This letter is in protest of the honorary doctorate in humane letters awarded to Samuel Palmisano last week.

The “Innovation and Leadership” that he represents for this century has resulted in the sale of the IBM PC company to China and the transfer of tens of thousands of U.S. and European jobs to India, impacting many Rensselaer alumni. I had started work at IBM the same year as Mr. Palmisano and after 29 years of employment was one of those impacted by an earlier corporate “divestiture.”

I realize that the IBM Corporation may contribute more financially in a day than I could in a lifetime, but I can no longer support an institution that recognizes someone who so negatively impacts so many alumni.

A. Perry Sarkisian