I go to RPI. Her full name might be Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, but when I want to say it in one word I call her “RPI.” Not “Rensselaer.” Don’t get me wrong, “Rensselaer” is much better name than, say, “Clarkson,” but “RPI” will always be how I refer to the place I currently call home.
When I look around my office, I see The Bullet, the once omnipresent, yet currently underutilized symbol of our fine institution. For many years we have had a simple, small, and yet stoic symbol for everything we stand for as an institution. It simultaneously shouts out our name, and yet sums up our experiences. It is the humble but proud, simple red circle forever emblazoned with the name of our alma mater: RPI.
I thought I would start this week’s column off a little bit differently than I usually do. I needed to get that off my chest. Someone had to say it and it probably should start with me:
Bring the Bullet back.
There, it’s been said.
Now, not to abruptly change the subject, but I usually use this column to reflect and try to explain the most recent actions of the Student Senate, and I really can’t afford this week to be an exception.
In various different capacities, over the last few months, the issue of whether or not the Union should be funding political and religious groups and events has been raised. This is an issue that has been appearing like clockwork every four years. What is interesting is that it is never a question of renewed interest in the funding of religious groups, but rather the attempts of various groups to secure Union funding for political reasons.
We have had a perennial problem here in the Union where outside groups see our system as one that can be gamed into providing funds for their own political agendas. It is not appropriate for the Union to subsidize the activities of an organization that by its very nature is dedicated to not simply educating, but actively promoting and evangelizing an ideological standpoint. The clear difference I have always seen between an overtly political organization like the College Democrats and Democracy Matters and cultural and ethnic organizations is the subtle—yet important—difference between education about issues and proselytization about viewpoints. The difference between raising greater awareness of a people should never be compared to expressing political viewpoints.
Various elements of the Student Senate, including myself, have managed to convince ourselves that the best way to once and for all end this debate is to make it the official policy of the Union to not fund political or religious organizations and events. In our discussions we strived for a way to allow for reason to poke holes in a blanket policy, without creating a policy with loopholes large enough to drive a truck through. I fully expect the Senate to debate, amend, and improve this entire piece of legislation this week, and quite possibly into the future, with the input of the Executive Board, and the Director of the Union.
I would love to see more of the student body attending Senate meetings and give their input. I realize that it isn’t the most desirable time, but Thursdays at 9 pm is a time when almost everyone has the ability to wander into Union Room 3202 and watch the Senate in action. At times it can be boring, but I promise you will learn something, and quite possibly even be entertained. I think the experience was best summarized by the President of the Interfraternity Council, Charles Centrelli, “All you really need is a guy selling hotdogs, and an elephant, and you’d have a pretty good circus.” Well, join this top-hat bedecked ringleader under the big tent every week, in Union Room 3202, Thursdays at 9 pm.
