things, and I believe it is a piece of Binghamton that needs the help of the community in order to put on more shows and allow more art to be let out into the world.”

Ella Kasper, a junior majoring in psychology, currently performs with her bands Mall Goth and In Angel’s Care and books shows under Byrdhouse Records. She described how

the Bundy Museum inspired her creative journey because of its accessibility and generosity in providing an infrastructure.

“Going to local shows as a freshman was extremely inspiring to me, and I remember being amazed by the amount of people who would come out for shows hosted in basements, backyards, living rooms [and] garages,” Kasper wrote in an email. “I’ve noticed

that we have a passionate group of musicians and showgoers involved in the local scene, but no real venues to host shows except for the Bundy Museum. [It] allows us to enrich the local arts community and inspire others to perform, thrash and make friends.”

Tom and Marty’s completes summer remodel The bar updated its women’s bathroom and extended the back of the building.

Fabiha Era

news contributor

Tom and Marty’s Town House, a popular bar on State Street frequented

by Binghamton University students, remodeled their interior over the summer.

According to the bar’s owner and local icon

Lawrence “Larry” Shea, ‘93, the renovation extended the back of the building that now leads to a back exit, allowing patrons to exit from both ends without waiting in the traffic at the front door. In the back,

the women’s bathroom was remodeled to add an additional stall. The bar’s kitchen is expected to be fully restored in two weeks.

Shea explained why the improvements were necessary for the bar’s

jacob gressin photo intern First opened in 1946 by Tom Mantis and Marty Moore, Tom and Marty’s Town House was purchased by Lawrence Shea and his brother in 2004.

quality of service.

“This renovation has been in the planning [stage] for years,” Shea said. “We have two purposes for this remodel. One is the toilet in the women’s bathroom, something that has been needed from day one.

Second, a functional back door, not just for better flow, but now we have prospects of getting a table outside during the summer or early evening. The water damage from last semester, contrary to what people say, had nothing to do with the remodel.”

Tom and Marty’s was first opened in 1946 by Tom Mantis and Marty Moore, still the namesakes of the bar. Shea and his brother purchased the establishment from Mantis’ son 19 years ago.

Jason Capo, a senior majoring in geography, said how he wished the remodel had come sooner.

“Back when I lived on State Street, I felt frustrated with Tom and Marty’s and how congested it would get during the weekends,” Capo said. “Traffic always moved one way, so it’s great that there’s a back door now.

Of course, it had to happen the year I decided I don’t want to live on State Street anymore.”

Tom and Marty’s features a large bar counter, a range of drink options and events like bingo and trivia nights.

It sits next to other popular

bars The Rathskeller, Jimmy’s and Dillingers Celtic Pub & Eatery on State Street.

Much of Tom and Marty’s current success is credited to Shea, who explained how he transformed the bar into a popular student destination.

“Tom and Marty’s [has experienced] continuous evolution since we bought it,” Shea said. “When we bought it, it was a bar that catered to the businessmen who came here during lunchtime or happy hour.

It had video games, a juke box [and] so much clutter.

Over the years, we slowly took on projects to create better flow throughout the bar. Back in my 20s, when I was a BU student, I used to help run some of the bars in this area. After I bought Tom [and Marty]’s in 2004, my brother and I worked hard to cater it to the BU student.”

Deepanshi Gaur, a junior majoring in computer science, described why Tom and Marty’s is her favorite downtown bar.

“Tom [and Marty’s] is a bar that you go to when you want a chill night out with your friends,” Gaur said. “There isn’t pressure to act a certain way or look a certain way, and the crowd is always an interesting mix of people. It’s easily the friendliest bar with the least drama.”

OPINIONS Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017

American treatment centers prioritize financial gain Client well-being is systematically sacrificed for financial benefit.

Alexis Fischer Opinions Columnist

Already branded with stigma around treatment, most clients of rehabilitation centers have also fallen victim to the health care industry’s financial prioritization.

As advertised, treatment centers are expected to focus on the medical and mental health of their clients. However, most American treatment centers emphasize their title as a business. Meanwhile, publicity efforts mask the hunger for money with pity, while they are only bothered by client pockets and lack genuine concern for their self-safety.

Research clarifies that this consideration stops at the surface — these businesses search for excuses to keep clients in treatment as long as insurance allows them to. Clients are treated like walking wallets with a diagnosis, giving authorities power highs. Considering the deadly mixture of financial prioritization and gaslighting within staff-client relationships, perhaps the field could use a completely new team.

I’d like to focus on two examples in my argument, methodologies in both substance abuse and eating disorder treatment centers.

My accusation that treatment clinics prioritize money is supported by the “Florida Shuffle” web, which traps victims of substance abuse in the treatment world in order to drain as much insurance money from clients as possible. With Florida being a hotspot for victims of substance abuse, treatment facilities were borderline trading clients by moving them from center to center with little to no progress made in order to keep them and their insurance tangled.

Florida became a profitable place for rehabilitation centers, sober-living facilities and other seeming supports. However, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act passed, insurance became easier to manipulate as the regulations widened treatment options to lowincome individuals. Due to these laws, a spike in client pool caused Florida’s master plan to become even more obsessive — labs and other treatmentadjacent locations opened and expanded. Facilities dragged out as much money from clients as they could. For example, centers intentionally started using more expensive lab processes or held clients longer than needed to wring out funds. Unshockingly, “Florida Shuffle” occurs all

over America, but it is just one example of a recurring, systemic scam for money in the treatment world.

In addition to victims of substance abuse being taken advantage of, similar practices happen in eating disorder recovery centers.

However, the manipulation occurs more internally, with companies focused on their business rather than their clients. Like we saw in the substance abuse treatment community, Erica Goode of the New York Times explains that “[the eating disorder treatment industry] has been propelled by the Affordable Care Act and other changes in health insurance laws that have increased coverage for mental disorders, as well as by investments from private equity firms.” Goode expands on this abuse of power by explaining the shift from favoring client health to disregarding anything but economy for their businesses — “in the companies’ rush to expand, they argue, quality of treatment may be sacrificed for profit.” In addition to this rush, some companies were caught bribing their scouts, pushing them to send their clients to their clinics. Goode reveals that “critics liken [visitors] to pharmaceutical industry tactics that led to laws and policies requiring financial disclosure, though on a

smaller scale. Studies had shown that even small gifts from drug companies, like free medication samples, affected doctors’ prescription practices.”

As expected, clinics are weighing finances over client health behind closed doors and taking advantage of people in need at the cost of a profit.

Now, I’d like to address the manipulation that occurs inside specific recoverybranded environments.

One former client opened up about the Denver-based Eating Recovery Center (ERC). She was heavily gaslit and traumatized by the practices used at the facility. The client was often told her concerns were “just the eating disorder talking.”

The client stated that her goal shifted from wanting to get better to wanting to get out of treatment.

This is the case for a lot of clients. Additionally, ERC isolated their clients who got tubed — for months, in some cases. In another instance, staff members told a client’s family not to believe anything they said about treatment. Meals were timed, as were supplement drinks, and tubes were used as a threat if clients failed to finish their meals on time.

Clients who accidentally dropped food on the floor had to eat off the floor.

Phone calls were monitored.

Anxiety-induced vomiting

was mistaken for purging, and clients had to clean it up themselves after a scolding.

Some of the punishments used at ERC were prevalent in other clinics as well.

Another facility that disregards client health is Miami-based Monte Nido and Affiliates. Not only is the current CEO of their owners a white male who was busted for insider trading, but the CEO of the former owners was sued for fraud. So, aside from recent owners being proven greedy, Monte Nido was also among the facilities that were understaffed, according to employee reviews of their work experience with Monte Nido and affiliates. Former employees also claimed the recovery coaches were disrespected, as were the chefs and maids. In addition, the company had a history of mergers and acquisitions.

Monte Nido was also titled “one of the country’s largest and leading eating disorder platforms.” How can the facility afford such expansion and advertising yet be understaffed and dismissive of struggling clients? Perhaps the clinic only sees their community as an opportunity for larger profits that benefit the business.

With all of the mentioned practices in mind, we can likely conclude that the majority of treatment facilities have the wrong

intentions when their focus is profit, and client wellbeing is often dismissed. Perhaps local, single-location facilities would have better results than leaving clients traumatized at the expense of expansion and earnings.

Smaller companies would likely ensure that staff members that want to be working in the field instead of workers who join for financial success in larger businesses. In addition, companies should enforce their recoverypromoted slogans rather than following the largest yield, especially when their owners contradict the clinics’ advertised messages.

So, when did treatment centers for substance abuse and eating disorders shift from health goals to economic goals? Perhaps a cap on the number of locations a company owns should be enforced to avoid the common temptations of capitalism.

Perhaps the system needs a full reconstruction for their phony recovery mottos to ring true.

Alexis Fischer is a senior majoring in English.

Studios are neglecting demand for original movies Failing to respond to writers’ and actors’ strikes has left audiences unsatisfied too.

Theodore Brita Opinions Columnist

Much of the moviegoing world was highly fixated on the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon this summer.

“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” two vastly different but equally intriguing films, were both released in theaters on July 21 to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.

Although there were other post-COVID-19 watershed moments in the return of the blockbuster, such as the commercial successes of “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Avatar,” the incredible cultural phenomenon generated by “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” felt different. The hype was simply unavoidable.

General audiences responded positively in massive numbers to two films that featured strong directing, original ideas and excellent acting.

“Barbie” grossed over a

billion dollars globally, while “Oppenheimer” may reach that number soon. Audiences’ desire for original and thoughtprovoking cinema extended beyond these two films, as even Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” had a relatively successful box office run.

However, the success of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” has become even more impressive in the context of the ongoing Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes, which forced the cast of “Oppenheimer” to walk out of the film’s United Kingdom premiere.

Due to union rules, actors were prohibited from promoting their films while the strikes were in effect.

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA unions represent actors and writers. Since the onset of the strikes, studios and streaming services have failed to provide writers and actors with a fair deal and pushed back release dates

on numerous films, such as “Poor Things” and “Dune: Part Two.” Audiences have clearly indicated that there is a widespread demand for thought-provoking and interesting filmmaking.

But instead of satisfying this demand, studios and their executives have intentionally prolonged the strike and robbed audiences of earlier release dates for widely anticipated films.

Studios have continually shown themselves to be out of touch with audiences this year. This trend, if it continues, is bad news for moviegoers.

As thought-provoking and original cinema has seen an increase in popularity in 2023, the oftrepetitive superhero film has witnessed a downturn in fortunes as general audiences have seemingly tired of the superhero genre. The first film in phase five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” — cost Disney close to $200 million to film and produce. While the film was by no means

a box-office bomb, it failed to reach the lofty profits achieved by other films in the MCU. “Blue Beetle,” a new comic movie set in the DC universe, cost about $208 million to make and made $26 million during its opening weekend. Although it is still in theaters, it is on track to be a massive financial loss for DC. But the nadir of superhero movies perhaps arrived in the form of “The Flash,” which was a historically bad box office bomb that is projected to lose over $200 million dollars. “The Flash” also featured a tasteless cameo

by Christopher Reeve’s Superman, who struggled to move past the role of Superman while he was still alive and even briefly contemplated thoughts of suicide after departing from the role. Featuring a lifeless CGI rendition of Reeve dishonors his legacy and invalidates his desire to move past the role of Superman. There were clear indicators that these movies were not likely to be as popular as studios expected them to be, but they still

poured massive production and promotional budgets into them.

Meanwhile, prolonging the writers and actors strikes is most likely also resulting in studios losing more money. The stars of films cannot promote their films, which means audiences are less aware of release dates than they normally would be. Studios will continue to lose money until the strike is resolved.

But instead of providing a fair deal for writers and actors, studios seem perfectly willing to lose more money while releasing movies that the general public does not have much of an appetite for anymore.

Instead of pushing back “Dune: Part Two,” Warner Brothers could have delayed “Blue Beetle” and likely avoided the financial loss that came with it while allowing for the release of a highly anticipated sequel.

Studios instead, to their own disadvantage, seem content to stave off the efforts of the WGA and SAGAFTRA to earn a fair deal.

Whether through the

success of big blockbuster films such as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” or smallerbudget indie cinema like “Asteroid City” and “Beau Is Afraid,” general audiences have clearly indicated there is still a strong desire for films that are more than just “content.” Meanwhile, certain genres of films that would more likely fall under the umbrella of “content” have seen their fortunes worsen this year.

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, when asked his thoughts on the direction the film industry has taken after the pandemic, acclaimed director Richard Linklater said, “Can’t we just go back to being a little better?”

Moviegoers in 2023 seem to agree with him. Hollywood studios seemingly do not.

Theodore Brita is a senior majoring in political science.

F UN

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Thursday, Monday, Monday, October October April 3,2,5, 2017 2017 2017

Michael Waxman/Fun Editor

Michael Waxman/Fun Editor

Solutions to last week’s puzzles Solution for Sudoku Level : very easy

Solution for Sudoku Level : easy

Date : 2023-08-25 Solution for Sudoku Level : easy

Date : 2023-08-26

Solution for Sudoku Level : hard Date : 2023-08-24

Date : 2023-08-27

LUMA shines despite the rain lUMA from page 1

Binghamton’s beloved projection arts festival brings community together once again for a night of beautiful light displays.

Arts & Culture Staff On the damp nights of Sept.

8 and 9, the LUMA Projection Arts Festival lit up Downtown Binghamton and proved triumphant over the ongoing rain. Crowds nevertheless gathered for iridescent exhibitions and traditional food trucks, savoring the city’s sense of community and the wonder of fine art.

What started as a mutual passion for art between three people in 2015 has

since unfolded into one of Binghamton’s biggest annual events. LUMA celebrates the works of artists, designers, local workers and engineers, culminating into a vibrant community gathering that propels the city’s economy.

With a mission to tell stories and accentuate Binghamton’s architectural beauty, LUMA is a heavily anticipated festival for both students and Broome County residents.

This year, LUMA continued to display exhibitions that beautifully intertwine visual and audio effects that highlight themes of nostalgia, history and the human experience as a whole.

“Web of Life,” a collaboration between Mindscape and Snow Raven, previous LUMA artists, created this piece to represent Arctic

Siberian Sakha culture. The combination of Snow Raven’s chilling vocals and the blend of images representing different life forms and communities depicts the narrative of how interconnected the world is.

David Collins, second-year Ph.D. student in mathematics, described how the “Web of Life” exhibition captured his attention.

“The contrasting images of technology with Indigenous imagery were mesmerizing to watch,” Collins wrote.

“Snow Raven’s hauntingly beautiful vocals only enhanced the overall experience. I was completely captivated for the few minutes it was on for, and I think it set a new high bar for LUMA [exhibitions].”

LUMA took it a step further this year with the addition of “Beyond,” a mesmerizing

audiovisual experience created

by Playmodes, a Barcelonabased research studio. For $5, attendees were immersed in a space that played with perception, depth and sound.

Built inside a long tunnel, “Beyond” was designed to have the individual feel as if they are passing through a cascading mixture of light and dark movements.

Stephen Corbisiero, a senior double-majoring in environmental studies and geography, described his impression of the light displays featured at LUMA. “I was particularly impressed by how each [exhibition] presented a unique perspective into life, our everchanging society and the world today,” Corbisiero wrote in an email. “Not only do the artists accomplish this by the visuals

we see and the audio we hear, but also the story they tell through their projections.”

Corbisiero went on to share his favorite part of the night.

“My favorite exhibition at LUMA was ‘Re-Naissance’ by Glitch!,” Corbisiero wrote.

“It particularly stood out to me because of its comparison between past human history and the present through its use of stone as a metaphor. By showing the same stone being used to build ancient landmarks and Enlightenment statues, as well as tall skyscrapers and modern technology, it highlights how art and human accomplishment as a whole has evolved throughout time.”

Collins expressed his thoughts on how the festival continued despite the rain.

“My friends and I went to LUMA just after it had finished

pouring on Friday night, and I was surprised by how fast all the exhibitions were up and running again,” Collins wrote.

“It’s as if everyone knew how important LUMA is to the community, so they put in the work to reopen all the shows as fast as they could.”

Robert Murray, a junior majoring in biochemistry, also emphasized the community aspect of the event.

“The LUMA festival is a great opportunity to get together with your friends and family and experience art in a unique way,” Murray wrote.

Since its inception, LUMA has become a Binghamton staple of art, architecture and community that continues to exceed expectations through its light shows — something that a little rain can’t hold back.

BU Art Museum celebrates sculptor and activist Ed Wilson’s prolific work spans decades and explores themes of civil rights, Black American history and family.

Alexia Yang

arts & cuLture editor

Black art and Binghamton’s history come together in the Binghamton University Art Museum’s newest exhibition, “Ed Wilson: The Sculptor as Afro-Humanist.”

The main exhibition features the sculptures of Ed Wilson (1925-1996), who served in the studio art department at BU. Created as a result of the BU Art Museum’s investment in collecting work from Black artists and donations from Wilson’s family, the exhibition chronicles Wilson’s prolific 45-year career. The sculptures

capture the richly complex history of the Black American experience, bringing together the history of Black culture, struggle and resilience.

The BU Art Museum unveiled “Ed Wilson: The Sculpture as Afro-Humanist” with a reception on Sept. 7.

The show serves as the first retrospective exhibition of Wilson’s art since a showing at BU in 1964. Featured work included Wilson’s portraits of friends and fellow artists, bronze relief sculptures exploring the history of American jazz and sculptures of famous figures such as Frederick Douglass.

Tom McDonough, organizer of the exhibition and professor of art history, wrote about his inspiration for curating the exhibition.

“I ‘discovered’ Wilson’s work while working on an exhibition of African American art for

the [BU Art] Museum around five years ago,” McDonough wrote. “The [BU Art] Museum had a handful of works in its collection and I thought — wait, who is this guy? It just piqued my curiosity. The more I began digging, the deeper my fascination became for him, his work and his life.”

The exhibition pays homage to Wilson as a valuable member of the BU community, multifaceted artist and deeply committed civil rights activist.

The displays demonstrate the wide reach of Wilson’s work from the 1950s to the 1990s, ranging from personal pieces to sculptures created for commissions, including his “Falling Man” memorial to John F. Kennedy after the president’s assassination.

Claire Kovacs, curator of collections and exhibitions at the BU Art Museum, expressed

appreciation for Wilson not only as a public figure, but as an artist whose work reflected familial themes.

“It’s a really exciting exhibition,” Kovacs said.

“Showing work from throughout his working life — from early sculptures all the way up to sculptures toward the end of his life — showing examples of public sculpture all the way through to some very beautiful, more intimate works of his children.”

The process of acquiring pieces for the exhibition involved connections between the BU Art Museum and museums that house Wilson’s art, such as the Howard University Art Gallery.

Additionally, Wilson’s children supported the BU Art Museum by donating pieces for the show.

Utitofon Inyang, assistant professor of Africana studies,

The latest exhibition honors the career of Ed Wilson, prominent Black sculptor and longtime BU faculty member.

discussed a particularly resonant piece of artwork displayed at the exhibition — Wilson’s plaster portrait of Ralph Ellison, author of the novel “Invisible Man.” “I read the ‘Invisible Man; as an undergrad back in Nigeria, in an African American literature class,” Inyang said. “So the connections, the intersections are just very unreal.”

Jaden Eyzenberg, BU ’22, described his impression of Wilson’s art as a statement of civil rights.

“I got the sense that Wilson, over the course of his worthy career, tirelessly sought to turn the racist injunction of African American invisibility on its head,” Eyzenberg wrote. “In masterful fashion, in his statues and sculptures, varied in form, method and vocabulary, is the singular aim to trespass into the realm of the Caucasian

cognoscenti and announce, bold and Black, that they will not be mocked from on high.”

McDonough also commented upon the resonance of Wilson’s art in the sphere of civil rights and racial justice.

“I think Wilson reminds us of the power we all possess to change the world for the better,” McDonough wrote.

“His art has its own power to teach and inspire. In a present moment that can sometimes lead us to despair, he offers us an inspiring model.”

“Ed Wilson: The Sculptor as Afro-Humanist” will remain on display until Dec. 9. “Memory and Soul,” the main gallery’s companion exhibition that also highlights Black art, will also close on Dec. 9. Visitors can view both exhibitions free of charge during museum hours.

greg Filippov contributing photographer

8

ARTS & CULTURE

bupipedream.com | September 12, 2023

7 Brew elevates the community of Vestal The location brings positive energy to the community with a large selection of customizable drinks.

Alexis Yang & Revati Gelda arts & cuLture staff

7 Brew, a drive-thru coffee stand located in 22 states, opened its first New York state location in Vestal this past August.

7 Brew advertises its brand as a communityoriented chain that emphasizes quality, convenience and connections between people. Their selection of over two dozen syrups allow their “brewistas” to create around 20,000 different drink flavor combinations.

If you’re not feeling coffee, they also offer a variety of smoothies, shakes, teas and energy drinks to choose from. Many drinks can be made sugar-free and with plant-based milk as well.

Matt Peters, 22, who serves as head of operations and is from Reading, Pennsylvania, described the fresh experience 7 Brew offers to customers.

“7 Brew prides itself in selling an experience and that is single-handedly what makes us different from any other coffee shop,” Peters wrote in an email. “Being that we take all orders via iPad at your car door, it

creates a much more unique and genuine experience that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Peters also elaborated upon the convenience of 7 Brew.

“Our double lane drivethru allows guests to get their order in and receive their drink very quickly with minimal disturbance to their travel plans, which is desired as well,” Peters wrote.

Elijah Boggs, 23, “baller” at 7 Brew from Joplin, Missouri who trains new hires, explained what makes 7 Brew special.

“We pride ourselves on our culture,” Boggs said.

“We pride ourselves on our speed and efficiency.

Just making people’s days better with good, positive interactions — bringing light to people’s days.”

The Vestal location joins 123 other 7 Brew stands around the country.

Selecting Vestal as the next location was not always certain, however, since 7 Brew’s partnership is split between two individuals living in Reading, Pennsylvania and the other two in Vestal.

Peters explained the reasoning behind ultimately choosing Vestal.

“Choosing Vestal to start hinted at the fact of an amazing community backing support and

From classic lattes and matchas to refreshing smoothies, 7 Brew has something for everyone.

numerous amounts of resources in the area to pull from when needed,” Peters wrote. “Now that we are open, we are even more thrilled to begin doing business here as the customer base has been extremely accepting and receptive to this transformative brand.”

Adina Horowitz, Binghamton University ’23, described her impression

of 7 Brew’s opening as a former resident of U Club Binghamton, a student housing complex located near the new coffee shop.

“When I saw they were opening a coffee shop, I was really disappointed because I knew I would have loved it,” Horowitz said. “I tried it on Friday, and it was, I think, the best coffee I’ve ever had actually. I was very glad that it opened when I didn’t live

here because I would have spent every penny I owned on the coffee.”

Boggs also attested to the variety of delicious drinks at 7 Brew.

“I have a million go-to drinks, it’s really how I’m feeling during the day,” Boggs said. “I love the blueberry pomegranate smoothie. That’s probably my favorite drink here.”

Coming to 7 Brew

caspar carson photo editor

isn’t just about the tasty drinks — it’s also about the inviting atmosphere.

“It is with all of my hope and energy to bring to this community kindness, fun and energy,” Peters wrote. “7 Brew is truly transforming the drivethru coffee experience as a whole, and it can be seen with the fun music, dancing employees and smiles all around.”

‘GUTS’ propels Rodrigo’s success in music Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album is relatable, catchy and emotionally vulnerable.

Emily Maca

arts & cuLture intern

Olivia Rodrigo has released her sophomore album just in time for the new school year. Rodrigo’s “GUTS” had most of us on the edge of our seats the days before the release, and the results didn’t disappoint.

“GUTS” has a primordial focus, and it is easy to spot from the album’s first track.

The coming-of-age album focuses on how every feeling seems to be amplified and how no one has a single clue about who they are.

“GUTS” has a distinct pop-rock sound reminiscent of Paramore and Katy Perry, and each song seems to tell its own story. Sincerity and honesty seem to bleed through every lyric in this album.

Starting off with her hit single, “vampire,” fans truly had no idea what to expect from her new album. “vampire” is slightly reminiscent of Rodrigo’s earliest release, “drivers

license,” but with a bit more grit and subtlety.

Rodrigo’s second single “bad idea right?” is a fun anthem dedicated to the push-and-pulls and the “what ifs?” between someone and their ex. Not to mention, it has the makings of a fun karaoke song with its fastpaced lyrics. “bad idea right?” focuses on the absurdity of constantly going back to your ex when you know you shouldn’t.

The first track of the album, “all-american bitch,” starts off as a soft guitar melody, but then surprises the listener by moving into a fast-paced song that embraces body positivity, refusing to conform to typical American ideals. Rodrigo embraces her age and everything that comes with it, by rebelling against judgment while radiating confidence through her lyrics.

The fourth track of the album, “lacy,” focuses on jealousy and how toxic it can get. Rodrigo’s “lacy” focuses on the hyper fixation one gets on someone that they deem to be more beautiful.

She sings, “You poison every little thing that I do” and “I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you,” to show how constant comparison can escalate to

toxicity.

The songs “ballad of a homeschooled girl” and “pretty isn’t pretty” talk about societal norms, and how hard it is to keep up with the ever-changing trends that young women are exposed to.

To Rodrigo, nothing she does feels right. She struggles to embrace the fact that individuality is okay, even if sometimes she feels like a failure.

Track 8, “get him back!” is similar to “bad idea right?” but embraces getting back at one’s ex, whether or not it is a good idea. Sometimes with breakups, logic flies out the window. Rodrigo writes about wanting to get back into the relationship not because she loves him, but because she wants to get back at him.

Tracks 6, “making the bed,” and 12, “teenage dream,” focus on the harsh realities of finding fame young and being thrust into the spotlight. “teenage dream” focuses on the insecurity that fame can bring into one’s personal life, as well as the crises a person can experience. In Rodrigo’s case, her lyrics suggest that she fears that she has reached her musical peak.

Rodrigo is brutally honest in “making the bed,” writing how she is disappointed with

soUrced From rolling stone Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” climbs streaming charts just days after release.

certain aspects of her life. It is refreshing to hear a young artist reveal that their lives aren’t perfect and that not everything on social media is real. “logical,” “the grudge” and “love is embarrassing” are about romantic relationships, and how confusing and toxic they can get. Rodrigo writes in “logical” that not every relationship is perfect, and how quickly a relationship can turn manipulative. “love

is embarrassing” and “the grudge” are about the start of a relationship, and how a person can be swept up by romance and consumed by a relationship that started too quickly. Rodrigo writes about how quickly a person’s self-worth can become intertwined with their relationship, and how it feels to realize that they have completely changed themselves to please someone else. Both “the grudge” and

“love is embarrassing” are beautiful songs that tackle tough topics, and Rodrigo composed them in a way that makes the listener feel seen.

All in all, Rodrigo has managed to escape the notorious sophomore album curse of struggling to find success and continues to be a source of musical relatability to her coming-of-age listeners.

9

SPORTS

bupipedream.com | September 12, 2023

Women’s soccer comes up short against Maryland Binghamton defeated after late penalty kick goal.

Jacob Knipes

assistant sports editor

Coming out of an off week, the Binghamton women’s soccer team was defeated by Maryland 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York. After a strong performance in the first half, BU was called for a handball in the box, during the second half, resulting in a Maryland penalty kick that led to the eventual game-winning goal for the Terrapins.

“I’m proud of the performance,” said Binghamton head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “Just gutted for the result. We went toe-to-toe with [a] Big 10 opponent. We did it for 81 minutes. [It was a] really unfortunate situation on [the penalty kick].

Unfortunately, that’s what the game came down to.”

The first half was characterized by offensive momentum from the Bearcats (1-4-2).

After Maryland (3-1-4) got off the game’s first shot in the sixth minute, BU began to put on some pressure on the Terrapin defense by getting in the game’s next three shots. Controlling the midfield, Binghamton looked to attack the Terrapins’ box.

“We knew there were a couple of things that we could do centrally [and] a couple of things that we could do out wide,”

Bhattacharjee said. “A big thing that we wanted to do was to win the physical battle … I’m familiar with Big 10 Soccer … it is a very physical, physical conference, and we knew that was going to be a part of the game.”

Despite their momentum, the Bearcats were unable to find the back of the net in the first.

The closest BU would get was from graduate student defender Grace Vittoria.

After a blocked shot and a corner kick, Vittoria had a look from the right side of the box that went just wide left.

BU’s defense played a big role in the first half, boxing in Maryland and clogging up space. Their physical defense would, however, result in five BU fouls. Yet, as Maryland attacked at the end of the half, BU would hold them to just one more shot as key plays from junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams kept the score at 0-0 entering the half.

“Once we had good shape and good transition behind the ball, which is something we actually struggled on earlier this year, that put us in a good place in terms of keeping numbers behind the ball and being in good defensive shape,” Bhattacharjee said.

As the second half rolled around, Maryland would become more aggressive with the ball.

The Terrapins got their first shot in at the 47th minute, unleashing a barrage of 10 shots throughout the period. Despite this push,

Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams tallied four saves in BU’s 1-0 loss against Maryland on Sunday afternoon.

Binghamton’s defense and Williams’ gloves kept the game tied for much of the half.

However, Binghamton’s offense couldn’t match its first-half pace and foul trouble plagued the Bearcats. When a Binghamton handball set up a penalty kick for Maryland, Williams couldn’t keep it away and Maryland took a 1-0 lead entering the final stretch.

“I talked to the official

about it,” Bhattacharjee said. “That official is a very good official. He felt like our player could have had time from the distance to move the arm. Unfortunately, from where he saw from his vantage point, it looked like it hit her arm. So I get it …

Really unfortunate that a well-played game like that comes down to [a penalty kick], but that’s why this game can be cruel at times.”

The Bearcats would continue to look for

opportunities in the closing minutes to even the game.

Despite a shot from senior defense Lexi Vegoda in the 86th minute that went wide left, BU wouldn’t get another shot off. When things were all said and done, the game ended in a 1-0 loss for BU. “I think the thing that just let us down was the quality of the final pass,” Bhattacharjee said. “We had some great runs. The ideas and thoughts were very

caspar carson photo editor

good. Sometimes the pace on the ball was just a little bit too much. Get to the key but before it was before one of our forward could run out too … It’s just a matter of can we get that final last bit on that final pass, to set up that final shot.”

Binghamton will begin a road trip over the coming week, starting with a stop at Cornell on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Charles F. Berman Field in Ithaca, New York.

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BU freshman secures Team USA gold at 2023 IPF championship gold from page 1

Tyler described how he first discovered powerlifting and his competitive journey in the sport that allowed him to qualify for the IPF World Junior and Sub-Junior Classic Championships.

“My older brother played a big role in [getting me into the sport, and] he kind of drew me to it,” Tyler said. “[USA Powerlifting] had a falling out with [the] IPF, and there was a new organization formed that represented Team USA at [the IPF world championship], called Powerlifting America.”

Tyler also discussed his mental and physical preparation for the IPF World Junior and Sub-Junior Classic Championships.

“The [preparation] was pretty intensive,” Tyler said. “It consisted of a nosodium diet and a water loading phase, so that you can actually sweat out and expel the excess water to reduce your weight for the weigh-in.”

He said that he selfmanaged his macronutrient intake and consumed no carbohydrates, due to their high water retention. To create a training regimen, he said that he had a programmer who helped him determine the total sets

and volume per session and worked with USA national coaches.

He expressed the importance of their coaching and experience on his performance.

As a student, he described how he balances the rigors of training with his academic course load.

“It’s slowly adding on more to your schedule and making sure that you have time for relaxation and you have time to recharge for the next day,” Tyler said.

“Being organized helps as well, and making sure to do the work that you [plan] to do at that time, that day and not procrastinate.”

Tyler expressed interest in bridging the gap between powerlifting and health care to help others improve their lives. Tyler advised aspiring powerlifters by alluding to the importance of prioritizing form over weight and being consistent and deliberate, because avoiding injury is paramount to making progress.

When reflecting on the stakes of the competition, he described his last lift of the event.

“I needed that deadlift to get second place in the competition, so it was all or nothing,” Tyler said. provided by white lights media In the deadlift event, Joseph Tyler lifted 633.8 pounds, a personal record that earned him a gold medal in the event.

Volleyball goes 2-1 at Lehigh Steel Classic Two Bearcats earn all-tournament honors.

Emily Ciarlo

assistant sports editor

After sweeping Le Moyne 3-0 last Tuesday, the Binghamton volleyball team won two out of its three games at the Lehigh Steel Classic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, defeating Farleigh Dickinson 3-2 and Lehigh 3-0 while dropping its final contest to Delaware State 3-1 over the weekend.

“I scheduled that weekend because I knew it was going to be a hard weekend,” said Binghamton head coach Allie Yaeger. “I wanted to be challenged. So playing all the teams that we played this weekend were more competitive

for us, and I’m really happy with coming out two and one.”

On Friday evening, BU (6-40) took on Farleigh Dickinson (1-9-0) in its first matchup of the tournament. After a backand-forth opening set, the Knights took the first set of the match 25-19. BU bounced back in the second set, winning 2517. The back-and-forth nature of the match continued with Farleigh Dickinson winning the third set 27-25 in overtime to go up two sets to one. However, the Bearcats managed to take the fourth and fifth sets 25 -21 and 15-8, respectively, winning their opening match of the tournament.

“I would say we were very hot and cold,” Yaeger said. “We were very inconsistent, we’re still really dealing with a bunch of injuries right now. We’re

kind of having to throw out there some new things [and] some old things, so it leads to a little bit of inconsistency on our end. Overall, I was really happy with our performance.”

Binghamton played its second match of the tournament on Saturday afternoon against Lehigh (7-3-0), looking to build on its win on Friday. Despite the Mountain Hawks taking a 6-2 advantage early on in the first set, BU made a comeback and managed to take the set 2523. The Bearcats then went on to defeat Lehigh in only three sets, winning the final two sets of the match 25-19 and 25-17, respectively, to improve to 2-0 on the weekend.

Later in the evening on Saturday, the Bearcats played their final match of the tournament against Delaware

State (4-6-0). BU got off to a strong start in the opening set but was unable to close things out, dropping the first set 2521. After the Hornets took set two, 28-26, in overtime, Binghamton won the third set 25-21. However, Binghamton’s comeback fell short as Delaware State proved to be too much as the Hornets secured the fourth set, 25-18, completing a 3-1 match victory.

Despite the loss against Delaware State, senior outside hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva recorded a career-high 27 kills in the match and 13 digs while hitting .317, earning her fifth doubledouble of the season.

“We need to get more consistent with our six-two offense, but you know we have a lot of freshmen and we’re very inexperienced and we

just need to get experienced,” Yaeger said. “Due to a lot of injuries from our older players, it forced a lot of our new players and our new freshmen to kind of get thrown in there really quickly this season. And I think they’re doing such a great job adapting to the physicality and the quickness and the speed of division one volleyball.”

Ilieva tallied 59 kills, 34 digs and five blocks over the entirety of the tournament.

She also leads the nation in service aces with 23, which put Binghamton within the top 10 in the country in team service aces with 79. In addition to Ilieva, freshman outside hitter Ella Schabort went on to earn All-Tournament honors with 35 kills, 16 digs, eight blocks and seven service aces over the weekend.

Senior outside hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva recorded a career-high 27 kills in BU’s 3-1 loss against Delaware State at the Lehigh Steel Classic over the weekend.

“[Ilieva] is really unbelievable for us,” Yaeger said. “She plays at such a high level and you always kind of know what you’re going to get with her. We played the Lehigh match at like 12:30, and then as soon as we were done we had to start warming up for Delaware State. So our girls were exhausted but [Ilieva] managed to make her career-high still against Delaware State being exhausted and playing in all six rotations. She’s really the backbone of this program.”

Binghamton will compete at the UConn Dog Pound Challenge next, with its first matchup against Brown on Saturday, Sept. 16. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Gampel Arena in Storrs, Connecticut.

aidan emery staff photographer