Petition to Preserve Student Voice in Campus Dining & Support 2nd Heaven

We, the undersigned students of Binghamton University, write to express our deep concern and disappointment around Chartwells' planned changes to campus dining — changes being made without meaningful student consultation or transparency.

Many of us have only heard through rumors that 2nd Heaven may not be returning next semester. No formal announcement. No explanation. No opportunity to weigh in. And that silence speaks volumes.

Campus dining exists to serve students — people who place real trust, and real money, into the hands of this administration while making Binghamton their second home. Decisions that shape our daily lives deserve more than closed-door deliberation. We hope to see genuine collaboration with all stakeholders, especially students, to ensure that dining offerings reflect actual demand, culture, and community needs across campus. The potential removal of a proven, student-supported business like 2nd Heaven raises serious questions about whether student preferences are being considered at all.

2nd Heaven is not just another vendor. It is a Binghamton University success story.

Founded by Leighton Blackwood — a BU alum who dreamed it up as a student right here on this campus — 2nd Heaven has grown in a way that few businesses do: by actually listening. What started as a bubble tea stand evolved into a full café offering pastries, oxtail buns, breakfast items, and a menu that continues to expand based on what students want. That growth didn't happen by accident. It happened because Leighton built something with the community, not just for it. Leighton's presence on campus extends well beyond the counter. He has collaborated with student organizations like Pretty Girls Sweat and the Powerlifting Club, provided catering for groups like ASO and Residential Life, and consistently shown up for this community in ways that are hard to quantify but impossible to ignore. He is a pillar of this campus and an inspiration, especially to students who rarely see themselves reflected in the spaces around them. Every new menu item, every collaboration with student organizations, every business session he's hosted to help students launch their own ventures — it all reflects a deep, ongoing investment in us.

For many students, 2nd Heaven is more than a place to grab a drink between classes. It is a familiar comfort during stressful weeks, a space where friendships are formed, and a reminder that this campus can be a place where big dreams actually come true. Watching it disappear — quietly, without explanation — feels like losing a piece of what makes Binghamton feel like home. It sends a message that student experiences and attachments are secondary to outside decision-making.

These concerns point to something bigger: a lack of transparency, communication, and respect for student voice in decisions that directly shape our campus experience.

We believe:
• Students deserve transparency in decisions that affect their daily lives.
• Student voices should be actively sought out and meaningfully incorporated into the transition to Chartwells.
• Community-grown, student-founded businesses like 2nd Heaven should be supported — not displaced.
• The continued growth of 2nd Heaven is proof of what happens when student voices are actually heard.

We call on university administration and Chartwells to:
1. Reconsider the decision regarding 2nd Heaven and allow it to remain part of campus dining.
2. Provide clear communication explaining recent decisions and future plans.
3. Establish formal, ongoing channels for student input in dining services.

2nd Heaven was built with students, for students. Its journey — from a small bubble tea stand to a thriving café and community hub — is exactly the kind of story this university should be proud of and fighting to protect.

Please do not take that away from us.

Let student voices be heard. Let 2nd Heaven stay. ❤️