The Institute held a student life forum last week to address current student interests and concerns. The forum is the first of three scheduled for the 2001-2002 academic year.
To begin the forum, Eddie Knowles, vice president for student life, presented the draft of the Student Life Performance Plan. Knowles plans to submit the final draft of the plan to Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson on December 7.
The plan emphasizes improvements in the Institute’s highest priorities: biotechnology and informational technology initiatives, the first-year experience, and the Electronic Media and Performing Arts Center.
It also examines changes in leadership education, facility renewal, campus diversity development, the restructure of student life and athletic administration operations, enhancements to student life services, an increase in the number of athletic trainers and support staff, and development of health education programs.
During the forum, the question of student safety on and around campus was raised repeatedly by students.
Knowles said the Institute has already improved campus safety by giving Public Safety officers the responsibility of acting as “peace officers” so that they can make arrests if needed. He added that Rensselaer is “like a city within a city” and is not exempt from crime. “I encourage students to be mindful of that,” said Knowles.
The forum also addressed the planned relocation of the Dean of Students Office from the Troy Building to Academy Hall, recently a contentious issue on campus.
Knowles asked that students be mindful of the fact that “we’re going to have to make some changes,” noting that in the long-term “it’s going to be for the benefit of the campus.”
He suggested that other possible building changes might include moving athletics in the ’87 Gym to a facility at the Houston Field House and converting the building into a “Union II.”
Students also raised the problem of the high price of campus housing that lacks many modern amenities.
Knowles said that the Institute’s housing stock is largely from the ’50s or even earlier and is outdated.
He explained that Rensselaer’s administration will consider strategies for resolving the housing situation, such as renovating current dormitories or constructing new buildings using private supporters.
Other issues that were discussed at the forum included the use of student life bulletin boards as an alternative to e-mail lists, providing more CDTA shuttle buses for transportation to and from campus, providing more space for Union clubs and activities, the potential of keeping the Union open all day, providing bus shelters with better lighting, and creating major-specific software distributions for the laptop program.
