Binghamton University prides itself for its diversity, but these boasts need to be backed up by action.

The Caribbean Student Association’s annual Caribbean Carnival has been placed on indefinite hiatus by BU’s administration, who have cited security issues as the reason. While this may be valid, the University’s silence on the matter is anything but.

Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose has said he hopes the CSA will use the hiatus to work with the University to “re-imagine and re-invent” the program, but has completely failed to explain why this revamping is necessary in the first place, or to follow through on this promise.

The CSA seems to be doing everything in its power to cooperate and bring the carnival back, from coming up with a proposal that took the concerns of the administration into consideration to their most recent rally on campus (see Page 1). Their efforts, however, have not been met halfway, or at all for that matter, by school officials.

Carnival is not a frat party where people drink to excess (though perhaps it should be, as those have the administration’s implicit aproval). It has been a campus fixture since 1977, and exists to raise campus awareness of multicultural issues and diversity. This is a worthwhile goal, and concerns about security should be dealt with, not used as an excuse to cancel the event.

Thousands of people came to the America East tournament, which was hosted in the BU Events Center. Relay for Life takes place here every year, as do various concerts and other sports events. Let’s not forget Alumni Weekend, where Tailgate happens every year and students, as well as non-students — which the administration seems to be so worried about when it comes to CSA’s carnival — drink on campus. Security is an issue at every one of these occasions, yet somehow these concerns are managed and the events are able to take place. What makes carnival so different?

Even if there is a difference, with the University’s refusal to cooperate and actually discuss the issue, it’s no wonder the groups involved see this as an insult to diversity.

There are serious issues to be resolved here, and for anything to change for the better, the two groups need to sit down together and discuss them. The CSA seems willing. It’s time for the University to prove they are too.