“Please” isn’t the only magic word there is — “compromise” is an important one, too.

Mayor Matthew Ryan gave a State of the City address Monday, and compromise was his most fundamental recommendation for the national recession, Binghamton’s economic well-being, town-gown relations and more (see Page 1). Judging by the standing ovation, his ideas were well-received, and for good reason. Compromise is a useful tool, and plenty of the problems we’re currently struggling with could be solved with a good dose of it.

The conflict between Caribbean Student Association and the administration is a good example (see Page 5). The Carnival is an event that benefits the University and allows students to experience new things; at the same time, it comes with a number of problems. It’s in everyone’s interest for the two groups to finally meet and set up a comprehensive plan for how Carnival will continue. But despite the fact that the event was canceled last year, a solution still hasn’t been reached.

And without a date for the meeting, it’s clear that no change can take place in the very near future.

We don’t want to sound clich√É.√©, but this seems like a scenario where some compromise could be helpful.

The relationship between BU students and Binghamton residents is another good example: the city can’t survive without us, and we cannot exist in a vacuum apart from the city. So why not accept this fact, compromise and live with each other? Students need to keep up efforts such as volunteering and Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 and prove to the town that we’re more than alcoholics who make a lot of noise. In return, the town needs compromise on such issues as R-1 zoning.

A huge number of BU students live in decrepit houses or next door to drug dealers, or have to deal with negligent landlords. There’s no reason for this to be the norm, and in most college towns, it isn’t. But as long as we’re kept out of the better areas of the city, it will be.

Ryan said it’s likely that up to three or four students will be allowed to live in R-1 houses, but so few students can hardly afford to rent a large house in one of the nicer neighborhoods. At the same time, it’s completely understandable that the city doesn’t want 18 students crammed into one place either. In the same spirit of Ryan’s address, can’t we accept that both sides have their point and settle on a number like six, somewhere in between?

No one likes to give up points they’re passionate about, but we don’t like not getting any results whatsoever if one side or another does not give a little. It’s time to grow up and find a middle ground.