University spends a day at the Oakdale Mall

Binghamton University held its second annual “Day at the Mall” event April 30 at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, sharing some of the University’s programs and talents with the Greater Binghamton community.

More than 100 Binghamton University faculty, staff and students contributed through a wide variety of displays, hands-on demonstrations and performances. Visitors were able to chat with representatives from Admissions and Continuing Education and Outreach and get updates about upcoming events at the Anderson Center. Watson School of Engineering students showed off their 2011 Baja vehicle and phone-controlled robots.

The event offered plenty for children to do, including interactive exhibits from the Nature Preserve, the Physics Department, the Go Green Institute and the Chemistry Club. Face-painting and teaching kids, young and old, the intricacies of wearing a kimono kept staff, faculty and students from the Institute for Asia and Asian Diasporas and the Confucius Institute busy all day. And for the more athletic-minded, the basketball toss hosted by the Athletic Department was a popular spot.

“The Day at the Mall was a great opportunity for Binghamton University to connect with the community and share all that it has to offer,” said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell), a member of the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee and chair of the Legislative Commission on Science and Technology. “I really enjoyed meeting students, faculty and staff who are passionate about the many exciting things that are happening on campus. Their cutting-edge research and industry partnerships help grow our local economy and provide students with a world-class education.”

A program of musical performances featured the Binghamton University Flute Trio, the Saxophone Quartet and the Bassoon Ensemble. The costumes and skillful dance moves of the Binghamton Bhangra group and the musical talents of the Confucius Institute student groups provided cultural entertainment throughout the day. Baxter the Bearcat was on hand, too.

The Decker School of Nursing offered free blood pressure checks and demonstrated a simulation training tool called the Sim Man. Dean Joyce Ferrario said the event was a great way to showcase some of the latest nursing technology and explain why these new tools are so important.

Besides manning some of the display tables, student groups also kept the entire event “wired for sound.” A Binghamton Sound, Stage & Lighting crew managed the audio side of the day’s events, while WHRW radio provided background music and DJ services.

Visitors were encouraged to participate in the “Binghamton University Destinations” program in which they were given a mini-passport and urged to get a “stamp” from five or more display tables. Travelers with a completed passport were rewarded with a Binghamton University drawstring sports bag.

Check out a photo album at the Think Binghamton website on the Advocacy News page: http://www2.binghamton.edu/think/resources/advocacy-news.html.