RPInsider

This was half of the crowd. Photo from http://lion.puttynuts.com/~sam/

You’ve heard about it by now, no doubt.  The Uprise at Five (PM) happened yesterday outside of Russell Sage Dining Hall.  Students came out in force to show their dissatisfaction with the lack of input from students on administrative decisions.

This was spurred by the news that freshman RA (Resident Assistant) applicants were told that they were eligible for the position, but that none of them were hired.  The Residence Life Staff was told that no freshman RA’s could be hired, so they hired all upperclass candidates (except those who got “Do Not Hire” somewhere along the process).  This will result in a lower quality staff because there are more qualified freshmen candidates who have not been accepted.  Also, there are currently 5 vacancies in the Freshman Five, where the RD’s (Resident Directors) for next year will be expected to take over RA obligations as well.  All of this means a lower quality experience for residents.

But, this was just the latest in a series of decisions where student input was ignored, and communication was not given.  From Sophomore Housing to Staff Layoffs, from the CLASS Initiative to the January semester which may be coming, student input has been repeatedly ignored, and these policies are all failing because of it.  Students know what is good for them.  Ask them.

This demonstration got the point across.  The Trustees saw the number of students there, and Dr. Jackson can no longer ignore the students’ voice, and it can no longer be said that the RPI student body is apathetic.

Good work, fellow students.  We’ve showed them that we care — that we can no longer be ignored.  Let’s hope the follow-up goes as well as the event.

Share spirit, unity, uprise at five