<p>Binghamton is a school that went Division I in basketball over the objections of its faculty, and is now paying the price for corrupting its academic standards, harassing faculty who try to maintain those standards, and recruting thugs for its basketball team-- many of whom had a hard time staying out of jail, that is, when they weren’t being given B’s for no-show classwork. The uncovering of this scandal has led to its basketball coach being placed on academic leave, its athletic director’s resignation, and the retirement of its president under a cloud.</p>
<p>Following an independent report on the scandal, many faculty are concerned that the administration will clean up the athletic department but not address the corruption of the school’s academic mission.</p>
<p>SB’s parking, food quality, and being a suitcase school aside, many of the Bing faculty are demoralized by the basketball scandal, and this could have an effect on the educational life of the students for years to come.</p>
<p>From the NY Times 2-27-10 [At</a> Binghamton, Concerns That Sports Are Still the Focus - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/sports/ncaabasketball/28binghamton.html?sq=binghamton&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1268281284-sK1zuaHKC3K30ovH56/wtw]At”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/sports/ncaabasketball/28binghamton.html?sq=binghamton&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1268281284-sK1zuaHKC3K30ovH56/wtw)</p>
<p>“The whole report is that the university does damage control rather than addressing the issues, and their response is to do more damage control,” Wright [a thirty-year professor] said.</p>
<p>After the audit was released, Carl Hayden, the SUNY chairman said, “I would fall off my chair if Nancy Zimpher’s [SUNY chancellor] recommendations didn’t apply the lessons we’re living through.”</p>
<p>To some on campus, those words are hollow.</p>
<p>“I don’t have faith,” Wright said, “that Binghamton can straighten itself out.”</p>