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'Roger Williams University', commonly abbreviated as 'RWU', is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on 120 acres in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams. The University itself, however, has no religious affiliation.

Contents

History, academics, and campus life

Reputation and campus culture

College Republicans controversy

Board of Trustees controversy

See Also

References

External links

History, academics, and campus life

The university’s operations date to 1919, when Northeastern University opened a branch campus in the YMCA building in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1940, the YMCA Board of Directors took over the school and the YMCA Institute granted its first associate’s degrees in 1948. In 1956, the Institute received a state charter to become a two-year, degree-granting institution under the name of Roger Williams Junior College. During the 1960s, Roger Williams College began granting bachelor’s degrees. The College, needing a larger campus, purchased 80 acres of waterfront land and moved its main campus to Bristol in 1969 (RWU continues to operate a branch campus in Providence). In 1992, Roger Williams College became Roger Williams University and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.[1]
The university enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and 850 graduate students in 36 liberal arts majors and five professional schools. It is one of the few colleges in the United States to offer an undergraduate degree directly in Marine Biology, has a well-regarded school of architecture, and is the only law school in Rhode Island. Approximately 80% of students live on campus. The current President of the university is Roy Nirschel.
The university has a weekly campus newspaper, ''The Hawk's Herald'', which publishes approximately 20 issues per academic year, and an FM radio station, WQRI 88.3. The radio station plays everything from college alternative to hip hop. The college's 16 varsity athletic teams play at the Division III level as members of the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Reputation and campus culture

The university established a program in Civil Discourse, including a high quality journal "Reason and Respect". It brought in speakers such as Salman Rushdie, David Gergen, First Minister and Nobel Prize winner David Trimble, Khaled Hosseini, author of ''Kite Runner'', Bob Geldof of Live Aid, and others to campus. The university has established a campus in Florence; collaborations with sister institutions in France, Brazil, Vietnam, and Hong Kong; a broad portfolio of study abroad opportunities encompassing over 30 countries; and is home to an innovative Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy, which brings together engineering, architecture, technology, economic development and international relations for a common purpose.
Enrollment is currently at an all-time high. In addition, Roger Williams was recently ranked for the first time as one of the top ten Comprehensive Colleges in the Northern U.S. by ''U.S. News and World Report''.^[1]. Ranking at number 9 in 2007, up one spot from the previous year.

College Republicans controversy

In 2004, Roger Williams became a focus of attention when the Roger Williams University College Republicans offered a "Whites Only" scholarship. Applicants were invited to submit photos and a paper describing what being white means to them. The organization, which had hosted several conservative speakers on campus, including David Horowitz and Ann Coulter, became the focus of international media attention. Death threats against the College Republican leadership were received, necessitating extra security. The winner of the scholarship donated the $500 scholarship to charity. ^[2]
The scholarship created controversy because many saw this act as racist. The College Republicans argued, however, that it was meant to parody and protest affirmative action. The application even said: "Evidence of bleaching will disqualify applicants." ^[2]

We think that if you want to treat someone according to character and how well they achieve academically, then skin color shouldn't really be an option. Many people think that coming from a white background you're automatically privileged, you're automatically rich and your parents pay full tuition. That's just not the case.

-- Jason Mattera, 20 (president of College Republicans)
^[2]



In a subsequent protest against the Vagina Monologues, members donned a six foot penis costume and advertised for their own "Penis Monologues" outside the student union. Again, this brought the RWU College Republicans to the attention of conservative media outlets.^[5]
Due to their actions, the college republicans were condemned by Rhode Island's Republican Party, and are no longer allowed to use a capital "R" in their name. They also cannot use the national symbol of the Republican Party, the elephant. Additionally, the organization had their university recognition revoked until the end of the 2005-2006 academic year due to violations of institutional policy.

Board of Trustees controversy

The chairman of the board of trustees, Ralph Papitto, after whom the RWU law school is named, used the racial slur "nigger" to describe blacks during a board meeting in May 2007. The incident arose in April 2007, when the university received a formal “Notice of Concern” from a regional accrediting organization, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). RWU was warned in a letter sent on March 23, 2007, that the board of trustees had to start following its bylaws and appoint a more diverse board, otherwise RWU was “in danger of being found not to meet one or more Standards if current circumstances or trends continue." A failure to do so could jeopardize the institution’s accreditation ^[6].
Student groups have called for the Roger Williams University Ralph R. Papitto School of Law to be renamed, stating that it will be "a disgrace" ^[7] to have Papitto's name on their diplomas and resumes. The incident caused other trustees to be voted off or leave the board, including the three who sought Papitto's removal -- two of whom were the only female board members. Papitto is now "Chairman Emeritus" of the board of trustees, and has been replaced as chairman of the board by Richard Bready, CEO of Nortek Inc. Bready is a close business associate of Papitto, Nortek's founder. Other remaining board members include Papitto’s son-in-law Harry M. Crump; and Mario J. Gabelli, a major stockholder in Nortek for whom the business school at Roger Williams is named.^[6] On Wednesday July 18th, Ralph Rapitto issued a statement requesting that his name be removed from the law school.^[9]

See Also

★ Roger Williams University School of Law

References

1. USNews.com: America's Best Colleges 2007: Roger Williams University: At a glance
2. New Scholarship Created for Whites Only
3. New Scholarship Created for Whites Only
4. New Scholarship Created for Whites Only
5. Whites-only Scholarship Generates Controversy
6. RWU chairman Papitto assailed over racial epithet
7. R.I. School Official Resigns After Slur
8. RWU chairman Papitto assailed over racial epithet
9. Papitto - Remove my name from Law School


★ Out of the Darkness: Afghan women pursue education in U.S.

External links

★ Roger Williams University - official website

★ Teen Ink