For the more seasoned readers of my column, you may have noticed that I’ve been trying my best to shy away from blandly listing all of the projects the Student Senate and its affiliates have been working on. Instead, my writings have focused on initiatives that I feel tap into wide-reaching and important issues at RPI, or projects that have reached notable milestones. This week, I’m going to talk about several Senate projects that have been in the works for quite some time now, and all of which, conveniently, interconnect.
Last week, a group of us held a meeting to talk about myRPI and some of the other great web projects we have coming online. You may recall the column I wrote last semester about myRPI.org, a site dedicated to serving RPI students. It is presently undergoing alpha testing and will officially be debuted within the next two weeks, but until then, you’re still welcome to check it out and send us your feedback. In addition to myRPI, services like AdLib and ScavNet are coming online now.
AdLib is basically a collection of all the information students need to reach other students on campus. For any of you who were ever brave enough to try, starting a new club or organizing an event is a daunting task. This is where AdLib comes into the picture—it is designed to make this frightening process easier by providing you with clear descriptions of the tools you have at your disposal. From navigating the Institute’s complicated rules on postering (does “Sign Policy” ring a bell?) to utilizing some of the nifty pieces of technology like RPI TV ads, AdLib will give you just about all the answers you seek, even if you haven’t asked any questions, yet.
ScavNet is another computer-based service that lists various freebies on campus, and allows students to search for spare parts and materials being given away, while posting similar items. The goal of ScavNet is to maximize the amount of material being reused on campus while making life easier for students. This aligns with one of the major thrusts of the Student Senate—sustainability.
I’d like to thank the students who’ve been doing an amazing job working behind the scenes—and in the scenes; that is, if you count the Student Government Suite as a “scene”—many of whom aren’t even senators: Michael DiTore ’10, Charlie Emala ’09, August Fietkau ’08, Brian Michalski ’10, and Brian Zaik ’09. Without their help turning ideas into tangibles, we probably wouldn’t have working versions of myRPI, ScavNet, and AdLib by now. Visit http://senate.union.rpi.edu/ to see any of these.
I’ve also spent much of the past week working to revive the Judicial Board and the Review Board. Few people know that RPI has a system whereby students can have their disciplinary cases and disputes heard by a body of their peers, the J-Board, or that they can appeal to a Review Board, comprised of students, faculty, and administrators. The J-Board has been in place for decades and has served the student body well, but it has only been able to do so with the dedication of its members—students. If you’re interested in serving as a member on either of these boards, e-mail me (gm@rpi.edu) and we’ll talk. I’m here to listen, but you’ll have to speak up, first.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, which is tomorrow, I challenge you to send me comments and thoughts describing what you love about RPI, be it small or large. If there are any responses that legitimately make me swoon, you just might find them in this column next week (anonymously, of course). And if you just scoffed at that last sentence because you view Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday created by evil greeting card companies, well, don’t worry—you won’t have to purchase a card or flowers, just send me an e-mail. Chocolates, however, are always appreciated.
