Hello Students and Alumni! It is with sadness and shame of our fine school's administration that this news is delivered today. After two unsuccessful past efforts, once again the current RPI administration under Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is attempting to seize control of the Student Union. The Troy Record has reported that a Sept. 12 memo from Jackson's VP of Human Resources informed the Grand Marshal and President of the Union that RPI President Shirley Jackson has "Sole Authority" to appoint the director of the Union. In response, students have written the administration. “The Board of Trustees may use its authority to rescind or revise the Union Constitution, but, until that time, the final authority [to elect the union’s director] rests with those to whom it was delegated,” current GM and PU, Etzine and Rand wrote. This repeated effort can only be reasonably believed to represent deliberate tactic on the part of the administration to undermine the continued desires and interests of the Student and Alumni body. This is the administration's third time attempting to install a Union Director of administrative choice instead of following the Union Constitution. Despite protest, despite vocal opposition, and despite over 3000 signatures of this very petition delivered to not only Dr. Shirley Jackson but the leadership of the Board of trustees, the Jackson administration is knowingly and willfully undertaking what can only be seen as an attempt to disregard the Union Constitution, and to undermine and weaken the Institution of RPI itself. In solidarity with our students and our school, please consider writing a letter or email to the office of the President, addressed to the Board of Trustees, expressing your opinions on this matter and the current state of RPI. http://president.rpi.edu/leadership . You may also write the Faculty Senate: http://facultysenate.rpi.edu/rensselaer-faculty-senators-committees Additionally, in acknowledgement that words on repeated occasion have failed to convey our positions to those at the helm, please consider adjusting your Institute Giving strategy. While we all wish to support our school and students, please let the Institute know of the conditional nature of your gift. An administration should not be rewarded for mishandling the receipt of well-intentioned gifts. Please let the VP of Institute Advancement, Graig Eastin, know of your intention to restrain your gifts until the Jackson administration acknowledges this issue and the greater changes desired by the Institute at large. He can be reached at eastig@rpi.edu Lastly, please take part in the Town Hall discussions as part of our upcoming Homecoming festivities. Make our current administration confront the responsibility for their actions. At 5PM on Fri. 10/13/17, Dr. Jackson and the administration will be present at the Curtis R. Priem EMPAC. The full weekend schedule may be found here. http://alumni.rpi.edu/s/1225/RH/index-4col.aspx?sid=1225&gid=1&pgid=4255 Thank you all. May Her fame never die. Troy Record Article: http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20170918/rpi-again-trying-to-take-control-of-student-union