Let me begin by thanking those who listened, encouraged, and elected me to the office of Grand Marshal. The campaign will never stop; I promise to continue to reach out and ask students for their input on the many actions that the 40th Student Senate will be undertaking. I would also like to thank the outgoing 142nd Grand Marshal, Kara Chesal ’09, for her determination and leadership; I wish her well in her path beyond RPI. Let me also congratulate Alex Franz ’10 on his election to President of the Union; I look forward to working with him and the Union Executive Board. I hope this year will allow the Student Senate, E-Board, and Judicial Board to work together to effectively serve the student body.
The 40th Student Senate is comprised of a very diverse and knowledgeable group of students. The Senate is already on its way through appointments; our first meeting has already passed and I encourage any member of the RPI community to attend our meetings on Mondays at 8 pm in Union Room 3202.
The Student Senate is much more than those elected; we invite all students to join the numerous committees and agencies of the Senate that are here to improve the student life experience. Are you interested in student rights? Join the Student Life Committee. The Community Relations Committee is here for improving the relationship between RPI and the surrounding community. The Academic Affairs Committee fights for improvements in education and learning on campus. The Finance, Facilities, and Advancement Committee serves as a source of information on everything; from parking to buildings, Institute finances to furniture, they’re the comment box for you. The Web Technologies Group is on the cusp of technological innovation with recent projects such as Concerto and the recently updated Rensselaer Union website. If you are interested in any of these Senate groups or have questions, e-mail me at gm@rpi.edu.
Our first event, in coordination with the former Grand Marshal, is Pizza with the Cabinet. Members of the president’s Cabinet will be available to listen and answer your questions this Thursday from 6–8 pm in the Banquet Hall of Russell Sage Dining Hall. This new event will allow students to discuss a variety of topics about RPI in an environment that is very relaxed; pizza has a way of doing that.
My platform was communication, student input, and community relations; these are paths that I hope the Student Senate will take to bring positive change to campus.
I’m here for you; my mind, e-mail, and door are open for all of you, and I await your ideas and input in the coming year.
