Archives

March 2019


Elections

Lettko, Kennedy win GM, PU races

By Brookelyn Parslow March 29, 2019
Meagan Lettko ’20 and Caitlin Kennedy ’20 have been elected Grand Marshal and President of the Union, respectively.
Interview

Award-winning author Richard Russo discusses life as a writer

By Hazelle Lerum March 28, 2019
Richard Russo won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel Empire Falls. He will be the guest speaker at the 2019 Annual McKinney Contest awards on April 3 at 8 pm in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Executive Board

Clubhouse Pub expansion approved

By Avery Sommer March 27, 2019
On March 14, during the second-to-last Executive Board meeting of the year, President of the Union Justin Etzine revealed a plan to maximize utilization of the Rensselaer Union real estate.
Executive Board

UPAC Lights and Sound is now Union Show Techs

By Madeline Wilson March 27, 2019
The Union Programs and Activities Committee has historically been composed of five subcommittees: Cinema, Concerts, Comedy, Lights, and Sound.
Executive Board

Minimum GPA requirement for Board members can now be appealed

By Madeline Wilson March 27, 2019
Though a seemingly small change, the amendment to the Executive Board Bylaws adding an appeal process to the 2.5 GPA minimum for membership of the E-Board emerged from a tense half-hour long discussion.
Executive Board

Replacements for third floor Union furniture coming this summer

By Brookelyn Parslow March 27, 2019
The Executive Board approved the use of up to $33,000 for the purchase of new furniture for the seating areas on the third floor of the Union and $1,600 for a new projection system for the Shelnutt Gallery.
Executive Board

Internal structure changes approved

By Madeline Wilson March 27, 2019
In his second-to-last Executive Board meeting as president of the Union, Justin Etzine ’18 G ’19 presented a series of final amendments to the Executive Board Bylaws alongside Policies Committee Chairperson David Raab ’19.
Derby

Reflecting on my term, words of advice

By Justin Etzine March 27, 2019
Hello, RPI! This week, I’m addressing you for the last time as your president of the Union. Grand Marshal Week is here, and you will elect who will lead the student body for the coming year.
Top Hat

GM Week Elections preparation, improvements

By Stefanie Warner March 27, 2019
Hi, RPI! With Grand Marshal Week quickly approaching, and thinking back to last year’s election, I just wanted to give you all an update on the elections preparations and improvements that the Student Senate and the Elections Commission have been working on.
Executive Board

Record-breaking 32 motions heard

By Madeline Wilson March 27, 2019
In a four-hour meeting, the Executive Board saw a historical 32 motions, heard presentations from nine different clubs, approved amendments to their own Bylaws, and altered room assignments spanning all three floors of the Union.
Student Senate

Interfraternity, Panhellenic councils discuss housing during Arch

By Madeline Wilson March 27, 2019
The Student Senate met on Monday, March 11 for a brief meeting to deliver committee and peer body and officer reports.
Candidate Questions

Grand Marshal candidate profiles

By The Poly March 26, 2019
Meagan Lettko: During my tenure at RPI, I have been involved in many aspects of the campus community.
Candidate Questions

Undergraduate President candidate profile

By The Poly March 26, 2019
Evan Lazaro: I am running for Undergraduate President because I believe I have the experience, ability, and motivation to make a positive impact on the undergraduate council, the class councils, and the student body as a whole.
Executive Board

What does the E-Board do? It budgets your money.

By Quinn Gangadharan March 26, 2019
Student government at RPI is broken up into four components: the Student Senate, the Judicial Board, the Class Councils, and the Executive Board.
Staff Editorial

The integrity of our elections is at stake

By The Polytechnic Editorial Board March 26, 2019
A trustworthy elections process gives Student Government its legitimacy; members of the Senate are taken seriously because they were elected or indirectly appointed by the majority of voting students at Rensselaer.
Endorsement

Interfraternity Council endorsements

By the Interfraternity Council March 26, 2019
To the Rensselaer Community, 2019 GM Week Endorsements: As the governing council of fraternities at Rensselaer, the Interfraternity Council is happy to announce our endorsements of the positions of Grand Marshal, President of the Union, and Undergraduate President.
Candidate Interviews

President of the Union candidate profile

By The Poly March 26, 2019
Caitlin Kennedy: I want to be President of the Union because I believe I have the experience and the commitment to continue to push our Union to be the best that it can be.
Gm Week 2019

RUVS test run reveals system vulnerabilities

By Pragati Pant March 26, 2019
On March 15, the Elections Commission tested the Rensselaer Union Voting Suite in preparation for the upcoming Student Government elections.
Student Senate

No concrete progress made regarding past Senate resolution

By Anahit Hovhannisyan March 26, 2019
In September 2017, Chairman of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Board of Trustees Arthur F. Golden ’66 called into question Section 2, Item F of the Rensselaer Union Constitution through an email to the student body.
Editorial Notebook

What the Student Senate should do for you

By Namish Gali March 26, 2019
The Student Senate is the chief legislative body of RPI’s student government that works to improve student life and provide a voice to student concerns.
On-Campus Event

HackRPI returns after year-long hiatus

By Varun Rao March 15, 2019
This weekend promises to be an exciting one with HackRPI scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday. Last year, the hackathon was left unplanned since the club that runs HackRPI, which goes by the same name, dissolved.
Executive Board

$5,150 subsidy for BotFactory printer approved

By Quinn Gangadharan March 14, 2019
In one of its last meetings of the year, the Executive Board saw a wide array of clubs on its agenda.
Staff Editorial

Why we aren’t endorsing candidates this year

By The Polytechnic Editorial Board March 13, 2019
This year, The Polytechnic will not perform its formal GM Week endorsement process. Rather, grand marshal, president of the Union, and undergraduate president candidates will be evaluated through our regular reporting process and featured in our Editorial/Opinion section.
Album Review

Grande delivers upbeat album despite personal struggles

By Pragati Pant March 13, 2019
Ariana Grande’s latest album release, thank u, next is most definitely a bop. Since I started listening to this album a few weeks ago, I haven’t been able to stop.
Editorial Notebook

Time spent on the arts is not wasted

By Lisa Knuckey March 13, 2019
Some hobbies are more productive than others. This may seem obvious, but for years I thought relaxation was synonymous with the feeling of rotting.
Administration

Confusing inclement weather bulletins explained

By Anahit Hovhannisyan March 13, 2019
“Quite frankly, we had to say that we judged… a little too quickly,” said Vice President for Administration Claude Rounds in regard to the confusion generated by several inclement weather bulletin alerts distributed on February 12 and 13.
Movie Review

The Hidden World wraps up trilogy with a soulful conclusion

By Namish Gali March 13, 2019
“20 years ago, filmmakers had to put their heart and soul into computer-animated films,” I ranted to my friend in the theater.
Empac Event

Talk cancelled as situation in Venezuela turns dire

By Namish Gali March 13, 2019
Ileana Ramírez was scheduled to speak at the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center about the Venezuelan and Latin American cultural scene during ongoing political crisis in Venezuela on Monday.
Student Senate

Senate briefed on Blue Apron-like program hosted by Sodexo

By John Stotz March 13, 2019
Hospitality Services Advisory Committee Chairperson Advaith Narayan ’21 came before the Student Senate on February 25 to give an update on a plan to implement a new food program called “Fresh Pantry.” This program is based on Blue Apron and similar food services, but will not be subscription based.
Editorial Notebook

Sending the right Snapchat is a science

By Madeline Wilson March 13, 2019
A few nights ago one of my friends from home, Kendall, called me to ask for advice. It was simultaneously one of the most rational and irrational conversations I’ve ever had.
Gm Week 2019

Elections Commission fails to maintain public record

By Brookelyn Parslow March 6, 2019
Though the Elections Commission has issued at least two decisions and one warning, only one decision has been made public as required by the Student Government Elections Policy.
Gm Week 2019

Campaigning for GM Week 2019 elections has begun. What does this mean for students?

By John Stotz and Brookelyn Parslow March 3, 2019
Election season is now underway, and students may campaign for elected Student Government positions until March 27.
On-Campus Event

Fashion show dazzles with array of designs

By Akanksha Singh March 3, 2019
The Black Students’ Alliance held their annual fashion show Saturday February 23 at East Campus Athletic Village.