News

Senates debate communication recommendations

Greek life dean search stalled

Judicial system forum held

blowing off steam

carnival serenading

technologically aware

Ed/Op

Staff Editorial
Implement communication requirements with caution

Wireless needs improvement

Editorial Notebook
Being sick in college is no fun

Top Hat
GM disturbed by editorial criticism

Derby
E-Board’s task complete

Graduate Council
Gala proves success

My View
TA shortage due to research rise

Interfraternity Council
IFC strives for perfection

My View
Tuition Policy burdens graduates

Features

An Evening of Performance soars high

Latham Circle Diner dishes up ordinary classics

Dave Barry
Good pick-up lines crucial to man’s survival

Internet serves as primary news medium for students

Sports

Red Hawks keep playoff hopes alive with home split

Freakout! magic works again

Field House welcomes back 1985 champions

Women’s basketball sweeps Capital District foes

Engineers dominate conference finales

Men’s indoor track and field win meet

BIG RED FREAKOUT!

Rensselaer in Brief
Troy Mardi Gras
Last Tuesday, February 8, many Troy merchants celebrated an early Mardi Gras. Over a dozen downtown Troy businesses marked Fat Tuesday for the third year in a row.

The event began at 4 pm and ended at about 10 pm, when most of the participating businesses had closed and the beads, costumes, and discounts were put away for next year. Several of the businesses participating were new to the event.

The organizers noted a renewal of energy of all parties involved made this Mardi Gras celebration the most successful yet. Though many stores offered discounted goods and other attractions, the event simply gave most people, RPI students included, the opportunity to see Troy in a different light.

Troy changes insurance
R.J. Carnigan Insurance Company, the business that formerly insured the city of Troy, is suing the city and Mayor Harry Tutunjian for defamation, seeking an unspecified amount of monetary damages.

They allege that Tutunjian defamed R.J. Carnigan by claiming that the city saved $64,000 by switching to another firm rather than remaining with Carnigan and absorbing a rate increase.

Carnigan alleges that he did in fact submit the lowest quote, but in an attempt to defame him and his company, Tutunjian brought the city’s business elsewhere. City attorneys say they are doubtful of the case’s merits and believe that the city will save the amount projected by Tutunjian by switching companies.

Seed grants awarded
RPI’s Office of Research has completed the awarding of $305,000 of seed funding grants for nine Institute research projects involving nineteen faculty members. The projects encompass areas of research including modeling and simulation, fuel cell research, cyber-networks, nonmaterial, and several others.

This marks a sharp increase in research funding at RPI over the past five years, and the projects selected are intended to pave inroads to their respective disciplines.

The Seed Funding Program was created to fund projects with Institute money when they are at an early stage of development. The proposed research projects are evaluated in light of what possibility they have of being funded in the future and how they embody the goals of The Rensselaer Plan.