Finals week is a stressful time and many students search for the perfect method of studying. Sometimes, students resort to medications that can improve focus, attention span and the ability to retain information. Prescription medication, such as Adderall, Ritalin, Strattera and Concerta, are often prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder, but abuse of these pills has become a growing trend on college campuses because they are known to improve the user’s ability to focus, work and learn. This trend has caused the American College Health Association to advise college health providers to be aware of the prevalence of prescription stimulus abuse…

FRIDAY, April 23, 11 a.m. — A female student and a 45-year-old male coach reported harassment at the hands of a non-local male who had been calling the coach repeatedly since April 19, Investigator Dennis P. Bush of the New York State University Police said. The non-local was reportedly concerned about a relationship his daughter was in on campus, and had been calling the coach, asking him to do something about it. Police called the suspect and advised him that students are adults and it is not the coach’s job to deal with this issue. The suspect was told not…

Ellipsis, Binghamton University’s newest undergraduate literary journal, will release its first issue next week, joining the ranks of published works on campus. The editors will hold a launch party at 8 p.m. Tuesday in room 252 of the Old University Union, where copies of the issue will be sold for $1. Prior to Ellipsis, the only literary journal on campus has been the semi-annual undergraduate- and graduate-edited journal, Harpur Palate, which has been in print since 2000. “Our goal is to be the voice of the undergraduate literary community,” Marissa Fielstein, president of Ellipsis and a sophomore majoring in English,…

The Center for Excellence in Student Leadership (XCEL) will host the annual XCELsior Awards Thursday to recognize outstanding achievement and leadership by groups and individuals on campus. The awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall. The event will recognize fraternities, sororities and Student Association-chartered groups that excel in a variety of categories. Awards will be given in categories such as outstanding program, SA program of the semester, fundraising effort of the year, student organization of the year and student organization leader of the year. Recipients will receive plaques while runners-up will receive…

TUESDAY, April 20, 4:46 p.m. — Police responded to a report of grand larceny at the College-in-the-Woods Dining Hall when a 45-year-old female employee reported that an unknown suspect had used an ID card that belonged to another student, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The employee said that the card belonged to a 19-year-old male student who had reported his card missing several days earlier. Officers confirmed that it was the student’s missing ID card that had been used, and advised the said student to file a police report and request reimbursement. Police…

Two student groups will partner to host a 5K children’s walk on Binghamton University’s campus to raise funding and awareness for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). BU chapters of UNICEF and SUNY Kids are set to host the event starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Old University Union’s Tillman Lobby. The walk is planned to take place on the outer walkway of campus, known as “the Brain,” then cut through the middle of campus — equaling approximately three miles, Arti Fotedar, president of BU’s chapter of UNICEF, said. UNICEF is an international humanitarian organization created in 1946 that…

FRIDAY, April 16, 10:28 a.m. — Residents from Hinman College’s Smith Hall reported two suspects, a 19-year-old male student and a 32-year-old male non-student, soliciting from within the hall, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Patrol arrived and identified the suspects present. The non-student was giving out menus for his workplace, and the student was handing out coupons related to his fraternity. Both were advised that soliciting on campus was prohibited except under unique circumstances, and that they would have to stop or they would be arrested. Both suspects complied and no charges or…

More than 70 protesters gathered in the rain outside of the Armed Forces Recruitment Center at University Plaza Friday in objection to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The rally was planned four days after Binghamton University student Charlotte Rendon was rejected from enlisting on the grounds of her sexual orientation. Protesters held picket signs, some stating, “Silence is not golden,” supporting gays in the military. Some wore duct tape over their mouths in a show of solidarity, while others chanted and shouted their support of Rendon’s cause. Event organizers met with officers from Vestal Police Department prior to…

FRIDAY, April 9, 1:04 a.m. — A group of about 50 individuals followed a resident into Dickinson Community’s Johnson Hall, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The group was from the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program (JUMP Nation), who tabled in the New University Union earlier that day. Police arrived, but could not find anyone from JUMP Nation who was a resident in Johnson Hall and ordered the group to disperse. All of them complied, and no arrests or charges were made. SATURDAY, April 10, 4:10 a.m. — A taxi operator flagged down a patrol…

Enough is Enough, a national campaign against domestic violence, will host a week-long series of educational events throughout this week on campus, as well as other academic institutions across the country. “… We have noticed some violent acts on college campuses,” Beth Riley, counselor and coordinator of Sexual Assault Programs at BU, said. “It’s [the week of events] a national program to call attention to Enough is Enough; we’ve had enough of violence.” According to Riley, the purpose of the campaign is to show that when people come together and talk about their concerns, it increases tolerance and safety. The…

The American Civic Association Memorial Committee used its Web site to unveil the finalized design of the memorial to commemorate the lives lost in the April 3 shooting. Although the design plans are finalized, construction won’t start until the $150,000 needed to build the memorial is raised. In late March, Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan announced the opening of a trust fund dedicated to the ACA memorial. The fund was open to contributions from all sources, individual and corporate alike. Many local residents have already donated to the fund, raising the total to $12,000. David Marsland, chairman of the ACA Memorial…

THURSDAY, Mar. 25, 11 p.m. — In Hillside Community’s Evangola Hall, a 20-year-old female student received a call on her cell phone from a blocked number, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police Department. The caller, whose voice the victim did not recognize, stated that he heard somewhere that he could get “serviced” if he called her number. The student told the caller not to call back and hung up before calling the police. Police have no suspects. FRIDAY, Mar. 26, 6:51 a.m. — A 46-year-old male Binghamton University employee reported that his 41-year-old wife,…

FRIDAY, Mar. 19, 9:16 p.m. — Patrol spotted nine suspects (eight females and one male) putting blindfolds on nine victims (also eight females and one male) and seating them in the backseats of several cars in the Y1 parking lot by Hunter Hall of Mountainview College, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of the New York State University Police. Patrol approached and asked what they were doing, but both the suspects and victims were uncooperative to questions. They denied having used blindfolds, but eventually admitted they had upon further questioning. They also denied that this was an event for Greek Life,…

MONDAY, March 15, 3:35 p.m. — After receiving a nameless homework assignment with the words “I want to kill you” written on the front page, a 30-year-old female teaching assistant reported it as harassment to University police, saying that she felt threatened, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of the New York State University Police. The TA has taught the class since receiving the paper and has had no further incidents. Because the paper was nameless, there are no suspects. The case is going through the Office of Student Conduct. TUESDAY, March 16, 7:10 a.m. — A 60-year-old female cleaning employee…

Teams made up of members from the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council will compete in a dodgeball tournament to raise money for prostate cancer research. Pi Lambda Phi fraternity is hosting the first annual tournament, which will take place in the East Middle School at 167 Frederick St., Binghamton from 1:45 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Teams consisting of five to six players, with five on the court at any given time, paid a registration fee of $60. Non-participants will be charged an entrance fee of $3. These fees will grant the payer access to all of the raffles that…

THURSDAY, March 11, 3:35 p.m. — A supervisor in the East Gym called the police after a 19-year-old male student attempted to enter the facility using someone else’s student ID, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. When officers on patrol arrived, they identified the student to whom the ID belonged and contacted him. The ID owner admitted that he had allowed his roommate to use the card to gain entry to the East Gym after his privileges had been revoked due to a previous violation of the law. Police confiscated the ID and advised…

The Thrill Speakers Toastmasters Club provides undergraduate and graduate students alike a place to practice making speeches, build confidence and gain leadership skills. In the Binghamton area alone, there are five separate Toastmasters groups, although they vary in membership and participation. At Binghamton University, the Toastmasters Club is called Thrill Speakers. Matthew Grenier, president of the BU Toastmasters Club, which has been around for approximately 10 years, said that there are currently 15 members. “But sometimes there are as few as five, which makes meetings very difficult,” he said. “It is a challenge to get people to come, but guests…

SATURDAY, Feb. 27, 9:47 a.m. — A 53-year-old female member of the cleaning staff in Delaware Hall of Newing College reported several burned pieces of paper on and around a toilet seat in a stall on the second floor of the building, according to Dennis P. Bush of the New York State University Police. In addition to the burnt paper, there were several burn marks on the walls and floors of two of the stalls. The case is classified as arson in the fifth degree, but there were no witnesses and police have no suspects. SUNDAY, Feb. 28, 4:17 a.m.…

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 17, 9:23 p.m. — Patrol received report of an odor of marijuana coming from one of the rooms in Rafuse Hall of Dickinson Community, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The local resident director and resident assistant of the hall in question met with police and brought them to the room, where the occupant opened the door and willingly spoke with them. When police told him of the odor, the 19-year-old male suspect became agitated and stated that this was the second time in the last week that he had been accused…

Members of the Student Association are making changes to the executive board election process to avoid the many recounts and runoff elections that occurred last year. “Our system has been in place for a while and we’ve noticed a lot of problems with it,” SA President Adam Amit said. “We thought outside the box to see how we can improve the system.” Elections Committee chair Karen Galán has outlined several specific changes, as well as new additions, to the SA elections system. The elections board requires that candidates hand in all their receipts for purchases made toward their campaign, but…

University Plaza Apartments provides Binghamton University students with a close, comfortable and convenient place to live while attending classes. Students may lose some of this convenience, however, when UP begins charging students $150 per academic year for parking. “I think it’s just another way to take money from students,” Gabby D’Annunzio, a sophomore political science major who plans to live in UP next semester, said. “[The fees] should be less than or equal to what off-campus students pay, or something else should be considered.” According to Corky Gatewood, vice president of marketing and professional development of the Ambling Management Company,…

One new fraternity recently received its charter, and another is in the process of applying for recognition under the Interfraternity Council (IFC) at Binghamton University. Before these changes, there were 15 chartered fraternities, some of whom are unhappy with the addition of new fraternities. Delta Sigma Phi, a newly chartered fraternity, and Alpha Epsilon Pi, a fraternity that is trying to recreate a chapter at BU, are stirring up controversy among current members of BU’s Greek Life by trying to find their place in the Interfraternity Council (IFC). The IFC is an executive board that is composed of all the…

TUESDAY, Feb. 2, 10:56 p.m. — An 18-year-old male student reported his wallet containing $50, a credit card and a debit card stolen from a cubby in the East Gym, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim left a pair of pants containing the wallet in one of the cubbies and went to work out. When he returned, both items were gone. Police have no suspects. TUESDAY, Feb. 2, 11 p.m. — A 21-year-old male student tried to pay for a pizza he ordered that evening with a counterfeit $20 bill, Bush said.…

SUNDAY, Jan. 31, 1:31 a.m. — A 27-year-old taxi driver called University police after a 21-year-old male student punched out the back window of his cab, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Officers on patrol arrived and the victim reported that the student had broken the window off its lower hinges and tried to climb out following a dispute over being driven to Hillside Community. The student admitted to breaking the window and stated that he had done so to escape after the disagreement. The taxi driver said that he did not want the…

FRIDAY, Jan. 22, 2:30 p.m. — A 44-year-old male contractor working on the Newing College Dining Hall construction reported having been harassed by a 44-year-old male Binghamton University employee repeatedly since November 2009, Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police said. According to the contractor, who is from outside of Binghamton, the suspect accused him of taking jobs from the local area. No action has yet been taken. SATURDAY, Jan. 23, 9:46 p.m. — Officers responded to a call from Rafuse Hall in Dickinson Community after a female member of Residential Life reported the smell of…

A memorial intended to send a message of peace, and symbolize the 13 lives cut short at the American Civic Association shooting, is set to be constructed next fall. The memorial will be located at the southeast corner of the intersection between Front and Clinton streets in Binghamton. The city has opted to establish a trust fund for not only the memorial itself, but the building, maintenance and upgrades to Tyler Park, which is located at the northeast corner of that intersection, as well as the surrounding area. Through a unanimous Jan. 20 vote, the City Council approved the creation…

Most students who use the Internet know of Facebook as a way to stay in touch with friends and waste time in between classes and homework — and even during classes and homework. Facebook is not the only Web site students use to procrastinate. It is part of a long list, including YouTube, Twitter, Digg, CollegeHumor, StumbleUpon and Kongregate. “If [Internet usage] is interfering with the priorities that a student has for their academics or position that they hold on campus, then I think it’s too much,” Ashley Brisco, an academic adviser in Harpur Advising at Binghamton University, said. Brisco…

Based on statistics over the past five years from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 60 percent of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported to the police. According to a recent report titled “Sexual Assault on Campus,” published by The Center for Public Integrity, there are many barriers that prevent students from coming forth to report sexual assault. The report states that because the victim of a rape or sexual assault is frequently in an altered state of mind during the rape, either due to alcohol or drugs, it is often nearly impossible for the victim to identify…

The New York State University Police Officers Union is looking to consolidate its individual police forces, including Binghamton University’s, into one centralized force. On Nov. 17, James McCartney, president of the University Police Officers Union, gave testimony to the SUNY Board of Trustees outlining the multitude of inefficiencies in the state’s university police departments, as well as explaining ways to alleviate them. There are currently 28 different police departments across SUNY campuses, each one operating as a sovereign police force with its own rules, regulations and policies. “Because they’re not centralized, there are too many losses,” McCartney said. “We have…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded Binghamton University $2.2 million in grants for various research projects in everything from organic chemistry to psychology to anthropology. These grants will help BU obtain newer equipment and retain employees. “I got several grants,” said Mohammad Younis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “Most of them are from the National Science Foundation; we compete amongst each other, and if they like an idea, they will fund [it].” The NSF sponsors about 10,000 research projects per year, judged with rigorous, merit-based criteria to see if they qualify. “My advisers, when I was in grad school,…

Though there have been few events at Binghamton University that have required a lockdown or evacuation, officials have a detailed list of procedures in the case of an emergency situation. The list, titled the Department Emergency Evacuation Plan, includes guidelines ranging from how to deal with a civil disturbance or protest gone wrong to a natural disaster. “[The emergency procedures] are updated annually,” said Connie Corey, associate director of Environmental Health and Safety on campus. “They are used to pre-plan for emergencies that may require the evacuation of a building. Building administrators are in charge of coordinating their building’s written…

FRIDAY, Nov. 13, 8:16 a.m. — A 19-year-old female student in Hinman College’s Hughes Hall received several consecutive, indecipherable calls on her cell phone, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. After these initial calls, the victim received an additional call in which the unknown suspect spoke to her in a threatening manner. When the victim received a call from another unknown male approximately half an hour later, she called the police. Police currently have no suspects; this case is pending investigation and several reports of similar cases have been reported around campus. Any student…

TUESDAY, Nov. 10, 11:30 a.m. — A female employee of Health Services reported receiving repeated calls from a collections agency due to failure to pay her bills, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. When the collections agency caller threatened to have her arrested, the victim reported it to the police. Patrol called the collections agency and advised the caller that he should take the victim to civil court rather than calling her at work. The agent stated that he would not call again, and would address the case civilly. WEDNESDAY, Nov. 11, 1:55 a.m.…

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 11:35 p.m. — A 19-year-old male student in Hinman College’s Whitney Hall accidentally broke a window in the study lounge, Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police said. A 21-year-old female resident assistant was in the RA office with a student when the two heard a loud noise and saw a window break in the nearby study lounge. Officers on patrol arrived on the scene and identified the student who did it. He claimed full responsibility and told officers he had been kicking a soccer ball around when it hit the window, breaking…

Officials have confirmed one “mild” case of H1N1 influenza on campus, and say that Health Services is seeing increased incidences of respiratory illness. Another case was confirmed in Broome County at the Wadsworth State Laboratory in Albany on Oct. 27. “There has been a rapid nationwide increase in the number of H1N1 cases,” said Gail Glover, spokeswoman for BU. “Binghamton University’s incident management team continues to monitor the situation. The Incident Management Team (IMT) came together in the spring and will continue to work to manage issues relating to H1N1 flu.” Donald Nieman, the dean of Harpur College of Arts…

THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 3:27 p.m. — Police recovered the wallet of an 18-year-old male student from a lost-and-found bin, Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police said. Upon checking inside, they found a student ID, a driver’s license and a non-government emergency photo card for residents of New York, which contained a photo of the student that matched the photo on the driver’s license, although the date of birth did not match. The suspect was called and informed that his wallet had been found. He came to the police station and, after verifying it was his,…

THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 10:23 p.m. — A 40-year-old male Sodexo employee reported a case of harassment in the New University Union Food Court, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The victim stated that he had been arguing with a female employee over the prevalence of stealing in the dining hall, and had asked her to empty her drawer so that she could punch out of her shift. Another male arrived, claiming to be the woman’s husband, and threatened violence against the victim; however, he left before any altercation took place. Patrol arrived and located…

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 7:07 p.m. — Campus police acquired a warrant to search a room for drugs in Mountainview College’s Marcy Hall, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Four arrests were made, including two 20-year-old males and two 19-year-old males, all students. Police seized a large amount of marijuana that had been stored in the room, as well as several pieces of drug-related paraphernalia. All four suspects were issued appearance tickets for Vestal Town Court for Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2:10 a.m. — An unknown suspect reportedly stole a $175…

Each class at Binghamton University has a council of students devoted to helping their peers, planning activities and creating a memorable college experience. In addition, these class councils, representing the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, work with the students they represent to deal with any problems they may be having. “The Freshman Class Council’s role is to unite the Class of 2013 and raise class and school spirit through planning class events, and fundraising for these events,” said Danielle Kutas, the president of the Freshman Class Council. “Ultimately, we want to make sure the Class of 2013 leaves a significant…

FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 3:48 p.m. — Patrol responded to a report of a stolen backpack in the East Gym, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. A 19-year-old male student reported that while working out in the gym, he had left his backpack unsecured in a cubby. Upon returning, the backpack and its contents were gone. The contents included a $250 wallet, $100 cash inside the wallet, a $20 cell phone and the $15 backpack. Police have no suspects. SATURDAY, Oct. 10, 2:16 p.m. — A party of male suspects entered a 19-year-old female student’s…

Binghamton University will host its fourth annual 5K race, known as “Tour DeFleur,” on campus this Saturday. The event will be held near the East Gym at 11 a.m., and is expected to bring in more participants and spectators than ever before. “Last year’s race had about 70 runners,” said Cindy Cowden, associate director of BU campus recreational services. “Each year the numbers have increased. This year we hope to top 100 runners.” All proceeds from the race will go to the Eating Awareness Committee on campus. “The committee uses these funds to support educational programming, consultations and referrals to…

MONDAY, Oct. 5, 11:06 p.m. — A 23-year-old male Sodexo worker reported property missing at the College-in-the-Woods Dining Hall, Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police said. Officers arrived and spoke to the victim who explained that he had arrived for work at 9:30 that night, leaving his backpack on the floor of the locker room in back. Upon returning about an hour later he found that his computer was missing, although the backpack itself was still present. Police spoke to the victim’s co-workers, but there are currently no suspects or witnesses. The computer is an…

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 12:52 p.m. — A 20-year-old female student was walking to her community from the East Gym when a red SUV pulled up next to her, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The driver, a male who appeared to be in his 50s with gray hair and facial hair, asked the student if she knew how to get to Vestal. When the student replied that she did not, the man asked, “Does your feet smell?” When the student did not respond, he asked, “Does your feet smell like your cunt?” while scratching…

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 1:57 a.m. — Officers on patrol responded to a taxi driver who flagged them down to report a case of harassment in parking lot Y4, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The driver directed them to a female student who said that she and a friend had entered a taxi to take them back to campus from Downtown. The girl said that her friend, a 21-year-old female student, had gotten in an argument with a 24-year-old male student in the taxi. Upon exiting the taxi on campus, the male struck the…

The city of Binghamton has seen a drop in crime rates over the past few months, with violent crime down by 9.7 percent and property crime by 4.4 percent. These statistics, provided by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), are in stark contrast to Binghamton’s crime percentages over the past decade. Between 2007 and 2008 alone, crime rates increased by more than 15 percent. This report of decreased crime was released to the public at the same time that city council members were considering making budget cuts to the police force. These cuts would include the…

THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 10 p.m. — A case of petit larceny was reported at the Hinman College’s dining hall by a 25-year-old Sodexo employee, said Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. The employee told patrol that he had left his 2-gigabyte silver iPod nano in his backpack in a locker. Upon returning, the iPod was gone. All other employees consented to a search of their belongings, but the iPod was not found. Police currently have no suspects. THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 10:30 p.m. — An officer on patrol was nearby the woods behind Newing College’s Chenango Hall…

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 1:07 a.m. — Officers on patrol responded to a report of disorderly conduct in the quad near Hinman Community’s Lehman Hall early Wednesday morning, said Investigator Dennis P. Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. Upon arrival, they discovered an 18-year-old male student damaging the trees in the quad. The student was arrested and given an appearance ticket for court. The estimated value of the reported damage is approximately $50. WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 5:33 p.m. — A case of grand larceny was reported in the East Gym, Bush said. An unknown suspect stole a brown wallet…

Binghamton University is promoting the benefits of studying abroad and teaching students how to apply at the study abroad fair on Thursday, Sept. 24. BU sponsors 25 study abroad programs encompassing an array of academic fields and locations, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United Kingdom. In addition, Binghamton students have the option of entering over 520 study abroad programs that are based out of other SUNY schools, and can even access non-SUNY exchange programs for academic credit. The fair will be held in the Mandela Room of the Old University Union from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30…

SATURDAY, Sept. 5, 2:10 a.m. — Officers on patrol noticed a taxi stopped in the middle of the road on the campus’ West Drive, said Investigator Dennis Bush of Binghamton’s New York State University Police. When the police advised the driver to go to the side of the road where it would be safer, the occupants began to exit. Among them was a 21-year-old student, who reportedly became unruly in conduct and language to the officers. He continued to be argumentative and profane, and after numerous warnings was arrested. SATURDAY, Sept. 5, 3:36 p.m. — A 21-year-old male non-student was…

Residents of Bingham Hall in Newing College are settling into the new building, and while some are finding it to be full of perks, others are still waiting for a few kinks to be worked out. Bingham is the first new building in the East Campus construction project and offers a variety of facilities that are not yet available to those living in older residence halls, including electronic card-readers for every dorm room and bathroom. “I guess the biggest difference, outside of the physical size and space in the hall, is that while we retained the corridor-style housing that students…

Dunkin’ Donuts, the coffee and baked goods chain founded in 1950, has recently agreed to become the new official sponsor for the Binghamton Bearcats. This union between the school and Dunkin’ Donuts will apply to both the men’s and women’s Binghamton basketball teams and will begin with the slam dunk contest at Late Nite Madness on Oct. 16. “We’ve been in conversations [with Dunkin’ Donuts] for a few years now,” said Jason Siegel, the senior associate athletic director at Binghamton University. “The sponsorship is a terrific opportunity for our fans and our community; they’ll recognize people who do wonderful things…

Binghamton University has recently been recognized for its “green activities” by the Princeton Review in its second annual “Green Rating” contest this past July. SUNY Binghamton is one of 15 colleges in the nation to achieve this recognition, and the only SUNY school to do so. The Green Rating is a score from 60 to 99 given by the Princeton Review to 637 colleges across the United States. Those in the Green Rating list that score perfect 99s are placed on a Green Honor Roll, which includes Binghamton University. “[The Green Rating system] is growing tremendously among students and administrators…

As any Binghamton University undergraduate knows, relations between students and local town-dwellers have fluctuated over time. It is surprising then to realize that BU is one of the main reasons why the city of Binghamton and much of the Southern Tier of New York has maintained and improved its economic standing, even during this recession. “I think the value is there,” said Adam Amit, Student Association president-elect. “But probably not everyone is aware of the impact [BU] has.” According to a report that was put out on April 30, BU is worth $750 million in regional economic activity each year.…

The smell of dirt and mulch wafts through the air as dozens of Binghamton University students work diligently on what used to be an empty lot between houses on Clarke Avenue in Downtown Binghamton. The students operate drilling machinery, put up plywood squares and begin planting what will soon be the neighborhood’s first community garden. “Our class, MGMT 350, organized this,” said Shuki Cirlin, a Scholars Program junior, referring to the second annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholars Community Service Day. In addition to BU students, there were many construction workers on the scene working on the plywood enclosure which would surround small…

At Binghamton University, campus police are not the only ones who have an arsenal of weapons at their disposal. Students and visitors on campus have a collection of their own, too. For years, Binghamton’s New York State University Police have confiscated all sorts of weapons from students, from knives to BB guns to battle axes. Traditionally these weapons are found during room searches, traffic stops or if said weapons are used to commit a crime. “The people who get them [the weapons] confiscated don’t usually get them back,” said Investigator Matthew C. Rossie of Binghamton’s New York State University Police.…

Willie Poon always wanted to be a psychologist. Sadly, though, he was never able to become one. Poon died in a one-car accident on his way back to Binghamton after a trip to Ithaca nearly a year ago to the day. The driver of the car, who was the victim’s fraternity brother, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. This, along with other cases of alcohol-related deaths, was brought up Thursday at an alcohol education session, hosted by a conglomerate of fraternities called “The Machine.” According to Anthony Scaria, the social chair of Sigma Beta Rho, The Machine…

The runoff elections for president and vice president for finance of the Binghamton University Student Association will be held again tomorrow, April 22, four weeks after the original runoff date. None of the candidates for the positions received the 40 percent of the vote necessary to win during the March 18 and 19 elections. As a result, Student Association presidential candidates Adam Amit and Jonathan LaSala and vice president for finance hopefuls Matthew Allwood and Abid Hossain will go head-to-head to win their respective positions. A common concern among the four remaining candidates is whether the week-long spring break will…

As the Internet continues to grow, popular search engines like Google may begin having trouble searching through the more than 900 billion existing Web pages. To make things worse, many of these pages are not linked by other more modern Web sites, giving Google no reference for any of them. For one Binghamton University professor, the solution could be around the corner: a “meta-search” engine. “A meta-search engine has a similar interface to other search engines,” said Weiyi Meng, a computer science professor at BU. “But the way it processes queries is very different. It queries other search engines and…

Off Campus College Transport bus service will continue its usual rounds, but police patrols will increase after a rowdy crowd attacked a bus Downtown last week. A mob rocked an OCCT bus back and forth, and kicked in its back window at the corner of Court and State Streets on Sunday, March 15, at 3:20 a.m. The driver contacted OCCT training and on-call coordinator James Harrison to report the matter. “I instructed the driver to pull over as soon as it was safe and contact the police,” Harrison said. No arrests were made and no charges have been brought, since…

Forensic anthropologists played a key role in identifying the bodies of victims of the recent plane crash near Buffalo, N.Y. Dawnie Steadman, an associate professor in the department of anthropology at Binghamton University, was one of the anthropologists. The Feb. 12 plane crash killed 49 people, including all of the passengers and crew, and one person on the ground. “I’m motivated by helping a family,” Steadman said. “Any family, anywhere, get that closure that comes with knowing what happened to their loved one.” Steadman, as well as many of the other forensic anthropologists who began work in the immediate aftermath…

The Binghamton University Mock Trial Club advanced in the regional tournaments and is headed this weekend to the nationals in Kansas City, Mo. for the first time in its eight-year history. “Mock trial is a competitive team that competes in several competitions each year,” said Josh Wurtzel, vice president of the Mock Trial Club. “Mock trial allows students to learn proper trial techniques, strategies, decorum and more by performing fake trials. Many of our members are interested in attending law school, but several of our members simply like to act [play a witness role] or speak in public.” Karl Zysk,…

It’s easy to forget, as Binghamton University students scramble to find jobs and make tuition, that more than a billion people around the world are living in poverty. One organization, however, is trying to bring more attention to this cause. The organization, Nourish International, began in 2003 as a student group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then, it has grown into a group of small businesses called “ventures” that run Nourish chapters in college campuses across the country. So far, there are 21 chapters, but if all goes well, BU may soon become the 22nd.…

Middle school students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the Johnson City Mentor Program, program coordinators said. According to Meg Mitzel, the experiential education coordinator for the Career Development Center, Binghamton University students who participate in the mentor program are rewarded from working with the children. They gain social skills, learn to listen and experience acting as a role model for children, she said. The JC Mentor program works in conjunction with the Johnson City School District to tutor local middle school students. BU students who sign up for the program are required to mentor five hours a week…

Americans have more of an impact than they realize when it comes to the economic situation of the United States, and financial experts are calling for individuals to be held more accountable. The 22nd annual Abraham J. Briloff Lecture Series is set to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Chamber Hall of the Binghamton University Anderson Center. The series, which is named for a presidential professor of accounting and ethics at Binghamton University, will focus on accountability and society. “A major theme is ethics,” said Dean of the School of Management Upinder Dhillon. “Ethical issues we face, and…

Despite Residential Life’s efforts to de-triple rooms and move students out of lounges, freshmen placed in triples at the beginning of the semester have yet to see a change. In the past few days, however, a new option has become available to tripled students who wish to be de-tripled for the upcoming spring semester. ResLife has distributed forms detailing how students can request a transfer out of a tripled room — 220 of which remain. According to the forms, students who wish to be de-tripled can apply to do so, and in most cases just one student from each triple…

In recent days Binghamton’s culinary scene has been intense — namely for those who make and enjoy pierogies, a type of dumpling made with unleavened dough and stuffed with a variety of ingredients. Mrs. T’s, a well-known maker of the dish, conducts an annual search for the famed “Capital of the Pierogy Pocket of America.” The contest has come to Binghamton once again, and die-hard pierogi lovers are ready to defend that title. “Over the last two years we have seen incredible examples of pierogi passion and community pride in cities and towns across America,” said Gary Lauerman, director of…

After a 40-year absence, construction company William H. Lane Incorporated has returned to Downtown Binghamton. Mayor Matthew Ryan and other community leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 2, to celebrate the company’s move to its new headquarters. “William H. Lane Incorporated is a premier construction company with a long tradition of important projects in our city and the surrounding area, and I applaud their return to Binghamton,” Ryan said. “In addition to their successful transition Downtown, Lane Inc. has done an impressive job upgrading the building and attracting additional tenants.” According to Ryan, the move is a sign…

The number of political events around the country has increased dramatically as anticipation for the upcoming presidential election grows, and Binghamton University is no exception to the excitement. John McNulty, assistant professor of political science at Binghamton University, will discuss “Topics in Political Science Research on American Elections” on Wednesday, Sept. 24, according to a press release from the University. The talk will take place at the BU Forum in the Binghamton Club at 83 Front St. McNulty, who received his Ph.D. from the University of California, is an award-winning writer. His work has been published in the American Political…