Students here at RPI are incredibly lucky to have such thoughtful and engaging faculty. Open and honest dialogue is critical on a college campus and I was glad to see that, for the most part, the RPI community can engage in discussion, critique, and internal analysis in a collegial and constructive way. From the enrollment perspective, every department and school has been generous with its time and supportive of our recruiting efforts, and we are seeing the results. If the number of students applying under Early Decision is any indication (we have an Institute record number this year), Rensselaer is a hot school.

Unfortunately, there were moments at the teach-in that did not reflect the otherwise high quality of the discussion, nor the positive spirit I hope we are all seeking at our university. The purpose of this letter is to give my perspective on those moments.

One presenter on numerous occasions attempted to equate Stalinist Russia and Hitler’s Germany to the leadership of Rensselaer given the current faculty governance issue. To even imply that anything happening at Rensselaer is similar to the atrocities that occurred under Hitler and Stalin—the millions that were murdered, starved, and tortured—is simply offensive. We all need to keep our issues and disagreements in perspective.

The same presenter, perhaps “tongue in cheek,” referred to the President’s cabinet as “lackeys.” Having come to RPI from Yale, working every day and weekends to attract incredibly bright students, and having seen RPI’s reputation grow dramatically in recent years, I am personally offended to be referred to in that way. Serious discussion does not require name-calling or insults.

Free speech is alive and well here on the campus. The teach-in is a crystal clear example. I am grateful for that!

A faculty spouse reported that she had attended our Women in Entrepreneurship program and actually went so far as to discourage a prospective student’s family from considering RPI because of the current faculty governance review process. The same faculty member who referenced Stalin then explained how he goes around the country telling his audiences that academic freedom and free speech are “under a cloud” on RPI’s campus. This behavior is destructive and simply not acceptable. My job, and I presume the job of all of us who care about Rensselaer, is to enhance the reputation of RPI and the value of our students’ Rensselaer degrees. I seek to bring the best and brightest to our campus for the faculty who want to teach the best and brightest. The current faculty governance issue will be resolved (soon, we all hope) but the damage being done to RPI’s reputation will not easily be undone when things are resolved. I urge everyone not to “cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Like all universities, RPI has limited resources and there will always be tensions, debates, disagreements, and drama on the campus. Disagreements exist on all campuses. I truly believe that everyone involved in the current debate cares about Rensselaer and providing the best educational experience for our students. As the community continues to wrestle with faculty governance, priorities, budgets, and policies, please remember to keep our pride in RPI and our appreciation of our students at the forefront of all of our minds. We have so much to be proud of here at RPI, and we should never lose sight of that.

Jim Nondorf