Troy

Students and alumni of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute say a protest will go on Wednesday afternoon despite the administration's denial of a request by students to peacefully assemble.

A protest was originally planned for students to voice their concerns with what they say has been the long erosion of student autonomy over the Rensselaer Student Union. While the 125-year-old union operates under the auspices of the Division of Student Life, it has historically been allowed the independence to oversee its own finances, employees and programs, said Jeremy Feldman, a member of the union's executive board.

Students had submitted a request to the administration to demonstrate outside the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center from 2 to 5 p.m., when President Shirley Ann Jackson is scheduled to be there to lead a town hall meeting.

The request was denied on the grounds it would "disrupt the normal operation of the institute," according to a March 24 memo to students from Acting Dean of Students Cary Dresher.

But students say the protest will go on with the help of RPI Professor Bill Puka, who has decided to hold his annual "Spring Serenade on Democracy & Ethics" at the same time outside the performing arts center. He has extended an invitation to the campus community, and will use the time to cover a range of topics, including free speech, governance of the student union and fiscal responsibility of the university.

While students have long been concerned about the university's treatment of the student union, it wasn't until early January when the director of the union "mysteriously" vacated his post that their concerns intensified, said Gregory Bartell, a member of the union's executive board.

A short time later, students discovered an online job posting for an executive director of student activities — a new position resulting from a reorganization of the Division of Student Life that would provide leadership for the Rensselaer Student Union, student government and campus recreation, and report to the assistant vice president and dean of students.

In an interview with the Times Union, Jackson and Vice President of Student Life Frank Ross denied any plans by the university to take over the student union.

"It is important to remember, though, that the student union — the facility and the organization — exist under the rubric of the university," Jackson said. "It is not independent of the university, and that's true of any student club or group across the country."

The new executive director position and planned restructuring of the Division of Student Life are designed to give students more support and opportunity, Ross said.

"It's not taking anything away from students," he said. "It's actually adding a greater level of supports for our students."

A number of students, many of whom would only speak anonymously for fear of retaliation, say their larger concern is an atmosphere of fear and stifled speech on campus — among both students and faculty — that they believe is fostered by the administration.

"There's a culture of fear here, and that's part of the reason we felt this event was essential," said Dan Seel, a student who spoke out alongside Feldman and Bartell.

The university in no way punishes individuals who speak out against the administration, Jackson said, adding that if it did it would be brought up on charges by the U.S. Department of Labor.

"People say they don't see me, that they're afraid," she said. "They are protesting. They got to you. You wanted to talk to me. So here we are. I can't say more than that. But repetitive assertions don't always constitute truth."

Adding to student frustration is a new report from Inside Higher Ed, which recently listed RPI as one of more than 400 schools on shaky financial ground with the U.S. Department of Education. RPI was required to post a $4 million letter of credit last fall for failing the department's financial responsibility test, owing to its nearly $1 billion in liabilities and years of operating at a deficit.

In a letter to alumni last week, the university pointed out that a number of financial analysts, along with the National Association of College and University Business Officers, take issue with the calculations the department uses to measure financial responsibility.

"The financial state of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is strong," the letter reads. "We are proud of the strategic investments we have made in our faculty, students and campus facilities. We intend to continue to focus expenditures on creating programs and research capabilities that will benefit not only the campus community and our vast alumni base, but the world at large."

bbump@timesunion.com • 518-454-5387 • @bethanybump