Union and Mueller Center return to full capacity
The hours of operation for the Union, Mueller Center, Clubhouse Pub, Playhouse, J Building, and Auto Shop have been finalized and will return to full capacity for the Fall semester.
Hockey tickets made free in an Institute first
Rensselaer students, faculty, and staff will be admitted to the stands of the Houston Field House for free, on a first-come first-serve basis, to watch the Engineers battle for victory within the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
Women's Hockey
Engineers beat the Orange to a pulp
Julia Blitz ’23 finds the back of the net late to secure a victory against Syracuse in an exhibition match, Amanda Rampado '23 with 29 saves.
Women's Soccer
Wisnom: Savior against the Saints
Whitney Wisnom ’22 scored on the final play of the game to rescue a draw against Liberty League opponents St. Lawrence.
What the class of 2025 wants to know
The following are a mix of questions asked by first-year students who participated in The Polytechnic’s Navigating Rensselaer & Beyond event and some we as a staff think every student should know. Student questions were answered in real time and later abridged into this article.
The following are a mix of questions asked by first-year students who participated in The Polytechnic’s Navigating Rensselaer & Beyond event and some we as a staff think every student should know. Student questions were answered in real time and later abridged into this article.
football
Engineers break the Mustangs
A four-yard touchdown with 34 seconds remaining secured a victory against Stevenson, bringing the Engineers’ record to 2‒0.
Men's Soccer
Plattsburgh pommeled in Troy
Josh Gaudiano ’23 netted two goals in the 5‒1 win over the Plattsburgh State Cardinals, bringing the Engineers’ record at the time to 1‒1‒1.
Union hours set for Fall semester
The Rensselaer Union will be open from 8 am to midnight, Monday through Saturday, and 11 am to midnight on Sundays. Additionally, all entrance doors will be card-access only.
Behind the scenes of Fall Union operations
President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 discusses the updated Union operating guidelines.
RPI Raaga becomes Union recognized
RPI Raaga, a new South Asian a capella group, was granted Union recognition.
We Are Lady Parts is the quirky coming-of-age narrative we’ve been waiting for
Editor in chief Medhini Mankale ’23 and photography editor Rachel Wang ’23 explain why We Are Lady Parts is the one show you should binge this semester. The comedy series follows an all-female Muslim punk band as they prepare and audition for a battle of the bands competition, with plenty of witty banter and jokes along the way.
Editor in chief Medhini Mankale ’23 and photography editor Rachel Wang ’23 explain why We Are Lady Parts is the one show you should binge this semester. The comedy series follows an all-female Muslim punk band as they prepare and audition for a battle of the bands competition, with plenty of witty banter and jokes along the way.
Commemorating September 11 as an Arab American
Theo Severud '23 recalls the tragedy of the September 11 attacks, and its impact on Arab Americans.
BSA is back in business
Rensselaer’s Black Students Alliance is excited to kick off a year of fun activities for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. It prides itself in being a cultural outlet for RPI’s Black community and its allies. We strive to showcase the Black experience and offer an immersive experience for those looking to learn and be a part of that experience. Jeda Coward ’24, Makenna Noel ’24, and BSA President Tiffany Filawo ’23 write about the importance of the BSA, how it persisted through virtual meetings, and its upcoming events.
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson announces retirement
On Friday afternoon, President Shirley Ann Jackson announced that she will be retiring from her position as President of Rensselaer in July 2022. Jackson has served as president since 1999.
On Friday afternoon, President Shirley Ann Jackson announced that she will be retiring from her position as President of Rensselaer in July 2022. Jackson has served as president since 1999.
RPI mandates unlimited meal plan for first-year students
The new unlimited meal plan, available for all students, replaces the 19 on-demand plan as the mandate for residential first-year students. The unlimited meal plan costs $7,270 a year and credits students with both $150 in Flex Dollars and an unlimited number of meal swipes, but has brought up concerns from current students.
RPI releases return-to-campus plan for the Fall semester
An email sent to the Rensselaer community provided details of the Institute's plan for classes, events, and safety protocols for this Fall semester with consideration for the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
52nd Student Senate confirms student government appointments
The 52nd Student Senate confirmed the appointments of the new Executive Board representatives, Senate cabinet members, and Vice Grand Marshal over meetings from April 14 to May 5.
To the Class of 2021, congrats and farewell
Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 and President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ‘22 congratulates the Class of 2021, and commends them for their incredible perseverance despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Super protected: a vaccination tale
Public health officials warn of possible side effects, but what if they weren't all negative? The Poly is bringing back comics with graphic artist Habib Nahouta at the helm.
Public health officials warn of possible side effects, but what if they weren't all negative? The Poly is bringing back comics with graphic artist Habib Nahouta at the helm.
Online services to be partially reinstated
Some services dependent on Rensselaer servers will be partially reinstated, starting today. The Learning Management System (LMS) currently works for a limited timeframe. The Student Information System (SIS) only works on campus, and Rensselaer Webmail is not yet running.
Monday, Tuesday finals canceled due to cyberattack
An announcement was posted this afternoon to all of Rensselaer’s social media stating that “all final exams and submissions (e.g., term papers, project reports) scheduled or due for Monday (May 10) and Tuesday (May 11) are cancelled” as a result of the cyberattack on RPI servers that occurred on Friday.
RPI takes down servers in response to cyberattack
Earlier this morning, Rensselaer servers were shut down in response to a cyberattack leaving many students unable to access LMS course materials, contact professors through email, take their final examinations, or submit final projects.
Earlier this morning, Rensselaer servers were shut down in response to a cyberattack leaving many students unable to access LMS course materials, contact professors through email, take their final examinations, or submit final projects.
Finish strong and look ahead
Newly elected Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 and President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 encourage the student body to finish the semester strong, continue supporting each other, and look forward to the year ahead.
J & J: The key to community immunity
In an email to students Tuesday morning, Executive Director of the Health Center Dr. Leslie Lawrence informed the Rensselaer community of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine’s pause in distribution. Staff writers Jack Zhu ’21 and William Hawkins ’23 argue that this decision will put the entire Rensselaer community at unnecessary risk.
Austerity measures could leave graduating seniors mugless
The Rensselaer Union plans to purchase 1800 mugs for the 1755 students who voted in this year's Grand Marshal Week elections. Union Programs and Activities Committee Chair Eddie Weisser ’21 presented four options to distribute GM week mugs to students during last week’s Executive Board Meeting.
Wellness day woes
“While well-intentioned, a wellness day is not a replacement for Spring Break,” write staff writers Jack Zhu ’21 and William Hawkins ’23.
RPI secures 1700 Johnson & Johnson vaccines for distribution
President Shirley Ann Jackson announced that 1700 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses have been allocated for RPI students.
President Shirley Ann Jackson announced that 1700 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses have been allocated for RPI students.
Becoming the women that change the world
Women’s History Month is a time for everyone to reflect on the many women who have changed our world. At a school whose slogan is “Why not change the world?” Alumnae Cara Riverso ’10 writes that Rensselaer women should reflect in an additional way.
Why you need to change the way you look at sex work
Why should you, a college student, worry about the lives of sex workers? Your attitude can help them reclaim the dignity and respect they deserve, while their lives have become even more challenging due to the pandemic, writes Associate Editorial/Opinion Editor Maya Johnson ’22.
Residential students speak out against unsatisfactory quarantine living conditions
The 51st Senate concluded its term with the passing of the ‘Quarantine Communications' motion prompted by the extension of the Trigger Level One quarantine on March 17. In a meeting attended by over 180 people, students discussed a potential refund for the quarantine food, the quality and nutritional value of meals, and outdoor time.
The 51st Senate concluded its term with the passing of the ‘Quarantine Communications' motion prompted by the extension of the Trigger Level One quarantine on March 17. In a meeting attended by over 180 people, students discussed a potential refund for the quarantine food, the quality and nutritional value of meals, and outdoor time.
In response to revoked approval for remote learning
A joint email from Grand Marshal Advaith Narayan ’21, President of the Union Anissa Choiniere ’21, President of the Interfraternity Council Chris Vanderloo ’21, and President of the Panhellenic Council Bryn Clarkson ’21 explains why they "condemn the actions of the Rensselaer administration to revoke previously granted remote learning approvals."
Institute retracts remote learning request approval, calling initial approval an “error”
On Tuesday night, students were notified that previous emails approving their remote learning requests for the upcoming Spring semester were sent “in error,” and that the actual decision regarding remote learning requests would be communicated by December 18, one week after the on-campus housing application deadline. This announcement sparked outrage in the student body and a joint email by student leaders condemning the action.
You don't need "underlying conditions" to suffer from COVID-19
Independent Senator Cait Bennett ’22 demonstrates the severe impact of COVID-19 by sharing the experiences of several people that got the virus, including herself, in an appeal to the Institute to revise their remote learning policy.
Building the future of The Polytechnic
Journalism is in flux. The traditional newspaper is dead. Revenue from selling advertisements in a printed edition is shrinking. Across the country, smaller newspapers are being bought by national conglomerates, and the staffs that understand local issues better than anyone are being eviscerated to cut costs.
Journalism is in flux. The traditional newspaper is dead. Revenue from selling advertisements in a printed edition is shrinking. Across the country, smaller newspapers are being bought by national conglomerates, and the staffs that understand local issues better than anyone are being eviscerated to cut costs.
