We’re only a week into the semester and we’ve already received disturbing news.

David Creamer, senior vice president for administration, may leave Kent State at the end of the year. He’s a finalist for a similar position at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

While this is an incredible opportunity for Creamer (and Miami), Kent State would certainly miss him. And we don’t mean just his straight-shooter approach to answering tough questions.

“Yeah, so?” you ask. Your classes just started, you have a test next week already and you’re fearing your credit card bill that has all your books on it. So what if the VP is leaving for another school?

Well, he signs all your checks from the university, for one. Recognize the name now? He’s the chief financial officer and treasurer for all of Kent State’s campuses. He also makes the recommendations concerning tuition increases.

His management of the budget has helped keep the rising cost of education from overwhelming all of us. While that may not be easy to see at the moment, keep in mind that his office kept room and board rates from rising during this year when there was a 3 percent cap on tuition increases. Our rate was the lowest at a 4.7 percent increase, costing only an additional $126 per semester.

Crain’s Cleveland Business magazine awarded Creamer the 2007 Chief Financial Officer of the Year award for the non-profit sector for his money management skills. No one was surprised.

Creamer earned his master’s degree and doctorate at Kent State when he worked here as the internal audit director from 1982 to 1990. He came back to Kent State in 1998 after working as the vice president for finance and planning at the University of Alaska. He moved up from VP of business and finance to administration in 2002.

It’s normal for an administrator to work at an institution for so long and then move on to another school or the private sector. It’s normal that after the university’s leadership changes that we see familiar faces leave and new men and women take their places.

But, honestly, we weren’t ready for this. The Stater has a great working relationship with Creamer. We set up the interviews, and he answers our questions without hesitation. As journalists, we cannot say enough how much we appreciate this.

Though we realize no amount of editorials will sway Creamer in his decision making, we wanted to speak before he’s made up his mind. He works hard for the university and the students, and he should know his efforts aren’t unappreciated.

Please, stay at Kent State. We don’t mind not having any snow days.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.