On behalf of the Undergraduate Council, I would like to welcome all of the incoming freshmen to the RPI community this year. My name is Ryan Hawthorne, and I am the Undergraduate Council president. It is the UC’s job to represent you—along with the rest of the undergraduate community—as well as to serve as the governing body of the class councils. We also serve as a forum for undergraduate concerns and ideas; if you have any issue you would like heard, do not hesitate to approach us.
Joining clubs and activities is perhaps the best way to get to know other students. Why not join student government—a great way to both meet people and make a difference in everyone’s experience here at RPI? The class councils are an excellent first step into the realm of student government. With both elected positions and member-at-large opportunities, getting involved in your class council is not at all difficult. And, if you decide to join your class council freshman year, you will have a lasting mark on the direction your class takes over the course of its four years here.
Class councils are involved in things both formal and social. Each year, they are charged with holding class events in order to foster a sense of community among your peers. They must also make several key decisions—creating the class council constitution freshman year, deciding on a class ring sophomore year, and determining a proper class gift and fun-filled senior week, just to name a few.
Don’t quite feel like getting that involved right when you start college? You can still help out your class council by joining one of the many committees that are each based around particular events, like the ones I named above. Committees are not as much of a time commitment, but are still a great way to meet lots of new people and bring ideas you have to fruition.
Are you good at web design? The Undergraduate Council is currently looking for a new webmaster to take on the overhaul of our website. Would you like to get involved with running the elections here on campus? The UC’s appointed position on the Rules and Elections Committee is currently vacant, and we are looking for any and all interested applicants. Want to learn more about how the class councils and the UC have an impact on your four years here? Don’t hesitate to contact me, either via AIM at “TheUCPresident” or by e-mail at uc@rpi.edu. I’m always looking to hear from more undergraduates about their time spent here.
Whether or not you choose to get involved with student government, I implore you—get involved with something! The activities you get involved with and the people you meet will surely be the parts of college you come to remember down the road. Welcome to RPI!
