But does president intend to leave in June 2014?

Harrison Pilgrim

According to Pilgrim, the board took Fraser’s consideration of an appointment away from UB as a casual indication of thought.

Reporter

“You mentioned the statement that the president made to the board. But apart from saying that he was considering an appointment elsewhere, there is not much in that statement. Is there anything at all you can tell us about that statement?”

Harrison Pilgrim, Chair, Board of Trustees, UB

“I’ve told you the statement that the president gave to the board. That is the only statement that he made to the board and as a result of that bold affirmation, I met with the president seven days later, when he was available, to try to find out what if any underlying reasons may have moved him to make that statement.”

Reporter

“You said that that statement was made at the commencement of a meeting. Nowhere during that meeting the president just got up made that statement and everybody just said okay and moved on? Nobody asked him why? Nothing else was said?”

Harrison Pilgrim, Chair, Board of Trustees, UB

“The president gave us a statement, a verbal statement. The president provides at board meetings a written president’s report. That statement was not in his written report. As a result, the board felt that it was a casual indication of thought and we did nothing at that point because it was the first board meeting that we were holding. No board meetings have been held since August and there were a number of pressing matters that needed to be addressed and we moved on with our agenda.”

The president was a no-show at today’s conference. As far as we could glean, the president has not tendered an official resignation, but has indicated that he intends to leave in June 2014.