There is only one group of people to bear the blame for last week’s announcement of the changes to greek life on campus: us, the students. For years, students have taken their role on this campus too lightly, and have not listened to those who have tried to raise the alarm on issues of governance. We now see the culmination of that malaise, with the administration brazenly breaking every agreement it has made with its students and alumni without fear of any consequences.
One of the greatest traditions at RPI has been its dedication to student rights. The Institute is almost unique among its peers in giving so much power to its students. This clout was not idly meted out, however; this was a right hard-won by students who fought for it years ago, and one that was granted by administrators who trusted that future generations of students would take those rights and responsibilities seriously. We have not taken that role seriously, and it is the fault of every student here that one of the core rights we enjoy, our right to prior review of policies before implementation, has been slowly chipped away around the edges over the years until the very heart of it was torn away last week.
We do not have too serious a problem with any of the policies presented last week; all of them seem to be good proposals that are worthy of discussion. The problem is, instead, that these are not goals that are open for discussion—they instead have been mandated for implementation. The administrators presenting the issue claim that there will be an open discussion in one breath, while openly declaring in the next that there is no room for compromise on the goals. Such hypocrisy and intolerance is unforgivable.
This is just another example that this administration does not “get it.” They feel that they are free to do whatever they please, free to implement whatever policies they choose, and that students and faculty will have to live with it. This is a serious departure from the long-standing policies of this school, and one that cannot be abided. This action is a direct violation of the Student Bill of Rights and the greek relationship statement that the Institute signed, as well as an egregious violation of the trust that a university should intrinsically have in its community.
They cannot be allowed to get away with this. They are destroying, in one fell swoop, years of progress toward openness and partnership. Their flagrant belief that they can do what they want, when they want, how they want is as offensive as it is mistaken.
Nearly two decades ago, students experienced a similar problem. A president was in office that dismissed students as “transients” whose opinions did not matter since they would soon be gone. That man had a great vision for this campus, but his ideals did not reflect the ideals of this community. The students rose up and demanded change, and he resigned in response.
It is once again time for the students of Rensselaer to show this campus that we will not be pushed around. This kind of behavior can not and will not be tolerated at this institution. They are right: it is time for change on this campus, maybe not in leadership, but certainly in respect shown. Let’s show them what we can do.
