The nation seemed to stop everything yesterday around noon, mesmerized as Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. He enters the White House as our first African-American president at a time when our country remains polarized, yet hopeful for change. While he holds historically high ratings as he enters office, there are still many who believe that he is not the right man for the job, and that he lacks the experience necessary to lead our country through these troubled times of war and economic hardship.
Consequently, our nation faces a tough choice: Do we continue to perpetuate the divide between us, or do we put aside our personal feelings about Obama and unite for the betterment of our country? I have not been a big supporter of Obama in the past; however, he is now our President and I sincerely hope that he is successful in his efforts to guide this nation through the difficult challenges it faces. If he succeeds as our leader, we all succeed.
This situation offers an interesting parallel to our own Institute. A microcosm of our country, we have become divided in our feelings towards our leader, the president of RPI. This disunity has become particularly pronounced in recent weeks, exacerbated by layoffs that have shaken our community.
Over the past month, I have listened to a myriad of opinions, explanations, and comments regarding the financial situation at RPI from faculty, students, and the administration. One opinion is that some of the layoffs could have been avoided if President Shirley Ann Jackson and her Executive team had been willing to take a pay cut, while others feel that layoffs were the only feasible option after the administration explored countless other alternatives.
Some of the biggest obstacles facing the RPI community, however, are the result of a simple lack of communication. Some facts that haven’t yet made their way to the student body are crucial to gaining a complete understanding of the situation. For example, countless times I have heard it said that “Jackson should give herself a pay cut”; however, Jackson does not set her own salary and can therefore not decide about that herself. Instead, it is the Board of Trustees that determines what she, as well as the cabinet members, will be paid in a given year. Unknown to many, Jackson did pose the question of a pay cut for herself this year; however, the Board of Trustees decided that she deserved to be compensated to the level that she currently is. In addition, the decision to lay off staff, as well as who would be laid off, was not decided by one person; it was made pursuant to numerous discussions among various members of the administration, deans, and department chairs.
These layoffs are obviously not the ideal outcome for anyone, be they student, faculty, or administration. Having spoken personally with several employees who have been let go after over 30 years of service to the Institute, I have found the stories of how it has affected them and their families heartbreaking.
Despite the plethora of opinions flying about, I doubt whether anyone can prove with 100 percent certainty whether or not layoffs were necessary to protect the Institute from the quickly crumbling economy; however, it happened and cannot be reversed. While students are more than within their rights to express displeasure with what has happened, the movement against the Institute’s leadership at this point is only serving to further divide RPI.
I would like to believe that the overarching goal among all these groups speaking out is to improve the Institute, regardless of whether a given person or group feels the layoffs were right or wrong.
We now face a choice similar to that of the nation: to continue the division among members of our community or to take what has happened, put it in the past, and work towards a common goal in the future.
It is obvious from watching the news that the nation is in for a long struggle. Some estimate that the downturn will last 18–24 months, and that a full recovery of the economy could take four to five years. Rather than attacking the administration or saying that the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center or the East Campus Athletic Village never should have been built, it is important that all members of the Institute rally behind one another, not against. It will be crucial that we go through this period as a united community, regardless of anyone’s feelings toward Jackson or a specific choice she and her team have made. Whatever else we may think of the decisions, no one should think that it is easy to choose among difficult options. The choice for the rest of us, as we look to the future, is whether to contribute fresh ideas or stand on the sideline and throw rocks. A conglomeration of ideas from all the brilliant minds at RPI could provide the solution we are looking for.
This inherently means compromise, and such give-and-take must come from all sides—students, faculty, staff, and the administration alike. The forums that have been scheduled in the last couple of weeks with students and faculty will serve as a good foundation to build upon and show everyone’s willingness to work as one.
I truly hope that we all realize the futility of working against one another, instead uniting in a common cause and directing efforts towards the betterment of the Institute as a whole. By agreeing to enter into earnest discussions about these issues and by pledging to have open minds, we can emerge stronger than before, prepared to take on the challenges that the economy will present over the next several years.
