It’s that time of year again. Take a break from worrying about your own grades to see what grades Pipe Dream’s Editorial Board gave a few aspects of Binghamton University.

Harvey Stenger: A-

BU’s president has made a splash this semester, not only within the University but throughout New York State. As a co-chair of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, Stenger helped secure $500 million in funding for the Southern Tier through Governor Cuomo’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative. His plans for expansion and innovation thoroughly include the University, and will be a benefit on its never-ending quest to “premier.”

On a more personal note, the president has been a very public presence on campus, and can always be relied on to give a friendly smile and wave. Keep doing what you’re doing, President Stenger.

Sports: B+

The biggest accomplishment of the BU athletics department this semester occurred off the field. In October, the department secured its first ever $1 million donation, which will go a long way in helping to improve our sports programs. However, on the field, our teams were hit-or-miss. In the fall, our men’s soccer team advanced to the America East Championship; the volleyball team made the America East postseason but was eliminated in the first round. Our women’s soccer team was atrocious, which led to the reassignment of its coach.

Winter sports have been more of the same. For the first time in almost four years, both of our basketball teams have shown signs of life. The men’s team has some exciting players and has secured two major victories over Division I opponents so far this season in non-conference play and our women’s team has been better than expected. That being said, the teams still have a combined record of just 5-14. Overall, it was a strong semester, but there is still room for improvement in terms of producing a more consistent product.

OCCT: A-

The bus system has been a pleasant surprise this semester. There have, of course, been hiccups here and there — particularly with a lack of communication from OCCT management to riders about buses that are severely late — but on the whole, OCCT has provided remarkably reliable service. The implementation of the campus shuttle was also a nice touch. We look forward to seeing the improvements that come as the bus fleet gets expanded even more.

Downtown: A-

The city of Binghamton has improved a lot, and student engagement is on the rise. The semester started off strong with LUMA, the digital animation festival on State Street that brought out the best of artists and vendors alike. First Fridays continue to impress, and local businesses and restaurants are bringing an increase in customers through their doors.

Students have started to become an integral part in the community culture, not just as patrons but also as policymakers. Conrad Taylor, a BU sophomore, was elected to city council this past election day and will represent Binghamton’s 4th District in January. He has pledged a lot of his time to increasing enthusiasm for Binghamton’s budding scene, acting as a voice for student-residents in his district, and attending to the food desert on the North Side.

We’re happy to see students heading Downtown on more than just Saturday nights, and look forward to seeing what’s to come.

Campus Resources/Expansion: D

As our University grows in size, the administration must do more to ensure that it can keep up with the demand on resources. Campus feels far too small for the number of students who live on it and use it daily, and there are only more students coming over the next five years. Desperately needed renovations are crawling along because of the strain on ResLife — College-in-the-Woods has already had to delay the renovation of Cayuga once. The gym, though beautiful and state-of-the-art, is still in dire need of an expansion. At the University Counseling Center, there is a severe shortage of counselors, particularly during necessary periods such as finals week. And we won’t even get started on parking.

Binghamton University is going through changes that the administration believes are for the best. What it must not forget is who gets stepped on in the process. Students currently at BU have as much a right to a great college experience as those who will be attending this University in 2020 — after most who are here now have graduated.