Town Meeting
Institute to announce plan for Spring semester after Thanksgiving break
Spring semester plans—including housing for sophomores and spring sports—will be announced after the Institute transitions to remote operations over the Thanksgiving break. President Shirley Ann Jackson explained that Rensselaer plans to assess what needs to be done for the Spring semester in context of the Fall semester and “the overall public health situation.”
Town Meeting
Fall trigger levels for University Pandemic Protocol updated
President Shirley Ann Jackson revealed updates to the University Pandemic Protocol trigger levels during the Fall Town Meeting. Now, trigger level one will be enacted after there are more than 30 confirmed COVID cases in two weeks, resulting in an immediate switch to remote instruction. When the amount of confirmed cases exceed Rensselaer’s ability to isolate and quarantine students, the updated trigger level two will be implemented. With the activation of trigger level two, the semester will be extended by a week, and students must vacate campus within 72 hours and continue the semester online.
Two clubs gain Union recognition, virtual competitions allowed
Two clubs on campus became Union-recognized at the Executive Board meeting on September 23. Additionally, the E-Board made a decision allowing funds for in person events to be reallocated to virtual events, given that they meet Institute guidelines.
Severe thunderstorm causes power outages across campus
Severe thunderstorms over the Northeast region of the United States have left many Rensselaer students without power.
Students who miss two COVID tests will have campus access revoked
In an email to the student body, Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Travis Apgar announced that if a student misses two COVID tests at any point during the semester they will be required to go remote for the remainder of the Fall semester. Students who are living on-campus “will be immediately removed” with no refund on room and board.
Interested in freshman elections?
Grand Marshal Advaith Narayan ’21 and Undergraduate President Evan Lazaro ’21 provide a rundown of the positions open for Freshman Elections and their respective responsibilities, as well as details about the mandatory information sessions for students wishing to declare candidacy.
GM’s guide to managing student stress
Grand Marshal Advaith Narayan ’21 shares his strategies for managing stress.
The dearth of intellectual diversity plaguing America
True intellectual diversity requires four things: the willingness to pursue non-conformity, the acceptance and even encouragement of opposing views, the humility to accept criticism, and a wide-ranging global catalog of personal knowledge.
E-Board approves virtual events, outlines reallocation procedures
The Executive Board has passed a blanket approval on a list of virtual activities for clubs this fall. Activities included under the blanket approval are virtual events, including trivia nights, escape rooms, lectures, training, cooking events, crafting, and movie nights.
E-Board allows clubs to not collect fall dues
The Union Executive Board unanimously passed a motion on September 16 allowing clubs to decide if they will collect dues this fall. If a club does not collect fall dues, the motion prevents the club from asking the E-Board during the Spring semester for any additional funding on programs in the club’s initial budget.
Fall financial guidelines for student organizations
President of the Union Anissa Choiniere ’21 reviews some changes made to club purchasing and fund reallocation procedures. She also provides information about the annual financial workshops required for all funded clubs and organizations.
The Arch academic calendar needs to be re-worked
Editor in Chief John Stotz ’22 discusses the issues with the nonstop summer Arch semester and proposes a solution to provide students with periodic opportunities for recovery.
Sharing governance when administrators won’t
Grand Marshal Advaith Narayan ’21 discusses the importance of shared governance, a philosophy where various groups of people broadly communicate and all share in the decision-making process. He explains how Rensselaer administrators have failed to implement it at the institutional level and his full intention to uphold the practice through his role in student government.
COVID testing: a 4-star experience
Over 4,200 members of the Rensselaer community were tested for COVID-19 prior to the return to campus this fall in an impressive feat of organization. While the process has gone remarkably smoothly, we hope that improvement in communication can make it even better.
Realities of remote RPI
In the current, remote reality, are students receiving the same benefits of the activity fee? According to President of the Union Anissa Choiniere, the answer is no.
Welcome to Rensselaer; please be safe
Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Travis Apgar welcomes students back to campus and urges them to follow Rensselaer’s safety protocols, as non-compliant behavior will be addressed swiftly. He emphasizes that all members of the community must demonstrate responsibility and take the lives of others seriously.
Elections
Narayan and Choiniere win GM, PU races
Advaith Narayan ’21 and Anissa Choiniere ’21 have been elected Grand Marshal and President of the Union, respectively. The announcement was made on a live stream through the Union’s Instagram account, and a rundown of the election results was sent out in an email shortly thereafter.
Letter To The Editor
Our Arch concerns have gone unheard
Grand Marshal Meagan Lettko '20 and Vice Grand Marshal Advaith Narayan '21 voice their concerns with how the Arch program is being handled this summer and outline the Student Senate’s recent efforts in advocating for rising juniors.
How to socialize while practicing social distancing
After a few weeks of online courses and the absence of campus activities, here are suggestions on how to socialize while practicing social distancing.
After a few weeks of online courses and the absence of campus activities, here are suggestions on how to socialize while practicing social distancing.
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.
