Let me start with a quick disclaimer: I love Binghamton and regret nothing about my decision to come here. That being said, I wouldn’t complain if the university decided to pick up and move to Miami. It wasn’t my dream school; in fact an overwhelming majority of students chose Binghamton as their safety school. Many even come expecting to transfer out after a semester or two. After talking to nearly 60 friends and strangers, here is a list of the top five complaints about Binghamton (in no particular order).
- The sketchy and somewhat dangerous downtown Binghamton.
How many of us had to tell a few white lies to convince our parents to let us move into a house downtown? If you’re ever lucky enough to have a friend able (sober) and willing to drive down Main Street to Kennedy’s Fried Chicken at 4 A.M. on a weekend, I highly recommend it. Just don’t go alone, ever.
2. The difficult coursework.
I’m not sure how our work compares to that of other schools, but if you’ve ever been in Bartle past midnight, it’s self-explanatory.
3. The fact that campus and downtown are separate.
Anyone who’s ever had to try to get on a bus at 11 P.M. on a Friday or Saturday night understands the struggle. Nobody gets on without tossing some elbows in the process. Otherwise, you could splurge and get a cab, but that adds up. Worst comes to worst, there’s always late nite.
4. The weather.
Binghamton is a lot like Venus in Ray Bradbury’s “All Summer in a Day.” The sun spends most of it’s time hiding behind a thick layer of seasonal depression-inducing clouds, and when it does finally appear, we’re stuck inside studying for finals in the spring. Like I said, I wouldn’t complain if the university decided to relocate in Miami. I’d even settle for Jersey.
5. The lacking athletic program and school spirit.
The one thing that almost convinced me to stay close to home to go to Rutgers is the athletics. There’s so much school spirit, and they get thousands of students at football and basketball games. The only tailgating event is the homecoming SOCCER game. But hey, our football team has been undefeated since 1946.
