Peter Baldwin
Rensselaer is a place filled with exceptional people whose contributions, when woven together, form the very fabric of our campus. We each have our individual role on campus, and Peter Baldwin definitely has his own.
Baldwin has served as President of the Union and Chair of the Executive Board this year, and says that in that time he has continued to be impressed with the quality of our campus leadership in the administration and within the Union. As far as campus contribution is concerned, Baldwin believes there is one body that has gone above and beyond their normal tasks. This year’s Executive Board had a number of landmark accomplishments. They were able to hold the activity fee to the lowest percentage increase in over 10 years, making a statement of accountability to all students and a direct affirmation in the ability of students to manage an $8.6 million dollar budget. The Marketing Committee of the Executive Board spearheaded an aggressive marketing approach, getting over 2,800 students involved in clubs and organizations on campus. These are just some accomplishments that he believes are typical of RPI students, and they have made the Union a stronger and more robust body.
Baldwin, however, does not take credit for these accomplishments. He believes he has simply fulfilled his role in the Rensselaer community just like everyone else. Baldwin wrote an article earlier this year stressing the importance of the roles that go unseen in the Union as being critical to our very existence. He stands by that, and feels that as a representative of the Union it is his job to ensure that the campus realizes the magnitude of the effort and the sheer excellence that has become the hallmark of our students and staff.
On a personal level, Baldwin takes tremendous pride in the advancement of Rensselaer, and within this year’s context the realization and eventual completion of The Rensselaer Plan. He feels that we all must come together, for if not we will truly miss out on the greatest opportunity our school has ever had in our storied history. As he has said, unity is an integral part in institutional change, and unity must be our mark on the Rensselaer of tomorrow.
Bob Fishel
Dedication, persistence, and genuine compassion are three qualities that we at The Poly seek in our Poly Person of the Year. Throughout this past year, Bob Fishel has been a vigilant leader within the RPI community. He is driven to better serve his community and enhance a college experience every RPI student. Fishel is the Class of ’07-elected representative in the Student Senate. Through this position, Fishel can impose change and directly affect the campus community.
This year, Fishel served on numerous Senate committees. He served as chair of the Signs and Policies subcommittee of the Senate’s Committee of Judiciary and Student’s Rights, and the Academic Affairs Committee. As co-chair of the Policies of the Union subcommittee, Fishel created a Senate archive that included Senate minutes, and old Senate constitutions.
Fishel was also the Class Council Secretary, Vice Chairman of the College Republicans, co-chair of the Senate’s Finance, Facilities, and Advancement Committee, an assistant director of numerous RPI Players performances, a brother of Phi Gamma Delta, and a member of the Review Board, the Undergraduate Council, the Parking Review Board, RPI Player’s 75th Season Planning Committee, and the Holocaust Remembrance Day Committee.
Fishel helped rewrite the Review Board Bylaws, and was successful in getting a two-second delay on the lights at the Peoples and Burdett intersection. Fishel is currently working with the Student Senate to improve shuttle service, safety on campus, and increase school spirit.
As Jesse Chase, a friend of Fishel states, “If Bob is good at anything, it is making a lot of noise.” As is known from history, noise many times gets things done.
Erin Glasheen
Every year, Rensselaer students openly complain about how poor the academic advising is on this campus. Advisors are often difficult to contact, unhelpful, or simply not knowledgeable about both the students they serve and opportunities available for them. Erin Glasheen officially holds the title of Director of Undergraduate Programs for the school of Humanities and Social Sciences, but her biggest task is her job as academic advisor for all communication and EMAC majors.
Erin, as she prefers to be called, truly fulfills the job of an academic advisor. She is aware of her students’ current progression toward graduating and she knows what courses they need to take to get their diploma. Glasheen also sends out e-mails reminding EMAC and COMM students of registrations add/drop and pass/fail deadlines. These are duties of an academic advisor, and most fail to meet them, but Glasheen does not stop there.
More importantly, Glasheen takes the time to really get to know her advisees, which has allowed her to recommend classes those individual students would truly benefit from and find interesting. She looks for ways to not only help students succeed, but also further their academic experience at Rensselaer. Glasheen also shows concern for her students’ overall well-being. She is always willing to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with students to discuss not only academic issues they are facing, but difficulties they may be struggling with outside the classroom as well.
Furthermore, she has increased her role as a student aid by also looking for opportunities for her undergraduates outside of the realm of Rensselaer. Glasheen tends to occasionally flood the EMAC and COMM lists with various internship openings and is always willing to sign a nomination form or offer a recommendation for students who are looking for a way to build the resume and expand their educational experience.
Behind the scenes, Glasheen also works within the Language, Literature, and Communication department to improve courses and meet student demands as she receives feedback from the students. She acts as a back channel communication medium for where feedback can reach both professors and students.
Glasheen’s efforts to improve the quality of education for her students and her willingness to endeavor beyond the realm of her department, and the Institute more than warrants her nomination as Poly Person of the Year.
Jean Purtell
Jean Purtell has “Just Jean” written on a sign outside her Union office. As the Operations Coordinator of the Student Union, Purtell continually attempts to meet the needs Rensselaer students and Union workers. She explained that if everything were going well in the Union, no one should know that someone does her job.
Her occupation incorporates many aspects. Purtell helps schedule rooms, schedule events, create the right environment for students, assist with special events, and listen to complaints. Purtell described her job as “one minute I am in the McNeil room for a gala, and the next, in the Union basement looking at a leaking pipe.” It is a job full of suprises.
On a more personal level, Purtell enjoys her job and role in the RPI community. She gets to know students at different levels. She states, “I know RPI students are hard workers, but I am also blown away by their amazing talents in writing, art work, and performances.” Purtell appreciates how open students are about their cultures.
Through her different exposures to the students, Purtell is able to get a better sense of what the students need. She truly enjoys the annual Student Appreciation Dinner, where she loves serving all the students that have been so helpful to her.
One interesting title Purtell has recently acquired is that of Alpha Phi Omega’s Meanest Man on Campus. She stated that she is always happy to help with APO’s fundraisers.
Purtell enjoys and truly feels blessed with her job. To her, helping the students and the community does not feel like a duty. With the dynamic community of RPI, she never knows what to expect when she enters her office at the start of the day.
Because of the work she does in the Union with such enthusiasm, Jean Purtell is nominated for the Poly Person of the Year.
