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Thursday, April 11, 2019 | Vol. XCV, Issue 20 | Binghamton University | bupipedream.com
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FOUR CASES OF DISCRIMINATION BU, SUNY saw civil rights violations, corrective changes Sasha Hupka News Editor A student with a disability taking an exam on the floor. An increased cost for medically required single dorm rooms. At Binghamton University, these are just two of the four civil rights cases that have resulted in violations or corrective changes over the course of three years and five months. But this isn’t just exclusive to BU, although the University has the secondhighest number of civil rights violations and corrective changes in the SUNY system, behind Buffalo State College. From Jan. 20, 2015 to May 2, 2018, 17 total cases were filed against BU with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and resolved. In the four cases that were resolved with violations or corrective changes, the OCR found that the University was violating several antidiscrimination laws housed under Section 504, part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as satisfactorily as the needs of nondisabled students, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Ryan Yarosh, director of media and public relations at BU, wrote in an emailed statement that the University fully cooperated with the OCR while resolving the complaints.
“From January 2015 to May 2018, we worked with OCR on clarification in regards to four specific complaints, and adjustments were made to campus procedures to address those complaints, such as providing additional training for employees,” Yarosh wrote. “Binghamton continues to put the health and safety of our students first. We encourage our campus community to be open and have always endorsed a ‘see something, say something’ atmosphere.” Yarosh also wrote that in two of the four cases, the University voluntarily entered into resolution agreements, pledging to make corrective changes to address complainant concerns before the OCR completed its investigation. “Oftentimes, we are not approached regarding a specific concern before it is filed directly with OCR, and a majority of complaints are dismissed,” Yarosh wrote. “Also, it should be noted that voluntary resolution agreements are just that — the institution entering into an agreement does not amount to a violation — it agrees that it is willing to voluntarily take some action to address a concern raised in a complaint.” As a whole, the SUNY system, which has a total enrollment of roughly 424,000 students, has seen 340 civil
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“THE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT BECAUSE SHE WAS DENIED ACCESSIBLE SEATING, SHE WAS FORCED TO COMPLETE THE EXAM WITHOUT A DESK WHILE SEATED ON THE FLOOR; AND, SHE SUFFERED HUMILIATION IN FRONT OF HER PEERS.” — CASE NO. 02-15-2331 “THE COMPLAINANT ASSERTED THAT SHE WAS TERMINATED FROM THE [REDACTED] FIELD PLACEMENT BECAUSE THE DIRECTOR REGARDED HER AS HAVING A MENTAL IMPAIRMENT.” — CASE NO. 02-16-2193 “THE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED THAT THE UNIVERSITY DISCRIMINATES ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY, BY IMPOSING A HOUSING SURCHARGE ON SINGLE DORMITORY ROOMS PROVIDED AS AN ACCOMMODATION FOR A STUDENT’S DISABILITY.” — CASE NO. 02-17-2010 “THESE TYPES OF BARRIERS MAY DENY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS TO PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED ON THE WEBSITE AND IMPEDE THE UNIVERSITY’S COMMUNICATIONS WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.” — CASE NO. 02-17-2410
Blocked pipe causes leaks in Union Pi Lambda Phi faces
campus suspension
Backup caused by rust, scale accumulation leads to damage Yuri Lee
Fraternity hazing investigation could lead to expulsion, sanctions
assistant news editor
Due to a large sanitary backup in the University Union, multiple student organizations were affected by leaks in their offices on Saturday afternoon. According to Michael Kukawa, director of operations and construction for Physical Facilities, 11 rooms were affected by the backup, with nine offices in the basement and two rooms on the first floor seeing leaks. After responding to reports of leakage, Physical Facilities, the department in charge of maintaining, operating and protecting the University’s buildings, roads and grounds, was able to determine the root cause of the backup — a blockage in the six-inch house trap for University Union West. According to Kukawa, the blockage was made up of rust and scale that had accumulated in the trap. “The blockage was so severe that the trap had to be cut out and repaired,” Kukawa wrote in an email. “As of Sunday morning, all plumbing repairs have been completed.” The damage from the leakage varied by room, with some organizations affected more heavily than others. Michael Morganti, president of Binghamton Television (BTV) and a senior double-majoring in geography and cinema, said the leak caused significant damage to BTV’s studio, with a large amount of their production equipment contaminated by the leak. “Our office has now been fixed, but we now have limited options regarding our productions,” Morganti wrote in an email. “We have been contacted by the assistant director of the [Student Association (SA)] regarding the immediate steps to follow after the leak. We are still awaiting clarification as to how we will be able to
see leak page 3
Lia Berger
copy desk chief
Binghamton University’s chapter of Pi Lambda Phi has been suspended from campus after allegations of hazing surfaced roughly three weeks ago. On Monday, March 25, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life received a report of potential hazing within the fraternity, leading to the suspension and a full investigation, according to L.C. Coghill, director of fraternity and sorority life at BU. “When we receive credible and
specific allegations of a serious violation of University policy, it is the University’s usual response to suspend activities of the organization pending a full investigation in the interest of safety,” Coghill wrote in an email. The University conducted an independent investigation of the fraternity, which has since been dropped, and the national headquarters of Pi Lambda Phi currently investigating the allegations. According to Coghill, a sorority or fraternity would only be fully removed from campus if allegations are confirmed. “The removal of recognition from an organization or any other sanctions
see suspension page 3
Event aims to highlight disabilities, resources Groups collaborate for second annual “Disability is Diversity” Stephen Anku
contributing writer
kojo senoo pipe dream photographer A severe blockage caused leaks in various rooms of the basement and first floor of University Union West on Saturday afternoon.
ARTS & CULTURE
Student groups and Binghamton University offices collaborated to host the second annual “Disability is Diversity,” an event that aims to promote disability awareness and resources on campus. Held in Old Union Hall on Wednesday afternoon, the event, which was started last year by Trevon Ferguson, a junior majoring in political science, and Alison Lin, ’18, consisted of activities, discussions and exercises geared toward informing
OPINIONS
participants about disability and how it can affect lifestyles. This year, Ferguson was joined by the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), Office of Student Conduct, Multicultural Resource Center, Office of the Vice President of Multicultural Affairs, 20:1, Services for Students with Disabilities, Mental Health Outreach Peer Educators, Delta Epsilon Psi, Alpha Phi Omega, Late Nite Binghamton and Mountainview College Council. As an event coordinator, he worked with residential assistants from every community to get other groups on campus to attend and participate in the tabling. “When planning events, it can be
see awareness page 4
SPORTS
Enjoy a night of sweet storytelling with the Food Co-op’s “The Moth”inspired event,
BU alumnus creates impermanent nature art,
The Editorial Board discusses BU’s response to the shooting of Shakeel Khan,
Golf competes at Villanova tournament,
Baseball defeats Cornell in Ithaca,
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