Editor’s note: This notebook was run in an issue last March. It is relevant to today’s issue because The Poly is holding elections this weekend. Please note that some facts and personnel positions are outdated. Read more...

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

All photos: Joseph Shen and Nathan Greene/The Polytechnic Read more...

On Monday, the Student Senate discussed the possibility of a car-sharing program at RPI. Possible changes to the Rensselaer Union that would affect the Senate as a whole were also discussed. None of these changes have been put into effect yet; both discussions were meant to gauge the thoughts of senators on the issues at stake and provide feedback for those heading the committees in charge of the projects. Read more...

For a while now, I’ve been making a list of my favorite quotes. They are happy and sad, serious and silly, long and short. They come from a variety of different sources, including movies, TV shows, and songs, as well as things people have said to me, papers I’ve read, speeches I’ve heard, and more. Read more...

West Hall auditorium was decked in streamers and bright string lights on Saturday, November 9, as the Indian Student Association hosted its annual Diwali Show. Also known as “Deepavali,” Diwali is a five-day Hindu festival that signifies that start of a new year. Read more...

The Engineers faced off against the Dutchmen of Union College in a two-game series this past weekend. Friday night’s game was played in Schenectady, a contest that saw RPI battle to a 4-3 loss. Rensselaer was outshot 32-21 on Friday and had five penalties putting them a man down for 10 minutes. Senior Forward Brock Higgs scored the first goal for Rensselaer unassisted and shorthanded early in the first. Union then went on to score the next four goals, tallying one in the first and second periods and two in the first two minutes of the third period. RPI made a strong comeback attempt led by junior forward Matt Neal’s two goals in the third. The first was assisted by junior forward Ryan Haggerty and sophomore forward Mike Zalewski and the second by junior forward Jacob Laliberte and Haggerty. Down one, RPI got a chance to even the game late in the third when Union took a penalty, but the Engineers were unable to find a goal. Read more...

On Friday, November 19, the Tau Nu chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FIJI, at RPI and the Chi chapter at Union College held their first FIJI Puck Run together. The philanthropic event consisted of brothers from each institution running segments of a 20 mile relay from RPI’s Houston Field House to Union’s Messa Rink between 3:30 and 7:30 pm. While running 20 miles together is an accomplishment in and of itself, both chapters fundraised by asking local businesses to sponsor runners in order to raise money to donate to the United Service Organizations, one of Phi Gamma Delta’s official charities. The USO provides support for members of the American armed forces and their families. In all, over $2,400 in donations were raised. Read more...

As many of you may start to find out, living in this world without a credit history can be a major problem. When you get your first internship, you will most likely be finding yourself renting an apartment and paying for utilities. Without a credit history, many landlords, renting agencies, and services/utilities may not be so keen to allow you to move in or provide you their service. Even if they do, you will find yourself with very high security deposits. Read more...

We use fossil fuels as an energy resource every day. What heats your residence hall, provides you with electricity and light, and powers your classrooms’ projectors? Probably not renewable energy. Read more...

Are you participating in No-Shave November? It doesn’t matter if you are or aren’t, but do you know the real meaning behind this event? No-Shave November is held by the American Cancer Society to raise awareness of cancer. You would think that it is cruel to remind those in chemotherapy of what they don’t have—hair—but it isn’t like that. You actually spend the whole month forgoing shaving and waxing, and actually embracing your hair and letting it grow. And instead of spending money that usually goes to pay for hair care, you donate to help with the battle against cancer. Read more...

I had high hopes for Sharknado. And I definitely got everything I was looking for and more. This was the movie that hit America by storm over the summer. It was all anyone on the news networks was talking about for months. Sharknado saw the pairing of the two hot shots in the bad movie business—Syfy and The Asylum. It was definitely a match made in heaven. Read more...

Last Saturday marked the season opener for the Engineers, both of them as it happened. In their first contest of the season the RPI Engineers played a very familiar opponent, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engineers. In a game marked by quick-tempo play and plentiful scoring, RPI lost at East Campus Arena to its conference rival 100-84. Read more...

On November 9, I had the great privilege of speaking with the student leaders of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute over brunch. Read more...

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewing Co.

Bio: In February 1990, after years of home brewing, Richard Squire decided to open up a craft brewery/restaurant in Breckenridge, Colorado. Read more...

The Student Senate met this Monday and several interesting topics were raised. An issue that the Senate has been researching for the past semester is the transportation needs of students on campus. The type of transportation service that is being looked at is a program that would allow students to rent vehicles for periods of time. The car sharing initiative would allow students to rent a car within the RPI campus, through some vendor, and use it for whatever needs that they have. This initiative has risen from student concerns for the lack of transportation options on campus for important things like job interviews, networking and professional events, and health appointments. This program focuses primarily on students who do not have a car on campus. Read more...

Hello RPI! It seems that time is flying by as we have a little over two weeks left in the semester. I hope that everyone is managing with their homework and tests in this final stretch before Thanksgiving break. Read more...

Note from Kyle Keraga ’15, president of the Undergraduate Council: Hello again, RPI, and welcome to the Undergraduate Council’s first class president feature! With this week’s column, you’ll be hearing from Michelle Lamberta ’14, president of the senior class, about 2014’s planned class gift and other upcoming senior events. If you have any questions or ideas for the senior class, you may reach her at lambem2@rpi.edu. Read more...