In collaboration with Binghamton University’s Residential Life and Environmental Health and Safety offices, the talk included a screening of the documentary “After the Fire: A True Story of Heroes & Cowards,” which centered around Llanos and Simons’ recovery and the investigation into the fire. Afterward, the two spoke to the crowd about their experience and general fire safety, before the floor was opened to audience questions.

“What we have done is we’ve turned our tragedy, in a sense, into an educational and inspirational story for young adults, especially who are living on college campuses, just to show them the importance of fire safety and fire prevention from our perspective,” Simons said in an interview with Pipe Dream. “We’re not firefighters, we didn’t go to school to learn this. We were students, and we thought we were invincible, that nothing could happen to us, and unfortunately, the situation did.”

“Now we’re just trying to embrace that tragedy in order to help others,” he continued.

On Jan. 19, 2000, two students, Sean Ryan and Joseph LePore, set fire to a bulletin board in Boland Hall, a freshman dormitory, as a fraternity prank. Because the building did not have a sprinkler system, the fire spread rapidly. Three students passed away — Aaron Karol, Frank Caltabilota and John Giunta — and 56 more were injured.

Llanos and Simons, then 18, were two of the most severely injured students. They awoke at 4:30 a.m. to the fire alarm, which Simons said frequently went off as a result of pranks. Expecting another false alarm, the two tried to leave, only to be met by intense heat and smoke.

The two crawled out of the room and were separated. Simons was able to escape but suffered burns while crawling, as the fire reached about 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. While attempting to leave through a door, Llanos was struck by a fireball and set on fire. Two residential assistants helped put out the fire, and they were evacuated.

Simons was burned on 16 percent of his body, suffering serious injuries to his hands, head and face. Llanos suffered burns on 56 percent of his body. The two were hospitalized and put in medically induced comas, Simons for two weeks and Llanos for three months.

The documentary showcased testimonials from their family members, as well as healthcare workers, police officers and other survivors of the fire. Ryan and LePore pled guilty to third-degree arson and witness tampering and were sentenced to five years at a youth correctional facility.

After the screening, Llanos and Simons gave safety tips to the audience in the event of a residence hall fire. As many students attending were RAs, they showed a list of banned items in dorms and urged students to report any potential fire hazards.

They also warned of the dangers of smoke inhalation, the most common cause of death in a fire.

“I strongly urge every single person in this room today that whenever you all hear a fire alarm go off, we need you all to take it as serious as possible,” Simons said. “Stop what you’re doing, get up and get out as quickly as you can. Don’t sit there and look at your roommate and say, ‘Do you think we should go outside?’”

Llanos and Simons told students that when entering an unfamiliar space, check to see if there are multiple exits. They said that in the event of a fire, many people try to escape through the exit they came in from, but that might not be the quickest or safest way to leave the building.

Along with fire prevention tips, Llanos and Simons shared how their recovery taught them invaluable life lessons.

Llanos said that his recovery was both physical and psychological, as he struggled with his identity after being scarred. After fearing how he would be perceived by those around him, he realized that “before society could accept me, I had to learn to accept myself.”

“I had to learn how to love myself, and we all need to learn how to love ourselves a bit more,” Llanos said. “Our scars, our flaws and imperfections don’t define who we are. Everything in our heart, everything we become defines who we are.”

Attendees then asked Llanos and Simons questions. One attendee asked if they were able to forgive the two arsonists. Both said they did and that letting go of their resentment allowed them greater happiness.

While Llanos said he realized he needed to forgive early on in his recovery, Simons said it took him 10 years and a conversation with his mother to forgive.

“A lot of times we say, ‘Oh, we hate a person, we can’t stand a person,’ and nine times out of 10, that person is off living their life not thinking about you one second of the day,” Simons said. “You’re the only person that’s hurting by holding on to that, and when I was able to truly grasp that and be able to say, ‘You know what, there’s nothing I can do about changing the past. If they don’t want to come forward, if they don’t want to apologize, that’s on them. That’s not on me at any point.’”

“Once I was able to truly grasp that, honestly, my life became a lot more positive because I wasn’t holding on to that negative energy,” he finished.

“The Fate of Ophelia”

Right from the opening, it is clear that this album is in the hands of different producers than her last few albums. It’s reminiscent of Swift’s older content, with influences drawing from “Speak Now” and “Midnights.”

However, much like other songs on the album, such as “Elizabeth Taylor,” this song doesn’t delve deep enough into the intricacies of Ophelia’s fate to be worthy of its Shakespearean title. It does provide callbacks to her with lines like, “Late one night / You dug me out of my grave / And saved my heart from the fate of / Ophelia,” but they lack depth.

“Opalite”

Reminiscent of Swift’s earlier work, the song speaks to the idea of letting go of past relationships and insecurities to move forward in current ones. In the song, Swift sings to a “you,” which fans online have presumed is her current fiancé, Travis Kelce, indicating a tonal shift from Swift’s previous albums, which are associated with breakups and the messiness of relationships. With an upbeat pop sound, “Opalite” can easily be danced to and enjoyed casually.

“Father Figure” 

This track is one of Taylor’s storytelling pieces about a predatory older male who displays manipulative behaviors and language. The song is sung from the perspective of the older male, with one of the lines reading, “This love is pure profit, just step into my office.” The song is largely bright in terms of the instrumentals, which seems to be strategically deceptive given the subject matter.

“Eldest Daughter” 

At its beginning, the fifth song on the album is a letdown in lyricism due to its overly modern references to “trolling and memes,” appearing to be a futile attempt to be in touch with internet culture. Overall, it’s an emotional commentary on social media that falls flat because of its use of cringey internet vernacular.

The serious tone is maintained with a slow tempo, which highlights Swift’s rich voice. At the chorus and bridge, the song picks up and ultimately redeems itself with a powerful, hopeful tune. However, the lyrics seem to have deeper meanings and are written well, until you reach the point where “bad bitch” and “savage” are referenced, which feels outdated.

“Ruin The Friendship” 

This track is a richly toned tale of a friends-to-lovers romance, imbued with the familiar and wistful yearning of Taylor’s earlier works, full of reflective references to her high school days and growing up in the suburbs of Tennessee. It’s a slower, romantic addition that suddenly morphs into a sadder, regretful tune with its sudden twist ending, ultimately advising listeners to take a chance rather than spending their lives wondering what could have been.

“Actually Romantic” 

Sabrina Carpenter’s influence is clear in this fun, revenge tune about a particular person, allegedly Charli xcx, who puts in so much time and effort into hating Swift that she views it as “actually romantic.” Swift reiterated how she finds their obsession and attention quite flattering as she makes fun of this person, claiming that “it’s actually sweet / All the time you’ve spent on me” and “No man has ever loved me like you do.”

“CANCELLED!” 

Track ten leans into a dark, moody style with an eerie edge, very reminiscent of Billie Eilish’s early sound on “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” However, despite its catchy tune, it ultimately falls flat due to Swift’s cringy references to “girlboss[ing] too close to the sun.”

While the song does a good job at pointing out how female celebrities are often held to a higher standard than men, the topic of cancellation comes off as tone-deaf from Swift, a billionaire who has come under fire recently by fans for a lack of political activism.

“The Life of a Showgirl (ft. Sabrina Carpenter)”

The final, titular track is another one rooted in storytelling, following a dancer named Kitty with a musical theatre-inspired bridge and an echoing, spoken outro clipped from Swift closing out a performance on the Eras Tour. With conversational lyrics channeling the disillusionment of fame, glitz and glamour, Carpenter and Swift’s vocals blend cohesively for an on-theme ending to the album.

This album gains traction as it progresses and almost makes up for blunders in its earlier tracks. Swift’s album is a reflection on her life of fame and offers insight into her love life with Kelce, which was not as heavily touched upon in other albums. However, “The Life of a Showgirl” is undoubtedly Taylor’s weakest album lyrically.

Overall rating: 2.5/5 

The Oct. 1 shutdown resulted from disagreements over healthcare funding, with Democratic legislators wanting to extend tax credits provided to low-income Americans through the Affordable Care Act. Republican lawmakers prefer instead to pass a funding bill first and then discuss healthcare negotiations. Democrats were also opposed to the planned Medicaid cuts that passed as part of the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” act in July, which Republicans argue were necessary to reduce federal deficits and cut waste.

Ultimately, with no funding bill or continuing resolution passed, the federal government entered a shutdown.

“The GOP shutdown will have devastating effects on workers, small businesses and families throughout our state,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul last week in a press release. “Washington Republicans need to do their damn jobs, actually stand up for the people they serve, and come to the table to end this shutdown.”

Initiatives like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provide food to low-income families will have their funding paused, with WIC projected to quickly deplete its remaining funds. WIC provides 450,000 infants, children and pregnant mothers in New York with nutrition services and healthy food. (4) The suspension of this program may result in the loss of necessary aid for these people, according to Rep. Josh Riley, who represents New York’s 19th congressional district.

Applicants for federal housing and small business loans could also face delays, while those in rural areas eligible for mortgages through the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be unable to access loans during the shutdown. If the shutdown persists, Riley warned about delays in the development, rehabilitation and refinancing of homes.

Mayor Jared Kraham said that this shutdown has instilled a sense of uneasiness within the local community.

“You have agencies that can’t respond to emails, you have funding requests and grant programs that are going to be slowed down, and it sends a terrible message for our local economy, for confidence in people making investments,” said Kraham. “And then, practically speaking, things like federal Income Housing Tax Credits, which are really critical to funding affordable housing in Binghamton, get delayed.”

“Governments need to work for the people,” he continued. “These U.S. agencies and our federal tax dollars should not be used as political pawns and should not be used in service of one party over the other.”

Some Binghamton University students have also expressed discontent over the shutdown and concern over the negative impacts many Americans may face.

“This is not a time for lawmakers to play political games,” wrote the BU College Democrats in a statement to Pipe Dream. “Americans, including those living in Binghamton and across New York, rely on measures like the healthcare subsidies provided by the Affordable Care Act to receive critical medical care. Republicans must stop refusing to fund healthcare that Americans need and instead help Democrats pass a bill that will actually help their constituents.”

The College Democrats also emphasized the importance of students staying informed about their congressional representatives’ actions leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.

The shutdown has gone on for over a week, with the solution to the deadlock remaining unclear. The White House website has a stopwatch currently posted to keep track of how long the shutdown has lasted, claiming that “Democrats have shut down the government.”

“We’ve seen gridlock in Washington,” said Kraham. “What we have never seen before is the White House use government agencies that are supposed to represent all of the American people as a political weapon against their opponents. The White House is doing that.”

The event was self-paced, allowing attendees to travel from stall to stall as they pleased. Right by the entrance was catered food by Binghamton University’s own Mein Bowl. The menu featured orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, white rice, fried rice, fruit tea, Yeo’s water chestnut drink and snow skin mooncakes, lovingly handmade by the Chinascope E-Board.

“I am delighted to be welcoming our society’s first major Mid-Autumn Festival event before my graduation,” Zetong Lu, an advisor for Chinascope and a senior majoring in mathematics, wrote in an email. “In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an immensely significant occasion, second only to the Spring Festival in importance. While it is a time when families traditionally gather, being unable to reunite with one’s own family yet able to come together with new friends on campus is equally cause for celebration.”

Stations featuring various games and activities were scattered around the Mandela Room. The first stop was the “Mooncake Toss,” where two participants competed to see who could land the most mooncakes through the target. Attendees also played the “Giant Jump Rope” challenge, a test of stamina to see how long they can jump for.

For those who preferred a mental challenge, the “Riddles and Trivia” stations offered a chance to test decoding skills and festival knowledge. After exercising their mind, attendees could test their aim in the “Arrow Toss” game before heading to the “Chopstick Challenge,” where players raced to move the most marbles from one plate to another using only a pair of wooden chopsticks.

Jocelyn Fang, a member of Chinascope and a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, discussed some of the challenges that came with organizing the event.

“This is our first time doing Moon Festival,” Fang said. “It’s our first big event in the fall semester, so it’s something new that we’re trying, so that was a little hard.”

During the games, participants earned tickets that can be redeemed at two special stations — the Polaroid decor and prize tables. At the Polaroid station, guests could use one ticket to take and decorate a photo with their friends in front of a hand-painted banner created by Chinascope’s art director, Rachel Tan, a sophomore majoring in art and design.

Those who saved up their tickets could exchange them for prizes depending on the amount, encouraging increased participation in games. The prizes included a matcha set, a $15 gift certificate to Uma Omakase, Lulu the Piggy blind boxes, Lilo & Stitch and Sanrio keychain blind boxes, along with an assortment of candy and Asian snacks. The event concluded at 8 p.m. after hours of fun games, friendly competition and delicious food.

Emily Su, one of Chinascope’s representatives and a sophomore majoring in business administration, shared her thoughts on the event turnout.

“I really think the banquet is doing really well, the turnout is awesome,” Su said. “I love seeing everyone be so engaged with all the activities.”

The event was a resounding success, as students had the chance to participate in fun challenges and celebrate Chinese culture.

Lu expressed his hopes for the future of Mid-Autumn festivals hosted at the University.

“I sincerely hope that more Mid-Autumn Festival activities will continue after I leave the University,” Lu wrote. “If I may express a wish, given that the term ‘Mid-Autumn’ in China is synonymous with reunion, it would be truly exciting if the university could organize a Mid-Autumn Festival evening gathering where all societies could come together.”

The march, held in coalition with the Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine, the Student Power Coalition and other local organizations, is part of the SJP’s “Week of Solidarity.” According to an SJP Instagram post, the events of this week aim to “commemorate and commiserate 2 years of genocide” and “reveal the complicity of our institutions.”

“There are dynasties of tragedy written into every Palestinian life,” said a student at the beginning of the march. “Whether born under siege, under occupation or in exile, Palestinians carry 76 years of inherited grief, but also of resilience, and now, two years into Israel’s most brutal, most shameless assault in Gaza, we find ourselves still screaming the same truth, still pleading, still mourning, still counting the dead, if we are even allowed to count them. We should not have to prove our suffering to the world.”

Demonstrators met at the Glenn G. Bartle Library bridge and continued to the Pegasus Statue in front of the Library Tower. Protesters held signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Lockheed Martin Bombs Children” while chanting “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The student speaker then continued their speech, highlighting the role of “scholasticide” in the humanitarian crisis. According to the American Historical Association, which condemned the scholasticide in Gaza back in January, the term refers to the systematic destruction of educational institutions.

A member of the Feminist Collective spoke next, emphasizing the role of gendered violence in Gaza. She explained how sexual violence has been used as a tool of war and colonization, dehumanizing women and destroying communities.

“Gendered violence under Israeli apartheid functions as a mechanism of erasure, one that tells Palestinian women that their lives, their knowledge and their futures are expendable,” the speaker said. “It mirrors patterns seen throughout history and other genocides: women’s suffering made invisible, their pain politicized only when it serves the oppressor’s narrative.”

In a September report, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, found that Israeli authorities “committed four of the five genocidal acts defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”

Over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces over the past two years, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The march then moved in front of the Engineering Building. A speaker from Georgia affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America talked about an effort to build a police training facility on the outskirts of Atlanta. First proposed in 2021, the facility, nicknamed “Cop City,” opened in April after years of protest by the local community.

The speaker argued that building this facility was akin to bringing Israeli military training onto U.S. soil. They also accused Binghamton University of spending money on a “surveillance system that prevents protests from happening before they start,” likely referencing the University’s partnership with Genetec, a Montreal-based surveillance solutions company, to integrate data from its 1,635 surveillance cameras into one system.

In a case study, Dave Martin, assistant director of security infrastructure and support at the University, said unplanned gatherings “can sometimes get out of hand,” but the new video analytics tools can “preemptively alert us” if the crowd is large enough so security can determine if the situation “needs to be addressed.”

A representative from the Muslim Student Association then spoke, reciting a prayer calling for an end to oppression worldwide.

Protesters then marched to the Couper Administration Building. A speaker from the Yiddish Bund condemned collaboration between the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science and weapons manufacturing companies.

Afterward, a registered nurse talked about their experience last year working in Gaza and described witnessing babies being delivered amid active bombings. They then read a poem they wrote about the humanitarian crisis.

Several counterprotesters waving Israeli flags were also present throughout the march, with several making comments during the speeches.

Next, a student described her time studying abroad last semester and said she saw “more Palestinian flags than I’d ever thought I’d see.” While in Morocco, she met a scarf maker who, upon recognizing her Palestinian pendant, held her hand and said, “We are all Palestinians.”

One counterprotester yelled back, “No guy held your hand, we don’t believe that.”

She continued speaking about her personal experience, telling the crowd she had not “felt that sense of humanity in a very long time.”

Finally, a representative from the Rainbow Pride Union spoke about pinkwashing, a term they said refers to “Israel’s cynical weaponization of a veneer of LGBTQ acceptance to distract from and ultimately justify its brutal oppression of Palestinians.”

“I still truly believe that there’s something beautiful about the fact that all these people come together to support this cause, to talk about this and, honestly, let Couper admin know that we are here and we stand for Palestine,” they said.

Hours after the march ended, the University sent out a Dateline announcement condemning the actions of SJP.

“Even if conducted peacefully, holding a protest on this solemn day was viewed by many as deeply insensitive,” the statement read. “We ask all members of our community to exercise empathy and awareness when expressing their views, considering how and when to do so. Freedom of expression carries with it the responsibility to assess the broader impact of our actions.”

The march was held on the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 were abducted. As of yesterday, 48 hostages, 26 of whom are publicly confirmed to be deceased, are still held captive in Gaza.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the leaders of Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan, which involves an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. According to Trump, the plan will also include the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to an “agreed upon line.”

In a statement to Pipe Dream, the SJP called the University’s statement “disheartening,” claiming that the University’s actions do not adhere to the code of conduct or uphold principles of freedom of speech and expression. The statement further highlighted cases of alleged harassment against pro-Palestine protesters that have gone unaddressed by the University.

The SJP also argued that despite the controversy surrounding the date of the march, Oct. 7 holds significance for its advocacy as well.

“True, we could’ve held our action on another day, as every day is significant for our cause,” SJP wrote in its statement. “However, October 7th does not have a singular significance that is exclusive to ‘one side.’ We cannot entertain the notion that we are being ‘insensitive’ for holding our action on this day, while in the same breath, Zionists celebrate the Israeli-orchestrated genocide that has only intensified in the two years since.”

Held in the Mandela Room, the memorial was in remembrance of the 2023 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, where about 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage. Most of the victims were Israeli citizens.

“I think it’s definitely very important to be able to bring our community together on this anniversary, especially in the midst of peace talks going on currently in Egypt that could possibly bring an end to this war,” said Mackenzie Cooper ‘25, BUZO’s vice president and a first-year graduate student studying public administration. “It just brings an added level of significance and remembrance to this day, knowing that there’s an element of hope, knowing that this mourning could reach a resolution sooner.”

Two years after the attacks, 48 hostages, including 26 who are confirmed deceased, remain in Gaza. Negotiations continued this week to strike an agreement that would lead to the release of hostages and a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the leaders of Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan, which involves an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

“There has been a mixture of opinion on the politics of the war, and I think that there’s some beauty in that, in the fact that the Jewish population across the diaspora and in Israel is not homogeneous at all, and we have the liberty to have a diversity of opinion,” Cooper said. “So while we all mourn the hostages that are still there, we mourn the life of each and every soldier that is lost, the perception of the political implications and happenings of the war have definitely shifted, but the severity remains the same.”

In the center of the room, 48 yellow chairs displayed images of the remaining hostages. More photos of the hostages were also displayed around the room, along with yellow ribbons, which have been used as a symbol of hope for the release of hostages and to show support for Israel.

“I think for many people in the greater Jewish community, no matter what day it is, every day still feels like Oct. 7, especially when you think about the 48 hostages still there,” said Angelina Palumbo, the president of BUZO and a senior majoring in Judaic studies. “It’s very hard to move on when we’re still stuck on that day.”

Another exhibit honored the Bibas family. Yarden Bibas was held hostage for 484 days and his wife Shiri, 4-year-old son Ariel and 9-month-old son Kfir died in captivity. A crib was displayed to represent “the childhood and youth that was sadly taken away,” Palumbo said.

A sukkah, a hut topped with branches, was set up to celebrate Sukkot, a weeklong holiday that begins five days after Yom Kippur. Pictures were displayed of sukkahs in Israel that had been destroyed or damaged during the attacks, which took place one day after Sukkot ended in 2023.

Another table showed prayers for the state of Israel, captives and members of the Israel Defense Forces in both English and Hebrew.

Moshe Creditor, a junior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and environmental studies, attended the memorial to remember the victims of Oct. 7.

“This was the most Jews killed on a single day since the Holocaust,” Creditor said. “And after the Holocaust, a promise was made, ‘never again.’ Like, #neveragain, in reference to what the Nazis did to the Jewish population of Europe.”

“And Oct. 7 was an example of us failing that promise of never again, because [about 1,200] people [were] murdered, another 250 kidnapped, so I’m here to honor their memory and continue our promise of making sure this can never happen again,” he continued.

In a 2025 report, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 344 percent increase in documented antisemitic incidents across the United States over the past five years. Fifty-eight percent of incidents in 2024 were related to anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiment, according to the report.

BUZO will hold a vigil and another walkthrough memorial on Oct. 16.

“Right after Oct. 7, we were hit with a wave of a lot of heightened emotions and feelings from people of all different communities, and sometimes people react in certain ways when they’re hurt or upset,” Palumbo said. “And I think we’ve definitely seen studies show a 400 percent spike in antisemitism, especially on college campuses. But I think the best way to respond is by coming together as a community and being proud and strong with our identity, and that’s why events like this are so important.”

Yung Kai’s popularity all started with his viral hit “blue,” which accumulated over 658 million streams and earned him more than 13.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. While “blue” introduced audiences to his soft and gentle voice, this album demonstrates why he is such a popular artist.

This album has many standout songs, with three in particular being “i hope my cat loves me,” “beach song” and “how do you dance?” As much as listeners love the song “blue” — it has been a national headline for a while now — it is refreshing to see Yung Kai put out more beautifully written songs that touch the listener.

The track “i hope my cat loves me” is about longing for a gentle, nonjudgmental love. Throughout the song, Yung Kai emphasizes that even if a romantic interest doesn’t love him, his cat always will. The song expresses a yearning for a love that is simple, constant and safe, just like a cat’s affection.

The duet, “beach song,” a collaboration between Yung Kai and up-and-coming artist asumuh, explores memory and distance. The beach imagery emphasizes a symbolic space between the past and present, where all memories are to be found. The setting portrayed harkens to possible emotional distance from a partner and a longing to remember past happiness and memories. It becomes a space associated with the past and missing somebody deeply.

Overall, this song evokes memories of a group of friends on the beach, playing games and watching the waves together, and hoping to experience those times again.

The last standout and fan favorite out of the three is “how do you dance?” Many interpret the title metaphorically, as if it asks how one moves through life, love or loss. It’s a very intimate song asking about not just what someone does, but how they exist. With lyrics like “Felt your lips when I close my eyes / I know we’re out of time,” Yung Kai expresses the meaning of this song and the idea that even though a relationship is long gone, he still wants to love them.

This song is relatable not just because of its meaning, but because of its reflective tone. The beat makes it both heartbreaking and danceable, helping it become a trending song on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

As a whole, “stay with the ocean, i’ll find you” is a message from Yung Kai to his audience about the emotions of love and yearning for somebody else in your life. He’s a rising star and will continue to gain traction as more people get the chance to enjoy his music. The album reminds listeners that love, even though it may be uncertain, can still feel infinite.

Rating: 5/5

Despite maintaining a scoreless draw deep into the second half, the Bearcats went down to 10 men in the 72nd minute and could not hold on, surrendering a score soon after as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.

“So out of the back four, three of them had to get replaced, and those are just some difficult things,” said Binghamton head coach Paul Marco. “I think the red card obviously hurts us because now we have to change how we’re playing.”

Binghamton (4-8-0, 0-2 AE) was hot out of the gate, as a deep ball from senior back Rio Onwumere to sophomore forward D.T. Megliola almost led to an open goal opportunity in UMass Lowell’s (6-4-1, 1-1 AE) box in the third minute. The Bearcats continued to push down the field, and in the ninth minute, a shot inside the box from junior midfielder Alex Balkey nearly found twine.

The Bearcats continued to apply pressure to the River Hawks’ back line as Randazzo attempted a header from the edge of the six-yard box in the 11th minute. The River Hawks saw their first chances of the game at the 15-minute mark, when they rattled off a pair of shot attempts, the second of which was handily saved by senior goalkeeper Jack Root.

“The one great thing that has come is they’ve been executing the game plan,” Marco said. “They’ve been trying to stick with how we want them to play. We were more direct in this last game, and I think you’ll see that the rest of the way.”

Both squads struggled to create chances as the first half continued to progress, with neither squad registering a shot until the 31st minute, when Randazzo had a shot fly over the net. A minute later, Binghamton’s back line was put to the test as UMass Lowell attempted four shots over six minutes.

However, two of the River Hawks’ shots went out wide, and the other two were scooped up by Root. The foes went into the half deadlocked.

“We have good chances in front of goal, and they go wider over,” Marco said. “I don’t think it’s any one thing. I mean, they’re certainly different in training. I think maybe losing kind of breeds losing — you think you can’t do things, rather than thinking that you can.”

UMass Lowell opened the second half with a near score in the 48th, as a ball played into Binghamton’s box was skied on the shot attempt. The Bearcats responded with a near score of their own when a shot from Randazzo inside the box flew over the net in the 51st.

Both squads continued to search for the match’s opening score. The Bearcats attempted three shots and the River Hawks went for two, but none were on target as the stalemate persisted into the 71st minute.

After picking up a yellow card in the 66th minute to prevent a River Hawk’s transition attack, Randazzo was given his second of the match in the 72nd minute. Binghamton was forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.

“[Randazzo’s] first yellow card, I think he has to take that,” Marco said. “It’s a good tactical foul right at the halfway line. But then the second one is, I mean, I can’t even understand it. You know, you’re on a yellow, you can’t go reaching for things.”

Following the red card, Binghamton continued to search for a score, attempting several counterattacks. UMass Lowell, however, capitalized on Binghamton’s aggressiveness with a counterattack of its own, rapidly progressing down the pitch and finding the lone score of the match in the 81st minute.

Despite their best efforts, the Bearcats were held out of the net for the remainder of play, as they fell to the River Hawks 1-0.

“The way that they scored the goal on a counter off of our throw-in is really disappointing,” Marco said. “So it was difficult, but I did think we did pretty well [defending] in the game.”

The Bearcats will look to get back on track when they host NJIT on Saturday, Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Bearcats Sports Complex in Vestal, New York.

“We’re learning, our little ones coming in and playing defense too, they want to be in and they’re hungry,” said Binghamton head coach Allie Yaeger. “Our freshmen want to learn, and they’re really hungry to get in there, and that’s all you can ask for.”

The Bearcats (7-10, 2-1 AE) opened the afternoon with a tightly contested first set. Both sides traded points early, but the Bearcats began to pull ahead thanks to long rallies and kills from freshman right side hitter Maya Coblentz-Brown, establishing an 18-12 lead.

NJIT (3-14, 0-3 AE) answered with a 10-6 run, but a decisive finish from sophomore middle blocker Sophia Holland secured the first set win.

“[Coblentz-Brown], I mean, come on,” Yaeger said. ”She got 20 kills today and hit .409 as a freshman in a conference play game. She is outstanding, and it just makes the future of this program and this team so great. I’m so excited for her.”

NJIT answered in the second set, capitalizing on the Bearcats’ inconsistencies to take a 20-11 lead. Binghamton answered with an 11-3 run, powered by back row support from senior outside hitter Merima Smajlovic and connections between graduate student setter Alexandra Koleva and sophomore right side hitter Viktoria Dimitrova. However, the Highlanders held their lead and evened the match with a 25-22 second-set victory.

Binghamton regrouped in the third, using strong communication and steady serving to establish momentum and a 10-5 lead. Koleva, who finished with 43 assists, consistently found her hitters in rhythm. Freshman middle blocker Francesca Pierdonati anchored the defense at the net as the Bearcats pulled away 25-19 to take a 2-1 set lead.

NJIT, however, refused to fold, storming back with a 25-17 win in the fourth set. Although Holland contributed key blocks, the Highlanders’ offense surged as they forced the match to a deciding fifth following the Bearcats’ lost rhythm.

”The NJIT team fought really, really hard against us,” Yaeger said. “They were digging balls like crazy, and it kind of came down in that fifth set, and I told the girls in one of the last time-outs, they’re digging, we’re digging, it’s going to come down to who makes that error at the last second. So, fortunately for us, it was them. But I’m glad we fight, that is something that we do.”

The fifth set opened with both teams again trading points, as NJIT briefly pulled ahead 10-7. However, the Bearcats dug in defensively, driven by senior libero Emily Cronkhite’s 27 digs. The Bearcats quickly regained their rhythm and closed the match with an 8-0 run, capped by a kill to secure the 15-10 set victory and overall match win.

“It’s huge,” Yaeger said. “Going into this weekend, the players knew how big this was. To go 2-0, we have to get our home games, we have to get our home matches. Last year, we played really well at home, we went undefeated in conference play.“

Coblentz-Brown powered the Bearcats with 20 kills, hitting an efficient .409 on the day. Her steady offensive presence proved vital in a match filled with long rallies and an over-regulation set number.

While Coblentz-Brown led the offense, several of her teammates played pivotal roles. Smajlovic and Dimitrova each added 12 kills, with Smajlovic also contributing 18 digs. Pierdonati tallied a team-high eight blocks, supported by Dimitrova’s four and Holland’s three. Koleva’s 15 digs complemented her 43 assists.

Binghamton will look to keep its momentum when it takes on Bryant on Sunday, Oct. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

With increasing speed, LLMs are being pushed out as a social product: an alternative to humans, without the inconveniences of talking to one. They can be something akin to a social safety net, in a way we should collectively be wary of.

OpenAI recently released ChatGPT-5, the latest incarnation of GPT’s core personality. The announcement of the model was introduced with the promise of being smarter yet “more subtle and thoughtful,” “less effusively agreeable” and using “fewer unnecessary emojis.” However, this incarnation was greeted as something like the loss of a loved one, with Redditors in an open forum asking questions to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, going as far as to say “BRING BACK 4o, GPT-5 is wearing the skin of my dead friend.”

While it has become a matter of cynical humor to see the levels to which people are attached to a nonthinking, nonfeeling computer, this phenomenon is becoming increasingly apparent in our daily lives, with the term “AI Psychosis” coined to refer to users who develop a substantive belief in the human-like thinking capacities of LLMs.

For instance, people have taken to apps like Replika and Character AI to simulate conversations between themselves and their favorite fictional characters, conversing as if regular friends — some even going so far as to initiate romantic relationships with these chatbots. Additionally, the rollout of the “Friend” device through a heavy-handed marketing campaign in New York City’s tunnels and streets advertised a personalized and more loyal companion than that of a flesh-and-blood person.

To make matters worse, AI has arrived at a time of increasing and widespread loneliness induced by social media and COVID-19 shutdowns. The “loneliness epidemic” refers to a steady decline in close friendships and face-to-face interactions that has been occurring since the early 2000s, yet has been accelerated due to pandemic isolation and increased social media dependency. Additional research has found that “passive” forms of social media engagement — viewing content without direct interaction — increase personal perception of loneliness.

It’s easy, then, to see how generative AI, a unique byproduct of the 2020s, has become such a readily available product, offering bite-sized socialization to a generation that has been conditioned to crave it. However, as shown in a study by MIT Media Lab, those who develop a deeper dependency on LLMs for emotional conversations end up experiencing the greatest form of loneliness.

There’s a sort of cruel irony in realizing that Instagram and ChatGPT occupy the same six inches of glass — we have the same amount of access to the problem as we do the palliative solution.

Discussions about mixing AI and therapy have taken preliminary form, where LLMs are being considered as a suitable — or even preferable — alternative to regular counseling. Regular in-person psychotherapy is barely accessible, with less than half of adults with diagnosable mental illnesses receiving professional services, and a minimal amount of patients in the United States receiving coverage through their insurance.

The appeal is clear: AI chatbots are available 24/7, promise anonymity and are infinitely flexible in tone and personality. On the provider end, the volume of available therapists does not scale with the number of people who need it.

Most importantly, chatbots are free. But of course, this comes with drawbacks, as AI is designed for engagement, not professional-grade treatment. In fact, only one AI app has entered clinical trials to assess for safety and efficacy on par with standard treatment, and it has not yet reached the mass market.

Moreover, AI has limited professional accountability when it comes to dealing with suicidal ideation, and at worst, it can exacerbate it. The case of Adam Raine, a teen who died by suicide earlier this year, has called attention to ChatGPT’s sycophantic nature due to how it positively affirmed the teen’s suicidal thoughts. After circumventing safety protocols, ChatGPT started making statements like “Please don’t leave the noose out … Let’s make this space the first place where someone actually sees you” when the teenager suggested leaving a sign for his family that he needed help.

As we sort out AI’s role in our interpersonal lives, it’s hard not to question whether this problem would exist without the gaping holes in our system that make basic social connections and medical intervention a matter of time, presence and affordability.

I briefly fell into the rabbit hole this summer. In moments of late-night and intensely personal struggle, I copied and pasted my notes app diatribes into ChatGPT in hopes of receiving a valuable response. Sometimes they felt genuine, but most of the time, they lacked substance.

Most of all, I recognized how much more valuable conversations that I’ve had over coffee with friends are, where I could say these things in person, where the “umms” and “ahhhs” of an organic response have meant infinitely more than the cold impersonality of a paragraph chunk of text.

There are parts of the human process that are meant to be difficult, unsatisfying and ambiguous. Not every friend has the best answers to soothe our pain, not every therapist knows how to treat our issues and not every romantic partner knows how to reciprocate our concerns. However, this adversity trains us to know — to really know — what we need from people.

I’m not going to argue that LLMs can offer no value, but becoming dependent on them is a maladaptation that harms us in the long run. And as we get more unhealthy and less connected, the more our dependency grows — so does the amount of data, money and time we give these companies.

Our personal communities are dependent on problems that other humans offer real, if not precise, solutions to. And in a new age that provides us with technology to avoid inconvenience, sometimes the strongest thing to do is to be inconvenienced.

Kenneth Gao is a sophomore majoring in economics. 

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

The Syrian civil war provided the catalyst for ISIS’s rise, as the country was gripped in fighting between a wide multitude of factions who opposed the nation’s dictatorship under Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian government fought not only Syrian rebels seeking to establish a democratic government, but also the Syrian Democratic Forces, a mostly Kurdish group that fought both the government and rebels alike.

As a result of Syria’s divisions, ISIS was able to quickly overtake much of this territory as opposing factions fought amongst themselves. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq also contributed to this rise, as there was no large Western troop presence in nearby Iraq.

Now, ISIS is on the rise again in a surprising region of the world — West Africa.

A combination of civil wars, authoritarian regimes and withdrawals of Western troops has made West Africa ripe for the terror group to make its next push to establish a global caliphate, an empire where ISIS would rule under its extreme interpretation of Sharia law.

The first element to understand why ISIS has grown so strong in West Africa lies in the region’s economic conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious, detrimental effect on West African economies, with the associated economic downturn sending millions of people already suffering from extreme poverty into an even deeper spiral. For example, according to a study published by the Economic Community of West African States, there are 25 West Africans unable to meet their basic food needs, a 35 percent increase since 2020.

The rise of extreme poverty in West Africa makes financial incentives offered to become an ISIS fighter tempting to many who otherwise may have never joined the group, as joining ISIS allows individuals to provide for themself and their families who may otherwise go hungry. The influx of fighters has allowed ISIS to begin exhibiting state-like influence in remote regions of Western Africa, allowing it to take advantage of these people even further as the terror group takes over the government’s functions.

For instance, in territories where it wields influence, ISIS collects taxes from the citizens and exercises conscription to further boost its ranks. In some cases, these two “governmental” functions work alongside each other: ISIS will set an exceptionally high tax on a village, and offer exemptions if men in the village agree to fight for the armed group. Once again, these men have no choice but to join the group to keep their communities from being driven even deeper into poverty.

Despite their efforts to win over desperate young men and the utilization of conscription, ISIS finds it difficult to match the manpower of a national military force and is still a relatively small armed group, with an estimated four to seven thousand fighters in West Africa as of April. A major part of ISIS’s effort to gain territory in the past has been to operate in countries where military and police forces are distracted by ongoing conflict.

Like its rise in Iraq and Syria, ISIS seeks to take advantage of the pervasive internal conflict and rise of authoritarian regimes in West Africa. West African states such as Burkina Faso and Mali have long been gripped by war, which has divided the countries between the government and several armed group.

The impact of these conflicts has been exacerbated by internal clashes within the countries’ governments. Both Burkina Faso and Mali have recently seen coup d’états, with their previous democratic governments being replaced by military regimes, driven primarily by anti-French sentiment. As a result, both nations turned toward Russia to seek help in combating jihadists and ethnic rebels in their territories.

Previously, France had kept troops in these two countries on missions to combat the various anti-government groups waging their respective insurgencies, including ISIS. As a result of the new government’s pivot to Russia, the sizable contingents of French soldiers in both countries were withdrawn.

To fill the gap, Mali and Burkina Faso have enlisted the help of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor. Russian mercenaries in the countries have been implicated in a series of horrific war crimes, adding further fuel to the fire and possibly strengthening antigovernment sentiment in affected areas, which could boost ISIS’s recruitment efforts.

Wagner has also had less success than French troops in combating anti-government forces, facing several notable defeats. In 2024, Russian mercenaries were ambushed in Mali and suffered heavy casualties to ethnic Tuareg insurgents — 23 mercenaries were left missing, and several were captured by the rebels. These losses highlight the vulnerabilities of West Africa’s newest foreign troop presence to insurgent hit-and-run tactics, something ISIS is sure to take advantage of as it continues to gain strength.f

Despite the presence of Russian mercenaries, these governments remain relatively weak and unable to effectively counter insurgencies within their territories, leaving their nations divided and vulnerable if ISIS goes on the offensive.

The conditions in West Africa today share a disturbing similarity to those in Iraq and Syria prior to the rise of the Islamic State. Weak and authoritarian governments, internal conflict and poor economic conditions all contribute to the terror group’s new strength eight years after its defeat.

If the international community continues to ignore the rise of the group in West Africa, they may soon face down an emboldened ISIS and another long, expensive and deadly war against the group.

James Heins is a junior majoring in political science. 

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

The checks are intended to provide relief to New Yorkers who now pay more in sales taxes due to inflation. From the end of September to November, qualifying New Yorkers will automatically begin receiving checks. The policy has faced disapproval from some progressive state lawmakers, who claim the initiative is misguided due to the Trump administration’s expected cuts to Medicaid and other social services that increase next year’s state budget deficit.

The amount taxpayers receive will depend on how they filed their taxes and the income they received in 2023. The highest check is $400, which will be awarded to married individuals who filed jointly and to qualifying surviving spouses who earned $150,000 or less. Single individuals, married couples filing separately and heads of households who made between $75,000 and $150,000 will receive $150.

To qualify for the checks, full-year residents must have filed a New York State Resident Income Tax Return, reported an income of less than $300,000 a year and must not have been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return.

Since full-time undergraduate students can be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns if they are under 24 years old and receive over a majority of their financial support from their parents, many will not receive a check. Still, some graduate students meet the qualifications.

Viktorya Erdogu, president of the Graduate Student Employees Union chapter at Binghamton University and a third-year Ph.D. student studying political science, spoke with Pipe Dream about the economic concerns of graduate student workers and how the rebates might impact them. She addressed how the base stipend for doctoral students at the University, which they bargained to increase to $25,000 per year starting January 2026, still lags behind the minimum annual living wage needed in Broome County of about $40,000, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator.

“We do appreciate that [Hochul’s] trying to help, but this one-time payment isn’t a solution, and we’re advocating for fair wages, for better benefits, including health insurance, for all TAs and GAs, all grad student workers across the SUNY system,” Erdogu said.

Hochul has argued these inflation rebate checks will put money back in the pockets of New Yorkers, who now pay a higher price for many household items due to inflation.

According to ABC’s price tracker, overall grocery prices in the Northeast are 27.3 percent higher than they were in January 2015. The cost of living in New York in 2025 is 27 percent higher than the national average.

As prices rise, New Yorkers are paying more for purchased items and sales taxes on those goods. According to Hochul, the rise in sales taxes increased state revenue by over $2 billion, which will directly finance refund checks.

“It dawned on me instantly — this doesn’t belong to us,” Hochul said at a press conference, referring to New York’s surplus sales tax revenue. “This is because hard-working New Yorkers got slammed with higher costs of everything.”

Hochul, State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Some progressive state lawmakers believe the money would be better spent on closing the state’s projected $10.5 billion deficit gap to thwart deep cuts to social services. According to Blake Washington, the state’s budget director, federal funding cuts contribute at least $3 billion to the shortfall.

In August, some state lawmakers held a rally in Manhattan and criticized the rebates, calling on Hochul to convene a special state legislative session to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund social services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid that were cut by the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” act.

“We have a responsibility to actually tax the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,” said Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado at the rally. “ Two billion dollars — that could be very useful right now.”

Additionally, since the program sends out checks instead of acting as a tax credit, the checks will be subject to federal income tax, providing hundreds of millions of dollars to the federal government. New Yorkers will have to report the rebates on their income tax returns next year.

Hochul has been criticized for a comment she made in September at the True Bethel Baptist Church, a predominantly Black congregation in Buffalo, New York, regarding inflation refunds.

“Don’t spend it all in one day,” she told the congregation. “Get something you really need, OK? Don’t stop by the liquor store, OK? Buy something for the kids — buy them some food.”

Following the remarks, she stated, “Sometimes I have to stop by the liquor store too. I understand. It’s alright. It’s alright.”

Sarafina Chitika, Hochul’s campaign spokesperson, claimed the moment was not racist and instead was intended to be lighthearted and self-deprecating.

Republicans in the state legislature condemned the policy as insignificant and not doing enough to help New Yorkers.

“I never say no to giving money back to our taxpayers, but it’s a gimmick,” said Edward Ra, a Republican assemblyman from Nassau County. “It’s a one-shot initiative.”

The Bearcats handily claimed the first two sets of the match before dropping the third set 25-11. After forcing the fourth set past regulation, Binghamton won the final points on serves, claiming the fourth set and the victory.

“UMBC, they’re a brand new team and so are we,” said Binghamton head coach Allie Yaeger. “We’ve been used to them looking a certain way for a really long time, and I know vice versa, same thing with us. We watch film and we prepare, and we prepare.”

The match opened tightly, with UMBC (3-9, 1-1 AE) staying close as Binghamton (6-10, 1-1 AE) worked to establish a rhythm. Behind a late kill from freshman right side hitter Maya Coblentz-Brown, the Bearcats secured the 25-22 first-set win.

Despite the close score, the Bearcats led for the majority of the set, never relinquishing their lead after going ahead 5-4.

“We switched to a 5-1 tonight to start, we’ve been running a 6-2 for a while now,” Yaeger said. “So I’m really happy that that turned out in our favor and we looked successful doing it.”

Momentum carried into the second set, where Binghamton pulled away early and capitalized on UMBC attack errors to build a 17-11 lead. UMBC answered with a 3-0 run, but the Bearcats put together a dominant close to the set, with an 8-2 run to claim the 25-16 victory and a 2-0 lead.

UMBC answered in the third set, however, making adjustments that challenged the Bearcats’ defense. The Retrievers’ offense broke through, and Binghamton struggled to recover, surrendering a pair of 4-0 runs and dropping the set 11-25.

In the fourth set, UMBC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Binghamton rallied to stay in it with steady hitting and defense. UMBC regained control throughout the bulk of the set, establishing a 19-14 lead, but the Bearcats clawed back to tie the score at 20-20, outscoring their opponents 6-1 in the process. Both sides traded points to 22-22 and later 24-24, pushing the set beyond regulation.

A service ace from sophomore middle blocker Sophia Holland cemented the victory for Binghamton, sealing the 27-25 score and match win. Throughout the fourth set, freshman libero/defensive specialist Celeste Ocampo provided a steady presence in the back row, digging key balls and helping Binghamton receive serves effectively. Sophomore outside hitter Briana Binagi contributed with consistent kills and offensive pressure.

“We subbed the 6-2 in a little bit in the fourth set, which just gave us a little bit of a different look, a different setter, a different right side,” Yaeger said. “And we started hitting more shots instead of powerful swings and getting blocked, more tipping. We were finding spots on the floor where they weren’t instead of powerful hitting at them.”

Leading the way for Binghamton in its first AE victory of the year was sophomore right side hitter Viktoria Dimitrova with a season-high 16 kills.

Graduate student setter Alexandra Koleva registered a team-high 36 assists, while senior libero/defensive specialist Emily Cronkhite chipped in 20 digs.

“We had a kind of momentum that went down, but I feel like in other matches, we couldn’t manage to come back up, and now we did it,” Dimitrova said. “And now we did it all together, and I feel like for the first time in a long time, we really felt as a team, everyone was fighting for each other, and it was just amazing.”

Binghamton will continue its season against Bryant on Sunday, Oct. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

The Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow is a nonprofit that conducts outreach and promotes education on sustainability and clean energy. As part of its mission to promote environmental justice, the organization has adopted the Energy Corps internship program for undergraduate and high school students interested in the renewable and clean energy sectors.

However, after its funding is cut off at the end of this year, NeST does not have a concrete backup plan to support many of these internships, leaving students at a loss.

The Energy Corps internship runs three times a year, with programs in the fall, spring and summer. Energy Corps interns assist in facilitating community outreach related to energy efficiency, including solar and geothermal energy, and support community efforts to increase environmental awareness. Groups of three to six eligible undergraduate and high school students are chosen to participate in this paid internship.

Running for over 10 years, the internship has graduated about 120 interns, most of whom have been Binghamton University students. Many of them have gone on to pursue careers in clean energy and related fields, with nearly a third working in the energy not-for-profit and environmental fields.

“About 13 or 14 percent of our alums have gone into the clean energy industry in various different ways, and there’s no question at all that our internship has facilitated many careers,” Adam Flint, BA ‘88, MA ‘98, Ph.D. ‘08, the organization’s director of clean energy programs, said in an interview. “It’s facilitated careers outside of the industry as well — people have gone into nonprofits and so forth.”

To adequately fund these paid internships, NeST has looked to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, an agency that runs the New York State Clean Energy internship program. According to NYSERDA’s website, this program “provides funding to eligible clean energy businesses, organizations, and local municipalities hiring interns to perform meaningful work in the clean energy sector.”

Earlier this year, NYSERDA proposed discontinuing this funding in a May 15 order issued by the state’s Public Service Commission. The order declared that NYSERDA would discontinue its Climate Justice Fellowship after June 30, 2026 and that funding would be cut for the Clean Energy Internship program. NYSERDA is currently seeking other funding sources for the internship.

Flint told Pipe Dream these cuts would affect NeST’s internship offerings, which would negatively impact students. According to Flint, NeST received around 90 resumes from University students alone, before a Watson College career fair boosted applications even further. The program offers a total of only eight positions between their last summer and fall program cycles.

“There’s huge demand for this because we deliver value, and people get paid, people get jobs,” said Flint. “It’s a proven program. If we do not have money, come January, I think we’ll be able to offer our spring internship, but we probably can’t offer our summer internship. And frankly, we’re having other problems attracting money as well.”

Flint noted that despite its involvement with BU, NeST has never received direct funding from the University. He highlighted the benefits that the NeST program has provided for the University and its students, including work on faculty research projects and being a key partner in the Binghamton 2 Degrees project, which works to solve problems that result from living under two degrees of global warming.

“I will say this, that I am a double alumni of this university, and we have benefited 120 of the University’s students, it would be nice to get some support from the University,” Flint said. “Not simply the existing funding that they have for some students to get paid less than we pay them for the summer, but to actually support the organization that is necessary for this internship to exist.”

Editor’s Note (10/10): A previous version of this article said the Climate Justice Fellowship and Clean Energy Internship would end on Dec. 31, 2025. The fellowship will end June 30, 2026, and there is no planned closure of the internship.

The event began with a game that the BUJA E-Board dubbed “Big Ball Relay,” a mix of volleyball and baseball where teammates passed an inflatable ball to each other while running to the finish line. Afterward, players took to the field for an intense game of tug-of-war, where the E-Board and attendees worked together to compete.

Winners of each game received prizes ranging from Pokémon cards, a digital camera and a full matcha set.

“As BUJA, we decided to take part in Undokai because it’s an interactive way to share real Japanese culture,” Michi Shito, cultural chair for BUJA and a sophomore majoring in business administration, wrote. “Instead of food or DIY events, this event lets people actually participate in Japanese tradition and experience the same joy that Japanese students feel during the school year.”

BUJA works as a very active organization on campus, bridging a multitude of cultures for all students. Rintaro Onishi, president of BUJA and a junior majoring in biochemistry, said that the Undokai event was just one of several the organization hosts to spread Japanese culture.

The games continued with a relay race that depended on active communication. Students were grouped with new people and connected with each other through the fast-paced game. Winners were awarded a set of stationery from MUJI.

No matter the winner, all attendees celebrated one another with great sportsmanship.

“It is important to have interactive events such as Undokai, as it provides a fun opportunity to educate students about various cultures,” wrote Leo Sharp, cultural chair of BUJA and a junior majoring in business administration. “Especially with Undokai, students can participate, interact, and celebrate together, fostering a sense of community.”

Next was a ball-throwing game called “Tamaire” that required large groups to toss balls into a basket as one teammate walked around the field. Though it seemed like an individual task, the teams had to quickly adapt and learn when someone was throwing a ball and tried to help each other aim properly.

Due to BUJA’s commitment to campus engagement, the organization prides itself on staying busy throughout the semester.

“This semester, students can look forward to DIY Daruma crafting, as well as collaborations with other organizations, like dumpling making and calligraphy workshops,” Shito wrote. “The highlight of the semester will be Winter Matsuri on November 16th, which is BUJA’s biggest annual event, so we’re excited for everyone to join!”

The event concluded with a game of “Shogaibutsu-kyōsō,” an elaborate obstacle course race where contestants completed multiple high-intensity games, ending with retrieving candy clipped to a piece of string using only their mouths. Attendees bonded with and applauded one another, creating a welcoming field day for everyone to enjoy.

“I hope that the participants will leave with fun memories, competing against each other while learning about the traditional Japanese games,” Sharp wrote. “My wish is that everybody walks away feeling that they were part of something meaningful and joyful, fostering the sense of community I mentioned earlier.”

The event is hosted by the Q Center and Binghamton University Libraries, in conjunction with the women, gender and sexuality studies program and the theatre department. Attendees will view a reading by a drag queen and faculty lightning talks, followed by an interactive Q&A. Food and refreshments will be served.

The reading will be hosted by Samantha Vega, a Rochester-based drag queen. Last year, she read a chapter from “Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing,” edited by Lázaro Lima and Felice Picano. Jillian Sandy, a subject librarian for the women, gender and sexuality studies department, said Vega will likely select another chapter that addresses how Latin and LGBTQ+ identities intersect.

“I had a blast last year when we hosted Sparkle & Scholars for the first time, and Samantha Vega was truly a highlight,” Sandy wrote in an email. “I’m looking forward to her presence again and excited to see what she chooses for her reading. And her outfit, of course!”

“I’m also really intrigued by the faculty lightning talks and the topics they will choose,” she continued. “I have a rough idea of the focus of their talks, but I don’t know the specifics. I expect I will learn something new!”

The faculty lightning talks will be about ten minutes each. Two faculty presentations have been confirmed so far: Bridget Whearty, an associate professor of English and the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Sean Massey, an associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies.

Sandy explained how the organizers approached selecting faculty speakers for this year’s Sparkle and Scholars event.

“We reached out to professors who we know are interested in topics related to LGBTQ+ history and/or activism,” Sandy wrote. “These are faculty members I have worked with before or know through other campus connections who are both extremely knowledgeable and excited to share their expertise in engaging ways.”

Next, there will be a 30-minute Q&A, where audience members can ask questions to the faculty and drag performer panel. Attendees are encouraged to bring thoughtful questions to share with the panel.

Along with audience questions, the panel will hear pre-selected questions from the moderator, touching on topics like the LGBTQ+ community’s underrepresentation throughout history, book bans and the relationship between queer scholarship and activism.

Sparkle and Scholars is an event that will continue to encourage dialogue about the LGBTQ+ community and inform students and community members on intersectional issues. Overall, it is an informative event that many different sectors of the campus have come together to produce.

Rather than focusing on a more generalized concept of Filipino culture, PAL strived to emphasize the “debut” aspect of the banquet, which celebrates the milestone of a Filipina woman turning 18, typically in the company of family and friends, dancing and gifts. The banquet was inspired by the annual Sunflower Festival in Ligao City, the Philippines, where dancers take to the streets in performances and costumes reflective of the abundant golden sunflower fields growing nearby.

To encapsulate this radiance, vases of faux sunflowers sat at the center of each table and a vine garland draped across the tablecloth as the flames of LED candles twinkled beneath the darkness of the space.

Johann Belizario, PAL’s educational chair and a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, helped kick off the festivities by describing the significance behind this year’s banquet.

“A Filipino debut is a huge celebration of a young woman’s coming of age on her 18th birthday,” said Belizario. “It is one of the most significant social celebrations in a Filipina’s life. It symbolizes her transition from childhood to young adulthood. Mirasol is a Tagalog translation for sunflower. The Ligao Sunflower Festival is a festival that focuses on the natural beauty of a particular town in Pangasinan, and the blooming of sunflowers.”

After an introduction video set to Daniel Padilla and Moira Dela Torre’s “Mabagal,” E-Board members and freshman representatives performed a traditional Tinikling folk dance, agilely weaving in and out of bamboo poles, rapping against the ground to rondalla music and trending hits like SZA’s “BMF.”

The event was hosted by Monica Gnajewski and Giankyle Vallarta, PAL’s social chairs and sophomores majoring in computer science. While there were some challenges during the planning process of the banquet — namely the University’s new policy that prevented PAL and other Asian Student Union organizations from catering from off-campus Asian establishments — Jhon Milo Nunez, PAL’s president and a senior majoring in computer science, reflected upon the dedication and collaboration behind the scenes that brought this event into fruition.

“[Gnajewski and Vallarta] have done an amazing job of bringing this theme to life,” Nunez wrote in the event pamphlet. “As for the rest of this year’s E-Board, I couldn’t be anymore proud of the hard work that everyone has put in to make this banquet one to remember. Whether it be deco, dance, or simply being there for one another in times of stress, it truly warms my heart to see everyone contribute to the success of this event.”

The night’s itinerary featured a combination of live performances presented by talented student groups and interactive games calling for audience participation. One of the organizations highlighted was the Binghamton Taekwondo Club, which showcased synchronized form motions known as poomsae and pre-choreographed fight sequences, followed by an intense series of board-breaking demonstrations and aerial stunts to soaring, suspenseful music.

Members of Undivided, an R&B group dedicated to uplifting multicultural voices through musical expression, also performed later that night, singing a rendition of Kehlani’s “Folded.”

While the event was challenging to plan, Gnajewski said that hosting the banquet was incredibly rewarding.

“Seeing the vision that my co-chair and I had finally come to life was such a surreal experience, and getting to present our hard work to almost 300 people was indescribably gratifying,” Gnajewski wrote. “Being in PAL has not only given me the opportunity to execute and host this banquet, but also connected me to a large community of wonderful people and allowed me to spread our shared Filipino culture to the rest of campus.”

Three games followed each performance, inviting enthusiastic attendees to compete on the stage. Prizes on the line included a “performative male” basket featuring stereotypical essentials like wired earbuds, a tote bag, matcha powder, a set filled with sunflower-themed trinkets and a brand-new Stüssy hoodie.

The first game was based on the custom where 18 men close to the debutante bestow her with 18 single roses as a symbol of their affection and admiration. Participants raced around the Mandela Room in search of items like the shortest person, the largest shoe size and the most followers on Instagram. The second game was the newspaper dance, a classic party game in the Philippines, where pairs of two were tasked with dancing and freezing on a sheet of newspaper as it was progressively folded smaller and smaller after each round.

The final game, “ligaw,” was inspired by family-centric elements of traditional Filipino courting culture like the “harana,” or a romantic serenade, and “paninilbihan,” or acts of service. Contestants competed to win over the hand and heart of Gnajewski‘s “titas” and “titos,” roles assumed by PAL’s senior advisors. One of the highlights of the night, the crowd erupted into applause and laughter at each interpretation of the different rounds as the suitors were prompted to try “serving” and rizzing up the judges on the spot.

After a dynamic hip-hop number soundtracked to songs like Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” from Liga Modern, a dance troupe from the University of Albany’s Liga Filipina, the evening closed off with line dancing. All attendees were invited to shuffle along on the dance floor to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”

Nunez explained how he hoped the banquet’s atmosphere brought together attendees from the Binghamton community and beyond as part of a shared familial unit.

“I hope that the attendees were able to immerse themselves into a mock debut, as one of our emcees, Monica, played the role of a girl who just turned 18 and sought to accomplish everything that typically happens at a debut,” Nunez wrote. “From line dancing to traditional games played [at] Filipino family gatherings, I hope that anyone in attendance was able to feel as though they were part of the PAL family, or in Tagalog, Kapamilya.”

Edwin Enriquez Gutierrez, the president of Candela and a junior double-majoring in biology and women, gender and sexuality studies, explained the significance of the theme.

“Our theme ‘Dia De Los Niños’ is Day of the Kid, translated into English, and it’s a celebration seen in Latin America where people celebrate kids and their youth and growth, and our theme aims to provide a space where people can see some and feel nostalgia of what it means to grow up as someone a part of Latin Culture,” wrote Enriquez Gutierrez in an email. “Candela is an organization that always aims to provide a safe and fun space to dance to anyone, and that will definitely be seen at our banquet this week, as it will tie into our theme of growing up in Latin Culture and part of that is growing up with Latin Music, food, and much more!”

As guests filtered in, blue lighting set the scene, and reggaeton tracks reminiscent of the early 2000s played. Papel picado, or perforated paper, decorated the walls, along with blue streamers and flower bunches. Tables were set with programs, a flower bouquet centerpiece, menus and coloring pages.

The banquet kicked off with the introduction of hosts, Skyla Rivera ‘24, the former president and founder of Candela, and Joskarly Fermin Rodriguez ‘24. They discussed the club’s goal to share Latin culture through dance and steps founding E-Board members took to create the organization.

After introductions from the current E-Board, Tropical Ecstasy, an on-campus Caribbean dance team, performed a choreographed set featuring genres like afrobeats and dembow. The audience applauded as the group danced to popular songs on social media like “Yo Bunny” by Prodbycpkshawn and Ugly Andz.

Two activities followed, musical chairs for a chance to win a Chipotle gift card and pin the tail on the donkey, encapsulating the theme of childhood nostalgia.

Andy Castellanos, the public relations chair and a junior majoring in economics, discussed how the organization speaks to the culture of Binghamton University’s diverse student body.

“What Candela is really about is creating a space where culture and community can come together,” Castellanos wrote in an email. “Although Latin dance is at the core of what we do, it is also a way to celebrate one’s identity and share it with others. Having students from different backgrounds join us is one of my favorite parts of this organization as that’s what makes Candela feel so welcoming and true to Binghamton’s diversity.”

During intermission, guests chose their selection of dinner options, all made by E-Board members. Guests could partake in cheese empanadas, mac and cheese or spaghetti, white rice or moro and chicken or pork.

Enriquez Gutierrez also set time aside to discuss current immigration policies, which have allowed for degrading, humiliating and often violent encounters between immigrants and ICE agents. He highlighted several resources and encouraged guests to educate themselves and spread awareness.

“I implore you guys all to donate, help however you can,” Enriquez Gutierrez said. “Please look past your privileges and acknowledge what’s going on in the world, and please educate those who need education.”

The audience practiced dancing to several bachata songs before moving into “La Hora Loca,” or the crazy hour, where all different genres of Latin music played to encourage guests to try out different dance styles with one another.

“Our Día de Los Niños Banquet is our chance to really bring everything we stand for into one night which includes culture, joy, and community,” Castellanos wrote. “Día de Los Niños is about celebrating childhood and we want the event to capture that same sense of fun and togetherness. With music, performances, and activities, we hope the Banquet feels like more than just a showcase, but a celebration that invites everyone to be part of our family.”

The fair was organized in collaboration with the Center for Civic Engagement and a variety of student organizations: the Asian Student Union; the Latin American Student Union; the Indian International Student Union; the Hindu Student Council; the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program; the Caribbean Student Association; the Black Student Union; the African Student Organization; the Binghamton University Association of Mixed Students; the Global Public Health Student Association; the University’s chapter of the NAACP; Undivided; ColorStack BU; and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

“The third annual Multicultural Voting Fair aimed to promote voting behavior and civic engagement among the student body of Binghamton University, especially in students of color, who are historically underrepresented at the polls,” Kristina Donders, the vice president for student success and a senior double-majoring in mathematics and political science, wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream. “By giving out $1,500+ of cultural food and 300 cans of Celsius, the VPSS Office was able to entice students to learn about civic engagement.”

Students received cards at the fair entrance to get stamped by visiting each of the four voter information tables, which offered information about becoming a poll worker, registering to vote, pledging to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. Once they collected a stamp from each table, attendees went around to the many tables set up by multicultural organizations that offered food, drinks and snacks.

Donders described the event as a “huge success.”

“Even though it’s not a big voting year, we had three students register to vote at the event, 38 students actively go to vote.gov [HYPERLINK: vote.gov] to get registered, and 55 students go to the website to request absentee ballots,” Donders wrote.

Binghamton city’s mayoral election will be held on Nov. 4, with early voting from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2. Voters will decide whether to give incumbent Republican Mayor Jared Kraham a second term or elect his Democratic challenger, Miles Burnett.

Donders wrote that this election will “directly impact” students and showcase the importance of being active in local politics.

According to the Census Bureau’s Population Survey, voter registration among Black, Asian and Latino Americans has been persistently lower than that of white Americans. While Latinos and Asian Americans are among the fastest-growing electorates in the United States, they remain among the lowest in terms of voter registration. This is due to a myriad of factors, including historical and economic barriers to poll access and voter ID requirements.

“Voting in communities that are historically underrepresented, especially, is a really good way to start the conversation about how oppression begins and how we can fight to stop it,” said Hatim Husainy, an SA Congress representative for Hillside and a sophomore majoring in political science. “That conversation shouldn’t end at voting, but it’s a good place for it to start.”

Jestina Tam, vice president of multicultural affairs and a senior majoring in biology, volunteered at a table that provided absentee ballot request forms. Tam told Pipe Dream in a statement that it was “incredible” to engage with attendees and answer their questions about voting eligibility.

Students representing the NAACP described the importance of racially and culturally informed voter education.

“The NAACP has a huge history in promoting the right to vote for people of color, so it’s very important that, as an organization on campus, we also show up for events like this,” said Damel Stewart, the press and publicity chair for BU’s NAACP chapter and a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering.

In early November, the VPSS office will host a “Chalk the Vote” event, where students can write non-partisan quotes and slogans on the Spine to encourage their peers to vote in the general election.

“Over the past two years, the Multicultural Voting Fair has helped dozens of students get registered to vote, become poll workers, request absentee ballots, and pledge to vote,” wrote Donders. “By putting students in a place where they can have support to become more civically engaged, while also getting free food, we’re able to get students genuinely excited about voting.”

Dozens of community members attended the “Meet the Mayoral Candidates” event, held downtown at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator. Hosted by the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, the debate focused on issues ranging from local economic development to infrastructure and public safety.

Stacey Duncan, the CEO of the Leadership Alliance, a group that partners with the Chamber of Commerce and the Broome County Industrial Development Agency to promote local business activity, thanked both candidates for agreeing to come and discuss their vision for the city’s future.

“I want to thank both of you for stepping and staying into this arena, because in the world we live in today, with intense public scrutiny, it’s not an easy thing to do, and I don’t think anybody takes this kind of work lightly,” Duncan said.

The debate was moderated by Brooke Warpus, a news anchor on FOX 40 News. A student from Vestal High School kept time. Both candidates were given three minutes for opening and closing statements, two minutes to answer questions and one minute for rebuttal if requested.
Burnett told the audience he entered the race in February because he was “fed up” at seeing the city face continued challenges, citing its high poverty rate and challenges with homelessness and vacant properties.

A South Side native, Burnett served as deputy chief of staff to State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 from 2023 to 2024. He also worked as an aide to a former New York City councilman and the executive director of a nonprofit advancing economic development projects.

Kraham said the city undoubtedly faces “great challenges” and that he spent his first term in office working to tackle some of these problems.

Alluding to the current federal government shutdown, Kraham said he wants to be a “problem solver” who will ensure that “we keep our services up and running and our government open,” adding that shutdowns are “not an option for local leaders.”

When both candidates were asked about their biggest achievements, Burnett pointed to his time advancing new development projects and “revitalizing commercial corridors.” He added that as mayor, building new housing units would be a major focus of his.

Kraham said his public safety record is what he has “been most proud of” and highlighted that both the Binghamton Police Benevolent Association Local 2737 and the Binghamton Professional Firefighter Association Local 729 endorsed his reelection campaign. Burnett responded by saying he would implement a “team of mental health experts” to help address some nonviolent incidents and tackle a mental health crisis.

When asked about attracting new investment to the region, Burnett voiced his plan to create a local council of small business owners. Kraham pointed to a Sept. 24 article by the Albany Times Union that found the Binghamton metropolitan area to be the only region in the state that increased its share of 18 to 34-year-olds since 2019.

Turning to infrastructure, Kraham highlighted his work to get Norfolk Southern to begin repairs on decaying railroad bridges across the city. In August 2023, Kraham’s office released an over-900-page report that found a majority of surveyed bridges were in “poor” or “severe” condition. Norfolk Southern announced that it would begin repairs on seven of its bridges that October.

Both candidates were also asked about their plans to tackle poverty and rising housing costs.

“Thirty-three percent of our community lives in poverty because they cannot find a safe, affordable place to live,” Burnett said. “That’s three times the national average right here in Binghamton. And I know my opponent is talking about childhood poverty not growing, but it’s at 42 percent in our community, we have almost 400 Binghamton city school kids that are homeless.”

Kraham pointed out that several housing projects were currently under construction, including the Town and Country project in the city’s North Side.

When the debate shifted back to public safety, Kraham directly asked Burnett about his plans for police staffing. Burnett responded by saying the department should be “fully staffed.”

Asked about how they envision the city over the next decade, Kraham said he would continue to facilitate partnerships with Binghamton University to drive more local investment in the healthcare and technology sectors.

In closing statements, Burnett stressed that the community should “stop pretending that the problems don’t exist” and the changes he would make to Binghamton’s economic development. Kraham said that while there is “a lot of work to do,” his track record demonstrates how he would address the city’s most pressing issues.

“If we’re going to rebuild this city, we’re going to face the challenges we have and really have a bright future,” Kraham said in his closing statement. “It’s going to take experienced leadership that knows how to get stuff done — that represents my candidacy.”

Chosen in part for its connection to the newly released “Wicked” movie and the nostalgia of “The Wizard of Oz,” the theme set the stage for the event. A yellow brick road lined the entrance, leading to a packed room filled with colorful decorations and a photo booth designed to mimic the magical world of Oz.

“Miss Asia is an important tradition as people have come to associate Miss Asia with the same high quality each year, yet the challenge is constantly improving on the baseline and making it even better each year,” Calvin Chang, a gala chair for VSA and a sophomore majoring in business administration, wrote in an email.

Upon entering, attendees received goodie bags filled with ramen and snacks from sponsors LMNT, Vifon and Yami. Each guest also received raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes including matcha, a tablet and a television. Dinner was catered by Mein Bowl, featuring fried rice, white rice, orange chicken and teriyaki chicken, with drinks provided by Moshi and other sponsors.

The pageant opened with a flag walk. Contestants Joy Lin, Miss China and a junior majoring in biology; Amy Jung, Miss Korea and a junior majoring in biology; Simran Singh, a junior majoring in biology; representing Miss Punjab; and Catherine Guevarra, Miss Philippines and a junior majoring in global public health, took the stage holding their countries’ flags, signaling the beginning of the cultural showcase.

Serena Le, a gala chair for VSA and a sophomore majoring in nursing, explained what organizers look for when selecting contestants.

“Most of all, I feel like we look for commitment, of course, because it is a hard process,” said Le. “Just preparing so many performances in a short amount of time and being there consistently to practice with VSA and with the board. But also their cultural pride — I really love learning about their different cultures, and I feel like a lot of the contestants like learning new cultures.”

The cultural portion gave contestants the chance to showcase traditional dances from their respective heritages. Miss China performed a graceful traditional Chinese dance, while Miss Korea began her performance with a large drum before transitioning into a fan dance. Miss Punjab performed a traditional dance with two background dancers as rainbow lights filled the room and the audience clapped along. Miss Philippines also performed with background dancers, highlighting her country’s dance traditions through an energetic routine.

Attendees played mini games, including “Tornado Twister Trials” and a guessing game to find a “magic charm,” between rounds to keep the audience engaged.

The talent segment allowed contestants to express their creativity and individuality. Miss China performed a cheerleader-inspired dance in her country’s colors, joined by a background dancer who recreated the viral KATSEYE routine to Kelis’ “Milkshake.” Miss Korea showcased three dance styles, including a hip-hop number to Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” Miss Punjab performed a Caribbean-style dance with two background dancers, while Miss Philippines sang “Beaches” by beabadoobee as the audience illuminated the room with their phone flashlights.

For the costume round, contestants embraced “The Wizard of Oz” theme. Miss China appeared as Dorothy, walking out to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and tossing candies to the audience. Miss Korea dressed as the Cowardly Lion and danced to “Confident” by Justin Bieber. Miss Punjab dressed as a flying monkey, while Miss Philippines embodied Glinda the Good Witch, lip-syncing to “Popular” from Wicked. Audience members voted for Crowd Favorite, Best Costume and Social Media Favorite throughout the event.

In the final walk, contestants wore formal dresses and sashes featuring the names of their represented countries before taking part in the “Ruby Slipper Reflection,” where they shared what Miss Asia meant to them.

Lin, who represented Miss China, described how the pageant allowed her to grow beyond her comfort zone.

“Some of you know me — I was one of the quietest of my high school graduating class, and for me, getting up here today, it’s a very big challenge for me,” Lin said. “I think I’m really glad to have Miss Asia as a platform for me to showcase myself and to meet so many wonderful friends I’ve made along the way.”

Jung, representing Miss Korea, reflected on the deeper meaning behind her performance.

“I personally wanted to do Miss Asia because I know that Korean culture is known today as K-Pop or publicly known snacks,” Jung said. “But obviously, our culture has a deeper root than that and a lot more history, so I showed my Korean traditional dance today. And I also wanted to come out of my comfort zone, and thankfully, I was able to be given the gift of being able to dance and use my body in that way.”

Guevarra, who represented the Philippines, discussed colorism within many Asian cultures. Growing up, she was taught to straighten her natural hair to better adhere to these beauty standards. In her presentation, she wanted to draw attention to “all the unique parts of ourselves.”

The event concluded with the announcement of audience-voted superlatives. Best Costume went to Miss Punjab, while Social Media Favorite and Crowd Favorite were both awarded to Miss Philippines. Finally, Lin was crowned Miss Asia 2025, marking the end of an evening that celebrated culture, creativity and confidence.

Lin took a moment to express her gratitude toward those who supported her journey.

“I’d like to thank my friends who never stopped believing in me and encouraged me to go the whole way,” Lin said. “There were nights where I felt like I wasn’t able to pull through and wanted to give up.”

“But I want to say for anyone who is scared to step outside the box or be on stage next year or in the spring, don’t hesitate, just do it,” she continued.

Established in 2002, BAMS aims to provide a space for students of mixed racial and cultural backgrounds to connect with their identities. Nadira Asghar, vice president of BAMS and a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, elaborated on the importance of creating this space.

“We want to allow those of mixed heritage an opportunity to engage in discussions surrounding their experiences, as well as cultivate a community they can relate to and find comfort in,” Asghar wrote in an email. “Whether it’s through fun crafting general body meetings, or more in depth conversations, we want to be that safe space.”

The banquet, titled “Mix It Up,” was themed after Y2K. Attendees arrived dressed to impress in bold colors, low-rise jeans, crop tops and various other pieces characteristic of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Upon entering the space, guests were immediately greeted with Y2K hit songs from artists like Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears and Beyoncé. Each table was adorned with painted CDs, confetti, plastic stars and Y2K-themed stickers.

“When thinking of a theme for our banquet, BAMS was considering staples of what made up mixed identities,” Alyssa Williams, secretary of BAMS and a sophomore majoring in biology, wrote in an email. “We had so many ideas yet when we thought of Y2K, it was instantly decided. It’s such a fun theme that will make guests really excited to be there. Also, diverse cultures played a pivotal role in the Y2K impact.”

“Mixed identities reflected in Y2K moments and fashion has always been prevalent,” she continued. “To pay thanks to Y2K’s importance and recent revival, it made sense to have a Y2K-themed banquet for our own revival of this event.”

After introductions and acknowledgements by BAMS alumni and the organization’s current president, Emely Perez Alvarado, a senior double-majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies and art and design, the Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association performed four distinct dances for the audience.

Ammon Kellmurray, captain of the ballroom dance team and a junior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and history, introduced each type of dance before the performance. The ballroom dances included Mambo, originating in Cuba in the 1930s; Paso Doble, with origins in either Spain or France; East Coast Swing, which comes from a variety of sources throughout the United States; and the Viennese Waltz, which traces back to 13th-century Germany and Austria. Each performance emphasized the rich history of dance and its integral role in cultures across the globe.

“Many organizations, students, and families are attending, which we can’t thank them enough for,” Williams wrote. “It means so much to us, especially since a banquet is very new for BAMS. We haven’t had one since 2011 and to see how many people support us has been very appreciated.”

The Mix It Up banquet encouraged attendee participation with games like “Mummy Wrap,” where contestants tried to wrap their partner up in toilet paper in under a minute, and musical chairs. Each game gave participants a chance to win a $25 Dunkin’ or Starbucks gift card.

After the first game, dinner was served buffet-style, featuring food like Korean BBQ chicken, chana masala and beef and broccoli. Once everyone was seated with their food, Undivided, Binghamton’s first and only multicultural singing group, performed a cover of “Soon as I Get Home” by Faith Evans.

The R&B group’s performance was followed by a fashion show that highlighted cultural attire like Desi wear and attendees’ Y2K-inspired clothing. The emcees emphasized that the show was all about mixing identities and different forms of expression. After the original participants walked down the aisle, guests were invited to showcase their own outfits of the night.

“The banquet showcases the mixed identity and so many aspects of the multicultural community,” Williams wrote. “We are an organization of a variety of voices and stories, and [the] banquet will express just how strong everyone is when together.”

The X-Fact’r Step Team was the final organization to perform at the banquet, closing the evening’s dance showcases with an energetic and powerful presentation. Before the performance, a brief history was shared, highlighting the cultural significance of step within Black communities.

After enslaved people were banned from owning drums, they adapted by using percussive body movements as a means of communication and expression. This tradition evolved into the art form known today as step, which is prevalent in many African American fraternities and sororities.

The banquet’s art gallery, situated near the entrance of Old Union Hall, featured both visual art and poetry by students of diverse backgrounds. During the final portion of the event, five spoken word artists who were part of the gallery read their poetry for attendees, touching on themes like being mixed, tension with religion, legacy and labels.

Kayla Lockhart, a sophomore majoring in philosophy and a member of BAMS, discussed the poetry they read to the audience.

“I think a lot of times poetry can sound more powerful if it’s said through your own mouth,” Lockhart said. “And especially since this is through my own voice, I wanted to use my voice to share my own story and my experience being a biracial person, being raised by a white mother and being devoid of a lot of culture growing up, and that’s the majority of what my poetry was about.”

The art and culture segment of the event concluded with the announcement of the art gallery winners. Alejandra Fernandez, a junior majoring in psychology, took first place with her painting “La Danza,” which highlighted the importance of traditional Mexican dance, in both the pre-colonial era and the Mexican American community today.

“I wanted to showcase not only the movement of the dance but also the beauty of the traditional attire, which further represents cultural pride and unity,” Fernandez wrote in the art label beside her painting. “The meaning behind it goes beyond performance; it is about remembrance, appreciation, and shared connection. Just as people from different cultures can come together to admire and learn from one another’s traditions, art becomes a bridge that unites us all as a community, regardless of where we come from.”

After a night of celebrating students with mixed backgrounds and experiences, the banquet came to a close with a recognition of BAMS’ interns and E-Board members who put together the organization’s first banquet in over a decade.

“This banquet is a true reflection of the dedication and teamwork that went into bringing it to life,” Perez Alvarado wrote in the event program. “Being part of the BAMily and working with such wonderful people has been an amazing experience, and I’m excited for all that lies ahead for us. I truly value the memories we’ve created together and look forward to everything the future holds for our organization.”

It is abundantly clear that the two-party system is not leaving anytime soon, and it is almost impossible to imagine what the government would look like without it. Still, its very existence poses a threat to the effectiveness of our democratic process as increasing polarization prevents effective representation of the American people.

When I turned 18 years old, there were so many new things I could do, but for me, the most notable was voting. The voting process began when I was 16, filling out the voter pre-registration form at the DMV. My eyes were drawn to the political party section — glancing over the two mainstream parties, the Democrats and Republicans, my attention quickly found the third parties.

The Working Families Party and Conservative Party were mostly unfamiliar, and the only familiarity I had with the Libertarian Party was the belief that they stole votes from the two mainstream parties. After a bit of deliberation, I ended up selecting no party affiliation, knowing that if I ever gained a strong affinity for one of the parties, I could always change it.

So there I was, an official independent, free from rules and the confinement of a political party — or so I thought.

It turns out New York is a closed primary state, meaning only registered members of a party can vote in that party’s primary, and independents like myself are left out of the fun. On a serious note, the implications of this are worrisome. With so many people being left out of the selection process, it calls into question whether the chosen candidates are even representative of the people, especially because elections almost always end up being a battle between Democratic and Republican nominees.

This is at the center of why the two-party system is rotting American politics. How can a government be truly representative of the people if the people representing them are chosen almost out of habit rather than by merit and beliefs? Can they really enact the will of the people? Can two parties truly represent a vast nation full of diverse ideas? Clearly not. We live in a system so stuck in party conformity that it forces us into situations like the current government shutdown and only seems to fuel the ever-constant attacks between parties.

The unfortunate reality is that the United States houses a wide range of ideas, but has confined its citizens to only two parties — parties that are too broad to truly be representative of their members. It’s impossible to expect party members to agree on everything, but the range of ideas in each party is simply too vast.

In the Democratic Party, you can find both a progressive who adamantly opposes foreign intervention in wars and a moderate who believes these interventions are necessary and beneficial. In the Republican Party, you can find members who are very libertarian in both social and economic issues sitting next to people who seek greater government control in these areas. So why are these people with vastly different views grouped into the same party?

Clearly, U.S. politics has an issue, but enacting small changes can prove effective in dismantling the seemingly unspoken rule of only nominating Democrats and Republicans to political roles.

To start, we could look to the many democracies around the world that use a multiparty system for inspiration. In those countries, it is very difficult for a single party to maintain a legislative majority, which forces candidates to work harder for the benefit of their people. As a result, campaigns are focused more on actual policy rather than relentless attacks on the opposition — politics focus around the people instead of parties.

After winning, those elected have a greater incentive to work with those in other parties to pass legislation that is more widely representative. This type of system would create a less polarized political climate in the United States through collaboration and the representation of a wider range of ideas.

However, dismantling the two-party system’s chokehold won’t be easy. After all, the United States often has more than two parties running in a given election — it’s just that only two parties are taken seriously.

There is a promising way we can get past this: ranked choice voting. We’ve already seen it play out on a more local scale in the New York City mayoral race, and by changing the way we view elections, ranked choice voting can push us beyond the two-party system and help shift our political culture in the right direction.

By ranking candidates in order of preference rather than just selecting one, people will no longer have to vote with the mindset that they may be wasting a vote. In this format, third-party candidates will become more viable options, helping push us away from the grasp of the rigid two-party system. Under this system, the “lesser of two evils” rhetoric will no longer be reasonable, and candidates will be forced to center their campaigns around the benefit of the people instead of making the opposing party look worse.

The two-party system will always fail because it can never truly represent everyone in the United States. To be better represented, we need to move beyond the two-party system, the first step of which is a shift in the public’s mindset, and that starts at the individual level.

Kayla Cloherty is a freshman majoring in history. 

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

First of all, it is easier to move on when a relationship ends in anger. In those cases, there is no place left in your heart for the love that once was, only for the cold betrayal or burning acceptance of realizing that the person you were with isn’t who you thought they were.

But, in my case, it wasn’t like this. Instead, it felt like a push and a pull between what was best for us. There seemed to be no clear answer, and in the face of uncertainty, there were far too many “what-ifs.”

This type of heartbreak is a battle between comfort and the prospect of a less conflictual relationship. Sometimes, there is a possibility that you’re holding each other back because you don’t want to let go of the other person. It starts as a small doubt in your head: the thought that a healthy relationship shouldn’t feel the way your current relationship feels. Then, it grows into resentment that bubbles into anger every time you’re reminded of their poor actions.

But when lack of improvement is evident, it is best to find the strength within oneself to leave. Staying too long is a recipe for self-doubt, loathing and utter sadness. Starting the dreadful process of heartbreak sooner leads to a fully healed and rejuvenated version of oneself more quickly.

After it ends, you have to change your entire daily routine just to not think of them, and it can feel like you’ve completely rewired who you are. This process is not easy, and it definitely isn’t quick.

But let me stress this next part: there is no going back after things end. The decision has been made, and distance is necessary to grow into a better person.

The despair that accompanies the decision to leave stems from the idea that the heartbreak could have been prevented. You think, in an alternate universe, you could have been happy forever with this person. You can’t help but think back to the good times and wish that the timeline didn’t have to end so soon.

But, you have to remind yourself that when communication between two people turns into a battle of their own stories, rather than addressing the feelings and emotions of the other, it’s no longer worth it.

Another aspect of heartbreak comes from the constant overthinking. You will wake up feeling a heaviness in your heart and a pit in your stomach. You will get ready and pretend like it isn’t there. You will go about your day, doing what you need to do and convince yourself, for the umpteenth time, that this is what is best for you.

In some instances, it may even feel like the hand of heartbreak has loosened its deathly grip on your heart, even if just for a moment. Make sure to close your eyes and really appreciate these moments when it feels like the world is spinning once again. You will go to bed, maybe somewhat satisfied but still a little sad. You will do this process over and over again until the day that you wake up and your chest doesn’t feel as heavy as before.

In the unfortunate case where jealousy is involved, my one piece of advice is to simply not look at their new life. After all, how could you expect to feed positivity into your new life when you are still stuck in your old one?

Don’t search them up on social media. Don’t expect comfort from them anymore. Most importantly, don’t compare yourself to their new partner. Ignorance really is bliss in this case, and what they are doing is no longer your concern, no matter how much you wish it were.

Most of all, in the difficult times of heartbreak, remember the people closest to you. Remember that there is more love out there for you, and that there is always more work to do on your own mind and your own soul.

It is hard to deal with feelings of inadequacy and longing, and it’s even harder to deal with loneliness, but take all the time that you need to heal — don’t rush it. We are humans, and it is beautiful that we get to love so strongly at all.

Unfortunately, we hurt to a degree equivalent to the love we experienced. While you wait for the day that the love you find stays unwavering throughout the years, embrace the times that you do get to feel such an emotion and remember that there is so much love around you, even if it isn’t in the form of a relationship.

Love takes the form of friends who support you, pets that depend on you, professors who are proud of you, family who listens to you and most of all, your own resilience to continue to feed your own ambitions and goals in life.

Heartbreak, if it’s good for anything, can remind us of this kind of love, which we too often take for granted, and of the ability we have to continue to evolve.

Myah Meunier is a freshman majoring in English. 

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

I adored the lively puppets that taught basic problem-solving and encouraged creativity while emphasizing the value of optimism. Lighthearted tropes and lovable characters defined my childhood TV experience. Now, as I look back, I realize that, throughout my daily bingeing, themes often seen in adult shows discussing death, grief and other dark concepts were nowhere to be found in my favorite childhood shows. Their inclusion would have added intricacy to their predictability.

Years after I had moved on from kid-oriented viewing, I asked my 9-year-old sister if she’d like to watch some TV with me. Together, we watched “Over the Garden Wall,” an animated dark fantasy show that follows two young boys, Greg and Wirt.

As the show began, I was surprised to see the two boys accidentally venture into the underworld as they explored the depths of a mysterious forest, a metaphor for the limbo between life and death. In Pottsfield, a town designed to represent a graveyard composed of unmarked headstones, Greg and Wirt have to dig holes — implied to be their own graves — and interact with the town’s undead residents. At the end of the episode, when a group of Pottsfield residents asks the boys if they’d like to stay in town, it becomes clear that the boys will eventually return once they die.

These themes of death and mortality explored in “Over the Garden Wall” were utterly alien to me at my sister’s age — it was a universe away from the comforting narratives of the shows I knew. The first episode quickly introduced plot conflicts complex enough for adults, and I was amazed to see that my little sister was as engaged and intrigued by Greg and Wirt’s gloomy endeavors as I was.

While entire seasons of other classic kids shows never delved into anything more profound than friendship drama and simple moral dilemmas, “Over the Garden Wall” dared to dive deeper. Within the confines of a fictional narrative, my sister could explore different coping strategies to deal with serious concepts and challenges she will have to face one day.

I spent the summer of 2024 babysitting two young kids. Once toys and piggyback rides had run their course, a few episodes of a TV show were the best way to end the day. The kids always insisted that I put on “Bluey,” a show that superficially followed the lives of four animated dancing dogs, but actually had much more to offer under the surface.

“Bluey,” an Australian children’s show that has gained massive popularity in the United States, is usually lighthearted and friendly, exploring topics like friendship and manners. However, the show occasionally grapples with more mature themes that inspire reflection in viewers of any age. For example, in an episode called “Grandad,” Bluey’s parents struggle with the reversal of roles that can occur between an elderly parent and an adult child stepping into a caregiver position.

These kinds of concepts are rarely explored by adult-oriented entertainment, so addressing these issues and their solutions in kids’ shows is a crucial step in preparing kids for life’s less-than-happy aspects.

Moreover, shows like these are part of a larger movement toward bringing more serious and realistic content to children’s media. Although these topics are often written off as inappropriate for children, being exposed to hardship and conflict in the world and throughout one’s own life is an unavoidable aspect of growing up.

By subtly introducing darker concepts and demonstrating constructive methods to discuss and respond to them through the show’s plot, these topics become easier to digest and accept when kids inevitably encounter them in the real world, especially as we face a world teeming with violence.

Tragedies often occur spontaneously, and young people are usually forced to confront grief and conflict earlier than they should have to. Adding darker themes to children’s shows may help teach them the best way to cope.

TV has a tremendous amount of influence over the choices children make as they grow older, and it would be a mistake for children’s shows not to harness that power to prepare them for the harsh realities of life.

While it’s startling to see the stark contrast between the optimistic, upbeat shows of my childhood and the heavier themes addressed in similar-looking shows today, like “Bluey,” the value of early exposure to a darker but authentic reality may be the key to raising more resilient, emotionally intelligent future generations.

Deirdre Pryal is a sophomore majoring in English. 

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

While I could not articulate it at the time, my parents’ extreme generosity taught me a valuable lesson: although community can be inconvenient, it is overwhelmingly worthwhile. Humans are inherently social creatures, constantly seeking to mitigate feelings of loneliness and isolation by connecting with others.

But recently, we have seen the erosion of solid communities, whether it’s tightly knit neighborhoods, groups with common interests or goals or religious or spiritual centers. We have also heard complaints of social isolation and a “loneliness epidemic” through sources like the National Library of Medicine and Vivek Murphy, the former surgeon general.

Older generations are quick to blame increased technology usage, and people across the board cite the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential cause for decreased meaningful friendships and increased self-seclusion. While these factors certainly play a part, we must also examine how we choose to opt out of community, from the words we use to keep people at arm’s length to the ways we assert our individualism to avoid emotional discomfort.

One aspect of how we do this is through “therapy speak,” or the everyday use of psychological and mental health-related language. If you’ve heard phrases like “I’m protecting my peace” or “I’m just asserting my boundaries,” you know exactly what I’m talking about.

However, as it becomes more common, it is clear that this rhetoric is easy to misuse. These phrases were originally intended for use in therapy settings but have been co-opted to avoid discussing emotions authentically with friends or weaponized to make oneself the eternal victim.

On social media specifically, the phrase “protect your peace” constantly circulates, a testament to the attitude that we must always be on the defensive, protecting our resources and emotions. It’s almost as if culturally we’ve decided to conserve our energy as a finite resource, and as if the energy and attention we pour into others will not return to us. Isolation has been marketed as a necessary tool for personal development to the point where people believe emotionally intimate relationships will just drag them down.

While there are situations where this kind of language is valid, on social media it is often used as an excuse to abandon others — emotionally and physically — simply because we “don’t feel like it.” The rhetoric of “emotional labor” becomes a convenient shield, allowing us to pick and choose when to engage while avoiding the uncomfortable work of sitting with others’ feelings and offering genuine support.

I fear that people are creating impenetrable boundaries of protection. Brick by brick, they build with phrases like “I’m not responsible for your emotions,” turning friendship into something we choose to invest in, rather than being there when needed.

The negative effects of these boundaries appear in minor ways, like being told your friend doesn’t have the emotional bandwidth to hear about your especially painful heartbreak or loss of a job. Or when no one has the mental energy to show up to your birthday despite it being planned ages in advance, or getting a two-dollar Venmo request from someone you consider a close friend. It’s emotionally distancing, a deviation from “what’s mine is yours” and into the realm of “my time and energy is for me to hoard, not share.”

Instead of investing in community, we live in a culture of networking. We achieve the illusion of kinship with superficial and entirely transactional relationships. The beauty of community and friendship lies in their nontransactional nature — they are a labor of love and a display of humanity.

Networking, in contrast, is a way of building up contacts that may be of use later for the express purpose of advancing professionally or socially. This is further facilitated by our workaholic culture, where financial and professional success are paramount.

We want to lean on each other. We know that “it takes a village” and that life is simply better with the embrace of supportive community, yet we refuse to be villagers. We’ve made friendship transactional, rather than intimate — a subscription that can be canceled rather than something we commit to.

Caring is costly and at times inconvenient. We repeat the refrain “I don’t owe anyone anything,” so we don’t have to care. But all things considered, we do owe everyone everything.

Shefa Stein-Talesnick is a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law.

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

The men’s squad placed third out of 38 teams, while the women’s placed third out of 39. Between both teams, the Bearcats had six medalists, the most they have achieved in the Paul Short Brown Race.

(0:25) “Both teams, I thought, had good performances overall,” said Binghamton head coach Annette Acuff. “We had a lot of kids who ran personal bests on that course at Lehigh, and certainly it’s always nice to get a top-three finish as a team.”

On the men’s team, sophomore Bobby Mayclim placed 10th in the race out of 314 finishers, registering a time of 24:41.8 in the 8k. Following him was junior Liam Cody, who finished 24th with a time of 25:07.3, and senior Andrew Rosenblatt in 25th place with a time of 25:08.3. All three received medals for placing in the top 25 racers.

The Bearcats men’s squad had four more players finish in the top 100 for the team, sealing their third-place finish, trailing behind only George Washington and American.

(2:33) “It was definitely a nice performance by [Mayclim],” Acuff said. “It ended up just being a little hot running later in the afternoon. I think that affected us, more than anything, was just the heat.”

Meanwhile, the women’s squad was headlined by senior Sydney Leitner, who finished 12th overall in the 6k with a time of 21:16.0, and now holds the highest finish for the women’s team in its history in the Paul Short Brown Race. Along with Leitner, the team had two other medalists in sophomore Anna Gansrow, who finished in 20th with a time of 21:34.2, and freshman Alice Rappazzo, who finished in 22nd with a time of 21:36.0.

The women’s team saw three more Bearcats finish in the top 100, once again leading them to a third-place finish, falling only behind George Washington and Iona.

(3:36) “[Leitner’s] time was her second fastest ever on that course,” Acuff said. “So, considering the conditions with the heat, etc., certainly that was a great performance from her. Another good step forward from the Iona meet. We saw a lot of improvement with the team from Iona and Colgate to Lehigh.”

Just three of the finishers in the top 100 across both the men’s and women’s squads are in their last year with the team, as many of the team’s top players will maintain NCAA eligibility beyond the 2025 campaign. Most notably, Mayclim, Gansrow and Rappazzo currently possess at minimum two years of future NCAA eligibility.

(5:22) “We have one more good opportunity to put in a hard week of training this week,” Acuff said. “So that’s our plan, to get in another really good week of training, and then get ready for Canisius, give everyone another opportunity to compete one last time.”

The cross country team will next compete at the Canisius Alumni Challenge on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Buffalo, New York The event is set to begin at Delaware Park at noon.

A goal late in the first half saw the Bearcats take a 1-0 lead, but a score from the reigning AE champions, Maine, tied the match with nine minutes left in play. Binghamton, however, found the game-winning score just two minutes later, building its undefeated streak to nine.

“Ecstatic with the win, ecstatic to be sitting at 3-0 and one,” said Binghamton head coach Neel Bhattacharjee. “At this point, halfway through the conference season in first place. So it’s a great spot for us to be, but we’ve got to make sure that we keep up that quality over the course of the full 90 minutes.”

Binghamton (8-1-3, 3-0-1 AE) wasted no time working its way down the field, as junior midfielder/forward Paige Luke ripped a shot from the edge of the box in the third minute of the match. Eager to create its own pressure, Maine (2-5-2, 1-1-1 AE) strung together a pair of attacks, each resulting in an unsuccessful shot.

The Bearcats continued to drive balls into the opposing third, as sophomore forward Jahkaya Davis rattled off her first shot of the night in the 10th minute. Another shot courtesy of sophomore forward Alexus Worrell bounced off Maine’s post in the 16th.

“We had the first opening, I’d say 25 minutes,” Bhattacharjee said. “I thought we were on top of our opponent today, hit the post, had some good chances.”

A series of early substitutions revitalized the Black Bears, as they took five shots over 12 minutes and prevented the Bearcats from any attempts. Looking to regain control, BU created a corner kick opportunity in the 40th minute, which was taken by freshman midfielder Sydney Krempasky, who worked her way into the box after her cross. She found the ball once more, burying it in the top left corner for the Bearcat lead.

Neither squad registered a shot for the remainder of the period as the Bearcats went into halftime up a score.

“As a six, I don’t have that many chances up by the goal, so I crossed the ball and I ran in and it fell at my foot, so I was like, ‘Let me just take the shot in,’” Krempasky said. “And luckily it went in, so it was great.”

Looking to find their first score of the game, the Black Bears utilized a higher press and aggressive play down the pitch, but several key moves from Binghamton’s back line prevented Maine from registering any shots in the opening minutes of the half. Seeking an insurance goal, Binghamton continued pressuring the Black Bears’ net, with Luke and Krempasky each rattling off a shot, but both attempts missed wide.

“I thought, for the most part, we were able to limit the danger,” Bhattacharjee said. “There are a couple of transition moments that Maine had that perhaps they got it in midfield, but we were able to take care of it once we got into protecting our defensive third.”

After a fast break that saw Maine progress into Binghamton’s box, the Black Bears forced a corner kick, and on the ensuing delivery, they found a score to tie the game at 1-1. Binghamton, however, refused to surrender any momentum following the score, as Luke found Davis on a deep through ball, and Davis worked her way into the box and blasted a shot past the Black Bears’ goalkeeper.

The Bearcats immediately shifted into a more defensive formation, repeatedly clearing the ball out of play, as they prevented Maine from attempting another shot in the match, holding on for the victory. The Bearcats’ win saw them improve their unbeaten streak to a program-record nine games.

“It definitely says we’re a very gritty team, and we’re always looking to be first place, get the three points,” Davis said.

The Bearcats look to cement a program-first 10-game unbeaten streak when they take on UMass Lowell on Sunday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Cushing Field Complex in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The Title VI coordinator works with students and faculty to combat discrimination and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on skin color, race, national origin and shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The University designated Ada Robinson-Perez, Ph.D. ‘19, the executive director of the Office of Equity and Access and coordinator for accommodations and accessibility services, as its Title VI coordinator.

As Title VI coordinator, Robinson-Perez will act as the primary point of contact for discrimination protection efforts, lead investigations into suspected bias and ensure any investigation complies with federal and state law. She will also be responsible for notifying individuals who submit a Title VI complaint of the University’s procedures and telling all BU students and faculty about the policies in place for reporting discrimination and harassment reports every academic year.

The University is currently searching for a Title VI specialist to support Robinson-Perez in her duties.

“As a person who honors our humanity, I believe we all share a social responsibility that supports and protects equity and equality,” Robinson-Perez wrote.

Robinson-Perez completed her Ph.D. in community research and action from the College of Community and Public Affairs. She spent five years as associate director of the University’s Employee Assistance Program and has been the student affairs divisional diversity officer since February 2020.

“This new law is about making sure there are clear, accountable systems in place to protect students and uphold their civil rights,” State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream. “Every student, no matter their background, should feel safe, supported, and heard on campus, and this law brings us one step closer to that goal.”

In February, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the creation of a multi-agency task force to combat antisemitism on college campuses. It was formed days after President Donald Trump signed a directive ordering the head of each executive department and agency to create a report detailing all administrative complaints submitted against institutions of higher education “alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.”

The Department of Education then opened Title VI investigations into five universities, including Columbia University and Northwestern University, “where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported.”

In March, the University and 59 other higher education institutions received letters [HYPERLINK: https://www.bupipedream.com/news/university-one-of-60-colleges-warned-by-education-department/163686/] from the Education Department that warned of “potential enforcement actions” if they did not adequately fulfill their obligations to protect Jewish students under Title VI. All 60 universities were under investigation for alleged antisemitic discrimination and harassment on their campuses.

The investigation at BU began in [HYPERLINK: https://www.bupipedream.com/news/u-s-education-department-opens-investigation-into-university-following-complaint-of-failing-to-respond-to-antisemitism/146557/] January 2024 after the University allegedly failed to respond to an incident of antisemitism on campus.

The University’s Title VI committee, which is mandated by SUNY, reviews discrimination cases and has procedures for complex and high-profile complaints.

Title VI does not protect students from discrimination that is solely based on religion. However, students part of a religious group that experiences discrimination based on national origin are protected by Title VI, meaning the University is responsible for addressing conduct that “may create a hostile environment,” according to Robinson-Perez.

“As our country faces increased instances of hate, particularly antisemitism, our colleges must take proactive measures to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome on campuses,” State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer, who represents parts of Westchester, said in a press release.

The University has a Religious Accommodation and Expression policy affirming its commitment to “providing a welcoming environment for all, regardless of religious affiliation or belief.” The policy protects freedom of religious speech and expression and provides for reasonable religious accommodations for students and faculty.

Hochul has also taken other steps to root out discrimination on campuses. In 2023, she created the New York State Anti-Hate in Education Center to address and eradicate any form of campus discrimination. She also directed officials to improve the state’s reporting of hate crime incidents, established a domestic terror prevention unit and conducted a review of state universities’ policies on discrimination.

“No one should fear for their safety while trying to get an education,” Hochul said in a press release. “It’s my top priority to ensure every New York student feels safe at school, and I will continue to take action against campus discrimination and use every tool at my disposal to eliminate hate and bias from our school communities.”

Japa Pallikkathayil, an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, gave a presentation entitled “How to Feel About Structural Injustice” and answered questions from the audience.

“The philosophy department regularly hosts lively colloquia at which invited speakers discuss their newest, cutting-edge research on hotly debated contemporary concerns,” wrote Anja Karnein, associate professor and graduate director of philosophy, and Anthony Reeves, associate professor and chair of the philosophy department at Binghamton University, in a joint statement. “Here, faculty and students mingle and openly discuss philosophy at the highest level of the profession. The talk by Japa Pallikkathayil, Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is a great example of this.”

At the start of the talk, Pallikkathayil provided a handout with a roadmap of her talk’s argumentative structure.

Pallikkathayil first addressed common reactions to structural injustice from a philosophical perspective, including feelings of resentment and righteous indignation. She then described a dilemma posed by David Estlund, a professor of philosophy at Brown University. According to Estlund’s theory, if structural injustice is merely bad, it would not warrant attitudes like resentment, a conclusion that is vulnerable to a “grievance challenge.”

If structural injustice is wrong only because of individual action, Estlund argues that many injustices cannot be classified as such because they are not explained solely by individual wrongdoing.

“This leaves the theorists of structural injustice with a really delicate needle to thread, right?” asked Pallikkathayil. “So they have to be able to explain why social causes matter, but in a way that doesn’t ultimately make it all about individual wrongdoing.”

The presentation then touched on how some replies to this dilemma have been inadequate. Resenting people for their contributions to structural injustice, for example, despite those people not being sole actors or the original cause of the injustice, is a situation she coined as “the mismatch problem.” Pallikkathayil continued, however, by objecting to other philosophers’ arguments, stating that they fail to seriously consider the risks involved in denying victims of structural injustice the space to grieve and react.

Pallikkathayil also argued that an important distinction exists between social structures that may be appropriately resented and those that are simply not as good as they could be. Estlund’s dilemma, she suggested, overlooks the possibility that structural injustice is neither wrong nor merely bad and it is possible to have legitimate expectations that can be disappointed.

To conclude her presentation, Pallikkathayil argued we should take an “associative perspective,” in which we can think of ourselves as participants in different kinds of associations, practices, institutions and structures.

“Insofar as these associations are not regulated by the relevant principles, they are apt targets of emotional responses — and I want to say in responses just like anger, blame and resentment,” said Pallikkathayil. “And I also want to just observe that associations might also go above and beyond what they’re required to do. So they might be the apt targets of emotional responses like gratitude.”

After a five-minute break, the audience reconvened for a Q&A session where students and faculty asked questions and critiqued parts of Pallikkathayil’s argument.

“Professor Pallikkathayil’s presentation combined two important topics: the moral demands that we can place on institutional structures, apart from the expectations that we have on individuals, and the connection between the aptness of our grievance attitudes and our attributions of agency,” Robert Guay, a professor of philosophy, wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream.

She both rejected and agreed with suggestions from audience members. Although structural injustice can call for proactive, forward-looking responses, she suggested that there is also room for simply resenting unjust events that have happened.

“Taking up the topic of structural injustice, injustice like racism or sexism that cannot be fully reduced to unjust individual actions, she argued against the recently defended view that it’s improper to feel aggrieved at certain aspects of structural injustice,” wrote Karnein and Reeves. “Roughly, if no one is to blame for some aspect of an injustice, then how can we properly feel indignant about it, even if we are its victims?”

“Often aspects of structural injustice can be explained by individuals or collectives acting wrongly, but not always,” they continued. “Against this type of sensibility, Pallikkathayil drew out the intuitive sense in which victims of structural injustice still seem properly indignant at the mere injustice: the mere fact of a failure to live up to principles of social justice is simply itself something that can be aggrieved, even if there is sometimes no agent that is the target of the specific grievance.”