victims around the world. Students asked engaging questions covering topics from accountability and budgeting to cultural sensitivity in disaster assistance. Students were surprised to discover that USAID often works in tandem with the US military forces to deliver supplies to the places that need them. The USAID representative cautioned students to donate responsibly, describing the ways in which monetary donations are the most helpful in disaster relief. He also emphasized the importance of humanitarianism in colleges and in local communities, and praised DRD for its work at Binghamton University.
Binghamton DRD Presents the Wall: Free Speech at Binghamton University By Dorothy Manevich
PHOTO CREDIT: PIPE DREAM
action in Syria after the use of chemical weapons against civilians by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Later, DRD gathered students to discuss anti-government protests in Ukraine and the subsequent Russian invasion of Crimea. Professor Kent Schull joined DRD to lead a roundtable on honor violence in the Middle East. Each discussion invited participants to challenge their own viewpoints. This year’s roundtables have hosted students from the United States, Algeria, Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Tajikistan.
Ambassador Joseph Melrose at Binghamton University By Joshua May On November 7, 2013, Binghamton Dorm Room Diplomacy hosted Ambassador Joseph Melrose in the University Union. Addressing a standing-room only crowd, Ambassador Melrose spoke about his experiences in the US Foreign Service, particularly his ambassadorship to Sierra Leone during that country’s destructive civil
war. Melrose described the dangerous, even life-threatening situations he faced in West Africa and Vietnam. Melrose took questions from an inquisitive crowd and received a strong ovation. Upon the conclusion of his remarks, members of Binghamton Dorm Room Diplomacy took Ambassador Melrose to dinner in downtown Binghamton, where he shared personal insights and stories about his time in government. His anecdotes included drinking beer with President Reagan in Ireland, driving a car through the middle of the Tet Offensive, and helping negotiate the peace talks during the Sierra Leone Civil War. Mr. Melrose had much advice for Binghamton students.
What happens when students are given a blank canvas in the middle of campus? DRD put this question to the test, putting up a wooden wall in front of the new union. Passerbies were told to write or draw anything that came to mind when they thought about walls. What do walls mean to our society, to our world, to our language? The result was a rich, yet beautifully jumbled tapestry showcasing the diversity within Binghamton University. Highlights include “Damn Right, I Support It”, “Fuck the Glass Ceiling”, “Break Walls When You See Them”, “Israel’s Defense and Security”, and messages in nearly a dozen foreign languages.
Discussing Disaster Relief with USAID By Dorothy Manevich In this intimate question and answer session with USAID, Dorm Room Diplomacy members got the low-down on what the United States does to help disaster SPRING 2014
BINGHAMTON JOURNAL ON DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY
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