News

WRPI elects new officers amid E-Board concerns over members

Wesner moves on

Ed/Op

Staff Editorial
Honor code should not legislate personal values

Editors Corner
The Poly looks to improve

Top Hat
Overnight program needs hosts

Labels misrepresent ideology of Democrats

Derby
Changes imminent

Letter to the Editor
Donations greatly appreciated

Features

Rusty Pipes deliver outstanding performance

Brand New’s third album surpasses their past works

Dave Barry
Equestrian sport teaches children

Sports

Women trounce Big Red, fall to Raiders

Red Hawks split weekend

RPI plays strong after tough loss

Engineers pleased with one-point road trip

Rensselaer in Brief
Victorian stroll held
Santa and Uncle Sam could be seen in Troy together last Sunday as the city celebrated its 24th annual Victorian Stroll. The event, traditionally held early in December each year, is a day of festivities designed to recall the styles and elegance of the mid and late 19th century. Attendees often come dressed in period attire, and local shops host special sales and shows.

This year, the Stroll featured—among other things—horse-drawn carriages, grandiose decorations, and several walking tours of the city and surrounding areas. Other notable sights included a saxophone-playing Santa Claus and costumed folk dancers. The event attracted about 20,000 people—a number that is somewhat higher than normal, likely due in part to the unusually pleasent weather that day.

Robbery at pork store
Albany resident Levar Murray, 28, and Troy resident John York, 36, were arrested last Wednesday for their participation in the armed robbery of the Troy Pork Store earlier that day.

The two entered the store at about 8:40 am. Murray brandished a loaded silver handgun and grabbed at the female clerk, and York punched her, knocking her to the ground. The two then grabbed the cash from the register as well as some personal items from the clerk. Police tracked the duo to a known crack-house in the Pottery District south of downtown, where they were arrested on charges of robbery, assault, and weapon possession along with a third man—Marshall Lyle, 34—who was charged with the possession of stolen property. The three were arraigned on Thursday morning.

The clerk is being treated at St. Mary’s Hospital for a broken nose.

Family leave update
As it stands, there are no policies for graduate students regarding childbirth, parental accommodation, and family leave. Such a policy exists at other schools and includes benefits such as six months of paid leave and a hold on the time counting towards degree completion.

Earlier this year the Graduate Council, in conjunction with the Graduate Women’s Association and the Department of Graduate Education, drafted a similar policy. Currently this policy is in the review process with Human Resources. It is expected to be finalized this upcoming spring.

Greek life update
Three cases are currently pending against fraternities for alleged alcohol violations. These violations come in the wake of protests against the implementation of new policies regarding alcohol in fraternities that were presented to students last spring. Punishment recommendations have not been finalized in any of the three cases. “The punishment depends on the nature of the violation,” said Dean of Students Mark Smith. “We are not targeting any fraternity. Punishments range from the minimum of a one-year suspension to more if warranted.”

On appeal earlier this semester, President Shirley Ann Jackson upheld the suspensions of Phi Sigma Kappa and Tau Epsilon Kappa who received five- and ten-year suspensions, respectively.

According to statistics provided by Smith, the retention and graduation rate among greeks is higher than that for non-greek students at RPI. The statistics were generated using five- and six-year numbers for the classes entering in 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Study abroad program
The anticipated study abroad program to be implemented in the School of Engineering originates from an existing program called the Global Engineering Education Exchange (Global E3). While the Global E3 is a voluntary program that involves less than 20 students on average yearly, the new program is expected to develop into a program with 100 percent participation of each class. One of the reasons behind this program is that such a low percentage of American students travel, let alone American engineering students.

Some of the issues confronting the program currently are synchronization of the academic calendars and analysis of the program’s impact on student life. The hallmarks of the program will be program quality, flexibility, and the disruption caused in participants’ lives.

According to Dean of Students Mark Smith, the discussion as to whether an international student experience would be mandatory is still under discussion. Even if the program remains voluntary, Smith said, “Some students may still want an international experience.”

The discussion follows the recent foreign tour by President Shirley Ann Jackson and other university leaders to China, Japan, and Korea.