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Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | Vol. CI, Issues 28 & 29 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
Activists criticize BPD after arrest video circulates The incident occured on Jan. 1 on State Street, and is currently under investigation. Hallie Milligan
assistant news editor
Circulating videos of a Binghamton Police Department (BPD) officer kneeling on the neck of a Black-Asian man have sparked an investigation. The incident took place outside of Dillinger’s Celtic Bar and Eatery — an Irish pub located on State Street — on Jan. 1 at approximately 3:19 a.m., according to a statement Binghamton Mayor Jared K r a h a m shared with W B N G 12 News shortly after. Kraham confirmed the incident is currently under investigation, which includes the examination of body cameras. In a video circulating Facebook, witnesses can be seen gathering around BPD Officer Brad Kaczynski, who is kneeling on the neck and back of 24-year-old Hamail Waddell of Binghamton. Waddell can be seen asking witnesses to “get [their]
phones out,” before the video concludes with Waddell stating, “I can’t breathe.” According to a Joint Press Statement from nine separate activist groups — including the Binghamton Tenants Union (BTU), Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier (JUST) and Zero Hour Binghamton — Waddell “sustained injuries to his face, head, neck and back, and required stitches in his chin.” Waddell filed a complaint about the incident on Jan. 2. Waddell was handcuffed prior to the maneuver u n d e r investigation, according to Salka Valerio, a community stakeholder and activist, and was charged on the scene for resisting arrest. In an open letter written by Valerio, she said Waddell was “unfairly charged with resisting arrest,” and that Kaczynski should be held responsible for the incident. “We have a shared responsibility for ensuring that every person is treated with humanity and basic dignity,” Valerio wrote. “When someone violates this fundamental value, there must be accountability. Without it, we are saying that actions that intentionally cause
“ Waddell can be seen asking witnesses to ‘get [their] phones out,’ before the video concludes with Waddell stating, ‘I can’t breathe.’”
sourced by adelaide castro facebook A Facebook video depicts BPD Officer Brad Kaczynski kneeling on 24-year-old Hamail Waddell in Downtown Binghamton as onlookers gather.
harm and put people’s lives at risk are okay.” In the Joint Press Statement, the activist groups argued that the kneel displayed by Kaczynski reflects the one used on George Floyd in May of 2020 and violates the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, which — as the bill reads — “establishes criminal penalties for the use of a chokehold.” The organizations also claim the restraint used on Waddell breaches the BPD Use of Force Policy, which requires officers to only use force that is “objectively reasonable and
appears necessary.” These organizations expressed disappointment toward the BPD in lieu of recent “historic” events regarding “police brutality.” “Hundreds gave feedback in public meetings, demanding that police power be constrained, oversight increased, and portions of their budgets reallocated to things like housing, mental health services, and youth programs,” the Joint Press Statement reads. “Yet political leaders have steadfastly refused even to consider making any substantive changes to policing.”
On Jan. 6, the BPD released a statement saying they assigned Kaczynski to desk duty, according to WBNG. The BPD did not reply to Pipe Dream’s request for comment. Iris DeFino, the social media and public relations manager for JUST — an activist group against mass incarceration — and a sophomore majoring in political science, said she believes the “unjust and excessive violence” displayed by the BPD officer is reflective of “greater injustices” within the U.S. legal system.
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Wrestling takes down BU introduces Harvard in EIWA matchup new Taylor Swift course
BU defeat Crimson 19-13, six Bearcats earn victories, DePrez gets major decision. Aidan Jennings
assistant sports editor
On Saturday afternoon, the Binghamton wrestling team traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts to face Harvard
while still looking for its first win of 2023. Six of 10 competing Bearcats won their bouts to secure BU’s second Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) win of the season, overcoming the Crimson 19-13. “I thought we were tough today,” said Binghamton head coach Kyle Borshoff. “I think we had a good team effort across the
board. We had some guys step up and win matches, so I think if we continue to have that same effort and get a little bit better, we’re going to be in a good position come the end of February. I always talk about being ready for the EIWA [championships], and today was a step in the right direction.”
Debra Perlmutter
arts & culture contributor
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provided by justin hoch Redshirt junior Cory Day won the opening heavyweight bout via 3-1 decision in BU’s dual meet loss to Lehigh on Saturday.
ARTS & CULTURE
“Taylor Swift and the 21st century music industry” explores relevant themes of today’s music world.
It’s no surprise that Taylor Swift has taken over the music industry, but now she is starting to impact college classrooms as well. Binghamton University is following the lead of other schools, such as the University of Texas and New York University, by offering a Taylor Swift course for students to partake in. The four-credit, writingintensive class is being offered as a special topics elective in the music department this spring semester. It’s taught by pop and country music scholar Lecturer Phoebe Hughes, who is very passionate about Swift and her impact on the music industry. Hughes said she loves how Swift has interacted with different parts of the industry throughout her career. “She started as a young artist in country music from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s,” Hughes said. “This was remarkable because there were not a lot of women artists or young artists in the country industry at this time. She was able to capture a particular fanbase that was very speaking to a lot of young people, especially young women, in ways that were very compelling.” The elective being offered, a
News
300-level course for 25 students, is a discussion-based class that involves reading, writing and listening to music. Hughes appreciates the small class size because it can be more challenging to have discussions in large lecture courses, and the class material is more suitable for a smaller group. In this course, students will be delving into certain themes for each time period and each era of Swift. Derrick Weisburd, a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, is taking the class this semester. Weisburd is excited to explore what the class is going to offer but knows it won’t be a cakewalk. “I can already tell we are going to be diving deep into major sociopolitical issues, and how Swift’s music plays a part of it,” Weisburd wrote in an e-mail. “It also appears that we’ll be taking a look into how the industry works, which might seem a bit challenging to those who are more passive listeners to her music.” One topic that will be thoroughly explored is ’90s country, looking into artists such as Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain and the Chicks. The class will discuss the influence that the radio had on pop culture, and also the gender discrepancies that occurred during this time.
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SPORTS
“Avatar: Way of Water” fails to complement its visuals with a competent plot
Kick off the semester with these upcoming performances
Graduate students launch campaign for higher wages
Men’s basketball drops game after best start to conference play in 17 years.
Swimming and diving teams earn first victories of new year.
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