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The latest round of trouble for Binghamton began Sept. 23 when guard Emanuel "Tiki" Mayben was arrested in his hometown of Troy, N.Y., for possessing and selling cocaine. Mayben, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment the next day, was permanently dismissed from the basketball team following the arrest. The former top-ranked high school recruit set a single-season Binghamton record for assists last year and was a second-team All-America East Conference selection.

Following Mayben's arrest, five more members of the basketball team were released, including D.J. Rivera, arguably the conference's top player, and Malik Alvin, one of the Bearcats' top scorers from 2008-09. Corey Chandler, who transferred to Binghamton in August after being dismissed from the program at Rutgers University earlier that month, Paul Crosby, and David Fine were also let go.

"The president's message ... was a very stern warning to Kevin (Broadus) and the entire coaching staff," Associate Director of Athletics for Communications John Hartrick told the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

In a statement, Broadus said: "It's important that everyone who is playing for Binghamton University and for me to be on the same page as to what kind of commitment we expect of our student-athletes, both on and off the court. There's only one captain steering this ship, and that's me. If any of the young men in our program don't respect the decisions that have been made or the rules we have in place, then they need to move on with their lives."

The dismissals didn't end the tumultuous week at the school, though. Adjunct lecturer Sally Dear, who accused the athletic department of giving preferential treatment to men's basketball players and pressuring her to change her grading policy in an interview with the New York Times in February, was fired on Tuesday. The firing, however, was reversed just three days later as Dear was informed she will remain on board as an adjunct in a different department.

According to the New York Times, Dear's dismissal notice said she was let go due to the "uncertain fiscal environment" and "strategic reprioritization of resources across the university." But Dear questions the actual motives behind the firing.

"How come they're firing me due to budget cuts and a reconfiguring of the department and all of a sudden I'm being hired by another department?" Dear told the New York Times.

Then, to cap off the week, Athletic Director Joel Thirer resigned on Wednesday, exactly one week after Mayben's arrest. Thirer will be reassigned to the office of the provost, while Senior Associate Athletic Director James Norris will take over the athletic department in an interim role.

"I think it's a first step in getting us back on track and to what we thought we were going to be when we became a Division I program," Associate Professor Dennis Lasser told the New York Times.

Following Thirer's resignation, university President Lois B. DeFleur outlined several changes that will occur in the athletic department, including an audit to make sure the school is following America East and NCAA policies. She added that Broadus must provide her with a "recruitment and supervision plan for Binghamton's basketball program." The audit will involve an independent consultant overseen by the State University of New York's board and its trustees--not Binghamton University.

"These steps are necessary to remove any doubt whatsoever about the quality and integrity of the athletic and academic enterprises of Binghamton University and to strengthen or change any processes and procedures necessary in furtherance of our goal," SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said in a written statement. "The students, faculty, alumni, staff and supporters of Binghamton University, the SUNY system and all New Yorkers deserve nothing less."

Prior to resigning, however, Thirer made an unfortunate choice of words in referring to the situation surrounding the men's basketball program as a "zoo." That prompted Binghamton Zoo Business Manager Amanda J. Padwa to pen a letter to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. The letter referenced the program's current troubles as well as past discretions, including Alvin's charge for stealing condoms from Wal-Mart, and Miladin Kovacevic's arrest for punching a classmate in a bar fight in May 2008, jumping bail, and fleeing to his native Serbia.

"I am tired of hearing that blight on Binghamton University, the men's basketball team, being referred to as a 'zoo,'" she wrote. "Not one of our tigers has been arrested with cocaine. No otter knocks over old ladies to shoplift condoms. Our bear doesn't have temper tantrums and storm off his exhibit. You won't find any of our lemurs busted for smoking pot. So, please, stop insulting zoos by comparing those criminals to us."

Thirer was the subject of a Q&A in Athletic Management in 2007, which can be found here.

Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management.