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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The play follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her four sisters as they navigate the hardships that they face as they attempt to ensure financial security for themselves and their family through marriage, only for their circumstances to become more difficult — and entertaining — after they are introduced to wealthy bachelors, Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley. A classic slow-burn comedic romance, “Pride and Prejudice” illustrates the chaos that familial and romantic love brings to our lives and our prejudices about ourselves and those around us.

Opening night was a raging success, as the cast and crew were greeted by a full house who were excited to see their take on the beloved classic.

Emma Pralle, one of the play’s directors and a junior double-majoring in linguistics and German, described the behind-the-scenes planning as cast members decided on what play to put on, as well as the work that was put into preparing for opening night.

“People suggest shows to perform and we as a club vote on which shows we will be putting on next semester,” Pralle said. “This one actually underwent a second vote, as we had to decide which adaptation to use. Originally, we had a different adaptation but we changed it to this one because we felt it was more suited to the original story.”

The costumes were inspired by the fashion at the time of the novel’s publication, with the actors walking around in empire waist dresses, waistcoats and cravats, and knee-high boots. Pralle detailed the planning and work that was put into the many costumes of the night.

“It was a lot of sewing, and it definitely gave us a lot of things to do,” Pralle said. “Not all of them were made. Some of them are like things that already existed, like dresses that we thrifted and things like that. But I think every single costume has an element that was either modified by sewing or made from scratch. I personally, over spring break, made all of the cravats that the people playing men wore.”

Act I set the stage for what audiences should expect from the play, as the comedic delivery of lines and quirks from the actors on stage added to the depth of Austen’s believed characters in their interpretation of the roles they were playing. The cast’s chemistry certainly added to the experience, as they handled the nearly three-hour play with grace and enthusiasm, with the many set changes working together to deliver a show-stopping performance on opening night.

Marissa Krampf, who played the role of Lydia Bennet and is an undeclared freshman, described her experience preparing for the night’s performance.

“We all have each other’s backs, and it’s amazing,” Krampf said. “We have so many inside jokes. I just feel like this is just the most amazing community. We were all really anxious tonight, and there was always one of us there to comfort the others.”

Krampf’s comedic timing was a crowd-pleaser, as her youthful and boisterous portrayal of the youngest Bennet sister was a fresh interpretation of the character. Krampf’s acting added to the comedy of the show, especially when paired alongside Mr. Bennet, played by Jonathon Jacobson, a senior majoring in English, and Jane Bennet, played by Jamie Papa, a first-year graduate student studying theatre.

“I really love performing and being on stage and just to get to go out there and be fully in character is just such a rewarding experience,” Abigail Kelly, a junior double-majoring in environmental studies and political science who played both Caroline Bingley and Mary Bennet, said.

Kelly played both roles flawlessly, with a simple gray cardigan and different intonations marking the difference between the serious Mary and the witty Caroline.

The introduction for Mr. Collins, played by Dalia O’Keeffe, a freshman majoring in English, was one of the many highlights of the play, as her comedic performance was well received by the audience. Any scene with Mr. Collins instantly became a comedy, as O’Keeffe’s mannerisms and constant mentioning of “Lady Catherine de Bourgh” brought a great balance to the tension between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy on stage.

Alli Greenwood, who played the lead male role of Mr. Darcy, and is a senior double-majoring in psychology and music, had much to say about her character and what she hopes audiences learn from his mistakes.

“This story’s two main characters have deeply flawed beliefs that lead them to make mistakes,” Greenwood wrote in an email. “But they’re introspective and accountable, and they take action to make things better. Darcy, in particular, is frustrated that others’ perceptions of him don’t align with his perception of himself. As the play progresses, though, he realizes how his way of treating others has contributed to this negative reputation.”

“I think it’s important to be able to look at yourself critically — not to sulk about what a bad person you are, but to become aware of your shortcomings and learn how to improve them,” she continued. “It’s especially important when it comes to interpersonal relationships that may have been damaged by our actions. The main characters show the audience what it looks like to show up with complete humility, vulnerability, and a desire to understand the other person. This is what it takes to make things right.”

The chemistry between the two leads was undeniable, as any scene where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were loudly bickering or confessing their feelings for one another was met with gasps and laughter from the audience.

It all came to a head during the final scene of the play in which Greenwood’s Mr. Darcy kisses Marisa Zwick’s Elizabeth, as Mr. Darcy confesses how he fell in love with Elizabeth and they share a kiss, which was met with rousing applause and cheers from the crowd.

“I hope audiences are able to reflect on themselves because this has been a deeply reflective experience for me playing Elizabeth because, personality-wise, I just am a lot like her,” Zwick, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, said. “I’ve been able to learn about myself through playing this character, and I think there are so many different personalities that are portrayed in the show that I think everyone should be able to find themselves in it and be able to reflect.”

At the end of its run, after being inspired by Austen’s life and what she stood for, 30 percent of the proceeds from the play will be donated to the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for South Central New York, an organization with the goal of promoting financial literacy and empowerment among women.

Parlor City Vegan is known for its ever-changing menu inspired by local produce from partnerships with local and upstate farmers, as they strive to bring an authentic and unique vegan dining experience to Binghamton residents.

For this year’s Restaurant Week, Parlor City Vegan’s lunch menu was $18 and their dinner menu was $30, a fairly accessible treat for anyone looking to dine out or try something new. My photographer, Jacob, and I were excited to try the dishes at the restaurant, as neither of us frequently eat vegan food. Experiencing new culinary styles was a crucial part of our meal because we both got to try dishes that we don’t normally gravitate toward.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were taken aback by the decorations, as the string lights, leafy plants and natural lighting created a welcoming ambience. The marble granite tables added to the beauty of the restaurant; each table had a small candle, adding to a gentle, cozy and open feeling that Jacob and I appreciated.

We were greeted by one of the servers, who led us to our table by the bay windows. For their dinner menu, Parlor City had a variety of options, and we both struggled to decide which one we wanted to try. Ultimately, we decided to order one item for each course and share the meal. It turned out to be a great idea, as the portion sizes were generous, which we greatly appreciated. Throughout the meal, our server’s timing was great, as she brought out each new dish as we finished the previous one.

For the first course, I decided on the General Tso’s tofu, golden fried and doused in sauce, scallions and sesame seeds. Jacob ordered the smashed cucumber salad, which was marinated in chili and topped with sesame seeds and cilantro.

Jacob’s dish was a crash course in dish presentation, as it was artfully plated to enhance the colors and richness of the marinated cucumber. He described his dish as cool and crispy, with a spicy, salty sauce. The cucumber salad was topped with thinly shredded scallions, adding to the intricacy of the dish.

My dish was delicious as well, and we were both taken aback by the portion my plate had, as the tofu was cut into thick pieces and fried to perfection. The General Tso’s sauce blended the richness of the tofu and the spiciness of the sauce, and the topping of sesame and shredded scallions added to the crispiness of the dish.

For my second course, I went with the Korean rice cake mac and cheese, which consisted of soft Korean rice cakes that were cooked with Parlor City’s house-made spicy cheese sauce. The dish itself was topped with sesame seeds and scallions as our previous dishes were. My dish was a mouthwatering mix of both cheesy and spicy, as the rice cakes were cooked in an incredible sauce that paired well with the softness of the rice cakes, and the scallions on top balanced out the flavors of the dish.

Jacob went with the bulgogi tacos. The dish was made with Parlor City’s house-made bulgogi “beef,” complete with sriracha cream, sesame seeds and a small side salad with dressing. The tacos were loaded with veggies, as the shredded cabbage and carrots added to the crunchiness of the dish and balanced out the sweetness of the bulgogi “beef.” Jacob called these tacos the “star of the show,” saying that he wouldn’t be able to tell that the dish was vegan if he was blindfolded.

As we finished our main course, we saw that the dinner rush had begun, with families and friends arriving to enjoy Binghamton’s Restaurant Week. It was a nice change of pace since we arrived when there was a lull between lunch and dinner — which we appreciated as we got to enjoy our meals at our own speed.

For dessert, we each had a small slice of the cake of the day. We were pleasantly surprised that we each got a different dessert: I got the ginger orange cake with toasted almonds, and Jacob got the chai cake with powdered sugar. Jacob immediately commented on the beauty of the plates that the cakes were served on, as the small antique china was covered in floral designs that enhanced the aesthetics of both the restaurant and the dishes.

After Jacob took several pictures of the cakes, we both dug in and went silent for a while, taking the time to enjoy our dishes. My cake was a delicious blend of the sweetness of the orange and the rich, nutty flavor of the toasted almonds. The ginger flavor was present but not overwhelming, creating a sweet and flavorful dessert. Jacob’s chai cake was light and airy, and the gentle dusting of powdered sugar on top added to the flavor, balancing out the cinnamon and vanilla in the cake.

Parlor City Vegan outdid itself with its dinner menu. With its attentive service and calm environment, it definitely makes for a unique visit and a delicious meal during Restaurant Week.

While not every interpretation and understanding of drug use and addiction is perfect, there are a few that stand out for their unique approach to this difficult topic. Here are four books that talk about drugs, and more importantly, their effects on individuals and those close to them.

“Junkie: Confessions of an Unredeemed Drug Addict” by William S. Burroughs

“Junkie” is a semi-autobiographical memoir written by Burroughs in the 1950s about his experience with heroin and morphine addiction. The main character, named William Lee, is based on Burroughs, and the novel roughly follows his real-life experiences with drug use. Because the events of the novel are inspired by real moments in Burroughs’ life, the content of the book is much more impactful, as his direct prose doesn’t sugarcoat the harms and struggles of addiction.

Though the events of the book may seem outlandish and often unrealistic due to the fast pacing, Burroughs’ writing style allows the reader to experience William Lee’s struggles with addiction and its impacts on his mind and the people around him.

A founding writer of the Beat literary movement and author of “Queer” — later adapted into a 2024 feature film released by A24 — Burroughs was well known in literary circles for the heavy topics featured in his work. Other notable Beat writers, like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, influenced Burroughs’ work, and Ginsberg was a part of the drafting and publishing process for “Junkie.”

For several decades, “Junkie” faced backlash and censorship due to its heavy content. However, over the years, uncensored versions of the novel have been published, and these versions, along with the rest of Burroughs’ work, have become increasingly popular among young adults.

“Go Ask Alice” by Beatrice Sparks 

“Go Ask Alice” stands out among the other three books on this list for its writing style. Published in 1971, the nearly 200-page novel details the journey of a 15-year-old runaway girl as she attempts to navigate her life amid a battle with drug addiction and her self-destructive behavior. The novel is made up of fictional diary entries written by the girl, beginning with her confessing and detailing her day-to-day life as she tries to survive on the streets.

What makes Sparks’ book stand out is that the name of the girl writing the entries is never disclosed, though some readers believe that “Alice,” who is mentioned in the book, is the one writing the entries. The anonymity of the writer emphasizes the struggle the writer has with drug use, presenting the novel as real diary entries of a young girl struggling with addiction.

The ending of the book emphasizes the isolation drug use can cause. While it has battled censorship over the years just like Burroughs’ “Junkie,” “Go Ask Alice” has risen in popularity over the years, serving as a reminder that drug addiction must be taken seriously.

“Valley of the Dolls” by Jaqueline Susann 

Susann’s 1966 novel explores the destructive nature of drug use in the entertainment industry. It focuses on the interconnected lives of three women — Anne, Jennifer and Neely — and the effects the amphetamines and barbiturates, or “dolls” as the women call them, have on their mental state and lives over 20 years. The novel is considered to be a roman à clef, or a novel that features real people or events under different names and circumstances, and Susann drew inspiration from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

The entertainment industry and the drug use it pushes on its members are the clear villains of Susann’s novel, directly causing all the misery that the three women suffer. The word “dolls” references the way young women were seen in the entertainment industry during the Golden Age. The women were expected to be young, beautiful, thin and malleable for industry moguls and men to exploit at the expense of their mental and physical health.

The women’s perpetual drug and alcohol abuse causes their slow alienation from the industry, as they become more and more dependent on the “dolls” as they age. “The Valley of the Dolls” not only shows how drugs were easily abused but also the rampant misogyny during that period, serving as a reminder that not much has changed in both the improvement of support for those suffering from addiction and the inherent misogyny still seen in our society today.

“My Year of Rest and Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh 

Lastly, Moshfegh’s 2018 novel, “My Year of Rest and Relaxation,” is a modern approach to the destructive nature of addiction and society’s general ignorance and rejection of the issues caused by drugs. Moshfegh’s novel is set in New York City from late 2000 to early 2001, where the narrator decides to embark on a journey to “reset” her life and mind after a year of rest and relaxation. She does this through a combination of prescription medications, like sleeping pills and antipsychotics, prescribed to her by a dubious and eccentric psychiatrist, which she ingests with heavy alcohol.

The narrator’s goal for a year of rest and relaxation is constantly interrupted by outside influences, such as concerned acquaintances and professional responsibilities. She quickly abandons interaction with the outside world, no longer interested in participating in society due to their disconnect with the world and their general distaste for human interaction.

The novel is fast-paced, and it has many black comedy qualities, serving as a reminder of the morbidity of the situation the narrator has placed herself in and the consequences of drug abuse. The narrator experiences lapses in her memory as she sleepwalks to and from her apartment, participating in dangerous situations she doesn’t remember.

Moshfegh’s writing is thought-provoking, as the story is told by a narrator who believes that what they are doing is beneficial. The reader realizes from a sentence in the first chapter, “My hibernation was self-preservational. I thought it was going to save my life,” that this journey is harmful from the start. “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” shines a light on the incompetence of the medical community in helping patients who suffer from drug abuse, the disturbingly easy way that prescriptions are handed out without cause or care, and the general discomfort and disinterest society has when it comes to addressing these issues.

Second Chance Prom is a way for the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy a milestone that they may not have celebrated how they wanted to in high school. The night was fairytale-themed, and elements of fantasy stories were evident as the room transformed into a magical haven for guests to admire and enjoy.

Decorations ranged from an arch with white and pink flowers at the entryway and fairytale-inspired decorations, like leaf garlands with pink roses, mushrooms and butterfly decorations on the walls. Everything down to the centerpieces was inspired by the different aspects seen in fairytales, with unlit candles, fairy tattoos and bright string lights serving as the tables’ centerpieces. Souvenir picture stubs were provided at the photo booth, which was available throughout the night for guests to enjoy.

Chance Fiorisi, one of the event coordinators for Rainbow Pride Union and a senior majoring in political science in the 4+1 Master of Public Administration program, described the event’s significance.

“This is also a really nice event for people who didn’t get to come out in high school,” Fiorisi said. “It’s called Second Chance Prom because this is a chance for people to finally have their own prom.”

Freyja Harrel, an event coordinator and a freshman majoring in business administration, elaborated on the importance of having a second chance at experiencing prom.

“No matter what your identity is, no matter who you are, you deserve to have a good experience at prom or just at events in general,” Harrel said. “I know that high school is a really challenging time for a lot of people who are queer because they’re outed as others. But it’s nice to have this event to let people know that just because you don’t follow the norms, you can still have a good time, you can still feel pretty, you can still dress up.”

Guests enjoyed desserts and mocktails from the Food Co-op, a student-run organic and vegan cafe on campus. The mocktails were dubbed fairy dust and witch’s brew and made with variations of berry juices to coincide with the magical themes of the night. Gluten-free and vegan options were provided as well, with gluten-free vanilla cupcakes decorated in miniature butterflies and double chocolate chip cookies served throughout the night.

Performances by drag artists Sativa and Enigma were met with cheers and excitement from the crowd. The duo had two solo sets prepared for the event, as their outfits ranged from glittering to grunge. Enigma, in a black leather cowboy outfit, performed Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” and “Replay.” Sativa, clad in a sparkling minidress, performed renditions of Madonna’s “Fever” and Lady Gaga’s “Killah (feat. Gesaffelstein).”

In a special student performance, one of the organization’s interns dressed as Amy Winehouse and performed a rendition of “Rehab,” clad in a messy black beehive wig and her iconic winged eyeliner.

For this event, Rainbow Pride Union collaborated with Sativa, who has become known in the community for HOTBOX, a drag show.

“I’ve been posting a weekly drag show at the Legacy Lounge every Thursday, and they offered me the opportunity to come and share the love here at the University,” Sativa said of RPU.

Guests took to the dance floor and freely expressed their love and happiness among kindred spirits. Music ranged from recent pop hits like Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!,” the latter of which was the highlight of the night, as the crowd performed the song’s iconic choreography. Hozier’s “Like Real People Do” served as the anthem for the night’s slow dance, and guests were given the chance to dance with their dates and friends.

Mansha Rahman, the president of Rainbow Pride Union and a junior double-majoring in art and design and Spanish, described their experience planning, preparing and executing the event.

“Running and planning this event was honestly really stressful,” Rahman said. “This was my first time as president of an organization, and so I wasn’t really sure what I was doing going into it. But it was super easy to figure out what to do with the help of the Student Association, with my treasurer Meeya. It was really stressful, it was a lot of little parts put together, but seeing it all come together and the days leading up to it were honestly the most stressful, but day of, it was super chill, I had things in place and it was the most fun thing to plan ever.”

At the end of the night, staying true to the prom tradition of crowning royalty, Emily Leighton, a senior majoring in mathematics; Carlo Pipitone, a junior majoring in biochemistry; Emma Pralle, a junior majoring in linguistics; and Jonathon Jacobson, a senior majoring in English, were crowned as this year’s Prom Court. Members of the Prom Court were nominated for their contributions to fostering LGBTQ+ community on campus.

A special giveaway was announced as the event came to a close, and students won gift baskets filled with sex toys, a Nintendo Switch, handmade goods made from student-run small businesses and banned books.

“I just want Rainbow Pride Union to continue to be a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community,” Rahman said. “We want to make sure that this is a safe space for all intersectionalities of the community, for our Black, Indigenous, people of color and anyone who really just wants to be able to experience what being in a queer community is like, cause I think it is beautiful and everyone deserves a chance to see what it is like.”

Originally formed as “Corazón de Dahlia” to aid children in Peru, the organization was restructured in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic caused issues with contributing to a Peruvian community center, and Corazoncitos was born. They then shifted their focus to address more local issues. Dana Diaz, Corazoncitos’ events coordinator and a junior majoring in English, shared how the organization connects with the community.

“We also emphasize that everyone is welcomed and is essential to our organization’s mission statement,” Diaz wrote. “We also strive to create an inclusive environment on campus by hosting general body meetings every Wednesday, community service events and other collaborations!”

Since then, Corazoncitos has created an inclusive environment — and this year is no different. The organization’s biggest event of the semester is “Mis Quince con Cora,” inspired by the quinceañera tradition practiced across several Latin American countries that honor and celebrate a young woman’s coming of age at 15.

“Mis Quince con Cora” will bring a piece of Latin American culture to the campus community, celebrating Latine culture with lively music and heartfelt moments to foster connections between the organization and the community. It will feature performances from other student organizations, an amazing menu and interactive activities for guests to enjoy.

This year’s theme is “Mariposa,” meaning butterfly in English. Norysa Nelms, the organization’s president and a senior double-majoring in political science and Latin American and Caribbean Area studies, explained the theme’s origin.

“First, it plays on the symbolism of a butterfly, a metamorphosis similar to the one honored in the traditional quince,” Nelms wrote. “Secondly, it honors our nonprofit this semester: Mariposa DR. This nonprofit organization is based in Cabarete, DR that aims to end generational poverty through providing a safe space for the empowerment of girlhood through recreational activities, educational programs, and mental health resources for Haitian and Dominican girls ages 6-16 on the island.”

Last year, Corazoncitos raised around $1,300 for Acomer PR, a nonprofit that raises awareness of food insecurity in Puerto Rico, and around $2,400 for the “Adopt a Family” program at Guthrie Lourdes Hospital in collaboration with the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program and the Men of Color Scholastic Society. This year, Corazoncitos has raised over $1,000 through constant fundraising efforts, the most popular of which was a recent tres leches sale.

At the end of the semester, all proceeds from “Mis Quince con Cora” will be donated to Mariposa DR.

Corazoncitos does constant outreach and holds collaborations with other multicultural organizations, including the Latin American Student Union, Powerful United Ladies Striving to Elevate, the Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers, the Asian Student Union and the Dominican Student Association. These events ranged from discussing women’s empowerment and educational meetings on cancer disparities among minorities to more interactive and hands-on events like Paint and Sips. This semester, they have even more exciting collaborations and events planned for students to enjoy.

Following the recent presidential election, Corazoncitos has met with other multicultural organizations on campus to discuss how the recent executive orders have begun to impact the Latin American community. The organization held an informational meeting with LASU, Candela: Latin Dance Club and Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier, and they co-sponsored a rally and march against deportation earlier this month.

Nelms said that despite a significant rise in hostility toward the Latin American community, Corozoncitos will continue to support its community.

“We do not plan on ceasing our political advocacy, we will continue to use our platform and influence as a multicultural organization to inform people on these issues,” Nelms wrote. “We vow to keep our events and general body meetings as a supportive, safe space for any and all who have been affected by the recent political events.”

Eggers’ “Nosferatu” is the latest in a string of vampire movies over the past century since Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” was published in 1897. With the rising popularity of vampire and supernatural films over the past few decades, including the success of the “Twilight” series and the renewed interest in Anne Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire,” audiences are used to seeing each director’s interpretations and adaptation of vampires on the big screen. The adaptation is a loose retelling of the 1922 film, which is itself an unauthorized adaptation of Stoker’s novel, as it follows similar plotlines and characters in the film are inspired by characters from the novel.

Eggers made a name for himself within the horror genre with the success of his 2015 film “The Witch.” His latest film, “Nosferatu,” has not only positively impacted the horror genre with its nuanced and original portrayal of the typical vampire plotlines audiences have been fed over the past few years, but it has also begun a discussion of the need for increased media literacy and more gothic horror movies to be made.

The film’s stand-out performance was delivered by Lily-Rose Depp, who plays Ellen Hutter, the film’s female protagonist. Depp plays a young woman who is being tormented by Count Orlok, played by Bill Skarsgård, through the psychic connection that they share. Ellen’s guttural screams as she lays, bedridden and in agony while she fights back against Count Orlok’s hold on her are as terrifying as they are mesmerizing. The way her body contorts is more terrifying than Count Orlok’s presence.

Even though Ellen is presented as both angelic and innocent, she is anything but. She is her own woman, with desires and ambitions separated from her husband, but is held back by the strict constraints of the society she lives in. These constraints are a major influence on how Ellen, Thomas and Count Orlok behave and interact with each other. Ellen is seen as a damsel in distress by Thomas and by Count Orlok as an object of desire. While Ellen may be married to Thomas Hutter, played by Nicholas Hoult, she is kept apart from him for most of the film by Count Orlok, causing her to become not only an independent female character but also the heroine of her story. “Nosferatu” has many of the typical tropes seen in both gothic and horror movies, such as exemplifying the damsel in distress trope and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This puts characters such as Ellen in positions that force them to not only be independent but to analyze the world around them.

As the film continued, it became apparent that the film was not meant to terrify audiences — it was meant to make audiences think. It is why “Nosferatu” doesn’t simply fall under the horror genre but instead finds a home in the gothic horror genre. Gothic horror, by definition, is a “loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting” that focuses on themes such as fear of the unknown, and at times, incorporates facets of the supernatural. The genre often combines the themes of romance and horror, which is what “Nosferatu” does. The film can’t simply be categorized as a coming-of-age or romance film — it is more than that, and that is what makes it stand out from other films. The audience pieces the facts together alongside the characters, and it makes for a complex interactive experience that is not made for everyone.

Vampires have always been a staple of the horror genre but with movies such as “Twilight,” the idea of how a vampire should look has influenced the way that vampire horror films are made and that often ends up warping the meaning of the story, as it leans toward the superficial aspects of the vampire plotline rather than the psychological. Eggers’ “Nosferatu” takes a different approach, and it pays off.

The film is a masterclass in how actions speak louder than words. While this adaptation of the 1922 film is not a silent one, it is influenced by the aspects of the silent era, with its bluish-black and white color scheme and ominous soundtrack. The film itself was not released on Halloween, but on Christmas Day, cementing the idea that “Nosferatu” is not a typical run-of-the-mill horror movie. It is meant to make audiences think about the meaning behind the actions and decisions of characters, the way the story is being told and most importantly, who the story is being told by.

Since the release of the trailer back in the summer of 2024, viewers have been anticipating the release of the movie for one reason — no one knew what the titular character looked like. The looming and nefarious presence of Count Orlok, who is also referred to as Nosferatu in the film, was felt in the trailer, but not seen, this left audiences wondering what the vampire of the film would look like. Count Orlok, when revealed to audiences halfway through the movie, is not beautiful. He is a relic, a remnant of the past, and his status as a vampire cements the idea that in Eggers’ films, vampires aren’t meant to be beautiful, they are meant to be deadly. Count Orlok is a terrifying, decaying shell of a man that exists in a world that will never welcome him, this is why his obsession with Ellen causes him to lash out. Ellen, in a moment of weakness and isolation, called out for someone to be with her to combat her loneliness, and Count Orlok answered.

Count Orlok’s story is intertwined with her story due to decisions made before the events of the movie, and it serves as a way to show the true nature of not just Ellen but of the people Nosferatu torments. Count Orlok is not meant to be beautiful or seductive, as mainstream vampires tend to be presented. He is meant to be a physical manifestation of Ellen’s loneliness and her desires for companionship, however twisted those desires may be. It is why the other characters in the film, such as the Hutters’ friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Emma Corrin, respectively, fear Count Orlok and run, and why Ellen, despite her fears of him, confronts him, as she, being the one who called him, can be the only one who can banish him. The cast of characters is constantly running around trying to avoid Count Orlok’s wrath and his attempts to establish control, but Ellen, despite being afraid of Count Orlok, runs toward the danger.

The beauty of having a film such as “Nosferatu” exists within the realm of the gothic horror genre and the period that it is set in is that it serves as an explanation for not only the decisions the characters make, but also their behavior. The characters are very obviously a product of Stoker’s era, but Eggers understood these constraints. Instead of overlooking them, Eggers worked alongside them to create a film about the horrors and complexities of desire, all while redefining the meaning of what a film about vampires should be about.

Rating: 4.5/5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continuing where it left off, season three focuses on the out-and-proud teens Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and how the two navigate their journey as a new couple. This season tackles more serious issues as it discusses themes of mental health, eating disorders, transphobia and the struggle for self-acceptance.

Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series, the show follows Nick and Charlie’s journey as they fall in love and begin to navigate life both at the fictional Truham Grammar School and the world beyond the confines of their town. The Netflix series is a near-perfect adaptation of the graphic novel series, with Oseman serving as one of the executive producers.

This season focuses on Nick and Charlie’s journey outside their couple identity as they both go through separate experiences as Charlie’s eating disorder and the impact it has had on his mental health makes its way to the forefront.

Rather than simply focusing on romantic relationships this season, such as Tao (William Gao) and Elle’s (Yasmin Finney) relationship and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) and Tara’s (Corinna Brown) relationship, it focuses on the other bonds that influence the lives of the characters in the show. Familial relationships are at the forefront, particularly with Charlie’s relationship with his parents and his older sister Tori (Jenny Walser).

One of the most pivotal moments from this season is in episode four when Tao takes on the responsibility of making a home video for Charlie so that he doesn’t feel left out, while he lives at an eating disorder clinic, including moments from the months that Charlie is apart from his friends, who all include messages of love and support.

It is a heartbreaking and heartfelt moment to watch, as the tension that existed between Charlie and his friends before he was admitted into the clinic is evident in the loss that they feel with him not being around.

“Heartstopper” has never shied away from discussing heavy real-world topics, and while it does tackle mental health and its impacts, it also brings up transphobia and the journey a person goes through when they are discovering and embracing their sexuality.

Several characters this season go through a journey of self-discovery. Isaac (Tobie Donovan) comes out to his friends as asexual and aromantic. Imogen (Rhea Norwood) confesses to Nick that she has never truly felt attracted to boys, but how she has always felt that it was what she should do, bringing up the often overlooked topic of compulsory heterosexuality, or the idea that heterosexuality is automatically assumed by society.

The topic of transphobia comes to the forefront when Elle accepts to be interviewed by a radio show in episode four after her artwork begins to grow in popularity on social media, only to discover that the interview was only a guise to discuss the topic of her trans identity — something she did not consent to be interviewed about.

The scene is heartbreaking, as the viewer watches Elle struggle to maintain her composure as the interviewer hounds her with questions about how “trans identities are the hot topic of the moment” as her parents and Tao watch from behind the double-sided glass, horrified by the harassment.

The topics of self-discovery and the transition from teenager to adult, no matter what platform it is on, almost always end up discussing one topic in particular — sex. Many of the comedic and heartwarming moments from this season center around the topic of sex, as the characters begin to navigate how they want to approach this milestone in their relationships with their significant others.

“Heartstopper” season three will leave an impact on viewers, as its coming-of-age content regarding romance and personal growth leaves a resounding impression on those who watch it. Its life lessons and approach to LGBTQ+ young adult media can impact future projects approaching the same topic.

Rating: 4.5/5 

Since its premiere in December 2020, “Bridgerton” has become one of Netflix’s most successful shows. By its third season, “Bridgerton” had become synonymous with romance and amassed a large fanbase on social media.

Based on the book series written by Julia Quinn, “Bridgerton” follows the lives of the eight Bridgerton siblings — Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth — as they tackle the everyday struggles of London high society in the early 1800s, all while trying to find love.

Season three, split into two parts, primarily focuses on the third eldest Bridgerton sibling, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), and his best friend, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), who is hoping to find a husband to avoid becoming a spinster. In doing so, the two conjure a plan to ensure that Penelope will secure a husband quickly by coaching her to embrace the aspects of herself that she hid from society. While all this is occurring, Penelope is also dealing with the fallout with her best friend Eloise (Claudia Jessie), as last season, she discovered that Penelope was Lady Whistledown — the anonymous writer of a scandal sheet centered around the lives of the upper class.

As she deals with the fallout of Eloise finding out her secret, Penelope begins to embrace her status as a writer after realizing that she has become something no one expected her to become — independent — with suitors starting to notice this personality change. One in particular, Lord Alfred Debling (Sam Phillips), begins to court Penelope as Colin simultaneously realizes his feelings for her. Filled with romance, comedy and drama, the third season of “Bridgerton” kept fans on the edge of their seats with the “will they/won’t they” romance that part one has to offer.

While fans waited with anticipation for the third season to drop on Netflix, many were disappointed by the rushed and unnecessary plotlines, as well as historically inaccurate costumes and makeup. The focus of this season jumps from the unfolding of Colin and Penelope’s love story to Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) — a debutante who often antagonizes the Bridgerton siblings. Cressida’s presence is vital to the plot unfolding, as she falsely claims herself to be Lady Whistledown, taking credit for the society paper’s success for monetary gain, leaving Penelope on the fence about whether she should come clean about her use of the moniker. Many of the scenes during the eight-episode run could have furthered Colin and Penelope’s love story or displayed more of the unraveling of Penelope and Eloise’s friendship instead of focusing on Cressida’s emotional upheaval as she struggles to prove the validity of her stolen identity.

As it is a historical romance show, fans expect a certain level of historical accuracy to be upheld by writers and costume designers. Much of the success of the series stemmed not only from the sizzling on-screen chemistry of each season’s leads but also from its accurate portrayal of Regency Era London. Season three was very different from the first two. A huge part of the first half of the season focuses on the transformation Penelope goes through as she prepares for the social season, but some parts of her new look stand out, like the use of false lashes and acrylic nails. While these additions complicate the carefully crafted fantasy that the “Bridgerton” writers have built over the years, it is redeemed by Colin and Penelope’s chemistry throughout the season.

Season three of “Bridgerton” was successful despite its rushed plot because of the chemistry between the two leads. With their storyline built since season one, much of the chemistry and tension that transpired between Colin and Penelope finally made its way to the surface in season three.

“Bridgerton” is known for its adaptations of pop songs into orchestral covers, and this season had myriad pop covers that quickly became fan favorites, including Pitbull’s single “Give Me Everything.” The orchestral cover of the 2011 hit quickly became a TikTok sensation when it was used in the penultimate scene of episode four, where Colin professes his love for Penelope in a carriage as the two share a passionate moment. Pitbull himself expressed his delight at the song’s renewed success on social media, writing, “This again shows the world how music is the international language that transcends over boundaries more so how a hit song can remain timeless.” Other covers of mainstream pop songs include BTS’ “Dynamite,” Coldplay’s “Yellow” and Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me.”

By the end of the summer, season three of “Bridgerton” had a Rotten Tomatoes average “Tomatometer” score of 88% — the highest rating that the show has received. With the success of the third season, “Bridgerton” has been renewed for a fourth season and is set to focus on Quinn’s novel, “An Offer from a Gentleman,” with Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) taking the spotlight as the next leading man.

The show subverts the trope of “damsel in distress” and chooses to remember aspects of Jane that history fails to remember. Bader focuses much of her portrayal of Jane on her intelligence and bravery, as it is noted by history itself that Jane was among the few young ladies of her time to receive a well-rounded education — something that is often pointed out by several characters throughout the show.

Much of the plot centers around the combined chaos of Tudor England and everyday life occurring within the show’s world, as Jane and Guildford find themselves caught in the middle of the conflict between Verities — ordinary humans and Ethians — humans who can transform into animals at will, but are hunted down and have been driven out from society. The show reimagines not only the madness that was occurring during Jane’s reign, but the tensions that existed between Catholics and Protestants at the time, which affected how the royal line of succession went — ultimately leading to Jane’s ascension of the throne. The conflict between the Ethians and the Verities is a driving force behind the decisions that Jane and Guildford make. Guildford himself is an Ethian, as he can transform from human to a horse, but not at will. Guildford’s struggle with his Ethianism ultimately brings Jane and Guildford together, as they are forced to adapt to their new realities at Tudor court.

What made “My Lady Jane” rise in popularity, is that it did not take itself seriously in the same way that many historical fantasy shows such as “Outlander” or “Merlin” tend to do. The show finds humor in the situations that characters encounter creating a comedic undertone. Although the characters speak formally, the way they act is enough to make even the most stoic of people laugh. Apart from the show’s humor, the romance is another point of interest. The chemistry between the main characters is what can make or break a show. Bader and Bluemel provide the audience with the constant tension that comes with the combined forces of the “enemies to lovers” and “will they/won’t they” tropes that make up their love story. While Bader and Bluemel bring the romantic chemistry to the screen, their fellow castmates such as Henry Ashton who plays Guildford’s brother, Lord Stan Dudley, Anna Chancellor who plays Jane’s mother, Lady Frances Grey, and Jane’s youngest sister played by Robyn Betteridge, are some of the standout comedic performances, as they often serve as agents of chaos in contrast to the more rule-following characters.

While the show can be classified with other historical romance shows such as “Bridgerton,” it is unique in the sense that it doesn’t force itself to follow the same rules and structures that many have fallen victim to. It brings something different to the table with its combination of fantasy, romance and comedy while still maintaining the romantic illusion that historical romance shows are known for. “My Lady Jane” brought the life and history of one of the shortest reigning monarchs in English history all while remembering Lady Jane Grey for the life she lived before and during her short reign and not just remembering her unjust death.

This past Thursday, the Hinman Production Company (HPC) presented “Pippin: The Musical” — a story about the life of Pippin, a young prince from the Middle Ages who is looking for meaning in life under the reign of his father, King Charlemagne. The musical was written in 1972 with music and lyrics written by Stephen Schwartz, and the book written by Roger Hirson. The story is based on real-life historical figures of Charlemagne, who was King of the Franks, and his eldest son, Pippin the Hunchback.

The musical follows the tale of Pippin and his involvement with an acting troupe led by the Leading Player as they work toward the Finale. The Leading Player and acting troupe are a part of Pippin’s journey of self-discovery, often resorting to drastic measures to achieve what they consider to be the performance of a lifetime, even if it means putting Pippin in the line of fire.

Erin Memmesheimer, the director of “Pippin: The Musical” and a sophomore double-majoring in political science and anthropology, described what it was like preparing for opening night.

“[Preparing for the play meant having to deal] with all the things that come along the way,” Memmesheimer said. “Dealing with all of the unforeseen challenges that we don’t really prepare for. But this cast [was] so adaptable and so willing to go along with whatever, and [it was] really amazing to get to work with them.”

As director, Memmesheimer further explained the process leading up to opening night.

“We had our first auditions [and our callbacks in January], and we had the big cast list out by the end of January,” Memmesheimer said. “We have been rehearsing every week since then, in addition to all the work that the actors do on their own and all the prep work that I have been doing since winter break when I got picked to direct.”

There were several parts of the musical that the audience responded well to, but nothing could beat the scene in Act 2 where all the Players were dressed in farm animal onesies — crawling around the stage as Pippin had an existential crisis. The Players perfectly unfolded the back-and-forth between the comedy and drama aspects of the musical, as the background interactions and dances made the audience break out into laughter at several points throughout the night.

Leilani Harris, who plays the role of Leading Player and is a freshman majoring in musical theatre, spoke about her experience in preparing for her role. The Leading Player plays a pivotal part in the musical, as they guide the story along and Pippin as he goes through his journey.

“The most challenging part for me definitely was being confident in this role,” Harris said. “The Leading Player has a very big presence on stage, and it is a very intimidating role in all aspects. [It means having] confidence in myself that I can go on stage and pull that off, and [just having] faith in myself.”

When asked about what her experience was like preparing for the musical, Harris revealed that her favorite part was not only performing in the play, but the sense of community she gained along the way.

“My favorite part in preparing [for the role] was definitely getting to work with so many talented and kind people,” Harris said. “This is one of the kindest cast and most talented casts I’ve ever gotten to work with before.”

While the musical for the most part follows the traditional format of most musicals, it is different in one important aspect. It often breaks the fourth wall — an imaginary wall that exists between the actors and the audience — as the Leading Player often spoke directly to the audience throughout the performance, narrating out loud what was occurring on stage at the moment. Oftentimes, the actors themselves would walk along the aisles and interact with the audience as they sang and danced.

At one point, the Players handed out pieces of paper containing lyrics to the song, “No Time at All” in Act 1, performed by Berthe, Pippin’s paternal grandmother, played by Aiden Hoey, a junior majoring in biology. The Players and Berthe asked the audience to sing along as one of the Players held up a handmade sign that contained the lyrics in bold, colorful letters, all while Hoey danced around the stage wearing a shirt that said “grandma rocks.”

The breaking of the fourth wall was met with delighted reactions from the audience, as the jokes and remarks made by Harris were met with hysterical laughter from the audience as the chaos created by the Players unfolded on stage.

Emerald Hall, one of the Players in the show and a senior majoring in biology, explained what her experience was like performing in her final show with HPC.

“The most rewarding part [of the show] is definitely the people,” Hall said. “I’m very, very busy [preparing to graduate] … but I still had to make time to do one more show because the people here are just so incredible, and they truly are the light of my day. I love coming here.”

As one of the Players who are a part of the play’s traveling performance troupe, Hall had to partake in much preparation and rehearsals to prepare for the role, which they explained was very extensive but nonetheless rewarding once they got to perform it on stage for an audience.

“One of the most challenging parts would probably be the dancing,” Hall said. “This is my third HPC show here, and I’ve never done one that had such intricate dancing. We had to learn the fosse style of dance, which I’ve never done before. It was truly such an amazing experience learning how to do [the] fosse, ballet and tap. It was very rewarding.”

While the Players themselves were a crowd favorite, several performances done by the main cast were also met with praise from the audience. Fastrada and Lewis, Pippin’s stepmother and half-brother, respectively, provided much of the comedic relief for the musical, with their rendition of “Spread a Little Sunshine.”

King Charlemagne, played by Maddisyn Campagnone, a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience, was a fan favorite as well. Their comedic timing wherever they were on stage allowed for chaos to unfold on stage for the character, to which the audience responded with cheers and applause.

With its comedy and its “climax that [the audience] will remember for the rest of [their] lives,” HPC certainly enjoyed a successful opening night with its rendition of “Pippin: The Musical.”

On April 12 and 13, the Dickinson Community Players (DCP) put on “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” an adaptation of the classic novel of the same name written by Oscar Wilde. The stage adaptation, written by Merlin Holland and John O’Connor, is a contemporary take on the once controversial novel, now hailed as one of the classics in Gothic literature. The DCP collaborated with the Binghamton Identity Youth Center. This youth center promotes a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth in the community, as 30 percent of the proceeds from the tickets were donated to support the youth center.

The play follows the titular character, Dorian Gray, as he indulges in a life filled with hedonistic abandonment with no consequence to his physical form, leaving him ageless. However, his portrait faces the consequences of his chaotic lifestyle, as with each sinful act he commits, his portrait ages and decays while his physical body remains intact. While loyal to its roots, the play focuses on aspects of the novel that had to be censored when it was published back in 1890.

Much of the focus of the play was placed on the tumultuous relationship between Dorian Gray and Basil Hallward, played by Kedra Fowler, a senior double-majoring in English and Africana studies. On stage, Basil’s devotion to Dorian Gray was evident to everyone in the audience, with much of the humor of the play being aimed at Basil’s advances being constantly rejected by an unassuming Dorian Gray. Fowler executed much of the devotion via longing gazes and words of praise to Dorian Gray, which was how the author of the novel, Oscar Wilde, had originally intended to portray the dynamic between the two characters.

Lyd Wyble, who played the lead role of Dorian Gray and is a junior majoring in mathematics, had much to share about the adaptation of the classic novel into a play.

“This version of the play was actually co-authored by Oscar Wilde’s grandson,” Wyble wrote in an email. “It includes content, particularly Basil’s sexuality, that Wilde had to remove from the original publication.”

Wyble further expressed their reasoning behind why putting on the play was so important, and how they prepared themselves to take on the lead role.

“There’s something very comforting about telling Wilde’s story the way that he had originally intended,” Wyble wrote. “I’m very grateful that we can portray an identity that he wasn’t able to express in his time […] Learning to act as Dorian was something I struggled with until practically opening night. There’s an entire life to share in two hours — naïveté and romance and corruption and redemption. A lot of people see ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ as a story about corruption, but I think the path to redemption is what matters. It’s ultimately a story about someone trying to be better. There’s nothing more human than that. I wanted to convey that humanity in my acting, and hopefully I portray a Dorian that the audience can see themselves in.”

The play itself was a rollercoaster of emotions, as the actors quickly went from acting out emotional scenes to comedic scenes that left the audience in stitches. While the play is an exploration into the inner turmoil that the character of Dorian Gray goes through, it also focuses on the relationships between each of the characters, as the actors ardently interact with each other on stage to show the true extent of the impact that Dorian Gray had on the lives of their characters.

The showstopper of the night was not only Wyble’s performance, but the portrait of Dorian Gray itself. Following the novel’s description, different versions of the portrait of Dorian Gray were present throughout the play, as it went from a clear version of Dorian Gray at the beginning to an old and withered depiction of the character by the time the play ended. The audience delighted in each switch of the portrait between scenes, as it was a way for the audience to note both the passage of time and the true extent of Dorian Gray’s sins.

Shirley Wang, a sophomore majoring in computer science, was in charge of the spotlight of the show. When asked about how the DCP tackled their portrayal of the portrait, they explained the surprisingly simple approach to the portrait.

“We had about four different versions of the portrait,” Wang said. “We used photo editing in order to give the portrait the look of an aged oil painting.”

Alexandr Smalyuk, the director and a junior majoring in history, shared his thoughts on the most challenging part of preparing for the play.

“The most challenging part of the show was getting the tech closet door to open in the multipurpose room so we could get all of the stuff that we needed for the play,” Smalyuk said.

Smalyuk went on to describe the feeling of seeing the show come to life.

“The highlight of my experience was really seeing the show on stage for the first time,” Smalyuk said. “Seeing all of the costumes, props and all of the sets was when I realized that we made it so far from where we started in a classroom wing room with a couple of people and having to move back and forth between locations to having an actual show that truly looks fantastic.”

At the end of the night, the audience and the cast mingled, as praises and congratulations were issued to the actors for their final performance of the play. Cast members were congratulated by the audience for their passionate performances, and the stage and tech crew were praised for their quick and efficient work when it came to changing the set props needed for each scene.

Kate Langsdorf, a junior double-majoring in Asian and Asian American studies and philosophy, politics and law, was one of many attendees of the play’s final show. She expressed her delight in getting to see the classic novel on stage.

“Having read the book before, the best part of the show was how much emotion the actors put into their roles,” Langsdorf said. “I hadn’t realized how emotion was in it. [The actors] brought so much emotion and they made it so entertaining. It was a really incredible experience.”

All in all, the DCP certainly put on another successful play that Binghamton students and members of the community were able to enjoy and learn from with their rendition of “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

Located on the outskirts of Downtown Binghamton, Happy Pappi’s Arepas Bar is an excellent choice if you’re looking to try something new. Located at 252 Chenango St., the restaurant offers patrons the opportunity to sample authentic Venezuelan street food at a good price.

The owner of the restaurant, Luis Carrillo, is a native Venezuelan whose goal is to bring traditional and affordable Venezuelan food to the Binghamton area. Customers are in for a treat when they see the portion sizes of the food that Happy Pappi serves. As a family-run establishment, both Luis and his wife provided customers with great and speedy service during our visit.

Happy Pappi’s advertised an $18 lunch and a $30 dinner on their menu for Restaurant Week. The restaurant advertised offered patrons the choice to choose from one of two options on their menu for each part of the three-course meal. My photographer, Aidan, and I were excited to try the food after the owner and his wife showed us some of the meals that were going to be served to the other patrons in the restaurant. We agreed it would be best if each of us tried one of the two options from each course to get the full experience.

We visited Happy Pappi’s during dinner, which was great as it allowed us to take our time trying all the dishes. From the moment we arrived, the place advertised a warm and welcoming environment, with its colorful artwork against the backdrop of the mahogany brick wall, accompanied by the fast service the owners provided.

For the first course, there was the option of tequeños, which are deep-fried pieces of pastry dough stuffed with cheese, and two mini empanadas, made of deep-fried gluten-free cornmeal dough that was either filled with beans or chorizo, served with a side of garlic sauce. The tequeños were flavorful even though the filling was only made of cheese. However, both Aidan and I agreed that the mini empanadas were our favorite. The mini empanadas took the cake, as they were stuffed to the brim with both beans and chorizo. At the suggestion of the owner, we tried the empanadas alongside their homemade empanada sauce, adding a bit more flavor to the already savory empanadas.

The second course offered bigger meals for patrons to try, and we were both taken aback by the portion sizes of the main meals. Aidan chose the arepas, which are a traditional Venezuelan dish made from ground corn. The restaurant offers a variety of different stuffings for their arepas, such as chorizo, shredded beef, chicken and pulled pork. Aidan ordered the la pelua arepa, with its main ingredients being shredded beef and sauteed onions, garlic, peppers and tomatoes, and it arrived wrapped in a little tray reminiscent of food trucks in New York City.

I went for the Patacone, and it did not disappoint. The Patacone is Happy Pappi’s original take on the traditional sandwich, as it swaps out the bread for toasted plantains. The Patacone itself was stuffed to the brim with ham, shredded beef, cheese, tomatoes, avocado and boiled eggs. The plantains themselves were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the beef was juicy and tender. The Patacone was the highlight of the night and its generous portion size is great for leftovers. It is also very pleasing to look at, as Aidan spent around five minutes trying to get the perfect picture of the Patacone.

Happy Pappi’s offers a variety of homemade sauces to go alongside the meals. Ranging from spicy to sweet, there is something for everyone to try. There was the guasacaca sauce, which was made from avocado and cilantro sauce, and there was the mojito, made with spicy red peppers. While Aidan and I were not really craving anything spicy, we both agreed to try the sauces and came to the unanimous decision that the guasacaca sauce was our favorite, as it paired well with both the empanadas and the patacone.

For dessert, we chose the tres leches cake, which is a sponge cake popular across Latin America. The cake itself was sweet and had a hint of cinnamon on it, which we both enjoyed.

With attentive service and generous portion sizes, Happy Pappi’s is a great place for students to visit if they are looking for a great meal at a reasonable price during Restaurant Week.

With Candela: Latin Dance Club having celebrated its first anniversary since its establishment in January 2023, it is now looking forward to further growth and improvement within the organization, now and in the near future. Candela: Latin Dance Club hopes to establish a lasting legacy within the Binghamton community, as well as a sense of community and inclusivity among its members to further spread its philosophy and message that anyone can dance.

Pipe Dream interviewed Joskarly Fermin Rodriguez, co-public relations chair of Candela: Latin Dance Club and a senior majoring in Italian, to gain understanding of Candela: Latin Dance Club and the aspects that make up the organization.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Tell me a bit about Candela: Latin Dance Club. What aspects make up the club?

A: Candela is a Latin dance club that is recreationally based. We strive to share our Latin culture through dance across all types of races, ethnicities and cultures, and we are inclusive for all levels of dance — beginners, intermediates, pros — it does not matter. We want to create a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for everyone to come to and to share in the joys that dancing can bring.

Q: Candela: Latin Dance Club was established last year around the beginning of 2023. What inspired the creation and establishment of Candela: Latin Dance Club?

A: Our main founders had a history of performing, and they felt that they still wanted to be a part of the dance community but at a smaller scale, in a way that was a lot less competitive and so Candela was born. We have a lot of people who come to the meetings who feel disconnected from their culture, and they want to be integrated back into it, so we offer that friendly and welcoming atmosphere that makes them want to return.

Q: How does Candela: Latin Dance Club get involved with the rest of the multicultural community on campus?

A: How do we not get involved is the answer, honestly. We are everywhere all at once. We do a lot of collaborations with other organizations, such as Latin American Student Union (LASU), Quimbamba Latin Dance Team and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). We aim to be friendly with all organizations on campus, and so we don’t hold back. Our point is that we are open to any collaborations. If our E-Board feels like it is something we should do and try, we do it.

Q: How does Candela: Latin Dance Club help build a strong community within the organization? How do you get students to become more involved with your organization?

A: Honestly, our organization builds community through word of mouth. We strongly suggest and encourage people to come to our workshops and join Candela. We have our weekly intern practices, in which the E-Board teaches that week’s choreography. When we have workshops, and [when] we have people pop in and check out what we are doing, I encourage them to join.

We post a lot on our Instagram stories, and we just do outreach whenever we can. We build a strong sense of community within the organization by staying consistent.

Q: What goals, short and long-term, does Candela: Latin Dance Club have for the rest of the semester?

A: Outreach has always been our biggest goal. We try to get our name out there and get as many people as we possibly can to come to our dance workshops. We want to pave a long-standing relationship and build a strong legacy with the Binghamton student community for years to come, and to have our overall philosophy of having a safe and fun environment to dance to be understood by the community and have it last. For now, we are focusing on broadening our horizons when it comes to the dances we do. Instead of just doing cumbia and bachata at our workshops, we would like to begin to incorporate flamenco and tango for people to try.

Q: I see that you are the co-public relations chair of Candela: Latin Dance Club. Can you explain what your role is and what motivated you to join Candela in the first place? What have you learned from your role?

A: I have been a part of Candela since 2023, from the moment it was founded. As a transfer student, it was hard to make friends when I arrived, and having something that connected me to a community on campus helped me flourish. Having the support of my co-public relations chair definitely makes it easier to manage the job, as the connection we have allows us to be more creative with our ideas and how we do outreach. Now that we are an established organization on campus, I am just amazed and proud of all the hard work that our E-Board has put in the last year to get us to where we are now. Within one year, we figured out a system for how we do things that work for all of us, and it feels like we now have an established community. Students should definitely keep an eye out for us because we have a lot of exciting things planned.

Disney+ ended the year successfully with its new young adult show “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Many fans had been on the edge of their seats waiting for the show to premiere after Rick Riordan, author of the beloved young adult book series of the same name, pitched the idea of the show to Disney back in 2019. Anticipation for the show has continued since the subsequent casting of Percy Jackson and the rest of the show’s cast. With its incorporation of Greek mythology and the typical woes preteens and teens face as they begin the transition from childhood to adulthood, the show and the books have become beloved fixtures on many people’s bookshelves.

The show follows 12-year-old Percy Jackson, the titular character played by Walker Scobell, as he begins to embrace his new identity as the son of Poseidon and begins to acclimate into his new life as a demigod, though it isn’t easy. Upon learning that he is a demigod, Percy is accused by Zeus of stealing his lightning bolt, making the transition much more difficult as he is alienated by the other half-bloods at camp who doubt that he successfully killed a minotaur minutes before arriving at Camp Half-Blood — a sanctuary and training camp built to protect demigods. Additionally, Percy is also reeling from the loss of his mother Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) who seemingly dies trying to get Percy to safety. Percy finds himself leaving camp as he embarks on a quest to find the real thief and to rescue his mother from the Underworld, though he is not alone in this endeavor.

Percy is accompanied by his best friend, Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), a satyr tasked with protecting Percy, as well as Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), a daughter of Athena who has been living and training at Camp Half-Blood for five years. Together they embark on a quest across the country, fighting many Greek mythological monsters and discovering the kind of people they want to be — in Annabeth and Percy’s case, what it truly means to be a demigod.

The show has only aired five episodes as of Jan. 15, with the remaining three episodes being released in the coming weeks. Critics and fans alike have been dishing out praises to the actors, show writers and Riordan as well.

Since the show deals with preteens and the struggles of growing up, which can be a sensitive topic, the show has done a great job portraying just how impactful these struggles can be to anyone, from teens to adults. It portrays a journey of self-discovery and discovering one’s true potential, as well as being able to achieve one’s goals even in the face of adversity. Incorporating those struggles into a teen show is very important, as it will be what shapes the minds of the children watching. As the show is aired on Disney+, it was created with the idea of appealing to a new generation of preteens as well as longtime fans of the series. Since the show is meant to cater to a younger audience, with the main characters being around the ages of 12 to 16, much of the acting is juvenile in the sense that no unnecessary violence is presented in the episodes.

Out of many praiseworthy aspects, viewers particularly enjoy the loyalty to the source material. As the show progresses, many have been noticing all the similarities with the first book of the series, “The Lightning Thief,” as well as the many new additions that cater to a wider audience as well as the original fans of the book. Much to the delight of the fans, many aspects of the novel have been kept in the show including the famous chapter titles being used as episode names, like the opening chapter title “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher.”

However, other aspects such as the three main actors have changed from the book to the TV series. There was initial discourse about the casting of the main three characters of the show — Percy, Annabeth and Grover — with many saying that they did not agree with the casting as it was not faithful to the descriptions of the characters in the books. Jeffries and Simhadri, who play Annabeth and Grover respectively, were the targets of many racist comments on social media after the casting of their characters was announced. Riordan, as well as many other cast members, were quick to show their support to Jeffries and Simhadri, as he defended them saying “If you have a problem with this casting, however, take it up with me.”

Considering that the show has been praised by critics and fans alike, currently averaging a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96 percent, the casting is no longer put into question considering the impressive way that the actors have brought the beloved characters to life.

The last three episodes of the show are being released within the next couple of weeks, and many are expecting it to be as impressive as the first five have been thus far.

The Caribbean Student Association (CSA) seized the day with their “Carpe Diem” Carnival, where numerous attendees lined up outside the Mandela Room on Saturday afternoon.

As explained by the host for the night, CSA’s annual Carnival is “a celebration of the end of slavery” and a reminder of the endurance and strength of the people who fought for their freedom.

Ashley Marmolejos, activities coordinator for CSA and a junior majoring in nursing, elaborated on the foundation of CSA’s Carnival in the context of historical justice.

“Historically, Carnival in the Caribbean began as a celebration of the end of slavery and a celebration of the freedom of our people,” Marmolejos wrote. “Carnival was brought to this campus through CSA with the intention of not only educating other students about our culture but also [showcasing] the freedom we have to express ourselves through the dances, costumes and overall vibes of the event.”

CSA’s Carnival generally consists of a myriad of dances, as well as various colorful masquerade costumes and different types of music. From the models and dancers to the music, courtesy of DJ Mali, this year’s event was a hub of entertainment. The performers were met with great enthusiasm from the crowd.

LeiLani Moya, vice president of CSA and a senior majoring in economics, explained how CSA establishes each Carnival’s theme and what the Carnival means to her.

“Every Carnival theme is decided by the previous year’s interns,” Moya wrote. “This year’s theme, Carpe Diem, was not only special because of the message to seize the day and not take life for granted, but it also reminded me of being on E-Board last year and watching our interns come up with the theme. Helping them make their vision come to life is so rewarding and brings us closer as a CSA family.”

During the event, most dancers held flags from their countries, showing pride in their heritage during their performances. This often prompted calls of support and enthusiasm from the crowd as they recognized their flag being waved around on stage.

Community and cultural heritage are crucial aspects of CSA’s mission and their Carnival, as explained by Marmolejos.

“Carnival to me means having the ability to be proud of your culture no matter where you come from,” Marmolejos wrote. “It’s an opportunity for women to feel beautiful in the costumes and men to feel handsome, but the real point of Carnival is to follow tradition while also representing your country. CSA to me means acceptance.”

The dancing acts of the night consisted of both group and solo performances. Group performances were usually fast-paced dances that featured a variety of acrobatic tricks. Many of the dancers wore their flags throughout the night, either as part of their costumes or by waving them around as they danced. Solo acts were performed by dancers adorned in jewels and feathers to complement their colorful costumes.

Moya provided background about how CSA prepares for the Carnival, from logistics to performances, while acknowledging the crucial work of the organization’s activities coordinators.

“Carnival is CSA’s biggest fall event so preparation starts all the way in the beginning of the summer,” Moya wrote. “It may seem like a lot of work since it is the break, but it is honestly exciting and beneficial. We get all the tedious stuff out of the way in the summer, so we can focus on all the models and help them perfect their routines throughout the fall semester.”

Inez Williams, the president of CSA and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, elaborated on her delight at the turnout for the event and expressed her gratitude to those who helped put the event together.

“Seeing Carnival unfold was a magical experience for me,” Williams said. “Carnival is always our biggest showcase, and there’s so much thought that goes into it.”

Williams went on to describe the collaboration that went into this year’s Carnival.

“My executive board, interns and our models have been working nonstop for the show, and I hope they know how proud of them I am,” Williams said. “The night was full of dancing and amazing music, and it couldn’t have been possible without the help of everyone involved.”

This year’s Carnival featured musical act Pan Evolution Steel Orchestra, a group hailing from Brooklyn, NY. The group traveled to Binghamton to perform a set of songs during the break.

When asked about why she participated in the event, Juliana Thompson, a third-year graduate student studying history, stated that she enjoys the aspect of cultural enrichment for herself and for others.

“My favorite part of the event was that I got to be a welcome girl,” Thompson said. “We all got to share Caribbean culture, and all the interesting and fun things about it with the rest of the school.”

Khudija Wajid, an attendee at the event and a junior majoring in biology, elaborated on her experience at the Carnival.

“I saw a portion of the event, and I was really blown away by the energy everyone had,” Wajid wrote. “I liked how colorful the costumes were, and how expressive the dancers were with their performances.”

CSA’s E-Board received great support and cheers from the crowd when the president explained all the hard work that they had put into the Carnival.

“We are forever grateful for everyone’s support, and I hope [everyone] enjoyed,” Williams said during the event. “Definitely stay tuned for next year.”

Following the tradition of previous BTS members, Jung Kook finally made his solo debut with his album “GOLDEN.” Before the release of the 11-track album, Jung Kook released several singles such as “Seven,” “3D” and “Standing Next To You.” Fans and casual listeners alike were waiting with anticipation for the release of the full album on Nov. 3.

Since its release, several of his tracks have made it to Billboard’s Hot 100 list, with “Standing Next To You” taking the lead at number five. Following the success of his BTS members with their solo album releases, Jung Kook is determined to pave his way to success with “GOLDEN.”

Starting strong with “3D (feat. Jack Harlow),” the upbeat summer bop serves as a reminder to fans that Jung Kook is more than just another pretty face. The song is one of the more mature tracks on his album, and as a result, it has been one of the more well-received tracks by ARMY, the name of BTS’ fanbase.

Tracks three and 11 are “Seven (feat. Latto),” both the explicit and clean versions respectively. Since its release in July, it has been deemed the song of the summer. With its quirky “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday” verse, the song is an upbeat track that exudes an overwhelming amount of charm and boy-crush vibes as Jung Kook vows to his lover that he will be devoted to them no matter what.

“Standing Next To You” is the showstopper of the album, racking up more than 41 million views on YouTube, and with the surprise concert Jung Kook held at Times Square on Nov. 9, fans can’t get enough of the 80s disco style song. Jung Kook’s vocals are accompanied by a variety of brass instrumentals and a cool bass to create a funky masterpiece that has been quickly taking over the charts.

Jung Kook’s collaborations with other artists, such as Harlow and Latto have proved a major success, and the success is further seen with his collaboration with artists and producers that have completely different ranges and ideas for music. Along with the 80s disco pop vibe that “Standing Next To You” delivered, there is also some more variety in other tracks of the album, such as the EDM-influenced tracks “Please Don’t Change (feat. DJ Snake)” and “Closer To You (feat. Major Lazer).” Though they are not as energetic songs as typical EDM songs usually are, they are still filled with alluring melodies accompanied by lyrics such as “devil always tempting / but who gon’ end the sentence?”

“Yes or No” is a catchy song about the doubts many have about falling in love, and how confusing it can be when there is no communication between people, leading to more confusion. Jung Kook’s earnest pleas to a possible lover are seen in the lyric, “are we falling in love? Say yes or no,” making it clear to the listener that even famous people aren’t exempt to the trials and tribulations of love.

“Somebody” is a quintessential radio track, with calm background music and lyrics that don’t deliver as well as the other songs of the album do, though it’s still a song that many will enjoy.

The ballads of the album are tracks seven, nine and 10, “Hate You,” “Too Sad to Dance” and “Shot Glass of Tears,” respectively. The much calmer, but still thought-provoking tracks, remind the listener that despite his status as a K-pop idol and global superstar, Jung Kook still feels the same feelings and faces the same troubles as the rest of us do. This is further cemented in “Shot Glass Full of Tears” with the line “Tell me, am I ever going to feel again?” as Jung Kook sings about the uncertainty that comes after a breakup when one doubts if one will ever feel anything again after such a rough time. Compared to the rest of the album, “Too Sad to Dance” and “Shot Glass of Tears” are the most honest tracks, and therefore, they are the ones that will stick with listeners the most.

Track seven, “Hate You,” is the album’s breakup song, with lyrics detailing the hate and hurt a person may feel for an ex such as “So I’m gonna hate you, gonna hate you / Paint you like the villain you never were.” The lyrics of the song make the track stand out, as it is one of the more calmer songs. The instrumentals and melodies take a step back to let Jung Kook’s calm vocals take center stage.

All in all, for a debut album, Jung Kook definitely hit the ball out of the park with “GOLDEN,” achieving the success many wish for a debut album.

Nothing says Thanksgiving like family drama at the dinner table, and “Gossip Girl” has had its fair amount of drama over its six-season run. While the beloved teen drama may be known for the crazy situations that the “Gossip Girl” gang seems to always get into, it’s also known for its iconic Thanksgiving episodes full of delectable dinner spreads and never-ending drama.

Whether you are preparing for a rewatch of the series or just want to celebrate the holidays with your favorite characters, here is a ranking of every “Gossip Girl” Thanksgiving episode to remind you that no family, not even one living on the Upper East Side, is exempt from drama.

1. Season 1, Episode 9: “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!”

Starting strong, if there is any “Gossip Girl” episode to call memorable, it would have to be “Gossip Girl’s” first-ever Thanksgiving episode.

Though the drama of the first season is nothing compared to what follows in future seasons, “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!” sets the stage for what we as viewers should expect from future “Gossip Girl” Thanksgiving episodes.

The episode focuses on that year’s Thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving from the year before when Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) were still friends and everyone was still relatively untouched by the toxicity of the Upper East Side. With Serena and her family joining Dan Humphrey’s (Penn Badgley) family for Thanksgiving, many of their parents’ secrets come to light when they realize that Serena’s mother and Dan’s father used to date back in the day, prompting a hilarious scene where the van der Woodsen and Humphrey children begin to question whether or not they are related.

The drama inadvertently brings many characters — particularly Blair and Serena — back together as they settle their differences to deal with Serena’s family drama. Who says Thanksgiving isn’t a time for forgiveness?

2. Season 3, Episode 11: “The Treasure of Serena Madre”

Number two on the list would be season three’s Thanksgiving episode. Nothing can compare to the iconic dinner scene near the end when half of the table dramatically storms out, all while Jason Derulo’s “Whatcha Say” plays in the background.

In true “Gossip Girl” fashion, everyone gathered around the dinner table harbors an explosive secret that is aired out to the rest of the table, creating chaos. While the dinner does start calm, tensions begin to rise as characters passive-aggressively converse with each other. It all culminates with the rest of the dinner table finding out that Serena has been seeing Nate Archibald’s (Chace Crawford) married cousin, Tripp, that Blair’s mom plans to move to Paris and that Eric (Connor Paolo) was the one who orchestrated Jenny’s (Taylor Momsen) social downfall. The dinner officially ends when Vanessa’s mother offers her opinion about the chaos, only for her daughter to finally snap back at her for being an absent parent.

Truly, no one can accuse “Gossip Girl” of not being the master of dramatic exits, and season three is filled with them. It’s a pretty funny episode to watch as it embraces all the things that make “Gossip Girl” what it is.

3. Season 4, Episode 10: “Gaslit”

While this episode doesn’t follow the typical “Gossip Girl” Thanksgiving outline, it does have its fair amount of drama and family feels.

“Gaslit” tackles the topic of substance abuse. The episode centers around the “Gossip Girl” family joining forces as they find out that Serena ended up in the hospital after waking up in a motel room in Queens with no memory of the past 24 hours. She is unsure of whether or not she consumed any drugs, and as a result, she is sent to a rehab clinic. It’s a pretty hard episode to get through as the viewer watches Serena try to remember what happened the night before.

The episode takes a turn when it is revealed that Jenny, Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) and Juliet (Katie Cassidy) were the ones responsible for the whole situation, for they had planned to get even with Serena by having everyone turn on her.

Though it is not a typical Thanksgiving, it does tackle a serious issue without glossing it over — an important and difficult directional task.

4. Season 6, Episode 8: “It’s Really Complicated”

“It’s Really Complicated” is a perfect name for this episode as it’s nothing short of complicated, twisted or dramatic. Serena and Dan are back together and plan to host Thanksgiving this year, inviting everyone over for what they hope will be a calm Thanksgiving dinner, but in “Gossip Girl” world, that simply does not exist.

On top of the domesticity Dan and Serena are attempting to emulate, Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) and Nate find out that Chuck’s back-from-the-dead father is the mastermind behind a series of murders. To top it all off, Dan is working on writing an exposé on the “Gossip Girl” gang, and Blair is up to her typical scheming ways to try to keep everything from falling apart with varying degrees of success.

The drama builds throughout the episode, and it comes to a head when everyone at the dinner table finds out that Dan only got back together with Serena to write an exposé on her. Honestly, compared to all the other Thanksgiving episodes, this one is pretty tame with its drama.

5. Season 2, Episode 11: “The Magnificent Archibalds”

Last on this list is “The Magnificent Archibalds.” While the group is mostly separated for the episode, there is still a lot of chaos going around. Family drama has everyone on edge. Jenny is attempting to emancipate herself from her parents, Nate is dealing with the FBI looking for his father and the van der Woodsens find out that Bart Bass, Lily van der Woodsen’s latest husband, has files of their “dirty laundry.” The only one having a semblance of a typical Thanksgiving is Blair, whose biggest problem is embracing the fact that her mother is marrying Cyrus Rose, someone Blair has been struggling to acknowledge.

While the episode does have its fair amount of drama, at least this Thanksgiving episode ends on a happy note with Jenny returning to her family and Blair embracing her new family. It’s a nice change from the cold shoulders and dramatic exits that the “Gossip Girl” gang tends to dish out during the holidays.

Netflix has welcomed yet another gothic horror TV show onto its platform and has not disappointed. Since its release on Oct. 12, it remains on Netflix’s top 10 shows to watch right now.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” was created by Mike Flanagan. Flanagan is already known by horror enthusiasts for his shows “The Haunting of Hill House,” based on the novel by Shirley Jackson, and “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” which drew inspiration from the novel “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James. Some more of his works include the movies “Doctor Sleep” and “Oujia: Origin of Evil,” but “The Fall of the House of Usher” may be his most elaborate work yet.

Several of the actors who participated in Flanagan’s previous projects also appear on the show, such as Carla Gugino who plays Verna and Henry Thomas who plays Frederick Usher, the eldest of Roderick’s children born from his first marriage.

Kate Siegel (Camille L’Espanaye), Rahul Kohli (Napoleon “Leo” Usher) and T’Nia Miller (Victorine LaFourcade) play three of Roderick’s illegitimate children, known as the “Bastards” to the family and the audience. The rest of the Usher children are played by newcomers Sauriyan Sapkota and Samantha Sloyan who play Prospero “Perry” Usher, the youngest of the “Bastard” children, and Tamerlane Usher, the second eldest and the only other child born from Roderick’s first marriage, respectively.

The cast also includes some well-known Hollywood actors such as Mark Hamill as Arthur Pym, Bruce Greenwood, who plays Roderick Usher and Mary McDonnell as Madeline Usher.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” follows a storyline based on many of Edgar Allan Poe’s notable short stories, and follows Roderick Usher as he explains to C. Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) why all of the Usher children have been dying one after the other and why his pharmaceutical empire, Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, is on the brink of collapse.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” isn’t just one story — it’s multiple, and in true Flanagan fashion, they all connect in the end when all the gruesome details come to light. Following in the footsteps of “Hill House” and “Bly Manor,” each of the eight episodes in the series focuses on one character and their storylines to further understand the story as a whole. Each episode of the show is loosely based on a short story written by Poe, and the demise of each of the Usher children directly correlates to the demise of many of the characters in his short stories, such as “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and the notorious “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

As the Usher children begin to die in gruesome ways as the story progresses, the audience begins to understand the reasoning behind the deaths.

As in Flanagan’s previous works, the theme of the show is family, but while “Hill House” and “Bly Manor” focused on the positive influence family can have, “The Fall of the House of Usher” is a shining example of how family can be a person’s downfall. The phrase “sins of the father” echoes throughout the show, as the Usher children are dying not because of their actions, but because of their connection to their father and the family empire as well as the choices he made over 40 years ago.

The most notorious embodiment of Poe’s work on the show isn’t the children, but Gugino’s character, Verna. Verna, a cheeky reference to Poe’s poem “The Raven” and a clever anagram for the word “raven,” is the embodiment of immortality and death. She is what haunts each of the characters in the show as she slowly ticks each of the Usher children off her list, working to settle the deal that she made with the Usher twins years ago. However, she is not the evil character audiences think her to be.

The whole reason any of the tragedies that are occurring to the Usher family is not just a simple case of really bad luck, but the result of a “deal with the devil” kind of exchange. The Usher family was able to live as a powerful and rich family, but on the condition that the family must be willing to sacrifice anything that Verna wants in return for all that money and power.

Verna is not evil, as she doesn’t convince any of the characters to do what they choose to do or take the paths that they take. Rather, she is simply the catalyst and origin of each of their storylines. She even offers each of the characters a chance at redemption before they all die, but they all refuse, and that ultimately leads to each of their demise.

While the show does follow the blueprint from many of Poe’s classic works, it fails to achieve the same spunk that has allowed Poe’s works to last the test of time. “The Fall of the House of Usher” includes many jump scares, as the Usher children come back to haunt their father (Greenwood) sporadically throughout the story as he unveils the mystery behind their deaths to both Dupin (Lumbly) and the audience.

Nevertheless, the jump scares aren’t enough to keep the audience on edge. Flanagan attempts to achieve the same twisted and macabre aspects of horror found in Poe’s work in “House of Usher’ with varying degrees of success. The Usher Children die incredibly gruesome deaths in one episode, only for the next episode to be focused on their shameless and fairly questionable actions.

“The Fall of the House of Usher” may not be the most terrifying of Flanagan’s works, but it is thought-provoking and elaborate. Audiences who appreciate a classic horror mystery with a twist will certainly enjoy binge-watching the show this fall.

As college students, we often overlook the fall season in favor of thinking about registering for classes and easing back into university life. If we’re being honest, it’s hard to find time to read any books that aren’t required for class, but it’s not impossible. Reading can be fun when we aren’t being graded, making it a great hobby to partake in.

With Halloween just around the corner and the leaves beginning to change colors, reading books that have to do with the season is the perfect way to get in the fall spirit. Here is a list of four books to read to get you in the fall mood.

“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt

A fall classic, “The Secret History” is the epitome of dark academia culture. If you’re into all things mysterious and adventurous, this book is for you. From references to the classics and conversations between the characters in Latin and Greek, all with the backdrop of a small liberal arts school, the spooky fall vibes are there.

A classic murder mystery, the novel follows six students studying classics at the fictional liberal arts school Hampden College and their slow demise after the death of one of their friends. The story focuses on morality and how quickly obsession and devotion can lead to tragedy, corruption and betrayal. Essentially, “The Secret History” is what happens when college students take something a little too seriously. Overall, it’s an interesting read, and even though the novel can get quite serious and dense, it does have its comedic moments.

“Dracula” by Bram Stoker

If you’re looking for a spooky book, look no further than “Dracula” as it is one of the most well-known pieces of English literature. For all “Twilight” movie lovers, vampires are just as interesting in classic literature as they are on the big screen. “Dracula” is the inspiration for many of the vampire movies, books and TV shows we know today.

“Dracula” is an epistolary novel following Jonathan Harker, a solicitor, who is staying in a castle owned by Dracula, a Transylvanian nobleman. The novel follows Harker’s discovery of Dracula being a vampire and the journey he and the rest of the characters take to kill him after he essentially becomes a menace in their lives.

A page-turning novel, “Dracula” has all the classic elements we know and love about vampires. From the stake-in-the-heart trope to vampire hunters, “Dracula” is a spooky tale that is worth the read, especially as the reader slowly starts to piece everything together.

“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde

Another classic, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a beloved novel that explores the idea of beauty and dives into the idea of “art for art’s sake.” The titular character, Dorian Gray, lives a seemingly immortal life enjoying the perks that come with being beautiful and rich, but it comes with a price. While he does not age, a portrait of him reflects his real age and all the sins he has committed, warping the once beautiful portrait and transforming it into a distorted version of Gray.

The novel was published in 1890, and while the publication year may make it seem intimidating, it’s an easy read as the language is not too dense or confusing.

Though the novel didn’t receive a lot of attention during Wilde’s lifetime and has been the subject of a lot of criticism, it has become one of the most beloved Gothic literature novels, and it is worth reading even if it is just for the aesthetic.

Any short story written by Edgar Allan Poe

From the classic “The Tell-Tale Heart” to the lesser-known “The Oval Portrait,” Poe knew how to write horror stories. Born in 1809, Poe lived a mysterious and tragic life up until his equally mysterious and tragic death at age 40. All his stories share similar elements of the horror genre from questioning “will the main character survive?” to “this is disturbing but in a twisted way, it makes sense.”

All of his short stories are worth the read, especially “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Masque of the Red Death,” as they will leave you on the edge of your seat. While you’re at it, Poe’s poetry is also worth looking into, such as “Annabel Lee” and “The Raven.” Essentially, anything written by Poe was made for the Halloween season, and his extensive collection of poems and short stories will keep you entertained for the whole month of October.

The nearly four-hour-long televised event was jam-packed with performances, and it ended the night with a music medley celebration dedicated to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

The VMAs have been celebrated annually since its conception by MTV in 1984 to honor the best of the best in the music video side of the music industry. Simply being nominated for an award is coveted by artists and leaving with the notorious Moon Man award is a feat within itself.

Taylor Swift left the Garden State with nine Moon Man awards of the 11 categories that she had been nominated for, including Video of the Year and Song of the Year for her hit song “Anti-Hero.” NSYNC reunited on stage for the first time in years to present the first award of the night to Swift as she won Best Pop. Swift has now achieved the most wins in a single night and holds the title of second most overall wins, following Beyonce.

Shakira became the first South American artist to be honored with the Video Vanguard Award, which is an award presented to artists by MTV for their outstanding contributions and the impact that their music has on the industry and pop culture. Shakira performed a medley of her hit songs, “She Wolf,” “TQG”, “Whenever, Wherever” and more, highlighting her contributions to the rising popularity of Latin pop music. Shakira also won the award for Best Collaboration with Colombian Singer Karol G, for their hit “TQG.”

Other performances of the night included Olivia Rodrigo’s performance of “vampire” and “get him back!,” two songs from her sophomore album “GUTS.” Rodrigo left the night winning the award for Best Editing for her music video “vampire.” Ice Spice, a rising star in the music industry, won the award for Best New Artist and SZA won the award for Best R&B for her single “Shirt.”

K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER won the award for Push Performance of The Year for their hit single “Sugar Rush Ride” from their sixth EP “The Name Chapter: Temptation,” and sizzled on the stage with Brazilian singer Anitta in their performance of “Back for More.” Other artists in K-pop such as the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK and Jungkook from BTS left the night with awards of their own too. BLACKPINK won Group of the Year and Best Choreography for their hit music video “Pink Venom,” and Jungkook was awarded Song of Summer for his hit single “Seven.” The South Korean boy group Stray Kids also left the night with a Moon Man of their own winning Best K-Pop for their song “S-Class,” the lead single from their fourth studio album “5-Star.”

Doja Cat performed her hit singles “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red” and “Demons,” and won the award for Best Art Direction for her music video “Attention.”

Brazilian artist Anitta not only performed with TOMORROW X TOGETHER during the night, but also performed her own set of songs, including “Used to Be” and “Funk Rave,” which she won the Best Latin award for. Other highlights of the night include the awards for Best Alternative going to Lana Del Rey and Jon Batiste for their song “Candy Necklace,” and Best Afrobeats going to Rema and Selena Gomez for their song “Calm Down.” Italian rock band Måneskin won the award for Best Rock for their song “The Loneliest,” and they performed their song “HONEY (ARE U COMING?)” to the delight of audiences worldwide.

Dove Cameron also left with an award of her own winning the Video for Good category for her music video “Breakfast.” This award goes to the music video with the best message to share with audiences.

It was also a big night for hip-hop, as Nicki Minaj won the award for Best Hip-Hop for her song “Super Freaky Girl.” Several artists in hip-hop including LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and DMC took to the stage at the end of the night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a medley of several songs that have impacted the industry such as “Itty Bitty Piggy,” “The Message” and “Walk This Way.” Sean “Diddy” Combs was honored as the recipient of the Global Icon Award after performing a medley of his songs including “I’ll Be Missing You” and “Last Night.”

Everyone in attendance seemed to be in high spirits by the time the event ended, with many going home with their awards and smiles on their faces for another successful year at the VMAs.

The show is led by an ensemble cast that includes actors Asa Butterfield (Otis Milburn), Emma Mackey (Maeve Wiley), Ncuti Gatwa (Eric Effiong) and Gillian Anderson (Jean Milburn). Many actors from previous seasons such as Mimi Keene (Ruby Matthews) and Aimee Lou Wood (Aimee Gibbs) reprised their roles as well.

Season four picks up from where it left off in season three, with the students of Moordale Secondary School wondering what will happen next as their principal has been fired and the fate of the students’ futures hangs in the air.

While season four may not have delivered on the plot in a way that it did for the past three seasons, it did provide character development for characters such as Aimee and Maeve, and left its mark on viewers by raising awareness on real-world issues that many teens and adults face every day. Season four mainly focuses on the characters’ personal issues and their interpersonal relationships.

The show’s final season no longer chooses to make Otis and Maeve’s story the center of attention. This season, their romance took a step back to let other characters’ stories have a bigger arc, such as putting more attention to Aimee’s journey to recovery after being a victim of assault in the previous season and Cal Bowman’s (Dua Saleh) journey as they begin transitioning.

The show no longer lives under the illusion that “love conquers all” as many TV shows do. Instead, it chooses to focus on the harsh realities many teens face not only in the United Kingdom but throughout the world, and how nothing in life can simply be fixed with optimism and hope. Rather, season four emphasizes knowledge, awareness and acceptance of the changing world that these characters experience.

Each character in this season undergoes a journey of not only self-discovery but of self-acceptance. From the beginning, “Sex Education” made it its mission to tell audiences that the most important thing in life is not about how popular you are or your social status, but rather, allowing yourself to accept the person you are and be willing to continuously grow with yourself.

Individual storylines were a staple throughout the season as each character’s storyline began to wrap up the journeys that they have been following since season one. Characters interacted with each other on a more personal level this season as they began to understand each other and themselves more deeply.

The show goes back to basics when it comes to human connection and the importance of having someone to talk to. It seems quite trivial when compared to the topics of sexuality, but it is just as essential to maintain human connection as it is to have self-acceptance. Vulnerability is not something many characters feel comfortable with — Maeve, Aimee and Eric are all prime examples of this struggle. As the show progressed and reached its final season, they all underwent significant character development and growth despite facing many setbacks between seasons one and four.

During the final episode of the season, Eric decides to come out to his church as he finally feels comfortable with himself and his identity to realize that what matters most is his own self-acceptance. Aimee also reached the point in her journey that she now felt comfortable and confident in herself to take back the autonomy that was taken from her in the previous season and allow herself to explore the things that make her happy. Lastly, Maeve allows herself to accept that she has feelings and that she can experience both the good and bad. Her experiences in life, though harsh, have led her to where she is and allowed her to become the person that she has always wanted to be — someone who can be vulnerable to those she loves.

“Sex Education” has been known since its debut as the show that provided valuable information about the realities of sexual intimacy and the importance of relationships and human connection. Its final season ensured that its legacy and lessons won’t be forgotten by audiences worldwide.

Living off campus is a rite of passage for many college students. It can be exciting getting to live with your friends and having your own space, but like with everything else, living off campus has its perks and disadvantages. Deciding to live off campus is definitely a big step, so here are some factors to think about when deciding if off-campus living is for you.

Perks

1. Freedom and independence

Living off campus is the first time you will be fully independent in college. It is a great crash course for learning everything about living on your own before graduation. No longer are you following the rules of dorm curfews or mandated quiet hours during finals week — now you have the freedom of doing what you want, when you want, because it is your living space.

2. Cost

Living off campus can be cheaper if done right. Paying rent is a big part of living off campus, and it is definitely cheaper than the alternative on-campus option. Many choose the former to save money for any plans, like grad school or traveling.

3. Living with friends

Dorm life can be fun, but it is often very hard to see your friends if they live in different living communities. Having all of your friends living under one roof is not only fun, but convenient as well. Living with people who you already know and trust can take some of the weight off of your shoulders when living off campus, and it makes it easier to hang out with them when they live down the hall from you.

4. Moving out is an option, not an obligation

Having housing all year round is a perk when it comes to breaks and holidays. No longer are you forced to move out at a certain time from your dorm or have to take everything out of your room, only to move it all in again the next semester.

Disadvantages

1. The commute to campus and literally everywhere else

If you’re one of the students who doesn’t have a car, chances are you will have to take Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) buses to campus. Everything automatically becomes less accessible when you don’t know when, where or how to take the OCCT or the Broome County bus.

Everything from the time you wake up to when you leave your house or apartment has to be planned out to the minute, or else you find yourself missing the bus and stuck waiting for the next bus for another 20 minutes.

2. Lack of socialization

Socializing is hard for everyone, but it is definitely easier to branch out if you live on campus. Living on campus grants residents the luxury of going home whenever they like, but for those who live off campus and do not own a car, it is something that they have to think twice about. Many club meetings or activities tend to run late since the majority of classes end around 6 or 7 p.m. That means having to stay on campus longer, which means having to take the OCCT bus late. OCCT buses don’t come as regularly at night as they do during the day, so you are left deciding whether or not it is worth it to stay on campus.

3. Increase in responsibility

Living off campus comes with many perks, but also with many responsibilities that many students don’t realize that they are now responsible for — such as being in charge of setting up the internet.

Additionally, if you find yourself living in a house off campus, you are now responsible for having to deal with any problems that occur in the house, from making sure that you have heating in the winter to any repairs that the house may have to undergo.

Oftentimes, students living on campus take advantage of the janitorial services and how clean they keep our living spaces. Now if you find yourself living off campus, you and your roommates will have to be the ones responsible for keeping everything clean in your new homes.

4. Budgeting

Budgeting becomes your best friend when living off campus. Everything from meal planning to paying for rent and utilities becomes a part of everyday life. Luxuries like buying new clothes or even paying for a bus ticket to go home are replaced by basic living necessities like having to pay for utilities or groceries.

Living off campus requires not only a lot of planning but also a lot of responsibility. If you do plan on living off campus at any point in your time here at Binghamton University, make sure that it is something that you feel confident in managing.

Olivia Rodrigo has released her sophomore album just in time for the new school year. Rodrigo’s “GUTS” had most of us on the edge of our seats the days before the release, and the results didn’t disappoint. “GUTS” has a primordial focus, and it is easy to spot from the album’s first track. The coming-of-age album focuses on how every feeling seems to be amplified and how no one has a single clue about who they are.

“GUTS” has a distinct pop-rock sound reminiscent of Paramore and Katy Perry, and each song seems to tell its own story. Sincerity and honesty seem to bleed through every lyric in this album.

Starting off with her hit single, “vampire,” fans truly had no idea what to expect from her new album. “vampire” is slightly reminiscent of Rodrigo’s earliest release, “drivers license,” but with a bit more grit and subtlety.

Rodrigo’s second single “bad idea right?” is a fun anthem dedicated to the push-and-pulls and the “what ifs?” between someone and their ex. Not to mention, it has the makings of a fun karaoke song with its fast-paced lyrics. “bad idea right?” focuses on the absurdity of constantly going back to your ex when you know you shouldn’t.

The first track of the album, “all-american bitch,” starts off as a soft guitar melody, but then surprises the listener by moving into a fast-paced song that embraces body positivity, refusing to conform to typical American ideals. Rodrigo embraces her age and everything that comes with it, by rebelling against judgment while radiating confidence through her lyrics.

The fourth track of the album, “lacy,” focuses on jealousy and how toxic it can get. Rodrigo’s “lacy” focuses on the hyper fixation one gets on someone that they deem to be more beautiful. She sings, “You poison every little thing that I do” and “I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you,” to show how constant comparison can escalate to toxicity.

The songs “ballad of a homeschooled girl” and “pretty isn’t pretty” talk about societal norms, and how hard it is to keep up with the ever-changing trends that young women are exposed to. To Rodrigo, nothing she does feels right. She struggles to embrace the fact that individuality is okay, even if sometimes she feels like a failure.

Track 8, “get him back!” is similar to “bad idea right?” but embraces getting back at one’s ex, whether or not it is a good idea. Sometimes with breakups, logic flies out the window. Rodrigo writes about wanting to get back into the relationship not because she loves him, but because she wants to get back at him.

Tracks 6, “making the bed,” and 12, “teenage dream,” focus on the harsh realities of finding fame young and being thrust into the spotlight. “teenage dream” focuses on the insecurity that fame can bring into one’s personal life, as well as the crises a person can experience. In Rodrigo’s case, her lyrics suggest that she fears that she has reached her musical peak. Rodrigo is brutally honest in “making the bed,” writing how she is disappointed with certain aspects of her life. It is refreshing to hear a young artist reveal that their lives aren’t perfect and that not everything on social media is real.

“logical,” “the grudge” and “love is embarrassing” are about romantic relationships, and how confusing and toxic they can get. Rodrigo writes in “logical” that not every relationship is perfect, and how quickly a relationship can turn manipulative. “love is embarrassing” and “the grudge” are about the start of a relationship, and how a person can be swept up by romance and consumed by a relationship that started too quickly. Rodrigo writes about how quickly a person’s self-worth can become intertwined with their relationship, and how it feels to realize that they have completely changed themselves to please someone else. Both “the grudge” and “love is embarrassing” are beautiful songs that tackle tough topics, and Rodrigo composed them in a way that makes the listener feel seen.

All in all, Rodrigo has managed to escape the notorious sophomore album curse of struggling to find success and continues to be a source of musical relatability to her coming-of-age listeners.

Moving into your dorm can be hard. You never truly realize how much you own until you have to pack everything up into extra large suitcases that you then have to move into your dorm on what always seems to be the hottest day of summer. Sound familiar?

Decorating your dorm shouldn’t be as hard as registering for classes, so here are seven essential dorm room decorations for all you Binghamton University students to help make your dorm feel more like home.

1. String lights

This seems pretty basic, but they’re the perfect decoration for those unnecessarily huge dorm room walls. Amazon has a great selection of string lights in all shapes and sizes, so there is something for everyone. Plus, they’re a great thing to have on your walls if you are in the newer dorms with motion-sensored lights that always turn off when you least expect them to. It’s great to have a little bit of light in your dorm room when you find yourself flailing your arms around as you try to get the overhead light to turn on again. Plus, they are nice to look at.

2. A storage cart

A storage cart is an excellent way to not only keep your belongings organized, but also a great way to make your room feel less cramped and more comfortable. It’s a great place to store snacks or extra supplies you may have scattered around your room. A storage cart is like a portable shelf, so you can also put your books in the cart alongside other dorm room essentials. You can even get them in several different colors, like blue, pink or even mint green.

3. A rug

Now this seems like a given, but having a rug in your dorm is seriously convenient. You don’t want the first thing you touch to be a cold floor when you wake up for your 8 a.m. lecture, so a rug is the way to go. Having one in your room really brings everything in the room together. Plus, it’s a great thing to have in your room when you want to study somewhere other than your desk or bed, or when you have people over in your dorm and there are no other places to sit other than the floor.

4. Posters

Posters are a great way to liven up your dorm and make school feel more like home. Having decorations up on the walls makes a room feel less empty, especially if you put up posters in different shapes and sizes. Posters quickly fill up the empty wall space in your dorm room, and it’s a great way to showcase your interests to your roommate and any other people you may have over. Aim to make it cozy and comfortable for you. Just make sure you check in with your residential life staff on the amount of posters you can have on your wall. I recommend getting posters from either Five Below or Walmart. They surprisingly have a good selection.

5. Plants

Whether they are real or fake plants (for those of us who don’t have a green thumb or are living on a budget), plants are the perfect decoration. Time Magazine wrote that having plants in your living space can reduce anxiety and stress — which many college students suffer from. Plants can help motivate you to be more productive and can help sharpen one’s attention and concentration while working. If anything, having a plant in your room will help liven up the environment in your dorm.

6. Whiteboard

A college staple — whiteboards are a great way to interact with people in your residence hall. Simply hang one outside your dorm room door with a couple of whiteboard markers outside and the people on your floor will do the rest. You can leave funny messages and questions written on the board and soon enough, your whiteboard will be filled with replies from your floormates. It’s also great to have a whiteboard inside your dorm room to write down all your assignments or your to-do list. Seriously, the possibilities are endless.

7. Pictures

Lastly, pictures are a great way to make a dorm feel more like home. Whether they are polaroids or pictures you printed at Walmart, having them up and around your room helps whenever you are feeling homesick, and is a great way of further personalizing your room. They don’t necessarily have to be pictures of your family, friends or pet — they can be pictures of your favorite places or things. If you have a good selection of photos to choose from, you might be able to make a collage on your wall.

Decorating your dorm will help make the transition into dorm life easier as it’ll allow you to feel comfortable in your new living space, and help make your living experience on campus much more enjoyable.

The new season of “Only Murders in the Building” (OMITB) has premiered, and it does not disappoint. Our favorite true crime sleuths are back with a new mystery that we won’t soon forget.

The series follows the intertwined lives of Charles, Mabel and Oliver, played by Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short, respectively. The group navigates the seemingly never-ending murders in their historic New York City apartment complex, the Arconia, and how these murders inspired them to create a podcast cheekily named “Only Murders in the Building” to solve the murders that seem to be their constant companions.

Previous seasons have given us a sort of layout of how we can expect this season to go, from the usual discovery of a body in the building to the subsequent investigation and shenanigans that follow. New York City is the setting of the show, as our “Only Murders in the Building” trio travels back and forth between the city boroughs to piece the clues of the murder mystery together. Everything always ends up leading back to home base, the Arconia.

Season three of “Only Murders in the Building” seems determined to deliver in every way possible, and it has done so successfully. The new murder mystery with a twist to solve is accompanied by a whole new supporting cast that has us dramatically gasping and pointing at our screens when we recognize them. Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd have joined the “Only Murders in the Building” cast as the down-on-her-luck yet still optimistic actress Loretta and the famous Hollywood actor-turned-Broadway star Ben Glenroy. Not only do we have a revolving door of “Grey’s Anatomy” references in the first couple of episodes of “OMITB” season three, but we also have “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Jesse Williams joining the cast as a camera operator focused on filming Glenroy’s Broadway debut.

In terms of setting, The Arconia is still the official scene of the crime — or crimes, as we have now reached the grand total of six murders — that sets up the rest of the season. It is still the beacon that summons our “OMITB” trio back to the crime scene, but it is now accompanied by something equally powerful — the theater.

Season three, episode one, “The Show Must…” introduces us to the new murder mystery, though not in the way we as the audience have expected. Instead of the usual straightforward death at The Arconia we have come to expect, season three has us all clutching our imaginary pearls as the death that occurs in the first episode isn’t an official one, at least not until the end of the episode.

Rudd’s character, Ben Glenroy, dies twice in the first episode. Yes, you read that correctly. He dies on stage during the premiere of Oliver’s return to Broadway show “Death Rattle,” is revived not even an hour later and then proceeds to prance into The Arconia claiming to have seen the light and renewed with joie de vivre. He is not officially dead until the end of the first episode when he literally crashes at the feet of the “OMITB” trio after he falls down the elevator shaft, and this is what sets off the real mystery of season three — who killed Ben Glenroy (both times) and why?

The murder that occurs in each season’s first episode is what drives both the plot and the character development that occurs in the “OMITB” trio since, oddly enough, murder is a great motivator for self-improvement.

In terms of character development, the three leads have experienced much change since the premiere of the show in 2021. The “OMITB” trio have gone from virtual strangers in season one to podcast and murder mystery besties by season three. They have not only their friendship to thank for their personal growth, but also the renewed motivation in life that their successful podcasting and sleuthing through the halls of the Arconia and streets of New York City has given them.

This season has the promise of having great potential, not only because of the star-studded cast, but also because of the interesting and out-of-the-box murder mystery that the “OMITB” writers have chosen to present for season three.

All in all, season three is expected to deliver a killer ending (pun intended), and it will surely leave the audience on the edge of their seats as we slowly discover why the enigmatic Ben Glenroy was murdered (twice).

With a DJ in the background setting the soundtrack, participants were more than ready to run across the Newing Field to hurl gulal — a colored powder typically used in some Hindu rituals — at their friends and others taking part. Several rounds of throwing gulal at one another left students and the entire field covered in a cacophony of colors from head to toe by the time the event ended.

Many attendees, like Alvina Prabhu, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience, said they found the event enjoyable.

“This was my first Holi celebration [at Binghamton] University, and I thought it was well organized,” Prabhu said. “They organized it in a very organized, yet chaotic way. It was fun!”

Also known as the “Festival of Colors, Love and Spring,” Holi is a traditional Indian festival meant to welcome spring, say goodbye to winter and welcome new and growing love. It is also meant to invoke a good harvest during the spring.

BU’s event was organized by Delta Epsilon Psi, a South Asian fraternity at BU, and the Hindu Student Council (HSC). Tickets were sold weeks in advance for $5 per ticket, with all proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the world’s largest nonprofit with a mission to cure, treat and prevent Type 1 Diabetes.

The festival is celebrated over two days, from night to day, and many students are away from home when the festival is typically observed. However, Delta Epsilon Psi and the HSC have found a way over the years for students to celebrate Holi on campus.

Holi is typically celebrated in India on the last Purnima — or full moon — of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month, honoring spring’s arrival during the month of Phalguna, which is typically seen around mid-March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is meant to commemorate the good spring harvests and fertile land for farmers, and with the coming of spring, many Hindus take this celebration as a reason to welcome change and leave behind any unwanted emotions and thoughts.

The festival is derived from the Hindu legends of the gods Radha and Krishna, celebrating their eternal love, as well as the legend of Vishnu, or the God of Preservation, and Narasimha Narayana, the God of Protection. Holi is meant to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, with Vishnu winning the fight for Hiranyakashipu, an Asura king, against Narasimha Narayana.

The Hindu legend of Radha and Krishna is also what inspired the custom of throwing gulal at one another during the festival. The legend goes, Krishna was worried that Radha wouldn’t love him because he had dark skin and Radha had fair skin. Krishna’s mother suggested that he go and color Radha’s face in a color of his choosing, and when this happened, Radha fell in love with Krishna.

This legend serves as a reminder of the love people have for one another. Now, during Holi, lovers apply gulal on the faces of their significant others to express their love and affection for one another.

Students have adapted to the circumstances of living on campus by organizing this event for students who celebrate Holi. While it isn’t a typical Holi festival, students at BU appreciated the efforts the organizing parties go through to ensure the festival is fun and memorable.

One of those students was Meghana Gogineni, a freshman majoring in integrative neuroscience. Gogineni said BU had done an excellent job organizing events for her and her friends to attend this past school year.

“I thought the event was a lot of fun,” Gogineni said. “There is nothing better than a little organized chaos!”

Students came and went throughout the festival covered in a myriad of colors that was sure to leave a lasting impression, both on their white t-shirts and in their memories. With the success of this year’s Holi celebration, nobody would be surprised if the event was more crowded next year.

Oftentimes it is hit-or-miss. Audiences can be disappointed by what they see on screen, sometimes because of the drug use in these portrayals, or because of their lackluster portrayals of drug rehabilitation later on. Mainstream shows like “Shameless,” “Skins” and “Euphoria” have more than their fair share of drug and alcohol use. Drugs and alcohol are huge plot points in these shows, with the plot lasting several episodes.

Drug use in TV shows has been around for a long time, though modern scripts for these portrayals have been more explicit than ever before, and that is both a good and bad thing. Many shows use drugs in their plot lines to create drama for the characters on screen, such as how “Euphoria” shows Rue — played by Zendaya, the show’s narrator and one of the main characters — go through several relapses as she tries to overcome her drug addiction.

“Shameless,” an American comedy drama show, details the effects of drug and alcohol abuse as the dysfunctional Gallagher family tries to make a living on the South Side of Chicago. All of the characters end up partaking in drugs and alcohol at least at one point throughout the show’s 11 seasons, with many of the young characters consuming drugs and alcohol as they grow older.

The Gallagher family is affected by the constant drug and alcohol abuse of their patriarch Frank Gallagher — played by William H. Macy. Many of the young characters in the show, such as Lip — played by Jeremy Allen White — and Fiona, played by Emmy Rossum, grew up surrounded by Frank’s constant drug and alcohol abuse, and as the show goes on we see these characters become addicts themselves. During its 11-season run, the show often tended to glorify the drug use that characters took part in through comedy and high-stakes drama.

The show does do an excellent job of showing the struggle of several of these characters — in particular Lip — as they try to achieve sobriety. Several of the episodes center around the characters attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and their milestones are highlighted throughout the seasons. However, the show also portrays characters who don’t want to achieve sobriety — like Frank, who only sobers up whenever he is trying to get on someone’s good side or is trying to get money to purchase more drugs and alcohol in the future.

Another example of drug use in TV can be found in the British teen comedy series “Skins,” which quickly became a fan-favorite among young audiences after it was added to streaming platforms Netflix and Hulu. The show has characters living in Bristol, South West England that take part in drug and alcohol use, though they are all still in sixth form, which is the U.K.’s version of the last two years of high school. Often, glamorized, characters such as Effy Stonem — played by Kaya Scodelario — and Chris Miles, played by Joe Dempsie, are found at parties throughout their time on the show. The show glorified these situations for young audiences, as the students party during and after school, with several of these scenes becoming fan-favorites on YouTube.

Additionally, character style inspiration, particularly Effy’s style, has become a fashion trend on Pinterest. Since “Skins” is a show catered to teenagers and is now easily accessible to young audiences, many trends have emerged, also on TikTok, glorifying the style of the characters on the show, completely missing the point that the characters look that way because they are on drugs.

The show “Skins” does attempt to discuss the topics of sobriety and rehabilitation, but it mostly focuses on the “during” effects of drug and alcohol use, rather than the long-term “after” effects these substances have on the young characters. Instead, the show puts more emphasis on the topics of mental illness and dysfunctional families.

Several of these modern portrayals of drug use tend to glorify drug use and make it seem like it is something audiences should want to partake in. “Euphoria” is a great example of the opposite, showing the drug rehabilitation process. The final scene in the final episode of Season 1 shows Rue relapsing, and it quickly went viral on the internet for its portrayal of the grief, misery and painful glory those who experience relapse feel as it happens.

Though Rue is the primary character battling addiction, almost all the other characters in the show consume drugs at some point throughout the nearly hour-long episodes. Rue’s addiction and recovery is a huge plot point throughout the show’s two seasons, and it is often the topic that brings all of the characters together. The show is brutally honest about the struggle Rue goes through as she attempts to sober up throughout the episodes, and it is also honest about the effect Rue’s addiction has on not just herself, but on her friends and family, which is not something that is often discussed.

Though modern portrayals of drug and alcohol use are improving, it’s important to realize that these portrayals should show the effects of drug and alcohol use, not just the glorified parts. Viewers should keep an open mind with these portrayals, as no one experience is the same, and no interpretation of drug and alcohol abuse will ever be truly accurate in the media.