Reply #6: Binghamton is a university town [View All]

[lapislzi]

They are not all as dumb as that. SUNY is probably the only viable industry left in the Triple Cities (or the Triple Shitties, as we used to call them). IBM--out. Smith Corona--out. Endicott-Johnson Shoes--out. A few other medium-sized manufacturing concerns--out.

So, many of the townies are exposed to a university atmosphere on a daily basis because that's where the work is (you can't outsource a university). Some of it is bound to sink in with some of the people. Of course, when I was a work-study student in the early 80's, the divide between the "Harpur people" as the faculty and students were called, and the "townies" was huge. They hated us; we viewed them as superstitious peasants. I don't know if that has changed.

I also noted on my last visit there that some kind of bible college has sprung up in the town. I didn't stick around to find out more about it. Any Binghamtonians care to enlighten me?