A subcommittee of the group Students in Free Enterprise is running a local initiative to push businesses to go green. The Clean Innovative Transformation Initiative (CITI) aims to bring Binghamton University students into the city for an annual spring cleaning sweep, as well as to talk to store and restaurant owners about cleaning up their store fronts. This year’s Project Clean Up and Green Up will take place Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Participants can meet with SIFE members at the Metro Center Commons. Last year, Mayor Matthew Ryan and other city officials came out to the spring clean up event…

One campus group is trying to increase awareness of the hurtful impact of a word often used in the wrong context: “retarded.” Hillel teamed up with Push America, a national organization, in organizing a pledge drive Wednesday in the New University Union. During the event, the drive group representatives asked students to promise not to use the “R-word” in a dehumanizing context by signing a pledge card. “I have spoken to many people with mental disabilities, and whenever ‘retard’ is used around them, it’s really hurtful,” said Josh Spodick, a member of Hillel and a student organizer of the pledge…

Student government representatives will vote on several major changes Monday, including an increase to the student activity fee and amendments to the Student Association constitution. PROPOSED CHANGES TO ACTIVITY FEE SA President Adam Amit and executive board members are looking to raise the current $86.50 activity fee, which is used to finance student group budgets, event programming and Off Campus College Transport, among other things. The two resolutions presented to the Assembly Monday requested the fee to increase to either $92.50 or $95. According to SA Vice President for Programming Aaron Cohn, $95 is the amount needed to support the…

Devastation in the form of an earthquake struck again Saturday, this time in central Chile. With a magnitude of 8.8, the earthquake is said to be one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, and was responsible for a death toll of approximately 720, with many still missing amongst the wreckage, the National Emergency Office announced Monday. The quake struck near the city of Concepcion, and then created a tsunami that struck Chile’s coast. The tsunami covered almost two miles of Robinson Crusoe Island into the town of San Juan Bautista. Ellen Badger, director of International Student and Scholar Service, confirmed…

In her first statement since the review was released almost two weeks ago, Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur, along with Provost Mary Ann Swain, said the findings must be dealt with “objectively” and “honestly.” The statement, which the administration released Friday via B-Line, does not give any specifics on how that can be accomplished — it instead focuses on what the administrators call the “values” and “principal missions” of the school (see box). In the statement, DeFleur and Swain outlined the standards they said have guided them and will continue to guide the University in the future, which, they wrote,…

Athletic department and administration officials worked together to make the 2008-09 men’s basketball team the NCAA champions they were, but before all that, they pressured the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to lower academic standards for athletes and admit them to Binghamton University. At least, those are the findings of the review conducted by Judge Judith Kaye and her team. Upon entering Division I athletics in 2006, BU had to conduct a self-study of the athletic department to ensure the University was in compliance with NCAA Division I operating principles. POLICY FOR ADMITTING RECRUITS According to the Report to the Board…

It all started in Cayuga Hall of College-in-the-Woods, where the friendship of two Binghamton University students blossomed into so much more. Now, 27 years later, Jeannie and Neil Steiner, ‘86 alumni, are looking forward to celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary with their six-year-old daughter Lauren and three-year-old son Jonathan. The two first met during a campus scavenger hunt at orientation, which took place the week before classes started in 1982, but their first date did not come until the following year. During the fall semester of their sophomore year, Jeannie’s sister invited her to go apple picking on Long Island,…

The Jennys, a band of four Binghamton University students, will perform a benefit concert on Thursday. All proceeds will go to an organization that provides relief for Haiti. The band will ask for at least a $2 donation from all attendees at their 10 p.m. concert at Scoreboard at 86 State St. in Downtown Binghamton. “We are not requiring you to pay, but we are asking for a $2 or more donation,” said Greg Bennett, lead guitarist of the band. “I am hoping people will care enough to give up $2; it is not even the cost of drinks you…

Students enrolled in a winter course through the School of Management participated in a 10-day tour of India in hopes of learning how Indian culture promotes a quickly growing economy. The four-credit course, which brought 27 SOM students, ranging from sophomores to graduate students, and two SOM professors to India from Jan. 7 to Jan. 18, was created to offer students the chance to study India in a non-traditional way. “To learn how to do business, you must first learn the culture,” said Vishal Gupta, an SOM assistant professor on the trip. Before arriving in India on Jan. 7, the…

Over the past few years, Binghamton University has been thrown into national news headlines for both the good and the bad, but more so the latter. As the University awaits the results of an ongoing review of the athletic department announced last semester, President Lois DeFleur is set to retire come July. David Henahan, spokesman for SUNY, stated that the review has not yet been completed. According to a press release, SUNY officials anticipate that “Judge [Judith] Kaye will provide the board of trustees with a report and recommendations that will enable us to address all issues related to the…

A candlelight vigil held for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti brought mourners at Binghamton University together as speakers told stories that hit close to home and shared personal reflections. The vigil, held in the Tillman Lobby of the Old University Union and hosted by MALIK Fraternity Inc., touched on the effects of the tragedy as well as fundraising efforts for the relief. “Our main goal was to bring the situation home, and not to let the time or distance desensitize us from what happened,” said Mike Day, a senior majoring in accounting and president of MALIK. “This was…

Two local residents involved in the beating of then-Binghamton University senior Bryan Steinhauer in May 2008 have been sentenced to two years in prison, according to reports from The Associated Press. Edin Dzubar, 25, of Johnson City, and Sanel Softic, 22, of Binghamton, both native Bosnians, were sentenced Jan. 14. The two were first charged in the assault in October, when they pleaded guilty to felony assault. Along with Miladin “Minja” Kovacevic, a 23-year-old former BU men’s basketball player, both Dzubar and Softic were accused of repeatedly kicking Steinhauer in the head and chest at the Rathskeller Pub on 92…

A recent legislative proposal by New York Gov. David Paterson could provide CUNY and SUNY systems, including Binghamton University, with increased independence from the state budget process. The Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, which was included in the 2010-11 Executive Budget released on Jan. 19, would allow Boards of Trustees of SUNY and CUNY institutions to design a policy that would restrict tuition increases to predictable, incremental changes in lieu of erratic spikes of increases. The proposal is awaiting approval by state legislature. Such a policy, termed a rational tuition policy, would put an annual cap of two-and-a-half…

Miguel Angel Arcones, professor of mathematical sciences at Binghamton University, died Dec. 30, 2009, at the age of 46 after a long battle with cancer. Arcones, who was a resident of Binghamton, began his work at BU in 1998, after moving to the United States from Spain in 1987 and earning his Ph.D. in probability from the CUNY in 1991. At BU, Arcones played a role in developing a degree program in actuarial science, was an elected-member of the International Statistical Institute and a fellow at the Institute of Mathematical Statistics. “He was very much involved with the students,” Fernando…

Sol Raboy, professor emeritus of physics at Binghamton University and a member of the Endwell community, died Dec. 27, 2009 at the age of 89. Raboy joined the BU physics department in 1965, after working as a research physicist at the Argonne National Laboratory for 14 years. At BU, he served as chairman of the department, and although he retired in 1990, he continued to conduct research and publish papers for many years after. “He had a number of very successful Ph.D. students who graduated under him,” said Jim Brownridge, nuclear instrumentation specialist and radiation safety officer at BU who…

A 1993 graduate of Binghamton University was trampled to death by an elephant Monday morning while hiking with her family in Africa, according to a report from The Associated Press. Authorities in Kenya said that 39-year-old Sharon Brown, who was enrolled at BU as Sharon Laurie, and her one-year-old daughter, Margaux, were killed when the elephant charged their group. Brown, her husband, their daughter and two other adults were hiking on a nature trail about one mile from Castle Forest Lodge. They were accompanied by an unarmed guide outside Mount Kenya National Park when the elephant charged. While at BU,…

Students and faculty were encouraged to avoid Science I Friday after a professor was stabbed, yet classes were not closed and the building was not shut down until later that day. Though throughout the history of Binghamton University individual buildings have been closed and secured in response to emergency reports, there has never been a complete campus lockdown, and, according to officials, there most likely never will. “It would be very hard to do this [lock down the campus],” said Lt. Madeline Bay of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. “It is impossible to tell everyone or even to lock…

A Binghamton University cultural anthropology graduate student was charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of BU Professor Richard T. Antoun, according to a report from The Press & Sun-Bulletin. Abdulsalam Al-Zahrani, 46, was taken to the Broome County Jail at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Broome County Sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Carlson said in the report. He was arraigned Saturday morning in Town of Vestal court. Antoun, 77, was stabbed four times with a 6-inch kitchen blade in Science 1 around 1:45 p.m. He died at Wilson Memorial Hospital Friday afternoon. Both campus and state police are investigating the incident, and…

An anthropology professor who was stabbed four times with a 6-inch kitchen blade in Science 1 around 1:45 p.m. died at Wilson Memorial Hospital this afternoon, according to a report from The Press & Sun-Bulletin. The report identifies anthropology professor Richard T. Antoun as the victim, based on statements from faculty in the department. It also lists witnesses stating that the attacker is a graduate student, in addition to the fact that Antoun suffered a collapsed lung, as well as possible other injuries. According to a text alert and B-Line message sent out at 2:17 p.m. to students, faculty and…

After a feasibility study and an external evaluation, Binghamton University is one step closer to having a law school affiliated with the institution. “We are waiting for a written report from the external evaluators,” said Mary Ann Swain, provost and vice president for academic affairs at BU. “Both the State University of New York system administration and State Department of Education require this external evaluation.” According to Swain, once this written report is received, it will be included with a formal proposal and sent to the system administration and Department of Education. “Reviewers have not given us an exact date…

Face-to-face social interactions and confrontations are becoming scarce as technology allows teenagers and young adults to hide behind their phones and computers. “People use text messaging as a crutch to avoid having to communicate with someone in person,” Brittany Kupferman, a junior geology major, said. “Because of this, kids today have bad interpersonal skills.” Young adults, especially high school and college students, need direct social skills to work on group projects and assignments in the classroom. “Any group activity requires tremendous mentoring or monitoring by a teacher,” Pam Dayton, a ninth-grade English teacher at Binghamton High School, said. Dayton has…

The president of Off Campus College Council (OCCC) handed in his resignation Tuesday after fellow representatives questioned his reputation at Monday’s Student Assembly meeting, he said. Aaron Butler, a senior management major, will also be resigning from his position as Assembly representative for OCCC at next Monday’s meeting. He said his character was questioned after the Financial Council presented the approved budget changes for his organization. At the end of last semester, the then-OCCC executive board made referendums to the constitution, which included providing stipends to all four E-Board members, instead of the previous practice of being provided to the…

Binghamton University’s Masti, an all-female South Asian fusion dance team, placed first at Mugabla 2009, an annual intercollegiate dance competition. BU’s team beat out 10 competitors, including Rochester University, State University of New York at Geneseo, Columbia University, American University, Hunter College and SUNY at Buffalo. This year’s competition was hosted by the Indian Student Association of the University at Buffalo on Saturday. “Last year we competed and didn’t place, and the year before that we won first place,” said Sejal Singh, a senior psychobiology major and secretary for BU Masti. “This year we beat out the first place team…

Hundreds of students peacefully marched from the New University Union to the library fountain Friday, sending a message to administration that they will not be silenced in the fight for the Carribean Student Association’s annual carnival. The Carnival, an annual event slated for the week of Nov. 7, was placed on indefinite hiatus by Binghamton University officials two days before the end of the previous spring semester because of security issues. “The Carnival night show has developed from a show that was primarily a student event … into an event whose patrons are predominantly not affiliated with Binghamton University and…

Students paraded signs reading, “Banks got bailed out, Schools got sold out” around the library fountain Wednesday in protest of recent budget cuts to the State University of New York system. The Binghamton Education Workers Union, which consists of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty from Binghamton University, hosted the rally to send a message to the state government that the cuts will not be tolerated. “Budget cuts are bad for students. If you look at the priorities of the state … they are wrong. The economic argument of fiscal responsibility is wrong,” said Dan Johnson, a graduate…

The external audit of Binghamton University’s athletic program will cost $520 per hour, which will be initially covered by SUNY through the Research Foundation, according to a spokesman. The Research Foundation provides human resources, payroll, purchasing and other administrative services to campus-related organizations within the State University of New York. This funding “enabled [retired Judge Judith] Kaye to begin her work immediately and to ensure a comprehensive investigation,” said David Henahan, spokesman for SUNY. “Contracting through the state would have taken much longer.” According to Henahan, Kaye and firm she is working with, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,…

Monday marked the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the College Republicans celebrated the day of freedom with a rally supporting American troops “fighting for freedom” overseas. “The fall of the Berlin wall is so symbolic of freedom,” said senior history major Alex Paolano, president of the College Republicans, who held the rally in front of the fountain outside Glenn G. Bartle Library. “Sometimes war is the only way.” The Berlin Wall was first erected by the German Democratic Republic in 1961 as a barrier between West Berlin and East Germany during the Cold War. It…

The Big Bear Ultimate Frisbee club team was placed on suspension after breaking an agreement with the department of Intramurals & Club Sports at Binghamton University during a tournament weekend. The team split into an A-team and a B-team for their tournament last month where the A-team went to Edinburgh University of Pennsylvania and the B-team to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The team made an agreement with Craig Dube, assistant director of Intramurals & Club Sports, that they would bring an executive board member to each tournament. “In an effort to make our team as competitive as possible, both E-board…

Following the lead of local government officials, New York state Gov. David Paterson has signed legislation into law which bans texting while driving. The law, which was signed and approved on Aug. 27 and went into effect on Nov. 1, is listed as a secondary enforcement law, where drivers can only be given a texting fine of up to $150 if pulled over for another violation. The law consists of multiple bills, including A8568, which states that “no person shall operate a motor vehicle while using any portable electronic device while such vehicle is in motion, with exceptions; provides that…

Charlie Fackler, a senior sociology major, was an all-league foward at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, N.Y. As a senior in high school he averaged 14.7 points and 10.6 rebounds. In his senior season his team went 14-7, including 9-3 in league. Throughout his high school career he produced 444 points. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Fackler will be a foward for the men’s basketball team. Preston Pena, junior accounting major, played basketball for three years of his high school career at Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem. The 6-foot guard helped his team advance to…

During a cold winter day at Binghamton University, you pulled out a map, found your dream location across the globe and got all ready to pack your bags for the following spring semester. Only one problem — how do you convince your parents to let you replace BU’s classrooms with those of a University halfway around the world? Having the opportunity to study abroad is an important part of your experience as an undergraduate student, but parents don’t always feel the same. The main concerns parents have about letting their student travel abroad are cost and safety, but if you…

The Bearcats men’s basketball team added six walk-on players to its roster Thursday after open tryouts were held earlier this month. According to a report from the Press & Sun-Bulletin, the six players were chosen from around 35 students who attended the tryouts. The new players include senior Charlie Fackler, junior Preston Pena, sophomore Anthony Valerio, and freshmen Ramon Bernardez, Javon Ralling and Mike Horn. “The roster for this season is finalized,” said interim athletic director Jim Norris. “Whoever emerged from the walk-on combined with the 11 [players] who are already in the program.” The walk-ons brought the team to…

The H1N1 flu vaccine has arrived at Binghamton University. To receive the free vaccine, students must provide a valid, signed ID, along with a signed consent form. These forms are available in advance on the H1N1 updates page at www2.binghamton.edu/news/updates/index.html. Students under the age of 18 must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian prior to attending the vaccination clinic. Additional clinics will be scheduled as necessary, while supplies last. A flu-station program is now available throughout the 26 resident assistant offices on campus. At these stations students can receive flu prevention packs which include alcohol prep…

Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur announced last week that she plans to establish the Task Force on Undergraduate Education for the Digital Generation this semester. This task force, similar to the 1999 Force for Improvement of Undergraduate Learning in the New Millenium, is one of DeFleur’s efforts to enhance the academic experience of BU students, said Gail Glover, BU spokeswoman. “We are in the early stages of formulating a plan and will soon be developing a committee to begin the assessment,” Glover said. “Committee members will be drawn from across the campus and include a range of University constituents.” The…

A goal-oriented organization on campus, VISION, acts as a living suggestion box to put into action the ideas and proposals of Binghamton University students. “Students can submit an idea, a suggestion or a proposal to VISION and no matter how developed or underdeveloped the idea is we can provide the student with the necessary tools to make it a reality,” said Nick Wan, the president of VISION. “Our motto is ‘make it happen.’” According to Amanda Hunte, a senior marketing major who submitted ideas to VISION, many students on campus have ideas that they want to see happen on campus,…

Binghamton University continues to face challenges within the athletic department, as men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus was placed on an indefinite paid leave of absence Wednesday. The move came after State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher sent a memo Monday requesting the full cooperation of President Lois DeFleur with the investigation of “allegations of misconduct at Binghamton.” In regard to Broadus’ leave, James Norris, interim athletic director at BU, said that the “continuing incidents of concern” related to the men’s basketball program do not measure up to the University’s high standards. The decision to place Broadus on leave…

The Binghamton University Student Assembly passed a resolution Monday night requesting that the Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary Ann Swain make a recommendation for the scale of the grade-point averages to be changed from 4.0 to 4.3. The resolution, written by Yadin Herzel, Assembly representative for Off Campus College Council, states that the “chromatic variants of letter grades, namely pluses and minuses, inherently and mathematically bias grade-point averages downward when only a downward variant exists for a given letter grade.” If the appropriate committees and BU officials approve the resolution, the grading scale will be a mathematically unbiased scale,…

A difference of one day put Binghamton University’s men’s basketball program back in the headlines. The Bearcats’ men’s basketball head coach Kevin Broadus violated NCAA recruiting rules last Tuesday when he spoke with two potential recruits a day after the contact period deadline for recruitment had passed. According to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball recruiting calendar, Monday, Oct. 5, marked the end of the contact period until it begins again in March. Broadus and assistant coach Marc Hsu had face-to-face contact with two students at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Mass., that Tuesday, the first day of the…

The ethnic music of your grandparents’ native countries may have seemed lost in time, until one Binghamton University alumnus and his WHRW radio show brought it back, with a twist. Daniel Jan Walikis, class of ‘77, was cautious when he first decided to combine the world of multi-ethnic folk and polka music with music therapy for his show at WHRW, BU’s free-format radio station. “I began to add bits of music therapy to my show under the radar so nobody would know what I was doing,” he said, laughing at how far he has come since he first started his…

New York state Gov. David Paterson ordered a $500 million cut in current-year spending for state agencies — $90 million of which will be cut directly from the State University of New York system. The cut reflects an approximate 11 percent decrease across the board from each state agency’s non-personal services budget, according to a press release from the office of the governor. The $500 million cut for the 2009-10 year, when combined with the 10 percent across-the-board reductions of the 2008-09 year, would save the state an annual recurring amount of $1.5 billion. The 2008-09 budget cut reduced funding…

The Binghamton University men’s basketball team is set to hold open tryouts this week for all interested students. Tryouts are scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in the Events Center and again on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the West Gym. According to Gail Glover, University spokeswoman, all students who plan to attend the tryouts should bring proof of having had a physical. “So far, about 25 students have expressed an interest in trying out,” Glover said. The decision to hold open tryouts came after the dismissal of six players from the team, including leading scorers from last year’s America…

Residents of Hillside Community’s Rockland Hall were evacuated Monday evening after a kitchen fire set off the building’s fire alarms and sprinkler system. “Officers responded to Rockland Hall for a fire alarm and sprinkler activation,” said Investigator Matthew C. Rossie of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. “On arrival they proceeded to the second floor and observed water gushing out from under the door of a suite. They confirmed that the fire was out and found that the kitchen stove vent and surrounding cabinets were burned and charred.” According to Douglas Rose, department chief of the Vestal Fire Department, the…

D.J. Rivera, a senior human development major, joined the Bearcats at the start of the 2008-09 season. Rivera was recruited from St. Joseph’s University where he averaged 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in the eight games he played for the Atlantic 10 program during the second semester. With a NCAA hardship waiver, he was allowed to play immediately upon arrival at Binghamton University. During last season’s AE title run, Rivera started in 30 of the 32 games he played and averaged 20 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. Before attending BU, senior Malik Alvin played for Chipola College in Florida,…

Graduate school representatives attending the Graduate School Fair, as well as students enrolled in the grad school programs at Binghamton University, are full of insight and advice for those applying. “We see a large population of students from BU interested in Adelphi each year,” said Jason Fuller, assistant director for admissions and graduate recruiter for Adelphi University. “Students we see are often ones who went away for [undergraduate degrees] and are looking at grad schools closer to home.” Fuller will be representing AU at the Fair, where he is recruiting for all of their graduate programs, which include psychology, business,…

Students gathered on campus Thursday for a rally meant to raise awareness of a national march aimed at gaining equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The National Equality March is scheduled for Oct. 11 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. “It is important that young people recognize equal rights as a moral imperative,” said Alliance for the Realization of Legal Equality President Sam Sussman. “The 14th Amendment states that no state should deny any person equal protection.” The purpose of the Student Association-chartered rally, which was hosted by the Rainbow Pride Union and their subgroup Out…

The Professional Fraternity Council will kick off their rush week Monday with United Rush, an informational meeting where students can learn about the eight professional fraternities and sororities. On Monday, the eight organizations included under PFC are set to gather in the Old Union Hall at 8 p.m. to meet potential new members. According to Robert Sayers, PFC president, this is the third United Rush since the PFC was formed in the fall of 2007 and chartered under Greek Life over the course of the 2008-09 school year. “Before when we weren’t chartered by Greek Life all of the professional…

Members of the campus community held various events and memorials Friday to commemorate the eighth anniversary of 9/11, honoring those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. To observe the anniversary, a memorial ceremony was set to take place at 8:40 a.m. in front of the Couper Administration Building, and at 8:46 a.m. a bell was scheduled to chime to symbolize the moment when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. “Several New York State University Police officers [participated] in a flag ceremony, followed by a moment of silence,” said a Binghamton University press release. “Flowers will also…

Binghamton University student George Hamelos is in serious condition at Wilson Regional Medical Center after being assaulted early Saturday morning outside a State Street bar, according to reports from The Press & Sun-Bulletin. The 20-year-old Bronx native was initially in critical condition after the incident, but he was upgraded to serious condition on Wednesday. Hamelos and alleged assailant 22-year-old Joseph Rojas of Oak Street, Binghamton, were involved in an altercation outside JT’s Tavern Bar on State Street at 3 a.m. on Saturday that led to the incident. Rojas was charged with second-degree assault, a felony and sent to Broome County…

Third Eye Blind and Kid Cudi will dual-headline the fall concert at Binghamton University on Oct. 11, bringing two very different sounds to the Events Center. The Student Association Programming Board informed Pipe Dream of the news on Wednesday. Kid Cudi, up-and-coming hip hop artist who is best known as Kanye West’s protege and co-wrote “Heartless” and “Paranoid” on West’s 2008 album, will be performing first. His debut album, “Man on the Moon,” will be released Sept. 15, which will include his two hit songs: “Day ‘n’ Nite” and “Make Her Say.” In August, Third Eye Blind came out with…

The executive board of the Student Association is ready to forgive and learn from the conflicts and controversies of last semester and start the new year with a clean slate. At the close of the spring semester, Elahd Bar-Shai, this year’s assembly chair, made racial comments toward last year’s SA Vice President for Finance Alice Liou in the SA office during an argument on April 26. After quorum was broken during an April 27 Assembly meeting, police were called following a series of racial slurs exchanged between three Assembly members. Bar-Shai was not involved on April 27. This dispute caused…

Binghamton University continued its campus makeover last school year, and now the fall 2009 semester reveals the next wave of the finished construction. Bingham Hall, the first building of the new East Campus dormitory communities, which will eventually replace both Newing and Dickinson Colleges, is officially open to students. The building is corridor style, with every three rooms sharing a bathroom. “The air conditioning in the new building is going to come in when the rest of the buildings are online because the unit itself is located in the new dining hall [named the Chenango Collegiate Center], which is scheduled…

After an initial election, a re-vote and two run-offs, our Student Association’s executive board for 2009-10 was elected, and they are ready to begin the new school year. The Student Association, Binghamton University’s on-campus student government, are behind almost every student-oriented activity or organization at BU. Every student is a member of the SA from the moment they enroll at BU, and the executive board is the voice for each student group and individual at school. The new SA president is senior Adam Amit. According to Amit, his main duty as president is to advocate and protect the interests of…

Despite the recession, the administration at Binghamton University continues to move forward with plans for a law school. Last year, state politicians guaranteed BU $3 million to fund the initial design and planning stages for a proposed law school. The money was locked into the 2008-09 state budget by State Sen. Tom Libous (R-C-I: Binghamton) and Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell), assemblywoman for the 126th district, because they said the proposal of a law school would benefit BU’s reputation and offer economic development for the city. “Binghamton University received $3.5 million from New York state; a half million is being used for…

After a school year’s worth of construction and renovation, the Old University Union will be reopened on schedule, in time for the start of the fall 2009 semester. Construction will wrap up the week of Aug. 15. During the next week, furniture will be moved in. Spaces being renovated inside what is known as the Old Union include meeting rooms, UU133, the Mandela Room, the Old Union Hall, lounges, the Tillman Lobby and the floors above and below those spaces, including the area around the bowling alley and the Undergrounds Cafe, home of Late Nite Binghamton. “The project has been…

Caps placed on registration for some English classes were completely lifted in recent weeks, but criticism of an introductory writing course, which multiple sources within the English Department said led to the caps in the first place, is still heavy. Teaching assistants were pulled away from the English classes to teach the course, WRIT 111, Gayle Whittier, an English professor, told Pipe Dream. This created the caps and stifled the TAs’ individuality because of WRIT 111’s rigid curriculum. Director of composition Kelly Kinney, the architect of the WRIT 111 course said it is not restrictive to TAs because of a…

Binghamton University students held a rally on Saturday protesting racist comments made by Student Assembly representatives at last week’s Assembly meeting. Members of Asian Outlook, as well as individuals from other student groups on campus, gathered during Spring Fling and hosted a protest they titled, “Rally Against Racism and Intolerance,” demanding those responsible for the racist comments be suspended from their Student Association and Assembly positions. “We decided to do this protest because this event was not the first time racist remarks were made by the SA,” said William To, editor in chief of Asian Outlook and organizer of the…

Avoiding this year’s squabbles is the main concern of the newly elected Student Association executive board members as they train for office. “Every office is different, but the one constant is that the best way to learn is to work with the current E-board member and begin doing their work and going to their meetings,” Adam Amit, president-elect of the Student Association, said. Despite the SA’s difficulties this semester, such as conflicts regarding the position of vice president for multicultural affairs, a drawn-out executive board election process, racial slurs, police being called and more, the new executive board members are…

The financial fate of campus student groups was decided on April 20, when the Student Assembly ratified the 2009-10 budget, leaving two groups without a budget and the rest seeing no significant changes from the 2008-09 financial plan. Around 180 student groups registered under the Student Association at Binghamton University for the 2008-09 school year were each allotted a portion of the approximately $700,000. Next year that total is set to approximately $800,000, but with the increase of the number of student groups to around 200, the actual budget did not change, a rare occurrence according to Alice Liou, SA…

Third time’s the charm! The Student Association 2009-10 executive board election results are finally in. Adam Amit will fill the seat of president with a closing vote of 710 to 634 victory over runner-up Jonathan LaSala. Matthew Allwood will take over the position of vice president for finance. Allwood closed the election with a 760 to 507 win against Abid Hossain. The Elections Committee, chaired by Mary Leonardo, counted the 1,366 ballots at record speed by 9:15 p.m. They had been looking forward to this day since mid-March, when the first election took place. “I am ecstatic and completely humbled,”…

Dr. Almir Olimpio Alves, a visiting assistant professor to Binghamton University from Brazil, could read and write English, but always had the desire to learn to speak fluently so he could tell his stories. Alves, 43, joined BU’s mathematical sciences department in September 2008, after receiving his doctorate in mathematics from the Federal University of Pernambuco in 2003. While at BU, Alves collaborated with Professor Pedro Ontaneda on common research projects in the general area of topology, a branch of geometry. According to a memorial for Alves on the BU mathematics department’s Web site, he chose to take classes at…

Suspicions of an unfair endorsement and a conflict of interest surrounded the BTV Channel 6 debate between the vice president of multicultural affairs candidates last week, leading one candidate to walk out. The event was moderated by current VPMA Maryam Belly. VPMA candidate Yadin Herzel made his campaign speech, then angrily left last Thursday’s debate after saying Belly was openly displaying a bias against him. Herzel placed a grievance against Belly for openly endorsing his opponent, candidate Ricky Da Costa, during both the sweeps and the BTV debate. This grievance was later withdrawn. “During sweeps Maryam, in one community, was…

With Student Association elections this week, the candidates for the executive board positions are trying to put a strong finish to their campaigns. “From what I can tell, all of the candidates have been perfect gentlemen throughout their campaigns,” Mary Leonardo, elections committee chair, said. “If they have questions or concerns about the rules or financial things, they call me. They are focused on following the rules and keeping things fair, which I’ve appreciated.” There are currently no grievances against any of the candidates, and according to Leonardo, none are anticipated. The candidates are still meeting with students across campus…

President: Adam Amit, a junior, is running because he wants to make the SA stronger by ending feuds amongst the executive board and doing what is best for the students. If elected, Amit plans to work with all of the entities of the SA to bring them together and have them communicate with each other. Amit said he has attended every community government meeting on campus and set up “Amit-and-Greets,” so the students can speak with him about their concerns. Amit’s favorite dessert is chocolate cake with molten fudge inside and vanilla ice cream on the outside. – Josh Berk,…

Andrew Block, the director of community relations for the city of Binghamton, attended last night’s Student Assembly meeting to discuss town-gown relations and off-campus housing. Block called his attendance at the meeting a “prelude to the main event.” Mayor Matthew Ryan is scheduled to attend the Assembly meeting on March 9 to further discuss the issue of housing in the city of Binghamton. Block began his discussion by addressing the relationship between the Binghamton University community and the city of Binghamton. “We [the city officials of Binghamton] do respect the student body, we do want to respect the student body,…

The Student Assembly passed a resolution last week requesting that Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Association Peter Spaet take appropriate measures to have academic department heads turn over SOOT surveys to students for class registration. The request for the release of the Student Opinion of Teaching (SOOT) forms was proposed to the Faculty Senate’s Educational Policy and Priorities Committee on Jan. 30. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the request and sent it to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee where it awaits approval. The committee can propose action by the full Faculty Senate, which meets about…

The Foundation for Individual Rights, or FIRE, visited Binghamton University in an effort to defend and promote individual rights here. Their visit follows an investigation of a student rights violation by a department at Binghamton University and the proposal of changes to the Student Code of Conduct. Adam Kissel, director of the individual rights defense program for FIRE, held a speech Wednesday night entitled “Liberty in Peril: The State of Freedom on Campus” in the Susquehanna Room of the Old University Union. According to their Web site, FIRE is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to defend and sustain individual…

Young women in the Binghamton area will have the opportunity to meet and learn from local female leaders at the third annual “Girls Take Charge” conference held at Binghamton University. The conference, which takes place Feb. 21 at the University Downtown Center, features keynote speaker Lea Webb. Webb, a Binghamton City Council member, was featured in Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine as a future female leader and was selected to attend the first O-White House Leadership Project. According to Jennifer Lawson, assistant director for non-credit programs of the Continuing Education and Outreach program at BU, Webb plans to discuss the trials…

The State University of New York Board of Trustees unanimously elected the new permanent chancellor of the 64-campus system on Tuesday. Dr. Nancy Zimpher, the current president of University of Cincinnati, was named the 12th chancellor of SUNY. According to a SUNY press release, Zimpher is the first woman to hold the position since the SUNY system started 60 years ago. “Nancy Zimpher’s considerable skills in managing complex institutions of higher education will enable her to advance the SUNY system to new heights,” said Cornell University President David Skorton in a press release. Skorton is a member of the search…

Parking Lot T, the new overnight parking lot located behind Johnson Hall in Dickinson Community, opened early last week, providing 85 new spots for student drivers. Lot T is designated an overnight lot, said Dan Chambers, deputy chief of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The other part of Lot T, which runs parallel to the road, will remain as a commuter snow lot, which can only be parked in during the day. “The lot is a step forward,” Chambers said. “We needed the spaces by East Campus. Hopefully this lot will remedy the parking situation a little bit. It…

Student Association executive board members are planning amendments to strengthen the position of vice president for multicultural affairs, just months after students rallied to try to save the office. Last semester an amendment was proposed which, if passed, would have put the fate of the VPMA position up to a campus referendum. The amendment, submitted by Mountainview College Assembly representative Adam Shamah, crossed out all mentions of the position in the SA constitution. But SA President Matt Landau wants to keep the post. “I’m proposing a constitutional amendment to the position that would create five more jobs for the VPMA,…

Binghamton University has seen an increase in applicants for the fall 2009 semester, potentially putting pressure on admissions, housing and financial aid. “Undergraduate applications are still coming in, but in general the number of applications to date have exceeded last year’s number of 25,940,” Director of Undergraduate Recruitment Brian Hazlett said. According to the BU undergraduate admissions Web site, 26,592 applications were reviewed for the fall 2008 semester, a jump from the 25,243 applications received for fall 2007. Out of the fall 2008 applicants, only 2,400 freshmen were enrolled for the beginning of the year. In fall 2007 2,218 freshmen…

As the end of the semester nears, excitement for winter break is paired with the dread of final exams for most students. In preparation for their tests, many Binghamton University students find creative and sometimes odd places to spend hours studying for exams. “Last semester I basically lived in the library for a week with a group of my friends,” said Jennifer Rosen, a sophomore majoring in history and economics. “I ended up sleeping in the library on an air mattress that a bunch of people I was studying with had. We ate all our meals there and I practically…

Students at Binghamton University mourned the loss of more than 170 lives from the terrorist attacks last week in Mumbai, India, at a memorial Tuesday and plan to do so again this afternoon. A memorial service was held at the Chabad Center to honor members of the Jewish community killed in the attacks, specifically two colleagues of BU’s Chabad Center, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivkah, who died at the Chabad center they directed in Mumbai. Joshua Khakshoor, a sophomore economics major, said around 200 students and local residents attended the memorial service. “Each member of the Chabad faculty…

Harpur College Dean’s Workshop on Science Studies is sponsoring a lecture on the technologies of railroad construction in 19th century colonial India, on Monday, Dec. 8. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Fernand Braudel Center, Academic Building A, room 330 at 4:30 p.m. “The workshop involves an issue in the history of science that one of the participants in the workshop has proposed,” Gerald Kutcher, coordinator of the dean’s workshop, said. “It’s a workshop in which individuals in different areas of science studies present areas of interest,” he said. Binghamton University…

The Student Assembly unanimously passed a resolution last night to support a proposed SUNY tuition hike — if it meets a certain precondition, that is. Mixed views about Gov. David Paterson’s proposed budget cuts were expressed at the meeting, as the resolution, written by Student Association President Matt Landau and Assembly Chair Josh Berk, passed only after a long period of debate. “What this resolution will do is say that BU students would hope that there are no additional cuts after the cuts that Gov. Paterson made last year and the ones he proposed on Wednesday,” Landau said. “We must…

The pressure was on last week as students from Binghamton University competed at the Extreme Accounting Campus Competition in front of a panel from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The PwC Extreme Accounting (xAct) Competition, which took place on campus Tuesday, Nov. 11, is held annually at schools across the nation. Students enrolled in BU accounting courses formed 21 teams of five participants each to register. “Being involved in this competition is as close to a real world [business] experience as we provide on campus,” Elliot Kamlet, a professor in the School of Management, said. The winning team, which included junior Laura Vollmer, sophomore…

A full recovery is expected for a Binghamton University student who contracted bacterial meningitis while studying abroad during the spring semester in 2007. Mayra Rodriguez, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law at the time, was studying in Salamanca, Spain, when she fell ill. She contracted the disease on Jan. 26, 2007, three weeks into the semester. Rodriguez, now 22 years old, has returned to her home in White Plains after spending months in New York City hospitals. To improve speaking, reading and writing skills that were weakened by the disease, Rodriguez has participated in several different rehabilitation programs.…

As voters hit the polls across the nation today, Binghamton University professors are weighing in on who the next president will be, and the effect his presidency will have on the United States. On Monday, the last day before the election, both candidates ended their campaigns as they held final rallies in multiple swing states. According to CNN’s average of national polls posted Monday afternoon, Sen. John McCain was trailing Sen. Barack Obama by seven percentage-points. “Any professor who tells you he knows [who will win the election] is kidding,” John McNulty, a professor in the political science department, said.…

A proposal by the Student Association would have positioned Mayor Matt Ryan of Binghamton and Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader at a round table discussion next week. But because of scheduling conflicts within Ryan’s office, the meeting, which would have taken place at Binghamton University, could not occur. Ryan will be campaigning for Barack Obama and will not be in the city of Binghamton during the coming days before the election, according to Andrew Block, director of Community Relations for the city of Binghamton. Josh Berk, Student Assembly chair for the Student Association, came up with the proposal and promoted…

After months of hard work and planning, five members from different fraternities at Binghamton University came out this weekend to compete in the 23rd annual Greek God Competition. Matt Beck, a senior in Chi Phi who is working on a double concentration in marketing and international business in the School of Management, was named Mr. Greek God. Daniel Jakaitis, a sophomore of Zeta Beta Tau, was runner-up. The event is hosted each year by the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority. All ticket sales, T-shirt sales and money collected for Penny Wars — a competition between the greek organizations during Campus Wars…

Binghamton University’s Health Services is receiving a $1.5 million grant from the Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Foundation. The grant will be used to fund renovations and upgrades that will improve services to students and increase partnership with local health care agencies. The Health Services facility was built in the 1960s and has had minimal updates since its original opening, according to Johann Fiore-Conte, the administrative director of Health Services. “The building was built at a time when health care was delivered in a different way from how we deliver it now,” Fiore-Conte said. “Student’s health issues were…

Binghamton University students are seeing an increase in the price of Escape bus tickets for both weekend and holiday trips, as costs rise from $45 round trip to $65 this school year. According to John Criscuolo, executive director of Escape, the ticket prices were first affected in January 2008 when the price of diesel fuel went up. Since the ticket price has been $45 round trip for the past 10 years, Escape has been facing a deficit due to the ever-rising gas prices. “It’s not that we want to [raise the prices], we were just being too nice for too…

More than 111 businesses and companies from across the country are coming to Binghamton University this week to recruit students at this year’s Job and Internship Fair. The Career Development Center is holding the Fair tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Events Center. Nancy Paul, director of the CDC, said that the Fair is a great opportunity for all students, no matter what type of career they’re looking into. “One of the points we want students to know [about the Job Fair] is that 25 percent of these employers are looking for students of any major,” Paul…

A student-run organization that provides fun alternatives to drug and alcohol use on campus is re-launching with the hope of starting chapters at colleges and universities across the country. “Rather than preach to students, we want to showcase the many ways you can have fun without alcohol and drugs on a college campus,” said Ken Procaccianti, founder and CEO of Hammered, which was originally founded at Northeastern University in 2002. According to Procaccianti, the goal of Hammered is to tear down the stigma that if you don’t drink, you’re a “dork.” The organization hosts events and activities such as concerts,…

State University of New York schools will see a $96.3 million budget cut this year, on account of the governor’s economic plan. In total, Gov. David Paterson’s plan is slated to reduce budget spending by $630 million during the current fiscal year. SUNY in particular is being hit with a $96,322,000 budget reduction, one of the highest budget cuts on the list of the 2008-09 Financial Plan, second only to the Department of Correctional Services, which will be facing a cut of $168.1 million. Binghamton University will see a reduction of slightly more than $2.3 million, announced President Lois B.…

More freshmen at Binghamton University are living in temporary triples and converted lounges than ever before — and although these living situations are said to be temporary, some may last through the beginning of the spring semester. That’s according to a “Frequently Asked Questions” guide from Residential Life, which aims to explain this semester’s housing shortage. A temporary triple is a standard double room that has been tripled by adding an extra bed and dresser. Students can request an additional desk and chair if space is available. A converted lounge, which can hold between four and six residents, is set…

While some will be tanning at the beach this summer, a Binghamton University alumnus will be driving 10,000 miles from across continents in a beat-up, old car to raise money for charity. Paul Shively, a BU graduate from the class of 2005, and his friend Scott Partenheimer will be driving from London to Mongolia in the fifth annual Mongol Rally. The Rally has attracted 500 teams who will travel from Hyde Park, London, to Mongolia’s capital city, Ulaan Bataar, to raise money for charity and for the sheer adventure of the experience. “The point is not to see who can…

Officials from the City of Binghamton are teaming up with students and faculty of Binghamton University for a forum on the livability of the City in hopes of closing the gap between the two communities. The forum, which is next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the University Union West Lounge, will include Mayor Ryan and Director of Off Campus College Dave Husch, among other speakers. It will cover a range of topics, from the City’s cultural side to employment. “The forum theme is the livability in the City of Binghamton,” said Andrew Block, director of community relations for the City.…

The dark, dirty and hidden world of the college party, bar and drinking scene will be revealed at a photography exhibit hosted by The Rathskeller on State Street Friday, May 2. “For so many people our age, college is made up of two realities: The one made up of class, homework and extracurriculars that they go through during the daytime, and the one they keep hidden from their parents, professors and future employers — the one that comes alive at night,” explained Shahed Serajuddin, the photographer whose pictures are on display in this exhibit called the Party Room. Serajuddin, a…

Next year’s Graduate Student Organization president says her goals include strengthening the ties between the organization and the rest of the University and fighting for graduate student rights. Jessie Kabwila Kapasula, who is attending BU’s Graduate School for comparative literature, will be president of the GSO for the 2008-2009 school year. GSO elections for the upcoming year were held on Monday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 8 in the Graduate Student Lounge. Voting is done through a ballot system on campus, but in future years e-voting through Blackboard will be a possibility. Kapasula said she intends to build on the…

Binghamton University students who live off campus and area residents will soon feel the affects of a jump in local water and cable rates. Water rates for the City of Binghamton are expected to rise by 40 percent by this time next year, and Time Warner Cable will increase their package rates by an average of about 2.6 percent. “Water rates in the Binghamton area are to go up this August, but will not be reflected until the December 2008 billing,” said Andrew Block, director of community relations in the City of Binghamton. The cost of water will initially increase…

College students tend to use Facebook as a tool for procrastination from their studies, but some students at Binghamton University may now use the Web site to help focus academic careers. Academic advisers from Harpur College of Arts and Sciences created a Facebook group last week in an effort to reach students within the school and keep them up to speed on important information through the popular site. Within 24 hours of being created, the group had over 600 members from Binghamton University. Ashley Brisco, a general academic adviser in Harpur and creator of the Facebook group, said that staff…

They don’t march around campus in straight lines wearing camouflage pants and red hoodies anymore. They don’t have restrictions on who they can talk to. And they’re no longer obligated to publicly chant and give formal greetings around campus. Newcomers to Binghamton University’s Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau aren’t following the traditional process for pledges of the multicultural fraternity. Instead, through activities like community service, they’re encouraged to be better contributors to society. The change is part of the multicultural fraternity’s recent push to build up their chapter, which has three members, and pick up a “non-hazing membership process,” said…

A group of six Binghamton University students accused of violating a West Side housing law last semester plan to defend themselves as a family in an open hearing scheduled for next week. In early December, two BU professors filed a complaint against their six student neighbors for violating the R-1 zoning law, which calls for only “factional and functional families” to live in a specific block of streets on the city’s West Side. The Zoning Ordinance of the Planning, Housing & Community Development Department of the City of Binghamton includes criteria like “whether the occupants share the entire dwelling unit…

Binghamton University students and faculty may want to keep their rain boots and umbrellas handy this semester as an increase in severe downpours is projected in the area due to conditions caused by global warming, according to a recent report. A report released this month by Environment America, a federation of environmental advocacy organizations, says that global warming has caused an increase in the intensity of precipitation patterns across the United States. Global warming affects weather patterns by “increasing the temperature of the land and the oceans” and “enabling the atmosphere to hold more water vapor,” the report states. Although…

As finals week falls upon us, students across campus are heading to quiet spots and breaking open their books. Some students feel more comfortable studying in their rooms, while others will grab their books and notes and camp out in the library. Most students have their own favorite and secret study locations that help them pass their exams during the stressful week. If you need to change up your study habit, these locations seem to be popular choices; it all depends on what works for you. But finding a comfortable and convenient place to study is a challenge for some…

Students within the State University of New York system will see a 5 percent tuition increase take effect at the beginning of the next school year, as the SUNY Board of Trustees approved a 2008-2009 budget request, known as the SUNY Compact, last Tuesday. In addition to the tuition hike, SUNY is also requesting an 8.5 percent increase, totaling nearly $100 million, in tax-payer dollars received by the system. According to David Henahan, a SUNY spokesman, the budget increase will be used to hire 1,000 additional full-time faculty members across SUNY campuses. Binghamton University President Lois B. DeFleur said she…

The Mandela Room in the Old University Union will be full of music, dancing and decorations this Thursday night, as the Student Association Programming Board and Residential Life host their first ever student formal, the Winter Snow Ball. The Winter Snow Ball is a semi-formal event sponsored by the SA programming board. All students are invited to attend and are asked to dress in semi-formal attire. “There is a consistent group of individuals on the Snow Ball Committee,” says Justina DeMott, chair of the SAPB’s College Community Programming Committee, “including resident assistants who have contributed many hours to this event…

Binghamton University students will be drinking Red Bulls and pulling all-nighters the week before finals, but the Student Association hopes they’ll take a break to spread a little holiday cheer to the Binghamton community. The SA is holding their 18th annual Holiday Drive, which raises money in order to purchase gifts to benefit local families in need. Departments and organizations across BU’s campus have been registering to provide holiday gifts to disadvantaged families with young children in the Binghamton school district. “The fact that we are directly benefiting families in the Binghamton area makes this opportunity unique,” said SA President…

According to a recent article listed on careerbuilder.com, Binghamton is one of the top ten cities in the United States with the smallest job growth — a ranking that has some city residents doubting the document’s credibility. The information for the article was based on the annual “Best Places for Businesses and Careers” list, produced by Forbes.com, said Kate Lorenz, a spokeswoman for careerbuilder.com. Forbes.com lists 200 United States cities in the article. Out of those 200, Binghamton, with an estimated population of 249,000, was given an overall ranking of 149. Each city’s overall listing is based on a number…

Johnson City village board members approved a construction permit in mid-October for the debated second Wal-Mart in Broome County. The 132,000 square-foot mega store, which is set to open in 2009, will be constructed on the brownfield site at 14 Lester Ave. The property, which was once the Endicott-Johnson Ranger-Paracord site, has been vacant for 18 years. “We need to bring life back into the community and this is a way to do it,” said Johnson City Mayor Harry Lewis. Construction is not anticipated until spring 2008, according to Marc Newman of Newman Development Group. The state Department of Environmental…

The 2008 Senior Class Council — which plans the senior picnic, graduation, Bar Crawl, Bearcat Day and other events — held its first meeting Tuesday. The five members are “a diverse group with different interests,” said President Carrie Gerber, a philosophy, politics and law major. “Together we will be able to collaborate on a lot of different things that will appeal to everyone in the senior class.” The council was not chosen by elections, but through an application process. Student Association President David Bass put out applications for the president two weeks into the school year and then interviewed those…

The greek community came together this past weekend as five separate fraternity members competed to earn the title of Greek God in the competition’s 22nd year at Binghamton University. The winner of the 2007 Greek God competition was Adam Morelli of Zeta Beta Tau, and first runner up was Nicholas Sepe of Phi Kappa Psi. Each year a number of fraternities and sororities participate in the Greek God festivities and donate the proceeds to the host sorority’s charity — this year the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation. “I think it’s great how all of greek life gets involved to raise…