This semester, I’ve come to a bit of a realization. From my observations, it’s obvious to everyone, but always seems to be difficult to do. Starting to do anything is the most important thing you can do. Read more...

Last week, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Travis Apgar wrote a letter to the editor of The Polytechnic (poly.rpi.edu/s/5bmq2). In his letter, Apgar accused an unnamed group, which we can only assume is Save the Union, of spreading misinformation and engaging in attacks of rhetoric. Apgar wrote, “This community deserves to know the full story.” We could not agree more. The full story needs to be told, the facts displayed for all to see. We ask the RPI community to compare not just the rhetoric, but also the actions of all those involved in this ongoing situation. Read more...

Hello everyone! I apologize for not having written in a few weeks, a very tight schedule caused me to miss a deadline or two (sorry, members of The Poly). I hope that you all are doing well, and that you are all buckling down for the end of the semester and finals season. I know I am. I know that, right now, each and every one of you is currently swamped with the last homeworks of the semester, trying to wrap up final projects, and studying for the last tests of the regular academic year. I wish you all the best of luck during this time, and hope that you all earn the great grades that you’ve worked all semester for! Read more...

On Monday, December 4, the Student Senate heard presentations on potential updates to shuttle routes and making candidate nominations electronic, and passed a resolution regarding the recent judicial actions taken against students. Read more...

Starbucks corporate calls its stores the “third place” between work and home where you are able to go as a retreat. Featuring the same roasts you would always expect, and an atmosphere that is the same everywhere, Starbucks exemplifies this idea of a third place, and as such I have made it my go-to place to do work. Read more...

Over Thanksgiving break, I found myself in a movie theater late at night waiting to see Coco with a group of my friends. The theater lights dimmed, the audience came to a hush, and the projector started up with… Olaf from Frozen. This was fine; some animated films run shorts before the actual feature film, a prime example being the short about volcanoes being run before Inside Out. These shorts are usually cute, not very memorable, and crucially, five or six minutes in length. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, however, didn’t seem to get the message. By the 10th or so minute, it had driven people to confusion. I remember turning to my girlfriend and making her reassure me we were in the right theater. After a confused nod in return, I resigned myself to my new fate of sitting through what felt like “Frozen 2: Electric Boogaloo.” The plot follows Elsa and Anna finding a Christmas tradition, after being informed that people won’t come to their grand party due to following traditions of their own. Rather than going out themselves, Elsa and Anna stay home, depressed, and Olaf decides to take it upon himself to amass all traditions in the kingdom of Arendelle. He comically finds cakes, Christmas trees, and a full-on sauna. Then, to no one’s surprise, he loses them. Fortunately, his entire adventure was meaningless, as Elsa and Anna realize that Olaf himself was their Christmas tradition, and he is celebrated by all the people whose traditions he borrowed. Read more...

The film Coco follows the story of a young Mexican boy named Miguel who has one dream: to become the next biggest musician. He idolizes an artist named Ernesto de la Cruz—who shares a striking resemblance to Pedro Infante—and has a seemingly natural talent for playing the guitar. However, his family has banned him from even listening to music. I found that very strange because Mexican culture is rich in music. On his journey through the land of the dead, on the Day of the Dead, Miguel learns the true meaning of the Mexican holiday, and he comes to realize the true importance of family. It’s a very beautiful story, with detailed, colorful visuals, and a lovely narrative that takes a family-friendly approach to the questions of life after death. It really is worth the rave reviews and I completely recommend watching it. However, that’s not what I’m going to talk about in this review. Instead, I’ll be talking about the uniqueness and importance of this film. Read more...

In the Senate meeting that took place on Monday, November 20, the graduate senators presented an update on their council’s affairs, Grand Marshal Justin Etzine ’18 presented the proposed Student Senate budget for Fiscal Year 2019, and members discussed and voted to approve the budget with one minor amendment. Read more...

As someone who is a complete stranger to the indie music genre, I couldn’t help but feel a little out of my element at Ground Zero’s show featuring Tiny Blue Ghost. Fortunately, this anticipation was swept away as soon as I entered the venue. The CLASS building just below RAHP had been transformed into a room filled by bright lights and musical equipment, as to be expected. The Ground Zero group was both friendly and accommodating as they conversed with guests over complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. The line up included an opening solo performance by Redd, some jazz-inspired rock from SCHMAVE, and a bold performance from the featured group, Tiny Blue Ghost. Read more...

Freedom of expression is at risk at Rensselaer. During this semester, we have seen the Dean of Students Office use the judicial process to target leaders of last month’s demonstration outside of the capital campaign launch, administrators threaten the grand marshal with expulsion for doing his job as the chief representative of the student body, and, most recently, a student organization face intense scrutiny over the content of its members’ speech. Read more...

UPAC Concerts partnered with Upstate Concert Hall to host singer and producer Mike Gibney, better known as GIBBZ, and indie pop band Saint Motel on Saturday, November 18. The venue, well-hidden and filled with people of all ages, featured a central bar and an off-center stage. Read more...

A little over two months ago, a friend of mine committed suicide. Read more...

The Union Executive Board held its last regular meeting of the semester on Thursday, November 16 with a rather full agenda, including a presentation, the consideration of new club affiliations, guest speakers, and discussion about payroll increases. Read more...

Dear Poly Editor:

200 students occupied the Pittsburgh Building—the administration building at the time. It was spring 1969, and we were protesting something about President Folsom’s position on the library.  I was ensconced in a quiet corner on the first floor when Assistant Dean Carl Westerdahl entered the building to check on things.  He came over to me and asked how I was feeling (not great). He felt my forehead and said, “You have a fever. You need to go to the infirmary.” I replied, with a smile, that he was not going to succeed in clearing out 200 students by convincing them that they all needed medical attention. He implored me to get myself checked out, but I resisted. Then he said, “If you go to the infirmary and are okay, I promise to let you come back into the building and resume your spot on the floor.” I was impressed with his genuine concern and sincerity (considering that he had a major headache of his own to deal with), and I marched over to the infirmary.  My temperature was over 102 degrees, and I was diagnosed with strep throat eventually—but that is another story.  So, I could not go back to the protest and I never had the chance to test his promise, but have always believed that he would have honored it. Soon after that, Westerdahl contacted me and asked if I would be willing to serve on the Student Judicial Board. From what I have read lately of the current administration’s treatment of students involved in the recent student union protest, the relationship is not what it was. Read more...

Hello, RPI! I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving break. Now begins the exciting time where we begin to wrap up the semester, and I wish everyone the best of luck with upcoming assignments, projects, and exams as we bring the fall semester to a close! Read more...

Faculty members receive messages from RPI’s central administration each semester emphasizing the importance of academic integrity to the Institute. We are required to include testaments to academic honesty on our syllabi. This semester, I met with a member of the administration to note that these notices contain virtually nothing about such integrity, only what count as violations of it—cheating on exams or plagiarizing papers, for example. Last week’s Poly article regarding Save the Union, and three letters to the administration by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education may explain why. Read more...

In February of this year, The Polytechnic published an Editorial/Opinion in which I wrote to introduce myself to the Rensselaer community and to provide insight into the philosophical approach I take as a student affairs administrator. In that piece, I described my devotion to student success and personal growth, campus safety and security, working toward a truly inclusive community, and improving the well-being of our students. I also included in my writings an appreciation for Rensselaer. I remain committed to supporting our students, our student organizations, the Institution, and our alumni, as does President Shirley Ann Jackson and the entire administration. Read more...

On Monday, November 27, the Student Senate covered changes to policies, progress on updating shuttle routes and stops, and the potential for adding an online component to the Advising & Learning Assistance Center’s tutoring services. Read more...