When I arrived in Binghamton four years ago, I had no ambition for leadership. I instead found comfort in a few close friends, and I had planned to keep my head down, do well in my classes and graduate. It would be a quiet existence, sure, but I had never wanted more, and I viewed those who strove for awards and recognition as superficial.

After all, in high school, that plan had worked perfectly. I wasn’t involved in any clubs, didn’t look for honors and had middling grades. But despite that, I found soul-healing community in a group of friends that included a brown-haired girl I hated at first who later became my best friend. In what is the classic extrovert-introvert dynamic, she forced me out of my shell and demanded that I become the best version of myself.

When I moved to upstate New York for college (she went down to North Carolina), I looked — desperately searched — for her in everyone I met. I didn’t need to join any organizations to find community; I could find it in others! But once again, she demanded I make something of myself, telling me I couldn’t stay in my bubble forever.

So I joined Pipe Dream on a whim, partially because of her advice, and it was life-changing. I met a team of dedicated and passionate writers, editors, photographers and illustrators who put their personal needs aside for those of the paper. And I’m forever grateful to them for their example.

At a school with no journalism or communications program, Pipe Dream enjoys no institutional support and is consequently held together by its staff’s sheer force of will. And when I joined leadership as news editor in my junior year, I realized, finally, that finding community and dedicating myself to something larger are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are intertwined.

Now, like most of the news stories I’ve written, this story doesn’t have a fully happy ending. Around two years ago, that friend, Talia, whom I most credit for making me the person I am today, was told she had brain cancer. And life stopped. The subject of our phone calls soon shifted from weekend plans and when we’d see each other next to the medication she was taking and her healing journey.

And after I had been chosen to lead this paper at the tail end of my junior year, I received a text from her phone number after a period of silence. She had died, a friend of her mother wrote, and she loved me.

I’ve grappled hard in recent weeks with what graduating really means. And writing this column, walking across the stage and planning the future, they all mean saying a final goodbye to the fresh-eyed, naive person I used to be. And a goodbye to the last stage of my life that Talia was alive to see.

Still, this year leading the organization that’s provided purpose and stability to my life has been rewarding beyond measure, and no number of words, columns or printed pages could adequately allow me to express my love for Pipe Dream and its history. The community I’ve found here has inspired me, like Talia did, to be the best version of myself.

In the last two years, our team has covered unthinkable tragedies, political developments and the largest wave of student demonstrations in a generation with precision, care and compassion. It’s a thankless endeavor that, despite the extremists’ endless and unjustified vitriol, has only furthered my love and commitment to local news.

As a freshman, I held college at arm’s length, unsure if I would ever find my place here. Now, four years later, I’m proud to say I found it in a basement office in the University Union filled with the most inspiring people I’ve ever met, who remind me every day of Talia’s love for me and her demand that I become the person I was meant to be. The staff here, they taught me how to love something, and how to be a leader.

Now, as I reflect on my year as editor-in-chief, my only hope is that I gave enough back to the paper that gave so much to me.

Those who met me at the beginning will remember an emotional, headstrong, opinionated and relentless 18-year-old who thought he knew what he wanted from the world and how to get it. And while I’m still all those things, I’m forever indebted to the loving people I’ve met here who have shaped me into someone better.

Grace and Emma: I couldn’t be more excited about the new heights to which you’ll take the paper. Support each other and know that at the end of next year, you’ll be so incredibly proud of yourselves.

Lia: I would not have survived the last two years without your endless empathy, steadfast partnership and willingness to take a phone call at all hours of the night. Knowing that there’s another who loves Pipe Dream as much as I do makes it all worth it.

Bella and Kate: The two of you are my role models, and I wish I had met you sooner. Becoming an adult is scary, but seeing you both grow with such grace and generosity has been reassuring.

Hamza: Your commitment to this organization was so inspiring to witness as a sophomore. I hope I made you proud.

Caspar: Thank you for teaching me about credit cards, car maintenance and photography. Our nights at The Belmar are some of my fondest memories, and the impact you’ve left on me runs deeper than you know. You’ll do amazing things, and I can’t wait to see your name on a scientific prize.

Tresa, Khudija and Hannah: Ending these four years with you all by my side just feels right.

Ella and Joseph: I admire you both for taking on the News Desk, my second home here. The responsibility of being news editor is weighty, and the position demands only the best.

Paulette and Alex: My platonic soulmates, it’s been a hard few years. But I always say, “You can’t make old friends,” and I’m grateful beyond words for you both.

Tommy: A surprise that changed my life. I’m constantly in awe of your patience and kind soul.

Mom, Dad and Bryan: Thank you for your constant support and for building the foundation on which I could grow.

Talia: I miss you more than words, or tears, could ever express, and as long as I am alive, you will be missed and remembered. You always pushed me to be the best version of myself, and all of this, it was all for you.

And to Pipe Dream’s future editors, wherever and whoever you may be: We need you. You don’t need to come to college wanting to lead, or even wanting to be a journalist at all. Most of us don’t. But this community needs, and deserves, the best in you.

Brandon Ng, a senior double-majoring in history and economics, is Pipe Dream’s editor-in-chief. He was news editor from 2023-24. 

Admittedly, I’ve spent too much time in Binghamton alone in tired habits to satisfyingly account for all it has to offer; the most notable memories include exposed wood ceiling beams that perhaps I’d pretend I wouldn’t get to see every night, sticky coffee tables and indulgent smells — lavender, coconut, vanilla. It wasn’t in service of the coveted self-reflection but, rather truthfully, an indifference to — a discomfort in — what was outside “me.”

I’d always grown up isolated, hearing the most extreme stories and the importance of blood. Being alone, or “hanging out,” has brought immense joys, an aptitude for listening and a promise for closure, literally.

But, despite only ever trusting what was closest to me, what I had to lug around every day, no amount of running down the Spine at 2 a.m., screaming at the top of my lungs and betting whether my throat or legs would give out first — on my indefinite survival besides — could prepare me for my lack, or rather excess, of movement in my community — how I’ve almost failed the most genuine in the world, and myself.

There was no turning point for me in college, but I’ve learned that no matter how much you read, how much you enjoy being alone or how grossly educated you become, you simply do not matter without the care of others. There is community everywhere, and everything is intertwined in a neat, intimate web of earnestly drawn arms, stretching and stretching beyond bodily comfort. Have faith in people; there’s good, and there’s good in being susceptible to close encounters — to change.

Still, I can’t pretend that I have newfound wisdom to offer, nor can I say I’ve come out of college a better, more determined person, because suddenly the mechanisms of the world have let up on strewing precariousness as casualty, on masquerading hatred under a thin veil of ignorance. Really, I’ve never been more terrified.

Doxxing attempts, misconstrued words, threats to higher education, attacks on trans rights, indiscriminate terror in Palestine, devaluation of undocumented (and documented) immigrants and students, living in an ongoing settler colonialist system — all the things I cannot, or refuse to, comment on for fear of regurgitating what I believe everyone should already be thinking.

In these times, writing can be more alienating than anything; writing about these material issues often just feels like an attempt to blanket the mass of meaninglessness with more weight, more warmth, as if being compacted meant it could then be swallowed whole.

Then, I think about my parents, English language learners who never felt secure enough to express themselves in any tongue, and how lucky I am to share in language’s mystifying world at the foot of my mouth, the exile’s pen or the tender clicks of a projector.

No matter the week or how long I went without speaking, I knew that, every Sunday and Wednesday, I’d walk into Pipe Dream’s box of an office with hi’s ready, and I’d spend hours tinkling with rhetoric, choreographing letters on a page, surrounded by people dedicated to keeping the word alive — and I don’t think there’s anything meaningless about that.

I’m not sure where writing stands for me at the moment — poetry won’t save you and neither will passivity — but I’m so thankful I’m not where I wanted to be. I can only treat being dislodged so severely as a treasure and being in limbo as the blessed, exploding consumption of all that I am.

So, to the people I’ve reached for:

Antonia and Jordan, the most decided, honest and humble people I know. Opinions needed more of that. You two will be amazing editors. To incoming staff, Pipe Dream is in good hands (long live print).

Staff, grad students and faculty at Binghamton: your dedication to students, invisible labor and enthusiasm for your craft does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Dr. Wall, for introducing me to some of my favorite films — you have impeccable taste — discussing Benjamin with me and changing the trajectory of my college career. Thank you, Professor Sorenson, for the realness, guidance and — from theory to grad school applications — always making me feel like I belong. Thank you, Jeffner and Professor Gerrits, for your patience in working on my honors thesis with me — I could not have produced something I am proud of without you both (plus, you two always seem to have the coolest syllabi).

Joe, “working-class poet,” thank you for being human. For teaching with compassion, lending me your library and consistently reminding me of how to be a better community member and lifelong student. You’ve encouraged me to experiment with my poetry and take the untold off the pages — white space will seem boring to me for far too long. I hope that pickup truck serves you well.

Reina and Kayla, thank you for seeing me as I am. More rave, more dance, more song, more trauma — friendship is ecstasy!

Nathan, you are my rock. Thank you for always pushing me outside my comfort zone and teaching me vulnerability. Thank you for believing in me — for the history crash courses in the early mornings and raw passion; your meticulous effort and knowledge will serve the world in more ways than I ever could. The world is not only a better place with you in it, but a cruel splendor.

To my family — thank you for the totality of my tangled being. Mom, for teaching me how to read and write in English in that tiny multifunctional room when you didn’t know any of the words. For laundry trips and gumball rewards, redefining femininity and making sure we never went hungry. Dad, “Leon,” my first purveyor of the arts. I hope we can paint together someday and watch your old friend on “Kung Fu Hustle,” or just the lone tumbleweed you blew on that obscure film set. Nail art is nothing like that, but you do make my favorite florals.

Joyce, my best friend, thank you for showing me graduating from college was possible and making me laugh in life’s pitiful face. Aaron, you wear your empathy on your sleeve — you’ll fit right in here.

Grandpa, thank you for raising me and being the epitome of cultural pride. I’m indebted to opera DVDs and still live with my back against smoke-stained walls — I hope I make you proud.

It’s been a slow journey toward an ethics of care, sitting with the feeling of being on edge and unending expanse. This feast could only end in love.

Julie Ha, a senior majoring in English, is Pipe Dream’s opinions editor. 

It was a question of this very vein that I was asked the other day following the very last meeting of another club I was in. As I ran for the bus, a freshman who had known me through the club ran up to me as if to convey a message of the utmost urgency. “How do you feel … you know, as a senior, since it is your last meeting?” I shrugged it off, saying that it wasn’t really my last meeting and that I would see many of the club members before I graduated. She then thanked me and, by extension, all seniors for making the club a welcoming place.

It was this sense of admiration that I guess had been lost on me in all the momentum of being a senior. That is the very idea of being a torch-giver, an elder, so to speak, from whom any valuable sage advice could be obtained, an idea that is and has been foreign to me. In high school, I was never asked for any advice any counsel. I was and often still see myself as the quiet kid in the corner — a negligible impact.

I guess that is my greatest lesson from college — that negligibility is subjective. The most often said advice in these columns is some form of the following: “Take advantage of every opportunity” and “college goes by fast.” I certainly remember hearing this advice in my freshman year. Yet what I feel is an often missed corollary is to not just forgive yourself but to acknowledge one’s own lack of control. I say this because I was one of the weird kids who heard that often-cliche advice and took it seriously. I told myself I would not be as I was in high school — that I would make a name for myself.

This goal was reinforced by the image of college, often displayed as “the best years.” In popular culture, it is common to see adults reminisce about their college experience as the time that they were most alive, most free and most happy. Thus from a young age I was conditioned to subconsciously see the end of college as the converse, as death, a prison, a segue into decline. To be honest, subconsciously, I feel some version of that now in writing this paper — a paper that feels like writing an obituary to the life I once knew. A lasting record to a college life filled with a mix of failures and successes that could not possibly be summed up as the best years of my entire life. However, nor should it, after all, I have my whole life to have my best years, don’t I?

You cannot control your college experience and you cannot possibly have “the best times of your life,” but that’s OK. In fact, I would go as much as to feel sorry for those for which college is the aforementioned. Instead, I’ll say this: Enjoy the ride, not because it’s so fast and will only happen once, but because it’s fun in it of itself. I’ll make a couple of sweeping guarantees you will certainly learn a lot about yourself and others. This includes both the good and bad about both. You will certainly (hopefully) grow as a person, but that learning and growing does not have an expiration date. The best experiences was for me experiences that I didn’t plan out but truly lived.

In addition to my experiences with Pipe Dream, I have been deeply involved with WHRW, our student radio. In four years, I have had the honor of being a radio DJ, hosting my very own show “PANTONAL,” and a talk show host of “Real Talk.” Yet none of that came naturally. It all began by me seeing a flyer for the radio GIM and then not only apprenticing once but twice to become a DJ, a task which I undertook because I truly loved my experience as an apprentice.

I joined my other club, Binghamton College Democrats, for a similar reason. As I kept going to meetings, I eventually became the club’s secretary and political director. That position would in turn, allow me to parlay into becoming the political director of the statewide College Democrats of New York. I also happened to meet one of my closest friends by chance here. He, I and the then-Binghamton College Democrats president were the only ones to show up to an election night canvass.

Heck, even my second minor came about by chance. I minored in global studies in addition to history because it fit well with my vision of studying abroad, but in following the global studies sequence, I was also able to present a capstone project on a unique project of cultural interest: “The relationship between the British Empire and British right-wing populism today.” My study abroad experience was filled with much growth but what has stood out to me most were the spontaneous exchanges: the night I spent in Leipzig staying up all night talking about the differences between American and German culture over a few rounds of lager in a sleazy pub and the time in Prague where I managed to hold a conversation in Spanish between me, some Spanish tourists and a Czech native while waiting in a tram.

I am not much of a believer in predestination, but I have learned to reconcile my need for control with a profound realization. College is a mixed bag, but that’s what makes the good moments that much more memorable and the connections I have made that much more meaningful.

My own experience with Pipe Dream has led me to bounce around the Opinions, News and, finally, Video sections. I have had highs and lows with Pipe Dream, but I will always treasure the memories I have made here and the ability to, as with other clubs, engage with something higher than myself. I guess that’s what that wise freshman girl was alluding to in that run-in as I was running to the bus. Two words have often been used to describe this profound realization: solipsism — that the universe revolves around oneself — and sonder — that everyone’s life is just as complex as your own.

Perhaps it is selfish of me to call the end of my own college years a death and this column an obituary, to shrug off my own counsel. Perhaps, just perhaps, my college experience, this column will allow others to better savor not necessarily their best years but their college years — the good, the bad and everything in between. Thank you, Binghamton, for an amazing, profound but not life-altering experience. Here’s to the next best years!

Peter Levy. a senior majoring in political science, is a staff videographer.

I have now written more than 100 stories with both beginnings and endings. Reflecting on those stories, and the years it took to accumulate them, I am also wrapping up a story of my own — one that has not yet been written on paper, but is nonetheless just as permanent.

My dad showed my sister and me the movie “Monsters, Inc.” when we were about 4 years old. I cannot recall the moment myself, but as my dad tells it, when Sully returned Boo to her room at the film’s conclusion, I unsurprisingly broke into a hysterical fit of sobs. As someone who does not cry often, I still cannot watch that scene without my eyes welling up a little bit.

But my twin sister Abby, who was tucked under his other arm in the big brown armchair in the living room, laid there content and beaming. The little girl was home, wasn’t she? She was safe. Whereas I could not help but think that Boo would never be able to see her new friend again — and that was devastating.

There is no right or wrong way to interpret this story. The same can be said for many stories. But one thing remains: The stories we tell have a tangible impact on the people around us.

The weight of the responsibility I have been handed working for Pipe Dream has not been lost on me over these years. I’ve spoken to more people than I can count, all of whom offered diverse perspectives. Every last one of those people entrusted their story to me and allowed me the opportunity to tell that story to others. I had the immense privilege to carry that weight, and that is something I don’t ever want to take for granted.

So I have learned that while there is no right or wrong way to interpret a story, the things we write do affect people. And while there is also no single correct way to interpret a story’s ending, the fact that it ends is unavoidable.

Like Sully and Boo’s journey in “Monsters. Inc.,” everything must come to an end. And like my sister and I proved, tucked under my father’s arms in the living room that night, change comes with conflicting emotions.

My roommates have jokingly called me Mr. Pipe Dream for the past two years. This moment in time has become inescapably woven into my identity. But for all people, there comes a time when you have to take a step back and let something go in order to venture into unmarked, terrifying yet wide-open territory.

One thing is for certain: I would never have had the opportunity to step into this place of the rigid but exciting unknown without the amazing people who have held my hand, and more importantly, listened to me along the way. To feel loved is to feel heard. And the people in my life have heard me every single time.

To my family: Mom and Dad, you taught me not to cave to the unrealistic expectations of others. Abby, I don’t know who I am without you. You’re the best friend who has been there since day one and has not left my side once (even when I would steal your pacifier). Grack, at 13, you are the sweetest kid ever, and every day I strive to be as strong-willed and witty as you.

All of your support has meant more than words will ever be able to appropriately convey, so to my family, I simply say, I love you.

To my roommates: Rachel, Jo, Masha, Haley and Hailey. I could never have done this job, or the rest of college, without each and every one of you. Whether we were the 420 blazers or the Ayres heads or lowly freshmen meeting up for undercooked microwave pasta the first time — I found my sanctuary with all of you.

And to Steph and Dayana, for being honorary roommates who saw me through all of the good and bad and never left my side.

To my assistant news editors: Tresa, Grace and Joseph. I am beyond lucky to call you all my friends. I know there is no way I would have survived this year without all of your undying support and grace. And I will miss all of you more than you’ll ever know.

Tresa, it’s been a crazy ride, and I am so beyond grateful for you. Joseph and Grace, I cannot wait to see all you do next year — just know I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines.

To Lia: I’ve watched you lead this paper with a level of dignity and professionalism I can only aspire to. You have consistently provided much-needed support and pushed us through the difficult moments. If I can emulate these qualities even half as well one day, I will have succeeded.

To Brandon: You set the bar incredibly high last year at a time filled with unprecedented events and a more-than-hectic news cycle. I know that I wouldn’t have been half as good of a news editor without your help and example. You taught me how to not just be a good news editor but a good leader, one who puts the people around them first and themselves second. You’ve had abundant grace for me in my moments of error and faith in me, even when I have struggled. I can say without a doubt that I am not only lucky to learn from you, but also to know you.

To our Pipe Dream alumni: Thank you for laying the groundwork that got us here today. The work you did in the years before we stepped foot in this office undoubtedly set us up for our own successes within these walls.

And to the rest of the News and Pipe Dream staff: it has truly been such an amazing three years. I could not have made it here without each and every one of you. Emma and Grace — have the best time next year. You are both going to kill it.

At the end of the day, it is the people who lie at the heart of every good story and of every good ending. And as I continue writing my own, just as Sully had to do in the beloved Pixar film, it will be hard to say goodbye to so many people who have made me who I am today.

So now, as I prepare to turn the tassel, I start writing the beginning of another story. I have no idea what is next. But I know for damn sure it won’t just be a beginning.

Ella Connors, a senior majoring in English, is Pipe Dream’s news editor. 

I still remember like it was yesterday; I was walking down the Spine during UFEST my freshman year when a table covered in newspapers and cameras caught my eye. Never would I have imagined I would be where I am now just from stopping to speak to the person whose position I now hold four years later.

I am by no means an artist — far from it. I came here for the hard sciences, and that is still what I am doing. But my parents are both artists, good ones, and though in some ways the apple fell far from the tree, I carry that passion for the arts through my continuing dedication to photography. I have developed much as a student, but even more as a photographer from my years in Pipe Dream, and I am immensely grateful for that opportunity.

I began my freshman spring just taking photos here and there when I would be assigned, and, for a while, I thought that was where I would stay. And stay I did, but because I stayed, I was able to discover all that the paper had to offer. I eventually worked my way up, staying committed to my role as a photographer, and that is when I found myself thrown into the position of section editor at the beginning of my junior year.

I’d love to say that everything went swimmingly from there, but I’m not a liar, and like many people here would agree, this job can be stressful. Sometimes more stressful than the most difficult class any one of us has ever taken. But with stress comes community. Nothing could have prepared me for how welcoming, kind and overall just amazing every single person I have come to know on this staff has been and continues to be. I could not have done this for so long, or probably at all, without all of you. You guys rock — really. From late nights here in the office to spontaneous Sugar Lips or fast food runs, I could not have asked for a better team, and honestly, family, to do it all with.

Yes, the classes I’ve taken have given me the knowledge and skills I need for a career in the sciences, but nothing could have made me a better overall person than working with the wonderful team I have had the privilege to get to know through Pipe Dream, and for that I will be always indebted. So, thank you.

To Harry and Michael, thank you for setting this Photo section up so well. I could not have done this job without your guidance. I hope you are both living your best lives and making the most of them.

To Lia, I feel like I can think as far back as possible and just can’t remember a Pipe Dream memory without you in it. You are the most kind-hearted, understanding and encouraging person I have ever had the opportunity to know. You are always there whenever anyone needs you, and have been an amazing presence both inside this office and out, and I am 110 percent sure anyone else would agree with me. Please, keep being you. I also sincerely appreciate you convincing me to take a Vaughan class, which was probably the best class I have ever taken. Good luck in the next chapter at Stony Brook, and we’ll be close enough that I’ll probably see you quite a bit, honestly. But seriously, thank you for everything. You have been an amazing friend, and that means the world to me.

To Brandon, I haven’t known you as long as I wish I had, but despite that, it feels like we could have been friends for years. I know I can be a pain in the ass more times than not, but you deal with it because you care (I hope). Kidding, I know. You are a character in the office that I think brings so much light to the room whenever you’re around. You are so kind, caring and such a fun person to be around. I wouldn’t feel the same going thrift shopping all the way out in Endwell with anyone else, or asking anyone else to stand on my car’s seat and take photos out of the sunroof with my camera while driving. I hope you find everything you want in life, and I know you’ll make the best out of wherever life takes you. Thank you for being a real friend through everything.

To Jacob, my right-hand man, you are such a thoughtful soul, and I am so proud to call you my friend and coworker. We have been through it all together, and honestly, I think you keep me sane. I thoroughly enjoy talking cars and other random engineering news whenever we have free time and have enjoyed just working with you day in and day out for the past two years. Thank you for being there, helping me figure things out and just being such an amazing person. Good luck with everything in the future, you’ll kill it wherever you end up. Maybe you’ll end up a nuclear engineer, who knows?

To Manny, Danny and Chris, thank you all for being real ones. I always have a good time hanging with you all and will be forever appreciative of getting to know all of you.

Manny, your band is so damn good, I wish I had the time to go to every show. Also, I enjoyed guessing what cologne we were wearing, literally like every day.

Danny, thank you for being just all around fun to talk to and hang out with, in the office and also wherever else I end up seeing you. Keep it real, man.

Chris, despite the foundational beef between our sections (kidding, again), you have been a true friend, and I have missed your presence in the office this past semester. You are so down-to-earth, fun to shoot the shit with and just an overall such a goodhearted person. Go Blackbears! I wish you all the best in future endeavors.

To Alex, I love you. Thank you for being there for me and making my senior year so much better than I could have ever expected. Thank you for absorbing my love for Jason Isbell, even if I may play him a bit too much. “Home was a dream, one I’d never seen, ‘till you came around.” -Isbell

To my parents, thank you for being some of the most understanding and loving people in my life. You have been an inspiration for as long as I can remember, and you are the main reason I am where I am now and have anything at all figured out for the future. I could not have done this at all without you both, so thank you so much. I am who I am because of you. I love you both more than you can imagine.

To all my friends, thank you for being there for me through thick and thin, truly. Those of you in Pipe Dream made working on this paper and all my missing sleep worth it. To my other friends, you have made these four years bearable and possible. Thank you for being my rocks. I never could have done any of this without any of you.

To leave with one more lyric from my favorite artist:

”And the stories only mine to live and die with,

And the answers only mine to come across,

But the ghosts that I got scared and I got high with,

Look a little lost.”

-Jason Isbell, “Different Days”

Our stories are our own and ours to make worthwhile, but you all, my friends and family, who have been such a big part of my life, did make it worthwhile. I am not who I used to be, and I am thankful for that growth.

Caspar Carson, a senior majoring in biology, is Pipe Dream’s photo editor. 

When I reflect on my time at Binghamton University, I realize that my college experience consisted of more than simply an academic education. While classes and professors played a major role in my time here, growing my appreciation for history into a lifelong love, college is more than just a classroom education. And nothing showed me that more than my time at Pipe Dream.

When I joined our student newspaper in my sophomore year, I had no idea of the ups and downs that awaited. I’d always been passionate about photography, with a focus on aerial images and the unique angles they allowed me to capture. However, the Photo section in Pipe Dream opened my eyes to a more “on the fly” type of shooting. Sure, we take photos of campus to capture the landscape and seasons, but the Photo section covers such a wide range of events that I was quickly pushed outside of my comfort zone. I had little to no experience taking photos of sports games, political campaigns, rallies and protests alike, not to mention the occasional Student Association Congress meeting. As I was thrust into these new environments, I leaned on my photography as a crutch — the one thing that I knew would allow me to capture my perspective and represent the event truthfully.

Yet as I took on more of an active role in Pipe Dream, becoming Photo intern in my junior fall and assistant the following spring, I found myself no longer nervous to cover unfamiliar events. I reveled in the moments when I ran to the office, grabbed a camera and my press pass and went to cover whatever was on the docket for that day. Through photography, I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, and I learned to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I realized that all of these novel experiences were part of the college experience, shaping who I was as a person and helping me to grow.

This is the advice that I would offer to anyone currently at Binghamton or joining our campus community in the coming years — get comfortable with the uncomfortable. My time at this University has pushed me to grow in so many uncomfortable ways; from being nervous to email professors in my freshman year to becoming a published author this past week, and everything in between. It’s important to remember that academics can only take you so far, and I encourage everyone to live their college lives to the fullest. Go join that club, meet up with those friends on a Friday night or jump headfirst into that uncomfortable situation. Before you know it, these four short years are going to fly by.

Before I wrap up this reflection on my time at Binghamton, some thanks are in order to all of those who helped me along the way:

To Charlotte, thank you for always being by my side. Whether it was talking through the stressful moments or giving me grace when Pipe Dream took over my life, there’s no way I would’ve made it without you. I love and appreciate you more than you know.

To my family, thank you for the limitless support you’ve offered me these past four years. Mom and Dad, you’ve always listened to me ramble endlessly about what I learned in class, no matter when I called. Knowing that you both had my back, regardless of the path I took, afforded me the confidence to take a shot and see where I landed. I’ll always remember to follow my heart, without leaving my brain behind. To Rachel, I’m so excited for you to be embarking upon your own journey through college as we speak. I have a constant respect and admiration for everything you’ve overcome in your freshman year alone, and you make me a proud brother every single day.

To Lia, thank you for always helping me make the right decisions, even if I struggled to see them at the time. I’m eternally grateful to have shared so much of our college experiences together, and I don’t think I’ll ever be happier about getting to class early.

To Brandon, thank you for your impressive commitment to Pipe Dream these past years. Whether it be late nights or witty retorts, you always made me smile when I walked into the office. It is thanks to you that all of us at Pipe Dream are forever proud of the content we produce.

To Alexis, Andie, Brendan, Emily and Marissa, thank you all for being so understanding of my (often time-consuming) commitment to Pipe Dream. Knowing that I had such supportive friends at my side, no matter how late I came home from production, means the world to me. I look forward to what’s to come for all of us and hope that we can continue to cram into many more Ubers.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to the Photo section. Kai, thank you for being a passionate and energetic mentor who showed me the ropes. You saw a talented, budding photographer in me and trained me to become the best assistant photo editor I could. Lily, thank you for being a constant presence throughout my childhood, time at Binghamton and even in Photo. I’m so glad that we were able to work together and grow alongside one another. Caspar, I don’t think that I could’ve asked for a better photo editor. We’ve worked so closely over the past three years together and your impressive photo talent has always carried us through whatever lighting situation was thrown our way. Your skill, passion about cars and style (cowboy boots included) never failed to make me laugh. To Abby and Emzie, I’m extremely proud of the photographers you’ve both become — I know that you’re going to do great things next year. Don’t forget to be confident and stand up to whatever comes your way. Enjoy your time at Pipe Dream, and relish these upcoming years. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize how quickly the past four years have flown by.

Jacob Gressin, a senior majoring in history, is Pipe Dream’s assistant photo editor. 

My parents came to the United States from Guatemala, and all they knew was work. It was up to me to find my own path. My siblings all found theirs, and, through their wisdom and support, I forged my own. I discovered my own interests and felt like an odd one out most of my life, but I never let it discourage me.

At my first live performance, I had played guitar for only six months and was intimidated by the discomfort of leaving my bedroom to perform in front of a room full of strangers. When presented with the opportunity to go away to school, I did not have the insight of my family, because we were never able to afford it. When I was asked to join a band, I had almost no experience because COVID took away that time for me.

Despite my inexperience, I never let it stop me, because, like my parents, I wanted to break barriers.

First-generation college student:

To my parents, you spent 30+ years working for your kids, and look at how far we’ve made it. You came to a new country, you worked tirelessly then — and still do today. You had dreams of other career paths, but you sacrificed them for us. Your sacrifices and hard work are recognized and appreciated. Thank you, Alma and Eddie, or as I call you, mom and dad.

First to go away to college:

I wasn’t scared to go away to college, but I was sad to miss out on all the family events. Little did I know, I made my own family here. Potlucks, spring break trips, summer vacations and nights downtown are what I’ll remember with my family here. Chris, Daisy, Danny, Kayla, Nate and Roshely — thank you for the last four years of being my closest friends.

First musician in my family:

I picked up a guitar over 10 years ago, and I can’t believe how far it’s taken me. I’ve met and learned from incredible people and had the opportunity to play at amazing events. My first concert in Binghamton was at the Mountainview Jam, where I played Grateful Dead and Stevie Ray Vaughan and where I met my future bandmate, Omar. Together, we won Battle of the Bands and opened Spring Concert ‘23 as From The Bronx, and now we’re planning our final concerts as The Dialogue. To my bandmates, Ben, Lucas, Max and Omar, you guys turned my dreams into a reality — here’s to a lifetime of music ahead.

Thank you, Binghamton University.

— Emmanuel

Emmanuel Fuentes, a senior majoring in business administration, is Pipe Dream’s business manager. He was the head of accounting from 2023-24. 

Even from the stories I have been told, I can barely recall the times when I was 4 years old, sitting in my preschool classroom, unable to speak — and not uttering a word to another student for the entire year unless the teacher directly called on me. This became a pattern throughout my childhood. I moved through hallways quietly, with my head down, trying to take up as little space as possible, both in a literal and figurative sense. I graduated in a class of over 500 students, and I am pretty sure less than 30 knew my name. I knew that I wanted college to be the place where everything changed. I had read all the stories about how college could change you. The work hard, play hard mindset, the promise of reinvention — it all sounded incredible. But I wasn’t sure I had it in me.

And honestly I didn’t — at least not at first.

That changed one night on a Zoom call where Ciara, the editor-in-chief of Pipe Dream, spoke to potential new contributors and staff. I was actually late to the call, rushing down to Jazzman’s from class, breathless and still masked from the COVID-19 era. I found an empty table in the back that still faintly smelled like coffee, and I fired up my laptop. As Ciara started describing the different content sections, a familiar pit formed in my stomach and, suddenly, I was 4 years old in preschool again with the inability to broadcast my words — paralyzed by the idea of speaking up. I began to think, “Maybe this journalism thing isn’t for me.” But then she mentioned the copy section — the section she had started in — where you didn’t need to be in the spotlight to contribute something meaningful — and I smiled.

You might expect the story to turn here, but it doesn’t, not quite yet. I quickly began to fall into my old patterns again, keeping my head down and keeping to myself. In fact, it was the hardworking, ambitious mindset I was raised on that quickly became the only reason I came into the office. I would sit in the back of the dusty Photo section, masked, among faces I don’t even remember. I would look over at the Copy table with Alexis and Jenna and a smart, kind, hardworking blonde-haired girl I’d eventually be lucky enough to call one of my best friends — and I felt certain that I could never be that.

My ambitious mindset again pushed me to apply for the assistant role at the end of the year. I was sure that they didn’t even know my name. I figured my only edge was frequently showing up. Still, I was stunned when they chose me. Little did I know how much of a blessing Alexis and Jenna gave me that day — one that would forever change my life, and some of the best and worst experiences of my life in the following years.

To my family: the only people who knew my voice before this — there is clearly a reason. Thank you for the life and love you have given me. The support you have given throughout these crazy four years has been nothing short of formidable.

To the teams I have run: Copy and Digital, not only have I loved leading teams with such a high impact, but I love the friendships that I have made from them even more. Emma, Kate, Bella, Max, Trisha, Ellena — and too many more to name — thank you for trusting me to lead you, and you all have such bright futures ahead of you.

To the friends I have made along the way, there have been times where I have been distant — but just know that I appreciate how much you have all been there for me in times that I needed it most, and I don’t know what I will do without most of you next year.

Pipe Dream gave me a voice, and more than that — it allowed me to become myself. Thanks to Pipe Dream and everything it has given me, trauma-bonded and all, I am no longer thinking, “What’s next?” but rather “How am I supposed to move on without this in my life?”

Allison Peteka, a first-year graduate student studying business administration, is Pipe Dream’s digital editor. She was copy desk chief from 2023-24.

An important lesson I learned in Binghamton was to make strong connections with the students and become friends with them, as they will greatly affect your time in college. I wish I had figured that out sooner. I was able to mingle with others by attending clubs and being sociable in my classes. Some friendships lasted for a long time, while others didn’t. When the latter happened, I made a promise to myself to keep in touch with the people I met.

While I am talking about the importance of socializing, it is imperative for me to also talk about Pipe Dream. When I became a history major in my junior year, I found a link in my email for people who were interested in joining Pipe Dream for the spring 2024 semester. The email said that there were openings for the Opinions section, but after arriving at the GIM, I decided to be a photographer instead.

Being part of Pipe Dream was one of the best experiences I had during my time in Binghamton. I was able to embrace one of my hobbies — photography. The people in Pipe Dream were welcoming and gave me confidence in my own abilities. One of the best aspects of being a photographer in Pipe Dream was going out to take pictures of memorable events happening either at BU or in the town of Vestal. I also got to meet great individuals from these events and learn more about the campus itself.

Taking photos at different events exposed me to the social life in Binghamton. I took pictures at many events, including Shabbat 2024, soccer matches, Restaurant Week, the Lavender Celebration and many more. Now, I can confidently say that Vestal is my second home.

To everybody in Pipe Dream, I want to thank you guys for making my last two years so memorable.

For Jacob, Caspar and Lily, thank you guys for making me feel welcome at Pipe Dream and for being my friends. I no longer consider myself a novice in photography thanks to you guys. Let’s stay in touch.

To Dr. Howard Brown, I want to thank you for making me challenge myself in academics. I respect your commitment to your craft. You made me work harder than any other professor, and you taught me a lot. I consider you my favorite history professor at BU.

To Professor Andrea Gyenge, thank you for teaching me to watch movies differently and for making me understand the importance of a film’s form. Watching all of the LGBTQ+ films in your class was enlightening. I will watch the movies you recommended to me.

Jared Chen, a senior majoring in history, is a staff photographer.

As a transfer student, I felt out of place the minute I moved into my Newing dorm in fall 2022. I was fresh out of a grueling freshman year that left me in a state of limbo in which I no longer knew what path I wanted to take. I simply knew that getting to Binghamton was the first step. It was the “after” that I wasn’t clear on.

The following spring semester became one of the hardest things I had to endure, and it had me questioning whether Binghamton was the right place for me. I struggled to fit in, had an existential crisis that culminated in dyed red hair, and my grades were nothing to write home about.

While I may have jumped back and forth between psychology and comparative literature (comp lit eventually won), Pipe Dream Arts & Culture was my constant. To be honest, I am still not exactly sure how I found myself attending a Pipe Dream general interest meeting — I just know that I did, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have Sam to thank for that, as I am not sure that I would have stuck around if it hadn’t been for his confidence in my writing.

Pipe Dream has become the safe haven I didn’t know I needed, and it is something that I will be eternally grateful for. It provided me with a sense of direction and purpose that my wayward soul desperately needed. Applying to be an intern was my life raft, and it allowed me to realize that there was a community waiting for me at Binghamton — I just had to find the right words.

I learned so much about myself every production day, and I wouldn’t have been able to become the writer and person I am today without my girls at Arts & Culture. From debating synonyms to deciding when to have movie nights, we were a well-oiled machine, and every challenge we faced was just another lesson to learn.

Like I said, the Union may be a labyrinth, but there is something in there for everyone. Finding my way to the Pipe Dream office is something that I will never regret. To the basement office with no windows, thank you for being my guide these past few years — I will miss you.

To my housemates, both old and new, we finally made it out of that creepy house on Clarke Street! Thank you for the late-night talks, cooking lessons, grocery runs and random downtown adventures we went on. My college experience wouldn’t have been complete without you all.

To my grandmother, aunt and brother, thanks for being my constant cheerleaders. You may not have understood why I majored in comparative literature, but boy, did you support the heck out of me. Thank you for that, and I promise to make you proud.

Mom — thanks for believing in me. Even when I didn’t think you were, you were always in my corner, cheering me on. Thank you for listening to my crazy stories, for buying me all the books that we will inevitably struggle carrying out of my apartment and for the unwavering support you have given me these past 22 years. This degree is for the both of us.

I am ready to say goodbye to Binghamton. I think I have been for a while, but I am struggling to say goodbye to my friends at Pipe Dream, so I will try my best.

Revati, thank you for being my friend and my rock this last year. Our last two semesters here at Bing have been a combination of anxious energy, hundreds of job applications, fangirling over our favorite shows and books and a kinship I will never forget. I will miss our snack runs at the University bookstore and the Food Co-op and our spontaneous adventures that always resulted in us buying something new to decorate the office with. I am so glad we became close this year. I am not sure I know anyone else who could have understood the random jokes, Twitter drama and our general insanity regarding classic literature and pop culture. I know you will accomplish great things, and I can’t wait to see the amazing publisher, editor, writer, journalist and person you will become.

Christina, you are seriously one of the funniest people I have ever met. I am so, so glad that we decided to take another class together this semester, even if we were both in a perpetual state of general disbelief at the sheer amount of reading we had to do each week. Thank you for laughing at my awkward jokes and for being an awesome person. I am proud to call you my friend, and I am so excited to see what you have in store as arts and culture editor next year. You are a force to be reckoned with, and I pity anyone who gets in the way of you and your side quests.

Jaiden and Katelyn, I will always remember the random jokes and stories we shared. You are both destined for greatness, I am sure of it.

Jaiden, you are, hands down, the most stylish and kindest person I know — nothing can beat your kindness. I just know that your ambition will allow you to achieve anything you set your mind to, and that you’ll always be the most fashionable person in every room.

Katelyn, I am in constant awe of all the work that you do. I have never met a person who has been so incredibly productive and busy, but you handled it with grace.

May the Arts & Culture Burger King sign forever shine, and please, for the love of all things journalism, clean the whiteboard next fall.

Emily Maca, a senior majoring in comparative literature, is an arts & culture intern.

When my mother passed, I was quickly ripped out of the childhood I had expected and thrown out into the unknown. Any plans that I had imagined for my life — career, college, marriage, children — became fuzzy. I had imagined all these things, like most young adults do, with my mom as an integral, immovable part of them. With her gone, it felt like the preconceived structure I had idealized for my life suddenly had a gaping hole punched through the center.

When I moved on to high school, it seemed that everyone had an inherent, built-in life plan that, for me, had dissolved while I was wasting away in my room, swallowed by grief. My entire life became blurry — I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think and every day began to smooth into one long, unending moment of grief and indecision. It slowly became easier for me to deal with my lack of control by convincing myself that things just happened to me. I struggled with feeling a connection between the life in my head and the life I was living — while I knew that I could have the potential to live my own life, it felt impossible to me.

Around my junior year of college, I decided that I needed a change. I was desperate to be able to direct some aspect of my life, no matter how insignificant it appeared to be. Ultimately, deciding to be part of Pipe Dream ended up being the exact change I needed. The idea of being able to try something new, something that I was interested in, felt huge to me. Even though I was just a contributor, the small taste of agency I got was the first step in taking control of my life. I finally declared a major and minor, I decided to study abroad (and met a lot of wonderful new people) and I applied to graduate school.

It only helped that I ended up absolutely loving my time at Pipe Dream. I quickly became infatuated with being on the editing side of the stories that people wanted to tell. Whether they were about complex socio-political movements or ranking Spider-Man video games, I couldn’t wait to see what people wrote about every week. Pipe Dream also introduced me to some truly amazing people, helping me feel like I had a tangible place after the majority of my friends went on to different graduate programs. For the first time in my life, I was able to form a community of my own, no matter how small.

I can’t deny that there are just some things you can’t control — the 10-year anniversary of my mom’s passing this March was a poignant reminder of that. But my time at Pipe Dream helped me realize that life is going to keep passing me by, whether I like it or not. I can either let myself get swept up in it, or I can choose to take control of the one life I have and make it into something meaningful.

On to my thank yous!

To Wendy Stewart: Thank you for being such a fantastic mentor over the past few years! You’re the first teacher I’ve had who I felt really cared about the lives of your students and the world we were growing up into. I’m sad to be leaving the Writing Center, but I’m incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful things I’ve learned from you (both academic and just about life) during my time there.

To Leah: Thank you for being such a bright light in my life the past year! I can’t believe our Friday morning breakfast chats are finally coming to an end. Thank you for giving me a lot of extra love when I needed it, both when you knew I did and when you didn’t. I can’t wait to be friends with you for many more years to come!

To Hadley: Thank you for helping me feel like I belonged in the English grad program! I was absolutely terrified of the prospect of grad school, but you made me understand that my spot was deserved. You’re a wonderful person, and I hope we continue to make empty dinner plans long after our time at Binghamton comes to an end.

To my Copy crew — Emma, Sasha, Dylan, Stephanie and Max: Thank you for making me laugh every Wednesday and Sunday night! I feel pretty lucky that we were able to find such a great group of lovely, smart and funny people who, despite barely knowing each other at the start of the term, mesh unbelievably well together. I know you all have incredibly bright futures ahead of you, and I can’t wait to see where you all end up!

To Allison and Lia: Thank you for teaching me everything I know about Copy! If it wasn’t for you two accepting my application, I’d probably be doing something very different with my life. Also, thank you both for being a guiding force to me and Emma long after you left copy — the section wouldn’t be the same without you!

To Emma: You’ve been the best deskmate a girl could ask for! Thank you for being such a lovely person to get to know — it still feels crazy that we weren’t really friends before this year. I can’t even begin to picture not hanging out with you every Wednesday and Sunday night! I’ll miss our gossip sessions and (way too lengthy) debriefs — they were quite literally the highlight of my week. You’re incredibly smart, beautifully kind and endlessly genuine — I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you do (both as managing editor and beyond)! I’ll miss you so much!

To Kiki: Thank you for being my favorite person! You endlessly continue to impress me with your intelligence, your emotional bandwidth, your humor and your strength, especially throughout the past few months. I know you’ll hate this, but you are the best person I know, through and through, and I’m so lucky to be able to call you my best friend. I can’t thank you enough for working line by line through this column with me and being the realistic voice I needed — I don’t know what I would do without you.

To my dad and Suzanne: Thank you for being the ultimate guiding force in my life. No matter how many stupid mistakes I make, you two are always there to pick me back up and convince me that I’m on the right track. Also, extra special thank you to my dad for giving me the extra push I needed for this column — apologies for the last-minute panicked phone call. I can’t thank you both enough for all of the sacrifices you’ve made to ensure that I live a happy and successful life — both the ones that I saw and the ones that I didn’t. In my opinion, you’re the best parents in the world. Love you both lots!

To Mom: This is for you! Hope you like it.

Isabella Tomaselli, a second-year graduate student studying English, is Pipe Dream’s assistant copy desk chief.

I think the people at my desk would be shocked to learn that I’m typically a very quiet and reserved person. My plan going into my last two years of undergrad was to keep to myself. This was my approach when I first began attending productions. I was hesitant to treat interning as anything other than work.

That was until a rapport was established. Jokes were made and stories were shared. Eventually, I began to look forward to production. My relatively short yet formative time at Pipe Dream forced me to recognize that college is supposed to be a lot more than just hundreds of pages of reading a night and staring at a laptop screen until your eyes burn.

It’s about singing the last song at dive bar karaoke and lying in the Quad on a rare sunny day. It’s about making new connections and new memories.

I want to thank the News Desk for being a catalyst for this realization, for showing me that it wasn’t too late to learn and experience something new, for allowing me to gain some confidence and become more open in other areas of my life.

The Friday before spring break, I was driving home on the Palisades Parkway. Some asshole cut me off and, annoyed, I thought about how I’d be making this drive for the final time in May. I was expecting to breathe a sigh of relief, but my heart skipped a beat.

Watching the sunlight shine through the leaves of the newly green trees lining the narrow road, I had to admit to myself that I was actually going to miss Binghamton, a place I had always seen as a means to an end. I was going to miss meetings in the office every Wednesday and Sunday. This thought scared me. I wanted to ignore this feeling, to throw myself into my schoolwork and pick up extra shifts so I wouldn’t need to acknowledge it.

Then, I remembered that there was a time in my life when I felt like a zombie, hollow and frail, just going through the motions. So, I began to sit with this feeling. When I’d walk back to my car late at night after production and the campus was still — the only sounds were the occasional breeze and the chiming of the clock tower. Or when the heavy fog that always seems to loom over Binghamton lifted, and I could actually see the hills and the river.

Of course, Pipe Dream taught me about journalism, how to conduct an interview and how to write a lede, but it also taught me to be in the moment. It’s good to be scared, it’s good to feel your heart skip a beat.

Sarah Lettieri, a senior majoring in English, is a news intern.

I suppose that is why I have struggled to write this. Every time I put pen to paper, it is more of a quiet love letter than something as benign as an article. How do I even begin to express my thoughts on what has been the better part of my identity for the past four years?

As much as I can relive Pipe Dream through photos and inked words, it will never quite compare to the feeling that time stops in that office, and, for a few hours every week, a group of individuals continue to show up and come together to create something special.

The finality of it all is unnervingly scary and I feel compelled to make each word perfect, just as I do with any form of writing, and yet, this somehow feels heavier than anything I’ve ever written.

As much as I try, I cannot put the imaginary pin into the corkboard of my life when determining the moment I realized this is where I wanted to be. Maybe it was when I became an Arts & Culture intern. Maybe it was when I wrote my first event coverage. Maybe it was at the GIM. In the end, it all blurs together in a series of hazy, but beautiful and chaotic memories.

Even now, it’s hard for me to admit, but my progression at Pipe Dream will always serve as a reminder of my own capabilities. It’s easy to constantly doubt myself, and that feeling will never completely subside, but this newspaper taught me to lean into my own judgments and gave me the space to be a leader.

I like to think that I was drawn to Pipe Dream because I wanted to contribute to an entity bigger than myself, and while that is partly true, another selfish part of me knows it’s because I wanted to find a semblance of purpose in college.

In some ways, I did.

This not-so-little newspaper snuck up on me and quickly became a constant in my life. Suddenly, my weeks involved running around covering banquets, performances and local community events. I was busy and as much as I complained, deep down, I loved it.

Don’t get me wrong — there were many, many instances in which I was anxious, stressed, overwhelmed and frustrated. The first two weeks of senior year were the worst of it. My impostor syndrome was at an all-time high, and I constantly questioned myself and my decisions. It took time, but eventually, I found my footing and things became easier. I cannot say it was perfect from then on — far from it — but the responsibilities felt less daunting.

Pipe Dream was a lot, but, if I had to confess, I would do it all over again.

I have gotten to experience a little bit of everything, all while having the privilege to write about it. Journalism was not something I gave much thought to until I joined this small and tucked away corner of the University Union.

Over the years, the feeling of covering events stayed the same — a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Watching it unfold around me and taking in all the details became second nature.

However, going back to my room and piecing it all together to create a memorable and honest story was what I enjoyed the most. I was good at it, and it felt rewarding knowing what I wrote could have a tangible impact.

Despite the many late-night writing sessions curled up in my bed, it was worth it. Seeing my work published online and in print only inspired me to keep writing, because a part of me always knew as I would be crafting and editing article after article, that there would be an endpoint.

Here it is.

My own words innocently stare back at me, as if to solidify this realization.

I knew Pipe Dream was not a path I would traverse forever, but as I allowed myself to get deeper into this world of journalism and spend more and more time at the Arts Desk, it became harder for me to accept. This newspaper has carved a place in my heart that I didn’t know was possible. I think that’s why, as I carve out these last words of my own, it’s so hard to say goodbye.

Pipe Dream will feel like a phantom limb until one day, the memories turn soft and still. I suppose there’s something bittersweet about that.

To Christina, Jaiden and Katelyn, I know you three will continue to lead Arts & Culture beautifully — I’m lucky enough to have already gotten to see a glimpse of it. I’m so proud of you all, and the dedication you each put into this section is a true reflection of your commitment and care to ensuring it continues to thrive. Christina, I have no doubt you will be a wonderful editor. Keep going on as many side quests as your heart desires. After all, one of them led you here. Jaiden, your energy is absolutely electric, and you made every production night so memorable — I know you will carry that presence tenfold next year. Let me know if you ever retire that laptop, OK? Katelyn, there is no one else I’d rather trudge up to Hillside with than you. Your work ethic continues to amaze me, and you never fail to make me laugh even in the worst of situations. I will always be grateful for the presence you carry both in and out of the office.

To Emily, can you believe we made it? You have made this last year so unbelievably memorable, and I couldn’t have gotten through it without you. I think what they say is true — sometimes, the things you’re searching for are right in front of you all along. From covering CSA’s Carnival together — one of our crown jewel articles, to constantly hanging out at the TC, late nights at your place, crashing out over “9-1-1” and influencing each other to buy snacks at the bookstore, you’ve quickly become one of my closest friends. As much time as we spent at that Arts desk — both separate and together over the past three years — I’m glad we got to finish this out together. I hope you know that I will come bother you endlessly in the city.

To Mira, I love you 4ever. There will never be enough words to describe how much you mean to me. Thank you for always listening to anything Pipe Dream related, even if half the time, you have no clue what I’m talking about.

To my family, thank you for reading *almost* all my articles. Your collective excitement every time I bring home a new stack of newspapers means more to me than you know.

Revati Gelda, a senior majoring in English, is Pipe Dream’s arts & culture editor. She was assistant arts & culture editor from 2023-24. 

“It still hasn’t fully processed for me how my time as a Bearcat will soon be at an end,” Knipes wrote in this article. “Going about these last four years, life at BU just felt like a constant. Yet nothing in life truly lasts forever, and it has been difficult grappling with that reality as I near graduation.”

The current assistant sports editor first took up the pen his freshman year, joining as a contributor for both the News and Arts & Culture sections. In these capacities, Knipes wrote three to four articles on average per week. Knipes’ quick acclimation to newswriting caught the attention of then-News Editor Riccardo Monico, who suggested Knipes join the section as an intern.

“Those first few months living away from home were one of the most difficult periods of my life,” Knipes wrote. “The shift to a new lifestyle at college was far less refreshing, and far more difficult than I could have imagined. During this time, writing served as both escapism, as well as a form of orientation to the Binghamton community.”

After some shifts in leadership that raised Hamza Khan to the head of the News section, Knipes began his second semester for Pipe Dream as a news intern under Khan. There, Knipes was able to immerse himself in the production process under the tutelage of one of the hardest-working editors Pipe Dream had ever seen. Continuing to put his nose to the grindstone, Knipes soon positioned himself to leap from intern to news editor heading into his sophomore year.

Now running the section that he had merely been a contributor for a year prior, Knipes lasered in on building out his section’s talent pool and setting it up for the future. While his personal writing took a backseat to his administrative tasks, Knipes managed to put out the article he deems his magnum opus, “Behind EqualityAlley.”

“I don’t think I have ever been more consumed by a single article than I was during the writing process of ‘Behind EqualityAlley,’” Knipes wrote. “Everything from how I first learned of Oliver Horne’s story, to conducting a near hourlong interview, to taking nearly two weeks to finally produce a finished product. There isn’t a piece of reporting I am prouder of than that one.”

Yet every rose has its thorns, and the stress and demands of the position soon affected other Knipes’ ability to connect to the world and people around him. The true wake-up call came toward the end of his sophomore year, when Knipes fell short in a bid to become editor-in-chief.

After one door closed, however, several windows began to open for Knipes. Knipes began to pour more energy into his work with the Binghamton Policy Project. As blueprint editor, he transformed BPP’s year-end policy publication from a crowdsourced, poorly circulated digital zine to a 1,000-copy, professionally designed print publication. At the same time, Knipes managed to see through a policy that instituted a UNIV 111 class about the local area for first-year students.

“There are few things I am prouder of than the time I have spent at BPP,” Knipes wrote. “I truly do consider my lasting legacy on this campus to be every single edition of the Blueprint that reaches print stands in the years to come.”

Meanwhile, Knipes pivoted to a new role at Pipe Dream — assistant sports editor. Just as he had done two years prior, Knipes went full force into pure content creation to become a lead beat writer for several of BU’s sports. In this role, Knipes covered the first ever America East title for women’s cross country in 2023 and became the first-ever Pipe Dream sports writer to report on a road AE playoff game for men’s basketball in person.

“I wasn’t sure what to make of it when I first accepted the role, but it has been an honor to be a Sports writer,” Knipes wrote. “If you told me two years ago that I would become the lead writer for our men’s basketball team, I wouldn’t have believed it, and now I can’t imagine my college experience without it.”

Most significantly, however, Knipes’ shift away from Pipe Dream led him to a new passion in higher education. Working as a senior tour guide, an orientation advisor and a community assistant, he found a love for connecting college students to their best lives in a way that he wasn’t able to as a freshman. He anticipates a role of resident director in the near future.

Breaking a third-person perspective for a minute, I have some thanks I want to give.

To my parents and grandparents, I want to thank all four of you for constantly supporting me in every way possible for the last 22 years. I love you guys more than I may ever properly express.

To Hunter, Natural Disasters for life. I know that in 40 years we will still be able to rely on each other no matter where we are.

To Erica and Massimo, thank you for making my last semester and a half here the most fun time I have had as a college student. With you two, I feel like I have had some semblance of what a college experience actually is. If I’m not here next year, I’ll miss you two most of all.

To Riccardo, Hamza, Mel and Sam, thank you all for making my most formative years as a college student and as a member of Pipe Dream nostalgic. Mac and Cheese Fest isn’t the same without you, Sam.

To Johnny, good luck with Digital. Thanks for putting up with my late articles.

To Gabe, good luck with Sports — you got this.

Lastly, to our readers. You may not know who I am, but you have likely read at least one of my articles at some point during the last four years. Thank you for giving me your time — I hope I made it enjoyable.

In case I don’t see ya — good afternoon, good evening and good night.

Jacob Knipes, a senior majoring in political science, is an assistant sports editor. He was Pipe Dream’s news editor from 2022-23. 

At the end of February 2023, standing outside the bus stop near the Black Bears stadium, Hamza, my predecessor, asked me if I considered running for editor-in-chief. I had not — not for one second — because I was terrified of all the bad things that could come from the responsibility. What if I was not capable of making the necessary edits? What if I made a wrong call and disappointed people on the team? What if I published a horrible mistake and had to answer for it?

But I could not get that question out of my mind. It was an amazing opportunity, and someone who had succeeded in the role saw something in me. So, after a lot of thought, and a lot of deliberation with my dad, I said yes. Because at the end of the day, how likely is it that all my worst fears would come true?

A month into the role, I was threatened with a lawsuit, and that was a tame part of the year. All the bad that made me hesitant to say yes happened.

I received vitriolic hate in my social media DMs and comments weekly, and was terrified to look at my phone, fearing another personal attack or crisis to solve. I knew I could make a wrong call at any moment, and I made plenty. When I made the right ones, someone was still angry. My one-year term took more emotional energy than I had. I had neither comfort nor relaxation, and wrote a lot of editor’s notes.

And yet, my yes to editor-in-chief did not just give me the hard moments. It gave me lifelong friendships, memories I will cherish and stories of adventures I’m proud to tell.

My yes led to bursting into songs from “The Lorax” at 3 p.m. in the office because we got the smoothies we were craving all week. It led to emotional support Applebee’s and the greatest group chat name known to man. It opened the door to touring around Vestal Parkway, stopping at every store that offered a birthday freebie and getting Taco Bell after cycling, just because our instructor mentioned how unhealthy it is.

Without becoming editor-in-chief, I would not have enjoyed skateboarding around campus at all hours of the day and getting yelled at via email by our TA for riding without helmets. I wouldn’t have had the greatest Friendsgiving dinner ever or reconnected with a friend and Little Pecks cafe. My living room gossip sessions while making butternut squash pasta with the best friends I could ask for would never have been possible. Without that yes, and more yes’s to follow, I would not have met someone who has made me more happy than I can believe — and addicted to mac and cheese.

The stories I will tell about my time with Pipe Dream are not always going to be the happy and fun memories. But if I hadn’t said yes and gone through the worst, I wouldn’t have gone through the best.

For my final note as an editor, I encourage you to say yes to the things that feel uncomfortable and scary — not because it will be easier than you think, but because the stories that will come from it can be invaluable.

Brandon, we joke we call each other more than we call our own families but honestly it’s true. I could not have done anything without your bravery, brilliance, support and friendship. Thank you for everything.

Bella, what a year we had! I would not have gotten through it without you, and neither could Pipe Dream. You were the best managing editor and friend I could ask for.

To the 2023-24 staff, thank you for trusting me as a leader, staying in the office with me during all hours and working immensely hard in an immensely hard year. To the 2024-25 staff, thank you for still trusting me, continuing the intense commitment to this paper and making it a joy at every step.

Hamza, Ciara and Sasha, thank you for answering all the panicked texts and helping whenever needed. Your support, advice and faith in me got me through it all.

To all my Copy girls, I don’t have a favorite section, but Copy is my favorite. Alexis and Jenna — thank you for seeing something in me and starting my Pipe Dream journey. I still work to live up to your legacy.

Kate, Hudson and Allison — I’m so grateful Pipe Dream opened the door for our forever friendships. Thank you for sitting with me in the hard moments and dancing through the best ones.

To my friends outside of Pipe Dream — thank you for the love and support throughout these past few years. Whether it was late-night C4 runs, never-ending Olive Garden or just being okay with my “I’m so sorry! I have to cancel, Pipe Dream emergency” texts, I wouldn’t have gotten through Bing (and enjoyed it so much) without you.

To my family — Mom, thank you for always answering the phone, whether it’s 3 p.m. or 3 a.m. Esther, thank you for reminding me it will pass, both the bad and good. Dad, thank you for always having more faith in me than I do myself, and being right like 62 percent of the time.

To the future leaders who said yes — Emma, I knew you were capable of so much that first GIM. I pass the torch on to you, and I know you will be great. Grace, you are going to soar in this position, and I’m so excited to see all you do. When in doubt, look at the sticky notes!

Lia Richter, a senior double-majoring in history and economics, is Pipe Dream’s managing editor. She was editor-in-chief from 2023-24.

One thing Binghamton has taught me is that when you have the chance to try something new, you should do it. And if you’re nervous, do it anyway.

Freshman year, the night before my first day of classes, I went all around campus and found each building and classroom on my schedule so I wouldn’t be panicking the next morning. Afterward, I walked back into the main entrance of my dorm building and heard the sounds of people playing Uno in one of the lounges. So I stuck my head in and slipped right into the game. Long story short, most of the people I met that night became my roommates and best friends for the rest of my time at Binghamton.

And that’s my advice for you incoming freshmen, or anyone really. Get outside your comfort zone. Break some rules if you have to. Intrude on a game of Uno. One of the best decisions I made at Pipe Dream was breaking a rule, and boy was she worth it.

Speaking of, I joined Pipe Dream during the spring semester of my sophomore year. Then-video editor Asher came to speak at one of my cinema classes, telling us all about the newly revamped video team. I joined and jumped right into making videos. Asher stuck with me even though it took about four or five tries before I made something publishable. From there, I kept moving forward and was fortunate enough to become the video editor for the 2023-24 year. Our small but mighty team of Ben, Joanna, Mirella and myself was able to put together a slate of videos and content that I was immensely proud to be a part of, not the least of which was an inside look at an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and its drivers, one of whom used be my RA.

Eventually, I also branched out into other sections, getting to try my hand at Restaurant Week coverage, the world of Binghamton basketball and had a four-hour-long journalistic adventure on late-night OCCT buses with our current editor-in-chief, Brandon. But these experiences would mean nothing if not for the people who have been there for all of them. I’ve had the pleasure of forming relationships with many Pipe Dreamers that will far outlast our tenure in the Union basement.

For everyone in Pipe Dream, thank you. You all made this windowless office a place I was proud and excited to work in and be a part of.

For Brandon, Lia and Bella, thank you for your leadership over the last two years. I know there were a lot of times when the job wasn’t easy, but you handled every obstacle with poise and grace, and we’re all better off as a team because of the sacrifices you guys made along the way.

For Asher, thanks for recruiting me. I found my doorway into Pipe Dream because you opened it. Without you, I would’ve missed out on a lot of great people and memories, and without your guidance, I would be a much less skilled videographer.

For Danny, Manny, Daisy, Kayla, Nate and Roshely, thank you for being the best roommates and friends I could ask for. I wouldn’t trade the dinners at App, the handball, poker, drunk video games and Uno for anything.

For Ben and Jo, thank you both for being right there making movies next to me. You guys made the tragedy of the “Witching Hour” incident bearable, and some of my favorite moments during my Binghamton Cinema experience have been acting in your projects.

For Caspar and Jacob, thank you for being my deskmates for the past two years. You guys always reminded me to have fun doing what we do, and I’ll miss sharing cameras with the both of you.

For Monte, thank you for helping me channel my passion for filmmaking and screenwriting. From smashing vinyl records in half to listening to podcasts about lobsters, your classes were always a surprise, and I loved every second of it.

For Professor Kleinberg, I’m gonna miss the pre-class football discussions. Thank you for teaching me to keep asking questions (unless I haven’t done the reading) and what tariffs are. Especially that one. Your teaching has changed the way I view the world and the politics within.

For Ryan, Tess, Mom and Dad. Words can’t express how thankful I am, but I’ll try anyway. Thank you for the 6 a.m. hockey practices, for letting me watch movies I was far too young for and for making sure that I’ve never been the only person who believed in me.

And for Binghamton. I am gonna miss this wintery, anxiety-inducing, expensive, awesome place.

Christopher Carrara, a senior double-majoring in cinema and political science, is Pipe Dream’s assistant video editor. He was video editor from 2023-24. 

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

There was much uncertainty but one thing I did know for certain was my passion for videography, photography and journalism was only beginning to blossom. Words don’t do justice when describing some of the amazing memories I’ve made during my time at BU. The friends I’ve made in my classes and the colleagues I’ve worked with at ESPN were second to none. But most of all, the best memories happened right here at home in the Pipe Dream office. I am incredibly grateful to have shared this space with such talented, ambitious and like-minded people who are a part of the organization for no other reason than to satisfy their creative endeavors.

I’ve gained immeasurable experience both professionally and personally creating videos for Pipe Dream this last year and a half. Being a part of the team has encouraged me to bring the very best version of myself to the table, something I’ve longed for quite some time now. Whether it be filming sporting events, conducting interviews with organizations or attending fashion shows, working in the video department has granted me a long list of invaluable experiences that I’ll never forget.

This never could have been possible without the friends I’ve made along the way.

To Chris and Jo — you guys have always been there for me and I can’t thank you enough. Looking back to the first classes we took as well as the projects we worked on and fast-forwarding to what we’ve been able to accomplish this semester is remarkable. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with the both of you. I am excited to see all of the amazing things you do in the future.

To Caspar and Jacob — thank you both for all of the laughs, advice and great times spent in the office. Working alongside you guys has been inspirational and an amazing learning experience. You guys know your cameras like the back of your hand and I’m still jealous. I wish nothing but the best for you as you continue to pursue your creative endeavors in and out of the office.

To Manny and Danny — these past few semesters have been a blast getting to know you and having the chance to watch all of the amazing things you’ve accomplished. I can always count on you guys for a laugh no matter the occasion and am fortunate to have made such great memories. Best of luck to the both of you.

Ben Golden is a senior majoring in cinematography and film/video production and is Pipe Dream’s assistant video editor. 

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

My junior year as design manager on Pipe Dream was probably the most difficult hurdle I had faced in my academic career, but I ended the year proud of myself and my design staff for successfully bringing back print and all the cool graphics we created. This year as managing editor, however, has been incredibly emotionally draining between covering contentious campus events, receiving threats and hateful messages in my inbox and witnessing vitriolic back and forths in our comments every time I refresh Instagram. This year made me doubt my passion for journalism.

I hope that in the months after graduation, I will ease up once I am able to go on social media and check my email without expecting a new hateful message. But it has been difficult to pretend that these constant attacks don’t slowly eat at you.

What has helped me keep my composure during these challenges has been finding solace within my artwork.

While juggling my time at Pipe Dream with my academics, I was finally able to accept in these past couple years that I want to pursue art for the rest of my life and that it is OK to want that. I enrolled at Binghamton University after deciding not to attend the various art schools I had applied to in high school, fearing that I would never find a job. To everyone’s surprise, I decided to study chemistry and leave art behind to improve my chances of getting a job after college.

I didn’t last long as a chem major and bounced around between art history, graphic design, a graphic design BFA, and math, and ultimately, after a rough fall semester junior year, finally choosing just the graphic design BA. I finished most of my credits for the graphic design major by the end of my fall semester that year and decided to explore some other intro and intermediate level art classes for fun. I learned from those classes that if I could go back to freshman year, I would have chosen to be a BFA student, no hesitation.

What I had missed in a lot of my design classes was the physicality of making art. The calm while focusing on a project for hours on end followed by the satisfaction of holding a piece you have labored over in your hands is the most rewarding feeling I have experienced to date. That feeling has assured me that this is my passion and has kept me pushing me forward in my classes despite the intensity of this campus’ news cycle.

This last semester at BU, I am taking a mixed media course, and it has opened my eyes to what I am most passionate about. At the encouragement and support of my professor, I have been able to experiment with printing on textiles, hand stitching, attaching clay to fabric and beading, and although it has taken me months of work, constantly fussing over the tiniest details, I have loved every moment of it.

The professors in our art and design department are the most encouraging people I have ever met — if you have a vision, they will do whatever it takes to help you execute it. Being surrounded by so many driven people, both professors and students, from different artistic disciplines has motivated me to push myself that much harder to create work I am proud of. I am grateful to be leaving Binghamton so happy with what I have learned and inspired to create more and greater works post-grad.

As for my work at Pipe Dream, I am certainly proud of that as well. I know I was able to achieve some great things for this paper and I will miss the wonderful team that Lia and I have built that is now forever trauma-bonded. But I will never miss being threatened or experiencing the disgusting levels of hate that have been hurled at our staff this year, and I hope there will be a time when the staff on Pipe Dream can enjoy the rewarding moments of journalism without having to face such incredible backlash from their campus community.

Now onto the hardest part, my thank you’s and goodbyes.

I first need to thank Harry and Hamza for all the work they did last year that put us in the position to explore so many new opportunities for Pipe Dream, and, of course, for trusting me to restart print. I’ve missed having you guys in the office but have sincerely appreciated all the help you have extended to us during this crazy year.

To Lia and Brandon, you guys so got this. I can’t think of any two more qualified people to lead a paper after all you have handled this year. Thank you for being the best sasha-ing team I could have asked for, and I can’t wait to see where you take Pipe Dream.

To all my friends on Pipe Dream, from both this year and last year, thank you for being there for me through all the ups and downs. I’m going to miss spending time with you all in and out of the office, and am going to cherish all the memories we have made together.

To the greatest professor ever and queen of tough love, Davis, I am going to miss spending my Tuesdays and Thursdays with you in the printmaking room. You have helped me grow so much as an artist and I can’t thank you enough for all you have taught me. I promise I’ll stay in touch!

To my good pal, Mark, thank you for putting up with all my late nights working on posts and for always pausing our movie when I need to answer a call from Lia. You’ve truly made my last year and a half at Binghamton, and I hope you know how grateful I am for you.

Finally, I have to shout out the Binghamton Association of Mixed Students, the best org ever, and all my near and dear “college friends” for being the best community and support system throughout these four years.

Bella Daidone is a senior majoring in graphic design and is Pipe Dream’s Managing Editor. She was Design Manager from 2022-23.

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

When I first moved to Binghamton to start school at Binghamton University, I was constantly homesick. I missed the excitement of the city and my friends and family.

Now, I am deeply attached to Binghamton, so much so that I chose to stay after graduating this past December. I am currently working as an intake specialist at the Broome County Public Defender’s Office, a job that I absolutely love.

While I have learned an incredible amount from my classes, and have been challenged academically through my upper level Philosophy and PPL courses especially, my college experience was really defined by my engagement with student, community, and legal organizations.

I credit my community organizing experience with fostering my attachment to Binghamton. The first community organization I became involved with was Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier (JUST), which I am now the visitation coordinator for. JUST is a local organization that advocates for and visits with people who are incarcerated in the Broome County Jail.

Talking with people in the Broome County Jail showed me the most beautiful and ugly parts of Broome County. I have learned an incredible amount — about community organizing, mutual aid, subversive legal education and radical resistance — from people in the jail. I have also formed lasting friendships. The October before last, I met someone in the jail who is from my neighborhood in NYC and went to my middle school. I have visited him every week since. He is one of the most driven and intelligent people I have ever met, and he inspired me to pursue a career in law.

On the other hand, talking with people in the Broome County Jail has made me extremely aware of issues that plague Broome County and fuel its incredibly high incarceration rate — substance use, poverty and the lack of affordable housing and mental health treatment, among other factors.

Now, I am in the Broome County Jail almost every day conducting client intakes for my work with the Public Defender’s (PD) Office. I have become extremely familiar with Broome County’s criminal legal landscape and actors, and see it as a microcosm of many issues plaguing the United States’ criminal legal system. At the PD’s office, I have formed wonderful friendships with coworkers and I am constantly inspired by the dedication that our office’s attorneys have to advocating for their clients. My favorite part of my job is interacting with and learning from clients every day.

What living, working and learning in Binghamton has taught me most is the value of community and the different ways in which you can find it. I still love New York City — the pace, the excitement, the never-ending array of social, intellectual and cultural opportunities. But there is also such value in the smaller, slower-paced character of Binghamton.

Being a part of student organizations, including the wonderful Pipe Dream, has taught me to understand my positionality as a student in a community where many are locals. I have learned how to use the resources and privilege that I had as a university student, and now have as a former university student, to support local movements and shed light on pressing issues, always centering the voices and ideas of those who are directly impacted.

All of these experiences have made me feel like I have a meaningful role in the community here. I feel connected to people who are interested in the same work that I am, and I have gotten to know a network of powerful community organizations and activists. I have been lucky to participate in meaningful, and sometimes successful, advocacy efforts through these connections.

In addition to my love for Binghamton University, the community organizing network here, and my job, I love where I live.

I live in a yellow house North of Main Street on the west side of Binghamton. My neighborhood has character, and it reminds me of the city — people always blast music out of their cars, and when it’s nice, my neighbors hang out on their stoops and play basketball outside. Some of my best friends live in a big house right around the corner where lots of our friends hang out. There are constantly parties, concerts and pop-ups. Even routine things like cooking dinner or doing work become events, and I often joke that it’s a commune.

There are only a handful of bars, restaurants, and event forums in the Downtown area, but every time I go to one of them, I run into people I know. Living here has taught me that you do not need a million options of things to do to be entertained and satisfied – if you have good people around you, you can find joy in any activity.

Thinking about my experience in Binghamton makes me feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I have had the most incredible learning and growing experience of my life so far over the past four years. I am immensely thankful to everyone who has given me love and support, and I am excited for what is to come.

Doris Turkel was Pipe Dream’s Opinions Editor from 2022 to 2023. 

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

It felt as if people made an effort to educate themselves and recognize their own privilege following the political roars of 2020. However, after about two years, many of my peers that I initially deemed considerate dropped their morals as if they got tired of putting on an act. This is not only applicable to those with white privilege but rather all who praise a bulk of mainly Westernized standards — for example, the resurface of fatphobic language, the chronic branding of the underprivileged as drug addicts between social media posts of cocaine-filled weekends, slander toward Asians and stereotypical jokes, the broadening honor toward crowds of rape apologists, the disappearance of sensitivity toward mental illness and blatant homophobia. These are all notions I have witnessed or personally experienced, gaining a gross amount of popularity as graduation inches closer.

The Eurocentric lack of consideration in many of my peers forced me to value the truly educated crowd more greatly. University was a toxic environment, but those who remained aware of social hierarchy and fought against it gained my respect immediately. I realized toward the end of my time in Binghamton that incoming students are still kids — kids getting cheated on, kids getting drugged, kids getting abused. But, as we have grown into adults, I had hoped there would be a shift in the student mindset to recognize that we should learn from such incidents and acknowledge that some of these seemingly inevitable instances shouldn’t be normalized — and make an effort to protect those more prone to them or other forms of hatred. I called myself eternally lucky to share the same values as many of my friends, but I still lacked a figure in the academic world.

Someone I found myself able to converse with, on topics ranging from my failed relationships to my friends who are homeless to my thoughts on global division and back to my failed bonds, was my professor and writing mentor Joe Weil. Not only did Professor Weil fuel my fortunate discovery of poetics, but he is a sort of father figure to me in the midst of an irksome college scene. After writing a chapbook under his guidance as an independent project, I got to know my past professor more sincerely — I was honored to pick the brain of an American poet and individual with countless life stories to tell. I felt as if Professor Weil was the only member of BU’s staff that had awareness. He is someone I trust to share my hardships with, read my personal writing samples to and talk to about the blinding privilege that this college bears without fear that I would be judged or shut down. I was so lucky to work with someone that wasn’t going to tell me I couldn’t have an opinion even if it differed from his, and someone whose achievements are so honorable to me. Additionally, Professor Weil had helped me through a troubling gap semester with the occasional reminder that his class would be there waiting for me when I returned, proving that he cares for his students both in and out of the classroom. For that, I was even more fond of his respect toward others, especially those in less authoritative positions.

I think that everyone should have a Joe Weil in their life. I always felt like BU owed me my life back, but I owe Professor Weil a thousand of mine. For this reason, I changed the way I view my college experience and our lives overlapping has diminished my regret in attending BU.

Alexis Fischer is a senior double-majoring in English and environmental studies.

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

“What’s your email?” I asked.

“What?”

“What’s your email?”

“WHAT?”

I stared at him impatiently as he said, “It’s not my fault you talk like a mouse.”

Growing up, my family used to call me “Wemberly Worried,” which is ironically pertinent considering the name comes from a children’s book about a worried mouse. Much like Wemberly, I was a very worried child. I worried about the whereabouts of my parents, whether someone disliked me, saying the wrong thing — you name it, I feared it. So, no, that was certainly not the first time I’d been compared to the small, timid creature — it’s an affinity I know all too well.

My solution was plain and simple — just don’t speak. I couldn’t say the wrong thing if I never spoke, so with that, I became a pretty quiet kid for most of my life.

I joined Pipe Dream my sophomore year of college because I had found solace in the stillness of writing. Disguising my fear under the headlines of productivity seemed like a plausible way to justify not speaking.

Boy, was I humbled.

My first ever event coverage was a Binghamton Night Live comedy special, and I vividly remember Sam, the arts & culture editor at the time, instructing me to seek out multiple strangers to conduct interviews with after the show. I had spent months comfortably masquerading as a journalist writing listicles and reviews, so veering from my original plan of lying low was unnerving, to say the least.

The show ended at 9 p.m., but I didn’t leave until around 12 a.m. What was supposed to be a few brief interviews turned into three hours of genuine conversation on the floor of a prop closet. I found myself exchanging curiosity for latent, inspiring narratives with three people who were mere strangers to me just hours earlier. The anonymous and unconditional nature of it all nullified any motives behind our discussion other than sincere interest. It was scary and unfamiliar, yet unapologetically loud, and I’ve found myself probing that same path ever since.

Wednesdays and Sundays would become the days I looked forward to the most. Production is where I got to spend hours with people who doubled as soundboards for my unsaid thoughts and ideas. Whether navigating cultural coverages, challenging each other to overdramatic games of darts or breaking down in the editorial room, the conversations I’ve had with my staff-turned-family are ones I’ll hold on to forever.

From contributor to intern to arts & culture assistant editor, my time at Pipe Dream has shown me that I could do both. How to swing the pendulum between constructive silence and outspoken conversation. When to unequivocally listen and when to speak up. The decibels of journalism soon became second nature to me, and now I’m pursuing a narrative where I’m not only willing but eager to talk to writers, editors, strangers and friends alike — I’ve had lots of catching up to do.

So, thank you, Pipe Dream, for telling me what I needed to hear and listening to me when I needed it the most. It may not have been the reason I joined, but this paper has amplified the voice I never knew I always had — mouse and all.

Sam, I was a nervous wreck joining Pipe Dream. Thank you for creating a space where I felt comfortable returning each week and for always having faith in my potential. Your hard work and encouragement, and dry sarcasm, are qualities I tried to emulate this year on staff. I promise I gave it my quarter all (:

Revati, I couldn’t have asked for a better co-assistant. Thank you for making Monday writers meetings all that they were and for putting up with me even when I drove you home and forgot to drop you off. Arts & culture is in great hands next year. I can’t wait to see all the incredible things you do with it.

Alexis, I will never not be in awe of you. Your strength as a leader and as a writer is unmatched, and our section wouldn’t be nearly all that it is without you. You’ve made me a better journalist and friend, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you by my side next year, too.

Bella, you’re a force to be reckoned with. Your devotion to the paper never went unnoticed, and I can only hope to be half the badass you are. I’m going to miss walking into the office and you being the first face I see — your presence is enough to set the bar exceptionally high each day.

Lia, my long-lost twin, I owe you my all. On my first day of staff, you complimented my article having not even known my name. You didn’t see something in me, you saw it in my writing, and I can’t even begin to tell you the impact that has had on me. Since then, I’ve had the privilege to watch you grow as a leader and the honor to call you one of my best friends. Promise me you’ll keep dancing through life — it’s a lot more fun that way.

To my mom, dad and real-life-twin, thank you for your unwavering support and the sleepless nights spent finding the right words for me to use. Unfortunately, this time there are simply no words that will ever do my appreciation for you justice, so in lieu of that, just know how grateful I am.

And to my Pipe Dream rocks, you’ve made my senior year so special. I thought I had it all going into my last year of college, but here I am graduating with a community that I didn’t know existed and now can’t ever live without — thank you endlessly for that.

Hudson Burrows is a senior majoring in psychology and is Pipe Dream’s assistant arts & culture editor. 

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

I got my start as a freshman in Pipe Dream, editing for copy over Zoom. When Ciara, the editor-in-chief, selected me as copy desk chief, she showed me the Pipe Dream office for the first time since COVID-19. It looked like a ghost of the pre-pandemic era. I remember seeing the mahogany-colored desks and the green signs hanging from the ceiling and the still-dirty mugs leftover from when the whole world stopped. I remember seeing my future desk and wondering what my future at this paper would hold.

During my time in copy, I met some of the most amazing people — Jenna, Allison and Lia, who would go on to become an absolute powerhouse of an editor-in-chief this past year. Of course, I learned other things too. Running a section gave me leadership and organizational skills that I wholeheartedly believe gave me a leg up in all my subsequent employment endeavors.

At the end of my sophomore year, I stepped back from my leadership role in copy and decided to join arts & culture — a section I’d always admired yet didn’t have time to join while still in copy. During my junior year, I loved writing for arts & culture where I met Sam, Jamie and Eli — the coolest people at BU, and to whom I am eternally grateful.

When Sam, Eli and Jamie offered me the position of arts & culture editor, I couldn’t wait to get back in the office for lively production nights. Arts & culture this year has been everything I’ve hoped for and more. Working alongside Revati and Hudson has truly humbled me with their astounding leadership, writing skills and passion for this paper, and I’m so proud of all our hard work during our time at arts.

When I came to college, I was certain that a quintessential BU experience would include bitterly cold winters, milkshakes at Chenango Champlain Collegiate Center and trips to Boscov’s. I didn’t expect that I would grow so much. I didn’t expect I would learn how to foster healthy relationships, how to feel proud of pursuing a career in education, how to speak a little Mandarin, how to feel comfortable with my decisions and my own identity. I didn’t expect to find two distinctly beautiful communities with arts and copy, and I’m very grateful for all the friends I’ve made at Pipe Dream and BU.

To Revati and Hudson — you two are the best arts & culture team I ever could have asked for. I knew from our first few productions, with our New York Times Connections competitions and our “what cookie would you be” personality evaluations, that we would be a close friend group and a great team. You’re some of the smartest people and greatest writers I’ve ever met — I never could have done this without you. Revati, I know that you will do amazing things as arts editor next year, and I’m so excited to see what you achieve with Jaiden and Christina.

To Sam, Eli and Jamie — I want to thank you all for serving as great mentors, for believing in me and trusting me with the arts & culture section. You truly upheld what makes arts & culture so special. For that I am forever grateful.

To Lia — Your work as editor-in-chief is truly admirable, and I’m always in awe of your leadership and tenacity. During our time at Pipe Dream, we’ve become such great friends that sometimes it’s hard to remember that once, you were my contributor. I will always remember when Jenna and I were deciding who would become copy desk chief and we said without a doubt, “It’s going to be Lia.” I’ve been so grateful to work under your leadership these past two semesters, and I know that you and Brandon will do amazing things as managing editor and editor-in-chief next year.

To Allison — You’ve done great things with copy this year, and I trust that you’ll be amazing as digital editor next year. I wish you all the best in grad school.

To Jenna — Thank you for your enduring friendship, for being the only one deserving of the “Source???” award and the best assistant copy desk chief. I’ll always remember the great times we had laughing over typos and staring at Pipeline late into the night and all the memories we made together thereafter.

To Ciara — Thank you for believing in me. I look fondly upon our times editing late into the night and our chats while driving back to Mountainview. I truly got my start at Pipe Dream under your guidance, friendship and leadership, and that means the world to me.

Alexis Yang is a senior majoring in English and is Pipe Dream’s arts & culture editor. She was copy desk chief from 2021-22.

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

When I came to BU, I really wasn’t expecting much. In fact, I was one of those students who was planning on transferring to Cornell as soon as the clock struck midnight on my freshman year. Binghamton can be a cold and unforgiving place, especially at any time of the year except for the first week of the fall semester and the last week of the spring semester. But, there’s a reason I stayed here, and there’s a reason I love coming back every time I go home for a break. The people in this place are the most beautiful and intelligent people I’ve ever met, and I want to write them a letter expressing my gratitude for letting me into their lives.

Firstly, my experience here at BU began when I joined the political science learning community in Seneca Residence Hall. The people who lived on the fourth and fifth floors of that residence hall are some of the closest people to me. My current roommates, and many people in my BU family, are those whom I met the first few nervous weeks here at BU. I remember first walking my class schedule with Jack, my roommate freshman year, and not knowing anything about this University except for Baxter the Bearcat. Soon we’ll be walking across the stage together. I remember the snowball fights we had in College-in-the-Woods when the weather got cold, and I remember each ridiculous moment spent being crazy in the study lounge at three in the morning, doing anything but studying.

My BU family expanded when I transitioned from a columnist to an intern here at Pipe Dream. My former fellow intern Julie — who is going to be the best opinions editor Pipe Dream has ever had — has worked with me for nearly two years on editing crazy content and making the most of stressful times. To Julie, your caring and versatile nature will not only make you a strong opinions editor, but it will also help you make a much larger impact on the world than I, or anyone in the office, could ever make.

To the entire staff of Pipe Dream, know that the hard times we’ve experienced have made us all both stronger professionally and personally. Over the past year, Pipe Dream has been a lot like a ship out at sea, with a pretty shitty storm threatening to sink us at each moment. Each one of you has not only helped us stay afloat, but also helped us flourish. While the times are only going to get tougher after the warm months of summer, your bonds with each other will continue to make each former staff member immensely proud. I am proud of everyone that I have worked with, and I am equally proud of everyone I didn’t get a chance to work with. It takes all of us to make this giant machine run.

To Lia and Bella, the greatest captains that all of us can ask for, I know that both of you will enjoy a fulfilling life not in journalism, as will I. But I want you to know how immensely proud I am to have worked with you over the past semester. It is in times like these that you find out what people are really made of, and you both are two of the strongest people that I know. Chaotic and ridiculous memories are those that are emboldened in our brains for the longest time, and I know that we’ve made enough for more than just one year in only the past few months.

I want to start the end of my 36th, and last, column by saying that Pipe Dream has given me more gifts over the past years than any organization I’ve been a part of. It is not only just a prominent organization on campus, but is integral to the heart of the University that I have come to love. I will always look back on these times with a smile on my face, and admittedly some tears of joy as well. Pipe Dream has gifted me with so many people that have made my time at BU infinitely better than if I was just trudging from class to class. I am even grateful for the times where we have reached the bottom of the bottomless pit during the last semester, since that’s where I met someone I’m proud to love, who’s also much better at this whole newspaper thing than I am.

To those who have read all our opinions over the past years, keep reading — the opinions will continue to make a mark, and even a difference, in our beautiful community.

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

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

When I transferred to Binghamton in the fall of 2022, I was worried that I would never find this sort of place — that it existed only within the confines of my home in Delmar. Pipe Dream, however, proved me wrong.

Unbeknownst to many, I was initially rejected from Pipe Dream. The copy desk was looking for underclassmen, and my status as a junior transfer didn’t fit the bill. I thought that was the beginning, and end, of my involvement in Pipe Dream. However, a week later, I was informed that a position opened up and it was mine if I wanted it. Clearly, I said yes. At the time, I was unaware that my involvement in this organization would become the most formative part of my time at Binghamton.

I will not bore you with a complete recounting of my first few months at Binghamton, but I will say that it was not easy. During this time, I grew incredibly familiar with the walls of my Hillside dorm room. It is here that I fell apart, and pieced myself together again. It was also during this time that I grew to appreciate my involvement in Pipe Dream.

While the Pipe Dream office is not adorned with candles, it has served the same purpose as the oak dining table 200 miles away. In this office, my perspectives have widened and my knowledge has grown. It is here that I have found a community. It is these people that fill the metaphorical hitchcock dining chairs, at my metaphorical oak table. These connections are what I am most proud of when I reflect on my time at Binghamton. The opportunity to connect with, and work with, everyone in this office has been the greatest blessing. It is safe to say that I no longer measure time by candles, I measure it by productions.

I am soon to return home, to the table that inspired this column, but I must first thank those that have filled my table here.

Lia, I owe my involvement in Pipe Dream to you. To see you lead, first as the head of copy and now as editor-in-chief has been inspiring. Your perseverance and grace are admirable. To think I have known you for seven years boggles my mind and I am utmost grateful that we have grown closer through this organization. I am confident that you will continue to succeed as managing editor next year. After all, you are an Emma girl.

Bella, I wish I had known you sooner. I am grateful for your leadership within the office, and friendship outside of it. You have embodied what it means to be a leader and a friend. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed, and this organization is better off for it.

To the copy desk, thank you for giving me a chance. This section was the true beginning of my involvement in Pipe Dream and I cannot imagine a better group of people to have worked with. Allison and Emma, I will miss you dearly but am certain of your success in your new positions.

Jill and incoming digital team, it has been a pleasure to work with you and build this section. Jill, I could not have asked for a better leader. I am confident in this team’s abilities and cannot wait to see how this section grows.

To the rest of my Pipe Dream pals, this experience would not be complete without you. I wish I had the word count to thank you individually, but alas, Sean has imposed a cruel 1000-word count on me. I looked forward to every Wednesday and Sunday, knowing that I would be walking into an office full of your faces. You have cultivated an accepting, inspiring, environment and you should all be proud of yourselves. Thank you for being a helping hand, a listening ear and accepting me as I am.

To my family, you are my lighthouse. In the roughest of times, I look to you for guidance. I cannot fully express my gratitude for your support, encouragement and empathy. You have shaped me into the person I am today. I owe everything to you.

And finally, to those of you who no longer sit at my table — thank you. I have learned that not everyone sticks around, and that is okay. To those of you that I have crossed paths with, who may no longer sit beside me, I am immensely grateful to you. You have profoundly impacted my life and you will always have a seat at my table.

Kate McDermott is a senior majoring in English and is Pipe Dream’s Assistant Digital Editor.

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

This is something that admittedly took me a while to do. I think it might have started with the advent of COVID-19. I used to go on walks all the time. Just to clear my head, and to maybe hopefully get some human interaction that wasn’t my family. I felt so awkward walking by strangers and not saying anything. I starved for any kind of interaction, I just started to say “hello” or “how are ya?” to random strangers. And it felt great. I carried this over to my college career, since I would soon be an incoming freshman at the time.

Yeesh, when I think about that first semester of college, I feel so mixed. On one hand, it was spring 2021, so the pandemic rules were still strictly enforced. I still snuck into my friends’ dorms, sue me. It sucked, because there weren’t a ton of people on campus, and wearing a mask all the time was honestly tough to make connections with people. On the other hand, it wasn’t. I made a friend group within the first week of getting here, and I still hang out with those jerks to this day. How did I meet them? I just put myself out there.

When I think about my college career and reflect on it, I immediately go to the people I love. I’m talking about my friends here. Don’t get me wrong, I do think about the romantic stuff, but those come and go, especially in college. Maybe I focus on the more serious relationships — the relationships where I learned stuff from the other person, but I like to think about my friends. My friends are still in my life too, so that helps. This whole senior column thing is a great excuse to go over all this sappy stuff.

I say sappy as a joke obviously. College taught me so many things. About the world, about myself and about other people. Living on your own is a crazy thing. You can have people over whenever you want, stay up as late as you want, and do whatever the hell you want. I made a ton of friends my first year. Some of them I haven’t seen in a long ass time, but I still remember their faces. Again, that helps when you’re trying to say hi to people. Even if you don’t remember someone’s name, if you remember their face and say hello to them, they’ll most likely be friendly back.

I used to not go out that much. Until I got out of a relationship and I wanted to put myself out there more. I was leaving Tom’s one night, and on the super long line, I ran into three different people who knew me. This one guy came up to me and we caught up, and he was all like “yo dude, you always say hi to me and my friend and I see you in the gym all the time and you can cut the line with us if you want.” I thought it was funny, because I remember seeing this guy all the time sophomore year. Shoutout to Eric.

That small moment honestly made my night. I had a couple other people approach me that night and basically say “hey Nick what’s up.” I’m usually the one to do that. I go up to people raw all the time and try to strike up conversation. It was so refreshing to have that happen to me for once. I know I know, I sound like a dick right now, I’m not trying to be all like “hey look at me, the celebrity.” I’m just saying that when you put yourself out there and have good intentions, that same energy will find its way back to you.

And I’m living that right now. I’m very happy with the friends I’ve made here at Binghamton University. I plan on being friends with them for the rest of my damn life. Some of them live close to my hometown, so I’m lucky in that aspect. That’s my biggest takeaway from the literal years I’ve spent here. The people. Both the good and bad. The friends, the exes (oh boy), the professors I made a good connection with, all of them. On one hand, it’s honestly terrifying to graduate. Making this huge change is going to be so alien and scary to me.

I’ve been at BU for so long seemingly, and to go back home, into the workforce is going to be intimidating as hell. But, I think back to high school, and how I felt the same way about the transition from there to college. I killed it, and I loved it on top of that. Don’t get me wrong, there were some growing pains, and it took me some time to get the hang of things, but once I did, I had the time of my life. So when that time comes to make that transition, I’ll do what got me where I am now. I’ll say hi to everyone. You should too. If you’re scared, say hi to me first. I’ll always say hi back.

Nicolas Scagnelli is a senior majoring in English.

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

Maybe that’s what drew me to Pipe Dream. I liked journalism — sure — but it was also so damn easy. Heading over to a story I had to cover, talking to the people I had to talk to, then walking back to my room to write.

It’s so easy to just sit back and watch. People have their own stories that I was to learn about and tell. Penning my own was harder. And telling those people how much I loved talking to them was out of the question.

When I first started college, I told myself that no matter what, I’d end up as a lawyer. Ironically, I had this big dream of representing refugees and anyone looking for somewhere to call home.

A large part of me still wants that path. But I’ve always been a wanderer, and someone once told me I could be a writer.

So the first week of classes, I found myself sitting in the back of UUWB03 — a space I would eventually live in — and listening as editors explained the meaning behind their publication’s unusual name.

Little did I know I’d spend my senior year desperately trying to fill their shoes, doing my best to give back to this 77-year-old, independent, underappreciated newspaper that plucked my wandering self right out of freshman year and told me I could become something.

As comforting as it was to hide and write, to stay in my little corner of solitude, it didn’t last. My sophomore year someone told me I should be a leader too. At this point, I started to ask questions — that definitely wasn’t me and it quite obviously never would be me. I was perfectly happy right where I was.

But sometimes, people know you better than you know yourself, and as someone stuck in his own corner for that long, I didn’t really know what I was becoming. Halfway through my junior year, I found myself staring back at a team of shy, pensive freshmen, telling them that they too, could be writers.

There’s something strangely beautiful in writing about a world you struggle to feel a part of, in talking to people under the guise of interviews, then spending hours thinking as you slowly craft a story you hope they may care to glance at.

I took pride in it — we all did. But it was much more than just that. I was giving writers a voice, and telling readers things they never knew. It was empowering, and it was special. I was a writer, and yes, I guess I was a leader too.

So my senior year, when I was asked to take up the reins of my little newspaper, I knew I could do it, even with a head full of doubts. I still held journalism at a cautious distance — part of me viewed the oddly comforting world it sucked me into with suspicion — but I owed this place something.

Pipe Dream, for those who don’t know, really is true to its name. In a school without a journalism program, we are an entirely independent paper with no funding or alumni advisor. The people who find their way into our office, and especially the ones that join our staff — many of them really are wanderers.

But dare I say, they are so much more than just writers, and so much more than just editors, photographers, designers and marketers. The staff that mentored me for years before it was their turn to graduate, and the ones that work under me now — they mean more to me than they’ll ever know.

This year, after more than a few sleepless nights, I did my best to give back to one of the few places I’ve ever been able to call home. We started up a sustainable printing model, turned our bank account around, bought new equipment and created new digital projects that hopefully won’t disappear every year.

But most of all, this year I wanted to show everyone what Pipe Dream could be, just as its staff once did for me.

Now, in a pattern I’m all-too-familiar with, it’s once again time for me to leave, to head back into a world I always knew best only as an observer. Only this time, I’ll go armed with the knowledge of what I can be. This time I know that if I choose to step out into uncertainty, there will always be people who embrace me for who I am and remind me of what I should be.

In lieu of the “thank you” I’ll never be able to put into words, this time I really want to say goodbye.

Lia, it’s a tough job, but I can already tell you are going to do amazing. Remember to take a step back once in a while and look at how far you’ve come.

Bella, as you so kindly always remind us, none of this would have been possible without you. I know, and I’m so grateful for that. You will do great things.

To all our staff and contributors — yes, there’s too many of you to name — I love you guys. I know I was a little hard on you at times, and I regret some of that, but I hope you understand why. This place has a long way to go, as do we. Let’s make sure we get there.

Professor Larémont, thank you for your constant support. I wish I could’ve shown you what I was capable of, but hopefully the best is yet to come.

To Pipe Dream and its encouraging editors, it’s been four years since I was drawn into the embrace of your windowless office. Maybe it’s a little odd that a student organization is where I drew my stake in the sand and demanded I make something of myself. Maybe I’m getting sentimental as I prepare to leave it all behind.

But for the first time I can remember, I’m grateful for a chance to say goodbye.

Hamza Khan is a senior majoring in political science and is Pipe Dream’s Editor-in-Chief. He was News Editor in spring 2022 and an assistant news editor from 2020-21.

I’m reluctant to start anything that isn’t easy or quick because I know I’ll abandon it halfway through. I wasn’t in any way a perfectionist, but I’ve been burned by the educational system ever since middle school. I went into college thinking that it’d be just more of the same, something that I had to grind through for the eventual freedom that having a job gives you.

I joined Arts & Culture my second semester after failing the grammar test for both the Copy desk and Asian Outlook. I did not think of myself as an outgoing and easy-going person. I hate explaining the most basic facts about myself, and showing my personal work to others is a degree away from letting them perform brain surgery on me. All of this means I wouldn’t make a good journalistic writer.

And yet, I was good. I was such an amazing journalist that I won the Pulitzer my first — yeah no, I didn’t. But I did show up to events, take notes, ask for interviews and write my articles. Having long, full conversations with people I’d otherwise never cross paths with is more eye-opening than I’d ever imagined. And I only missed two deadlines out of the 30 or so articles I wrote.

Arts & Culture were one of the few constants during my time at Binghamton University. I was proud to see my articles in print. I still have the newspaper cutouts that I’m definitely going to put in a scrapbook one day. Productions became a time that I looked forward to after a stressful week. Technically, it’s work, but it’s low-stakes work that reminds me of reading time, where all you do is kick your friends under the table and talk.

It’s hard to describe what leaving feels like for someone who’s not in touch with their emotions. I’ve done it a lot, but never for something I’ve chosen to attach so much of my life to. I think it’s best to keep it short and move on to the thank you’s.

To Sam: Thanks for being my Pipe Dream stoner buddy. You’re a good and caring leader who always lets us off as soon as possible, and you’re always fun and keep the vibes lighthearted no matter how tired you are. I know you’re going to keep smiling no matter what happens, either because you’re naturally a chill guy or because of the stash you’re hiding from your parents.

To Eli: I thought you were a weird-ass dude when we first met. But now I kind of get your vibe, and I like that you’re just doing your thing without really caring about other people’s lives and their opinions. You’ll continue to have a successful time in college and write listicles until you go to grad school and leave Pipe Dream for the Rolling Stone TV & Movies section.

To Samra, Revati, Hudson and Molly: Thank you for being such dedicated unpaid interns and making our job easier. I enjoyed getting to know you better this year, and I hope that you had a good experience in Arts & Culture and won’t sue me for abusing my powers. (Sue Sam. He’s the one who was at Newbie Night.) Revati, Hudson and Molly, I don’t think our section can be left in better hands.

Thank you, Hamza, for going along with my jokes. Thank you, Alexis, for taking up the torch for Arts & Culture. I always look forward to reading your articles because they’re written like a dream, and you’ll make the best editor. Thank you, Michael, our honorary arts member, and thank you to all my friends from Pipe Dream.

Jamie H Nguyen is a senior majoring in English and an assistant Arts & Culture editor.

My college experience will always be discolored by the COVID-19 pandemic, which abruptly ended my freshman year. In my low points, I still feel bitter — as though I was robbed of my chance at a normal college life. After the fourth or fifth time I heard my professors tout the benefits of Binghamton University’s 4+1 masters program (“The University didn’t want to offer it initially because they were worried about losing money — that’s how good the value is!”) I finally succumbed. I had been denied the four years of college I was owed, and here was my chance to make it up. Of course, my sophomore year, the COVID-19 year, the “missing” year, is when I joined Pipe Dream.

I initially joined because I loved photography and needed an excuse to get out of my dorm. When I saw Sid, the Photo Editor and an acquaintance from high school, promote the Photo department on Instagram for the upcoming general interest meeting (GIM), I jumped on the opportunity. My class schedule was fully online and asynchronous, so I eagerly took any photo assignment Sid offered. As I would later find out once I took over as Photo Editor, that is a rare quality for a contributor to have. My participation earned me the (uncontested) position of Photo intern in my second semester at Pipe Dream, followed by the position of Assistant Photo Editor only a few weeks later when the previous assistant quit, and before I knew it, I was going into my junior year as a Photo Editor and a fully-fledged member of the Pipe Dream Board.

I was adamant when I joined the newspaper that I was not a journalist and that I did not care to be involved in the production side of the paper. I laughed it off when Sid told me I could move on from the Photo department — “You could always be managing editor next year like Ariel.” Maybe he knew what he was talking about.

I wish I could say that I had a change of heart — that Pipe Dream made me fall in love with journalism and quit engineering — but that did not happen. I did not have the quintessential college experience of changing my major three or four times before begrudgingly realizing I had to stick with something. I came into college as an engineering student, and I have not regretted my choice at all. But what I found at Pipe Dream was a sense of community and leadership — something that I could dedicate myself to outside of class. I have loved my time here, and I have learned incredibly important lessons and made valuable friendships.

I am not a good enough writer to be able to convey what this newspaper has meant to me. I staunchly refused to write a single article during my time here — maybe if I had more practice, I would be able to find the words I needed. I could talk about the late nights and being forced out of my comfort zone. I could talk about how I have grown as a person. I could talk about how my work here broke me out of the sheltered Manhattan mentality that Binghamton cannot possibly have anything to offer. I could talk about how frustrating it got when the paper ate up all of my free time in my final semester, while so much else was changing in my life and I was meeting new people and forgetting others. I would not exchange this experience for anything. This paper left its mark on me in so many ways.

In the early 2000s, one of my professors made the discovery that all camera sensors have their own unique “fingerprint.” I have taken more photo assignments than I can count during my time here at the newspaper — way more than I could ever remember — but when I ran a random lacrosse photo through my sensor fingerprint detector and it revealed that it had been taken with my camera, I felt like I had left my own mark that would last forever, even if no one else could see it.

I don’t have the time or the words to say thank you to everyone who made my college experience what it was. I can only hope that I have been able to show them how much they mean to me in other ways. I am incredibly grateful to all the friends I have made at BU — even the people I have lost contact with will continue to have a place in my heart.

That being said, I cannot end this column without mentioning Hamza. The dedication you have to this paper cannot be overstated. Seeing how much time and energy you put into restarting print and basically rebuilding the paper from scratch will continue to inspire me to try harder in everything I do. It has been an honor working alongside you.

Finally, to Bella and Lia, I know that you both are incredibly capable, and I cannot wait to see what direction Pipe Dream goes under your leadership as you take over where Hamza and I left off.

Harry Karpen is a senior majoring in computer engineering and is Pipe Dream’s Managing Editor. He was Photo Editor from 2021-22.

Still, I had two semesters left, and I was determined to do something, anything, to make me feel like my college years weren’t a complete failure. That’s where Pipe Dream comes in. I had joined the paper as an Arts & Culture contributor at the start of my junior year, but to tell you the truth, I didn’t “contribute” much of anything. Over the course of two semesters, I wrote a grand total of two articles and attended about the same number of meetings. So when Pipe Dream sent out an email early in the semester asking for writers to apply as interns, I felt laughably unqualified. Nonetheless, I managed to swallow my apprehension and apply anyway. The rest is history.

It’s still amazing to me how drastically different my Pipe Dream experience was once I became an intern. Suddenly, I was regularly at the heart of a bustling community of writers. Every Sunday, the Arts & Culture team and I got to know each other while we reviewed a fresh batch of exciting articles. I was inspired to write more, gradually raising my measly two-article count to a respectable 17 (if you’re reading this, make that 18). I remember that during my first meeting in the fall, I shocked myself when I volunteered for a feature article about a local mural art project. It was a piece I would’ve never taken on if I had seen it in the Pipe Dream email a year prior. Now that I was an intern, though, I felt obligated to push myself. To this day, it’s one of my favorite pieces I’ve written. At this point in my life, I’ve realized it’s not failure I should fear — it’s stagnancy. Writing the amount I did this year required me to weather a lot of self-doubt, but I’m so grateful I did because I know my skills and voice have strengthened because of it.

Being a part of Pipe Dream didn’t just make me a better writer. It also gifted me with a feeling of belonging that I had been desperately craving since I’d started college — a community I could proudly claim to love and be a part of. When I was a contributor, I never went to any events because I didn’t know anyone well enough and was too shy to change that. But last November, I didn’t hesitate to go to the club’s formal, and it’s one of my best Binghamton memories.

Of course, there’s something bittersweet about blooming so late in the game. Just the other night, I went out with the Arts & Culture team for an end-of-semester outing, and, like I always do with them, I had a great time. But in the midst of sharing anecdotes and laughing over Mexican food and margaritas, I was hit by a heavy sadness, even a little anger. I couldn’t help but think, “Why do I have to be uprooted just as I was starting to grow? Why do I have to be nearing the end just when I feel like I’m beginning?”

Then I thought about the alternative Samra, who never applied as an intern at all, and how she’d be spending this same night. That thought helped free me from my mini-spiral. Undeniably, it stinks to think about all the time I wasted and what could’ve been if I had only become an intern sooner. I can’t say I’m graduating without my share of regrets. But thanks to my time at Pipe Dream, I’m not leaving without some special memories either. For a brief but meaningful span of time, I was a part of something cool and important. Now, some stupid quote of mine is written on the whiteboard by the Arts & Culture desk. A Polaroid of our blurry group photo is tucked in my wallet. There’s a print issue in my room with my words inking its pages. It took me all four years, but I found a way to leave my mark and be changed in turn.

People often tell graduates that this change is the start of a new “chapter” in the story of their lives. In keeping with that metaphor, I’d say I’m jumping into this next storyline the same way I went into many of my articles and the same way I went into writing this column — without a plan and writing it haphazardly as I go along. Then again, at least I’m writing something.

To the Arts & Culture team: You guys made my senior year. Our time together may have come to an end, but I’ll always remember our production meetings with fondness and gratitude. Thank you, Sam, for being such a warm, friendly leader and for putting up with my copious extension requests and never-ending supply of dumb questions. It was a privilege to work under you. Eli, your and Sam’s banter was the highlight of every production meeting, and you’re an awesome person to boot. Pipe Dream will be worse-off without you and your iconic listicles, but I know you’re going to kill it wherever you go. Jamie, not only were you always the best-dressed person in the office (and in any room, let’s be honest), but you were also the one who encouraged me to apply to be an intern. Thank you so much for that and for being such a cool, great person and editor. Revati, being your fellow intern was a joy, and being your friend has been even better. I’m so proud and excited for your future as an assistant editor. Molly and Hudson, I may have only just gotten to know you, but it’s clear to me that you’re both great people and writers. I know the two of you, along with Revati, are going to rock Arts & Culture next year, and I only wish I could be there to witness it.

To my family, Layla and Meconan, I’m the luckiest sibling to be able to walk through life with you. Mom and Dad, every day I love, understand and appreciate you more. Thank you for everything.

Samra Ashe is a senior majoring in English

Accepting that I hated that class and and inadvertently giving up on my dream was the hardest part. I now had to completely switch gears and find another career that called my name, which scared me the most. However, I realized I could change my career path to become a doctor instead, so I declared my major in biology. I have loved science ever since I was a little girl, and I was excited about the possibilities this new change would bring me.

The classes got harder, and the joy of becoming a doctor was sucked out of me completely by my good friend, organic chemistry, whom I had the pleasure of meeting my sophomore year. Organic chemistry was quite literally the death of me. Even with tutoring and applying myself, I still couldn’t muster more than a 60 on an exam. I had the worst imposter syndrome then. I thought to myself, “Well, if I can’t make a benzene ring, what makes me think I’ll be a doctor?” Every failed test I got from that class made me question everything I had done to get here. But every time I had that thought, I heard my mom’s voice saying, “Don’t give up on your dreams.” So I didn’t. And I stuck it out.

In the second semester of my junior year, I ran into yet another difficult biology class. I was showing up to office hours, applying myself and reading my textbook and notes every single night after school. I still couldn’t get more than a 50 on exams, which was a complete shock to me considering all the work I was putting in. I was devastated, burned out and confused. By then, the thought of being a doctor scared me more than it excited me. I was scared shitless to tell my parents because I didn’t want them to see me as a failure.

I went to Florida with my mom for spring break, and I remember telling her how terrified I was that I was going to fail this class. She then asked me, “Are you happy? Is everything okay?” And then everything came out — my grades, how I was feeling about becoming a doctor, the whole nine yards. She comforted me and told me it was okay for me to not be pre-med anymore, which felt like the elephant of impending doom being being lifted off my chest. I sat there in confusion and thought about what career I would be pursuing since I would no longer be a physician. And then I discovered media journalism.

Before my Florida trip, my roommate-turned-best friend, Nicolette, had gotten me to join HerCampus, a small women-centric magazine whose chapter had been shut down on our campus because of COVID-19. I honestly don’t know how she convinced me, because I really hated anything having to do with writing. However, when I wrote my first article, that all changed, as I fell head over heels for what I was doing. I went on to apply for the Marketing and PR Director position for them (which I got), and at the end of the semester, I discovered Pipe Dream was looking to expand its digital team. I lunged at that opportunity. Was I sure where it would take me? No, not at all. But did it make me optimistic about my future? Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes.

And that brings me here. As a Digital Editor, my role is full of changes. From adjusting the social media post schedule to accommodate breaking news to waking up earlier before my classes to update the site, I had to make a lot of changes to my daily routine to make this position work, and it did (I think). I look back and thank my past self for taking a risk and applying. I’m beyond grateful for the people I’ve met and the knowledge I’ve gained through being a digital editor. All because I decided to let go of being pre-med. And that’s okay.

Change is a lot. A lot of unknowns — good, bad or indifferent. Change terrifies me, but to achieve what I want, change needs to happen. Looking back, I have changed so much during my time at BU, and I’m pretty impressed with the outcome. I’m now more inclined to take risks and say yes instead of no. I let go of things that no longer made me happy. All I’m saying is that change is good, and if it starts out not-so-great, don’t be afraid to make another change to try and make your situation better. Because it does get better. It does. Just give it some time, and in the end, you’ll turn out just fine.

Mom and Dad: I don’t ever say this enough, but I am so beyond grateful for both of you. You’ve provided me with so much support and unconditional love throughout my life. Thank you for always being there for me and believing in me when I don’t believe in myself. I’m blessed to have such amazing parents like you. Thanks for teaching me everything I know. I love and appreciate you both so much more than words could ever say.

Risa: My little, my everything — you bring so much light and joy into my life. To say that I’m sad to leave you would be an understatement. The past year with you has been one of the best — we traveled, saw Harry Styles, listened to Taylor Swift’s entire discography and so much more. While I’m sad to be going, I know you’ll take good care of Amanda and the rest of the tree. Mom loves you so freaking much, and I could not have asked for a better little. Have the best time in Prague, and please send me all the pictures!

Surah: My literal day 1 and delulu partner, I’m so lucky to have met you on the first day of freshman year. Since then, we’ve been on the same wavelength 24/7, and no one can match my energy as well as you. I wouldn’t want to be a hater of anyone else. There’s been a lot of change these past four years, but I’m glad that you’ve been a constant in my life in terms of the support and unconditional love you’ve shown me, and I could not be more grateful for our friendship. I will love you til the end of time.

Nicolette: My semi-random roommate success story, my rock, my person, my best friend, my partner in crime — man, I don’t know how I lived so long without you. You’ve stuck with me through my highest highs and lowest lows. You call me out on my shit and keep me safe from all the foods I’m allergic to. You made my college career and life outside of college so much better. Thanks for introducing me to Pipe Dream. I loved reading your articles and watching you blossom over the years, and I’m so proud of you. Please send me all the stuff you write for Cosmo. I am your biggest fan, and I hope you know that. Cheers to more concerts, hockey games and many more spontaneous postgrad adventures together! I love you.

Hamza and Harry: thank you both for welcoming me with open arms and providing me with so much support and patience throughout the year. It’s been an absolute pleasure. Best of luck to Bella, Lia and Jill this upcoming year! I know you guys are going to do amazing things!

Savannah Holmes is a senior double-majoring in biology and French and is Digital Editor.