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Dear Lois:

123 Real World Lane

Someplace, NY 10000

19 October 2001

Lois DeFleur, President

Binghamton University

Binghamton, NY 13902

Dear President DeFleur,

I received your October 3 letter, which was sent to all Binghamton University graduates, and I was ecstatic to hear from you again. I must admit you and I didn’t have a very close relationship during my years at Binghamton University, seeing as you were all the way at the top of that tower, but I’m glad we’ve been able to keep in touch now that I’m out in the real world.

I appreciate all the information about what the school is doing in wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. I checked out the binghamton.edu website to make sure all my former classmates are safe. Thank goodness they are.

But I must admit I was a little confused by the suggestion in your letter that “Universities such as Binghamton will need to rely even more on the support of alumni and friends who are able to sustain the values for which we stand and the quality of education for which we strive.” I understand the implications of the September 11 tragedy in New York City, but I remain a bit confused as to how it relates to campus finances. In fact, I really didn’t think your call for increased alumni donations was very tasteful at all.

I thank you for the correspondence, but I’ve already raided the couch pillows and sent all my extra change to charities that support victims of the September 11 tragedy. I hope you’ve done the same.

Sincerely

Joe SUNY

Binghamton Alumnus