Editing RPI's Save the Union Protest (section)

=Organization=
Save the Union was organized by RPI students Bryan Johns and Michael Gardner in March 2016. Johns had previously sent an application to the school's administration for permission to host a peaceful protest. This initial application was promptly denied. After a second denial of a peaceful protest application, students led by the Save the Union group occupied their area of protest anyways. Students felt that RPI was denying their first amendment right to freedom of speech. RPI's Student Bill of Rights also guaranteed students freedom of expression. Protesters believed they were within their rights as students to hold a a peaceful demonstration to help their voices be heard. The intended message of the protest was to convey to RPI administration that the overwhelming majority of the RPI community wanted the RPI Union restored to a student-run organization. The protest consisted of gathered students marching through campus and gathering in the grass outside of EMPAC where an alumni event was taking place. The protesters took turns leading chants through a megaphone and most of them held signs they waved while chanting. Many of the signs were identical, reading "Save Our Union" with "RPI" inside the letter O. The protest remained peaceful, beginning at 4pm and continuing to 6:15pm.