RPI Allow Rush and Recruitment!

As a tuition paying parent I am angry with this decision!

Dr. Jackson is trying to prove, and will attempt in vain, that abuse of drugs, alcohol, other students dignity and rights, is directly related to fraternities and sororities, because some very serious events of abuse occurred on fraternity property. She is hoping, and will hope in vain, that no one finds out that similar very serious events of abuse occurred on and off campus to and by college and university students at RPI and virtually every campus nation wide, and further much more serious events of abuse occurred regularly amongst young people who are not college students. By this flaw in logic, Rensselaer will attempt, again in vain, to create an “us versus them” argument, where Rensselaer is the pristine us and Greek Life is the abusive them. If I learned anything in my four years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it was to not fall for emotional arguments not based on logic and evidence. I think the evidence is quite clear and quite substantial, and quite indisputable. Abuse is a human failure, not a Greek Life value. Afterall, were not every single student at Rensselaer subject to the same recruitment and admissions standards by the Admissions, Athletic, Academic and Dean of Students offices? Were they not all students of Rensselaer? The vast majority of fraternity members and students on campus are highly responsible students who take on voluntarily, the mantle of leadership on campus, the accountability of contributions to the area community and the responsibility to prepare while at Rensselaer for leadership in the military, in civil government life, in the corporate world and in positions of global leadership after graduation. A vast majority of Greek Life students went on to obtain higher education graduate degrees at other universities, to create new companies, develop new engineering processes, seek patents, write books, teach and otherwise contribute to the knowledge of mankind. None of this sounds like the unsubstantiated character

Phi Kappa Tau ‘96. This will change the great campus of RPI abd the future experiences. A total reaction move.

The proposed restrictions on Greek organizations at Rensselaer will have devastating impacts on these historic fraternities and sororities. Many of these groups have experienced financial difficulties, and further restricting the activities of these groups will cause a drop in membership and make in nearly impossible for these organizations to survive. Greek life is one of the many historic traditions that have given Rensselaer it’s well respected reputation. Turning your back on that tradition now would be a mistake.

Phi Kappa Tau. Epsilon Phi chapter at Indiana State University. Founding Father 1999

I can see the banning of alcohol during rush events as most would be illegally consuming, but banning rush and recruiting is unjust and depriving the student body of a further education outside of the classroom.

Yet another unilateral attack on an RPI constituency. First the Faculty Senate, then the Union, then students' rights to free speech and assembly on campus. Unless and until the RPI Board of Trustees decides they don't approve of administration actions the current RPI leadership will continue doing whatever they want.

I joined the Theta Xi chapter at RPI in 1983. Best experience ever!

delete Several of my closest, life-long friends were among my fraternity brothers at Theta Xi. I don't think I would have made these friendships, 53 years ago, if it were not for Greek Life. From these proposed actions, I assume there are never any problems in the dorms...if there are, will you get rid of them too? Please don't punish the many for the acts of a few.

Several of my closest, life-long friends were among my fraternity brothers at Theta Xi. I don't think I would have made these friendships, 53 years ago, if it were not for Greek Life. From these proposed actions, I assume there are never any problems in the dorms...if there are, will you get rid of them too? Please don't punish the many for the acts of a few.

Rush anyway. Ask your national association, they lose money without membership. They will fight as well.

FIRE SHIRLEY

Greek Life, for all it's human flaws is being used as a scapegoat for the RPI administration to avoid addressing it's own failure to support and protect the student body. Shameful and ineffective.

Greek life has been a college experience for over a hundred years. Let’s continue to allow it to grow.

Have raised money as a Patroon solicitor..no more.

I’m an incoming transfer and RPI Greek life played a huge role on my decision. Let’s bring it back!

Although I wasn't apart of a fraternity or sorority, I can't imagine RPI without Greek Life.

I sent an email to President Jackson when I heard about this possibility last week, but received no acknowledgment. Here is my email - Dr. Jackson, I appreciate the update before any action is taken. While a great deal of time has elapsed since my undergraduate days, I wish to testify as to the good aspects of Greek life on the RPI campus. When I attended in the 1960s, about half of the student body were members of a fraternity. I was a brother of Theta Xi. The fraternities represented all of the diversity that existed at Rensselaer at that time. During those simpler times, both fraternity and independent students interacted on a continuous basis. As an example, the majority of weekend parties held by any one or more fraternities were open to any RPI student. I don't mean to represent perfection by any group of 18-22 year old individuals, but I do want to register the goodness that comes from a group living and working together - managing their house under the supervision of their adviser and national organization. For me, I learned much from living with people from across the country and, in some cases, international venues. I hope my peers did the same. Net, do not make assumptions about a group because of a small number of bad actors. To many times in our society, I see the whole punished due to the behavior of a few. Regards, Rick '65

Why is everyone punished for the actions of the few. This has happened time and time again. Stop.

Save our Greek Life