By Brett Patrick Free speech and ideological diversity are fundamental pillars of college institutions. Over the years, this is a fact that US presidents recognized. In 1998, President Bill Clinton reaffirmed the basic human right to expression during a speech in China. In 2015, on a back-to-school tour, President Obama reminded students of the importance of campus dialogue. In 2019, President Trump signed an executive order that required colleges to enforce the right of free…
Johnny Cash Renews Inmates’ Identities, Live At Folsom Prison.
By Toby Olson A banner runs across the bottom of the stage, “Welcome Johnny Cash.” It’s the only decoration in one of Folsom Prison’s harshly lit rec rooms. On stage: an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, an electric bass, a drum kit, a fiddle, and a harmonica. Cash opens with “Folsom Prison Blues,” an attempt to capture the experience of the very individuals sitting in front of him. The raspy howls of the inmates at…
What “El Lento” Gets Wrong about Abortion
By Arthur O’Sullivan In the previous issue of Binghamton Review, the pseudonymous author “El Lento” published an article titled, “The Problem with the Pro-Life Movement.” Being “pro-life” myself, I’m used to defending my beliefs in all the conventional ways: No, pro-lifers don’t just have a control fetish. No, Republicans generally don’t want to kill babies once born. No, you can’t prove “scientifically” that abortion is right or wrong. And so on, and so on, and…
“The Best College Life”
Bunzeey Greetings, fellow BU students! Ah, the joys of being at our esteemed backup university, where we’ve all surely dreamed of spending four glorious years in a college town devoid of vibrant nightlife, filled with controversial Greek life, and the absolute absence of any crime, not to mention the joy of mingling with the most basic of individuals. Now, let’s dive the essential steps for a college experience that will leave your friends green with…
Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
By Comson Cao In our increasingly polarized society, it’s common to hear stories about politics killing friendships, relationships, and the cheerful mood at family dinners. Why is this the case? Why is it that people can put aside their differences on all sorts of other matters, but politics seems to be a persistent dividing line? As one might expect, the answers are complicated and nuanced, but they nonetheless provide useful insight towards understanding each side…
An Unbiased and Impartial Review of Binghamton Clubs
By Saguaro Long ago, when I roamed this earth as a freshman at Bing, I was nervous about joining clubs. For those current freshmen out there, fear not, for I have arrived, ready to deliver crucial information concerning the various extracurricular activities found on campus—particularly ones that I have experience with. Campus Survival Games Before I go into depth about this club, I will say that although I haven’t spent MUCH time with this club,…
The Problem with the Pro-Life Movement
By El Lento Presidential hopeful Ron Desantis made headlines recently when he announced that he did not believe that women who had an abortion should be criminally punished, even if it were illegal. This was naturally controversial. It satisfied neither committed pro-lifers, who would see such practice as rendering any abortion restriction de-facto toothless, nor pro-choicers, who would be opposed to any ban regardless. Most importantly, however, this suggestion, echoed by figures such as Nikki…
RANDOM QUIZ XD
By our staff Hey everyone!!! I just compiled this crazy quiz for funsies! Hope you enjoy and NO PEEKING at the results until you’re done!! What’s was your basal body temperature at the moment you woke up this morning? How much chocolate did you eat today?? Be HONEST! How are you feeling? Who are you currently listening to?A. The Good life – Weezer B. Across the sea – Weezer C. Tired of sex – Weezer …
“A Brief Guide on Restoring, Expanding, and Protecting Conservatism on College Campuses”
By Logan Blakeslee, Former Central Region Co-Chairman of the New York Federation of College Republicans The hardest part of being a conservative or libertarian-minded student on most college campuses in America is staying true to your own values. It takes no effort at all to keep silent, go with the crowd, and parrot whatever the professor says for an easy grade. It is much more difficult to speak your mind in class or in public…
Joe’s Declassified: College Survival Guide
By Joe Badalamenti In a college full of closed dining halls. Insane final papers and nowhere to park your car, I, Joe Bigby, will help you do the impossible: survive college! [insert wacky theme song] Now you may be asking yourself: who is Joe and why do I care about his advice? Well for one, I’m someone who’s made it through college and accomplished pretty much all of my professional goals. In other words, I…
Uncommon Advice for College
By Arthur O’Sullivan Hi Freshmen. Are you sick of the generic “Advice for Freshmen” that everyone and their grandma vomits everywhere you turn? The advice that goes like “stay hydrated ;)!” and “don’t overwhelm yourself :3” and “be nice to your roommates :::::::::)))))))))))),” et cetera et cetera? Would you sooner eat a lick your communal bathroom’s floor than listen to another “Study tips you NEED to know to succeed”? Well first of all, stop whining.…
ABCs of Binghamton – 2023
By Our Staff Another year, another “ABCs of Binghamton.” These two pages are all you’ll need to navigate the manifold complexities of Binghamton life in 2023. As per tradition, we won’t repeat anything from previous years, so if you still need guidance after these 26 letters, there’s plenty more where this came from. Now let’s make like kindergarteners and learn our “ABCs.” A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I just remembered I’m in Binghamton. B – Bigly. A perfectly…
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye
By Madeline Perez When I was a freshman, waltzing around UFest, I found myself interested in lots of booths. Among these were the Fine Arts Society (a drawing club that I can only assume died when COVID struck and now no one can remember and I am the last remaining link to their history), the tennis and swimming clubs, and Binghamton Review Magazine. I think I signed up for other clubs probably involving singing, games,…
Lessons Learned
By Dillon O’Toole It hasn’t fully hit me yet but my time here at Binghamton is almost at an end. The realization that I am only a few weeks away from graduation has been a slow burn and I can only imagine how I will feel come the week of graduation. But looking back, it really hasn’t felt like I have been in college for four years. With COVID hitting during my second semester here,…
The Art of Not Working
By S.G. Panini Sometimes you have a lot on your plate: worrying about classes, your stagnant relationship life, what to eat for lunch. Other times it’s just pure laziness. On rare occasions you’re amped and willing, but just can’t for some reason; some days are slower than others. The bottom line is you’re not gonna work. It happens… a lot, and I empathize with you. Today, I’m going to teach a masterclass on not working,…