Spring 2016 Issue 10

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SEX ISSUE WILL BE

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 Friday, February 26, 2016 | Vol. LXXXIX, Issue 10 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com

Celebrating 70 Years as the Free Word on Campus

Contract negotiations in question Wages, health care contested in Sodexo, union discussions Carla Sinclair Assistant News Editor

like healthcare, education, shelter, violence and harassment. In response to these, she talked about how knowing and realizing people’s struggles, working together as allies and raising awareness can help those in need. She added that often the only times marginalized people are given visibility is in correlation with trauma. “When we speak trans women of color names, it’s often when they cannot speak back,” Mock said. “Similar in the sense that we often speak the names of black people when they

Almost all food on campus is prepared, cooked and served by members of Sodexo’s workforce, many of whom students have grown to know by name or face. But since June 30 of last year, they’ve been working without a contract. Binghamton University Sodexo workers are represented by Albanybased United Professional and Service Employees Union (UPSEU) 1222. The union has represented the workers since May of 2015, when the workers voted out previous union Rochester Regional Joint Board with a 124-88 vote. With the previous union, workers were unable to protest labor practices such as low wages or expensive healthcare. According to UPSEU 1222 labor relations representative Paul Iachetta, the current union wants to fix this. However, according to Iachatta and labor relations representative Bryan Staul, negotiations have faced complications. After months of negotiating with Sodexo for a package including increased healthcare coverage, wage increases and an improved retirement plan, Iachetta said

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Kevin Sussy/Pipe Dream Photographer Janet Mock, the keynote of the Black Student Union (BSU)’s celebration of Black History Month, speaks with students. Mock is an activist, a New York Times best-selling author, host of her own weekly digital series on MSNBC called “So Popular!” and has been interviewed by individuals like Stephen Colbert and Oprah Winfrey.

Janet Mock shares inclusive outlook

BSU invites author, MSNBC show host as Black History Month keynote speaker Zachary Wingate Pipe Dream News

Binghamton University’s Black Student Union (BSU) brought activist Janet Mock to campus to be the Black History Month keynote speaker. Mock is the New York Times bestselling author of “Redefining Realness,” the host of a digital series on MSNBC called “So Popular!” and has been interviewed by celebrities like Stephen Colbert and Oprah Winfrey. This Black History Month’s theme is “all black lives matter,” referencing the activist group Black Lives Matter.

Mock praised this theme because she said even within activism, dominant voices are too frequently the faces of movements. “Who are the voices we tend to hear the most?” Mock said. “They tend to be cis-gendered, straight, college-educated black men. That’s who the microphone usually tends to go to. We’re in a space now where the charismatic male leader is being challenged.” Mock talked about intersectionality in activist communities and how her experiences moving between racial justice, feminist and LGBTQ movements have shaped her experiences. She added

that she often centers transgender women of color in her work, both as a journalist and as an activist, because these marginalized groups often go unnoticed. “If you look at many racial justice, feminist and LGBT activist coalitions, one is on race, one is on gender and one is on sexuality,” Mock said. “Because we work and think in a single identity focus politic, we forget certain people that don’t simply fall in line, and they fall in between the cracks of those coalitions.” In addition, Mock talked about many issues facing her communities today

Activist talks LGBTQ rights in Israel Prof. remembered Etai Pinkas explains his struggles as a gay man in the Middle East for passion, humor Shauna Bahssin

Contributing Writer

Vladimir Kolesnikov/Contributing Photographer Etai Pinkas, an Israeli city councilman and LGBTQ rights activist, discusses his involvement with the LGBTQ movement and its progression in the Middle East. The event, which was co-hosted by Bearcats for Israel, Binghamton University Zionist Organization (BUZO), Stand With Us, SHADES and Keshet, was sponsored by the Hillel USA program to help spread Israeli awareness on college campuses.

As an Israeli city councilman and LGBTQ rights activist, Etai Pinkas has a unique perspective of the LGBTQ movement in the Middle East. On Tuesday, he came to Binghamton University to share that perspective, discussing his involvement with the movement and its progression. The event, which was co-hosted by Bearcats for Israel, Binghamton University Zionist Organization (BUZO), Stand With Us, SHADES and Keshet, was sponsored by the Hillel USA program to help spread Israeli awareness on college campuses. Pinkas served as the chair of the National LGBT Association of Israel between 2000 to 2002, and was elected to Tel Aviv city council in 2003. At the event, he discussed his time as a city councilman, where he

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Development increasing DT

Mayor Rich David gives State of the City address, shares plans for change Alexandra Mackof News Editor

Binghamton Mayor Rich David gave his annual State of the City address at City Hall on Tuesday night. The mayor discussed several issues, ranging from drug politics, green energy initiatives and development in Downtown Binghamton. David began his speech with what he referred to as his most important duty: public safety. “Make no mistake — Binghamton is a law and order community,” David said. “We won’t tolerate criminal activity on our streets. We’re also a city that supports our police officers, understands the work they do and the dangers they face.”

David summarized and commended police efforts, referencing arrests made in relation to both a Feb. 14 shooting and a string of robberies on the West Side. He also discussed increased transparency within the Binghamton Police Department, citing the 90 body cameras currently used by officers onduty and the department’s intention to purchase 30 more. The 434 Greenway Project, a bike and pedestrian trail intended to connect Binghamton University to Downtown Binghamton, was also addressed. David said that more than $6.6 million in funding from both the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the

ARTS & CULTURE

From Gwen Stefani to Zayn Malik, the music industry has even more in store for 2016,

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Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) were going to support its creation. “It will serve as a critical link in the multi-use trail network across the Southern Tier, promote alternative modes of transportation and showcase to the community the city’s growing bond with our University,” David said. Keeping with a theme of development, David also discussed his efforts to enhance State Street and the surrounding area. State Street construction is set to begin in the fall and he said the changes would improve the safety and appearance of Downtown.

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Wilhelm Nicolaisen, 88, taught English at BU, chaired American Folklore Society Alexis Hatcher Pipe Dream News

Wilhelm Nicolaisen, a professor emeritus of English at Binghamton University, died Monday, February 15 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 88 years old. Nicolaisen’s academic career was long and distinguished. In 1955, he graduated with his doctorate in comparative linguistics, English and German from the University of Tübingen in Germany. He later earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Celtic studies from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He began working at BU in 1970, where he taught in the English department, becoming a distinguished professor of English and folklore in 1985. Nicolaisen retired from BU in 1992 and continued to teach at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland until he died. While at BU, Nicolaisen helped further the University in numerous ways, including chairing the committee that formed the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. His daughter, Birgit Nicolaisen, a program assistant for University Tutoring Services at BU, said his various involvements partly stemmed from a willingness to help anyone possible. “I couldn’t tell you the number of committees he chaired on this campus,” Birgit said. “They always came to him because he always did a great job with collaboration and getting people to work together. His work was his passion.” However, Nicolaisen’s passion wasn’t limited to his work with folklore and Scottish place-names, which is the study of the origin and history of names and naming practices. According to Birgit,

OPINIONS

Student-directed show “Fun” takes a dark look at the city of Binghamton,

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he also had a love for singing, food and traveling. Elizabeth Tucker, Nicolaisen’s colleague and the current English undergraduate director at BU, said the time he spent studying in Europe gave him access to an abundance of interesting information and was part of what made him such a masterful and inspirational teacher. “He was a wonderful man, always full of spirit and enthusiasm,” Tucker said. “He had an excellent sense of humor and loved to make jokes.” This strong sense of humor is something Nicolaisen’s past student, Simon Bronner, said he remembers well. According to Bronner, Nicolaisen proved that teachers were capable of enjoying

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Photo Provided Pictured: Wilhelm Nicolaisen

SPORTS

Contributing columnist discusses the benefits of voting Clinton over Sanders,

Poor second half dooms women’s lacrosse,

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Carmody, Watkins lead women’s basketball to victory over UMBC,

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