Michael V. Boyd EOP Center
PO Box 6000
Binghamton, New York 13902
Phone: (607)777-2791 or
(607)777-2361
Fax: (607)777-2232
Many students entering college decide instantly to take as few math classes as possible or maybe to take only the required English courses.
College students tend to be on one side of the spectrum. Either mathematics comes easy, or English is your favorite subject. After interviewing students from both sides of the spectrum I have come to make a few conclusions.
Louis Alerte and Kevin Dibenetto, students who work in the EOP tutorial center, where the students spoken to about this topic.
Louis, a Biology/history/and comparative literature major explains that both English and Mathematic skills are important for daily life. English skills such as (writing – reading – and comprehension), are just as important as developing math skills. Writing skills helps one articulate your words in a more coherent way. Louis explains “you can’t boast your writing skills because it would be apparent if you could not.” If someone is able to explain his point thoroughly, everyone will be able to understand. Reading is an important part of life that cannot be circumvented. On a daily basis it is necessary to read things, from reading the box of a cereal box for some humor in the morning to reading a twelve hundred page novel for pleasure. If you are not able to read, and understand what you are reading, you are a step behind everyone else – both in school and in the business world.
Kevin, who is getting a double degree which includes Computer Science and Mathematics, explains that society mandates that you must be proficient in both. If you have weak mathematical or English skill you will be at a disadvantage. Binghamton University gives you a great education so take advantage of it! He continues stating, “…that you excel in one area, it is your responsibility to practice in your weaker areas”.
Mathematics, and mathematical logic, plays a role in every single thing you do in your day, says Kevin. If you need to make a phone call, bake a cake, or solve the fundamental theorem of calculus, mathematical skills are a must have. Students should not avoid mathematic classes just because they are challenging, without a challenge very little learning occurs. In Kevin’s words “If you can’t do math, you’re in trouble. You will have some difficulties because your poor math skills will show.”
Running away from a class that is challenging now might hinder your success in the future.
Many of the students have come into this BEP program knowing nothing about the campus and some not even knowing what they want to do in the fall. For first hand experience, students were set up with a PC. PC stands for peer counselor, and are students who are hired to set a good example and assist new freshmen students.
I have interviewed two PCs, one of which is my own- Christina Ferdinand, a junior here at Binghamton, and the other, Jeremy Baptist who graduated this May with a degree in Biological Sciences. Both PCs were asked a series of questions.
The PCs have to deal with boundary issues where they have to decide which is more important, the relationship they have built with certain students or their jobs. Christina states that “…I treat all students the same way I would treat everyone else regardless of how close I am to them. If it is a situation where I am required to speak to Juan, I will, and if it doesn’t I will try and talk to the students and recognize the possible options and consequences first”
When students are having problems with each other, both PCs said they would listen to each sides separately and then sit them in the same room to come to a compromise.
One of the requirements of being a PC is to make sure that their students are in a healthy environment where they are comfortable and living happily. Both address and discuss different issues at the weekly PC meetings. As a staff, they have all designed certain events and forums for the students to enjoy.
PC Jeremy says “I am giving back to EOP. I am giving back to the program that has made me come this far in life, and I feel like this is an obligation, a way of saying THANK YOU. I want to influence other students who have the same disadvantages that I have had. The staff are friendly, and genuine, and I obviously like the job if I’ve had it for two years.”
It was very important to us to get different perspectives about Binghamton. We wanted to see the difference in the perspectives of an EOP counselor from Binghamton to that of a freshman student in Binghamton. I was lucky enough to come into contact with my good friend Ishrath. Ishrath is from BEP 08 who lives nearby Binghamton University, and was willing to allow me to interview her about her opinion of the city.
I was very interested in what her views of the city were so I asked her questions pertaining to the area of the city, her opinions on it, and any feelings that she may have about entering the university. For my first question, I asked her where in the city did she live and the distance from the university to her home. She told me that she lives in Johnson City, which is next to the Oakdale mall. From there she said that it takes about five minutes to get to the university. When I asked her how long she lived in the city, she said that she has lived here for four years.
Since I am an incoming freshman from New York City, I was curious about this city and I wanted to know what some of the positive things about it were. I also wanted to know about her view of the college. With that in mind I said, “What is it that you like most about the city”? She said that the best thing about the city is its quiet and peaceful setting. Since it is a small city, she said that it was very protective and not as noisy as other places. She also said that most people prefer drive rather than to walk. It seems as if everyone uses a car.
I asked her about what she thought about the university and if she thought that her view would be similar to that of incoming freshmen that come from other places. She said that her views would be different because unlike incoming students from other places, she has been to the university many times before. She very familiar with the area and she has friends and relatives that are in the university.
Lastly, I ended with a question that asked if she had any tips about Binghamton that she would give to other people who were new to this place. She said that it is very important to watch out for cops. They have their own department down here and since the city is peaceful, they are very strict about things, especially when it comes to speeding and DWI.
I would like to thank Ishrath again for the help and that concludes my article.
As a freshman attending college away from home, one of the things you miss the most is a homemade meal. First year students may come to college with high expectations of what the food at the dining halls would be like. At Binghamton University people have different perspective about the food in the cafeteria. Some people believe that the food is good; meanwhile others believe that there is still room for improvement.
According to Peer Counselor Rob Balan, who is majoring in Economics, the food in the cafeteria is average. When asked about the food he said, “There are a lot of selections. However the healthier foods are way too expensive. So as a struggling college student you’re forced to eat the cheaper less healthy food”. In addition, he also said that, “for the most part the food is mediocre; not bad but not good.” There is a choice between choosing the healthier food and the greasier food, but the problem is that the cost is too high for students with meal plans. Rather than spending money on healthy food they are going to buy the cheap and greasy one.
Clearly the issue at hand is not the food tasting horrible or anything of the sort, but how some students don’t have the opportunity to eat as healthy as they would like. This is due to the high prices on healthy meals.
Some of the positive things that the current students said about the dining halls are that it is a place where you can get to interact with individuals and make new friends. Wimer Alberto, a senior majoring in Sociology, agreed with this statement. Students like that the dinning halls are constantly open from 7am to 7pm according to peer counselor James Bruno. Overall, the service in the cafeteria is really good, but the students would appreciate seeing a little more accommodations when it comes down to meals. Not to mention that it would be great if the price of healthy food decreased a little more to make it easier on those of us who cannot afford that comfort.
As we all know we tend to ask ourselves, why do I need to take so many English classes when I already know how to write; we are wrong.
After interviewing Yerie Yoon, a rhetoric professor here at Binghamton, my friends and I have a better understanding as to why reading comprehension and writing skills are important.
Our group focused on Math and English courses and asked how both subjects connect. Yerie gave us her perspective as an English teacher. She said, “Math is critical. It’s impossible to function in everyday life without math”.
We also asked her if it was possible to survive in the business world without needing both subjects. Her response “It is impossible. Formal education mandates a mastery of both. In the business world there is a need to present oneself, negotiate things logically, etc. you need math language skills”.
Yerie also thinks that MATH IS SO SEXY. When a mathematician can express himself in a clear logical way it is very attractive, and it is not always geeky.
Everyone is different and it takes longer for some people to become great writers, and the more one practices the better he or she becomes.
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