At this point in the semester, as the leaves start to change and Troy gets that much cooler, the pace of activity at “dear old RPI” elevates to a vigorously frantic speed. Likewise, these are the weeks when the business of the Student Senate picks up. As a few of our major projects come to a close I, as vice chair of the Senate, would like to give you a few updates on where we’ve been and where we’re headed.
I would not be surprised to hear that you may feel a little disconnected from student government at RPI. I’ll be honest: When I came to RPI last year, I too didn’t know much about the Student Senate. Information was difficult to find, especially with IEA exams and other commitments pounding me on a regular basis. Your time as a student is strapped, and you likely don’t want to spend it scouring the Internet for information about what your elected student representatives are doing for you (or even better—what they’re supposed to be doing for you).
We understand, and to solve that problem, the Senate has been working on new ways for you to easily find out what’s happening in student government. Each week, we send out something we call the Midweek Mailing, which is an opt-in e-mail newsletter covering recent Senate projects and the latest events happening on campus. E-mail andrem@rpi.edu with the subject title “MWM” to subscribe if you haven’t already. We’ve got something better: the new Senate website, http://studentsenate.rpi.edu/ is now up and running. What was once an “Under Construction” graphic has been replaced with a site serving up details about Senate projects, the committees of the Senate, and the people who serve you as your elected representatives.
You may ask: “Why should I care?” My colleagues have written about the awesomeness that is the RPI Student Union, one of the few campus organizations in the nation that can really be called “student-powered,” and the Senate is the major policy-making, change-inducing body of the Union. The Academic Affairs Committee is currently working on pushing back the drop deadline for courses; the Facilities, Finance, and Advancement Committee is implementing an online tracking website for Red Hawk shuttle buses; and the Community Relations Committee is making it possible for you to use your student ID card to purchase foods and goods at restaurants and stores off campus. I urge you to visit our website to learn more about what we’re doing for you and the rest of the student body. Better yet, stop by the Student Government Suite (Union 3120) for a committee meeting!
Most importantly, the Senate will soon be busting out of the Union to chill with you directly. We’re in the process of planning a series of workshops with the RAs of the various residence halls on campus. Do you have a concern about RPI that you want to talk about? I invite you to check these out; more information will soon be on the Senate website and around campus.
Contrary to popular belief, senators don’t bite. The Student Senate is dedicated to improving the Institute, but in order to really make things happen, we need your help and involvement. We have been hard at work making it easier for you to find the information you need about what is happening and how you can get involved. Now the ball is in your court. Jump in!
