The new State University of New York chancellor, whose reign began on the first of June, visited Binghamton University on June 6 on her tour of 64 state universities, according to SUNY spokesman David Henahan. With New York state in its present financial crisis, Chancellor Nancy Zimpher already had plans to combat and reform the ailing SUNY system. “The tour marks the first step in the creation of a SUNY-wide strategic plan, which will be completed next spring,” Zimpher said. “The planning process will be a model for state-wide collaborations — gathering suggestions, ideas and comments from thousands of stakeholders…

On-campus housing at Binghamton University is in high demand, but Residential Life is taking precautions to decrease the number of freshmen placed in triple rooms. According to Residential Life, a high number of returning students have chosen to stay on campus. Also, with enrollment rates for public universities on the rise due to the downturn of the economy, there are more freshmen attending BU than ever, all of whom are required to live on campus. This increased number of returning students and incoming freshmen moving onto campus has created a bed shortage, forcing the school to place three freshmen in…

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…

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…

With an influx of new students for the fall 2009 semester, Pipe Dream would like to help reacquaint the students with Binghamton University’s administration. The President: The fifth and current president of Binghamton University is Lois DeFleur, who arrived in 1990 after serving as provost at the University of Missouri-Columbia. According to her biography Web page, DeFleur received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. DeFleur is an authority on juvenile delinquency in Latin America through her teachings in sociology. The president has been a pilot for around 30 years and owns her own plane, a Comanche 260. As president,…

Students create justice group in support of Sodexo workers Binghamton University students rallied behind Sodexo workers this semester when bargaining came to a standstill in September over health care disputes. Workers said the company was calling for a contract that cut health care coverage by 25 percent, instead of including full coverage like the old contract. The workers’ previous contract was extended due to continued negotiation delays during the semester. A tentative agreement was reached Dec. 4, between the workers and Sodexo. Gov. Paterson announces budget cuts in light of state deficit In light of the economic crisis on Wall…

In the aftermath of the American Civic Association, Binghamton residents will learn how to use words to prevent people from committing violent acts at the sixth annual New York Intensive Residential Training in Nonviolent Communication. The event will be held at Mountainview College at Binghamton University from June 20 to 27. “We want to teach people how to bring understanding between themselves to avoid violence through physical and verbal contact,” said Jane Connor, a co-organizer of the program. The training event holds an special significance for the community of Binghamton, which was shocked on the morning of April 3, when…