While I did manage to sneak away for a few days at the beach and a music festival in Pennsylvania (aptly named “Musikfest”), most of summer was spent here in Troy doing the work I promised so many of you last spring. I was elected because students wanted more from their student government. They wanted a Grand Marshal who would solve the tremendous problems with teaching assistant standards, who would make sure that every student who pays for a parking permit would have a parking spot, and who would fight for your rights. Today, I am happy to tell you: so far, so good!

I’ve been pleased with the reception that senior Institute officials have given me and their willingness to be our partner in making RPI a better place. I have met with President Jackson and most of her cabinet to discuss my priorities, and to date, our meetings have been quite productive. They have been open to discussing each and every issue I have brought before them, and they have addressed them with the same level of seriousness that I have. I sincerely believe that they share my desire to improve our experience at RPI, and I am optimistic that they will continue to be dedicated partners in our efforts. Over the next few weeks, I will be filling you in about the progress we continue to make with each passing day.

Next month, the student government will be launching myRPI, a website that will arguably amount to the biggest change in the student experience since RPI became co-ed. myRPI will allow students to have their concerns addressed and their questions answered at an unprecedented rate, improving your experience here remarkably.  If you have an observation or an idea, myRPI will put it in the hands of the appropriate people. Additionally, myRPI will make it easier to get the information you need about life at RPI. It is a website that was created by students, for students. You will even have the ability to customize certain parts of myRPI to your liking.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you who responded to the Student Senate survey that was e-mailed several weeks ago. We received fantastic response from both undergraduate and graduate students, and this data speaks volumes about the issues that were surveyed. It is strongly evident that RPI students want change. An overwhelming majority of you reported problems with TA communication standards and availability of parking on campus, among other things. I want you to know that I hear you loud and clear, and you will see a significant response to these issues, which is already underway. Much of this data has been relayed to the appropriate administrators and we are working with them to develop comprehensive plans for addressing these issues. Nothing of this magnitude has ever happened overnight, so I will continue to plug away and update you with progress on the major topics.

For those of you who have not responded to the survey yet: there is still time! Please take five minutes to respond to it and I promise you won’t be disappointed. The survey will end in about two weeks.