Friday, February 19, 2016 | Vol. LXXXIX, Issue 8 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
Celebrating 70 Years as the Free Word on Campus
EDITORIAL
STUDENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DILLON SCHADE MUST RESIGN In his public apology for the racist language found on his Tinder profile, Student Association President Dillon Schade urged the student body to work with him to fight against racial inequality on our campus. He could better show his commitment to the cause by resigning the presidency. The series of events that unfolded over the past week were hard to believe. The student body watched as Schade’s Tinder account was revealed to contain a joke using the N-word. Initially, he claimed that the profile was not his, and later said that he had fallen victim to a malicious prank. Student groups reacted, with the Latin American Student Union, Women’s Student Union and Hillel — among others — signing on to a letter from the Black Student Union (BSU) calling for Schade’s immediate resignation, a formal apology and a dire need for change on Binghamton University’s campus. On Thursday, BSU hosted an open town hall meeting that also featured additional cultural groups and minority organizations, where many students publicly voiced their issues with Schade and their dissatisfaction with the current campus climate. Though the meeting was not open to the press, Pipe Dream received word from attendees that Schade plans to formally resign at Monday’s Congress meeting. However, until there is public confirmation, this information is only heresay. If indeed Schade intends to resign, the Editorial Board encourages him to do so with haste. The fact of the matter is that students do not feel comfortable with Schade as their president — and rightly so. Whether or not Schade is responsible for the language that appeared on his Tinder profile is not yet clear, but what is clear is that he is an elected representative who has lost the trust of a large segment of the students he represents. Every day that Schade remains president is a day that the Student Association cannot effectively do its job. He can no longer serve as the voice of the students to the administration and beyond when so many view his voice as tainted and not representative of their own. His presence in the SA is now a distraction and a hindrance, rather than a driving force. When Schade ran for his position last year, he made it clear his intentions were to do right by the student body both as a leader and a representative. There is certainly no doubt that he was committed to his job, but it is now completely clear that he is no longer fit for it. Schade must leave office for the same reason he took it — to help move Binghamton University forward.
The Editorial Board is composed of the Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Opinions Editor, Arts & Culture Editor and Sports Editor.
Pharmacy dean hosts first town hall Groups call Gloria Meredith updates local community on plans for Johnson City health sciences complex
Gabriella Weick Assistant News Editor
Founding Dean Gloria Meredith presented the progress of the upcoming Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in a town hall meeting on Tuesday. Administration, media and community members gathered in the Old University Union Hall to ask questions and learn about the new graduate school. Meredith said the school will welcome its first class in fall 2017, pending the award of pre-candidate status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education later this year. “When we first heard about the project, we thought, ‘oh, 2017, that’s so far away,’” she said. “And now we’re talking about possibly recruiting students this summer. So it grows fast, and the whole area will grow around it.” Each class in the four-year
pharmaceutical doctorate program will hold 85 to 90 students. In addition, there will be 30 to 50 Ph.D. candidates in pharmaceutical sciences and 32 full-time faculty and additional adjunct faculty. In-state tuition is set to be $24,400 each year. The new school, which will be located on Corliss Avenue in Johnson City, will be across the street from UHS Wilson Medical Center and close to Lourdes Hospital, which Meredith said will be beneficial for clinical practice and residencies. In addition, due to the Southern Tier’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative win, the Decker School of Nursing will be relocating to the former Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company factory building on the Pharmacy School property. Meredith, who was hired in April 2015, said she and her team have been hard at work, and construction and hirings are ahead of schedule. She said
she will continue to hold town halls to update the community and clear up any misconceptions. “People on campus and in the community hear things about a new school … the information isn’t always correct,” she said. “People can come to a meeting like a town hall and learn more about the reality of the school and what the school is really going to be.” The curriculum for the Pharmacy School will feature classes in pharmaceutical management, hospital practice and pharmacoeconomics. The new health sciences complex will include a simulation lab to practice administering medication to responsive electronic mannequins, mock community pharmacies and mock hospital pharmacies. The school, Meredith said, will not require a bachelor’s degree for admission, but will require scores from the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) and
prerequisite classes. A pathways program will also be created between Harpur College and the Pharmacy School, creating six- and seven-year undergraduate-to-pharmaceuticaldoctorate programs. Meredith also stressed the importance of the intra-school research and relations the new school will have with not only the Decker School of Nursing, but with schools across BU. “I’m excited for what this is going to do for biomedical research on campus; I think this is going to create an exponential increase,” said Donald Nieman, the provost of academic affairs. “There’s a lot of excitement and interest from faculty across [schools] about the potential research synergies with the School of Pharmacy.” Attendees like Ron Goodwin, a community member, said they appreciated
SEE DEAN PAGE 2
Residence halls to close over '17 Parade Day weekend
New mid-semester break prompts students to circulate a petition to keep dorms open Pelle Waldron Assistant News Editor
Every March, thousands of Binghamton University students pack the streets of Downtown for Parade Day. In 2017, this might not be the case. The University released the academic calendar for spring 2017, in which an early mid-semester break is scheduled from March 3-8. Parade Day will be on March 4, but because BU has a break, all residence halls will be closed, meaning that students living on campus will not have a place to stay if they choose to remain in Binghamton for Parade Day. Although many students living on campus are under drinking age,
this will inconvenience all those who live on University grounds and wish to attend. One BU junior, who requested anonymity because he feared being directly associated with the petition, started a petition on the website Change.org that calls for BU president Harvey Stenger and the University administration to keep residence halls open over that weekend. Over 45 people had signed the petition as of Thursday night. “President Stenger, with all [due] respect we as a student body strongly protest you closing campus during the weekend of 3/3/17-3/5/17, and hereby request that you allow students the choice to decide how and what they do
ARTS & CULTURE
CollegeHumor Live performs stand-up and sketch comedy at the Osterhout Concert Theater,
See page 4
with their personal lives,” the petition reads. Donald Nieman, the BU provost, chaired the committee responsible for the calendar. According to him, breaks were added in order to ease student workloads throughout the semester, but he did not clarify whether Parade Day was considered. “For years, we have heard from both students and parents that the academic calendar interferes with holidays and that spring break falls too late in the semester to provide the break from academic pressures that students — and faculty — need,” Nieman wrote in an email. “The new calendar will remedy that and help students succeed academically — the overriding goal of
the committee.” The petition states that students do believe the dates of Parade Day were taken into account. According to the student who wrote the petition, students will be missing out on a signature aspect of BU culture. “I think Parade Day is a huge part of the Binghamton community,” the student said. “Part of the appeal is that everybody is everywhere, you walk down the street, you see hundreds of people you know; it would be really unfortunate I think if something was done that stopped that.” Larry Shea, the owner of State Street bar Tom and Marty’s, said that while
See page 5
SA President faces backlash for language found on Tinder profile Alexandra Mackof News Editor
The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted an open town hall meeting on Thursday evening to further its call for Student Association (SA) President Dillon Schade’s resignation. Pipe Dream was prohibited from covering the meeting. However, in an email sent to student organizations — including Pipe Dream — BSU announced the intention of the meeting and requested that groups send information to their Listservs. “The climate on this campus continues to be hostile towards minority groups, and as the President of the Student Association, Dillon sets the example for what is representative of, and acceptable from a Binghamton University student,” BSU wrote in the email. “As such, we feel it’s important that we collectively discuss a course of action to take in regards to the situation, as well as discussing prospects for candidacy for the Student Association and Congress in the 2016-2017 year.” BSU posted a letter on its Facebook page Tuesday night, calling for a formal apology and Schade’s resignation. The request came after the discovery of a Tinder profile appearing to belong to Schade, on which the phrase “if you’re a nigga, then I’m a nigga” was written in the description. The letter was initially supported by the Men of Color Scholastic Society, Haitian Student Association, Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program Nation and the Latin American Student Union, and
SEE PARADE PAGE 2
OPINIONS
Check out Pipe Dream’s coverage of the 58th annual Grammy Awards,
for Schade's resignation
SEE SA PAGE 2
SPORTS
A guest columnist discusses the need to change the conversation around sexual assault,
Men’s basketball fails to sustain momentum in second half against Vermont,
See page 7
See page 10
Men’s lacrosse set to open 2016 on Saturday at Colgate,
See bupipedream.com/sports
2
NEWS
bupipedream.com | February 19, 2016
BU student taps into legal hemp market Castetter works to find funding for production of wines containing 4 percent THC Brendan Zarkower Pipe Dream News
Provided by Paul Chiaro Pictured: Paul Chiarot, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at BU. Chiarot was awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award for research into how to create organs.
Professor gets $500K for 3D printing studies
National Science Foundation grants Paul Chiarot funds to start research Michelle Kraidman Pipe Dream News
Prosthetic limbs may not be the only human parts manufactured by 3D printers. With the help of a $500,000 grant, a Binghamton University professor plans to figure out how to create organs. Paul Chiarot, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at BU, was awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award. The award entitles Chiarot to a fiveyear, $500,000 grant to advance the research of additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. The award is given to early career researchers who plan to use the grant money both for research and to educate their local area on their area of expertise. Chiarot said that the application was extensive; applicants had to describe their research and education plan in detail and must follow that plan in their using of the grant. “The proposals take many months to prepare — and are often built on ideas that have been refined over years,” Chiarot said. “As part of my proposal, I will be collaborating with other scientists, engineers and experts to achieve our research, education and outreach goals.” Chiarot’s goal is to redefine 3D printing by making it more feasible to print highly detailed objects and thin, lengthened items. His research will use microscopic nanoparticles as basic material building blocks to assemble whole complex structures, which can lead to more precise products. His plan includes working with students from BU and the University of Toronto, where he received his doctorate. The award, which will be given in June, will allow Chiarot to use nanoparticles made of different materials such as metals, alloys and oxides, as well as morphologies such as spheres, rods and wires. He said that these new structures and the advanced printing created with it will have a great impact on society,
as it can be used to manufacture organs and parts with mechanical, thermal and electric properties. “The next generation of highperformance devices for use in energy production, healthcare and security will require a fast and reliable manufacturing methodology that provides fine feature control at the level of an individual printed layer,” Chiarot said. This is significant, he said, because it is not currently feasible to print highly detailed complex products on a large scale. He will use nanoparticles of different materials to produce every small part of a complex design such as a kidney or a part for a new energy source. Chiarot said he will be working with colleague Darlee Gerrard from University of Toronto. The two plan to have students from both universities work together in the research and general engineering studies. Chiarot said that both graduate and undergraduate students, who will be funded by the grant, are an essential part of his research program and this will also give them the chance to pursue their own research. “A particular emphasis of this program is to engage students that are often underrepresented in engineering and science,” Chiarot said. “Our students will be spending summers in Toronto over the next couple of years and students from Toronto will be coming to Binghamton.“ Chiarot said he believes that his research will have further results on flexible electronics, which is technology that allows the assembling of electronic circuits by placing electronic devices on flexible plastic substrates. “In particular, one area where I see this work having a major impact is in flexible electronics,” Chiarot said. “This is an area where our university has made major contributions and the Watson School has recently had great success in attracting support for our research.”
A student-run startup is attempting to tackle the wine market with a distinctive product — hemp-infused wine. Innovative Bottling Solutions was founded by sophomore Kaelan Castetter last summer as a continuation of a venture started by his father in the 1990s. The initial hemp wine venture was shut down by government regulations that have since changed, and it has inspired Castetter to improve upon the idea and expand the concept. “We are using a unique oil from the hemp plant that delivers a distinctive flavor and aromatic quality,” said Castetter, who is majoring in political science. According to Castetter, since the wine contains less than four percent THC — the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — it is legal under federal regulations. The wine, which tastes of hemp, is in high demand. He described it as a different kind of taste than normal wine, though the amount of THC
is too small to elicit the feeling usually associated with hemp. He sees target markets on college campuses and at festivals around the country, though he has his sights set on the Finger Lakes region at first. He said that he is excited about the product because it is something that hasn’t really been done before. “Wine has yet to be brewed in the United States with hemp in it,” Castetter said. “There are some beers, but they haven’t been successfully marketed.” Castetter says that the company’s “proprietary extraction method” is what makes the product unique. This method is the means by which the hemp oil is infused with the wine, and it opens up a lot of options for his products. “The great thing about this is flexibility,” Castetter said. “We can add this to any variety, whether it’s an expensive French wine, champagne or rosé.” On the production end, Castetter has partnered with a student from another school to perfect the process. Ben Herrara, a
Cornell University senior majoring in food science with a minor in viticulture — the study of grape cultivation — is head of production. “Right now I am working on formulation, trying to figure out what tastes the best,” Herrara said. “As we grow I’ll focus on the scaling of production and things like that.” Herrara, who became involved with the venture when Castetter reached out to the Cornell viticulture department directly, shares Castetter’s impression that the market for this product is large and untapped, possibly due to the legal stigmas around the product. “The only thing really holding us back right now is capital,” Cassetter said. In terms of managing capital, Castetter has turned to several fellow BU students to help run the financial end of the business. Sam Debessay, a junior majoring in business administration, is working on the quantitative components of the start-up along with Rohan Nayyar, a senior also majoring
in business administration. “This wine with the qualities of hemp is an innovative concept,” Debessay said. “The margins are good, because it’s alcohol, and there’s minimal competition nationally.” The company has entered oncampus competitions in the past, including the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships Idea Pitch competition, but they have yet to receive any funding through these means. Future plans for Innovative Bottling Solutions consist primarily of trying to find funding by attending venture capital fairs and entering more local business competitions. Castetter acknowledges that his business is unlike many that are receiving funding through these means, but remains committed to the cause nonetheless. “I was laughed out of a lot of wineries, because of my age and my idea,” Castetter said. “But after this takes off, we’ll see who is left laughing.”
Town hall calls for SA president to step down SA FROM PAGE 1 it criticized the SA for a lack of response. Since the letter’s posting on Tuesday night, the Women’s Student Union and Hillel at BU publicly expressed their support as well. Schade issued a statement to the campus community on Wednesday. He stated that the
profile was edited without his knowledge, and that he was unaware of the derogatory language. He said it was not reflective of his own values, and that while he looks to identify whoever is responsible, a larger issue must be addressed. “Racial inequality has been a recurring problem on our campus, but it is not unique to our campus, not unique to SUNY, and not unique to higher education,” he wrote. “We can, and must, do more. This university must be a place where all students feel safe regardless of their identity.” Assistant Dean for Off-Campus Services Milton Chester said he understands students are upset over the issue, but does not believe that Schade is responsible for the Tinder profile message. “The person that I have come to know is not consistent with that type of language,” Chester said. “Dillon is saying that he didn’t do that. He didn’t put that there. In my opinion, given what we know about Dillon and his character and who he is and what he’s done,
he deserves the benefit of the doubt on this.” BU President Harvey Stenger said that the University is examining the issue, and asked anybody with relevant information to reach out. “I am calling on the Student Association (SA) and our Dean of Students Office to conduct a full and thorough investigation regarding unacceptable language that has come to light involving racist remarks made on a social media account owned by the SA President,” Stenger said. “The University offers its assistance to ensure that the SA swiftly addresses this issue. I encourage anyone who has information about this social media post to contact me directly, or to contact one of the following offices: the University Ombudsman, the Dean of Students, the Human Resources Office, the Office of Student Conduct or the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” Valerie Hampton, BU’s chief diversity officer, said the situation is unfortunate. According to
her, the true issue at hand is the general usage of derogatory speech on campus. “The language that we’re still using to describe other human beings in pejorative ways is offensive and unacceptable in any form,” Hampton said. “It is not funny to joke about. It is not funny to think that saying something negative about a person’s identity in any way is acceptable.” Schade, a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, also issued a statement on his personal Facebook page, where he apologized for the profile. “I sincerely apologize for anyone that was insulted by the language used in the description,” Schade wrote. “I want to break a few rumors out there. The main profile was mine, but the profile was altered by someone unknown and I am currently pursuing for a confession from whoever did it. The language used does not describe my demeanor, competency, and is unacceptable for any standard.”
Pictured: Schade's controversial Tinder profile
Dorms to close for Parade Day in 2017 PARADE FROM PAGE 1 the University may have good reason for closing residence halls during Parade Day, it is an unfortunate occurrence. “If the school had concerns about the growth of the parade, or concerns about problems in other areas with their own festivities, that is certainly understandable,” Shea said. “But we haven’t had any problems, so it’s disappointing that they acted without any discussion. The parade is without question a great selling point for the area to BU students. I can’t think of any single event that draws the two separate communities together than Parade Day.”
Jason Chacho, a junior majoring in economics, signed the petition. According to him, the break is poorly timed, and the short length complicates transportation plans. “I signed the petition because there’s not a good reason to close campus over a long weekend, forcing many students to make a long commute home for no apparent reason other than it being a ‘winter break,’” Chacho said, “even though we have never had a break that early in the semester.” Even though Parade Day falls in the middle of break next year, Nieman said that students are free to participate.
“This is one of many traditions,” Nieman wrote. “The break won’t always fall at the same time, so there will be some years when we will be in session when Parade Day takes place. At the same time, students are more than welcome to attend the parade if they so choose.” While the petition may not achieve its goal, there is a hope that it will start a conversation between the student body and the administration. “My hope is that the petition can show that a large enough amount of the student body is against it,” the student said. “I think it would be something that the University would consider changing.”
We haven't had any problems, so it's dissapointing that they acted without any discussion —Larry Shea Bar Owner
Founding dean fields questions on Johnson City pharmacy school DEAN FROM PAGE 1
Kevin Sussy/Contributing Photographer, Pictured: Gloria Meredith, founding dean of the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Meredith presented the progress of the upcoming school to administration, media and community members in a town hall meeting on Tuesday.
Meredith’s community outreach, and look forward to the new school’s economic impact. “This will bring what the University’s presence in Downtown Binghamton brought, which was an increase in economic development,” Goodwin said. “The University has been the economic driver for this region … it’s been a very important part of our area economically. I think this is just going to build on that.” Nieman agreed, and said he looks forward to more of what Meredith will accomplish in establishing the school and in the Johnson City community. “One of the great things of being involved with this for the past three years is the
excitement that the community has about this, because it really is going to give an economic jolt to this area,” he said. “And that’s something we take very seriously as a public university.”
I'm excited for what this is going to do for biomedical research —Donald Nieman BU Provost
PAGE III Friday, February 19, 2016
Address: University Union WB03 4400 Vestal Parkway E. Binghamton, N.Y. 13902
WORD ON THE STREET
Phone: 607-777-2515
What is your opinion on the conflict surrounding Student Association (SA) President Dillon Schade’s alleged Tinder profile?
FAx: 607-777-2600 Web: bupipedream.com
Spring 2016
The past few days have been chaotic and eventful. Pipe Dream went around campus to see what you, the students at BU, had to say about the events that have transpired.
editor-in-ChieF* Nicolas Vega editor@bupipedream.com
Photos: John Babich/Assistant Photography Editor, Neil Seejoor/Pipe Dream Photographer,
“I feel like this is the proper course of action. Unfortunately he’s in the court of the public — this information is out there. Even if he did or didn’t do it, if it was a joke or not, it’s still a serious issue because clearly all
MAnAging editor* Emma C Siegel manager@bupipedream.com
“It’s a little odd that he claimed that someone else changed his profile … I think that as a [person] in power he can’t be saying that, he can’t allow people to have access to his profile
neWs editor* Alexandra K. Mackof news@bupipedream.com
like that.”
Asst. neWs editors Carla B. Sinclair Pelle Waldron Gabriella Weick
these organizations are offended.”
— Sarah Khalil, a sophomore majoring in economics — Brandon Richards, a junior majoring in English
oPinions editor* Lawrence Ciulla opinion@bupipedream.com Arts & Culture editor* Odeya Pinkus release@bupipedream.com Asst. Arts & Culture editor Kathryn Shafsky
“I don’t think he should resign, as long as he’s taken steps to apologize. Given he did that, he shouldn’t face extreme repercussions like that. It’s over the top and he doesn’t deserve it.”
— Francesco Napoli, a junior majoring in physics
sPorts editor* E.Jay Zarett sports@bupipedream.com
“What was on his Tinder account was inappropriate and offensive. But college is the time where you can make a mistake. If you’re called out on it and make an apology, you confess that you were wrong and give an explanation, and then you should be given a second chance. He’ll be under the watchful scrutiny of the students of the University that he won’t misrepresent the student body again. But I think
Asst. sPorts editors Jeffrey Twitty Orla McCaffrey PhotogrAPhy editor* Franz K. Lino photo@bupipedream.com
he should be given that second chance to redeem himself.”
Asst. PhotogrAPhy editor John S. Babich
— Emily Davio, a freshman majoring in mathematics
Fun editor* Benjamin T. Moosher fun@bupipedream.com
design MAnAger* Samantha Webb design@bupipedream.com
“At the end of the day we’re all Binghamton University students, people need to understand that and come to the realization that we’re all the same. We’re all students here for the same purpose. We’re all equal, every single one of us, and that’s something we need to spread through this campus. I feel like that issue that happened can help us spark something bigger to help something better come out of this situation.”
“I don’t think he would intentionally do something like that. You’re the president of the school, you know that you’re always in the public eye. I don’t think that he did it or had anything to do with it, I think he genuinely feels bad. I saw his statement, I don’t think he would target a specific audience knowing it would offend someone.”
CoPy desk ChieF* Katherine H. Dowd copy@bupipedream.com
— Robercy Tapia, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering
Asst. CoPy desk ChieF Rachel Greenspan
design Assts. Aleza Leinwand Sihang Li
neWsrooM teChnology MAnAger* Rohit Kapur tech@bupipedream.com
— Mark Hamilton, a sophomore majoring in biology
Asst. neWsrooM teCh. MAnAger Henry Zheng leAd Web develoPer* William Sanders web@bupipedream.com
“I think it was kind of blown out of proportion. He’s a figure of the whole student body, but I think [it was taken] too seriously.”
— Katherine Degnan, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering
editoriAl Artist Elizabeth Manning
“It’s a bad situation that he put himself in or one of his friends put him in. I don’t know how he’s going to get out of that, it’s always going to be on his name.”
business MAnAger* Michael A. Contegni business@bupipedream.com
— Robert Pratt, a senior majoring in mathematics
Advertising MAnAger Sabrina Khan ads@bupipedream.com distribution MAnAger Nathan Dodge 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 e-mailed to the Opinion Editor at opinion@ bupipedream.com.
“For someone who is in such a high position, you have a certain responsibility. He can say it behind doors but he can’t say it on social media. Whoever hacked the account shouldn’t have done it, or if it was him then he shouldn’t have done it. If you’re the president of the SA you should be careful about what you put online.”
— Mohammed Khan, a junior double-majoring in economics and environmental studies
group texts :destabilizing
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ARTS & CULTURE Comedy and controversy
CollegeHumor entertains at Osterhout Concert Hall Erica Doyle Contributing Writer
DCP's 'Vagina Monologues' Kevin Sussy/Contributing Photographer From left to right: Anna Cronin, a junior majoring in psychology; Alyssa Eveland, a freshman majoring in anthropology; Emily Kanarek, a freshman majoring in human development; and Alyssa Yee, a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, perform “They Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy.” The scene was a part of Dickinson Community Players 11th annual “Vagina Monologues.”
11th annual show seeks to open feminist dialogue
Shauna Bahssin “Because He Liked to Look at Staff Writer it” and is a senior majoring in psychology. “They’re supposed “I bet you’re worried,” to make you uncomfortable says one speaker. “We were because they’re supposed to worried,” says a second. “We make you question. They’re were worried about vaginas,” supposed to make you think says the last. twice about the things you These lines begin a rapid- may have said, you may have fire sequence of speeches thought, you may have seen, that discuss the subject of you may have heard and the womanhood and the female way you reacted or didn’t reproductive system as part react.” of the play “The Vagina The play is staged with little Monologues.” The collection scenery and with rarely more of declarations, written by Eve than one person onstage at a Ensler, was created in 1996 time. This forces the audience after she conducted countless to focus on and confront interviews with women of all the stigmas about vaginas ages, races and sexualities. that the actresses discuss in The narratives are as diverse their monologues, including in emotion as they are in stigmas that are still taken inspiration. for granted in the present day This production is — 20 years after the play first put on every year by the opened off-Broadway. Most Dickinson Community of these topics are taboo — Players (DCP) early in the it’s frowned upon to discuss spring semester — this year things like the procedures at marking the performance’s gynecologist visits and how 11th anniversary — and aims disagreeable they are, or how to spread awareness about uncomfortable it is to shave. a multitude of issues that “All of [the topics] are women around the world perfectly natural; all of face. In each monologue, an them are things that we face actress in the all-female cast as women,” said Amanda captures the scripted moments MacDougald, who performs of tenderness, injustice and the monologue “I Was There perseverance with ease. This in the Room” and is a senior ensures that there’s something majoring in English. “I think to identify with, empathize part of getting people to come with or change the audience’s out and see the show is getting perspective during every them to rethink these issues.” moment of the play. In a piece so heavily geared “These [topics] will make toward social change, the you uncomfortable and that’s show is careful to address all okay,” said Kristen Mulvena, facets of the gender ideology, who performs the monologue from slurs used in place
of the reproductive organ (“Reclaiming Cunt”) to rape and genital mutilation in war-ravaged countries (“Notso-Happy Fact” and “My Vagina was My Village”). The intersectionality of the show is a favorite aspect of the show for Eliza Gellis, director of the show and a senior majoring in English. “[It’s] awesome to come out and think about, ‘How can we expand definitions of feminism so that it really is inclusive?’” Gellis said. Gellis stressed that, though the play is a safe space for women to discuss what feminism is for them, the work is equally as important for people of other genders who will watch the show and stand in solidarity with the women whose narratives are told. The play is one that requests an open mind of the audience, and in the context of this production group in a college setting, is likely to find another year of success in educating its audiences. This play is a V-Day production, entailing that the rights to the play are free so long as the proceeds of the play are allocated to a charitable cause. For this production, the proceeds will be going to RISE, Broome County’s women’s shelter. The play will be showing February 19 at 8 p.m. and February 20 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center multi-purpose room.
Throughout the play, some of the speakers discuss what their vaginas would wear if they were able to. After the curtain call, I asked the cast members the same questions. These were some of their answers: • “Plaid flannel over a set of armor” - Kelly Vest, who performs the monologue “The Flood,” and is a senior majoring in biology. • “A men’s three-piece suit and Christian Louboutin heels” Alyssa Eveland, who performs the monologue “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy,” and is a freshman majoring in anthropology. • “A nice red bow” - Mary Golden, who performs the monologue “The Little CoochieSnorcher Who Could,” and is a sophomore majoring in English. • “A feathered fedora and a fake mustache” - Erica Faggione, who performs the monologue “Hair,” and is a sophomore majoring in psychology. • “Fuzzy socks” - Gilda Goldental, who performs the monologue “Not-so-Happy Fact,” and is a sophomore majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies. • “Stilettos and lingerie” - Jacqueline Pontillo, who performs the monologue “My Angry Vagina,” and is an undeclared freshman. • “Footsie pajamas with expensive lingerie underneath” - Emily Kanarek, who performs the monologue “They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy,” and is a freshman majoring in human development.
On Thursday night, the Student Association Programming Board (SAPB) brought CollegeHumor Live to the Osterhout Theater. The free show featured three stand-up comics affiliated with CollegeHumor.com CollegeHumor is a website founded in 1999 that combines funny comics and videos; it’s also the company that brought forth the Webby Award-winning YouTube series, “Jake and Amir.” The CollegeHumor Live show at BU starred Thomas Dale, who has appeared on popular shows like “Chelsea Lately,” along with Matt Pavich and Brady Matthews. Pavich was the winner of the New York Comedy Festival’s New York’s Funniest competition and Brady Matthews — the show’s opener — has performed in places such as The Comedy Store and has also toured the Western college scene. Over the course of the evening the three entertainers discussed racism in radio commercials, compared vaginas to Disneyland and said girlfriends were bad to “Netflix and chill” with. While their purpose was to entertain, it was clear that they were walking a fine line. “There were definitely a couple controversial jokes,” said Bernadette Machuca, the vice president for programming for SAPB. “You always hear something like that at any comedy event.” The comedians were not screened beforehand. “We had no control over the selection of the comedians, or this tour, or the material that they were going to cover,” said Machuca, a senior majoring in Biology. The comedians, on the other
hand, were clearly comfortable with their material. Matt Pavich, a New York City native, thinks that he isn’t stirring the pot, but rather making difficult topics more bearable. “If you actually listen … I’m not like hating on anyone or saying anything bad,” said Pavich. “I’m trying to diffuse that situation.” Some students were grateful for the candidness of the show and overall thought it embodied the troupe’s namesake, as the performers joked about stereotypical college obsessions like sex, drugs and technology. “I think it can be tricky to joke about controversial things and people get offended, but I think it’s good to laugh about it,” said Lauryn Maleski, a freshman majoring in human development. The final act was headliner Thomas Dale, a Long Island native who now lives in Los Angeles; Dale was met with some mixed feelings from the crowd. His skit centered around his sexual orientation, defining himself as a gay guy who wishes he was straight. Since the topic rarely strayed, some students were disappointed with the ongoing joke. “I didn’t really like the third one,” said Fiona Tarzy, a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law. “I thought that it was the same sketch over and over and over again. I think he could’ve moved on to a different bit.” However, other students felt Dale’s topic added a sense of realism to his bit. “I enjoyed him a lot,” Maleski said. “It was a heavy laugh I needed. He talked about a lot of serious things that he might be dealing with and going through and that’s a way of coping so I respect that. I think it’s a healthy thing to do.”
Caleb Schwartz/Contributing Photographer Brady Matthews, a member of CollegeHumor Live, performs in the Osterhout Concert theater. The Student Association Programming Board hosted the free event, in which the group performed stand-up and sketch comedy.
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February 19, 2016 | bupipedream.com
5
ARTS & CULTURE
Spotted on the Grammys Red Carpet
From sequins to slits, the best and worst trends at this year's award show Kara Brown Arts & Culture
Photo provided by AP Exchange
This year in music awards The winners, the losers and all of the drama Katherine Scott Contributing Writer Some of the biggest names in music today, including nominees Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, joined music legends such as Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie and RunD.M.C. in the Staples Center on Monday night for the 58th annual Grammy Awards. Taylor Swift started the show in a black sequin jumpsuit for a performance of her single “Out Of The Woods,” complete with a glitter shower over the audience. After Swift left the stage, the award for Best Rap Album was given to Kendrick Lamar for his album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Lamar led the night with 11 nominations and went home with an impressive five awards total. Later, the rapper performed an impressive medley of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright,” where he added a freestyle that addressed the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012. The show also included tributes to music icons, both dead and alive. B.B. King was honored by Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Riatt and Gary Clark Jr. — who crooned his hit “The Thrill is Gone” — while David Bowie had an extravagant celebration led by Lady Gaga, who attended the ceremony as Ziggy Stardust. The cast and crew of the Broadway smash-hit musical “Hamilton” took home the Best Musical Theater Album award, which writer Lin-Manuel Miranda accepted with a special rap. The cast also performed the show’s opening song, “Alexander Hamilton.” Other great performances include Andra Day & Ellie Goulding, The Weeknd, Alabama Shakes, Justin Bieber, Skrillex and Diplo, Little Big Town and Tori Kelly and James Bay.
First time winners included Ed Sheeran, who won awards for Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year, and a tearful Meghan Trainor, who was shocked by her win in the Best New Artist category. The night, however, wasn’t without controversy. During Adele’s performance of “All I Ask,” a microphone fell on the piano, causing both the song and her vocals to become distorted. The singer later tweeted about the incident, brushing it off to technical difficulties. Trainor’s win was overshadowed, however, by fellow nominee Tori Kelly’s reaction shot after the announcement, in which Kelly looked less than pleased about the loss. Kelly’s Wikipedia page was also temporarily changed to imply that the singer was robbed of the award. After Kanye West smeared Swift in his new song “Famous,” saying Swift might still have sex with him because he “made that b*tch famous,” many wondered if Swift would respond during the award show. In her acceptance speech for Album
of the Year — awarded to her for “1989” — Swift responded by attempting to uplift other young women. She said, “There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame,” but, “someday when you get where you’re going, you’ll look around and you will know it was you and the people who love you who put you there and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.” Just days later, a recording of West backstage at “Saturday Night Live” was released on various online news outlets, in which the rapper can be heard calling Swift a “fake ass.” Although these recordings were taken before Monday night’s show, it seems that the feud between Swift and West — which seemed to have lessen over the years — might be back in full swing. With the 2016 ceremonies over and the winners announced, one can only guess what musical trends 2017 will bring to award season.
Photo provided by AP Exchange
Known as a more lighthearted award show, one of the best parts about the Grammy Awards is that stars are able to have more fun with their looks and let their personalities shine. From outrageous onesies to demure dresses, the 2016 Grammy Red Carpet did not disappoint. This year, sequined black dresses were a huge trend. Bella Hadid set the bar high with a low-cut, long-sleeve Alexandre Vauthier Paris design, which included cutouts at the waist and a geometric hem. Adele looked stunning and happy to be back at the award show in a classic, floor-length Givenchy dress that cinched in her waist perfectly. Anna Kendrick and Vanessa Lachey also sported the trend, accenting the sequined look with sheer pieces. Ciara put a twist on this black sequin look by wearing a low-cut wrap dress that was plain black on one side and had silver sequins on the other. However, the most stunning part of the look was the slit, which showed off her entire leg. No one but Ciara is capable of pulling off this look. From her ridiculously toned body, to her permanent smize, she killed it on the carpet. Typically, Zendaya slays everywhere she goes — but, on this night, something was off. She brought menswear to the red carpet in a black, Dsquared2 pant suit with a crisp white button down underneath and her hair styled in a blonde mullet. Yes, a mullet. The starlet later confirmed that her new haircut was a tribute to the late icon David Bowie, who died earlier this year. Although a nice gesture, the mullet did nothing for her already lackluster look.
This being said, Zendaya wasn’t the only one bringing business chic to the red carpet. Demi Lovato wore a black suit jacket with nothing but a bottleopener body chain underneath, and a floor-length skirt that had a very high center slit. Demi showed a lot of skin, but nothing about this look was sexy. The combination of suit jacket and long skirt did not work. It almost looked like the top she planned on wearing ripped last minute, and she was forced to borrow her assistant’s jacket. Taylor Swift has a definitive style, so it comes with little surprise that her dress was reminiscent of her 2015 Grammy dress. Both looks involved a floor-length skirt with a hip-high center slit. While last year she took a more conservative route with a high-neck teal dress and a miniskirt peaking through the skirt, this year she opted for just a fun, bright orange satin bandeau top and hot pink, highcut hot pants under a matching pink skirt. If you paid attention to the singer’s glam look, you may have noticed that while she wore orange lipstick on the red carpet, she toned it down and wore pink lipstick to accept her Grammy for Album of the Year. One of the night’s most confusing looks came from Janelle Monae, who wore a blackand-white top complete with a strangely structured circular shirt and what looked like the hat from a poorly designed Halloween costume. Monae’s signature look, a fitted pant suit, is always a stunner, and the singer probably would have been better off taking a note from Taylor Swift and sticking with her signature style. A bright note, however, were the stars long braids, which were a nice change from her usual up do.
It seemed like the less famous an artist is, the more they felt compelled to look like a hot mess on the red carpet. Singer Dencia wore a bright pink onesie, with beaded embellishments including angel wings on either side of her crotch, while singer Manika wore a completely sheer, white high-low midi dress with jeweled lingerie underneath, which was better suited for the circus. Ellie Goulding was by far the best-dressed star in attendance. As living proof of the saying “less is more,” Goulding wore a slinky, blush-colored Stella McCartney gown, that while gorgeous from the front, was breathtaking from the back. The silver chains draped across her back added a touch of edge to this otherwise sweet look. Monday’s red carpet brought some stunning looks and ones we’d like to forget, but overall, the stars’ looks were singing a sweet tune as they entered the Staples Center.
Ellie Goulding was by far the best dressed star in attendance
OPINIONS Friday, February 19, 2016
Stunts deserve Happiness: the existential issue Being content is finding the elements that keeps your spirits high Oscar noms too
Stunt coordinators have a tough job — they deserve recognition Ben Goldberg
Columnist
On February 28, the 88th Academy Awards will air on national television, and once again, a group that is integral to the film industry will have their contributions ignored. While controversy has been swirling in recent weeks over minority inclusion in the Oscars, little has been said in the media this year about the recognition of stunt performers and coordinators. Stunt coordinators are in charge of casting stunt actors, ensuring safety, training the main cast and directors when necessary and, of course, coordinating all of the on-screen action. They often double as stuntmen and women themselves, and despite recent safety innovations they easily have one of the most dangerous jobs in Hollywood. Yet despite their contributions to the industry, stunt performers belong to one of the few departments in Hollywood that doesn’t have its own award category. Ask anyone involved in the business of stunts and they will tell you that this is an issue that needs to be resolved and, in theory, it shouldn’t take much to solve it. Jack Gill, a stuntman who,
Most student performers and coordinators will tell you... it comes down to studio politics
since 1991 has led the campaign for stunt performer recognition, has brought the issue up with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences every single year — yet, despite his efforts, the Academy has failed to give him the simple majority vote that is required to introduce the new category. The campaign has attracted support from people at every level in Hollywood, from directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese to actors like Jason Statham and Arnold Schwarzenegger. So why then does it continue to fail? Most stunt performers and coordinators will tell you that at the end of the day, it comes down to studio politics. The studios don’t want to ruin the illusion that actors and actresses perform all of the cool action scenes in their movies by themselves. It’s an excuse that is blatantly ridiculous. Everyone knows about stunt performers, and although some actors — such as Tom Cruise — actually do perform all of their own stunts, they are in the minority. Furthermore, Hollywood is built on illusion. Makeup artists and sound editors both have Oscar categories, and their jobs are contingent on creating illusions — be they turning an extra into a zombie or passing off a glove playing a bass for Godzilla’s iconic roar. Another reason that the yearly petitions have been ignored is that some members of the Academy are worried that if they include stunt performers in the televised show, then their own categories might be dropped due to a lack of time. However, Gill and other stunt performers leading the campaign aren’t asking to be a part of the televised ceremony. He insists that stunt performers would be satisfied with a separate ceremony held earlier in another venue, like the Academy’s Science and Tech Award ceremony. Most people within the film industry would agree that there is no real reason stunt performers shouldn’t have their own Oscar category, and that it’s time for the Academy to recognize these men and women who have done so much for us over the years. —Benjamin Goldberg is an undeclared sophomore
Aaron Bondar
Contributing Columnist
In the fifth season of the television show “Mad Men,” Donald Draper — an adman whose business is shaping and manipulating the imaginings of men and women — exclaims, “what is happiness? The moment before you need more happiness!” Indeed, it seems like we go through our lives waiting for the next moment of satisfaction and, when it finally arrives, we anxiously await the next one, possibly before the current one is even finished. Ask yourself: when was the last time you were happy? Not momentarily happy, like eating your favorite food, but truly satisfied? The answer for most of us is probably not recently. In fact, for most of us, we’ll go through a significant portion of our lives without ever truly feeling fulfilled. We’ll string together moments of happiness, moments that are completely independent
and separate from one another, look at the edifice we’ve built and call ourselves happy. But the key to our happiness is not constantly looking for the next fix of endorphins. The key to happiness is finding the unifying factor that keeps you happy, even in the “inbetween” moments. To most of us, our lives proceed lineally, with bubbles of happiness and satisfaction here and there, dispersed throughout. On the lines of our lives there are also moments of sadness, pain, fear, regret; in between these interruptions are our “inbetween” moments, those days of our lives that seem like filler space between the next moment of happiness or pain. We view our lives like this because, as humans, we have the unique capacity to imagine. Our complex brains give us the ability to picture in our heads, in our “mind’s eye,” what the future could look like, what the past looks like, what it could have looked like if we had done one thing and not the other. We spend more time in our own heads than we do outside of
them. When we daydream or hope or imagine or regret or fear, we are playing a game with ourselves, a conversation that exists nowhere else in the universe except within our own minds. and, in doing so, we miss the present moment entirely. Through our imaginings, we make ourselves horrifically unhappy. Most of us will never become monks, lost in a sense of supreme satisfaction and completely detached from our thoughts. But the trick is not to rid ourselves completely of our unhappiness — that’s a goal few of us will attain — but to spend more time in the present moment, recognizing that our pains and our thoughts are things that happen to us and not things that are us. We feel sadness and emotional pain and anger because it is hard to become master over the conversation that takes place perpetually in our heads; the trick is to silence the noise. Look around you now. Your experience exists in the present moment entirely and nowhere else. Look at this page and then
look away. That moment of looking at this page before looking away now no longer exists except as a memory and it has been replaced by the present moment. The significance of this, once realized, can be life-changing. When we dwell on the past, on the future, on what happened or what could have happened, we are thinking about nothing at all. We miss the present moment of experience for a time long gone, or in the case of the future, a time that never existed. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t dream about the future to inspire us to do better in the present moment, or think about our mistakes or successes in the past in order to make better choices, but that we cannot let these thoughts envelop us completely. We must be spectators in the land of imagining, but we must not dwell in it. To do so is to sacrifice the real for the sake of the imagined. And that is no way to live. —Aaron Bondar undeclared freshman
is
an
Mayor's HRC decision a mistake
Work of the Binghamton Human Rights Comission far from done Steven Lazickas
Guest Columnist
I went to the Binghamton City Council meeting last night. I spoke during the public comment section on the recent proposal by Mayor Rich David that would effectively erase the Binghamton Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission was an independent body in the Binghamton City Government which investigated instances in which human rights were violated in the city of Binghamton. I say “was,” because that has changed. The Mayor and his ardent supporters on the City Council voted 6-1 to pass a resolution which would first remove all of the current commissioners and give the Mayor the ability and authority to appoint his own choices to the Commission. This action now negates everything which allowed the Human Rights Commission to act as a body outside of partisan or administrative politics. The newly revised city code allows the mayor to now appoint and remove members of the
commission at will. The Human Rights Commission is now at the mercy of the mayor. If the mayor disagrees with anything that comes from the Commission going forward, he has reserved himself the right to remove the members and put new ones in. This is a dangerous precedent which will force the members of the Commission to decide in the way which would protect their jobs rather than civil liberties, as Mayor David proposed this legislation as a vindictive response to the now previous Commission’s decisions. The Human Rights Commission now is an extension of the office of the mayor. The Human Rights Commission of Binghamton is effectively defunct, as it cannot conceivably act in the interests of human rights when its members cannot investigate abuses of citizens’ rights without fear of being removed from their posts. That legislation was voted upon by seven people: four Republicans and three Democrats. One member of City Council voted against the proposition, which destroyed the Human Rights Commission. Conrad Taylor of the Fourth District voted with his conscience. The other two Democrats failed at
representing their constituency or advocating for what’s best for Binghamton. Dani Cronce of the Third District spoke on the legislation, stating that she would always vote for what’s good for the people she represents. She failed to do that, and to me, appeared weak and unwilling to fight for what is right. Bill Berg silently consented to this overreach of power by the mayor. Giovonni Scaringi made an utter fool of himself last night, shouting at a man about the meaning of the word “diversity” without truly understanding what the word means when considering human rights. He then said “facts are stubborn little things,” and proceeded to give his opinion on the legislation destroying the Human Rights Commission and perpetuated untruths peddled by Ed Hickey. Ed Hickey is a former member of the Human Rights Commission whose term ended and he was not reappointed by the mayor, while he stated that he was “forced off” of the Commission and that he had to FOIL the communications of the other members. The other members of the Human Rights Commission simply stated that he could have
asked for the records. I’ll repeat what I said to the members of the City Council before they voted on this legislation: If you vote for this legislation to pass, then you do not deserve your positions or titles as public servants. Shame on the six members of the City Council who voted to pass this legislation and shame on Mayor Rich David for actively attempting to prevent advocacy for human rights in Binghamton. You can believe me when I say that I will be at the next City Council meeting to express my disgust at this abhorrent action. While the other six members of the City Council demonstrated their lack of concern for human rights and deference to the mayor, Conrad Taylor stood up to this institutional disgrace. He is not only a new voice in Binghamton City Government, but he’s a strong voice unwilling to bend to dirty politics and an outspoken advocate for his community. The city of Binghamton needs fewer representatives like the cowards who voted to pass this legislation and more leaders like Conrad. — Steven Lazickas is a junior double-majoring in political science and history
Barbies have finally grown more representative
I grew up with dolls that did not look like me; it's about time that people can identfiy with the toy Giovanna Bernardo
Columnist
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you’ve probably seen the revolution that has taken place in the image, advertising and marketing of everyone’s favorite (or least favorite) plastic babe: Barbie. Gone are the days of the doll’s homogenized, ultra-skinny, blonde-haired and blue-eyed look. Barbie will now be available to customers in seven different skin tones, 18 eye colors, 18 hairstyles and, most shockingly,
three new body types — tall, curvy and petite. This unexpected and complete transformation of a product that has looked largely the same since its introduction in 1959 comes after four straight years of declining sales, as well as a huge advertising and social media campaign with the slogan #YouCanBeAnything at the forefront. Mattel is now striving for Barbie to symbolize the infinite career possibilities open to children that play with her, but that was only the beginning of the doll’s re-branding and mission to get Barbie back on top. Now, Barbie will also stand as a symbol of her customers’ bright futures and look like them
too, mirroring the diversity of girls that buy and play with her. Barbie’s website, as well as her Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts are all boasting of this drastic change to the product with #TheDollEvolves on almost every post. Among other things, the Mattel website states that “by introducing more variety into the line, Barbie is offering choices that are better reflective of the world they see today.” I applaud Mattel for this type of positive change to Barbie. Finally, a toy that is familiar to almost everyone in the world is representative of the different types of real women in that world. I know critics have said
that it should’ve happened sooner. And I completely agree. I wish Barbie had undergone this type of revolution back in 2000 when I had more Barbie dolls than any other toy. I could’ve had my doll look just like me, with dark hair, a chubbier physique and an olive complexion. Some might argue that the re-branding and excessive advertising of Barbie’s new look was only because sales were down. However, I don’t think it’s time to nit-pick and demonize Mattel for making strides in the right direction, regardless of the cause. Obviously the continuous sales drops and competition between Disney’s dolls and Barbie spurred
this change in Mattel’s product, forcing Barbie’s designers and sales teams to get creative and finally produce a doll that displays different types of beauty. But that’s capitalism. Mattel had to meet the demand for a “realistic” Barbie with a supply of that doll. The world wanted to see Barbie’s image change, and that’s exactly what we were given. The image of Barbie has been defining societal standards of beauty since its inception. I know that when I was younger and playing with Barbie dolls, I would think to myself how much I wanted to be as skinny and pretty as Barbie was, with perfectly straight and long hair — and that was the problem with
her. Any young girl playing with Barbie would feel inadequate and as if this mass-produced blonde bombshell was the only thing that counted as “beautiful” in this world. But that’s all changing. Now, young girls of all ages will pick up a Barbie that looks like them, realizing how their differences are what make them beautiful, not wishing to change how they look for anything. That’s exactly what Barbie should be about: inspiring girls to be anything they want to be while celebrating exactly who they are. —Giovanna Bernardo is a junior majoring in English.
February 19, 2016 | bupipedream.com
7
OPINIONS
OPEN LETTER: Sodexo union representatives respond Response to the misleading Sodexo Letter from Carty McMullen: As the Labor Relations Representative for the Sodexo employees on campus, I feel the need to respond to the inaccuracies and half-truths contained in the letter that was published in the February 16 edition of the Pipe Dream. In the first paragraph, Ms. McMullen speaks about the 30 year relationship Sodexo/Marriott has had with the University and goes on to state that they wish to continue their successful
relationship through the new contract signed with Binghamton University this past June. If I was in her position, I too would be “honored” to continue this relationship. In fact, I can think of 350 million reasons to be “honored.” The letter goes on to boast about Sodexo’s contributions to the campus and community, specifically “our notable work in fighting hunger.” What is not mentioned is the fact that many of our current employees qualify for the programs that are sponsored by Sodexo as a result
of their low wages. Ms. McMullen further states that they provide a full benefit package “which includes medical, dental and vision insurance.” What is not disclosed is that the employees pay 100% of the premium for dental supplied by the company as well as a significant amount of their weekly check towards health insurance. Having represented food service workers on many campuses employed by Sodexo, Chartwells and Aramark, it is quite common for an employer to provide benefit packages in this industry, contrary to what is
portrayed in the company’s letter. Ms. McMullen further asserts that UPSEU Local 1222 was elected by a one-vote majority. This is factually incorrect. In May of 2015, the National Labor Relations Board conducted an election, in which UPSEU defeated their opponent by a tally of 124 to 85. Due to an error on the part of the NLRB in the posting of the election, a second election was held in September in which UPSEU again won by a significant margin. The letter also states that Sodexo “took no steps to influence or interfere with the
process.” It is interesting to note that Federal Labor Law prohibits Sodexo from interfering or influencing an election. The issue at hand is one of fairness and common decency. The events that have led us to this point are outlined in my initial letter published on February 12. The fact of the matter is that Sodexo had offers on the table in December that were close to what the union was trying to achieve for their members. By January, they had cancelled two bargaining sessions, withdrew all proposals and promptly offered no
economic increases of any kind while proposing to discontinue a retirement benefit that had been enjoyed by our members for over 10 years. The union will continue to negotiate in good faith as we have from beginning. We are hopeful that Sodexo will also bargain in good faith and treat our hardworking members with the respect that they deserve. Paul Iachetta Labor Relations Representative Bryan Staul Labor Relations Representative
'It's On Us' to rework dialogue
Binghamton needs to change how it takes on sexual assault Raaga Rajagopala
Guest Columnist
urgency among administrators and peers for adequate resources and support for victims. We also live in a culture that prioritizes the reputation of a school, athlete or anyone else over basic human rights and the physical and emotional safety of a victim. When Winston sexually assaulted Kinsman, he was the athlete whose future could’ve been at risk; she was considered a whore, a slut, “the most hated girl in Tallahassee.” Have we forgotten who the real victim is? If we want to see victims taken seriously, we need to see a change in campus climate. People need to talk about sexual assault. A nationwide initiative called “It’s On Us” was created in an attempt to promote awareness through identification and intervention. What exactly is on us, though? It’s on us to prevent sexual assault and be a resource for people affected by it. As a school, BU needs advocacy that students can count on, a rape crisis center for victims to go to and communication with our newly appointed Title IX coordinator. We should have walls lined with literature and posters to make students aware of campus resources. We should receive surveys by email so the people affected by this hideous phenomenon can anonymously talk about their experiences and show us what has been going wrong for too long. The fact of the matter is that one in four girls in college will be sexually assaulted. And when that girl is sexually assaulted, she won’t go to administrators, she won’t go to our school’s rape crisis center, she won’t go to an advocate. Where she will go is to her dorm, where she’ll bury her face in her pillow and cry herself to sleep for that night, and far too many nights after. I, for one, think it’s on me to change that. It’s on all of us.
On April 30, 2015, in the National Football League Draft, Jameis Winston was the numberone pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won the Heisman Trophy and had a remarkable college season with 26 wins and one loss. He went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year in 2016. He also allegedly raped a woman. But they didn’t talk about that. On January 25, former Florida State University student Erica Kinsman finally settled her lawsuit against the school for $950,000. She alleged that she was raped by college football star and fellow student Winston. The lawsuit was on the grounds of the school not giving her due protection under Title IX; the school’s police department took 10 months to test Winston’s DNA and, even after it came out positive, didn’t file charges against him. He remained a star in the eyes of his friends, industry professionals and Florida State University. Many believe that Winston sexually assaulted a woman. This is not an isolated incident. Students are getting sexually assaulted on college campuses all over the country and we need to start actively acknowledging it. In May of 2014, the federal government released a list of 55 universities under investigation for Title IX violation. Number 12 on that list is Florida State University. Keep going down the list and you’ll see Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth among other renowned institutions. Then you’ll finally get to #39 and see it glaring at you: Binghamton University. In dorms, bars, off-campus houses and other places, students of all genders are being violated — Raaga Rajagopala is a and hurt. A huge problem is sophomore double-majoring in that people are often unable to economics and French identify sexual assault. Sexual assault doesn’t have to be violent and occur in a dark alley — although that still happens. Sexual assault is when two people are in an intimate encounter, one is substantially more inebriated than the other and there is a lack of basic coherence. Sexual assault happens when she isn’t in the mood but you had to keep asking. Sexual assault is the absence of consent. People also refuse to acknowledge and address assault. We don’t want to talk about it because the issue is too sensitive or because we can’t relate to it. And because there is no discussion, there is no
If we want to see victims taken seriously, we need to see a change in campus climate
Students forced into unhealthy habits Many grow to rely on coffee and stimulants, while ignoring sleep Kara Bilello
Contributing Columnist
College pushes us as students to put our work above all else. Students are chugging coffee as they are surrounded by their laptops and books. When this happens — when classes are valued over the well-being of ourselves as individuals — the consequences are severe. I have only met two or three college students who receive the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep necessary. There are few people who can survive without caffeine, and 8:30 a.m. classes can be dreadful. Staying up all night to complete an assignment is not uncommon. Immune systems are weak due to the lack of proper sleep and nutrition among college students. When one person in one of my classes or on my crew team gets sick, it is only a matter of time before I get sick as well. This is all understandable and all college students can relate, but it
is also preventable. Get your nose out of the textbook and your mind into the real world. It is essential to remember the proper order of any student’s priorities: the self, then school and grades, then extracurriculars. Yourself comes first. I cannot explain enough how challenging this order was for me to accept. It is not fair for college to place so much pressure on its students. I ended up incredibly sick and reached a low in my depression before I began to understand. I learned the hard way that no other parts of life — work, school, grades, activities — will function at all without self-care coming first. Easier said than done. Health is something that college students think about little, as there is no reward or grade associated with it. There is no medal for getting eight hours of sleep, and there is no A for remembering to eat lunch. Instead, the focus on academics is the central portion of lives. This is not surprising; this is the case in colleges all over the country, especially
in those that are academically rigorous and competitive. It is often a competition to see who can get the highest GPA, who can stay in the library the longest, who can get the most work done. You do not realize that the pressure is too much when you spend all day in the library. You do not realize it when you abandon plans to go study. You do not realize it when your laptop begins to quit. You do not realize it when you are exhausted and relying on energy drinks, or when you consider stopping lunch for a break. You begin to realize it when you see the dark circles under your eyes and it hurts to put in your contacts. You begin to realize it when your friends start a group chat without you, and when the people who you used to wave hi to no longer wave back. You begin to realize it when there is hardly an empty seat to be found in any of the study rooms in the library, and when the lounges in your dorm are all full at midnight. You fully realize it when your hand feels like it is about to fall off from
writing so much, and when you are counting the hours both until you can go to bed and until the semester ends. You fully realize it when you cannot shake a cold after three weeks and when your hair starts to fall out from all of the stress and pressure that you are subjected to. You fully realize it when you are cold and tired and sitting in the library crying after a day of appointments and studying. When there is so much to do, when the to-do list never ends, and when you want to give up — that’s when you know that the stress and pressure has overcome you. College is equally as stressful as it is fun. Take some time off of work. Set 30 minutes to an hour for “you time” each day to practice mindfulness and living in the moment, valuing each day and everything that you can do. Appreciate your body and yourself. I promise that you deserve to take care of yourself. — Kara Bilello is a freshman double-majoring in English and Spanish
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Hey guys, I'm extremely disappointed that no new strangers have texted me. I've had some very heartfelt conversations and I want them to continue, so please, text (917) 837-9124 and hang out with me please. RELEASE DATE– Saturday, July 28, 2007
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
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Lunch, Dinner, Late Night, Any Time
Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Hot Dogs, Hot Plates, Philly Cheese Steaks, Subs , Salads, Wraps, Sandwiches, Fries, and more
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ACROSS 1 Ordering option 9 Played raucously 15 Be unhelpful 16 Light-sensitive area 17 Words from a nonfollower? 19 Watch 20 For whom Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy” was written 21 Woman with a net income? 22 Promising rock 24 Some feds 26 Carpet fiber 29 Dramatist Behan 32 Work that may win an Oscar 35 Cal. divisions 37 Suffers retribution 40 “Very good” 41 Barbara Woodhouse, notably 42 Shots 45 Clusters 46 York’s river 47 Print source, briefly 48 Climber’s tool 51 City SE of Cherbourg 54 __ car 58 Television request 61 Onetime town VIPs 62 Not collected at all 63 Son of William the Conqueror 64 Guides in the direction of DOWN 1 Access to 2Down 2 Find behind 1Down 3 Shortly 4 Sympathizes 5 Bond, e.g.: Abbr. 6 Stir 7 Shade
36 Old pol. units 52 Word spoken 8 Snorri while holding 38 Interest Sturluson’s something up 39 Odd “Prose __” 53 Allowed to use 43 You might need 9 Reaction to 55 US Airways one after an teens? Center team accident 10 Abate 56 Give out 44 Perk, often 11 See (to) 57 Art __ 47 Milky Way 12 Bread for 59 Trident-shaped phenomena Banisadr letter 48 Desire 13 Kin of -trix 60 “Earth still holds 49 Salt, perhaps 14 Soft drink brand __ her gate”: 50 “The Waltons” 18 Competitor Thomas Nashe daughter 23 It might be just below the ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: surface 25 Director Russ 26 1960s series featuring agents Robinson and Scott 27 Diving duck 28 “You think I’m kidding?” 29 Subjects of some modern lawsuits 30 Kind of acid synthesized to produce aspartame 31 Louis Spohr chamber work 33 Meeting places 7/28/07 xwordeditor@aol.com 34 Kick
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SPORTS
February 19, 2016 | bupipedream.com
Softball to begin AE title defense BU returns all but one player
from 2015 championship team Orlaith McCaffrey Assistant Sport Editor
Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Sophomore CJ Krowiak is set to become the Bearcats’ full-time center fielder this season.
BU set to open season in Houston
After down year, Binghamton aims for top of AE standings
Brett Malamud Pipe Dream Sports
Despite being picked to finish fifth in the America East (AE) this season, the Binghamton baseball team is sticking to its ultimate goal: competing for a conference championship. The team comes off of a 2015 season that ended in a late season skid, and BU missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The conference has changed the rules this season, with each of the six eligible teams advancing to the conference playoff tournament, where previously only four teams had qualified. However, the Bearcats still have their eyes on one of the first two seeds. “I think that over the last 10 years, we’ve done a pretty good job at establishing what the standard is for our program and it’s no secret that last year, we fell below that standard,” Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki said. “We did not perform well. I don’t think that it was because we didn’t have good enough players or because we didn’t
prepare well enough. I just think that we didn’t play as well as we were capable of playing.” The team will be without outfielders Jake Thomas and Zach Blanden, who graduated last May. Thomas was drafted in the 27th round of the 2015 MLB amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. “When you lose guys like Jake Thomas and Zach Blanden — those guys were four-year starters — those are some big holes to fill,” Sinicki said. “But collectively (as a group), I think that the depth that we have in our lineup … is maybe as good as it’s been in a while.” The Bearcats will switch their defensive alignment this season, placing junior infielder Brendan Skidmore at first base instead of shortstop, while sliding sophomore CJ Krowiak to the outfield full-time. Sinicki hopes that the changes solidify both BU’s offense and defense. “CJ is as athletic a young man we could have in this program and playing the outfield will allow him to showcase his athleticism,” Sinicki said. “We’ve had a good history with
center fielders in this program and with CJ out there … we won’t miss a beat in that regard.” According to Sinicki, seniors Reed Gamache and David Schanz will play second and third base, respectively. Sinicki also says that sophomore infielder Paul Rufo will man shortstop while sophomore Chris McGee will start in right field. The rest of the lineup is up in the air, as Sinicki will use non-conference games to piece together the best possible combination. “That’s what these games are for,” Sinicki said. “But at the same time, we want to go down and compete, be in ballgames as long as we can and try to put together enough wins in our non-conference schedule to feel good about our team as we head into conference play.” Binghamton is set to open its season this weekend on the road in a four-game series with Houston Baptist, who claimed the Southland Conference title last season. The Bearcats will play the first two games on Friday, with the second pair of games on Saturday. “We’ve done a pretty good job to
challenge our guys and try to face competition that will prepare us for the America East schedule,” Sinicki said. “We have a pretty good idea on paper right now [about our lineup] but going out there and getting a chance to play 16 non-conference games in the first four weekends will help us plan out the rest of the year.” According to Sinicki, senior Mike Bunal will pitch game one on Friday and senior Rob Hardy will get the ball for game two. The Bearcats will finish the series on Saturday as redshirt junior Jake Cryts will be on the mound for game three and freshman Nick Gallagher will pitch the finale. “Our guys are anxious to get back at it this year,” Sinicki said. “Part of it is to erase the memory of last year and part of it, maybe, is to prove some people wrong that maybe we haven’t slipped a bit, and we’re still going to be in the mix for a conference championship.” BU is scheduled to open its series against Houston Baptist on Friday at noon from Husky Field in Houston, Texas.
McKeever emerges as strong leader
Lone senior on BU roster impresses on and off the mat
Emily Earl/Pipe Dream Photographer Pictured: 174-pound BU senior Jack McKeever.
Kyle McDonald Pipe Dream Sports
One of the most crucial pieces of a great team is a great leader. For the Binghamton wrestling team, that unquestioned leader is 174-pound senior Jack McKeever — the only senior on a young Bearcats roster. Heading a young team is an important task, but McKeever is certainly up for it. “Being the only senior is a bit of a shock but it’s definitely helped me become a better leader,” McKeever said. “Trying to show the younger guys how I got through these four years and the work ethic it takes, it really helped me step up.” McKeever has helped lead the Bearcats to an 11-6 record this season, as well as a 7-3 mark in the 16-team Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), which is good for fourth in the
conference. This season has certainly been a stellar one for McKeever. He has posted a 13-3 record in dual matches so far this year, including capturing his 50th career win. “It’s my confidence,” McKeever said of his performance so far this season. “I’ve been around four seasons and I just have so much more experience and I’m really starting to believe in my attacks and everything I do [on the mat].” McKeever has improved his win total each year he has donned the Bearcats’ singlet. Improvement is something that McKeever strives for. His strong work ethic on the mat has helped him blossom into one of Binghamton’s top wrestlers. McKeever’s success, however, has not caused him to become complacent. “I’ve never really satisfied my goals here yet, as much success as
I’ve had I’m always striving to do better,” McKeever said. “I want to be a national champion. I want to be an All-American, and until I achieve those goals, I’m going to keep working as hard as I can.” McKeever may not have met his goals yet, but he has certainly found success at BU. In his junior year, he became just the ninth wrestler from the state of Connecticut to advance to the NCAA Championships since 2002. Success for McKeever is not only defined in personal accolades, as his team has had a strong season as well. This year, the Bearcats have their first winning record since 2012, and McKeever knows his great season would not mean as much if his team was not succeeding as well. “It’s great when you see all the other guys winning matches,” McKeever said with a smile. “It’s definitely exciting to be a part of a
winning team. I’d definitely rather see the team succeed, and I’m just excited for the future that these guys have.” McKeever is a leader in the truest sense, but that does not end when he steps off the mat. McKeever has always mirrored his success in wrestling with success in the classroom. He was a four-time academic All-State honoree in high school, and this academic prowess continued when he arrived in Binghamton. In 2013 he was named to the Fall Athletic Department Honor Roll for earning at least a 3.3 GPA. McKeever knows that being a great leader means setting an example in everything he does. “I set my same work ethic to everything I do, and I try to succeed in everything I do,” McKeever said. “When younger guys see the success I’ve had both in the classroom and on the mat, they want to look to me and see what I’m doing and it is a good way to lead by example.” One person who knows better than most what McKeever means to the team is BU’s head coach Matt Dernlan. “Jack is a one-stop shop when it comes to leadership,” Dernlan said. “In every phase of his life he leads — academically, athletically, socially, he does all the right things.” McKeever is relishing his opportunity to lead the Bearcats’ young core. Not only does he want his teammates to look up to him, but he is doing everything in his power to show them that hard work pays off. With one regular season match remaining in his final season, McKeever wants to make the most of his time left. “I need to take it one step at a time, but I want to win it all,” he said. “I want to win conferences, make nationals and then win nationals. I just want to do the best I can and leave it all on the mat.”
After winning the America East (AE) Conference Championship for the first time in program history last season, the Binghamton softball team is looking to not just repeat its 2015 success, but to improve on its performance from a year ago. “A goal of ours is to be better than we were last year, so hopefully that means winning another conference championship,” BU head coach Michelle Burrell said. “We’ve been working a lot as a team on things that we learned from last year.” A leading aim for the Bearcats this season will be to improve their level of consistency. After compiling a 10-6 conference record last season, Binghamton entered the AE tournament as the third seed and dropped a matchup to top-ranked Stony Brook before rallying from the losers’ bracket to defeat SBU in the final two games of the tournament. Although the come-from-behind victory didn’t lessen the Bearcats’ eventual championship title, they would rather consistently defeat a team like Stony Brook than play in back-to-back, door-die games. “We’ve been working a lot to figure out how to play consistently throughout the season with that kind of trust in one another,” Burrell said. “We’ve been working on that a lot during practices. That’s something that we can control and we want to take into every game.” Integral to Binghamton’s journey toward improvement in 2016 will be building off the experience gained at both the AE Conference Tournament and BU’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament, in which it was defeated by both James Madison and Fordham. “Our goal is to have a better presence at regionals if we do win the [conference] championship,” senior utility player Griffin McIver said. “I think that we have set a standard for the program and we can build onto that with the next step.” Fortunately for Binghamton, all but one of the players on last season’s team return to the diamond in 2016. The Bearcats have lost four-year starting shortstop Caytlin Friis
to graduation but return a talented squad, including five All-Conference selections. “I think that having so many people come back, we have an unbreakable bond, we still believe in each other and that will just propel us from the preseason into the championship,” McIver said. “What really helped us in the America East Championship was that we had that bond and we did put the team first.” Binghamton’s offense was one of its strongest features in 2015, with a batting order that had the potential to do damage at each spot. If this season is anything like last year, senior catcher Lisa Cadogan, who hit .425 and earned AllRegion honors, will once again spearhead the Bearcats’ offensive efforts. Senior right fielder Sydney Harbaugh, who was chosen as the AE Player of the Year in 2014, batted .348 and led the AE in runs scored last season and will once again serve as the spark at the top of the BU lineup. In 2015, Binghamton ranked fifth in the conference in fielding percentage (.955) and sixth of eight teams in ERA (5.52), so defense will certainly be a point of emphasis for the Bearcats this season. “Defensively, we’ve just continued to try to work together as a team, to be able to cover as much ground as possible, keep up communication and then just working on some more mental things as far as being able to pick each other up,” Burrell said. “We had some games last year that we kind of let get out hand and we want to be able to pick each other up.” Both freshmen on the team, Makenzie Goluba and Allison Pritchard, are pitchers and Burrell sees them as additions that will certainly add to the depth of BU’s pitching staff, which was overworked at times last season. “Sometimes we’ve gone through conference series having to throw one, two pitchers, so having a staff as deep as we do will really help us during the regular season,” Burrell said. Binghamton is set to begin its journey back to the AE tournament Friday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California. BU’s first game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. against UC Santa Barbara.
Via Pipe Dream Archives Senior outfielder Sydney Harbaugh — the 2014 AE Player of the Year — will look to spark the BU offense in 2016.
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Bearcats look to capture victory in season opener See bupipedream.com/sports Friday, February 19, 2016
Caleb Schwartz/Contributing Photographer Sophomore forward Alyssa James recorded a game-high seven blocks and added 15 points in BU’s victory over Vermont.
Binghamton offense shines in victory over Vermont Albrecht nets all five of her 3-pointers, James scores 15 to help Bearcats defeat Catamounts
William Schwartz Contributing Writer
With the closing of America East (AE) play on the horizon, Binghamton women’s basketball head coach Linda Cimino has emphasized her goal of finishing with a .500 conference record. On Tuesday night, BU took a major stride toward achieving that objective, comfortably dispatching Vermont, 66-52, to raise its AE record to 6-7. “I thought our team played very well,” Cimino said. “It was a great team effort. I thought we took care of the basketball,
had a great shot selection and rebounded the ball very well.” From the first whistle, it was evident what Cimino’s game plan was. Binghamton pounded Vermont (7-19, 2-11 AE) down low, with sophomore forward Alyssa James tallying four of the team’s first seven points with her inside game. “Scoring early in the game helps your confidence,” James said. “It helps you score better throughout the game and I think me scoring also helps open up other things for my teammates.” BU was aided by Vermont’s inability to connect on three-
point attempts, as the Catamounts went just 6-for-28 from beyond the arc. Vermont’s prowess on the offensive boards, however, allowed it to keep the matchup a one-possession game throughout the opening period. In the second quarter, the game began to swing in Binghamton’s favor, as BU extended its lead to 16 following freshman guard McKayla Hernandez’s threepointer. James continued to torment Vermont on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court to help the Bearcats carry a 38-19 lead into the locker room. At the start of the third quarter,
however, BU’s dominance was restored as the Bearcats opened up a commanding 22-point point lead four minutes into the quarter and ended the period up by 17. Senior guard Kim Albrecht nailed her fifth three-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter and Binghamton virtually sealed an impressive victory midway through the final period. The Bearcats saw out the matchup without any issues, continuing their campaign to secure a topfour seed in the conference tournament. Following the game, Cimino’s delight with her entire squad was
evident. In particular, Albrecht seemed to catch her attention behind a particularly potent shooting performance. The senior is currently leading the America East in three-point percentage and all of DI in free throw percentage. “Kim [Albrecht] is playing with a lot of confidence now and I think our guards are doing a good job finding her in transition,” Cimino said. “She’s in here all the time working and she just continues improving and trying to get better every day, so I’m really proud of her.” With March just around the
corner, the AE playoffs are fast approaching. And with the victory over Vermont, the confidence within the Bearcats squad may be at its highest level all season. “Our kids have never really talked about playoffs before this year and now they’re talking about seeds for playoffs,” Cimino said. “That just shows you that the program is going in the right direction.” Binghamton is set to return to action when they take on UMass Lowell this Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
BU stumbles in second half at UVM Bearcats receive
Bearcat men shoot 55.1 percent, but lose to Vermont, 78-64 Noah Bressner Pipe Dream Sports
Plagued by turnovers and foul trouble, the Binghamton men’s basketball team came up short on Wednesday night against Vermont, falling 78-64. The final result came despite the Bearcats (6-20, 3-10 America East) shooting a 55.1 percent clip from the field, the team’s highest of the season. “I thought we found really good rhythm on offense, it’s just the turnovers,” Binghamton head
coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We shot well — probably our season high — but the turnovers were just way too many.” Vermont forced the Bearcats into 16 turnovers and tallied nine offensive rebounds, most of which came from long rebounds off of shot attempts from beyond the arc. The Catamounts (16-12, 8-5 AE) were led in scoring by sophomore guard Cam Ward, who tallied 16 points off of the bench. UVM’s bench accounted for 38 points, nearly half of Vermont’s scoring total. Vermont’s depth
allowed them flexibility in how they sought to expose BU’s defense, which is generally a strength for the Bearcats. “We’re weakest defensively one-on-one and I thought they were able to expose that in the second half,” Dempsey said. While the Binghamton offense had its best game of the season, BU’s typically strong defense was unable to hold back one of the AE’s best scoring teams, allowing Vermont to shoot 50.8 percent from the field and get to the free throw line 15 times.
Michael Contegni/Pipe Dream Staff Photographer Junior guard Marlon Beck tallied 10 second-half points in the Bearcats’ loss at Vermont on Wednesday.
“If we get that combination of scoring on one end and set up [and get stops] on the other end, that’s a formula for this team to be successful,” Dempsey said. In both halves, BU came out strong before fading late. The Bearcats led in both before being overwhelmed by 15-2 and 21-4 runs in the first and second, respectively. “We had a tough stretch at the end of the first half and I thought that was as big a key to the game as anything,” Dempsey said. “I thought we had control of the game late in that first half. I didn’t expect that we would go into halftime down because we controlled 15 of the 20 [minutes].” Sophomore forward Willie Rodriguez shot a game-high 22 points for Binghamton, which was followed by junior guard Marlon Beck who tallied 10. Beck and freshman guard Everson Davis were limited late in the game by foul trouble. Beck finished with four fouls while Davis fouled out with just over a minute and a half remaining in the contest. With its victory against the Bearcats, Vermont clinched home court for the first round of the AE Tournament. The Bearcats currently sit in a tie for seventh place of the conference standings and could be taking another trip to Burlington to open the Tournament. “Overall we did some good things,” Dempsey concluded. “And we have to build on the positives and try to get one back at home [against UMass Lowell].” The Bearcats are set to return to action on Saturday against UMass Lowell. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. from the Events Center in Vestal, New York.
2016 commitment Guard Fard Muhammad gives verbal to BU men's basketball
E.Jay Zarett Sports Editor
BU head coach Tommy Dempsey and the Binghamton men’s basketball team added a second player to its 2016 recruiting class this week. After landing Maryland native Tyler Stewart—a guard/ forward from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac—in November, the Bearcats received a verbal commitment from Fard Muhammad, a 6’0 point guard on Sunday. “When I visited, I felt real comfortable,” Muhammad said about his decision to commit to the Bearcats. “I liked the vibe, everyone was real nice. The fans were crazy. That’s everything you really look for. The campus was beautiful.” Muhammad will come to Binghamton via the prestigious Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, a basketball powerhouse. Montverde has captured the last three DICK’s Sporting Goods High School National Titles and has produced a plethora of former and current collegiate stars including Florida University’s Kasey Hill, Kentucky University’s Dakari Johnson and Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell—now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season’s national championship squad was led by current LSU star Ben Simmons, the potential first overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. In the 201415 national title game, Muhammad scored 20 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in his team’s 70-61
victory. Muhammad is currently playing out a post-graduate year on Montverde’s prep team. “I think I can bring a winning attitude in,” Muhammad said. “Just looking at some of the guys at Binghamton…the coaching staff is really optimistic.” Muhammad can play either as a lead guard or off-the-ball for the Bearcats next season. He carries a reputation as a strong shooter, an area that BU has struggled with this season. Binghamton has shot just 27.9 percent from 3-point range this season, last in the America East. The next closest team is UMBC, which has knocked down 3-pointers at a far better clip than BU at 32.6 percent. “I think that the area [of my game] that will transition the most is the way I can shoot it,” Muhammad said. “If you can shoot, you can shoot against anybody.” The Binghamton back-court has been decimated by injuries this season, with junior Marlon Beck and freshman Everson Davis as the only two healthy scholarship players. But, next year the backcourt could become an area of strength for BU. Junior guard Yosef Yacob suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason, while sophomore guard Romello Walker suffered a similar fate seven games into 2015-16. Both are expected to return at the start of next year and, combined with Bucknell transfer J.C. Show—who is redshirting this season in accordance with NCAA rules—Stewart and Muhammad, could lead to a potent Bearcat attack.