Nothing says the end of the semester like an addiction to Red Bull, permanent dark circles under your eyes and back pain from sleeping on a shelf in the library. But staying fit and healthy during this stressful time is still possible. A pamphlet on eating disorders from the Binghamton University Counseling Center says that stress, a busy class schedule, a job and late-night studying or partying can all contribute to weight gain. The center’s Web site also states that eating can provide an individual with comfort and a pleasurable escape from stressful responsibilities, such as a heavy finals schedule.…

Since the 1970s, Binghamton University has offered an unconventional academic program to adults and part-time and non-credit students. BU’s Continuing Education and Outreach (CEO) program attracts an average of 6,000 to 8,000 students per year. Applicants enroll in five-week summer and winter session courses or non-credit programs taught by BU professors, adjuncts and industry experts at the University Downtown Center, online and at company sites. According to Thomas F. Kowalik, the director of CEO, the program provides alumni, current students and adults with the opportunity to enhance their education and increase their attractiveness in today’s job market. The summer session…

In addition to traditional tours, brochures and the Fiske Guide, there is another way for prospective students to learn about Binghamton University: the student blog. The blog was created as a part of the admissions page of the BU Web site to act as an online information resource or a “digital storybook of Binghamton,” and is written for prospective students by current students, said Cheryl Fabrizi, director of Enrollment Management Marketing at BU. There are currently 40 student bloggers who range from freshmen to seniors, majoring in various departments, who participate in diverse student organizations and clubs, providing readers with…

A new apartment complex in Johnson City offers Binghamton University students a cheaper off-campus alternative in the form of a renovated middle school. C Fred Plaza Apartment Complex, named after the former C. Fred Johnson Middle School and located at 100 Albert St. in Johnson City, has been open only to BU students since August 2009. It features 79 apartments with about 166 bedrooms. According to building manager Colleen McVannan, new students can move in at any time. Rent ranges from $525 to $650 per month, not including utilities. “We are currently running a special that we are going to…

A new report by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) warns that trends in the United States could decrease its global competitiveness for higher education. Still, recent international enrollment rates at Binghamton University say otherwise. The report, “Leadership for Challenging Times,” states that the percentage of the US population ages 25 to 34 with an associate or baccalaureate degree ranks 10th globally. It also states that US universities have seen a decline in undergraduate interest in science, and may begin to see a decline in international enrollment. According to the AASCU, other nations, including China and India,…

A student-run seminar is held every spring semester in an effort to increase the number of Binghamton University graduates who continue to live in the area to 20 percent by the year 2020. CIC2020 (Catalysts for Intellectual Capital) started as a student organization and is now listed and offered under human development as a four-credit class called Proseminar in Civic Entrepreneurship. Although Diane Crews is the faculty adviser for the organization, executive director Jodi Epstein, a senior human development major, teaches the course. A board of students who were previously enrolled in the class assists Epstein. For the course, students…

Throughout the 2008-09 academic year, Binghamton University printed over 10 million pieces of paper. Without a monetary incentive for students to print less, some officials worry that the University’s paper use will continue to skyrocket. According to James L. Wolf, director of Academic Computing Services, as faculty have made more course materials available electronically, it is easier now than ever before for students to access and print assignments. In the place of the traditional textbook, many classes use electronic journals that students may be required to print out and bring to class. “One thing that concerned me was that our…

This month Binghamton University students are participating in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) 8th annual xc competition, where undergraduate accounting majors will compete for a share of $300,000 total prize money. Up to 13,000 students from 80 colleges nationwide compete in the Games, which expose them to real tax and accounting scenarios. The competition is split into two challenges: xTAX, short for “Extreme Tax” and xACT, short for “Extreme Accounting.” The xACT competition will begin at BU on Oct. 21 and last until Nov. 4, when teams will present their challenge solutions in front of a panel of PwC partners and managers. Teams…

Binghamton University’s alpha Kappa Delta Phi chapter is hosting its fifth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Ball on Oct. 17. Alpha Kappa Delta Phi is an Asian-awareness sorority that has been fundraising for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization since 1990. “Our national philanthropy is about cancer awareness and every year we donate money to that organization,” said Abigail Fabro, a senior nursing major and the vice president of service for alpha Kappa Delta Phi. “Over 100,000 women are affected every year and we just want to promote early detection and education to hopefully find a cure.” The…

The G20 summit convened Friday, Sept. 25, in Pittsburgh, drawing thousands of protesters, including a group of Binghamton University students. The G20 summit is an annual meeting of international representatives who discuss key issues related to global economic stability. Mari Pfingston-Bigelow, a senior environmental and social justice major, made the trip to Pittsburgh for the protest with four other undergraduates, one graduate student, a medic and a student not affiliated with the University. The group participated in “permitted” and “unpermitted” protests, speaking out against the conference of finance ministers and central bank governors of the 19 countries and the European…

Late Nite Binghamton celebrated its grand reopening last Friday, after the renovations to the Old University Union were completed. According to James L. Koval, the director of the University Union Office, the facilities in the Union at BU have been upgraded, but are largely the same as they were before the renovation. “The bowling alley, the billiards area, the table tennis room have been renovated. We’re moving Munchies downstairs, the post office moved a little shop downstairs to do cash operations for students and there is a computer repair shop down there,” he said. “The main floor rooms are meeting…

Binghamton University’s Multicultural Resource Center has been revamped with a new mission, services and programs geared toward embracing all forms of diversity. Nicole Sirju-Johnson, the new director of the MRC, which has relocated to the new Dean of Students Office in the New University Union, is working with the center’s advisory committee to implement their program initiatives — student recruitment and retention, educational development and community building. The advisory committee is comprised of faculty and staff from the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Student Support Services and Affirmative Action offices. “In the past, there was more of an emphasis on teaching…