Archives
October 2021
Poly Comics
The ghosts of West Hall
October 31, 2021
Exploring West Hall at night is a rite of passage at RPI. In the newest Poly comic, three students have a strange encounter in the rumored-to-be-haunted building.
RPI HISTORY
The forgotten ghosts in the depths of West Hall
October 31, 2021
West Hall has a reputation at Rensselaer for its otherworldly, cryptic nature, with its eerie and complex history. Staff writer Vaughn Greason ’25 walks through the history of West Hall and what it represents to RPI.
Derby
The Union: epicenter of administrative overreach
October 30, 2021
President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 discusses the waning self-governance of the Union, emphasizing the erosion of student rights by Rensselaer administrators and higher-ups.
Technology
New multi-factor authentication rules to take effect November 1
October 29, 2021
New multi-factor authentication rules are set to go into effect for all Rensselaer employees beginning November 1. Anyone who has payroll and W2 information in the Self-Service Information System will be counted as an employee. This includes students employed by the Institute. The new protocols will apply to all Institute websites that use the Rensselaer Self Service login.
Women's Hockey
Terriers torn to shreds
October 27, 2021
Rensselaer beat previously undefeated Boston University in an intense match on October 22, continuing their winning streak. Julia Blitz ’23 clinched the victory with a game-winning wrist shot late into the third period. Rensselaer’s exemplary performance scored them four votes in the USCHO Division I Women’s Poll-October 25, 2021.
Student Senate
Senate approves Judicial Board appointments, seeks new treasurer
October 25, 2021
The Student Senate approved new Judicial Board appointments on October 19. The J-Board oversees “a huge variety” of cases, ranging from reckless driving to suspending fraternities. The members appointed at this meeting will eventually make the decisions for future cases.
Editorial Notebook
The only things a kitchen needs
October 22, 2021
To fill the emptiness of having no kitchen as an on-campus student, Copy Coordinator Dylan Le '24 spend hours browsing online for cookware, dishware, glassware, and other food-related implements. His interest is not in gadgets such as strawberry hullers, spiralizers, and air-fryers, but in more classic tools.
Freshman Elections
Mike Slass elected Class of 2025 president
October 22, 2021
A total of 376 students cast votes in Wednesday's Freshman election. It marked the first in-person election Rensselaer student government has held since the Fall of 2019.
Top Hat
Freshman elections explained
October 22, 2021
Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 reviews the positions for freshman elections and the importance of each.
Executive Board
Confusion surrounds Red Army podcast funding
October 22, 2021
On Thursday, the Union Executive Board passed RPI Red Army’s proposal for a new podcast, but motioned to postpone a budget reallocation that would cover the cost of a new microphone for the program.
Men'S Hockey
Overtime déjà vu
October 20, 2021
After thrashing the Canisius Golden Griffins 6‒2 the night prior, the Engineers were defeated 3‒2 in overtime, a callback to their defeat versus Bowling Green last weekend. The Engineers’ season record is now 1‒2‒1.
Executive Board
RPI TV proposal for student wages denied
October 20, 2021
RPI TV's proposal suggesting that certain RPI TV members be paid $15 an hour to cover home hockey games during the 2022-23 season was unanimously denied.
Freshman Elections
Class of 2025 elections underway
October 20, 2021
Today, the Class of 2025 will choose their student government officers. Voting will be open from 8 am to 8 pm at the Rensselaer Union and the Commons Dining Hall.
Student Senate
Marketing and Strategy Committee resurrected
October 20, 2021
The 52nd Student Senate approved changes to the Executive Board’s bylaws on October 5 in order to bring back the Marketing and Strategy Committee, which had been dissolved in 2019.
Field Hockey
Engineers’ winning odyssey ends in Ithaca
October 20, 2021
After defeating the Sage Colleges and Union College earlier this week, the Engineers were taken down by Ithaca College with a score of 1‒0. The loss broke their five-game winning streak, bringing their season record to 7‒7 and 3‒2 in the Liberty League.
Executive Board
Emergency funds approved for UPAC projector repair
October 20, 2021
The Union Executive Board approved an emergency subsidy for UPAC's Cinema division via an electronic vote on October 14.
Interview
Drag fever with Typhoid Mary
October 20, 2021
Laura Zwirn ’23 and Erik Cross ’23 interview local drag queen Typhoid Mary to learn more about their artistic endeavors and their lived experiences as an artist in Troy.
Field Hockey
Engineers triumph on turf
October 13, 2021
The Engineers had a phenomenal three-for-three week, outscoring their opponents 18‒1. Liberty League Rookie of the Week Nina Caprio ’25 scored five goals in the three home games to become the team’s leading scorer with six goals.
Top Hat
Neurodiverse education helps all students
October 13, 2021
Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 discusses the need for creative classroom solutions to accommodate and encourage neurodiversity on campus.
Women's Hockey
McCutcheon mangles Union
October 13, 2021
Fresh off a 4‒0 win against Union, the Engineers dominated the match on October 9 with ECAC Rookie of the Week Audrey McCutcheon ’25 leading them to a 9‒2 victory with a hat trick.
FOOTBALL
Engineers continue undefeated season
October 13, 2021
No. 25 Rensselaer defeated Buffalo State 24‒16, bringing their record to 6‒0 on the season and 2‒0 in the Liberty League.
Administration
Jackson maskless at D.C. conference
October 13, 2021
President Shirley Ann Jackson appeared without a mask in Washington, D.C. on September 28 for the Amazon Web Services Summit, while Rensselaer continues to enforce mask mandates and travel restrictions for students.
Campus Event
Borderline brilliance at poetry slam
October 13, 2021
Talk Without Borders organized Poetry Slam Night, an event aimed towards providing members of the Rensselaer community with an open space to express themselves in an artistic way.
culture
How Parasite and Squid Game disprove the get-rich-quick myth
October 13, 2021
Bill Ni ’23 shares his thoughts on why Parasite and Squid Game are so successful and how they reflect on our society’s income inequality.
Executive Board
Lavender Alliance retires, Statler & Waldorf to return
October 6, 2021
The Union Executive Board unanimously voted to designate the Lavender Alliance as inactive due to budgetary issues and low membership on September 23.
football
Yellowjackets stung by Engineers
October 6, 2021
The Engineers began Liberty League play with a 38‒22 triumph over the University of Rochester, continuing their undefeated season. Rensselaer now stands at 5‒0.
COVID-19
Unvaccinated students to comply with additional COVID-19 restrictions
October 6, 2021
Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Travis Apgar presented rules in place for unvaccinated students on campus in front of the Student Senate. Restrictions include more frequent testing, wearing a mask at outdoor events, and following special dining hours.
RCOS
New Shuttle Tracker enters beta
October 6, 2021
Shuttle Tracker recently released a new public beta, called “the new Shuttle Tracker,” with a major new feature: crowd-sourced location data. The Polytechnic interviewed the Shuttle Tracker team on the Tracker's new features.
Student Senate
Senate creates MSFC Liaison position
October 6, 2021
The Student Senate voted to create the position of Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council Liaison, allowing the appointed liaison, Karina Sandoval ’22, to give her report during Senate meetings.
The ghosts of West Hall
Exploring West Hall at night is a rite of passage at RPI. In the newest Poly comic, three students have a strange encounter in the rumored-to-be-haunted building.
The forgotten ghosts in the depths of West Hall
West Hall has a reputation at Rensselaer for its otherworldly, cryptic nature, with its eerie and complex history. Staff writer Vaughn Greason ’25 walks through the history of West Hall and what it represents to RPI.
The Union: epicenter of administrative overreach
President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 discusses the waning self-governance of the Union, emphasizing the erosion of student rights by Rensselaer administrators and higher-ups.
New multi-factor authentication rules to take effect November 1
New multi-factor authentication rules are set to go into effect for all Rensselaer employees beginning November 1. Anyone who has payroll and W2 information in the Self-Service Information System will be counted as an employee. This includes students employed by the Institute. The new protocols will apply to all Institute websites that use the Rensselaer Self Service login.
Terriers torn to shreds
Rensselaer beat previously undefeated Boston University in an intense match on October 22, continuing their winning streak. Julia Blitz ’23 clinched the victory with a game-winning wrist shot late into the third period. Rensselaer’s exemplary performance scored them four votes in the USCHO Division I Women’s Poll-October 25, 2021.
Senate approves Judicial Board appointments, seeks new treasurer
The Student Senate approved new Judicial Board appointments on October 19. The J-Board oversees “a huge variety” of cases, ranging from reckless driving to suspending fraternities. The members appointed at this meeting will eventually make the decisions for future cases.
The only things a kitchen needs
To fill the emptiness of having no kitchen as an on-campus student, Copy Coordinator Dylan Le '24 spend hours browsing online for cookware, dishware, glassware, and other food-related implements. His interest is not in gadgets such as strawberry hullers, spiralizers, and air-fryers, but in more classic tools.
Mike Slass elected Class of 2025 president
Freshman elections explained
Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 reviews the positions for freshman elections and the importance of each.
Confusion surrounds Red Army podcast funding
On Thursday, the Union Executive Board passed RPI Red Army’s proposal for a new podcast, but motioned to postpone a budget reallocation that would cover the cost of a new microphone for the program.
Overtime déjà vu
After thrashing the Canisius Golden Griffins 6‒2 the night prior, the Engineers were defeated 3‒2 in overtime, a callback to their defeat versus Bowling Green last weekend. The Engineers’ season record is now 1‒2‒1.
RPI TV proposal for student wages denied
RPI TV's proposal suggesting that certain RPI TV members be paid $15 an hour to cover home hockey games during the 2022-23 season was unanimously denied.
Class of 2025 elections underway
Today, the Class of 2025 will choose their student government officers. Voting will be open from 8 am to 8 pm at the Rensselaer Union and the Commons Dining Hall.
Marketing and Strategy Committee resurrected
The 52nd Student Senate approved changes to the Executive Board’s bylaws on October 5 in order to bring back the Marketing and Strategy Committee, which had been dissolved in 2019.
Engineers’ winning odyssey ends in Ithaca
After defeating the Sage Colleges and Union College earlier this week, the Engineers were taken down by Ithaca College with a score of 1‒0. The loss broke their five-game winning streak, bringing their season record to 7‒7 and 3‒2 in the Liberty League.
Emergency funds approved for UPAC projector repair
The Union Executive Board approved an emergency subsidy for UPAC's Cinema division via an electronic vote on October 14.
Drag fever with Typhoid Mary
Laura Zwirn ’23 and Erik Cross ’23 interview local drag queen Typhoid Mary to learn more about their artistic endeavors and their lived experiences as an artist in Troy.
Engineers triumph on turf
The Engineers had a phenomenal three-for-three week, outscoring their opponents 18‒1. Liberty League Rookie of the Week Nina Caprio ’25 scored five goals in the three home games to become the team’s leading scorer with six goals.
Neurodiverse education helps all students
Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 discusses the need for creative classroom solutions to accommodate and encourage neurodiversity on campus.
McCutcheon mangles Union
Fresh off a 4‒0 win against Union, the Engineers dominated the match on October 9 with ECAC Rookie of the Week Audrey McCutcheon ’25 leading them to a 9‒2 victory with a hat trick.
Engineers continue undefeated season
No. 25 Rensselaer defeated Buffalo State 24‒16, bringing their record to 6‒0 on the season and 2‒0 in the Liberty League.
Jackson maskless at D.C. conference
President Shirley Ann Jackson appeared without a mask in Washington, D.C. on September 28 for the Amazon Web Services Summit, while Rensselaer continues to enforce mask mandates and travel restrictions for students.
Borderline brilliance at poetry slam
Talk Without Borders organized Poetry Slam Night, an event aimed towards providing members of the Rensselaer community with an open space to express themselves in an artistic way.
How Parasite and Squid Game disprove the get-rich-quick myth
Bill Ni ’23 shares his thoughts on why Parasite and Squid Game are so successful and how they reflect on our society’s income inequality.
Lavender Alliance retires, Statler & Waldorf to return
The Union Executive Board unanimously voted to designate the Lavender Alliance as inactive due to budgetary issues and low membership on September 23.
Yellowjackets stung by Engineers
The Engineers began Liberty League play with a 38‒22 triumph over the University of Rochester, continuing their undefeated season. Rensselaer now stands at 5‒0.
Unvaccinated students to comply with additional COVID-19 restrictions
Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Travis Apgar presented rules in place for unvaccinated students on campus in front of the Student Senate. Restrictions include more frequent testing, wearing a mask at outdoor events, and following special dining hours.
New Shuttle Tracker enters beta
Shuttle Tracker recently released a new public beta, called “the new Shuttle Tracker,” with a major new feature: crowd-sourced location data. The Polytechnic interviewed the Shuttle Tracker team on the Tracker's new features.
Senate creates MSFC Liaison position
The Student Senate voted to create the position of Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council Liaison, allowing the appointed liaison, Karina Sandoval ’22, to give her report during Senate meetings.