April 11, 2019
To: Rensselaer Alumni and Alumnae
From: Graig R. Eastin, Vice President, Institute Advancement and Interim Executive Director, Rensselaer Alumni Association and Kareem I. Muhammad ’01, President, Rensselaer Alumni Association
Re: Rensselaer Alumni Association
Some Rensselaer alumni/ae have received, or seen through social media posts, a communication from a group of individuals, led by Mr. Bill Criss, claiming to have been elected as the “interim” board of the Rensselaer Alumni Association (“RAA”). We are writing to inform you that these communications are blatantly false and should be disregarded. This group of individuals was never legitimately elected to positions with the RAA. The Bylaws of the RAA prescribe the process whereby the slate of proposed Trustees are approved, and New York law provides a means and timeline for members to challenge an election. Those responsible for the false communication have failed to meet the requirements of these laws and procedures, and have no authority whatsoever to speak or act on behalf of the RAA.
Accordingly, the RAA continues to operate as it has, with President Kareem Muhammad ’01, and the other Board members managing the organization in coordination with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to support continued, quality engagement opportunities for all Rensselaer alumni/ae.
The group falsely purporting to have established an “interim” RAA Board is a group, self-styled “Renew Rensselaer,” that has been opposed to many of the initiatives of the Institute for some time. Prior tactics engaged in by the group have included attempting to dissuade student applicants from enrolling at Rensselaer, and urging alumni/ae not to support Rensselaer. Fortunately, this group does not represent the vast majority of Rensselaer alumni/ae, who are well-represented by the legitimate RAA Board, and who support Rensselaer enthusiastically.
