There is no lying about it: RPI is a tough school. That’s why we are here—to earn our battle scars at a prestigious university. But when students have a difficult time, where can they turn? To the Advising and Learning Assistance Center.

ALAC offers great drop-in tutoring for most classes most days. Unfortunately, its budget has been reduced by half this year. This means half as many tutors. Last year, I tutored in computer science. This year there are only one or two tutors for a room full of computer science students. Students can’t get the help they need, especially when trying to understand why their code is throwing pointer errors the night before a test.

I understand Rensselaer is focused on research, but RPI students are here to learn. If they can’t get the help they need to excel at the foundational courses such as Introduction to Engineering Analysis or Computer Science I, then they are ill-equipped for both research and work. Both students and alumni should be disappointed in the priority choices made by the Institute.

Matt Morrow

B.S. CSCI/PSYC/ITEC ’09

M.S. IT ’09