On September 13, 2006, an article entitled “True equality should be based on blindness” was published expressing the views of the RPI College Republicans. Members of the OMSA Leaders Council were very disheartened that such ignorance still runs rampant across our campus today. For the uninformed, OMSA is the Office of Minority Student Affairs located in the Dean of Students Office. The Leaders Council serves as a mechanism to coordinate the activities and functions of 13 multicultural clubs, professional organizations, and fraternities and sororities. These groups include the African & Caribbean Students Association (ACSA), Alianza Latina; the Black Students Alliance (BSA); College Bound; the Minority Graduate Student Association (MGSA); the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE); the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE); the Society of Women Engineers (SWE); Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Sigma Delta Sorority, Inc.; and Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

Ken Girardin accuses RPI of lowering its hiring and admission standards; this is simply not true. Rensselaer has never turned the other cheek and admitted or employed anyone who, given an opportunity to succeed, was not fully capable of doing so on his or her own merit. The underrepresented minority students on this campus are fully qualified to be here—in fact, more than qualified.

Some students seem to have an issue with diversity; rather than attacking certain minority student organizations or slandering prominent organizations such as the NAACP, it is important to discuss your issues with the appropriate Institute officials with respect to your needs. Educate yourself; we are not here to do your homework for you! Ironically, you may need to begin with a visit to some of the events or meetings of those multicultural organizations which you feel reflect RPI’s obsession with race.

You may also want to refer to The Rensselaer Plan in order to understand the vision and direction of the Institute. RPI’s goal to achieve a diverse student body representing a global constituency significantly enhances the educational and learning processes on this campus. RPI provides a well-rounded and fulfilling experience for everyone by producing a platform to create and enhance ideas and experiment with how these ideas affect others from different backgrounds—leading to better solutions to national and global problems. If you disagree with this, maybe you should consider yourself an unqualified candidate for a degree at such an institution.

Historical Lesson: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed in response to the 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois. Throughout its existence, the NAACP worked primarily through the American legal system to fulfill its goals of full suffrage, civil rights, and bringing an end to segregation and racial violence. A group of white liberals who were appalled at the violence committed against blacks issued a call to meet and discuss racial injustice. Some 60 people, only seven of whom were African-American, signed the call. The NAACP’s stated goal was to secure for all people the rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments in the United States Constitution.

Yes, the Black Students Alliance receives Union funding; perhaps you skipped the part of the mission statement where it says “The Alliance shall exist to allow the participation of all people in the promotion of Black cultural, intellectual and social interests.” In the year BSA was founded, only 17 African-American students attended RPI. It became both a support group and a way to educate—dispelling racial stereotypes on RPI’s campus.

Equality, as framed by Mr. Girardin on behalf of College Republicans, can only be achieved on their terms and for their benefit. Perhaps he speaks out of fear of the emerging demographic population shift or growing political power represented by a diverse world. Perhaps it is ignorance; or more than likely, arrogance. While these arrogant points of view continue to exist, the underrepresented minority student population and its organizations will remain vigilant, achieve excellence, and continue to support a bigger and broader RPI. Why not change the world!