Dear President DeFleur,

We wish you a pleasant retirement when you leave Binghamton University this July, after serving 20 years as our school’s leader. Needless to say, this place wouldn’t have been the same without you.

According to the professors and members of the administration we have spoken to, and just by looking at what you’ve accomplished during your time (see the timeline on Page 2), it’s obvious that you have had a huge impact on almost every aspect of this University. Under your lead, BU developed research relationships with local industries and businesses, allowing for higher numbers of patents and awards. Through this, we gained a more positive reputation with the community. BU made the jump to NCAA Division I and won conference titles in men’s soccer and cross-country, women’s volleyball and more.

Your time and dedication has made this all possible. We only wish you were leaving under more pleasant circumstances, and that the situation was less bitter and more sweet.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that in the past couple years, BU’s name has been dragged through the mud on a fairly consistent basis. To lose our president now, just before the results of the review finally come in, only increases our collective unease about our school’s future.

But since your departure is inevitable, we hope you will leave on a more personal note and leave us with a positive feeling. As students, we have a few suggestions on how this can be accomplished.

A majority of students have considered themselves lucky if they occasionally got a glimpse of you from afar at a basketball game, or walking across the campus. That isn’t the way to foster connections with us, or to make us feel like we have a voice in the administration. We don’t expect you to spend all your time socializing with students, but this last semester might be a good opportunity to visit some classrooms or dining halls and actually get to know the students who have only seen you in person a handful of times.

As always, Pipe Dream would love to finally meet you and ask some of the questions we’ve been dying to discuss for the last few years. Though we’ve complained quite a bit (but only because without criticism by the student body there is little pressure for improvement), we would love the opportunity to work with you and your successor.

Best wishes,

Pipe Dream Editorial Board