What’s the No. 1 complaint you hear Binghamton University students make about our campus community? Too much apathy? Ding, ding, ding ‘ we have a winner! But for the complaining we all do (and don’t get us wrong, we’re the loudest whiners when it comes to apathy), every now and then a common cause for inspiration comes up to show everyone just how much we can get done when we work together. And there’s no better cause that we can think of than helping one of our own when she’s in trouble.

As we reported last week, BU student Mayra Rodriguez was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis within weeks of beginning a semester abroad in Spain. Rodriguez fell into a five-day coma and had to be air-lifted back to the United States ‘ all resulting in a staggering pile of medical bills.

While Rodriguez is reportedly making medical progress and will hopefully someday make a full recovery, the financial cost of the illness is a reality that her family has to deal with right now. Luckily, it’s one they don’t have to deal with alone.

Since word of the situation got around, a number of BU students and student groups have stepped up to the plate and shown just how much we can all accomplish when we actually make an effort; see our update on Page 5 of this issue for a closer look. (Full disclosure: Rodriguez is dating a member of our staff.)

In addition to holding fund-raising events, like an upcoming Alpha Phi Omega-sponsored March 15 benefit at The Sports Bar, student groups are taking it upon themselves to donate and solicit donations from others. For instance, the Alpha Omega Phi fraternity will be tabling for the cause in the New Union March 19.

These efforts are amazing ‘ not just because they’re a wonderful example of a joint humanitarian effort and not just because they’re a heart-warming example of unity and loyalty when students take care of their own. It also shows that when the stakes are high and the cause is important, BU students can get things done.

So in the name of fostering the efforts being made for this cause, we’re issuing a challenge to all student groups. We want to see how much money can be raised to help out Mayra and her family, and we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is: Pipe Dream will financially match the highest donation any unified group of BU students can make, be it a student group, greek organization or otherwise. So we’ll double the most money a consolidated group of students can raise for the Mayra fund.

So go out and get tabling, phone-banking, bake sale-ing, raffling and party-throwing. Everyone will win, especially a fellow student who needs our help right now.

The specifics:

‘ We’ll match the donation of a group of students who donates the most to the Mayra Fund, up to $1,500.

‘ The person or people in charge of the fund raising should bring a check, donation roster or other proof of donation or funds collected with intent to donate, to the Pipe Dream office, New Union basement room B03, down the hall from the radio station and under the Food Court. All information must be presented in person and all donations are subject to verification.

‘ The deadline for proof of donation is Wednesday, March 28, 2007, at 5 p.m.

Checks should be made out to El Centro Hispano, Inc. The Mayra Fund and can be mailed to El Centro Hispano, Inc., 346 South Lexington Ave., White Plains, N.Y. 10606.