But with its recent “ending,” one thing has become painfully clear: the criticisms of this show, and especially its characters, have reached a point where basic empathy and logic have been abandoned. People aren’t just critiquing “TSITP,” they’re unfairly projecting their own issues onto it, resulting in harsh discourse surrounding its characters.

This series reflects many uncomfortable truths about modern dating, love, identity and the emotional complexities of growing up, especially for our generation. And as cringey as it may be to admit, the show hits close to home. But maybe that’s what makes “TSITP” so polarizing — it’s painfully familiar.

Let’s unpack what people are saying, character by character.

Belly: More Than a Love Triangle 

People ask, “How could she get between two brothers?” as if these brothers didn’t get between themselves.

Jeremiah actively pursued Belly at her most vulnerable state, fully aware of her history with his brother, and Conrad sent mixed signals from day one. Belly isn’t the villain here — she’s a teenage girl trying to figure out relationships with two people who made their own questionable choices.

It was made very clear from the start that Belly never saw “two brothers.” She saw Jeremiah as her best friend, someone who showed up for her and was a rock when Belly needed stability, especially after Conrad played emotional ping pong with her. Jeremiah offered her the safety she thought she wanted, and while that may be a mistake, it doesn’t make her malicious or manipulative. She loved Jeremiah for four years — they grew, slept, shared time and built their lives together.

Meanwhile, Conrad was gone, and being “out of sight, out of mind” can make it a lot easier for someone to forget their feelings, or at least think they have. When Belly chose Jeremiah, she did what many people would do in the same situation — making a choice based on her emotions at the time.

When Belly ultimately realized her feelings hadn’t changed, she told Jeremiah. She went to Paris to gain perspective and remove herself from the mess she felt she had created, even though they all played an equal hand in everything. She waited until Conrad and Jeremiah had made peace before even replying to Conrad — that’s growth.

Paris gave Belly the space to mature and realize the mistakes she made, and she took the proper steps to correct them.

Jeremiah: A Symptom of Something Bigger 

First of all, can we acknowledge that multiple things can be true at once?

Jeremiah acted immaturely and was insecure — and yes, in my opinion, he cheated — but he also loved Belly. Jeremiah was there for Belly in moments when no one else was. He was Belly’s best friend for a very long time, and is it so unheard of to fall in love with your best friend? Their relationship wasn’t fake, it just wasn’t forever.

If we take a closer look, Jeremiah’s behavior doesn’t seem so unjustified. From the beginning, the Fisher boys were set up to compete emotionally, mentally and even romantically. Their father didn’t create a loving, stable environment — he created a rivalry.

So, when Conrad began to ice Jeremiah out after Susannah got cancer, it hurt him. Whether or not Conrad was trying to protect him doesn’t undo that pain.

Jeremiah’s flaws make sense in context. They’re not excusable, but they’re explainable, and that’s more than most are willing to admit.

Conrad: The Tragedy of Timing 

I have always supported Conrad and Belly’s relationship, but it felt like Conrad toyed with Belly just as much as he cared for her. Conrad was uncommunicative, shut Belly out and broke up with her at prom after she had waited, hoped and tried for so long to finally be with him.

Belly was grieving Susannah, too, and when she needed him, he wasn’t there, despite the safe and open environment Belly constantly tried to create for him. But that doesn’t make Conrad evil — it makes him lost. Nonetheless, it still hurt her.

The pain Conrad caused Belly made the third season of the show necessary. The depiction of his emotional spiral, defined by feelings of regret and reflection, showed audiences what healing can look like.

When you hurt someone you love, especially unintentionally, that guilt doesn’t just fade. It sits in your chest, heavy and constant, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it persists. It destroys you, and that pain follows you around, haunting you and making you sick to your stomach. Conrad’s character depicts this very common experience, and people fail to realize how their own emotions parallel his.

That’s what makes Conrad’s pain feel so real. Not only could he not right his most regretful wrong, but he couldn’t be with the person he loved. Conrad didn’t just miss Belly — he carried the weight of knowing he was the one who had pushed her away.

But he didn’t stay stuck there. Over the course of season three, we saw Conrad finally open up, speak clearly, admit his feelings and apologize without ego. He started to take accountability instead of hiding behind sarcasm or silence — that’s a very human, realistic type of positive growth.

Conclusion: These characters are us, and that’s the point 

This show wasn’t written to be a fantasy; it was written to be a mirror. And sometimes, looking into a mirror is the most uncomfortable thing we can do. It forces us to ask ourselves why this makes us mad and why this feels so familiar.

The backlash against “The Summer I Turned Pretty” says more about us than it does about the show. These characters aren’t perfect, and they’re not supposed to be. They’re messy, flawed, confused and emotional, just like we are, just like we were at 16, 19 or 23. That’s the point.

So, before we label Belly a villain, call Conrad dramatic or say Jeremiah is manipulative, maybe we should take a second to remember what it was like to be young and scared and trying to figure it all out. Because in the end, that’s all any of them were ever doing.

Suhiliah Lall is a junior majoring in cinema.

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial. 

I felt confident, seen, even powerful. But with that feeling came immediate criticism. Suddenly, my favorite tops were “too provocative.” Sweatpants and a sports bra? “Too much.” A T-shirt and spandex? “Still too much.” Too much leg, too much shoulder, too much cleavage, too much me.

Every outfit became a negotiation between what I wanted and what the world would allow. Why couldn’t I just wear what I wanted and feel good about myself?

The truth hit me when I turned 15 and I lost the right to wear a T-shirt and underwear in my own home. When my mom saw me, and said, “Your uncles are going to be here. You can’t look like that, so go change.” They weren’t staying. They weren’t even there yet. But because men — male family members — might glance at my legs, my body became a problem to solve.

What changed? Not my clothes. Not their character. Just the way the world saw me now, through the male gaze.

The “male gaze” is a term coined by film critic Laura Mulvey, but you don’t need a film degree to understand it. It’s the unspoken rule that women’s bodies exist to be looked at and that looking is a male right, but a female responsibility to control. In movies, female characters are often shown in a way that emphasizes their physical appearance and sexual appeal, making them the object of the gaze and therefore passive.

But this isn’t just a Hollywood problem — it’s a centuries-old expectation, rooted in patriarchy, that women’s bodies are inherently dangerous unless contained. Long before cameras captured women in soft lighting, they were being wrapped in corsets, veils and layers of fabric, all in the name of “modesty.” The male gaze didn’t invent this dynamic, it just gave it a name.

Little girls learn this early. At family barbecues, boys run shirtless while girls are told to “cover up.” At school, girls get dress coded for “distracting” boys with their shoulders. I didn’t even know what “sexiness” was yet, but I was already being taught that my body could provoke something in others and that was my fault.

These rules aren’t really about protecting children from each other — they’re about protecting adult men from their own impulses. Why else would a 14-year-old’s bare shoulders be labeled a “disruption” while her male teacher’s wandering eyes never get called into question?

However, the real issue was never my body, it was the people who’d been taught they had a right to look.

Women are sexualized aggressively and publicly — they are catcalled on the streets, policed in classrooms and scrutinized in the media. A girl in a crop top is “asking for attention,” but a shirtless guy walking around on a hot day is just “existing.” Men are sexualized too — but it’s celebratory, not controlling. Chris Hemsworth’s thirst traps are praised as “empowering,” while Sydney Sweeney’s outfits are picked apart as “desperate.”

The difference? Male sexualization is a compliment while female sexualization is a warning: “Don’t distract the boys.”

But even among women, the rules aren’t equal, especially in the media. Sydney Sweeney is scrutinized more than her Euphoria costars like Maude Apatow because society polices women with larger chests differently — as if their bodies are inherently “indecent,” while smaller-chested women are either infantilized or deemed “safe.” Bigger breasts are coded as more sexually available, while smaller ones are either dismissed or fetishized as youthful. The male gaze doesn’t just sexualize women — it sorts them into categories, each with its own brand of control.

Girls grow up internalizing the male gaze, policing themselves before anyone else can. We choose clothes based on, “Will this cause a problem?” instead of, “Do I like this?” Research has shown how early this conditioning begins — girls as young as 5 years old express dissatisfaction with their bodies, paving the way for negative body image in the future. It has even been found that over 60 percent of elementary school-age girls wish to lose weight and are unhappy with their bodies, well before they fully develop.

By adolescence, we’ve learned to see ourselves through a lens that was never ours to begin with. It’s not just about clothing, it’s about girls being trained to view their bodies as inherently disruptive, something to be managed rather than celebrated.

The path forward requires more than just awareness: It demands action. Every time we call out the double standard — why is his outfit acceptable while hers is scandalous? — we chip away at the foundation of this oppressive gaze.

We need to fundamentally reframe the conversation, shifting the burden from women’s clothing choices to society’s unhealthy perceptions. Instead of parental figures and schools teaching girls to shrink themselves, we should teach boys that their impulses are theirs alone to manage. True freedom comes when we collectively reject the idea that women’s bodies are public property.

But even if women stopped dressing for the male gaze, men’s eyes will still linger — what we need is for their opinions to stop mattering. The real transformation isn’t in their perception, it’s in our own. We should begin occupying space differently, walking through the world as someone who fundamentally belongs there. That’s the secret power the patriarchy fears, not just our bare shoulders, but our unshakable belief that we deserve to take up room.

Realistically, this is how systems crumble — not in one dramatic moment, but in thousands of daily rebellions. I used to think liberation would come when men finally saw us as equals — now I know it begins when we stop waiting for their permission to exist. As we fight for reproductive rights, elect female leaders and storm male-dominated spaces, we’re not just challenging the male gaze — we’re rendering it obsolete. Because the future isn’t one where women are seen differently, it’s one where we’re finally free to see ourselves.

I’m done negotiating my right to exist comfortably in my own skin. My body is mine, not an object to be policed, not a problem to be solved, but wholly and unapologetically my own. And that revolution starts with something beautifully simple — wearing whatever the hell I want while everyone else stops sexualizing me.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial. 

Nothing specific fueled this hatred for weed in my head; it was just random tidbits of information I had heard throughout my life and naively chose to believe. Previously, I wouldn’t even consider liking a guy if he had any interest in weed, and now I couldn’t date someone if they held the same stigma toward weed that I did.

Looking back, my judgment wasn’t just misinformed — it was a product of systematic fearmongering. Growing up, I absorbed media portrayals of “stoners,” or chronic smokers, and the lingering consequences of the Reagan-era War on Drugs. I grew up with D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, assemblies at school and “Just Say No” public service announcements that framed weed as a slippery slope to failure, which, to avoid, required a hard-line commitment to zero curiosity.

My high school health teacher warned us that smoking only once could lead to heroin addiction, while posters in the hallway equated a joint with a syringe. No one, including my health teacher, mentioned that cannabis had been used medicinally for millennia or that the “gateway drug” theory was unsupported by decades of research.

Instead, drug education leaned into morality tales, not science. I never questioned these narratives until I actually educated myself, and it became clear that, with constant misinformation and fearmongering as well as mainstream culture’s tendency to cling to tired beliefs despite growing evidence of cannabis’s benefits, the War on Drugs continues to do more harm than good.

My educational institutions’ approaches backfired spectacularly. By painting all drug use as equally dangerous, programs like D.A.R.E. made it harder to distinguish between real risks, such as overuse by teens or whether weed really did kill brain cells. As I got older, I witnessed as my friends, who had used weed for years, continue to do so without descending into chaos. The “lazy stoner” stereotype crumbled when I met grad students who used weed to manage anxiety and artists who microdosed for creativity.

I not only realized how much I’d been lied to, but it became difficult to trust any of what I had been taught, even if they were true, effectively destroying weed education’s saving grace. The often extremist and uncompromising educational tactics meant that teens would have to experiment and educate themselves when faced with reality.

The horror stories I’d absorbed weren’t just exaggerated with no end; they actively diverted attention from real issues, like why Black communities were (and still are) disproportionately arrested for possession while white students get shrugs and eye-rolls. In some cases, these horror stories also actively fueled support for racist narratives, and vice versa.

As we look forward, destigmatization and healthy approaches to weed cannot be confined to simply outdated education — it’s that stigma persists even as legalization spreads. Weed is now a billion-dollar industry, with gummies even being marketed as “self-care,” but the people overwhelmingly criminalized for it rarely benefit. Meanwhile, the “bad kid” labels I had internalized shadowed medical users and casual smokers alike.

Destigmatizing weed isn’t about pretending it’s harmless. It’s about replacing moral panic with nuance: acknowledging its benefits, like pain relief, without ignoring potential risks, like overuse by teens. Most of all, it’s about asking why we were taught to fear a plant more than the systems that weaponized it.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial.

When I came to college, many of my friends expressed to me how weird they thought it was that I had Republican friends. I had to explain to them that I did have boundaries, but as long as they weren’t right-wing extremists, I could potentially befriend them.

It’s essential to recognize that while politics define much of how we see the world, it does not fully dictate what makes someone a good friend. In feminist or racial justice movements, the idea that “the personal is political” can overshadow the connections we share with others. Politics undeniably influence us, but it doesn’t account for all the nuances of human interaction — political beliefs don’t “get” small moments of connection like shared laughter, mutual respect or the support we offer each other in times of personal struggle.

Building friendships with people from different political parties can be challenging, especially because some people make their political views their entire personality and cannot fathom the idea of being around those who disagree with them. Others may view certain beliefs as blatant disrespect to their human rights. Both cases are completely valid, but it’s unlikely that friendship can blossom with these perspectives.

Of course, it’s hard to connect with someone when they are fundamentally different from you, but it depends on the person and you should never make quick judgments about someone just because of their political party. There’s more to a person and a friendship than political views, and in cases where people hold less extreme beliefs, it’s definitely possible to befriend someone you disagree with using intentional effort and openness.

Here are some tips on how to foster those relationships:

1. Find common ground: While political beliefs are important, they’re not the only defining aspect of a person. Focus on shared interests like hobbies, values or experiences you both enjoy. Sports, music, food, books or common professional goals can be great ways to connect.

2. Practice empathy: When people feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to listen, so try to understand why someone holds their beliefs. Instead of focusing on winning the argument, take a moment to listen to their experiences and understand how these might have shaped their views — you don’t know how people were raised and how they may change as they grow older.

3. Avoid assumptions and stereotypes: It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know exactly what someone from the “other side” believes, but every person is different. Challenge stereotypes and approach each person with an open mind rather than as a representative of a political group.

4. Be respectful in conversations: Political discussions can become heated, but it’s important to remain calm and respectful. When disagreements arise, try to stay focused on ideas rather than personal qualities. Using “I” statements rather than “you” can help make political discourse less confrontational. For example, statements like “I see it differently because…” instead of “you’re wrong because…”

5. Be open to learning: Be curious and willing to engage with another person’s perspective, even if it goes against your own. Sometimes, listening to opposing views can expand your understanding of other’s beliefs and your own, even if you ultimately disagree.

6. Set boundaries: If politics is too sensitive of a topic, it’s okay to steer the conversation in another direction. If you’ve already decided your differences about politics are something you’re unwilling to look past, then it may be best to keep certain topics out of conversations to preserve the friendship.

7. Focus on personal connection: Remember that friendships are built on trust, kindness and shared experiences, not on agreeing about everything or finding your spitting image. Building a deeper personal connection can help bridge political divides and may remind you that this person is a part of your life for reasons beyond their political viewpoints.

8. Agree to disagree: Understand that you can’t always convince each other to change your views, and that’s okay. The key is respecting each other’s right to have conflicting opinions and not letting that define your entire relationship.

As for my own boundaries, I value varied political views, but I also have nonnegotiable stances on issues like human rights and equality — and these are important to establish. My Republican friends, who are not vehemently against me or my identities, tend to care about issues like economic growth, job creation and national security, which I can sympathize with even if I don’t always agree with their approach. As long as these conversations don’t veer into hostile territory, we can share meaningful experiences despite our differences.

While I don’t actively try to convince my friends to change their views, I try to listen and understand — this is where empathy becomes essential. Friendship should not be about winning arguments but about fostering connections that allow both parties to feel seen and heard.

These friendships can be tricky to navigate, and they don’t always come naturally, but through intentional effort, we can focus on what we have in common — not our political differences. At the end of the day, while politics certainly influences our lives, it shouldn’t dominate our relationships. What we share on an interpersonal level often outweighs the labels we wear in the political realm.

Friendships across political divides can be deeply rewarding because they provide opportunities to challenge our own beliefs and expand our perspectives. They may not be for everyone, but a possible connection with someone should not be rejected and left unexplored because of the assumption that it simply wouldn’t work out.

While there are situations where political differences cannot be looked past, take these steps before making that decision. You never know what you may learn and the friends you may miss out on.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial. 

While some may think they can “pull out” in time, the reality is that about one in five couples who use the pull-out method get pregnant every year as a “perfect” pull-out is difficult to achieve, according to Planned Parenthood. Even before ejaculation, the male body can release a small amount of fluid known as pre-ejaculate, which can pick up leftover sperm when it goes through the urethra. This means that pregnancy can still occur even if the male partner withdraws before full ejaculation.

Pipe Dream’s 2025 Sex Survey indicated that about 23 percent of students never use protection, and 19 percent may use protection “sometimes.” It may “feel better” to not use protection, but you know what doesn’t feel good? Childbirth. If you can’t afford a condom, chances are you can’t afford a kid. Wear a condom, or don’t have sex until you get one.

2. Size matters

It doesn’t. No matter how big or small, as long as you know what you’re doing, your partner will enjoy themselves. Comfort and pleasure are more closely linked to technique, consent, communication and the ability to be present during intimate moments. It’s important to focus on mutual satisfaction and explore what feels good for both partners rather than stressing over physical attributes that don’t play as big of a role in overall sexual fulfillment.

3. The clitoris is liberal propaganda 

Weaponized male incompetence at its finest. For most of Western history, discussions around female sexuality were either suppressed or dominated by patriarchal perspectives, leading to a lack of exploration and understanding of women’s anatomy. Not to mention, sex was seen as an act for male enjoyment because god forbid a woman feels pleasure. Simply, penetrative and oral sex isn’t the end-all, be-all. Clitoral stimulation is essential to closing the orgasm gap, and the majority of women don’t orgasm without it. I’m not exactly sure how political parties got wrapped up in this, but the point is that it’s a highly sensitive organ located at the top of the vulva. If you can’t find it, she’ll show you where it is, so please don’t ignore it.

4. You, as a girl, “can’t” orgasm

This idea is rooted in the view of sexual pleasure as dangerous and unhealthy in many cultures and religions — the focus of sex for women was on reproduction. But we know now that orgasm and pleasure is possible unless you have an underlying condition. The female orgasm is complex: It can also be affected by several psychological and emotional factors such as stress, nerves, environment and more. There are several different ways a woman can experience an orgasm, it simply just takes time to figure out what works for an individual and their partner must be willing to put in the time and effort.

5. Everyone is having sex

There is no timeline that states when a person should start having sex. It’s a personal choice for you to make when you are ready, and contrary to popular belief, people don’t come to college and magically start having sex. It is 100 percent normal to wait for as long as you feel necessary and even if you’ve already had sex for the first time, I promise you aren’t behind, alone or missing out. Thirty-nine percent of students either never have sex or only do a couple of times a year, according to Pipe Dream’s 2025 Sex Survey. That’s countless people who aren’t sexually active during college, and their experience is just as valid as anyone else.

6. It gets loose from too much sex

Just another way for men to make women feel bad about themselves for having any form of a sex life. Regardless of how often or how many sexual partners a woman has, it does not affect the state of their private parts. The vagina is a highly elastic and flexible organ made up of muscles designed to stretch, relax, accommodate things like sexual activity and menstrual products, and then return to its usual state. The only time the vagina may experience permanent changes is during childbirth, so like I said before, if you aren’t ready for that, wear a condom.

7. You can’t get pregnant during your period 

While it’s not very likely, it can still happen. Pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg, and eggs are typically released during ovulation mid-cycle. You’re not ovulating during menstruation, so pregnancy is not likely. However, this is assuming everyone has a typical 28- to 30-day cycle and not considering that sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract for up to five days. So, if you have a shorter or irregular cycle and unless you’re meticulously tracking your cycles and every time you have sex, sperm from sex during your period could potentially fertilize an egg.

8. Lesbians don’t lose their virginity

At the end of the day, virginity is a social construct, an idea built to have more control over women’s sexual lives and keep them “pure” until marriage with no value. It’s just a word. While there is nothing wrong with virginity holding significance to some people, for lesbians, or really anyone of any sexual orientation, “losing your virginity” doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to penetrative sex. It could be about engaging in intimate or sexual experiences for the first time. What “virginity” means is for the individual to decide and for no one else to worry about.

9. If you’re doing it right, you shouldn’t need lube

WRONG! Women cannot control the amount of natural lubrication they produce, and it is affected by several factors such as stress, hormonal fluctuations and medications. Lack of lubrication can cause discomfort, irritation and pain during sex, so put your pride aside and use lube to help reduce friction and make penetration or other sexual activities smoother, more comfortable and less painful.

10. You’ll go blind if you do it too much 

An old wives’ tale that claimed excessive masturbation can lead to blindness and that several people believed for years even though there’s no scientific evidence behind it. It was simply created to scare and discourage younger generations from taking part in sexual activity.

Don’t worry, you won’t go blind. But please don’t be blind to the fact that the first step to being sexually active is educating yourself, and don’t get fooled by silly myths.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial.

Before leaving, they said: “It’s probably just squatters, but give us a call back if anything happens.”

Squatters are people who occupy property without the permission of the owners, and in the state of New York, they have rights due to adverse possession, a set of laws in place in New York state that allows people to claim ownership of land or property, even if they entered by trespassing, under specific conditions. The idea behind it is to promote the use and occupation of land, rather than leaving properties abandoned or unused.

There are a few criteria squatters must meet to have rights under adverse possession. First, the use of the property must be visible to the public. This means the squatter can’t hide or disguise their occupation of the property — it has to be clear that they are treating the property as their own. Second, the squatter must have exclusive use of the property, not sharing it with the owner or the public. In other words, they have to exercise control over the land, similar to how an owner would. Next, they must be “hostile,” which, in legal terms, means they must be living entirely without the consent of the actual owner. Then, they should be physically occupying the land by living, sleeping, eating, etc. there, making them distinct from trespassers. If they are just paying property taxes and maintaining the property, it does not count. The squatter can also claim ownership after occupying the property continuously for at least 10 years — if they move out and come back intermittently the clock resets. The exception is in New York City, where a squatter would only need to occupy the property for 30 days uninterrupted.

For rented units, the New York legislature does not allow squatters to become tenants, and it is up to the landlord to initiate eviction proceedings.

The distinction between trespassing and squatting — the time frame and lack of legal consequences for both — needs to be understood in the context of our city. One must look to the economic challenges Binghamton has faced in recent decades, particularly with the decline of its manufacturing base — the decline of International Business Machines and the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company. While the city has seen some resurgence, economic struggles have made housing more unstable, leading to vacant homes and an increase in people looking for affordable or, even free, housing.

Due to Binghamton’s status as a “college town,” squatters work a little differently than in most places. College towns often have older housing stock, some of which are often converted into student housing. Binghamton sees a lot of student renters who lease properties for the academic year and vacate them during the summer or between terms. When these buildings are no longer rented out, the student population goes back home or landlords do not maintain them, they become vacant. However, with the student housing industry, many landlords don’t live near their properties, nor do they properly maintain or secure these properties during periods of vacancy. The concentration of these types of buildings, often in older, less developed areas, provide opportunities for squatters, who may not meet the legal definition of squatting or enter into a civil dispute with landlords, most likely unaware of the problem.

Students who have found themselves in situations like Boskovski’s can be met with little to no reassurance of their safety from the police. While landlords and the police may not see these transient “squatters” as legally dangerous, it is beyond unsettling knowing someone else is occupying your space in your absence. Not to mention, you don’t know the kind of people squatting, nor what they are capable of. No one should have to worry about encountering strangers in their home if they decide to return early from break.

For property owners in Binghamton, it’s important to regularly monitor vacant properties, secure them against unauthorized access and keep up with maintenance. Regular inspections, securing entrances and even having a security system can deter squatters from moving in. As for the city, local officials can enforce safety codes to prevent buildings from falling into disrepair and invest in projects, like transitional housing or affordable housing, to reduce opportunities for squatting. If squatters are found, taking legal steps to evict them as soon as possible is often the best course of action. Property owners who fail to address these issues may find themselves in prolonged legal battles or face the challenge of defending against adverse possession claims.

Just because a property is left unused or is not being carefully maintained by its owner should not give people the right to take over because they have nowhere else to go. This behavior should not be supported or encouraged by our government and police as it could put several young adults in the area in danger. Authorities and landlords need to start taking squatters seriously and enforce the proper precautions to keep tenants safe.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial. 

The way I see it, when two people decide to take a break, they are separating, making no contact and possibly leaving room to get back together in the future because they have an issue they think is unresolvable. They take a break, hoping that time apart will magically fix their problem, but what will change in a month if they can’t work things out now? Sure, you may grow as a person, but you are experiencing this growth away from your partner, not learning how to develop together as a couple. Self-growth is important, but people never stop growing as individuals and there comes a time when one must learn how to experience self-growth alongside others without growing codependent. The whole point of being in a relationship is learning how to tackle every aspect of life together — it’s clear people take breaks because it’s easier than staying together and working things out properly.

Breaks also leave room for haunting questions, such as “can we get with other people?” Being romantic with another person will only push you away from each other. If you’re on a break, you have the freedom to explore other options, which can be detrimental to relationships. Also, the uncertainty of if you can or can’t reach out to the other person can be unhealthy. You should be able to talk to your partner about anything, and having to hold back because you “agreed to no contact” will only help develop bad communication habits.

Taking space within a relationship is significantly healthier because you aren’t severing your relationship. You’re still spending time with your partner, giving each other room to grow while staying together and showing you both care enough about the relationship to not just call it quits. You are working through the problem together and truly testing your strength as a couple. If it doesn’t work out, at least both sides tried their best, and it just wasn’t meant to be.

The real question is, why is this type of dating common now? Differentiating between a break and taking space was never something people used to do, so why now? As a society, how people handle emotions has evolved, making dating more complicated. Romance, dating and sexuality have become much more open, leaving room for a lot of freedom. People have taken advantage of this freedom and have built a world where communication and commitment are almost nonexistent in modern dating.

Fewer and fewer people take their significant others on dates or even just ask them out. Teenagers fall in love over snaps rather than building a sustainable connection through shared experiences. Society is stuck in a constant loop of situationships, and two people who say “I love you” and are “exclusive,” for whatever reason, cannot say they are together. The list of warped behaviors that are now normalized in dating culture is unceasing, but at the end of the day, people need to learn how to be honest with themselves and their partners.

If you want to explore your romantic life and not settle down, that is perfectly okay. However, you have to be honest with yourself, and that is where the main issue comes in. Previous expectations of marriage have created a twisted idea that relationships are like traps and that a person cannot focus on self-growth while in one. The vast majority of these people are not honestly confronting how they feel or what they’re ready for and are constantly taking the easy approach to all aspects of dating. If people start being honest with themselves, they’ll know what they want and can handle, and when other people are involved, communicate the level of commitment they are ready for. This will get rid of the giant gray area many people find themselves in romantically.

Don’t bend the rules of dating to your personal will and wait instead until you’ve found someone you can communicate with and are ready to commit to. When you reach that point, whatever emotional roller coaster or identity crisis you or your partner may go through, if it’s meant to be, you can and will find the strength to work through it. If you and your partner reach a crossroads but truly want to be together, give each other the proper amount of space, and you can work it out. Seeing other people, not communicating and being away from each other will not solve your problem. If you choose to take a break, you might as well just break up.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema.

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the staff editorial. 

When I turned 10, after years of learning about and growing to love the religion, my father had us all convert to Islam. I fought and tried to talk my parents out of it because I was scared of losing that connection with the rest of my family. But when my mother asked me why the belief system behind it meant so much to me, I didn’t have an answer. I clung to Hinduism as hard as I could, ignoring the lessons from the Qur’an my father tried to teach me. I still stood along with my father in silence, trying to follow his movements and struggling to keep my hair in the hijab I had to put on when we prayed.

While it wasn’t much, my family still slightly embraced the part of us that was connected to Hinduism. My aunts and uncles found it ridiculous that we were still dipping our toes into Hinduism after converting to Islam. Adults used to look at me funny when I said I was half-Hindu and half-Muslim, but my peers never batted an eye. The concept of “unbundling” faith has become prominent among Gen Z. Instead of embracing a single cohesive religious system, many individuals selectively adopt practices and traditions that align with their personal beliefs and lifestyles. This unbundling reflects a desire for a more customized spiritual experience, where religion serves as a tool for personal enrichment and connection rather than a rigid framework for belief.

Most of Gen Z does not have as sustainable of a relationship with God as the generations before us do. A 2019 survey showed that Gen Z is less likely to identify with organized religion and more likely to identify as “religiously unaffiliated” compared to older generations. [HYPERLINK https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/generation-z-future-of-faith/] Boys don’t wear crosses around their necks because of their deep love for the Lord, they wear them because every man in their family does or they saw it was a hot trend on their For You Page. Most kids say grace at dinner because their parents tell them to, not because they’re expressing gratitude to God for the meal on their plate. This is not to say that there are not young adults who prioritize religion — it’s just that they have gone from being the norm to being the exception.

This shift reflects a broader trend in which spirituality is becoming more personalized and less tied to institutionalized structures. For Gen Z, religious traditions, including holiday celebrations, rites of passage and family rituals, often hold significant value. These practices provide a sense of identity, even if a total commitment to the underlying religious beliefs does not accompany them. Many Gen Z individuals seek out the community aspect of religion, valuing social connections and shared experiences over doctrinal beliefs. They appreciate gatherings and events that foster belonging. The emphasis is on maintaining connections to cultural and familial practices rather than adhering to the tenets of a specific faith.

My relationship with God has not changed — I’m still trying to figure out what my beliefs are and more often than not, I find myself thinking it’s easier to not worry about God and focus on moving myself forward. I’d like to one day have a Hindu wedding like the rest of my family and raise my children with the same traditions I grew up with, but I know it will break my father. I claim religion has always just been about family to me, but if I convert back to Hinduism my father will feel betrayed. So, here I am, torn between practicing Hinduism to feel connected with the rest of my family or Islam to make my father happy. Meanwhile, I don’t even know if I believe in God.

Suhiliah Lall is a sophomore majoring in cinema. 

Views expressed in the opinions pages represent the opinions of the columnists. The only piece that represents the view of the Pipe Dream Editorial Board is the Staff Editorial. 

The duo’s podcast, titled “Cancelled,” began in 2021 and is renowned for its controversial, chaotic and often unfiltered storytimes that let their audience in on their lives as influencers and content creators living in Los Angeles. Stories and conversations range from personal trauma to dating to gossiping about other celebrities. Their channel boasts 2.41 million subscribers on YouTube.

The tour was planned in January of this year, but the Binghamton stop was announced in July for the second leg, “Cancelled Cross Country Continued.” The premise is for live audiences to hear exclusive, never-before-heard stories and interact with Mongeau and Schofield.

Mongeau began her career in 2015 on YouTube, telling stories about her childhood and daily life. Many viewers found it easy to connect with her because of her honesty and authenticity, and her fan base grew to over 16 million across several social media platforms. Throughout her career, she has been criticized for her behavior and content but has seemingly evolved from her early days of provocative storytelling to a more nuanced approach, balancing her brand with a greater focus on growth and self-improvement. Despite facing criticism from other celebrities, Mongeau remains present on social media.

Schofield rose to fame through TikTok in 2020 and similarly to Mongeau, grew her fanbase through relatable storytelling and lifestyle videos. She often spoke out about drama throughout Los Angeles and shared stories from her childhood.

This August, Schofield came under heavy fire after a series of racist and offensive posts from 2012 to 2016 were resurfaced by Pop Crave, a media and news company. In one from 2013, Schofield defended George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. In others, she used slurs referring to gay men.

Schofield took to TikTok to film a four-minute apology a few days later. She said she had addicts for parents and was raised by her conservative grandfather.

During this time, Mongeau briefly hosted the podcast without Schofield. Mongeau did not publicly address the controversy until a week later, when she took to the podcast to condemn Schofield, calling the posts “horrific.” One month later, Schofield returned to the podcast. Despite the controversy, the pair are taking their podcast tour’s second leg to major different cities across the United States, including Philadelphia, Denver, New York City and Los Angeles.

The show’s format is divided into categories chosen randomly when the pair spins “the wheel of lore” that determines the topic of discussion. A few topics included fights, sex, revenge, childhood trauma and music festivals.

From night-out horror stories to trying to fight Ross Lynch, the audience at the Forum Theater was engrossed in Mongeau and Schofield’s celebrity tell-all. Before the show started, they displayed a QR code for the crowd to scan and ask for advice from the pair. They were later read aloud, and some audience members described their messy situations and shared revenge stories.

The show ended with a montage of fun and meaningful moments throughout the podcast and a message to the fans on how they have become their found family. For the duo, the tour has been an opportunity to become closer to their fans in a new way.

Gianna Iadevaia, a sophomore majoring in nursing, described her love for the podcast.

“I listen to their podcast all the time,” Iadevaia said. “My best friend lives an hour away from me. So it’s so nice to just put it on when I’m driving to her house and it makes the time pass.”

Choosing the right living community is a pivotal aspect of your college experience at Binghamton University. Each community offers a unique blend of amenities, benefits and social opportunities that can affect your quality of living. Here are the six communities ranked based on convenience, room quality and spirit.

1. Dickinson Community

Dickinson has all the qualities that make the perfect living community. It’s close to Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center and College-In-the-Woods Dining Center, the East Gym and the University Union. Complete with spacious rooms, they also include large windows that look out onto the Dickinson Quad, which allows residents to come together to play sports and study.

2. College-In-the-Woods

While often looked down on, College-In-the-Woods has a sense of charm like no other. However, its biggest drawback can be the lack of air conditioning in every building except for Mohawk. Still, the rooms are quite large and have a comfy and cozy feeling. College-In-the-Woods is also home to one of the best dining halls on campus — it features a fresh salad bar and a grill superior to that of C4. College-in-the-Woods hosts community-building events, like “Woods Olympics,” and it is located in the center of campus, so many resources are just a short walk away.

3. Hinman College 

Coming in third, Hinman is right across from the Lecture Hall. Living in Hinman also guarantees residents will live in a suite. Hinman Dining Hall has several appealing features, including the noodle station, Garbanzo and Starbucks. And, of course, nothing can beat the community feeling represented in the well-known mantra “Hinman is home.”

4. Newing College 

Newing boasts air conditioning and proximity to the East Gym, but that’s all it has going for it. With a lack of suites, it has a less-pronounced sense of community. The nearest dining hall is C4, and although they offer Late Nite, the meals are consistently mediocre. If the unfortunate dining options weren’t bad enough, this community is the furthest from the center of campus.

5. Mountainview College 

Mountainview College is often admired for its large suites and lovely views. However, this view comes with a steep cost — literally. Anyone returning home must make the trek that can leave even the best of us huffing and puffing. Appalachian Collegiate Center is consistently disappointing despite the promises of tasty foods. Though this community is ranked on the lower end, it does have several perks, like basketball courts and a frequently used fire pit that residents of all communities can enjoy.

6. Apartments

Last and definitely least is the Apartments Community. While they have plenty of parking space, the Hillside apartments are almost a 20-minute walk from every living community except Hinman. While they offer residents single rooms and kitchens, the buildings are in poor condition, and there is little sense of community.

The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team extended its winning streak to five games with a 14-13 win over UMBC on Saturday afternoon in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bearcats took a 6-3 lead at the end of one, but the Retrievers made it a one-goal game at halftime. Things remained close throughout as UMBC outscored the Bearcats 4-2 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. In overtime, after a green card against the Retrievers, BU took advantage of the man-up goal and scored the game-winner to keep its winning streak alive.

“Lacrosse is a game of runs,” said Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “We were honestly just focused on the next possession, next draw or the next time down on defense. Our team has been in tough situations all year and it’s about being in the moment and making the most of the next play. We spoke pre-game about our response being a priority in that game and not our circumstances.”

After UMBC [9-5, 4-2 America East (AE)] got the scoring started less than a minute in, Binghamton (9-6, 4-1 AE) responded with four straight goals. This included a man-up goal from sophomore attack Carla Curth, two goals from senior midfielder Kristen Scheidel scored back-to-back goals and a goal from junior attack Olivia Muscolino. The Retrievers and Bearcats then went back and forth with two goals each as the visitors ended the period up 6-3.

“Our strategy was to maintain our tempo on offense and control what we could control,” Allen said. “We’ve faced physical opponents in previous games and just needed to stay composed, even if we weren’t getting calls in our favor.”

UMBC kept things relatively close, scoring the first three goals of the second period to knot the game at six. Although the Bearcats had a myriad of opportunities on goal, they were unable to capitalize until the very end of the period. With just a second left in the half, senior attack Madison Murphy found the back of the net to give Binghamton a 7-6 lead going into halftime.

“[Murphy] had one heck of a game,” Allen said. “She was really honed in on by the UMBC defense, yet she still prevailed with five points on the day and critical momentum swings for us in the game.”

The Retrievers got on the board first coming out of halftime to tie the game at seven. After this point, the Binghamton outscored UMBC 4-2 for the rest of the period. This included two goals in the final 1:24 of the third period, courtesy of Murphy and senior midfielder Hayley Weltner, which allowed the visitors to take an 11-9 lead going into the fourth period.

“[Weltner] was one of the biggest difference makers on the day with 12 draw controls,” Allen said. “[Weltner] had one of her best days against one of the best draw units in the conference and showed what she and her draw crew are capable of.”

Less than two minutes into the fourth period, UMBC made it a one goal game at 11-10. However, Muscolino capitalized on a free position opportunity to extend the BU lead back to two. The Retrievers, however, continued to stay within striking distance and eventually tied the game at 13 with 3:59 remaining in regulation. Neither team would score for the rest of regulation, forcing overtime.

“Our entire defensive unit was really locked in, but the saves by [senior goalie Sofia Salgado] in the final minutes of regulation kept us in that game and gave us an opportunity to win,” Allen said.

In overtime, after UMBC was called for a green card, and Curth got the ball to senior attack Gabriella Meli for a man-up goal, lifting Binghamton to a 14-13 win. With the win, the Bearcats have clinched a spot in the AE playoffs as they are now tied for first place with UAlbany.

The Bearcats will face Bryant at home on senior day for their final game before the AE tournament on Saturday, April 27. First draw control is set for 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

After defeating Vermont 11-10 in overtime last week, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team extended its winning streak to four games with a 21-10 win over UMBC on Saturday afternoon. After a back and forth start, BU captured the lead late in the first quarter and didn’t look back. Nine Bearcats combined for 21 goals — tying the program record.

“First off, I think our competition level was really high,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin McKeown. “We did a great job in practice the week prior, and I think it carried over to the game. I just thought we competed really hard and made up for some of our mistakes with that, but the offense played really well.”

UMBC [4-5, 232 America East (AE)] won the first face-off, UMBC scored the first goal of the match off of a rebound. Binghamton (6-5, 4-1 AE) bounced back quickly with a two goals — one from freshman midfielder Jack Mellen, and another from junior attack Matthew Keegan. However, the Retrievers then scoring two consecutive goals to retake the lead at 3-2. This lead was short-lived as the Bearcats ended the quarter with two more goals from Keegan and senior attack Ethan Insinga to bring the score to 4-3.

“I thought the guys were just playing really, really, selflessly,” McKeown said. “So, I’m excited to see that, and hopefully, we can continue to do that as we move forward.”

Binghamton and UMBC traded goals to begin the second half. With the Bearcats now leading 5-4, they scored four unanswered goals. This started with junior attack Gage Adams finding the back of the net. Twelve seconds later, freshman attack Andrew Girolamo got the ball from senior face-off Ross Chazanow, and put the ball away for BU’s seventh goal of the game. With 38 seconds left in the half, Girolamo fed the ball to Keegan for his third goal of the game as he completed his hat trick. Adams capped off the first half scoring with another goal to give Binghamton a 9-4 going into halftime.

“It’s great to spread [the ball] around like that,” McKeown said. “[Girolamo] is a freshman who has started getting [the ball] more and more. In the past, three to four games, he did a great job feeding. So, I thought the offense, was moving the ball really well and seeing the field well.”

Coming out of halftime, for the first 10 minutes, BU and UMBC traded goals as the Bearcats retained a 13-7 lead. Binghamton then went on a three-goal run as Keegan, Adams and senior attack/midfielder Liam Ferris all scored to bring it to 16-7. With two seconds left in the quarter, UMBC got one past junior goalie Connor Winters, ending the third quarter trailing 16-8.

“We tied our program record for goals with 21, [with] 13 of those being assisted,” McKeown said. “I think percentage-wise, it was the most amount of assisted goals we’ve had this year. We moved the ball really well and, the guys did a great job of finding [each other].”

During the fourth quarter, with all the momentum, BU continued to control the game. Binghamton scored the first five goals of the quarter to make it a 21-8 game. UMBC scored twice in the final minutes to make it 21-10, but it was too little, too late, as the Bearcats secured a dominant 21-10 victory.

“The unselfishness offensively, how we passed it — that’ll [continue] to be a focus,” McKeown said. “I think we have to tighten up a little bit defensively — and we haven’t watched a lot of Bryant yet — but certainly know that they’re a really good team. [Bryant] had beaten us twice last year — once in the playoffs, so I think it’ll be a battle and certainly a big one to be able to get to potentially start secure post-season birth.”

Nine different Bearcats put points on the board, including five with multiple goals and four earning hat tricks. With the victory, Binghamton remains in a tie for first place with two games left in AE play.

BU will host Bryant for senior day on Saturday, April 20. First face-off is set for 12 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

After losing 12-11 in overtime to Coastal Carolina, the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team’s dropped its second straight match, falling to Niagara 12-5 at home. The Purple Eagles jumped out to an early lead 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, and they maintained that lead the rest of the way as the Bearcats’ offense struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just two goals in the second half.

“I was happy to see our team cause 12 turnovers today collectively from our ride and our defensive unit,” wrote Binghamton head coach Stephanie Allen. “We battled hard for ground balls and won the little battles — which is one thing you always want to see from your team. We did not execute offensively today and that really impacted the game.”

Just a minute into the match, Niagara (5-1) won the draw control and scored the first goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead over BU (4-4). The Bearcats first opportunities came when Junior midfielder Abigail Carroll and senior midfielder Hayley Weltner got back-to-back free position shots. However, the Bearcats were unable to capitalize. Neither team scored for the rest of the quarter as BU trailed 2-0 at the end of the first quarter.

“Execution on the offensive end and decision-making across the entire team is focused moving forward,” Allen wrote. “We need highly quality shots and better clock management offensively.”

Niagara scored back-to-back goals to open the second quarter to make it a 4-0 game. After 10 shot attempts, Binghamton finally got on the board, courtesy of junior attack Olivia Muscolino. The Purple Eagles continued to put pressure on the Bearcats’ defense, responding with two more goals to make it a 6-1 game. Things continued to go back and forth as Weltner capitalized on a free position shot, bringing the score to 6-2. Each team recorded one more goal as the scoreboard read 7-3 in favor of Niagara going into halftime.

“I thought [senior midfielder Kristen Scheidel] and [senior midfielder Emma Conroy] both came up with some critical plays for us today,” Allen wrote. “Whether it was draw controls or caused turnovers. They worked hard to provide a spark, and I was proud of the extra effort from both of them.”

Nearly seven minutes into the second half, Purple Eagles got on the board first. However, Binghamton won the next draw and senior attack Madison Murphy got the ball past the goalie with a bounce shot to cut the Niagara lead to 8-4. In the final 5:26 of the period, Niagara scored two more goals, leading 10-4 at the end of three.

“Our offense just needs to adjust quicker with shooting selection and placement,” Allen wrote.

To open the final quarter, Binghamton got off two attempts on goal but both were unsuccessful. Then, after a drop and feed, Niagara scored their 11th goal of the game. Eight minutes later, the Purple Eagles added another goal to their total to make it a 12-4 game. With 2:11 remaining, Muscolino scored BU’s fifth and final goal of the day after converting on a free position opportunity. However, the Bearcats deficit was too significant to overcome as they fell 12-5.

“We need to have more mental discipline and focus all around,” Allen wrote. “Choice-making is the most important part of the game, and we were not dialed in today with clearing or offensive execution.”

The Bearcats will take on in-state rivals Cornell this Tuesday, March 12. First draw control is set for 4 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

With a two-game America East (AE) win streak on the line, the Binghamton men’s basketball team went on the road and fell to undefeated Vermont 62-49 at Patrick Gymnasium. The Bearcats kept the score close, only trailing by two going into halftime. However, the Catamounts pulled away in the second half, outscoring BU 40-29 in the second half to capture the victory.

“We played a solid game,” said Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders. “You know, first half, I thought we had some defensive lapses where we gave them some open shots, but we didn’t want to. With that being said, I thought we were solid pretty much the whole start of the game.”

The Bearcats (10-11, 2-6 AE) started the game off strong, holding the lead over the Catamounts (18-5, 8-0 AE) for a good amount of the first half. Graduate student guard Dan Petcash put the first points on the scoreboard with a three-pointer off an assist from fellow graduate student guard Symir Torrence. Binghamton played a strong defense, disrupting Vermont’s many attempts to score and forcing multiple turnovers.

Senior guard Armon Harried made two dunks within the first 10 minutes before the Catamounts were able to eventually respond. Halfway through the first period, Vermont took a 14-12 lead and, after this point, the Catamounts held it for the remainder of the half. However, Binghamton stayed toe-to-toe with the Catamounts, as sophomore guard Chris Walker drained two three-pointers. Then, with time expiring, Petcash grabbed a rebound off a three miss from Walker and layed it in as BU trailed 22-20 going into halftime.

“Offensively, we just didn’t make enough shots,” Sanders said. “They had no points of all turnovers in the first half, [and in the] second half, they had 10 points of all turnovers. So we ended up with 13, and you need to have more like seven like we had last game against NJIT. [Vermont] makes you pay for every mistake you make. We just gotta get better at just similar execution.”

Going into the second half, the Bearcats and Catamounts were exchanging points for almost four minutes, until Vermont got ahead and went on a seven-point run, bringing the score to 34-27. The Catamounts fed off their home-court advantage, gaining more energy and motivation from the crowd. Binghamton fought to keep the score close — however, every attempt the Bearcats made to even out the score was shut down by the Catamounts.

And as the clock ran out, Binghamton struggled to put the ball in the basket, allowing UVM to go on a five-point run in the last four minutes. Binghamton scored its final three points from foul shots by Harried and Torrence, but at this point in the game, a Bearcat comeback was too late. UVM took a double-digit lead at 62-49 after draining two free throws and running out the clock as the Catamounts secured a 13-point victory over Binghamton.

Leading the way for BU were Harried and junior guard Tymu Chenery, who both scored 12 points against Vermont. Adding to the board was Petcash, who contributed 10 points of his own. Leading in assists was Torrence with nine and in rebounds was Harried with seven.

“We have to have a different strategy,” Sanders said. “When we play against Albany. We just gotta get better at executing, down the stretch, close games, not having breakdowns on [offense] or [defense], then we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

The Bearcats will return home to host a throwback night against Albany on Thursday, Feb. 8. Tip-off is set for 6:07 p.m. at the Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center in Vestal, New York.

To begin its winter campaign, the Binghamton men’s and women’s swim and dive teams hosted Wagner on Saturday afternoon, with the men and women earning a 203-92 and 192-105 win, respectively, in their final home meet of the season. As the team celebrated senior day, six pool records were broken by the team in the contest.

“It was a great, great meet,” said Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. “You know, that’s certainly a special group of seniors. Our first class that we brought in and have seen all the way through, so a group we’re definitely going to miss.”

The men’s team contributed to four of the six pool records the team set this weekend. The 400 yard medley relay composed of fifth year Mark Crocker, seniors Henry Shemet and Eric Kroon and junior Eli Lanfear set a new record with a time of 3:19.75. Individually, Shemet recorded a time of 1:51.97 to take first in the 200 Yard IM while Lanfear came in first in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 45.30, both new pool records. Lanfear also contributed during the 200 yard freestyle relay — with seniors Liam Murphy, Sandon Karinsky, and sophomore Liam Preston — where the men earned their final pool record of the day with a time of 1:23.38.

“You know, a lot of great swims,” Cummiskey said. “The two relays were fast and that was their goal. And, you know, [Shemet] had the goal of the 2:00:00 which was a great swim. And [Lanfear’s] been trying for that 100 record for a while.”

Kroon swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100-yard with a time of 56.69 and the 200-yard by clocking a time of 2:05.49. Also adding first-place points in the men’s win was Murphy in the men’s 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:40.49. In the 200-yard butterfly, senior Jake Vecchio placed first coming in at 1:51.38 while freshman Cullin Cole earned his first career gold in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.56. Taking first in the diving events was senior Will Maurer scoring 249.68 in the one meter dive and freshman Dylan Norby scoring 235.58 in the three meter dive.

On the women’s side, senior Courtney Moane set a new pool record of 1:03.71 to take gold in the 100-yard breastroke. Moane also came in first alongside senior Maddie Hoover, sophomore Olivia Philbrick and freshman Haley Nowak in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:53.49. The final record set for the women was by junior Lauren Kuzma in the 200-yard breaststroke punching in at 2:17.25. Kuzma also took gold in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:09.71.

“[Moane] lowered her a hundred breaststroke, which was her goal.” Cummiskey said. “[Kuzma] had a great swim. She was trying for the record and crushed it. You know, that’s the second fastest time in program history behind her own school record. So, it was a good swim.”

Hoover dominated the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events coming in first at 1:53.29 and 5:18.54 respectively. Nowak also contributed to the Bearcats’ victory with wins in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.00 and the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:09.63. Meanwhile, senior Skylar Ward took her first gold of the campaign in the 1000-yard freestyle, clocking in at 10:44.14. Finally, freshman Ava Lee swept the diving events, placing first in both the one meter dive with a score of 226.88 and the three meter dive scoring 199.35.

“We’re in a good place,” Ward said. “I think it’s perfect coming into the championship season. It’s going to put us in a really good spot.”

BU will hit the road on Saturday, Jan. 27 to compete against Marist. First swim is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the McCann Natatorium in Poughkeepsie, New York.

After winning its season opener versus Bloomsburg, the Binghamton’s women’s basketball team faced off against Siena on Thursday night and was ultimately defeated 73-64. BU started off strong on the offensive end but ultimately lost control of the game in the second and third quarters. While the Bearcats attempted to make a comeback in the final minutes of the game, they came up short as the Saints earned the victory.

“They did a tremendous job with keeping, playing at their tempo and keeping pace,” said Binghamton head coach Bethann Shapiro Ord. “That was something that, you know, we talked about.”

The Saints (2-0) got on the board first after winning the tip-off. Binghamton (1-2) responded when redshirt sophomore guard Jadyn Weltz got the ball down the court to graduate student guard Denai Bowman. With the ball loose, Bowman did not back down, fighting for it and eventually getting it to junior forward Genevieve Coleman who put Binghamton on the board with a jumper. Then, redshirt sophomore guard Ella Wanzer drew back-to-back fouls and drained all four free throws to give BU an 11-8 lead. With just under three minutes remaining, Siena tied the score. The Bearcats and Saints exchanged baskets in the final minutes of the quarter as the Saints held an 18-17 lead at the end of the first.

“You have to play every possession,” Shapiro Ord said. “You have to execute on the offense event and the defensive end, and you got [to have] a bit more energy.”

Siena got off to a hot start in the second quarter, with a 10-0 run, whereas Binghamton attempted many shots, but was unable to capitalize. After Wanzer and Bowman were both fouled and drained their free throws, Binghamton was able to finally get on the board. However, the Bearcats continued to struggle for the majority of the period, shooting just 28.57 percent from the field. BU was outscored 25-12 in the quarter and faced a 43-29 deficit heading into halftime.

“I like the positivity because I always try to take that as well,” Shapiro Ord said. “But we were playing and obviously, for whatever reason, we let other teams dictate how we play.”

Siena maintained its momentum heading into the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 23-point lead. Midway through the quarter, Bowman made a jump shot to stop the bleeding, making the score 52-31. The Bearcats rebounded well but their offense continued to struggle to put the ball in the basket. BU made several passes resulting in turnovers, consistently bringing the ball back to the Saints’ half. After baskets from Bowman and Coleman, Binghamton gained some momentum. However, the Bearcats still trailed 64-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

“You’ve got to remember when you’re starting games like this, you gotta focus forward,” Shapiro Ord said. “Something I learned a long time ago is you gotta just keep getting better. There shouldn’t be any reason for the lack of hustle though. So that’s a big thing that we have to adjust from tonight.”

In the final quarter of the game, freshman guard Kaylee Krysztof provided a spark off the bench as BU was able to cut into the Siena lead. As a result of a block by Coleman, the Bearcats created a turnover that led to Krysztof draining her first three-pointer of the game. Binghamton continued to crawl its way back. A made jump shot from Coleman, a free throw from Bowman, back-to-back three-pointers by Krysztof and a three-pointer from sophomore guard Meghan Casey cut the deficit to 13. Despite two more three-pointers from Krysztof, the Saints managed to survive BU’s offensive outburst in the game’s final minutes, squeezing out a 73-64 win.

“We go against our team,” Shapiro Ord said. “We play really hard against each other and compete. We play against our practice players and really compete, but for whatever reason tonight we let our offense dictate our defense or the whole game actually. We got another game in two days. We don’t harp on it, but we gotta show adjustments and then positive stuff. We’ll practice and then we’ll move on to the next game.”

BU continued nonconference play against Loyola University Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 12th. Tipoff was at 5 p.m. at the Reitz Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

Denai Bowman, Binghamton — Gr., Guard

Bowman heads into her fifth and final season with the Bearcats. She has played in every game since the start of her sophomore year and is a two-time first-team all-conference and three-time all-defensive team honoree. Last year, Bowman ranked fifth in the America East (AE) conference in scoring, averaging 13 points per game and was second in steals, averaging two a game as she earned AE second-team all-conference honors. She also ranked fifth in the AE, averaging 3.3 assists per game and was tied for sixth in blocks, averaging a block per game. Bowman will be a continued threat on both sides of the ball as AE teams will have their hands full when making an effort to stop her.

Kayla Cooper, UAlbany — Sr., Guard

Senior guard Kayla Cooper has been a powerful force on the court and exhibits some of the best skills the Great Danes have to offer. Last year, she ranked third in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game and was fourth in rebounding, grabbing an average of 8.3 boards per game. During her junior year, Cooper was named to the AE first-team all-conference. Be on the lookout for Cooper as the Great Danes fight to redeem themselves this year — following their loss to Vermont in the AE championship game last year.

Anna Olson, Vermont – Sr., Forward

Now entering her senior season at Vermont, expectations are high for senior forward Anna Olson. Last year, Olson was the second-leading scorer on the Catamounts, averaging 11.4 points. She averaged 6.5 rebounds per game, good enough for seventh in the conference and first on Vermont’s squad. Olson also led the AE in shooting percentage, shooting 51.1 percent from the floor. In her sophomore season, she made the AE second-team all-conference, and the year prior was named the AE Rookie of the Year. Then after a strong junior season, Olson made the AE all-conference first team. Knowing this may be her last dance as a Catamount, Olson is ready to leave her mark and bring home another AE title for the Catamounts.

Anne Simon, Maine — Gr., Guard

The Maine star from Sandweiler, Luxembourg, graduate student guard Anne Simon is back on the court now as a graduate student and her level of intensity and determination is higher than ever. Last season, she posted double-digit scoring in eight of her 14 games and ranked second on her team in scoring, with an average of 13.6. The guard was also third in rebounding, averaging 4.1 boards a game, and shot at an 82.8 percent clip from the free throw line and 41.9 percent from the floor. She’s a four-time AE all-conference selection. During her junior season, Simon earned America East Player & Defensive Player of the Year, AE First Team and AE All-Defensive Team. With her strong offensive and defensive ability, Simon is expected to be a driving force in bringing a title back to Maine.

Adrianna Smith, Maine — Jr., Forward

The youngest of this year’s Preseason All-Conference picks, junior Adrianna Smith has already managed to take the AE by storm. In the 2022-23 season alone, Smith was named AE player of the year and chosen to be on AE first-team all-conference. Last year, She averaged 23.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in 16 conference games and tallied a career-high 34 points against NJIT. Smith also led the AE a scoring with an average of 17.9 points per game while also grabbing 9.5 rebounds a game. In such a short amount of time, Smith has, made herself a vital asset to the Black Bears and will be a key contributor during Maine’s 2023-24 campaign. It’s not much of a surprise that Smith is on this list.

Emma Utterback, Vermont — Gr., Guard

After being named “Most Outstanding Player” for her performance in the AE tournament last year, graduate student guard Emma Utterback decided to return for her final year at Vermont. Last season she averaged 14 points, 4.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. She has started in every game since her sophomore season and was titled co-captain her senior year. Utterback converted on 40.9 percent of her shots from the field and 61.1 percent from the free throw line. In her 2022-2023 season, Utterback also reached her 1,000th career point at Holy Cross, scored in double figures 23 times and netted at least 20 points on six occasions. Utterback is a two-time AE first-team all-conference selection. Her outstanding skills, versatility and athleticism on the court will help Utterback as she tries to recreate last season’s success and bring home another championship for the Catamounts.

After redshirting her freshman year due to injury, redshirt sophomore guard Jadyn Weltz had a breakout campaign in 2022-23 and is ready to take the next step in being a significant piece for the Bearcats this season. Weltz believes that she is ready to lead and contribute for the Bearcats on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

“I’m always trying to make that extra effort to get the ball or do something well for our team,” Weltz said. “I started to value playing more and … getting time away from the sport teaches you how much you actually truly love it.

Weltz, a 5-foot-7-inch guard from Ontario, Canada, appeared in all 30 games during last season, starting in 21 of them. She led the team in scoring four times and reached double figures 11 times last year. On Feb. 25, 2023, Weltz scored a career-high 23 points against Maine. In that game, she also filled up the rest of the stat sheet, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing out four assists and tallying three steals.

Last year, she was named to the America East (AE) all-rookie team, all-defensive team and earned comeback player of the year honors while also receiving AE rookie of the week honors four times. Weltz also led the AE with 2.5 steals per game, ranked second in the conference with 4.1 assists per game and was sixth in the conference with a 1.3 assists/turnover ratio.

“I think it was a great accomplishment for me,” Weltz said. “But I think the main priority is just kind of doing my role for the team, not necessarily for the accolades or anything like that, but just, you know, providing enough for my team so that we can be successful.”

Before attending Binghamton, Weltz was a two-time Provincial Ontario Federal of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) gold medalist and MVP. She also served as a three-year captain of Team Ontario Provincial, has been named to the BioSteel Future Games All-Canadian Team and was an active participant in the Canadian Women’s National Team Assessment Program.

Weltz grew up around the game, and acknowledged how she is lucky and grateful to have had proper role models around as her love for basketball grew.

“My dad played at the college level and my sister’s currently playing at the college level as well in Canada,” Weltz said. “They’ve both been huge role models to me, all since I’ve grown up. Playing against my sister when I was growing up, always being competitive and they kind of got me to love the game and it’s why I am playing today.”

When she’s not on the court, Weltz is studying business administration at Binghamton. During the 2021-22 school year, she was a member of both the fall and spring AD Honor Roll and the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll. When she’s not putting the scholar in scholar-athlete, Weltz enjoys spending her free time in the kitchen and exploring all the wonderful nature spots Binghamton has to offer.

“I’m a really big cooker and baker,” Weltz said. “Some would call me the team chef. I’m always bringing in like desserts or something like that for after practices, so definitely a fun hobby. And I love nature, and there’s a lot of hiking spots around here.”

After her redshirt experience, Weltz is determined to make the most of her remaining time on the court.

“I had two herniated discs in my back,” Weltz said. “I’m gonna enjoy every day, enjoy every practice and not take anything for granted, just because I know what it feels like to be out and not be able to do the thing I love. Being injured takes a toll on your physical health, but also your mental health.”

Weltz is excited to show Bearcat fans what she can do on the court this year and do what it takes to help Binghamton in its pursuit of an AE championship.

“I want to stay healthy so that I can provide for my team all season long,” Weltz said. “In addition to that, just being a leader for my team. I’ve been here for three years, despite only playing for one. I’ve seen the game, I’ve played the game and now I’m hoping that I can help my team as much as I can.”

After tying 2-2 against Maine last Sunday, the Binghamton women’s soccer team defeated NJIT 2-0 on Thursday night in Newark, New Jersey. In its final America East (AE) regular season matchup, Binghamton consistently attacked the Highlanders with strategic movement of the ball. After taking an early one-goal lead in the first half, the Bearcats added an insurance goal, tacking on another goal in the second half en route to a 2-0 victory over NJIT. Not only did BU earn a victory, but it also secured its second consecutive regular season title and the No.1 seed in the AE tournament.

“Overall we were very pleased with the performance Thursday evening at NJIT,” said Binghamton head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “We knew going into it no matter what — that a win and three points were going to secure the regular season title and postseason home-field advantage.”

NJIT (7-6-5, 3-4-1 AE) was able to get two shots in at the start of the game, but it was only a matter of time before Binghamton (6-4-6, 5-0-3 AE) gained control of the ball and essentially maintained possession for the rest of the half. In the 18th minute, graduate student defender Grace Vittoria got the ball out of the corner and made a cross to senior midfielder Molly McClelland who was able to get her foot on the ball. Eventually, McClelland attempted a shot for the Bearcats and found the back of the net, putting the Bearcats up 1-0 over the Highlanders.

After this point, things went back and forth as both teams were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Going into halftime, Binghamton found itself up 1-0. The Highlanders tried to make a comeback in the second half, tallying seven total shots, however, most of the attempts were results of aimless kicks. In the few times when NJIT was able to get on the offense, junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams was ready to stop them in their tracks, totaling six saves throughout the match.

“Overall it was a strong defensive performance to keep the clean sheet,” Bhattacharjee said. “Our best part of the game was our possession and how we kept the ball.“

The Bearcats had a comfortable rhythm and were playing in unison, earning 10 shots in the second half and never allowing the Highlanders to get the upper hand. Between the efforts of freshman forward Paige Luke and senior defender Lexi Vegoda, along with the senior midfielder Victoria McKnight and graduate student midfielder Olivia McKnight, Binghamton’s offense was able to capture a lead while also keeping NJIT off the board. Toward the end of the second half, in the 80th minute, Luke was able to serve the ball right to O. McKnight who scored the Bearcats’ second and final goal of the match.

“We scored two nice goals, the first from [Vittoria] for a quality finish by [McClelland],” Bhattacharjee said. “Then later in the second half got the insurance goal with another service from [Vittoria] flicked on by [Luke], and then a composed finish by [McKnight].

Binghamton continued to keep the Highlanders off the board and when the final whistle sounded, BU secured a 2-0 victory over NJIT. With the win, Binghamton captured the AE regular season title for the second consecutive year and will be the No.1 seed, earning home-field advantage throughout the AE tournament.

“We are feeling confident going into the semifinal as we await Monday’s winner between [NJIT] and [UMass Lowell],” Bhattacharjee said. “Either one will be a good opponent and it’s typically tough to beat an opponent a second time. But if we keep our quality of play and the team continues to feel and show good vibes we know we can have another strong showing in front of our home fans on Thursday night.”

The Bearcats will begin preparing for the AE Semifinals on Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for 6:07 pm at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York where they will face either No. 4 UMass Lowell or No. 5 NJIT.

Coming off a 3-1 win over UMBC, the Binghamton women’s soccer team hosted Albany on Thursday night, ultimately playing to a 2-2 draw. The Bearcats controlled possession for the majority of the game and built a comfortable two-goal cushion with a goal in both the first and second halves. However, in the 85th minute, Albany found the back of the net to cut the BU lead to one. Then, with less than 30 seconds left in the match, Albany found the equalizer off of a corner kick, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

“We had a pretty good amount of control for the game,” said Binghamton head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “If there’s anything that I’d say instead of two goals, we had an opportunity for a third and a fourth. [We] hit a couple of crossbars, forced the keeper to make a couple of good saves, a couple of shots that we missed on our own. So, we could’ve put it away instead of just holding a two-goal lead with four minutes left.”

The match began with the ball in Albany’s (3-5-2, 0-1-2 AE) possession but Binghamton (3-4-4, 2-0-1 AE) quickly brought it back to the Great Danes’ box. The Bearcats’ offense came on strong, with senior midfielders Molly McClelland and Victoria McKnight and junior midfielder Hannah Knych working together to create several opportunities for a goal, but never getting a clear shot at the net. The first two shots of the game were taken by the Great Danes with one going out, and the other being saved by junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams.

The Bearcats’ defense worked to move the ball out of its box and back down the field. Knych got off the first shot for the Bearcats, which went out top left. Albany was able to find two more attempts on the net, but Williams was able to save them both. Later in the half, senior defender Lexi Vegoda was able to get the ball into the Great Danes’ box to sophomore forward Lauren Clark, who capitalized in the 33rd minute by putting the ball away for BU’s first and only goal of the half. The first half ended with nine shots from Binghamton and five shots from the Great Danes. Going into halftime, the Bearcats found themselves with a 1-0 advantage over Albany.

“[There were] certain things that we expected to see from Albany,” Bhattacharjee said. “They gave us a little bit of a different look in terms of what we expected from our scouting report. But once we figured it out after the first 15 to 20 minutes, we were able to get more of the control in the game. [Vegoda] helped to play a big part in that.”

For most of the second half, the Bearcats’ attack did not let up, getting off a shot to the bottom right that was saved, along with a shot that went off the crossbar. Eventually, graduate student defender Grace Vittoria was able to break down Albany’s defense, attempting a shot through a defender’s leg. Off of the goal-kick from Vittoria’s shot, sophomore forward Samiya Reid was able to get her foot on the ball and turn it around for an unassisted goal that put BU up 2-0.

The Bearcats kept the intensity high throughout the half, doubling the Great Danes’ shot output in the second half. However, late in the half, things began to take a turn for the worse for BU. Albany got a kick right outside the box, and in the last four minutes, was able to make it past the Binghamton defense for their first goal of the game. Then with less than 30 seconds to go, Albany capitalized off a corner kick opportunity and found the back of the net, as the match ended in a 2-2 tie.

“Should have been three points and now we’re walking away with just one,” Bhattacharjee said. “So obviously pretty disappointed and gutted about it, but we got to live with it and accept it, move on for another day and get ready for Bryant on Sunday. We gotta make sure we play with the effort we know we’re capable of, putting out chances away that we know we’re capable of putting away, get a solid three points, get our footing back and that will take us into the second half of [AE conference] play. Right now, I know it sounds cliché, but we got to move on from this unfortunate result and get back to where we know we can be.”

After suffering a 3-0 loss to UNH in the 2022 America East (AE) tournament semifinals, the Binghamton men’s soccer team looked to flip the script — opening up America East (AE) Conference play against the defending AE champions and No. 18 ranked UNH at the Bearcats Sports Complex on Saturday night. After holding off several Wildcat attacks early on, the Bearcats looked for scoring opportunities in both halves but were unable to get on the board, as the game ended in a 0-0 tie.

“[UNH] brought the best out of us, and I thought we were up for the challenge,” said Binghamton head coach Paul Marco. “We were a little lucky at times and I thought we were unlucky at times during the game.”

Binghamton (2-5-1, 0-0-1 AE) got the ball into the Wildcats’ (4-1-2, 0-0-1 AE) box early on in the match, but quickly saw its defense get challenged with UNH getting off two shots in quick succession. However, the Bearcats continued to put pressure on the Wildcat defense. In the 13th minute, junior midfielder Diego Vargas got off BU’s first shot on goal that ultimately went out left.

“I thought our guys gave a great response in tonight’s match,” Marco said. “What a terrific group effort — team effort — and they really showed some competitive spirit today,”

The rest of the half saw UNH mostly controlling possession, with eight shots in comparison to Binghamton’s one. However, sophomore goalkeeper Jack Root and the Binghamton defense were able to keep UNH from finding the back of the net. At the end of the first half, the game remained 0-0 as both teams were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.

“[Going into the second half,] I felt like defensively we had to do a couple of things better,” Marco said. “We weren’t very good defending back to goal. They were getting some good breakaways from us, when they spin us [in the first half].”

Within the first minute of the second half, the Wildcats got off a shot in the Binghamton box but came up short. Despite its opportunities, UNH was unable to take advantage as the BU defense kept the Wildcats at bay. Not long after, Binghamton went on the attack. After a Wildcats foul, graduate student midfielder Jack Green, took the free kick resulting in a corner for Binghamton. The ball was then crossed and headed by graduate student back Michael Bush, but ended up being saved by the Wildcats’ goalkeeper.

“We tried to get on the ball a little bit more in the second half,” Marco said. “We had more opportunities in the second half than the first half.”

BU picked up the pace later in the second half, securing opportunities from corner kicks. However, the Bearcat offense was unable to find the back of the UNH net, ending the second half with three total shots and no scores. UNH, meanwhile, continued to put pressure on Binghamton, tallying nine shots in the second half. In the 86th minute, UNH got off a shot right in front of Binghamton’s goal, but Root lunged to make a point-blank save to keep the Wildcats off the board. Ultimately, the match ended in a 0-0 tie as neither team could find a way to get on the board.

“It was amazing,” Root said. “[Junior back Carlo Cavalar] must have gotten five or six blocks, [the defense] had more saves than I did. It was great, they were doing their job, and up and down the field we all did our jobs today, and even if we don’t get a win, the results against a caliber team like [UNH] is something to be proud of.”

After an injury to graduate student goalkeeper Dylan McDermott, Root stepped into the starting role and played the entirety of the game, earning a shutout in his first career start for the Bearcats.

“I thought, notable performances, we had three really great performances outside of the entire team,” Marco said. “I thought [Root] in goal was outstanding, and then [sophomore midfielder Calvin Moe] and [senior back Joe Spires] were very good.”

Binghamton will hit the road to take on Hofstra before its next AE matchup on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex in Hempstead, New York.