President Michael Roth and the Wesleyan Board of Trustees have failed to effectively lead Wesleyan University. We deserve leadership that listens to community needs, accepts criticism, and adapts to the evolution of the Wesleyan institution. After conducting dozens of interviews and poring through hundreds of documents, our editorial team has discovered that:

-Wesleyan students, current and former staff, alumni and Middletown residents alike are afraid of criticizing administration.

-John B. Frank, the Chair of the Wesleyan Board of Trustees, allegedly sexually assaulted a student at the February 2023 Board of Trustees retreat. According to the student, Frank was considering resigning and offering a personal apology before President Roth intervened. Roth allegedly told the student Frank is a "good man" and a "good friend."

-Chair of the Board Finance Committee Marc Casper sells DNA testing technology to the Chinese Communist Party and Immigration Customs Enforcement. The CCP uses these tests to identify Uyghur Muslims so they can be sent to concentration camps.

-President Roth has a secret advisory board staffed by individuals who are "too controversial" to be on the Board of Trustees.

-The Board of Trustees are kept away from campus gatherings, resulting in students, staff, and faculty being unable to influence long-term policy decisions.

-Wesleyan needs strong and respected student, staff, and faculty governance systems.

Wesleyan deserves better leadership that works for our whole community rather than a select few. President Roth and the Board have prioritized wealth and ego, to the detriment of Wesleyan. We must work together to create new avenues for student, staff, faculty, alumni, and Middletown resident voices to be heard. We deserve a say in Wesleyan policy and the future of this institution.