For those of you not aware, there have been major issues at RPI recently. Before you decide to come here - you should really ask the tough questions: http://savetheunion.xyz/
Hi thank you for sharing this information. I didn’t get a chance to read everything so could you give a synopsis? Would this affect the average student interested in being involved in some clubs but not exactly having leadership positions? Would it be detrimental to my education if I attended RPI?
It sounds like the issue is that areas previously under student control are being reassigned to have the control be held by some outside agency? Is that rigth?
I really want to understand this situation before I make my decision. Read every link twice and I still don’t understand this at a very fundamental level. Why is RPI trying to take over the Student Union? I think their reasons would help give context to these articles.
The administration is taking over the Student Union - which has been a student-run entity for 125 years. It’s but the latest chapter in a long list of power grabs by an authoritarian administration, headed by Shirley Ann Jackson (the President of RPI).
This action has caused an uproar amongst students, and alumni. Many of whom are now calling for the removal of Ms. Jackson as president of RPI, due to mismanagement, and a culture of fear that permeates the school.
This is really not a fair statement. This was a minority view, and an argument based on the perception of some, the loudest ones of course. The truth lies in the middle. The administration was looking at hiring someone to oversee a broad spectrum of student activities. That person would not have run the Union but the Union, arguably, would have had to report to that person (RPI is no longer going to hire this person). From a business operation point of view, it would be mismanagement in my view to not have someone in administration who can assure the trustees - who is ultimately responsible for costs and liabilities for the Union - that things are properly managed. All colleges, I repeat, all colleges have some level of conflict between students and the administration. It’s like not liking you boss I suppose.
I was concerned about this when we visited campus but this is a campus that is heavily in debt as well…so I can see why a President MIGHT want to consider having a professional handle finances at one of largest buildings/expenditures…maybe it was trying to address the debt. I think it is great that the students get hands on experience with budgets,etc. but if they aren’t doing a good job…or if there is someone who could maybe do a better job…the ideal thing would probably be to have a person who advises them but let them still run it?? Just like our President has advisors who are experts in their field? The one thing I noticed about RPI compared to other campuses was how run down the grounds were…little things…concrete on stairs and on patio all chipped up, not repaired, jagged edges…little things that would have gotten fixed long ago on campuses I’ve worked at…I wondered then if they were having financial problems and then later read they have big endowment but also carry heavier debt than other schools. Tough issue.
