RPI's Save the Union Protest

Introduction

Save the Union was a student-led protest that took place at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. The Save the Union protest group was formed to oppose RPI's student union being transferred from student leadership to RPI's administration. RPI's union had been led by students for 127 years. On October 13th, 2017, hundreds of students marched across campus in hopes to keep their union led by students, for students.

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 to host a peaceful protest, which was denied. After a second denial of a peaceful protest application, students led by the Save the Union group occupied their area of protest anyways.

The Results

RPI administration had fences put up before the protest took place in order to separate students from their alumni event and removed signs advertising the protest the morning of October 13th. Both Johns and Gardner were summoned by RPI and charged with trespassing, failure to comply, and operating a business. However, the administration was unable to back up their claims with their student handbook and charges against the protesters were dropped. On February 13, 2018, The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) named RPI as one of the worst universities for free speech. Although Save the Union remains an active group working to reclaim student leadership of the RPI Union, the RPI Union is currently controlled by the university's administration.

References

https://freespeechproject.georgetown.edu/tracker-entries/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-blocks-students-protest-of-student-union-management-change/ https://www.news10.com/news/rpi-students-hold-demonstration-to-protect-student-union/ https://theintercept.com/2017/11/16/rensselaer-rpi-student-union-protest-free-speech/ https://www.troyrecord.com/2017/11/12/rpi-protesters-face-disciplinary-action/ https://www.thefire.org/news/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-students-face-sanctions-protesting-presidents-black-tie https://savetheunion.xyz/assets/Dec20PressRelease.pdf