Pipe Dream, 4400 Vestal Parkway East, Binghamton, NY (2025)

12/12/2024

Following last year’s rise in pro-Palestinian activism on campus, Kent Schull, an associate professor of history and the director of the Center for Middle East and North Africa Studies, reintroduced and taught a Palestinian History course this semester.

Examining over 100 years of history of the modern-day Palestinian territories, Schull last taught the class in 2020 and saw the need for a course addressing questions of Middle Eastern politics. He said this became evident after the spring’s large student protests and encampments across the country, including at Binghamton University.

“It’s really covering from the late 19th century to the present,” Schull said in an interview with Pipe Dream. “That’s what this focus is on, when notions of Palestinian nationalism, Jewish nationalism, started to emerge, and that they both have this focal point on the same territory for their homeland, but that’s what they’re claiming for their state. And so the origins of that contestation is in the late 19th century.”

Added to the course schedule during the summer after the initial registration period had closed, 15 students enrolled. While others expressed interest, the late add time prevented some from registering.

Following last year’s rise in pro-Palestinian activism on campus, Kent Schull, an associate professor of history and the director of the Center for Middle East...

12/12/2024

The African Student Organization held its annual Culture Shock show this Saturday. Powered by lively dance groups, food and music, Culture Shock aimed to foster awareness and appreciation of African culture.

The Mandela Room was illuminated by colorful lights on the main stage and was transformed by fairy lights in the shape of the African continent. A full food and beverage table and pictures of the dance troupes and ASO’s E-Board were hung on the surrounding walls to decorate the space.

Jadesola Teriba, ASO’s president and a senior double-majoring in psychology and philosophy, politics and law, described the organization’s mission of celebrating African culture and heritage.

“As an organization dedicated to educating the campus community about the African Diaspora — exploring its social, cultural, and political dimensions — we are committed to celebrating and advancing our heritage,” Teriba wrote. “ASO tirelessly champions multiculturalism and African unity, driven by profound respect and deep admiration for our motherland. This event is just one of the many ways we showcase the multiculturalism of the African Diaspora.”

The theme, “Old School vs. New School,” was chosen to bring a nostalgic lens to the event while encouraging people to reflect on their own pasts. To reflect this, some troupes dressed in popular ’90s clothing and incorporated breakdancing into their routines.

The African Student Organization held its annual Culture Shock show this Saturday. Powered by lively dance groups, food and music, Culture Shock aimed to foster...

12/11/2024

Bridge Green Upcycle, a startup founded by Binghamton University alumnus Balki Iyer MS ‘00, hosted a launch event for its new Infinity Lab & Prototype Facility last week. Held at Huron Campus in nearby Endicott, visitors heard from company leaders and community partners and embarked on an in-depth guided tour through the facility.

“This marks an exciting milestone for our team as we inaugurate a facility that emphasizes technological innovation in support of the circular economy,” wrote Annamarie Chironis ‘24, Bridge Green Upcycle’s commercial and strategy analyst. “Beyond advancing domestic supply chain resilience, our mission includes creating green-collar jobs for the Broome County community.”

Before the event began, professionals from various community organizations enjoyed hors d’oeuvres during a networking session.
Iyer, the company’s founder, opened the event with a 10-minute speech. He welcomed visitors with gratitude before sharing a brief story about Mahatma Gandhi, describing a moment when Gandhi told his professor he would take a bag of money rather than a bag of wisdom because “everyone takes what they don’t have.” He drew a parallel between this story and how life as an entrepreneur is not about wishing for things, but about creating and building a business around the things you want.

“Today we use batteries like the way we use oil, but that’s not how it’s going to be 20 years from today,” Iyer said. “Effectively, this might be a small gathering of important people, but we’re not just starting a business, we are starting a movement. I truly, firmly believe that we are starting a movement of how we are going to extract critical minerals in this country so that we don’t treat batteries like the way we treat oil.”

Bridge Green Upcycle, a startup founded by Binghamton University alumnus Balki Iyer MS ‘00, hosted a launch event for its new Infinity Lab & Prototype...

12/07/2024

OPINION | This Thanksgiving felt different. Maybe it was because my family went out for hot pot instead of cooking for the first time in my 21 years of Thanksgivings. Or maybe it was because Thanksgiving traditionally marks the beginning of the holiday season, and this year will be the first without my best friend, Talia.

Either way, it felt appropriate to sit down and reflect on the deep emptiness I felt this break.
This is my first column for Pipe Dream, a breaking of the strictly enforced prohibition on writing for news and opinions at the same time. In my over two years with this organization, I’ve been trained to set personal belief aside in the name of objectivity.

But ever since my friend died last April, I’ve been itching to write a column. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe I hope that the formality of the publishing process, writing this with my peers editing it in mind, will force me to reckon with some hard truths. Or maybe I hope to find some catharsis in seeing this on paper.

Returning to one’s hometown is universally acknowledged as bittersweet, and during the holiday break, even more so. Without Talia here, though, I feel more incomplete than ever. We made so many memories in our little corner of suburban New Jersey, and when she lost her fight with brain cancer, a little part of me, the one that viewed my hometown with a guarded nostalgia, died with her.

This Thanksgiving felt different. Maybe it was because my family went out for hot pot instead of cooking for the first time in my 21...

12/07/2024

The Binghamton volleyball team’s season came to an end on Wednesday night with a 3-1 loss to Bowling Green in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

“Bowling Green is a really, really good team,” said Binghamton head coach Allie Yaeger. “They’re a very physical team. There’s a reason why they won the MAC, which is also a really good conference.”

Binghamton (19-10, 8-2 AE) and Bowling Green (22-9, 16-2 MAC) were evenly matched to begin the first set, tied at six early on. A 3-0 run from the Falcons gave them the lead, which they held for the rest of the set. While the Bearcats stayed within striking distance, they could not grab the momentum they needed, falling 25-18 in set one.

“We got aced a lot,” Yaeger said. “We just couldn’t get out of certain rotations, because we just really struggled passing the ball.”

Bowling Green opened set two with a 10-0 run. The Bearcats slowly crawled back, chipping away at the deficit as two kills from fifth-year outside hitter Tsvetelina Ilieva and graduate student middle blocker Johanna Remy cut it to 18-15. The closest BU got was within two at 22-20 and 23-21, courtesy of kills from freshman right side hitter Viktoria Dimitrova. However, the Falcons were able to close out the set 25-21 and go up two sets to none.

The Binghamton volleyball team’s season came to an end on Wednesday night with a 3-1 loss to Bowling Green in the first round of the...

12/07/2024

Released in theaters on Nov. 22, the movie adaptation “Wicked” (2024) explores the relationship between the two central witches of the 1930s movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” The film, an adaptation of the Broadway show of the same title — covers the events of the first half of the show as witches Glinda and Elphaba navigate their experiences coming into adulthood.

Directed by Jon M. Chu — who is most notably known for directing “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In The Heights,” the film’s star-studded cast includes actress and pop star Ariana Grande and actress Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. A beloved musical, the bar was set high for a movie adaptation.

“Wicked” (2024) is an immersive experience of the stage show, with detailed set design that will surely leave you stunned. The colors are more muted than vibrant to replicate real life rather than make it feel plastic, and the utilization of physical sets in addition to CGI further adds a sense of realism to the film, as if you can visit the dancing streets of Oz or walk the halls of S**z University.

The subtle, princess-like makeup Glinda wears and the blending of modern and fairytale elements of the character’s costumes take the whimsical world of Oz as seen in “The Wizard of Oz” and the “Wicked” stage show and make the audience feel more connected with it.

Released in theaters on Nov. 22, the movie adaptation “Wicked” (2024) explores the relationship between the two central witches of the 1930s movie, “The Wizard...

12/06/2024

EDITORIAL | Pipe Dream's Editorial Board, in a semesterly tradition, assesses different aspects of campus life.

Administration: C- It’s a new year, but we are still experiencing many of the same problems. While Binghamton University’s administration has made strides since last...

12/06/2024

The Binghamton women’s basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 74-51 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday night. The Bulls’ offensive production overwhelmed the Bearcats from tipoff, outscoring BU 52-34 in the paint and 18-8 in fast break points, which made the difference.

Buffalo (8-0) got off to an auspicious start, going on an 11-0 run in the first five minutes of the game. Meanwhile, BU (5-4) went 0-of-9 from the field before a jumper from junior guard Kaia Goode got them on the board. After this point, the Bearcats scored just four more points as the Bulls led 20-6 at the end of one.

Binghamton managed to close the gap slightly in the second quarter, outscoring Buffalo 15-13. After shooting just 15 percent in the first quarter, BU shot at a 63.64 percent clip in the second. Meanwhile, despite holding the Bulls to just 5-of-16 shooting in the second quarter, the Bearcats faced a 33-21 deficit going into halftime.

The Binghamton women’s basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 74-51 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday night. The Bulls’ offensive production overwhelmed...

12/06/2024

As part of Services for Students with Disabilities’ Reframing Disabilities Week, Emmy-nominated motivational speaker and athlete Robert Anthony gave a talk this Tuesday.

Anthony was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect that led to the amputation of his lower leg. He is no stranger to adversity, having experienced a house fire that killed his grandmother and physical and sexual abuse at a young age. Anthony described the immense gratitude he has for his mother and aunt, who saved his prosthetic leg in the fire and worked multiple jobs to send him to private school.

“The reason why I choose to use my platform and my voice is because there may be someone here who’s going through what I’ve gone through, or who knows someone else who’s going through what I’m going through,” Anthony said. “So I choose to use my voice, to be a victor and not a victim, because I know that my voice is power.”

His desire to help others has taken on many forms, from music to acting to athletics. As a teenager, Anthony wanted to be a rapper — he saw himself as the “prosthetic-leg Tupac.” Anthony still enjoys the music, putting on a short rap performance during the talk. Still, he said he only really started to thrive after embracing his disability.

As part of Services for Students with Disabilities’ Reframing Disabilities Week, Emmy-nominated motivational speaker and athlete Robert Anthony gave a talk this Tuesday. Anthony was...

12/05/2024

SENIOR COLUMN | Boy, that really flew by, didn’t it? I arrived at Binghamton in the fall of 2021, and when I did, I made a pact with myself to explore. To get outside my comfort zone at every opportunity, to talk to people I don’t know and do things I’ve never tried.

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

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

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

Boy, that really flew by, didn’t it? I arrived at Binghamton in the fall of 2021, and when I did, I made a pact with...

12/05/2024

Binghamton University hosted the world premiere of the award-winning film “Comes the Wind,” an emotional story centered on themes of familial bonds, love, loss and hope, this Tuesday in the Watters Theater.

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

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

Binghamton University hosted the world premiere of the award-winning film “Comes the Wind,” an emotional story centered on themes of familial bonds, love, loss and...

12/04/2024

Over Thanksgiving break, the Binghamton women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with victories over Canisius and Loyola Maryland. On Monday, the Bearcats defeated the Golden Griffins in a 68-58 road matchup. Later in the week, BU earned a 62-46 home win against Loyola Maryland on Saturday.

“I am really proud of our team,” head coach Mary Grimes said. “That is a tough Loyola team … For us to come out with a win against them is pretty impressive. The team is figuring out the zone, how to play off each other and trust each other.”

In its first game of the week on Monday, Binghamton (5-3) got out to a strong start against Canisius (1-5) and did not look back. The Bearcats scored 16 points in each of the first two quarters, holding a 32-23 lead going into halftime. The BU offense shot 48 percent from the field in the first half while the defense locked down the Golden Griffins at 33.3 percent shooting.

“Kudos to the team,” Grimes said. “Defense is what wins championships, and I think that the team is understanding the slides of the zone.”

The Bearcats continued to build on their lead going into the third quarter, outscoring the Golden Griffins 15-11 thanks to timely three-pointers from sophomore guards Leah Middleton and Yanniah Boyd. Going into the final quarter leading 47-34, Binghamton held on, despite being outscored 24-21 in the highest-scoring period of the night, for the 10-point victory.

Over Thanksgiving break, the Binghamton women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with victories over Canisius and Loyola Maryland. On Monday, the...

12/04/2024

Speculation that a dispensary could replace the popular Hacienda Mexican Restaurant has sparked concern from community members and local political figures.

In October, New York’s Office of Cannabis Management issued a ma*****na dispensary license to Tranquil Ark, LLC for the restaurant’s current address on Vestal Avenue, where the business currently operates. Tranquil Ark, LLC must apply to the City of Binghamton Planning Commission. They will need a special-use permit and a public hearing would be held for residents to share their opinions on the change.

Restaurant owner Jose Rodriguez voiced concern about the developments, claiming that building owner Vincent Altadonna did not notify him about the situation, even after the approval had been given a month prior. Altadonna, who also operates Grande Pizzeria on Front Street, said that the dispensary offered him $300,000 more to purchase the building than Hacienda was considering.

“I’ve been inviting … Hacienda [to] buy the building for quite a few years,” Altadonna said in an interview with 12 News. “But unfortunately, Hacienda doesn’t want to pay the price the other guys pay.”

Altadonna said he is looking to retire, and that after 54 years in the restaurant business, he wants to “get out of it” and sell the building. He did not immediately respond to Pipe Dream’s request for comment.

Speculation that a dispensary could replace the popular Hacienda Mexican Restaurant has sparked concern from community members and local political figures. In October, New York’s...

12/04/2024

To grieve the loss of accepted Binghamton University student Omer Neutra, community members gathered for a memorial service Tuesday night in the Mandela Room. The service was led by the BU Zionist Organization in collaboration with Chabad, Hillel and the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus.

The Israel Defense Forces reported early Monday morning that Neutra, originally believed to have been held hostage for over a year, was killed fighting Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Neutra, a Plainview, New York native, had deferred his enrollment to serve in the IDF, and Israeli officials said his body is still held by Hamas.

Throughout the service, the crowd sang prayers including Acheinu, Esa Einai and Vehi Sheamda. Organizers arranged candles in the shape of the Star of David as mourners sat in a large circle. Entrants were invited to write a message to the Neutra family or sign a communal letter.

“As a community who has devoted themselves to call for the release of the hostages, advocate for American hostages such as Omer, and educate on the events of October 7th and all that followed, we were absolutely heartbroken and shaken to see the news confirming Omer was killed on October 7th,” the BU Zionist Organization wrote in a statement to Pipe Dream. “The news of one’s child’s death is one that no parent should ever have to bear and our hearts are with the entire Neutra family, as they have been for the last 424 days.”

To grieve the loss of accepted Binghamton University student Omer Neutra, community members gathered for a memorial service Tuesday night in the Mandela Room. The...

12/03/2024

Amid a two-game losing streak and in search of its first victory against a Division I program of the campaign, the Binghamton men’s basketball team righted the ship by going 2-1 across the weekend at the Lafayette Classic with overtime wins over LIU and Niagara.

“A lot of people don’t like close games, but I think close games are good because you get a chance to get experience with those kind of games,” said Binghamton head coach Levell Sanders. “I don’t think we’re gonna be blowing a lot of teams out, so we’re probably gonna have a lot of close games. So we’re gonna have to learn how to win, and the way you learn how to win those kind of games is to experience it.”

Binghamton (4-6) began the tournament with a matchup against Niagara (3-5), and both squads were evenly matched early on. Neither team led by more than five points in the first half, with a 6-for-14 performance from the three-point line on the half carrying Binghamton to a 27-26 lead at the break. The tides turned for the Eagles in the second period as they began to take control of the lead. However, Binghamton stayed in the game, continuing to equalize the score in the closing minutes. Graduate student forward Ben Callahan-Gold seemed to have sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer with five seconds to go to make it 62-62, but the Eagles had other plans with a three-pointer at the final buzzer to cement a 65-62 victory.

Amid a two-game losing streak and in search of its first victory against a Division I program of the campaign, the Binghamton men’s basketball team...

12/03/2024

The Binghamton Public Works Department joined local police in clearing an unhoused encampment by the Susquehanna River after a reported fire.

Following the incident on Nov. 20, police allowed inhabitants of these encampments to collect all the belongings they could carry before clearing out the area. The encampment’s removal sparked a debate among local officials about solutions to Binghamton’s homelessness crisis. In an interview with Binghamton Homepage, Mayor Jared Kraham said the city is committed to tackling homelessness by offering to connect unhoused people with services but noted that illegal encampments will not be tolerated.

“We cannot just turn a blind eye to the fact that certain parts of our riverfront have become dumping grounds for trash and garbage, for hypodermic needles, human waste,” Kraham said. “These things are not sanitary, it’s a public safety emergency in my estimation, and it’s putting first responders at risk.”

Kraham said the police offer shelter to unhoused individuals through the Department of Social Services. For several months, numerous makeshift shelters have been established along the river, including between the water and the flood control wall along Conklin Avenue on the South Side of Binghamton.

While first responders said no fire needed to be extinguished, remnants of several cooking fires were found in the encampments, according to the Binghamton Homepage. Police issued tickets to inhabitants for illegally camping along the river.

The Binghamton Public Works Department joined local police in clearing an unhoused encampment by the Susquehanna River after a reported fire. Following the incident on...

12/03/2024

The Israeli Defense Forces said early Monday morning that Omer Neutra, a Plainview, New York native who deferred his admission to Binghamton University to serve in the Israeli military, was killed in battle with Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Neutra was originally believed to have been taken hostage during the attack.

During a gap year, Neutra was a tank platoon commander. Israel Katz, the Israeli Defense Minister, wrote on X that Neutra’s body was taken into Gaza and is still held by Hamas.

“We’ve called out for Omer for 422 days,” the BU Zionist Organization wrote in a statement. “His kidnapping and now his confirmed death have left a void that words cannot fill. If not for the heinous acts of Hamas, Omer would have been here with us today — sitting in our classrooms, playing basketball at the East Gym, grabbing food at C4 and lighting up every room he entered with his infectious smile, warmth and humor.”

The highest rungs of American political leadership, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, shared statements sympathizing with Neutra’s parents, Ronen and Orna, who have campaigned for the release of the approximately 100 hostages. Gov. Kathy Hochul directed all flags in state facilities be flown at half-staff on the day of Neutra’s memorial services, and Rep. Marc Molinaro expressed support for the Neutra family.

“We extend our love and prayers to Omer’s parents who became selfless leaders in the fight to return all hostages,” Rep Marc Molinaro wrote on X. “We pray for his friends and fellow students. And we know his life and memory will always be a blessing.”

The Israeli Defense Forces said early Monday morning that Omer Neutra, a Plainview, New York native who deferred his admission to Binghamton University to serve...

12/02/2024

OPINION | “Perusing the aisles of any supermarket or driving down the highway, the advertising tactics of big businesses are clear. Their advertisements show us well-organized scenes — bright and colorful images, models with airbrushed skin and white teeth and attractive font styles in just the right sizes that marry wonderfully together inside a space that takes on the most marketable shape for the occasion. Their taglines show they know a little bit more about contemporary human desires than we’d like to admit. In my memory, though, corporations haven’t quite succeeded in distancing themselves from what they really are — commercial enterprises, ultimately made to lure us into a parasitic cycle hallmarked by the insatiable consumerist eye and anemic bank account. However, with the seemingly exponential growth of social media, businesses appear to be blurring the lines between enterprise and individual more than ever.”

Perusing the aisles of any supermarket or driving down the highway, the advertising tactics of big businesses are clear. Their advertisements show us well-organized scenes...

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