With nine different committees spanning all aspects of student life, there are a plethora of topics the Student Senate is addressing.
The Academic Affairs Committee, co-chaired by graduate student Christina Laskowski and Patricia Leusner ’10, deals with academic issues affecting students. This year, the AAC is undertaking several major projects, including investigating the development of an honor code at RPI, creating a peer mentoring program, and following up on changes made to the academic advising system over a year ago.
The Campus Communications Committee links student government to the rest of the student body and focuses on improving the ways in which people can get more heavily involved with the Union. Chaired by Brian Zaik ’09, the CCC puts out a newsletter every week, the Union Pulse, to keep everyone updated on what is happening in the Union and elsewhere on campus, and is developing a brand-new Union Events Calendar.
The Committee on Judiciary and Student Rights, chaired by Jason Rokeach ’08, is responsible for overseeing institutional judiciary policy and procedures as well as protecting students’ rights within the Institute, local jurisdictions, and the communities in which students are involved. CJSR is working on developing a “landlord accountability program,” investigating building access regulations, and enhancement of free speech on campus.
Chris D’Angelo ’09 chairs the Community Relations Committee, whose major purpose is to reach out to and collaborate with the City of Troy. Projects include off-campus Rensselaer Advantage Dollars, which would allow students to use RAD in local businesses, a large-scale community service program, and working with the Rensselaer Alumni Board to develop an externship program that pairs students with RPI alumni for an on-the-job experience.
The Committee on Student Life is co-chaired by Chase Miller ’10 and Teddy Tablante ’10, and covers a broad spectrum of issues on campus. This year, CSL is promoting the creation of more events on campus, a variety of different games nights in the Union, and developing an event called “Winterfest,” to be held in conjunction with a hockey game during a weekend in February.
The Finance, Facilities, and Advancement Committee, co-chaired by August Fietkau ’08 and Daniel Horvath ’08, is helping to address the parking problem on campus, working to develop a standard recycling program, demystifying tuition, and developing “digital signage.”
The Technology Affairs Committee, chaired by Christopher Gearns ’08, is working to strengthen wireless Internet in areas traditionally deemed “patchy,” as well as assessing and improving printing on campus.
The Student Advocacy Corps is an agency designed to address issues affecting RPI students on a national scale. In the past, SAC has addressed cuts to federal and state financial aid through lobbying governmental officials. This year, under the leadership of its director, Emily Schultz ’10, SAC will tackle topics like digital rights and energy security.
The Rules and Elections Committee, chaired by Christopher Goldsmith ’09, is tasked with overseeing elections, including managing freshmen elections and the infamous Grand Marshal Week in the spring. Over the next few months, RNE will spend considerable time developing the 2008 GM Week Elections Handbook.
Expect to hear about many of these projects and initiatives in the coming weeks, as the Student Senate is committed to making a difference, great or small. Better yet, if any of these projects or initiatives is of particular interest to you, e-mail the appropriate committee chair and ask how you can get involved.
