State Street alone is home to several galleries with a range of displays focusing on color, nature, music and community. Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts is a warmly lit and welcoming art gallery on State Street and is directed and curated by John Brunelli of Vestal, New York. The gallery displays fine paintings and mixed media works by a combination of local and international artists.

“I’ve got about 60 artists that I represent from all over the world, and this is just a sampler of some of those artists,” Brunelli said. “And each month I’ll be rotating new pieces in.”

In the gallery, Ghanaian mixed-media works of Na Chainkua Reindorf and Dutch-Argentine hyper-realistic images of birds and vases from Lorena Kloosterboer are just a few of the incredible installations that could be seen this Friday.

People of all ages, including students hoping to immerse themselves in the local art scene, could be found mingling about the Art Walk’s pieces, enjoying the philosophy behind them, the colors they brought to each space and the warmth of experiencing art among a community of like-minded people. Chatter filled each gallery and the streets as people zigzagged across from gallery to gallery.

Zoha Khan ‘24, the programs and marketing coordinator for the Art Council, explained what the Council wants to promote through First Friday events: community development and the pride and joy that local businesses bring to their community.

“I want people to appreciate this town,” Khan said. “Part of our First Friday marketing is people often say there’s nothing to do in Binghamton. That’s not true. There’s actually so much to do here. There’s so much art, there’s so much livelihood and you just got to find it.”

The First Friday Art Walk is a way for students and residents can appreciate Binghamton’s culture and art scene throughout the year. From the impressive works of the Artful Child Gallery to the soulful and cultural pieces found at Brunelli’s gallery and Orazio Salati Studio & Gallery, the Art Walk provides inspirational pieces that community members can think about for weeks to come. This program is both an activity for cold winter days and an inspiration for folks to go out and find ways to engage with the community.

A cold, dark November night was imbued with warmth and exuberance during Italian Medieval Night, part of Downtown Binghamton’s First Friday events.

Held in the University Downtown Center, the hum of conversation and smell of antipasto and a pasta dinner introduced the night as one for camaraderie and sharing the sounds of a culture. Seats were filled with students and community members alike, all there to listen to the music of Nino Samiani and Andrea Di Cesare, world-renowned rock and pop Italian violinists. Anticipation for a cozy night of music led to chattering about the artists and hopes for what might be performed.

Programs were provided with the Italian lyrics and English translations all written out, encouraging audience participation. As Samiani, a musician local to the Endicott area, performed well-loved songs, the room filled with not only his singing, but the voices of community members. From older Italian singers like Domenico Modugno and Louis Prima, to more contemporary artists like Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli’s version of “Perfect Symphony,” this performance welcomed audiences of all ages and cultures to enjoy the romantic language of Italy.

Dana Stewart, an associate professor of romance languages and literature and collegiate professor of Mountainview College, has been working at BU for 30 years. In that time, she has invited Samiani to perform multiple times.

“I love it when he does the sing-along songs that involve the crowd,” Stewart said. “I also just loved looking out at the crowd. There are a lot of Italian Americans in this area, a lot of people with Italian heritage and a lot of people who knew a lot of the songs he was singing. So to look out in the crowd and see so many people humming along, singing along with some of the words, that was a really exciting moment for me — of feeling like I’ve been able to help bring about this evening of celebrating Italian culture together.”

After a brief intermission, it was time to hear Di Cesare’s original composition. Di Cesare, featured on 20 platinum and gold records, has performed at Binghamton before and was particularly taken with the dedication to the University’s study of medieval Italian literature. In this small corner of New York, he had a special performance planned — the world premiere of a multi-part composition based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”

So began the “Inferno,” the first part of this composition. Introduced by a backtrack of howling winds and screeching instruments, the suffering of Dante’s characters exiled to eternal damnation was translated into orchestral movements. The programs provided at the beginning of the show allowed audience members to read along with the Italian spoken recitation of Dante’s writing, along with the English translation.

As Di Cesare played his violin through the “Inferno,” into “Purgatorio” and “Paradiso,” clear transitions were made. “Purgatorio” brought transitions from low to high, emphasizing the quick fluttering of hope within the souls Dante encounters on his journey. The high, smooth notes of “Paradiso” communicate the sensation of arriving at Heaven and learning about love.

The final movement of the piece, however, was based on just two lines at the end of the poem, explained by Stewart as the moment in which Dante the character joins with Dante the poet and gains the ability to write about his travels, which “The Divine Comedy” is about. This section rounded out the circle of the journey, bringing the night of music to an end in a very whole and satisfying way.

Sam Corradetti, a second-year Ph.D. student studying English, expressed their emotions after the performances by Samiani and Di Cesare.

“You can really feel the emotion in his work,” Corradetti said. “You can feel the care in his work. I think in particular the final section. The fourth section that’s based on the end of the ‘Paradiso’ canto, where he just took two or three lines of Dante and just interpreted, literally interpreted, the whole universe kind of being pulled into Earth. And you felt that.”

The end of Medieval Italian Night came about joyfully in Downtown Binghamton, with community members having experienced a bit more of their culture and students learning about the Italian language and history. The autumn chill that had been locked out of UDC through swirls of harmonies and captivating violin solos felt less sharp as folks left the building and entered into the first weekend of November.

Set in the sunny hills of Los Angeles, the show follows Noah (Adam Brody), a wise and youthful rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), a raunchy podcast host, through their unlikely friendship and even more surprising romance.

Although their occupations and seemingly opposite ideas on romance lend themselves to tense disagreement, the two can’t seem to avoid each other, and they don’t seem to want to.

The unique perspectives on relationships, ranging from Noah’s strong sense of community to Joanne’s cynical view of romance as an inevitable let-down, make this unlikely pair a somewhat comforting combination of hope and realism. “Hot Rabbi” — a title that Noah seems to enjoy deeply, is really not so different from his cynical and morally gray love interest. Similar to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “hot priest,” Noah is a rabbi whose morals can be swayed if it means staying with Joanne, flipping the script to give the seemingly weak-willed Joanne more strength in her beliefs than Noah.

Critiqued for its intense reliance on stereotyping, particularly when it comes to female characters, this show celebrates Jewish American culture while simultaneously poking fun at it. Overbearing and controlling, the women in Noah’s family are displays of caricatures placed upon Jewish women time after time in various forms of media. The characters are reduced to ideas of the suffocating Jewish mother — outdated and boring humor. Still, there is clear love these women feel for their families and admission that strict adherence to rules has not always brought them or their loved ones joy.

“Nobody Wants This” also displays the nuances of responsibility and loyalty, particularly in the case of Esther Roklov (Jackie Tohn), sister-in-law to Noah and best friend of Noah’s almost ex-fiance. She is catty, mean and deeply protective of her family in a way that seems to lean into stereotypes of Jewish women. Further development of her character exposes the strain of striving for perfection when no one else seems to be working as hard.

If you were looking for a high-wrought dry comedy with the tension of doomed romance a la “Fleabag,” this is not the show for you. What makes this show so entertaining is the safety of it all — the familiar combination of romance with comical situations. “Nobody Wants This” is a classic rom-com at its core. The balance of cynical humor and sage advice regarding relationships and self-assuredness creates playful and relatable characters that are easy to like, even when they are scheming against the protagonists.

The characters rub off on each other and the recognition that change is not always the result of corruption, but perhaps a strengthening in one’s already held beliefs. Overall, this is a fun take on a classic tale of lovers sending a message — fall in love with a religious leader. At the very least, it will make for a good story.

Rating: 4.8/5 

The transition from summer to fall creates a perfect environment for some of the most delicious meals that use fresh ingredients and vegetables from the harvest. The lingering summer sun creates the best crops for making hearty and filling meals, while early autumn chill allows for cozy soups, pastas and desserts.

Here are some of the best recipes for a full dinner party, complete with a soup, salad, main and dessert to celebrate the fall spirit.

Roasted Red Pepper Soup, adapted from Joy the Baker 

Ingredients:

4 large red bell peppers

4 tablespoons of olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 celery sticks, trimmed and sliced

3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon garam masala

1 bay leaf

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Drizzle whole bell peppers with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes until blackened on top. Flip and roast for another 15 minutes.

3. Remove peppers from the oven and cover the pan to allow them to steam for 10 minutes. Remove the skin, stem and seeds.

4. On the stove, cook onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Then add carrots, celery and parsley.

5. Add cumin, garam masala and bay leaf. Then add the roasted peppers and stock and simmer on low for 20 minutes or until the carrots and celery are cooked.

6. Remove the mixture from the pan and use an immersion blender to blend into a smooth soup.

7. Add heavy cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.

Autumn Farmhouse Salad, adapted from Love and Lemons

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked farro

1 sweet potato, cubed

A few chopped kale leaves

2-3 cups salad greens

1-2 carrots, peeled into ribbons

1 apple, diced

1-2 sliced radishes

A handful of chopped parsley

1/2 cup chopped and toasted almonds

For the apple cider dijon vinaigrette:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Optional: 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or a big squeeze of orange

Sea salt and black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast until golden brown for 35 minutes.

2. In a bowl, combine dressing ingredients.

3. In a separate bowl, massage the kale with olive oil until the leaves wilt. Add farro in.

4. Add the rest of the vegetables then toss with as much dressing as you prefer. Add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy.

Butternut Squash Sage Pasta, adapted from Serious Eats 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 small shallot, finely minced

1 handful of fresh sage leaves, finely minced

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 pound of small cupped, tubular or ridged pasta

1 ounce grated fresh Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Directions:

1. Saute squash in olive oil with salt and pepper until browned and tender for five minutes.

2. Add butter and shallots and continue cooking until butter is browned and smells nutty. Add sage, remove from heat and add in lemon juice.

3. Cook pasta on a separate burner until al dente. Save a few cups of the pasta water before draining.

4. Add cooked pasta to skillet with the squash along with a splash of pasta water to give the sauce a great shine.

5. Remove from heat and add grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Cinnamon Apple Crisp, adapted from Love and Lemons

Ingredients:

6 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 3/4-inch pieces

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Crumble Topping:

3/4 cup whole rolled oats

1/2 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease an 8×8 baking dish.

2. Combine chopped apples, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, lemon juice and salt. Spread mixture in a baking dish.

3. For the topping, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add the butter using your hands or two forks until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over your apples.

4. Cover the baking dish with tin foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an extra 10-15 minutes or until the apples are golden brown.

5. Cool for 10 minutes. Best served a la mode.

The Feminist Collective, a student activist organization centered around intersectionality, anti-capitalism and abolitionism, organized its annual Take Back the Night rally this past Thursday.

With Sexual Assault Awareness Month coming to an end, students gathered on the Peace Quad with signs, standing in solidarity with survivors and calling out Binghamton University’s lax attitude toward sexual violence cases. It began with speeches addressing Take Back the Night’s history and the long-standing threat of sexual violence on college campuses, with the first speaker being Aleena Paulson, the organization’s president and a junior majoring in political science.

KT Fitzgerald, the collective’s senior advisor and a senior majoring in psychology, and Isabelle Beatus, the organization’s vice president and a senior double-majoring in political science and sociology, also addressed these topics while highlighting available resources for victims and those interested in actively combating rape culture.

In her opening speech, Paulson described the campus culture that permits sexual violence by accepting it as a part of the college experience. She emphasized the impact sexual violence has on its victims and the detriment it can put on a person’s ability to continue pursuing their education.

“It has become rather normalized within our campus culture to ignore sexual assault as a norm of getting a degree, rather than as an incredibly malicious and vile act that places victims at a disadvantage,” Paulson said.

The E-Board mentioned @shareyourstorybing — an Instagram account that began anonymously sharing survivor stories in June 2020. The account has a story highlight on its page highlighting allegations of negligence by University administration and police, and over 800 experiences of sexual violence have been shared. These testimonies speak to the disappointing way these prevalent issues are handled by the University, they say.

The University did not immediately respond to Pipe Dream’s request for comment.

Following the rally, the Feminist Collective held a Survivor Speak Out in the University Union Undergrounds.

Beginning in the 1970s, Take Back the Night rallies target violence against women, particularly cases of physical and sexual assault that often occur at night. Historically, the march’s purpose has been to create a space for women to reclaim their bodily autonomy and demand safety for themselves and others. Paulson joined marchers in demanding change at the University and on college campuses everywhere, and she expressed her belief that, by coming together, women can inspire change and promote liberation from historically upheld misogynistic and violent cultures.

Resources for survivors were promoted during the speeches, like the Violence Abuse and Rape Crisis Center (VARCC), a space located on the third floor of Old Johnson Hall that provides resources to those who have faced interpersonal violence, and the Crime Victims Assistant Center, a free off-campus resource open to any crime victims unaffiliated with BU.

According to Mia DeVito, the Feminist Collective’s secretary and a junior majoring in sociology, the organization strives to create a welcoming space for survivors and to connect them with resources geared toward support and advocacy. She emphasized the importance of increasing these resources’ availability to freshmen, describing the “Red Zone,” the period of time between orientation and winter break when students are statistically more vulnerable to sexual violence.

E-Board members also raised demands for divestment, as the Feminist Collective is a member of the Divest from Death Coalition, a group of student organizations urging the University to adopt principles of the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. They highlighted the University’s partnerships with Israel and the defense industry as proof of the institution’s investment in mechanisms of violence, which they say negatively impacts both the campus and global communities.

“We demand the University divest from weapons manufacturing companies, defund the police and reallocate these funds to the VARCC, increase culturally competent mental health providers and generally more support services for survivors,” Beatus wrote in an email.

The rally concludes the week of programming dedicated to Take Back the Night, which includes events like Chalk the Walk and poster making. Organizers said they believe that engaging students in Take Back the Night programming, as well as other stands against sexual violence, has become increasingly difficult in recent years, and for future rallies, they are thinking of ways to expand its reach.

“This rally is how we show the student support for these demands and encourage University action,” Beatus wrote. “We hope that anyone who participates in the rally feels that solidarity and community, here on campus and internationally.”

Editor’s Note (5/1/24): This article has been edited to correct KT Fitzgerald’s major.

Putting a twist on a classic film noir mystery in this raucous comedy, Cider Mill Stage’s Bold Local Artists of the Southern Tier (BLAST) will be performing Patrick Barlow’s stage production adaptation of Hitchcock’s absurdist 1935 film “The 39 Steps,” opening on Friday, April 5.

Cider Mill Stage is a community center in which local artists work together to hone and promote their art. Located at 2 Nanticoke Ave. Endicott, NY, the company centers art, community and diversity in performances with various ambassadors working on their specific form of performance, including BLAST. Kate Murray, 60, of Binghamton and executive director of BLAST and stage director of “The 39 Steps,” alongside her co-director Bill Murray, explained that BLAST specializes in comedies and musicals. The Cider Mill Stage is also open to various genres for public audiences to enjoy throughout the year.

“It can often be challenging to find a safe space at a reasonable price to perform or produce work for the general public, and we are honored to be able to do that for so many great artists,” Murray wrote in an email.

“The 39 Steps” is a dark comedy adapted from a screenplay written by Alfred Hitchcock, which leans into the dark comedy genre that the screenwriter is known for. According to the press release publicized by Cider Mill Stage, the show combines a bit of mystery and intrigue with slap-stick comedy to create a lighthearted yet thrilling production. The play centers around a murder mystery in which an unknown woman is found dead in the protagonist’s — Richard Hannay (Adam Holley) — apartment. With a cast of just four actors who portray multiple characters, the show focuses on a small group working within themselves to solve the death of the mysterious woman.

“Four main actors play up to 150 different characters,” Murray wrote. “Lots of comedic sight gags and physical comedy needed to be practiced. There are scenes when the two clown characters change accents, hats, clothes and personalities right in front of the audience.”

Murray highlighted the range of characters included in the show despite the seemingly small cast, explaining that this stage production allows the actors and directors to create scenes that include complex movement while prioritizing audience engagement. The humor of the show is intertwined with the eccentric behavior of the characters and the hovering notion of a mystery that must still be solved.

Adam Holley, 45, of Binghamton, NY and the actor portraying Richard Hanney, described the spontaneity of life that is displayed through this play.

“The show is about an ordinary man loving his humdrum life, who then gets caught up in a whirlwind adventure full of spies, mysterious women and danger,” Holley wrote in an email. “I loved the process of finding new moments and comedic bits with my fellow cast mates. It’s truly been a joy to work with them. I hope the audience leaves … exhausted from laughter.”

Murray expressed her hopes for how the audience would react to “The 39 Steps.”

“It is always an honor to work with actors and technicians and then see how the audience reacts to the final project,” Murray wrote. “This one is rather avant-garde, so the audiences are in for a treat that they may not expect. It is our hope that the audience will be totally entertained, and we suspect that they will leave smiling knowing that BLAST cared enough to show them a good fun time.”

With both serious and unserious undertones, the opposition within the plot gives way to a view of human life that includes both tragedy and comedy, highlighting the importance in working with your fellow humans.

The show will be performed on April 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinee performances on April 7 and 14 at 2:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at cidermillstage.com or by calling the box office at 607-321-9630.

Opening on the seventh anniversary of Chancellor Elena Vernham’s (Kate Winslet) victory of her country’s pseudo-“free and fair election,” episode one of writer Will Tracy’s (“The Menu” and “Succession”) ridiculous yet off-puttingly realistic show follows an anxiety-ridden Elena as she attempts to enjoy her special day while overrun by paranoia that mold has infested her residence. Her intense comedic and anxiety-filled performance exposes the true fear of her character — that her white-knuckled clutch on power is beginning to slip.

As Elena continues to obsess and fear that deadly spores have infected all of her soundings, she employs Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a soldier nicknamed “the Butcher’’ for his brutal suppression of a worker’s riot at the mines. He assigned with the task of following her around with an antennae-like machine, testing the humidity of every room she enters. This precaution is not enough to soothe her anxiety, of course, and the yes-men that surround Elena are incapable of questioning her tight-lipped autocratic decision that there is something deadly in the air.

Still, Elena gains some comfort from the quiet, haunted and clearly terrified soldier — perhaps it is because she and her fellow “public servants’’ cannot seem to view him as any more than “a dog using a calculator.” Although his character is less fleshed out than Elena’s, Schoenaerts’ performance reveals a character that is simultaneously placed in positions of power and looked down upon by those above him. He is exonerated of his guilt for acting so brutally against the workers’ riot by Elena, who reassures him that “they behaved like animals” and the soldiers “just reacted” — all the while, every other political elite Zubak interacts with views him as the animal, constantly reminding the viewer of the power structure put in place by Elena’s strict government.

Tracy does not only question the “Twilight Zone”-esque governance of this vaguely European country, but also the foreign diplomats who act as witnesses to the intense surveillance under which Elena’s citizens reside. Diplomats from all over the world enjoy a dinner to celebrate Elena’s “Victory Day,” commemorating her defeat of her left-leaning predecessor and implementation of a fascist government. Politicians from the United States are unimpressed with Elena’s performance of Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” and peppy attitude toward foreign relations, instead questioning the strict surveillance she applies throughout her country and asking if the miners were really rioting at all. These questions lead nowhere, however, and the big ticket item on the table becomes clear — there are stakes in cobalt mines and mineral resources found in this tiny nation. As disapproving as these American diplomats may be of the Chancellor’s repressive and highly censored governance, they are willing to look the other way if it means that they’ll gain 51 percent in shares of this mineral industry and a strong capital allyship.

The characters’ interests in authority and political partnerships is only heightened by the detailed costume and set design, which take on a rigid shape, exposing not only the strength of Elena’s reign, but the structure required to maintain such power. Her costumes stick out from the drab, shapeless dresses of characters like Agnes (Andrea Riseborough), Elena’s aide.

The setting is almost Roman Empire-esque, seemingly inspired by imperial villas that display great wealth and power in the form of nature murals all along the walls. The greens and blues rub oddly against Elena’s sterile and watchful poses, a sort of discomfort that cannot be controlled.

Surreal and all too recognizable, “The Regime” takes the most disgustingly comedic path to expose modern politics, displaying a charismatic and well-loved character whose authoritarian reign is enjoyed only by herself and those who benefit from it. Paranoia follows the audience throughout the pilot episode, yet Elena’s entertaining charm disguises her power as almost laughable, before getting to the most frightening bit — how great power continues to be great power, even when the person wielding it seems to be the most ridiculous choice.

The Q Center was founded in 2015 by a group of students and faculty members alike who were interested in creating a space for resources and support for LGBTQ+ students at Binghamton University. It was formed as part of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), whose mission is to cultivate inclusion and equity throughout BU’s campus. The Q Center has been located in room LS-G549 on the lower level of Glenn G. Bartle Library since 2016.

Nick Martin, the associate director of the Q Center, stated in an email that the Q Center works toward “the collective liberation of queer-identifying people.”

“We cultivate an intersectional space where all queer students, faculty and staff at Binghamton University are empowered to be their whole, authentic selves,” Martin wrote.

The Q Center takes a realistic and supportive stance on the subject of college relationships, promoting discussions of diverse types of relationships on campus to de-stigmatize conversations about safe sex, particularly those about queer relationships. Those involved in the organization take creative strides to teach students how to traverse the often confusing field of college hookup culture and first relationships. Over the past eight years, the Q Center has promoted respectful conversation about the LGBTQ+ community and formed a foundation of support for underrepresented students on campus.

Martin discussed the Q Center’s initiatives toward expanding support for LGBTQ+ people at BU.

“The Q Center team has worked tirelessly to increase LGBTQ+ visibility on campus through events, educational workshops, our Gender Bender Clothing Closet and meaningful collaborations with campus partners and LGBTQ+ student organizations,” Martin wrote. “We have allocated significant resources through new initiatives, new paid positions and expanding our phenomenal team of undergraduate and graduate student interns to highlight intersectional identities through monthly Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC) hangout events and weekly low sensory hours meant to welcome in our neurodiverse students.”

The newly founded Sex Wall is just one of many additions and thoughtful approaches to students that the organization takes as they work toward their mission of supporting, educating and empowering students and faculty in the LGBTQ+ community. This wall is about creating a fun and welcoming environment for students to enter the Q Center and learn about safe sex practices and resources. It also acts as a provider for the LGBTQ+ community on campus as a spot for locating all one could need to practice safe sex.

The Sex Wall consists of a neon sign and “numerous shelves of internal and external condoms, a variety of lubricants, condom holders and information about [pre-exposure prophylaxis] from [Southern Tier AIDS Program] and [United Health Services],” according to Martin.

This new part of the Q Center works along with their longstanding history of providing referrals for mental and sexual health resources, gender-affirming care and safe sex and menstrual products. In partnership with B-Healthy, these initiatives help promote comfort and security for students engaging in sexual activity. The purpose of the Sex Wall is to ensure that students know they have resources and support to live their most fulfilling lives.

Martin expressed the Q Center’s dedication to positive sexual health and awareness on campus.

“The Q Center is proud to promote safer sex supplies and sex-positive education, and we hope this service will help to de-stigmatize conversations around sexual health as it relates to queer people,” Martin wrote. “Our Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Educators are now offering workshops on how to navigate Grindr, safe hookup practices, and kink in collaboration with some of our LGBTQ+ student organizations.”

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, and while a romantic dinner is always a lovely way to spend the evening, a cozy movie night is also a wonderful option for those who are more interested in some roommate fun or a night in with their significant other. There is nothing like a classic romantic comedy to remind people of the wonderful absurdity of love on this holiday, so here is a comprehensive list of some of the best films to watch this Valentine’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day” (2010)

The quintessential movie named for the holiday, “Valentine’s Day,” and its star-studded cast is the perfect movie for a cozy, romantic and laughter-filled night. Every stage of love is depicted in this film, from an elementary school boy with a crush on his teacher, madly-in-love high schoolers, to a long-time married couple struggling with their romantic history. The pain and joy in the expression of love on Valentine’s Day is examined and displayed throughout this entire film, magnifying all of the ways that love exists in the world. Although a bit cheesy at times, that only makes “Valentine’s Day” fit its title even more and certainly makes for a perfect romantic movie to celebrate the holiday.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)

Starring romantic comedy favorites including Steve Carell and Emma Stone, “Crazy, Stupid, Love” is a tangled mess of endearing characters each dealing with their own romantic struggles. In this movie, romantic and platonic love present themselves in realistic and hilarious ways as the parents and their children explore love in new ways. With unpredictable twists, immediately loveable, yet drastically different, characters and a cast that can hold anyone’s attention, this movie is perfect to cozy up to on a cold February night.

“Stuck in Love” (2012)

There seems to be a theme among some of the best romantic movies for Valentine’s Day — ones that highlight the great expanse over which the term “love” rules. The 2012 romantic comedy “Stuck in Love” is no exception. No one in this film is safe from Cupid’s arrow, even when they try to remain unaffected. If Saint Valentine does not get to you this Feb. 14, this movie may take his place. Heartbreak is accompanied by friendship and familial support and, like any great Valentine’s Day movie, there is always a happily unexpected ending.

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet portray the tragic yet beautiful romance between Joel and Clementine in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” a film that explores how many exes may wish that they could forget the person who broke their heart. This film turns the trope of the manic pixie dream girl on its head and reminds the audience of the real problems that people face and the full nature of love. Less of a lighthearted movie, this is for the folks who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day by remembering all of the hardships of relationships and bittersweet pain that comes along with love.

“About Time” (2013)

This is a heartwarming film about an awkward, timid and time-traveling hopeless romantic. Determined to use his newfound time-bending abilities to find a girlfriend, protagonist Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) searches all over London for the one woman he knows he should be with. Although he is not completely free of past emotional attachments, he learns to let go of the need to go back and think of all the mistakes he may have made throughout his youth. This film reminds viewers of all of the types of love that surround them on a daily basis, making it a wonderful film to watch on a day that celebrates love.

“Amélie” (2001)

Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 classic “Amélie” is a Valentine’s Day movie for the dreamers. Comedic, fast-paced and certainly out of the box, this film is great for those who enjoy a bit of surrealism in their lives. Amélie’s mission is to change the lives of the people around her, all while romance is entering her own life without her even realizing it — a prime example of the way love jumps upon a person. This is a wonderful movie for anyone, both coupled up and happily single.

“A Charlie Brown Valentine” (2002)

Another movie based on the tropes of a holiday all about love — and all the joy and embarrassment that comes with it — “A Charlie Brown Valentine” makes for a fun and casual night in with a significant other or some roommates. Charlie Brown and the rest of the beloved Peanuts crew face the great challenge of asking out someone on a date. While some characters are a bit more forward than others, each learn more about the spirit of Valentine’s Day in this heartwarming film.

The lead singer of indie rock band Slaughter Beach, Dog, Jake Ewald, became Binghamton’s own “general purpose Bob Dylan” on Thursday night at the semester’s final Binghamton Underground Music Presents (BUMP) show. He came sporting a guitar, a harmonica and a calming aura that drew in the energetic audience.

Aidan Beigie, chairman of BUMP and a senior majoring in business administration, explained the purpose behind BUMP and the audiences he tries to reach when finding artists to perform.

“While they’re the smaller shows, we like to view them as the artists that can grow the most a few years from now,” Beigie said. “We mix it up between alternative and hip-hop because both of those genres are just killing it right now, and we end up reaching both sides of the campus.”

The size of the show certainly did contribute to the intimate feeling all around as students gathered to hear Ewald perform. The dim lighting, excited laughter all around and clear engagement with the performance before it had even begun is a testament to BUMP’s reach on campus. The Binghamton University Union Undergrounds were filled with students chatting with friends and walking around to find a comfortable spot. The small room and colorful lighting of blues and purples set an intimate feeling that remained throughout the performance.

Sydney Ferrara, president of the SAPB and a senior majoring in anthropology, discussed the attendance for the show and how BUMP impacts student life in BU.

“We actually have the highest attendance for this show then we have had for any other BUMP show,” Ferrara said. “BUMP shows are really unique in that they’re really intimate. The fact that we invite such niche artists sometimes brings in a really niche and creative crowd.”

The whole crowd was engaged and enjoying the music, swaying with each stroke of the guitar and laughing with Ewald as he joked and prepared for each song. The small crowd gathered around the stage in the Union Undergrounds and listened intently to each song. There was a living energy in the room that emerged from the excitement before the performance began, continued throughout the set of popular Slaughter Beach, Dog and Modern Baseball songs and remained long after the music had finished playing.

After the concert, Ewald discussed his own experience performing in such an intimate crowd. Slaughter Beach, Dog has just completed a North American tour and his performance at Binghamton was a calm and easygoing end to such a production.

“It’s easier to stay engaged with a smaller group of people that are right in front of your face,” Ewald explained. “You stay connected. You can just be a human being, and that is enough. You don’t have to be larger than life.”

The Undergrounds are a perfect space for such an intimate gathering. The music of Slaughter Beach, Dog emphasizes the rawness of acoustic guitar and emotion in each lyric. The concert enhanced these aspects of their songs, highlighting the way music draws people together.

This concert brought a bittersweet moment, as it was the last BUMP show of the semester. It brought attention to student opinions on what artists should come to BU, and its success ignites excitement for BUMP shows in the coming semesters. Ewald’s performance and the large student engagement created a wonderful space for artistic expression and enjoyment.

To aid in the effort to combat sexual violence, the Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Intimate Relationships has been studying the relationship between men’s emotional regulation and the degree to which they perceive consent.

The lab, run by Richard Mattson MA ’04, Ph.D ’06, an associate professor in Binghamton University’s psychology department, focuses on men’s consideration of empathy when making sexual decisions. Simona Kobryn, a senior majoring in psychology, and Mike Shaw, a fifth-year Ph.D candidate studying clinical psychology and the perpetration of sexual violence and its emotional predictors, are researchers in the lab.

Shaw explained that the goal of the study was to discover more effective modes of sexual assault intervention by understanding the psychology behind sexually violent behaviors. The lab began by researching intimate relationships, shifting focus behind the “#MeToo” movement to observe how people perceive consent for sexual activity. It also examines the reasoning behind men’s ability to either successfully comprehend or disregard a lack of consent.

“My big hypothesis is that, for certain types of men … the research calls it hostile masculinity and it’s describing a group of men who really subscribe to aggressive ideologies about gender roles, that have specific beliefs about how men should emotionally feel [and] how they should conduct themselves,” Shaw said. “Those are the people who never really get the chance to learn how to regulate their emotions because they’re so focused on kind of pushing them away and not accepting them. It’s that same kind of emotional avoidance that ultimately leads itself as a risk factor for kind of impulsive behavior and if you put those same men into sexual scenarios, what our lab has shown over the last few years is that they are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior.”

The lab samples male students, offering volunteers $30 for participation. Subjects are presented with imagined scenarios where consent may be ambiguous and a transcranial direct current stimulation — a cap with sponges — applies small bolts of direct electricity to the brain. They are then tested with similar scenarios to see if they have advanced emotion regulation by seeing how they would reach in those situations.

“In terms of safety, it’s really, really safe,” Shaw said. “It’s a pretty interesting thing that I don’t think anybody here at [BU] has done before, as far as research.”

The lab is funded through the American Psychological Foundation Trust Grant, the Harpur Dean’s Graduate Investment Initiative Fund and the BU Dissertation Year Fellowship Award. Researchers and their assistants are able to share their findings at conferences and poster presentations. They are continuing research through the spring semester and intend to apply their findings toward sexual assault training.

“Some of those [sexual assault] trainings don’t have any research basis behind them,” Shaw said. “They’re just kind of put together to satisfy a school need and some of them appear to be making the men who are most at risk of engaging in engaging in sexual assault worse.”

Kobryn described her interest in contributing to the lab’s research.

“The research that we do in this lab is really important and especially relatable to the environment that we’re in because sexual assault and problems with consent are often problems that we see happen on college campuses,” Kobryn said. “Diving deep into why this happens [when] we have a population right at our fingertips to get information from and to pull data from is pretty cool.”

Sexual assault continues to be a leading issue on college campuses throughout the United States. According to the Biennial SUNY Uniform Campus Climate Survey sent out in 2023, of the 1,060 BU students that responded, 37 percent of female students, 13 percent of male students and 58 percent of gender non-binary students reported being victims of sexual harassment the prior year. Twenty-nine percent of female students, 13 percent of male students and 43 percent of gender non-binary students reported that they were subject to sexual assault the year prior.

“Some people are actively trespassing against other people’s boundaries, and we don’t have a clear understanding of what the right kind of intervention [is] for them,” Shaw said. “Right now, one of our goals is to figure out what that is and then start to shape up that kind of intervention.”

Editor’s Note (12/13/23): This article has been edited to correctly state that Richard Mattson runs the lab. 

Once again, the dead of winter is upon us. With less than a week of classes left, it is time to make the perfect playlist for traveling home for break. Here are a few songs to add to your essential winter driving playlist.

“So Much Wine,” Phoebe Bridgers

One of Bridgers’ iconic winter covers, this song certainly doesn’t overcome the “sad girl” allegations but works even harder to get everyone singing along. Originally written by The Handsome Family, “So Much Wine” is a beautiful track that combines guitar and violin with harmonies that bring power and soul into the background of the song, making this a great one to hum along to at any time.

“Manifest,” Andrew Bird

This song begins with a unique and calming guitar and builds into a powerful song that is perfect for a long car ride home.

“Red Wine Supernova,” Chappell Roan

Along with eggnog and hot chocolate, red wine is a classic winter drink. This fast-paced song has a great beat and fun lyrics that anyone can sing along to. Blast it during your drive home to pass the time or play it at a New Year’s Eve party to get people on the dance floor.

“Linger,” The Cranberries

A classic song by The Cranberries, “Linger” is the perfect combination of calm and slow verses with a more powerful chorus. As the last bits of autumn decor hang around and people begin to hope for warmer days, this song invokes a sense of longing in a way that lends itself to singers joining in and enjoying themselves as they are reminded of their past.

“cardigan,” Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is, of course, the queen of autumnal and wintery music. This song is certainly no exception and is perfect for the melancholy nature of winter. This song is soft and slow, yet still filled with emotion, and has a chorus that the listener can’t help but sing along to.

“Fairytale of New York,” The Pogues

For those of you who may be interested in a Christmas song, here is a bittersweet holiday song with a quick beat and strong duet. This song is great for getting into the holiday spirit but works outside of the context of holidays as well, drawing in imagery of a cold winter’s night.

“About You,” The 1975

Returning home can elicit memories of friends and past experiences, and The 1975 brings back these memories in “About You.” The song is nostalgic and expresses seeing someone again after a long time. It is a great one to sing along to, particularly when returning to a place you may not have visited for a little too long.

“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” Frank Sinatra

This song has a great jazzy twist which reminds the listener of nights cooking dinner with the family and dancing around the kitchen. This song is great for the drive home and is a reminder that, as cold as it may get outside, warmth can be found with good music and a fun time with your friends and family.

After a whirlwind couple of months of tours, it seems that the Boygenius trio are ready for a bit of respite — and the release of their EP “The Rest” certainly allows them to go out with a bang. Although the EP sends a slightly different message from that of their recent album release, “The Record,” it still highlights artists’ unique writing styles and how each part of the trio is able to support each other on a variety of songs. This selection of songs picks up where their album left off, expanding the ideas of friendship and long-term connection into a greater sense of the human experience.

The bookend songs, “Black Hole” and “Powers,” are the most abstract of the four, highlighting fragments of life and sensation in a kind of all-encompassing exploration of what it means to experience existence and connection. A great feat that Boygenius has achieved with these is the creation of a clear tone throughout the EP, despite the fact that there are only four songs, and they each have such different major themes. They focus on minute details and feelings that contribute to our humanity, ideas that continue to permeate the listener’s thoughts as they listen to “Voyager” and “Afraid of Heights.”

The middle two songs of the EP are certainly more faithful to what we know to be the general style that Boygenius writes — still, they are anything but repetitive. The energy of “Black Hole” compliments the slightly softer, yet still upbeat tune of “Afraid of Heights” and the ideas about fear and desire to live more dangerously presented in this second song only further develops the overarching theme of a kind of external look into the human experience.

The one piece that at first glance does not seem to fit quite as well with the overall theme of the EP is “Voyager.” This does not discredit the lyrical and melodic beauty of the song, and there is something to be said for the intimate lens it places upon relationships and intermingling of love and fear that often occurs as people become close.

This song tells a story that is more specific than the others which does make it stand out as somewhat out of place within this EP. Still, part of the reason it stands out so much is because it is so rawly honest about having weaknesses and sometimes giving into them, a rawness which is emphasized by the acoustic guitar and soft harmonies which accompany Phoebe Bridgers’ singing.

“Powers,” a song about sensation and the transfer of energies, builds you up and cools you down again in just four minutes. It leads away from the specificity of the second and third songs and back into more existential themes. It is about impact and connection. This song emphasizes the idea that there is power in every movement we make and every person we come into contact with, ending the album on a positive and uplifting note.

Clocking in at just over 12 minutes, “The Rest” certainly leaves the listener feeling rejuvenated. In only four songs, Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers are able to pull on every heartstring, maintaining a clear message even as each song moves from high energy to low, regretful to encouraging. Just as we all face ups and downs, this EP somehow manages to pinpoint exact moments that define life — the good, the bad and the hopeful — and bottle them up in these songs — the intangible items that connect all of humanity.

From “Barbie” to “Oppenheimer,” this summer has already seen a great revival of movie theater attendance, and the queer, semi-off balance comedy, “Bottoms,” is no exception.

Having already hauled in around $8.5 million from the box office, director Emma Seligman’s sophomore film has become a major hit during this theater renaissance, and its somewhat unhinged — although certainly entertaining — comedy has certainly proven itself worthy of the acclaim.

Following two unpopular queer teens in their journey to have sex with the two most popular cheerleaders in the school, this film flips the age-old coming of age movie a la “Superbad” or “American Pie” on its head when PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) start a fight club — because there’s nothing like punching your crush in the name of female solidarity.

Taking place in a hyper-stereotypical American high school where football players never take off their uniforms and teachers only care about their students when it involves popular jocks or cheerleaders, “Bottoms” sets the stage for an intense focus on impossibly heightened social politics of high school. Within this cluster of stereotypes, PJ and Josie fill the role of “ugly, untalented gays” who turn rumors that they went to juvie into a fight club.

This club, of course, is simply a ruse in order to get close to their crushes, Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber), two incredibly popular cheerleaders. The biggest issue — Isabel is already dating Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine), the star quarterback of the football team and tyrannical king of the school. This fact does not deter PJ and Josie in any way, as their hopes, known only to their friend and club co-founder Hazel (Ruby Cruz), are that this club will empower Isabel to break up with her boyfriend.

Even within the set-up of the movie, there is comedy in every pixel of the screen. From the eclectic mix of studious decoration in the background of classrooms to the hilariously awkward interactions between the main characters and their crushes, this film is filled with jarring, over-the-top comedy, although a slightly unclear message.

There is certainly a sense of “sisterhood” emphasized by many of “Bottoms” characters, although PJ and Josie make it very clear that that is not the point of their fight club. PJ in particular is a well-developed although extremely morally gray character who seems to learn more about selflessness toward the end of the movie. This is a film with multiple villains and one that does not shy away from questionable ethics within the characters that the audience is meant to be rooting for.

Although many of the characters involved in the fight club are there for female companionship and friendship — most notably Josie’s love interest, Isabel — the main object of the club is to get close with popular cheerleaders. This highly questionable plan is mainly formulated by PJ, our protagonist with morals almost as loose as the hilariously egotistical Jeff. It just so happens that the poor decisions made by our main characters lend themselves to the creation of a compelling plot and aid in highlighting the significance of companionship among women by the end of the film.

One detail that goes a bit unfinished, however, is the fact that there is little true reconciliation between PJ and those that she wrongs while dealing with her own lack of confidence. Although the movie ends on a high note, the arc of this character lacks some clarity. Still, despite the quick runtime at just an hour and a half, the audience really gets to know the characters — their insecurities, their communication styles, their strengths and their weaknesses.

Seligman did a ton right with this film, and the cast clearly added so much to their characters. Cruz’s Hazel is fearlessly honest and casually amusing, Sennott compliments Gerber’s mean girl hilarity with PJ and Brittany, and Edebiri fits quite comfortably with her lovably anxious Josie, whose awkwardness comedically interacts with the confidence of Isabel, played by Liu. Even the character Jeff, the villainous football player, introduces a unique and camp depiction of the heightened stereotypes that make this film so distinctively funny.

This movie is weird and over-the-top and that is what makes it so entertaining. For such a quick runtime, it manages to address issues within American high school social culture in ironic and hilarious ways. It certainly leaves something to be desired both in providing solutions tor the lack of confidence so many of the high schoolers depicted feel, and in completing the arcs of the characters.

Still, Seligman takes on the great task of placing characters — that some may relate to and that may be utterly contemptible to others — and placing them in an over-exaggeration of high school interactions to entertain and remind the audience that ultimately, there is nothing quite as important as friendship for the sake of friendship — and that, sometimes, violence is the answer.

“Without You Without Them”

Beginning with the a cappella “Without You Without Them,” this album immediately highlights the artists’ friendship as a theme, melding their voices as one. This song introduces the true meaning behind the album as it thanks people that came before the artists for the impact they have had on their lives, good or bad.

“$20”

The stark contrast between track one and “$20” removes any idea that this album may consist of 43 minutes of the same tune. A song about rebellion and formative relationships, “$20” feels restless, using strong percussion to agitate the music and introduce the listener to themes about moving on from a restless past.

“Emily I’m Sorry”

A beg for forgiveness, this song pulls at the heartstrings and adds to the narrative of the album, taking responsibility for wrongs done unto others by Bridgers and recognizing mistakes that people make through life. This song is not one for the faint of heart, but its introspection and acceptance of faults give the listener a lot to think about as they continue through “the record.”

“True Blue”

Leading from a song asking forgiveness, this mellow tune freely pardons others, accepting faults in friends and valuing strong friendships over petty arguments. This song is at once calming and energetic and highlights the connection and love between the artists.

“Cool About It”

This song is more acoustic than the previous ones, creating a tune that supports lyrics that are both depressing and comforting. There is something solid in this song, with the three singers each singing about supporting friends even when they do not want to discuss the fact that they need support.

“Not Strong Enough”

Another upbeat and heart-wrenching song about insecurities and introspection as a relationship falls apart, this song brings the beat up without losing the focus of the album. This is the second song with a cannon of harmonies. It gets the adrenaline pumping and makes anyone want to belt out, even if the lyrics are more frustrating than happy.

“Revolution 0”

The movement in this album is seemingly never-ending, transitioning from the high-energy “Not Strong Enough” to this far more tranquil song that almost seems like a transition from one half of the album to the next. While all of the songs before this one highlight frustration with one’s own behavior and insecurities, this song and the ones that follow are more about forgiveness after all of the hardship.

“Leonard Cohen”

Short and sweet, this unassuming tune featuring Dacus is the first objectively happy song on the album, reflecting on time spent with friends and small moments of love in daily life. The harmonies on the last “I never thought you’d happen to me” really draw the listener in and provide insight into the meaning of the album as a whole.

“Satanist”

Equally splitting each verse between the three singers in this song, this high-energy tune highlights the way that people can value different things and still come together as kindred spirits. Three separate philosophies — satanism, anarchism and nihilism — are highlighted by each singer until the end, when they come together to sing about being seen, slowing down and harmonizing once again to lower the energy of the song.

“We’re In Love”

Continuing on the theme of kindred spirits and love enduring despite people having differing philosophies around life, this song serenely explains the devotion that comes with loving someone. This song remembers relationships and honors them even if they are no longer in the singers’ lives in this sad but mostly comforting tune.

“Anti-Curse”

A song about hardships and insecurities leading to strong friendships and good things coming despite a difficult life, this song reenergizes the album right at the end. The line “I guess I did alright considering” perfectly encapsulates this idea as the three singers come together at a point of Thanksgiving even as they’re thinking about all of the trials they’ve gone through.

“Letter to an Old Poet”

A full circle moment back to the boygenius EP, this song is the ultimate recovery of self-confidence. These singers are grounded by the end of this album, and this song shows the growth that the entire album works to demonstrate.

Ultimately, this is an album that draws the listener in with its unique structure and interesting harmonies. It keeps people listening with beautiful lyrics and strong themes about love and friendship. The combination of three distinct musical styles only strengthens the artistic integrity of their music and the heartwarming themes as they work to create a cohesive album without losing individual voices.

The products at this flea market ranged from unique and incredibly well-designed hand-knit and crocheted hats, tops and gloves, to artistically formed jewelry and all the way to rows of thrifted clothing. The creativity of the sellers was beautifully exhibited as each vendor had their own station and space to reveal their sustainable clothing options and artistic creations.

Olivia Ames, the vice festivals chair of SAPB and a junior majoring in anthropology, had some positive comments to make about the market and the planning that went into it.

“The sense of community is really nice to have,” Ames said. “I really like that we’re giving people an opportunity here.”

Ames explained that the main focus of the market was to create an open environment for students to meet new people, find affordable goods and for the vendors to make a little extra money. Everyone certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, and there was no shortage of enthusiasm from vendors and patrons alike.

Alana Foreman, a vendor selling handmade knitwear and a freshman double-majoring in computer science and mathematics, also had positive things to say about the market.

“I thought the flea market would be a great opportunity and it’s been really successful for the brand,” Foreman said. “We’ve gotten a lot of exposure through it.”

Both a market and a sort of museum, the student flea really provides a space for students to gain exposure for their small businesses and for the art that they create through knit work, jewelry design and even makeup design. Here, students are provided with the opportunity to show off their incredible works and make some money off of clothing that would otherwise go to a landfill. Those who attend are not only given the opportunity to support their hard-working peers in their endeavors in the world of small businesses but also a more sustainable option for purchasing affordable clothing and accessories.

The sheer variety of merchandise on display and the clear eagerness of the BU student body to exhibit their own creations and support their peers’ small businesses were quite impressive. The rooms were packed with students moving from table to table and taking in all of the beautiful creations. There were multiple people selling handmade jewelry, yet completely different aesthetics from both tables, giving people the opportunity to buy different styles of earrings and necklaces. The same goes for the knitwear that was available. Each creator had their own personal spin on their creations and it was an absolute blast walking through and seeing the intricate lines and unique designs of the vendors.

The strong sense of community and welcoming atmosphere provided a space for movement and easy access to all items, meaning no one was stuck in one spot for too long. There were tons of people there, yet still space to move around. Conversations began easily and every vendor was incredibly approachable and enjoyable to work with.

Overall, the SAPB Student Flea Market was a complete success. There was a wide variety of merchandise and amazing options for buying affordable items and supporting fellow students and their small businesses, which is always important on a college campus. The only thing left to do now is to see when the next market will be held.

The store’s interior only further entices those who choose to enter, with its unconventional styling and colorful decorations. The smell of coffee and handcrafted soap fill the air as you wander through endless aisles of diverse varieties. From glass-blown figurines to unique jewelry, comical pins, delicious sweet treats and beautiful prom gowns — there is something for anyone and everyone.

The cozy and eccentric feel of the shop is unique and a reflection of both Binghamton and the shop’s owner, Tom Kelleher, who opened the store in 1982. Kelleher’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through at a young age, as he involved himself in antiquing and reselling at the age of 9. Following this path, Kelleher opened the gift shop when he was just 25 years old.

“I like form, design and color — and that’s what my store really is,” Kelleher said.

This inclination toward artistic design is clear from the eclectic collection of jewelry and interesting pottery lining the shelves, the unique socks and even the creations that Kelleher finds from his travels around the country. More than just a gift shop, Tom’s is a museum in itself, showing off a myriad of spectacularly unorthodox designs and giving people a chance to support talented American artists.

Kelleher’s initial vision for the shop was to include a variety of gourmet coffee and crafts, a concept ahead of its time.

“Gourmet coffees were way ahead of the curve,” Kelleher said. “There were no Starbucks. There were no gourmet coffee stores.”

While the shop today is stocked with a vast variety of artistic and unique items Tom’s customers know and love, they are considerably different from its initial stages 41 years ago. At the time, Tom’s only sold work from three craftspeople, along with teas, spices, and some lotions and soaps. Still, the overall idea of the store remains the same as it was over four decades ago.

When describing his original store, Kelleher gestured around, stating “the whole store was about this size,” in reference to his small back office — less than a quarter of the size of the store now.

The idea for a distinctive, one-of-a-kind shop was there — Kelleher just needed to create a sturdy foundation for growth. There have been some personal touches and changes encouraged by the community that has made Tom’s what it is today. Not only was the shop smaller when Kelleher started out, with fewer varieties of items, but it had a different name entirely, starting off as the Main Street Coffee, Tea and Spice Shop.

It wasn’t long before the shop became known as Tom’s by word of mouth, since the original name didn’t stick. Calling the shop Tom’s was not Kelleher’s initial intention.

“I didn’t really like that because it seems a little egotistical to me to name a store after yourself,” Kelleher said.

A few years into owning the store, however, Kelleher decided to get an awning installed and realized that, at $5 a letter, the shop’s initial name was way too long. In an effort to save money, and stay true to the community, the store was officially renamed. This change was certainly embraced by his customers, who had been referring to the shop as “Tom’s” since its conception simply because Kelleher and his whimsical shop were such prominent structures within their community.

The renaming of the shop is only one example of the shop’s larger, overarching theme of community engagement and connection. Kelleher knows all of the artists that provide their one-of-a-kind designs for his shop personally, having sought out craftspeople to work with and maintaining personal relationships with them over the years. Some of the crafts in the shop are made by local artists in Broome County, others are made by people out in Tucson, Arizona or Washington, D.C. Some of the artists, whose vibrant and intriguing creations are on display, have been working with Kelleher since the 1980s — when the shop first opened.

Kelleher emphasized the importance of the community in the development of his shop as well. He explained that customer reactions and behavior have informed how he stocks his shop. More than just a reflection of Kelleher’s own appreciation for interesting artwork, Tom’s mirrors its customers’ interests and preferences.

“Our connection to the community here is essential to our business and essential to my life,” Kelleher said. “It’s just who I am.”

This shop is a little piece of artwork in and of itself, and it certainly reflects Binghamton’s residents’ appreciation for creativity and the hard work of craftspeople. From the warm lighting of the sun passing through glass creations to the small jokes on the socks on the store’s shelves, there is something for everyone in this cozy shop. Located just a short drive from Binghamton University’s campus, a visit is certainly worth the hours one can spend just wandering the bends of the small slice of paradise that is Tom’s.

One of the many events planned through the BSU’s Black History Month campaign, the show displays the cultural significance of hair to the Black community. The event aims to highlight the creativity that can go into styling Black hair, showcasing not only the creativity of the BSU and its members, but also the politicization of Black people’s hair and the fight against this stigma. For this show, the BSU is supporting its community through ingenuity and the creation of an uplifting, fun environment.

Jahi Ferguson, the public relations chair for BSU and a junior majoring in biology, believes the show is meant to be a celebration of Black hair. Ferguson emphasized that the purpose of the show is to be a powerful form of support for the Black community.

“Being that Black hair has often been scrutinized, it’s a celebration of all the ways Black hair can exist,” Ferguson said.

This year’s theme, “The Four Elements,” will be executed with each hairstyle reflecting some aspect of the four natural elements — earth, fire, wind and water. The theme highlights the diverse styles that Black people can do with their hair, and reflects the message of the show to embrace natural hair and get creative with it, battling the stigma and racism that Black people have met for their hair throughout history. “The Four Elements” is also the embodiment of a world that is all-natural hair, and is meant to emphasize Black people’s hair in its natural state.

A lot of planning went into the show, ranging from getting hairstylists to come and work on the models to just getting the space for the show to take place. The BSU chose to reach out to stylists on campus, giving students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and ability to design interesting hairstyles. This not only gives student stylists the opportunity to get creative with their work but also allows them to promote their business, showcasing the artistic abilities of folks at BU.

The entire E-Board of the Black Student Union and their interns were instrumental to the formation of this event, reaching out to stylists and models to put everything together.

“It’s really a celebration,” Ferguson said. “There is a politicization of Black hair, so we still want to emphasize the more radical side of why we celebrate our hair.”

Though this event centers on the diversity of hairstyles and the thought that goes into styling Black hair, the BSU hopes to open a conversation about the politicization of Black hair and to use politics in a supportive way. The event is meant to open a conversation about embracing cultural diversity through a celebration of Black hair and the Black community as a whole.

“It’s open to everybody,” Ferguson said. “I hope that people come.”

This is just one event that the BSU has planned for their Black History Month campaign, so those interested should keep an eye out for more. In the meantime, make sure to go to Old Union Hall at 7 p.m. this Friday, February 17, for a grand celebration of creativity, artistic expression and — above all — Black hair.

The acute awareness of the diverse emotions that are related to love is first and foremost represented by the Ancient Greeks’ seven terms for love — eros (sexual love), philia (platonic love), storge (familial love), agape (universal love), ludus (flirtatious, uncommitted love), pragma (long-lasting love) and philautia (self-love). You might recognize some of these words simply because of the roots from ancient Greek that have been mixed into the English language. Agape, for instance, was used to refer to selfless, universal love. This term, which now means that something is wide open or gaping, was used in antiquity to mean a wide-open love for others. The term that most applies to this conversation about relationships and Valentine’s Day, however, is also the term used to refer to the god of lust and love, Eros. Although not explicitly homosexual in any stories, Eros represented sexual energy more than orientation. This figure in antiquity was essentially an incredibly dangerous — yet tempting — “bad boy” cupid, the grandchild of Chaos. Eros is a primordial force whose name refers to the energy of things clashing, leading to simultaneous birth and destruction. More than any clear sexual orientation, which was already not a defined concept in antiquity, eros represents an energetic and lusty passion within relationships.

The openness of the definition of eros means that anyone could feel this form of love for anyone else, whether they identified as the same gender as their beloved or not. The ancients were not afraid to express their sexuality, whether it be through writing, music, mythology or any other form of memorializing their relationships, even the fleeting ones. Sappho, the female poet hailing from the island of Lesbos, famously directed her own sense of eros onto other women. Her reputation as a lover of women is so well renowned that the name of the island she inhabited was used to create the term “lesbian.” Although only fragments remain, these bits of poetry plead with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and mother of Eros, and Artemis, the goddess of the night and of the hunt who swore off men — but not women — for reciprocity in her love for the women she is surrounded by. Sappho is a woman who loves women and she is not afraid to let the entire world know just how intense her desire — her sense of eros — for the women she admires is.

Sappho was not the only clear member of the LGBTQ+ Community from ancient Greece. Many Greek warriors also recognized the fluidity of sexuality, both in mythology and in real life. Plato’s Symposium, for example, discusses a troop of hundreds of warriors paired up into romantic couples. This may have been in reference to The Sacred Band of Thebes, which was an elite group of 150 gay male couples, totaling three hundred men, who fought side by side against the Spartan military in the name of freedom. The Greeks did not care about their sexual activities, however, referring to them as valiant warriors and praising their victories instead of focusing on what is now a major point of interest. This theme of ancient Greek people caring more about leadership and battle skills than sexuality is revealed again in the story of Achilles from the Iliad. Achilles’s time in battle allows him to become close with his “good friend” Patroclus, another famous warrior. Their friendship leads to attraction, which deepens into eros and then into the committed love of pragma. Although this story ends tragically, the expression of Achilles and Patroclus’ love turns them into even stronger warriors and gives them greater renown. The nature of their relationships is often undermined or overshadowed by their fame as warriors, but the love they shared is by no means diminished by Plato’s writing.

At the end of the day, sexuality is a spectrum. Some people fall on the opposite side, some fall perfectly in the middle and still, others slide around a little bit. This fluid motion of desire and sexuality was recognized by people all over the world during antiquity and the presence of LGBTQ+ couples in history is incredibly important. Most importantly, however, wherever you fall on this spectrum or not, remember to practice self-love — philautia — this Valentine’s Day and every day that follows.

A day of hope for warmer days or comfortable time indoors, depending on Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction, this holiday brings about the perfect opportunity to spend some time with friends and get festive again during the cold winter months. There is no better way to celebrate such an important holiday than to get into a celebratory mood, get together with some friends and watch Bill Murray’s groundbreaking 1993 film, “Groundhog Day.”

This whimsical movie follows the cynical and rude — yet superbly named — Phil Connors, played by Murray, as he relives the same day over and over and over — Feb. 2, 1993. Accompanied by his work colleagues, Rita — played by Andie MacDowell — and Larry — played by Chris Elliot — this quick-witted weatherman reluctantly takes his annual trip from Pittsburgh to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in order to report on Punxsutawney Phil’s seasonal forecast. Connors could never have been able to predict, however, that he would end up stuck on the same day. The minute changes that are made throughout Connors’ first repeat of Groundhog Day instantly change the path he leads throughout those 24 hours. Greater changes lead him on all kinds of wild adventures as each day repeats. As he begins to come to terms with the fact that he is living a loop of the same day, the true themes of “Groundhog Day” begin to reveal themselves — those of self-discovery and enjoyment of life as it is.

The unique plot and intense character development present throughout “Groundhog Day” sets this film apart from other comedies. Connors is not the only character within this film that adapts to fit his situation. Each character becomes at least slightly more open to different perspectives and learns to understand each other. While this film is meant to be a romantic comedy, featuring a budding romance beginning over and over again, it does not center the romantic portion so much that the rest of the plot is forgotten. Rather than being a romantic movie with some jokes, “Groundhog Day” is a sarcastic and snarky movie with well-developed relationships that are uncovered more and more as the film progresses. The real focus of this movie is not so much the story of courtship — but the progression of relationships that began somewhat hostile because each party did not understand the other. As Connors becomes more genuine and learns that his dry humor and dedication to doing great things can be used for good, not just to put others down, his workplace acquaintanceships turn into real friendships.

Once stripped of all of its witty banter and cynical takes on life, “Groundhog Day” is truly a movie about having a positive outlook. It does not focus on the stress of Connor’s life or the job that brought him to Punxsutawney for the celebration to begin with. The major focus of this movie is the way that day after day, Connors takes the time to get to know the people around him, even if the next morning they will have forgotten all about it. He stops pretending to be someone he is not and instead forms connections with the townsfolk that he once despised simply because he did not know them. Connors discovers his passion for helping others and being within a community, and the hope and newness that comes about within him by the end of the movie is not unlike the hope for spring during a long and hard winter.

Overall, “Groundhog Day” is a moving film that is perfect for celebrating the most anticipated holiday of the coming month. This incredible movie is just as culturally relevant now as it was when it was released 30 years ago, so if you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh, cry and think about life from a whole new perspective, definitely give this film a watch. Perhaps you could ask yourself if you had eternity to relive the same day, what would you do with all of your extra time? How do you make the most of every day now?

The first snow of the winter has already blanketed the front steps and roofs of Binghamton homes and Binghamton University buildings, and the bitterly cold wind is beginning to force people inside. The winter ahead will be long and bone-chilling, as most upstate winters are, but that does not by any means mean it should not be fun. The glistening snow, holiday lights and most importantly, festive songs, bring warmth and beauty to the upcoming season. While we may miss the warmth of summer, this is the perfect time to listen to some comforting tunes to help battle the cold and make the long nights inside feel a bit more cozy and warm. Here are a few essentials to get you started on all of your playlist-making endeavors.

“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes

This classic winter song has to begin the playlist, starting it off with an upbeat tune and distant voices melding into one. This song feels like a long road trip with snow covering the trees and the grass, or the warmth of a fire and a cozy blanket. The strong beat and quick tempo bring jollity to the cool themes of winter, bringing warmth to an otherwise cold and lethargic season.

“April Come She Will” by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel’s songs have quite the unique quality of remaining relevant no matter how much time passes, capturing the most specific emotions. This short and sweet song is perfect for those of us who enjoy some chill to the air and a little snow, but prefer to think of the warm seasons to come. Its melancholic tone and slow yet bright melody remind the listener of the hope and positivity that comes with the changing seasons.

“After Hours” by The Velvet Underground

Another short and sweet ditty, “After Hours” brings a bit of warmth to the bitter winter. Its acoustic jingling and mentions of joyful nights filled with toasts, dancing and close friends remind the listener of holiday parties and casual nights indoors with friends.

“Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones

Norah Jones’ smooth voice and slight rasp immediately warm anyone right up. This song sounds like a warm cup of tea or hot chocolate next to a fire. Its lyrics speak of remembering loved ones and the rich tones of the song create a comforting ambiance that is perfect for a wintery night.

“’tis the damn season” by Taylor Swift

This contemporary holiday tune is necessary for any winter playlist. Swift’s “’tis the damn season” plays with all kinds of themes about returning home for the holidays and remembering all of the aspects of life that are specific just to the months of December and January. This song is perfect for any road trip home for winter break.

“This Will Be Our Year” by The Zombies

Another classic, this song is a perfect upbeat tune to play at midnight on New Years’ or simply to listen to as you reflect on the past year and think of all of the great memories you’ll make in the years to come. The jazzy piano and upbeat drumming would make anyone want to dance and sing along, and the lyrics bring a sense of hope and joy to the coldest season.

“Snowbank Blues” by The Backseat Lovers

Leaning more on the side of indie rock with a continued twinge of melancholic acoustic, this song is perfect for any winter playlist. It is upbeat with a somewhat calming and warm tone, and has lyrics that bring lovely wintery images to mind.

“Certainty” by Big Thief

This folky indie ditty is the perfect winter song with its strong beat and soft tune. It talks about the simple things in life that bring people together, like passing the time watching a show or taking a trip and falling asleep in an airplane. This song is calming and warm — perfect for long winter nights.

“Baby Where You Are” by Mountain Man

Another indie folk tune, this song talks about wishing you were with your loved ones. The bittersweet tune and warm harmonies bring the listener into a whole different world and provide a space to take life a little more slowly, taking everything in. It is calming and warm, reminding anyone of a night inside — watching the snow fall outside with a blanket, beside a fire bringing warmth into your home.

Classic Hot Chocolate

We’ll begin with the foundation for these recipes — a luscious, classic hot chocolate that is delicious on its own or paired with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Ingredients:

4 cups milk

¼ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (chips or bar, chopped)

Pure vanilla extract, to taste

A dash of salt

Directions:

1. Combine milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a saucepan over low-medium heat until well combined.

2. Add chocolate and stir constantly until the chocolate is entirely melted and combined with the milk mixture.

3. Whisk in vanilla and salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

This next take is another well-loved combination. Serve with some candy canes for a particularly festive take!

Ingredients:

¼ cup cream

1½ cup milk

½ teaspoon cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

¼ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (chips or bar, chopped)

1 tablespoon peppermint baking chips (like Andes)

Directions:

1. Combine milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a saucepan over low-medium heat until well combined.

2. Add chocolate and peppermint chips, stirring constantly until the chocolate is entirely melted and combined with the milk mixture.

3. Whisk in vanilla and salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Boozy White Chocolate Pumpkin Hot Cocoa

For all the pumpkin lovers out there mourning the end of pumpkin spice season — make it last all winter with this spin on a classic.

Ingredients:

2½ cup milk

½ cup white chocolate chips

¼ can pumpkin puree

¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 oz Kahlua (or bourbon)

Directions:

1. Melt the white chocolate into ½ cup milk over medium heat on the stovetop, stirring constantly.

2. Once the chocolate is entirely melted, add the remaining milk, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.

3. Pour into your mug and add your Kahlua. Serve immediately.

Mulled Wine Hot Chocolate

This take on hot chocolate requires a bit more effort, but it is perfect for a lively holiday party.

Ingredients:

1 cups water

½ cup cocoa powder

⅔ cup dark chocolate chips

½ cup soft brown sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

4 star anise

8-10 cloves

½ teaspoon dried ginger

1 orange, sliced

1 bottle (750 mL) mulled wine

½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions:

1. Add cocoa powder, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, ginger and chocolate chips to a large saucepan. Pour in the water, then add the sugar and orange slices.

2. Heat on medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved, then turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour in the mulled wine. Heat gently for another minute or two until warmed through (don’t boil), then turn off the heat.

3. Garnish with cranberries and orange slices. Perfect for serving throughout the evening.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

This final form of hot chocolate requires a few different ingredients from the previous recipes, but it is well worth the trip to the store. It is traditionally made with a molinillo, a wooden whisk which is rolled between one’s palms to mix everything together and create foam, but a metal whisk works just as well.

Ingredients:

4¼ cups water or milk

2 bars of Mexican drinking chocolate (the easiest brands to find are “Abuelita” by Nestlé and Ibarra)

4 cinnamon sticks

Optional: a dash of cayenne

Directions:

1. Pour milk or water into a tall narrow pot over very low heat and stir in chocolate once the liquid has warmed up. Gently stir until fully combined.

2. Once the chocolate is fully dissolved, vigorously froth the drink with a molinillo or whisk until it becomes frothy and creamy. Serve immediately.

The film stars Lyric Ross as Kat Elliot, the jaded protagonist who is forced into her adventure, Sam Zelaya as her best friend Raúl and Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key as the comedic and sly demon brothers for whom the film is named. Adapted from Selick’s original idea into a screenplay alongside Peele, who also helped produce the movie, this film plays with impossibly eccentric plots muddled with social issues in Kat’s hometown. The story follows Kat as she makes a deal with demon brothers who need her in order to escape the underworld, unknowingly releasing a power that could help a mega-rich couple in turning her town into a private prison complex. Wendell and Wild speak on both the supernatural and some frightening realities.

One of the most unique and interesting aspects of this movie is the art and animation style, which draws the viewer in and holds onto them with every disjointed step of the characters. This whirlwind of whimsy and frightening adventures is reminiscent of the director’s earlier works, including “Coraline” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” artfully utilizing claymation and stop motion animation to bring the dead back to life. From Ray Harryhausen to Tim Burton, claymation has been used to create life within inanimate objects and bring the dead into the world of the living, bringing an imagining of the uncanny movements of the dead into reality.

The animation in this film is certainly on par with other great animators. Selick is known for his eclectic method of creating a piece of art to accompany the plot of his even more eclectic plots. His talents for fabricating expression and intense emotion within clay characters are clear in “Wendell and Wild,” with every character revealing some inner personality right at the beginning just based on their facial expressions. His use of lighting and colors to set the mood creates such an interesting movie to watch simply based on its presentation, let alone its chaotic and all-engulfing plot.

Selick did not just stop at creating an artistic ode to claymation and the playful spookiness of classic Halloween movies with “Wendell and Wild.” While the obvious villain in this Beetlejuice-esque movie may be the demons who have taken advantage of a young girl in order to escape their eternity in the underworld, the real antagonists, a mega-rich corporate couple who want to turn the town into a private prison complex for their own financial gain, reveal themselves to the viewer early on. Although less intensely terrifying than Peele’s previous movies, “Wendell and Wild” certainly combines social issues like those presented in movies like “Get Out” with the more whimsical and artistic sensibilities of Selick’s previous movies. It comments on the very real and terrifying historical institutions that support oppression and socioeconomic disparity in a super interesting way.

This movie is both an entertaining piece of art and a commentary on corporations and the private prison system, leaving viewers with some hearty laughs, a few jump-scares and an understanding of some frightening aspects of the real world. It is artful and beautiful to watch, but the creative animation certainly does not distract from the critique of private prisons in the United States and the ways in which capitalism can be a motivation to imprison people and destroy entire towns for personal gain. There are certainly some plot points that the movie may have done without, as with so many stories going on at once there was not always one clear mission. There is some loss of character development for the supporting roles in this movie because there is just too much going on to really focus on getting to know the characters. Despite its slightly convoluted nature, however, “Wendell and Wild” communicates its message about socioeconomic issues and the problem with private prisons quite well, tying the grand plot up in a purple and green spiky bow.

Overall, “Wendell and Wild” is original, offbeat and a great time to watch. Whether you are looking for something with a bit of playful anarchy and interesting characters or trying to watch a movie that will make you think about the world as we know it, this is a great pick. In under two hours, it perfectly combines the aim of a movie to entertain with critiques of social, political and economic institutions, making the viewer think about more than just a one-dimensional plotline. It is revealing, hard-hitting, interesting to watch and is the perfect movie to settle in with on a bitingly cold Binghamton night.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Harpur Edge Art Show was created to showcase art from students of all majors, accepting digital submissions, submissions in traditional visual arts and written works until Oct. 23. The “Art Walk” will consist of submissions exhibited by the alumni-funded Harpur Edge — which aims to provide Harpur College students with academic and career advice — the BU Art Museum and submissions from the Q Center — an area that supports the LGBTQIA community on campus. The art show promises to provide any and all students with an interest in the arts with a space to create and view art.

Emily Low, a senior majoring in environmental policy and law who worked on last year’s Harpur Edge Art Show, is now one of the organizers of this year’s show. Low said the purpose of the show is “to help students showcase their art and their creations,” emphasizing the notion that students from all majors should have the opportunity to create art.

“You can be an artist without having to really study it,” Low said. “We’re gonna consider everything.”

Those working on the show find it important that they highlight the art of both students who have dedicated their academic careers to furthering their understanding of art, and those who chose a different path but still want to showcase their art. The show’s purpose is to explore the creations of all students, recognizing artists that are not always able to explicitly express themselves.

Low explained that last year there were 80 pieces displayed at the Harpur Edge Art Show — and the collaborations this year allow Harpur Edge to create an even larger show. This means that more students will have the opportunity to present their art, and those who plan on attending will have more to view. The creation of an “Art Walk” allows more students to submit their work, and will elongate the night, giving attendees more to view during the show’s two hours.

“Break Through” is the theme of this year’s show. According to the Harpur Edge website, it is meant to represent the “Unconventional, Bold, Exploratory, Evolutionary and beyond,” supporting Harpur College students in their exploration of the arts. Low discussed the variety of perspectives that Harpur students can provide and the ways this theme aims to highlight these points of view.

“It’s cool too because you see artists come in and they’re like, ‘Wow this is my work,’” Low said. “For some students, this might be their first time showcasing. This is why we’re doing this in the first place. For some of these artists, this is their first time showing what they made and I’m just glad to be a part of that process. I have no doubt that this event is going to be huge.”

Low said she is most excited to get to talk to artists and learn about their processes in creating these pieces. Organizers have already begun receiving submissions and said they are looking forward to receiving more. The entire Harpur Edge staff seems to be gearing up for a great night, during which students will be able to support each other and gain the support of the school as they display their artwork for the community.