Without a doubt, one of the most heavily covered stories in College of DuPage history President Robert Breuder’s upcoming retirement. Along with a $763,000 buyout issued by the board of trustees, Breuder’s severance package features an unusual clause:

“The Board will install a sign on the Homeland Security Education Center consistent with the Board’s action on May 7, 2013, naming the building in Dr. Robert Breuder’s honor subject to the President maintaining conduct that is not materially detrimental to the reputation of the Board and/or the College.”

The bottom line: if Breuder keeps himself out of trouble—well, out of any more trouble—he gets the Homeland Security Education Center named after him.

This isn’t the first time a COD president will receive such an honor. Both the Berg Instructional Center (BIC) and the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) were named after former presidents Rodney K. Berg and Harold D. McAninch. However, there is a significant difference between the naming of those buildings and the naming of the Homeland Security Education Center after Breuder: those were out of honor, and his is to entice his departure for failing our school.

While it’s no surprise that Breuder would want to leave his legacy behind at COD, that doesn’t mean naming a building after him is the right route. When his term is up, his parking space cleared, and his multiple secretaries left behind, he’ll want to feel like he left his mark on the school. It’s understandable. It just really isn’t appropriate. Aside from his few good moments, Breuder is far from a great school president, so far that he has been bought out by two different colleges: COD and Harper College.

He has already tarnished the school’s reputation, if not by his actions, by the media wildfire that has surrounded the college these past few months because of his controversies. Considering the fact that the board clearly stated that he wouldn’t receive the honor if he harmed our reputation, this begs the question: why is he worthy of this honor? Was upwards of three quarters of a million dollars not enough for him, or does the board not consider his conduct to be detrimental enough?

It may seem like a petty complaint, but we can’t help but feel like the board is reluctantly rewarding Breuder’s reputation, even when there is a much more eligible and worthy candidate up for the same honor. It has been suggested that the building be named after Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, a Medal of Honor recipient from Wheaton, Ill. who died in combat in 2008 in Afghanistan. An online petition to support naming the building after Miller already has over 700 signatures.

Considering the backlash the buyout has caused so far, it doesn’t seem worth it to go against the judgment of 700 citizens wanting to honor a fallen veteran, and instead accommodate the decision of four board members in favor of a controversial president.

So here’s our solution: name the Homeland Security Education Center after Sgt. Miller, and give Breuder something more fitting, such as a fountain, tree, or bench. It’s a downgrade, but he’ll still have his legacy for all it’s worth. Otherwise, if we accommodate Breuder, we will be reinforcing harmful behavior, disrespecting the wishes of DuPage county citizens, and disregarding the heroic efforts of Sgt. Miller.