“[Allen] brings a wealth of experience at the Division I level as a coach and also as a former student-athlete,” Elliott said, according to BUBearcats.com. “She has demonstrated that her vision, knowledge and commitment to student-athlete welfare will guide the women’s lacrosse program as we move forward.”

That vision did not produce many wins in 2013, when the Bearcats went 2-12 and fell one win shy of the America East tournament. But under Allen’s guidance, two freshmen were named to the conference’s all-rookie team and senior midfield Katherine Hunsberger became the program’s first player to land on the all-conference first team.

Allen arrived at BU in 2007 and will enter her seventh year as a part of the Bearcats program this upcoming season. As an assistant coach, she recruited rising sophomore goalkeeper Erin McNulty, an ESPN top-50 recruit, and played an instrumental role in the development of BU’s first two-time America East all-conference selection, defender Siobhan Menz in 2009 and 2010.

Serving as the program’s academic liaison, she also guided the 2011 team to the best GPA among America East women’s lacrosse teams.

“I would like to thank Patrick Elliott and Binghamton University for giving me this opportunity, for which I am incredibly grateful,” Allen said, according to BUBearcats.com. “I am excited to continue leading this outstanding group of young women and growing our women’s lacrosse program…I look forward to what the future holds for Binghamton women’s lacrosse.”

Of the 23 Bearcats on the 2013 roster, 15 are expected to return for Allen’s first year as head coach.

Binghamton University Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott suspended Dernlan for two weeks without pay when the offenses initially occurred in March, and immediately supported the NCAA’s further sanctioning.

“We treat any misconduct—on or off the field of competition—very seriously,” Elliott said in a statement. “We will continue to uphold high expectations and standards for our coaches, student-athletes and staff as representatives of Binghamton University athletics.”

Dernlan’s offenses included failing to attend a mandatory administrative meeting prior to the championship, as well as being arrested and charged for public intoxication during the championships in Des Moines, Iowa, according to a press release from the NCAA.

The Division I Wrestling Committee felt the behavior met the NCAA’s definition of misconduct in an NCAA championship, defined in the press release as “any act of dishonesty, unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law, occurring from the time the championship field is announced through the end of the championship that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics.”

David Martin, chair of the Committee and senior associate athletics director at Oklahoma State, said that the committee expects all coaches to meet certain standards of conduct befitting the championship inside and outside the venue. He also said that the committee appreciates Binghamton’s initial disciplinary actions, and that it believes Derlan’s mistake is not typical of his character.

Mike Antinozzi, Jake Keegan, Robin Lesage and Grace Vickers were among the 66 SUNY-wide athletes chosen for the honor.

“These outstanding students are SUNY champions not only in their chosen sports but also in our classrooms, with an average GPA of 3.59 among them,” Chancellor Zimpher said in a press release. “Congratulations to this year’s honorees, to the professors and coaches who mentored them, and to the many faculty and staff on our campuses across the state who supported them.”

A complete list of the winners for this year’s award is available on the SUNY website.

True to form, Binghamton peaked when it counted most and emerged as the America East champs for the second time in five years.

The Bearcats, who were tabbed to finish third behind Stony Brook and Maine in the conference preseason poll, opened their season with 18 consecutive road games before beginning conference play with a lackluster 4-4 record. BU continued to trend upward, however, and was firing on all cylinders by season’s end to reach the NCAA tournament.

“I’m thrilled the guys stayed focused all season long and that we were able to peak at the right time,” Binghamton head coach Tim Sinicki said. “The season can be a grind, especially early on when we are on the road as much as we are. But our guys kept their poise, continued to get better every time we took the field, and in the end the season culminated in a championship. Not many programs across the country can say that.”

In the decisive winner-take-all game of the America East Championship, senior ace Jake Lambert fired eight shutout innings to lead BU to a 4-0 victory over Maine. Lambert, who was working on just three days rest after a two-hit shutout of Albany, was named tournament MVP.

From there, the Bearcats drew No. 9 NC State in the opening game of the NCAA Regional in Raleigh and proceeded to give the Wolfpack all they could handle.

Trailing by one run in the fourth inning, sophomore catcher Nick Pancerella lined a ball down the right field line that would have likely scored two runs and put BU ahead, 3-2. But a highlight-reel catch by a diving Wolfpack outfielder ended the threat.

NC State shut down the Binghamton offense the rest of the way, retiring 12 of BU’s final 14 batters to earn the 4-1 victory.

In its elimination game against No. 23 Ole Miss, the Bearcats found themselves down, 8-2, late but remained resilient. BU loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning, but the Rebels used a double play and a strikeout to limit the damage to two unearned runs. Ole Miss converted the final out to win, 8-4, and end BU’s season.

The Bearcats finished 2013 with a 30-25 record.

“I thought our guys competed at a very high level and gave two perennial baseball powers from major conferences all they could handle at the NCAA Regional in Raleigh,” Sinicki said. “I couldn’t be more proud of that group of 28 young men for what they accomplished and how they represented Binghamton University.”

The road to Raleigh wasn’t without its obstacles and hurdles, and in late April, with their record at 21-19, the Bearcats had reached a crucial point in their season. Coming off a skid in which his team had lost five out of six, Sinicki says it was the final stretch of conference play that proved to be the difference in his team’s season.

“I challenged our guys in late April to start playing with a sense of urgency and treating the season as the post-season because I really thought we were at a make or break point,” he said. “They responded, and responded in a big way.”

According to Sinicki, one of the biggest factors down the stretch that continued to develop as the season progressed was his team’s timely hitting. The Bearcats won four games by one run over their final slew of conference games leading up to the tournament and proved that they were capable of getting the big hit to eek out a win.

“Situational hitting was instrumental in the run we made late in the regular season and in the conference tournament,” he said. “I think our two-out hitting really provided a huge spark and gave the team a huge lift.”

Over the course of 2013, Binghamton’s success was undoubtedly founded upon the three arms at the front of its starting rotation. Lambert, senior Jay Lynch and junior Jack Rogalla posted ERAs of 3.12, 3.09 and 3.01, respectively, and all logged over 84 innings pitched.

When the offense sputtered, Sinicki said he could always rely on his three most consistent arms to give him a quality start.

“Our conference starters were the best 1-2-3 combination in the conference,” he said. “They were so steady and solid every time they took the mound. Each one of them kept the team in the game whenever they took the mound and gave us a chance to win.”

Meanwhile, Jake Thomas powered BU’s offense all season long. The sophomore outfielder finished the season with a .371 batting average, and his .517 on base percentage ranked third in the nation in 2013.

“Jake’s season in a word: remarkable,” Sinicki said. “The numbers speak for themselves, but what you don’t see in the numbers is the way he prepared and how hard he worked all season. Jake takes nothing for granted and is always trying to get better.

“He plays the game the right way … hard all the time.”

While Lambert and Lynch have graduated, almost every key position player is set to return for BU in 2014.

In addition to Lambert, junior second baseman Daniel Nevares, junior outfielders Shaun McGraw and Bill Bereszniewicz, sophomore outfielder Zach Blanden and freshman infielder David Schanz, all of whom hit over .286 this season, should be back to anchor the potent Bearcat offense.

For Sinicki, next season will be about building off of a successful 2013 campaign and getting back to the NCAA tournament, where, with his core group of players still intact, he believes his team will be poised to do some damage.

“Our goals and expectations never change from year to year,” he said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to win the America East Conference regular season and post-season tournament. Looking ahead to 2014 … the goals will remain the same.”

Trailing 8-2 in the eighth inning, the Bearcats loaded the bases with no outs, but the Rebels (38-23) used a double play and a strikeout to limit the damage to two unearned runs. Ole Miss redshirt senior Tanner Bailey, who allowed the eighth-inning runs, shut the door on Binghamton with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Binghamton redshirt senior starter Jake Lambert lost his scoreless streak at 23 innings, as Ole Miss tagged him for two runs in the first inning, and allowed four runs over 6 1/3 innings. He took the loss in the final game of his collegiate career.

At the dish, sophomore right fielder Zach Blanden went 4 for 5 to finish regional play with seven hits in nine at-bats. Junior first baseman Brian Ruby and senior designated hitter Jordon Smucker each went 2 for 3.

The Bearcats were forced into the elimination game after a 4-1 loss to No. 7 NC State on Friday night. Junior starter Jack Rogalla allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings, and though Binghamton finished with eight hits, the offense couldn’t muster more than the one run.

After the Wolfpack took a 2-0 lead on a first-inning homer, junior designated hitter Shaun McGraw led off the second with a single and came around to score with two outs.

The Bearcats had a chance to take the lead in the fourth inning, as sophomore catcher Nick Pancerella hit a fly ball down the right field line with two outs and runners on first and second. But NC State sophomore right fielder Jake Fincher made a spectacular diving catch over his shoulder to end the frame. If the ball had sailed over Fincher’s head, both runners likely would have scored to give Binghamton a 3-2 lead.

The Wolfpack padded its advantage with a sixth-inning solo shot and another run in the seventh, and NC State senior pitcher Josh Easley allowed just two baserunners in 4 1/3 innings of relief to end the game.

Blanden went 3 for 4 at the plate, and five other Bearcats recorded one hit.

Looking ahead to 2014, almost every key position player is set to return, though Lambert and senior starter Jay Lynch have exhausted their collegiate eligibility.

The Bearcats (30-24) scattered eight hits in the contest and put their leadoff hitter on base in six of the first seven frames, but couldn’t muster enough timely two-out hits. Eight of BU’s first 21 batters reached base, but they only cashed out with one run.

The Wolfpack (45-14) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a two-run homer by Terran Senay, but BU would cut the deficit in half in the next frame. Junior designated hitter Shaun McGraw singled up the middle to leadoff the second before coming around to score on a ball hit by junior shortstop John Howell.

The Bearcats’ biggest scoring threat came in the fourth. A leadoff single by junior second baseman Daniel Nevares and a walk by Howell set the stage for Binghamton to grab the lead. But with two outs, sophomore catcher Nick Pancerella drilled a ball to the corner in right field that was intercepted by a diving Wolfpack outfielder. The highlight-reel catch put an end to BU’s threat and preserved NC State’s 2-1 lead.

The Wolfpack retired 12 of Binghamton’s final 14 batters to end the game.

Junior starter Jack Rogalla (5-5) pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-run ball in the loss. He surrendered eight hits and struck out four before freshman Jake Cryts went the last 1 1/3.

Six different Bearcats tallied hits, while sophomore Zach Blanden led the Bearcats offensively, finishing 3-for-4.

BU and Ole Miss are set to begin play at 2 p.m.

Goodman, who comes directly from his post as associate head coach at Cal State Bakersfield, and Dempsey served as assistants together at Susquehanna University in 1999-2000.

Before joining the 2001 Naismith Coach of the Year Rod Barnes at Bakersfield, Goodman spent five years at University of Oklahoma. He was the Director of Basketball Operations from 2006-2010 and an assistant in 2010-11, helping develop current Los Angeles Clipper Blake Griffin and lead the Sooners to the 2009 Elite Eight.

In another coaching transaction, Dempsey promoted Ben Luber from assistant to associate head coach, making the 28-year-old the youngest at the position at the Division I level.

Luber, who played point guard at Penn State, spent three seasons under Dempsey at Rider before following him to Binghamton in June 2012.

The Bearcats, who hadn’t won the double-elimination tournament since 2009, will represent the conference in the 2013 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

After senior pitcher Jake Lambert tossed eight scoreless innings, No. 2 seed Binghamton carried a 4-0 lead into the ninth inning. Freshman Jake Cryts relieved Lambert but walked the first two Black Bears he faced.

BU head coach Tim Sinicki summoned Urbanski, who induced a pop out, a strikeout and a fly out to end the game.

The Bearcats plated the only run they would need in the first inning, as junior second baseman Daniel Nevares singled in sophomore right fielder Zach Blanden. Nevares finished 2-for-5 with a game-high two RBIs, while junior designated hitter Shaun McGraw and sophomore catcher Nick Pancerella each drove in a run.

Lambert, who fired a complete game shutout in Wednesday’s tournament opener, scattered five hits and a walk while fanning seven.

Binghamton defeated No. 3 seed Albany, 9-0, at LeLaucher Park in Lowell, Mass., in its tournament opener to advance in the winner’s bracket. After beating Maine, 10-2, on Friday afternoon, the Bearcats held the advantageous position in the double-elimination tournament, needing just one more victory to capture the title.

Maine, which eliminated No. 4 seed Stony Brook on Friday afternoon, forced a winner-take-all championship game, however, with a 6-1 defeat of Binghamton on Friday night.

The NCAA will announce the field of 64 teams Monday at noon on ESPNU.

Though the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team went 2-12 in 2013 and missed the America East tournament, the senior midfielder became the first Bearcat to earn a spot in the IWLCA/Under Armour North-South Senior All-Star Game, which is scheduled for May 26 at Cabrini College. Hunsberger, who set Binghamton’s career and single-season records in draw controls (152 and 76, respectively), will suit up for the North squad.

“I was really surprised when I found out that I was selected, but definitely honored,” Hunsberger said, according to BUBearcats.com. “Its going to be a great experience to get to play with some of our opponents’ best players and players that I have idolized for the past four years. It’s truly a privilege to be given one last chance to play with some of the nation’s top players.”

With the victory, the Bearcats (27-22, 16-13 America East) won the three-game set and secured the No. 2 seed in next week’s America East tournament, dropping Albany (23-23-1, 16-14 AE) to the No. 3 spot.

Thomas, who went 5-for-9 with five RBIs on the weekend, delivered his first shot with one out in the first inning, giving Binghamton a 2-0 lead. Albany answered with a run in the first, but Thomas homered in the third to put the Bearcats ahead 4-1.

Binghamton added two more in the fifth before blowing the game open with a four-run eighth inning.

Senior starter Jay Lynch, who improved to 6-4, allowed one earned run in four innings, while freshman pitcher Jake Cryts tossed three scoreless innings of relief.

Junior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz, sophomore right fielder Zach Blanden and junior first baseman Brian Ruby each had two hits, while Thomas finished with three.

Binghamton took Friday’s series opener, 3-2, in nine innings after battling back from a 2-0 first-inning deficit.

After Bereszniewicz, the No. 9 hitter, singled and stole second to start the top of the ninth, the Bearcats’ top of the order had the go-ahead run in scoring position with no outs. Blanden worked a walk, freshman third baseman David Schanz laid down a sacrifice bunt and Thomas drew an intentional walk to load the bases.

With two outs, Albany sophomore pitcher Cameron Sorgie threw a wild pitch, allowing Bereszniewicz to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.

BU sophomore pitcher Greg Ostner, who tossed five scoreless innings in relief, nailed down the win, disposing a two-out single with a game-ending groundout.

Blanden, Schanz and Ruby each went 2-for-4.

In Friday’s nightcap, Binghamton plated two runs with two outs in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead, as Ruby scored on a wild pitch after doubling in Thomas. But Albany responded with a run in the fifth and sixth innings to command a 5-4 advantage heading into the final frame.

Thomas led off the top of the seventh with a single, but the middle of Binghamton’s order couldn’t bring him home.

BU sophomore pitcher Mike Urbanski took the loss, his first of the season.

Ruby led the Binghamton offense with two hits and two RBIs.

Binghamton will play Albany in its first game of the double-elimination conference tournament. First pitch is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.

1. Schedule your time — Time is of the essence during finals week, and planning out every minute isn’t extreme; it’s necessary. From studying to eating and sleeping, scheduling yourself can actually help keep you on track and even reduce stress. When planning your study schedule, be realistic. Don’t expect to get five chapters of biology done in one hour. Instead, plan to study each subject in small increments, as switching up what you’re doing may help your head from exploding (it’s a scientific fact). Planning breaks for eating, sleeping or even just staring into space is especially important. Everyone needs a little time to wind down, unless having multiple breakdowns is your thing. Sleep can be optional during finals week, but making time for meals will ensure optimal productivity. Just don’t forget to go back to studying.

2. Make a playlist — Studying with music can often be a great tool to help keep anxiety levels down. Music can serve as a distraction from all of the stress you’ll be feeling, but too much of a distraction can be counterproductive. That’s why it’s important to plan your perfect studying playlist. When making your playlist, try to construct a mix with a wide range of musical styles. Instrumentals are good for when you really need to focus, but throwing in a song you loved when you were 12 can provide the emotional boost that you need to get excited about your work. If not, it may at least keep you from crying in the library. Don’t forget to add a hype song to pump you up when you’re falling asleep, a song that can relate to how much you hate the world during finals and maybe the occasional moment of silence to honor the death of your happiness.

3. Find the best study spot — The best place to study is subjective, so take others’ advice lightly when figuring out where to spend the rest of your semester. There are, however, some things you should consider. First, decide whether or not you want to be around people. If being alone for hours drives you crazy, try to choose a spot where you can use break time to interact with others. If people are too distracting, choose a place where it’s unlikely that you’ll know anyone. Next, consider what you’ll be studying with. Studying outside can be great, but if you need to use your laptop, running inside to charge can be a big time-waster. Finally, consider your comfort level. While studying on your bed might work at other times during the semester, the lack of sleep you’ll be getting will probably turn your bed into the place where studying goes to die. Finding the perfect balance between the super uncomfortable corner of Bartle and your friend’s memory foam mattress cover is key.

4. Forget about your friends, sort of — Finals weeks is no time for friends, except for regularly scheduled visits. A perk about finals week is that no one will get offended if you ignore them, except maybe that one friend who doesn’t have finals. But be honest, no one wants to hang out with him anyway. Try to fit friend time into your schedule if possible, because it’s always fun to have someone to complain with. Make sure to respect your friends’ studying schedule too, since everyone is busy this time of year. OMG stress!

5. Embrace the tears — Sometimes, you just have to cry it out, scream it out or maybe even do something just a little bit violent. Don’t be embarrassed if you feel like stress is getting the best of you, because the rest of campus feels it too. While breaking down in tears on the Spine may not be socially acceptable most times of the year, finals week is a time to break all the rules, so take full advantage. If you’re lucky enough to make it through finals without freaking out, make sure to respect those around you who are, and try giving out a hug every once in a while. It helps.

The Great American Novel is a dwindling ideal in an increasingly globalized, transnational world. The isolated, hyper-American novels of the past century have slowly been replaced by tales of immigration and intercultural movement and struggles, exemplified by authors like Julia Alvarez, Gary Shteyngart and Junot Díaz.

“Americanah,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is one such novel, a transnational work written for the 21st century. Moving beyond the classic tale of immigrants fleeing poverty and persecution, “Americanah” focuses instead on the educated, well-to-do young adults of globalized contemporary society and their experiences within and without their home countries.

Adichie has already established herself as a deftly skilled writer, with several critically acclaimed and commercially successful novels under her belt at a very young age. “Americanah” is her fourth novel, and Adichie is only in her early 30s. Her second novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun,” has already been adapted into a film that will be released this year. She excels in writing incredibly accessible, yet accurate and relatable tales of Nigerian citizens and expats, and her newest work follows the trend.

“Americanah” is the story of Ifemelu and Obinze. The two young Nigerian lovers are separated by age and Ifemelu’s migration to the United States so he can continue his education. The story progresses in a non-linear manner, flashing in between the protagonists’ secondary school days, their early days of separation in university and their adult lives, totally independent of each other, but in each other’s thoughts all the same.

Adichie writes with an ease and fluidity that immerses the reader in the story, regardless of where and when any given chapter takes place. The writing is consistently compelling and totally void of any pretension or preaching, and remarkably brings decades-old Nigeria to life even for Western readers with little to no conception of Africa, past or present. She critiques and celebrates American culture in spurts, navigating American quotidian life with a keen perceptiveness and honesty, never feeling like an attack or a celebration of American culture, just an honest account from someone witnessing the strange ways of a new country firsthand.

Like most tales of strife in foreign lands, much of “Americanah” is directly inspired by Adichie’s experiences attending university in the United States and the alienation she felt as an African woman in an American context. The realism and candor of the novel are tangible for that reason, and it keeps the reader engaged throughout.

“Americanah’s” greatest accomplishment, though, is how it makes readers stop and consider their role in the transnational experience. Considering the richness of the story, the clarity of its writing and the immensely immersing qualities throughout, “Americanah” is an all-around great novel, one that reflects on the growing transnationalism of a globalized world and the way that phenomenon affects our everyday relationships with the people around us, and even those across an ocean on another continent. It is an enriching read, one that will stay with you long after you have finished.

Netflix and YouTube are pioneers in this new age. Netflix launched its 13-hour drama “House of Cards,” based on the British novel and TV series of the same name, starring Kevin Spacey. All 13 episodes were debuted at once for subscribers, letting them watch the show on their own time. That this drama attracted talent like Spacey and executive producer David Fincher (“The Social Network”), who also directed the first two episodes of the series, speaks to the changing scene of media outlets. Netflix is also bringing back “Arrested Development” on May 26, with new half-hour episodes that will be immediately available for streaming. Each episode will focus on one character, which creator Mitchell Hurwitz thinks will attract new viewers as well as old. There will also be nudity, which wouldn’t have been possible on prime time television.

Comedian Ricky Gervais will air his new show “Derek” on Netflix, about a selfless caretaker in an elderly home who is ostracized for his naivete, social awkwardness and lack of intelligence.

“Netflix is the future,” Gervais said in a statement. “TV habits have already changed drastically over the last 10 years and this is the next phase. People want their favorite shows on demand whether they are homegrown or not … This deal gave me the freedom and the huge potential viewers of the Internet but the production values of film and TV.”

With big stars making the move to syndicated web series, the future of television may look grim. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos doesn’t see Netflix as something that will destroy TV but sees it as a way to “help TV evolve.”

Some network executives use YouTube’s ad-supported “premium content channels” to distribute content. Comedians Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Reggie Watts, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim recently announced their new channel “Jash,” which will have comedy routines and short films. The No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube is “WIGS,” which has an original series, short films and documentaries all with female leads.

Platforms outside Netflix and YouTube have also been successful. Lisa Kudrow’s (“Friends”) web series “Web Therapy,” about a therapist with little patience, has attracted a large following as well as huge talent by the likes of Meryl Streep and Victor Garber (“Alias”). Now in its third season, the show has become so popular that it was picked up by Showtime in July 2012, where it has aired episodes from the first two seasons. The third season will also run on the Lexus-sponsored L/Studio broadband channel. Another success has been “Burning Love.” Parodying “The Bachelor,” Ken Marino (“Wanderlust”) plays Mark Orlando, a fireman searching for the perfect woman. Popular actresses including Kristen Bell (“Veronica Mars”) and Malin Ackerman (“Watchmen”) play his various love interests.

For some shows in danger of extinction, the Internet has been their savior. Cult-hit “Community” has online-exclusive videos following Joel McHale’s (“The Soup”) Jeff Winger. The NBC series launched the “Community Webisodes” to provide fans with additional content. The Internet is also responsible for the continued production of popular soap operas including “All my Children” and “One Life to Live.” It is clear that Internet-based series are becoming increasingly relevant and may even suggest a trend towards Internet viewing over television viewing. However, it could also mean that loyal fans of web-shows will get to see their favorite program air on a bigger screen.

Graphic prints — Graphic prints can be a scary trend to conquer, as most aren’t anything short of obnoxious. Pants or shorts with graphic prints are a great way to break into the trend, and, paired with a simple, solid-colored top, can look extremely chic. A dress with a graphic print is a great way to look effortlessly stylish, and graphic shorts can be a great alternative for guys looking for something more than cargos to wear. These prints, however, are most fun when worn as a monochromatic outfit. Wearing a shirt and shorts covered in cats doesn’t just make you look lonely, it also makes you look fashionable.

’90s throwbacks — This summer, ’90s throwback pieces are not just a novelty, but don’t pull out your old overalls and tie-dye shirts right away, because the ’90s have a new twist. Instead of plain denim overalls, try a leather alternative or denim with a floral print. Knit shirts that mirror the ever-so-popular mesh muscle tees now make a light, fashionable option for girls. Crop tops are also at their peak of popularity, and a t-shirt with a ’90s catchphrase gives a retro feel, even though it’s hard to believe that the ’90s are already old enough to make a comeback.

Bomber jackets — Everyone needs a good jacket for those chilly summer nights, and bomber jackets have been updated to fit the bill. Instead of looking like a 1940s pilot, today’s bomber jackets give off a vintage feel while still looking modern. The great thing about the newly imagined bomber is that there are a ton of variations on original to choose. Bombers with floral prints or a cinched waist are a great choice for girls during the summer, while leather bombers that have been updated to a more minimalist feel are great for guys. Once you find the right bomber for you, it can make any outfit complete.

Metallics — Summer’s metallic clothing isn’t just the mainstream gold and silver that can make you look like a disco ball, but instead metallic accents on cream and black shirts or clothing in more modern, pastel metallics. This new metallic movement is less blinding for summer and incorporates the season’s easy-going feeling. The metallic sheen is also now being applied to patterns and allows for an easy way to combine trends without making an outfit too overwhelming. Metallic shorts are an especially great summer staple, as they can be worn during the day with sneakers or dressed up to go out at night.

Neon — Neon for summer doesn’t mean a return to the ’80s or a trip to EDC. The best way to wear neon without overwhelming yourself and everyone around you is by choosing the right neon accents. Try pairing an all-white outfit with a pair of brightly colored shoes for a subtle splash. If that’s still too harsh, try pastel neon colors that are still bright, but a little less attention grabbing. Neon prints are also a great way to try attention-grabbing colors with a twist, and a print will help to tone down the severity of the color. It’s not bad to wear a highlighter yellow shirt either, but more than one neon piece per outfit is usually too much.

Last month, Deerhunter played the eponymous track from “Monomania,” their newest 4AD LP, on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” Dressed in a frazzled black wig and adorned with lipstick and bloodied fingers, Cox nonchalantly walked offstage and ended his band’s return to television as abruptly as it began.

So, for a band whose white-knuckled grip on contemporary rock is prolifically organized and well-respected, how does Deerhunter defend itself against its ingenious, troubled leader?

The raw energy that poured from every second of the band’s Fallon performance answers to this uncertainty. Behind Cox’s heady themes and uncompromising aesthetic is a troupe of modestly professional musicians. They add new life to Deerhunter’s catalogue with this year’s new album, which is both optimistic and jarring.

While the band’s 2010 breakout “Halcyon Digest” brought gorgeous clarity through a commanding blend of ’90s shoegaze, millennial pop and old classic rock, “Monomania” retreats into unfettered noise. Instead of shimmering beauties like “Helicopter,” “Desire Lines” and “Agoraphobia,” Cox’s new “nocturnal garage” sound is fleshed out here, yielding scrappy rough diamonds like opener “Neon Junkyard” and The Strokes ode “Back To The Middle.” The band’s choice to record the album directly to eight-track recorders gives it a corroded sheen that harks back to its earliest release “Turn It Up, Faggot.” Additionally, the departure of longtime bassist Josh Fauver led to the band’s expansion, adding both a new bassist and a rhythm guitarist.

These factors have all but transformed the band’s energetic brand of contemporary rock. Cox’s introspective narratives are still rampant, consuming middle cuts “Dream Captain” and “Blue Agent” entirely with accounts of eager excitement and bitter jealousy. Guitarist Lockett Pundt’s uncanny ear for rock’s catchier side is ever stronger, generating “The Missing,” one of Deerhunter’s finest pop songs to date. Drummer Moses Archuleta’s percussion is neither too diffuse nor too aggressive and heightens tensions in just about every track.

It’s the blatantly aggressive sequencing of the album that makes it an innovative and new release for Deerhunter. From “Cryptograms” onward, even including Atlas Sound and Lotus Plaza, Cox’s and Pundt’s side projects, relied on an impeccable flow and a cohesive, overarching theme. Much of the appeal of “Cryptograms” and “Microcastle” came from their psychedelic, sedated haze, complete with flowing interludes and nonstop sound from start to finish. “Monomania” confronts that meticulous linearity and douses its listeners in cold water after every song.

The howling dreams of “Neon Junkyard” abruptly yield to the unforgiving garage sensibilities of “Leather Jacket II.” Pundt’s pristine pop offering “The Missing” feels snubbed through its transition into the obvious country road song “Pensacola” — Cox almost sounds like he’s smirking when he sings, “Well I’ve been waiting so long to say bye-bye.” This anti-flow constitutes the entire album, which ends perplexingly with “Punk (La Vie Antérieure),” a final track that feels like a lost Atlas Sound B-side.

After the brilliantly curated mélange of just about every rock aesthetic on “Halcyon Digest,” “Monomania” feels like a necessary dirtying and a positive exercise in expelling Cox’s personal anxieties and fears after his quasi-meltdown last year.

For new fans, “Monomania” is a monolith of noise and American rock romanticism. For longtime devotees, “Monomania” might not stand up to the sprawling reverb that the group constructed over the span of its past four albums, but it deserves a place at the Deerhunter table.

In true Hosseini style, the story begins in Kabul, Afghanistan, and focuses on the loving relationship between siblings Abdullah and Pari. At a young age, Pari is separated from her brother, and the two are forced into disconnected life paths.

It’s difficult not to compare Hosseini’s previous bestsellers, 2003’s “The Kite Runner” and 2007’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” to his newest novel because there are many similarities in the way the story is told. Hosseini uses the same multiple-perspective style as in his previous works; in his most recent, the story is told by Abdullah and Pari. The back-and-forth shift between time periods throughout the characters’ lives is also essential to Hosseini’s distinct style as a storyteller, and while it can be confusing to readers at first, it’s easy to keep up once you’ve jumped in.

While some of the techniques are the same, Hosseini takes us a step further, following all of the characters we gradually meet around the world. Whether it’s Paris, Greece or San Francisco, the readers get a chance to see the different circumstances each of them live under.

In 402 pages, Hosseini skillfully keeps the reader’s attention with an eye for detail and a distinct but careful use of language. He has a way of instilling empathy that is not superficial, cliched or forgotten about after putting the book down. Also, do not expect sunshine and happiness when reading this book, which is also an important warning for any Hosseini novel. Real life and its constant struggles are effectively represented on each page.

As someone who has gained critical acclaim from his first two novels, an author like Hosseini might be hesitant to deviate from the niche and writing style that has worked so well for him in the past. Will he ever write a drastically different novel that will also be successful in the future? Only time will tell. It depends on how he wants to be perceived as a writer.

“And the Mountains Echoed” hits bookstores everywhere May 21.

BU Students Daniela Rivera, Caitlin Gotimer, Charles Hyland, Robert-Heepyoung Oh and Hana Ryu attended the 2013 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition hosted by Ithaca College of Music on March 15-17. Over 150 students from New York state competed, including singers from Eastman School of Music, West Virginia University and Ithaca College. Lost in a sea of seasoned performers and conservatory students, Binghamton’s five competitors went in with a lot to prove. But after the three-day singing tournament, the big-time music schools are singing our praises, because Binghamton had more first-place winners than any other school in the competition.

Gotimer, a freshman majoring in music performance, placed first in the sophomore female division.

“It took a few seconds before I realized that for every category a BU student was in, the BU student won first place,” she said.

Rivera, Gotimer, Hyland and Oh all placed first in their categories, while Hana Ryu placed second behind Oh in the graduate student division. Oh not only won first place at the NATS competition in Ithaca but also won the 2013 Metropolitan Opera international competition and will be performing at Carnegie Hall.

The voice students are looking forward to fostering their vocal talents in their time at BU, and are quickly proving that you don’t need to attend a private conservatory to go after your creative goals.

Rivera, a freshman majoring in music, placed first in the freshman women division. She said she owes her success, in part, to the department.

“Since I’ve been here, Binghamton’s music program has helped my singing and overall performance ability improve greatly,” she said. “This is largely due to my wonderful voice teacher Thomas Goodheart and generally all the faculty in the department. They are all here and working to give us the best tools to continue on a path towards an opera career. I truly believe that.”

For Gotimer, Binghamton’s music program brought out the opera singer in her.

“I never even thought about opera before I got to Binghamton, she said. “I auditioned for voice lessons thinking it would be nice to learn something about my hobby. Needless to say, it all took off from there.”

The music program helps to develop students’ vocal skills through performance classes and by teaming up with local outlets like the TriCities Opera.

“In my first year at Binghamton, I performed in tons of concerts, I sang a small role in TriCities Opera’s production of ‘The Magic Flute,’ and I was the soloist at the University’s commencement ceremonies,” Gotimer said. “This year, I’ve had just as many opportunities, one being the NATS competition.”

More BU students are putting our music program on the map and the amount of student-community musical collaboration is quickly increasing. It’s exciting to see how the program will expand further next year, because it’s already apparent we should be taking our music program more seriously here.

“Binghamton’s music program is as legitimate and serious as any other school’s program from liberal arts to conservatory status,” Rivera said. “Sometimes I feel that not enough people know that. Binghamton’s music program is one to look out for because I guarantee that it is only going to get bigger and better from here.”

Take the summer to warm up the vocal chords, opera students, because come fall we’re expecting even more great things. For more information on the voice programs at Binghamton, call the Binghamton University Music Department at (607) 777-2592, visit www.binghamton.edu/music or become a fan on Facebook.

After three semesters on the job, President Stenger has solidified his presence on campus. We like that we see him around, getting healthy salads in the dining halls and jogging with students. He’s accessible and that’s not something to be taken for granted in a university our size.

President Stenger has also done a thorough job reexamining the University’s priorities, not leaving a stone unturned. His Road Map holds great promise of making Binghamton the “premier public university of the 21st century.”

He isn’t superman, so we can’t give him an A. But for President Stenger to fulfill the potential we know he has, all he must do is continue on the trajectory he’s started. Binghamton will be the better for it.

SAPB: C

Sorry Bri Fri, but really, sorry BU students, because the SAPB blew it this time. We left for winter break feeling great about the variety of big name acts we got first semester. But we were also slightly worried we cashed out early, and we were so right. We can forgive the lack of a soiree, but Yellowcard is where we draw the line. No joke, our Spring Fling show was simply an embarrassment. We know pointing out the obvious is overdone, but the fact that no one in the programming board ever stopped and said, “Wait, this isn’t right,” is just a bad reflection on the SA. It’s a shame because we’re ending a reasonably good year of programming with a bad show, but instead of harping on it, let’s just enjoy the library rave and call it a year. M&M, you’re up.

Student Association: B+

Overall, with one notable exception (see above), the SA E-Board has done a phenomenal job this year. Under Eric Larson, the VPF’s office was the most efficient it’s been in years, Aaron Ricks secured future funding for the Times Readership Program, Daniel Adeyanju was a presence around campus and was well-liked by all of his constituent groups, Derek Gumb successfully launched a new conflict resolution center and Mark Soriano pushed forward with efforts to incorporate.

Our main problems actually stem from the legislative branch. The constitutional changes were underwhelming — serving mainly to clean up the text and reduce the size of the newly renamed student congress. We think it was a missed opportunity not to rename the Vice President for Multicultural Affairs office and disagree with limiting the Vice President for Programing to only SAPB insiders. After all, Friia was a member of SAPB.

Elections, as usual, were not run without multiple violations of SA bylaws that were only fixed after Pipe Dream starting asking questions. But we should note that they were successfully held online for the first time.

Construction: C

Opacity and sluggishness have colored construction on campus.

After months of detours and debris, the Harpur Quad — the area with the fountain outside the library — hasn’t lived up to expectations. It suffers from the same problems as all of Binghamton’s landscaping — it only looks nice during the summer months when most students aren’t around. We think it was a missed opportunity to demonstrate a new direction for campus.

We’re also dismayed by the lulling rate of the University Union Food Court renovation. The Food Court, the veritable heart of student life, has been out of commission for a full year now. It wasn’t clear that renovations were entirely necessary in the first place. Now that we’re knees deep, no one seems to know when we’ll be out. And when we asked about it, we initially received conflicting answers.

The University has also brazenly ignored the say of the Committee for the University Environment (CUE), a group meant to review major projects affecting the University’s natural environment. The landscaping and tree removal around the former Dickinson Dining Hall was conducted with no prior notice and zero regard for CUE’s input. This oversight has become typical of the construction on campus.

Sports: B

Not every university can say two of its sports teams won conference championships, but Binghamton can. Volleyball stunned Albany with a 3-0 title-game victory and men’s tennis captured the America East crown for the sixth straight year. We also saw softball’s most successful Division I season, and wrestling sent four individuals to the NCAA tournament.

Next, we would like to see the major sports — basketball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse — regularly compete for conference titles.

According to Sue Crane, director of Parking Services, a certain number of parking spots are required to be marked as disability parking by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Crane said that Binghamton University wouldn’t remove less-used spaces because of these requirements.

“Binghamton creates and locates spaces in compliance with these standards and in consultation with our ADA Coordinators, parking committee and others (police, physical facilities),” Crane wrote in an email. “Whether or not an accessible space is heavily utilized is not a valid consideration under legal standards to move or eliminate it.”

According to Crane, her goal as the director is to expand parking space while ensuring that BU is in compliance with all regulations.

“We are continually looking at all parking lots and available spaces around campus,” she wrote.

Heather Clark, a junior majoring in linguistics, said parking is a hassle for off-campus students.

“I’m okay with parking up the [M-lot] hill if I’m going to be on campus all day long — that is not a problem,” Clark said. “However, if I drive 15 minutes to come to campus for one class, or just a meeting, then it is very irritating to have to spend extra time finding a spot and walking back and forth from the school.”

According to Ricky Moses, a junior majoring in computer science, construction is the biggest obstacle to parking.

“A perfect spot for a new lot would be right where they are building the new dorms,” Moses said. “Plus, the construction workers take half the good spots around CIW and the commuter lot, so there are even less spots. And they have their own lot!”

Vincenzo Asaro, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, also said parking was lacking. Asaro said part-time disability parking spaces could help with the problem.

“I like the handicapped spaces that have the time limit on them, because I agree that the spaces are not always full, but they have to be there,” Asaro said.

Donald Loewen, vice provost for undergraduate education, said in an email to Pipe Dream that the University is still in the process of collecting responses from the students and faculty who participated in the Canvas pilot. He said that testing will continue during the summer session.

“We are making the system available to other faculty to try,” Loewen wrote, “and we hope to get a few more courses on Canvas for the first summer session if we can find some instructors who will volunteer to do it.”

He said that the most heavily used software at any university tends to be its email system and its LMS. Loewen explained that this makes it extremely important to examine any potential new product and get input from various groups before deciding on a change.

“We also want to take a look at the way Blackboard is developing its own system to improve its usability and responsiveness,” he wrote.

Harald Zils, a German professor who used Canvas in his class this semester, explained in an email some of the differences between Canvas and Blackboard.

“Blackboard [clings] to a rigorous hierarchy of material, while Canvas is task-oriented,” Zils wrote. “That means, for instance, when I set up an announcement or an assignment in Canvas, it is done in one spot, and so, for adding pdfs or other material, [neither I nor my students] have to switch to ‘course reserves.’”

He said that one advantage Blackboard has over Canvas is a larger amount of storage space. However, he was not sure if that would change should the University choose to fully implement Canvas.

Zils said that it seemed like his students preferred Canvas’ Graphical User Interface over Blackboard’s. Some students also used a group-collaboration feature included with Canvas.

Another feature of Canvas that Zils enjoyed was the ability to bookmark certain sections due to the fact that it does not have frames like Blackboard does.

However, there are features Zils would like to see that are not available on either Canvas or Blackboard.

“A course planning tool that helps scheduling specific sessions before the semester begins would help a lot, especially for new courses (but also for making changes to old ones),” he wrote. “Enter topics for the sessions, drag and drop them until you got the best order, include all sorts of deadlines, push a button and the system fills a course calendar – this would be useful.”

Joe Mutarelli, a sophomore majoring in German who was in a class participating in the pilot program, said that Canvas has a very user-friendly interface and that it has grown on him even more since he last spoke to Pipe Dream about Canvas in February.

“If anything my opinion is only higher now than it was,” Mutarelli said. “The program is extremely efficient and I can’t say I have had any troubles with it. The interface takes some time to get used to, but after a week or two it’s like second nature.”

Mutarelli, who uses Blackboard in all of his other classes, added that he wishes those classes used the new program.

“Simply by virtue of the ease of use, the lack of technical issues, and the logical interface, I think it would be a phenomenal replacement for Blackboard,” he said.

Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) and Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) each had their charter suspended until 2018, effectively waiting until any active members graduate before restoring the fraternity on campus. Alpha Sigma Phi had its charter suspended until 2015.

According to the press release, each of the chapters were suspended in part for hazing. Pipe Dream filed a freedom of information law request for all documents related to the University’s investigation, but has yet to receive a response.

Delta Chi and Nu Alpha Phi were also sanctioned for hazing, though they received lesser sanctions. Nu Alpha Phi was placed on disciplinary probation through 2017 and it is not allowed to initiate new members until September 2014.

Delta Chi was placed on disciplinary warning, the lowest possible action. Additionally Pi Lamda Phi, was placed on final probation until May 2014 for pledging non-Binghamton University students.

Dean of Students April Thompson said the sanctions for hazing varied for each chapter based on the severity of the claims against the chapter.

“A lot of these things were hazing, but they got very different outcomes,” Thompson said. “I think that’s actually a positive testament to our conduct system, because it shows they take organizations as individual, not as a blanket [where] all hazing equals a certain punishment — because it doesn’t.”

Each case was reviewed by a judicial board composed of one University staff member, one faculty and one student.

Zach Stein, the former president of AXP, declined to comment on the specific claims against his chapter, but the University began investigating AXP last semester after disaffiliated member Matt Opramolla cooperated with administrators and charged that AXP participated in first-semester pledging, had brothers physically fight in front of blindfolded pledges and crossed pledges following the suspension of the chapter.

The presidents of Zeta Beta Tau, Nu Alpha Phi and Pi Lamda Phi could not be reached for comment. The president of Alpha Sigma Phi, Ben Roth, said only that he disagrees with the University’s decisions and the chapter plans to appeal.

Delta Chi was sanctioned for asking pledges to do push-ups when they incorrectly answered questions about the fraternity’s history. Jason Comroe, the president of the BU chapter of Delta Chi and an undeclared sophomore, said the push-ups were voluntary.

He added that he expects the fraternity’s national organization to restore its recognition of the chapter soon and that he does not plan to appeal the University’s decision.

Dean Thompson said each investigation started after the University received a complaint from an external source, which administrators followed up on.

“These are all things that were reported to our offices,” she said. “I hope people don’t see this as a witch hunt or trying to shut down, we really are trying to help these organizations in being successful.”

Alex Liu, the Interfraternity Council president, said the administration handled the cases from this semester — except AXP and ZBT — fairly and that it followed protocol. However, Liu said he would still like to see greater transparency from the administration.

“The administration can become more transparent by involving the presidents of individual fraternities in any discussions affecting Greek Life,” said Liu, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law. “They also can reveal more of their agenda and long-term goals to Greek Life, which I believe would dispel any fears that exist and encourage more trust.”

In addition, nine were held individually accountable during the hearings, mostly organization officers, which Liu worried could discourage strong candidates from taking leadership positions for fear of being held legally accountable.

“If individuals are to be charged in cases, then the fraternity they are affiliated with should not be disciplined since the guilt has been established to be on one person,” he said. “On the other hand, if fraternities are to be disciplined as a whole then individuals should not be charged since the entire organization is being held accountable for the guilt.”

In response to charges that the University is pushing Greek life off campus by punishing recognized fraternities while non-recognized fraternities, such as APES and Sammy, continue to operate as they choose, Thompson said there is only so much she can do.

She cannot hold APES or Sammy accountable as a whole because they are not recognized as a group by the University, however, she said she would investigate any claims against individuals and hold them accountable for their behavior.

She also said she believes the benefits of being on campus, such as the ability to put membership on a resumé, outweigh the benefits of foregoing campus recognition.

Mazzetti, a character created by Mike Tornabene and Gian Hunjan, is a stereotypical Italian-American college student. Tornabene plays Mazzetti in the Youtube series “Dom vs.” which focuses primarily on the ins and outs of college life, which for Mazzetti mostly include partying and going to the gym.

Hunjan and Tornabene answered questions from an audience of more than 300 students, with Tornabene answering some of them in character as Mazzetti.

Mazzetti shared his experiences with students, giving them pearls of wisdom, like how to seduce an attractive professor.

“If I went to class, which is a big hypothetical, I would raise my hand for every question. I would answer everything she wanted to know,” Mazzetti said. “Once I had dominated her lesson plan, I would just stare her down and she would be unable to resist.”

Most of what Mazzetti talks about is related to drinking and social life, though at the event he shared his views on politics as well.

“My vice president would have to be Abe Lincoln,” he said. “They just made a movie about him, he fights vampires and he’s on the penny, and the penny is the most useless piece of metal, so if you’re down with that, you’re pretty chill.”

An hour into the question-and-answer session, one student produced two beer cans and asked if Tornabene would drink one with him, which he did.

“Wow, that just happened, this school is great,” Tornabene said. “I can’t believe you were holding those in your bag for the entire time waiting to ask me.”

Ushers and organizers came to look for the student a few minutes later, but he had already escaped through a back exit.

Students asked both the creators and their character about life as a YouTube star, including one student who wanted to know if any of the “three” of them had ever slept with fellow Internet sensation Jenna Marbles. While Tornabene and Hunjan both insisted that it had never happened, Mazzetti was more than willing to start some rumors.

“I slayed that bitch!” he shouted. “We put it up online but it was too hot. It got taken down in a few minutes because it had made people stop watching other porn.”

Some students felt that Tornabene and Hunjan did not distinguish themselves from their character very well.

“I felt embarrassed for Mike and Gian as it seemed the audience could not separate the character from the creators,” said Patrick Hao, a member of the Pappy Parker Players, who opened for Mazzetti, and a freshman majoring in English.

Other audience members were just excited to have a YouTube celebrity on campus.

“It was everything I was expecting and more. It was great being able to talk to him and have him answer,” Alex Freedman, a sophomore majoring in actuarial science, wrote in an email. “Also Dom went downtown to State Street afterwards. I saw him hook up with over 5 girls, although he spent most of the night taking pictures.”

Mariana Moriello, the Student Association hospitality chair and incoming vice president of programming, explained why the SA Programming Board had chosen Mazzetti.

“We brought him in because he appeals to college students, and we’ve heard a lot of good things from students on campus. When we polled people on campus they were ecstatic,” said Moriello, a junior majoring in psychology. “The timing honestly had nothing to do with finals, but it’s a stress relief if anything.”

The committee, composed of students, faculty, University staff and Sodexo employees, published a report last month following an extensive review of Sodexo prices which concluded that students were not being overcharged in the dining hall.

“As a committee, we found that the numbers were reasonable,” said James Grippe, a member of the committee and a junior majoring in computer science. “I feel like Sodexo is well within their pricing guidelines that they’re advertising to everybody.”

In the case of the burrito, the committee concluded that the inflated prices compared to retailers such as Chipotle stemmed from the fact that Sodexo charges for burritos by weight rather than portion. For example, the report says that a retailer may include 3 oz. of meat in a standardized burrito, but Sodexo does not impose any such restrictions. Thus, the report says, burrito prices must be calculated on a made-to-order model rather than the portioned model used by other vendors.

The report also said that Sodexo includes sour cream and guacamole in the cost of the burrito, while most vendors charge extra.

In response to concerns about burrito prices, Sodexo tried implementing the option for a portioned burrito, with pre-set ingredient amounts, to lower the price at the register, but the report says the portioned burritos were poorly received, accounting for a near-negligible number of total burrito sales.

The report also gave a breakdown of how the price charged at the register is broken down by percentage: the actual food cost accounts for approximately 87.5 percentage of the price charge at the register; food shrinkage accounts for approximately 6.5 percent of loss during preparation; food waste, where food that goes unsold is thrown out to preserve freshness, accounts for 3 percent; and theft accounts for the remaining 3 percent — all of which fall within the range of industry standards.

Sodexo granted the committee access to Sodexo’s invoices for ingredients and drink costs to allow them to conduct their review. The invoices are usually kept private, according to James Van Voorst, the BU vice president for administration, to avoid putting Sodexo at a competitive disadvantage. He said that if competitors knew the prices charged to Sodexo by employers, they could use it to undercut Sodexo’s proposal in the upcoming contract negotiations.

Although the committee did not make any specific pricing recommendations, they agreed to review Sodexo’s prices more frequently going forward and to better publicize their findings to increase transparency.

“I think the report is good; it made some good recommendations too about going forward and being a little bit more transparent about who’s doing what,” Van Voorst said. “We will do these things.”

Grippe called the review an overall “positive experience,” and said it benefits student leaders by helping them understand how Sodexo functions.

“It gives a more transparent outline to what’s going on,” he said. “Any time you can have transparency with the administration and the companies it works with that’s a good thing.”

Editor’s note: Editor-in-Chief Daniel S. Weintraub recused himself from this story.

You probably didn’t know your feedback was important, but it was. You made me rethink the way I approach journalism and the way I approach life, and I think I came out a better person because of it. It isn’t much consolation, but it’s true.

My job (news editor) involves a lot of screwing up. It means missing stories, bad reporting, poor writing and factual mistakes. Sometimes it’s my fault, sometimes it’s just the nature of the job. I wish I could say that I never made the same mistake twice, but that just isn’t true.

I’m the person (along with my crew chief, Dan) who made a lot of Pipe Dream’s toughest decisions. But I called the balls and strikes as best I could —a news editor and an umpire have a lot in common. When we’re invisible it means things are going well. When we’re not, it means we’re screwing up. We have to make a decision on every close call.

No umpire’s perfect, and I tried to take responsibility for my mistakes, just like I tried to shrug off the the people here or there who blamed me when their team was losing — even though my decision was right. I tried not to let those people affect me the next time a pitch was close.

What is true is that I put everything I had into this paper, or pretty damn close to it. Most people don’t know what it takes to get Pipe Dream on the racks twice per week. It takes a lot.

I wanted Pipe Dream to be the best paper it could be. I wanted it for myself, for my colleagues and for you, my reader(s). This paper means everything to me; it was my college experience.

I never expected that I would become a community president, but I did.

I never expected to become a manager of a dining hall, but I did. I never expected to enjoy it. But, in some twisted way, I did.

I never expected to come out of the closet, but I did. I never expected that people would be so supportive, but they have been. I never expected to write about it publicly, but I did. Twice. (I guess this is No. 3).

I never expected to join Pipe Dream, yet here I am. I never expected, nor even really wanted, to become editor-in-chief, but I did. I joined Pipe Dream hoping to learn Photoshop and InDesign, and I fell in love. I never expected that anything I published would ever effect change, but several things did. I actually did expect to receive hate mail, and boy did I. But I never expected to receive so much positive feedback too. Yet I did.

Now it’s cliché time: College is about what you don’t expect. No regrets.

***

It wouldn’t be a senior column without some acknowledgements and last jabs.

I would like to thank my parents. I know I haven’t spoken to you guys in over a month and have been ignoring your phone calls, text messages and emails but I couldn’t have reached graduation without you.

Thank you to grandma and grandpa (z”l) for helping me out with tuition. Grandpa, you were the smartest person I knew, and the world lost a great person and a great scholar. I hope I can accomplish at least half of what you accomplished. Grandma, stay strong.

Thank you to everyone I’ve worked with at Pipe Dream. Most of you are some of the smartest people I know. Thank you for allowing me to work with you and accepting me as your editor-in-chief. I know I didn’t really deserve it. My three last requests are that you devote an issue next semester to mental health on campus, that you drive student turnout in the Binghamton mayoral elections and that you feel free to ignore the previous two requests.

Thank you to the Slonims for providing a home away from home. Cooking on Thursday was often the highlight of my week.

Thank you to everyone I’ve lived with for the last four years for putting up with me, my weird habits and my quirky sleep schedule.

To President Stenger: You are visible on campus and make a genuine effort to get to know students. But that’s not all there is to being a great president. The University is growing. That might be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing. Find a way to reduce class sizes and raise our ranking back to where it should be. Lean on the departments to truly challenge students, not just give out grades and diplomas. Lois DeFleur increased our endowment, our rankings, our reputation and made campus a pleasant place to be. What will you do? Listen to the Committee for the University Environment when pursuing any future landscaping or construction. They exist for a reason. And when it’s time to rebuild the next set of dorm communities, please refer to the Colville Report before you make any decisions. It was an honor to get to know you, and I have high hopes. Also, I’m sorry for being out of salmon that one time.

To Sodexo: My employment with you defined a significant portion of my college career. There were several times I should have just walked out (none the least after you laid me off after repeatedly assuring me I’d have a job), but I truly enjoyed being able to serve the students. My advice to Sodexo’s management and to the University would be to curb waste, provide more comprehensive training, screen employees better and find a way to ditch the union, which protects bad employees and hurts the good ones. I also think that there are many people who have to go. Jim, Jon and Pawel are generally useless and have become complacent. They don’t care about their customers or their employees. The entire marketing department is useless. The Twitter account is a joke and the signage, when it is even existent or accurate, is ugly as fuck. They don’t know what students actually care about and leave it to the units to clean up their messes. But I guess we can’t really expect anything when the district marketing manager’s LinkedIn page is rife with typos and grammatical errors.

Sunil, thank you for taking a chance on me when no one else would. You deserve better.

Thank you to Professor Krasno for practically granting me my political science degree.

Thank you to Professor Henkel for restoring my love of literature and reminding me why I became an English major in the first place. Libby Tucker, the entire department has a lot to learn from him.

Ethan, Mikey, Steven, Ariel, Sami, Shiran and Rachel: Hi.

Jimothy, you’re old, no one likes you and you smel—I mean … you were honestly the best news editor I could have been stuck with. I lucked out that you agreed to take the job after I accidentally … well, you know the story. I’ve been able to lean on you (literally) and ask you for advice. I am happy to consider you a great friend.

And finally, to my office wife/life partner, Jules, we are never ever ever getting back together (like ever).

After falling down 5-1 in the rubber match, the Bearcats used a two-run double from junior second baseman Daniel Nevares in the eighth and an RBI single and wild pitch in the ninth to force extra innings.

But Maine strung together seven hits and three walks in the top of the 10th to pull ahead 13-5. Binghamton could only plate two runs in the bottom half, ultimately falling 13-7.

Senior starter Jay Lynch lasted just 4.1 innings, getting tagged with four runs on nine hits. Sophomore Mike Kaufman, who allowed the first three runs in the 10th, was hit with the loss.

The defeat dropped the Bearcats into third place in the America East, as the Black Bears extended their lead atop the conference to 3.5 games.

The series opener also took 10 innings, but Binghamton came out on top, 4-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, junior center fielder Bill Bereszniewicz got things started with a single through the right side. After sophomore outfielder Zach Blanden singled, freshman third baseman David Schanz drove the first pitch he saw into right center for a single that drove in Bereszniewicz to end the game.

Sophomore Mike Urbanski (2-0) had entered in the top of the 10th and earned the win, while sophomore Greg Ostner allowed one run in 3.2 innings of relief. Senior starter Jake Lambert left the game after surrendering two runs in five innings.

Blanden finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Schanz, Bereszniewicz and sophomore left fielder Jake Thomas each had two hits.

In Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader, Maine bounced back with a 4-3 comeback win over the Bearcats.

BU scored the first two runs of the game when both junior infielder John Howell and Bereszniewicz came through with RBI singles in the bottom of the second.

While Bereszniewicz added another RBI single in the fourth, the Black Bears began to slowly chip away at the BU lead in the later innings. Maine scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3.

Then, in the top of the 6th, Maine sophomore outfielder Brian Doran blasted a solo homer to give the Black Bears the 4-3 advantage.

Starter Jack Rogalla went the distance in the loss, surrendering nine hits in seven innings of work while giving up four earned runs and striking out three.

Next weekend, the Bearcats will have another shot to clinch when they head to Albany for their final series of the regular season. A win over the Great Danes or a Hartford loss to Stony Brook would secure Binghamton a spot in the postseason.

But on Friday, the second-seeded Bearcats committed three errors and misplayed a few other balls, and fourth-seeded Stony Brook took the elimination game, 9-0, in five innings at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

Binghamton (30-17, 14-4 America East) fell down 5-0 in the first inning, as junior third baseman Mikala King made two errors. The devastating blow, though, came with two outs and the bases loaded when SBU senior second baseman Gina Bianculli hit a line drive to left field. BU senior left fielder Jessica Phillips dove for the ball but couldn’t get her glove on it, and three runs scored.

“Jess made the dive in left field, and you know what? She makes that catch a lot of the time,” Burrell said. “She was aggressive and went after that. Had she made that catch we’d be in a much different situation, but I told her it was a great effort.”

While the defense struggled, the America East’s most potent offense went dormant.

SBU sophomore pitcher Allison Cukrov worked efficiently, pitching to contact and never needing more than 19 pitches to navigate an inning. She finished with just two strikeouts, but she allowed only one hit and one walk.

The Bearcats consistently got under the ball, popping up and flying out a combined 10 times, and Stony Brook (35-23, 10-8 AE) made all the plays.

With the stakes higher than ever, Binghamton froze.

“We kind of just let the situation get to us,” Burrell said.

The Bearcats, who beat third-seeded Hartford in the opener, were forced into the elimination game with Stony Brook after falling, 4-2, to top-seeded Albany on Friday morning.

In that game, BU freshman first baseman Lisa Cadogan drove in freshman right fielder Sydney Harbaugh to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. But the Great Danes (37-15, 15-2 AE), who would eventually fall to Stony Brook in the championship, responded with one run in each of the first two innings.

In the third, Harbaugh reached on a fielders’ choice but was caught stealing with freshman designated player Tiffany McIntosh at the plate. McIntosh homered to left on the next pitch, tying the game.

But Albany junior first baseman Charlise Castro belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.

The Great Danes were aggressive against BU sophomore Demi Laney, who surrendered two home runs. Castro’s came on the second pitch of the at bat while senior catcher Kylie Apostolina drilled the first pitch of the second inning over the left center wall.

Laney left the game after 2.1 innings, having allowed four runs on five hits and a walk.

Binghamton had made just one America East tournament before 2013, carrying an underdog role as the No. 3 seed in 2011. This year, the Bearcats, playing at home, expected to compete in Saturday’s championship game.

With 2013 as a groundbreaking year — the Bearcats won a program-best 29 games and posted their highest finish in the AE standings — Burrell said she hopes to be in this position consistently moving forward.

“I truly think this is where we expect to be each year,” she said. “It just comes down to we’ve got to learn how to win those important games at the end of the year.”

Junior second baseman Jessica Bump, whose .349 batting average and 10 home runs led the team, said the Bearcats already have a strategy in place for 2014.

“One thing we just talked about [after being eliminated] is next season we’re going to play every game from the first week in February until now like we can’t lose,” she said.

With the bulk of the roster set to return next year, the Bearcats should be one of the America East favorites. Phillips, outfielder Shannon Kane and pitchers Kate Price and Rhoda Marsteller are all seniors, but Laney led the team with 15 wins and a 2.33 regular-season ERA and the top six average hitters are all expected back.

“I think we put ourselves in a really good spot,” Burrell said. “We expect that everybody’s going to be contributing, and I really think that we’ve just got to learn from the pressure of the tournament situation.”

The three-day event, which was hosted by Princeton at William Weaver Track & Field Stadium, began on Friday and continued through Sunday.

Junior Alexis Murray was the only Binghamton athlete to participate in the finals round of an event. She finished fourth overall in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 12.48 meters, earning all five of Binghamton’s team points.

“I think [Murray’s] distance looks good to make it to the regional championships in two weeks, but I’ll know for sure in a few days,” BU head coach Mike Thompson said.

Juniors Kathleen Klein and Erika Kisel, senior Jessica Hennig and sophomore Emily Taussig excelled in the women’s 4×400 meter relay, taking eighth in the preliminaries with a qualifying time of 3:44.36, though they did not run in the finals on Sunday.

With their time, the quartet broke Binghamton’s previous school record of 3:47.47, set in 2007.

“The women’s four by four ran exceptionally well,” Thompson said. “Our girls broke the school record by three seconds … so that was very exciting.”

Klein, Taussig and Kisel, along with sophomore Alexx Baum, also ran for the 4×100 meter relay trials, but did not qualify for the finals after placing 17th overall with a time of 47.44 seconds.

Other BU contestants on the women’s squad included freshman Jacqueline Huben, who finished 16th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase event with a time of 10:50.87, and freshman Kierra Arthur, who participated in the 100 meter hurdles (14.97).

On the men’s side, senior Adam Helman competed in the men’s pole vault event, clearing 4.80 meters for 10th, which he shared with three other contenders. In the 110-meter hurdles, BU was represented by freshman Cameron Black, and freshman Jon King competed in the men’s high jump. No one from the BU men’s squad qualified for Sunday’s finals.

This year’s ECAC/IC4A Championships marked the 137th men’s IC4A and the 30th women’s ECAC. The women’s title was secured by Connecticut, which finished with a score of 73, ahead of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s second-place score of 53. Cornell captured the men’s championship with a final score of 68, while BYU took second with a score of 56.

Next on the Bearcats’ schedule is the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Meet, a three-day event set to begin Thursday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at North Carolina A&T’s Irwin Belk Track.

America East Rookie of the Year Sid Hazarika and senior Bastian Bornkessel suffered the opening loss in doubles play, falling 8-1 to the fifth-ranked duo of Hernus Pieters and Ben Wagland. Hazarika would later drop the No. 1 singles match to Wagland, who is ranked No. 33 in singles. The loss was only Hazarika’s second since taking over the top singles spot at the end of March.

Junior Ruben Haggai and freshman Eliott Hureau took the second doubles loss, dropping an 8-4 bout with the No. 15 ranked Bulldog tandem of Garrett Brasseaux and Nathan Pasha.

Haggai entered Friday’s match riding 14 consecutive wins and earning the Most Outstanding Player award at the America East Championship. The contest was called before he could complete his singles match on Friday.

Sophomores Ismael Dinia and Robin Lesage also had their doubles match end unfinished after Georgia secured the doubles point. In singles play, Lesage dropped his match from the No. 3 spot, falling 6-2, 6-2.

Hureau suffered Binghamton’s third singles loss, losing 6-3, 6-2 to Marco Nunez in the sixth spot.

At the No. 2 seed, Georgia was the highest-ranked opponent BU has faced in program history, and Friday marked the Bulldogs’s 30th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. They advanced despite the news earlier last week that the team’s best player and the No. 4 singles player in the country, senior KU Singh, was quitting the team and returning to India on the eve of Georgia’s NCAA run, according to the Georgia newspaper, Ledger-Enquirer. Singh’s decision bumped the remainder of the team up in the lineup.

Friday’s match marked the sixth straight NCAA appearance, and ninth in the past 11 years, for the Bearcats, who captured the America East title on April 28 with a 4-0 sweep of UMBC in the finals.

I have spent the last week or so searching for a thread running through my time here that isn’t my roommates or the greenish-purple bruises on the right side of my body (current count: two on my bicep, one on my thigh and one on my left hand). I can’t. Aside from the skills I’ve picked up in my academic endeavors, all I anticipate holding on to are my friends. Making friends has been the most important experience of my college years.

It doesn’t matter if your friends aren’t the generic “coolest kids on campus.” No one past high school really thinks about that anyway. What’s important is that these are people who make you feel loved and part of something bigger. They grin broadly and wave excitedly when you run into them on campus. They listen to you when you knock on their door in tears.

Don’t forget to do the same. Make time to hang out, even if it’s only five minutes to say hi. Open yourself up to your friends and be there when they need you. Don’t forget to celebrate the originality shining from each one. When you find your people, don’t let go. My first roommate and I were placed together randomly freshman year and we’ve stayed together ever since. And, despite my initial misgivings, I’ll miss my newest roommate too.

It’s not easy to find your people when you’re at a school as large as Binghamton, where it feels like everyone’s rushing from class to lunch to class to studying to practice to downtown and no one has time to listen to you try to introduce yourself.

So part two of my advice for you young’uns is: go to a GIM. I went to around five and ended up only sticking with two clubs. You’re allowed to go to a GIM and decide you don’t want to join. However, if you do, that may be where you find the people you’ve been looking for. That may be where you find that excited greeting from across campus, that ridiculous story you tell all the time, or even that friend you label “best.”

Going to a GIM that I didn’t anticipate enjoying is the reason I’m surrounded by so much paraphernalia which I have to pack. A first-place Sabre medal that I stole from my friend hangs by a strip of photo booth pictures of me and my second roommate. Over the épée the club gave me, a string of Starburst wrapper origami cranes folded by the former vice president dangles not far from a watercolor panda my oldest roommate picked up for me in the city. And then there’s the scrapbook and the pirate hat.

The thick, colorful scrapbook and the pirate hat are the reason I’m writing this column instead of one advocating studying and partying hard. After walking into a surprise going-away party in my living room, I realized that all I can really tell you readers is to find yourself some friends that you love.

I’ve met people here that will live in my memory as bright stars. They shine through the cloudy skies and long winters of Binghamton, and I will always look for their constellations.