Shaadi, which translates to wedding in Hindi and Urdu, refers to the specific customs, culture and community surrounding both Indian and Pakistani weddings. Mock Shaadi brought the full experience of an authentic Pakistani wedding to the campus community, all while highlighting the culture’s vibrancy and elegance.

“I want people to feel like they were invited into something real — like they were actually part of a Pakistani wedding, not just watching one,” Maha Naeem, the organization’s president and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, wrote in an email. “These weddings aren’t just about tradition — they’re about connection, community, and family. So much effort, emotion, and love goes into every little thing — from the dances to the decor to the games — and I hope people see that.”

“I want them to walk away feeling like they experienced that warmth and that beautiful chaos,” she continued. “Especially for people who aren’t Pakistani or didn’t grow up around this, I hope they leave with a deeper appreciation for our culture — like, ‘Wow, this is what it feels like to be part of it.’”

The Mandela Room was decked out in shades of white, gold and light blues, as the colors tied into the bride’s lehenga. The stage at the front of the room had a wildflower and pink and red roses arch, set against the backdrop of light blue and white silk curtains. Rose petals were scattered across the stage in front of the seats of honor that the bride and groom took upon arrival.

The decorations and layouts of the tables were inspired by formal wedding plans, as each table had white and gold plates and gold silverware topped off with artfully folded light blue cloth napkins. The centerpieces varied from table to table, as some had floral centerpieces and others had golden candle assortments, all tying back to the decorations on the stage.

Guests enjoyed a snack table throughout the night with an abundance of options from different countries to promote inclusivity. There were multicolored macarons, chocolate-filled biscuits, spicy gummy candy in little bags and different flavors of lychee jelly cups. The wedding cake was the snack table’s centerpiece, as its assortment of pink and white flowers stood out against the light white frosting of the cake.

A separate table off to the side of the room offered orange and blue frosting cupcakes to the guests. Each cupcake was decorated with flowers and sugar pearls.

Near the stage, guests took pictures in a small setup of string lights, pink silk curtains and even more wildflowers, commemorating the event and their glamorous outfits with photos with friends and fellow organization members.

Before the event began, attendees started the night with a few first-come, first-served appetizers, including samosas, tandoori chicken, salad, a savory noodle dish and raita — a yogurt-based condiment popular among South Asian countries. Drinks were provided to guests, with a table near the back of the room offering various brands of soda, water and several flavors of Red Bull.

As the lights dimmed and guests took to their seats, members of the PSA E-Board were announced and came out in traditional South Asian attire. Interns were introduced one by one in a grand entrance as their contributions to the event and the organization were shared with the audience.

Naeem took a moment to thank several organizations in attendance, the choreographers for putting together the upcoming performances and others who helped to make Mock Shaadi come to life.

“Mock Shaadi is our way of bringing a full-on Pakistani wedding experience to campus,” Naeem wrote. “For me, it’s more than just an event — it’s a way to recreate the chaos, joy, and togetherness I felt growing up going to shaadis in Pakistan.”

“I remember staying up all night with my cousins the night before weddings, cramming in last-minute dance practices, arguing over outfits or who’s off-beat — but still having the best time,” she continued. “That whole vibe of being in a shaadi ka ghar (a wedding house) — where the pressure is on, and everyone is screaming at each other, but it’s all love and laughter — that’s what we try to bring into Mock Shaadi.” (1)

Shortly after the introductions, a game of musical chairs began with volunteers from the crowd ranging from visiting high schoolers to members of other cultural organizations invited to play. The game was the most interactive portion of the night, as audience members were encouraged to cheer on their friends to win the game.

Following this, the bride, Ushima Chowdhury, entered with her bridal party. She was dressed in a lavender lehenga complete with silver accents, complemented with gold jewelry and a maang tikka — a type of head jewelry meant to ward off any negative energy, symbolizing blessings and protection for the journey ahead. The soft, melodic tune of “Kudmayi (Film Version)” by Pritam, Shahid Mallya and Amitabh Bhattacharya played as she made her way across the room and onto the stage.

Chowdhury, a senior majoring in biochemistry, described why she participated in Mock Shaadi.

“Although I’ve only been part of the Bangali Student Association for the past four years, I always made sure to attend all the major banquets — including mock shaadi itself,” Chowdhury, a senior majoring in biochemistry, wrote. “With planning mock Gaye holud for BSA, I’ve always loved mock wedding festivities and thought it would be an amazing way to end [off] my time in Binghamton with my friends.”

The groom made his entrance along with his wedding party, as several of the groomsmen carried him in, led by members of the bridal party. They excitedly made their way down the aisle towards the bride, with the groom ending the procession with a brief solo dance.

Several of the cultural organizations that were invited to the event, including the Arab Student Association, Bangali Student Association, Hindu Student Council, Muslim Student Association, Sikh & Punjabi Student Association and the Indian International Student Union, were encouraged to take pictures with the bride and groom after their grand entrance.

The bride and groom then took to the center of the room and sat side by side, eagerly awaiting the performances.

The initial dances were led by a group of women, followed by a group of men. Both parties danced to a mashup of various Bollywood songs, including “Sajna, Say Yes To The Dress” by Badshah and Payal Dev and “Diwali Mela Final” by Alex and kiran.

“We just wanted to focus on making it feel as real and full of energy as an actual shaadi,” Naeem wrote. “Every part of the planning — the messiness, the last-minute changes, the late-night rehearsals — has been true to life, and that’s what gives the event its soul.”

The bride and groom were then treated to an E-Board dance, followed by an energetic performance by Binghamton Bhangra members. Halfway through group performances from the wedding parties, the bride and groom surprised the audience by joining in.

Dinner was served shortly after the performances and included naan, rice, chana masala and paneer tikka masala served with mixed vegetables.

While no real vows were made, the bride and groom followed the other aspects of a desi wedding, with extravagant entrances and an open dance floor. Another tradition was the cutting of the cake. It was the most anticipated part of the night, as guests excitedly waited for the bride and groom to share the cake with one another. The moment was met with raucous cheers and applause from the audience, most notably when the groom decided to feed the bride a piece of the cake as “Apna Bana Le” played in the background.

Shortly after sharing the cake, the bride and groom took to the floor to share their first dance. Starting slow, the dance allowed the audience to fully appreciate the details in their wedding outfits, as a spotlight allowed for the gold accents in the bride’s lehenga to stand out, complementing the groom’s dark purple kurta.

It wasn’t long before the audience joined the dance floor, as the E-Board encouraged people to join in group celebratory dances with the bride and groom. They danced along to hits like “Sadi Gali,” ending the night with a dance party.

“I think it brings something really warm and fun to campus that people don’t get to experience often,” Naeem wrote of Mock Shaadi. “It’s not just a cultural show — it’s an invitation to be part of something. You walk in and feel like you’re at a real wedding, not just watching one. And especially with how stressful school can get, it’s nice to have a night where everyone’s just celebrating together, dancing, eating good food, and laughing. It’s one of those events that reminds you how special the community can feel when it’s done with heart.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

In some ways, I did.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here it is.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This year’s festival, which took place on the Peace Quad, the Admission Center’s sidewalk and the Old Dickinson Quad, was themed “Tides n’ Vibes” — a nod to A Boogie’s smash hit “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black).”

The festival embodied a deep-sea aesthetic and implemented neon and bioluminescent accents like sparkly purple and blue jellyfish decorations that hung in the Peace Quad trees, along with jellyfish stilt walkers. Attendees even had the opportunity to purchase mini stuffed manatees and themed merch.

Rides like swings, a super slide, a carousel and more spanned across the Peace Quad for attendees to enjoy. Smaller activities like a balloon popping game, axe throwing, face painting and a gaming tent, with Mario Kart, Wii Sports and a photo booth, were also available.

“I hope students get a chance to unwind and have fun before the stress of finals,” Andrea Shirkey, SAPB’s festivals chair and a senior double-majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies and philosophy, politics and law, wrote in an email. “It’s one of the last major campus-wide events of the year, and it’s a chance to enjoy free rides, food, and music—and to see a New York City artist many of us grew up listening to. It’s about taking a well-deserved break.”

Most food trucks lined the outer edge of the Peace Quad and sold carnival treats like funnel cake, fried Oreos, blooming onion and kettle corn. Lot B, located across the Peace Quad, offered a few other vendors, including Here’s The Twist, an ice cream truck; Macarollin, which sold gourmet mac and cheese; and The Kitchen Counter, a local food truck company that recently opened a permanent location in Endicott.

Along the Admission Center’s sidewalk, festival-goers were invited to shop at the student flea market — a recurring event SAPB hosts throughout the year. This Spring Fling, many stalls featured handmade items like crocheted animals and jewelry, as well as vintage clothing and baked goods.

Attendees could also check out the various on-campus clubs and organizations that tabled on the Old Dickinson Quad.

“As an attendee, I love feeling like a kid again,” Jackie Palmer, the SAPB’s vice festivals chair and a junior majoring in environmental studies, wrote in an email. “To go around a festival like this one and eat different food and go on rides and have a reason to be outside with my friends doing something fun. As someone organizing this event, my favorite part is seeing it all come together, working with Andrea has been so great and it’s been so fun to be making these big decisions about the theme and vendors and rides and layout and so much more.”

Throughout the afternoon, dance groups such as Binghamton University Dance Team, Paradox, MODA and the Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association performed near the MarketPlace steps.

Initially, Binghamton Sound, Stage and Lighting were supposed to provide equipment for live performances on the Peace Quad, but in an email to the bands the night before, it expressed that due to the weather conditions, it was unable to offer its services. However, Hazel Thurman, vocalist for Anyone But Her — one of the performers at the festival — and a sophomore double-majoring in biology and theatre, took the initiative to find a way for the bands to play.

Thurman made a group chat with all of the bands, and on the morning of the festival, they all brought and shared gear. She took charge of the setup, and with help from the bands, the performances were able to continue.

Other bands that played included Ramblers, LARJ, Heavy Weather and The Dimension Gnomes — the latter three being contestants in February’s Battle of the Bands.

Despite the rain and looming clouds, the annual Spring Fling concert proved that a little weather couldn’t stop the spirit of the event. After the festival portion, there was the highly anticipated concert. Held in Lot 1, this free concert opened with the student-run band Stuck In Place.

Stuck In Place included Aiden Hunt on bass and vocals, Elijah Van Shephard on drums, Maddox Thornton, one of the guitarists and vocalists and a sophomore majoring in English, and Sawyer Gibson, the band’s guitarist and a sophomore majoring in history.

Starting with an unreleased song “Who The Hell is Ed Diamond?,” Stuck in Place played an original setlist including their songs “Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market,” “New (Unreleased),” “36,” “Shattered,” “Kill Him (Unreleased),” “Just Make it to Wednesday (Unreleased),” “Weird Jesus Girl,” and “On The Shelf.”

“Saturday was a very humbling experience, and it was an honor to have been the opener for this year’s Spring Fling,” Stuck In Place wrote in an email. “To be on the same bill as someone with the track record and notoriety as A Boogie is something we will always look back on as one of the fondest memories in our group’s time together thus far. As a band who have grown up in this city, in this scene, and with the people we had the pleasure of getting to meet and grow alongside with over the past number of years, this event was symbolic of not just our hard work and dedication, but the Binghamton punk rock scene as a whole.”

The band also expressed gratitude to be part of this year’s concert, extending appreciation to all the audience members who braved the rain to experience their performance.

“We didn’t come into this show with any expectations or inhibitions about what type of response we would end up receiving for the audience,” they continued. “But for them to have showed up early, and end up sticking it out with us in the pouring rain, and do it while dancing and smiling and laughing and having a good time is more than we could have ever asked for. We feel eternally grateful to have reached that many people with our performance.”

Following the student opener, DJ Ominaya preceded the headlining act, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, with an electric and nostalgic set.

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Highbridge in the Bronx, New York City. The rapper performed a full set including several of his most popular hits, such as “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black),” “Swervin (feat. 6ix9ine)” and “Look Back at It.”

“A Boogie has been the most requested artist from students year after year,” Madison Perdue, SAPB’s vice concert chair and a junior majoring in business administration, wrote. “After Gunna’s iconic Spring Concert performance in 2022, students have anticipated the announcement of the Spring’s headliner, holding SAPB to very high standards. Thanks to student’s attendance at our ticketed Fall Concert with NLE Choppa and Baby Tate, we were able to use that profit in securing A Boogie this year. SAPB is all about ensuring students’ voices are heard, so choosing A Boogie as the headliner was a no brainer.”

DJ Ominaya played a major role in engaging the students with songs, prompting chants, call-and-response moments and shoutouts to the crowd. Two backup dancers on stage added choreography and movement that complemented A Boogie’s performance. Bright, flashing stage lights lit up the stage, even as the rain continued to fall.

A Boogie moved actively across the stage, frequently pointing to different sections of the crowd and encouraging fans to sing along. The audience remained highly responsive throughout, singing back lyrics, raising their phones and dancing.

“A free concert following the Spring Fling festival creates the perfect opportunity to celebrate the year, listen to some good music, and connect with our peers,” Ryan Miller, SAPB’s concert chair and a senior majoring in English, wrote in an email. “The purpose of the concert is always just to provide students with the best experience possible to end the year!”

“As the semester comes to a close and students begin to prepare for finals, I hope students release some stress, have a good time, and enjoy the music of one of our favorite artists,” she continued. “The concert is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the end of the semester and have some fun with friends.”

Palmer explained what she hopes attendees took away from this year’s Spring Fling.

“I hope that students get that ‘final break’ before finals, one of the last weekends to enjoy themselves, a chance to go on rides with their friends and maybe feel like a kid again,” Palmer wrote. “I hope that our students tabling get a last hurrah with their org and maybe get some new members, that the student flea gets a chance to sell their merch and connect with the community, and that our volunteers get a chance to have fun and make a difference for the biggest event of the year. I hope that everyone involved has a good time and makes some memories.”

Editor’s Note (5/5): A previous version of this article used incorrect pronouns for SAPB’s concert chair. It has been updated with the correct pronouns. Pipe Dream regrets the error.

Greenfield, known for his roles as Schmidt in the award-winning sitcom “New Girl” and Dave Johnson in “The Neighborhood,” along with his voice acting work in “Bojack Horseman” and “Bob’s Burgers,” brought an electric presence to the stage, bouncing off of the energy from the audience and the moderator of the night, Ryan Vaughan Ph.D. ‘06, an adjunct professor of English.

Robert Camlet, SAPB’s comedy chair and a senior majoring in art and design, and Basil Lambros, SAPB’s vice comedy chair and a junior majoring in biomedical engineering, took to the stage and gave a short introduction, thanking the theater for hosting the event, SAPB and Vaughan’s contributions, and for the support from Binghamton Sound, Stage and Lighting and Off Campus College Transport.

“I hope attendees leave the show satisfied that they got to see one of their favorite actors visit their college town, almost like a full-circle moment,” Camlet told Pipe Dream.

“While SAPB mostly does shows with stand-up comedians, this year we wanted to try something a bit different as someone that had to learn timing and delivery but also express it through his body language, expressions and acting ability,” Lambros added. “Max Greenfield, most well known for his acting in ‘New Girl,’ allows us this perspective. The experience aims to explore the requirements that come with being a comedic actor and merge that with the nostalgia of Max’s time on the show and funny moments that he has had while filming.”

Following their introduction, Vaughan came out on stage with Greenfield, whose presence was met with applause and excitement from the audience. One of Greenfield’s initial remarks was announcing the Spring Fling headliner, an event he referred to as a “spring soiree.”

“And just so you know, I invited A Boogie while I was backstage, and immediately he said ‘yes,’” he said. “So you have me to thank. You’re welcome. That’s all the ammo I have, so don’t ask me any more tough questions.”

As the screams and excitement from the reveal leveled out, Vaughan introduced the five categories of questions for the night: “New Girl,” “The Neighborhood,” personal, miscellaneous and hot takes.

“Shows like these are important for students for so many reasons, but I think mostly because it brings students together and gives them an event to come together in a non-alcoholic environment which is where most gatherings occur anyways,” Camlet wrote.

Throughout the evening, Vaughan hopped around the categories, steering the conversation wherever it naturally went. He started with “New Girl,” asking Greenfield if he thinks Schmidt is a douchebag, to which his response was “no.” He said that judging characters is a slippery slope, adding that if Schmidt is a douchebag, then we should embrace the characteristic. He believes throughout the show, Schmidt was eventually molded into a “lovable douchebag.”

Following this, Vaughan pulled out a prop that he made: a douchebag jar similar to the one introduced in the pilot of “New Girl.” The jar, akin to a swear jar, attempts to correct Schmidt’s behavior by forcing him to put money in it for any action or comment considered “douchebaggery.”

“It wasn’t until I started consuming comedy, true pure comedy that prompts thought as well as laughter, that I started to question many of the things I thought I believed,” Vaughan wrote in an email. “Comedy was a catalyst for self-analysis in that way.”

After commenting that any money put in the jar should go toward Spring Fling, Greenfield said Elizabeth Meriwether, the creator of “New Girl,” most likely still has the original jar.

The conversation continued to flow, with the two moving from the origin of Schmidt’s name to Greenfield’s voice acting and singing on “Bob’s Burgers” and his all-time favorite TV shows, largely consisting of half-hour sitcoms like “The Office” and “Seinfeld.”

The discussion shifted back to “New Girl,” where Vaughan asked how much improv went on in the show and if that was an indication of the quality of the writing.

“Never, because there was what was written and we would make sure that we would always do that,” Greenfield said. “And then they would ask us to improv, because on take 11, we were like, ‘Did we not get it?’ And they were like, ‘Keep going, keep going.’ And then at some point, you know, on take 19, we would improv in a way that would suggest to everyone behind the camera that we were done. And they would use that stuff in the show.”

“It was so confusing,” he continued. “And so at some point, because we did so many takes, because what we were saying was so outlandish, we never knew what was gonna make it into the episodes. There’s so much of the show that I now watch where I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t remember doing any of this.’”

As an example, Greenfield reproduced verbatim, “I would rather sit naked on a hot grill than buy something off the rack,” one of many of Schmidt’s iconic one-liners that was met with enthusiasm from the audience.

“I can do it, but I don’t know what I’m saying,” Greenfield said as he proceeded to add cash to the douchebag jar, fully committing to the bit.

Greenfield also discussed the topic of recognition and how he loves being known as Schmidt.

“There’s such a feeling from the people who are expressing their love for that show to you that it meant they had an experience with it,” he said. “And it’s always positive, and so I love it and will always love it.”

Next, Greenfield talked about his experience on “The Neighborhood” compared to “New Girl.” Despite both being sitcoms, the former varies in tone and structure as a traditional multicam show with limited room for improv.

Greenfield said that acting in “The Neighborhood” is about finding moments in the writing with room to play around, and momentum comes from being part of a group. He referenced his co-stars Cedric the Entertainer, Beth Behrs and Tichina Arnold as individuals he continues to learn from and is thankful to work with.

He then noted some comedic influences, including Steve Martin, particularly his work in “The Jerk,” and Jane Wickline, a featured cast member on Saturday Night Live’s 50th season.

“Max Greenfield allows a new perspective on comedy,” Lambros wrote in an email. “As a comedic actor, he has learned creative ways to express himself both on and off the screen. This skill is something that he does especially well.”

“Furthermore, just from watching interviews and watching some of his material, he is pretty relatable,” he continued. “This relatable side as well as his creative comedic acting make him the perfect person for Binghamton students to hear from.”

As the night drew to a close, Vaughan introduced the “hot takes” category, which involved a series of topics Greenfield had to give an opinion on in under 10 seconds, including zombies, tipping at restaurants, fishing, country music and more.

The show ended with Greenfield answering questions from the audience. In response to “Who from ‘New Girl’ would you want to live with in real life?” he responded, “I feel like I live with all of them.”

“Having these shows allows students the opportunity to learn to express themselves when heading into the real world,” Lambros wrote. “Seeing people with such unique experiences in life allows students to hear the challenges that come with it.”

“As a college student, ‘real life’ is quite literally around the corner,” he continued. So having creative people like Max Greenfield visit allows students the [lens] of a famous creative. This helps to entertain and grow that creative side of each person, helping them to go in any direction that they plan to go.”

An American rapper, singer and songwriter from the Bronx, A Boogie, 29, born Artist Julius Dubose, is known for smash hits “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black)” and “Look Back at It.”

He started rapping as early as 12 years old after listening to artists like Kanye West and 50 Cent and went on to release his debut studio album “The Bigger Artist” in 2017, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. His sophomore album, “Hoodie SZN,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and his third and fourth albums peaked at No. 2 and No. 6, respectively. In 2018, he won Best New Artist at the BET Awards.

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in the University’s Art Museum, Atticus Fauci, the Student Association’s vice president for programming and a junior majoring in economics, said that the festival portion of Spring Fling, which is set for May 3, will occur from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on both the Dickinson Quad and Peace Quad.

Fauci, who said that was the SA Programming Board’s first time holding a press conference for Spring Fling, described why it was at the Art Museum.

“The Binghamton University Art Museum reached out to us about this cool, creative idea about holding a press conference,” Fauci said. “We work closely with them all the time, so we were thinking this was a fun and creative way. Students keep asking SAPB to come up with new, creative marketing for our events, and when the Binghamton University Art Museum presented this [to] us, we thought it was a phenomenal idea.”

The concert, which is free for all, will open at 5:45 p.m. and be held in parking lot F1, which is near the West Gym. A Boogie is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Fauci added that the proceeds from the fall concert, which featured NLE Choppa and Baby Tate, were the only reason they were able to have A Boogie as this year’s headliner.

“We knew that our headliner is a very important staple in the music community for New York,” said Madison Perdue, the SAPB’s vice concerts chair and a junior majoring in business administration. “We wanted to provide the best for our community.”

A national holiday in Bangladesh, Pohela Boishakh is typically celebrated with vibrant street fairs, Bangladeshi food and participating in cultural performances such as singing, dancing and poetry readings. Guests wore colorful clothing, especially in red and white, to embody the festive spirit of the day. Many also participated in Mongol Shobhajatra, a procession that occurs at dawn on Pohela Boishakh that reflects the unity, strength and resilience of the Bangladeshi people.

“Pohela Boishakh marks the first day of the Bengali calendar and has roots in Mughal-era tax collection traditions, where farmers would pay off debts and start the year fresh,” Sumaiya Alam, the organization’s cultural chair and a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, wrote in an email. “Over time, it evolved into a cultural festival that symbolizes renewal, hope, and unity. It’s now celebrated by Bengalis all over the world, transcending religious and social divides.”

Pohela Boishakh embodied these core values, aiming to create an experience that attendees could feel connected to.

The Mandela Room was transformed with a banquet-style seating arrangement. The tables, which alternated between red and white tablecloths, included a centerpiece: a small dish that held either a white or pink lotus flower, which floated in a pool of water and was lit up from underneath by LED waterproof lights.

At the front of the room stood a circular string of fairy lights with white and red paper flowers within the circle, and above it was a banner that read “Happy New Year” in Bangla.

Nine different stalls were set up around the room, adding to the feel of a traditional Pohela Boishakh. Upon entry, guests were given a card with the stalls, and if they visited all nine, they would receive a prize. Each stall’s sign was artfully designed and held up by two posts that came wrapped with leaves, vines and pink roses, adding an extra level of vibrancy and detail to every station.

Three stalls were for mini golf, fishing and shoot the duck, the last of which involved a small contraption where several mechanical ducks would move in a row, and the player would have to knock as many down as they could in a single round.

Four stalls had various street foods such as lebo shorbot, jhal muri, fuchka and snow cones.

Lebo shorbot, or lemonade, is a popular drink consumed around the time of Pohela Boishakh, as the weather turns hot and humid in Bangladesh. The event’s stall had two versions — a limeade one and an orange-based version, both of which were slightly sweet, tangy and refreshing.

One stall down from lebo shorbot was jhal muri, a common street snack in Bangladesh that consists of puffed rice, Indian spices and an assortment of vegetables, including diced tomatoes, onions, cucumber and potatoes. Served in handheld paper cones, both the presentation and flavor palette worked to mimic what someone could come across on the streets of Bangladesh.

On either side of the room were fuchka stands. Also known as panipuri and golgappa in parts of India and Pakistan, this beloved South Asian snack involves taking a deep-fried breaded hollow spherical shell and filling it with a potato-based mixture that includes raw onions, spices and chickpeas. It is commonly served alongside a tamarind sauce. Guests had the option of choosing between three fillings — plain, one with onions and one with both onions and cilantro.

The snow cone stall, which was a highlight for many attendees, had a spectrum of flavors to choose from: grape, pina colada, cherry, blue raspberry, lemon-lime and tiger’s blood — a combination of watermelon, strawberry and a slight coconut flavor.

Mahabub Islam, the organization’s president and a junior majoring in biochemistry, described his involvement in continuing to foster a feeling of connectedness.

“Joining the Bengali Student Association was one of the best things that happened to me since my freshman year,” Islam wrote in an email. “When I first arrived far from home, BSA became my family — a community where I found comfort, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Now, as President, it’s my turn to give back and create that same experience for others.”

“Since I joined, I have witnessed BSA’s incredible growth — from a small club to one of the largest multicultural organizations on campus,” he continued. “We have worked hard to make BSA a welcoming space for all students, offering a sense of community and support to those seeking one. Our mission is to share Bengali culture and traditions, enhance diversity on campus, and provide students with a much-needed break from their rigorous academic schedules.”

As guests took to their seats, the night began with an introduction from two interns, who served as the hosts for the night. They shouted out the various organizations that attended and thanked the sponsors. Following this, they introduced the E-Board, all of whom were dressed in red and white traditional South Asian clothing. Islam, the president, then took a moment to acknowledge and thank his E-Board for all the hard work and dedication they put into this year’s Pohela Boishakh.

The stalls then officially opened, and attendees immersed themselves in the festivities. Among the food and games, there was also a henna booth run by the Henna Club. Adjacent was a jewelry stall, where guests could purchase jhumkas, a style of South Asian earrings known for a bell-shaped design, and bangles, which came in various colors and sizes.

Along with guests mingling around the stalls, there was also a photo booth station, which had a red and white sparkly curtain with roses attached serving as the backdrop. Props like black sunglasses, red paper fans and even one that was a recreation of an Instagram post were laid out.

Carrom, a popular South Asian tabletop game, was also set up on the right side of the room for attendees to enjoy.

“I have grown immensely closer to my heritage and culture through BSA, learning from both past and present members,” Jeba Karim, the organization’s vice president and a junior majoring in political science, wrote in an email. “Since we all come from different areas of Bangladesh, we are constantly sharing and growing together.”

After an hour or so, the hosts came out to announce that the stalls would be closed momentarily for a performance by Binghamton Bhangra, a competitive co-ed dance group. Dancers wore all black with white vests with intricate colorful patterns and used sapps and monochromatic flags as props — adding to the flair and beauty of their performance.

Several other dances followed, which were performed by various organizations in attendance. Dances were choreographed by E-Board members and were a mix between traditional and fusion, embodying the joyful, colorful and rhythmic essence of Pohela Boishakh.

After the energetic performances from all groups, two games were played: pass the box and a scavenger hunt. The former involved a wrapped box that each participant had to unwrap just once. Underneath, there would be a prompt where they would have to find someone who fit the description and hand it to them. This was repeated until the last person who unwrapped the box and found no additional wrapping underneath was declared the winner and received a prize. Prompts ranged from “Someone who knows the significance of Pohela Boishakh” to “Someone who would go viral for the wrong reasons.”

“With Pohela Boishakh, my presidency is coming to an end,” Islam wrote. “However, my goal has always been to expand BSA exponentially, ensuring that future generations won’t have to face the same challenges I did when I first arrived. I set out to organize two major events and put BSA on the map for students who may not have been aware of this incredible community. Looking back, I believe I’ve accomplished that goal, and I’m proud to leave behind a thriving organization that will continue to grow and welcome even more students in the years to come.”

Dinner, catered by Endicott’s Taste of Bengal, was served shortly after the games. Guests were given rice, mixed vegetables and salad and had the option of choosing two servings of either butter chicken or butter paneer. Later on, gulab jamun was given as dessert.

As attendees were winding down their meals, the Pakistani Student Association teased their annual Mock Shaadi, an event that celebrates the traditional aspects of an Indian wedding, with a proposal from the groom as he handed his bride-to-be a bouquet of roses.

Guests were then encouraged to join the dance floor as the night ended with upbeat Bollywood music reverberating throughout the space.

“Being part of BSA has given me a family away from home,” Alam wrote. “When I first came to campus, I missed the sense of belonging that comes from being surrounded by people who understand your culture without needing an explanation. Through BSA, I found people who share not just similar backgrounds, but also the same traditions, values, and little moments that feel like home. It’s comforting to celebrate our culture together, especially during big events like Pohela Boishakh, and it reminds me that no matter where I am, I can always find pieces of home in the community we build together.”

Despite the many times I had walked past Downtown by Chef Jay Pisculli, I had yet to dine there. For this spring’s Restaurant Week, I thought, what better way to close this chapter of my life than by trying something new and immersing myself in the restaurant’s charming and well-curated fine dining experience?

Downtown by Chef Jay Pisculli offers a three-course dinner for the price of $35 for this spring’s Restaurant Week, and their menu features spring-inspired dishes, like a green goddess salad and lemon meringue cheesecake.

Upon entering the establishment, my photographer, Caspar, and I were greeted by our friendly and attentive hostess, who promptly brought us to our table. Immediately, I fell in love with the restaurant’s moody lighting, which included lit candles at each table and pendant lightbulbs, which hung over the bar area and sporadically throughout the restaurant. Several potted plants lined the windowsill, accompanied by an intricate decor piece made up of lush greenery that decked out the middle portion of the restaurant’s ceiling, adding a touch of vibrancy. Soft, ambient music filled the space, and along with where we were seated, there were booths, high-top tables and even a couch area.

After our server came by, started us off with water and took our orders, both Caspar and I eagerly awaited our food.

For appetizers, Caspar decided on the fried burrata, and I chose the DT fries. The fried burrata, which had an interior of fresh cream-filled mozzarella and a crispy, breaded exterior, combined with vodka sauce and pesto, made for a perfect start to Caspar’s meal. He found it to have just the right amount of saltiness while maintaining a delightful cheesiness felt after every bite. The DT fries, akin to potato wedges, came topped with shredded pecorino romano cheese, crispy herbs and parmesan aioli. They were hot and fresh, with an addicting level of crunchiness and came with ketchup and mustard as dipping sauces, which I appreciated.

While in the middle of enjoying our appetizers, to much to our surprise, our lovely server brought out three additional ones: the spring arugula salad, crispy deviled eggs and bread service, the last of which is not even on their Restaurant Week menu, but is on their standard one.

I went for the salad first while Caspar tried the deviled eggs. I was pleasantly surprised with the punchiness of the salad’s Meyer lemon vinaigrette, which I thought balanced out the flavors of the other elements in the salad, like the fennel and watermelon radish. The dressing enhanced the freshness of the arugula, and overall, the addition of the salad to our table offered a refreshing interlude from our carb-centric appetizers. The deviled eggs, a cured egg yolk encircled by a crispy chicken skin, were, in Caspar’s opinion, breaded well and had a nice mustard-forward taste.

The bread service — house-baked Parker House dinner rolls with an herb butter candle — was easily both of our favorites out of the three additional appetizers. The bread came in four connecting pieces and was truly as soft as a pillow. It was perfectly warm, and the flaky salt on top gave the bread an added element of savory goodness. The herb butter candle was unique and unlike anything either of us had seen. After Caspar blew out the small flame, we each dipped a piece of bread in the butter, and the crevices of the bread instantly soaked it up, offering a hint of smokiness from the residue of the flame while also giving the bread a garlicky flavor from the butter.

For entrees, Caspar got the branzino, and I had the mushroom ramen. The branzino, pan-seared Mediterranean sea bass, proved to be both crispy and tender, according to Caspar. His entree also came with a side of pecorino risotto, broccoli rabe and romesco. The risotto was cheesy, rich and not too salty, while the broccoli rabe gave the meal a nice touch of rich and hearty greens and the romesco paired well with the branzino.

My mushroom ramen, which came out steaming hot, had a miso shiitake-based broth and was topped with various greens, including bok choy and scallions. The noodles were softly cooked and paired perfectly with the spiciness of the broth, which stemmed from the use of chili oil, elevating the dish to the next level. The mushrooms had a good bite to them and complemented well with the other vegetables.

Lastly, for dessert, I had my sights set on the chocolate cronuts, which received much praise from my assistant, Christina, who had them for fall’s Restaurant Week. I can confidently say that they lived up to the hype. A hybrid between a croissant and a donut, they came piping hot and were filled with decadent dark chocolate. Lightly dusted with powdered sugar, the cronuts were heavenly and a highlight of my night. Caspar had the espresso martini, which is made with Van Gogh vanilla vodka, Batch Coffee espresso and coffee liqueur. He found it to be deliciously rich, smooth and creamy. It had a slightly spiced sweetness that was a satisfying conclusion to his meal.

Dining at Downtown by Chef Jay Pisculli for Restaurant Week was an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for high-quality meals, excellent service and a beautiful atmosphere, Downtown by Chef Jay Pisculli will be sure to surpass your expectations.

Henna, or mehndi in Hindi and Urdu, is a reddish dye originating from the powdered leaves of the henna tree. It was used in Ancient Egypt and valued for its cooling properties for those in hot desert climates. Along with its cultural significance in Egypt, henna is popular in other parts of the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Anika Reja, the president and co-founder of Henna Club and a senior majoring in geological sciences, described the club’s connection to the art of henna.

“I like to think of ourselves as both an art club but also a cultural club,” Reja said. “Henna is a very culturally tied art form. I think that the nature of henna kind of gives space for you to do a lot of different types of things with it. You don’t just have to use henna to do what people have been doing for centuries. You can use it to innovate.”

“We’re trying to use it for a fashion show,” she continued. “We’re doing designs on models that aren’t always, traditionally, the typical henna designs, the typical flower designs. So we’re trying to elevate this art that’s been used for centuries in so many parts of the world and adapt it to the modern-day world, to our communities here.”

The show was split into four different parts, each of which reflected and drew inspiration from previous Met Galas: “Heavenly Bodies,” “Garden of Time,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Dark Fantasy.”

It was curated to shift from divine and celestial elements to a descent into darkness, seen through the emphasis on mystic and gothic-inspired looks. This progression from light to dark contributed to the overall flow of the show and allowed attendees to feel part of an overarching story told through the artistic fusion of fashion and henna.

The Multipurpose Room was completely transformed, embodying an authentic runway experience where attendees could get a close-up view of the model’s outfit and henna, which was displayed on their arms, legs and upper portions of their chest and back.

Glittering gold star decorations hanging from black curtains adorned the stage, adding to the opulent nature of the show. A red carpet was laid out and tapered off to where the stage met the floor. Before models took to the floor, attendees used the stage to take photos.

Candles lined the aisles, and more star decorations hung in between the room, establishing an ethereal ambiance. Fairy lights crisscrossed the wall, interspersed between vines with white roses in a nod to “Garden of Time.”

As the lights dimmed, the night began with Mansi Sinha, the club’s vice president and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, and Meera Naraindutt, one of the art directors and a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, introducing themselves as co-hosts for the night.

Following their introductions, they announced the E-Board and alumni, all of whom strutted down the aisle in elevated business casual looks, some of which included tall black boots, pleated skirts, jumpsuits and oversized blazers.

The first set of looks focused on the show’s first theme, “Heavenly Bodies.” Both the fashion and henna were inspired by the Renaissance blended with elements of Greek mythology. Models could be seen with henna designs like the sun, moon and other planetary objects, as well as sparkles, stars and swirls.

A few notable outfits included a model who wore a long, light blue and colorfully beaded dress, complete with a sparkling white train and a golden halo crown. Continuing this airy and light aesthetic, another came out in a long white robe with flower detailing and ribbon drapery.

Leaning more toward Greek mythology, one model donned a sword, shield and fake chains that draped across their gray button-down, where their sleeves were rolled up, revealing knight-inspired henna.

Two models embodied the essence of the sun and moon, with the former in an all-white outfit with lace, fishnet gloves, gold body jewelry and an intricate headpiece designed to reflect the beauty and brightness of the sun. In contrast, the latter wore a dark blue sequin dress with big silver stars along the sleeves and a headpiece displaying the different phases of the moon. At one point, they stopped in the middle of the aisle and stood back to back, reflecting the distinct looks and coexistence of the sun and moon as celestial entities.

Dione Mertl, an art director and a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, described the process behind combining traditional henna with a more modernized version.

“It’s a bit difficult to visualize at first, but when you start drawing it out, it really helps,” Mertl said. “Especially, the hard part is when you draw it with pencil, or you design it first, you make it a little bit too detailed, and then it’s really hard to make it come across with henna. So while doing henna, you would simplify your design a little bit more or use the cone to make thicker lines as opposed to really detailed lines.”

The next segment, “Garden of Time,” brought a whimsical and enchanting aesthetic to the show. Inspired by “Alice in Wonderland,” the theme incorporated floral patterns in the outfits and the henna and elements of the distortion of time, contributing to the theme’s playful aspect.

Models wore long white skirts, pink and green silks, cream-colored skirts, and cargo pants, accessorizing with flower crowns, red and gold floral arm bands, butterfly waist belts and even actual roses.

Models showcased choreographed soft and delicate moves — curating poses that highlighted the henna. Slow R&B music like “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean and “I Wish you Roses” by Kali Uchis, built an immersive experience for attendees.

Halfway through the show, the hosts announced a contest of who had the best strut and invited five participants onto stage. One by one, each of the attendees strutted and was with applause and cheers from the audience. In the end, all contestants received a prize for taking part in the game.

“Sleeping Beauty” was next, and while some art directors interpreted the theme through a classical fairytale lens — illustrating castles, roses and other princess-related henna — others took a more literal yet imaginative approach, opting for nighttime symbols such as candles, moons and sleeping bunnies. This theme largely centered around femininity while still having a bit of mystique.

Most models wore flowy, pink silk dresses with lace detailing. Layered gold necklaces, bows and glittery hot pink and silver heels were seen across many of the looks. One model wore a light pink two-piece nighttime set and carried a stuffed bunny as a part of the look.

“I think it’s a really cool way of expressing identity,” Mertl said of henna. “Because it’s not permanent, you can do so many different varieties of styles, depending on occasion, your mood. I love wedding henna — I love the full designs, like up the arms and how it covers everything, and I do often try to go for that when I do the designs for fashion show, although it is really complicated, since wedding henna takes literally full days to do, so we always end up simplifying it.”

The fashion show ended with “Dark Fantasy,” which served as a stark counterpart to “Sleeping Beauty.” The theme explored the more ominous side of the fantastical, drawing inspiration from the movie “Maleficent.”

The henna itself was unlike previous segments, as it was more similar to tattoo art due to the art directors using darker lines in their creations. Models had henna that resembled knives, thorns, skulls, snakes and barbed wire hearts.

“I think my designs align perfectly with this year’s themes,” Haridra Jariwala, an art director and a senior majoring in biology, wrote in an email. “Each theme allowed me to explore new ideas and styles, and I loved how my henna designs complemented the concepts. The challenge of designing for a show with such diverse themes really inspired me, and I’m proud of how my work reflects the vision of the fashion show.”

The first model came out in a black corset, black boots and Maleficent horns, bringing the crux of “Dark Fantasy” to life. Another stunned the runway with a sparkly black sari with a jewel-encrusted blouse and gold accents in their heels and bangles. Dark reds, black satin shirts and silver celestial headbands were other prominent features of this theme.

As the night drew to a close, seniors and alumni were invited onto the stage and received roses commemorating the hard work and dedication they put into the fashion show and the organization. An E-Board dance followed, which was choreographed by Naraindutt and combined dance styles of classical Bollywood, South Indian and Bhangra — representing the multiple regions that the E-Board is from.

The night ended with a final walk-through of all the models, allowing the audience to see the four themes come together. The fashion show demonstrated the importance of artistic expression and the ability to view henna as an extension of fashion, storytelling and identity.

Eight groups performed this year: Heavy Weather, LARJ, Dimension Gnomes, Stuck in Place, Dump Bugs, Tequila Mockingbird, Freakish Lizard and Fake Jest.

The opening act was Dimension Gnomes, campus’ newest indie and alternative rock band that set the tone for the night. Heavy on the drums and guitar, the band played beloved modern indie rock songs, including “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers and “Freaking Out the Neighborhood” by Mac DeMarco. Much of the crowd danced throughout the entirety of their set, with one person going so far as to crowd-surf.

“We hope to keep performing throughout the semester and sharing our music with the community — as well as eventually recording some of our songs,” wrote Jack Hirsch, the band’s guitarist and bassist and a senior double-majoring in biology and Spanish. “Participating in Battle of The Bands means everything to us, as it is the essential college band experience.”

Following Dimension Gnomes was Dump Bugs, who had a strong focus on vocals and offered a softer set, with covers of “Cariño” by The Marías and “Black Star” by Radiohead. While the band has been casually playing together for two years, they came up with their group name and online presence only 20 days ago when they decided to participate in Battle of the Bands. They draw inspiration from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Big Thief, The Strokes, Grateful Dead and more, and their sound can be best described as neo-psychedelic rock and twangy folk.

“Battle of the Bands is the perfect place for students and the community in general to connect with one another through a shared love of music,” Ryan Miller, SAPB’s concert chair and senior majoring in English, wrote in an email. “For the performers, BOTB provides the chance to play for new audiences and to meet other musicians, allowing them to form connections with one another as they perform alongside each other.”

Two sets in, the crowd continued to grow in size and were eagerly awaiting the next group.

The third act, LARJ, took the stage and performed several songs, including “Rude” by MAGIC! Known for their indie rock and soul sounds, the band looks up to musicians including Stevie Wonder, Anderson .Paak, Marvin Gaye, Kali Uchis and Daft Punk.

The fourth band of the night, Freakish Lizard, had an electric stage presence that could be felt throughout the space. Two band members were dressed in matching outfits, which included a fedora, a black vest and a white button-down. Their distinctive look added to the group’s image and sound, which could be categorized as psychedelic jam rock. Throughout their set, one member who played the tambourine weaved in and around the crowd, creating an immersive listening experience.

“BOTB is an exciting opportunity to showcase our band’s talent as well as make connections in the Binghamton music community,” wrote Carter McEneany, the group’s guitarist and vocalist and a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. “We like to think our jams create a space for people to freely express themselves through dance.”

Heavy Weather shortly took the stage after and had one of the more diverse sets of the night. They performed three covers, starting with “Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis, followed by “This Love” by Maroon 5 and ending with ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” which had many audience members singing along. The lead singer’s punchy vocals made for a captivating stage presence that left the crowd wanting more.

Stuck in Place continued the high-energy night, as their setlist had an emphasis on heavy rock ‘n’ roll, as seen through the band’s use of hi-hats. Along with rock, the band also uses hip-hop and rap as influences in their sound.

Maddox Thornton, one of the band’s guitarists and vocalists and a sophomore majoring in English, said that he and two of his bandmates grew up in Binghamton and have been playing shows for the better part of three years. It wasn’t until last semester that they added a fourth member, Sawyer Gibson, one of the band’s guitarists and a sophomore majoring in history. Thornton described that after jamming with Gibson a few times, he asked him if he wanted to play guitar for the band and ever since then, they have been playing together.

Thornton explained what it’s like to participate in Battle of the Bands as a group that is local to the area.

“We ourselves have made a name for ourselves in this town,” he said. “But again, to open some of the students who maybe aren’t here year-round up to like our brand of music. But then also, it’s really cool seeing and sharing the stage with a lot of newer bands who are maybe playing for the first couple of times, just getting their chops in. And that’s really cool to see, because the more the merrier, and the more people that are genuinely passionate about music and are in it for the right reasons, is always fun to see.”

Tequila Mockingbird, a band that plays a blend of R&B, pop and rock, was the seventh act to perform. They had an ethereal cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and a hard-hitting rendition of “Whipping Post” by Allman Brothers Band, leaving audience members in amazement.

Ending the night was Fake Jest, whose music was mainly slow and moody guitar playing, accompanied by loud yet angelic vocals. Their setlist included one of their original songs titled “Check This Out.” The band classifies their music as garage pop, which relates to taking the rough essence of garage rock and blending it with the fun energy of dance music and electric pop. They take inspiration from artists like Magdalena Bay, George Clanton and MGMT.

After all eight bands performed, audience members had the chance to cast their vote for their top two favorites through a Google form. After consideration of the votes and much deliberation between SAPB members, the winner was announced: Stuck in Place.

The band was invited on the stage and expressed their gratitude to the audience, as well as their fellow musicians.

“Thanks for coming out tonight,” Thornton said. “Very happy to see all the other bands that played tonight, because there are a lot of people here at this school that are passionate about music, and we hope to maybe be the gateway to a lot of people discovering that there is a scene here and it’s prevalent, and there are a lot of cool local bands, not only here, but just in this town.”

Nearly two decades later, PULSE is continuing to provide this sanctuary through bonding sessions, informative programs like its annual reproductive rights fair and breast cancer awareness walk, community service, campus leadership initiatives and professional networking events.

At the organization’s core, where these values are tethered, lies “Heartbeat of PULSE Embodied.” Also known as “HOPE,” it is a monthly magazine that the publication coordinator designs to foster meaningful conversations and inform the general body of campus resources and upcoming PULSE events, creating a vibrant platform for diverse voices to be heard and represented.

The publication began in 2011 when Shanel Boyce ‘14, MSW ‘18 amended the organization’s constitution to include the role of publication coordinator. Arlene Arisme ‘14, MSW ‘18, was the first person to take on the role and played a pivotal role in shaping the position into its current form by designing flyers and other materials. From the beginning, HOPE served as a platform for conversations on important social causes, and the first issue showcased this necessity for open dialogue by including a piece that addressed abortion rights from both female and male perspectives.

Arianna Garcia Rasuk, PULSE’s publication coordinator and a junior majoring in environmental science, described what a current “HOPE” publication looks like.

“A typical HOPE Publication is vibrant and engaging, featuring plenty of eye-catching graphics and photos of our e-board and general body members,” Rasuk wrote in an email. “It often includes a Women Who Lead section, highlighting inspiring women in the Binghamton University community who embody our core values. We also cover current events affecting women of color, from health and social issues to fashion trends. Every publication is designed to be both informative and visually appealing.”

In her position, Rasuk brought a new element to the magazine — a PULSE Press section, where the E-Board and interns can discuss and share the media they’ve loved that month. This can include movies, books, TV shows, music and more. By implementing a personal touch to each issue, Rasuk hopes it will continue to strengthen the sisterhood of PULSE and offer an engaging aspect for readers.

“I’ve also incorporated games and dynamic, ever-changing sections to ensure each issue offers a fresh and unique experience of girlhood,” she wrote.

Rasuk said that one of her favorite spreads she put together was the January 2025 issue, which was curated to mimic a sticker book. Described as a personal passion project, the issue reflects an animated and maximalist flair. Readers were invited to learn the fashion history behind Black women on the runway during the 1973 Battle at Versailles fashion show and discover ways to add texture and statement pieces to their personal style.

“I usually brainstorm themes during school breaks and plan my schedule accordingly,” Rasuk wrote. “I draw inspiration from other magazines, especially early 2000s editions, and then gather diverse content to fill each issue — such as artwork, current events, and student shoutouts. Each issue is carefully curated to be engaging, relevant, and reflective of our community.”

For future issues, Rasuk wants to add more interactive elements like quizzes, polls and even reader submissions to elevate the magazine’s connection to its readership. She hopes to further grow this connection by including coverage of issues that affect all women of color from a range of cultural backgrounds and involve them in conversations relating to health, activism and lifestyle goals.

“I want BU students, especially Black women and women of color, to feel seen, inspired, and connected when reading HOPE magazine,” Rasuk wrote. “Whether it’s through highlighting powerful women, discussing current issues, or sharing fun media recommendations, each issue is meant to celebrate our sisterhood and spark meaningful conversations.”

“We aim to create a space where women of color feel included, valued, and always welcomed,” she added. “It can be tough at a predominantly white institution, but HOPE is here as a reminder that we’re stronger when we stick together. Ultimately, I hope it feels like a place where students can learn, reflect, and embrace all the diverse facets of girlhood.”

To find the latest “HOPE” publications, check out the organization’s website.

An American actor and author from Dobbs Ferry, New York, Greenfield is most known for his roles as Schmidt from the award-winning sitcom “New Girl” and Dave Johnson in “The Neighborhood.”

The event, which will be held for the first time in the Broome County Forum Theatre on Washington Street in Downtown Binghamton, will be held on April 9. It will be hosted and moderated by Ryan Vaughan Ph.D ‘06, an adjunct professor of English.

Attendees will be treated to a night of Greenfield’s stories, insights into the film industry and a live Q&A session.

“It seems to me that nearly the entire student body of Binghamton has at one point or another been exposed to the ‘New Girl’ series during their college development,” Robert Camlet, SAPB’s comedy chair and a senior majoring in art and design, wrote in an email. “It’s almost as if it’s a rite of passage for Binghamton students to binge watch ‘New Girl’ during their freshman year. Schmidt, governmentally known as Max Greenfield, is the epitome of this show, with by far the most quotable lines.”

“We thought it would only be fitting to have someone as highly regarded as Max Greenfield grace Binghamton with his beautiful presence,” he added. “We are so beyond excited to provide this experience for the Binghamton student body.”

Tickets are available for purchase starting at $14.99 for students and $24.99 for the general public.

The shop, co-founded by Edan Amos, a freshman majoring in business administration, and Milo Raimes, an undeclared freshman, began in early September after the duo bought a $12 espresso machine at the Goodwill NYNJ Store & Donation Center on Vestal Parkway East.

As Binghamton still sees fairly warm days in September, Dichotomy Coffee started as a pop-up shop. Around once a week, Amos and Raimes would set up shop either on the Spine or outside of their dorm building. Their goal was to draw in as many people as they could, and in exchange for coffee, they would ask customers for ways to improve their drinks, experience and branding.

Currently, Dichotomy Coffee is operating out of their dorm room. The setup, all of which fits on a desk, sits to the left of the room’s entryway. Customers are welcome to come in and chat as they have their drinks. Raimes explained the origin of their shop’s name.

“So we were in C4 and there was this guy who was obviously a little bit inebriated, walking past us with his friends and he looked at us cause I was wearing a leather jacket,” Raimes said. “And he said, ‘Wow, the dichotomy of C4 leather jackets.’ And then we were like, ‘wow, Dichotomy Coffee. What a great name.’”

Their marketing, which can best be described as a frenzied and vibrant display of their drinks, speaks to the shop’s mission of creating a visual space in contrast to big corporate coffee chains.

As of now, the shop offers several different coffee roasts and matcha. Drinks can be made hot or iced, and customers can include add-ins such as caramel, mocha and vanilla syrups, whipped cream and milk substitutes.

“We have what’s called a Panda Latte, and we’re trying to make that our signature drink,” Amos said. “It’s brown sugar in the portafilter with coffee, and then you pull that and you basically make a latte. And I think that could catch on. It’s really good. And we found that when we went on a trip to Japan, and I saw it in a cafe there. I was like, we have to provide this.”

Along with their Japan trip sparking new ideas for their business, the duo also have plans to compete in the New York Business Plan Competition. Amos mentioned the help they have gotten from Chou-Yu Tsai, an Osterhout associate professor of entrepreneurship in the School of Management, as well as conversations with Leighton Blackwood ‘21, the founder of 2nd Heaven in the Marketplace who recently reopened the Chroma Cafe & Bakery. [RECENTLY REOPENED: https://www.bupipedream.com/news/chroma-cafe-and-bakery-reopens-in-binghamton/159837/]

Recently, the shop has also started a few other baked goods with the help of Hatim Husainy, a newly added team member and a freshman majoring in political science.

Initially, the shop’s desserts were made using the kitchen in their dorm, but after filing some paperwork, Husainy explained that moving forward, they plan on using the Culinary MakerSpace in Hinman Dining Hall for efficiency and ease.

Current treats customers can expect include chocolate chip cookies, banana bread with walnuts and Earl Grey shortbread cookies.

“Our end goal is not to operate out of a dorm,” Amos said. “We really want to work with the University to be able to operate somewhere on campus or somewhere else. And this is really a proof of concept to show that it’s something that people want, and something that we are capable of doing.”

Written and directed by Sudath Devapriya and produced by and starring Lakshmi Damayanthi Bulathsinghala, an adjunct assistant professor of theatre, “Comes the Wind” follows the story of Lily, a mother who, after awakening from a coma, goes on a journey to find her child after realizing she was given up for adoption by her late husband, Henry, during her absence.

Set in the quaint seaside town of Galle, located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, the film opens with a close-up shot of Lily getting out of bed and walking over to sit at her desk, which arguably acts as the centerpiece for the film’s narrative. The desk itself is quite simple, as atop it sits only a singular lamp, along with a small stack of books and her medicine, which she takes daily.

Each time the audience reenters this space of Lily’s, the camera work tends to produce a lingering effect, reflecting the uncertainty and tension surrounding the character’s inner thoughts. And as the film progresses, the narrative unravels at the desk. It is where the audience learns Lily is a writer and has published a book titled, “An Undefeated Life” — a novel which touched so many readers to the point where she receives fan mail. It is one letter in particular that catches her attention, as it mentions how they know Lily has been looking for her daughter and most importantly, that she is alive.

Bulathsinghala described the background of the characters.

“So especially given that [the] majority of Sri Lanka, the people are Buddhists, but the characters in this film are Christians, and also Lily is a Burgher woman,” Bulathsinghala said. “And you know, Burghers were introduced to Sri Lanka as part of the colonization in the past. It’s a mixed race from colonized people plus Sri Lankan.”

Beyond this sanctuary of Lily’s, we gain further insight into her as a character through her attachment to her home, which she shares with Sam, her brother-in-law, and his soon-to-be ex-wife. The home, which is only ever depicted in moody lighting, relates to the somber tone of the film and Lily’s unshakable grief that seems to envelop her.

We are also shown two spaces outside the confinement of Lily’s home — her ballet studio, where her assistant Vishwa helps teach a class of young girls, and the doctor’s office where Lily first meets Surath, a character who gradually becomes a prominent presence in her life.

Devapriya mentioned how the film’s foundation lies in the development of its characters and their interactions with one another, as well as their own internal struggles.

“As I said before, we are talking about several characters who are isolated in a certain vacuum,” Devapriya wrote in an email. “We often see those characters in silence. Although there is no real conflict on the surface of the film, there are strong conflicts in the souls associated with the characters.”

Initially, we are introduced to Surath as a fan of Lily’s novel, as he attempts to make conversation with her in the waiting room. After her unwillingness to engage with him, Surath follows her down a cobblestone path, with an air of hesitancy, until she finally stops and softly, yet firmly, confronts him — without actually facing him and opting to continue to look straight ahead. It is here that Surath asks the question — “why did you write ‘An Undefeated Life?’” Lily’s response was to walk away — signaling the space that silence occupies at this moment.

Between these interactions, we also witness Lily attempting to latch onto some thread of finding her child, whether it is through talking to a welfare officer or the lawyer who helped her late husband through the process of giving up their child for adoption. The only trace of her child she has left is a photo album, which she holds deeply close to her.

Later on, Surath comes to Lily’s dance studio and it is revealed that he has a daughter named Ruwini, who already has formed a sweet relationship with Lily, as she lovingly calls her “dancing teacher.”

Through a muted color palette of reds, oranges and yellows, coupled with a few intimate scenes near the Dutch fort, Lily and Surath continue to grow closer in their friendship. Surath shares that Ruwini was adopted and Lily finally answers Surath’s question — admitting she herself does not have an answer and truly believes that the book wrote itself. Tragically, it is also discovered that Lily is projected to undergo chemotherapy.

Gayani Bulathsinghala ‘14, MA ‘22 and the costume designer for “Comes the Wind,” described how designing the clothes contributed to building a specific narrative for each character.

“We weren’t really focusing on the characters wearing traditional outfits in the movie, but focusing on what this character would wear as their everyday outfit, which is what you do in costume design,” Bulathsinghala wrote in an email. “You’re creating a person, a character portraying that persona through costumes.”

The last interaction between Lily and Surath is through a telephone conversation, as she tells him that she wants to spend the last days of her life with him and to meet her at the lighthouse in the evening.

Tragically, it is Surath who dies and never makes it to the lighthouse, as on his way there, he stops to buy flowers and subsequently and quite abruptly, gets run over by a car. Immediately, the scene cuts to his funeral where Ruwini calls out to Lily and they embrace in a solemn hug.

“Comes the Wind” encapsulates the idea that life is a series of arrivals and departures — a message that Lily herself brought up throughout the film. The friendship between Lily and Surath did not get a conclusive ending and it is unknown if Lily ends up taking care of Ruwini indefinitely. Rather, the film opts to linger on a moment after the funeral when they are back at Lily’s house and Ruwini is lying on the bed. It softly, yet also harshly in its emotional value, ends in that moment.

There is no resolution that wraps the narrative up into a bow. Just as the film begins, it ends in uncertainty.

Historically, Carnival originated as a festival of freedom in opposition to European enslavement, representing, at its core, the unity, strength and triumph of the Caribbean people. Oral traditions and celebrations, including songs, dances and rituals, are ultimately what allowed those of Caribbean descent to maintain ties to their roots in the face of colonizers.

Upon entering the Mandela Room, attendees were immediately immersed in the Carnival theme. There were several photo opportunities — one with intricate stars and planets backdrop, complete with blue streamers and an arch of string lights encompassing the scene, and another revolving around alien and spaceship imagery. Along the aisles of chairs hung flags representing the different Caribbean countries, showcasing the diversity of the Caribbean community. There was even an opportunity during intermission to get homemade jerk chicken made by a member of CSA’s E-Board.

Andi Henry, the organization’s activities coordinator and a junior majoring in psychology, described the connection between the origins of Carnival and this year’s theme.

”Carnival began as a celebration of freedom — marking the end of slavery and the triumph of the Caribbean people,” Henry wrote. “This freedom allowed the people of the Caribbean to dream big, to reach for the stars, and to pursue a future of limitless possibilities. But, if you know Caribbeans, you know that it’s never just about reaching the stars. It’s about going beyond them. Beyond the Stars honors not only the joy and togetherness that are central to Carnival but also embodies the resilience, creativity, and boundless ambition that define the Caribbean spirit.”

The night began with a performance by CSA’s very own host, Athena Bruce, who, throughout the evening, kept the audience engaged with her quick-witted jokes and high spirits. Following her performance, Bruce introduced the significance of this year’s Carnival — highlighting how the dances, costumes and songs blend Caribbean heritage with cosmic allure.

During the first part of the show, performers came out with glittering gold looks, as well as deep purples, blues, greens and oranges, showcasing the vibrancy of the different islands. Some models wore a flag tucked into the side of their costumes, continuing to bring awareness to the diversity in the Caribbean.

The dancing portion of the night was a mix of group and solo performances, with each dancer showcasing their choreography and acrobatic talents onstage to the delight of the audience. The models also returned to the stage to dance, as their glittering costumes stood out for their nod to the celestial theme.

There were several couple performances as well, as they danced to slow-paced songs in matching costumes with gold accents. These performances were accompanied by brief interludes during each performance, as a sound system played with a narrator who explained the importance of Caribbean culture in bringing people together and brief mentions of space and time, alluding to the importance of the night’s theme and its connection to the Caribbean.

Henry described how, over eight weeks, the Carnival dancers and models continued to progress in their routines and build their confidence — ultimately leading to an unforgettable night.

“The energy they bring to the stage is a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and unity that Carnival represents,” she wrote. “For many of us, Carnival is more than just an event; it’s a way to reconnect with our roots and bring a piece of home to Binghamton campus; celebrating who we are — together. Seeing the performers embody this spirit and come together as one, it’s clear that Carnival is not just a show; it’s a powerful reminder of the ties that bind us all, no matter which island we come from.”

Following an array of diverse looks and mesmerizing choreography came a musical performance that involved producing traditional Caribbean music using three steel pans, also known as steel drums, which originated from Trinidad and Tobago. During their set, the two pannists added another cultural layer to the night.

Several multicultural organizations were thanked for their support and contributions as they worked to make the event possible. Many of these organizations were in attendance and vocalized their support for CSA throughout the night.

Audience members were able to participate in Carnival as well, as Bruce encouraged attendees to take to the stage and dance, with many of them bringing flags from their countries as a way of showing pride in their heritage.

Members of the E-Board took to the stage to show off their dancing skills, as each had their time to shine onstage. Each performance was met with raucous applause as friends in the crowd and fellow CSA members cheered and yelled words of encouragement and praise. CSA’s interns were thanked for their contributions in helping organize the event, as they danced as a group several times throughout the night in matching costumes.

Samar Cuff, the president of CSA and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, thanked each member of the E-Board individually with a heartfelt speech emphasizing each person’s contributions and the unending support and kindness they have provided each other throughout the semester as they worked together to ensure Carnival was a success.

Henry was given a special shoutout at the end of Cuff’s speech and received a bouquet from her fellow E-Board members for her hard work and dedication to the position of activities coordinator — serving as the leader for putting Carnival together.

“The most rewarding part of planning this event was the opportunity to grow closer to my E-Board members,” Cuff wrote. “Spending countless hours together, collaborating to ensure every detail was perfect, not only strengthened our teamwork but also created a deep sense of companionship. The tireless nights we shared, filled with brainstorming, problem-solving, and laughter, forged unexpected bonds that I will continue to cherish long after the event is over.”

Near the event’s end, many dancers traded their jewel-encrusted costumes for glow-in-the-dark body paint. The designs ranged from simple stars and swirls to patterns running up and down the dancers’ arms and legs in different colors.

After the last set of dancers exited the stage, the night ended with a concert by the artist Father Phillis, who continued to celebrate the heart and soul of Caribbean culture through his unique sonic blend of Afrobeats, soca, dancehall and reggae.

“This year’s theme, ‘Beyond the Stars,’ was inspired by the boundless beauty and rich culture of the Caribbean,” Cuff wrote. “Just as the night sky stretches infinitely above, the Caribbean embodies a sense of endless possibility, creativity, and exploration. Its beautiful scenery, deep-rooted traditions, and the resilient spirit of its people offer a vision that transcends limits and invites us to dream bigger. The theme celebrates not only the natural wonders of the Caribbean but also the potential for innovation and growth that lies within its communities. By looking ‘Beyond the Stars,’ we are encouraged to embrace the limitless horizons of imagination and achievement that the Caribbean represents.”

MGNA Crrrta, composed of New York City duo Farheen Khan and Ginger Scott, have established themselves through their all-consuming electronic and synth production, warped vocals, heavy-handed bass and jagged melodies. The group, best summed up as an amalgamation of genres, is reminiscent of mid-2000s EDM, trashy electronic and hyperpop. The duo is unapologetic in their tracks, urging listeners to get lost in their digitized sounds and maximalist production.

Raissa Bellucci, the BUMP Committee chair and a senior double-majoring in classical studies and English, described the reasoning behind choosing MGNA Crrrta for this semester’s show.

“BUMP is special in that our process is not only based upon the student polls we send out at the beginning of the school year, but also in the vibe we think is necessary to bring to Binghamton,” Bellucci wrote. “MGNA Crrrta has a bright, high-energy, and unique sound that we thought would both resonate with the community, but was also approachable for people who do not necessarily listen to that music.”

According to Scott, the process of creating a song does not depend on a specific method but rather on building out a base idea whether that involves a melody, synth or sample. Typically, once the duo has a hard-hitting beat, they add their vocals and lyrics — layering upon what the beat has provided them.

For Bellucci, music is key to fostering community. As BUMP chair, her goal was to bring diversity in sound and artists. She hopes that BUMP shows continue to be a place where students can see themselves reflected through music.

As attendees gathered around the stage, DJ Rave Boy, also known as Michael LoBiondo, BUMP’s vice chair and a sophomore double-majoring in Spanish and philosophy, politics and law, took to the stage to perform his set. LoBiondo got the crowd’s excitement up, playing tracks by Charli XCX and Addison Rae. His set was danceable and infectious.

Shortly after, MGNA Crrrta took the stage. Khan, decked out in an all-silver look, and Scott, who wore a gold dress with fishnets, chunky black boots and layers of silver jewelry, immediately captivated the audience with their presence.

Throughout their set, the duo took turns DJing and using the side of the stage to interact with the audience, often pointing the microphone toward the crowd. Strobe lights reverberated throughout the performance, giving the space a rave-like feel. Each song blended into one another, depicting the curated messiness and heavy techno beats.

“MGNA Crrrta brings a really unique element to the table: in-your-face joyous girly dance music,” LoBiondo wrote. “On the surface they’re just two girls who want to have fun, but what they actually do is so beautiful. Their music is so euphoric, it begs to be played loud, and begs to be heard on the dance floor.”

Accompanied with their set were visuals that had a mixture of 2010s grunge-inspired aesthetics and colorful and eclectic patterns that were mesmerizing to watch.

“There’s something beautiful about dance music, about letting loose before heading back to the real world,” LoBiondo wrote. “There is no feeling like being free on a dance floor, it’s just pure, unadulterated joy in its most immediate physical form.”

As my photographer, Ella, and I made our way out of the chilly night and into the restaurant, we were immediately met with its vibrant charm. Multicolored lights were hung throughout the restaurant’s interior and a stream of lo-fi music could be heard in the background.

For this fall’s Restaurant Week, Garage Taco Bar offers a $18 three-course lunch and a $25 three-course dinner. Both menus are almost identical. With the lunch menu, you are served two tacos and for the dinner menu, you are served three tacos and have a fourth entree option — their Smoke Show smothered burrito.

We were quickly seated and proceeded to place our orders with our server, Nicole.

While Ella did not opt for a drink, I chose to have a Jarritos — a soft drink originating from Mexico made with fruit flavors and cane sugar. Flavors to choose from included guava, pineapple, tamarind, mango, watermelon, strawberry and more. I went for the mango-flavored Jarritos and it was a great choice. I tend not to particularly enjoy carbonated drinks, but this was surprisingly pleasant as it was not too sweet or too tangy — making for a perfect interlude for the savory dishes to come. The restaurant also offers two other drink options — their Broke Margarita, a house-made margarita complete with their fresh sour mix, and Modelo — a house-favorite beer served with a lime.

For appetizers, I got the street corn, which was topped with butter, queso fresco and chili seasoning served with a sizable amount of tortilla chips. I appreciated that the seasonings did not take away from the natural sweetness of the corn, but worked to elevate the dish. The corn was nicely buttered and acted as a perfect dip. Ella got the Garage fries and found them well-seasoned and not overly salty. If you’re in the mood for something slightly lighter, Garage also offers a lime citrus salad that includes pico de gallo, queso blanco and their house dressing.

Lastly, for entrees, I chose the OG cauliflower tacos which came with fried cauliflower, cajun seasoning, pickled onions, chipotle crema, fresh jalapenos and cilantro. The crispy texture of the cauliflowers acted as a good balance between the acidity of the pickled onions and the sharpness of the jalapenos. The chipotle crema coated the contents of the tacos nicely and was not overdone while the cilantro added a slightly refreshing taste.

I also found myself reaching for the Jarritos between bites, as it was a good cut between the prominent savoriness of the dish. Ella got the Smoke Show chicken tacos which included shredded chicken, pickled onions, homemade Smoke Show hot sauce, lime crema and cilantro. While she chose to exclude the cilantro from her dish, she found the shredded chicken tender and served as a good base for the flavors of the hot sauce and lime crema. Other entrees you can choose from include the Green Machine barbacoa tacos which include beef barbacoa, house-made Green Machine hot sauce, lime crema and cilantro, and their Smoke Show smothered burrito, which comes with shredded chicken, rice, beans, pickled onions, pico, cheese, sour cream, lime crema, house-made Smoke Show hot sauce and topped with queso.

It is safe to say that by the end of the night, Ella and I were thoroughly satisfied. Garage Taco Bar continues to solidify itself as a casual, yet elevated dining experience in Binghamton.

Baby Tate, formerly Yung Baby Tate, is an Atlanta-based artist known for eclectic hip-hop, rap, pop and R&B tracks. Tate, 28, was the singer, rapper, songwriter, producer and engineer for her debut project, “ROYGBIV.”

The concert will be held Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Events Center.

General admission tickets are available for purchase starting at $19.99 for students, and floor tickets will start at $24.99.

This is a breaking story, and it will be updated.

“Polychromatic Voices: Translation in Performance,” a multilingual and multimedia performance was held this Saturday in Binghamton University’s Anderson Center.

Sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center, the Broome County Arts Council, the Tompkins County Arts Council and Wegmans, among others, the performance was directed, written and choreographed by Yangzhou “Yao” Bian ‘20, MA ‘22, a second-year doctoral student in the Translation, Research, and Instruction Program.

The performance is based on Bian’s epic poem “Yorick” which is broken up into 14 different episodes. The piece follows the journey of the Raven — a common symbol for “otherness” in literature — through the eyes of Yorick, the skull in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” the poem was written in Chinese before being translated into English.

The show mirrors Bian’s work as each episode includes different illustrations and translations in various languages including Arabic, Bengali, French, Sinhalese, Spanish and more. Along with each episode, Bian included a short choreographed dance routine that reflected the tone of each episode — both in English, Chinese and its respective translation.

“We believe that art is the most profound expression of disquietude that resides in the unconscious of what ought to be seen yet what we take flight from seeing,” Bian wrote in an email. “We hope that the phantasmagoric discomfort Polychromatic Voices embodies may momentarily bring awareness to our troubling perceptions of selfhood and otherness, and inspire self-reflective actions instead of defensive scrutinizations.”

Abantika Bagchi, a translator-presenter in Bengali and a sophomore majoring in business administration, discussed the process of maintaining the essence and nuances of Bian’s work while giving it a new perspective.

“When I first read it, the meaning was not very clear,” Bagchi said. “It’s a very abstract poem, so I had to look at Bengali words and also make sure that if I directly translate it, it might not make sense in Bengali. So I had to change some of the structures to make it make sense in Bengali and also preserve the poetic beauty.”

The show’s purpose revolves around what it means to exist in the confines of defining one’s culture and how we can go about breaking those artificial boundaries. Through the mode of translation, Bian aims to express a sense of togetherness and the simplicity of human beings.

Amaini Varney, the show’s emcee and a junior majoring in human development, described how a performance like “Polychromatic Voices” adds to the campus community.

“It made me realize how hidden the diversity in Binghamton can be,” Verney said. “It’s a [predominately white institution] and you don’t really get to see the different cultures all the time or be represented or be in those spaces where you can see all that’s happening, especially in a play or a show like this, so it’s cool to see all different backgrounds and cultures come together.”

In the future, Bian hopes to continue to expand the accessibility of her work and push the notion that collaboration within artistic spaces is empowering and necessary.

“Through working on the project, we are continuously awed by the talents and insights one another brings on board to our maturation as awakening artists,” Bian wrote. “To our university, as well as the regional, national, and international communities, I am convinced that instead of building walls, we shall always benefit more from events that join hands.”

The festival featured ethnic food and barbecue, music and cultural performances, a bounce house and garlic ice cream.

New York State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 spoke at this year’s event to show support for the organization and acknowledge its impact on the Southern Tier.

“This is a great festival because they have a beautiful array of such culturally diverse foods that represent our communities from all over the country, outside of the U.S. and so much more,” Webb said. “Reaching 20 years as a milestone is very hard to achieve. So on behalf of myself and the New York State Senate and, of course, my New York State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, we support initiatives like this because it brings the community together.”

Because garlic is common among many cultures’ cuisines, the festival symbolizes the importance of diversity and acceptance.

Francesca Bové MA ‘21, the association’s grants manager, described the festival as their biggest yearly fundraising event.

“The money that we raise at the Garlic Festival will get used as discretionary income for the rest of the year,” Bové said. “And that allows us to buy the things that we need for our refugee clients, who are just getting resettled, and to meet other client needs.”

This year’s festival featured 30 vendors that sold different garlic-related items, including kettle corn and hot sauces.

Joshua Osche, 46, of Binghamton, and a co-owner of Stars & Gardens Farms — a family-owned garlic growing business — has been vending at the festival since 2017.

“The festivals are getting more popular,” Osche said. “It’s done in other areas, like the Hudson Valley, like Saugerties, and it’s just a much bigger effort. It could be a much bigger effort in this area. I don’t think people realize how good it is in this climate.”

In total, Stars & Gardens Farms grows nine varieties of garlic and at this year’s festival, Osche offered five different types, including French Porcelain, Carpathian and Chesnok Red.

Laila Hernandez ‘13, MPA ‘18, the American Civic Association’s deputy director, emphasized the organization’s commitment to serving the community.

“We provide services to a plethora of ethnicities and cultures,” Hernandez said. “We acknowledge everyone’s culture, everyone’s tradition. We are the world in Binghamton.”

Other vendors at the festival included Together for Ukraine, who allowed attendees to learn about Ukrainian culture and receive a traditional Ukrainian flower crown. The organization was also fundraising for Okhmadtyt Hospital — Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, which was struck by Russian missiles in July.

Mary Neufeld, the association’s marketing and event coordinator, described the impact of hosting the Garlic Festival on their organization.

“One of our biggest challenges is to reach into the community and let them know what we do,” Neufeld said. “Events like this really open us up to the community, so that we can bring in a crowd that we might not otherwise bring in. And we can really tell them what we do and how we support the community.”

On the last Monday of every month, community members come together at the Broome County Public Library for a one-hour session of dramatic short story readings by local actors. The program, known as the Hungry Ear, was founded in 2007 by Judy McMahon, 86, of Binghamton.

McMahon, who received a graduate degree from the Yale School of Drama, described how the Hungry Ear came to be.

“We started it when the library here in Binghamton put in a new garden and they were having a special fest,” McMahon said. “They knew that I was an actor, and they said, ‘would you like to come in and maybe read a story for the people who come to celebrate the opening of the garden?’ And that’s really how it all got started.”

Typically, she chooses two pieces that can fit in a one-hour time frame and will occasionally bring back stories to reread if they were successful and generated engagement. Some months may also revolve around a specific theme, like stories that align with the current season or a certain emotion.

This month’s picks were “The Drummer Boy on Independence Day” by E. L. Doctorow and “Woman, Frog, and Devil” by Olga Tokarczuk.

David Cleutz of Binghamton, the reader of Doctorow’s story, mentioned his fascination with the author’s work.

“It’s a hard thing to do, to write a fictional story and fit it into real history,” Cleutz said. ”You’re jamming something in where it doesn’t belong, and to meld that in, to slip it in there in a way that’s realistic and believable, is not an easy thing to do. And of course Doctorow did that beautifully here.”

A Civil War historian and an author himself, Cleutz has written several books, including “War & Redemption, a Civil War Tale” — a novel that centers the 137 New York Infantry Regiment that was organized in Binghamton.

“If you read enough, you know what comes across good and what doesn’t,” Cleutz said. “And so my writing is informed by what I’ve read from others. I’m standing on the shoulders of a million other readers.”

Tokarczuk’s story, read by Charles Berman of Binghamton, leans into the use of fantastical elements, eccentric characters and the psyche to tell the tale of a boy struggling to find his place in the world.

McMahon described what she hopes listeners get out of the program.

“Maybe not necessarily learn something, but maybe laugh at something, maybe understand something more,” McMahon said. “Maybe it would lead you to maybe look up the author’s book and [think] ‘maybe I’ll read one for myself,’ you know?”

Cleutz echoed this sentiment.

“I hope they leave with an appreciation for literature and the craft of writing and the joy of reading what somebody’s craft was,” Cleutz said.

The Student Association Programming Board is set to bring singer, songwriter and actor Ross Lynch to Binghamton University. The event will take place on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Center and include an interview, a Q&A session and a subsequent performance by Lynch.

Promoted as “An Evening with Ross Lynch” as part of their Insights series, the Instagram post announcing the event told students to “expect behind-the-scenes stories, career highlights, and maybe even a sneak peek into what’s next. Other events in the series included featured guests Giancarlo Esposito and Rainn Wilson.

Melissa Dalton, the SAPB’s insights chair and a senior majoring in biology, described the most exciting aspect of hosting Lynch.

“Students can look forward to seeing one of their favorite childhood stars at this event,” Dalton wrote. “We grew up watching Ross Lynch on Disney Channel and listening to his music. I think it is exciting that we are coming full circle with him as young adults.”

After his Disney career, where he starred in “Austin & Ally” and “Teen Beach Movie,” Lynch pursued other acting opportunities. He eventually landed a role as Jeffrey Dahmer in the 2017 film “My Friend Dahmer,” and a year later, the role of Harvey Kinkle in Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”

Alongside his acting career, Lynch began to pursue music as a guitarist and vocalist for R5 — which split in 2018 when he and his brother, Rocky Lynch, started their duo band, THE DRIVER ERA.

Atticus Fauci, the vice president for programming and a junior majoring in economics, shared how the board decided to bring Lynch to BU.

“We heard the student body last semester when Ross and his band’s name kept coming up,” Fauci wrote. “There were a lot of comments on Instagram posts and he was mentioned a lot in our surveys. We then looked into if he was an option and he was. The deciding factor was the 15 minute acoustic performance, something new to excite the student body.”

Booking an event of this caliber requires intense coordination between multiple parties and months of planning. Fauci explained that the board’s process includes scouting potential options through United Talent Agency and releasing an interest survey where students can vote on which guest they prefer to see. The SAPB then compares the potential guests’ availability, pricing and more, while taking the survey into account. Once they’ve settled on a speaker, the SAPB consults lawyers to review the contracts and begins to promote the event.

The board has hosted several events with guest speakers, though Dalton wrote that Lynch adds a uniqueness to the series.

“This event is different compared to some of the other celebrity guests the insights team has brought to Bing because it brings a sense of nostalgia,” Dalton wrote. “Giancarlo Esposito and Rainn Wilson are both incredible entertainers who gave us such interesting perspectives but these are celebrities we recognize in our adult lives. Ross Lynch is someone we can all remember watching and idolizing from such a young age.”

As of Thursday morning, the event was sold out.

The Binghamton community gathered on the streets of the West Side on Sunday for the city’s ninth-annual Porchfest — a celebration of live music and local bands. From noon to 7 p.m., 140 musical performances were staged on over 60 porches, driveways, yards and sidewalks. Ranging from orchestral to rock to alternative music, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Binghamton’s West Side, where the festivities are focused every year, is home to the Bundy Museum of History and Art, small businesses and picturesque neighborhoods. As the area grew into a manufacturing powerhouse that produced immense wealth, its houses grew in tandem, earning the city the nickname “The Parlor City.”

Malgosia Krasuska, 60, of Binghamton, has lived in the community since 2007 and said Porchfest is one of the most memorable parts of the year.

“I think that people come so freely, and we gather, you know, it’s unusual for [this] area,” Krasuska said. “So to see community coming [together] like that, and it’s always so well organized … I see old people. I see youngsters. I see the toddlers in the trolleys coming and dogs. So everybody comes.”

Along with the abundance of music, a little over a dozen local food vendors, including Old Barn Market, Sugar Lips and That Coffee Place, were scattered throughout the area.

On 60 Lincoln Ave., husband and wife duo Robert and Jessica Farrell, both 42, of Riverside, performed at Porchfest for the second consecutive year as “The June Lion.” Jessica Farrell described their band’s sound.

“A lot of rock and pop,” she said. “We kind of hop around to a lot of different decades of music, so we like to do a little bit of everything.”

The couple played feel-good songs like “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus and early 2000s ballads.

The Porchfest concept began in Ithaca in 2007. Since then, the idea has spread to over 220 cities across the United States, including the major metropolitan areas of Portland, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston and Dallas.

Partners for this year’s event listed on the local organization’s website include the city of Binghamton, Guthrie — a health care provider — Visions Federal Credit Union, Mirabito and several Downtown restaurants.

Krasuska described what an event like Porchfest can do for students.

“I would believe that for students, it’s important to experience that kind of vibe that we come together,” Krasuska said. “It’s local, but it’s organic. It comes from everyone. Everybody participates as much as they can, you know? And that would be nice for students to know. Maybe they can transfer the tradition to their area.”

Other notable acts include Ms. Honey and the Hive, who played on the porch of a bright yellow house — perfectly reflecting the band’s name and their soft and melodic jazz tunes. In contrast, on 53 Lincoln Ave, was Heavy Delish & The Bone Throwers, an alternative, metal and rock group.

Krasuska highlighted the overall positivity Porchfest brings to the community.

“I just like it very much because it’s enthusiastic,” Krasuska said. “It’s beautiful, and music is always something that connects people very much.”

The campus community gathered on the Peace Quad this Saturday under the blazing sun for UFest, an annual event organized by Campus Activities and the Student Association.

Commencing at 11 a.m., this year’s UFest featured a variety of student-led organizations, recreational athletics, live music and local vendors to celebrate the start of the academic year and encourage student involvement on campus. Groups were separated into areas of similar interest — including multicultural organizations, pre-professional societies, volunteering and performance.

Batia Rabin, the SA’s executive vice president and a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, described the importance of UFest to the campus community.

“UFest is a great opportunity for new and returning students to see what clubs we have at Binghamton and to get involved in something new,” Rabin wrote in an email. “It’s never too late to join a club. Also, despite what we wish B-Engaged is underutilized and so some clubs may sort of go under the radar. At UFest, people can visually see and interact with a lot of the clubs we have in a way they don’t really get to do for the rest of the year unless they go to the meetings of a club.”

Rabin said if they choose to run for reelection, a priority will be moving UFest to a Sunday to recognize the needs of Binghamton University’s Jewish community, improving the event’s organization and expanding the number of groups that can participate.

Along with clubs, student performers — Binghamton Crosbys, the Binghamton Treblemakers, the Binghamtonics, Black Dance Repertoire and Husband Material — took to the stage throughout the afternoon for students to enjoy. McKenzie Skrastins, the SA president and a junior double-majoring in mathematics and an individualized major in data science, explained how UFest differs from simply attending an organization’s general interest meetings.

“Unlike GIMs where you’re given a bunch of information about the club, UFest is an opportunity to get to know the club members and hear from them personally,” Skrastins wrote.

With a variety of organizations showcased through tabling and entertainment, the event demonstrated how there is a group for everyone on campus, from academic organizations like the Speech and Debate team to recreational sports like Aikido and rowing. Students walked around the Peace Quad, meeting club leaders and signing up to learn more. Some organizations offered gifts, like candy and bottle openers, while others hosted fun games and challenges.

Caitlin McMahon, the SA’s vice president of finance and a senior majoring in accounting, shared what she hoped students got out of UFest.

“We wanted to make sure that both new and returning students knew how many different groups and organizations [there] are at Binghamton,” McMahon wrote. “The Executive Board also wants to make sure we have strong outreach to the students so they know of all the resources accessible to them.”

Skrastins emphasized the importance of UFest for growing campus engagement.

“Ideally, UFest is the start of a student’s fulfilling and enjoyable relationship with a club,” Skrastins wrote. “And so I hope that incoming and returning students got a glimpse at the different clubs that Binghamton has, and that a few of the organizations stood out.”

As an incoming freshman, the summer before college can be anxiety-inducing. The thought of packing your life into boxes can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. By planning ahead, you can help to ease some of that stress. To get your packing list started, here are a few dorm room essentials.

Decorations 

Whether it be posters of your favorite artists, pictures of hometown friends or various knickknacks and trinkets, putting up decorations can make your space feel like home. At the end of every day and as you go in and out of your room between classes, it’s important to feel comfortable in your environment. By taking the time to decorate, your room can become one of the first places on campus that truly feels like yours.

Fairy lights or LED lights 

Most on-campus dorms come with bright overhead lighting or a lamp, and if you’re not a fan of either, consider opting for a softer lighting choice. Fairy lights can help produce a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. If you’re looking for something more vibrant, LED lights may be the way to go, as they’re known for changing colors at the press of a button.

A rolling cart

A rolling cart can be a versatile organizational tool, making for a positive dorm room experience. As a freshman, you’re bound to share a bathroom, whether it’s communal or between your suitemates, and a rolling cart can be a place to consolidate your toiletries and help you easily move back and forth between your room and the bathroom. Other ways you can use the cart include arranging stationery supplies or even your favorite late-night snacks.

Cleaning supplies 

This one may be a no-brainer for some, but for others, it might not be. Even at a university as big as Binghamton University, sickness spreads quickly and suddenly. By practicing good hygiene habits, you’re sure to make your campus experience much better. You can easily keep your space clean by using disinfectant spray or wipes on furniture, vacuuming if your dorm is carpeted or using a broom and dustpan if the flooring is tile or hardwood. Other supplies you can pack include stain remover, an air freshener, paper towels and cleaning gloves.

Throw blankets 

If you enjoy spending time in bed watching TV, reading or doing homework, having one or two throw blankets can provide a little extra coziness. During Binghamton’s frigid winter months, the additional layers will come in handy. If you’re feeling fancy, you can also opt for a heated blanket, as it will keep you warm and toasty. For even more comfort and support, you can bring a few throw pillows.

These are just some of the items you can consider as you begin to develop your packing list for the academic year. By sorting through your needs and wants early, you are sure to set yourself up for a successful first year.

The School of the Arts concluded its three-day Festival of the Arts this past Friday, commemorating student artwork through a series of exhibitions, demonstrations and other performances. This inaugural student showcase marks the first year of Binghamton University’s School of the Arts, which aims to consolidate the disciplines of art and design, art history, cinema, creative writing, music and theatre under one school, as well as bring visibility to the arts at BU.

The festival began on May 1, with performances by Hub New Music — a quartet consisting of a flute, violin, clarinet and cello player — and BU’s chamber singers.

On May 2, the events resumed at 1:20 p.m. with “The New Lyric,” a series of opera arias sung by students along with a collection of new songs from a collaboration between the music department and creative writing program. At 4:30 p.m., individuals could gather on the Spine to hear BU’s steel drum band perform, and at 5 p.m., head over to the Art Museum for an intern showcase.

The School of the Arts emerged from years of discussion which culminated in a proposal for the new school, according to Pamela Smart, associate dean for faculty affairs and programmatic initiatives for Harpur College and aan ssociate professor of art history. Christopher Robbins, the former director of the School of Art and Design at Purchase College, has since been appointed as the School of the Arts’ founding director.

“There were a couple of strong motivations for developing a School of the Arts within Harpur College,” Smart said. “One is that there’s so much fantastic work going on among faculty and students in the arts, but they’ve never had quite the visibility that they should have … and two, to have a set of conditions in place — and I think the director of the School of the Arts is really important in this — to seek out and develop opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations both within the arts but also between arts programs and other fields.”

The festival’s third day began at noon with presentations from art history students. Later, during a 4 p.m. performance titled “Pedal Powered Theater,” engineering and theatre students collaborated on a short production that demonstrated the concepts of mechanical energy and electricity, where audience members could manually power elements of the play —like an alarm clock and toaster — as they helped the protagonist prepare for the day.

Tommy Iafrate, the University’s director of musical theatre, collaborated with Nate Wheatley, a lecturer and lighting designer of theatre, to put on this interdisciplinary show. Iafrate emphasized the importance of both consolidating arts departments under one school and the element of collaboration between the arts and sciences.

“What I imagined being a really important part of the School of the Arts here at Binghamton is collaboration,” Iafrate said. “There aren’t a whole lot of projects that connect engineering and theater, and this is one that was linked to both departments really working on it together … I hope that there’s more interdepartmental collaborative work that happens in the School of the Arts for the rest of its existence.”

At 4:30 p.m., attendees watched a class recital of the theatre pit orchestra, which performed numbers from playwright Steven Sater’s “Spring Awakening.” Also starting at 4:30 p.m. and running until 7 p.m. was a music and theatre reception outside of the Watters Theater.

From 5-5:30 p.m. attendees could head down to the lower galleries of the Art Museum to watch “Behind The Field: In Plain Sight,” a student-made documentary that follows three students’ art projects over the course of a semester. The project, funded by the Art Bridges Foundation, was a pilot program of the Art Museum’s Artist-in-Residence initiative, where select undergraduates focused their work through the lens of artist David Hammons.

Bryan Fernandez, a senior majoring in music, described how he drew inspiration from Hammons’ work to create four different composition pieces.

“I noticed he worked a lot within the African American community in Harlem and I thought it was kind of great how he was able to go out and explore and integrate this community that you don’t see in the art world, and I wanted to do that in Binghamton,” Fernandez said.

The art and design senior BA exhibition was also located amid the lower level galleries. The Rosefsky Gallery was adorned with student work that represented the artistic growth of students throughout their college experience.

“I kind of just dove into graphic design, and even in my first semester I went from never having worked with charcoal before to making a five foot still life and landscape,” said Sarah Rossbach, a senior majoring in art and design who interns at the Rosefsky Gallery. “The professors push you in the best way possible. They push you to be your best.”

This sense of community between students and faculty was evident at the festival, as artists, professors and attendees mingled in the Memorial Courtyard and Grand Corridor to commemorate the hard work of BU’s student artists throughout this past year. The reception included merchandise for sale by the Art Museum as well as a hands-on silkscreen demo, where students made School of the Arts t-shirts.

At 6 p.m., attendees came together in the Rosefsky Gallery for the Departmental Awards Ceremony, where Hans Gindlesberger, chair of the department of art and design, awarded accolades for 10 students who demonstrated excellence in the arts. At the same time, attendees could visit the Poet’s Cafe, where individuals gathered on couches and chairs in John Arthur Café for a poetry reading hosted by Tina Chang, the director of creative writing and Joe Weil, associate professor of English. The festival also featured cinema and dance events throughout the evening, including a film truck on the Spine and performances by BFA in musical theatre students.

Robbins described how the School of the Arts plans to expand in the coming years and how it allows students to study the arts in addition to experiencing a breadth of academic freedom.

“The School of the Arts already has incredibly strong offerings, and our goals are to expand these to be even more cross-disciplinary, showing how the arts can have an impact in many other fields and industries,” Robbins wrote in an email. We are creating new curricular initiatives that bring different fields together, like the lighting and sound engineering minor currently in development … and we are pushing the arts to help students from any field get the creative edge in their industry, helping them see new approaches and methods for innovation, setting them apart from so many others.”

The African Student Organization (ASO), hosted their annual Threads of the Motherland fashion show this past Saturday in the Mandela Room. This year’s fashion show, themed “A Night of Opulence,” showcased a wide range of high-fashion clothing that represented different cultural aspects of Africa through a variety of designers.

Hawa Fofana, ASO’s educational coordinator and a junior double-majoring in global public health and biology, described the inspiration behind the theme.

“The inspiration behind this year’s fashion show was to showcase the beauty of Africa, just in a different light,” Fofana said. “Our theme was opulence — we wanted to show the richness of Africa and all the beauty that our clothes come with, our culture [and] our traditions … That’s sort of something we’re trying to tap into, opulence. Our culture itself is something that should be celebrated.”

Pink flowers lined the outer portion of the stage and a red carpet gave the feel of a classic fashion show. Guests were welcome to take photos with an ASO backdrop or a 360 photo booth.

The first line of outfits fell under the category of “umbala,” which depicted a vibrant display of colors as the models wore a variety of greens, blues, yellows and pinks. The dresses — which included frilly sleeves, detailed beading and corset bodices — created beautiful silhouettes. Models wore more casual outfits as well, including floral-patterned halter tops styled with ripped jeans and sparkly heels.

Some models walked out in pairs or trios, and in those instances, they were dressed in complementing outfits. Fofana explained the wide range of stylistic choices seen through the clothing.

“We had a bunch of different designers,” she said. “Some were more urban, some [were] more traditional and all the designers incorporated both traditional and modern things … the clothes are a good [encompassment] of both sides like the new and the old of Africa, which is what we’re trying to emulate.”

The second line of outfits fell under the category of “omenala,” which means “the culture of the people.” This line included jaw-dropping pieces, including a full-length gold gown, a mermaid dress with purple and green frills along the bottom and a trio who came decked out in royal purple.

After a brief intermission and an E-Board introduction, the next clothing line centered around the idea of love versus lust. Laila Hamza, ASO’s president and a junior majoring in human development, described the reasoning behind adding this theme to the fashion show.

“We didn’t just want to do a regular, boring scene,” Hamza said. “We wanted to showcase what most college students go after — which is mostly lust.”

Outfits in this round included a duo who wore matching gold and purple looks and a trio where one model showed off glittery bell bottoms with pink and blue accents.

After this round, Hamza and Hawa took to the stage alongside two members from Malik Fraternity Inc. to present the Passion for Impact Scholarship. — a $500 award recognizing immense creativity, leadership skills and community engagement.

Hamza described the last line of looks — “ASO to the wiase.”

“We wanted to do a streetwear take on African styles,” she said. “So we used African designers, who then used their old prints and their old designs to showcase streetwear, but also [make it] classy.”

The organization’s take on this line included models dressed in black and white tracksuits wearing futuristic sunglasses, sweaters with white polos underneath that were styled with pleated skirts and one model who came out in a red ski mask, matching sweatsuit, big gold hoops and a money gun.

Fofana explained what she hoped this year’s fashion show would illustrate for attendees.

“I just hope that we put on a nice, entertaining show that [reflects the organization] and Africa as a whole,” she said. “Not the black and white picture that people sometimes try to portray, but something more exciting and extravagant.”

Located on 211 Washington St., Garage Taco Bar is a lively spot for locals and Binghamton University students alike. The restaurant consists of vintage diner style tables as well as bar seating. The energetic atmosphere of Garage Taco bar with its rustic brick walls, ambient lighting and eclectic artwork, compliments well with their Mexican-inspired street food dishes.

For this spring’s Restaurant Week, Garage offers a $18 three-course lunch and $25 three-course dinner. Both menus are the same, but for dinner, you are treated to three tacos instead of the two for lunch. While it was not my first time at Garage Taco Bar, it was my photographer Jacob’s first time, and I was excited to hear his thoughts on the restaurant and its food.

The service was quite efficient as after Jacob and I placed our respective orders with our server Selena, our drinks were quickly brought out followed by our appetizers and entrees.

For drinks, I chose the agua fresca which was specifically strawberry- and lime-flavored. Upon the first few sips, I immediately enjoyed the freshness of the strawberries. The sweetness of them combined with the tartness of the lime made for a refreshing drink, especially with the warmth of the food that arrived soon after. Jacob opted for the passion fruit margarita which consists of the restaurant’s fresh sour mix and passion fruit. For the margarita, you also have the option of either a salt or sugar rim and Jacob went for the latter. He found it to be a great take on a classic drink and also paired well with his meal. The restaurant also offers Modelo — their house favorite beer that is served with a lime.

For appetizers, I got the garage fries which were seasoned as well as lightly drizzled in queso. Jacob got the street corn which was served with butter, queso fresco, chili seasoning and came with a side of chips for dipping. The fries were light and airy and the seasoning was not too overpowering. I also found them to be perfectly crispy. Jacob let me try some of his corn, and I noticed that all three elements worked well together, as the butter was a good foundation that helped to elevate the added chili seasoning and queso fresco. If you’re not feeling the fries or corn, Garage also offers a lime citrus salad which includes pico de gallo, queso blanco and house dressing.

Lastly, for entrees I had the OG cauliflower tacos which included fried cauliflower topped with cajun seasoning, pickled onions, chipotle crema, fresh jalapeños and cilantro. While I had been at the restaurant before, I had never ordered their tacos — but now, it is safe to say that they are delicious. The crispiness of the cauliflower coupled with the slight acidity of the pickled onions and sharp bite of the jalapeños was a satisfying flavor combination. The chipotle crema also gave the tacos a nice saucy texture that was not too overwhelming. Jacob got the roasted poblano and onion barbacoa tacos which came with garlic crema and cilantro. He found the meat to be both nicely tender and smokey and described how the onions brought the dish together while the garlic cream elevated the tacos to the next level. You can also go for their avocado crema chicken tacos which includes pickled onions and cilantro.

Overall, Garage Taco Bar continues to be a staple in the Downtown restaurant scene with its vibrant environment combined with their style of serving comforting Mexican eats.

This past Friday, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) held their second-annual Mr. Asia pageant in the Mandela Room.

Doors were set to open at 6 p.m. where a crowd of students waited for the event organized by the VSA — a sub-group of the Asian Student Union (ASU) with the goal of “[promoting] unity and boost confidence among Asian and Asian-American students.” After weeks of hard work and preparation, VSA welcomed attendees to enjoy a night of food, entertainment and exciting performances from the talented contestants.

“The inspiration behind this year’s Mr. Asia is to show various Asian cultures through different performances and allow students to show their personalities as well on stage,” Lauren Wong, the president of VSA and a senior majoring in nursing, wrote in an email. “We did Miss Asia in the fall, and wanted to give male contestants an opportunity as well. We know that there are a lot of Asian organizations with banquets and events, but we wanted our main event to showcase many different cultures and performances so that the audience can have a wide variety of entertainment and learning experiences.”

This year’s contestants included Mr. Taiwan, Mr. China, Mr. Japan, Mr. Korea, Mr. Philippines and Mr. Palestine, whose addition, according to Wong, aimed to educate the community “that Asian does not just mean East Asian countries, but includes all countries outside of Europe.”

This year’s Mr. Asia was “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” themed and upon entering, attendees were given a mini Hershey’s bar and invited to get food and drinks before heading to their seats.

Christian Tai, who represented Mr. China and a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, described why he joined Mr. Asia.

“In high school I didn’t really put myself out there and because of that I felt like I missed so many opportunities to meet different people and engage in different cultures,” Tai said. “I wanted to join Mr. Asia because it’s a chance to be a better me and I’m glad I did because I learned so much about myself and my fellow brothers.”

The event consisted of five different rounds which included an introductory catwalk, a cultural catwalk where contestants wore a traditional outfit from their respective country, a talent portion, a costume walk where each contestant dressed up as a different character from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and lastly a final walk followed by a Q&A session.

Some of the performances during the talent portion included Mr. Taiwan singing “Perfect,” by Ed Sheeran, Mr. Japan dancing to “Butter” by BTS and Mr. Philippines demonstrating a fencing routine.

Shinnosuke Nishio, who represented Mr. Japan and a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law and an exchange student from Waseda University, mentioned his interest in joining Mr. Asia.

“As an exchange student, I only have 10 months in America and I only have a month left and before coming here, I decided that if I even have the slightest interest in something I would try it no matter what because whether it’s good or bad, it’ll end up as a great memory or experience,” Nishio said. “The things I have taken granted for in Japan and the things I have experienced were very different from here because I’m always surrounded with Japanese people, but here, the culture’s very diverse and I thought Mr. Asia was a great opportunity to embrace that.”

In between rounds, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of mini games, such as one where they were blindfolded and had to guess the percentage of chocolate and another that involved a scavenger hunt where they had to find a certain trait such as the tallest person in the room or someone who speaks fluent Vietnamese.

With these mini games, there were opportunities for the winners to receive prizes such as Phonomenal gift cards, a Stanley cup, waffle makers and more.

Adel Hamdi, who represented Mr. Palestine and is a senior majoring in computer science, shared why he participated in Mr. Asia.

“When I first got to Binghamton, it was very hard to find a community,” Hamdi said. “I was kind of longing for a cultural community — an Arab community. There’s a very low population of Arab students on campus … we don’t just show face as much. I ended up almost finding refuge in the South Asian community. I know I said [that] I wanted to do Mr. Asia for a number of reasons, but at the end of the day, I really wanted to inspire other Arabs on campus to do the same — and finally, we have an Arab Student Association on campus.”

Before the finalists were announced, each contestant received an honorary sash for their participation and following this, the audience picks for best costume, social media favorite and crowd favorite were announced.

Mr. China took home the win for best costume while Mr. Palestine won both social media favorite and crowd favorite.

Shortly after, the finalists were announced which included Mr. Japan, Mr. China and Mr. Palestine.

Each contestant was asked a series of questions that included their favorite food from their culture and why, a stereotype from their culture and what they could do to change that perception and lastly, how they would continue to represent Mr. Asia beyond this event.

After deliberation from the judges, it was announced that Mr. Palestine was this year’s Mr. Asia.

Hamdi shared how he would continue to represent and carry Mr. Asia with him.

“I will take great steps, especially in the Arab Student Association, just to keep that growing on our campus,” Hamdi said. “But of course, it takes also much bigger movements and in the Palestine movement of course, is at a peak right now and it would take talking with the people at home, talking with your friends, just educating my friends, educating people and making sure they’re aware of what’s going on. I think that will broaden the horizon of our community and grow support, but it will also make us stronger, and I think we can do that through organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine.”

Wong expressed what she hoped guests took away from the pageant.

“I hope attendees were able to enjoy performances and learn more about different cultures,” Wong wrote. “In addition, I hope they had fun and were able to destress with the various mini games and prizes that we had. I also hope that we were able to garner a newfound appreciation for all cultures and the deeper cultural traditions and issues.”

Founded in 1987 at Binghamton University, Asian Student Union (ASU) is one of BU’s largest cultural organizations. An umbrella group for seven Asian American clubs including Asian Outlook (AO), Binghamton University Japanese Association (BUJA), Chinese American Student Union (CASU), Korean American Student Association (KASA), Philippine-American League (PAL), Taiwanese American Student Coalition (TASC) and Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), ASU aims to create a space for fostering and upholding cultural traditions for Asian and Asian American students at BU.

Caitlin Kuang, an event coordinator for ASU and a sophomore majoring in English, described what she hopes individuals take away from ASU’s events.

“I hope individuals leave with a fun experience,” Kuang wrote in an email. “One where they can make friends, create something special and feel the sense of community fostered with ASU. I hope it makes people feel less alone in this huge university and gives them something to look forward to each week.”

From more casual events such as onigiri making and DIY mini zen gardens to informative events such as discussions on Asian diaspora as well as highlighting Asian American women’s experiences, ASU incorporates a spectrum of opportunities for students to come together and learn about different facets of Asian culture.

Ari Jain, marketing chair for ASU and a sophomore double-majoring in computer science and mathematics, shared how he helps to spread awareness about Asian American culture at BU.

“I like to highlight how unique every single person is,” Jain wrote in an email. “One of my jobs as marketing chair is to run an ASU project called [Humans of Bing ASU], which highlights any member of the ASU community who is willing to fill out the form and put themselves out there. For me, joining ASU has been a great opportunity to learn about Asian culture through everyone else’s varying experiences, and also is the chance to express how unique every single person in our community is.”

Jessica Sung, an advisor for ASU and junior majoring in political science, described how she hopes ASU continues to expand upon its inclusivity.

“I always enjoy it when we hold events about cultures that aren’t within our subgroups such as our Tibetan Art event last spring,” Sung wrote in an email. “I feel that it is important to highlight all Asian cultures, not just ones that are within our subgroups.”

One of ASU’s biggest events, Asian Night, strives to celebrate and create an environment for Asian and Asian American culture and traditions through a variety of performances. Past participating organizations have included Binghamton Bhangra, Binghamton Fujianese Union (FJU), Binghamton Taekwondo Club (TKD) and MODA.

Jain described ASU’s reasoning behind holding such a large-scale event.

“It is pretty stressful, but more than that, Asian Night is incredibly exciting,” Jain wrote. “It feels powerful to have the creative freedom to make Asian Night transform and grow each year. [It] allows us to showcase all types of Asian culture and whoever is willing to further the goal of displaying the beauty of Asian performance and visual arts (through the recently added fashion show, for example) is always invited to join us.”

Kuang explained one of her favorite ASU traditions.

“My favorite ASU tradition is Thank You Banquet,” Kuang wrote. “Thank You Banquet is an event hosted by ASU that showcases the highlights of [that] year from not only ASU but the subgroups as well. It celebrates everyone’s achievements and oftentimes makes people emotional, me included. I love reflecting and seeing how much has happened in the span of the year. It also really brings people together and makes them feel connected with one another.”

Jain described how he hopes to continue to refine Thank You Banquet and have ASU be connected to the larger campus community.

“My future goals for ASU is to have more inclusivity at Thank You Banquet,” Jain wrote. “If possible, given enough budget, fundraising and careful planning, we can extend our events to more organizations, which would give us even more connections with even more talented and deeply involved people. My goal is to have ASU and our events be seen as a place of positive energy that anyone can come enjoy and be left with fulfillment afterward.”

This past Friday, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and the Chinese American Student Union (CASU) came together to host this year’s Lunar Festival in the Mandela Room.

Upon entering, attendees were given a red envelope with a piece of candy inside — signaling a typical Lunar Festival tradition where friends and family receive these envelopes, usually with money, to symbolize prosperity and best wishes for the new year.

Francene Olegario, publicity chair for VSA and a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, described what bringing the Lunar Festival to Binghamton University means for the community.

“We’re able to cultivate a safe space for other Asian students that might have not been able to go back to the city to celebrate Lunar New Year with their family,” Olegario said. “I think it really means a lot that students can come together and celebrate, even though some people might not celebrate the holiday themselves.”

Attendees were invited to play a variety of both Vietnamese and Chinese games. Vietnamese games included Tiên Len, a card game where the goal is to be the first to empty their hands by playing different combinations like pairs or runs and Bầu Cua Tôm Cá, a gambling game where individuals must bet on what six animals will be visible after the board is spun.

Chinese games included Chinese poker where players place 13 cards into three separate hands and compete to have the highest ranking combinations against their opponents’ hands as well as pin the trail on the dragon, in honor of 2024 being the year of the dragon.

Hannah Nguyen, senior advisor for VSA and a senior majoring in chemistry, shared her favorite tradition of Lunar New Year.

“I know it’s very tacky to say, but the food,” Nguyen said. “At home, my family and I would go around with the food that we cook and we would go around our house and pray to bless our food and give our ancestors their blessing before we eat and then after that, we would eat the food ourselves.”

Both organizations provided guests with traditional Vietnamese and Chinese food. VSA had Bún Gà Nướng, a vermicelli noodle dish that is typically served with lemongrass chicken and nước chấm, a dipping sauce that can have the flavor combinations of sweet, salty, spicy and savory. CASU had mango sago, a refreshing cold treat that includes mango, condensed milk, coconut milk and tapioca.

Tom Huang, co-cultural chair for CASU and a junior majoring in biology, described the process of putting together the event.

“The biggest thing for us was figuring out what style of event we wanted to do,” Huang said. “Last year it was less like a fair and more like stations where you could do different DIYs. We wanted to have more of an interactive experience and once we figured that out, it was pretty easy from there.”

Nguyen added on to the logistics behind the event.

“It was a lot to consider,” Nguyen said. “A lot of factors and a lot of things that came up that we didn’t expect, but we handled them well. I think it was fun to think about how we could change Lunar New Year this year to make it better from last year so we put in more games, we added a ticket prize system and I’m really satisfied with how it came out.”

There were also two photo opportunities for guests, one with a VSA backdrop and another for CASU. Both places included string lights and props like red lanterns.

Thomas Li, co-cultural chair for CASU and a sophomore majoring in biology, described why he joined CASU.

“I came here looking for Asian friends because I went to a primarily white school, so I wanted to get more in touch with my culture and what I grew up with,” Li said. “My parents were immigrants, and they were really big on passing down traditions, so what I wanted to do as a cultural chair was to spread cultural awareness to everybody else on campus and make sure everybody else knows about Chinese culture.”

Tina Nguyen, co-cultural chair of VSA and a sophomore majoring in computer science, described what she hopes guests take away from the event.

“I hope that attendees get a taste of both cultures because we are different even though we’re in the relatively same area,” Nguyen said. “I hope they can get a taste of our games and get to know more about our cultures and be well-rounded.”