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News
New greek statement outlines relationship Senate plans for spring semester Campaign refocuses on four thrust areas
Ed/Op
Staff Editorial
Wait for details before deciding on Ruckus Editorial Notebook
Debate ideas, not people Editorial Notebook
Snow removal needs attention Derby
Renovated facility brings excitement Top Hat
Feedback improves results The Barstool
Google refuses to hand over search records to Feds Independent Council
Independent Council anticipates upcoming initiatives
Features
Herman Boone recalls beating the racial odds Brokeback Mountain sharply combines sensitive issues Dave Barry
Concept of reincarnation causes uneasiness Glory Road captivates audiences with sincere story Yo-Yo Ma and Friends amaze young and old Words to Drink By
Diamond Eight Billiards defies pool hall stereotypes
Sports
Saints’ rally stuns soaring Red Hawks Pressure defense propels RPI over Knights Injuries plague Engineers versus Yale Young Engineers battle hardships RPI splits with Dutchmen One-Timers
Duo spices up talk of tennis Seattle soars to Detroit Engineers sputter in Motor City
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Rensselaer in Brief
Floor hockey cancelled
As was noted in last week’s issue of The Polytechnic, intramural floor hockey was unexpectedly cancelled for this semester, much to the disappointment of its normal participating teams. According to Head Baseball Coach and Intramurals Director Karl Steffen, “We decided this time of year is critical for gym space.” As a result, instead of running a formal intramural floor hockey league, several hours of open gym time have been scheduled for February, during which gym hockey, as well as other sports, may be played by any student.
According to Steffen, student leaders may also be present to help organize games during that time. Planners are also brainstorming possibilities for a potential gym hockey tournament in March. The league will continue to run in the fall, and will most likely alternate seasons with volleyball.
Soccer, ice hockey, wallyball, and basketball, along with Interfraternity Council volleyball, are not impacted by the schedule change.
Club budgets returned
On Monday, the Executive Board released club budgets for the 2007 fiscal year. According to President of the Union Peter Baldwin, the released budgets include “over a thousand line items and well over $600,000 in proposed expenditures.” Planning for facilities renovations and computer improvements impacted budgeting decisions, in addition to efforts to increase “competitiveness” of the intercollegiate athletics program, which is funded through the activity fee.
In a letter to the Union club officers, Baldwin indicated that appeals of club budgets have to be submitted to the Union Administration Office by Thursday at noon. Appeals can result in increases or reductions in approved club subsidies.
Board members and student activity resource persons alike reported a successful budgeting weekend, with most club budgets addressed after approximately a day and a half of work. Once the budget is finalized, the student government will begin the process of setting next year’s activity fee.
RPI among most wired
RPI has again ranked among the top 25 “most connected campuses” in the nation according to a study by The Princeton Review. Last year, RPI was ranked first on the list of schools with exceptional “technological sophistication” on their campuses. This year, the Review declined to rank schools within the top 25, saying that little difference existed between schools within that group.
In a press release following the announcement on Forbes.com, the Institute cited the mobile computing program, wireless internet access, and information retrieval services through Rensselaer Research Libraries in support of its selection as part of this elite group of colleges and universities.
Last semester, the Division of the Chief Information Officer came under fire for canceling electronic journals such as the American Humanities Index, the MLA Bibliography, and the Accunet/AP Photo Archives to offset budget cuts. Students eat with mayor
Last Thursday, this semester’s first Pizza with the Mayor was held in Mother’s with Mayor Harry Tutunjian. Despite light advertising for the event, many students were in attendance. The mayor began with a talk on how RPI’s growth challenges Troy and how Troy has responded by working with developers on additional housing in the city as well as waterfront development.
On the topic of the proposed Sage Avenue parking meters, the mayor responded that those meters and the ones on 15th Street are all placed at RPI’s behest to force students into campus garages and parking lots. On the topic of crime, the mayor dispelled the impression that Troy is an excessively dangerous place by pointing out that its crime rate is about the national average and that most violent crimes are domestic.
On the more controversial topic of social services, the mayor indicated that he would like to move to end Troy’s reputation as a provider of overly generous social services such as free housing and special education services. He mentioned a plan approved by Housing and Urban Development for the Troy Housing Authority to reduce its housing 10 percent per year for five years.
Students also had the opportunity to bring their problems directly to the mayor’s attention. Several students left satisfied with knowing their problems had the mayor’s ear.
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