Tanks and jets might decide a battle, but industry dictates the fate of wars, and the infrastructure behind it shapes the politics of peacetime diplomacy. Major countries across the globe, particularly China and Russia, understand this concept well and prioritize investments in infrastructure both at home and abroad, whereas the United States still faces an investment gap.

To maintain its sphere of influence abroad, the U.S. government must consider investing in projects that benefit transport and economic growth. The paths available for business between countries decide how international relations are established. As the modern world economy is dependent on global trade, resources and services rely on the efficiency of their transportation to outcompete their rivals.

Our modern and collective reliance on trade results in a simple yet critical process for international business: the country that reaches the world more quickly and efficiently gains more money and influence in diplomacy. Cultures and ideologies promoted by sovereign states are spread across the globe on the backs of containers, railcars and tankers that economically bridge nations together, which is precisely the method the United States used to become the superpower it is.

Starting from the aftermath of World War II, though arguably since at least the turn of the 20th century, the United States became increasingly influential in global affairs through its large manufacturing industry and the web of global trade routes it controlled. An economy built on the export of goods made the U.S. dollar the most prominent international currency, which then made the global economy Washington, D.C.’s responsibility.

In 1948, the Marshall Plan gave the United States its biggest geopolitical victory of the century by realigning Western Europe to the economic interests of the country. Investments in reconstruction efforts opened the European markets to U.S. goods, and the trade connections established over the Atlantic were the foundation for the military pacts between Western Europe and the United States.

Investing in infrastructure as a diplomatic strategy has precedence in United States history. The 21st century is relentlessly putting this system to the test, but leaders fail to seize opportunities. If the United States wishes to remain a superpower, it must prioritize securing, overhauling and expanding trade infrastructure.

Washington, D.C. is indisputably lagging in construction capabilities compared to its geopolitical rivals. The most comprehensive example of this is China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a collection of international rail and naval infrastructure projects to construct new transit routes and trade hubs.

In practice, building ports and railways allows for easier shipment of goods, making trade with China more efficient compared to Europe or America. In theory, this also allows Beijing to exert greater influence over the countries where these projects take place.

Control of trade relations allows for control of diplomatic and political decisions in favor of China. Especially in Southeast Asia, China’s efforts to build paths for trade represent a deeper effort to make countries in the region more reliant on China, allowing Beijing to subvert the United States’ influence to establish a political sphere of its own across the Far East. [3]

Today, the United States is far less capable of supporting strategic investments than China and is critically damaging its foreign policy by pursuing trade wars with other countries. Washington, D.C. must assess and take the initiative to assist in solving the infrastructure issues of its allies and partners.

Notably, Germany and the United Kingdom face economic stagnation due to the inefficiency of their railroads, while oil production and export in the Middle East become increasingly risky due to vulnerability to Iranian efforts to disrupt and blockade oil trade in the region. Foreign aid — the reduced scope of which today mostly covers arms exports to conflict zones — must expand into the business of building new and modern infrastructure that connects industries, speeds up travel between countries and secures the transport of resources and raw materials.

Efforts to invest in new projects require cooperation and vision. Common problems that often limit grand projects in the West consist of corruption, bureaucracy and budget mismanagement. These issues are not faced by China when it seeks to expand its trade network rapidly.

More importantly, the disruptive strategy of tariffs and trade restrictions has made the United States an unreliable trade partner and, consequently, an untrustworthy diplomatic partner.

Maintaining a robust network of trade is not only vital but also nonnegotiable for the United States. Unless efforts are made to improve and expand the infrastructure that underpins international trade, Washington, D.C. will lose the initiative to other countries like Beijing, which are more than eager to establish themselves as a more reliable trade partner.

Management of foreign aid to allies and close partners must focus on prospects aiming to create better links between nations over land, air and sea to preserve the United States’ position of power in the world.

Deniz Gulay is a junior double-majoring in history and Russian.

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 attempting to find dorm decor ideas, on Pinterest, of course, I was met with absolutely nothing fun. As I scrolled, a graveyard of white rooms filled with white furniture and maybe a single plant shivering in the corner, if that, flooded my screen.

I wondered, have these people never spilled a cup of coffee in their lifetime? I can’t imagine accidentally tracking dirt into their room. Does minimalism assume we all hover a few inches off the ground? Being in minimalist spaces feels like I’m being punished for having a personality.

Think of those moms you see on TikTok painting their babies’ plastic toys shades of grey and beige to match their living rooms. I don’t know about everyone else, but I always feel sad for their baby. It’s like they’re in some sort of cult where you can’t own more than three mugs, and any statement rug or pop of color is an act of treason punishable by excommunication.

To be honest, I went through a phase where I tried to be a minimalist. I packed up all my graphic t-shirts and took down my wall decor, replacing it with a few framed prints. I felt like the only way to secure my identity as a “clean girl” was to replace everything in my life with a beige alternative.

And I hate to admit it, but I enjoyed it for a little while. I was living out my Instagram influencer dreams, starring in my very own skincare commercial. I drank lemon water and wore my hair in a claw clip. I walked into my room and thought, “Yes, this is the habitat of a woman who does Pilates and starts her day at 5 a.m.” For about 72 hours, I really believed I had ascended.

But then, the worst thing possible happened — I caught a cold. The whole illusion crumbled as the sleek surface of my nightstand was ruined with a single used tissue. To be a true “clean girl,” I had to erase every trace of my existence — no graphic tees or silly doodles on post-its adorning my walls. Suddenly, I was living in a jail cell, except my only crime was loving patterns. It started to feel like I was living in a staged bedroom at IKEA.

By the end of the week, I had fully caved. I put up a few of my posters again, and it all snowballed. I had a maximalist relapse. If minimalism is sobriety, I was drunk on clutter again, and it was glorious.

Trends can inspire some people, illuminating a style they didn’t know existed before and helping them to find their own way in the world. However, it’s easy to lean into your own ways so heavily that you make others feel like their natural style isn’t valid, and maybe even that it’s embarrassing.

Your home isn’t an Instagram grid — it’s your personal space. Whether you feel like your identity flourishes with clutter or bare walls, the important thing is that it reflects your true self. At the end of the day, your space should make you feel at home, not like you’re staring into someone else’s commercial.

Everything cycles in and out of popularity, and there was a period where maximalism was all the rage. The ’70s were defined by bold colors, shag carpets and funky patterns, and over-the-top glam, neon and clashing aesthetics owned the ’80s.

I’m not saying my maximalist personality is some groundbreaking discovery, but minimalism also isn’t new. It had waves in the ’90s (think sleek IKEA modernism) and is now resurfacing on TikTok as a “clean girl” aesthetic. What’s “in” now has been “out” before and most likely will be again.

Chasing trends is exhausting because they’re entirely cyclic — what’s considered “timeless minimalism” today can feel entirely dated and tacky tomorrow. If you try to design your entire life around a trend, you will always feel behind, and at some point, the beige wallpaper will feel as gaudy as your mom’s ’80s wallpaper. So why not just decorate your space in a way that feels like you?

If people enjoy their minimalist homes, all the power to them. Personally, I believe everyone should live their truth, and if minimalism is yours, that’s all that matters. Everything of mine sparks joy for me, so I can’t Marie Kondo my way into living like that.

Collecting tchotchkes is my personal rebellion against the minimalist takeover, and I have tried to reframe my clutter as proof of living, not failing — I’ll be buried with my trinkets before I let the beige win. Minimalism may own Pinterest, and maybe even TikTok right now, but maximalists own souls.

Proudly stack your books, display tiny, maybe useless toys, embrace loud patterns and spill your coffee without fear.

Mia Kirisits is a sophomore majoring in psychology.

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.

On March 17 at 2:20 a.m., twin sisters were stabbed in Brooklyn, New York for rejecting an unwanted advance. Nineteen-year-old Samyia and Sanyia Spain were in Slope Natural Plus Deli in Park Slope with family and friends when 20-year-old Veo Kelly, who has since surrendered to the police, began to aggressively make advances toward the young women. According to what a witness told NBC4, “One of them guys complimented two girls, walked in with their friends and they said, ‘no, we’re not attracted,’ so he called them names. They called him names back. He walked out. He walked down the block angry.” After the twins left the store, Kelly followed them, stabbing Samyia in the neck and chest and killing her and stabbing and injuring Sanyia in the arm. Since then, Sanyia has clarified that the argument escalated when Kelly expressed the desire to connect over social media — “She said she wasn’t going to follow him back. That’s it. She said no.”

While tragic, the attacks on Samyia and Sanyia are not an anomaly. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive tracking mechanism for rejection-based killings, but it is evident that they contribute to the overarching epidemic of femicide in the United States. The United Nations (UN) defines femicide as “intentional killing with a gender-related motivation. [It] may be driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination toward women and girls, unequal power relations between women and men or harmful social norms.” Under this definition, the attacks against the Spain sisters would be considered femicide.

There seems to be a misguided perception that femicide is only a problem in developing countries. However, the United States ranks at 34th for deliberate female homicides with 2.6 killings per 100,000 women. While the Spain sisters were attacked by a stranger, according to the UN, “current and former intimate partners are by far the most likely perpetrators of femicide, accounting for an average of 55 percent of all intimate partner and family-related killings.” This statistic reveals an alarming truth that we, as women, are never completely safe. It can sometimes feel as if we have to earn our rights to be treated as human beings while men are coddled for being monsters. Too often, when a woman commits a crime, she is heartless, but when a man does it, he is said to be suffering from mental illness. Even regardless of someone’s mental health history, women should not have to feel like their lives are at risk after unintentionally bruising a man’s ego.

While rejection killings and other forms of femicide are not something that can be stopped overnight, there are steps women can take to help protect themselves, whether while at a frat party or while grabbing a late-night snack at a deli. For instance, when going to a party, go with a group of friends and make sure not to separate from them. Having eyes on each other and making sure everyone gets home safely reduces the possibilities of harm, such as alcohol or drug intoxication, petty crimes and violent crimes. Offenders are less likely to go after a group, so it is important not to put yourself in a vulnerable place of isolation.

Additionally, using the classic “sorry, I have a boyfriend” is less damning than telling someone you’re flat-out not interested in them. For starters, it is more effective. Once a man finds out a woman is taken, whether she is telling the truth or not, they will feel a sense of respect they did not have before, not wanting to cross a boundary into another man’s “territory.” While this logic is deeply rooted in misogyny, I can speak from experience that it is, unfortunately, the mindset of many men.

To be clear, it is never the fault of a woman for a man’s violence against her. In the case of the Spain sisters, telling Kelly they were not attracted to him was not what killed Samiya and injured Saniya. The blame lies on no one but Kelly. However, it is essential to take every measure you can to ensure your safety when rejecting a man. Until the world takes gender-based crimes seriously, it is up to us to look out for each other.

Jordan Ori is an undeclared sophomore.

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

This is the Public Ivy. We hold ourselves to extremely high standards here at this institution. But when I walked into the University Union for the first time entering my senior year here at BU, I was genuinely shell-shocked to find that the familiar vending machines containing Sprite and Fanta now lacked any form of ingenuity. I hate Pepsi products. You hate Pepsi products. We all, at least deep down, hate Pepsi products — which makes it entirely awful that BU would switch its product plan without the consent of all the Coke lovers on campus.

I know that this unfortunate situation has been going on for at least the past six months, but my emotions have gotten the best of me in writing this column up to today. I finally have the courage to announce my hatred for Pepsi to the world, and the choice by our campus to have Pepsi products was what pushed me over the line. I have zero tolerance for any Pepsi product, and every time I have to walk by the vending machine on my way to class in the morning I feel deeply unwell. It is a poisonous example of capitalism on display for the entire student body to see.

Why would we sell ourselves to Pepsi when Coke was treating us so well? I’m sure there was some generic economic reason that the decision was made, but that doesn’t mean that the people who are extremely passionate about Coke deserve to have it ripped away from them without any fair warning. My unhealthy caffeine intake has been greatly reduced by the new vending machine choice. While some might make the argument that this is probably better for me both physically and mentally, I strongly disagree with this characterization. When I’ve been twitching from caffeine in my evening classes in the past, I have had some of my greatest moments at BU. Inspirational presentations have been presented, loud noises have been made and many hands have been raised in philosophy discussion sections.

What are we to do if we no longer have access to our addiction, my fellow Coke lovers? The answer is to double down against the Pepsi regime. Email your family and friends and tell them to stop drinking Pepsi. Tell them that BU needs their help in preventing a total Pepsi takeover of upstate New York. This is where we take our stand.

My favorite fast food restaurant in the entire world, which I have written a previous column on, uses Coke products. If Moe’s, a location that every person in this country should attend on a weekly basis, uses Coke products, then BU should also use Coke. Even if it takes a long time for changes to be made, my hope is that someday BU can return to its glory days. I will keep on praying for change.

Sean Reichbach is a senior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and economics and is Pipe Dream’s Opinions Editor.

The expansion of renewable energy in the West has led to unethical labor practices and environmental damage in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Researchers investigating renewable technology supply chains in the DRC found the use of toxic pollution, child labor, biodiversity loss and subjugation of ethnic minorities in these areas. A primary resource mined in the DRC is cobalt, a critical resource for renewable energies like wind power and even electric vehicles. However, 30 percent of this cobalt is mined by women and children who sneak into mines to fund their livelihoods because of widespread poverty and a gender wage gap. Furthermore, lithium extraction to produce lithium batteries, another key renewable resource, has affected local habitats and freshwater access, particularly impacting Indigenous communities. The exploitative labor in places like the DRC often go ignored by Western media and the people and governments advocating for green energy. The poor labor practices and environmental damage in the DRC are funding renewable energy projects in the West, but rarely in the places where the labor is being performed. We cannot justify these labor practices just because we’re the ones benefiting from them.

Fifty percent of the DRC does not have electricity, yet the Congolese population is performing nearly all of the labor to provide new forms of electricity to the West and other developed nations. The dominance of the West has historically led to dangerous and exploitative outsourced labor performed by impoverished and vulnerable populations. Climate change solutions are the perfect place for a global effort to be enacted and for this cycle to be broken. If the West can use its power to ensure renewable energies are shared with the rest of the world, then climate solutions can be experienced equally and their environmental effects will be even more powerful.

Renewable energy projects take up large plots of land, often displacing local and Indigenous communities, primarily in developing, impoverished countries. For example, wind farms require at least 60 acres of land per megawatt of energy produced. When you consider the energy needs of our modern world, wind and solar energy will require a significant amount of land, displacing many local communities from their homes and causing environmental destruction. An increased demand for wind energy has led to deforestation in the Amazon basin. This has created a sort of “green paradox” in which renewable energy is actually promoting other forms of environmental damage.

Renewable technologies also produce a significant amount of hazardous electronic waste or e-waste. Many of today’s solar panels are expected to expire by 2050, which will produce 78 million metric tons of waste. Improperly disposed or recycled e-waste is hazardous and often releases toxins into the environment. Not only does this waste contribute to environmental damage, but much of this e-waste is processed in countries in Africa and Asia where toxic pollution fuels public health crises. E-waste is fueling further environmental injustice and disproportionately impacting impoverished, developing areas and people of color.

Historically, primarily white and wealthy communities have been able to invest in infrastructure that more readily upholds environmental safety while marginalized communities are exploited as places where waste is dumped, highways and industrial warehouses are built and natural resources are destroyed. As seen with last year’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, environmental safety is not prioritized in impoverished communities. After this incident, action was delayed and community members’ demands and calls for urgency were disregarded and downplayed. Renewable energy gives us the chance to restructure our infrastructure choices to support environmental justice and change the historical injustices that have become normalized.

While renewable energy is making huge strides for the environment, there are still issues to figure out and social consequences to consider. Renewable energy needs to ensure sustainability and reduce further environmental damage. The benefits of renewable energy should not be exclusive to Western countries or come at the expense of other countries perpetuating global and national environmental injustices and discrimination. Governments need to invest in ethically sourced renewable energies and for global institutions to ensure equal access to these resources through legislation and global climate restoration efforts. If the United States does pass a Green New Deal, it must include stipulations about ethical labor practices and investments in renewable energies where this labor is done. As we change the way we impact the Earth and mitigate years of climate change, we also have the opportunity to change historically accepted power dynamics and economic structures. Allowing the same exploitation and inequities to continue would be short-sighted and unsustainable.

Antonia Kladias is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and is Pipe Dream’s Opinions Intern.

On Oct. 7, around 1,200 Israelis lost their lives in Hamas’ offensive into Israel. Approximately 240 Israeli hostages were taken in October with over 100 being released in November as part of the hostage exchange deal, leading Israel to believe around 130 hostages remain in Gaza. Since Oct. 7, over 27,000 Palestinian civilians total have been killed at an average of 250 per day, with many more at risk of starvation and illness. What we are witnessing constitutes a genocide — just listen to the calls coming from Likud cabinet officials and Israeli politicians. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke of the need to “eliminate everything” in Gaza and founder of the Zehut party Moshe Feiglin argued the need to completely destroy Gaza in a manner akin to Hiroshima. Prime Minister Netanyahu compared Gaza to Amalek, the enemy of Israelites in the Bible which was wiped out by God.

Rigante also conveniently ignores that over 7,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, 2,900 of whom are held without being charged or facing trial. The practice of detaining Palestinian people without cause is nothing less than state-sanctioned hostage-taking. Her one-sidedness does not stop there — Rigante vividly describes an Israeli baby kept in captivity to evoke sympathy but she does not extend this same concern to the over 11,500 children who have been murdered by the Israeli military. Caring only about those that look like you or pray like you is devoid of empathy.

The Israeli Defense Forces’ war crimes and barbaric behavior — targeting of aid agencies, bombing of ambulance convoys, deliberate killing of journalists and displacement of about 1.7 million people — receives a pro-Israel response of “What about Hamas?!” We are not talking about sides with equal capacity for violence or destruction. Hamas has an estimated military budget of $100-350 million. When comparing this to Israel’s more than $23 billion budget making it the second highest per-capita military spender, Israel has perhaps the most technologically sophisticated regional army.

Rigante also offers the hope of Palestinian and Israeli civilians one day having peace and returning to their homes. One small problem there — more than half of Gaza’s structures have been damaged and destroyed. (9) Most Palestinians don’t have a home to return to because what Israel frequently refers to as “the most moral army in the world” is on a quest for carnage to render the Gaza Strip uninhabitable. Her statement is also the only mention of Palestinians in the article. This is common in Zionist discourse, and can only be combated by using the word “Palestine” and talking about a free Palestinian people.

While I understand Rigante’s distress for the hostages, focusing solely on the hostages during the genocide of a population profoundly lacks perspective. A ceasefire is urgently needed to bring the hostages home and stop the slaughter of Palestinian civilians.

Nathan Sommer is a junior majoring in history.

Kfir Bibas’s brother, Ariel, Omer Neutra, Edan Alexander, Noa Argamani — these are the names of the other hostages also in captivity in Gaza. While late November brought some relief, as a few hostages were released, the large majority remain there and as tensions surrounding the war in Gaza continue to remain incredibly high, it feels as though one of the most important aspects of this conflict — the lives of the hostages — may have been forgotten. It is vital that, one day, peace will be restored to the area and both innocent Palestinians and Israelis will be able to return to their homes, but that will not be the case until the hostages are returned.

At the outset of this war, calls to release hostages were everywhere, but, recently, the larger focus of bringing them home has been overshadowed by several other political developments in the Middle East — most seriously, Yemen’s Houthi attacking American tankers in the Red Sea and the United States’ response of airstrikes. Demonstrations and protests in the United States largely focused on calling for a permanent ceasefire have also eclipsed calls to free the hostages, and, while some believe these serve an important purpose because a permanent ceasefire is the way to ensure peace, they have overshadowed many calls to free the hostages in Gaza and have blurred out the hostages from the focus of the media.

In addition, Hamas continues to use tactics of psychological torture to make the families of hostages believe that their loved ones may no longer be alive. On Jan. 15, Hamas released a video of two bodies, claiming them to be of hostages Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky. The video was narrated by a third hostage, Noa Argamani, and urged Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the war at risk of being struck by Israeli fire. In the video, while the dead bodies of the hostages appear to be shown, it ends with a caption claiming “Tomorrow, we will inform you of their fate.” The confirmed death of these hostages remains inconclusive.

Amid all this, calls to bring the hostages home have not grown louder, but calls to “globalize the intifada” and pro-Hamas protesters outside of children’s cancer centers explicitly saying to ensure the children hear the demonstrators have. Since the Houthis began attacking United States tankers in the Red Sea and claimed to send missiles to Israel as a protest against the humanitarian crisis, these same pro-Hamas protesters in the United States have begun to share their support for the rebel group whose slogan contains the phrases “Death to America, Death to Israel” and “Curse the Jews.” And, yet, there remains silence about freeing the hostages.

Speaking at Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Jon Polin, father of 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin said, “For 103 days, my wife Rachel and I have received minimal information on Hersh. We don’t even know if he’s alive. 103 days is 103 days too many, and we are running out of time. The hostages are running out of time.”

To subject anyone to such torture, including a child as young as 1 years old and descendants of Holocaust survivors, is unimaginable and simply inhumane. And it is not only the lives of the hostages, but all the family members of the hostages who are severely affected by this. Families have been praying for their mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, rallying for a deal that releases the hostages, but it feels as though the call is no longer being heard.

A deal that secures the release of all remaining hostages is imperative and should be implemented as soon as possible. Reuniting the hostages with their families and returning the focus to freeing them is important. It is time that we finally bring them all home, now.

Sam Rigante is a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law.

I love stories. I’ve got nothing but respect, love and admiration for great storytellers. Stories have been a staple in human culture since the beginning of time, lining the walls of caves to pages of a book. With the advent of modern technology, the avenues for storytelling have opened up exponentially. Millions of people consume stories on various platforms, like streaming services and through different mediums, like video games.

One facet of storytelling that I find really interesting is the unbeatable march of time and its effect on the artist’s vision. Whether it’s a slight delay or a decade-long hiatus, time gaps in storytelling make said stories more poignant, climactic and significant.

It can be challenging to think of many cases of stories with large gaps in entries. I have a couple examples off the top of my head. Let’s start with an example that many would know. Who hasn’t seen or at least heard of “Top Gun?” The 1986 action classic is a staple in Hollywood culture due to its iconic characters, shots and music. So, why on Earth would they make a sequel 30-odd years later? — It must have just been a cash grab right? Well, ask anyone who has watched this film, and they’ll tell you it’s a damn triumph anyway. The directors had a story to tell, and the time gap of 30 years wasn’t going to stop them.

“Top Gun Maverick,” the sequel, is an incredible film. Its action is jaw-dropping and suspenseful. Tom Cruise is a lunatic, so you know the shots are going to do their best to be practical and look like the actors almost got flattened in their Tomcats. What’s even more impressive is how it weaves a narrative about passing the torch to the next generation with overcoming guilt and grief while doing so. All of these themes are explored in a bombastic movie about rugged and beautiful soaring in cool fighter jets. It’s incredible what great writing and visual spectacle can do to a story, and some even believe it’s better than the original.

Another example of this is a much more niche pick, so some context is needed. “Devil May Cry (DMC)” is a Japanese action game series that started in 2001. It’s one of my favorites, and I’ve played the games in the series more times than I can count. The story is essentially about a devil hunter named Dante and his friends and enemies taking out demons, fighting each other — real cool and stylish stuff. The fourth game was released in 2008, but, then, the series was quiet for a while. That was until 2019, when the fifth game came out. High-school-me was over the damn moon with excitement. It’s been over 11 years since fans saw these characters, so, of course, there were a ton of high expectations.

I remember going to the early release of this game junior year of high school. Early releases are huge deals usually, but there was no one at the theater funnily enough. I have great memories of playing this game, and I remember how blown away I was by the story. Just like “Top Gun,” “DMC 5” is a story about an old guard passing the torch to the next generation. Dante comes to peace with the rivalry he has with his twin brother Vergil, while ushering in Nero, his nephew, into, essentially, the family business. This story was 11 years in the making. It would not have had the impact that it did if less time had passed, and this game could’ve been trash, but it was the opposite. I still think about this game to this day.

It’s interesting to see just how similar both these stories are. At their core, the vast amount of time in between the original and the sequel is what makes the newer installment so memorable. Hype and massive expectations were at an all time high, but both of these stories exceeded their expectations. Some artists look at a time gap in work as a hindrance. Time is inevitable. What it does in between art is make these works more significant and emotional.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

What we today call Europe has a rich history of competing civilizations and ideas. Throughout the many centuries of its past, there were kingdoms, empires, tyrannical regimes and fanatical ideologies, which all tried to realize the ultimate goal of a unified Europe. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to the emergence of Christendom in the Middle Ages and from the goals of an Aryan-dominated continent under fascism to the humanist ideas of thinkers, like Richard Kalergi and Aristide Briand, there were many periods and different motivations to erase the borders between the countries in Europe to create a single European nation.

Today, the closest thing we have to these distant dreams is an institution that is also possibly the biggest social experiment in human history. Today, the European Union (EU) stands as the unifying force that links the economies, governments, laws, policies and cultures of its members for the grand purpose of promoting peace and democracy while preventing war between European nations. While many advancements — the creation of the euro as the single currency of the continent, the Schengen agreement and the Common Market — in European politics have all contributed to this goal, the EU still faces challenges that can potentially decide its fate for the future. This is because the project of unifying the entire continent under one banner cannot yet succeed under the set of challenges the EU is facing internally.

The opposition to the idea of federalization stems chiefly from political parties, which stand on nationalist platforms. While parties, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany and National Rally in France, continue to gain popularity due to the disillusionment faced by the traditional major parties of these nations, countries in the east, such as Slovakia, Hungary and Poland, experience strong voices of nationalism, which are opposed to the idea of European unification. There is a noticeable trend — fueled by discontent toward EU bureaucracy and legislature — among such nations to stray away from the policies promoted by the EU and prioritize national interests. Especially in the case of Slovakia and Hungary, their stance of opposition to policies planned by the European Parliament, such as military aid to Ukraine, signal the weaknesses of the EU’s structure and the ideals of democracy.

Most importantly, as economic and political integration is the defining aspect of the Union, there are potential threats to the EU’s integrity. Historically, the 2008 financial crisis showed the weaknesses of the systems used by the EU in the name of integration, most notably the policies related to the euro, trade and fiscal management. Since the EU represents an enormous part of the global economy, there is no room for mistakes when it comes to addressing these core policy issues. Politically, the EU is frequently criticized for its lack of transparency and representation — with its institutions often characterized as overly bureaucratic, bloated and inefficient in the face of both national interests and ideological principles.

There is a broad range of ideological groups which hold such positions against the EU, from socialists to conservatives and beyond. However, the recent swift trend toward nationalist and hardliner policies promoted by radical political parties is a sign that the key problem the EU will face in the coming decades will be in relation to the unity of the entire organization — the balance of power between core EU institutions, such as the European Parliament or the European Commission, and the individual states is a question that will require immense dedication and strength to maintain.

Since the driving force of European federalism is an overwhelmingly liberal and progressive ideology, the hardliner opposition to it is often disregarded or even mocked by those who defend it for being backward and illogical. However, such an attitude toward the problems of the whole organization is exactly the root cause of the disillusionment felt by the groups of people who turn to radical parties for representation. This is a deadly cycle that poses the risk of undoing decades of political and social progress achieved in the name of peace in Europe. It also erodes trust in the concept that nations can come together for cooperation and work as a group rather than isolated entities.

The EU is the culmination of centuries of war and competition for dominance. Should the problems related to its idealistic goals not be properly addressed, it would be reasonable to think that such significant events like Brexit would only be the first in many other steps toward the possible disintegration of this complex system. It therefore remains to be seen if the EU can stand the test of time, addressing the rise of radicalism as not just a mere fad, but the symptom of greater structural problems is the only way it can continue working toward the greater ideals of unification. The fundamental challenge the EU faces is the rivalry between pragmatic interests and idealistic projects. The question of nationalism against globalism is, therefore, the existential dilemma the EU must resolve carefully to survive into the future.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.

My entire life, I’ve been told I’m incredibly outgoing and didn’t have a care in the world about what people thought of me. My parents often recall when I didn’t cry on my first day of pre-k, my godmother cackling as she told me I used to say “Hi!” to anybody who looked at me and my sister who loves to make fun of me for strapping my “Tickle Me Elmo” into the plane seat as a placeholder while I used the bathroom (I was five, give it a rest). Throughout high school, I lost sight of that little kid my family loves to tell stories about. Coming from Staten Island, I’ve been surrounded by the same people since birth. Some have become family, and some have faded into memories, becoming anecdotes of my life that I can’t wait to share at a party or with my future kids. In a school of over 4,000 people, it’s so easy to feel lost. I thought I had it down-pat because my sister went to the same school — dear God was I wrong. Four years later, sitting in my kitchen watching my graduation I thought, “Damn, I still don’t have anything figured out.” What I did know was how to be a person in a time of isolation, to reconnect with who I really was without the bother of what people thought of my prom dress (it was fire) or how I felt so unapologetically excited to finally leave high school behind.

My freshman year, I reconnected with that little red-headed girl who talked to everyone and made friends so easily. But again, I fell victim to the nonstop carousel of time. People I treasured freshman year quickly found their place, and I felt lost in a huge, unfamiliar place. Something was different about Binghamton though — it was mine. My parents, sisters and cousins never set foot here. Everyone’s first impression of me was not influenced by whatever family member they met before me. This small thought is what led me to flag down a tall brunette with glasses named Harry at the WILLOW concert. I couldn’t believe students were getting the opportunity to take photos of concerts, and I would be damned if I wasn’t going to be one of them.

To say the least, I didn’t expect to find myself in a newspaper. Walking into this office took a sledgehammer to my perceptions, smashed it, put it back together and then threw it at a wall to shatter it even more. Becoming an intern was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In high school, I was always the girl with a camera. While this holds true years later, I have taken my hobby and turned it into one of the defining moments of my college career. There is so much this organization has taught me, but my main takeaway is that your art can be your life. Too often, I’ve heard, “It’s a great hobby to have!,” but after joining Pipe Dream, those statements turned into sentiments like “When you hear a college student say they’re a photographer, you don’t actually expect them to be amazing.”

It’s always nice when your family believes in you, even better when two dudes who run a photo section accidentally give you the task of taking photos for one of the biggest events of the year because they forgot someone else asked months before. The family I’ve found in Pipe Dream will not just be an anecdote from my college years. It will be one of the main things I call on when I need a moment of inspiration to keep following my passions. When the anticipation of graduating rolls around, looking for jobs and submitting last assignments is overwhelming, I’ve found my peace in UUWB03, crying, laughing, complaining and messing around in an office where I am always accepted, no matter what fear I am conquering that day.

To Michael and Harry — I am incredibly grateful to you two. The way you ran the photo section has set us up for success. Your beliefs that anyone can learn and grow in this space has never left our section. To not only give me the assignments you did when I was new, but to allow me to grow and become the assistant I am today, is an experience that I will never forget. Please keep believing in yourselves the way you did in Pipe Dream.

To Caspar and Jacob — There’s not enough words to thank you with. You two have gone out of your way time and time again for me and this section, and it never goes unnoticed. Caspar, no matter what lab mishap you’re stressed about that day, I never once felt like I didn’t want to hear what you have to say and I truly enjoyed the office try-on hauls from your fashion era. Jacob, you and your drone are truly a force to never be reckoned with. You’re so nice and giving and truly one of the best male presences to have in a workplace (no matter what was said on newbie night!!). I am so proud of all the accomplishments you guys achieved in and out of this organization, and I can’t wait to see what you do beyond college.

Lia and Bella — Y’all know I LOVE to see women in power. You two have run this paper with great ease even with everything thrown at us this semester. You two always hype me and my photos up, are always here to talk and are amazing at what you guys do. I’ve never felt more safe to prosper, make mistakes and learn than in the environment you guys cultivated.

To my PS pals — You know who you are. To thank all of you individually would make me sob harder than I did with the Christmas tree poem. You all have fostered such an environment of humor, motivation and friendship. To say you are all amazing is putting it simply. All of you have your own talents and path in this world. Even if you don’t know what it is yet, I know I’m going to see you all succeed, and I’m excited for the day I can congratulate each and every one of you.

Kai DePalma is a senior majoring in psychology and is Pipe Dream’s assistant photo editor.

What I have to say is this — get used to the idea that in college, you’ll wear a lot of hats.

I have four or five literal hats in my dorm now, but I obviously don’t mean this literally (although there’s certainly nothing wrong with it!) What I mean is that even at one moment, you will find yourself filling several different roles. There is the version of yourself that functions within your clubs, which will be different from the version of yourself that you present in your classes. This will be different from the “hat” you wear with your friends. And of course, you will probably wear different “hats” with different friend groups.

This is certainly not to say that you ought to be artificial — I’m not saying that you should present a “false” version of yourself to other people. What I like about my analogy is that a hat is not a disguise. A hat certainly modifies a person’s appearance, but it isn’t a disguise. Wearing a hat is not a deceptive act. What I am saying, rather, is that one of the best parts of college is the vast range of experiences you will have. These experiences will provoke different aspects of your personality — and allow you to develop as a multifaceted person.

This semester, my classes and the work I’ve done to prepare to apply to graduate school have taken up a large portion of my life. Nonetheless, even this semester I’ve found myself wearing many hats. The hat I wear to talk about philosophy is different than the ones I wear when I hang out with different groups of people. I found myself wearing yet another type of hat when I went downtown on Halloween night to see Canned Peaches perform. In previous semesters I’ve worn political hats, I’ve worn the hats that get you into different types of parties and the hats associated with clubs that I liked but had to take a break from. There’s only so much room on my head at a time.

I encourage you to try on as many hats as you can, but not all hats fit. There’s nothing wrong with that — it simply means that they will be worn by someone else. I’ve been bored at parties, I’ve hung out with people and said “we should do this again!” only to never text them and I’ve taken classes that have been less interesting than I thought they would be. But every party I’ve been bored at has shown me something about who I enjoy interacting with the most. Every class that I’ve disliked has brought me closer to the strain of philosophy that I’ve been allowed to practice in my honors seminar. When you’re at the hat shop, even if you plan on buying seven or eight hats that day, you will try on dozens of others before you find the ones that fit the best.

As much as I like my little analogy, I’m going to drop the stuff with the hats for these last few sentences. I’m in the Pipe Dream office now and I’m thinking about how genuinely happy I am to have had every interaction that I have. There are conversations I’ve had at parties with people whose names I don’t remember that cross my mind once in a while. I am truly grateful for all the friends who I’ve had here, who’ve helped me develop portions of my personality. I’m grateful to my professors who’ve helped to shape my interests and who’ve all been willing to give me advice about my next steps. I’m grateful to my girlfriend who’s watched a large portion of all this happen. I hope during finals week to see all of my friends a few more times and there are various apps on my phone where they live. But in the meantime, thank you to anyone who I’ve been friends with or who taught me and to anyone who I’ve talked to, even once. I am a different person than I was when I started here. I contain more different “people” than I did when I arrived. And I am thankful to have been every one of them.

Desmond Keuper is a senior majoring in philosophy and is Pipe Dream’s assistant opinions editor.

Gojo Satoru is one of — if not the most popular — character in a modern Japanese series. He became instantly iconic and recognizable when he was first introduced in the original comic of “Jujutsu Kaisen” back in 2018 and, in 2020, when he made it to the anime version. Gojo is iconic for many reasons, like his suave, laid-back personality, his handsome looks and his comedic demeanor. Above all else though, he is titled as being “the strongest in the world.” Gojo is by far the most physically overwhelming and powerful characters in the entire series. Well, so the audience thinks.

Ryomen Sukuna is the main antagonist of the series, and he is a millennia-old monstrous curse. A question the series and the characters ask themselves is “who’s stronger — Gojo or Sukuna?” Fans have pondered the answer for years. When Gojo was asked this same question, he confidently exclaimed “Nah, I’d win.” It wasn’t until recently in the series that both powerhouses actually battled each other. This fight took place over the span of months, from April to September of this year. Little did the fanbase know that the outcome of this fight would change the series forever.

Gojo, the fan-favorite character, died in chapter 236 of the series. To put it tepidly, this death turned the internet discourse regarding the series into a circus. There were dozens and dozens of videos online ranting and raving about the death. For every fan who thought the death was well written, there were 10 other fans who thought it was awful. In one chapter, Gojo was victorious and his body was carved cleanly in half at the hip in the next. That’s a big issue many people have with this death.

Gojo dying was a huge twist. The fight was pretty even the whole time, then Gojo eked out an advantage toward the end, but, out of nowhere, he gets sliced in half off-screen and dies. The most popular character in the series dies, and we don’t even see how it happens. We just see his lifeless, bloody body cleaved in half. This is what sparked this discussion for me. How do you go about killing off a fan favorite character? Akutami in this case decided to subvert the reader’s expectations. How did this go?

The actual chapter where Gojo dies is beautiful. He is in this esoteric, afterlife-esque airport where he is speaking to people who were important to him in his life, and reflecting on his death and his work. Gojo Satoru, a character who is defined by his comedic, arrogant personality, is portrayed as a calm, almost regretful man. He recalls how lonely he felt his entire life due to his sheer strength, and how everyone wouldn’t view him as a person, but instead as an icon of power. While this chapter is compelling, it has a major problem.

Gojo’s defeat was sudden and again, off screen. We didn’t see it. One second he was about to win, and because of some overpowered ability, he died. This is the main point of contention among fans. I do agree and see where they’re coming from. It’s unsatisfying in a way because some parts were subtextual and implied. If I could focus on one thing in Gojo’s last moment it’s a quote. On reflecting about feeling isolated, he says “You can admire a blooming flower … but you can’t ask it to understand you.” This is the character in a nutshell. He’s a strong yet isolated man due to his sheer strength. Was his death a little rushed? Perhaps. However, the character moments we get due to this is nothing short of beautifully written.

In the time since this death, the series has gotten even more eyes on it. Billions of people are making content on various platforms. The series has never been more popular. Now, I’m not saying to pull a “Game of Thrones” and kill every single character in your story, but it certainly is an interesting way to keep your audience on edge and spice things up. Many series are scared to kill popular characters off, but, if done well, it can make for an unforgettable twist and can, ironically, add more eyes to the series. If a competent writer wants to add some characters to their hit list, it can work wonders for the enjoyability of the story.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

Biden faces the daunting task of holding together the Democratic base that brought him a victory in 2020. Based on recent polling, pulling it off again in 2024 is going to be tough. Many hypothetical polls show Trump leading President Biden in key swing states. In 2020, the Biden campaign succeeded in garnering support from many different groups across the country — his diverse coalition ultimately pushed him over the finish line and into the White House. However, over the past two years, his core base has shown signs of cracking. In particular, polls show that his support from younger voters, African Americans and Hispanic Americans have been slipping. This is bad news for Biden and something that he needs to turn around within the next year.

Public opinion on Biden has soured over the past two years, for various reasons both justified and not. Many have criticized Biden for not accomplishing enough during his first term — he has struggled to bring lofty campaign promises, such as student debt relief and gun reform, to fruition. Although he has made some progress on these issues, voters are not satisfied with his progress, believing that it is not enough. Unfortunately, these shortcomings have overshadowed his other achievements, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan. Voters often don’t understand how hard it is for a president to put their agenda into action, especially with opposing parties in control of the House and Senate. Honestly, I think it is impressive what Biden has been able to achieve under the circumstances.

Biden’s age has also become a major issue of contention, with many voters concerned about his ability to lead the country effectively at his advanced age. In a recent poll by the Associated Press, a whopping 77 percent of respondents said that Biden was too old to serve a second term, including 69 percent of Democrats. Biden recently celebrated his 81st birthday on Nov. 20, and he holds the record of the oldest president in American history. Biden’s age has become a major point of attack for Republicans, even though his primary opponent Trump is only four years younger. While I personally do not have an issue with Biden’s age, I understand the concerns about his fitness to serve. He is definitely not getting any younger.

This issue goes beyond Biden and Trump and extends to American politics as a whole. American politicians are notoriously old — many members have served for decades with only death ending their tenure. The House of Representatives has an average age of 58, with 151 out of 439 representatives being exactly or over the age of 65. The Senate is worse, with an average age of 64, and 54 out of 100 senators over the age of 65. This is frustrating, especially for younger Americans, who increasingly feel that their representatives are out of touch and don’t understand their wants and needs. Voters want younger and more exciting candidates, with new perspectives and ideas to tackle the issues that face our nation. Although it’s too late to make a change this election cycle, in the coming years, I believe a new generation of candidates will emerge.

It only makes sense that with the current state of American politics, people have become disillusioned with the two-party system. A sizable portion of the electorate has voiced their displeasure for both Biden and Trump and are looking toward a third party. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial independent candidate, has been polling as high as 25 percent nationwide, which is the highest poll number of any third-party candidate in over 40 years. In addition, a recent poll from The Hill found that Kennedy Jr. leads both Biden and Trump in favorability. Kennedy Jr. scored a 52 percent favorable rating, with Trump and Biden at 51 percent and 46 percent respectively. This just goes to show how many Americans are exhausted by the traditional two-party system and eager to make a change.

No matter the outcome, it is clear that the 2024 election is going to be a wild ride. A feeling of déjà vu looms over the election, with a likely rematch between Biden and Trump. Biden faces a real challenge playing defense against Republican attacks and questions about his age. In order to succeed, he must maintain and strengthen the coalition that sent him to the White House in 2020. Only time will tell if President Biden can make lightning strike twice. But, beyond the 2024 election, one thing is clear — Americans are eager and ready for change.

Michael Toscano is a junior majoring in business administration.

“Star Wars” is a pop-culture icon. Ever since it started all the way in 1977, it’s been a marquee blockbuster for the sci-fi genre. I grew up watching and loving “Star Wars,” so I remember when the sequels to the series came out in the middle to late 2010s. These movies were very controversial to fans due to the way they went about continuing the story from the original movies. Older characters like Luke Skywalker felt out of character, and newer characters like Rey, the main protagonist, had twists revealed about them that left audiences scratching their heads.

In the first sequel movie, Rey is an orphaned character whose parents are teased as mysterious figures. This is “Star Wars” after all, and family is a huge theme throughout the entire series. Luke’s father is Darth Vader, as we all know, and Rey’s parents were a mystery throughout the start of her first movie. In “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi,” it’s revealed that Rey’s parents were not anyone special or important at all. I’m not saying every protagonist’s parents need to be people who are special or integral to the plot, but in this case, the introduction of this backstory was done poorly.

Rey’s parents were built up in the first movie as being mysteriously important people. However, it’s anticlimactically revealed that after all this time, they were nobodies who sold their daughter off for drinking money. This is horribly retconned in the movie after this in an incredibly sloppy way, but that doesn’t matter. What makes this twist so frustrating is that it’s supposed to flip Darth Vader’s scene of telling Luke he’s his father. While the attempt at juxtaposition is understandable, there was no proper or compelling build up to it, and it made the reveal fall incredibly flat.

A compelling subversion of expectations done recently would be found in Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Japanese manga, “Chainsaw Man.” I’ve written about this action-packed gorefest of a comic before and mentioned how expertly written it is. The twist in the most recent chapters of the series is a simple one. Denji, the titular Chainsaw Man, cannot turn into Chainsaw Man. Throughout the entire series, Denji has used his devilish ability to turn into the heroic yet monstrous Chainsaw Man as a way to cut loose.

All his life he just wanted to enjoy the small things, like eating a warm breakfast in the morning and going to school, but due to his circumstances, he was never able to, until he was. Denji has come to the realization that while a simple life is peaceful, that peace is ultimately stagnating, and while Chainsaw Man leads a busy life of killing dangerous devils, that hardship is what gives his life meaning.

Until it doesn’t, because Chainsaw Man garners a cult around him, and the government-sanctioned devil hunters track Denji down and forbid him from going chainsaw mode unless he wants his little sister Nayuta dead. Denji has to make a tough choice, but he ultimately decides to forego his alter ego. This twist is great because it is simple yet personal. Denji lives for the validation and adoration he receives from saving people, but now that’s taken away from him. It also is genius from a metatextual point.

As of this piece’s writing, “Chainsaw Man” is still ongoing, but we haven’t seen Denji transform into Chainsaw Man in a long time. One might argue that this makes the story boring or weak, but it accomplishes the opposite. It challenges Denji and forces him to make a hard choice that he must stick to for the better of the person he cares about. Also, it’s a great way to subvert audience expectations because while it flips what the audience believes would happen, it narratively makes sense and remains compelling.

I’m acting like subverting anything in writing is an easy feat that some writers can pull off and some can’t, but that is absolutely not true. Pulling a fast one on the viewer is a Herculean task that many writers attempt, and a fraction pull off successfully. I applaud any writer who even thinks about trying to pull this off. I wanted an excuse to dissect different styles of writing, and talk about a series that I adore, so I couldn’t pass it up. At the end of the day if you are going to try to subvert expectations, try to keep it relatively simple, and no matter what, keep the conflict compelling. That’s the secret sauce behind all of this.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

What we generally tend to hear about this island on the news is only regarding two factors — international diplomacy and tech. A world-renown hub for the electronics industry, Taiwan contributes heavily toward the global supply of electronic components and devices alike. In addition, Taiwan is an island strategically of vital importance to the United States foreign policy strategy in Asia as along with regional partners such as Japan and South Korea, it forms a challenging line of alliances designed to contain China in the Pacific. Beyond this, and especially in the light of current political developments, Taiwan is steadily gaining importance as the long and complicated history of the island is now fueling growing disputes that are becoming increasingly more challenging for the United States to address.

For centuries, Taiwan was ruled by a variety of Chinese dynasties which sought to integrate the culturally diverse island into the wider Han culture of the mainland. And after decades of Japanese colonial occupation, it became the last refuge of the Kuomintang Administration during the last moments of the Chinese Civil War. Three-quarters of a century later, the ideological resistance that was born out of a stand against socialism is still defining the national identity of this country. However, internal political divisions also continue to define the island’s future outlook as the position the country must embrace is becoming a serious point of contention, especially in the context of the upcoming elections that will take place in January of next year.

Taiwan will inevitably feel the influence of its domestic politics when it comes to its national foreign policy, as the region it is situated in is uniquely strategic and therefore vitally important for both the People’s Republic of China and the United States to have control over. This is because not only is it important for the United States to maintain its diplomatic and military presence in Asia by using Taiwan along with other regional partners as part of what is known as the “First Island Chain” that surrounds China but also because the Taiwan Strait, which separates the mainland from the island, is a route through which enormous amounts of goods and products flow. Establishing total control over this strait can yield significant strategic and economic advantage for any superpower both under peacetime and wartime conditions.

Today, Taiwan still defines its identity based on its continued opposition to Beijing and its ideal eventual goal is to reclaim its political sovereignty and national identity by retaking control over the mainland. However, because it is so dependent on Western support for its continued existence, and as a result of the frozen state of the old conflict between the Nationalists and Communists now seen as the preferred status-quo, it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine if Taiwan is merely a government-in-exile that continues its long resistance or a new nation altogether with a cultural, political and at some point possibly even a linguistic and ethnic identity separate from the mainland. This identity crisis is also coupled with the fact that Taiwan to this very day lacks official recognition from most nations around the world and therefore relations are only conducted at an unofficial level that lacks definitive authority. As a result, Taiwan today stands at a political crossroads that is concerning for the strategic interests of both Beijing and Washington.

We are currently only weeks away from the elections which will take place in the island and beyond the usual debates regarding domestic policies — what is very important to observe in the coming days is going to be the debate around foreign policy and future goals of the country.

Should Taiwan aim to reclaim the mainland or should the status-quo be preserved? Is Taiwan a part of and the rightful representative of all of China or is it a country with an independent culture and identity? Where does this island stand when it comes to determining its future in a world that is becoming more violent with conflicts and more interwoven with strategic alliances that oppose each other?

These questions and the answers the political candidates running for the upcoming election are bringing will very likely define the people of Taiwan’s position toward both its Western supporters and Beijing. And as the rivalry and hostilities between the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America continue to grow on an unprecedented scale, Taiwan is gaining importance as a key strategic region, gaining control over which is vital for either superpower’s long-term interests. For the United States of America, Taiwan is a forward base of operations from which Asia can be monitored and influenced whereas for the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan represents the last step toward the resolution of an ideological struggle that stretches across decades. With growing signs of not just diplomatic but also military escalation over Taiwan itself, the Taiwanese people will have to decide over the fate of their island in a world where such tenuous disputes have the potential to spiral out of control in ways which should remind us of some of the most painful and violent chapters in the history of the world.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.

Access to a same-day counseling support is as easy as a phone call for students (607-777-2772). Rapid access to high-quality and caring therapists is free with the semester student health fee, and this is just one of the many mental health resources through many offices on campus (CARE team, HPPS, Residential Life, SSS, Q Center, Multicultural Resource Center, EOP, SSD, ISSS, SEEK, Student Groups … ). Students can access these services through their most difficult times. The University Health and Counseling services maintain the highest quality and confidentiality standards of the medical and mental health professions. Many students have told me their BU therapist is a tough act to follow. The quality is so high I would not hesitate to send anyone I care about to any one of the counselors I work with if I could. There is no current “wait-list,” and there have been continuous improvements to prevent and minimize any wait for services. Students should know that this rapid and high-quality help is rarely offered in the real-world setting — being able to see a therapist that quickly is unheard of in resource limited areas of upstate New York outside of the crowded and overburdened emergency room.

Are there limits to the number of sessions the counseling center can offer? Yes. Does that limit affect the vast majority of students who access care? No. Has that limit enabled the quick access we now have? Yes. The students that need more support are helped to find resources for the condition they have, including referrals to specialists, more intensive therapy or intensive treatment programs.

Mental health care systems are not so different from medical ones. We visit our Primary Medical Provider (MD, DO, NP, PA) with the more common concerns, and as needed, we are referred to specialists. The medical specialty of neurology is the care of the brain as an organ, psychiatry and psychology are the care of the brain as it interacts and is shaped by our experiences with the world. Care of the brain is just as, and often much more, complex than other physical illnesses. The mental health treatment structure has subspecialties to address certain concerns that require a higher level of care. I would want to be referred to that specialized care if needed, which is exactly what we do for our students.

I meet new students struggling every day who question their will to live. I bear witness to stories of recovery and success, and stories of pain and tragedy. Working with students is a privilege, and I enjoy the roles of being a provider and a career mentor on a daily basis. I respect the privacy of my students and realize that all those that see us and have good experiences are hesitant to speak up on social media or in articles for the paper. They are afraid that revealing their use of mental health services publicly, even if they are success stories, could affect their future careers. I would never ask them to use their own experience as proof of the resources we have here, but let me use mine.

The students we work with get quick access to help and we serve a majority of them right here on campus. For those who need specialized care, we help them work through difficulties using their health insurance to ensure continued care. For the future they will know how to figure out providers covered by their insurance plans, online services they did not even realize existed and how to be linked with professionals who may specialize in the disorder they suffer from. They do that search process with UCC Treatment Coordinators, and then they feel confident in taking those steps to access future care, expanding their comfort zone and dealing with the world at large. The college experience includes gaining knowledge to feel more confident in dealing with the world’s systems. Insurance can be complicated and confusing, but it is an important resource you will need to use for the rest of your life. When students do not have insurance, we know where to connect them to help to apply for coverage.

To all those students we have seen in on-campus services, I am so glad we were here to help, and it is a privilege to have a part in getting you to the next step of your lives. If I can speak for my health and counseling colleagues, we celebrate quietly in the background with you when you get through your hard times and gain real life skills, and we feel for you when you suffer in ways that impact your youth and vitality.

We are here for you, and we want you to get help. Please, as online conversations about mental health resources continue, realize that the words you choose in all forms of media can help alleviate suffering and guide people to the care available, or they can make those already suffering give up and assume no one is out there to help. Please choose those words carefully. We are here to help.

Ramona Mazzeo, MD is a guest columnist and works in Decker Student Health Services — Psychiatry.

Higher education today heavily caters to STEM majors, which receive higher funding and greater focus. Even for STEM majors, there is value in liberal arts programs, and any education without them would be incomplete. STEM students need the liberal arts to develop strong communication, cultural intelligence and creative thinking skills. Without liberal arts programs, STEM students would become one-dimensional. The world cannot function with STEM alone, and cutting liberal arts programs in higher education foreshadows an incomplete and unbalanced education system.

Of course, it makes sense for universities to cut programs with little enrollment when facing budget deficits, but there seems to be a disproportionate cutting of liberal arts programs. This begs the question of why the United States seems to be shifting to a more STEM-focused education system. Grants go toward STEM programs that align with high-paying careers that are in high demand, helping to fully develop emerging fields, but tend to leave liberal arts programs in the dust. It may be possible that this shift is directly related to how STEM careers play into the United States economy — 67 percent of United States jobs and 69 percent of the nation’s GDP are supported by STEM, and STEM annually produces $2.3 trillion in federal tax revenue.

The disproportionate funding for STEM programs by state and federal grant programs also means students in liberal arts programs have fewer options for financial aid and scholarships. With rising tuition costs, students may be more inclined to choose a STEM major where they can receive a scholarship over a liberal arts major. STEM careers are also typically higher in demand, so students can find jobs soon after graduation, further pushing them toward these majors. This creates a cycle of students choosing STEM majors over liberal arts, leading to fewer students enrolled in liberal arts programs and further cuts to liberal arts funding.

Liberal arts should not be left behind in higher education. If anything, more funding would help revitalize these programs and make them more appealing to students. At public schools, state education requirements often guarantee general education funding, but the same is not true for private schools. Small private schools that haven’t been able to catch up to larger universities with more funding are pouring money into STEM programs in an effort to catch up, only making themselves less academically diverse. Without liberal arts programs, our world would not look the way it does. After all, how could someone become a doctor with no basic idea of sociology or anthropology? Liberal arts courses teach us about people, and without them, we’d live in a world with no compassion or understanding. Cutting liberal arts programs is not the solution to budget deficits at universities. A general education background is necessary for a well-rounded education and success after graduation.

Antonia Kladias is a sophomore majoring in biochemistry.

The politicization of Christmas can occasionally make it uncomfortable to spread holiday cheer with others. One talking point that is often brought up when discussing the possibility of an organized attempt to destroy Christmas is the fact that many people and institutions are opting to say “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” rather than “Merry Christmas.” Many see “happy holidays” as a form of secularization and a replacement for a more Christian-centered greeting. However, in reality, the term “happy holidays” can be dated all the way back to 1863. The reason for the current rising popularity of the term stems from the intention to provide affirmation and inclusion for individuals of non-Christian faiths throughout the holiday season.

Moreover, it is a way of extending a sense of recognition to those who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, among other holiday traditions. But still, some Christians feel offended by the acknowledgment that Christmas is not the only December holiday. The people who are angered by phrases like “happy holidays” fail to see that the addition of other holiday greetings into the American vernacular is not an attack on Christmas specifically, but rather an attempt to make people of all faiths feel welcome. Likewise, the desire to place Christmas above other holidays when it comes to greetings is problematic in its own right. People who fear inclusion fear it because they thrive in a system of exclusion. Instead of looking at “happy holidays” as an attack, it should be looked at as an effort to honor different cultures and religions, which should be exciting instead of scary.

Another war on Christmas allegation is that the meaning of Christmas is being demeaned because of the increase of non-Christians celebrating the holiday. While Christmas represents the birth of Christ, the way it is celebrated in a modern and cultural sense is not necessarily religious. The actual day when Jesus was born is not recorded, and Dec. 25 is thought to have been influenced by Saturnalia. Saturnalia was a pre-Christian Roman holiday from Dec. 17 to 23 on the Julian calendar, which was meant to prepare for the winter solstice on Dec. 25. It was created to honor the agricultural god Saturn and celebrate the promise of a successful spring harvest. Saturnalia was celebrated by decorating homes with wreaths and other greenery, feasting, giving gifts and lighting candles — all of which are standard practices in Christmas celebrations today. There was also a temporary overturning of social norms, such as enslaved people and enslavers dining together, similar to the effort many modern Christmas celebrators make to be more kind. As Rome became Christianized, the modern holiday of Christmas began to be celebrated in Rome on Dec. 25. Although Christmas is a different holiday with a completely different meaning, the way its festivities have been historically celebrated can be traced back to Saturnalia. Furthermore, Christians should not be angry at non-Christians for celebrating Christmas from a cultural perspective rather than a religious one, as the traditions associated with Christmas predate its religious origins.

It would be problematic for people to try and remove the religious meaning of Christmas from those who celebrate, but spreading jolliness, merriment and kindness can be observed by non-Christians during the holiday season. Getting a Christmas tree or hanging a wreath on your door is not directly connected to the Bible or Christianity, so these practices and practices like them are not an attempt to appropriate Christian tradition but rather foster a sense of community.

I am not Jewish, but as a child, I was often invited to spend Hanukkah with my friends who were. Despite not being a part of it, I enjoyed learning about their culture and sharing their holiday practices with them. I wish the people who believe Christmas should only be for hardcore Christians could see the beauty of sharing cultures. The holiday season should be a source of joy and inclusion, rather than one of religious and political turmoil.

Jordan Ori is an undeclared sophomore.

This situation, however, is not merely a case of an administration on its way out due to mismanagement. In the case of the United Kingdom, these mounting issues and a sharp decline in the trustworthiness of the government can become a threat to the very existence of the nation if left unchecked.

The United Kingdom is not just a single entity — it is a union of four different countries spread across the British Isles that make up a single nation. In addition to England (often confused for the entire United Kingdom for being the largest and most populous member of the union), Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all share political and economic power together, albeit on a limited scale. However, these constituent countries have a long history of separate national identities, which to this very day fuel sentiments for national sovereignty and independence from London.

In the case of Scotland, these sentiments have been steadily growing among the Scottish population to the point where total independence from the rest of the United Kingdom has become the only option to gain control over the economy of the country and rejoin the European Union, both of which have been the main arguments in favor of Scottish independence since 2016. London, according to Scots, can no longer be trusted with safeguarding the interests of the people and maintaining a competent political system that represents their views. As such, their only option is to break ties completely and decide for their own destiny. This mindset is not a new phenomenon at all — these thoughts were after all the driving force for the Scottish independence referendum close to a decade ago, which only failed by a remarkably small margin. With the growing dissatisfaction toward Westminster and the loss of hope for a proper reconciliation between England and Scotland, there is a chance that a second referendum can eventually end the union between these two countries.

The situation, as one might expect, is not positive in Northern Ireland either. This corner of the United Kingdom has political problems that have divided communities and caused mass violence between ethnic groups for centuries. Arguably the most notable period of this tension between the English and the Irish was “The Troubles,” a decades-long period of terrorism and violence that caused untold damage in the region. There were growing hopes for reconciliation and an end to hostilities after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, but, as with Scotland, years of economic stagnation and political incompetence have eroded much of the progress that was achieved through peaceful diplomacy. Today, while still not being overwhelmingly supported, unification with the Republic of Ireland is a dream that is being shared by a steadily growing section of the population in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement does include the legal process that allows Northern Ireland to secede from the United Kingdom and unify with the rest of the island — should the current trends continue, it might only be a matter of time before this right is used to dissolve ties to London altogether.

The United Kingdom is standing at a crossroads when it comes to its future, and maintaining the unity of this diverse nation requires strong, dedicated and, above all, competent efforts to establish a dialogue between the different partners of the union. In the case of these two examples, a unified Ireland will most definitely inspire Scotland to follow the same path for self-determination, and vice versa. In essence, these efforts to secede from the rest of the union have been conducted peacefully and democratically — no one wants to return to the violent days of the past. As such, we must remain hopeful that whatever the people of Scotland or Northern Ireland decide for their future, it will not harm peace, and solutions will be reached with dignity and mutual respect.

There is, however, a small concern that can spiral out of control if proper attention is not given to it. The world we are living in right now is becoming increasingly violent and brutal, as disputes lead less toward peaceful discourse and more toward brutal and bloody conflicts. The best-case scenario for Irish Unification or Scottish Independence is the one that does not involve violence. Yet, should the need for discourse between the sides be ignored in such matters, my fear is that the situation can escalate to a Yugoslavia-style ethnic conflict that tears through the order of society. The next five to 10 years will, therefore, most likely be the most crucial period in the history of the United Kingdom and its constituent countries, and the outcome of this situation has the potential to have lasting effects on both our politics and history as a whole.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.

I was inspired to write this article because of a game I recently played. Alan Wake is a psychological shooter game from 2010, developed by Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment. This developer team has gained a reputation for their shooter games with intriguing stories and well-written characters. This is certainly the case for Alan Wake, which has a very interesting and cool set-up for a story. The titular character, who is a writer, gets himself trapped in a story that he created. The story is great — it’s really esoteric, it makes the audience question what’s real and what’s not and the acting and dialogue is top notch.

What isn’t top-notch is the gameplay. Alan Wake’s suspenseful story is not complemented at all by its stiff, unsatisfying gameplay. Its shooting and combat systems aren’t incredibly offensive — it just feels underwhelming. It feels like there should be another layer of interactivity between the player and the enemies, but there isn’t. Other contemporary shooters like Resident Evil 4 and even the studio’s previous game, Max Payne, have much more enjoyable gameplay mechanics. It’s deeply unfortunate since this game’s story is enjoyable, but the lack of interesting gameplay makes it have little to no replayability.

On the flip side, there are opposing occasions where a game’s story is middling, but the gameplay is incredible. Devil May Cry (DmC) is a Japanese action game series published by Capcom since 2001. In 2013, the series was rebooted after four entries, and this reboot was very poorly received, to say the least. DmC was hated by die-hard fans of the series due to the drastically changed themes, atmosphere and characters in comparison to the original series.

The story in DmC tries really hard to appeal to both new and old fans of the series. On one hand, it drastically changes the characters of the original series, but it also tries to not change things too much. Originally, Dante, the main character, was going to be a quiet, stone-faced killer with dark hair, as opposed to his original characterization, which had him rocking a silver fringe and throwing around jokes. The fans hated this change that was apparent in the first trailer, so they kept the dark hair but made Dante an asshole instead of a charming jokester. His character is still drastically changed, but not as much as he used to be.

The story of this game is just an utter failure. It tries to tell the story of Dante and his brother Vergil overcoming demonic enemies and culminating in a climactic fight between the two, but it all falls flat. This is because this same structure was used previously in the third game, with much more quality. In DmC 3, the story was told with much more nuance and finesse since the characters were likable. They were relatable, charismatic and charming, and this made the story of the previous games endearing and enjoyable. The reboot’s story lacks all of these elements and takes itself too seriously. The story isn’t enjoyable at all.

The gameplay in DmC, however, blows the story out of the water. It’s incredibly exhilarating and free-flowing in letting the player go off with a whole litany of combos. The gameplay is sharp and satisfying and super customizable. It’s similar to previous games in terms of gameplay style, and that’s great. It builds off the previous games in a way where it’s recognizable but unique in its own way. Whenever I boot up DmC, I have a great time with the gameplay. But only the gameplay. I always skip the cutscenes and story because they are bland and uninteresting. An ideal game has a good balance of both of these facets, instead of most modern games prioritizing their story.

Video games are an important medium due to their storytelling facets. They have various unique ways of telling stories through cutscenes and gameplay, respectively. Modern games really put an emphasis on the storytelling aspect, which is great, but the gameplay falls to the wayside. At the end of the day, video games are an interactive medium. They were originally designed to be played, and that original vision should be honored. That’s what makes them unique, and without a developer’s emphasis on making the gameplay experience great, video games will lose what makes them unique.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

With that being said, let’s look at all the great goodies winter has to offer us in Binghamton!

Hot Sweaty Basement Frat Parties 

Ahhh yes, who doesn’t love a fungi-ridden basement littered with year-old red solos?

Can’t you smell it? The deadly combination of jungle juice, black mold, computer science majors and the vomit of the freshman who just started drinking? Just remember, we were all once that freshman. Good times, good times …

The Rathskeller 

There are two types of people in this world — those who love the Rat and those who despise the mere fact of its existence. I’ve seen the closest of friends lose contact permanently after spending weekend after weekend apart. While in reality, Jimmy’s, Tom’s and other hot destinations Downtown are only a mere 100 feet away at most, it often feels like the Rat resides in its own alternative universe.

Getting Uncomfortably Hot on the Bus

Do you like standing on a crowded bus? If you do, you’ll love it even more now that you are covered head to toe in three layers of winter apparel. The Alaskan chill of Binghamton quickly turns into the heat of the Sahara, as a thick layer of sweat starts to perspire on your forehead. In an effort to take off your jacket, you’ll either accidentally grope or punch someone. It’ll make you think it might be time to invest in a car … There’s a lot of supply, and demand is low, and a used car paid for in cash is a good investment. Although the price of gas may rise and the Feds keeps raising interest rates … I’ve given this a lot of thought.

Laying in Bed a Couple of Hours Longer Than You Probably Should

It’s a cold Tuesday morning. As you attempt to escape your bed, your bare skin makes contact with the cold and unforgiving temperature of your room. Unable to fight the surrounding climate, you bury yourself deeper under the blanket and sheets. Five minutes turn into 30, which turns into an hour — soon to two — which in turn, turns you into a lazy, unproductive member of society. That 8:30 a.m. class you were supposed to get up for is dismissed before you finally brush your teeth. The best part? You don’t regret it one bit.

Talking About How Cold It Is

There is nothing Binghamtonians love more than complaining about the weather. It’s the common enemy that brings us together, which, weirdly, makes it our friend. It keeps us on our toes, gives us an excuse when we don’t want to go out and makes our morning coffee slap so much harder. Winter is here, and let’s make sure not to waste it hibernating.

Eli Klein is a senior majoring in political science.

I was talking to my friend — with whom I often go to the gym — about my ideas for this article, and she summed up what I wanted to say perfectly — “Every time a man gets close to me in the gym, I flinch because I’m afraid he’s gonna berate me.” We had this conversation on a day she went to the gym, and, after debriefing about her experience that day, she texted me, “Anytime a man looked in my direction, I immediately just thought, ‘oh god, am I doing something wrong.’”

This trend and other forms of harassment at the gym are all too common. In 2021, OriGym, a United Kingdom-based athletic course provider, surveyed 1,000 gym-goers of “all genders” for their “Gym-timidation Report.” They found among the people surveyed that six out of 10 women had experienced harassment at the gym from a man, two out of five women had avoided the gym after being made uncomfortable by a man and nearly half of the women surveyed reported wanting to go to the gym with a friend or partner because men make them feel uncomfortable while alone.

I myself have been in this situation multiple times while working out in the East Gym and at my gym back home. The first time was last year when, while practicing my boxing for my all-female Pink Gloves Boxing class on the only punching bag in the gym, I noticed two men whispering about me, which made me feel uneasy. One of them approached me and told me that my punches lacked “power” and asked if he could show me something. I politely said no, but he would not leave. I felt I had no choice but to let him show me what he wanted to do and when he finished, I immediately left the gym. All I wanted to do was practice my form for my class later, which my female instructor had taught me, but I left feeling humiliated. The entire reason I joined an all-female boxing course was because I did not feel comfortable being around men who would never see me as skilled or athletic enough.

For me and many others, going to the gym is a very vulnerable experience. When working out, I don’t want to feel like I am on display for others to critique. The idea that someone is watching me and analyzing the way I exercise as I am sweaty and flustered is demeaning, to say the least. It is essential to be mindful of the fact that not everyone is comfortable with specific social interactions with strangers and that what you may think is friendly might trigger feelings of anxiety in others.

One could argue that this has nothing to do with gender, but in my two years of going to the gym, I have never seen a man approach another man to give him advice or tell him how his form is wrong. This is probably out of precaution for hurting another man’s ego, but somehow, when it comes to women, they feel as if they are obligated to give them advice.

The bottom line is that women do not want your unsolicited advice, regardless of what your intentions are. If you would not critique a man’s form while at the gym, what gives you the right to critique a woman’s? Unless someone is doing something extremely dangerous in their workout and is at serious risk of harming themselves, many people would prefer to exercise without interruption. There is a difference if you are a personal trainer employed by the gym walking around and giving tips, but if you are just some random man, who are you to tell me what I am doing is not good enough? Am I supposed to believe you are more knowledgeable about the gym than me just because you are male? Nobody wants to be told what they are doing is wrong by someone who is not even qualified to critique them. Of course, not all men do this, but there are enough men who do to make women weary of any man who approaches her at the gym. I urge every man who goes to the gym to be mindful of what they say to women, so that it does not become a place where we feel even more unwelcome.

Jordan Ori is an undeclared sophomore.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee

What makes this breakup so shocking is not only the fact that they seemed so perfect together, but also that they have been together since 1995 and married for 27 years — longer than so many couples in Hollywood last! But on the bright side, at least we can say they seemed to have ended amicably. The couple shared a joint statement with PEOPLE, stating, “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez

Personally, I think this is the messiest breakup of the year. For context, Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez tied the knot in May 2021 after months of dating. However, in July, it was announced that not only were Grande and Gomez heading for divorce, but Grande was already rumored to be dating her “Wicked” costar, Ethan Slater. As if things could not be any messier, Slater was freshly separated from his high-school sweetheart-turned-wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a child. And to make matters worse, Jay broke her silence to an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, slamming Grande — “[Grande’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,” Jay told the outlet. “My family is just collateral damage.” Given the shocking amount of breakups this year, I’m not surprised. But as a huge Arianator myself, I am in shambles. I’m also being dramatic.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn

I’m going to sound like everyone else when I say I’ve been a “die-hard” Swiftie since I was a little girl, so this split felt a little too personal. Taylor Swift wrote several albums about him — not only did she and Joe Alwyn write several songs together on “folklore,” “evermore” and “Midnights,” this was her longest-known relationship. Given Swift is one of the biggest pop stars right now, with her Eras Tour predicted to make billions of dollars, along with her large and die-hard fan base (shoutout Bing Swifties), it’s safe to say this was one of the biggest.

But they’re celebrities … Who cares?

Let’s be real — at the end of the day, we are gossiping about people who probably don’t even know we personally exist. Playing devil’s advocate, why do people even care about what goes on in a celebrity’s personal life?

The truth is, celebrities are famous for a reason — they have impact. Some of these celebrities are our role models, have given us our favorite comfort movies and have made us feel seen with their music. I don’t think there’s anything weird about caring about celebrities who have touched your life. It may be true that celebrities break up all the time, but what makes this year stand out is how shocking so many of them were. In addition to the ones I’ve addressed, there’s Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari … The list goes on, with some happening right after the other. With so many divorces with celebrities being both public and messy, it explains how there could be so much coverage in the media.

So what do you think?

Celebrities breaking up has always been shocking — couples who have been together for years, decades, even some starting families together. But the truth is, breakups happen every day and to everybody, famous or not. Celebrities just have it harder because they’re in the spotlight. But just because so many split doesn’t mean they all do. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been together for 35 years and are still going strong. There’s Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, RuPaul and Georges LeBar and personally, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds still make me believe in love. I believe that just because divorce seems so normalized in pop culture doesn’t mean marriage and love will never work. So often, we tend to focus on the negatives and get so caught up in social media, but the truth is, social media isn’t real life. There are couples who have been married for decades, dating for years, people together since they were young. When we look around, maybe, just maybe, the love we want is right ahead of us.

Samantha Tom is a freshman majoring in English.

The office of the president in the United States enjoys a unique political function, which is that the power and influence of the United States as a global superpower can seriously impact the outcome of international matters and disputes. Consequently, whoever controls the White House can also greatly influence world affairs via the diplomatic power the United States can exert around the world. It is no surprise, after all, that the elections in the United States are often covered by foreign news networks across many nations, as the motives of a president sitting in Washington D.C. can easily alter the strategy another leader sitting in Helsinki, Ankara or London will use for their own national interests.

President Joe Biden, who is as of now the likely candidate for the Democratic Party, has had a very tumultuous career as president since coming to office in January 2021. He was and — to a certain degree — is still praised for his strongly Atlanticist and pro-NATO stance in the aftermath of former President Donald Trump’s inclinations toward a more isolated United States foreign policy. Yet his own tenure is marked by incidents such as the Fall of Kabul in Afghanistan, which cast doubt on the United States’ military strength and its policy of “nation-building,” the outbreak of both the Russo-Ukrainian War and the rising hostilities with China, which have greatly increased global tension during his rule, and, most recently, the violent eruption of hostilities in Gaza, where the United States government has been repeatedly criticized for not supporting a cease-fire or any solid peacemaking efforts. These incidents are subjects that plague the image of the Biden administration and are likely to influence his image as a candidate for a second term.

On the opposite side, the Republicans have to deal with a diverse range of issues — most important of which is the fact that, as of right now, there are no clear and definitive indications toward who might become the candidate for the presidential race in the first place. Former President Trump is viewed by various observers as the likely candidate, but there are other candidates who can become an alternative choice for the party, such as Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. All of these candidates have overlapping views on the economy, human rights and other legislative and judicial affairs. However, their respective stances on China, Russia and future foreign policy goals that will be pursued in relation to national interests all have differences that can greatly influence and even alter the image of the Republican Party from an ideological viewpoint.

Most importantly, both parties and their respective candidates will likely have to find ways to adapt to the fast pace at which circumstances in international affairs change today and influence their own opinions and positions for the future. As an example, the war in Ukraine has become a notorious point of contention between the Democrats and the Republicans in recent days, despite the initial bipartisan support for military aid at the start of the conflict. After the infamous failure of the widely publicized southern counteroffensive campaign at the cost of expensive aid efforts as well as the recent increase in demands from Israel for their own defense needs, global affairs are now putting a limit on how much the United States can do to support its strategic partners. The United States is actively supporting such partners across a wide range of conflicts throughout the world and should current economic hardships begin to strain the capacity of the United States to support these partners, serious sacrifices in diplomatic efforts would be necessary in order to sustain national interests and address important domestic concerns.

Currently, there is no clear way to determine the outcome of next year’s presidential election — new developments can easily and rapidly sway public opinion, as they, for example, did back in 2016, when the idea of Trump becoming president was seen as nothing more than a funny joke. Consequently, and especially with global affairs influencing both Washington’s diplomatic strategies as well as stances on domestic affairs, a key strategy for electoral victory for any candidate might depend on having an appealing stance on world affairs that could potentially bring a significant shift or even a surprise victory at the ballot box.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.

Unequivocally, the gameplay and presentation in SM2 are massive upgrades. The graphics are jaw-dropping, the game loads faster than you can blink and the combat and traversal are exquisite. In this game, you play as two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Both have a bunch of exciting and fun-to-use combat abilities and gadgets. This makes combat a lot more challenging, since in previous games, many abilities made the game a lot easier. All of the new gameplay mechanics added — such as changes to web-slinging, parrying and new ways to beat the snot out of the New York City bad guys — make this game a blast to play.

The story, on the other hand, is an entirely different beast. There’s a lot of baggage here, but the villains and heroes are the main point of this story. Kraven, the Lizard and Venom are the three big bads of this game, and Peter and Miles both have to juggle defeating them and protecting New York at the same time. Kraven and the Lizard are very well done. Kraven is a big game hunter who is a brutal killer who hunts for the thrill of it since he is slowly dying of cancer. The Lizard is a tragic character who tried to heal his lost arm with animal DNA and turned into a monster. These two are done incredibly well, but Venom, one of Spidey’s most popular villains, is drastically redone here and — if you ask this web-head — for the worse.

In the original comics, Venom is a dark, gooey, sludgy alien monster that must attach to a host to survive. At first the host was Spider-Man, but he realizes this alien suit is antagonistic, so he gets rid of it and it latches onto Eddie Brock, a rival of Peter Parker. It feeds on his hate for him and turns him into Venom. It’s a really great story that has been adapted countless times in movies, shows and games. Venom is now in this game’s universe, but instead of being Eddie Brock, he is Harry Osborn, Peter’s best friend. As a die-hard Spidey fan, this change is an incredibly misguided one that, while it works for the story, just feels wrong.

Harry is the son of Norman Osborn, who is infamously the Green Goblin, Spidey’s arch nemesis. What’s so great about this is the inherent drama that comes with it. Pete is friends with Harry, but his father is secretly a psychopathic murderer who wants to kill him. Eventually, Norman dies, and Harry is overcome with grief and psychosis and eventually takes on the role of the Green Goblin and fights Peter. In a tragically poetic fashion, he dies like his father before him, but in a heroic way, as opposed to the villainous death his father suffered from. This story is great in the comics because of how tragic and ironic it is, yet horribly bittersweet.

Harry being Venom in this game feels wrong and out of character. Harry is Green Goblin, not Venom. Venom is Eddie. Imagine if, in a Batman movie, they made Joker’s alter ego Harvey Dent. It just feels wrong. Is this opinion incredibly subjective? Yes, absolutely, but if there’s a Pipe Dream columnist who can comment on this change, it’s me. It’s plain as day. Harry as Venom is like taking the jelly out of peanut butter and putting it in pickle juice.

Harry being the main villain is also repetitively similar to the original game. In Spider-Man (2018), the main villain is Doctor Octopus, Peter’s mentor turned supervillain. Having a close friend turn into the antagonist is a good idea since it gives the hero a great conflict, but it was already done once. At the end of that game, Peter’s Aunt May, the woman who raised him, died. It was an incredibly famous moment in the game, and it really set this version of the character apart from others due to how shocking this moment was. Aunt May has been around for literal decades and has never died in the comics. At the end of SM2, no one dies — not even Harry, who is defeated, removed from the symbiote and left in a coma due to his disease.

The story of SM2, while enjoyable and full of twists, falls flat on further examination when you compare its decisions to the original comics and the game before it. The gameplay, however, was without a doubt a great improvement and allowed for a more enjoyable playing experience. Video games are half story, half gameplay. They’re both very important. SM2 doesn’t fail in its story — it just is a bit disappointing. For future entries, the Spidey writers should lean into doing what made the first game successful — stick close to the original ideas, with slight alterations here and there to keep things modern and fresh. I have full faith that the third installment here will be nothing short of incredible if done well.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

Taking into account the amount of headphones and AirPods I see on campus every single day, I think that I’m not overstepping by claiming that music plays a pretty crucial role in all of our lives. I’ve been repeatedly told that music isn’t just a way to distract ourselves from the mundane, but can also be a catalyst for growth after something traumatic or painful is experienced. Music has been known for generations and generations to have a beautiful healing effect on those that are physically or emotionally hurting. Until recently, I had not personally experienced the transformative effects of playing music. But, like many people around the world each day, I went through an experience that shattered my entire world, and playing music has helped me to slowly start using the shards to build a new one.

Traditionally, we are told that the five stages of grief go something like — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. When something traumatic occurs, like a loss of someone that has shaped who you are, or a loved one walking out of your life, it is completely understandable that our hearts tell us to contest the memory of each step in the play-by-play occurrence of the loss. Anger toward the world or the person who you think wronged you also undeniably comes about and can often be redirected at ourselves. You might be so angry at yourself that you lose sight of all the ways that you can love or continue to be loved. This self-hatred leads to deep sadness, feelings of loneliness and we begin to try to act in particularly uncomfortable ways that we think will make us feel whole again. For me, learning to play the guitar has reshaped the final stage of grief — acceptance.

Acceptance that something tragic occurred in your life can be extremely hard to come to terms with. However, you never need to force yourself into believing that what happened to you was meant to happen, or that it was entirely your fault or that you should have done something different. Accepting what happened in the past is simply a realization that something really awful happened to you, and that your life has changed because of it. When I pick up my guitar after a long day of classes and clumsily try to learn a song or two, I can enter a place of comfort where I am able to face the reality of the situation without blaming myself. Music places you in a state where your heart is already placed out of your body and sits in your instrument, so that you don’t need to spend time digging and scratching and bruising yourself to locate your regrets and mistakes.

Playing music makes me cry. Listening to songs on my favorite movie soundtracks, or placing a new vinyl record in my record player or watching a movie with songs that make me think about my life in reflective ways makes me cry. But, as I’m sure many people have told you before, this vulnerability is a state of strength and resilience. So, to anybody in a hopeless situation, or to anyone who has experienced loss and is trapped in a state of regret, I strongly recommend picking up an instrument and playing, and then crying and then crying some more.

Sean Reichbach is a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law.

That is why it is so weird to see some Jews in the United States put a fake target on their backs with exaggerated claims of anti-Semitism. Pro-Palestinian activists have been met with outrageous labeling, such as Columbia Professor Sir Simon Schama comparing rallies to Kristallnacht or Amy Schumer saying they are “aligning with terrorists who pledge to kill every last Jew in the Middle East.” The American right-wing uses a similar tactic to disingenuously devalue real-life dangers faced by poor people and people of color. They cry “racism” so their victims are left debunking these charges instead of calling out legitimate acts of racism and violence. Similarly, Israeli nationalists are also claiming they are on the end of a genocide perpetrated by Palestinians while the death toll in Gaza continues to grow exponentially. History shows we will eventually be on the receiving end of real danger, but by characterizing Israel as an innocent victim of Palestinian terrorism, nobody will believe us.

Karl Marx responded to Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel’s claim that “history repeats itself” with “first as tragedy, the second time as farce.” Dehumanizing language spewed out by the Israeli government such as the Minister of Defense in Israel saying “We are fighting against human animals” or the Minister of Finance’s claims that “the village of Huwara needs to be wiped out” are proof of history’s cyclicity. As outlined in Norman Finkelstein’s “The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering,” Zionists — also known as Israeli nationalists — manipulate the public through the memory of the Holocaust, claim an indisputable link between Zionism and Judaism, and then actively commit genocidal acts reminiscent of the Holocaust itself. All of this breeds anti-Semitism that the nationalists encourage to perpetuate a cycle of anti-Israel attacks, leading to more rabid Zionism and renewed justifications for atrocities.

Underpinning all of this is virulent anti-Arab racism. Israeli nationalists defend their peddling of Islamophobia and racism with mention of Mizrahi Jews and the decent treatment given to some Arab Israelis, a defense not unlike “…but I have Black friends.” The Apartheid government led by the ultra-nationalist Benjamin Netanyahu has stewed up hatred against Arabs by labeling all Palestinians as primal, barbaric terrorists. This dehumanization is then peddled by Western media outlets who show far more concern for the several hundred Americans stuck in Gaza than the 8,000 and counting Gazans already killed. Dehumanizing rhetoric has dangerous implications around the world. In Chicago on Oct. 14, a landlord brutally killed 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume and severely injured his mother, allegedly because they were Muslim.

None of these dynamics were unknown to me before last Thursday’s Students for Justice in Palestine rally. Still, the malevolence of Israeli nationalism was made clear in a more personal and visceral way. About 200 students gathered to show our opposition to the Israeli offensive into Gaza and the mass displacement of Palestinian civilians, left without water, food and fuel for hospitals. At the start of the march, the diverse crowd mourned the deaths of Israeli civilians.

As a Jewish person, the only intimidation or fear I felt was from the pro-Israeli nationalist counter-protesters. I was called a self-hating Jew, was photographed and videotaped to antagonize me and had obscenities yelled inches from my face in an attempt to instigate a fight. We were all called “‘terrorist sympathizers.” Following the march, I heard that a student there had been cropped from a video to make it appear like she was doing a Sieg Heil salute. The student, whose name I will conceal because of the pro-Israeli nationalists’ reputation for intimidation, had been mocking a counterprotestor for being shorter than her. The complete video is in circulation and any honest viewer can clearly see what happened. This is not an exceptional instance — a truck broadcasting the names of “leading anti-Semites” — students who support Palestine — has popped up at Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania. Their “anti-Semitism” is a refusal to turn a blind eye to the war crimes being perpetrated by the Israeli state or the historical context of the conflict. There are so many cases of Israeli nationalists threatening and endangering people into submission. It makes you wonder — why do so many Zionist groups have to resort to this thuggish behavior?

Nathan Sommer is a junior majoring in history.

If you want to win an argument, don’t argue in the first place.

The last argument I had was with Doris, my friend and opinions editor of this fine paper. What started as a simple conversation about which brand of mac and cheese is the best quickly spiraled into a tempered debate about which Kardashian is the hottest — I stupidly made an analogy comparing the supremacy of Annie’s Mac and Cheese to that of Kim Kardashian. Without realizing it, the living room transformed into the UN, we turned into world leaders and the Annie’s Mac and Cheese that started the debate sat idly by as two idiots hurled subjective and inconclusive evidence at each other. Now, Doris thought Kylie Jenner was the hottest, and I, like any good old-fashioned patriotic American, defended Kardashian. The red, white and blue blood coursed through my veins, and I was ready to die on the hill I stood on.

However, five minutes into the debate, I realized I actually did like Jenner more than Kardashian, and that I don’t, in the slightest, care who Doris, much less anyone, thought was hotter. But what was I going to do? Admit I was wrong, and let Doris have the satisfaction of defeating me in battle?

Helllllll to the fuck no!!! What do I look like? We argued for the next 30 minutes.

Arguments are the verbal manifestation of war. People don’t debate the issue at hand, but rather, they debate you, which in turn makes it feel like you’re being attacked. All of a sudden, your opinion manifests itself into a part of your identity, and the notion of you being wrong convolutes itself into you being stupid and false about everything you believe is true. Your fight-or-flight instincts kick in, your heart starts racing and in turn, you stop acting rational.

How many times have you argued about something you couldn’t give the slightest shit about? Have you ever argued even after realizing you were wrong? More importantly, when was the last time you changed your mind, or changed the other person’s mind, after a heated argument?

If an argument is a war, why don’t we first engage in diplomacy? Before telling someone they’re wrong, why don’t we calmly offer our perspective? Without saying we’re right, why don’t we tell someone how we reached our conclusion? Before raising our voices, why won’t we consider whether this issue merits such attention? As it happens, nobody is more easily influenced when they’re comfortable, and no one is more stubborn when they’re confronted.

Doris and I weren’t really talking about the mac and cheese (everyone knows Annie’s is the best), and we didn’t really argue about the Kardashians (#RayJHitFirst), but you didn’t doubt it because you, like everyone else, engage in pointless debates for no reason. Maybe you, like me, have lost friends because of arguments you can’t even recall, or you, like I, get upset by the same stupid argument with your mom about an issue neither of you is willing to compromise on.

Nobody ever wins from arguments, but everyone learns from conversations. Without saying who is right and who is wrong, the next time you are confronted with a disagreement, remember that you can’t spell disagreement without an agreement first, and that you can’t change someone’s mind without being willing to also change yours.

Eli Klein is a senior majoring in political science.

Others, however, were less so. “Never let your passport expire.” “Always have something you can sell, so you can flee the country if necessary.” “Never get too comfortable where you are.”

At the age of six, I carefully picked out a hiding spot in my attic, where I thought I would be safe from the Nazis who still haunted my great-grandmother’s stories and eyes. At the age of 13, someone let me know that I should “go back to the ovens” and that “it was a shame that Hitler hadn’t succeeded in finishing the job.” At the age of 16, I watched a campaign video in my hometown where the local Republican Party candidate warned that “if they win, we lose.” The “they” in this case referred to the local Orthodox Jewish community, of which I was a part of. At the age of 17, my Uber driver shook her rosary in my face in an attempt to exorcise me once she realized I was Jewish. Whatever my other identities may be — queer, female, progressive — there is one identity that will always be at the forefront — I am a Jew. And to be a Jew, especially right now, is to be terrified.

The Israel-Hamas war is at the forefront of many minds right now — mine included. I have been in a constant state of mourning since Oct. 7, along with so many others. Palestinians and Israelis alike have been through the unimaginable in the last few weeks. But the terror and loss don’t stop inside the region, unfortunately. Muslims and Jews outside of the Levant have been struggling with a shocking surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, all while mourning and fearing for their families and friends within Israel and Gaza. It is something that is impossible to put words to if you are not forced into the position of living it. I am neither Palestinian, nor Muslim, and I will therefore never be able to do justice to what they are living through right now. But I do have the qualifications to explain the current Jewish experience, which is one of abject fear. Throughout all of the chaos and grief, Jews worldwide have been faced with a cold, hard truth that we’ve heard a million times from our grandparents, but that we never wanted to accept.

We are not safe.

In the United States alone, where Jews have long enjoyed a feeling of safety, anti-Semitic hate crimes have skyrocketed almost 400 percent since the conflict began. Jews around the world have been glued to our phones — not only to watch the war worsen by the day, but also to watch with sickening recognition as many of our peers turn on us and a familiar anti-Semitic vitriol floods the world. In Dagestan, Russia, a violent mob stormed the Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX), stopping random passengers to demand their passports as proof that they weren’t Jewish. The reason? They had heard news that there was a flight from Tel Aviv landing in the airport that day. Of course, advocating for the dignity, safety and freedom of Palestinians is not anti-Semitic. Every single person deserves to live in peace and safety, regardless of what side of the border they were born on. But mobbing an airport in an attempt to attack Jews? To conflate standing up for innocent Palestinians with inciting violence against innocent Jews is both anti-Semitic and Islamaphobic and achieves nothing other than to utterly derail the movement.

But in what is perhaps the most terrifying trend of all, college campuses have quickly transformed into places where anti-Semitic violence and rhetoric have been able to flourish since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. At Stanford University, a professor downplayed the Holocaust, justified Hamas’ slaughter of more than 1,300 innocent Israeli civilians and forced their Jewish students to identify themselves and subsequently move to the corner of the classroom. At The Cooper Union, a group of Jewish students had to be locked in the campus library for their own protection while an anti-Semitic mob attempted to physically batter the doors down. A discussion board from Cornell University has recently gone viral for its vile anti-Semitic threats toward the Jewish students (8). “Watch out Jews,” posted one user. “…Nowhere is safe. Your synagogues will become graveyards. Your women will be raped and your children will be beheaded.” Other posts echoed these sentiments, describing in graphic detail how they wanted to stab and rape the Jewish students on campus.

Of course, some of the anti-Semitic incidents unfolding on college campuses can be easily misconstrued as activism. For example, in universities worldwide, students have been filmed ripping down posters of the kidnapped Israelis — innocent men, women and babies. To these people, I only ask — does the massacre of Jews and the kidnapping of their children further the cause of a free Palestine? Or is it misappropriating a movement that doesn’t deserve to be attached to such vile anti-Semitism and therefore derailing and delegitimizing it in the eyes of millions? To everyone reading, I implore you — please stand up for us. Condemn the murder of Jews and the assaults on our community worldwide. Listen to us when we say that something is anti-Semitic, and that it scares us. Stand up for everyone — nobody should have to live in fear.

Because right now, your silence is deafening, and your Jewish friends are hearing it all too well.

Sarah Ash is a sophomore majoring in English.

Anywhere outside of a few select places, not having a car or the ability to pay for a taxi is a curse that cages people to a restricted and limited life. And whereas Europe, China and many other places around the world embrace the ideas of urbanism and public transport, America is only stagnating by wasting money on wider highways and bigger cars that are a danger to both the environment — due to the amount of land that is being wasted to build them — and to us the people — due to how dangerously big cars have gotten in the past few years alone. We must put an end to 10 mile-long highways and tank-sized pickup trucks. We must end the cruel culture of car dependency in this country and revive urbanism in America. And the way to do that might just be hidden in what we already used to have before.

Binghamton is historically not a stranger to passenger railways at all. In fact, Broome County used to have what could at the very least be described as a “decent” level of connection to the rest of the country by rail during the days when the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad station was still active in Downtown Binghamton.

For many decades between 1901 and 1970, when railways still played a large part in American public transport, the people of Broome County could enjoy the opportunity of being able to travel anywhere from Buffalo to New York or Philadelphia to Chicago and any other corner in the rest of the country through further connections at those places as well with ease. Since its closure more than 50 years ago, however, that terminal has only been sitting idly and gathering dust, whereas now people can only hope to travel to any place outside the county by either having a car or buying a bus ticket, both of which are vastly inferior and inefficient methods of travel compared to the benefits of passenger railways.

The same could be said for municipal transport within the county as well. Though not as crowded as the other big cities like Boston or San Francisco, Binghamton and the cities surrounding it still have a large enough combined population that investing in methods of public transport such as light rail and trams would make more sense compared to just having more bus routes. Passenger rail is statistically more reliable, friendlier to the environment and overall a more efficient method of transportation compared to buses and especially to automobiles.

Being dependent on cars is something that people in other developed countries around the world do not even need to consider in this day and age, and it does not take living in a giant metropolis for people to enjoy the benefits of rail transportation either. People living in small towns and villages can and do enjoy public rail transport just as easily and efficiently as people who live in cities with enormous networks like Moscow or Istanbul. Binghamton and, to a wider extent, the United States can take an example from what other nations can achieve and aspire to achieve in terms of economic and social development by relying on urbanist policies rather than car-dependent infrastructure. A new perspective on ways to develop this city can bring many benefits in the long run too.

Having connections via rail to cities such as Syracuse, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and so many other cities across the entire nation can bring surplus revenue from tourism, revive the industrial spirit of this region by connecting it to other hubs of production and commerce and increase the living standards of the residents of this county by allowing them to access more job opportunities through a municipal network of light railway lines by following the examples of European nations.

Car dependency is nothing but a strain on the back of this nation that restricts it from reaching its true economic potential, especially in a time when old ideas and principles are in such need of being replaced with new ones for the betterment of the country as a whole. Binghamton and Broome County, as a collective, can prove this to the entire country by embracing the values of urbanism and reviving its historical railways by investing in new public transport and railway infrastructure projects. It would only be a matter of time before this region would begin to enjoy the fruits of such a concerted effort, and I am truly convinced that the future of this region, as well as America as a whole, lies in the opportunity of having more railways.

Deniz Gulay is a freshman majoring in history.