A recent bout of violent crime against Binghamton University students has been a startling reality for some of those who live Downtown. Early in the morning on Saturday, Oct. 9, a stabbing took place Downtown on Main and Mather Streets.

According to a report from the Press & Sun-Bulletin, Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said the fight that led to the stabbing took place between several ‘highly intoxicated’ individuals, although it is not yet known who stabbed the victim, and police remain on the lookout for suspects.

Police said that the victim was taken to Wilson Regional Medical Center, and his injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.

Another incident, a shooting, also occurred at a Binghamton basketball court on Webster Street on Friday, Oct. 8, according to another report from the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The victim of this attack was a 17-year-old male. The wound was not life-threatening, and the investigation remains ongoing as police currently have no suspects in the case.

While most Downtown violence is not as extreme as the stabbing incident, many students have found themselves victims of hostility Downtown, even those who do not necessarily live there. A 20-year-old junior majoring in biology who wishes to remain anonymous now has his jaw wired shut after he was punched in the face while Downtown.

According to the student, he and his friends were walking Downtown when another group harassed them for ‘no apparent reason.’

‘They were looking for someone to jump for the fun of it,’ the student said. ‘After saying ‘why are you doing this?’ to one guy, I got sucker-punched in the face by his friend I wasn’t looking at.’

The student stated that although this is the first time such a thing has happened to him, he has heard of students being attacked for no discernible reason. He also believes that they are targeting SUNY students specifically.

‘Try to stay in groups of five or more,’ the student said, as advice to others. ‘If people do start to harass you looking to fight, [then] swallow your pride, call the police and get away from them.’

The violence Downtown has left some students feeling less comfortable by their surroundings.

‘On campus I feel safe, but not Downtown,’ said Ruben Martinez, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, politics and law. ‘Sometimes sketchy people come up to you late at night.’

Some students, however, do not feel the same danger.

‘Yes I do feel safe,’ said Darwin Martinez, a senior majoring in marketing. ‘On campus we have campus police. I’ve lived Downtown and I’ve gotten to know some that live there and I feel safe.’