Search given go-ahead
Earlier this month, President Shirley Ann Jackson authorized Vice President for Student Life Eddie Knowles to proceed with the search for a new greek dean.
The position has been vacant since Brian Dominguez resigned from the post in October of last year. Since then, Travis Apgar, who is associate dean of students and senior judicial administrator, has also served as acting dean for greek life.
Dean of Students Mark Smith said the goal was to begin the search for a new greek dean around the beginning of the new calendar year, but a vacancy management policy prevented them from moving forward—without a special waiver being granted—before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.
Last month, the Student Senate passed a resolution urging the administration to begin the search. Additionally, the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council supported the waiver requested by the Dean of Students Office to begin the search prior to July 1. With this special authorization now granted, the search can proceed.
Group raises funds
Shortly before spring break, freshmen Kristy Kolb and Michelle Roy went around to several residence halls on freshman hill to raise money for their training and involvement in a marathon run for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
After consulting with their Resident Assistant regarding ways to raise money and awareness, they, and 15 other residents; set out in groups of two to three to obtain donations from residents. According to Kolb, residents were asked for contributions of any size they could—“loose change, extra dollar bills...every little bit would help.”
Kolb stated that the group raised over $540 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She said that on March 11, the money was sent off to the society, and they are continuing preparations for their marathon run.
Lawsuit elevated
In January, RPI filed a civil suit in New York’s Supreme Court over a matter involving a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer.The suit was recently moved to the federal courts. The specialized molecular mapping capabilities of this device have implications in drug discovery and alternative synthetics.
The $2 million installation of the device by Varian Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., was supposed to be one of the flagship devices for the Biotechnology Center. However, the suit asserts that the super magnet could not be shielded efficiently by the company, the unit was far bigger than expected, and the shield itself took up too much valuable space.
The Institute ended up canceling its order and asking for a refund of the $900,000 deposit. Its court papers contend it was justified in canceling the order and buying from another company due to a breach of an implicit warranty of fitness by Varian. The U.S. District Court hearing is currently scheduled for July.
Lally program ranks 6th
The technological entrepreneurship program at RPI’s Lally School of Management and Technology recently earned sixth place in the nation among similar programs in a ranking of over 700 entrepreneurship programs conducted by Entrepreneur Magazine.
The top 10 programs evaluated are judged by directors, faculty, and alumni from all over the country, and the survey found the program at Lally to be among the best. Rankings are also based on about 30 other criteria, including teaching and research faculty, entrepreneurial initiatives, degrees offered, research centers, and alumni evaluations.
The annual RPI business plan competition, which awards $50,000 to successful competing entrepreneurs, was considered a large factor in RPI’s favor for the ranking. The success many of RPI-educated entrepreneurs, the network of alumni, and resources presented to students also ranked quite highly. A recent startup that arose from a 2004 MBA assignment, Orca Gear, was featured in an article accompanying the rankings and served to highlight many of the better qualities judges saw in the program.
Legislators question tax
Recently, the Troy school district renewed a utility tax added to residents’ phone bills. Since the tax was originally enacted in 2003, some people outside the school district say they have been improperly charged for this tax. Two county legislators who live outside the Troy school district area had the surcharge on their phone bills and have asked the state to look into the matter.
Many other individuals outside the district and those using cellular phones were charged as well—contrary to what Troy school district officials had proposed. One individual as far away as the Brittonkill district had the tax on his bills and contacted school district officials, who denied responsibility. They placed the blame with the phone company, BridgeCom, who they say improperly billed the residents.
County legislators have contacted the New York State Attorney General and Comptroller, who they hope may be able to remedy the situation.
