The strength of Binghamton University’s presence in Division I athletics reaches far beyond the walls of the Events Center. Faculty and students who disagree with this can simply look at the facts. We have the potential to incorporate both academics and athletics into this institution.

The school is climbing the ranks among NCAA Division I programs for having success in national athletics. BU ranks 123rd out of 336 schools after the fall and winter seasons in the race for the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, after finishing 145th last year. Points are given based upon how well 14 specific sports teams finish in each school.

It looks to me like our school has the integrity and the potential to be stellar both in academics and athletics. It is a far cry from what people saw in the former basketball program.

The grade point average of Binghamton University student-athletes in the fall 2009 semester was 3.07. It is the highest since Binghamton University went Division I. This school year alone, the men’s cross country team and volleyball team were crowned America East Conference champions. The wrestling team came out on top in the CAA championship and sent six athletes to the NCAA tournament, resulting in Justin Lister being named the school’s second consecutive All-American. Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams are nationally ranked this year, and Bearcats tennis player Sven Vloedgraven became nationally ranked only two months after grabbing the No. 1 spot in the Northeast region. He was also the first BU athlete to win the ITA National Indoor championship. Also, let’s not forget Erik Van Ingen, who became the first athlete from BU to run the mile in under four minutes.

The glamour of BU athletes does not stop there. Former BU pitcher Scott Diamond is currently ‘under the radar’ for the Atlanta Braves and has a good possibility of playing for the Major League Baseball team in the future. There is a plethora of athletes currently playing sports like basketball and soccer overseas and many athletes come back to BU to help coach their respective teams.

You don’t have to look too closely to find success in the Division I program. Granted, there was this basketball scandal (which the administration still has not given us any solid reform on), but I am a stout believer that it was an isolated incident and is not a general problem throughout the athletic department.

In a nutshell, the scandal came to this: You had an administration who really wanted a premier basketball squad and pushed the boundaries too far, and in too many directions. This caused them to put players with low academic integrity and discipline problems on the court. In addition, you had a coaching staff who catered to the players’ mishaps and irresponsibility.

This has no bearing on the rest of the athletics programs, which have proved themselves time and time again as both NCAA Division I and Binghamton University material.

But then again, don’t take my word for it. Look at the facts.