Problems in Rice land

FIRST General Forum
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I got an e-mail from some one today that said:

"Evan:

I just spoke with Brother Connolly, and through this conversation it became very clear that as per your school leadership, there is “no Robotics project at Rice at the moment.” As worthwhile and valuable your efforts in organizing the FIRST team are, (and I do applaud your incredible enthusiasm and determination), Brother Connolly does not consider this an official school effort, or Ms. Berenguer as the moderator he needs to consider this a viable project.

Regarding fundraising, while Brother Connolly is willing to sign letters you might write, he does not consider the Robotics program a priority, and as such he considers that “official” school fundraising efforts (letters to foundations or reaching out to corporate sponsors) should address other priorities than robotics. I urge you and the team to support Brother Connolly’s agenda, and encourage you to look for alternatives for Rice students still willing to partake in Robotics this coming season. It is important that we recognize, respect, and support Brother Connolly’s agenda, for nobody better than your leaders to know what is best for the school and for your future.

I have asked him to discuss this with you and Ms. Berenguer, for I think we need to be clear that as much as we would want you to continue having a Robotics team, founders will want to fund teams where there is school leadership support and where there is a connection between the academic potential of this project and the institution’s own academic and organization goals.

I know how many efforts you have devoted to keeping FIRST at Rice, and how valuable you feel this is for you and other individual members of your team. I strongly encourage you, however, to consider combining your efforts to those of other organizations already involved with robotics, such as the Harlem YMCA or even CityCollege IEEE and/or NSBE student chapters or other high schools for the 2003 season. I will be glad to discuss this further and help you find alternative options for the members of your team."

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what to do at this point. I got this team back together in the hopes that we would have school support in this venture, since we have no support we’re back to square one. Grr…maybe I shouldn’t have gotten the team back together.

p.s. Brother Conally is the school president (the equivalent of the BOE in one person)

Mrs. Berenguer is our team Moderator

I’m Evan and I can be contacted at Trueyank32 on AIM

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I believe that this is just an issue of both showing that there is support from people to make this a viable option for the school, and that it is a positve influence on the people involved. If he is a rightminded man, he will recognize the potential that a team can have and the effect it could have on the school itself, as I would assume that the school it always looking to promote the idea of teaching kids gracious professionalism, and that they have the ability to do something truly amazing. However, he may need a little more convincing, which means one option is to invite a bunch of FIRST teams to the school and set up a meeting with him to explain the impact this prgram is having on society and how it could vastly improve the quality of the school. If this fails to change his mind and agenda, then I am afraid he may be impossible to convince that this is something good for the students, at which point maybe we should call Dean and see if he will help. Let me know what you think, and maybe Ill come up with more for ya.

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Evan:

It sounds like your team is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I really don’t know what to say. Are there any other teams in the area that could talk to the school and tell them how FIRST has changed their lives? If you would like me to write an e-mail or make a phone call to anyone, I would be more than happy to do so. I would go and talk to them myself, but being 1,000+ miles away makes that a bit of a challenge :wink:

Regarding fundraising, while Brother Connolly is willing to sign letters you might write, he does not consider the Robotics program a priority, and as such he considers that “official” school fundraising efforts (letters to foundations or reaching out to corporate sponsors) should address other priorities than robotics.

Question about that: If science and technology are not the school’s priorities, what are? Sports? Drama? Let me ask you this: what is your school going to put out more of - professional basketball players or professional engineers? Maybe that is a point you should bring up to your administrators.

Again, if you need help with anything, you know I’m here for you.

I wish you the best of luck, my friend.

  • Katie
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*Originally posted by Katie Reynolds *
**Evan:

It sounds like your team is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I really don’t know what to say. Are there any other teams in the area that could talk to the school and tell them how FIRST has changed their lives? If you would like me to write an e-mail or make a phone call to anyone, I would be more than happy to do so. I would go and talk to them, but being 1,000+ miles away makes that a bit of a challenge :wink:

Question about that: If science and technology are not the school’s priorities, what are? Sports? Drama? Let me ask you this: what is your school going to put out more of - professional basketball players or professional engineers? Maybe that is a point you should bring up to your administrators.

Again, if you need help with anything, you know I’m here for you.

I wish you the best of luck, my friend.

  • Katie **

our big thing at our school is basketball, only the “smart kids” do robotics.

p.s. i don’t need luck…i need a new school!

5

Does the team have to be organized through the school? Could you maybe find a sponsor that will let you use some space at their facilities as well as giving you money?

The way I read that letter, you’re going to have a really hard time even arranging a meeting with this “Brother Conally” guy, much less changing his mind.

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