For those students who are new to RPI, let me clarify why the Independent Council exists, and why it is important to you: the Independent Council represents all students on campus who are not part of a social fraternity; APO and honor fraternities are excluded. In doing so, it serves to offset the IFC in terms of representation within the Student Senate and provide balance for the system–both the IC and the IFC appoint members of the Senate to represent their respective bodies.

The IC spends its time con-centrating on Independent-related issues such as, but not limited to, on-campus living and social events. For example, the IC issues a course survey each semester to help provide decision support for students considering introductory courses. In addition to this, the IC strives to sponsor events that will benefit all Indepen-dents–recent sponsoring of Sheer Idiocy, a comedy improv group, serves as one such example.

The IC has room for a total of 30+ members, which includes three elected positions for each class year, including graduates, as well as member-at-large seats. I am personally encouraging every student to attend meetings and consider membership. Weekly meetings typically last 45 minutes and are often times shorter, depending on the amount of business pending.

For the rest of the year the IC will be meeting in the Student Gov-ernment Suite of the Union every Tuesday at 8pm. Students are more than welcome to attend meetings, and food will be served at random meetings throughout the year, as our budget permits.