To the Editor:
In last week’s paper, Max Yates commented on our campus’s lack of student-led discussions on matters of global importance, singling out Ecologic and the Rensselaer College Republicans as groups attempting to alter this trend. Oddly enough, the RPI College Democrats were left off of this list in what I imagine to be an oversight.
The RPI College Democrats lead the apathy-busting effort on this campus. Our primary goal is not to push any specific viewpoint—although we don’t mind doing just that when the opportunity arises—but to get students to debate critical issues. Our members have participated in a number of forums on campus, on issues ranging from the environment to the Constitution. We are currently developing a debate-format show for RPI TV and attempting to secure funding for a political newspaper.
With the College Republicans, we have worked to add a political column to this paper and scheduled what will be a memorable debate in November. Despite the nasty attempts by its leadership to derail these cooperative projects, we have found the members of the College Republicans, on the whole, to be upright individuals with the best intentions for this campus. We hope to work with them more closely in the future.
Our groups are well on their way toward stamping out apathy. The College Democrats is a relaxed group with an ideologically diverse membership that encourages ideas for new projects. I imagine the College Republicans to be very similar in nature. I encourage all on campus to join political groups such as ours.
Let me add that the death penalty is an abomination to the moral character of our country and should be eliminated immediately.
Now that’s how you start a dialogue. Commence angry letter writing.
Austin Randazzo
PHYS ’09
Vice President
RPI College Democrats
