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

04/29/2025

Students rallied in front of the Pegasus statue on the Spine last Thursday to raise awareness about sexual assault, marking an annual tradition as part of an ongoing fight to “Take Back the Night.”

Organized by the Feminist Collective, the rally was part of a week-long programming to amplify the voices of survivors and offer a safe environment for individuals to share their stories. About 20 students held signs, reading “We hear you,” “Coercion ≠ consent” and “No means no,” among other phrases. After some speeches, the group walked down the Spine, making a loop around campus and chanting.

“The rally is a really good place to create a presence on campus and show that we care about this issue and that other people should, hence why we’re also making posters,” said Hannah Nahmias, the vice president of FemCo and a senior majoring in sociology. “And we didn’t really get to experience that and show that last year, so I’m really hopeful that this year will be different because I think it’s a really important thing.”

Students rallied in front of the Pegasus statue on the Spine last Thursday to raise awareness about sexual assault, marking an annual tradition as part...

04/29/2025

The Q Center recognized the achievements of graduating LGBTQ+ students this past Friday with its ninth-annual Lavender Celebration. Held in Old Union Hall this past Friday, the celebration featured awards and rainbow cording ceremonies.

Administrators, directors, professors and students gave remarks at the event. Attendees served themselves food from a buffet — house salad, macaroni salad, marinated chicken, stuffed peppers with black beans and rice and potatoes — and situated themselves at their tables.

Nick Martin, associate director of the Q Center; Leonel Diaz Jr., the center’s director for intercultural affairs; and Matthew Winston Jr., executive director for alumni engagement, gave opening remarks.

“Please, going forward, continue to gather in these types of spaces,” Martin said during the welcome address. “Continue to create these types of spaces. Because this is a two-hour celebration, but for you, going forward, you can continue to create these spaces for others that need these spaces.”

The Q Center recognized the achievements of graduating LGBTQ+ students this past Friday with its ninth-annual Lavender Celebration. Held in Old Union Hall this past...

04/29/2025

Following an abrupt reversal by the Trump administration on Friday, the five students whose student visas were revoked have had their legal statuses restored, a University spokesperson told Pipe Dream on Monday.

“At Binghamton University, all five affected students have had their SEVIS records reverted back to Active status, allowing them to continue their studies,” the spokesperson wrote, referring to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, an online platform run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that manages and tracks information for international students.

“The University remains committed to actively monitoring this evolving situation daily,” the statement continued.

They are among 46 students across the SUNY system who were impacted. As of Monday afternoon, every student has seen their legal status restored, a SUNY spokesperson told Pipe Dream.

Following an abrupt reversal by the Trump administration on Friday, the five students whose student visas were revoked have had their legal statuses restored, a...

04/28/2025

The African Student Organization hosted its annual fashion show in the Mandela Room this past Friday. Themed “Threads of the Motherland: Genesis de L’Afrique,” which translates to “The Beginning of Africa,” the show honored centuries of African culture and fashion.

Lombe Mwambwa, the organization’s educational coordinator and a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law, shared the event’s significance to the African community at Binghamton University.

“The theme of the show is a tribute to not only the African continent but the African Diaspora who attend Binghamton,” Mwambwa wrote. “A reminder that everything started from Africa and even something as modern [as] fashion shows can find its roots in African culture.”

The show was separated into five scenes with distinct themes and feels — “Abstract Art,” “Jewels of Africa,” “A Night in Cairo,” “Detty December” and “ASO To The Wiase.” The scenes featured short performances with choreography and acting, leaning into the aesthetic of each look.

The African Student Organization hosted its annual fashion show in the Mandela Room this past Friday. Themed “Threads of the Motherland: Genesis de L’Afrique,” which...

04/28/2025

The Joint Grievance Board on Thursday delivered its second ruling in less than a month in the contested campuswide race for University Council representative.

The board met on April 17 to hear a grievance from Mackenzie Cooper, the incumbent council representative, who alleged violations of the Elections Code committed by her opponent, Irene Cui, and John Ferrara, the president of the University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter.

Cooper, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, had said that social media posts, including one saying she was a “pro-apartheid lobbyist,” had defamed her. She argued that this was unprotected speech and violated the Student Association’s prohibition on negative campaigning.

The Joint Grievance Board on Thursday delivered its second ruling in less than a month in the contested campuswide race for University Council representative. The...

04/28/2025

The Binghamton women’s basketball team will enter the 2025-26 season without one of its veteran players. On Friday, redshirt junior guard Jadyn Weltz announced her commitment on Instagram to America East (AE) rival Vermont.

After redshirting during her first year at Binghamton, Weltz made an immediate impact for the Bearcats in her freshman season, starting in 21 of 30 games while averaging 7.6 points, 4.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game. She was named to the AE all-rookie team and the AE all-defensive team, averaging a conference-leading 2.5 steals per game.

Weltz played an even more significant role during her sophomore campaign. Appearing and starting in all 31 games, she improved her numbers in every major statistical category, averaging 10.7 points, 4.5 assists and a team-leading five rebounds per game. As a result of her performance on the court, she was named to the all-conference second team.

The Binghamton women’s basketball team will enter the 2025-26 season without one of its veteran players. On Friday, redshirt junior guard Jadyn Weltz announced her...

04/28/2025

The Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Society held a protest on Wednesday centered around Black mental health. The rally highlighted the stigma Black individuals often face while seeking mental health support and fostered conversation about a lack of resources for Black students on campus.

Organized by Chelsea Brothers, the political coordinator for TMPS and a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, an initial discussion portion took place in Old Union Hall. Other student organizations like the Haitian Student Association, Black Dance Repertoire and Students for Justice in Palestine tabled before the discussion portion of the event.

Brothers began the discussion by addressing “historic and present disparities in the United States regarding the Black community and mental health” dating back to slavery. She said many members of the Black community distrust medical professionals because of a “lack of representation” among clinicians and other health care workers.

The Thurgood Marshall Pre-Law Society held a protest on Wednesday centered around Black mental health. The rally highlighted the stigma Black individuals often face while...

04/27/2025

In November, a fundraising solicitation for a proposed bike-share program in Broome County arrived in Pipe Dream’s inbox, which several other local businesses received. The email listed two local officials as “current supporters” of the initiative: State Sen. Lea Webb ‘04 and Broome County Executive Jason Garnar ‘99.

While this article was intended to provide an overview of the program and its implementation, it developed into a monthslong investigation after interviews with its founder and the Broome County executive’s office cast doubt on several of the claims in the initial solicitation and communications with Pipe Dream.

“I am introducing an exciting opportunity for your business to contribute to a transformative initiative in our community — BC Bike, a public bike share program launching in Broome County in spring 2025, operated by Central Mobility, a local nonprofit organization based in Binghamton,” the November email read.

It was signed by Steven Carter, a local businessman who also operates a photography studio. The bike-share program was pitched as a service where users could temporarily rent a bike from various docking stations, similar to Citi Bike in New York City or the University’s Koloni program.

In a Dec. 3 interview, Carter said he planned for the program to launch in March. The program, however, had not yet been approved by the county as of February, according to Colleen Wagner, the county’s deputy executive for human services. Garnar’s office also denied supporting the program.

Wagner added that starting the bike-share program in March would not be possible because the county “would never be able to just start a program with an individual without putting it out to the RFP process,” referring to a request for proposal bidding. She said a bike-share company named Tandem Mobility responded to the county’s e-bike and e-scooter pilot program request for proposal in September 2024, while Central Mobility did not. The county decided not to pursue the pilot program due to its high costs.

In November, a fundraising solicitation for a proposed bike-share program in Broome County arrived in Pipe Dream’s inbox, which several other local businesses received. The...

04/26/2025

Three years after her tragic death, a local pool will be renamed to honor Aliza Spencer, a 12-year-old girl killed on April 21, 2022 after she was struck by a bullet while walking near her house on Bigelow Street in Binghamton’s East Side.

Despite an extensive police investigation that began soon after the shooting, no suspect has yet been identified.

Earlier this month, the Binghamton City Council unanimously passed a resolution to rename the pool house at Fairview Park in her honor. Mayor Jared Kraham signed it less than a week later.

“Like all kids that grew up on the East Side, whether it was me, Aliza or my kids, Fairview Park is where we all played growing up,” Michael Dundon, the council’s president whose district includes the East Side, told WBNG. “So it only seemed right to me to get this going to rename the pool and the pool house to the Aliza Spencer Memorial Pool.”

Three years after her tragic death, a local pool will be renamed to honor Aliza Spencer, a 12-year-old girl killed on April 21, 2022 after...

04/26/2025

The Binghamton Policy Project, an organization that provides students with a space to propose solutions to policy issues, hosted its second-annual Blueprint Party on Tuesday. The event celebrated the publication of its yearly Blueprint, a collection of policies developed by students to address issues at Binghamton University and in the community.

In its 11th edition, the Blueprint included policies aimed at improving recycling accessibility in Downtown Binghamton; transforming the Center for Civic Engagement’s community service bussing program; addressing food insecurity on campus; expanding mental health resources at the Broome County Jail; and calling for the University to better support undocumented students and those with various legal statuses.

Students work in groups to identify policy concerns, research potential solutions and meet with various stakeholders to ensure their proposals accurately reflect the community’s needs. The policies are then published in the annual Blueprint, after which the organization continues to work with stakeholders to implement them.

The Binghamton Policy Project, an organization that provides students with a space to propose solutions to policy issues, hosted its second-annual Blueprint Party on Tuesday....

04/25/2025

MajorNoir, the University’s majorette dance team, hosted its inaugural gala “Dancing with the Noirettes” on Sunday, an extravagant and awe-inspiring celebration of Black majorette dance. The event, inspired by “Dancing with the Stars,” featured various performances in a dance competition.

“MajorNoir is a dance organization made up of passionate, talented dancers known as the Noirettes,” Horisia Smith, MajorNoir’s president and second choreographer, wrote in an email. “We express ourselves through the art of dance by combining creativity, imagination, confidence, and joy. As a Black majorette-style dance team, MajorNoir celebrates the rich diversity of Black dance styles across the diaspora.”

“Our mission is not only to perform, but also to uplift, educate, and represent the POC community here at Binghamton University,” Smith, a senior majoring in biology, continued. “We take pride in showcasing our sisterhood, artistry, and cultural knowledge with every step we take.”

The atmosphere of the gala reflected Smith’s vision. Old Union Hall was decorated in black and red, and each table was adorned with feather centerpieces. Doors opened at 6 p.m. to a mocktail hour accompanied by live music from LARJ, a Binghamton-based student band, which set a relaxed mood. Guests arrived wearing formal attire, like suits and evening gowns, fitting the elegance of the night’s theme of “burlesque.”

MajorNoir, the University’s majorette dance team, hosted its inaugural gala “Dancing with the Noirettes” on Sunday, an extravagant and awe-inspiring celebration of Black majorette dance....

04/25/2025

Dr. Mohamed Elfar, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, shared his firsthand account of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza with students last week. The talk was hosted by the Arab Student Association in collaboration with Students for Justice in Palestine, the Global Public Health Student Association, the Muslim Student Association and the Center for Middle East and North Africa Studies and was held to “raise awareness and foster informed dialogue around the critical public health and humanitarian challenges currently facing Gaza,” per an email to Pipe Dream.

ASA said Elfar’s presence “has helped provide students on campus with facts regarding the state of the Palestinian people, on an issue which is increasingly clouded with misinformation and propaganda,” as much of the content he presented was not sourced from external organizations or partisan news channels but through firsthand accounts from him and his team.

“It remains crucial that we continue to speak on the ongoing crisis and bring attention to the everyday experience of Palestinians,” the ASA E-Board wrote. “Our voices will remain loud for as long as this genocide continues. As many have stopped to advocate, we believe our identity as not just Arabs, but also human beings, should be called into question if we fail to speak up for those who can’t.”

Dr. Mohamed Elfar, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, shared his firsthand account of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza with students last week. The talk...

04/24/2025

Under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, many student visa holders face an uncertain and anxious future in the United States. To address some of these worries, a “Know Your Rights” event informed students, faculty and community members about their rights when speaking to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.

The event — spearheaded by the Binghamton Policy Project, Concerned Residents of Greater Binghamton, the New York Immigration Coalition and the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow — featured a speaker from the coalition, an organization consisting of more than 200 advocacy groups supporting immigrants and refugees. Organizers offered refreshments, and safety officers were present.

Mohammad Seraji, the coalition’s manager of community engagement for central New York, informed attendees on how to interact with ICE. He said ICE agents are often harder to identify than Customs and Border Protection officers because they “try to blend in with local law enforcement to carry out their raids, so that people answer questions that they wouldn’t normally answer.” He also mentioned a recently signed agreement between the Broome County Sheriff’s Office and ICE to train some corrections staff to serve civil immigration warrants.

Under the Trump administration’s immigration policies, many student visa holders face an uncertain and anxious future in the United States. To address some of these...

04/24/2025

State officials issued a violation to Maryam’s Taste of Halal after finding cannabis products during an investigation last week, Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced on X. He added that a number of underage individuals became sick after consuming cannabis gummies sold at the popular local market that is not a licensed cannabis retailer, “resulting in hospital visits.”

“Unlicensed stores selling illegal and untested cannabis products are dangerous,” Kraham wrote. “I urge Binghamton residents to buy only from NYS-regulated cannabis dispensaries. Any other business selling cannabis is putting your health at risk and probably ripping you off.”

“It’s long past the time to take action to protect kids and neighborhoods,” he continued.

Just Breathe at 75 Court St. and Cotton Mouth Dispensary at 439 Court St. are the only two currently licensed cannabis dispensaries in Binghamton.

State officials issued a violation to Maryam’s Taste of Halal after finding cannabis products during an investigation last week, Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced on...

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