The BU Zoo Blog

Today is the Global History Regents for the kids in my four remedial classes.  The remedial classes are the most frustrating and challenging assignments a teacher can get.  The kids don’t want to be there, they don’t care about the material, and they are the worst students in the school.  Global is particularly hard because you have to cover everything from the Great Rift Valley to 9/11 and Iraq.  Last year, I had three remedial classes.  17% passed.  I am hoping for a much better passing rate this year.  Every day in class, we made an index card on an important topic.  I hoping that the cards helped them learn the material and so study skills as well.  Just got to hope for the best (grade like crazy so I don’t have to come in on Saturday!)

• Pipe Dream:”Over the past few years, Binghamton University has been thrown into national news headlines for both the good and the bad, but more so the latter. As the University awaits the results of an ongoing review of the athletic department announced last semester, President Lois DeFleur is set to retire come July.  David Henahan, spokesman for SUNY, stated that the review has not yet been completed.  According to a press release, SUNY officials anticipate that ‘Judge [Judith] Kaye will provide the board of trustees with a report and recommendations that will enable us to address all issues related to the Binghamton athletic program and restore full public confidence in the University.’  Because the audit has not been completed, Henahan said, SUNY was unable to determine the repercussions of the audit’s results and any potential decisions following those results.”  Well for $500+/hr, can’t we tell them to work faster?
• Pipe Dream: “Although the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (8-10, 3-4 America East) currently sit near the bottom of the America East standings in seventh place, this team should not be taken lightly. Of the Wildcats’ four losses in conference play, three of those were by six points or fewer. Their one double-digit loss was to the University of Maine Black Bears, who currently sit atop the AE standings. The Binghamton Bearcats (9-13, 4-3 AE) will host the Wildcats tomorrow at the Events Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.  This will also be the first meeting between the Bearcats and the Wildcats since New Hampshire nearly knocked Binghamton out of contention for the AE title in last season’s conference tournament. If not for a last-second steal and dunk by then-junior swingman D.J. Rivera, the Bearcats would have likely fallen to the gritty Wildcats squad.”
• Pipe Dream: “‘When I was a freshman I … always noticed that the BU Zoo was loud and present,’ Broccoli said. ‘What I’m noticing over the past two years is that the BU Zoo as a group wasn’t there, even though the athletics department says that it does exist. As the leadership graduated no one took it over.’  Amit echoed Broccoli’s words.  ‘A bunch of us are really trying to push the BU Zoo and get it back into the business,’ Amit said. ‘We really want it to be looked at as one concise group rather than just fans in the stand.’  Amit and the others are looking to other schools with large and successful cheer squads to see if their approach will go well with Binghamton’s basketball games. Along with this, they have created new chants and have plans to draw a large crowd to their cause. Their main goal is to reestablish the Zoo and encourage the student body to join in numbers.”  I graduated in ‘07.  That sounds like the source of the problem!