Pragati Pant


Previous positions
  • Technology Coordinator April 2019 to August 2020
  • Editorial/Opinion Editor December 2019 to March 2020
  • Contributing Editor April 2019 to December 2019
  • Acting Editor in Chief April 2019 to September 2019
  • Features Editor December 2018 to April 2019
  • Associate Editorial/Opinion Editor April 2018 to December 2018
Editorial Notebook

An abrupt end to senior year

March 16, 2020

I did not realize that my classes on March 6 were the last I would ever experience on campus. In a matter of a few days, I lost the remainder of my last semester at Rensselaer to the novel coronavirus.

Editorial Notebook

Remembering Kobe Bryant

January 29, 2020

It’s been a few days since basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash and I am still having trouble processing it.

Tv Series Review

The Mindy Project embarrasses me as an Indian American woman

December 13, 2019
Years after listening to a friend praise this show, I finally watched The Mindy Project—and honestly, I wish I hadn’t wasted my time.
Club Event

Diwali show brings Bollywood to campus

November 20, 2019

The Indian Students Association’s Diwali show on Saturday proved to be a fun night of laughs, performances, and delicious food. The Bollywood inspired show included a skit from ISA members and performances from RPI Bhangra, RPI Raaga, RPI Rudras, and other club members.

STUDENT EVENT

Students work on AI, natural disaster, education solutions at HackRPI

November 13, 2019

An accessibility assessment application, a wildfire detection device, a disaster evacuation application, and a peer-to-peer service were all developed within a day at the Darrin Communications Center last weekend at HackRPI.

Editorial Notebook

Data Structures is just the beginning

November 6, 2019

It’s no surprise that one of the most talked about courses on campus is Data Structures. This mostly freshman course provides an excellent, in-depth accumulation of information—ranging from the basics of C++ to memory management within various customizable data structures. I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot about the internal workings of the many data structures I now take for granted while coding.

Breaking News

Rensselaer community unsettled by police presence on campus

October 16, 2019

Over five police vehicles and a SWAT team were seen on campus stopping a vehicle and apprehending multiple people on Tuesday around 9 pm. Near the time of the stop on 15th Street, uniformed officers with guns lined the Darrin Communications Center walkway near Russell Sage Dining Hall, where an arrest took place.

Lesser-Known Locales

Where to recharge: the perfect places to cry on campus

October 9, 2019

When you were little, crying was natural. If you fell down while running and scraped your knee, you cried. If your parents didn’t let you buy the coolest new toy, you cried. But, somewhere along the road of growing up, you were told crying is weak, that what you’re feeling doesn’t matter, and that you should just deal with it.

On-Campus Event

Come celebrate Latinx Heritage Month

September 26, 2019

September 15 marked the beginning of Latinx Heritage Month, which recognizes the importance of Latinx culture and history within the United States. Three student organizations—Alianza Latina, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity—have events planned throughout the month, and all students are welcome to participate in the festivities.

Club Spotlight

Giving sustainability a scrumptious spin

September 25, 2019

Out of the many clubs promoting sustainability on campus, Terra Café is definitely the yummiest one. They’ve partnered with Sodexo to bring affordable and alternative dining options every Wednesday. Located in the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Terra Café tries to use local produce as often as they can when making these meals.

Editorial Notebook

People, lights, and busy streets with a side of roaches

September 11, 2019

I spent this summer interning in New York City. While I loved my internship experience, I learned a lot about myself and the city outside of working hours. This was a new playground for me—one with different swings and slides than the ones I was used; my childhood in New Hampshire nor my college years in upstate New York had prepared me for a bite of the biggest apple.

Downtown Troy

Your guide to Troy: Exploring the outdoor farmers market

May 3, 2019
Almost three years ago—wow—I started my freshman year at Rensselaer. I was super nervous about making friends and getting involved on campus, as most freshmen are.
Committee Spotlight

Multicultural Leadership Council: a liaison for cultural clubs on campus

April 24, 2019
On a campus where the difference between the majority and the minority can feel quite evident, the Multicultural Leadership Council is proving to be an important resource for cultural clubs.
Downtown Troy

Dinner party: a must-have RPI experience

April 24, 2019

To start the celebration of Earth week, Design for America held a dinner party in partnership with the Student Sustainability Task Force on Saturday. This event was open to all community members, and yielded about 50 attendees, ranging from RPI students to families with small children.

Club Spotlight

Club aims to make coding more accessible for local youth

April 17, 2019

In early 2017, Coding&&Community was founded on campus by a small group of students. This addition to the Rensselaer community serves to educate local youth about computer programming and problem solving. The goal is to bridge the gap between coding and different roadblocks a student may face, including gender, race, socioeconomic status, and more.

On-Campus Event

AJR performance proves a fun, energy-filled concert

April 3, 2019
On March 26, AJR performed on campus as part of Grand Marshal Week festivities. UPAC Concerts sold 914 tickets, and the number of actual attendees was just under that.
Gm Week 2019

RUVS test run reveals system vulnerabilities

March 26, 2019
On March 15, the Elections Commission tested the Rensselaer Union Voting Suite in preparation for the upcoming Student Government elections.
Album Review

Grande delivers upbeat album despite personal struggles

March 13, 2019
Ariana Grande’s latest album release, thank u, next is most definitely a bop. Since I started listening to this album a few weeks ago, I haven’t been able to stop.
Editorial Notebook

Can there only be one? Gender and recognition in rap

February 27, 2019
I spent my teenage years listening to hours and hours of hip-hop, R&B, and rap: Drake, Lil Wayne, Ne-yo, Nicki Minaj.
On-Campus Event

Actor discusses filmography with nearly empty room

February 27, 2019
As part of Genericon, Colby Boothman—an actor who has performed in films like Jurassic World—was featured in a panel to talk about his experiences on Saturday.
Movie Review

A Star is Born: dramatic, filled with original music

February 20, 2019
A Star is Born, released late last summer, served as the fourth remake of the original 1937 film. Starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, this movie reminded me of the various other renditions I have seen of this story, including a Bollywood version.
Tv Series Review

Cuckoo: unknown and surprising, worth watching

January 30, 2019
A few weeks ago, I found myself bored scrolling through Netflix. I had just finished the popular show BoJack Horseman, when I came across Cuckoo.
On-Campus Event

Fresh Check Day upcoming at the Mueller Center

January 30, 2019
Within the past few years, the Mueller Center has expanded its wellness initiative to incorporate mental health.
Editorial Notebook

Stop using media to judge your love life

January 23, 2019
My freshman year of high school—a whole whopping six years ago—consisted of multiple hours watching Gossip Girl, and dreaming over having that lifestyle.
Downtown Troy

Downtown Troy’s first Asian bodega now open

December 17, 2018
On December 7, Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen expanded their business with the grand opening of Kim’s Convenience.
Movie Review

Bohemian Rhapsody: the story behind Queen

December 5, 2018
Released last month, Bohemian Rhapsody is a biopic of the well-known British band, Queen. The film portrays the story of how Freddie Mercury, the lead singer, came together with the other members of Queen to create a diverse palette of music.
On-Campus Event

ISA puts on great Diwali show

November 28, 2018
Diwali, also referred to as Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, that signifies the win of good over evil.
On-Campus Event

Campus event sheds light on ethical allyship

November 28, 2018
On November 12th, the Multicultural Leadership Council and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers partnered together and hosted an event about ethical allyship.
On-Campus Event

RMA Concert features various small music groups, talented performances

November 28, 2018
Last Sunday, the Rensselaer Music Association held a concert to showcase Rensselaer’s many small music groups.
Movie Review

Crazy Rich Asians flashy, glamorous

November 14, 2018
With its flashy scenery and glamorous outfits, Crazy Rich Asians will have you falling in love instantly.
Editorial Notebook

Women deserve to be heard

October 24, 2018
For one of my writing classes this semester, I have to write a piece about what irritates me. As I am new to this type of self-expression, this class has really opened my eyes to healthy ways of questioning aspects of my life.

Troyasia Night Market: important, but poorly executed

October 17, 2018
This past Friday, Troy’s third annual Troyasia Night Market dazzled event goers with a plethora of Asian cuisine and amazing aesthetics.
Movie Review

Venom: enjoyable despite undercooked plot

October 10, 2018
This past Friday, Sony Pictures released Venom: an introductory movie about an anti-hero. Focused on an outbreak of an alien symbiote on Earth, this film incorporates humor and action-packed effects to entertain viewers.
On-Campus Event

GreekFest raises money for cancer research through carnival-themed activities

September 19, 2018
The ’86 Field was taken over by numerous fraternities and sororities for a celebration called GreekFest on Sunday.
Movie Review

The Incredibles sequel highlights creativity through storytelling

September 12, 2018
After fourteen years of anticipation, Pixar finally released the sequel to the beloved film, The Incredibles.
Editorial Notebook

Junior year offers opportunity for independence

September 12, 2018
With the start of this school year, I am officially an upperclassman at Rensselaer. Saying this out loud has been hard for me.
Album Review

Debut album provides powerful messages

April 18, 2018
Cardi B debuted her studio album, Invasion of Privacy, on April 6. A fairly new face, the singer has been gaining much recognition for her bold voice and fearless songs.
Club Spotlight

Festival of colors

April 11, 2018
The Indian Students Association put on a Holi celebration outside of Commons Dining Hall this past Saturday where students celebrated by throwing colors and spraying water on each other.
Movie Review

Blockers offers more

April 11, 2018
UPAC Cinema hosted a free pre-screening of the upcoming Universal Pictures feature, Blockers. Starring John Cena and Leslie Mann, this movie follows three parents as they set out to ruin their daughters’ prom night.
Album Review

Break-up mixtape

April 11, 2018
Surprising his fans, The Weeknd released a mixtape, My Dear Melancholy, on March 30. This was the Canadian singer’s first extended play, and it features French techno artist, Gesaffelstein.
Album Review

Vance Joy’s Nation of Two offers listeners relaxing, somber sound

March 28, 2018
Released late February, Vance Joy’s second studio album, Nation of Two, showcases the singer’s signature sound through a variety of songs.
Album Review

Indie album showcases versatility in new sound

March 21, 2018
Released March 9, The Neigbourhood came out just as Spring Break started. I knew I was about to spend a relaxing week at home, and an album by The Neighbourhood, one of my favorite bands, was exactly what I craved.
Club Spotlight

UPAC Cinema highlights student interests through recent, classic film selections

February 28, 2018
Two weeks ago, I went to see Thor: Ragnarok at the Union Programs and Activities Committee Cinema on campus.
Club Spotlight

SWE Outreach rewarding, educational

February 21, 2018
Earlier this semester, I attended my first Society of Women Engineers’ Outreach Committee. As a member of SWE, I wanted to check out what this committee was about.
Album Review

Fall Out Boy renewed

February 7, 2018
As a junior in high school, I was introduced to Fall Out Boy through their Save Rock and Roll album, which was considered their newer music at the time.
Album Review

Artist promotes restorative message through Latin, R&B influenced album

January 31, 2018
Splitting from her former group, Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello emerges with her first solo album, titled Camila.