Campus Community Connections

CCE student newsletter
April 27, 2020 | Volume 10, Issue 31

Debate Team takes workshops virtual for local youths

Binghamton University students are holding a series of free virtual debate workshops for youths in Broome County in grades three through eight. The hour-long workshops start with general tips on how to formulate an argument and debate effectively, and then students are divided into teams, given a topic and work with a college student for five to 10 minutes, thinking about how they want to make their argument, before debating another team. The debates are judged by the college students, who provide feedback and advice for improvement. The process is repeated four times and then there is a final debate between the two top-ranked teams.

Joe Schatz, director of speech and debate at Binghamton University and a lecturer in the English Department, has been holding these debate workshops in local elementary and middle schools for four years, starting at African Road Elementary in Vestal, where his son was a student, and recently expanding to Horace Mann Elementary School, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School and West Middle School in Binghamton.

Read more about the debate team's virtual workshops on BingUNews.  

Photo: Members of Binghamton University's Debate Team worked with local youths in grades three through eight last year, helping them learn to formulate arguments and practice debating. Those workshops have gone virtual this spring. Image Credit: Provided.

Important New York State voting information

While NY’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 offering 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. 

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.

Upcoming events 

Participate in a virtual screening and discussion about women's suffrage

Extended: The Washington Parade of 1913
6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28

In this clip, we will travel to 1913, as provocative suffrage leader Alice Paul organizes a massive suffrage parade on Pennsylvania Avenue. Suffragists from around the country, including Ida B. Wells, travel to Washington D.C. as word of the event spreads in the press. But unexpected internal and external challenges threaten the success of the parade. Learn more and register online.

Extended: Upping the Ante and Jailed for Freedom
8-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29

In this clip, we look at the suffrage movement in 1917, six decades since the movement began in earnest. Frustrated by the ongoing lack of success, fiery suffrage leader Alice Paul begins a daily picket in front of the White House gates. Learn more and register online.

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 Lavender Celebration

Join the Q Center Wednesday, May 6, 2020 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 

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! 

• Sew fabric face masks
• Volunteer with CHOW
• United Way Give Help, Get Help 
• Take temperatures at childcare facilities
• TechWorks! remote community service

Intern with the 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. 

For the complete job description, qualifications, and more information see the Event Management Internship- CDCI or noncredit 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.

Looking for more ways to get involved?

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