Campus Community Connections

CCE student newsletter
May 4, 2020 | Volume 10, Issue 32

Youth Initiative interns remain connected to students virtually

Triolo and Kreeger prepare for St. James Elementary School science fair.

Despite the pandemic closing schools and disrupting ordinary classrooms, Binghamton University students Alyssa Mastrantonio and Rhianna Triolo, both juniors majoring in psychology, continue to be active Center for Civic Engagement Youth Initiative interns at St. James Elementary School in Johnson City through virtual learning.

According to Beth Kreeger, a mathematics and science teacher for grades four to six at St. James, the interns have worked with the same students since spring 2019 when they were in fourth grade. Mastrantonio and Triolo joined the team of teachers in the classroom, in the hallways and at recess to provide extra chaperoning. Additionally, the interns provided one-on-one instruction and strategies to help students refocus on their studies.

Read more about Youth Initiative's virtual transition on the CCE website.

Photo: Triolo (left) and Kreeger (right) prepare for the school's science fair prior to schools being closed by the coronavirus.

Congratulations to CCE's 2020 graduates!

As we begin the last week of classes, the Center for Civic Engagement is excited to celebrate our student staff members who are graduating. The CCE would not be the same without the hard work from our student staff. We will miss them and wish them the best of luck in the future!

Photo: Ariella Patchen (Community Service Assistant), Benice Mach (Youth Initiative Recruitment GA), Caitlin Hall (Youth Initiative GA), Emily Motti (Community Engagement Assistant GA), Erin Herbstritt (Community Service Assistant), Gillian Kenah (Communications Intern), Kevin Miranda (Community Service Assistant), Lauren Reyes (Community Service Assistant), Rose Olsen (Youth Initiative GA), Sarah Calderone (Community Service Assistant), Sequoia Kay Hill (Voter Engagement Intern), Sophia Geringswald (Vote Everywhere Ambassador)

2019-2020 Community Engagement projects

The Center for Civic Engagement's annual Community Engagement Showcase offers a chance to celebrate the impact of course-based and co-curricular projects resulting from meaningful partnerships between faculty, staff, students and the community!

Due to the coronavirus, we had to cancel this spring's event. Although we wish that we were able to celebrate the projects in person, you can view the impactful projects on our website.

Important New York State voting information

While N.Y.’s presidential primary has been canceled, voters registered with a party may
have other local, state and federal primary elections on June 23. Governor Cuomo has issued executive orders allowing all voters to request an absentee ballot using the “temporary illness” excuse and requiring Boards of Elections (BOE) to mail all eligible voters an absentee ballot application and return postage. Voters must complete the absentee request form and return it to their local BOE in order to receive a ballot.

If you plan to vote in the primaries, are currently registered to vote in Broome County
and will be unable to vote in person in Broome County, you have some options to cast
your ballot. We recommend either requesting an absentee ballot be sent to the address where you are living OR updating your voter registration address so that you can vote in person at home.

If you are registered to vote at your Broome County address and are now at home, you will not receive the mailed absentee application and will need to take action to access the application form. You may request an absentee ballot electronically for the June primary elections only. We recommend using NY’s fillable PDF request form and submitting it to the BOE via email. If this is not possible, you may email the BOE and provide the required information (name, DOB, voting address and ballot mailing address). If you do not have access to a computer, you may contact your BOE and ask that they mail am application form to you. If you are registered in Broome County, you may contact the Broome County BOE via phone at 607-778-2172 or email. Students registered in other counties should contact their local county BOE.

Visit our voter engagement page for relevant deadlines and forms.

CCE offers virtual voter assistance

The Center for Civic Engagement now offers assistance with voter registration, absentee ballot requests and general voting questions via Zoom. Members of the Voter Engagement Team will be available to answer questions from 1 to 5 p.m. on Mondays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays at the links below. No appointment is necessary! This service will continue to run through the end of the spring semester. If you have an immediate need, contact us at cce@binghamton.edu and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thursday, May 7
Start	End	Event	Location
9:00am	1:00pm	Virtual Voter Assistance	Thursday Zoom Link: https://binghamton.zoom.us/j/94689719683

2020 Census Reminder

The Census Bureau has issued guidance that college students should still be counted at the address they normally live while attending college, even if they have returned home due to COVID-19. If you live with roommates, you should still work together to submit just one census form for everyone at your address. If everyone at your apartment returned home before receiving the census instructions and response code in the mail, or you no longer have access to those instructions, you can still respond by entering your address. If it is not possible to coordinate with your roommates, you should still submit an individual census response.

The University will coordinate with the Census Bureau to ensure all on-campus students are counted. Learn more on our 2020 Census webpage.

Upcoming events

Tonight: Student Awards Ceremony

Join us in honoring the nominees and winners of our Community Engagement Excellence Awards, as well as other outstanding achievements of Binghamton students in and outside the classroom. President Harvey Stenger and other University administrators and staff will make special appearances in a video on the Dean of Students Facebook page at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 4. If you are unable to join the event live, follow the CCE on social media to see our posts honoring the nominees and winners.

Third annual Cultural Recognition Ceremony

The Multicultural Resource Center, Student Association and members of the planning committee are hosting the 3rd annual Cultural Recogniton Ceremony. The theme of the ceremony is "The Spectrum of Success," and the purpose is to recognize, honor and celebrate the holistic success and impact of graduating students in the multicultural community. We invite faculty, staff, administration, community leaders and students to nominate graduating students and faculty/staff that are eligible for any of the awards. Note that graduating students can self nominate. Cast your nomination by May 10.

We also invite graduating students in the multicultural community, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, to RSVP to attend the ceremony. The first 250 graduating cultural students to RSVP will receive recognition along with a free multicultural community honor cord to wear during this year’s commencement ceremonies. The date and time for the ceremony is to be determined based on the University's decision for commencement dates.

Virtual Lavendar Ceremony

Join the Q Center Wednesday, May 6, for the 4th annual Lavender Celebration! "Doors open" at 2:30 p.m. with our favorite DJ, DJ Frankie, spinning live music, and we will start promptly at 3 p.m. with an opening number by our celebrity guest, Mrs. Kasha Davis!

The planning committee has been working since February to craft a celebration of the LGBTQ community that showcases the Queer Year In Review, a recognition of first-year students, a thank you to Q Center volunteers, the presentation of the Annual Pride Awards and the Recognition of Graduates. You will need to register through B-Engaged to get the Zoom link, so be sure to register before the event!

Volunteer and internship opportunities

Communications Internship — Center for Civic Engagement

The Center for Civic Engagement is looking for a talented and motivated intern to work with us in telling the stories of students and faculty who are engaged in the greater Binghamton community through service-learning, volunteering, community-based research and more. Among other things, the intern will work with us in using new technology, social media and print media to help strengthen the CCE's profile within the institution and the University’s image within the community, while also marketing our programs and offerings to students and faculty interested in participating in this type of work. Based on skills and interest, areas of responsibility may include:

Writing and editing
Communications and marketing
Email and newsletter communications
Website content development and SEO
Social media
Administrative duties

Learn more and apply on hireBING by Handshake.

Event Management internship — Center for Civic Engagement!

The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) is looking for a talented and motivated intern to work with the CCE team to help plan and carry out a variety of events and programs. The intern will serve in a leadership role in the coordination of at least one large-scale event, with the opportunity to help plan or lead other events or programs based on their interest and skills. The intern will work 10-12 hours per week, and can choose to receive academic credit.

Learn more and apply on hireBING by Handshake.

Join the CCE's 2020-21 Voter Engagement Team!

The CCE seeks students to join our dynamic voter engagement team as either an Andrew Goodman Foundation Vote Everywhere Ambassador or as a liaison to STEM or business students. The CCE leads a comprehensive voter engagement program that has successfully registered thousands of students to vote and increased student voting rates in every election since 2012. The CCE partners with the Andrew Goodman Foundation to host a team of Vote Everywhere Ambassadors along with other student staff and interns who work collaboratively with campus and community partners to lead our nationally recognized voter engagement initiative.

Local volunteer opportunities related to COVID-19 pandemic

Multiple organizations in Broome County are seeking volunteers to help with needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For students who have left Binghamton or are unable to volunteer during this time, the CCE has also compiled a list of remote service opportunties. Check out the following opportunities to find something that is the right fit for you!

Looking for more ways to get involved?

Browse Volunteer Opportunities