When outgoing President William R. Greiner sat down in a cozy Allen Hall studio for his final "Talk of the University" broadcast, he was greeted by voices familiar to citizens across Western New York.
Among the listeners who called the WBFO program Wednesday night were New York's two Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Both senators took a break from an all-night legislative marathon on Capitol Hill to praise the outgoing president and wish him good luck.
"You have been a blessing to UB and its students and its faculty - to the whole Buffalo community," Schumer said. "Now, when we're looking for hope in Western New York about jobs and the future, people look to UB, and that's because of your great 15 years there."
Clinton, who phoned in after Schumer, praised Greiner for his work on the development of UB's bioinformatics program. Many politicians have expressed hope that bioinformatics could ultimately have a major economic impact on Western New York.
"Your leadership on bioinformatics specifically has set the standard for what I hope will be not only a great future for the university but a real economic opportunity for Western New York," Clinton said. "It wouldn't have happened without your commitment to Western New York and everything you brought to the table."
One legacy of the Greiner years will be the development of apartments on North Campus, a project enabled by Greiner's lobbying of state officials, according to New York State Assemblyman Paul Tokasz (D-Cheektowaga), who also called in to the show.
"All of the wonderful development you see taking place on the North Campus, particularly the upgrading in student housing, is because of Bill's intensive lobbying effort about five or six years ago, " Tokasz said.
Jack Quinn, a U.S. Congressman from Buffalo who received a teaching degree from UB, also praised Greiner's lobbying efforts.
Former "Talk of the University" host Jennifer Roth, who was known for reciting limericks on special occasions when she worked for WBFO, dedicated a special limerick to President Greiner.
Near the end of the show, she carefully recited, "University President Bill/Never minded when callers would grill/him on parking and grades, and underwear raids. Intrepid, he'd answer, 'Chill.'"
Greiner said he was happy to say farewell to the questions about parking he so frequently received on "Talk of University" through the years.
Fittingly, the parking issue kicked off the show, as a call early in the show from "Alan from Amherst" began the program on a controversial note.
"I know the university is always looking for every source of revenue that it can," said the Amherst caller. "But isn't it a little hypocritical to have parking fines when you routinely park right smack in front of Capen Hall in a no-parking zone?"
Later, the current "Talk of the University" host, Mike McKay, asked Greiner what he might have done differently during his time at UB.
Greiner answered that he rarely second-guessed himself, even over some of the more controversial issues of his 13-year term.
"I won't say that every decision I made during those 10 years was a winner, but they were the best decisions I could make," Greiner said. "Once in a while I came up with a real flop, and I wish for my successor that he has as much support and acceptance from the students and the faculty as I've been blessed to have in the last 20-some years."
