News Briefs

8 ceremonies, 3,000 graduates and some incredible speeches. Check out all of the Commencement highlights and remarks online.

The 24th Annual Bearcats Golf Classic on Thursday, May 30, at the Links at Hiawatha Landing has a few morning and afternoon foursomes available, first-come, first-served. Call Bette Anne Gaube at 777-2093 for more information.

On April 8, 2014, both Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003 will officially reach their end-of-life. At that time, Microsoft will no longer provide any security updates or patches for either Windows XP or Office 2003. The lack of security updates means that University computers may be at risk if they continue to use Windows XP or Office 2003 after April 8, 2014.

Because of this, Information Technology Services (ITS) strongly recommends that departments (or individuals) take the following steps for University-owned machines:
• Identify systems running Windows XP or Microsoft Office 2003.
• Contact the ITS Help Desk and request a price quote.
• Replace the XP systems by July 31, 2014.
• Upgrade Office 2003 to Office 2010 any time at no charge.

ITS will work with departments over the coming year and make recommendations on how to proceed.

For more information about Windows XP and Office 2003 end of support, visit the website or contact the ITS Help Desk at 607-777-6420 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and a desktop support analyst will contact you.

A crane will be positioned at the back entrances of Hunter and Marcy halls Thursday, May 23, to lift air conditioning units onto the roofs. The crane will be at Hunter from approximately 8-9 a.m. and Marcy from 9-10 a.m. During brief periods, when the crane is in the process of lifting the units, entering and exiting the buildings will not be permitted.

Contact Dave Ziac with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-2898.

To celebrate her 32 years of service, leadership and professional guidance, a retirement shindig will be held for Nancy Paul, director of the Career Development Center, from 2-4 p.m. today, May 22, in the President’s Reception Room, Anderson Center. Parking is available in the adjacent covered parking garage.

Those who wish to make a donation in Nancy’s honor are encouraged to donate to the Student Affairs Internship Support Fund, established to provide financial support to enable more highly qualified Binghamton University students to participate in unpaid internships. To donate, go online and select Other, please specify from the account drop-down menu and then type Student Affairs Internship Support - Account #10472.

All University employees are invited to participate in the 2013 YMCA Corporate Challenge on Thursday, June 13, at Broome Community College. The events consist of:
• A 5K road race (5:15 p.m.)
• Predicted mile (walk or run) (6 p.m.)
• Relay race (7:30 p.m.)
• Executive mile (8:15 p.m.)
• Awards ceremony (8:30 p.m.)
This friendly competition with other area employers offers a great social, team-building and healthy activity. Athletic ability is not a requirement, just a desire to have a good time! You can come for just one or two events or stay for all. The cost is $14 per participant for the first event and $7 for each additional event.

After May 28, the cost rises $19 and $7, respectively. Fee includes a YMCA Corporate Challenge t-shirt and the University will provide a shirt for you to wear that evening to show your spirit! Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, including registration form and other materials, go to http://www.bcymca.com/Event%20Page.htm. Sara DeClemente-Hammoud will collect all the registration information for campus participants. She can be reached at 777-4939 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Forward your registration information directly to her and she will submit all the forms, checks, etc. for the Binghamton University team.

This workshop will take place from 11 a.m.-noon Friday, May 24, in UUW-325. Are your advanced directives in place? Everyone age 18 or older should have a health care proxy and a living will. Workshop participants will receive a copy of each including the popular Five Wishes document. Becky Bradley, APEL program coordinator, will be on hand to offer counseling and witnessing of the documents at the conclusion of the workshop.

Should retirees require a parking pass for the garage, stop at the Information Desk as you enter the University and provide the attendant with your name and the name of the event. For questions, contact Corinna Kruman at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-5959.

The Office of Human Resources informs the campus community that the Payroll Distribution Center (AD-240) is on summer hours. The Payroll Distribution Center is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays for the summer.

• In Inside: Thousands of students walk across the Commencement stage to become alumni.
• Video: Gathered from eight ceremonies and compressed into 60 seconds, here are some of the special moments.

There will be a shutdown of the Engineering Building’s second- and third-floor emergency lighting from 6 a.m.-noon Wednesday, May 22. There will be a shutdown of general lighting on the third floor from 6 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 23. The shutdowns are needed to advance renovations now underway in the building.

Contact project coordinator Jennifer Bourassa with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-5047.

There will be a shutdown of the University Union West sprinkler system from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, May 22.

Contact project coordinator Mo Afify with any questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 777-2828.

Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Jonathan Weiner will deliver the keynote presentation when the University Research Magazine Association’s annual conference comes to Binghamton University this month. His talk, scheduled for 4:20 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in UDC-220, is titled “Science and Storytelling.” Weiner will present seven lessons in the art and science of storytelling — stolen from masters old and new. His books include “The Beak of the Finch,” winner of both the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science; “Time, Love, Memory,” winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for General Nonfiction; and “His Brother's Keeper,” finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

Weiner has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, the New Republic and many other publications. Since 2005, he has taught at Columbia University, where he is the Maxwell M. Geffen Professor of Medical and Scientific Journalism. His May 23 lecture, which is free and open to the campus community, will be followed by a book signing. For more information, contact Rachel Coker, director of research advancement, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

University policy requires all grades be submitted no later than five (5) business days after the end of the final examination period, or Friday, May 24. Timely grade submission helps ease student anxiety and ensure timely processing of degree conferral, and allows accurate calculations of both academic progress and financial aid eligibility. Review the e-mail that was sent out Tuesday, May 7, for helpful information about grade submission.